2000AD announces 2013 graphic album range

2012 was a truly zarjaz year for 2000AD – and the next 12 months looks set to be even better with the announcement of  their graphic novel collections schedule for the UK and Ireland.

With 19 titles collecting stories of some of the biggest characters from the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic – Judge Dredd, Sláine, Strontium Dog – to new series that have already become fan favourites – Zombo, Indigo Prime – the schedule is packed with Thrills from an incredible roster of top comics talent, including John Wagner, Alan Moore, Pat Mills, John Smith, Kevin O’Neill, Dave Gibbons, Henry Flint, and Glenn Fabry.

Here's the schedule:

Judge Dredd: Day of Chaos – The Fourth Faction
ISBN: 978-1-78108-108-2 Price: £17.99 Published: 14th February

Named by ComicBookResources.com as one of the top 15 best comics of 2012, Dredd co-creator John Wagner wowed 2000AD readers with this year-long storyline in which he tore the world of the future lawman apart in an orgy of intrigue, death, and destruction. Dredd’s actions 30 years ago in the Apocalypse War come back to haunt him as the Judges race against time to prevent a terrifying ‘day of chaos’, predicted by their psychic division. Day of Chaos: The Fourth Faction is the first collection of what is rightly acclaimed as one of the best Dredd stories of the past 35 years.

• Buy Judge Dredd Day of Chaos: Fourth Faction from amazon.co.uk

Judge Dredd: The Judge Child
ISBN: 978-1-78108-109-9 Price: £17.99 Published: 14th March

Continuing the popular run of pocket-sized black-and-white reprints of Dredd classics! Dredd and is sent on a mission to find The Judge Child who may be the only one powerful enough to stop the apocalypse.
Judge Dredd at its insane, imaginative best!

• Buy Judge Dredd: Judge Child Saga from amazon.co.uk

Mean Team
ISBN: 978-1-78108-110-5 Price: £13.99 Published: 14th March

In the year 2886, Death-Bowl is the most popular sport in the galaxy - men and machine pitted against each other in a brutal gladiatorial contest! Mean Team is another face-smashing, limb-tearing, gutbusting classic from the pages of legendary British comic, 2000AD.

• Pre-order Mean Team from amazon.co.uk

APRIL

Indigo Prime: Anthropocalypse
ISBN: 978-1-78108-111-2 Price: £14.99 Published: 11th April
Diamond Order Code: FEB131116

They’re the clock keepers of the multiverse - interdimensional troubleshooters who keep dimensional instability in check, and reality on the straight and narrow. They are Indigo Prime. And they have a problem.

John Smith teams up with fellow Cradlegrave creator Edmund Bagwell and Lee Carter (Judge Dredd), on one of 2000AD’s most imaginative series.

• Pre-order Indigo Prime@ Anthropocalypse from amazon.co.uk

Sláine: The Grail War
ISBN: 978-1-78108-112-9 Price: £17.99 Published: 11th April
Diamond Order Code: FEB131117

In the latest collection of the adventures of Pat Mills’ barbarian warrior, Sláine arrives in 13th Century France and must ally himself with his enemy to save his true love’s soul.

One of the most popular characters in 2000AD’s history encounters one of the bloodiest chapters in European history!

• Pre-order Slaine: The Grail War from amazon.co.uk

MAY

Rogue Trooper: Welcome to Nu-Earth
ISBN: 978-1-78108-113-6 Price: £6.99 Published: 9th May

He is the last of the genetic infantrymen and now the story of Rogue Trooper comes to the popular ‘pocket size’ format. With art by Dave Gibbons (Watchmen), this is the perfect introduction for new readers to one of 2000AD’s most popular characters.

•  Pre-order Rogue Trooper: Welcome to Nu Earth from amazon.co.uk

The Ballad of Halo Jones
ISBN: 978-1-78108-148-8 Price: £13.99 Published: 9th May

The all-time classic by Alan Moore (Watchmen, From Hell) and Ian Gibson in a brand new edition with a fresh design-led cover and an introduction by best-selling author of Zoo City, Arthur C. Clarke award-winner Lauren Beukes. When ‘ordinary’ Halo seeks to escape her boring life on Earth, she begins an incredible journey across the galaxy. Discover why this remains one of 2000AD’s greatest stories!

