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What if two of Britain’s biggest comics had merged – find out this September!

It’s a clash of the ages – what if two of Britain’s most famous comic books had merged at the height of their popularity in the 1980s?

In a brand new “what if?” crossover featuring some of Britain’s biggest comic book talents this September, 2000 AD and the Judge Dredd Megazine find the answer to the question: what would 2000 AD have looked like if it had combined forces with the legendary Battle Action?

Out in the UK on 20 September and in North America on 1 November, 2000 AD Prog 2350 and Judge Dredd Megazine #460 features stories by Ken Neimand, Alex de Campi, Gordon Rennie, Arthur Wyatt, Chris Weston, Staz Johnson and more. (Diamond codes: JUL231919 & JUL231920)

The special 48-page bumper issue of 2000 AD and the 132-page Judge Dredd Megazine will see Judge Dredd take on the anarchic, riotous teens of ‘Kids Rule OK’, the controversial comic strip that helped lead to Action being pulled from shelves in 1976.

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Wraparound Megazine cover art by Henry Flint

The line-up includes Alan Hebden and Carlos Ezquerra’s former enslaved gunslinger El Mestizo and laconic WWII officer Major Eazy, as well as deadly future sport ‘Death Game 2049’, and daring Panzer officer ‘Hellman of Hell Force’, as well as Dreddworld reinventions of strips such as John Wagner and Mike Western’s tale of the ‘Forgotten Army’, ’Darkie’s Mob’, and Tom Tully and Joe Colquhoun’s WW2 air ace ‘Johnny Red’.

Matt Smith, editor of 2000 AD, said: “The history of comics on the UK’s newsstand is marked by the practice of merging titles, where two great anthologies combine. In the case of Starlord joining 2000 AD, it meant the Prog gained Strontium Dog and Ro-Busters. When Tornado’s Black Hawkjoined the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic, it led to a radical reinvention of the strip.

“Writer Ken Niemand suggested to me a special asking what would’ve happened if Battle Action merged with 2000 AD in the early eighties, with its war stories getting something of a science-fiction/fantasy makeover, and I couldn’t resist!

“Major Eazy, Hellman of Hammer Force, El Mestizo, Dredger – all these great characters get the 2000 AD treatment in Prog 2350, courtesy of the likes of Niemand, Simon Coleby, Chris Weston, Dan Cornwell, Jake Lynch and more. And over in Judge Dredd Megazine #460, we’ve got Dreddworld reinventions of ‘Rat Pack’, ‘Darkie’s Mob’ and ‘Johnny Red’ – it’s a ‘What if…’ that fans of both Battle and 2000 AD won’t want to miss.”

‘Death Game 2049’ by Nick Dyer (top left), ‘El Mestizo’ by Chris Weston (top right), ‘Judge Dredd: Return to Billy Carter’ by Nick Percival (bottom left) and ‘Judge Dredd: Juves Rule OK!’ by Simon Coleby (bottom right)

Battle Picture Weekly and Action were two of Britain’s most groundbreaking comics, both tearing up the rulebook on how comics should be in an age of conformity and falling sales. Their action-packed pages delighted young readers as much as they horrified parents and moralists. Following national controversy over the violence in Action, it was effectively banned by its own publisher, neutered and eventually merged with Battle, to create Battle Action.

For this was the age of “hatch, match and dispatch” – when new comics would be launched, then merged into more successful titles. 2000 AD itself absorbed its stablemates Starlord and Tornado, with strips such as ‘Strontium Dog’ and ‘Ro-Busters’ becoming some of its most popular ever series.

This mega-crossover will then be followed by a brand new ‘jumping on’ issue of 2000 AD – the perfect point for new readers to jump on board with the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic, featuring an all-new line-up including ‘Poison’, a new ‘Judge Dredd’ story by Rob Williams and PJ Holden, more ‘Feral & Foe’ by Dan Abnett and Richard Elson, the return of ‘Helium’ by Ian Edginton and D’Israeli, plus a special one-off clash between two classic characters by Garth Ennis & Henry Flint!

Grab 2000 AD and more of Rebellion’s comic book titles from your local comics shop or newsagent – find your nearest stockist with the 2000 AD storefinder at 2000AD.com/store-finder or locate your local comic book shop at ComicShopLocator.com.

To read 2000 AD, the Judge Dredd MegazineMonster Fun, fiction ebooks, and hundreds of graphic novel collections, download the 2000 AD app for iOS and Android devices. As well as gorging on a host of free comics, you can read your purchases in the app or download them as DRM-free files from the 2000 AD webshop.

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It’s Hell on (Cursed) Earth – pre-order The Helltrekkers collection now!

