Catching up on new titles from 2000AD and Rebellion, as Judge Dredd Megazine celebrates 30th Anniversary

Judge Dredd Megazine Issue 424
Judge Dredd Megazine Issue 424

There are thrills a-plenty to come over the next few weeks and months from Rebellion. We’re only weeks away from 2000AD’s next “jumping-on issue”, Prog 2200, which will be another bumper 48-pager. Plus, there’s the release of Judge Dredd Megazine Issue 424, to look forward to, which marks the title’s 30th anniversary. With that and other books and Specials on the way from the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic and the Treasury of British Comics, here’s a quick checklist of upcoming releases…

Meanwhile, this week, after the fantastic latest 2000AD Regened, still available from the title’s web store, it’s Thrill-powered business as usual in Prog 2197, on sale now, with Judge Dredd and The Out resuming their epic jaunts, The Diaboliks returning for more supernatural shenanigans in “A Crooked Beat”, an absolutely stunning new 3riller starting from Kek-W and David Roach, plus there’s a complete “Future Shock” too, by Liam Johnson and Steve Yeowell. If you haven’t bought it yet, there’s more information below in a final section of this article.

ON SALE THIS SEPTEMBER

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2000AD Prog 2198 - Cover

• 2000AD Prog 2198 – 9th September

Cover by Luke Preece

Judge Dredd: End of Days by Rob Williams (Writer) Henry Flint (Artist) Chris Blythe (Colourist) Annie Parkhouse (Letterer)
The Out by Dan Abnett (Writer) Mark Harrison (Artist) Annie Parkhouse (Letterer)
Sinister Dexter: Ghostlands by Dan Abnett (Writer) Nicolo Assirelli (Artist) John Charles (Colourist) Simon Bowland (Letterer)
Tharg’s 3rillers: Saphir by Kek-W (Writer) David Roach (Artist) Peter Doherty (Colourist) Simon Bowland (Letterer)
The Diaboliks: A Crooked Beat by Gordon Rennie (Writer) Dom Reardon (Artist) Jim Campbell (Letterer)

2000AD 2199 – 16th September – on sale in all good newsagents and comic shops

Judge Dredd Megazine Issue 424 – 16th September – on sale in all good newsagents and comic shops

More action and adventure in the future-shocked world of Judge Dredd! The Megazine celebrates its 30th anniversary this month with a bumper issue, and a brand-new line-up of stories – John Wagner and Colin MacNeil reunite for a Dredd tale that reflects on America Jara’s legacy; a Mega-City One unlike one you’ve ever seen before in ‘Megatropolis’; an alien cult encounter Judge Death in ‘Deliverance’; travel back to the early days of the Judges in the gritty thriller ‘Dreadnoughts’; and The Returners are back, fighting their way through Brit-Cit!

Plus there’s a very special complete “Lawless” story, a one-off “Anderson, Psi-Div” story from Maura McHugh, interviews, features and more – and in the bagged mini-trade, the first instalment of the serialised 2000AD encyclopaedia.

Battle Special 2020 – 16th September – Exclusive web shop cover available

100 pages of combat action! Battle was the most popular British war comic of all time and has been brought back just in time to commemorate the anniversary of the Battle of Britain. Garth Ennis (The Boys, Preacher) sends the Rat Pack on one more mission, with Keith Burns (Johnny Red) on art. Rob Williams (Suicide Squad) writes the tale of one of the many warships involved in the naval battles, in Destroyer, drawn by PJ Holden. Alan Grant (Batman) works with Davide Fabbri (Operation Overlord) to tell the story of a heroic soldiers actions.

The action isn’t just confined to the Battle of Britain, Alan Hebden unearths another El Mestizo tale, and Alex De Campi’s (Archie Vs Predator) tale focuses on American soldiers in Vietnam, drawn by Glenn Fabry (Hellblazer, Preacher).

Concrete Surfer

Concrete Surfer
Pat Mills, Christine Ellingham
ISBN: 9781781087633
Digital edition available now
Pages: 80 // Paperback

A skateboarding rivalry, timed to coincide with skateboarding’s 2020 Olympic debut! Sent home to Britain after her parents fail to establish a new life in Australia, Jean Everidge is forced to rely on family charity, moving in with her Aunt, Uncle and cousin Carol, successful gymnast, beloved of teachers and pupils alike, and all round charming “top girl”. Jean has one solace left to her – skateboarding, surfing the concrete pavement, while forgetting all her troubles, and feel free.