•  Pre-order The Ballad of Halo Jones from amazon.co.uk

JUNE

Judge Dredd: Complete Case Files #20
ISBN: 978-1-78108-141-9 Price: £19.99 Published: 20th June

The best-selling series of reprints continues with more tales of Mega-City madness from the ultimate future lawman. With stories by Mark Millar (Kick Ass) and Grant Morrison (Superman, Batman), plus the return of legendary artist Mick McMahon, Volume 20 sees
Dredd travel to Egypt and battle an abomination created from the bodies of his many victims!

•  Pre-order Judge Dredd: Volume 20: The Complete Case Files from amazon.co.uk  

ABC Warriors: Volgan War, Volume 3
ISBN: 978-1-78108-140-2 Price: £12.99 Published: 20th June

With stunning art by Clint Langley, after selling out in hardback and in response to popular demand this series is now available in paperback! Recruited to bring peace to the civil war-ravaged frontier colonies on Mars, the Mek-nificent Seven must stop the evil Volkhan and two of their ex-comrades from capturing the Red House!

• Pre-order ABC Warriors: Volgan War, Volume 3 from amazon.co.uk  

JULY

Judge Dredd: Day of Chaos - Endgame
ISBN: 978-1-78108-142-6 Price: £17.99 Published: 18th July

The concluding part of the biggest Judge Dredd epic ever! As Mega-City One crumbles beneath the Chaos Bug, the Judges desperately try to stay in control - but when the Dark Judges are unleashed, can even Judge Dredd rescue the city?

Millions die as John Wagner’s acclaimed year-long story races to its end and redefines Dredd’s entire world!

•  Pre-order Judge Dredd Day of Chaos: Endgame from amazon.co.uk 

Sláine: The King
ISBN: 978-1-78108-170-9 Price: £15.99 Published: 18th July

Sláine: Time Killer
ISBN: 978-1-78108-169-3 Price: £13.99 Published: 18th July

Two refreshed volumes from Pat Mills’ Celtic barbarian featuring art from Glenn Fabry (Preacher) and a fantastic host of extras.

The popular Time Killer not only features Fabry’s most celebrated artwork but also includes a missing three page prologue. Sláine: The King features a newly-restored cover.

• Pre-order Slaine The King from amazon.co.uk

• Pre-order Slaine Time Killer from amazon.co.uk  

AUGUST

Strontium Dog: Portrait of a Mutant
ISBN: 978-1-78108-143-3 Price: £6.99 Published: 15th August

Another 2000 AD icon comes to the ‘pocket size’ format! Featuring the stunning artwork of Carlos Ezquerra, Portrait of a Mutant details Strontium Dog Johnny Alpha’s tragic early years fighting for survival amongst the ranks of the Mutant Army against his hate-filled father Nelson Bunker Kreelman.

• Pre-order Strontium Dog: Portrait of a Mutant from amazon.co.uk  

Judge Dredd: Trifecta
ISBN: 978-1-78108-145-7 Price: £17.99 Published: 15th August

Named as one of the best stories of 2012, this critically-acclaimed crossover is now available in one collection! Writers Simon Spurrier (X-Men), Rob Williams (Cla$$war), and Al Ewing (Jennifer Blood) created an unprecedented comics event last year as Judge Dredd teams up with undercover Judges Jack Point and Dirty Frank to thwart a sinister plot. Not to be missed!

•  Pre-order Judge Dredd: Trifecta from amazon.co.uk  

SEPTEMBER

ABC Warriors: Return to Earth
ISBN: 978-1-78108-144-0 Price: £14.99 Published: 12th September

This is the origin story readers have been waiting 30 years for - a brand new collection featuring colour and B&W art by Clint Langley. The ABC Warriors have lost two of their number to the evil Volkhan’s army. Recounting a mission from the past that led
him back to Earth, team leader Hammerstein reveals how he betrayed robotkind, met Ro-Jaws and joined Ro-Busters!

