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Thrill Central! New 2000AD offers Thought Bubble talent search winners “Terror Tale”, new Megazine – and the Stainless Steel Rat is out, too!

By John Freeman on August 18, 2021

2000AD Prog 2245, on sale today, wraps two thrills – “Now That’s What I Call Justice” and Book One of “The Rivers of Hades” – paving the way for the third 2000AD Regened issue of the yea next week. But ahead of that, be sure to catch the complete “Terror Tale” scripted by Paul Starkey, with art from the brilliant James Newell, the winners of the annual Thought Bubble talent search.

In the “The Torturer’s Apprentice“, Detective Sergeant Moira Grant often steals evidence — but she may regret taking one particular book…

The prog includes a one-page feature introducing both talented creators.

The new Judge Dredd Megazine come crammed with thrills too – Judge Dredd, Devlin Waugh, Diamond Dogs, The Returners and Angelic, plus chats with artists brilliant artists Steve Roberts and Lee Sullivan, the latter best known, perhaps, for his work on Doctor Who, but drew several strips for 2000AD.

The big retro release this week from Rebellion has to be The Stainless Steel Rat: The Deluxe Edition, which is a fantastic collection of the strip with art by the late, great Carlos Ezquerra. And if you think that sentence is enthusiastic, why not check out Joe Gordon’s review? A treasure from the vaults, this!

We can’t not note some treats coming up, either. In next week’s 2000AD Regened, there’s plenty to look out for – more “Cadet Dredd”, this time from Liam Johnson and Duane Redhead, “Mayflies” returns, by Mike Carroll and Simon Coleby, “‘Splorers” makes its debut, by Gordon Rennie, Emma Beeby and Neil Googe, which, trust me, is an absolute hoot, and David Barnett and Nick Roche head to the skies with “Chopper”. Plus, there’s an all-new “Future Shock”, too, from Karl Stock – and Bec & Kawl’s Steve Roberts, too. Be ready!

On Sale This Week from Rebellion

2000AD Prog 2245
Cover by Mark Harrison

Judge Dredd: Now That’s What I Call Justice! by John Wagner (Writer) John Higgins (Artist) Sally Hurst (Colourist) Annie Parkhouse (Letterer)
Skip Tracer: Eden by James Peaty (Writer) Paul Marshall (Artist) Dylan Teague (Colourist) Jim Campbell (Letterer)
Dexter: Somewhere, Beyond The Sea by Dan Abnett (Writer) Tazio Bettin (Artist) John Charles (Colourist) Simon Bowland (Letterer)
Terror Tales: The Torturer’s Apprentice by Paul Starkey (Writer) James Newell (Artist) Simon Bowland (l)
Aquila: The Rivers of Hades, Book One by Gordon Rennie (Writer) Patrick Goddard (Artist) Dylan Teague (Colourist) Annie Parkhouse (Letterer)

Available in print from: newsagents and comic book stores via Diamond | Available in digital from: 2000 AD webshop and apps for iPad, Android, Windows 10

Judge Dredd Megazine 435
Cover by Alex Ronald

Judge Dredd: Project Providence by Rory McConville (Writer) Staz Johnson (a) Pippa Bowland (Colourist) Annie Parkhouse (Letterer)
Diamond Dogs II by James Peaty (Writer) Warren Pleece (Artist) Simon Bowland (Letterer)
Angelic: Restitution by Gordon Rennie (Writer) Lee Carter (Artist) Annie Parkhouse (Letterer)
The Returners by Si Spencer (Writer) Nicolo Assirelli (Artist) Eva De La Cruz (Colourist) Jim Campbell (Letterer)
Devlin Waugh: The Reckoning by Aleš Kot (Writer) Mike Dowling (Artist) Simon Bowland (Letterer)
Features: Interviews: Steve Roberts, Lee Sullivan
Bagged collection: 2000 AD Encyclopedia

Available in print from: newsagents and comic book stores via Diamond | Available in digital from: 2000 AD webshop and apps for iPad, Android, Windows 10

Hershey: Disease
by Rob Williams (Writer), Simon Fraser (Artist)
ISBN: 9781781089019
Release Date: 17th August 2021
Price: £12.99
Pages: 112
Format: Paperback
Dimensions: 259 × 187 mm

Hell hath no fury like Barbara Hershey!

You think you know her story. Chief Judge of Mega-City One, Barbara Hershey had been a powerful ally to Judge Dredd, until she became infected with an alien pathogen and – supposedly – died. But little do the citizens and judges of Mega-City One suspect that Hershey’s death was faked.

Now, join fan favourite character Judge Hershey as she embarks on a new adventure beyond the grave and beyond the walls of Mega-City One, to right the wrongs of her past and dispense justice!

Critically acclaimed creative team Rob Williams (Judge Dredd, Doctor Who) and Simon Fraser (Judge Dredd, Doctor Who) tell a globe-spanning, gritty story of retribution

The Stainless Steel Rat- Deluxe Edition
Based on the SF novels by Harry Harrison
Adapted for 2000AD by Kelvin Gosnell with art by Carlos Ezquerra
ISBN: 9781781088999
Release Date: 19th August 2021
Price: £19.99
Pages: 208
Format: Paperback with 2000AD.com exclusive hardcover
Dimensions: 276 × 210 mm

Rebellion has announced a new collection of The Stainless Steel Rat, 2000AD’s comic book adaptation of top SF novelist Harry Harrison’s fantastic classic pulp sci-fi novels. Alongside the 2000AD strips themselves, we’ve detailed more than one comic connection to the popular SF character below, with Michael Carroll, Alan Craddock and Dave McKean playing roles in his ongoing story!

