Celebrate 50 Years of 2000AD in February 2027, as Tharg the Mighty barrels through time with The 2000AD 50th Anniversary Special!
A standalone blast of Thrill-Power for new and long-time fans of The Galaxy’s Greatest Comic, the Special features five new stories across sixty pages, one for each decade of the comic’s existence.
Headed up by a cover from 2000AD legend and one of the most celebrated artists is comic book history, Brian Bolland, the Special will crash-land in stores worldwide on the 24th February 2027, headlined by Judge Dredd, and filled with familiar faces from across the history of 2000AD – including some surprise returns…
Readers thought he was finished with his most famous creation but Judge Dredd co-creator John Wagner will return to the Lawman of the Future for one more ride on the Lawmaster, as he teams with artist Dan Cornwell for a story which brings the most famous creation of 2000AD’s first decade roaring onto the streets once more.
Then, we smash through into the second decade of 2000AD as Robo-Hunter Sam Slade makes a grand return to the comics page, attempting to close a cybernetic new case with the assistance of new creative team Robbie Morrison and Mike Perkins.
Morrison will also usher us into 2000AD’s third decade, with the surprise return of Nikolai Dante, as he pairs with his original co-creator Simon Fraser for a swashbuckling new adventure featuring 2000AD’s greatest rogue!
On revisiting the fan-favourite character, Fraser explains: “it’s supremely comfortable. I don’t need any reference. My hand already knows how to draw everything. I instinctively know what every character is feeling. Everything is designed to suit how my hand moves across the paper. While it’s profoundly nostalgic to be drawing Dante again. This story has something new to offer. Which is as much as I can say…”
Morrison adds: “I’m chuffed to have been invited to contribute to the 50th Anniversary issue, with not just one, but two stories. Returning to Nikolai – and, of course, working with my old chum Simon Fraser again – has been great fun, surprisingly easy, really, after all that time.
“The story itself isn’t what I expected to write, but I think it turned out quite nicely. Tharg’s reaction on receiving the script: “It’s like Dante’s never been away!” Can’t say much else, other than if you’re a Nikolai Dante fan, then it’s everything you’d want from a Nikolai Dante story – and a wee bit more besides.”
The fourth decade of 2000AD sends us into the new Millennium and back across the danger of the open seas, as comics luminaries Ian Edgington and Steve Yeowell team up for a new story for Captain Jack Dancer and the crew of The Red Seas.
Edginton describes the story as “a classic return to high seas shenanigans with Jack and the boys – featuring a 1950’s Chevy, dinosaurs, aliens and of course pirates”, with Yeowell adding “drawing this ten page anniversary romp for Jack and the boys under the dashing pen of my old shipmate Ian Edginton has been more fun than I can say. Expect the usual Harryhausen-esque antics and enjoy the swash and buckle, but be warned – steer clear of mysterious islands…”
And as we hit top gear, Tharg celebrates the current decade of the comic with bestselling writer Dan Abnett and celebrated co-creator INJ Culbard, who offer a new instalment of the essential hit series Brink.
Abnett reveals: “Our creepy little offering takes place between Brink Book 6 and Book 7, while Kurtis and co on en route to Luna Hab for what will turn out to be the most devastating chapter of the series yet. And just when the series seems to be finding rational explanations for all the ongoing weirdness, this story serves to remind us that there’s still plenty of spooky high strangeness happening on the Brink.”
Five stories, five decades!
But that isn’t all, citizens. 2000AD has always looked to the future, so what would any celebration be without a leap into the great unknown?
The 2000AD 50th Anniversary Special is proud to welcome back some of the most beloved characters in its five-decade history: ABC Warriors! And to cement this major return, original series writer and co-creator Pat Mills returns to 2000AD with artist Colin MacNeil.
Mills says of the story: “I felt the ‘ABC Warriors’ should be in the 50th. Colin McNeil came up with the initial idea which I adapted”; with MacNeil explaining: “As with so many things, it started with a drawing. In this case, whilst sat by the fireside I did a drawing of Deadlock holding up a tarot card called Mekropolis.
“It sparked an idea in me for a story for the 50th anniversary honouring those early ABC Warriors stories. I wrote it down and eventually sent it to Pat Mills. The rest, as they say, is a comic strip. Long story short… Yes, it’s all my fault this happened!”
With something for current, returning, and new fans alike, don’t miss the 2000 AD 50th Anniversary Special – it’s the biggest party in the Universe!
The 2000AD 50th Anniversary Special is available for pre-order from the 2000AD webshop, through UK comic book stores, in the US through Lunar Distribution, and in Canada through Universal Distribution
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John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as 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.
Categories: 2000AD, British Comics, British Comics - Current British Publishers, Comic Previews, Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News
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