But Jean’s freestyling talent soon attracts attention, and if there’s one thing Carol can’t stand, it’s being out of the spotlight. With the new skatepark freestyle contest coming up, just how far will Carol go to stay number one?

2000AD 2200 Cover Art

2000AD 2200 – 23rd September – on sale in all good newsagents and comic shops

Special Jump Onboard Issue – 48 Pages

2000AD 2201 – 30th September – on sale in all good newsagents and comic shops

Misty & Scream! Special 2020 Cover by Andrea Bulgarelli

Misty & Scream Special 2020 – 30th September – on sale in all good newsagents and comic shops

Just in time for Hallowe’en comes this 48 page anthology unloading the scares on a new generation from British horror fans. The Prince of Darkness comes face to face with an old foe in “The Dracula Files” with a story from Cavan Scott and Vincenzo Riccardi, Black Beth’s quest for vengeance continues from the fevered minds of Alec Worley and DaNi; World War One ghoul, Black Max attempts to cross back over into the world of the living in a story by Kek-W and Simon Coleby.

Meanwhile, three scary stories are delivered straight from the mists; in Victorian England, “The Thief of Senses” lurks in the dark, courtesy of Maura McHugh and Robin Henley; a chilling school re-enactment of a Greek myth takes place in “The Aegis” by Krystina Baczinski and Mary Safro, and clowns most definitely are not funny in “Bumps In the Night” by Olivia Hicks and John Lucas.

America: Lost & Found – The Rediscovered Scripts – 30th September – on sale in book and comic shops

OCTOBER

The Dracula File paperback edition – 1st October – on sale in book and comic shops

COUNT DRACULA GOES BATTY FOR BRITISH BLOOD!

Fleeing vampire hunters from behind the iron Curtain, Count Dracula returns to Great Britain with an unquenchable thirst for blood! Unable to accept that the supernatural defector has slipped through his fingers, Rumanian KGB officer Stakis decides to defy his disbelieving superiors and destroy the unholy horror that has plagued the world for centuries. Will 1980s London become the Count’s permanent, new feeding ground?

Written by 2000AD stalwart Gerry Finley-Day and featuring Eric Bradbury’s nightmarish vision of horror’s greatest icon, The Dracula File is a book that you can really sink your teeth into!

The latest in the smash-hit, best-selling graphic novel series! Almost half a million copies sold!

Judge Dredd: Case Files 35 – 1st October – on sale in book and comic shops

The floating multi-story metropolis of illegal delights known as “Sin City” has anchored outside Mega-City one, and Dredd has seemingly been sent aboard to keep what order can be kept on a lawless floating city.

His real task? Locate Ula Danser, the De-Megification terrorist determined to destroy the Mega-Cities at any cost! But Danser isn’t working alone – Dredd’s old enemy Orlok is coming to meet her, and he’s carrying a cargo intended to pay back everything Dredd did to East-Meg one – with interest!

The latest in the world-wide best-selling, flagship 2000AD graphic novel series which has become a perennial classic. Includes artwork by some of 2000AD’s very best, including Cam Kennedy, Ian Gibson, Carlos Ezquerra, and Marvel artist Kev Walker!

Major Eazy vs Rat Pack

Major Eazy vs Rat Pack – 1st October – available exclusively from the 2000AD and Treasury of British Comics webshops

The war’s dirtiest fighters led by the war’s coolest soldier – it’s Major Eazy vs Rat Pack! Blasting out from the pages of the legendary Battle, this 48-page special edition of this classic crossover story from 1977.

Bringing together two of Battle’s most popular strips in one explosive 12-part story, this collection also includes two carefully selected stand-alone Battle classics featuring art by Carlos Ezquerra – “The Hidden Bomb” and “The Orphan” from 1980.

This special collection is a must have for fans of classic war comics and of Ezquerra’s groundbreaking art, which made him one of the most important artists in post-war British comics.

‘Major Eazy vs Rat Pack’ combined two of the legendary artist’s most popular series. The original artist on “Rat Pack” in 1975, a year later Ezquerra also co-created “Major Eazy” with writer Alan Hebden, a strip for which he drew every episode in Battle Picture Weekly. During the mid to late 1970s, Ezquerra enjoyed an incredible run of success that saw him establish an artistic and cultural legacy that continues to this day, co-creating “Rat Pack”, “Major Eazy”, and “El Mestizo” for Battle, as well as Judge Dredd for 2000AD and Strontium Dog for Starlord.

