It’s that wonderful time of the year when Rebellion pull out all the stops and bring us a belter of a 2000AD to round off the year – and Prog 2262, available today in comic UK shops and newsagents definitely delivers the goods!

With a wraparound cover from Toby Willsmer, leading with a smashing “Judge Dredd” story featuring not one, but three versions of old Stoneyface, two who you’ll recognise from your tellybox or local multiplex, this terrific issue is crammed with cosmic treats to keep the thrillsuckers away, so don’t miss out on a copy!

Not that you even have an excuse to miss it in the shops – this pulse-pounding prog is on sale for three weeks, the next one on sale on 5th January!

Plus – don’t miss out on Judge Dredd Megazine Issue 439, which sees the debut of a stunning-looking, but brutal, Cursed Earth strip, “Death Cap”, written by TC Eglington with superb art from Boo Cook. Alongside the ongoing “Lawless” by Dan Abnett and Phil Winslade, plus a fascinating interview with Colin Wyatt, one of the team on the controversial 1970s comic, Action, this is quite a ride, too.

Not least for the inclusion of a collection of the seasonal, but far from festive Judge Dredd collection, “Christmas is Cancelled” featuring a stories from a hairy host of 2000AD talent!

There’s a terrific new Bookazine out, too, assembled by Richard Bruton, – 2000AD Covers Uncovered Annual 2021, which does exactly what it says in the title, delving into the creation of the covers of this year’s editions of the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic, including Prog 2262. Which was your favourite?

In 2000AD 2262…

• Droid Life by Cat Sullivan

A hilarious half page gem, as Tharg’s droids argue for less merchandising, more peace and love…

• Judge Dredd: Trinity by Ken Niemand (Writer) Richard Elson (Artist) Annie Parkhouse (Letterer)

Mega-City One, 2143AD. Home to over 160 million citizens, this urban hell is situated along the east coast of post-apocalyptic North America, with the irradiated wasteland known as the Cursed Earth to the west. Unemployment is rife, boredom universal and crime is rampant. Tensions rest on a knife-edge and only the zero-tolerance Judges can stop total anarchy. Toughest of them all is JUDGE DREDD — he is the Law! And this time out, he’s hunting down a Mega City huckster trying to exploit illegal inter dimensional technology… and he’s not alone!

• The Fall Of Deadworld: Jessica by Kek-W
(Writer) Dave Kendall (Artist) Jim Campbell (Letterer)

The planet that eventually became known as DEADWORLD was once a regular civilisation existing in a dimension parallel to our own. But the end of days is coming, and creatures known as the Dark Judges are spreading their contagion, exterminating all life, which they see as a crime.

Young survivor Jess was leading a rescue party to save Judge Fairfax when she was dragged across the dimensional veil…

• Kingmaker: Falls The Shadow by Ian Edginton (Writer) Leigh Gallagher (Artist) Jim Campbell (Letterer)

The Nine Kingdoms may have defeated Ichnar the Wraith King to live in relative peace, but they hadn’t reckoned on the Thorn — a race of aliens that occupied their world with the intention of strip-mining its magic. Wizard Ablard, ork Crixus and dryad Princess Yarrow believe they may have the means to stop them — not least because Crixus can somehow conjure the Ebora, the world-spirit. But Ichnar has manifested in Ablard…

• Dexter: Bulletopia by Dan Abnett (Writer) Tazio Bettin (Artist) Matt Soffe (Colourist) Simon Bowland (Letterer)

Gun-sharks Finnigan SINISTER and Ramone DEXTER were the best hitmen money could buy in the future city of Downlode. Having whacked Holy Moses Tanenbaum, a ganglord from an alternate dimension, they found killing him reset the continuum, meaning no one knew who they were. But now a rogue A.I. is at large, and Dexter, Carrie Hosanna and Billi Octavo are on the run, trying to get to sanctuary in Mangapore…

• The Order: Fantastic Voyage by Kek-W (Writer) John M. Burns (Artist) Simon Bowland (Letterer)

Throughout history, mankind has been under threat of extermination by the Wurms, creatures that break into our reality. Defending humanity are the men and women of THE ORDER, a band of warriors that have fought the entities across the centuries. But time has become fractured, and now the despotic Francis Bacon is determined to rule a vast empire. Anna Kohl and the others, fleeing Bacon, have tumbled over Times Edge…

• Tales From Mega-city One: Christmas Comes To Devil’s Island by Karl Stock (Writer) James Newell (Artist) John Charles (Colourist) Annie Parkhouse (Letterer)

Mega-City One, 2099AD. The vast metropolis is still in the process of taking shape, some elements of the old world still existing alongside the new. Iso-cubes continue to be built, and for the time being the maximum security facility that houses the worst criminals is Devil’s Island, situated amidst the megways. With traffic roaring past twenty-four hours a day, escape is seemingly impossible…

• The Out: Book Two by Dan Abnett (Writer) Mark Harrison (Artist) Annie Parkhouse (Letterer)

The furthest edge of the universe, far into the future. Cyd Finlea is photo-journalist working for the publishers Global Neographic, travelling deep into outer space — otherwise known as THE OUT — and cataloguing the alien societies that she encounters. She left Earth ten
years ago and has been seeking other ex-pat humans. But now the Tankinar are on the rampage and she’s sought refuge inside her sentient flatspace bag…

• Proteus Vex: Desire Paths by Mike Carroll (Writer) Jake Lynch (Artist) Jim Boswell (Colourist) Simon Bowland (Letterer)

Another galaxy, the far future. The centuries-long war between the Alliance and the Obdurate people is over, a conflict brought to an end with the deaths of billions when the Alliance teleported a dying white dwarf star into the Obdurate system. Imperium agent PROTEUS VEX — who is operated by a flesh-pilot — has now become an enemy of the Alliance when he released information about past war crimes…

Also includes an interview with the legendary 2000AD staffer Doug Church, talking to Karl Stock.