Pre-order A.B.C Warriors: Return to Earth from amazon.co.uk  

Nemesis the Warlock: Deviant Edition
ISBN: 978-1-78108-171-6 Price: £30 Published: 12th September

An absolute must have for any 2000AD fan - Kevin O’Neill‘s original Nemesis series, coloured by the man himself, recently unearthed and collected for the very first time in a hardback edition! An alien freedom fighter battles against the despotic human ruler
Torquemada in an incredible whirlwind of insane imagination and imagery.
A special ‘Termight Edition’ will be available exclusively from the 2000ADonline.com shop.

• Pre-order Nemesis The Warlock: Deviant Edition from amazon.co.uk

OCTOBER

Zombo: You Smell of Crime and I am the Deodorant
ISBN: 978-1-78108-034-4 Price: £13.99 Published: 10th October

The follow-up to the critically-acclaimed series from Al Ewing and
Henry Flint! Zombo, the gentleman zombie, was seemingly dead - his
mind destroyed when his back-up personality (of a male stripper)
kicked in. But now he’s back - and you do NOT want to miss where
he’s headed.

• Pre-order Zombo: You Smell of Crime and I'm the Deodorant 

Judge Dredd: Complete Case Files #21
ISBN: 978-1-78108-175-4 Price: £19.99 Published: 10th October

The next volume of the best-selling reprints of Judge Dredd’s cases from the pages of 2000 AD. From encountering another 2000AD legend - Rogue Trooper - to Dredd’s disgrace and arrest, this is another slab of future law enforcement!

NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER

Sláine 30th Anniversary Celebration
ISBN: 978-1-78108-176-1 Price: £19.99 Published: 7th November

Marking 30 years of the Celtic barbarian’s adventures, this special anniversary book brings together new work from creator Pat Mills and some of the biggest artists to have worked on Sláine over the past three decades. A great collector’s item and not to be missed by fans of warp spasms everywhere!

2000AD Presents: Sci-Fi Thrillers
ISBN: 978-1-78108-177-8 Price: £19.99 Published: 5th December

From alien invasions to man-hating dinosaurs, this bumper-sized anthology features a collection of work from industry legends Pat Mills (Marshal Law), Ian Gibson (The Ballad of Halo Jones), Grant Morrison (JLA), Will Simpson (Vamps), Peter Milligan (X-Statix) and Paul Cornell (Doctor Who) amongst many others.

ALREADY AVAILABLE THIS YEAR FROM 2000AD

Judge Anderson: The Psi Files Volume 03
ISBN: 978-1-78108-106-8 Price: £19.99 Published: OUT NOW!

Cassandra Anderson, Psi Divison’s finest Judge, has faced many tough challenges, from saving Mega-City One from the Dark Judges to dealing with a loss of faith in the Justice System. But her toughest challenge is still ahead - something evil from the depths of space is about to crash onto the “Big Meg,” presenting a bigger crisis than Cass has ever faced before.

The Ten-Seconders: The American Dream
ISBN: 978-1-78108-066-5 Price: £14.99 Published: OUT NOW!

They came to Earth as gods. But humanity must quickly find the answer to the vital question: what does it take to kill a god? One of the rising stars of American comics, Rob Williams, skewers the superhero myth with help from artists Mark Harrison (Durham Red), Ben Oliver (Nightwing) and Dom Reardon (Ichabod Azrael) and Shaun Thomas (Middenface McNulty).

Happy Birthday, 2000AD! From writer and fan Paul H. Birch

Name: Paul H Birch

Blog: http://blogs.birminghammail.net/speechballoon/

Currently working on:

Hardware. Once upon a time there was a little stripzine that caused quite a stir and that will be coming back, bigger and way badder than ever before. How so? Well, if you saw the video at 2011 B.C. that gave some clues. Robotic mayhem & heroic disasters, vampiric victories & forbidden lusts, sci-fi double-dealings & eclectic slice-of-life twists in the tale... And oh so very much more guaranteed, all to be revealed in due course.

