Believe it or not, I’ve actually had a short break away and I’m now playing a bit of catch up, so this week’s 2000AD review is a bit brief.
Wrapped behind a striking cover by Clint Langley, one of the highlights this issue is the debut of a new Judge Dredd story from Ian Edginton and Dave Taylor, the latter an artist who always delivers so much to the page, albeit in a markedly different style to the rugged slam bang adventure art style of the previous story, drawn by Paul Davidson.
With gorgeous art that wouldn’t look out of place in the very best of French bande dessines, Ian and Dave usher in a creepy MR James-style horror tale, with something clearly amiss after a returning exploratory spaceship crashes in MC-1. I’m very much looking forward to seeing where this goes.
The other highlight of this issue for me are the unpleasant developments for Bad Company – and they definitely aren’t good, but no spoilers here!
Also on sale now is Judge Dredd Megazine Issue 393, featuring episode three of the brilliant Judge Dredd story “Krong Island” and another utterly mind-blowing episode of “Lawless: breaking Badrock”, which features stunning art by Phil Winslade. Seriously – it’s utterly mind blowing!
There’s also a terrific interview with some of the new blood on 2000AD and the Meg including writer James Peaty and artist Steven Austin – well worth a read if you’re interested in trying to break into either title (it is far from easy, even if you’re a “name” already).
Plus – don’t mis the touching tribute to artist Jim Baikie, who died in January.
• 2000AD Prog 2069 is on sale now in all good comic shops (including Forbidden Planet) and newsagents
• Buy 2000AD: The Ultimate Collection from Forbidden Planet (using this link helps support downthetubes, thank you)
Episodes include:
Judge Dredd » Live Evil (part 1)
Writer: Ian Edginton Artist: David Taylor Letterer: Annie Parkhouse
Mega-City One, 2140 AD. Home to over 72 million citizens, this urban hell is situated along the east coast of post-apocalyptic North America. Unemployment is near total, boredom universal, and crime is rampant. It’s a powder-keg waiting to explode, and only the zero-tolerance Judges — empowered to dispense instant justice — can stop total anarchy. Toughest of them all is JUDGE DREDD — he is the Law!
Bad Company » Terrorists (part 9)
Writer: Peter Milligan Artist: Rufus Dayglo Colour: Dominic Regan Letterer: Simon Bowland
It has been a decade since man fought the Krool on the planet Ararat. Danny Franks was just a raw recruit until he was drafted into the guerrilla unit known as BAD COMPANY. Kano, Fly-Trap, Mad Tommy and Thrax were living in a veterans’ compound, dosed in psyche-chem to keep the memories at bay, when they realised the truth about the war had been hidden from them. They busted out, and are now enemies of the state…
Savage » The Thousand Year Stare (part 9)
Writer: Pat Mills Artist: Patrick Goddard Letterer: Ellie de Ville
In 1999, Britain was invaded by the Volgans, and lorry driver BILL SAVAGE’s family were killed. He led the resistance to victory in 2010, when the enemy surrendered. Now, in 2015, Savage has been stationed in Volgan-occupied Berlin under the guise of bar owner Herr Wilder, but his hatred of Volgans caused him to go on killing sprees. He has teamed up with Volgan police officer Nika Volodina to investigate Volgan experiments…
Brass Sun » Engine Summer (part 9)
Writer: Ian Edginton Artist: INJ Culbard Letterer: Ellie de Ville
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 must find the elements of the key that will restart the sun, and has embarked on an epic quest with conductor novice Septimus. An aspect of the Blind Watchmaker, The Orrery’s creator, was implanted in Wren’s head, and she’s now transferred it to Arthur, a robot assassin…
A.B.C. Warriors » Fallout (part 9)
Writer: Pat Mills Artist: Clint Langley Letterer: Annie Parkhouse
Mars, the far future. War droids created for a conflict that ended centuries ago, the ABC WARRIORS are resistant to Atomic, Bacterial and Chemical warfare. Charged with bringing peace to the civil war-ravaged frontier colonies on the Red Planet, the Mek-nificent Seven have recently recruited the mechanic Tubal Caine, who was once Happy Shrapnel. Now, they’re determined to take down the villainous Howard Quartz…
- About the Author
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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, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Reviews
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