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2000 AD Prog 1985 out now!

Welcome to another circuit-shattering, aweinspiring issue of the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic, guaranteed to energise your frontal lobes!

While Black Shuck, Grey Area, Sláine, and Brink are all surging ahead on their respective arcs, we reach the conclusion to the current section of the Judge Dredd storyline this prog in readiness for the start of the climactic chapter, Reclamation, by Mike Carroll and Colin MacNeil next week. Be here, Terrans, as all the pieces of the conspiracy begin to slot into place!

2000 AD Prog 1985 is available now in both print and digital, as well as through the zarjaz 2000 AD apps for Apple, Android, and Windows 10 devices!

JUDGE DREDD: THE LION’S DEN
by Michael Carroll (w) PJ Holden (a) Adam Brown (c) Annie Parkhouse (l)
Mega-City One, 2138 AD. Home to 72 million citizens, this urban hell is situated along the east coast of post-apocalyptic North America. Resources are stretched, crime is rampant, and only the Judges — empowered to dispense instant justice — can stop total anarchy. Toughest of them all is JUDGE DREDD — he is the Law! But he is now being held at a med-facility, and Joyce has teamed up with Detective Armitage…

SLÁINE: PSYCHOPOMP
by Pat Mills (w) Simon Davis (a) Ellie De Ville (l)
Albion. Celtic warrior SLÁINE united the tribes of the Earth Goddess and became the first High King of Ireland, but is now a wanderer. Having journeyed to Monadh to rescue Sinead from the Drune Lords, he’s discovered that they have been experimenting on their own creations, much to the displeasure of the Cyths’ jailer, the Archon Yaldabaoth. Now, he must help Sinead spring Zana, the mother of humanity, from her cell…

BRINK
by Dan Abnett (w) INJ Culbard (a) Simon Bowland (l)
The late 21st century, and through environmental catastrophe and industrial overload Earth has been reduced to a uninhabitable wasteland. Mankind finally evacuated the planet in 2075 and millions were housed in a number of Habitats, the human race crammed into these artificial worlds, living off synth food and nudge drugs. Now, in the process of investigating sect activities, HSD Detective Brinkmann has been killed…

BLACK SHUCK: SINS OF THE FATHER
by Leah Moore and John Reppion (w) Steve Yeowell (a) Chris Blythe (c) Ellie De Ville (l)
Scandinavia, 815 AD. When the Anglo-Saxon warrior known as BLACK SHUCK washed up at the court of King Ivar, it was discovered he was the monarch’s bastard son, sired during a Viking raid on the town of Dunwich. Shuck successfully aided Ivar in his fight against the monstrous Jötunn, and became king himself. But his bestial curse has been passed on to his unborn sons, and his family will perish unless he seeks help…

GREY AREA: LAST CALL
by Dan Abnett (w) Mark Harrison (a) Annie Parkhouse (l)
The Global Exo Segregation Zone — aka the GREY AREA — is a huge sector in Arizona given over to housing the large number of ET immigrants seeking a new home on Earth, and policed by Exo Transfer Control squads, such as Bulliet’s team, comprising Birdy, Feo, Kymn and Neats. Now, plunged through a wormhole and stranded on Homeworld, they are fighting to save the alien planet from destruction at the hands of a God-Star…

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2000 AD Prog 1984 out now!

BIG DREDD IS WATCHING YOU! 2000 AD Prog 1984 is out now, Earthlets – with a suitably Orwellian cover by Matt Ferguson!

Inside you’ll find five supercharged Thrills that are guaranteed to keep your Thrill-power levels topped up for another week – Judge Dredd, Brink, Sláine, Grey Area, and Black Shuck!

2000 AD Prog 1984 is available now in both print and digital, as well as through the zarjaz 2000 AD apps for Apple, Android, and Windows 10 devices!!

