Just a few years into our future, corruption has finally become unsustainable. With the city government and police force equally overrun with corruption and filled with rot, a solution is created: Spector, a robot detective.
Untainted by corruption and beyond bribery, Spector is charged with the near-impossible take of cleaning up the city. But over the years that rot has put many people in power who have no intention of giving up their seats of privilege, and want nothing more than to see Spector fail. With the deck stacked against him, can Spector kick out the criminals and bring justice back to the city?
Written by John Wagner (A History of Violence), this standalone graphic novel represents the final work of Carlos Ezquerra (Judge Dredd) before his passing in 2018, with artist Dan Cornwell (Rok of the Reds) completing the story. Following their iconic decades-long work with characters including Judge Dredd and Strontium Dog, Spector marks the final collaboration between Ezquerra and Wagner, based on an original character concept devised by Ezquerra decades prior.
The first twenty pages of this collection are pencilled by “El Maestro”, as he finished his career with one final great character creation. The story stands as tribute to one of the great masters of comics art.
Out in paperback in April 2025, don’t miss out on Spector – a brilliantly clever series with a sharp political edge, which brings the classic magic of 2000 AD’s greatest creators together for one last ride.
Or ask at your local newsagent, comic shop, or bookshop
Judge Dredd Megazine #466 is OUT NOW!
This issue we pay tribute to two more influential comics creators that we’ve sadly lost in the last month – both Paul Neary and Enrique Badia Romero were only occasional contributors to the House of Tharg, but they were formidable figures in the history of UK funnybooks. Romero was a familiar presence in newspapers, drawing the Modesty Blaise and AXA strips, while Paul had a pivotal role at Marvel UK, overseeing a publishing house that was in the mid-eighties rivalling 2000 AD in its output with titles such as Death’s Head and Dragon’s Claws as well as nurturing future artistic stars like Liam Sharp and Doug Braithwaite.
Alongside Neary’s obituary, we also have a chapter from Karl Stock’s Comic Book Punks that covers the Marvel UK era but was cut from the book for reasons of length. It conveys a period of enormous creativity that’s generally looked upon very fondly by those that were there.
Elsewhere, there’s more blistering action in Dredd, Devlin Waugh, Harrower Squad and DeMarco, P.I. plus a complete Tale From the Black Museum from Liam Johnson and Cam Smith. Enjoy, creeps!
Judge Dredd Megazine #466 is out now from all good newsagents and comic book stores, plus digitally from our webshop and apps! Don’t forget that if you buy an issue of the Megazine in the first month of its release then postage in the UK is free!
Cover Art: Patrick Goddard / Colours: Len O’GradyScript: Ken Niemand / Art: Anthony Williams / Letters: Annie Parkhouse
JUDGE DREDD / RAVENOUS, Part Three
Mega-City One, 2146 AD. This vast urban hell on the east coast of post-apocalyptic North America is home to over 200 million citizens. Crime is rampant, and stemming the tide of chaos are the Judges. Toughest of them all is Judge Dredd – he is the Law! Now, on a rig close to Texas City, a lab-engineered creature is running loose, killing all who cross its path…
Script: Liam Johnson / Art: Cam Smith / Letters: Jim Campbell
TALES FROM THE BLACK MUSEUM / AESTHETE
Mega-City One, 2146 AD. Deep in the heart of the Grand Hall of Justice lies the Black Museum, Justice Department’s permanent exhibition of the relics from bygone crimes. Whether it’s a notorious serial killer’s trophies or the weapons of the Dark Judges, the violent history of the Big Meg is laid bare here. Let undead guide Henry Dubble show you around…
Script: Laura Bailey / Art: Rob Richardson / Letters: Simon Bowland
DEMARCO, PI: NO SMOKE, Part Two
Mega-City One, 2146 AD. Galen DeMarco was once a Judge, a rising star operating out of the corrupt dumping ground that was Sector House 301. But she quit the force after one romantic indiscretion too many and set herself up as a private investigator. Now, she’s taken on a case investigating possible stolen items in a black-market auction, but she’s been set up…
Script: Si Spurrier / Art: Conor Boyle / Colours: Giulia Brusco / Letters: Rob Steen
HOOKJAW, Part Three
The seas off the coast of Africa are the setting for an action-packed, visceral tale of the Great White shark that is a relentless force of nature! Research scientists, the US military, Somali pirates… all of them may feel they’re the hero of the story, but they have reckoned without the near-mythical Hookjaw!
Story: Gerry Finley-Day / Artist: Mike Dorey
HELLMAN OF HAMMER FORCE
There has never before been an anti-hero like Hellman of Hammer Force in British comics! From the invasion of Poland in 1939 through to the fall of Berlin in 1945, Hellman of Hammer Force saw action on many fronts!
Script: Mark Russell / Art: Max Dunbar / Colours: Jose Luis Rio / Letters: Simon Bowland
JUDGE DREDD: UNDER SIEGE, Part Three
Judge Dredd keeps law and order in the chaos that is Mega-City One. When all contact with Patrick Swayze Block is lost, Dredd and Judge Beeny are tasked with investigating. As they battle lawlessness and rampant criminality, they discover a threat to the city that they must contain at all costs…
Script: Aleš Kot / Art: Steven Austin / Colours: Matt Soffe / Letters: Simon Bowland
DEVLIN WAUGH / NIGHTCLUBBING, Part Two
Brit-Cit, 2146 AD. A freelance paranormal troubleshooter and exorcist for the Vatican, Devlin Waugh is the world’s foremost supernatural investigator. Despite becoming a vampire after getting bitten tackling an outbreak in an underwater prison, Devlin continues to enjoy the finer things in life. Now, he’s confronting a serial killer who’s been targeting gay nightclubbers…
Script: David Baillie / Art: Steve Yeowell / Colours: Chris Blythe / Letters: Annie Parkhouse
HARROWER SQUAD / CALHAB COUNTRY, Part Three
Cal-Hab, 2146 AD. This wild area north of Brit-Cit has become notorious as a dumping ground for the world’s radioactive waste, and as a consequence much of it outside the major conurbations such as Glascal is an inhospitable wasteland populated by mutant tribes. Charged with patrolling the borders of the wilderness are heavy-weapons Judge teams like Harrower Squad…
Or ask at your local newsagent, comic shop, or bookshop
Judge Dredd Megazine #465 is OUT NOW!
