Comic Book Review - 2000 AD Prog 2290

Rob reviews 2000 AD Prog 2290...

As the UK bakes within an unnaturally hot heatwave, and its government destroys itself from within, Tharg is back with another dose of light relief from the pressures of everyday life. 

This week there's a slight change as we only have four strips to contend with. However, that does mean we get a double helping of Dexter - which to be fair is worth it considering that this week's episode is full-on action. Anyway, joining Dex is more lashings of Judge Dredd: Special Relationship, Skip Tracer: Valhalla, and Brink: Mercury Retrograde. 

Judge Dredd: Special Relationship - Part 2

Rob Williams continues to build the tension as things escalate between Mega-City One and Brit-Cit.

It's all about rebuilding the destroyed Atlantic Tunnel as both parties argue over who's to foot the bill. With Chief Judge Logan claiming it should be a 50/50 split, Brit-Cit's Chief Judge Eddings claims that MC-1 should pay it all due to Dredd and Maitland setting the explosive charges that destroyed the tunnel. 

Meanwhile, Brit-Cit Judge Charles has taken charge of the Atalantis rebuild and has murdered a few MC-1 Judges that stood in his way. Not one to take a diplomatic route, Dredd and his team mount an undersea assault...

So far, so good for 'Special Relationship'. It's a very politically charged slow burner, which Williams uses to delve into the nitty-gritty of each side of this flash point. There's plenty of to and fro as we see callbacks to last year's The Hard Way. Goddard's art is superb throughout. The images of Dredd and his team emerging out of the sea, to then take on the Brit-Cit Judges feels is a real blockbuster moment. Quinton Winter also delivers a slightly bright colour palette, which not only gives the aqua setting an unearthly brightness but also works well against the Brit-Cit Judge uniform.

Skip Tracer: Valhalla - Part 2

Skip Tracer Nolan Blake finds himself in the thick of it this week as he learns about the reasons for his and his daughter's apparent abduction. The group - who are made up of characters who Nolan has previously helped - have located the damaged Cube on the edge of a black hole. To make things more mysterious, the Cube is broadcasting a message about something called "Valhalla". 

With the team assembled to board the Cube to recover it's Central Algorithm A.I., Nolan is about to find himself back in the murky waters he once left behind. 

Typical that the final story of Skip Tracer is turning out to be the more enjoyable. Everything is signalling toward plenty of weirdness as Nolan and his team head to the seemingly abandoned Cube. With plenty of similarities between cult classic 'Event Horizon', James Peaty has finally grabbed my attention with Skip Tracer.

Dexter: Bulletopia Chapter Ten: Malice In Plunderland - Part 2

After seemingly out-running that pesky A.I., Dexter and Hosanna find themselves in Plunderland. Trouble is that various gangs rule the streets, and their not a fan of those who hail from Downlode. In need of transport, Dex and Carrie find themselves in the middle of a vicious gang war. However, all isn't as it seems as one of the gangs believes that Dex is the hired help ordered from the big fish criminals back at Downlode.

Using this to their advantage, Dex and Carrie go along with the ruse. But how much trouble is it going to bring them? Queue plenty of shoot-outs and an armoured truck, and this could be the best chapter yet!

Brink: Mercury Retrograde - Part 19

There's another twist in-store as Dan Abnett switches perspective. This time around we follow resident cult leader Leeden - if that I'd even his name. It's quite chilling as Leeden turns into regular nice guy Denny Readon within a few short pages. Abnett then gives us plenty of more mystery as Leeden talks about Vovek and The Source, and how it all ties into wanting humanity to stay on the Brink rather than spread out into the darkness. 

What makes Brink special is that with each issue that foreboding feeling creeps ever higher. The change in perspective does a wonderful job of allowing Abnett to reveal some secrets, whilst keeping Maz stumbling further into things out of his control. 

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