THE HELLTREKKERS

Acid rain that will strip skin from bone! Killer viruses that strike without warning! Marauding bands of mutants! Herds of hungry dinosaurs! Only the bold and the foolish hate Mega-City One enough to brave the hell of the Cursed Earth – but the Helltrekkers are willing to take the chance!

Written by Judge Dredd co-creator John Wagner and his writing partner Alan Grant, with art by José Ortiz (The Thirteenth Floor) and Horacio Lalia (Planet of the Damned), The Helltrekkers is a monumental survival story and one of the earliest spin-off strips from the world of Judge Dredd.

The Helltrekkers are the new frontiersmen—men and women who hated life in Mega-City One so much that they were willing to travel 2000 kilometres across the desolate irradiated desert known as the ‘Cursed Earth’ in order to start a new life.

The chances of reaching the new territories on the other side are slim – the hostile environment is full of danger, including acid rain downpours, killer viruses, mutants and hungry dinosaurs! To increase their chances of survival, Helltrekkers set off in large convoys … but sometimes fellow travellers can cause just as many problems as the threats from outside!

Out on 7 December, brand new collection comes in two formats – a standard paperback edition and a special webshop exclusive hardcover edition, whose specially designed cover evokes the famous Haynes Manuals.

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Meet the Void Runners – the new series beginning this week in 2000 AD

A substance like no other. A harsh galactic regime reliant on its supply. A captain and her crew given an offer they can’t refuse. A Revolution that can’t be stopped!

VOID RUNNERS is the new series for 2000 AD from the warped minds of writer David Hine (Crossed, X-Men, Bulletproof Coffin) and artist Boo Cook (X-Factor, Judge Anderson, Elephantmen).

Beginning in 2000 AD Prog 2334, out now from all good comic book stores and newsagents, the eight-episode psychedelic sci-fi series follows the adorable Captain Shikari and their crew of alien misfits as they search the cosmos for Kali’s Dust – the drug that essentially holds the universe together. 

Uptight and repressive, the Ankorites are shared-mind entities that rely on the drug called Kali’s Dust – a magical medicine that feeds their psychic visions and allows them to rule over the network of planets and systems known as The Federation. However, supplies are running dangerously low and so their ruthless foot soldiers, The Subjugators, call on notorious Void Runner Captain Alice Shikari to track down the pleroma – the deep-space creatures that are the source of Kali’s Dust.

But Shikari has a vision of her own and it involves spreading joy and enlightenment to the masses – the revolution is here!

David Hine said: “When Boo asked me to come up with something a bit psychedelic to pitch to 2000 AD it seemed blindingly obvious that the world needs a sci-fi version of Ken Kesey’s Magic Bus trip across the USA in the 1960s. This time around the bus is a spaceship, crewed by Captain Shikari and her piratical crew of Void Runners. See fascistic cops who share one mind between three bodies, gigantic jellysquids who are also the oldest, wisest creatures in the cosmos, a battle with kamikaze space sharks and an actual vision of the ultimate meaning of the Universe. WARNING: Do not lick the pages!”

Boo Cook said: “Having been a big fan of David’s work for years I figured he would be the guy to ask about doing a space strip that was extremely psychedelic. This was a correct assumption – he did not disappoint! Void Runners it’s a sprawling space epic in the true 2000 AD tradition, full of irreverence, anarchy and mayhem. there’s vibes of ‘D.R. and Quinch’, ‘Nemesis the Warlock’, Moby Dick and Dune but they come out of the pipe like an exotic firework straight to the frontal lobe – I think I’ve had to invent some new colours during the course of it! Hopefully it’ll read like a hallucinogenic space manual on how it’s a real pain in the arse to live full of hate – no doubt that will annoy some people but ‘I’d like to think the affable Shikari could win round any galactic despot.”

Matt Smith, editor of 2000 AD, said: “The fevered imaginations of David Hine and Boo Cook are the perfect combination for a Dune-style surreal space adventure, full of weird beings and psychedelic cosmic vistas. Don’t miss this voyage into the void, Earthlets!”

Void Runners begins in 2000 AD Prog 2334, which is out now. Grab 2000 AD and more of Rebellion’s comic book titles from your local comics shop or newsagent – find your nearest stockist with the 2000 AD storefinder at 2000AD.com/store-finder or locate your local comic book shop at ComicShopLocator.com.

To read 2000 AD, the Judge Dredd Megazine, Monster Fun, fiction ebooks, and hundreds of graphic novel collections, download the 2000 AD app for iOS and Android devices. As well as gorging on a host of free comics, you can read your purchases in the app or download them as DRM-free files from the 2000 AD webshop.