There’s a pair of tributes this issue to the two artistic greats that we lost at the end of last year – Ian Gibson and John Burns – as creators pay their respect to these formidable talents, who contributed so much to both 2000 AD and the Meg. There’s also an obituary for influential alternative comedian Tony Allen, whose connection to the Meg wasn’t quite as sustained but nevertheless he was there right from the beginning, writing the satirical Mega-City News columns that ran in the first few issues alongside America and Young Death.
Elsewhere, as well as the latest instalments of Judge Dredd and Harrower Squad, Devlin Waugh is back for another supernatural case, with artist Steven Austin joining regular writer Aleš Kot, Laura Bailey and Rob Richardson have DeMarco, P.I. undertake a new investigation, and there’s also a new flashback tale in Mega-City 2099: Inside Man by Ken Niemand and Conor Boyle.
Meanwhile, the big news from Rebellion – which was announced just as this issue was sent to print – is that principal photography has wrapped on Duncan Jones’ animated Rogue Trooper movie, and it’s set to be released in 2025!
Judge Dredd Megazine #465 is out now from all good newsagents and comic book stores, plus digitally from our webshop and apps! Don’t forget that if you buy an issue of the Megazine in the first month of its release then postage in the UK is free!
Cover Art: Mike DowlingScript: Ken Niemand / Art: Anthony Williams / Letters: Annie Parkhouse
JUDGE DREDD / RAVENOUS, Part Two
Mega-City One, 2146 AD. This vast urban hell on the east coast of post-apocalyptic North America is home to over 200 million citizens. Crime is rampant, and stemming the tide of chaos are the Judges. Toughest of them all is Judge Dredd – he is the Law! Now, on a rig close to Texas City, a lab-engineered creature is running loose, killing all who cross its path…
Script: Ken Niemand / Art: Conor Boyle / Letters: Jim Campbell
MEGA-CITY 2099 / INSIDE MAN
Mega-City One, 2099 AD. Before the Judges took complete control of the metropolis, there were two strands of law enforcement – regular uniformed cops did much of the day-to-day policing, while the helmeted Judges were called upon to pass judgement on certain criminals, their vested powers giving them the ability to dispense on-the-spot sentences…
Script: Laura Bailey / Art: Rob Richardson / Letters: Simon Bowland
DEMARCO, PI: NO SMOKE, Part One
Mega-City One, 2146 AD. Galen DeMarco was once a Judge, a rising star operating out of the corrupt dumping ground that was Sector House 301. But she quit the force after one romantic indiscretion too many and set herself up as a private investigator. A recent case left her fighting for her life, and as she takes on other cases, it seems her assailant isn’t finished with her yet…
Script: Si Spurrier / Art: Conor Boyle / Colours: Giulia Brusco / Letters: Rob Steen
HOOKJAW, Part Two
The seas off the coast of Africa are the setting for an action-packed, visceral tale of the Great White shark that is a relentless force of nature! Research scientists, the US military, Somali pirates… all of them may feel they’re the hero of the story, but they have reckoned without the near-mythical Hookjaw!
Story: Fred Baker / Artist: Hugo Pratt
THE CRIMSON SEA
Pencilled by master artist Hugo Pratt, The Crimson Sea tells the tale of a younger brother of an officer, both survivors of the sunken HMS Grapnel, who feels he must step out of his brother’s shadow with astonishing acts of bravery!
Script: Mark Russell / Art: Max Dunbar / Colours: Jose Luis Rio / Letters: Simon Bowland
JUDGE DREDD: UNDER SIEGE, Part Two
Judge Dredd keeps law and order in the chaos that is Mega-City One. When all contact with Patrick Swayze Block is lost, Dredd and Judge Beeny are tasked with investigating. As they battle lawlessness and rampant criminality, they discover a threat to the city that they must contain at all costs…
Script: Aleš Kot / Art: Steven Austin / Colours: Matt Soffe / Letters: Simon Bowland
DEVLIN WAUGH / NIGHTCLUBBING
Brit-Cit, 2146 AD. A freelance paranormal troubleshooter and exorcist for the Vatican, Devlin Waugh is the world’s foremost supernatural investigator. Despite becoming a vampire after getting bitten tackling an outbreak in an underwater prison, Devlin continues to enjoy the finer things in life. Now, after tackling a curse on his bloodline, he struggling to get back on his feet…
Script: David Baillie / Art: Steve Yeowell / Colours: Chris Blythe / Letters: Annie Parkhouse
HARROWER SQUAD / CALHAB COUNTRY, Part Two
Cal-Hab, 2146 AD. This wild area north of Brit-Cit has become notorious as a dumping ground for the world’s radioactive waste, and as a consequence much of it outside the major conurbations such as Glascal is an inhospitable wasteland populated by mutant tribes. Charged with patrolling the borders of the wilderness are heavy-weapons Judge teams…
Or ask at your local newsagent, comic shop, or bookshop
Judge Dredd Megazine #464 is OUT NOW!
By now I imagine most of you will have heard the news of the sad passing of artist Ian Gibson, which ended 2023 on a melancholy note. Of course, justly beloved amongst Squaxx for his work on Robo-Hunter and Halo Jones, we shouldn’t forget his past contributions to the Meg, most significantly the glorious Return of the Taxidermist, the ten-parter scripted by John Wagner that featured some beautiful colour Gibson artwork. We’ll publish a tribute piece to Ian next issue, but for the moment let me just take the opportunity to say how much he’ll be missed.
