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Comic Book Review - The Best of 2000 AD Vol. 1

Rob reviews The Best of 2000 AD Vol. 1...



The Best of 2000 AD Vol. 1 is a quarterly graphic novel that promises a mix of material across the publication's diverse history. Collecting both classic and modern strips across 6 volumes, 'The Best of...' aims to entice new readers into discovering why 2000 AD is synonymous with British comic books. 

For new readers, it's the perfect gateway into the vast 'Thrillverse'. Not only does it dispense with the serialized nature of the 2000 AD Progs for a graphic novel presentation. It also doesn't require any in-depth knowledge of the characters to simply pick up and read. For existing 2000 AD fans it's also perfect for reacquainting yourself with old friends or reminiscing about stolen youth. 

Until the last couple of years, I've never been an avid reader of 2000 AD. While I'm familiar with characters such as Judge Dredd and Rogue Trooper, I never paid any attention. Instead, I was drawn into the glitz and glamour of the Marvel Universe with its Spider-Men and Captains of America. It wasn't until I freelanced for the website Flickering Myth that I re-discovered 2000 AD. And while my first review of Prog 2181 was a convoluted mess, over the last 126 reviews I've come to both understand and fully embrace the 2000 AD universe. 

Also, if it wasn't for the early support of Rebellion and Michael Molcher, Geek Culture Reviews would exist today. So to say I owe a lot to the publication and the publisher is a slight understatement.

On to the book itself, and under the gorgeous Jamie McKelvie cover we have seven strips that have been pulled from 2000 AD's illustrious history. Aside from this, they also give a great look into how diverse the publication is with both its stories and its creative teams. 

Naturally kicking things off is John Wagner's 2008 Judge Dredd tale, Mutie Block. This is then followed by an excerpt from Dan Abnett and INJ Culbard's Brink: Book One. Moving on and we then have a Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra Strontium Dog, another Judge Dredd, and a DR & Qunich's Agony Page. 

In saving the best until last, The Best of 2000 AD Vol. 1 goes out with a bang with part one of Alan Moore and Ian Gibson's classic, Halo Jones. And the full-length Anderson PSI-DIVISION: Shamballa by the recently past Alan Grant. 

Judge Dredd: Mutie Block (John Wagner, Kev Walker, Chris Blyth, Annie Parkhouse)

Synonymous with 2000 AD is Mega-City One and its famous lawman Judge Dredd. And of course, it's Judge Joseph Dredd that gets to kick off this collection. Coming straight from 2008, we have John Wagner delving into social commentary with a great look into Mega-City One's relationship with the mutants of the Cursed Earth. 

It's shocking to think that Wagner's satire from 2008 still rings true in today's day and age. From its opening page, Mutie Block deals with Mega-City One's immigration, xenophobia, and hate crimes, all while mirroring the troubles of our reality in 2022.

Intersected with various interviews with those who feature across the story, Wagner delves into the mindscape of the Meg's Cits. Whether it is the cheery immigration officer persuading the mutants to turn back, or even a gang member who doesn't regret his run-in with Dredd, Mutie Block is John Wagner at his best - and Mega-City One at its worse. 


Brink: Book One - Part One (Dan Abnett, INJ Culbard, Simon Bowland) 

Next up is Dan Abnett's sci-fi drama Brink. Set across a series of space habitats, Brink is part police action mystery, and full-on horror. Even after we've just finished Book 5 in the weekly Prog, Abnett continues to subvert expectations, with plenty of twists and interconnecting stories.

For many, what Abnett does well with Brink is its pacing. The whole series is deliberately slow, which allows Abnett to get under the reader's skin with his characters and the wider mystery surrounding humanity on the Brink.

Here however we have the first 30-pages of the saga's first book. Centered on HabSec officer Bridget Curtis and her partner Carl Brinkman, Brink opens up to the duo in the wake of a drugs raid gone wrong. Not only that, they've inadvertently stumbled into a wider conspiracy of corporate greed, shadowy cults, and something much darker hiding underneath the recent unrest. 

Take the time to get into Brink and you'll find a slow-burning and very well-written sci-fi. Across the five books, Abnett has crafted a web of intrigue with both threads large and small. And with Brink: Book 5 running concurrently with the story featured here, well it's the perfect time to dive in! 


The Ballard of Halo Jones (Alan Moore, Ian Gibson, Barbara Nosenzo, Steve Potter) 

Unsurprisingly to some, The Ballard of Halo Jones cemented its future place within this collection from its initial release back in 1984. Ask any 2000 AD fan to name a strip that's essential reading, and I guarantee that Halo Jones will be mentioned. It's also from the mind of Alan Moore - who really needs no introduction! 