Available in print from: newsagents and comic book stores via Diamond | Available in digital from: 2000 AD webshop and apps for iPad, Android, Windows 10

ALSO ON SALE THIS WEEK…

Judge Dredd Megazine 439

Out: 15th December 2021 | Cover by Lee Carter

• Judge Dredd: Saviour by Ken Niemand (Writer) Steven Austin (Artist) Matt Soffe (Colourist) Annie Parkhouse (Letterer)

Trouble for Dredd on an alien world he visited a long time ago… offering salutary lessons on dangerous immigration control and being careful who you ask for help…

• Death Cap by TC Eglington (Writer) Boo Cook (Artist) Simon Bowland (Letterer)

The Cursed Earth, 2143AD. This blasted, irradiated wilderness covers much of what’s left of post-apocalyptic twenty-second century North America. Here, mutants exiled from living in the Mega-Cities scratch out a meagre existence in ramshackle townships. It’s also a place where someone seeking redemption can carve out a new life, and leave the old behind…

• Diamond Dogs III by James Peaty (Writer) Warren Please (Artist) Simon Bowland (Letterer)

Brit-Cit, 2143AD. The remnants of old Britain still exist alongside the twenty-second century Mega-City, and these ruins are fought over by the Brit-Cit street gangs, who see them as valuable territory. Nia Jones used to run with the Diamond Dogs, but she’s also a Justice Dept informer, trying to buy her way out. Now, she’s working with Detective-Judge Armitage…

• Lawless: Ballots Over Badrock by Dan Abnett (Writer), Phil Windslade (Artist) Jim Campbell (Letterer)

Colonial Marshal Metta Lawson was appointed to the frontier township of Badrock on the planet 43 Rega, intent on stamping her authority on the colony. But in doing so, Lawson made many enemies, including Munce, Inc., the mega-corporation that funded Badrock. Now, with the SJS also running things, Lawson’s decided to quit her post and run for mayor…

• Surfer by John Wagner (Writer) Colin MacNeil (Artist) Chris Blythe (Colourist) Annie Parkhouse (Letterer)

ONE Mega-City One, 2143AD. Skysurfing is one of the most popular pastimes in the twenty-second century metropolis, a sport that requires a great deal of skill and agility. While it’s legal to fly at a proscribed height, low-level surfing – favoured by powerboarders that particpate in unregulated supersurf championships – is against the law and stomped on by the Judges…

Fiction – Lenny Zero: Isolation by Andy Diggle

Bagged graphic novel: Judge Dredd: Christmas is Cancelled

Interview: Colin Wyatt by Karl Stock
New books: SK Moore by Stephen Jewell

• Available in digital from: 2000 AD webshop & apps for iPad, Android and Windows 10

NEW BOOK ARRIVALS

2000AD Covers Uncovered Annual 2021

Out: 15th December, Bookazine, 132 pages, £9.99 | ISBN: 9781786186775

CREATIVE TEAM: Richard Bruton (Writer) Cliff Robinson, Neil Roberts, Mark Montague, Ben Willsher, Will Simpson, Dan Cornwell, Simon Fraser, Patrick Goddard, John Higgins, Nick Roche, PJ Holden, Brendan McCarthy, Simon Davis, Nick Percival, John McCrea, Tom Foster, Mike Collins, Richard Elson, Leonardo Manco, Dave Taylor, Dermot Power, Pye Parr, Neil Googe, Dylan Teague, Dave Kendall, Stewart K. Moore, Toby Willsmer, Clint Langley, Luke Preece, Mark Harrison, Alex Ronald, Paul Marshall, Paul Williams, Mick McMahon, D’Israeli, Colin MacNeil, Tazio Bettin, Chris Weston, Lee Carter, Neil Roberts (Artists) Dylan Teague, Len O’Grady, Chris Blythe (Colourists)

The secrets behind the greatest comic book covers in the galaxy – revealed in a brand new annual! Every week, 2000AD Covers Uncovered takes readers of the 2000AD website behind-the-scenes on the covers of both 2000AD and the Judge Dredd Megazine. From idea to pencils, from inks to colours, 2000AD Covers Uncovered reveals the processes behind the jaw-dropping, genre-defining art that graces the covers of the Galaxy’s Greatest Comics!

For the first time, this new annual collects the artwork for every 2000AD and Megazine cover from a single year in a square-bound bookazine format. Each cover is presented without logos and cover furniture, allowing readers to savour each image in all its glory. Alongside, step-by-step images such as wireframes, pencils, inks, and inspiration are presented alongside commentary from the artists themselves, providing fascinating detail about the process behind their covers.

Written and curated by blogger Richard Bruton, the 2000AD Covers Uncovered Annual 2021 is not only an enthralling collection of stellar art but also an indispensable insight into the artistic process.

• Available in print from the 2000 AD webshop | Available in digital from the 2000 AD webshop and apps for iPad, Android and Windows 10

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.

Categories: 2000AD, British Comics, Comics, Digital Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News

Tags: 2000AD, 2000AD Covers Uncovered, downthetubes News, Judge Dredd, Judge Dredd Megazine, SF Comics