This week sees the release of the first of two very special ‘Specials’ from Rebellion, alongside 2000AD Prog 2136 and Judge Dredd Megazine Issue 409 – the second following in just seven days.
As well as the second terrific “Mind Wars” collection as a free supplement, this week’s Megazine has three new stories starting in the shape of “Judge Dredd: The Red Queen’s Gambit” by Arthur Wyatt and Jake Lynch, “The Returners: Chandhu” by Si Spencer and Nicolo Assirelli, and Brit-Cit gangland thriller “Diamond Dogs” by James Peaty and Warren Pleece, alongside the final instalments of the brilliant “Lawless” and “The Torture Garden“. Plus, we’re treated to a great interview with artist Mike Perkins, and other features.
The latest 2000AD Sci-Fi Special pays tribute to one of the greatest comic book artists of all time, focusing on the legacy of Carlos Ezquerra, who died last year.
As well as brand new strips featuring some of his most beloved characters (and some smashing cameos I won’t spoil in the opening Judge Dredd story), it includes his last work – the first 20 pages of “Spector“, the brand new creator-owned strip starring a robot detective that he was working on with John Wagner when he passed away.
As previously trailed here on downthetubes, 26th June sees the release of a Special reviving two of the greatest British girls’ comics, Tammy and Jinty, returned to the news stand with The Tammy & Jinty Special 2019. This brand new 48-page special features a host of modern creators paying tribute to a legacy of trail-blazing comics, including work by Rachael Smith, V V Glass (Assassin’s Creed), Emma Beeby (Mata Hari), DaNi (Misty), Yishan Li (Batwoman), Rob Williams (Roy of the Rovers), Lisa Henke (Roy of the Rovers) and a back cover by Kit Buss, artist on Critical Role’s Vox Machina.
ON SALE THIS WEEK…
2000AD Prog 2136
Cover: Tiernen Trevallion
UK and DIGITAL: 19th June 2019 £2.85
NORTH AMERICA: 19th July 2019 $32.80 (per pack)
DIAMOND: APR191908
JUDGE DREDD: THE SAMARITAN
by Kenneth Niemand (Writer) Staz Johnson (Artist) Chris Blythe (Colourist) Annie Parkhouse (Letterer)
Mega-City One, 2141 AD. Home to over 130 million citizens, this violent urban hell is situated along the east coast of post-apocalyptic North America. Unemployment is rife, boredom endemic, and crime is rampant. Only the Judges — future law officers empowered to dispense instant justice — can stop total anarchy. Toughest of them all is JUDGE DREDD — he is the Law! Despite the resources that Justice Department has to hand, there are still some perps that evade capture — one such felon is The Samaritan…
SCARLET TRACES: HOME FRONT
by Ian Edginton (Writer) D’Israeli (Artist) Ellie De Ville (Letterer)
1968. It is decades since Mars waged war on Earth, and the major nations have access to Martian-derived technology, but Britain is still recovering from Martian bombardment in the 1940s, when much of the south of England was destroyed.
This was followed by the arrival in the 1950s of two million Venusians, seeking refuge from Martian occupation.
Now, the Martians have weaponised the sun, and are on the attack, decimating countries around the world, and mankind must find a way to fight back…
THISTLEBONE
by TC Eglington (Writer) Simon Davis (Artist) Annie Parkhouse (Letterer)
England, 2019. The rural village of Harrowvale holds a dark past — namely that, on a farm bordering the vast tracts of woodland, it hosted a cult seeking to escape civilisation, worshipping an ancient deity called THISTLEBONE.
Led by the charismatic Jasper Hillman, their pagan beliefs grew ever more radical to the point where they tried to sacrifice the young Avril Eason. She escaped, and now, years later, Avril has returned to Harrowvale with journalist Seema Chaudry to ensure that the cult is truly dead…
ABSALOM: TERMINAL DIAGNOSIS
by Gordon Rennie (Writer) Tiernen Trevallion (Artist) Ellie De Ville (Letterer)
UK, 2017. Inspector Harry ABSALOM is an old-school copper — curmudgeonly anti-authoritarian, he’s been with the force for over forty years. Suffering from inoperable cancer, he’s the head of a special squad that enforces The Accord, a diplomatic treaty made in the 16th century between the throne of England and the powers of Hell.
