Comic Book Review - The Best of 2000 AD Vol. 3

Rob reviews The Best of 2000 AD Vol.3…

The ‘Ultimate Mix-Tape’ of 2000 AD’s greatest hits is back for its third volume. Packed with an array of specially curated strips, The Best of 2000 AD series does its very best in introducing you to the world of Tharg, and his Thrillverse.

Much like its predecessors, this volume offers up an enticing mixture of strips and feature that draw across all corners of the wider 2000 AD mythos. While we do get a couple of standard trips to Mega-City 1 with Judge Dredd, series Editor Owen Johnson shows us the anthologies more “Tales of the Unexplained” side as things get a little bizarre. 

Personally, this third volume has been my favourite out of the series so far. Not only does it feature a Judge Dredd written by Michael Carroll, we also have the debut of Ian Edginton and D’Israeli. While you’d think that Johnson would of opted to include the duo’s phenomenal Scarlet Traces, he’s instead swapped the Earth/Mars war for the Atlantic Ocean, as we get a murder mystery onboard the gigantic ocean liner, Leviathan. 

But, with plenty more to get though before we join the gargantuan vessels maiden voyage, shall we crack on?

Judge Dredd: Ghosts (Michael Carroll, Mark Sexton, Len O’Grady, Annie Parkhouse) 

Kicking proceedings off is a slice of modern Judge Dredd. Michael Carroll is in the driving seat for this one, and he opts for a more politically charged thriller as Dredd investigates a case of kidnapping. Trouble is those being kidnapped are first year Cadet Judges who have that special something about them. Throw in plenty of twists, a conspiracy that threatens the very heart of the Justice Department, and Dredd being Dredd, and Carroll spins quite the tale. 

Why Ghosts deserves its place within these mix tapes is that it’s a different side to what we’ve already seen. It’s Dredd dealing with the very facsist nature of the Justice Department that he’s sworn his life to. Throughout, Carroll introduces the clandestine operations that are playing out in the shadows of Mega-City One. While chief of these manipulations would be Judge Smiley - who’s plans are still unraveling today - Ghosts shows that Judge Dredd isn’t all about “Judges and Robbers”.

Storming Heaven (Gordon Rennie, Fraser Irving, Ellie De Ville )

In contrast to the previous tale, things then go super weird as Gordon Rennie introduces Dr. Trips and his psychedelic new world order. Storming Heaven comes at you with quite a pace that’s it’s hard to take it all in. From first introducing Professor Adam Larr, to then showing his metamorphosis into Dr. Tripps, to then bringing enlightenment to the world, Rennie doesn’t seem to stop for air. 

That being said Storming Heaven is a tale back from 2000/2001 - a time when the brand was taken over by current publisher Rebellion. While the weekly Progs have settled down now, and some episodes taking place over numerous parts, back then the decision was made for the strips to be quick, and fairly short. As such Storming Heaven only falls into 48-pages. And too be fair to Gordon Rennie, while he does a good job in actually finishing the tale, it’s certainly one that could of afforded at least 20/30 pages more.

Away from internal politics, and the true highlight of Storming Heaven is Frazer Irving. From it’s clear inspiration from Sgt Pepper, Irving takes you on an acid filled trip across the valley of enlightenment. It’s bright, bold, and flows like an ocean of colour! 

Leviathan (Ian Edginton, D’Israeli, Tom Frame) 

For me, Leviathan is the true highlight to this volume. I recently discovered this mystery on the high seas thanks to the Hatchette Partworks 2000 AD Ultimate Collection. It’s a story that hooked me straight from its premise, and from its first page Edginton threw me into its world. 

The easiest way to describe Leviathan is a mixture of Titanic and Lost. Taking place in 1928 onboard the gargantuan ocean liner Leviathan we follow the lives to some of its 28,000 passengers and crew as they embark across the Atlantic on the vessels maiden voyage. Trouble is, they set off from New York 28-years prior to this story beginning. 

