Luke Williams checks out the bumper Issue Seven of the 2000AD-inspired zine co-edited by Peter Duncan and Laurence McKenna, released earlier this year. This is the last-but-one edition of the title, although a final A5 release coming later this year…
Northern Irish fanzine Sector 13 has reached Issue Seven. Like other 2000AD fanzines, copyright owners Rebellion allow fans to create original stories using 2000AD worlds and characters, but not for profit. These kind of fanzines provide useful exposure for up and coming creators and many that started this way have progressed to fame and fortune (as much as the comic world can provide, anyway).
There’s been a bit of a gap between Issue Six and Seven of Sector 13, with no new issues for two years. So to celebrate, it comes in three parts, bought all as one or in bits each with their own unique content, the magazine sized 7, the A5 7A and tabloid sized 7B. For clarity, the digital versions are under review.
Last month, following the announced return of Zarjaz, the Sector 13 Comics team announced their decision to publish just one further, A5 edition of Sector 13, and then focus, for the main, on their own titles and characters, including the upcoming steampunk anthology, 1900.
“We’re very proud of everything we’ve produced, of every writer, artist, and cosplayer we’ve worked with, but there are other things we want to do,” explained Peter Duncan on Facebook. “So, apart from one, A5 special edition, coming later this year, that’s it for Sector 13.”
The good news is, you can get your hands on copies of every edition of Sector 13, details below – but first, here’s the Issue Seven review…
For those who came in late, Sector 13 is aimed at the same demographic as the ‘Prog, but the language throughout is decidedly saltier than the Prog, though probably on a level with Judge Dredd Megazine. The magazine-sized Issue Seven is not exactly a jumping on point, but, handily, there are recaps where necessary.
These recaps come in very useful for the titular “Sector 13”, the strip set in the world of the 2012 Dredd film, and in the titular sector. In short, there are some dodgy Judges creating a life extending drug (a bit like stookie, for older Dredd fans), from harvesting the DNA of mutants and selling it on to the rich and powerful. This it does – but result in donor suffering an agonising death.
What is unusual about this strip is that it’s photostrip, a rare beast in modern comics, though popular in the 1970s and 80s. Logistically, it must be a nightmare for creators Laurence McKenna, Peter Duncan and Patrick Brown to coordinate actors etc., but it is well produced. As with all photo strips, occasionally, the story doesn’t flow as well and some of the poses look stiffer than perhaps a drawn strip would. The dialogue is surprisingly coarse and the blood and bodycount are high. It lacks the wry humour of the regular 2000AD strip, but again, it’s set in the Dredd 2012 universe, so what you expect?
What comes next is perhaps a bit of a coup. Cult script robot John Smith hasn’t been seen around the Prog for many a year, but here he is writing one of his most famous creations, bounty hunter, cloner, nun and of the alien Sauron species, “Tyranny Rex”. Tyranny has been in the ‘Prog; as with Smith’s higher profile creations, she was briefly handed over to another writer and like the others to lesser effect than that delivered by her creator. Smith occasionally needs a strong editor but he’s one hell of a talent, and is heralded by the colour Will “Game of Thrones” Simpson cover, who also illustrates the strip.
For those with shorter memories (or just not born then), Simpson, Smith and co-writer Chris Standley created the infamous and almost completely baffling “Tyranny Rex : Soft Bodies” in the late 1980s for the ‘Prog. To see two of that creative team on a new strip is quite a treat for older Squaxx (I hold my hand up here).
After a long term with her toes turned up, Tyranny is resurrected, and all hell breaks loose. Cue usual Smith technobabble, body horror and a bit of (Sauron) nudity. It’s fabulous. Extended run please? Here, the Prog or the Meg – not fussed.
“Judge Whatley” is a supernatural mystery starring the aforementioned judge and written by Sector 13 editor Peter Duncan, art by Joseph V Parangue. Set in a village the less safe side of MC1’s Atlantic Wall, it’s a tale of exorcist judges and some creepy stuff in a Cthulhu style, with a tie in to “Sector 13” (the strip). Nice art and a nice spin on the underused exorcist Judges in an unusual setting.
“The Laced” doesn’t appear to have any connection to 2000AD, but stylistically it’s a “Tharg’s Terror Tale”. “The Laced” refers to people who have had their mouths and eyes sewn shut and used as slaves – an underclass in this alternative universe. Richard T Wright and Joseph McCafferty have created a short, but grim, commentary on what it means to be free, but its well executed.
16th Century Germany and the persecution of women is the setting for “Burning Time”, another non 2000AD related piece. Maxine Roe and Patrick Brown weave a one off tale of mistaken identity, persecution and oppression. Plot and dialogue are fine and dandy. The art’s loose scratchy style suit the subject matter well, but can be uneven occasionally.
