Welcome, citizens, to this week’s installment of Multiver-City One! Each and every Wednesday we will be examining the latest Prog from Tharg and the droids over at 2000 AD, and giving you all the pertinent information you’ll need headed into this week’s Thrill-Zine!
I. NOW ARRIVING AND DEPARTING IN PROG 1855
Judge Dredd: Prey, Part 1
While there are other things going on in the story and setup for later twists and turns, what I find interesting is the reiterating of Dredd’s uncompromising attitude in the face of circumstances a normal person would be willing to deem ‘extenuating’. Humanitarian disaster doesn’t mean anything to Dredd; perp is perp. Wagner’s story put business-as-usual in an Iso-Cube, so subsequent writers like T.C. Eglington keep having to put Dredd in situations of increasing shades of grey. And red, because like most Dredd stories, not everyone who starts this one makes it to the end.
Credits: T.C. Eglington (script), Karl Richardson (art), Annie Parkhouse (letters)
Aquila: Where All Roads Lead, Part 5
This Prog sees Rennie & Goddard’s Aquila strip taking a hiatus, but not before we learn the outcome of Aquila’s faceoff with the Veiled Virgin. When one of the eyewitness accounts paints it as something akin to a pair of chained animals fighting to get free, but worse? Then you know it doesn’t end well. Everyone in the strip up until now makes an appearance, from Triscus to Nero and Locusta, and Aquila’s ‘companion’ Felix. Read how things are left for the “Carnifex” storyline to pick up down the road!
Credits: Gordon Rennie (script), Patrick Goddard (art), Gary Caldwell (colors), Ellie De Ville (letters)
II. AND IN THE MEGAZINE THIS MONTH
In addition to the weekly thrills brought to you by 2000 AD, Judge Dredd Megazine hits stands monthly for an extra dose of Mega-City Justice! And there is plenty of Mega-City to go around this month, with three of the four feature stories involving The Big Meg and her Judges.
Judge Dredd: 50 Shades of Crime
This is the cover story this issue, and what a cover it is! Between Alex Roland’s fantastic art and some punny copy, I was sold before I even cracked the issue open. Sister Chastity is lead astray of the convent by a life of crime and other unmentionable debauchery. After making the acquaintance of millionaire Christian Cross, Chastity sees her opportunity to work her way up the corporate ladder. Dredd himself only bookends this story, appearing at the beginning and end of this ten-pager, leaving plenty of room for the nun-turned-criminal mastermind to really shine. I hope this isn’t the last we see of her!
Credits: Robbie Morrison (script), Patrick Goddard (art), Peter Doherty (color), Annie Parkhouse (letters)
Insurrection III
The SJS have been tasked with wrestling control of a Mega-City colony away from a rebel army. Among the SJS ranks is an ape Judge by the name of Simeon. After the death of SJS Commander Laud, Judge Gallows (who had been programmed to kill Laud, sleeper cell style) is suddenly freed from his brainwashing and left with all Zhind secrets. I’ll be honest, I only half know what’s going on in this story, but I want MORE! Judges fighting intergalactic wars of imperialism is such an insane idea, and it’s got its claws in me. If anyone has any suggested reading that relates to this story, leave it in the comments!
Continued belowCredits: Dan Abnett (script), Colin MacNeil (art), John-Paul Bove (greytones), Simon Bowland (letters)
Ordinary
The mis-adventures of Michael Fisher continue! Everyone in the world is granted superpowers, except for poor Michael the plumber. Now the world has descended into chaos and his only friend seems to now be an American Black Bear. This story is fantastic!
Credits: Rob Williams (script), D’Israeli (art), HV Derci (letters)
Dredd: Underbelly
The Dredd movie sequel continues! Dredd and Anderson are together again for the first time since taking down Ma-Ma a year ago. It seems there’s a new drug flooding the streets to replace the notorious Slo-Mo, and the body count is rising just to defend its secrets!
Credits: Arthur Wyatt (script), Henry Flint (art), Chris Blythe (colors), Ellie DeVille (letters)
Also in this issue is an exclusive preview of Gordon Rennie and PJ Holden’s Dept. of Monsterology. Packed with gorgeous double-page spreads and an interesting cast of characters, this is a story not to be missed. Check out this talk we had with PJ earlier this week. Plus, Savage Storytelling with Patrick Goddard and a big ol’ reprint of Detonator X.
III. AN ORAL HISTORY OF JUDGE DREDD
The tale of Judge Dredd has been continually published since 1977, and has been brought to us by some of the most creative minds to ever work in comics. As a result, there have been some out-of-this-world story beats woven into the fabric of the character. We thought it would be interesting to talk with the writers and artists behind Mega-City One and see what their favorite bits of Dredd’s history are. This week Simon Fraser returns to speculate about what’s under the helmet and Dredd’s seemingly inevitable Long Walk.
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IV. FUTURE PERP FILES
ATTN: ALL CITIZENS OF THE MEG! Be aware that there is always a Judge watching you. Each sector is equipped with millions of HD-CCTV and bioID units. They are there for your protection. If your intent is upright citizenry, then you have no qualm with our surveillance. And remember: if you see something, you are now an accessory to a crime. That’s six months in an Iso-Cube, creep! Random CPU algorithms has selected this citizen for immediate surveillance and assessment…
That’s gonna do it for us this week! Prog 1855 is on sale today and is available from finer comic shops everywhere, from 2000ADonline.com, and via the 2000 AD Newsstand app for iPad and iPhone. So as Tharg the Mighty himself would say, “Splundig vur thrigg!”
