Comic Book Review - 2000 AD Prog 2360

I’m back with another trip into the Thrillverse as I take a look at this weeks offering from 2000 AD…

Rufus Dayglo is on cover duties this week as we get a gorgeous rendition of The Devil’s Railroad that captures the overall atmosphere of the story so far. 

With Poison ending last week, and Fall of Deadworld on its hiatus, Tharg has space for two new strips starting this week. Kicking things off is a continuation of Ken Niemand’s muderous utilities story in Judge Dredd: Clanker. The other sees Cavan Scott and Luke Horsman return for book theee of Enemy Earth. Joining these is the continuations of Helium: Scorched Earth, The Devil’s Railroad, and Feral & Foe: Bad Godesburg. 

So strap in, grab a beer (or other beverage), and join me as we take a look at Prog 2360! 

Judge Dreadd: Clanker - Part 1 (Ken Niemand, Nick Dyer, John Charles, Annie Parkhouse)

Clanker is the next part in Ken Niemand’s tale of the alien presence that’s been stalking Mega-City Ones’s municipal facilities. So far we’ve seen the ominous green creature possess a waste disposal bin, a public toilet, and now it’s found its way into a long forgotten Mechanismo unit within the Meg’s sewer system. And yes, it could quite be THAT Mechanismo unit! 

However, it’s not easy for the creature as in its attempt to rampage through Mega-City Ones’s streets, it’s also having to contend with the Mechanismo’s core program of being a street Judge. And with Dredd hot on its heels, well Niemand and his team have a little fun. 

Nick Dyer and John Charles bring an interesting energy to the art work for this one. It’s very rough around the edges which when coupled with Annie Parkhouse’s use of lettering gives everything an alien feel. Niemand on the other had gives us more into the aliens’s goals, while remaining mysterious on what it is - and more importantly - where it came from. 

Helium: Scorched Earth - Part 9 (Ian Edginton, D’Israeli, Simon Bowland) 

With the Ballerophron looming overhead, Hodge, Bloom, and Sol have hightailed out of Fugue Town and made their escape into relative calmness. The same can’t be said for Fugue Town as the mighty Ris carrier starts its bombardment. There’s a twist in the tale (or should that be shell) as underneath the town is something much larger - and the bombing has worked it up!

With the battle raging on, Hodge then debates if it’s best to play hero and save the Ballerophron from the attack. Que plenty more action-packed panels as Edginton and D’Israeli dive further more into the strange - and quite frankly - interesting world, while packing it with a grand adventure of good vs evil.

The Devil’s Railroad - Part 8 (Peter Milligan, Rufus Dayglo, Jose Villarrubia, Jim Campbell)

So far, Palmon and Constance have had quite the adventure in their attempt to get to Earth. With the duo now separated and on their own individual journeys, it’s still not gotten any easier. While Palmon has diced with death and ended up killing the offspring to the very dangerous Sister White, he’s then sold a piece of his very soul in an attempt to keep the dream of the railroad alive. 

Constance on the other hand. Well she’s still in the thick of it as her wannabe “husband” takes her home to meet the parents - who happens to be Sister White. Of course the matriarch of the family is also a psychic which’ll surly spell trouble if she happens to realise that Constance witnessed the death of her beloved son. 

While the Devil’s Railroad has been a fun - and - frantic ride, its artwork has been the crowning jewel. Dayglo’s linework has been superb though out and the veteran artist packs a heck of a lot of detail within each scene. Villarrubia compliments this with a great colour palette that gives everything a vibrant feel with some dangerous undertones. Perfect accomplice to Mulligan’s danger-filled script. 

Enemy Earth: Book Three - Part 1 (Cavan Scott, Luke Horsman, Simon Bowland) 

Not only is Cavan Scott back with Phase 3 of Marvel’s Star Wars The High Republic, he’s also back with book 3 of Enemy Earth! Last time out we saw Zoe and Jules finally reunite with Jules father, who just happens to be the Prime Minister. The duo were then thrown into the Prime Minister’s plan to travel to India where the world’s remaining scientists are gathered in an attempt to stop the mutation that’s plagued the wildlife on Earth. 

Trouble has a way of following Zoe as no sooner are they in the air, Jules succumbs to the virus, and his father’s insanity grows - while he’s flying the plane! To top it off they’re also under attack by a mutated bird, and someone’s fired a missile at them! 

Enemy Earth has come along way from its debut one-off back in Regened a few years back. Not only has Cavan Scott’s post apocalyptic vision “mutated” from something I’d class as “all-ages”, it’s benefitted well as a result. 

Feral & Foe: Bad Godesberg - Part 9 (Dan Abnett, Richard Elson, Jim Campbell) 

The crazy fantasy adventure with the hapless duo of Bode and Wrath continues as Dan Abnett gives us a D&D session gone wrong. We’re nine parts in and the group are still investigating the strange going’s on in Godesberg. While Wrath finds herself up against a foe who looks very similar to herself, Bode is deep in it against the monstrous, Roving Eye. 

It’s all fun and games as Abnett pokes fun of fantasy cliches in an entirely original way. Dialogue is sharp and snappy as each of the cast bounces off of each other incredibly well. I’ll always say that Feral & Foe feels like a D&D session where the DM has gone horribly off script, and it’s a feeling that still rings true. And with plenty more in the fantasy arsenal, Wrath and Bode will no doubt have a few more adventures to go! 

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