The Thirteenth Floor Volume 2 – 15th October – on sale in book and comic shops
John Wagner, Jose Ortiz
ISBN: 9781781087725
Print and digital – 15th October 2020
UK £14.99
Pages: 176 // Paperback

Collecting the darkly comical series from the pages of Eagle, this second volume of the hugely popular The Thirteenth Floor continues the misadventures of the murderous machine A.I., Max!

The Thirteenth Floor exists in Maxwell Tower – an experimental tower block run by an A.I. called Max who looks after his tenants and take revenge on those who threaten them by sending them to The Thirteenth Floor – a place where nightmare and reality become one!

This second collection of the popular series which began in Scream! and continued in Eagle carries the story further into the 1980s, with the authorities becoming more aware of Max’s out of control vindictiveness, and their attempts to shut him down.

Roy of the Rovers: Pressure

Roy of the Rovers: Pressure – 29th October – on sale in book and comic shops
Writer: Rob Williams
Artist: Lisa Henke

Race to the finish!

Having had their thirty point deduction rescinded, Melchester Rovers find themselves back in the top half of the table with a chance of promotion to the Championship.

For joint-captain Roy Race, things are still far from good. Having just lost a League Cup final and with every point vital in their quest to attract new ownership, Roy has hit a patch of rough form and can’t find the back of the net!

Prepare for a nail-biting finale as the final whistle blows on another action-packed season!

NOVEMBER

The Return of Sexton Blake Special 2020
Not Final Cover

The Return of Sexton Blake – 11th November – on sale in all good newsagents (and comic shops from 9th December) – see our separate news item

He’s the world’s greatest detective and now one of the most popular fictional characters of all time, Sexton Blake, is back! Part Sherlock Holmes, part action hero, Blake was created by Harry Blyth in 1893 and his instant success saw him become the subject of countless novels, comics, radio, and TV, making him one of the last century’s most popular characters.

Featuring a guide to his adventures alongside just some of his timeless comic book adventures, enjoy a 96-page collection that will reintroduce the master of mystery and suspense…

Faceache Volume One paperback edition – 12th November – on sale in book and comic shops

Ken Reid (supported by some “ghost artists” in this volume) is consistently name-checked by the greats of comics – from Alan Moore to Kevin O’Neill, John Wagner to Pat Mills – for his unique art that is matched only by his enduring sense of humour.

Befitting his status as one of the all-too-forgotten greats of British comics, with some strips by others, here’s his timeless Faceache – the humorous adventures of Ricky Rubberneck, the boy with a “bendable bonce” whose skin stretches like rubber. 

At will, he can scrunge his face into anything, whether it’s mimicing others or turning into monstrous creatures – but always coming a cropper!

Strontium Dog: Search & Destroy – 12th November – on sale in book and comic shops
John Wagner, Carlos Ezquerra
ISBN: 9781781087657
Digital and webshop-exclusive edition – available now
UK £19.99
Pages: 144 // Hardcover

The earliest adventures of one of 2000AD’s greatest series – Strontium Dog – are to be reprinted in colour for the first time in decades. Reprinted with its original colour pages, Strontium Dog: Search and Destroy is a sumptuous hardcover 144-page collection collecting the origins of John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra’s hard-hitting story of prejudice and violence.

Strontium Dog: Search and Destroy brings back into print one of the seminal series of British comics, a science fiction Western that merges everything from time travel to a trip to Hell itself. This new collection is a must for fans and collectors alike, restoring this series to its rightful place as one of the key series in the annals of British comics.

Originally published in Starlord2000AD’s sister comic, these early stories had a profound effect upon readers, including future film director Edgar Wright.

After the comic merged with 2000AD, Johnny Alpha quickly became a fan favourite character and Strontium Dog remains one of the most iconic strips in the history of British comics!

