Comic Book Review - 2000 AD Prog 2220: Regened

Rob Lake reviews 2000 AD Prog 2220...

Tharg is taking a break this week as he hands the reigns over to his nephew Jojo-Jargo. Yes, we're heading into the first Regened Prog of 2021 as the all-ages series continues to appeal to the younger comic book reader. 

The Regened Progs get a lot of flack from the more mature 2000 AD readers. However this Regened is actually pretty good (they've all been good, but this one is probably the best), so whilst some of you may be on the Regened fence, hopefully Prog 2220 changes your mind...

Cadet Dredd: Suboptimal

It wouldn't be a Prog if we didn't take a trip to Mega-City 1. We're back with another tale from Dredd's cadet days and the young Lawman is on the case of missing Juve, Tommy Prinn. Dredds accompanied by Tek-Judge Cadet Quinn as the duo stumble upon the Opti-Mall - a underground mall run by Mek's. 

I normally enjoy the Cadet Dredd tales and this ones no different. What makes Suboptimal is that the increased page length had given Arthur Wyatt room to expand the story in a way that the normal Progs don't allow. It's a great done-in-one with some brilliant art and colours by David Tino and Gary Caldwell. 

Action Pact: The Radyar Recovery

Action Pact: The Radyar Recovery is exactly how a comic should be, its full of incredible action pieces, a story that appeals to the older reader, incredibly fast paced and finally, teases what's next. 

Mike Carroll is at the helm of this one which sees a ragtag group performing a mission. There's so many questions in this on as Carroll doesn't divulge who's pulling the strings, nor how this group of people have come together. All we're given is that Commander Drake takes her orders extremely seriously. 

Luke Horseman packs each page with enough action, laser beams and explosions to rival anything seen in the normal Progs. 

It's a fast-paced action centric affair that could easily follow the likes of Full Tilt Boogie and appear within the normal Progs.

Viva Forever: 9 Amazing Tips

We're back in the Dreddverse for Viva Forever which charts a tale set on the opposite side of the Justice System. It's all a bit Robin Hood as Viva Forever sets her sights on the rich and influential of Mega-City 1. We join the master thief as she posting her 9-tips on how an ordinary Cit can take the unstealable from the mega-rich. 

It's a little crazy, which shows the other side to the Mega-City 1 coin. Whilst I was expecting Dredd to turn-up this is very much a Dredd-less Dreddverse tale. David Ballie gives us a very good done-in-one which gives us a twist on the the formula, that could lead to something in the future...

Future Shocks : Geeno Firenzo

Karl Stock takes a swipe at social media with this Future Shock. Allthefeels is a news social media platform that allows its users to connect emotionally. Much like the social media of now, Allthefeels is full of influencers who are attempting to push their feels onto those who wish to experience a "unique" experiance - much like real life! 

Anyway, top Allthefeels influencer is title character, Geeno Firenzo. Geeno's experience is to show people how to only think fashionable thoughts. But what happens when your so dependent on someone else's memories? 

It's all too real with this Future Shock installment. Karl Stock gives us a tale that's steeped in realism as he explores the world of social media and influencers. The extra page works wonders for the Future Shocks as it allows the "shock" that extra page to play out. 

Mayflies : Precious Cargo 

Mike Carroll is back for his second tale in this Regened installment. This time he's teamed up with Simon Colby and Dylan Teague to bring us a tale set within the Rogue Trooper universe. 

We've already seen both Rogue Trooper and Venus Bluegenes in the Regened Progs but Mayflies is something different. Mike Carroll takes us into the middle of the Nort-Souther War as Gene-Engineers are looking for the next-gen of the Genetic-Infantry that makes Rogue-Trooper. 

Mayflies is a great tale of war as we follow the Norts as they overpower a space ship with the intent of stealing the test subject on board. We then switch to the test subject - Mayfly as she escapes her Nort captures to then gather her fellow Mayfly test subjects to escape. 

It all points towards continuation as Carroll sets up a future installment. It's also great to see the Rogue Trooper universe expanded upon, with its edgy-ness encroaching into the Regened Progs. Simon Colby's art is impressive as always, and Dylan Teague brings his unique style to top everything off. 

Going forward I will be very surprised if this one isn't continued within the normal weekly Progs. 

Rating 9/10

Rob Lake - For more comic book and video game chat why not follow Geek Culture Reviews on Twitter and Facebook @GeekCultureRev