This week’s edition of 2000AD, Prog 2325, is a REGENED edition, the first of 2023 – a special all-ages edition of the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic, with a cover from Steve Roberts. There are two collections out, also – and there’s news of a new Robo-Hunter collection, too, arriving in September.
This packed issue inclues another case for Cadet Dredd, courtesy of Ned Hartley and Toby Willsmer, as he enters the dreamscape of his clone-brother Rico; the young genetically engineered proto-soldiers are back in “Mayflies” by Michael Carroll and Simon Coleby as they battle mercenaries out to score a bounty; lowlife criminal Eddie Schlepper teams up with a malfunctioning robot in the Future Shock, “VIN-E, Blow the Doors!” by James Peaty and Gary Welsh. Plus, 2000AD REGENED returns to the rundown school for wizards “Lowborn High”, courtesy of David Barnett and Anna Morozova, as Andy Frost, Maisy, Ali and Drill all discover the perils of choosing your animal familiar!
There’s a short Robo-Hunter prose story, too, from Scott Montgomery, as Sam Slade tries his hand at droid stand-up comedy!
The inclusion of this short story comes ahead of the release of a new collection, Robo-Hunter: Planet of the Robots, in September, “presented in full colour as it was when collected by Eagle Comics as a five-issue mini-series”. Given the quality of that reprint, published back in 1984, pages “stretched” to fit the US size format, albeit with some art revisions over some panels from Jose Luis Ferrer by series co-creator Ian Gibson, there’s some concern among fans at just how this will look…
This issue of 2000AD REGENED is a great “all-ages” package, although whichever droid forgot to include an advertisement for Rebellion’s all-ages humour title, Monster Fun, must surely have been sent to Meq-Quake by now…
If you missed any of the previous REGENED issues, don’t forget there are now no less than four collected volumes available.
IN THIS ISSUE…
CADET DREDD – DREAM TEAM
Cadet Dredd: Dream Team by Ned Hartley (Writer) Toby Willsmer (Artist) Annie Parkhouse (Letterer)
Mega-City One, 2074 AD. Home to over 800 million citizens, this urban hell is situated along the east coast of post-apocalyptic North America. On one side is the polluted Black Atlantic, and to the west is the blasted radlands of the Cursed Earth. Overcrowding in the metropolis is rife, unemployment is at ninety per cent, boredom is universal and crime is rampant. Only the Judges – a zero-tolerance police force empowered to dispense instant justice – can stop total anarchy. CADET JOE DREDD – together with his clone-brother Rico – is a rising star in Justice Department, and will one day be its finest officer. Make no mistake, he is the Law!
LOWBORN HIGH – OLD FAMILIARS
by David Barnett (Writer) Anna Morozova (Artist) Phillip Vaughan (Colourist) Jim Campbell (Letterer)
For as long as anyone can remember, Wychdusk Manor has been the school to which all the top magical novices are sent, where they are trained to become the world ’s greatest wizards. There, students are taught every form of spellcasting by the wisest of mages, and to be part of Wychdusk ’s alumni is an incredible honour.
But what about those that don’t make the grade, that don’t have the talent to make it to this prestigious establishment? For them, there’s LOWBORN HIGH , a rundown inner-city comprehensive that is often struggling with funding. Androgeus Frost has recently joined the school, becoming friends with Maisy, Ali and Drill…
ROBO-HUNTER – TOUGH CROWD
Short text story by Scott Montgomery
Brit-Cit, the twenty-second century. In this future metropolis, droids are an everyday part of life, performing many of the menial jobs for their human masters. But occasionally a robot can go rogue, either a product of haywire circuits or a desire to break from its programming. That is when you call for a ROBO-HUNTER , private detectives specialising in tracking down missing meks and dealing with dangerous ‘bots. Sam C. Slade is one of the best Robo-Hunters in the business, and is accompanied by his robotic cigar Stogie and his idiot understudy Hoagy, a pair who often prove more of a hindrance than a help…
FUTURE SHOCKS – VIN-E, BLOW THE DOORS!
