2000AD Prog 1491
By Craig Johnson What better way to begin my look at comics than the long-running bastion of British SF comics, 2000AD. Commonly called “Tooth”, it’s had to constantly reinvent itself to stay ahead of the times, featuring early work from such well known creators as Alan Moore, Grant Morrison and Garth Ennis. The comic has had a rough few years recently, little in the way of shining strips, and it’s continual plowing of old concepts – Rogue Trooper, Strontium Dog, ABC Warriors – rather than enthusing this long-time fan-boy, have just been boring rehashes of the past.
Self-styled as “The Galaxy’s Greatest Comic”, is this relaunch issue Zarjaz or have the Thrillsuckers been at Tharg again?
Credits:
Writers: John Smith (Dredd), Dan Abnett (VCs), Ian Edginton (Red Seas), Simon Spurrier (London Falling)
Artists: Simon Fraser (Dredd), Anthony Williams (VCs), Steve Yeowell (Red Seas), Lee Garbett (London Falling)
Publisher: Rebellion
Ordering: Available now from your comic shop, Diamond Order Code APR06 3315.
Judge Dredd: Jumped, Part One
Everyone’s favourite fascist bully boy has mellowed with age, yet reading the early JD stories again thanks to Rebellion’s reissues in the form of “The Complete Case Files” actually shows Dredd was reasonable in the past too, and not the complete bastard popular perception would imply otherwise.
This story barely features Dredd – instead it introduces the sport of Jumpjacking, effectively bungie-jumping off an eighty storey building, grabbing litter off the pavement, and bouncing back to the roof. Give it a criminal twist by jumpjacking a briefcase; give that a nasty twist by having the briefcase handcuffed to a goon’s wrist; and twist once more with what’s actually in that briefcase and you have a mystery to follow, one you want to follow.
I’ve no idea how many episodes this story will last, that just adds to the mystery, but it’s a fine start and something a little unusual for Dredd. Good work.
The V.C.s Part Six: The Voice Of Reason
The story so far: The VCs are attempting to end the war with the Geeks by locating a friendly Geek interpreter on a hostile planet, and get him to safety.
This issue: They find him and get him to safety.
It’s not that not much actually happens that’s the problem with this story, it’s that it feels like padding, like marking time for the next big dramatic event to hit…in essence, like part six of a typical 2000AD story.
The Red Seas: The Hollow Land, Part One
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It’s a double-episode to kick off the new series of this loosely pirate-based adventure – although a brand-new story, it closely follows on from the last serial so here’s the story so far ripped from the intro box:
“1751. Captain Jack Dancer and his motley crew are one of the most infamous bands of pirates preying on the Southern seas. Exiled from their home, Dancer’s half-brother Alexander entrusted them with a mission – Jack and Alex’s father had gone missing searching for the eighth sea somewhere beneath the earth, and a journey into the underworld has revealed a whole new land…”
That’s all you need to know, as the story kicks off with a rerun of the siege of Minas Tirith, with added dinosaurs…
One of the many things I love about this series is that writer Ian Edginton is prepared to sit back and let the art do the talking – rather than plaster Yeowell’s panoramas with needless exposition, he reins himself him, cutting loose again when it’s time for dialogue. An excellent beginning for an excellent series. The first serial is available in hardback, ISBN 1904265685, and I’ll be looking at this in the upcoming weeks.
London Falling, Part One: City Folk
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An interesting opening episode, although more of a minor success than a huge revelation – possibly about a group of medieval monsters disguised as modern man (and woman), revealing themselves when their leader returns after 200 years burial. As the title suggests, it’s set in London yet the dialogue in this episode is too reminiscent of Eastenders: “I been watchin’, my treacles” and suddenly you’re out of the strip and in Albert Square. Annoying.
It would seem that this is artist Lee Garbett’s debut work for 2000AD, and he puts in a good job, very Monster Club, a menacing last page.
The jury is still out on this story, but it’s a fair start and one to watch.
Outro:
This is the best 2000AD has been for some time – probably the only downside is the nature of the beast is such that it almost certainly won’t last, but for now…it’s worthwhile again.
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