Set across three books, Moore and Ian Gibson sent feminist Halo Jones on one wild adventure. Across the sci-fi opera, we see the young and very ordinary Halo grow and mature as she experiences heart-wrenching tragedy, interstellar war, and a few pointless jobs along the way.

Set across one single day, this opening chapter introduces us to Halo and ends with her monumental and life changing decision. As a young teenager, life on board the Hoop is a bit of a bore. Halo Jones wishes for more excitement in her life and it's during a fateful shopping trip that she decides to leave planet Earth - for good! 

Not only does The Ballard of Halo Jones mark Alan Moore's final work for 2000 AD, it still stands as one of the comics' greatest stories! 

Strontium Dog: The Sad Case (John Wagner, Carlos Ezquerra, Tom Frame) 

Much like Judge Dredd, Strontium Dog Johnny Alpha has quite a history. Here however we get a simple tale that sees John Wagner delving into the character's past.

Just like the earlier Mutie Block, The Sad Case does a good job of showcasing Johnny Alpha and partner-in-crime Wulf without throwing you deep into their respective lore. Instead, we have an accessible tale of the duo simply doing what they do best - bounty hunting. 

And, if by some chance you come away from this one wanting more. Then there's a whole heap of Johnny Alpha - and the wider Strontium Dog universe - compendiums, collections, and volumes to dive into.

Anderson, PSI-Division: Shamballa (Alan Grant, Arthur Ranson, Steve Potter)

Shamballa is a story that even I have only recently discovered. A somewhat short tale of only 60-pages, Grant and Ranson manage to pack it full of stellar storytelling and a grand display of artistic talent. 

Shamballa kicks off epically as a strange phenomenal sweep across the globe. With Cits in all the major cities affected, Anderson soon finds herself teaming up with East-Meg 2's PsyKop Amikov. As events slowly point back to the fabled lost city of Shamballa, Anderson and Amikov find themselves babysitting a team of multinational parapsychologists.

Aside from discovering the cause of the phenomenon, Shamballa takes Anderson on a globe-spanning adventure, as well as into the deepest parts of her psyche. 

It truly is a wonderful piece of storytelling that only Alan Grant could tell. Complementing Grant's script is the very talented Arthur Ranson. Much like Grant, Ranson became the featured artist when it came to drawing Cass Anderson, and his photo-realistic style gives the character a lot of depth and emotion.

While the duo would go on to produce many more illustrious and well-received Anderson, PSI-Division strips, Shamballa is the perfect entry point.

Judge Dredd: Spok's Mock Chocs (Alan Grant, Brendon McCarthy, Jamie Hewlett, Steve Whittaker, Tom Frame) 

Judge Dredd's strips can - and often do - fall into two genres. One on hand you have the serious Dredd tale. One that delves into the nitty-gritty world of Mega-City One, while giving plenty of social commentary and satire. The other side of this is that Mega-City One can also be quite whacky - and a bit ridiculous. Spok’s Mock Choc is the latter as Alan Grant takes us through Mega-City One's unbelievable side.

An infection is taking hold across many of the Meg's citizens. As the infected start to take bites out of everything in their way, Dredd is on the streets in an attempt to keep the peace. Eventually, Dredd's investigation leads him to candy inventor Spok, whose Mock Choc bars are the last thing each Cit ate before going crazy. 

Much like John Wagner, Alan Grant spent a lot of time writing Judge Dredd, he was able to tap into this crazy side, whilst making it wholly believable. Plus, as a "done-in-one" it's perfect for this 'best of..." anthology. 

DR & Qunich's Agony Page (Alan Davis, Jamie Delano, Mark Farmer, Steve Potter)

Seeing this opening volume to a close is a one-page look into DR & Qunich

The inclusion of this one was my only "hmm" moment across the whole collection. Don't get me wrong, it's a perfectly serviceable single page that does exactly what it says on the tin. However, DR & Qunich was never really the same after Alan Moore left 2000 AD.

Whether you're a 2000 AD vet, or someone venturing into the 'Thrillverse' for the first time, the Best of 2000 AD Vol 1 is a great read. It's packed full of various strips that show just how diverse the weekly publication is in both its storytelling and creative teams. 

Regardless of your comic book preference, this is one comic book that everyone should read. 

And for those who dabble in the quarterly all-ages Regened Progs, this Best of 2000 AD series acts as a brilliant springboard too! 

So, what are you waiting for? 

Rating: 10/10

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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

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