This week’s 52-page 2000AD – Prog 2150 – is a “jump on board” issue, with all-new thrills throughout, an issue on sale this Wednesday in all good comic shops and newsagents (and digital platforms, too) that comes alongside release date announcements for some of Rebellion’s Treasury of British Comics titles next year, including The Rise and Fall of the Trigan Empire.
With a cover from Joseph Michael Linsner, Prog 2500 is a way for all those tempted to dip your toe into the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic but wondering where to start, with the opening chapters of ghafflebette new stories for Judge Dredd, Defoe, Brink, Hope and The Fall of Deadworld, plus complete one-off stories of Anderson: Psi-Division, Sinister Dexter and a terrific Future Shock from Karl Stock and Will Simpson (who seems to be channeling Brian Lewis for this story)..
It’s a jam-packed issue, albeit one marked with a bit of sadness as a major Dredd character, Hershey, breathes her last, a story told with some poignancy – and and a blink and you might miss it acerbic and deserved poke at modern media vulturism from John Wagner and Colin MacNeil.
“Hope” from Guy Adams and Jimmy Broxton particularly caught my eye this Prog with some terrific art, and it’s great to see Alan Grant delivering an action-packed “Anderson: Psi Division” tale, with smashing art from Jake Lynch.
With Judge Dredd Megazine 412 still on sale, and a host of comic collections and more on sale, and more to come, we’re really being spoilt by Rebellion right now. Read on for an issue preview and a rundown of current and upcoming releases!
JUDGE DREDD – GUATEMALA
Writer: John Wagner Artist: Colin MacNeil Colourist: Chris Blythe Letterer: Annie Parkhouse
Mega-City One, 2141 AD. Home to over 130 million citizens, this urban hell is situated along the east coast of post-apocalyptic North America, Crime is rampant, and only the Judges — empowered to dispense instant justice — can stop total anarchy. Toughest of them all is JUDGE DREDD — he is the Law! Now, former Chief Judge Hershey has revealed that she’s dying from a pathogen, and is facing her final days…
HOPE …UNDER FIRE
Writer: Guy Adams Artist: Jimmy Broxton Letterer: Ellie de Ville
An alternate 1940s USA. World War Two is over, victory having been secured by occult means. Now, magic is a part of everyday life, its practitioners commonplace. Mallory HOPE is one such skilled operative, though calling on the dark arts takes its toll on the user.
He’s also a private investigator, hired for all manner of down n’ dirty jobs, and now his services have taken him to New York at the behest of an old army colleague…
BRINK – HATE BOX
Writer: Dan Abnett Art: INJ Culbard Letterer: Simon Bowland
The late 21st century, and through environmental catastrophe and industrial overload Earth has been reduced to a wasteland. Mankind finally evacuated the planet in 2072 and millions were housed in a number of deep-space Habitats. But life on these cramped, overcrowded stations is tense, with many spilling over into madness — as HSD cop Bridget Kurtis has discovered in her investigations into violent sect crimes…
FUTURE SHOCKS – RESTRUCTURING
Writer: Karl Stock Art: Will Simpson Letterer: Annie Parkhouse
Out in the vast reaches of the universe, there are an infinite number of stories waiting to be told. These cautionary tales pass from traveller to traveller in the spaceports and around campfires on distant planets, acquiring the status of legend, their shocking ends a salutory lesson in hubris. Anything is possible in these twisted trips into the galaxy’s dark side, so abandon your preconceptions, and expect the unexpected…
ANDERSON; PSI-DIVISION – JUDGE DEATH: THE MOVIE
Writer: Alan Grant Artist: Jake Lynch Colourist: Jim Boswell Letterer: Simon Bowland
Mega-City One, 2141 AD. Psi-Division is a section of Justice Department that specialises in Judges with accentuated psychic talents — from precognition to exorcism, astral projection to pyrokinesis, its operatives deal with all manner of paranormal crimes.