Cor!! Buster Bumper Fun Book

Cor!! Buster Bumper Fun Book – now 25th November – on sale in book and comic shops

Cavan Scott, Neil Googe, Hilary Barta, Tom Paterson, Sheli Paroline, Olivia Hicks and Brett Parson
ISBN: 9781781088647
Print and digital – 25th November 2020
UK £10.99 // US $13.99
Pages: 96 // Paperback

Brighten up the Christmas holidays with this bumper collection hilarious stories filled with laughs and fun, for kids of all ages! Britain’s golden age of humour comics returns for the 21st century, with brand new stories by today’s top talents.

Featuring characters like Kid Kong, Grimly Feendish, Faceache, and Frankie Stein are given new life in this compendium of hilarity by Neil Googe (The Flash), Cavan Scott (Doctor Who), Tom Paterson (The Beano, The Dandy), Shelli Paroline (Adventure Time) and Hilary Barta (DC Comics Plastic Man)!

Death Squad – 26th November – on sale in book and comic shops
Alan Hebden, Eric Bradbury, Carlos Ezquerra
ISBN: 9781781087688
Print and digital – 26th November 2020
UK £14.99 // US $19.99 // CAN $26.99
Pages: 128 // Paperback

Meet the deadliest band of fighters on the Eastern Front in an all-out all-action, complete-in-one brutal war story from the pages of the classic war comic, Battle! During World War Two the Eastern Front was Hell on Earth – German Punishment Battalions were thrown into the thick of the conflict where they were expected to fight well and die hard. In these harshest of conditions only the strongest warriors survived.

Enter the Death Squad – Grandad, Swede, Licker, Gus and Frankie. Alone they were failures and outcasts, but together they were one of the most formidable combat units the Russians ever faced!

One of the all-time classics from the groundbreaking and hugely influential Battle comic, this features gritty art from Eric Bradbury and Carlos Ezquerra, bringing the horrors of the Eastern Front to readers in a brand new collection!

DECEMBER

Misty Creepy Christmas Special – 2nd December – on sale in all good newsagents and comic shops

Christmas is the perfect time for a ghost story and this year’s Misty Presents… special will bring a few seasonal scares with a 48-page special that will shock your Xmas stocking off the wall and have you cowering under the tree with your presents!

Prepare yourselves for a Yuletide shocker as M.R. James meets Black Mirror in a brand new title to round out a very special year!

Sláine: Web of Weird – 10th December – on sale in book and comic shops

Judge Dredd: Control – 10th December – on sale in book and comic shops
Writers: Rob Williams and Robbie Morrison
Artists: Chris Weston, Paul Peart
Colourists: Chris Blythe, Dylan Teague, Sean Barnes-Murphy

Writer Rob Williams follows up his smash hit Judge Dredd: Small House in a brand new collection with artist Chris Weston!

Judge Dredd is at the mercy of Judge Pin – his most sinister opponent since Judge Death!

The psychopathic SJS Judge murders officers that fall short of her standards, and Judge Dredd is in her sights in this collection of stories featuring flesh-eating Kleggs, hijacking ape gangs and out of control war robots reprogrammed by insane accountants in tales ranging from deathly serious to outrageously funny, all from one of the most popular contemporary Dredd creative teams of Williams and Weston.

Entirely drawn by Weston, the talented artist for DC Comics (The Filth), Image (Ministry of Space) and Marvel Comics (The Twelve), this storyline is a game changer for the Dredd universe.

The Rise and Fall of the Trigan Empire Volume Two: Limited Edition Hardcover - Cover
Exclusive limited edition cover by Liam Sharp

The Rise and Fall of the Trigan Empire Volume Two – 12th December – on sale in book and comic shops – limited edition numbered hardcover available from Rebellion direct
Writer: Mike Butterworth
Artists: Don Lawrence, Ron Embleton

The second thrilling omnibus of the best-selling SF classic from the 1960s!

Among the distant stars, fractious tribes come together to found a mighty empire that will wage war against aggressive kingdoms, battle alien invaders, and conceive of incredible new technologies. This extraordinary volume continues to chart the glorious Rise and Fall of the Trigan Empire!

A landmark in British comics history, painted by the legendary Don Lawrence in stunning, classic style, and springing from the grandiose pen of Mike Butterworth, this is an epic tale that creates a new far-future science fiction mythos that captured the imagination of a generation.

Printed in large format to showcase the lush fully-painted colour artwork, this edition features an introduction from the Don Lawrence’s former apprentice, Chris Weston (The Twelve).

