I couldn’t help but smile reading the latest episode of this week’s “Judge Dredd” story in 2000AD Prog 2138, because nestling in the story from Kenneth Niemand is a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it tip of the hat to one of the bands that commanded my attention back in the 1970s, The Alan Parsons Project, founded by Alan Parsons.
Just how many 2000 AD readers will get this reference too, I have no idea, but for the curious, The Alan Parsons Project: The Definitive Collection is here on Amazon.
2000AD creators are no strangers to throwing music references into stories and art of course, but that cuts both ways. If you like your 2000AD-inspired music harder, faster and louder than Alan Parsons delivers, and I bet a lot of you do, there’s a lot more out there to grab blow your headphones.
For those who prefer their 2000AD-inspired music a bit harder than Alan Parsons supplies, listen no further than Anthrax’s immortal I Am The Law, inspired by Judge Dredd… a song that’s also inspired t-shirts and even a Judge-Dredd-styled/Anthrax guitar!
“The artwork looked so amazing and Dredd was so f****** cool,” Anthrax front man Scott Ian told LouderSound.com earlier this year, recalling the origins of the song, who’s still playing the song at gigs three decades later. “I picked up a few copies and every time I was in the UK I’d hit up more comic shops looking for it. It was impossible to find in the States. I went to Forbidden Planet in NYC and I said, ‘You guys don’t carry 2000 AD?’ and they said, ‘No, it’s really hard for us to import…’
Anthrax Signature Series Guitar
“Because of me badgering them, they ended up getting a couple of copies every month and holding them for me. I was paying five times the price for them and I’m pretty sure they were pocketing the money, but I just needed my Judge Dredd fix.
“…I just think it’s a great song that still holds up,” he asserts. “I think that’s what’s great about any classic song. You just don’t get tired of them. That’s how I feel, as the guy who has to play it over and over again. There are many songs in our set that come and go but if we play I Am The Law at every show between now and the end of Anthrax, I wouldn’t have a problem with that. As soon as I bust into that riff, I can’t help but be happy.”
Any way, you’re here to find out what’s in this week’s ace Prog, not listen to my prognostications about Prog Rock or Metal, are you? Here you go, then. It’s another thrashingly good issue! (Sorry…)
But first, this, from 2000AD Prog 281, a message for Tharg from the late, great, Lemmy of Motorhead!
Lemmy of Motorhead eats 2000AD, as seen in Prog 281
IN THIS PROG….
Judge Dredd: The Samaritan (Part 3)
Script: Kenneth Niemand Art: Staz Johnson Colour: Chris Blythe Letters: Annie Parkhouse
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…
Thistlebone: Thistlebone (Part 4)
Script: T. C. Eglington Art: Simon Davis Letters: Annie Parkhouse
England, 2019. The secluded rural village of Harrowvale holds a dark past — that years earlier, on a farm bordering the vast tracts of woodland, it hosted a cult that was seeking to escape civilisation and find purity in the old ways, namely worshipping an ancient deity called THISTLEBONE.
Led by the charismatic Jasper Hillman, their pagan beliefs grew ever more radical to the point where they held the young Avril Eason captive with the intention of sacrificing her. But Avril escaped…
Anderson – Psi-Division » Martyrs (Part 2)
Writer: Emma Beeby Art: Aneke Colour: Barbara Nosenzo Letters: Simon Bowland
Mega-City One, 2141 AD. Psi-Division is a section of Justice Department that specialises in Judges with accentuated psychic talents — from precognition to exorcism, mindreading to astral projection, its operatives deal with all manner of paranormal crimes. Cassandra ANDERSON is Psi-Div’s top telepath, and has been responsible for saving the city on many occasions. But right now she’s trying save the possessed Karyn…
Scarlet Traces: Home Front (Part 12)
Script: Ian Edginton Art: D’Israeli Letters: Ellie de Ville
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…
Absalom: Terminal Diagnosis Book 02 (Part 3)
Script: Gordon Rennie Art: Tiernen Trevallion Letters: Ellie de Ville
UK, 2017. Inspector Harry ABSALOM is an old-school copper — curmudgeonly antiauthoritarian, 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…
• 2000AD is online at 2000ad.com – and don’t forget Judge Dredd Megazine 409 is on sale now, too – don’t miss out on the conclusion of the brilliant Starlord reprint, “Mind Wars”!
ON SALE SOON FROM REBELLION
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 1950s – 25th July
Operation: Overlord #3 – 31st July
The Complete Future Shocks Volume 2 – 7th August
The Vigilant: Legacy – 14th August
Best of Steel Commando – 22nd August
Roy of the Rovers: Best of the 1960s – 22nd August
Operation: Overlord #4 – 28th August
Scarlet Traces: A War of the Worlds Anthology – 5th September
Grey Area: A Long Way Home – 5th September
Judge Dredd: The Small House – 5th September
Wildcat 2: Loner – 5th September
Roy of the Rovers 65th Anniversary Special – 11th September
Judge Dredd: Complete Case Files 17 (US) – 17th September
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
Operation Overlord (Graphic Novel) – 14th November
Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 34 – 14th November
Ken Reid’s World Wide Weirdies Volume 1 – 28th November
The Dark Judges – The Fall of Deadworld Book Two – 28th November
The Complete Judge Dredd Case Files 18 (US) – 3rd December
• 2000AD is online at 2000ad.com
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
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, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Other Worlds
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