Inside this month’s Megazine, we’ve got the last parts of Spector and the current DeMarco, P.I. arc, but also no less than five new stories – Dredd tackles a rampaging creature in Ravenous by Mike Carroll and Anthony Williams, there’s a complete Tale From the Black Museum by David Barnett and Lee Milmore, Harrower Squad makes its debut courtesy of David Baillie and Steve Yeowell, and Si Spurrier and Conor Boyle’s Hook-Jaw and Mark Russell and Max Dunbar’s Under Siege both commence their runs. Enjoy, citizens!
Judge Dredd Megazine #464 is out now from all good newsagents and comic book stores, plus digitally from our webshop and apps! Don’t forget that if you buy an issue of the Megazine in the first month of its release then postage in the UK is free!
Cover Art: Lee MilmoreScript: Ken Niemand / Art: Anthony Williams / Letters: Annie Parkhouse
JUDGE DREDD / RAVENOUS, Part One
Mega-City One, 2145 AD. This vast urban hell on the east coast of postapocalyptic North America is home to over 200 million citizens, with the irradiated Cursed Earth to the west and the toxic Black Atlantic to the east. Crime is rampant, and stemming the tide of chaos are the Judges. Toughest of them all is Judge Dredd – he is the Law!
Script: John Wagner / Art: Dan Cornwell / Colours: Dylan Teague / Letters: Jim Campbell
SPECTOR / INCORRUPTIBLE, Part Ten
In a near-future US city, corruption within the branches of government has reached unsustainable levels. City Hall is rotten to the core, and the police force is equally on the take. To that end, Spector is created, a robot detective – beyond bribery and untainted by potential malfeasance – charged with rooting out criminal elements. Now he’s running to be elected as the new D.A….
Script: Laura Bailey / Art: Rob Richardson / Letters: Simon Bowland
DEMARCO, PI: A PICTURE PAINTS, Part Three
Mega-City One, 2145 AD. Galen DeMarco was once a Judge, a rising star operating out of the corrupt dumping ground that was Sector House 301. But she quit the force after one romantic indiscretion too many and set herself up as a private investigator. Now, she’s been hired to look into thefts from a warehouse, but can’t get a fix on the suspects’ identities…
Script: Si Spurrier / Art: Conor Boyle / Colours: Giulia Brusco / Letters: Rob Steen
HOOKJAW, Part One
The seas off the coast of Africa are the setting for an action-packed, visceral tale of the Great White shark that is a relentless force of nature! Research scientists, the US military, Somali pirates… all of them may feel they’re the hero of the story, but they have reckoned without the near-mythical Hookjaw!
Script: Ken Mennell & Frank Pepper / Art: Alfonso Font
BLACK MAX
German World War One flying ace Baron Maximilien Von Klorr returns and this time he isn’t on his own! Evil scientific genius, Doctor Gratz has formed an unholy alliance with the giant bat-controlling Baron and together the two sinister fiends have formulated a plan to destroy Paris!
Script: Mark Russell / Art: Max Dunbar / Colours: Jose Luis Rio / Letters: Simon Bowland
JUDGE DREDD: UNDER SIEGE, Part One
Judge Dredd keeps law and order in the chaos that is Mega-City One. When all contact with Patrick Swayze Block is lost, Dredd and Judge Beeny are tasked with investigating. As they battle lawlessness and rampant criminality, they discover a threat to the city that they must contain at all costs…
Script: David Barnett / Art: Lee Milmore / Letters: Simon Bowland
THE BLACK MUSEUM / THE UGLY STICK
Mega-City One, 2146 AD. Deep in the heart of the Grand Hall of Justice lies the Black Museum, Justice Department’s permanent exhibition of the relics from bygone crimes. Whether it’s a notorious serial killer’s trophies or the weapons of the Dark Judges, the violent history of the Big Meg is laid bare here. Let undead guide Henry Dubble show you around…
Script: David Baillie / Art: Steve Yeowell / Colours: Chris Blythe / Letters: Annie Parkhouse
HARROWER SQUAD / CALHAB COUNTRY, Part One
Cal-Hab, 2146 AD. This wild area north of Brit-Cit has become notorious as a dumping ground for the world’s radioactive waste, and as a consequence much of it outside the major conurbations such as Glascal is an inhospitable wasteland populated by mutant tribes. Charged with patrolling the borders of the wilderness are heavy-weapons Judge teams…
Or ask at your local newsagent, comic shop, or bookshop
Judge Dredd Megazine #463 is OUT NOW!
We round out 2023 with another packed Megazine, capping a high-octane twelve months!
The current arc of Lawless wraps up in spectacular fashion with a double-length finale as Lawson leads the assault on Fugly’s mansion, plus Johnny Red also comes to a close. Elsewhere, there’s a seasonal sequel to last year’s Dollman story as Dredd finds himself dealing once again with L’il Tommy Kinder and his nefarious schemes, courtesy of Ken Niemand and Paul Marshall, and we have the latest instalments of DeMarco, P.I. and Spector.
Also complete this issue is Judge Dredd: Deviations by John McCrea, a ‘what if…?’ one-off originally published by IDW that looks at what would’ve happened if Ol’ Stoney-Face stayed as a lycanthrope after the events of Cry of the Werewolf.
Add to that chats with artists Mike Collins and Gary Welsh, there’s a spotlight on the late Oliver Frey, artist on many an eighties computer-mag cover as well as Trigan Empire, and Rufus Hound reveals his Squaxx credentials as he scripts the Stront story in the Xmas prog. Enjoy the festivities, citizens, and see you in 2024!
Judge Dredd Megazine #463 is out now from all good newsagents and comic book stores, plus digitally from our webshop and apps! Don’t forget that if you buy an issue of the Megazine in the first month of its release then postage in the UK is free!