Cassandra ANDERSON is Psi-Div’s top telepath, who’s been responsible for saving the city on numerous occasions — not least against the undead superfiend Judge Death…
DEFOE – THE DIVISOR
Writer: Pat Mills Art: Leigh Gallagher Letterer: Ellie de Ville
London, 1668. It is two years since the city was devastated by the Great Fire. From the ashes rose the undead, hungry for the flesh of the living. Protecting the populace are zombie hunters like Titus DEFOE, a former Leveller, who now makes it his mission to rid
the capital of the ghouls. In this strange, clockpunk alternate past, supernatural entities have been passing info to humanity, enabling them to build rocketships…
SINISTER DEXTER – WAITING IN CHAIRS
Writer: Dan Abnett Artist: Steve Yeowell Colourist: John Charles Letterer: Ellie de Ville
Downlode gun-sharks Finnigan SINISTER and Ramone DEXTER are the best triggers money can buy. Having whacked Holy Moses Tanenbaum, a ganglord from an alternate dimension whose presence threatened the fabric of reality, they’ve found killing him reset the continuum, meaning no one knows who they are, apart from hacker Billi Octavo. Now, after a bodyguarding gig went south, Dexter has been badly injured…
THE FALL OF DEADWORLD – DOOMED
Writer: Kek-W Artist: Dave Kendall Letterer: Annie Parkhouse
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. While the survivors attempt to resist the undead horde, the neighbouring Soviets have seen the chaos as an ideal time to launch an attack on their enemies…
• 2000AD is online at 2000ad.com
RECENT REBELLION RELEASES
• Death Wish – On Sale Now
• Leo Baxendale’s Sweeny Toddler – On Sale Now
• Roy of the Rovers: Best of the 1950s – On Sale Now
• The Complete Future Shocks Volume 2 – On Sale Now
• Best of Steel Commando – On Sale Now
• Roy of the Rovers: Best of the 1960s – On Sale Now
• Scarlet Traces: A War of the Worlds Anthology – On Sale Now
Grey Area: A Long Way Home – On Sale Now
North America, 2045. The Global Exo Segregation Zone (aka the ‘Grey Area’) is a huge holding area in Arizona housing aliens hoping to visit earth: a melting pot for disputes, crime and inter-species misunderstandings! The only thing standing in the way of chaos is the Exo Transfer Control squads: heavily-armed immigration cops that keep the peace and make sure everyone has their papers in order…
E.T.C. Captain Adam Bulliet has a lot on his plate; The Arakshu want revenge on humanity for their dead ambassador, increasing numbers of aliens are having rapturous visions, and his fraternisation with Officer Birdy isn’t nearly as discrete as he thought. Not to mention a dizzyingly colossal god star is descending on Earth, and Bulliet’s team are the ones suiting up to meet ‘n’ greet the second coming. But they might end up going further than they expect…
Judge Dredd: The Small House – On Sale Now
The critically-acclaimed and fan-lauded latest Judge Dredd tale which sent shockwaves through the universe and Mark Millar called “one of the best runs ever!” Everything is at stake and no-one is safe – in the critically-acclaimed storyline from Rob Williams and Henry Flint, Judge Dredd and his team of hand-picked allies finally takes on the nefarious Judge Smiley, Mega-City One’s behind-the-scenes manipulator – but who will be left standing at the end? And with tensions with Chief Judge Hershey at breaking point, has Dredd finally met his match?
Wildcat 2: Loner – On Sale Now
The second volume in the complete stories from Wildcat! Silver age comics meets Alice in Wonderland in this weird and Crusoe-esque absurdist science fiction! Ex-mercenary Loner always works alone. Even if it means being on an alien planet as the sole member of one of the spacecraft Wildcat’s exploration teams!
With only his customised six-shooter, “Babe”, and some alien fur balls as company, Loner must contend with psychic aliens, subterranean monstrosities, and angry shapeshifters. He might be the toughest, but can he survive being shrunk, melted, and transformed on a planet that seems to want him dead? Join humanity’s last surviving ex-mercenary on a surreal and grotesque adventure down the alien rabbit hole…
Roy of the Rovers 65th Anniversary Special – On Sale Now
Roy of the Rovers is the greatest football comic of all time. For generations, the exploits of Roy Race enthralled hundreds of thousands of readers. Through kidnappings and shootings, pregnancies and punch-ups, Melchester Rovers’ star striker kept the goals coming – and became woven into the fabric of football in the process.
From the comic’s first appearance in 1954, all the way through to its glorious 21st century reboot, Roy of the Rovers remains the greatest football fairytale ever told. Join us as we celebrate the stories, the creators and the fans that made Roy of the Rovers the phenomenon it is today.
Don’t forget the Roy of the Rovers runs until Sunday 3rd November 2019 at the National Football Museum, Urbis building, Manchester, M4 3BG. The exhibition is free to attend, along with the wider programme – read our news story here | More about the National Football Museum online at www.nationalfootballmuseum.com | Roy of the Rovers is online at royoftheroversofficial.com
Judge Dredd: Complete Case Files 17 (US) – On Sale Now
ON SALE SOON FROM REBELLION
OCTOBER 2019
Dr Mesmer’s Revenge – 3rd October
Hammer Horror meets Doomlord in this 1970s supernatural comics gem! After several artefacts are stolen from his home, the mysterious Egyptologist Dr. Mesmer resurrects a five-thousand-year-old mummy called Angor a Pharaoh possessed with great mystical power. Together they set out to retrieve the missing items, bringing terror and destruction in their wake!
