Be ready for Black Beth, new Special from Rebellion coming soon!

By John Freeman on June 16, 2021

2000AD Prog 2236, Judge Dredd Megazine 433, Black Beth

The latest 2000AD and Judge Dredd Megazine are out this week for your reading pleasure, but you absolutely do not want to miss the upcoming Black Beth & The Devils of Al-Kadesh, Rebellion’s next ace Treasury of British Comics Special.

On sale in the UK from 23rd June, this is Coffin Bound artist DaNi going full-on Sergio Toppi – a swords ‘n’ sorcery special written by Alec Worley that brings this forgotten British comic book character back to life in a breathtakingly new way – accompanied by some extras, such as a full page pin-up by David Roach!

Black Beth first appeared in the 1988 Scream! Holiday Special and stood out for several reasons. It was much longer than the other strips in the special, running to over twenty pages. Tonally, it was far more mature than what was usually found in Scream!, which was a horror comic aimed at the pre-teen audience, and it was very much part of the fantasy genre, further distancing itself from the other content in the special, and the lead character was a female – a rarity in British boys’ comics at the time.

Featuring the amazing art of Spanish illustrator Blas Gallego, Black Beth was originally developed in the mid-1970s, intended to be published in a new IPC comic, to be titled… Scream. That comic never happened and so the art was tucked away for years, until, in the 1980s, somebody in the Scream! editorial team, looking for material for the Holiday Special, stumbled upon this hidden gem of a story. Unfortunately, due to the lack of credits, the writer of that original story still remains a mystery to this day.

That original “Black Beth” tale resonated with a young Alec Worley so much, that when Rebellion resurrected Scream! as an annual one-shot, he was quick to pitch a revival of the character. Teamed with the great DaNi on art duties, the first strip, which ran in The Scream and Misty 2018 Special, proved to be very popular, leading to a second, “The Witch Tree”, for the 2020 Special.

Having proved to be a popular strip with readers once again, Rebellion now present Black Beth and the Devils of Al-Kadesh – her most epic adventure yet. Let’s hone there’s more to come!

Available in print from 23rd June: 2000 AD webshop, book stores, Amazon, and comic book stores via Diamond | Available in digital from: 2000 AD webshop and apps for iPad, Android, Windows 10

Out This Week from Rebellion

2000AD Prog 2236

Cover by Dylan Teague

Judge Dredd: Removal Man

Writer: John Wagner Artist: Colin MacNeil Colourist: Chris Blythe Letterer: Annie Parkhouse

Mega-City One, 2143 AD. Home to over 160 million citizens, this urban hell is situated along the east coast of post-apocalyptic North America, with the irradiated wasteland known as the Cursed Earth to the west. Unemployment is rife, boredom universal and crime is rampant. Tensions rest on a knife-edge and only the zero-tolerance Judges can stop total anarchy. Toughest of them all is JUDGE DREDD — he is the Law!

Mechastopholes: The Hunting Party

Writers: Gordon Rennie, Laurence Rennie Artist: Boo Cook Letterer Annie Parkhouse

It is over a year since the Fall, when the demons rose and society collapsed. A band of human survivors have sought refuge in a demonically powered robot called MECHASTOPHELES, and they use this infernal ark as a means to seek sanctuary, searching for a safe haven away from the creatures that now stalk the land. But the demon bound to the mek, Apollyoneth Morga, has enemies in Hell too…

Department K: Cosmic Chaos

Writer: Rory McConville Artist: Dan Cornwell Colourist: Len O’Grady Letterer Simon Bowland

Mega-City One, 2143 AD. Justice Dept has many divisions tasked with dealing with the threats that face the metropolis, and DEPARTMENT K is a branch of Tek-Div, whose brief is to tackle interdimensional enemies. Headed by Judge Kirby, and comprising of intern Afua, Mechanismo droid Estabon and the alien Blackcurrant, they’re now helping a neighbouring reality, which is being attacked by raiders entering through a rift…