Cover Art: Mike PerkinsScript: Ken Niemand / Art: Paul Marshall / Colours: Quinton Winter / Letters: Annie Parkhouse
JUDGE DREDD / DOLLMAN’S YULETIDE MASSACRE
Mega-City One, 2145 AD. This vast urban hell on the east coast of postapocalyptic North America is home to over 200 million citizens, with the irradiated Cursed Earth to the west and the toxic Black Atlantic to the east. Crime is rampant, and stemming the tide of chaos are the Judges. Toughest of them all is Judge Dredd – he is the Law!
Script: John Wagner / Art: Dan Cornwell / Colours: Dylan Teague / Letters: Jim Campbell
SPECTOR / INCORRUPTIBLE, Part Nine
In a near-future US city, corruption within the branches of government has reached unsustainable levels. City Hall is rotten to the core, and the police force is equally on the take. To that end, Spector is created, a robot detective – beyond bribery and untainted by potential malfeasance – charged with rooting out criminal elements. Now he’s running to be elected as the new D.A….
Script: Laura Bailey / Art: Rob Richardson / Letters: Simon Bowland
DEMARCO, PI: A PICTURE PAINTS, Part Two
Mega-City One, 2145 AD. Galen DeMarco was once a Judge, a rising star operating out of the corrupt dumping ground that was Sector House 301. But she quit the force after one romantic indiscretion too many and set herself up as a private investigator. Now, she’s been hired to look into thefts from a warehouse, but can’t get a fix on the suspects’ identities…
Script: Mike Butterworth / Art: Oliver Frey
THE TRIGAN EMPIRE
The 1960s science fiction series from the pages of Ranger and Look & Learn, The Rise and Fall of the Trigan Empire is one of the great treasures of the British comics and one of the first full-colour ‘widescreen’ comics. Trigo, his nephew Janno, and the trusted scientist Peric all band together to protect the citizens of the Trigan Empire, from threats both alien and clandestine…
Script: Garth Ennis / Art: Keith Burns / Colour: Jason Wordie / Letters: Rob Steen
JOHNNY RED / Part Eight
Legendary British fighter ace, Johnny ‘Red’ Redburn, returns once more as the commander of the Falcons – a Russian fighter squadron battling the Nazis in the skies over Stalingrad. But dogfighting Messerschmitts is about to become the least of his troubles when the NVKD – the notorious Soviet secret police – come calling!
Script/Art: John McCrea / Colours: Mike Spicer / Letters: Simon Bowland
JUDGE DREDD: DEVIATIONS
In a world where Judge Dredd turned into a werewolf… and stayed that way! The legendary creator of Dogwelder, John McCrea, takes a sideways look at one of the more celebrated Dredd stories, “Cry of the Werewolf” by John Wagner & Alan Grant and the late, great Steve Dillon. Brace yourself for… “Howl of the Wolf!”
Script: Dan Abnett / Art: Phil Winslade / Letters: Simon Bowland
LAWLESS / MOST WANTED, Part Eight
Colonial Marshal Metta Lawson was appointed to the frontier township of Badrock on the planet 43 Rega, intent on stamping her authority on the colony. But in doing so, Lawson made many enemies, including Munce, Inc., the megacorporation that funded Badrock. Now, she’s revealed that she’s been working undercover, and is leading a raid against Fugly’s outfit…
Or ask at your local newsagent, comic shop, or bookshop
Judge Dredd Megazine #462 is OUT NOW!
Former Judge turned Private Investigator Galen DeMarco returns this issue after a four-year absence with a new case, A Picture Paints, by Laura Bailey and Rob Richardson, plus we have a complete Dredd thriller from Ian Edginton and Mike Collins, another flashback to Mega-City 2099 in The Multitronic Man by Arthur Wyatt and Jake Lynch, and Lawless hits the penultimate episode of its current arc (don’t miss the double-length finale next issue!).
Elsewhere, PJ Holden is coincidentally the artist on two book projects we turn the spotlight on this month – he collaborates with John Reppion on Fascinating Folklore, an around-the-world guide to various legends, and he also illustrates the first Skulduggery Pleasant graphic novel, Bad Magic, scripted by the YA series’ creator Derek Landy.
Plus we chat to Rob Williams and Pye Parr about their new Image comic Petrol Head, and regular Meg contributor Karl Stock lifts the lid on Comic Book Punks, his unmissable look at the writers, artists and editors that shaped the creative comics boom from the mid seventies to the early nineties. All that and annuals are back! Enjoy, citizens, enjoy…
Judge Dredd Megazine #462 is out now from all good newsagents and comic book stores, plus digitally from our webshop and apps! Don’t forget that if you buy an issue of the Megazine in the first month of its release then postage in the UK is free!
Cover Art by Alex RonaldScript: Ian Edginton / Art: Mike Collins / Colours: Jim Boswell / Letters: Jim Campbell
JUDGE DREDD / OLD SOLDIERS
Mega-City One, 2145 AD. This vast urban hell on the east coast of post-apocalyptic North America is home to over 200 million citizens, with the irradiated Cursed Earth to the west and the toxic Black Atlantic to the east. Crime is rampant, and stemming the tide of chaos are the Judges. Toughest of them all is Judge Dredd – he is the Law!