JUDGE DREDD: THE LION’S DEN
by Michael Carroll (w) PJ Holden (a) Adam Brown (c) Annie Parkhouse (l)
Mega-City One, 2138 AD. Home to 72 million citizens, this urban hell is situated along the east coast of post-apocalyptic North America. Resources are stretched, crime is rampant, and only the Judges — empowered to dispense instant justice — can stop total anarchy. Toughest of them all was JUDGE DREDD — he was the Law! But he is now being held, severely injured, at a med-facility, and Joyce is on the run in Brit-Cit…

SLÁINE: PSYCHOPOMP
by Pat Mills (w) Simon Davis (a) Ellie De Ville (l)
Albion. Celtic warrior SL ÁINE united the tribes of the Earth Goddess and became the first High King of Ireland, but is now a wanderer. Having journeyed to Monadh to rescue Sinead from the Drune Lords, he’s discovered that they have been experimenting on their own creations, much to the displeasure of the Cyths’ jailer, the Archon Yaldabaoth. Now, he must help Sinead spring Zana, the mother of humanity, from her cell…

BRINK
by Dan Abnett (w) INJ Culbard (a) Simon Bowland (l)
The late 21st century, and through environmental catastrophe and industrial overload Earth has been reduced to a uninhabitable wasteland. Mankind finally evacuated the planet in 2075 and millions were housed in a number of Habitats, the human race crammed into these artificial worlds, living off synth food and nudge drugs. Now Habitat Security Division officers Brinkmann and Kurtis are investigating sect activities…

BLACK SHUCK: SINS OF THE FATHER
by Leah Moore and John Reppion (w) Steve Yeowell (a) Chris Blythe (c) Ellie De Ville (l)
Scandinavia, 815 AD. When the Anglo-Saxon warrior known as BLACK SHUCK washed up at the court of King Ivar, it was discovered he was the monarch’s bastard son, sired during a Viking raid on the town of Dunwich. Shuck successfully aided Ivar in his fight against the monstrous Jötunn, and became king himself. But his bestial curse has been passed on to his unborn sons, and his family will perish unless he seeks help…

GREY AREA: BIG DAY
by Dan Abnett (w) Mark Harrison (a) Annie Parkhouse (l)
The Global Exo Segregation Zone — aka the GREY AREA — is a huge sector in Arizona given over to housing the large number of ET immigrants seeking a new home on Earth, and policed by Exo Transfer Control squads, such as Bulliet’s team, comprising Birdy, Feo, Kymn and Neats. Now, plunged through a wormhole and stranded on Homeworld, they are fighting to save the alien planet from destruction at the hands of a God-Star…

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2000 AD Prog 1983 out now!

2000 AD Prog 1983 is out now, Earthlets – with a zarjaz new cover by legendary art droid Glenn Fabry, with colours by Adam Brown!

Historical fantasy Black Shuck: Sins of the Father joins the roster of Thrills this week – a sequel to the Anglo-Saxon warrior’s first appearance back in 2014 between Progs 1891 and 1899, and brought to you once again by the creative combo of double-headed writing team Leah Moore and John Reppion and Zenith artist Steve Yeowell.

Two years have passed since Shuck washed up on the Scandinavian shore of King Ivar’s court, claiming to be his heir, and in teaming up to defeat the trolls that were besieging Ivar’s people, he gained a reputation as a fierce fighter and became a respected leader, taking the throne when Ivar died and marrying his queen, Freydis. But Shuck has a bestial curse that he has to protect his unborn twin sons from…

The same way Sláine is rooted in Celtic mythology, Black Shuck stems from, and is much informed by, the legends of English folklore, particularl y the blackdog stories prevalent in East Anglian history. It adds authenticity to an otherwise fantastical tale, hinting at the mysterious and otherworldly elements that remain unexplained centuries later — your planet is stranger than you know, Terrans!

