Publisher: 2000 AD
Writers: Michael Carroll Gordon Rennie TC Eglington Ian Edginton
Artists: Chris Blythe and Annie Parkhouse, Tiernan Trevallion, Len O’Grady, Karl Richardson, D’Israeli Glenn Fabry & Ryan Brown (Cover)
Release date: UK & DIGITAL: OUT NOW!!!! North America 29 August 2015
Price: £2.45/$2.99

Wikipedia defines a ‘force of nature’ as a ‘natural phenomenon that humans cannot control.’ I would add a second definition, 2000 AD. This weekly comic book is a ‘force of nature’ too in both format and content. It should not be here, not in a comic book industry where anthology usually equals sales nose-dive (if it ever got the green light) and as for the weekly publication, well that business model died a death a long, long time ago, in a Scotish publishing company far, far away.

And yet, like a natural phenomenon beyond the control of people far clever, far more embedded in all things media, twitter and FaceBook, than me, 2000AD continues to defy what should be considered modern and hip.

I suspect what helps 2000 AD is the comic book is not chasing the market or any particular demographics; 2000 AD is its own market and as for those demographics, well, as one wise man said once, if you build it people will come.

2000 AD PROG 1941 is no exception to this rule. From the eye-popping cover by 2000 AD stalwart Glenn Fabry, added and abetted by the superb colourist Ryan Brown, this issue is that ‘force of nature’ from cover to cover. And 2000 AD PROG 1941 does not consist of a few lame or so-so other strips held up by the iconic Judge Dredd. If you do think that is the case then I have these three words for you: YOU ARE WRONG.

Actually, I would argue there are better stories in 2000 AD PROG 1941 than Dredd but some fans of Joe (as, I understand, they liked to be called) know no bounds or restraining orders, so I will park that concept and go on to say: Absalom: Under A False Flag by Gordon Rennie, Tiernan Trevallion, and Simon Bowland gives Judge Dredd a good run for its money and the concept of an aging British police inspector keeping the British establishment and the demon world in a fairly fluid truce gets high marks for originality (it’s better than Dredd too but let’s keep that between the two of us. So, you ain’t seen me, right?).

Next up for me is Helium by Ian Edginton, D’Israeli, and Ellie De Ville – very easy to overlook but any society that has to cope with a poisoned sky and barren world in a typically British stiff upper lip way, will, I guarantee you, be entertaining on all those British levels we love to hate; don’t you know.

Jaegir: Tartarus by Gordon Rennie, Simon Coleby, Len O’Grady, and Simon Bowland and Outlier: Dark Symmetries by TC Eglington & Karl Richardson are not last because they don’t cut the mustard, both strips do, and other comic book publisher would grant top billing to each. But both are a great and entertaining reads in a comic book where the exceptional is king.

Well, that just about wraps up this review….oh what’s that Sooty? Judge Dredd? You are a fan and I haven’t mentioned anything about the fix Dredd is in 2000 AD PROG 1941? Well, my glove pupated friend, two last words for you: BUY IT.

 

Review: Steve Hooker