Out of print for almost a decade, the new collection will include the three adaptations written by Kelvin Gosnell with art by Carlos Ezquerra between 1979 and 1985, and – for the first time – will feature the colour centre spreads as they originally appeared in 2000AD.

The Stainless Steel Rat, the creation of American author Harry Harrison, first appeared in 1961. In all, Harrison wrote 12 original novels starring “Slippery” Jim DiGriz, the charming con-man given a choice when the law finally catches up with him – join up or get sent down!

• Read Joe Gordon’s review of The Stainless Steel Rat collection here

Coming Soon…

• Check out our full guide to 2000AD and Treasury of British Comics releases in 2021 here

• Check out our provisional guide to 2000AD and Treasury of British Comics releases in 2022 here

Essential Judge Dredd: Origins
By John Wagner, Carlos Ezquerra – plus a special introductory tale featuring the art of Kev Walker
ISBN: 9781781088630
Release Date: 31st August 2021
Price: £19.99
Pages: 160
Format: Paperback
Dimensions: 276 × 210 mm

An unusual delivery is made to the Grand Hall of Justice, a package that will force Dredd to lead a mission into the Cursed Earth and into the darkest recesses of the history of the Judges and Mega-City One. History is written by Dredd co-creators John Wagner (A History of Violence) and Carlos Ezquerra (Strontium Dog) with a special introductory tale featuring the art of Kev Walker (ABC Warriors: Khronicles of Khaos).

Firekind (Digital Only)
By John Smith and Paul Marshall
ISBN: 9781781089712
Release Date: 1st September 2021
Price: £7.99
Pages: 87
Format: Digital

Hendrick Larsen is a xeno-botanist, sent to an alien planet with a toxic hallucinogenic atmosphere… and dragons! The aliens of the planet live in harmony with their environment and Larsen is accepted into their community. But then a group of vicious human poachers arrive, looking to exploit the planet, and Larsen learns that the planet has defences of its own.

This classic 2000AD story features gorgeous artwork by Paul Marshall and is collected in a digital-only graphic novel for the first time.

Sláine: Dragontamer
By Pat MIlls and Leonard Manco
ISBN: 9781781089538
Release Date: 2nd September 2021
Price: £14.99
Pages: 96
Format: Hardcover with 2000AD.com exclusive hardcover
Dimensions: 281 × 215 mm

Albion suffers under the tyrannical reign of the Emperor Brutus and his Trojan army. Also bolstering his power are the dragons he has at his disposal, using them to spread terror across the land. Celtic warrior Slaine is leading a rebellion against the occupiers, taking the fight all the way to New Troy – and discovering the secrets that lie in Brutus’s dungeons…

Dark Judges: The Fall of Deadworld Volume 3
By Kek-W and Dave Kendall
ISBN: 9781781089330
Release Date: 14th September 2021
Price: £19.99
Pages: 128
Format: Hardcover
Dimensions: 282 × 216 mm

Can humanity escape the icy clutches of Death? The psychotic Chief Judge Casey Tweed has dethroned and killed Judge Death and taken over Death’s mission to murder every living creature on the planet. The neighbouring Soviets have seen the chaos as an ideal time to launch an attack on their American enemies.

As numerous battles rage a small group of rebels led by Judge Fairfax – some living, some already turned into the undead – launch a desperate effort to save their city from being converted into a necropolis, but it all seems too little too late. The Dark Judges are already spreading their contagion across the globe and in the depths of space, exterminating all life under the orders of Chief Judge Tweed. However, both the forces of death and the forces of life about to learn, just because Judge Death is dead, doesn’t mean that he is gone…

The acclaimed series from Kek-W (The Order) and Dave Kendall (Dreams of Deadworld) continues in this lavish hardback collection, including never seen before concept art and sketches.

The Thirteenth Floor Volume 3
ISBN: 9781781089347
Out: 16th September 2021
Price: £14.99
Pages: 176
Format: Paperback and webshop exclusive hardcover
Dimensions: 276×210mm

The thrilling conclusion to the classic 1980s horror comic strip! Max the maniacal computer is back in Maxwell Tower, dishing out his twisted form of retribution on anyone who dares to cross his beloved residents! From a conniving milkman to thuggish street urchins, anyone who enters Max’s territory looking for trouble is going for a one-way trip to the thirteenth floor!

However, Max’s past exploits have not gone unnoticed. The K.G.B. have sent their own super-powered computer called Boris to make Max an offer – help them conquer the world or face obliteration!

Black Max Volume 2
ISBN: 9781781088623
Out: 4th October 2021
Price: £10.99
Pages: 96
Format: Standard paperback and webshop exclusive hardcover with cover by Ian Kennedy
Dimensions: 276×210mm

Bi-planes vs giant vampire bats in this thrilling collection of war comics with a horror twist! Lieutenant Tom Wilson returns to battle Baron Maximilien Von Klorr and his attack force of giant vampire bats in a continuation of the popular series.

The World War One era story moves to England with a monstrous albino bat attacking London with each page beautifully drawn by Alfonso Font working on one of his very first comic series.

• Check out our full guide to 2000AD and Treasury of British Comics releases in 2021 here

• Check out our provisional guide to 2000AD and Treasury of British Comics releases in 2022 here

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.