In Review: 2000AD Prog 2065

2000AD Prog 2065 - Cover by Chris Weston

The latest issue of 2000AD, on sale now in all good newsagents and comic shops, continues to stoke up the fires for all its protagonists, with some particularly grim outlooks for the ABC Warriors and Savage – and Dredd isn’t having much fun, either!

Fronted by a cover by Chris Weston, we’re treated to a fine blend of all-out action (“Judge Dredd” by Michael Carroll, with cracking art by Paul Davidson), crazy weird action (“Bad Company” by Peter Milligan and Rufus Dayglo) and high concept SF (“Brass Sun” by Ian Edginton and INJ Culbard). Meanwhile, Pat Mills is pulling no punches script wise on both “A.B.C. Warriors” or “Savage”, aided in style by artists Clint Langley and Patrick Goddard.

While the latter is an episode of exposition, it’s the kind of back story filling that will have every longtime 2000AD reader wondering just what Pat’s up to as he further weaves many 2000AD storylines he’s created across 40 plus years into one larger universe and timeline. Yet, while this could be seen as “playing to the gallery”, new readers should, I think, be able to read this story, as Savage faces off with an old enemy.

There’s a definite sense of being in on the beginning of some major developments for the 2000AD pantheon, and I can’t help but feel the “Fleetway Universe” of characters introduced in last year’s Scream/Misty Special might have something to do with what we’re seeing in “Savage” – but only time will tell. (Literally, if you’ve read the strip…)

I’ve indicated a couple of times recently how on game I think these recent Progs are and 2065 is no exception. With Judge Dredd Megazine (issue 392 on sale now) also firing on all cylinders, we’re being spoiled right now. Long may this continue!

Episodes include:

2000AD Prog 2065 - Judge Dredd

Judge Dredd » The Shroud (part 1)
Writer: Michael Carroll Artist: Paul Davidson Colourist: Chris Blythe Letterer: Annie Parkhouse

Mega-City One, 2140 AD. Home to over 72 million citizens, this urban hell is situated along the east coast of post-apocalyptic North America. Crime is rampant, and only the zero-tolerance Judges — empowered to dispense instant justice — can stop total anarchy. Toughest of them all is JUDGE DREDD — he is the Law! After crashing in the Siberian wastes, he’s been picked up by scavengers, who have sold him on to slavers…

2000AD Prog 2065 - ABC Warriors

A.B.C. Warriors » Fallout (part 5)
Writer: Pat Mills Artist: Clint Langley Letterer: Annie Parkhouse

Mars, the far future. War droids created for a conflict that ended centuries ago, the ABC WARRIORS are resistant to Atomic, Bacterial and Chemical warfare. Charged with bringing peace to the civil war-ravaged frontier colonies on the Red Planet, the Mek-nificent Seven have recently recruited the mechanic Tubal Caine, who was once Happy Shrapnel. Now, they’re determined to take down the villainous Howard Quartz…

2000AD Prog 2065 - Brass Sun

Brass Sun » Engine Summer (part 5)
Writer: Ian Edginton Artist: INJ Culbard Letterer: Ellie de Ville

The Orrery is a clockwork solar system, a clutch of planets orbiting a vast BRASS SUN, but the outer worlds are freezing as the sun dies. Young Wren must find the elements of the key that will restart the sun, and has embarked on an epic quest with conductor novice Septimus. An aspect of the Blind Watchmaker, The Orrery’s creator, was implanted in Wren’s head, and she’s now transferred it to Arthur, a robot assassin…

2000AD Prog 2065 - Savage

Savage » The Thousand Year Stare (part 5)
Writer: Pat Mills Artist: Patrick Goddard Letterer: Ellie de Ville

In 1999, Britain was invaded by the Volgans, and lorry driver BILL SAVAGE’s family were killed. He led the resistance to victory in 2010, when the enemy surrendered. Now, in 2015, Savage has been stationed in Volgan-occupied Berlin under the guise of bar owner Herr Wilder, but his hatred of Volgans caused him to go on killing sprees. He has teamed up with Volgan police officer Nika Volodina to investigate Volgan experiments…

2000AD Prog 2065 - Bad Company

Bad Company » Terrorists (part 5)
Writer: Peter Milligan Artist: Rufus Dayglo Colourist: Dominic Regan Letterer: Simon Bowland

It has been a decade since man fought the Krool on the planet Ararat. Danny Franks was just a raw recruit until he was drafted into the guerrilla unit known as BAD COMPANY. Kano, Fly-Trap, Mad Tommy and Thrax were living in a veterans’ compound, dosed in psyche-chem to keep the memories at bay, when they realised the truth about the war had been hidden from them. They busted out, and are now enemies of the state…



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