The Geeky Brummie Pull List with 2000AD Celebrating 45 Years

What a week this is. In any other week Step By Bloody Step by Si Spurrier and Matias Bergara, from Image Comics, would have been a shoe in for Comic Of The Week, but this particular week also marks the 45th Anniversary of a comic I’ve been reading since Prog 1. Yes, 2000AD is 45 years old this week and I couldn’t let that milestone pass without making it my Comic Of The Week. Filling out a great Pull List this week are Orphan and The Five Beasts from Dark Horse Comics, Silver Surfer: Rebirth from Marvel Comics and Arrowsmith: Behind Enemy Lines from Image Comics. We also have four great comics to look out for On The Radar from Image, DC Black Label and BOOM! Studios. In MEANWHILE… we round-up some of the other recent announcements from 2000AD and Rebellion including a 45th Anniversary Con

If you want to send any comics or comic related events we should feature, feel free to reach out to me at keith@geekybrummie.com.

Now on with the comics…

 

Title: 2000AD

Issue: 2270

Publisher: 2000AD/Rebellion Publishing

Written by John Wagner. Kek-W, Mike Carroll, Dan Abnett, David Barnett and Ian Edginton : Art by Dan Cornwell, John Burns, Jake Lynch, Lee Carter, INJ Culbard, Robin Smith and Leigh Gallagher : Colours by Dylan Teague and Jim Boswell : Letters by Annie Parkhouse, Simon Bowland and Jim Campbell : Cover by Brian Bolland

The Galaxy’s Greatest Comic returns with another action packed edition!

Wow, 45 years. I can remember being blown away by Prog 1 of this esteemed publication. Although I drifted away in the mid 90s, it’s always been present but I’ve been back reading on a regular basis for a good few years. The beauty of this anthology format means that there is always something interesting to read and many wonderful series have appeared alongside the more established Judge Dredd strip.

I’m really enjoying the Proteus Vex series that is currently running in the Prog as it really reminds me of the wild, mind bending strips of the 70s and 80s. The new Judge Dredd story promises to have a major impact on old stony face himself. It’s great to see Brian Bolland return for the celebratory cover and depict characters old and new. Comics have changed a lot in the last 45 years but it’s great to see this comic still going strong and I hope we’ll be here again celebrating the galaxy’s greatest comics 90th anniversary.

 

Title: Step By Bloody Step

Issue: 1

Publisher: Image Comics

Written by Simon Spurrier : Art by Matias Bergara and Mat Lopes

An armored giant and a helpless child. Together they cross an astonishing world brimming with beasts, bandits, and—deadliest by far—civilizations… If they stop walking, the earth itself forces them onwards. WHY? The child can’t ask. She and her guardian have no language, no memory, nothing—except each other.Multiple-Eisner nominees SI SPURRIER (X-Men), MATÍAS BERGARA (Coda), and MATHEUS LOPES (Supergirl) present a watershed moment in modern comics: four double-length chapters of a bittersweet fantasy opus, completely text free.Let’s take a walk.

It was really a hard decision to bump this book from the top spot. I’m a big fan of Si Spurrier’s work and ever since this book was announced I’d been looking forward to reading it. The USP of this book is there is no dialogue. This is masters of their craft pushing the boundaries of what a comic can do. It’s books like this that keep me reading comics.

 

Title: Orphan and the Five Beasts

Issue: 4

Publisher: Dark Horse Comics

Written and Illustrated by James Stokoe

James Stokoe’s insane Kung Fu epic comes to a glorious conclusion when the warrior Orphan Mo’s hunt for the five former powerful disciples ends in an insane battle. Part Five Deadly Venoms and part surreal grindhouse, James Stokoe brings his knack for ultra-detailed fantasy imagery and over-the-top violence to this classic tale of revenge.

I missed this initially and the sporadic release schedule meant its was a while before I finally picked it up. This books is amazing. James Stokoe is a master artist and he’s homage to Kung Fu movies is utter perfection. Outrageous, violent, heartbreaking and beautiful. This is another comic that really shows the best this medium has to offer.

 

Title: Silver Surfer: Rebirth

Issue: 2

Publisher: Marvel Comics

Written by Ron Marz : Art by Ron Lim, Don Ho and Israel Silva : Letters by Joe Sabino

SHATTERED REFLECTION

A MIGHTY MARVEL TEAM-UP?! NOT LIKELY… Someone has stolen the Reality Gem and is restructuring the universe to their whims…and it’s NOT Thanos! Now, the Silver Surfer must do the unthinkable and team up with his worst foe to save all of existence. If only they could just stop trying to kill each other…

Issue one was a fun book that took an unexpected turn in the final pages. Having seen a preview of the cover to issue 4, I have to stick around and find out what happens. Just glorious cosmic mayhem from two masters of the medium.