JUDGE DREDD: THE LION’S DEN
by Michael Carroll (w) PJ Holden (a) Adam Brown (c) Annie Parkhouse (l)
Mega-City One, 2138 AD. Home to 72 million citizens, this urban hell is situated along the east coast of post-apocalyptic North America. Resources are stretched, crime is rampant, and only the Judges — empowered to dispense instant justice — can stop total anarchy. Toughest of them all was JUDGE DREDD — he was the Law! But he is now being held, severely injured, at a med-facility, and Joyce is on the run in Brit-Cit…

SLÁINE: PSYCHOPOMP
by Pat Mills (w) Simon Davis (a) Ellie De Ville (l)
Albion, in a time of legend. Celtic warrior SLÁINE united the tribes of the Earth Goddess Danu and became the first High King of Ireland, before returning to being a wanderer. Now, having journeyed to the Isle of Monadh to rescue Sinead from the Drune Lords, he’s discovered that they have been experimenting on their own creations — and he and his old friend Gort must battle through an army of the half-dead to escape… Pat Mills (w). Simon Davis (a).

BRINK
by Dan Abnett (w) INJ Culbard (a) Simon Bowland (l)
The late 21st century, and through environmental catastrophe and industrial overload Earth has been reduced to a uninhabitable wasteland. Mankind finally evacuated the planet in 2075 and millions were housed in a number of Habitats, the human race crammed into these artificial worlds, living off synth food and nudge drugs. Now Habitat Security Division officers Brinkmann and Kurtis are investigating sect activities…

BLACK SHUCK: SINS OF THE FATHER
by Leah Moore and John Reppion (w) Steve Yeowell (a) Chris Blythe (c) Ellie De Ville (l)
Scandinavia, 815 AD. When the Anglo-Saxon warrior known as BLACK SHUCK washed up at the court of King Ivar, it was discovered he was the monarch’s bastard son, sired during a Viking raid on the town of Dunwich. Shuck successfully aided Ivar in his fight against the monstrous Jötunn, the beast that dwells within him taking over in the heat of battle. When the king died, Shuck assumed his role and married Queen Freydis…

GREY AREA: BIG DAY
by Dan Abnett (w) Mark Harrison (a) Annie Parkhouse (l)
The Global Exo Segregation Zone — aka the GREY AREA — is a huge sector in Arizona given over to housing the large number of ET immigrants seeking a new home on Earth, and policed by Exo Transfer Control squads, such as Bulliet’s team, comprising Birdy, Feo, Kymn and Neats. Now, plunged through a wormhole and stranded on Homeworld, they are fighting to save the alien planet from destruction at the hands of a God-Star…

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2000 AD Prog 1982 out now!

2000 AD Prog 1982 is out now from all good stockists and online, with another head-spinning plunge into the future-shocked worlds of the Comic of Tomorrow!

Joining Judge Dredd, Sláine and Brink this prog is the return of Grey Area by Dan Abnett and Mark Harrison for the climactic chapters of the current arc, with the alien world Bulliet and co are stranded on facing destruction thanks to a hungry God-Star.

Any Earthlets that need a quick catchup on where we left the ETC officers can peruse this handy memory-dump:

Completing this issue’s line-up is a Time Twister from writer Rory McConville and, making his 2000 AD debut, artist Steven Austin!

2000 AD Prog 1982 is out now in both print and digital, as well as through the zarjaz 2000 AD apps for Apple, Android, and Windows 10 devices!!

Judge Dredd: The Lion’s Den
by Michael Carroll, PJ Holden, Adam Brown, and Annie Parkhouse
Mega-City One, 2138 ad. Home to 72 million citizens, this urban hell is situated along the east coast of post-apocalyptic North America. Resources are stretched, crime is rampant, and only the Judges — empowered to dispense instant justice — can stop total anarchy. Toughest of them all was JUDGE DREDD — he was the law! But he is now presumed dead after a shuttle explosion, and Justice Dept is seeking help from Brit-Cit…

Sláine: Psychopomp
by Pat Mills, Simon Davis, and Ellie De Ville
Albion, in a time of legend. Celtic warrior SLÁINE united the tribes of the Earth Goddess Danu and became the first High King of Ireland, before returning to being a wanderer. Now, having journeyed to the Isle of Monadh to rescue Sinead from the Drune Lords, he’s discovered that they have been experimenting on their own creations — including the brutal, superhuman Primordial, whom sláine has just learnt is his old friend Gort…

