Rob reviews 2000 AD Prog 2262...
Yes! It's that time of the week again where I dive into this week's offering of "Thrill-Power" from the powerhouse that is 2000 AD.
If you didn't already know - Christmas is just around the corner. As such Tharg has pulled out a special 100-page Prog to keep those Winter blues away. So strap yourself in, grab your - now mandatory - COVID-19 pass, and lets head straight in!
Judge Dredd: Trinity
Courtesy of IGN the basic storyline of this special one-off Dredd had already been revealed. It's a bit of a family reunion as Ken Niemand brings both Karl Urban and Sylvester Stallone to MegaCity-1. This ones got all the hallmarks of a strange Judge Dredd tale - but it's also bloody good!
Technology mogal Leon Fusk has been messing about with interdimentional technology - despite the Justice Department banning the research into it. Dredd gets sent to shut it all down, and then things get strange.
Much like a certain upcoming Marvel film, Dredd is pulled into a reality with both his movie counterparts. Naturally our Dredd has more in common with Karl Urban, which gives Niemand plenty of room to take shots at Sly Stallone. While the bashing of the ill-fated 1994 movie was a given, Niemand doesn't build this story off of it.
What we do get is a brilliant done-in-one that highlights just how different each interpretation of Judge Joseph Dredd is, with plenty of room to go all interdimentional in the future.
The Fall of Deadworld: Jessica
We're back in the relms of the Dark Judges as Kek-W takes us back to Deadworld. This time we're back with Jessica as the young hero finds herself in a strange - yet familiar setting.
There's no time to catch her breath as she's soon being hunted by some undead rockband and her dead uncle Luke is alive and kicking. While Luke has embraced this bizzare "heaven", Jess needs to get back to the real world and Judge Fairfax. But in true Deadworld fashion - its not that easy.
Deadworld has been a thrilling ride so far. Kek-W has truly shown his own madness as he takes us into this dying world. We already know that this ones not going to have a happy ending. But it's a fantastic journey in getting to that point. Aside from Death, Mortis, Fear, and Fire, who else will be alive to see Deadworld fall?
Kingmaker: Falls The Shadow - Part 1
Last week we said "goodbye" to Ian Edington and Scarlet Traces. This week we're saying "hello" as Edgington returns with another installment of Kingmaker.
Do I know what's going on?
No I don't, but it's still an enjoyable tale nonetheless. Leigh Gallagher's art is impressive, with some brilliant line work. Every page is packed full of detail with some less than traditional cell work.
Now to head online for some catching up...
Dexter: Bulletopia Chapter 8: Hosanna
The next chapter in the ongoing 'Bulletopia' begins with this one-off. We flash forward after the events seen in 'Lordy Jordy King of Everything' and Dexter is still on the run from the Rogue A.I and long time partner - Sinister.
Trouble here is that Hosanna is quite sick and as such Dexter has to venture into the wilderness to find the drugs that will help. Of course, with an all-seeing A.I. on your tale, trouble soon follows. This comes in the form of Tracy.
Hmm. Things take an almost slower route in this one-off. We still get an issue with plenty of action, but Abnett slows things down in between. While it's inevitable that Sin/Dex will team up again, everyting that leads up to that point is certainly going to change this team dynamic.
The Order: Fantastic Voyage - Part 1
Love it, or hate it, The Order is back for another round of history-smashing craziness courtesy of Kek-W and John Burns.
I've had my past "issues" with The Order in that I don't really know what's going on. What I do sort of know is that the "good guys" are on the run from Francis Bacon, who's using then decapitated robotic head of the main protagonists dead husband. And there's something to do with wurms?
Anyway, the hero's are on the run, Kek-W adds some context to the past, and John Burns continues to produce some brilliant art.
Tales From Mega-City One: Christmas Comes To Devil's Island
Karl Stock and James Newell bring us a tale of Devil's Island - an inescapable prison deep inside Mega-City One. Here we follow new inmate - Jack Kiley as he finds himself the new cell mate of master assassin - Mister Christmas.
What follows is a story that covers 45-years as Jack attempts to survive Devil's Island, and Mister Christmas continues his assassinations. It's quite the tale, and makes for a very interesting read. Stock does a great job in delving into the more gritty side of Mega-City One life, whilst Newell takes us back to the past with that classic 2000 AD black & white pallette. So far, ao good, and i'm hoping we see more of these one-off tales in 2022.
The Out: Book 2 - Part 12
The Tankinar have returned and Cyd finds herself in their gaze yet again. With nowhere left to turn, Cyd ventures into the "stomach" of her flatspace bag. What follows is quite the ride...and of course one almighty cliffhanger.
The Out has really heightened the intensity over the last few issues. Not only do we get more history of the Tankinar drip fed to us, we also get more insight into Cyd - and her bag's - hectic life. Things come to a head as its revealed that Cyd is infected with something, and as such "bag" quite literally throws her back up.
Questions, questions, and more questions.
Hands up if you thought Cyd was pregnant? That seems to be the general consensus on social media, yet Abnett's small reveal of just what the Tankinar are makes for a more sinister - Xenomorph-esq - dilemma. Whether I'm clutching at straws or not, time will tell. But either way The Out is a superb masterpiece of storytelling that tells a tight, intricate story with plenty of highs and lows. Here's hoping Cyd gets a "happy ending".
Rob Lake - For more comic book and video game chat why not follow Geek Culture Reviews on Twitter and Facebook @GeekCultureRev
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