It’s the sequel no-one wanted, and which authorities did everything they could to prevent – but the corpulent giant alien Bonjo From Beyond The Stars has escaped from the 2000AD vaults, and is lurching back into the pages of the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic this Christmas!

Prepare for a brand new tale of bilious chaos and comical carnage written by Garth Ennis (Preacher, The Boys) and drawn by the legendary artist and original Bonjo creator Kevin O’Neill (Nemesis the Warlock, League of Extraordinary Gentlemen) – coming to the bumper Christmas issue of 2000AD.

“Bonjo From Beyond the Stars: Solids in the Bile Tube” is a 13-page one-off story in 2000AD Prog 2312, on sale 14th December 2022 in the UK.

Bonjo first appeared in ten single-page strips between 2000AD progs 41 and 50. He later resurfaced in the one-off story, “Tharg’s Head Revisited” in prog 500, and was mentioned in the Damage Report in prog 1977.

The original strip, inspired by the humour titles of 2000AD’s then-owners, IPC – including classic series such as Ken Reid’s “Faceache”, featured at different extents through its short original run. It was reprinted in the 1984 2000AD annual, concluding with a new page, suggesting Bonjo was very hard to get rid of.

The strip marks O’Neill’s return to 2000AD since drawing the concluding episode in 2000 of Nemesis the Warlock, his and Pat Mills’ groundbreaking series that began in 1980 and sealed O’Neill’s reputation as an artist of extraordinary skill and imagination.

However, Bonjo is no brave alien freedom fighter but a giant, idiotic alien with a voracious appetite who eats everything he comes into contact with! He now returns – unbidden, unwanted, and unfiltered – to 2000AD in a gross, madcap and filthy new story that will have readers spraying invective with and at every page!

When Tharg heads to a publishers’ conference and leaves the droids in charge, few expect the chaos that ensues when something emerges from the old filing cabinet marked ‘Progatory’, where old Thrills are supposed to go to die…

Garth Ennis said: “Bonjo’s been stuck in my head ever since I first read his adventures back in 1978 – the character himself is adorable, his supporting cast is inspired (M.A.C.H. Sponge, M.A.C.H. Elephant and the heroic M.A.C.H. Aardvark), but the dialogue is simply irresistible: ‘Darn it- solids in the bile tube again! Have to mash it back down!’ and the unforgettable ‘Uuur, what for you stick plunger up hooter?’ A question well worth pondering; I find myself remembering that one almost daily.

“The story features Bonjo reappearing at the worst possible time in the worst possible way, as a money-hungry Tharg tries to impress other publishers with crossover possibilities featuring the Galaxy’s Greatest. What’s that stirring in the bottom drawer of the old King’s Reach Tower filing cabinet? Why should you never play poker with the VCs? And will Tharg’s droids save the day, or will they make things catastrophically worse?

“Kev and I had a hoot with ‘Kids Rule OK’ in the Battle Action special, and I was delighted when he got in touch about doing another short story,” Garth continues. “Bonjo immediately came to mind- it’s not quite my first exposure to his work, which pops up all over the early progs, but it’s close enough. Bonjo provides a nice opportunity to talk about embarrassing old concepts that emerge right when you don’t want them to- which let’s face it, is something that makes everyone laugh.

“Or if not everyone, me and Kev.”

Kevin O’Neill said: “In space nobody can hear you- laugh! But Mad #215 used it: so BONJO 2: THIS TIME IT’S WARM! Kevin and Garth reboot unwanted, unloved and unburied page filler nobody asked for – took the Galactic Groats and ran.”

“For the last forty-four years, Squaxx dek Thargo [readers of 2000AD] had thought their progs were safe, that they’d seen the last of the interstellar menace,” notes Matt Smith, editor of 2000AD, “But he’s back, and not even Tharg can stop him.

“Bonjo From Beyond the Stars has returned in ‘Solids in the Bile Tube’, a thirteen-page story for the Xmas prog brought to you by Garth Ennis and Kevin O’Neill – and yes, it’s every bit as anarchic, filthy and bowel-looseningly funny as you’d expect. Few Thrills get as moist as this one, Earthlets.’

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, Comics

Tags: 2000AD, Bonjo from Beyond the Stars, Garth Ennis, Kevin O'Neill, Matt Smith, Tharg