Now, he’s leading a unit that is storming The Mills, a stronghold of the demonic Rathborne family, to rescue his grandchildren, fully aware that this could get them all killed…
JUDGE DREDD MEGAZINE 409
Cover: Nick Percival
Features: 2000AD Sci-Fi Special, Tammy & Jinty Special, Mike Perkins interview
Bagged reprint: Mind Wars Volume 2
UK and DIGITAL: 19th June 2019 £5.99
NORTH AMERICA: 19th July 2019 $13
DIAMOND: APR191910
JUDGE DREDD: RED QUEEN’S GAMBIT
by Arthur Wyatt (Writer) Jake Lynch (Artist) John Charles (Colourist) Annie Parkhouse (Letterer)
After past encounters with La Reine Rouge, Dredd’s ready to take on the Euro crime syndicate…
LAWLESS: ASHES TO ASHES
by Dan Abnett (Writer) Phil Winslade (Artist) Ellie De Ville (Letterer)
Colonial Marshal Metta Lawson was appointed to the frontier township of Badrock on the planet 43 Rega, intent on stamping her authority on the colony. But in doing so, Lawson made many enemies, including Munce, Inc., the mega-corporation that funds Badrock. Now, Justice Department has flown in back-up, saving the town from being obliterated by Munce…
DIAMOND DOGS
by James Peaty (Writer) Warren Pleece (Artist) Simon Bowland (Letterer)
Brit-Cit, 2141 AD. The remnants of old Britain still exist alongside the twenty-second century Mega-City, and these ruins are fought over by the Brit-Cit street gangs, who see them as valuable territory. Jimmy Slick’s Diamond Dogs is one such outfit, making a name for themselves in the criminal underworld. But Jimmy’s lieutenant, Nia Jones, is not all she seems…
THE RETURNERS: CHANDU
by Si Spencer (Writer) Nicolo Assirelli (Artist) Eva De La Cruz (Colourist) Simon Bowland (Letterer)
Ciudad Barranquilla, 2141 AD. Four different people – academic Barrancourt, ex-Judge Mineiro, gangbanger Correira, and transgender street-walker Chavez – all awoke from near-death experiences, and as a consequence are capable of dealing with the supernatural.
They’ve also been cursed with immortality, but not, however, invulnerability…
THE DARK JUDGES: THE TORTURE GARDEN
by John Wagner (Writer) Nick Percival (Artist) Annie Parkhouse (Letterer)
After the events on the Mayflower, the cargo ship the Solips discovered the Dark Judges Death, Fire and Mortis floating in space, and the alien superfiends murdered the crew. Landing on a remote Mega-City colony world called Dominion, Death and co used their powers to decimate the population. Now, Mega-City marines must rescue the survivors and destroy Dominion…
2000AD SCI-FI SPECIAL 2019
Cover: Mick McMahon
UK, NORTH AMERICA and DIGITAL: 19th June 2019 £4.99/$7.99
DIAMOND: APR191909
JUDGE DREDD: NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM
by Alan Grant (Writer) Robin Smith (Artist) Matt Soffe (Colourist) Annie Parkhouse (Letterer)
Enjoy a great Dredd story set in the Mega City One Scinece Fiction Museum, crammed with character cameos…
FIENDS OF THE EASTERN FRONT: STRANGE MEETING
by Guy Adams (Writer) Dave Kendall (Artist) Ellie De Ville (Letterer)
In 1980, the diary of German soldier Hans Schmitt was discovered in Berlin, detailing events that occurred in 1941, when he and his comrades encountered the terrifying Captain Constanta and his Romanian platoon, who feasted on the blood of their Russian enemies. But before Constanta turned his vampire troops, they were very
much human, and facing the reality of their mortality on the battlefield…
SPECTOR
by John Wagner (Writer) Carlos Ezquerra (Artist) Jim Campbell (Letterer)
In a near-future US city, corruption within the branches of government has reached unsustainable levels. City Hall is rotten to the core, and the police force is equally on the take. To that end, SPECTOR is created, a robot detective — beyond bribery and untainted by potential malfeasance — who has been charged with rooting out criminal elements. But the android inspector is making many enemies…
WULF STERNHAMMER: VALHALLA
by Michael Carroll (Writer) Patrick Goddard (Artist) Simon Bowland (Letterer)
Norway, 2171 AD. After helping Strontium Dog Johnny Alpha bring the mutant criminal Max Bubba to justice back in 793 AD, Viking warrior WULF STERNHAMMER returned to the twenty-second century with the Search/Destroy agent. Although a man now centuries ahead of his time, Wulf’s friendship with ‘Johnny Veird-Eyes’ means he decides to stay in the future — even if everyone he knows is long gone..