First memory of 2000AD?: 

My brother bought an early issue from the newsagents over the road from where we lived. He’d been into Action and I could see that it was similar but with a sci-fi slant.

Favourite Character or Story?  

I started picking it up myself in the late 1980s-early 90s, the new UK comic art superstars were moving on heading for DC and elsewhere, and while some might declare it became a less anarchic beast the contents throughout felt more editorially well-balanced and if anything the tone had matured to just the right pitch where, if not being subversive its writers were certainly trying to create debate in their predominantly young readers at the same time as doing a bang-up job of entertaining them. So, to me, it was more about the comic as an entity itself rather than the individual strips.

Ron Smith gave a balanced, more homogenised look to Judge Dredd, and as John Wagner and Alan Grant got ever more inventive, politically active and downright outraged by the burgeoning society they saw around them, Smith’s visual take had Dredd playing the straight man to perfection. And that stood out.

Whereas, about the same time something like Mike McMahon’s art on Pat Mills’s Slaine had the potential to revolutionise comic strip storytelling in ways that appeared not to fully be appreciated at the time and abandoned thereafter: as if derived from the fundamentals of DC Thomson superstar Dudley Watkins having been spiked with acid and shown far too many European comics than could be soaked up in one trip; the resultant work was dense, dynamic, intense and seemed to be heading towards the direction of a Liberatore for kids. Beyond brilliant.

What do you like most about the 2000AD?

That it is weekly, and so remains traditionally British.

What would you most like to see in 2000AD as it heads to its Forties?

I guess I’d just like to see it. My local newsagent used to sell a few copies, but its visible presence on the shelves tends to be lacking in my neighbourhood.

• This post is one in a series of tributes to 2000AD to mark its 35th birthday on 26th February 2012. More about 2000AD at http://www.2000adonline.com/

2000AD © Rebellion

Happy Birthday, 2000AD! from artist Rob Davis

Name: Rob Davis

Blog: http://dinlos.blogspot.com

Currently working on:

Writing and drawing second Volume of Don Quixote and working on strips for The Phoenix.

First memory of 2000AD?

I bought prog 1 of 2000AD from the newsagents on Ashley Road in Parkstone, lost the spinner down the back of Chris Morrel's fridge. I couldn't read very well as an eight year old, but I loved Belardnelli's Dan Dare art. Space Hyper Hero!

I probably read most of the first 100 issues more by the pictures than the words. Within a year or so I was doing my own 2000AD style comic called "Space". I still have issue 3.

Favourite character or story?

Favourite character as a child was Robo Hunter. Halo Jones stands out to me as a writer because it spun everything around, made writing about anything seem possible. Dredd is the great icon of the comic and contains all the cleverest and most witty writing, it's what 2000AD is all about.

Artwise Mick (then Mike) McMahon's work surpassed, and surpasses, anything else in British comics and waking up one Saturday and rushing to the newsagent to get my hands on Prog 335 to see the first pages of McMahon's Slaine work on 'Warrior's Dawn' is the No. 1 art experience of my life. Not sure I'll ever recover from the moment I saw that opening page.

Having said all that, my personal favourite read ever was the first book of Nemesis. Genuinely alien and familiar, futuristic and historical, mythical and satirical. Top stuff!

What you like about 2000AD?

2000AD tricked me into thinking this is how thinks are; there's a 12p newsprint rag I could pick up every in the same shop that sells my dad his fags and it contains more invention, creativity, peerless art than I'd ever encounter in one place again. I thought that is what we should expect, it's what I intended to do with my life - keep that illusion going, make the world seem that impossibly giving to kids so they'd grow up as bursting full of imagination as I was.

Sadly the comic wanted to grow up with me, but it grew up to be a retarded, heavy metal fan who thought women smelt of magazine paper. I didn't want to be its friend anymore.

