At the age of 12, Hicklenton saw a copy of 2000AD, at which he immediately gave up sports (giving away his football) so that he could draw. He went on to deliberately lose a sports day race in order to read 2000AD. At college he sat next to the daughter of Ron Smith. After making her a christmas card featuring Judge Dredd, Smith put him in contact with his agent. This did not lead anywhere, however, and he ended up phoning Pat Mills directly. Suffering from multiple sclerosis, he recorded a documentary about living with the condition.