Brink
by Dan Abnett, INJ Culbard, and Simon Bowland
The early 21st century, and through environmental catastrophe and industrial overload Earth has been reduced to a uninhabitable wasteland. Mankind finally evacuated the planet in 2075 and millions were housed in a number of habitats, the human race crammed into these artificial worlds, living off synth food and nudge drugs. In this pressure-cooker environment, all manner of communities and sects find a home…

Tharg’s Time Twisters: The Timeless Assassin
by Rory McConville, Steve Austin, and Ellie De Ville
Forget what you think you understand, Earthlets, about your species’ notion of time. Take nothing for granted when it comes to human history, or an unknowable future – the process of time can be broken, bent back on itself, or even sent in entirely the wrong direction. These complete head-spinning tales warp the very fabric of chronology…

Grey Area: End Game
by Dan Abnett, Mark Harrison, and Annie Parkhouse
The Global Exo Segregation Zone — aka the GREY AREA — is a huge sector in Arizona given over to housing the large number of ET immigrants seeking a new home, and policed by Exo Transfer Control squads, such as Bulliet’s team, comprising Birdy, Feo, Kymn and Neats. However, when they tried to destroy a God-Star that was threatening Earth, they were plunged through a wormhole and stranded on an alien world…

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2000 AD Prog 1981 out now!

Welcome to another ghafflebette plunge into the future-shocked imaginings of 2000 AD, Earthlets!

2000 AD Prog 1980 is out today from all good Thrill-merchants, as well as digitally from our DRM-free webshop and apps!

Who’s that stony-faced sentinel on the cover of this week’s issue, courtesy of art droid Jon Davis-Hunt? All is slowly being revealed in The Lion’s Den by Michael Carroll, PJ Holden, Adam Brown, and Annie Parkhouse…

Also, both Survival Geeks and Tainted come to a close this prog, but keep your optical sensors primed for the return of Grey Area in seven days’ time, courtesy of the Dan Abnett and Mark Harrison droids, as the fight for the fate of Homeworld reaches its circuit-shattering climax!

2000 AD Prog 1981 is out now in both print and digital, as well as through the zarjaz 2000 AD apps for Apple, Android, and Windows 10 devices!!

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2000 AD Prog 1980 out now!

The latest awe-inspiring issue of the award-winning, galactically renowned Comic of Tomorrow – 2000 AD – is out today!

You’ll find the Thrill-machine thrumming at full capacity with the latest instalments of Judge Dredd, Sláine, Brink, Survival Geeks and Tainted, the latter two reaching their zarjaz finales next prog as the last of the series that commenced in the spring Thrill-wave come to a close.

2000 AD Prog 1980 is out now in both print and digital, as well as through the zarjaz 2000 AD apps for Apple, Android, and Windows 10 devices!!

JUDGE DREDD // THE LION’S DEN – Michael Carroll, PJ Holden, Adam Brown

Mega-City One, 2138 AD. Home to 72 million citizens, this urban hell is situated along the east coast of post-apocalyptic North America. Resources are stretched, crime is rampant, and only the Judges — empowered to dispense instant justice — can stop total anarchy. Toughest of them all was JUDGE DREDD — he was the Law! But he is now presumed dead after a shuttle explosion, and Joyce has been extradited to Brit-Cit…

SURVIVAL GEEKS // LORD OF THE RINGERS – Gordon Rennie, Emma Beeby, Neil Googe

Somewhere in the outer limits of space/time, plunging through the planes of reality, is what looks like a regular suburban two-up two-down, but it is in fact powered by misfiring transdimensional technology. Inside live sci-fi obsessives Clive, Rufus and Simon, plus new reluctant housemate Sam and pet Cthulhu Howard: explorers on the edge of beyond. Now, a new member has joined the crew — the always popular Kevin…

SLÁINE // PSYCHOPOMP – Pat Mills, Simon Davis

Albion, in a time of legend. Celtic warrior SLÁINE united the tribes of the Earth Goddess Danu and became the first High King of Ireland, before returning to being a wanderer. Now, having journeyed to the Isle of Monadh to rescue Sinead from the Drune Lords, he’s discovered that they have been experimenting on their own creations — including the brutal, superhuman Primordial, whom Sláine has just learnt is his old friend Gort…