Script: John Wagner / Art: Dan Cornwell / Colours: Dylan Teague / Letters: Jim Campbell
SPECTOR / INCORRUPTIBLE, Part Eight
In a near-future US city, corruption within the branches of government has reached unsustainable levels. City Hall is rotten to the core, and the police force is equally on the take. To that end, Spector is created, a robot detective – beyond bribery and untainted by potential malfeasance – charged with rooting out criminal elements. But the android inspector is making many enemies…
Script: Arthur Wyatt / Art: Jake Lynch / Letters: Jim Campbell
MEGA-CITY 2099 / THE MULTITRONIC MAN
Mega-City One, 2099 AD. Before the Judges took complete control of the metropolis, there were two strands of law enforcement – regular uniformed cops did much of the day-to-day policing, while the helmeted Judges were called upon to pass judgement on certain criminals, their vested powers giving them the ability to dispense on-the-spot sentences…
Script: Brian Buckley / Art: Alberto Ponticelli / Colours: Stephen Downer / Letters: Tom B. Long
ROGUE TROOPER / Part four
Nu-Earth, just another planet ravaged by a galaxy-wide war, its atmosphere poisoned by chemical weapons. Created to fight in such conditions were the G.I.s – genetically engineered infantrymen. But now only one remains, the man known as… Rogue Trooper!
Script: Garth Ennis / Art: Keith Burns / Colour: Jason Wordie / Letters: Rob Steen
JOHNNY RED / Part Seven
Legendary British fighter ace, Johnny ‘Red’ Redburn, returns once more as the commander of the Falcons – a Russian fighter squadron battling the Nazis in the skies over Stalingrad. But dogfighting Messerschmitts is about to become the least of his troubles when the NVKD – the notorious Soviet secret police – come calling!
Script: Laura Bailey / Art: Rob Richardson / Letters: Simon Bowland
DEMARCO, PI: A PICTURE PAINTS, Part One
Mega-City One, 2145 AD. Galen DeMarco was once a Judge, a rising star operating out of the corrupt dumping ground that was Sector House 301. But she quit the force after one romantic indiscretion too many and set herself up as a private investigator. Now, a recent case that ended with her fighting for her life has left her scarred, but ready to take on new clients…
Script: Dan Abnett / Art: Phil Winslade / Letters: Simon Bowland
LAWLESS / MOST WANTED, Part Seven
Colonial Marshal Metta Lawson was appointed to the frontier township of Badrock on the planet 43 Rega, intent on stamping her authority on the colony. But in doing so, Lawson made many enemies, including Munce, Inc., the mega-corporation that funded Badrock. Now, she’s revealed that she’s been working undercover, and is leading a raid against Fugly’s outfit…
Or ask at your local newsagent, comic shop, or bookshop
Judge Dredd Megazine #461 is OUT NOW!
As the dust clears on the warzones of the Battle Action crossover last month – by all accounts a palpable hit with you Squaxx – it’s back to business as usual. There’s two complete new stories this issue – Mike Carroll and Colin MacNeil collaborate on the Judge Dredd one-off, ‘Risk Assessment’, and we get into the spirit of the spooky season with a Tale From the Black Museum from Guy Adams and Gary Welsh.
Elsewhere, there’s the latest instalments of Spector, Lawless, Rogue Trooper and Johnny Red, plus we reach the finale of the current Dreadnoughts arc (Mike and John will be back for more early-era Judges action in Nothing to Fear next year).
Elsewhere, writer and editor John Tomlinson gets the Interrogation treatment, discussing his recent horror comedy Portals & Black Goo that ran in the prog, Jock talks his new solo project Gone, we delve into the contents of the new three-part Smash! special as Paul Grist handles the Spider alongside artists such as Anna Morozova and Tom Foster, and Karl Stock tries to find out more about Robo-Hunter artist José Luis Ferrer – enjoy!
Judge Dredd Megazine #461 is out now from all good newsagents and comic book stores, plus digitally from our webshop and apps! Don’t forget that if you buy an issue of the Megazine in the first month of its release then postage in the UK is free!
Cover Art by Colin MacNeilScript: Mike Carroll / Art: Colin MacNeil / Colours: Chris Blythe / Letters: Jim Campbell
JUDGE DREDD / RISK ASSESSMENT
Mega-City One, 2145 AD. This vast urban hell on the east coast of post-apocalyptic North America is home to over 200 million citizens, with the irradiated Cursed Earth to the west and the toxic Black Atlantic to the east. Crime is rampant, and stemming the tide of chaos are the Judges. Toughest of them all is Judge Dredd – he is the Law!
Script: John Wagner / Art: Dan Cornwell / Colours: Dylan Teague / Letters: Jim Campbell
SPECTOR / INCORRUPTIBLE, Part Seven
In a near-future US city, corruption within the branches of government has reached unsustainable levels. City Hall is rotten to the core, and the police force is equally on the take. To that end, Spector is created, a robot detective – beyond bribery and untainted by potential malfeasance – charged with rooting out criminal elements. But the android inspector is making many enemies…
Script: Guy Adams / Art: Gary Welsh / Letters: Jim Campbell
BLACK MUSEUM / THE TOOTH WILL KILL YA!
Mega-City One, 2145 AD. Deep in the heart of the Grand Hall of Justice lies the Black Museum, Justice Department’s permanent exhibition of the relics from bygone crimes. Whether it’s a notorious serial killer’s trophies or the weapons of the Dark Judges, the violent history of the Big Meg is laid bare here. Let undead guide Henry Dubble show you around…
Script: John Wagner / Art: Ian Gibson & Jose Ferrier / Colours: Ian Gibson / Letters: Pete Knight & Steve Potter
ROBO-HUNTER / PLANET OF THE ROBOTS
For forty years, Sam Slade has been one of the best robo-tectives in the business, but all of his experience couldn’t prepare him for his latest case. The Commission believe that robots have taken control of the planet Verdus and want Sam to uncover the truth. It’s a dangerous case, but one Sam can’t refuse – otherwise he’s guaranteed a bullet in the head!
Script: Brian Buckley / Art: Alberto Ponticelli / Colours: Stephen Downer / Letters: Tom B. Long
ROGUE TROOPER / Part three
Nu-Earth, just another planet ravaged by a galaxy-wide war, its atmosphere poisoned by chemical weapons. Created to fight in such conditions were the G.I.s – genetically engineered infantrymen. But now only one remains, the man known as… Rogue Trooper!