What would you like to see in 2000AD as it heads for its Forties?

We don't keep in touch, but I'm assured it did grow up and sort itself out. It keeps the best of company now, so it must have turned out ok, I've seen D'Israeli's marvelous Stickleback for example! We probably just grew apart and we've gone our separate ways. 

 

Part of me harbours an ambition to do something for the comic, but it would have to be an homage to one of the great inspirations of my life and therefore would have to be startling original and staggeringly good.

If you worked for 2000AD, do you have an anecdote to share about Tharg and his minions?

And here's the rub. I did draw Judge Dredd for a while in the 1990s, in Lawman of the Future, and I found the experience draining and soul destroying. I had nothing to add to Dredd that could improve upon what Mick McMahon had done. I could do something different, for the sake of it, but nothing better. This didn't appeal to me. I had no kids or mortgage in those days so I just walked. I didn't like the scripts or the ideology or the lack of ambition. Sadly the very thing that had made me want to make comics ultimately made me give them up as a career.

• This post is one in a series of tributes to 2000AD to mark its 35th birthday on 26th February 2012. More about 2000AD at www.2000adonline.com
2000AD © Rebellion

Happy Birthday, 2000AD! From artist and fan Martin Geraghty

Name: Martin Geraghty 

Blog or web site: Yeah, need to get onto that someday, probably...

Currently working on: 

Knee-deep pencilling my next strip for Doctor Who Magazine, a tight little Eleventh Doctor two-parter by Scott Gray.

Other than that, Storyboarding and Visualising for the advertising business is keeping a roof over my head for the time being.

First memory of 2000AD? 

Buying the first issue in my local newsagents. I'd been bereft ever since ACTION bit the bullet and the rich diet of Dan Dare, Dinos and Dredd seemed the perfect pick-me-up.

It launched with a TV ad -- I'm sure it was an anticipatory purchase rather than an impulse buy.

Favourite Character or Story?

Well, Dredd is, and always will be, the icon of the mag but I'll have to plump for Slaine, as drawn by Mick McMahon. Those stories he illustrated are just some of the most exquisite black and white comic art I've ever seen.

What do you like most about the 2000AD? 

That it's still here, 35 years on. Longevity is a great comfort.

What would you most like to see in 2000AD as it heads to its Forties? 

That it continues to experiment and retain it's place as a breeding ground for peerless home-grown comic-strip talent.

If you worked on 2000AD, do you have an anecdote you'd like to share about your experience of Tharg and his minions? 

Never worked for 'em, Just lots and lots of happy memories of reading it.

• This post is one in a series of tributes to 2000AD to mark its 35th birthday on 26th February 2012. More about 2000AD at www.2000adonline.com

2000AD © Rebellion

Happy Birthday, 2000AD! From art droid Keith Page

Name: Keith Page

Blog or web site: 
http://keithpageukcomicsartist.blogspot.com

Currently working on:

I'm currently working on Grey Dog, the first of three 48-pagers about the Irish mythological hero Cuchulain, written by Stephen Walsh, as well as my usual Commandos.

First memory of 2000AD?

I went to see a very courteous Pat Mills at King's Reach Tower as a young would-be artist just before the launch of 2000AD, and he showed me some artwork which included the Belardinelli Dan Dare.

Favourite Character or Story?

My favourite artist was always Mike McMahon, and my favourite story was Slaine.

If you worked on 2000AD, do you have an anecdote you'd like to share about your experience of Tharg and his minions?

He was good enough to give me a choice of trial scripts to work on, the one I chose being about a 22nd Century cop...

I went on to do a few annual stories and a couple of Strontium Dog tales later on.

• This post is one in a series of tributes to 2000AD to mark its 35th birthday on 26th February 2012. More about 2000AD at www.2000adonline.com

2000AD © Rebellion

Happy Birthday 2000AD! From art droid Jon Haward

Slaine by Jon Haward

Name: Jon Haward

Blog or web site:

hawardarthouse.blogspot.com 

and www.jonhawardart.com

Currently working on:

Art directing Hamlet the graphic novel for Classical Comics, drawing Slaine for Zarjaz magazine just recently finished art duties on Tales of the Buddha before he got enlightened collection 

First memory of 2000AD?