By James Peaty (Writer) Gary Welsh (Artist) Pippa Bowland (Colourist) Annie Parkhouse (Letterer)
Out in the vast reaches of the universe, there are an infinite number of stories waiting to be told. These cautionary tales pass from traveller to traveller in the spaceports and around campfires on distant planets, acquiring the status of legend, their shocking ends a salutary lesson in hubris. Anything is possible in these twisted trips into the galaxy ’s dark side. Abandon your preconceptions,
and expect the unexpected. Now, in the twenty-third century, Eddie Schlepper is an experienced conman and thief, always on the lookout for that big score. Could the robot he’s about to literally run into be the answer to his criminal schemes…?
MAYFLIES – THE SCARAB
By Michael Carroll (Writer) Simon Coleby (Artist) Len O’Grady (Colourist) Simon Bowland (Letterer)
Nu Earth is just one planet among many caught up in a galactic war between the Norts and the Southers. Strategically vital, both sides are desperate to secure it but use of chemical weapons during the conflict has rendered the atmosphere poisonous. So the Southers created the Genetic Infantrymen, bred to be immune to the planet ’s cocktail of pollutants. But the gene-engineers are always looking to improve the next generation of G.I.s, giving them specialised abilities — and a squad of young clones have gone AWOL, escaping from a Nort attack. Now, they ’re holed up on space station Camp Isthmus, having defeated the local criminal kingpin…
Available in print from: newsagents and comic book stores via Diamond | Available in digital from: 2000AD webshop and apps for iPad, Android and Windows 10
• Check out our guide to 2000AD, Treasury of British Collections and Specials for 2023 here
ALSO OUT THIS WEEK…
Pandora Perfect
by Roger Langridge and Brett Parson
Out: 30th March 2023 | Date via AmazonUK and other online bookshops
80 Pages
ISBN: 978-1786188045
Hold on to your pearls!
For when criminal genius, sometimes babysitter and all round bad ‘un Pandora Perfect is broken out of prison by her faithful robot Gort, no one’s valuables are safe! Pandora and Gort set out on the heist of their lives, stealing fabulous jewels, pickpocketing guffwarblers, and investigating the secrets of a moon made of sausage!
The breakout star of 2000 AD’s acclaimed Regened specials, Pandora swindles, cheats and lies her way to infamy and riches in this hilarious collection by Roger Langridge (Bill and Ted are Doomed) and Brett Parson (Tank Girl). So, hide your heirlooms, lock up your loot and hold on tight! When Pandora and Gort are around, its sure to be Supercalifagilis-Twisted-and-Explosive!
Available in print from: 2000AD webshop, book stores, Amazon, and comic book stores via Diamond | Available in digital from: 2000AD webshop & apps for iPad, Android and Windows 10
Hawk the Slayer – Watch For Me In The Night
By Garth Ennis (Writer) Henry Flint (Artist) Rob Steen (Letterer)
Out: Now | 144 Pages | ISBN: 978-1837860203
THIS IS A STORY OF HEROIC DEEDS… The cult classic film Hawk The Slayer continues in a brand-new comic book sequel! Years after the final defeat of Voltan, his brother Hawk suspects the influence of the Dark One’s masters- the ancient and malevolent Black Wizards, whose touch remains a blight upon the mortal world. At the behest of his mysterious sorceress ally, Hawk gathers comrades old and new- Gort the Giant, Crow the Elfin bowman, warrior woman Bella and the dubious bard Wain- and sets out to finish the Wizards once and for all. But what awaits him, deep beneath the once-holy fortress of Dainsford, is a horror beyond his darkest nightmares.
Writer Garth Ennis (Preacher, The Boys) and artist Henry Flint (Judge Dredd, Sancho Panzer) unite to conclude the tale from the 1980 fantasy adventure, as the characters brought so memorably to life by Jack Palance and John Terry return for one final battle… WHEN THE LEGIONS OF DARKNESS STALK THE LAND!
Available in print from: 2000AD webshop, book stores, Amazon, and comic book stores via Diamond | Available in digital from: 2000AD webshop and apps for iPad, Android and Windows 10
Coming Soon…
• Essential Judge Dredd: Judgement Day – 11th April
• The Best of Jane Bond – 13th April
• The 10,000 Disasters of Dort – 4th May
• Best of 2000 AD Volume 3 – 9th May
• The Complete Diceman – 23rd May
• Essential Judge Anderson: Shamballa – 20th June
Check out our guide to 2000AD, Treasury of British Collections and Specials for 2023 here
With thanks to Reuben Willmott for the heads up on Robo-Hunter – Planet of the Robots
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, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News
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