In Review: 2000AD Prog 2075

By John Freeman on April 4, 2018

After its recent “Jump On Board” issue, well received by many regular readers from the look of the letters page, the action hots up in 2000AD Prog 2075, on sale now in UK newsagents and digital platforms, fronted by a cover by Simon Coleby, coloured by Len O’Grady.

Stepping away from alien supernatural, “Judge Dredd” has more down to earth problems caused by an obsessive timekeeper whose tech goes squiffy. Writer Rory McConville delivers a nice little throwback to early one-shot Dredds in “The Death Watch” and Paul Marshall’s art suits the story nicely.

After several one shot stories, “Sinister Dexter” gets an ongoing tale, returning to the problems caused by a universe reboot that left most not knowing who the boys were (well, apart from readers, of course). It’s going to be interesting to see how they get out of a hit on their heads and other plot threads hitting home. I’m enjoying Steve Yeowell’s work on this Dan Abnett-penned strip.

Also enjoyable is David Roach’s work on Emma Beeby’s “Anderson – Psi Division” tale and the return of Judge Karyn to the pages of 2000AD is very welcome, speaking as someone who penned some of her early stories.

The issue wraps with another favourite – more smashing “Strontium Dog“, with Carlos Ezquerra on art duties as Johnny Alpha struggles with trying to keep Wulf’s inexperienced son safe on an alien world.

All in all the recent “reboot” kicked off well and the Thrills continue aplenty with this Prog.

In this issue:

JUDGE DREDD: THE DEATH WATCH
by Rory McConville (Writer) Paul Marshall (Artist) Dylan Teague (Colourist) Annie Parkhouse (Letterer)

Mega-City One, 2140 AD. Home to 100 million citizens, this urban hell is situated along the east coast of post-apocalyptic North America. With the population housed in giant city-blocks, and unemployment at ninety per cent, tensions run a constant knife-edge. 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!

JAEGIR: IN THE REALM OF PYRRHUS
by Gordon Rennie (Writer) Simon Coleby (Artist) Len O’Grady (Colourist) Ellie De Ville (Letterer)

The Greater Nordland Republic. While the Norts are currently engaged in a galaxy-wide war with the Souther forces, it falls to military officers such as Kapiten-Inspector Atalia JAEGIR of the Nordland State Security Police to investigate war criminals amongst her own ranks. She’s also suffering from the Strigoi curse, a fault in the Nort DNA that can bring out the beast within. Now, she’s on a mission with her team on Nu Earth…

SINISTER DEXTER: THE DEVIL DON’T CARE
by Dan Abnett (Writer) Steve Yeowell (Artist) John Charles (Colourist) Annie Parkhouse (Letterer)

Gun-sharks Finnigan SINISTER and Ramone DEXTER are the best hitmen money can buy in the city of Downlode. Having been offworld hunting for Holy Moses Tanenbaum, a ganglord from an alternate dimension, they’ve returned home, and are getting back to business. But whacking Tanenbaum reset the continuum, and no one knows who they are — apart from old friend Billi Octavo, who mistakenly believes they killed her sister…

ANDERSON, PSI DIVISION: UNDERTOW
by Emma Beeby (Writer) David Roach (Artist) Jose Villarrubia (Coourist) Simon Bowland (Letterer)

Mega-City One, 2140 AD. Psi-Division is a section of Justice Department that specialises in Judges with accentuated psychic talents — from precognition to exorcism, it deals with all manner of paranormal crimes. Cass ANDERSON is Justice Dept’s top telepath, and now she and Judge Flowers are investigating a supernatural threat that is affecting all of Psi-Div’s operatives, to the point where they are now being considered hostile…

STRONTIUM DOG: THE SON
by John Wagner (Writer) Carlos Ezquerra (Artist) Ellie De Ville (Letterer)

Late 22nd century. After the Atomic Wars, many survivors were warped by the Strontium 90 fallout. These ‘mutants’ became a victimised underclass, and the only job open to them was bounty hunting. One such Search/Destroy agent, or STRONTIUM DOG, is Johnny Alpha. Now, the Doghouse has reopened for business, and Alpha’s been partnered with Kenton Sternhammer, son of his old Viking pal Wulf, on a job on Protoz…

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.