Script: Garth Ennis / Art: Keith Burns / Colour: Jason Wordie / Letters: Rob Steen
JOHNNY RED / Part Six
Legendary British fighter ace, Johnny ‘Red’ Redburn, returns once more as the commander of the Falcons – a Russian fighter squadron battling the Nazis in the skies over Stalingrad. But dogfighting Messerschmitts is about to become the least of his troubles when the NVKD – the notorious Soviet secret police – come calling!
Script: Dan Abnett / Art: Phil Winslade / Letters: Simon Bowland
LAWLESS / MOST WANTED, Part Six
Colonial Marshal Metta Lawson was appointed to the frontier township of Badrock on the planet 43 Rega, intent on stamping her authority on the colony. But in doing so, Lawson made many enemies, including Munce, Inc., the mega-corporation that funded Badrock. Now, having been thrown off the force, and becoming a vigilante, she’s turned to organised crime…
Script: Mike Carroll / Art: John Higgins / Colour: Sally Hurst / Letters: Simon Bowland
DREADNOUGHTS / THE MARCH OF PROGRESS, Part Seven
USA, 2035 AD. The new Justice Department is still in its early years, with Judges working alongside the police. It’s proving an explosive transition, with many citizens – and more than a few cops – unhappy with these helmeted officers taking to the streets. Judge Veranda Glover is a recent transfer to Boulder, Colorado, where a drugs cartel is striking back at the law…
Or ask at your local newsagent, comic shop, or bookshop
Judge Dredd Megazine #460 is OUT NOW!
IMAGINE IF, IN 1982, THE POWERS-THAT-BE IN KING’S REACH TOWER DECIDED THAT BATTLE ACTION WAS TO merge with 2000 AD, much like Starlord and Tornado had done previously.
What characters would cross over into the pages of the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic, and what revamps would they undergo to fit with the anthology’s SF/fantasy remit? Well, you can see for yourself in Prog 2350, which takes that very concept and creates an alternate line-up for Tharg’s Mighty Organ – but the speculation doesn’t just stop with one title. What if, two years later, it was such a success that Battle characters were given the Dreddworld treatment in the lawman’s very own mag?
This special issue has the answer, with Dreddverse variants of Rat Pack, Johnny Red/Lofty’s One-Man Luftwaffe and Darkie’s Mob, with a couple of other characters from UK comics history thrown in. Meanwhile, in the second half of this month’s issue, we return to normal programming with the latest instalments of Spector, Dreadnoughts, Lawless, Rogue Trooper and Johnny Red. All in all, an absoutely crammed Meg – I hope you enjoy it, citizens!
Judge Dredd Megazine #460 is out now from all good newsagents and comic book stores, plus digitally from our webshop and apps! Don’t forget that if you buy an issue of the Megazine in the first month of its release then postage in the UK is free!
Cover art by Henry FlintScript: Ken Niemand / Art: Nick Percival / Letters: Annie Parkhouse
JUDGE DREDD // Return To Billy Carter
Mega-City One, 2106 AD. This vast urban hell on the east coast of post-apocalyptic North America is home to over 400 million citizens, with the irradiated Cursed Earth to the west and the toxic Black Atlantic to the east. Crime is rampant, and stemming the tide of chaos are the Judges. Toughest of them all is Judge Dredd – he is the Law! Now, in the wake of the Apocalypse War, Dredd’s returning to Billy Carter block, where the Dark Judges caused havoc…
Following in the footsteps of other late-1970s IPC comics in going direct to the movies for inspiration, Rat Pack took its cue from Robert Aldrich’s gritty 1967 war actioner The Dirty Dozen, in which a group of US Army convicts (played by Lee Marvin, Charles Bronson and co) are enlisted for a dirty and hard-to-survive mission.
Script: Mike Carroll / Art: Staz Johnson / Colours: Gary Caldwell / Letters: Simon Bowland
STRATO SQUAD // Convoy Strike!
One of the launch series in Battle Picture Weekly, with art by the unheralded Italian illustrator Paolo Ongaro, Lofty’s One-Man Luftwaffe lasted for just four months, before aeroplane action left the comic ahead of Johnny Red’s arrival two years later. The premise was simple and effective – that downed RAF pilot and Nazi POW ‘Lofty’ Banks escapes from a concentration camp, takes on the identity of dead German air ace Major Ranke, and begins a secret war of attrition against the Luftwaffe while pretending to be a part of it.
Script: Alec Worley / Art: Patrick Goddard / Colours: Jim Boswell / Letters: Jim Campbell
ANDERSON, PSI-DIVISION // The Wolf & The Dragon
Mega-City One, 2106 AD. There are many divisions in Justice Department dedicated to the fight against crime, from Tek to Wally Squad, and for cases of a paranormal nature there is Psi-Division, its officers all gifted with psychic talents. Most powerful of the telepaths is Cassandra Anderson, who has the ability to read minds and occasionally receive flashes of future events. Sardonic and irreverent, Anderson is given more leeway as as Psi-Judge…
Script: Alex De Campi / Art: John McCrea / Colours: Mike Spicer / Letters: Jim Campbell
DARKE’S MOB
A predecessor to 2000 AD classic Bad Company, Darkie’s Mob had a brutal and uncompromising commander gathering a ramshackle group of fighters around him to fight against an even more monstrously lethal enemy, with their collective descent into the heart of darkness catalogued by a raw private along for the ride.
Script: John Wagner / Art: Dan Cornwell / Colours: Dylan Teague / Letters: Jim Campbell
SPECTOR // Incorruptible, part six
In a near-future US city, corruption within the branches of government has reached unsustainable levels. City Hall is rotten to the core, and the police force is equally on the take. To that end, Spector is created, a robot detective – beyond bribery and untainted by potential malfeasance – charged with rooting out criminal elements. But Spector is making many enemies amongst the cops, and they’re not above murder to try to get rid of him…
Script: Brian Buckley / Art: Alberto Ponticelli / Colours: Stephen Downer / Letters: Tom B. Long
ROGUE TROOPER // Part two
Nu-Earth, just another planet ravaged by a galaxy-wide war, its atmosphere poisoned by chemical weapons. Created to fight in such conditions were the G.I.s – genetically engineered infantrymen. But now only one remains, the man known as… Rogue Trooper!
