Comic Book Review: 2000 A.D. Progs 2206-2209 edited by Tharg
Over the years, the long-running British speculative fiction comic paper 2000 AD has strayed from its original demographic of British schoolboys somewhat. As in, it’s got a lot more “not safe for school” content. As a way of allowing younger readers to enjoy a taste, every so often the magazine has a “regened” issue with a more “all ages” take. Prog 2206 is one of these.
First up is Cadet Dredd (Judge Dredd as a teen) in “Tooth and Claw” written by Mike Carroll, art by Nicolo Assarelli. A training mission goes wrong when the transport crashes in the Cursed Earth. Cadets Joe Dredd, Rico Dredd and Veilla have to get to the nearest radio to call for rescue. Bad news, the local dinosaur farms have been taken over by slavers. The cadets could make common cause with the farmers against the slavers, but Rico has what he thinks is a better idea.
“Abelard Snazz: The Only Way Is Up” written by Paul Cornell, art by Anna Readman, features the man with the two-storey brain. He may be the smartest man in the universe, but his plans usually turn out badly, so he hasn’t had a visitor in a while. (Thirty-seven years, our time!) But the quantum realm of Atomica has a big problem (or a tiny one, depending on your perspective,) and is desperate enough to hire Mr. Snazz for a solution. And by the end of the story, we can definitely say they don’t have that problem anymore.
“Venus Bluegenes: Threat Level: Zero” written by Liam Johnson, art by Aneke, has the Genetic Infantry warrior infiltrating a mine to learn who’s been kidnapping refugees. Those refugees may be weak and cowardly, but Venus isn’t going to let that stop her from shutting down the operation. And maybe those civilians do have a backbone in there somewhere. Content note: sexism is a plot point.
“Future Shocks: For the Man Who Lives Everywhen” written by Karl Stock, art by Tom Newell, is about Professor Norman Collins, who steals his student Charlie Smart’s “time receiver” idea to make himself the most important man in history. The question is not so much will this backfire on him, but when and how?
Judge Anderson of Psi-Division ends the issue with “Early Warning” written by Cavan Scott, art by Paul Davidson. She gets a precognitive warning of an alien that’s puppeting a human, and headed straight for the Grand Hall of the Judges. However, the vision is not complete, and the alien’s motives are unknown. Ends with a sequel hook.
Prog 2207 returns to the regular serials. Judge Dredd fronts the magazine with “Simply Normal” written by Kenneth Niemand, art by Steve Austin. In Mega-City One, “simping” is a subculture in which people dress and behave foolishly as a lifestyle, heavy on the clown motif. Now a deprogramming clinic offers a cure for simping, allowing those afflicted to return to a normal life. At least one simp isn’t buying it, and is convinced that her wife is being held against her will. The wife claims she’s there of her own free will, so Judge Dredd can do nothing but warn against taking any criminal actions. (Judge Dredd isn’t all that sympathetic; simps creep him out.)
Daisy decides to seek out the radical Simp Underground, as ragtag a bunch of misfits as ever you’ve seen. Meanwhile, Dredd and the Judges are digging into the background of the clinic owners. Their curative programs may be less “cure” and more “kill” than advertised.
Mysterious deformed criminal Stickleback stars in “New Jerusalem” written by Ian Edginton, art by D’Israeli, as Victorian London is threatened by otherworldly invaders. These three chapters are largely fight scene, and hugely confusing if you’ve missed some of the backstory, which I have. Interesting character designs though.
Skip Tracer Nolan Blake is a bounty hunter with psionic abilities. In “Hyperballad” written by James Peaty, art by Paul Marshall, Blake’s been hired as a bodyguard to pop star India Summer (who apparently has been bioengineered to look like an anime character.) However, the death threats are coming from someone much closeer to Ms. Summer than she expected. Can Blake get her out of this, and will he actually get paid this time?
“Fiends of the Eastern Front: Constanta” written by Ian Edginton, art by Tiernen Trevallion, goes deep into the backstory of the original World War Two vampire tale. Constanta, rightful heir to the throne of Romania, has survived his brother’s assassination attempt, but since he was very young at the time, has forgotten all about that. Currently, he’s traveling with the troll known as Skade, but the three sisters who have long helped Skade defy death now want Constanta as their pawn, and draw him back to his homeland.
“Hook-Jaw” written by Alec Worley, art by Leigh Gallagher, revives an older British comics character in the modern day. Hook-Jaw is a great white shark who is storied in urban legend and folk tale, and has now come to the village of Porthgawr to feed. But it’s not only human flesh it hungers for, and perhaps the tourists will give Hook-Jaw what it truly desires, if the local ghosts can’t figure out a way to stop it. It’s an interesting way to do a hoary concept.
The all-ages issue might be the best bet for readers who are new to 2000 AD and just want to sample. For everything else, the serial nature of the stories makes them use their space well, but means that skipping issues can ruin a plot.