The first issue, being blown away by Invasion, Dan Dare, Harlem Heroes and Mach 1. Basically I loved it and have been a fan ever since

Favourite Character or Story?

Slaine the Horned God by Simon Bisley. Also, Mike McMahon's amazing run on Slaine, Nemesis by Kev O'Neill - both by scribe Pat Mills. Robo Hunter by Ian Gibson - the first stories I adored by  John Wagner and Alan Grant.

Then there's the Judge Child Dredd saga, the Cursed Earth Dredd saga Ron Smith, McMahon, Bolland - genius work. 

Gosh, the list goes on - Gibbons on Rogue Trooper and Dan Dare; Wagner and Ranson's Button Man etc .

My most enjoyable job for 2000AD was drawing Tales of Telguuth  by Steve Moore - a wonderful, zany dark fantasy.

What do you like most about the 2000AD?

The mix of fantasy, action and sci-fi mixed with black humour dynamite combo

What would you most like to see in 2000AD as it heads to its Forties?

The same energy trying new thrills but build also on its corner stone characters

If you worked on 2000AD, do you have an anecdote you'd like to share about your experience of Tharg and his minions?

Richard Burton was my first Tharg editor (I've worked for Richard, Alan McKenzie, Andy Diggle and Matt Smith). When Richard gave me my first Dredd job, he told me to get it done in 10 days - that's pencils, inks and colouring.

I got the job finished on time. It was a story by Garth Ennis. Richard told me it was my baptism of fire, he was interested in marathon runners not runners that could start the race and not finish it.

Actually Richard was so impressed with my Dredd and my speed he offered me Shinobi Master Ninja for Sonic the Comic!

• This post is one in a series of tributes to 2000AD to mark its 35th birthday on 26th February 2012. More about 2000AD at www.2000adonline.com

2000AD © Rebellion

2000AD Book Schedule announced

As it celebrates three and a half decades of some of the greatest comics of all time, 2000AD is unleashing a flurry of top-notch thrills in graphic novel form this year.The Galaxy’s Greatest Comic has lined up a sizzling schedule of new releases, collecting classics and new strips alike – with new formats and a celebration of amazing Judge Dredd artwork from the past 35 years!

February sees the first in the new line of stylish ‘Manga-style’ books reprinting classic tales from Judge Dredd in a fresh pocket-sized format. The perfect format for new readers, this new series breaks classic Judge Dredd stories out from the best-selling Case Files to open up the world of Dredd to new readers and fans at a low price point.

JUDGE DREDD: THE CURSED EARTH SAGA (£6.99 ISBN 978-1-781080-08-5) collects the first Dredd ‘mega-epic,’ as the Lawman of the Future crosses the radioactive hell of the Cursed Earth, complete with mutants, monsters and crazed war robots, with a vaccine to save Mega-City Two from a deadly plague.

The second release in the series, JUDGE DREDD: THE DAY THE LAW DIED (£6.99 ISBN 978-1-781080-09-2) arrives in May and features art by legends Mike McMahon and Brian Bolland as Dredd is forced to take on the tyrannical Judge Cal. And the third title, due in September, reprints the first appearance of Judge Dredd’s ultimate nemesis, Judge Death, in JUDGE DREDD: THE DARK JUDGES (£6.99 ISBN 978-1-781080-45-0) by John Wagner, Brian Bolland and Brett Ewins.

In March, Dan Abnett and Richard Elson’s breakout post-apocalyptic series, Kingdom, returns with 144 full-colour pages of KINGDOM: CALL OF THE WILD (£14.99 ISBN 978-1-907992-98-8). Genetically engineered dogsoldier, Gene the Hackman, and one of the last human beings realise they’ve wandered into the territory of a new pack … and into danger.

