This stunning 2000AD cover by Paul Williams, coloured by Chris Blythe, signals a “clearing of the decks” over at the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic, with all stories wrapped in advance of Prog 2200 – the latest “jump on” issue aimed at new readers.
It’s a busy week for 2000AD and Treasury of British Comics fans of course, as we’re also being treated to the celebratory 30th anniversary issue of Judge Dredd Megazine, and a positively fantastic Battle special, both also out next Wednesday.
2000AD Prog 2199 features “Judge Dredd: End of Days” by Rob Williams (Writer), Henry Flint (Artist), Chris Blythe (Colourist) and Annie Parkhouse (Letterer); “The Out” by Dan Abnett (Writer), Mark Harrison (Artist) and Annie Parkhouse (Letterer); “Sinister Dexter: Ghostlands” by Dan Abnett (Writer), Nicolo Assirelli (Artist), John Charles (Colourist) and Simon Bowland (Letterer); “Tharg’s 3rillers: Saphir” by Kek-W (Writer), David Roach (Artist). Peter Doherty (Colourist) and Simon Bowland (Letterer); and “The Diaboliks: A Crooked Beat” by Gordon Rennie (Writer), Dom Reardon (Artist) and Jim Campbell (Letterer).
Battle revolutionised comics in the 1970s – gritty, hardcore war stories that rejected gung-ho patriotism in favour of telling the stories of the soldiers on the ground. It paved the way for 2000AD and this week sees the release of a great “Battle of Britain” Special, timed to coincide with the 80th anniversary of the conflict, features new work by Garth Ennis (Preacher), Alex de Campi (Madi), Glenn Fabry (Preacher), Dan Abnett (Guardians of the Galaxy) and many more. (There’s even a spot of humour in the mix from Lew Stringer, too!)
For 30 years, the Judge Dredd Megazine has explored the world of Dredd and this week’s upcoming anniversary issue features some incredible new stories – from Kenneth Neimand and Dave Taylor’s “Megatropolis”, an Elseworlds-style series which reimagines Mega-City One as a Futurist dystopia in the style of Metropolis, and “Dreadnaughts”, a frighteningly topical tale by Mike Carroll and John Higgins set in the earliest days of Justice Department, when riots and disorder threaten to tear America apart – and the Judges begin their rise to power.
This issue also features a great interview with comics legend, Battle editor Dave Hunt, and the first part of the serialised 2000AD Encyclopedia, a sure-to-be-indispensible guide to the stories and characters from more than four decades of the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic.
– 2000AD, the Battle of Britain Special and Judge Dredd Megazine are Available in print from newsagents and comic shops, and digitally from the 2000AD webshop and apps for iPad, Android, Windows 10
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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, Comic Previews, downthetubes News
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