BRINK – Dan Abnett, INJ Culbard

The early 21st century, and through environmental catastrophe and industrial overload Earth has been reduced to a uninhabitable wasteland. Mankind finally evacuated the planet in 2075 and millions were housed in a number of Habitats, the human race crammed into these artificial worlds, living off synth food and nudge drugs. Now Habitat Security Division officers Brinkmann and Kurtis are investigating a sect murder…

TAINTED: THE FALL OF DEADWORLD – Kek-W, Dave Kendall

The planet that eventually became known as DEADWORLD was once a regular civilisation existing in a dimension parallel to our own. But there are many signs that the end of days is coming: riots, storms, food shortages. Judge Fairfax, fleeing the chaos, turned up at a farming family’s door, insisting they help him escape. Their journey has been fraught with peril as the Dark Judges’ corruption spreads…

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2000 AD Prog 1979 out now!

Soth! 2000 AD Prog 1979 is out now from all good Thrill-merchants, Earthlets!

With five ghafflebette stories to frazzle your circuits, joining the scrotnig line-up this week is everyone’s favourite Celtic berserker Sláine, who returns for the third volume of The Brutania Chronicles, Psychopomp, courtesy of Pat Mills and Simon Davis!

Picking up directly where we left off at the end of the previous book, the woad warrior is going head to head with the powerful Primordial, whom Sláine has learnt is his old friend Gort, who submitted himself to the evil Drune Lords for experimentation.

The bloodletting is only just beginning as the barbarian battles not just childhood pals but secrets about his own past. Those of you that missed the previous two series, A Simple Killing and Primordial, can pick up the beautiful collections from my online shop

2000 AD Prog 1979 is out now in both print and digital, as well as through the zarjaz 2000 AD apps for Apple, Android, and Windows 10 devices!!

JUDGE DREDD // THE LION’S DEN
Michael Carroll, PJ Holden, Adam Brown
Mega-City One, 2138 AD. Home to 72 million citizens, this urban hell is situated along the east coast of post-apocalyptic North America. Resources are stretched, crime is rampant, and only the Judges — empowered to dispense instant justice — can stop total anarchy. Toughest of them all was JUDGE DREDD — he was the Law! But he is now presumed dead after a shuttle explosion, and Joyce has been extradited to Brit-Cit…

SURVIVAL GEEKS // LORD OF THE RINGERS
Gordon Rennie, Emma Beeby, Neil Googe
Somewhere in the outer limits of space/time, plunging through the planes of reality, is what looks like a regular suburban two-up two-down, but it is in fact powered by misfiring transdimensional technology. Inside live sci-fi obsessives Clive, Rufus and Simon, plus new reluctant housemate Sam and pet Cthulhu Howard: explorers on the edge of beyond. Now, a new member has joined the crew — the always popular Kevin…

SLÁINE // PSYCHOPOMP
Pat Mills, Simon Davis
Albion, in a time of legend. Celtic warrior SLÁINE united the tribes of the Earth Goddess Danu and became the first High King of Ireland, before returning to being a wanderer. Now, having journeyed to the Isle of Monadh to rescue Sinead from the Drune Lords, he’s discovered that they have been experimenting on their own creations — including the brutal, superhuman Primordial, whom Sláine has just learnt is his old friend Gort…

BRINK // PART TWO
Dan Abnett, INJ Culbard
The early 21st century, and through environmental catastrophe and industrial overload Earth has been reduced to a uninhabitable wasteland. Mankind finally evacuated the planet in 2075 and millions were housed in a number of Habitats, the human race crammed into these artificial worlds, living off synth food and nudge drugs. Now Habitat Security Division officers Brinkmann and Kurtis are investigating a sect murder…

TAINTED: THE FALL OF DEADWORLD // PART SEVEN
Kek-W, Dave Kendall
The planet that eventually became known as DEADWORLD was once a regular civilisation existing in a dimension parallel to our own. But there are many signs that the end of days is coming: riots, storms, food shortages. Judge Fairfax, fleeing the chaos, turned up at a farming family’s door, insisting they help him escape. Their journey has been fraught with peril as the Dark Judges’ corruption spreads…

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2000 AD Prog 1977 out now!