 

Title: Arrowsmith: Behind Enemy Lines

Issue: 2

Publisher: Image Comics

Written by Kurt Busiek, Art by Carlos Pacheco, José Rafael Fonteriz and José Villarrubia : Letters by Comicraft’s Tyler Smith and Jimmy Betancourt

Taken prisoner by the Prussians, Fletcher seeks an ally as the Blood Emperor’s forces plan and the Black Baron strikes.

After a great first issue, I’m hooked to see what the rest of this series has in store. Busiek is a master storyteller (there have been quite a few of them in this weeks picks) and this mix of war and magic is hugely delightful and I’m here for the long haul.

 

---

On the radar this week some other comics not on the Pull List but well worth checking out:

 

Saga #56

Image Comics

Written by Brian K. Vaughan : Art by Fiona Staples

Everyone mourns in their own way. The most emotional epic in comics continues, still for only $2.99!

BRZRKR #7

BOOM! Studios

Written by Matt Kindt and Keanu Reeves : Art by Ron Garney and Bill Crabtree

Diana pushes B. to uncover more about his past. Triggering a memory of WWI, where B. fights alongside his first U.S. handler, an artillery shell explosion results in a piece of B. making its way through history as a legendary artifact.

Back in the present, Caldwell reunites B. with his artifact, revealing himself as the top historical expert on B. Will his proposed “Protocol X” unlock the ultimate truth B. seeks, buried deep inside his memories?

The Human Target #5

DC Black Label

Written by Tom King : Art by Greg Smallwood : Letters by Clayton Cowles

CHAPTER 5: THIS IS A GOOD BLOCK

Christopher Chance, a.k.a. the Human Target, will be dead in a few days, but nothing will stop him from solving his own murder. His investigation into the JLI intensifies, and he sets his sights on the Martian Manhunter…but what piece does J’onn J’onzz add to the puzzle?

Girl Scouts: Stone Ghost #4

Image Comics

Written and Illustrated by Jim Mahfood

Dio and Natas dream-jump into the mind of an evil gangster and all hell breaks loose! Next-level, psychedelic visuals in this one, folks! Packed from cover to cover (no ads!) with completely unique eye-poppin’ MAHFOOD art, including bonus comics and behind-the-scenes fun!

Plus, an absolutely badass variant cover from superstar artist TOMMY LEE EDWARDS! Feel the Funk!

---

The Galaxy’s Greatest: 2000 AD at 45

Rebellion this week announced The Galaxy’s Greatest: 2000 AD at 45 – a star-studded online convention celebrating four and a half decades of the groundbreaking British comic!

Featuring celebrity fans and legendary creators, The Galaxy’s Greatest will stream online and for free on 26 and 27 March on 2000 AD’s social media channels and YouTube, and Rebellion’s dedicated Twitch stream.

The two-day show will feature top flight guests on more than a dozen panels, all discussing the impact of 2000 AD on comics and culture over almost half a century, as well as announcements and new merchandise.

Guests from the world of entertainment will include award-winning comedians Robin Ince (The Infinite Monkey Cage), Desiree Burch (Taskmaster, Unf*ckable), Dane Baptiste (Mock the Week, 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown) and Mitch Benn (The Now Show), scientist and broadcaster Adam Rutherford (BBC Radio 4’s Inside Science), bestselling authors Ian Rankin OBE (Rebus) and Louie Stowell (Loki: A Bad God’s Guide to Being Good), and political commentator Ian Dunt (i newspaper, How To Be A Liberal).

The event will throw a spotlight on the people who have helped make 2000 AD the galaxy’s greatest comic, with creators both new and legendary sharing their stories and insights on the comics-making process — including a feature interview with the co-creator of Judge Dredd and Strontium Dog, John Wagner, as well as panels with Garth Ennis (The Boys, Preacher), Rob Williams (Suicide Squad), Alex de Campi (Archie vs Predator), Sean Phillips (Criminal), Anna Morozova (Judge Anderson), John McCrea (Hitman), Dan Cornwell (Rok of the Reds), Aleš Kot (Zero), and more to be announced.

The next 45 years of 2000 AD will also be discussed with owners and publishers Chris Kingsley OBE and Jason Kingsley OBE, and current editor Matt Smith – now the longest serving editor in 2000 AD history.

And with many, many more creator and celebrity guests yet to be revealed, The Galaxy’s Greatest promises to be an unmissable experience befitting such a milestone for Britain’s most groundbreaking comic!

Jason Kingsley OBE said: “This is such a landmark anniversary for 2000 AD and I’m looking forward to hearing from this fantastic line-up of guests just how it has had an influence far beyond its pages.