The Best of Sugar Jones – 24th December – on sale in book and comic shops
Pat Mills, Rafael Busóm
ISBN: 9781781087701
Print and digital – 24th December 2020
UK £14.99
Pages: 112 // Paperback

Sugar Jones is the charming twenty-something host of her own late night variety show, beloved by viewers up and down the nation. Only her assistant Susie knows her secret – Sugar is really selfish, sour, scheming – and 40 years old! She do anything to make a quick buck.

Written by 2000AD legend Pat Mills, Sugar Jones features stunningly beautiful art from Spanish illustrator Rafael Busóm – it’s not just a comic book but an archive of 1970s fashion too!

A luscious collection that will appeal to readers young and old, a morality tale that combines fashion and soap opera in only the way ‘70s British comics could! Sugar Jones is a forgotten gem from The Treasury of British Comics’ archive.

JANUARY

Hope … Under Fire – 21st January 2021 – print edition on sale in book and comic shops
Guy Adams, Jimmy Broxton
ISBN: 9781781087718
Digital – Available Now
UK £9.99 // US $9.99 // CAN $12.99
Pages: 64 // Paperback

The second volume of the dazzling 2000AD debut – mixing Hollywood noir and occult magic! In an alternate post-war 1940s Los Angeles, where dark magic is a fact of life, Mallory Hope is a private detective haunted by his past…and by the occult forces he uses. An inspired new classic in the making, a stylish supernatural detective noir for fans of The Fade Out (Ed Brubaker/Sean Phillips) and the novels of Raymond Chandler, James Elmore and Dashiell Hammett

Don’t forget we have a full list of Rebellion’s 2020 releases here, plus those announced but deferred until 2021 here. Please note, it does not include all graphic novel titles slated for release in 2021, just new dates for titles that have been postponed from the 2020 schedule

IN THIS WEEK’S PROG – 2197

2000AD Prog 2197 is out now from all good newsagents and comic book stores, plus digitally from the title’s webshop and apps

Cover by Dom Reardon

Judge Dredd: End of Days by Rob Williams (Writer) Henry Flint (Artist) Chris Blythe (Colourist) Annie Parkhouse (Letterer)

Mega-City One, 2142 AD. Home to over 140 million citizens, this urban hell is situated along the east coast of post-apocalyptic North America. With unemployment rife and boredom universal, tensions run a knife-edge and crime is rampant. Only the Judges
— zero-tolerance cops empowered to dispense instant justice — can stop total anarchy. Toughest of them all is JUDGE DREDD — he is the Law!

The Out by Dan Abnett (Writer) Mark Harrison (Artist) Annie Parkhouse (Letterer)

The furthest edge of the universe, far into the future. Cyd Finlea is photojournalist working for the publishers Global Neographic, travelling deep into outer space — otherwise known as THE OUT — and cataloguing the sights and alien societies that she encounters. She’s been doing this for so long, she can’t remember how far she is now from Earth, but regardless she keeps going — just her and her camera…

Future Shocks: Stream M For Murder by Liam Johnson (Writer) Steve Yeowell (Artist) Simon Bowland (Letterer)

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. Abandon your preconceptions, and expect the unexpected…

Tharg’s 3rillers: Saphir by Kek-W (Writer) David Roach (Artist) Peter Doherty (Colourist) Simon Bowland (Letterer)

Three episodes, one complete, self-contained story — a condensed hit of super-charged Thrill-power beamed to you directly from the Nerve Centre! Paris, 1899. Inspector Alphonse Mucha has been directed to a house on the Left Bank by an anonymous tipoff,
claiming that Lady Sofia Corundum has been murdered, her body lying within a secret room. But Mucha will soon discover that all is not as it seems…

The Diaboliks: A Crooked Beat by Gordon Rennie (Writer) Dom Reardon (Artist) Jim Campbell (Letterer)

Solomon Ravne and Jennifer Simmons were once part of Caballistics, Inc., a private paranormal troubleshooting outfit put together by reclusive rock star Ethan Kostabi. Jennifer, however, was thrown into Hell, and became possessed by a demon. After
Caballistics was disbanded with the death of Kostabi, Ravne and Jenny became a couple, and are now working on behalf of the Malleus, destroying their demonic enemies…

2000AD 2197 is Available in print from newsagents and comic book stores via Diamond. Available in digital from the 2000AD webshop and apps for iPad, Android, Windows 10



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