Due to unprecedented fan demand, Rebellion has announced that the forthcoming release of Nemesis the Warlock: The Definitive Edition will be bigger and better – printed larger than any previous edition of the landmark 2000AD series.

Both paperback and hardcovers editions of the five-volume Nemesis the Warlock: The Definitive Edition series will now be published in a large-format size measuring 307 x 231mm (as opposed to 276 × 210mm).

Long regarded as one of the crown-jewel epics from the pages of 2000AD, this new series of paperbacks of Pat Mills and the late Kevin O’Neill’s Nemesis the Warlock is being published alongside gorgeous hardcover editions with stunningly designed new covers – available only from the 2000AD webshop – that present O’Neill’s groundbreaking and mind-bending art in all its glory.

After considering feedback from fans, Rebellion has boosted the dimensions of the collections to an over-sized format, making it larger than any previous edition.

And, for the first time, these editions will properly reprint the Nemesis the Warlock stories in their original publication order. They will also feature colour pages, as well as new high-resolution scans of the original stories, and all the covers and pin-ups from each era.

The first 176-page volume is on sale from 5th December 2023, with pre-orders open now from 2000AD and online retailers. Copies will be available to order through Diamond’s Previews catalogue.

The first volume will feature the stories ‘Terror Tube’, ‘Killer Watt’, ‘The Sword Sinister’, ‘The World of Termight’, ‘Alien Alliance’, ‘Secret Life of Blitzspear’, and ‘A Day in the Death of Torquemada’ from 2000AD, as well as development sketches showing the evolution of the cloven-hoofed alien freedom fighter Nemesis and his living spaceship, the Blitzspear – plus a panel from 1981 drawn by series creator O’Neill that acted as an apology to readers when the last few episodes of ‘The World of Termight’ were late.

Burning with iconoclastic fire and wild invention, Nemesis the Warlock is the satirical sci-fi space opera that helped place 2000AD as the true cutting edge, and catapulted Mills and O’Neill into the comics stratosphere.

Termight is the ruling planet of a cruel galactic empire, an empire led by the diabolically evil Torquemada, a twisted human despot intent on purging all alien life from the galaxy and punishing the deviants. His motto: Be pure! Be vigilant! Behave!

But there is rebellion and resistance to his rule in the form of a devilish-looking alien warlock called Nemesis, who represents everything that Torquemada hates and fears. Together Nemesis and Torquemada are locked in a duel which will affect the fate of humanity and each of them on a personal level as their conflict spans time and space!

Pat Mills is the creator and first editor of 2000AD. He developed Judge Dredd and is the writer-creator of many of 2000AD’s most popular stories such as “Sláine”, “Nemesis the Warlock” and “ABC Warriors”. Amongst his credits are Marshal Law, co-created with Kevin O’Neill, the French graphic novel series Requiem, Vampire Knight with artist Olivier Ledroit, and Be Pure! Be Vigilant! Behave! The Secret History of 2000AD, and “Judge Dredd”. His more recent work includes “Joe Pineapples: Tin Man”, illustrated by Simon Bisley and Clint Langley, Spacewarp, and Kiss My Axe! The Secret History of Sláine the Warped Warrior.

Kevin O’Neill, who died last year, is a 2000AD legend. From working as an art assistant on the very first prog, he quickly became involved in the creative side of the comic, co-creating classics like “A.B.C. Warriors”, “Bonjo From Beyond The Stars”, “Metalzoic” and “Nemesis the Warlock”. O’Neill also wrote for the comic on strips including “Dash Decent”, “Future Shocks”, “One-Offs”, “Tharg the Mighty”, and illustrated “Future Shocks”, “Judge Dredd”, “M.A.C.H. 0″,”Ro-Busters”, “Ro-Jaws’ Robo-Tales” and “Torquemada”.

Outside the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic, O’Neill was briefly notorious as the only artist ever to have his work rejected wholesale by the Comics Code Authority! Happily, his notoriety quickly became fame and acclaim, as his work on strips like Marshal Law and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. His other work included Green Lantern and Batman.

Jesus Redondo worked on several strips for 2000AD, including “Tharg’s Future Shocks”, “Nemesis the Warlock”, “M.A.C.H. 1” and “Return to Armageddon”. In the 1990s, he worked on Motormouth and Killpower for Marvel UK and Kitty Pryde for Marvel US.

• The first volume of Nemesis the Warlock: The Definitive Edition is out on 5th December 2023 from all good book and comic book stores, with a digital edition and the hardcover edition available exclusively from 2000AD.com

• Pre-order Nemesis the Warlock: The Definitive Edition – hardback edition from 2000AD.com

• Pre-order Nemesis the Warlock: The Definitive Edition – regular edition from 2000AD.com

• Pre-order Nemesis the Warlock: The Definitive Edition – regular edition from Amazon.co.uk | ISBN

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.

Categories: 2000AD, British Comics, British Comics - Collections, Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News

Tags: 2000AD, downthetubes News, Jesus Redondo, Kevin O'Neill, Nemesis the Warlock, Pat Mills, SF Comics