All these titles are available in print from newsagents and comic book stores via Diamond | Available in digital from the 2000AD webshop and apps for iPad, Android and Windows 10 Web: 2000ad.com
COMING SOON FROM REBELLION…
TAMMY AND JINTY SPECIAL
Cover: Lisa Henke (front) Kit Buss (back)
UK, NORTH AMERICA and DIGITAL: 26th June 2019 £4.99/$7.99
DIAMOND: APR191915
JUSTINE, MESSENGER OF JUSTICE: SOME “MINO” TROUBLES
by Emma Beeby (Writer) PJ Holden (Artist) Dearbhla Kelly (Colourist) Jim Campbell (Letterer)
ROCKY OF THE ROVERS
by Rob Williams (Writer) Lisa Henke (Artist) john Charles (Colourist) Jim Campbell (Letterer)
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
by Andy W. Clift (Writer and Artist) Mike Stock (Letterer)
IN THE COLD DARK
by Matt Gibbs (Writer) VV Glass (Artist) Mike Stock (Letterer)
MAISIE’S MAGIC EYE
by Kate Ashwin (Writer) Kel McDonald (Artist) Mike Stock (Letterer)
SPEED DEMONS
by Sarah Millman (Writer and Artist) Jim Campbell (Letterer)
DUCKFACE
by Rachael Smith (Writer) Yishan Li (Artist) Jim Campbell (Letterer)
THE ENIGMA VARIATION
by Grainne McEntee (Writer) Dani (Artist) Jim Campbell (Letterer)
BELLA AT THE BAR
by Rachel Ball (Writer) Vanessa Cardinali (Artist) Jim Campbell (Letterer)
PLUS…
Operation: Overlord #2 – 26th June
Roy of the Rovers: Going Up – 27th June
Counterfeit Girl – 27th June
JULY
Death Wish – 11th July
Digest – Judge Dredd: Ghost Town – 25th July
Leo Baxendale’s Sweeny Toddler – 25th July
Roy of the Rovers: Best of the ‘50s – 25th July
Operation: Overlord #3 – 31st July
AUGUST
The Complete Future Shocks Vol. 2 – 7th August
The Vigilant: Legacy – 14th August
Roy of the Rovers: Best of the ‘60s – 22nd August
Best of Steel Commando – 22nd August
Operation: Overlord #4 – 28th August
SEPTEMBER
Wildcat 2: Loner – 5th September
Grey Area Book Two – 5th September
Judge Dredd: The Small House – 5th September
Roy of the Rovers 65th Anniversary Special – 11th September
Judge Dredd: Complete Case Files (US) – 17th September
OCTOBER
Dr Mesmer’s Revenge – 3rd October
Scream & Misty Presents 13th Floor Special – 16th October
Absalom 3: Terminal Diagnosis – 17th October
Misty Presents The Jordi Badia Romero Collection – 17th October
All these titles will be available in print from newsagents and comic book stores via Diamond | Available in digital from the 2000AD webshop and apps for iPad, Android and Windows 10 Web: 2000ad.com
- About the Author
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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, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News
“Now, the Martians have weaponised the sun, and are on the attack, decimating countries around the world, and mankind must find a way to fight back…”
Please: attacking, destroying, wrecking – but not “decimating” – countries. Unless one country in ten was targeted as a matter of intent.