A bumper-size edition of 2000AD – Prog 2456 – hits newsagents shelves and comic shops tomorrow, Wednesday 29th October 2025, featuring a knockout cover featuring The Mighty Tharg himself from Mike Dowling, who’s also the artist and co-creator of Unfollow, written by Rob Williams and published by Vertigo.

The fourth and final bumper issue of 2000AD for the year offers 48-pages of blistering sci-fi action and excitement. “Judge Dredd”, “Rogue Trooper”, “Void Runners”, “Brass Sun” and “Red Dragon” are joined by two complete stories this issue, as “Nightmare New York” returns for another supernaturally-charged walk through the streets of the Big Apple.

Plus, don’t miss out on an exclusive “Big-Ass Sword” story from creator Andreas Butzbach, ahead of the release of his original graphic novel in November, reviewed here for downthetubes by Luke Williams.

Plus! The Thought Bubble Talent Search is On! Do you want to write or draw for 2000AD or Judge Dredd Megazine? Visit thoughtbubblefestival.com/2000ad for all the info and engage your imaginations!

2000AD Prog 2456
UK and DIGITAL: 29 October £4.99
NORTH AMERICA: 3 December $35.00 (Prog Pack)
DIAMOND: AUG250919
COVER: Mike Dowling

In This Issue:

JUDGE DREDD // AND TO THE SEA RETURN 
by Rob Williams (Writer) Henry Flint (Artist) Annie Parkhouse (Letterer)

Mega-City One, 2147 AD. Home to over 250 million citizens, this urban hell is situated along the east coast of post-apocalyptic North America. 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! Now, a mysterious mist has wafted in off the Black Atlantic, and Dredd has boarded floating prison the Barge…

BIG-ASS SWORD // DEFRAG PROCESS 
by Andreas Butzbach

In a world unlike our own, a robot warrior wanders through a vast and hostile techno landscape, filled with strange life forms and mechanical beings left over from a longforgotten war. At the robot’s side is a talking skull. On his back, a BIG-ASS SWORD! But despite the ancient battles having been fought and won eons ago, still some sides continue to indulge in bitter conflicts…

RED DRAGON 
by Rob Williams (Writer) Steve Yeowell & Patrick Goddard (Artist) Dylan Teague (Colourist) Simon Bowland (Letterer)

Siadwell Rhys was once a member of sixties British superhero team Cloud 9, who operated under the name RED DRAGON. When they disbanded due to illness and loss of powers, Siadwell returned to his home village in Wales, where his heavy drinking caught up with him. He died fighting against Masterman, but now, forty years later, journalist Martin Howe is looking into Red Dragon’s past for a documentary…

VOID RUNNERS // BOOK TWO 
by David Hine (Writer) Boo Cook (Artist) Annie Parkhouse (Letterer)

The far future. The Federation is made up of a huge number of planetary systems, and such an immense group of civilisations requires an enormous level of control. The Ankorites have taken it upon themselves to rule the Federation, using the drug Kali’s Dust to stimulate visions, which is harvested from benign creatures called the Pleroma. VOID RUNNER Alice Shikari has decided to free people from the Federation…

NIGHTMARE NEW YORK // HARD TIMES 
by Kek-W (Writer) David Roach (Artist) Peter Doherty (Colourist) Jim Campbell (Letterer)

Lower Manhattan, 1845. Paradise Square is at the centre of Five Points in Old New York. The early days of the North American metropolis are marked by a mix of poverty, organised crime and hardscrabble lives, where ragpickers rub shoulders with Christian missionaries. Young Lil was living rough on these dank streets when she discovered she had paranormal powers, and was almost sacrificed by her devil-worshipping father…

BRASS SUN // PAVANE 
by Ian Edginton (Writer) INJ Culbard (Artist) Simon Bowland (Letterer)

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 was charged with finding the elements of the key that would restart the sun, and embarked on an epic quest with conductor novice Septimus. Now the two are separated, and Wren has partnered with Ariel O’Conner to fight back against the Enginemen…

ROGUE TROOPER // GHOST PATROL
by Alex de Campi (Writer) Neil Edwards (Artist) Matt Soffe (Colourist) Jim Campbell (Letterer)

Nu Earth, site of a galactic war between the Norts and the Southers, where the atmosphere has been rendered poisonous. So the Southers created the Genetic Infantrymen, immune to the pollutants — G.I.s like ROGUE TROOPER, the last of his kind. Together with biochip buddies Helm, Gunnar and Bagman, the digitised souls of his dead comrades, he searches for the traitor that betrayed the clone-soldiers…

Available in print from: 2000AD webshop, TG Jones, select supermarkets and comic book stores via Diamond | Available in digital from: 2000AD webshop, 2000AD app for Apple & Android

INCOMING…

BIG-ASS SWORD
by Andreas Butzbach (Writer, Artist)
Out: 6th November 2025
Hardcover | 96 Pages
ISBN:  978-1837865635
• Buy it from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)
• Read Luke Williams review

In a world far from our own reality, a robot warrior wanders through a vast and hostile techno landscape, filled with strange lifeforms and mechanical beings left over from a long, forgotten war. At the robot’s side is a talking Skull. On his back, a BIG-ASS SWORD!

This stunning, Heavy Metal-esque adventure, marks a stunning, original graphic novel debut in the English-speaking market for Andreas Butzbach.

Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 48
By John Wagner, Al Ewing, Gordon Rennie et al
Out: Scheduled for 6th November 2025
Paperback | 304 Pages
ISBN: 978-1837866076
• Buy it from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)

UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT

The epic, world-shattering Tour of Duty storyline begins as Judge Dredd is exiled to the Cursed Earth in the wake of his decision to support new pro-mutant laws in Mega-City One.

The best-selling series collecting The Law in order continues as the ultimate lawman of the future brings his unique brand of policing to the streets and creeps of the dystopian nightmare he calls home.

Written by John Wagner (A History of Violence), Al Ewing (The Immortal Hulk), Gordon Rennie (Missionary Man), Robbie Morrison (The Authority) and John Smith (Vampirella) with art by Karl Richardson (Warhammer), Carl Critchlow (Batman/Judge Dredd), Colin MacNeil (Strontium Dog), PJ Holden (Terminator/RoboCop), Mike Collins (Captain Britain), Paul Marshall (Firekind), Cliff Robinson (Vector 13), Jon Haward (Tharg’s Future Shocks), Colin Wilson (Point Blank), Peter Doherty (Kingsman: The Red Diamond), Kev Walker (Hellblazer), Patrick Goddard (Rogue Trooper: Blighty Valley) and John Higgins (Watchmen).

• About the Author
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John Freeman

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.

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Categories: 2000AD, British Comics, British Comics - Current British Publishers, Comic Previews, Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News

Tags: 2000AD, Big Ass Sword, Brass Sun, downthetubes News, Judge Dredd, Mike Dowling, Nightmare New York, Red Dragon, Rogue Trooper, SF Comics, Void Runners