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2000 A.D. Prog 1953
Released by: Rebellion
Released on: October 21st, 2015.
Written by: Various
llustrated by: Various
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Here's what to look for in the latest and great issue of 2000 A.D., highlighted by a damn fine Dredd cover courtesy of cover artist Ryan Brown.
Judge Dredd - Serial Serial by John Wagner and Colin MacNeil: The forth chapter of this serial killer mystery opens with a splash page where Maybe explains how he got away from Judge Death - he simply ran! Roberto Smith never existed, so Dredd is starting over but now with a renewed vigor - to get his note out, Maybe blew up an innocent kid and a fellow Judge. Maybe seems to be in this now for the ego stroking more than anything else, and Dredd figures he might be able to use that to his advantage. When he starts tying in the number eight into the killings, he starts looking into past case files - the clues are starting to add up, allowing Dredd to set a trap at an eating competition…
We're not out of this mess yet but it is starting to look like the end may be in sight. This one ends on a nice cliffhanger, the kind that ensures we'll be back next week to see how it plays out. Like the last chapter, there's no action here, really just a lot of talk about clues and theories, but it's interesting enough that anyone with half a brain and a decent attention span won't mind. It's cool to see Dredd doing actual detective work here, and MacNeil illustrates it just as well as Wagner writes it.
Defoe - The London Hanged by Pat Mills and Leigh Gallagher: When this latest installment begins, it's execution day in Tyburn. Hugh Mills is to be hanged for stealing some clothes - his last words? “Piss off, devil dodger.†Defoe is in attendance as the Bishop in charge tries to peddle a commemorative calendar. Although the public hanging is a deterrent, Defoe doesn't like them - and you can't blame him. Orders of post hanging decapitation would seem to ensure that unlike some, this poor bastard won't return, but Defoe knows why they're doing it - war against the poor. That might explain why those corpses are now shambling their way through the sewers in hopes of following them all the way to London…
What at first seemed like a typical 'man against zombie horde' story has very quickly turned into something more, a story that deals not only with current day issues (the wealth gap being the most obvious one) but also family loyalty and how that can cause problems when it conflicts with towing the company line. Our 'hero' isn't in a good spot when this chapter ends, Pat Mills has made sure of that. Gallagher's art continues to impress, it's nicely detailed and very atmospheric. This chapter sets up big things to come and there's an interesting twist here you won't see coming that we shall not spoil.
Brass Sun - Motor Head by Ian Eddington and Inj Culbard: Wren's brain was pillaged by Reverend Mother Gynour last issue and she's not in good shape - in fact, she's a mess. When they wheel her out and she winds up next to Septimums she asks him to kill her. But will he? 'Tock' brings her in but comes to her defense at his own expense. Then the Containment Alarm goes off and things get weird.
This installment is short, but a lot happens. Tough to go into too much detail without spoiling things but let it suffice to say that the story, which started off a bit slow, is kicking along quite nicely now. Things are happening and for reasons that are beginning to make sense now that there's been a few pages prior in which to explain things. Eddington's story is still more complicated than it might need to be, but we're definitely going in the right direction. Culbard's artwork is excellent, great line work and nice panel layouts. Expect this one to finish considerably stronger than it started out.
Sinister Dexter: The Taking Of Michael - by Dan Abnett and Patrick Goddard: Tanenbaum wants to take a cruise, get the staff excited, and so he and his crew decide to do just that, putting a nice amount of distance between themselves and dry land. This ties into the crime scene exploration from last issue but not before we go to a strip club to learn the truth about who the victims were up against. Without spoiling things, well, a firefight breaks out and people die.
This one gets bloody and fast but some of the loose ends from the earlier chapters are starting to tie up nicely here. Great, gritty (but surprisingly colorful in an eighties neon trash sort of way) artwork complements the hardboiled crime story. Characters are taking shape, actions are having consequences and loose threads are no longer so loose. This is turning out to be pretty entertaining.
Bad Company - First Casualties by Peter Milligan, R. Dayglo and J. McCarthy: Last but most certainly not fucking least is the latest chapter in the most recent Bad Company storyline. Danny and the crew have gone all out to save Kano… but he's being called on this. Tommy's off his meds for three days now, they don't want him remembering things he'd be better off not remembering. Medications, hallucinations and all the horrors of war come crashing in but Bad Company doesn't leave their boys behind enemy lines, no matter what the situation is or who the 'enemy' is…
More anti-social comic book greatness from Milligan, Dayglo and McCarthy. Splatter punk style artwork with a welcome anti-war slant that proudly flaunts its middle finger way up in the air at the establishment. Question authority, do not settle for less than the truth - this is what this is all about and Milligan, even when writing 'serial' style as he does here, has got a knack for it. The artwork continues to bring back pleasant memories of the eighties underground/small press boom years while carving out its own unique style. Great stuff.