Dreddverse one off “Held to Account” is written by Matt Badham and some guy called John Freeman (who may know a bit about comic), and drawn by video game designer Ste Pickford. The art is very slick, Pickford’s art comes across as a mix of Chris Weston and Simon Jacob, it’s beautifully detailed. Judge Meek has been investigating discrepancies in accounts division and mysteriously gets posted to the riot squad. Whoever moved him didn’t think figure on his replacement: – Dredd. Dredd carries out an “audit” whereas Meek’s bad day just gets worse. Good fun.
Last up is “Strontium Dogs: Super Heavy” by WD McQuaid and Patrick Brown is a weird one, titled as if it’s part of Johnny Alpha’s world, but in this issue at least there doesn’t appear to be any connection. Two operatives break into a star ship are on a rescue mission but are double crossed. This doesn’t stand up as well as the rest of the Sector 13 package, the characters expression are a bit limited, although the story telling is clear.
Onto A5 sized Issue Seven A. Behind a cover from Beano artist Nigel Parkinson, are two strips starring a Judge Madison. The first of these is in full colour by Pete Howard, Jospeh McCafferty and Patrick Brown, featuring splash pages of Madison escorting a perp in a lift, redolent of some of the best Dredd comedy one offs.
The second, by Peter Howard, Garry Wharton and Patrick Brown’s “Motion Sickness” is set in the undercity, pursuing illegal boingers into the undercity, is in the same humorous vein, but less effective.
“Only the Good Die Young” by Simon Gray, Ciaran Duke and Patrick Brown is an MC1 version of Squid Game, as two stookie addicts are sent on a wild goose chase to get their fix. “Half Six to Paddington” by Richard T Wright, Mike Slattery and Patrick Brown, is a “Future Shock” in everything but name with a neat punch line and great art.
Following its print format, Seven B is modelled on the old tabloid cartoon supplements that used to come with as part of their weekend editions. David Broughton’s Judge Dredd cover are a selection of parodies of newspaper strips, including Alan Holloway and Ed Doyle’s “Hagar the Harmless” and “The Tech Wizard of ID” by Craig Dawson and Gary Whitlock, who also provide a one panel “Dennis the Menace” gag, and “Beanutz” by Peter Duncan and Dave Windett.
Samuel Poots and Rob Anthony’s “Fergus the Ulsterman” pokes a little good natured fun at a certain warped warrior and his co creator with some lovely knockabout art. Ed Whiting, Sara Dunkerton and Patrick Brown’s “Law of The Wild” is rendered in lovely grey tones, and has clever use of spot colour for an anthropomorphic crime drama with a touch of the supernatural thrown in.
“Hooked” by Logan Burke, Scott Twells and Patrick Brown is an odd one-off, with distinctive artwork from Twells for a story about the recovery of a shipwreck deep in the ocean and some unlikely assistance.
The ambitiously titled “The Last Dredd” is a story of cadet assessment that goes tragically wrong with wonderfully moody scratchy art from Lukasz Pawlak, written by Mark McCann.
Matt Sharp and Dave Broughton provide almost silent Dredd strip “Escalation of Violence” as the actions of one perp, set off a chain reaction and the appearance of a very old robot enemy.
Bringing up the rear is Craig Dawson, Scott Twells and Patrick Brown with “Mega City One: A Fireside tale”, a story of cits unexpectedly encountering an MC1 Judge in distress, Twells’ art again a highlight.
Overall, Sector 13 is an interesting package , production values are high and some of this work wouldn’t look out of place in the ‘Prog. Sector 13 has something for everyone and if you buy each part, well that’s a lot of good comics for your money.
There is plenty of variety, you aren’t necessarily going to like everything, but aren’t all anthologies like that? Kudos to the creative and editorial team.
Luke Williams
• All three parts of Sector 13 Issue 7 are available for £21, inc UK P&P and full sets of Sector 13, issues 1-7, for £38 inc UK P&P. That ends up as eight comics, the compilation of issues 1 & 2, issues 3-6 and the three parts of issue 7. Payment via paypal to admin@sector13comics.co.uk, or via the Sector 13 store page at sector13comics.co.uk/store
Just to remind potential readers – Sector 13 is non-profit. Nobody, bar the printer, is paid for their efforts so the team really appreciate when payments are sent as family and friends – but do remember to include your address in a message to the team
If you want the tabloid sent unfolded, parcel postage costs apply, adding an additional £2 to the postal charges, so £18, plus £5 P&P. it also seems to take a bit longer.
• More about Sector 13 here on the Box of Rain website | Follow Sector 13 on Facebook
Brought up on a diet of Commando, British Boys Annuals and Asterix, Lucas Williams’s day job limits his reading time. Luckily for everyone else this also restricts his writing time.
Categories: British Comics, Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Features, Reviews
Demonic threats entertain in new Shaman Kane! 
Anna Morozova and Alberto Navajo join Commando ranks 
Latest EAGLE Times spotlights Classics Illustrated, an American Dan Dare, and more 
In Review: Into Battle: The Art of British War Comics