“When Rebellion saved 2000 AD back in 2000, many people had long predicted its demise – but over the last two decades it has truly gone from strength-to-strength and is now back in its true place as one of the pillars of British culture. As the custodians of its legacy and guardians of its future, we’re proud and delighted to celebrate four and a half decades of Thrill-power with The Galaxy’s Greatest.

Ben Smith, head of Rebellion Publishing, said: “With the pandemic continuing to make in-person events difficult and prone to cancellation, we’ve decided to move our event marking 45 years of 2000 AD online – but it does mean that fans all over the world will be able to join in and celebrate the comic’s creators and legacy.”

The first issue of 2000 AD landed on shelves on 19 February 1977 – a brand new science-fiction title created by Pat Mills that would go on to redefine not just comic books, but become a genuine cultural force in Britain and abroad. Its blend of violent sci-fi action, grim anti-heroes, and anti-authority ethos made it a massive hit, delighting, inspiring, and influencing generations of children and young people.

The comic’s biggest character, future lawman Judge Dredd, created by Scottish-American writer John Wagner and Spanish artist Carlos Ezquerra, would become a worldwide phenomenon, entering the lexicon and inspiring two major movies.

 

2000 AD is available every week from all good newsagents and comic book stores, as well as digitally from the 2000AD.com webshop and app, alongside its monthly sister title, the Judge Dredd Megazine. Graphic novel collections are available from all good book and comic book stores, as well as online retailers, and digitally from the 2000AD.com webshop and app.

New Masters of British Comics Epic Humble Bundle

Humble Bundle and 2000 AD have joined forces once again to bring you the very best in comic book storytelling for amazing prices – and the chance to raise money for charity!

The MASTERS OF BRITISH COMICS: Featuring Judge Dredd, 2000 AD, and the Treasury of British Comics digital comics bundle will launched at www.humblebundle.com last Thursday 17 February 7pm GMT and will be available until Thursday 10 March at 7pm GMT.

Choose a bundle, pay what you want, and get classic British comics titles like Pat Mills and Joe Colquhoun seminal war comic Charley’s War, the new all-ages comics from 2000 AD Regened, the future-shocked worlds of Judge Dredd, the groundbreaking girls’ comics of Misty, Tammy and Jinty, the new Roy of the Rovers, the legendary The Rise and Fall of the Trigan Empire, and many, many more. There’s also an in-depth dive into the enthralling history of British comics in David Roach’s masterful Masters of British Comic Art.

All purchases of this bundle will help support the Cartoon Museum in London, which seeks to collect, conserve, encourage participation in, and raise awareness of Britain’s rich cartoon, caricature, animation and comic art heritage, while also supporting Britain’s cartoon and comics communities and creators.

When you buy a bundle, you can choose the price you want to pay – and you can even choose how your money is divided between 2000 AD, the Cartoon Museum and and Humble Bundle.

Previous Rebellion comic book Humble Bundles have raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for charities, including War Child, Special Effect, Cancer Research UK, and Save the Children UK.

Ben Smith, head of Rebellion Publishing, said: “We’re delighted to partner once again with Humble Bundle to showcase some of the best comics to have ever been published in Britain. From globally renowned characters like Judge Dreddand Roy of the Rovers to legendary series like The Rise and Fall of the Trigan Empire with creators such as Don Lawrence, Hugo Pratt, Pat Mills, John Wagner, Charlie Adlard and many more, covering a bevvy of genres from horror to war, science fiction to sport, adventure to humour, this is the bundle isn’t just an instant education it’s a gateway to some of the best comics of the last half century!

“It’s therefore even more exciting that our charity partner on this bundle in the Cartoon Museum, who are supporting comics education and outreach from their London headquarters, where they showcase the incredible legacy of British comics creators.”

 

About Humble Bundle

Humble Bundle sells games, ebooks, software, and other digital content through pay-what-you-want bundle promotions, the Humble Store, and the Humble Choice curated subscription service. When buying a bundle, customers not only choose how much to pay, but also how their payment is divided between the content creators, charity, and Humble Bundle. Purchases from the Humble Store and subscriptions to Humble Choice also help support charity. In 2017, Humble Bundle announced the launch of a multi-platform funding and creative initiative to publish games “Presented by Humble Bundle.” Since the company’s launch in 2010, Humble Bundle and its community have raised more than $198 million for a wide range of charities across the world. To see more, visit https://www.humblebundle.com.