Chimpsky’s Law: The Talented Mr Chimpsky

Writer: Kenneth Niemand Artist: PJ Holden Colourist: Chris Blythe Letterer Simon Bowland

Mega-City One, 2143 AD. Late 21st-century science gave primates the ability to speak and socialise with humans, and there’s an enclave within the metropolis, Apetown, where simian citizens can live and work. Noam Chimpsky is a super-intelligent ape, who has chosen to look after the human civilians in his local sector. But now he’s working on an orbital mansion, where there’s been a gathering of the Jepperson family…

Feral & Foe II

Writer: Dan Abnett Artist: Richard Elson Letterer Jim Campbell

It is five years after the Last-of-All-War, when the Monarchy succeeded in defeating the Malign Lord. With their leader dead, his minions are scattered, fleeing retribution from the Wretchfinders. Necromancer Bode and warrior Wrath are two such beings, and were offered a deal — hunt and kill their own kind or be declared FERAL & FOE. Now, they’ve returned to Golgone the Necromancer, having retrieved the Chalice of Malice…

Available in print from: newsagents and comic book stores via Diamond | Available in digital from: 2000 AD webshop and apps for iPad, Android, Windows 10

Judge Dredd Megazine 433

Cover by Nick Percival

JUDGE DREDD PROJECT PROVIDENCE

Writer: Rory McConville Artist: Staz Johnson Colourist : Pippa Bowland Letterer: Annie Parkhouse

Mega-City One, 2143 AD. This vast urban hell on the east coast of post-apocalyptic North America is home to over 160 million citizens. Stemming the tide of chaos are the Judges, future law-enforcers empowered to dispense instant justice. Toughest of them all is Judge Dredd – he is the Law! Now, Tek-Div has been utilising scientists from other cities to develop chrono-tech…

DEVLIN WAUGH THE RECKONING

Writer: Ales Kot Artist: Mike Dowling Colourist: Quinton Winter Letterer Simon Bowland

Brit-Cit, 2142 AD. A freelance paranormal troubleshooter and exorcist for the Vatican, Devlin Waugh is the world’s foremost supernatural investigator. Despite becoming a vampire after getting bitten tackling an outbreak in an underwater prison, Devlin continues to enjoy the finer things in life. Having recently befriended a demon, Tittivillus, he’s become suspicious of it…

DIAMOND DOGS BOOK TWO

Writer: James Peaty Artist: Warren Pleece Letterer Simon Bowland

Brit-Cit, 2142 AD. The remnants of old Britain still exist alongside the twenty-second century Mega-City, and these ruins are fought over by the Brit-Cit street gangs, who see them as valuable territory. Nia Jones used to run with the Diamond Dogs, but she was also a Justice Dept informer. Now, she’s been given the opportunity to kill the man who murdered her father…

THE RETURNERS AMAZONIA

Writer: Si Spencer Artist: Nicole Assirelli Colourist: Eva de la Cruz Letterer Jim Campbell

South-Am, 2142 AD. Four different people in Ciudad Barranquilla – academic Barrancourt, ex-Judge Mineiro, gangbanger Correira, and transgender street-walker Chavez – all awoke from near-death experiences, and as a consequence encounter supernatural entities. Now, after being trapped in a eerie house in Brit-Cit, they’ve been transported back to their home country…

DELIVERANCE PART TEN

Writer: David Hine Artist: Nick Percival Letterer Annie Parkhouse

After the events on the Mayflower, the cargo ship the Solips discovered the Dark Judges Death, Fire and Mortis floating in space, and the alien superfiends murdered the crew. They subsequently also decimated a colony, Dominion, before Mega-City marines destroyed the planet. Rescued by the Mortarian death-cult, the creatures are worshipped as gods…

Available in print from: 2000 AD webshop, book stores, Amazon, and comic book stores via Diamond | Available in digital from: 2000 AD webshop and apps for iPad, Android, Windows 10

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.