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Rebellion announces “Best of 2000 AD” for 2020, 12-issue series

By John Freeman on November 7, 2019

2000 AD has announced it’s launching a brand new title in April 2020 – Best of 2000 AD – as a new 12-issue US-format, perfect-bound series featuring a selection of the most incendiary and exciting new science-fiction comics from the legendary UK publisher.

Best of 2000 AD #1 cover by Jamie McKelvie

Launching in April 2020, Best of 2000 AD is intended as the ultimate 2000 AD mix-tape – an anthology of full-colour stories specially chosen to be accessible to a whole new generation of comic readers who may never have picked up 2000 AD in its traditional format.

The first new major monthly title from the British publisher in almost 30 years, the first 100-page issue will be headlined by a self-contained 48-page Judge Dredd adventure and supported by three of the stand-out series from the “Galaxy’s Greatest Comic”, primarily focusing on the Rebellion era.

The title boasts brand-new covers from an all-star line-up of New York Times best-selling and Eisner award-winning artists including Jamie McKelvie (The Wicked and The Divine), Becky Cloonan (Gotham Academy), Charlie Adlard (The Walking Dead), Erica Henderson (The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl), and Annie Wu (Hawkeye), with more to be revealed.

The entire 12-issue volume will feature design by highly-acclaimed designer Tom Muller (House of X/Powers of X).

“There are very few comics that have had – and continue to have – the impact of 2000 AD,” said 2000 AD editor Matt Smith. “But we often hear, ‘where do I start reading?’. With Best of 2000 AD that question has a brand new answer – accessible, contemporary, high-quality story-telling, available every month direct from your local comic book store. There’s never been a better way to discover some of the best modern comics.”

Following Rebellion’s hugely successful ‘Day of Dredd’ in September, which reached over 20 million individual social media accounts and saw international sales spike, during which comic stores, libraries and creators celebrated the cultural impact of the fan-favourite character Judge Dredd, Best of 2000 AD is the next step in building a wider international audience, and stands as a major jewel in the crown of Rebellion’s 2020 publishing initiatives.

“It’s called the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic for a reason,” said Rebellion CEO Jason Kingsley. “If you love your comics dangerous, thrilling and life-affirming but have never read 2000 AD then this is your moment. This new publication is precision-engineered for new and curious readers.

“We want the Best of 2000 AD to convert a whole new generation into 2000 AD readers for life.”

The Best of 2000AD Monthly 25

This isn’t the first time the “Best of 2000 AD” theme has been used, of course – The Best of 2000AD Monthly was an all-reprint title which ran for 119 issues between October 1985 and August 1995, each issue featuring selected reprints from 2000 AD, with some stories being carried over into the subsequent issue. After the title’s cancellation, it was relaunched as the slimmer Classic 2000AD.

In 2008, Prion Books released its The Best of 2000AD hardback collection, licensed from Rebellion, a 400-page “primer” to the 2000AD-verse that included the first Judge Dredd story and the complete “Call-Me-Kenneth” series; plus opening episodes of stories such as “Invasion”, “Harlem Heroes”, “M.A.C.H.1”, “The Ballad of Halo Jones” and more.

• The first issue of Best of 2000 AD is scheduled for release in late April 2020. It will be available from comic book stores through Diamond Distribution in North America and the UK | Web: 2000ad.com

• The latest issue of the weekly 2000 AD – Prog 2156 – is on sale now in all good newsagents, comic shops and digital platforms, featuring “Judge Dredd”, “Brink”, “Defoe”, “Hope Under Fire” and “The Fall of Deadworld”

• British Comics Fandom Wiki: The Best of 2000 AD Monthly Cover Gallery

• Find 2000AD graphic novels on AmazonUK

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.