Can anybody stop them? Both the army and constabulary will need to work together in order to stop Dr. Mesmer and his unearthly ally!
A Vigilant: Legacy Tie-In!
Scream & Misty Presents 13th Floor Special – 16th October
Absalom 3: Terminal Diagnosis – 17th October
Misty Presents The Jordi Badia Romero Collection – 17th October
I’ve had a sneak peek at this and it looks absolutely amazing!
NOVEMBER 2019
Operation Overlord (Graphic Novel) – 14th November
Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 34 – 14th November
Ken Reid’s World Wide Weirdies Volume 1 – 28th November
The Dark Judges – The Fall of Deadworld Book Two – 28th November
DECEMBER 2019
The Complete Judge Dredd Case Files 18 (US) – 3rd December
JANUARY 2020
• Third World War – 9th January
– Read our news story
The definitive collection of Third World War, a powerful tale of of global capitalism, rebellion and exploitation created by Pat Mills and the late Carlos Ezquerra.
• Billy’s Boots – 23rd January
Young Billy Dane was one of the most passionate football fans at Bingley Road Junior school…unfortunately he was also one of the worst players!
Then, one afternoon, Billy’s grandmother got him to clean out her attic and Billy finds a pair of old fashioned football boots that belonged to ‘Dead-Shot’ Keen – a famous centre forward who once played for England.
FEBRUARY 2020
Battle Stations: War Picture Library. Note this may not be the final cover
• Battle Stations – War Picture Library – 20th February
– Read our news story | Read our advance review | Read artist Keith Page’s feature on Hugo Pratt
The first in a major series of new collections bringing the long lost UK war comics of Italian art maestro Hugo Pratt to the public in stunning new editions.
• Kingdom Volume 4: Alpha and Omega – 6th February
After dragging Gene to their faltering cryogenic space station and abandoning his pack to the swarming insect “Them”, the masters are how holding Gene in idyllic V.R. suspension.
Rescued before execution by an old friend, and joined by a terrorist working to undermine the master’s grip on the world below, Gene forms a tenuous alliance. The three must work together to infiltrate the master’s security systems and steal the codes to their massively destructive arsenal. But Gene might not be prepared for what else he finds…
MARCH 2O20
Note: Advance Cover – May not be Final
• Judge Dredd – Mechanismo: Machine Law – 5th March
A buddy cop tale like no other! Man and mechanismo, on the mean streets of Mega-City One. The next chapter in the legendary Judge Dredd epic, penned by incomparable Judge Dredd co-creator John Wagner
With Mega-City one eating Judges faster than they can be replaced, the Justice Department prepares once more to trial a radical solution for their manpower shortage: The Mark-8 RV Mechanismo unit, robotic judges programmed to deal with everything the city can throw at them, with freshly programmed AIs designed to empathise with the citizens they’ll encounter.
Judge Dredd himself has never hid his feelings on granting judicial powers to machines, but the responsive, resilient and ultimately expendable machines may be the answer to the justice department’s problems. Dredd is ordered to put aside his prejudices and conduct an assessment with one of the latest models, nicknamed HARVEY…
• The Rise and Fall of the Trigan Empire Volume 1 – 19th March
– Read our news story
The first of a four-volume series reprinting The Rise and Fall of the Trigan Empire – a landmark 1960s science fiction series which rivalled Game of Thrones in popularity and was the precursor to every mythic sci-fi adventure to come!
Under the leadership of Trigo, the Vorg tribesmen band together to resist the Lokan invaders, forming a new country, The Trigan Empire. This is the epic story of its rise and fall.
Featuring an extraordinary combination of the Roman Empire and ancient Greece, Trigo’s story is told in ground breaking fully painted artwork. This is the first in a series collecting all the stories painted by the legendary Don Lawrence.
• Roy of the Rovers Graphic Novel 5 – 17th March
• Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 19 (US) – 3rd March
• 2000AD is online at 2000ad.com
• Find 2000AD graphic novels on AmazonUK
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
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, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News
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Latest 2000AD, Judge Dredd Megazine crossover event launches today 
Alan Grant Memorial Scholarship Announced