The master draws the living god – Carlos Ezquerra pens this week’s cover as Tharg the Mighty celebrates Prog 1977, the corrsponding year of 2000 AD‘s inception!

Inside this week’s Prog:

Judge Dredd: The Grindstone Cowboys by Michael Carroll, Colin MacNeil, Len O’Grady, and Annie Parkhouse

Survival Geeks: Geeks Fatales by Gordon Rennie, Emma Beeby, Neil Googe, Gary Caldwell, and Ellie De Ville

Tainted: The Fall of Deadworld by Kek-W, Dave Kendall, and Annie Parkhouse

Aquila: Charon’s Mercy by Gordon Rennie, Paul Davidson, Len O’Grady, and Ellie De Ville!

Plus, what is the secret lurking in the 2000 AD Nerve Centre? Tharg the Mighty reveals all this Prog!

2000 AD is available in print worldwide via Diamond Distribution and all good UK newsagents and comic book stores, as well as DRM-free digital from shop.2000ad.com and through the 2000 AD iPad, Android, and Windows 10 apps!

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As easy as ABC

In this week’s 2000 AD Prog 1800, the A.B.C. Warriors return to the pages of the Galaxy’s Greatest, in their new thrill: “Return to Earth.”

War droids created for a conflict that ended centuries ago, the A.B.C. Warriors are resistant to atomic, bacterial, and chemical warfare. Recruited to bring peace to the civil war-ravaged frontier colonies on Mars, the Mek-nificent Seven have recently lost two of their number—Blackblood and Mek-Quake—to the evil Volkhan’s army of hume-hating mekanoids. Now, Hammerstein, Deadlock, Joe Pineapples, Mongrol, Steelhorn, and Zippo must recruit a new member to their team – the mysterious mechanic known as Tubal Caine.

To find out more about their latest adventures, 2000ADonline.com’s Ed Kaye caught up with writer and creator Pat Mills…

2000 AD: How long after the battle with Volkhan, which resulted in the destruction of the Red House, does this new story take place?        

Pat Mills: The story begins soon after, as the Warriors travel to elsewhere on Mars to persuade Tubal Cain, their armourer to join them. But this is the prologue to the real story, which is about Hammerstein’s original return to earth, following the “MeknificentSeven” adventure.

2000 AD: Not much is know about the mysterious Tubal Cain, apart from the fact that he repairs and equips the warriors. Can we expect to learn more about this enigmatic character in this series?

Pat Mills: Yes. Although the story is primarily about Hammerstein’s past adventure, there is a revelation on Tubal Cain.

2000 AD: In the first episode of the series, it seems that the team has incurred the wrath of Medusa, the planetary consciousness of Mars. What have the team done to deserve this attention?

Pat Mills: That’s the puzzle. Why, when Steelhorn is on the side of Mars, should she attack them? The answer becomes clear as the story continues.

2000 AD: Could you tell us more about the return to Earth alluded to in the story’s title?

Pat Mills: It’s just Hammerstein returning to Earth, in a flashback story, depicted in black and white. There’s some fabulous and very different artwork by Clint [Langley] in black and white. The importance of this becomes clear. Above all, it explains how Hammerstein ended up in a second-hand robot showroom, wearing a different head, and standing next to Ro-Jaws, as the RoBusters adventures began. There’s never been sufficient space to cover these “continuity” stories and I think this is an important and exciting one.

2000 AD: What does Hammerstein find waiting for him on his return to Earth?

Pat Mills: There’s a very hostile world waiting for Hammerstein and he is on a desperate and savage mission.

He works so well on a solo mission (as would many of the Warriors), I only wish there was the time and opportunity for more solo stories for him. He has a certain solo quality that makes him an instant hero. It’s easier in American comics where heroes can easily run solo and then team up in groups. In 2000 AD there are so many characters who would benefit from a wider canvas.

