The Forbidden Planet International Blog

In February 2012, for the 35th anniversary of 2000AD, I made a pledge:

“But here’s a deal for you. If you’ll do it, so will I. 2012 will be the year I read 2000AD. 2012 will be the year YOU read 2000AD.”

Right, on my hols here, so this may have to be quick….. I’ve grabbed a copy of this weeks 2000AD from the online store, and although I really do enjoy it so much more settling down and comfortably relaxing with the paper copy, this will just have to do….

The Dredd tale by Carroll and Holden finishes this issue, and although it’s fun enough, there’s just something missing in the storytelling where Dredd, Dolman, and the newly independent Sue Perkins Block settle their differences.

Too much of it here in this final episode just sort of seemed to happen, and the art doesn’t really back it all up properly. It just seems a little rough and ready, jumping from moment to moment, Carroll and Holden making it all work “just because” and not really selling it. Still a good Dredd story, but not one that lived up to the promise in these final moments.

(Dolman returns to MC1 in Judge Dredd by Michael Carroll and PJ Holden)

The Red Seas keeps doing the dependable and solid thing, whilst being nothing particularly more than that. Enjoyable enough, nothing special. Although part of that enjoyment is simply seeing how daft Edginton makes it this time. And thanks to the return of Quantum Tortoise, we have a nice bit of daft this time round.

And next issue is the conclusion, where Eginton brings in the lead character? Or am I missing something here? Jack Dancer’s the lead character, right? I’m all confused once more here.

(Return of the Quantum Tortoise…. The Red Seas by Ian Edginton and Steve Yeowell)

Aquila meets his match, another, older version of the goddesses invulnerable warriors, this one a Spartan…. or The Spartan, fresh out of Frank Miller’s 300. Secrets are promised to be revealed, and London may fall.

Rennie and Gallagher keep up the pace and the bloodshed but it’s still not really grabbing me. Maybe, just maybe, they’ll get me next issue, when even more violence is promised?

(Aquila by Gordon Rennie and Leigh Gallagher)

In Ichabod Azrael it’s all coming to a thundering conclusion; the world is coming to an end, Ichabod and Zoe have a little personal time, the Hunter takes on hideous shape, and Charon finds himself hunted.

Which all means we’re back on grand form in Ichabod Azrael once more, with all the slow building plot threads coming together, Rob Williams’ dialogue really crackling along, and as usual, Dom Reardon’s very un-2000AD looking artwork looks great.

(Ichabod Azrael by Rob Williams and Dom Reardon)

And we finish the issue with Lenny Zero, and yet again it’s the absolute stand-out of the issue. We get the return of Max Normal, and the plan coming together nicely.

Diggle’s put together a good story here, and Wilsher’s art is pretty much up to it. We’re right in the calm before the storm here, chess pieces moved into place; Max Normal setting the final piece with marked creds going illegal from card game to Judge’s consignment, the gang gathering one final time before setting out, Judge Kramer taking personal control of the cash shipment…. oh yes, what could possibly go wrong?

(Lenny Zero by Andy Diggle and Ben Wilsher)