In Review: 2000AD 2067 (plus a look at Judge Dredd Megazine Issue 392, and more!)

2000AD 2067 - Cover

“Savage” artist Patrick Goddard provides the cover to this week’s 2000AD, on sale now in all good comic shops and newsagents across the UK now – and ABC Warriors and R0-Busters boss and long-term bad guy Howard Quartz has never looked meaner. Mind you, without giving too much away, he’s good reason to be in a bit of tizzy…

It seems to be the Prog for tables being turned in favour of the good guys, although Judge Dredd, battling a ferocious slaver in ice-cold Siberia looks like he’s got to go a couple more steps before he’ll really get the edge on his jailers. Michael Carroll and Paul Davidson give us The Great Escape with a nasty heat-seeking monster – and it’s great fun.

Bad Company find allies in unexpected places, while Savage had a plan up his sleeve all along – and Pat Mills surely delighted in the scenes is this week’s episode as Quartz prattles on about his warped philosophy being the only right way to run the world (or worlds, since he’s tied into “A.B.C. Warriors”, too, but there he’s the one who has to listen as Blackblood explains how he bested Hammerstein and gang – until a very familiar-looking Volkhan steps to the fore. (Has a divisive US president really been reincarnated as spell-using robot wizard? Whether he has or not, Clint Langley’s art this Prog is a delight).

In fact, the only “quiet” story this week is “Brass Sun” from Ian Edginton and INJ Culbard, but even there we have plenty to savour – including some moments that spark some triggered sadness in my hard old heart (again, no spoilers).

I’ve said before that this run of 2000AD has been on a roll and while there’s a little bit of wondering if some scenes have perhaps been a little over run rather than cranking up more action, it’s an enjoyable issue. Although poor old Flytrap does really go through the wringer!

Judge Dredd Megazine Issue 392 - CoverDon’t forget that Judge Dredd Megazine Issue 392 is still on sale in all good newsagents, offering a great “jump on point” for the title with several new stories. “Krong Island“, a new Judge Dredd story from Arthur Wyatt, with art by Jake Lynch coloured by John Charles, lettered by Annie Parkhouse, gets off to a strong start as Mega City One’s top lawman investigates a murder on a banana plantation.

Lawless: Breaking Bad” features some truly beautiful art by Phil Winslade, and “Cursed Earth Koburn: The Law of the Cursed Earth” sees Carlos Ezquerra paired perfectly with writer Rory McConville in a new epic out in the radiation-soaked badlands. Who cares if Koburn is the reincarnation of Battle’s “Major Eazy”? It’s always great to see Carlos in art action.

There are two great interviews with artists Duke Mighten and Arthur Ranson, the latter trailing the release of The Beatles Story, in print in the UK for the first time in decades thanks to Rebellion and on sale from 19th February 2018. It’s good to read Ranson and Angus Allan’s The Elvis Story, which also ran in Look-In, is going to be reprinted, too.

The Megazine rounds out with the opening episode of a new story set in the Dredd movie universe “The Dead World“, written by Arthur Wyatt & Alex de Campi with art by Henry Flint coloured by Chris Blythe. Flint delivers the goods on a story that brings a whole new look to the Dark Judges – well, one of them, at least, fro this issue, anyway.

2000AD: The Ultimate Collection Issue 12: Nikolai Dante Volume 2Also on sale right now is 2000AD: The Ultimate Collection Issue 12: Nikolai Dante Volume 2. Nikolai Dante, bastard son of Dmitri Romanov, is now fully immersed in the dynasty that he’s discovered he’s a part of. But this is a family like no other, and as Nikolai gets to know his half-siblings he learns just how dangerous they are. With war looming, it’s time for Dante to pick his alliances carefully…

Judge Dredd Mega Collection Issue 80 - Fallen AngelsIn the Judge Dredd Mega Collection Issue 80: Fallen Angels, the Angel Gang are one of the most feared bunch of murderin’, plunderin’ psychopaths to emerge from the Texas City rad-wastes. With the ruthless Pa Angel at their head, he and his brutal sons Link, Mean Machine, Junior and Fink are responsible for terrorising the local communities. But before Dredd encountered them, just how did they gain such a chilling reputation?

Talking of the Mega Collection, I just received a lovely complimentary copy of Issue 78: Stars of Psi Division. I mention this because it leads with “Skinner” a Judge Karyn story I wrote, drawn by Adrian Salmon, and you can still grab copies over on the title’s official web site or via retailers such as Forbidden Planet.

This tale rubs shoulders with stories scripted by John Wagner, Alan Grant, Grant Morrison, Mark Millar, Gordon Rennie, featuring the art of Carlos Ezquerra, Arthur Ranson, Paul Johnson and more, so I’m in very good company. As with Issue 75 (“Weird Science“), it’s quite a treat to see these stories of mine back in print. I hope you’ll check them out.

Buy 2000AD Prog 2067 from Forbidden Planet (using this links helps support downthtubes, thank you)

Buy Judge Dredd Megazine Issue 392 from Forbidden Planet

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 2000AD Prog 2067 Line-Up

2000AD Prog 2067 - Judge Dredd Judge Dredd » The Shroud (part 3)
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…

Bad Company » Terrorists (part 7)
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…

2000AD 2067 -SavageSavage » The Thousand Year Stare (part 7)
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 2067 - Brass SunBrass Sun » Engine Summer (part 7)
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 2067 - A.B.C. Warriors A.B.C. Warriors » Fallout (part 7)
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…

Buy 2000AD Prog 2067 from Forbidden Planet (using this links helps support downthtubes, thank you)

Buy Judge Dredd Megazine Issue 392 from Forbidden Planet

[amazon_link asins=’1781086176,B0724YT35J,0995661243,1906735336,178108548X,B010QCI2SI,B01D8LYN50,B00004D08T’ template=’ProductCarousel’ store=’downthetubes’ marketplace=’UK’ link_id=’c9f3d051-0c17-11e8-a719-ff38398507cb’]



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