Script: Garth Ennis / Art: Keith Burns / Colour: Jason Wordie / Letters: Rob Steen
JOHNNY RED // Part five
Legendary British fighter ace, Johnny ‘Red’ Redburn, returns once more as the commander of the Falcons – a Russian fighter squadron battling the Nazis in the skies over Stalingrad. But dogfighting Messerschmitts is about to become the least of his troubles when the NVKD – the notorious Soviet secret police – come calling!
Script: Dan Abnett / Art: Phil Winslade / Letters: Simon Bowland
LAWLESS // Most Wanted, part five
Colonial Marshal Metta Lawson was appointed to the frontier township of Badrock on the planet 43 Rega, intent on stamping her authority on the colony. But in doing so, Lawson made many enemies, including Munce, Inc., the mega-corporation that funded Badrock. Now, having been thrown off the force, and become a vigilante, she’s turned to organised crime, and is proving herself for Mr Fugly, the local crimelord…
Script: Mike Carroll / Art: John Higgins / Colour: Sally Hurst / Letters: Simon Bowland
DREADNOUGHTS // The March of Progress, Part six
USA, 2035 AD. The new Justice Department is still in its early years, with Judges working alongside the police. It’s proving an explosive transition, with many citizens – and uniformed cops – unhappy with these helmeted officers taking to the streets. Now a drugs cartel is striking back at the law, and Judge Veranda Glover is fleeing with a vital prisoner, whom the cartel want returned to them…
Or ask at your local newsagent, comic shop, or bookshop
Judge Dredd Megazine #459 is OUT NOW!
We’ve got three new stories inside this issue – first off there’s a complete Judge Dredd thriller by Mike Carroll and Nicolo Assirelli; secondly, we head back over forty years to the early days of the future metropolis for another retro Mega-City 2099 tale, once again crafted by Ken Niemand and Conor Boyle; and third, we have the start of Brian Ruckley and Alberto Ponticelli’s sadly short-lived 2014 Rogue Trooper series for IDW, the only other 2000 AD ongoing featuring original material that they put out besides Dredd.
In addition to that, we have the latest instalments of Spector, Lawless, Dreadnoughts and Johnny Red, plus a trio of interviews: John Stokes discusses his wide-ranging career ahead of next month’s new Thirteenth Floor collection, Steve Sampson talks mid-nineties Psi-Judge Anderson, and writer Geoffrey D. Wessel reveals his in-roads to being published in the Galaxy’s Greatest.
Indeed, the Wessel droid will be appearing in Prog 2350, a special Battle Action crossover issue, and we’ll be seeing some of that war drama infiltrating Meg 460 as Battle characters get Dreddworld reinventions. Be here in thirty, creeps, for new twists on old favourites!
Judge Dredd Megazine #459 is out now from all good newsagents and comic book stores, plus digitally from our webshop and apps! Don’t forget that if you buy an issue of the Megazine in the first month of its release then postage in the UK is free!
Cover by Dylan TeagueScript: Mike Carroll / Art: Nicolo Assirelli / Colours: Gary Caldwell / Letters: Annie Parkhouse
JUDGE DREDD // Fitting The Description
Mega-City One, 2145 AD. This vast urban hell on the east coast of post-apocalyptic North America is home to over 200 million citizens, with the irradiated Cursed Earth to the west and the toxic Black Atlantic to the east. Crime is rampant, and stemming the tide of chaos are the Judges. Toughest of them all is Judge Dredd – he is the Law!
Script: John Wagner / Art: Dan Cornwell / Colours: Dylan Teague / Letters: Jim Campbell
SPECTOR // Incorruptible, part five
In a near-future US city, corruption within the branches of government has reached unsustainable levels. City Hall is rotten to the core, and the police force is equally on the take. To that end, Spector is created, a robot detective – beyond bribery and untainted by potential malfeasance – charged with rooting out criminal elements. But the android inspector is making many enemies…
Mega-City One, 2099 AD. Before the Judges took complete control of the metropolis, there were two strands of law enforcement – regular uniformed cops did much of the day-to-day policing, while the helmeted Judges were called upon to pass judgement on certain criminals, their vested powers giving them the ability to dispense on-the-spot sentences…
Script: Dan Abnett / Art: Phil Winslade / Letters: Simon Bowland
LAWLESS // Most Wanted, part four
Colonial Marshal Metta Lawson was appointed to the frontier township of Badrock on the planet 43 Rega, intent on stamping her authority on the colony. But in doing so, Lawson made many enemies, including Munce, Inc., the mega-corporation that funded Badrock. Now, having been thrown off the force, and becoming a vigilante, she’s turned to organised crime…
Script: Mike Carroll / Art: John Higgins / Colour: Sally Hurst / Letters: Simon Bowland
DREADNOUGHTS // The March of Progress, Part five
USA, 2035 AD. The new Justice Department is still in its early years, with Judges working alongside the police. It’s proving an explosive transition, with many citizens – and more than a few cops – unhappy with these helmeted officers taking to the streets. Judge Veranda Glover is a recent transfer to Boulder, Colorado, where a drugs cartel is striking back at the law…
Script: John Wagner & Alan Grant / Art: José Ortiz
THE THIRTEENTH FLOOR
Maxwell Tower is a state-of-the art tower block: a bold, experimental council tenement, run by an A.I. called Max. As building superintendent, Max’s primary function is the welfare of his tenants, a duty which he takes very very seriously. If anyone threatens his precious residents or the building itself, they can expect a visit to the thirteenth floor… A place where nightmare and reality become one!
