Comic Book Review - 2000 AD Prog 2226

Rob Lake reviews 2000 AD Prog 2226...

Wednesday is upon us yet again. As the UK braces it's self for yet another ease of lockdown restrictions, Tharg is back to take our minds away from it all with another trip through the Thrillverse. 

It's more of the same this week. With Dredd, Feral and Foe, Thistlebone, and Visons of Deadworld all continuing. The only difference is that we're joined by another one of Tharg's 3Rillers which sees the return of Mike Collins to the Progs, and more incredible colours from the talented Dylan Teague. 

Judge Dredd: A Penitent Man - Part 2

Asher is back in Mega-City 1 from his 20-year stretch on Titan. The former Judge wants to put the past behind him and serve The Meg in anyway he can. Dredd isn't so keen on Asher's plan. But that's just the tip of Dredd's issues. With the SJS warning him away from Asher, does Dredd's paranoia warrant a deeper investigation? 

Ken Niemand is really bringing his A-Game to both the Progs and the Megazine at the moment. A Penitent Man is one of those Dredd strips that's starting to shape into something quite interesting. The internal politics of The Justice Department is (to me) an interesting journey. With Dredd now once again in the sights of the SJS, this one isn't just as simple as a former Titan inmate. 

Thistlebone: Poisoned Roots - Part 6

Malcom Kinniburgh makes his move this week as events take a more darker turn. With yet another flashback to that sinister camping trip, Simon Davis uses a simple cartoon style to show the change in atmosphere. 

Back in the present and Seema is up to her neck in the strange goings on. With last weeks cryptic warning of "commit the sacrifice, or become the sacrifice", and then the dead badger. It's safe to say that Seema is well and truly down the rabbit hole. 

I've started to enjoy what TC Eglinton and Simon Davis are building with Thistlebone. It's a slow build for sure, but Eglinton adds just enough horror to cut the tension. With questions still unanswered and Malcom Kinniburgh in the middle of it all, Seema is meddling in something out of her control.

Visons of Deadworld: The Man Who Killed Mortis

Mortis takes his turn in the spotlight this week as Kek-W continues his trip into Deadworld. These Visions of Deadworld are great short tales that continue to build the world away from the "adventures" of Fairfax and the main story. 

Kek-W and Dave Kendall give us an almost monologue of sorts as Mortis tends to his garden. It isn't long before the Dark Judge comes under threat from a golden Samurai on an assassination mission. Naturally with the Dark Judges it isn't that simple...

Tharg's 3Rillers Presents Chorus & The Ring - Part 1

Mike Collins makes his long awaited return to the Progs, and in doing so teams up with James Peaty and Dylan Teague.

Peaty brings us a 3Riller that centers on the 57th Century religious group, The Devine Chorus of Freedom. The religions faith revolves around an asteroid belt and is far removed from its founding ideas. 

We then follow Battle Sister Evangelista as she searches for the Signet Spiritus. Which just so happens to give its wielder full control over the Chorus.

This opening feels a little too detailed to be part-1 of a 3-part story. It's shaping up to be a nice sci-fi romp, that may benefit from a full series in the long run. 

Rating 8/10

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