 The first critically-acclaimed Mega-City Undercover collection in 2008 was a runaway hit, and April will see MEGA-CITY UNDERCOVER 02: LIVING THE LOW LIFE (£14.99 ISBN 978-1-781080-41-2). Writer Rob Williams (Iron Age, Daken) and artist D’Israeli (SVK, Scarlet Traces) return for more of the undercover judges who work in the crime-infested Low Life – the nastiest part of Judge Dredd’s Mega-City One – in action-packed, humour-filled stories.

Rebellion continue putting the law in order in May, with JUDGE DREDD: THE COMPLETE CASE FILES 19 (£21.99 ISBN 978-1-907992-96-4) collecting the Dredd stories of three of the world’s biggest comic book writers: Grant Morrison, Garth Ennis and Mark Millar, including Morrison’s first Judge Dredd story, Inferno.

One of the biggest hits from 2000AD of the last year, the sarcastic, grumpy supernatural detective Absalom gets his first collection in June. ABSALOM: GHOSTS OF LONDON (£10.99 ISBN 978-1-781080-42-9) by Gordon Rennie and Tiernen Trevallion sees the veteran Cockney copper may be dying of cancer, but that doesn’t stop him taking on demonic entities in modern London. A stylish mix of police procedural and occult forces, this collection will be fresh from the weekly comic!

 Pat Mills’ popular Celtic barbarian returns in SLÁINE: TREASURES OF BRITAIN (£14.99 ISBN 978-1-907992-97-1) in June with art by Dermot Power and Steve Tappin. The follow-up to the best-selling Sláine: Lord of Misrule, this celebrated story has been unavailable for years and includes a new introduction by Mills.

Another of Mills’ enduring creations is collected in July. SAVAGE: THE GUV’NOR (£14.99 ISBN 978-1-781080-42-9) by Pat Mills and Patrick Goddard continues lorry driver Bill Savage’s fight against the forces now occupying Britain in this taut nourish epic about guerrilla warfare in a contemporary bombed-out London.

It was one of the most famous deaths in comics history, but what you think you know about mutant bounty hunter Johnny Alpha’s passing is wrong. July’s STRONTIUM DOG: THE LIFE AND DEATH OF JOHNNY ALPHA (£14.99 ISBN 978-1-781080-43-6) by John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra sees the veteran writer revive one of the most beloved characters from 2000AD as the most famous Search/Destroy agent of them all spectacularly returns from the grave…

 In August, JUDGE DREDD RESTRICTED FILES 04 (£19.99 ISBN 978-1-781080-46-7) features writing by John Wagner and Mark Millar, with art from Bryan Talbot, Henry Flint and many more. Featuring rare thrills from 2000AD annuals and specials this best-selling series features never before collected material.

He’s the most startling new character to emerge from 2000AD in a decade – a murderous monosyllabic entity bent on revenge for his murdered race. SHAKARA: THE DESTROYER (£14.99 ISBN 978-1-781080-38-2) collects the second half of Robbie Morrison and Henry Flint’s stunning series. Reality teeters on the edge of oblivion in this tale of monumental carnage and devastation, packed with incredible artwork from this breakaway talent.

 And in the same month the new Dredd film starring Karl Urban hits screens, September sees the first ever 2000AD collectable art book – 2000AD COVER ART FEATURING JUDGE DREDD (£34.99 ISBN 978-1-781080-44-3). Edited by 2000AD graphic novels editor Keith Richardson, this highly-collectable tome will celebrate 2000AD and Judge Dredd’s joint 35th anniversary with a compilation of the most stunning and innovative Judge Dredd-related covers, illustrated by some of the greatest talents in the industry – a must for 2000AD and Dredd fans!