Script: Brian Buckley / Art: Alberto Ponticelli / Colours: Stephen Downer / Letters: Tom B. Long
ROGUE TROOPER // Part one
Nu-Earth, just another planet ravaged by a galaxy-wide war, its atmosphere poisoned by chemical weapons. Created to fight in such conditions were the G.I.s – genetically engineered infantrymen. But now only one remains, the man known as… Rogue Trooper!
Script: Garth Ennis / Art: Keith Burns / Colour: Jason Wordie / Letters: Rob Steen
JOHNNY RED // Part four
Legendary British fighter ace, Johnny ‘Red’ Redburn, returns once more as the commander of the Falcons – a Russian fighter squadron battling the Nazis in the skies over Stalingrad. But dogfighting Messerschmitts is about to become the least of his troubles when the NVKD – the notorious Soviet secret police – come calling!
Or ask at your local newsagent, comic shop, or bookshop
Judge Dredd Megazine #458 is OUT NOW!
A brand-new complete Judge Dredd thriller kicks off this issue in the shape of ‘Ratings War’ by Ian Edginton and Stewart K. Moore, plus we reach the finale of the Dark Judges saga ‘Death Metal Planet’.
Elsewhere, we have the latest instalments of Spector, Lawless and Dreadnoughts, and take a peek into new title Mega-City Max, which is on sale right now and puts a YA spin on several Dreddverse characters, including Devlin Waugh, DeMarco, P.I. and Walter the Wobot, written and drawn for the most part by creators from outside the regular 2000 AD talent pool. If it proves successful, it could be developed into an ongoing monthly, bridging the audience between the all-ages Regened stories and the prog and Meg itself. Watch this space as to whether another anthology could be joining the GGC family!
In addition, there’s chats with artist Aly Fell about his latest book and the team behind new mini First Men on Mars (both crowd-funded projects, as with last month’s Bogie Man GN – increasingly the most viable route indie creators are taking), and an interview with Conor Boyle – look out for a new ‘Mega-City 2099’ episode next issue!
Judge Dredd Megazine #458 is out now from all good newsagents and comic book stores, plus digitally from our webshop and apps! Don’t forget that if you buy an issue of the Megazine in the first month of its release then postage in the UK is free!
Cover by Nick PercivalScript: Ian Edginton / Art: Stewart K. Moore / Letters: Annie Parlhouse
JUDGE DREDD // Ratings War
Mega-City One, 2145 AD. This vast urban hell on the east coast of post-apocalyptic North America is home to over 200 million citizens, with the irradiated Cursed Earth to the west and the toxic Black Atlantic to the east. Crime is rampant, and stemming the tide of chaos are the Judges. Toughest of them all is Judge Dredd – he is the Law!
Script: John Wagner / Art: Carlos Ezquerra / Letters: Jim Campbell
SPECTOR // Incorruptible, part four
In a near-future US city, corruption within the branches of government has reached unsustainable levels. City Hall is rotten to the core, and the police force is equally on the take. To that end, Spector is created, a robot detective – beyond bribery and untainted by potential malfeasance – charged with rooting out criminal elements. But the android inspector is making many enemies…
Script: David Hine / Art: Nick Percival / Letters: Annie Parkhouse
DARK JUDGES // Death Metal Planet, part ten
After the events on the Mayflower, in which the Dark Judges were ejected into space, they ended up on the colony world of Dominion, which they proceeded to decimate. When Mega- City marines were sent in, assisted by survivor Rosco, the planet was destroyed. Worshipped like gods on Thanatopia by a death-cult, they’re now part of a death-metal festival…
Script: Ales Kot / Art: Rob Richardson / Letters: Simon Bowland
LAWLESS // Most Wanted, part three
Colonial Marshal Metta Lawson was appointed to the frontier township of Badrock on the planet 43 Rega, intent on stamping her authority on the colony. But in doing so, Lawson made many enemies, including Munce, Inc., the mega-corporation that funded Badrock. Now, having been thrown off the force, and becoming a vigilante, she’s turned to organised crime…
Script: Matt Smith / Art: Carl Critchlow / Letters: Shawn Lee
ANDERSON, PSI DIVISION // The King of the Six Sectors, part four
In an adventure from Cassandra Anderson’s early days in the Mega-City One Psi-Division, writer Matt Smith and artist Carl Critchlow present “King of the Six Sectors.” It all starts with Anderson awaking from an unusually strong vision of an attack on the Megapolitan Museum showcasing Cursed Earth artifacts…
Script: Garth Ennis / Art: Keith Burns / Colour: Jason Wordie / Letters: Rob Steen
JOHNNY RED // part three
Legendary British fighter ace, Johnny ‘Red’ Redburn, returns once more as the commander of the Falcons – a Russian fighter squadron battling the Nazis in the skies over Stalingrad. But dogfighting Messerschmitts is about to become the least of his troubles when the NVKD – the notorious Soviet secret police – come calling!
Script: A;an Hebden / Art: Cam Kennedy
CLASH OF THE GUARDS
Italy, 1943. The United States Army have sent Captain Brad Clash to join a British platoon in order to learn from their experiences of fighting in WWII. A former Hollywood stuntman and speedway driver, Clash is a man of action who likes to tackle the enemy head on. All guts and glory, he uses his superior driving skills and American-made weapons, like the Winchester trench Gun, to keep the German Army at bay.
Script: Mike Carroll / Art: John Higgins / Colour: Sally Hurst / Letters: Simon Bowland
DREADNOUGHTS // The March of Progress, Part four
USA, 2035 AD. The new Justice Department is still in its early years, with Judges working alongside the police. It’s proving an explosive transition, with many citizens – and more than a few cops – unhappy with these helmeted officers taking to the streets. Judge Veranda Glover is a recent transfer to Boulder, Colorado, and is making her presence felt…
