Rob reviews 2000 AD Prog 2303...
After a few week's hiatus, I'm back with another look inside the 'Galaxy's Greatest comic book!
Luke Horsman graces the cover this week with a gorgeous rendition of Cavan Scott's Enemy Earth. Meanwhile, joining Enemy Earth is Judge Dredd: Buratino Must Die, Chimpsky’s Law: A Terrifically Disturbing Adventure, Hope...In The Shadows: Reel Two, and Hershey: The Cold In The Bones.
Judge Dredd: Buratino Must Die - Part 1
Rob Williams is back with another Dredd tale, and it serves to tie up the threads from End of Days. After helping Dredd tackle the Four Horsemen, Dredd brought Sov Psi-Judges Issaks, and Buratino back to Mega-City One. Seeking asylum in MC1, the two Sovs have since taken up residence inside a top-secret bunker - with Ichabod Azrael's talking horse, and the sentient Sov War-Droid (Prog 2299) as company .
Now, Buratino and Issaks are back. And it seems that the Psi-Judges have been biding their time to enact a little revenge. Kicking off here, we start in the middle of the crisis. Something big is hovering in the skies above Mega-City One, and Dredd is on the ground with Buratino in his sights. Cue a flashback and we're back to one week after End of Days with Chief Judge Logan debating what to do with the Sov defectors. Naturally, Dredd is suspicious, but Logan decides to grant them passage anyway. As for everything else? I'm sure Williams will catch us up in due time...
I'm enjoying these callbacks to End of Days. While Dredd vs. The Four Horsemen wasn't exactly the greatest "epic" ever - it's here with the diving into the aftermath that the story all comes together. Recently we've seen Willams return to Accounts Judge Maitland's "defund the Judges" problem, and now we're getting Buratino and Issaks causing issues too. And with whatever Zersetzung is coming for everyone, Dredd has his work cut out.
Henry Flint shows his skills here as the veteran artist takes on both line and colour duties. It's a great display throughout as Flint's unique style perfectly accentuates Williams's script...more, please!
Chimpsky’s Law: A Terrifically Disturbing Adventure - Part 3
Last time out, terrible twosome Timmy & Thrupence set their sights on finding a new "Mummy and Daddy", and took up residence in Noam's Block. Now settled in, the twins decide they want a pet, and Noam is the number one choice.
Meanwhile, Noam doesn't know the danger he is in and as such welcomes the twins with open arms - and synth-pecans. Failing to grasp Noam with their powers, the twins decide to test Noam in other - more violent - ways.
What makes Chimpsky’s Law fun is that it's the perfect slice into that wacky side of Mega-City One life. Ken Niemand also channels his inner evil, Jean Adamson, as he brings Topsy & Tim to Mega-City One with a sinister twist.
PJ Holden also adds a serious-yet-playful tone to proceedings. Across the last three parts we've had a colourful Ladybird Books-inspired tone, that quickly descends into the doom and gloom of Mega-City One.
Hope...In The Shadows - Reel Two: Part 2
It's another Mallory Hope-less episode as Guy Adams continues to follow the detective's wife - Alice. After her explosive return in part 1, Alice soon heads to a seemingly ordinary town. But, it's a town in the shadow of a nuclear mushroom cloud!?
With the President visiting the town, Alice presenting the cursed film, and a meeting of a few familiar faces - there are about to be a few nightmares roaming the streets.
Adams and Jimmy Broxton continue to bring plenty of fear and foreshadowing within their creation - which has been present across each of Hope's outings. Broxton's art continues to shine and not only does he capture the tension in the room, but just look at those expressions!
Enemy Earth: Book 1 - Part 3
Ever since Zoe appeared inside the bunker, Jules' solitude has been shattered. Now realising that his parents are probably dead, the youngsters also about to lose their haven too. While Nanni attempts to keep the invading plant life at bay, Cavan Scott delves into Zoe's grief-stricken past.
Told from Zoe's point of view, Scott adds this much-needed exposition via flashbacks as the battle wages on in the present. It's here that we see the character's pain and anguish over the loved ones she's lost, and her inability to cope with potentially guarding Jules. It takes its toll on the youngster who then seemingly leaves Jules and Nanni to their fates. While it's a little cliché, you just know she'll be back in the next episode.
It's great seeing Scott back in the pages of the Prog. The storytelling he's crafted with Marvel's Star Wars: The High Republic series has been nothing short of phenomenal. So, for Tharg to grab the great one is a real coup!
Hershey: The Cold In The Bones - Book One - Part 3
Rounding off Prog 2303 is ex-Chief Judge Barbara Hershey. Still hot on the trail of Judge Smiley's many under-the-counter dealings, Hershey finds herself in the frozen wastes of Antarctic City. With the drug Joy running riot across the AC, Hershey sends in ex-Wally Squad member Dirty Frank back undercover.
With hints of 'The Thing', and 'Fargo', Williams has thrown Hershey further into the deep end left by Smiley. Even after he died in 'The Small House', Smiley continues to manipulate Hershey and Dirty Frank. It's an interesting concept that's seen Hershey move from faking her death, to then operate outside the law she once swore to uphold.
What also makes Hershey brilliant is that Simon Fraser continues to nail the artwork. Each scene is stunning to look at with Fraser using plenty of thick linework that accentuates his use of tonal colours. Even when the tentacle "thing" bursts into action, Fraser reveals just enough of the monster to heighten the tension.
It's bloody, brutal, and overall just brilliant. Roll on episode 4!
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