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Rebellion unveil new merch to mark Strontium Dog’s 45th anniversary

For 45 years they’ve been taking down the scum of the galaxy and to celebrate the anniversary of the debut of Strontium Dog, Rebellion has unveiled a brand new slate of merchandise!

From T-shirts to pint glasses, from mugs to iron-on patches, the new anniversary Strontium Dog range is the perfect gift for the mutant bounty hunter in your life.

This new line of merchandise is inspired by and pays homage to one of 2000 AD’s most popular ever series, an epic sci-fi Western created by writer John Wagner and artist Carlos Ezquerra that debuted in Starlord, 2000 AD’s short-lived sister title, in 1978. 

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One of the most iconic strips in the history of British comics, the bounty hunters of the Search/Destroy Agency – derisively dubbed ‘Strontium Dogs’ – are members of a persecuted minority of mutated humans, their bodies warped by Strontium 90 fallout, who are despised by the ‘Norm’ population, barred from public life, and herded into ghettos.

The only job open to them is as bounty hunters and, from the orbiting ‘Doghouse’ base, Johnny Alpha and his Viking partner, Wulf Sternhammer head out to track down criminals for cold, hard cash – from deep space to Hell itself, from Adolf Hitler to Ronald Reagan! 

The series has had a cultural impact far beyond its pages, with director Edgar Wright and actor Simon Pegg famously citing the death of Johnny Alpha in their acclaimed comedy TV series Spaced.

The new line of merchandise, available from the Rebellion online store, pays tribute to this popular and influential series, referencing key locations and individuals from the rich history of the last 45 years, all of it coming from the fertile imaginations of Ezquerra, Wagner and his writing partner, the late Alan Grant. 

Designed by Salvador Lavado – who has worked with major brands and international artists including John Williams, Metallica, Jay-Z, Mercury Records and many more – the new merchandise digs deep into the history and lore of the strip to produce designs that will delight fans while remaining intriguing to those unfamiliar with the landmark series.

The new T-shirts reference just some of the series’ legendary weaponry – including ‘Westinghouse’, the supplier of Johnny Alpha’s preferred Variable Blaster firearm, and the iconic ‘Electronux’ electrical stun knuckle-duster, while posing as an employee of the famous ‘Doghouse’ space station. There is a fun ‘Sternhammer Ale’ design which pays tribute to Wulf’s legendary thirst and love of good company, while another advertises the services of the Gronk, Alpha and Sternhammer’s weak-hearted medic.

And thirsty bounty hunters will be able to quench their thirst with the first Strontium Dog pint glasses – featuring the ‘Sternhammer Ale’ and the ‘Property of The Doghouse’ designs – as well as a mug from the Doghouse Canteen and others sporting the ‘Doghouse’ and ‘Westinghouse’ designs.

The new range of Strontium Dog merchandise is available now from the Rebellion online store at shop.rebellion.com

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Find your nearest 2000 AD stockist with this handy online tool!

Need a dose of 2000 AD Thrill-power but don’t know where to find it? Make sure you consult the 2000 AD Store Finder – the brand new online tool that’ll help you zero in on the nearest copies of Tharg’s mighty publications!

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Just type in your postcode into our online store finder and the Nerve Centre’s spotter drones will deploy and triangulate the locations of your nearest stockists of 2000 AD, the Judge Dredd Megazine and Monster Fun – whether it’s your local newsagents, supermarket, or corner shop!

Or if you’re looking instead for your nearest specialist comic book store – either within or outside of the UK – you can use the Comic Shop Locator online search tool.

Never miss an edition of the Galaxy’s Greatest Comics again – use the new 2000 AD Store Finder tool and ensure your Thrill-power levels are keep at maximum levels!

And don’t forget that you can also subscribe to 2000 AD and the Megazine and get issues delivered direct to your door!

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Want to get into reading Judge Dredd? You’ll need the Essentials!

Essential Judge Dredd is the ideal series for those looking to discover the greatest stories of the ultimate lawman of the future!

From the war against democracy to fighting murderous undead superfiends, from the origins of Mega-City One to all-out nuclear war – it’s all here in gorgeous new collections.

Created by John Wagner (A History of Violence) and Carlos Ezquerra (Preacher), Judge Dredd is one of the world’s most famous comic book characters but 45 years of continuous weekly storytelling it can be difficult to know where to begin.

Essential Judge Dredd is specially curated to make it easy to jump on board and catch up with the classics from this groundbreaking, massively-influential comic book series. The series features some of the key storylines and most important mega-epics, including:

  • Essential Judge Dredd: America
  • Essential Judge Dredd: The Apocalypse War
  • Essential Judge Dredd: Origins
  • Essential Judge Dredd: Dredd vs Death
  • Essential Judge Dredd: Necropolis
  • Essential Judge Dredd: Judgement Day

So pick up the Essential Judge Dredd collections now and dive into the future-shocked world of Mega-City One – available in print from book stores, comic book stores, and online retailers or digitally through 2000 AD‘s webshop and app!