With being at sea for so long, the passengers have developed a pseudo civilisation based upon their class of travel. While the first class passengers live a semi-life of luxury, feeding off the exotic wildlife from the ships Zoo, and generally having a good time. Those below decks are the worst hit, where second class barely get enough resources to scrape by, those in steerage are relegated to the literal hell that’s become the Leviathan’s bowels. Crime is rampant here, and whether you live or die, is judged by the laws of nature. Society is on the verge of collapse, and all it’ll take is a single jolt to send it all crumbling down. 

Enter Detective Sergeant Lament, who’s been called on to investigate a series of muders across the first class population. With the flesh being literally flayed from the unfortunate victims, Lament has his work cut out. It’s also an investigation that’ll take him deep into the world order of this floating city, past all of its social prejudices, and straight into the heart of the Leviathan itself. 

If you’ve loved the last two showings of Dan Abnett’s Brink, then you’ll enjoy Leviathan! 

The Graveyard Shift (John Wagner, Alan Grant - credited as TP Grover, Ron Smith, Steve Potter) 

Rounding up this volume is a classic Judge Dredd strip straight from 1983. Originally serialised across seven parts (Prog 335-371), The Graveyard Shift follows Judge Dredd across a typical night patrol in Mega-City 1. And it’s as simple as that. No overarching narrative, no big threat, and no city-wide conspiracy. It’s just seven episodes of Dredd doing his job. It’s also a narrative that hadn’t really been covered up until this point, and coming out of the phenomenal Apocalypse War storyline also gives Wagner & Grant chance to show the change to Mega-City One. 

Much like Ghosts, The Graveyard Shift shows just how diverse the storytelling for Judge Dredd has been over the characters long history. Not only this, but it’s also a masterful display of Wagner and Grant at work. Across the seven episodes Wagner & Grant really put Dredd through his paces, and it’s all done in a style that shows this is just a typical night shift for the Meg’s finest. Even after the recent invasion from the Sov’s sort-of galvanised the Cits of Mega-City One, The Graveyard Shift shows that the “victory” was short lived. 

When it comes to completing this story, Ron Smith had the enviable task of bringing the script to life - and it’s something he’s smashed out of the ball park. Smith’s art work is great at capturing the gritty, overcrowded streets, and highways that litter the Mega-City. From that opening shot of Dredd parked high above with the endless traffic and crowds down below, you get a real sense of just how condensed life in the Big Meg is. It’s also this theme that Smith takes us - and Dredd - on a tour through before the night is up. 

While some of you may question that there’s more deserving strips to be placed here, give this one a re-read. It might just change your mind! 

D.R. & Quinch’s Agony Page ( Jamie Delano, Alan Davis, Mark Farmer, Steve Potter)

And much like the previous three volumes of The Best of… seeing us out is another D.R. & Quinch. This time the duo have been asked about where one would find a nuclear weapon for a friends birthday. What follows is D.R. & Quinch raiding the Pentagon, while babbling about weapons of mass destruction. 

It’s silly, a little crazy, and did manage to get a laugh out of this crusty old reviewer. But ultimately I still don’t see the point behind it’s inclusion. Anyway…

Overall, The Best of 2000 AD Volume 3 is arguably the best outing so far. While all three volumes have been highly enjoyable, it’s this one that’s given us quite the mixture of strips, writers, and artists. Rebellion have really hit it home with these introductory pieces. With two more outings to come, The Best of 2000 AD is shaping up to be a tremendous gateway into the Galaxies Greatest Comic! 

Rating: 10/10

The Best of 2000 AD Volume 3 is available now and can be purchased via the 2000 AD webstore. 

An ARC was kindly provided by the publisher for this review. 

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Rob Lake - For more comic book and video game chat why not follow us on Twitter/Facebook @GeekCultureRev, and TikTok/YouTube @Geekculturereviews.