Pay at least £0.73 for these 3 items:

• Monster Fun Halloween Spooktacular Special
• Charley’s War Book 1
• MACH 1 – The John Probe Mission Files

Pay at least £7.37 for these 19 items:

• Lawless: Welcome to Badrock
• Smash! Special 2020
• Cor!! Buster Bumper Fun Book
• The Rise and Fall of The Trigan Empire Volume One
• Janus Stark: Volume 1
• Invasion 1984
• Leo Baxendale’s Sweeny Toddler
• The Dracula Files
• Misty
• The 13th Floor
• Charley’s War Book 1
• Charley’s War Book 2
• Battle Stations – War Picture Library
• Major Eazy Volume One: The Italian Campaign
• Roy Of The Rovers: Kick-Off
• Roy Of The Rovers: Foul Play
• Mach 1 – Close Encounters
• MACH 1 – The John Probe Mission Files
• Monster Fun Halloween Spooktacular Special

Pay at least £13.28 for these 44 items:

• Lawless: Long-Range War
• Devlin Waugh: Blood Debt
• The Vigilant
• Sniper Elite: Resistance
• Tammy & Jinty: Remixed
• Action 2020 Special
• Black Beth and the Devils of Al-Kadesh
• Monster
• The Rise and Fall of The Trigan Empire Volume Two
• Janus Stark: Volume 2
• The Complete Johnny Future: The Missing Link
• The Spider’s Syndicate of Crime
• Jinty: Fran Of The Floods
• One-Eyed Jack
• Flesh: The Dino Files
• Shako
• Misty 2
• The Thirteenth Floor Vol.2
• Fiends of the Eastern Front
• Charley’s War Book 3
• Night of the Devil: War Picture Library
• El Mestizo
• Major Eazy Vs Rat Pack
• Roy Of The Rovers: Going Up
• Mega-City Undercover 01
• Lawless: Welcome to Badrock
• Smash! Special 2020
• Cor!! Buster Bumper Fun Book
• The Rise and Fall of The Trigan Empire Volume One
• Janus Stark: Volume 1
• Invasion 1984
• Leo Baxendale’s Sweeny Toddler
• The Dracula Files
• Misty
• The 13th Floor
• Charley’s War Book 2
• Battle Stations – War Picture Library
• Major Eazy Volume One: The Italian Campaign
• Roy Of The Rovers: Kick-Off
• Roy Of The Rovers: Foul Play
• Mach 1 – Close Encounters
• Monster Fun Halloween Spooktacular Special
• Charley’s War Book 1
• MACH 1 – The John Probe Mission Files

Pay at least £18.44 for these 64 items:

• Judge Dredd Day of Chaos: Fallout
• Devlin Waugh: Red Tide
• Judge Dredd: Every Empire Falls
• 2000AD Regened
• Hondo City Law
• Battle of Britain Special 2020
• 2000 AD Regened Volume 2
• Judge Dredd: The Small House
• Devlin Waugh: Swimming in Blood
• Judge Dredd Day Of Chaos: Endgame
• Hondo City Justice
• Judge Dredd Day Of Chaos: The Fourth Faction
• Lawless Book Three: Ashes to Ashes
• Masters of British Comic Art
• Judge Dredd: The Cursed Earth Uncensored
• The Rise and Fall of The Trigan Empire Volume Three
• Janus Stark: Volume 3
• Misty: Wolf Girl
• The Thirteenth Floor Vol.3
• Battle of Britain – War Picture Library
• Lawless: Long-Range War
• Devlin Waugh: Blood Debt
• The Vigilant
• Sniper Elite: Resistance
• Tammy & Jinty: Remixed
• Action 2020 Special
• Black Beth and the Devils of Al-Kadesh
• Monster
• The Rise and Fall of The Trigan Empire Volume Two
• Janus Stark: Volume 2
• The Complete Johnny Future: The Missing Link
• The Spider’s Syndicate of Crime
• Jinty: Fran Of The Floods
• One-Eyed Jack
• Flesh: The Dino Files
• Shako
• Misty 2
• The Thirteenth Floor Vol.2
• Fiends of the Eastern Front
• Charley’s War Book 3
• Night of the Devil: War Picture Library
• El Mestizo
• Major Eazy Vs Rat Pack
• Roy Of The Rovers: Going Up
• Mega-City Undercover 01
• Lawless: Welcome to Badrock
• Smash! Special 2020
• Cor!! Buster Bumper Fun Book
• The Rise and Fall of The Trigan Empire Volume One
• Janus Stark: Volume 1
• Invasion 1984
• Leo Baxendale’s Sweeny Toddler
• The Dracula Files
• Misty
• The 13th Floor
• Charley’s War Book 2
• Battle Stations – War Picture Library
• Major Eazy Volume One: The Italian Campaign
• Roy Of The Rovers: Kick-Off
• Roy Of The Rovers: Foul Play
• Mach 1 – Close Encounters
• Monster Fun Halloween Spooktacular Special
• Charley’s War Book 1
• MACH 1 – The John Probe Mission Files

 

---