2000 AD: Given the time and space, can you see yourself going back and telling more of the warriors’ solo adventures? Or would you ever let other writers do so?

Pat Mills: No. I’ve had other series screwed up by other writers, e.g., Charley’s War. So I may well write new solo stories…

2000 AD: Many artists have worked on A.B.C. Warriors over the last 33 years, but the last few series have exclusively featured the digital artwork of Clint Langley, with whom you have also worked on Sláine and American Reaper. What do you think sets his artwork apart from other artists who have tackled the characters?

Pat Mills: The colour versions of the A.B.C. Warriors showed the robots huge visual potential as never before. So much so, there have been several European editions and great interest in America. When we were signing copies in San Diego a couple of years back, they were outselling everything else. Much of this is also down to Clint’s “extras” in the collected editions, which would not be possible without digital, and takes the story, and characters, to another level. There’s also a lot to be said for having long term writer and artist continuity on a serial. It creates an intimacy with the characters that the readers share. I’m very excited by it.

2000 AD: You mentioned that Clint is drawing the flashback episodes in black & white. This is quite the departure from his normal style, what can you tell us about that?

Pat Mills: Clint’s black and white work on this story says something new. I think it’s to do with his understanding of the character of Hammerstein and—in some strange way—bringing the knowledge and expertise he’s acquired on the digital version into this traditional black and white interpretation.

2000 AD: The ‘Volgan War’ storyline saw two members leaving the group—Blackblood and Mek-Quake—to join forces with the hume-hating Volkhan. How has this betrayal affected the team?

Pat Mills: I think on one level the team are more at peace with one another. But the conflict with Blackblood and Mek-Quake meant they tended to steal the show. Now they’ve gone, there’s space for new tensions and conflicts to emerge.

2000 AD: At the end of “The Volgan War,” Blackblood and Volkhan were down but not defeated. Can we expect to them take revenge any time soon?

Pat Mills: Not in this story, as it’s about  Hammerstein’s solo adventures. But ultimately, yes, they will come back into the picture. We have—in effect—two rival groups of warring robots in a hellish city on Mars. That has a lot of potential.

2000 AD: Earlier, you mentioned developing the continuity between A.B.C. Warriors and Ro-Busters. Long-time fans have also seen crossovers with Savage and Nemesis the Warlock. Is this shared universe something you planned when you started writing these stories, or has it just fallen into place like that?

Pat Mills: It was written this way very much in response to circumstances, e.g., for years no artist wanted to draw A.B.C. Warriors, so they had to guest in Nemesis the Warlock.

2000 AD: Can we expect any connections to show up in your other ongoing series, like Defoe? A steampunk A.B.C. Warrior fighting zombies might go down rather well!

Pat Mills: An amusing thought, but unlikely! I think Savage worked well with pre-Ro-Busters era but I wouldn’t want to push it. Certain stories needed a proper linking story and some readers expressed a desire for them, so “Return to Earth” was written with this mind.

2000 AD: Do you have a favourite moment or line from the story that you would like to leave readers with?

Pat Mills: Yes. But I shouldn’t give the story away. So forgive me if I’m being a little mysterious when I say my favourite moment is later in the serial when Hammerstein sits on a certain famous table and breaks it with his weight. Clint hasn’t drawn it yet (we’re tight on time!) but I can’t wait to see it! It’s a funny moment and rather embarrassing for Hammerstein – and I enjoy those moments where he becomes rather flustered.

2000 AD: Curious. Keep reading the weekly progs to find out exactly what the Mills droid is referring to. Meanwhile, I’m going to go and command the Gallagher art droid to draw me a steampunk version of Hammerstein!

A.B.C. Warriors: Return to Earth” begins in 2000 AD Prog 1800, which is available now from all good newsagents in the UK, and will be available in North America in October. Alternatively, you can purchase a same-day digital copy by downloading the 2000 AD iOS app, available here!

To catch up on the A.B.C. Warriors’ past adventures, check out the line of graphic novels available from the official 2000 AD shop!