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Strontium Dog Search & Destroy 2 out now!

STRONTIUM DOG SEARCH AND DESTROY 2

They’re the most feared bounty hunters in the galaxy – and now they have a new home!

 Collecting the earliest stories from the immensely influential and popular Strontium Dog series, Strontium Dog Search and Destroy Vol.2 – The 2000 AD Years includes the earliest Strontium Dog strips to appear in 2000 AD.

After launching in sister title Starlord in 1978, ‘Strontium Dog’ was one of the strips that jumped to The Galaxy’s Greatest Comic when the two merged later the same year. Co-created by John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra, the team behind ‘Judge Dredd’, this collection includes the beautifully-coloured spreads that appeared in the original 2000 AD run along with the classic story, ‘The Schicklgruber Grab’, in which mutant bounty hunter Johnny Alpha and his partner Wulf Sternhammer travel to the past to capture Adolf Hitler!

This volume continues the series bringing back into print one of the seminal series of British comics, a science fiction Western that merges everything from time travel to a trip to Hell itself. This new edition, with colour centre spreads lovingly restored, is a must for fans and collectors alike, putting these stories back to their rightful place as one of the key series in the annals of British comics.

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Get the classic 2000 AD prints & T-shirts featured in Lockwood & Co!

Get T-shirts and prints of classic 2000 AD covers as featured in the brand new hit Netflix series Lockwood & Co.!

This line of classic covers cover from the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic all appear in the new show, adapted by acclaimed writer-director Joe Cornish from the book series by Jonathan Stroud.

Young and psychically gifted Lucy Carlyle joins a new psychic detection agency – Lockwood & Co. – run by Anthony Lockwood and George Cubbins, as they fight ghosts, discover all manner of nasties hiding in the shadows of London, and unravel a mystery that will change the course of history!

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You can’t miss psychic investigator George Karim’s love of 2000 AD Thrill-power – actor Ali Hadji-Heshmati enjoys a classic issue (Prog 224 from August 1981) and then sports a T-shirt bearing the original logo from Prog 1, as well as one featuring famous British comic book anti-hero The Steel Claw!

Cornish was “addicted to 2000 AD” when he was growing up, telling one reporter “my Saturday morning routine was a quarter of pear drops, 2000 AD and Swap Shop”. And so Lockwood & Co. features classic issues of 2000 AD in a world where the past and present collide!

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Grab the new 2000 AD Liquid Refreshment Dispensers!

Thrill-boost your beverages with one of the new 2000 AD mugs – available to order now worldwide!

Using the latest technology to install Thrill-power into everyday household items, this LRD (Liquid Refreshment Dispenser) has been finely tuned to deliver drinks both hot and cold safely and with ZERO chance of Thrill-Sucker infestation!

The range includes classic mug designs by Jock from 2001! The superstar artist brings his own unique style to four of Judge Dredd’s most notorious nemeses – undead aline superfiend Judge Death, headbutting maniac Mean Machine Angel, ape mobster Don Uggie Apelino, and his clone brother Rico!

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The Ballad of Halo Jones full colour omnibus hardcover – out now!

The Ballad of Halo Jones full colour omnibus

The ultimate edition of Alan Moore and Ian Gibson’s The Ballad of Halo Jones is out now!

With a brand new introduction by Kieron Gillen (The Wicked & The Divine), lovingly restored and beautifully coloured art, original scripts, and bonus content, this is the ultimate edition of Moore and Ian Gibson’s feminist space opera from the pages of 2000 AD.

Radical and revolutionary, this ground-breaking and critically-lauded feminist space opera from Moore (WatchmenV for Vendetta) and Gibson (Star Wars) is a true science fiction classic, and is now brought together in a full colour, hardcover omnibus for the first time.

Halo Jones is bored. Trapped in The Hoop, a futuristic world where jobs are scarce and excitement non-existent, Halo sets out to see the galaxy any way she can and to rewrite her destiny. From drudge work on a glamorous cruise liner, to serving in a brutal war zone, Halo experiences love and loss and she grows up into the woman who will change the course of the galaxy’s history.

Where did she go? Out. What did she do? Everything.A cultural icon and a high water mark for British science fiction, this timeless tale of one woman’s tenacity amidst a sea of dead-end jobs, war, despair, love, and hope, remains one of Moore’s most beloved sagas. Restored and lovingly coloured by Barbara Nosenzo, and featuring a new introduction and bonus content – including scans of two of Moore’s original scripts – The Ballad of Halo Jones remains essential reading and this is its essential collection.