The January to September 2000 AD graphic novel schedule in full: 

January:
AMPNEY CRUCIS INVESTIGATES – VILE BODIES (£11.99 ISBN 978-1-907992-94-0)

February:
JUDGE DREDD: THE CURSED EARTH SAGA (£6.99 ISBN 978-1-781080-08-5)
JUDGE ANDERSON: THE PSI FILES 02 (£19.99 ISBN 978-1-907992-95-7

March:
KINGDOM: CALL OF THE WILD (£14.99 ISBN 978-1-907992-98-8)

April:
MEGA-CITY UNDERCOVER 02: LIVING THE LOW LIFE (£14.99 ISBN 978-1-781080-41-2)

May:
JUDGE DREDD: THE COMPLETE CASE FILES 19 (£21.99 ISBN 978-1-907992-96-4)
JUDGE DREDD: THE DAY THE LAW DIED (£6.99 ISBN 978-1-781080-09-2)

June:
 ABSALOM: GHOSTS OF LONDON (£10.99 ISBN 978-1-781080-42-9)
SLÁINE: TREASURES OF BRITAIN (£14.99 ISBN 978-1-907992-97-1)

July:
SAVAGE: THE GUV’NOR (£14.99 ISBN 978-1-781080-42-9)
STRONTIUM DOG: THE LIFE AND DEATH OF JOHNNY ALPHA (£14.99 ISBN 978-1-781080-43-6)

August:
JUDGE DREDD RESTRICTED FILES 04 (£19.99 ISBN 978-1-781080-46-7)
SHAKARA: THE DESTROYER (£14.99 ISBN 978-1-781080-38-2)

September:
2000 AD COVER ART FEATURING JUDGE DREDD (£34.99 ISBN 978-1-781080-44-3)
JUDGE DREDD: THE DARK JUDGES (£6.99 ISBN 978-1-781080-45-0)

Tripwire spotlights Slaine, Blueberry and X-Men in latest free digital edition

The July 2011 digital issue of ace comics and other media magazine Tripwire features a host of goodies - and you can download it free from the official web site (www.tripwire-magazine.com).

The  Eagle Award-nominated and acclaimed magazine launched a digital version earlier this year -  a bi-monthly version of its popular Annual print publication. Described by Michael Moorcock as "the best mag of its kind that I've seen", editor Joel Meadows tells us readers can expect to see online the same depth of features and quality packaging as in the print version only in a slimmer, slicker format available for free download on the magazine's blog site

“With the exciting opportunities that the various digital platforms now offer both readers and publishers, we felt that it was the perfect time to launch,” he says.

“The bi-monthly schedule allows us to be a regular presence out there, offering us a greater range of content for readers and taking nearly twenty years of expertise to a wider audience. 2011 is going to be the year of Tripwire,” Meadows continued.

This latest issue includes a look at the publication of Rebellion’s classic Slaine: The Horned God in hardcover with its creators Pat Mills and Simon Bisley; an examination of Moebius’s seminal western series Blueberry and why it deserves to be back in print in the English language; a background feature on the genesis of bringing X-Men First Class to the big screen plus a chat with screen writers Miller and Stentz; and its Stripwire section includes a preview of BOOM Studios Elric by Chris Roberson and Italain artist Francesco Biagnini, the creator of Dingo.

As ever, it's a beautifully designed magazine and well worth the download. Check it out.

• Download Tripwire from www.tripwire-magazine.com

Slaine stalks the States!

21 years ago, Pat Mills and Simon Bisley’s Sláine: The Horned God took the Celtic barbarian - a 2000AD regular - in a stunning new direction.

Now, this magical, violent classic is blazing its way to the US in a new hard-cover dust-jacket edition – complete with commentary from Mills, and sketches by Bisley.

Shamelessly displaying the potential for full colour painted artwork, The Horned God spawned thousands of imitators and remains one of 2000 AD’s greatest exports – a sweeping epic that incorporates Celtic mythology with Game of Thrones-style dynastic politics and good old fashioned barbarian violence.


• The hardback dust-jacket edition will be hitting US stores on 17th May ISBN 978-1-907519-74-1, priced $25

• The Horned God was last released in the UK in 2008 and is still available in paperback from amazon.co.uk
and good comic shops

Slaine Slayed?

Last year, we reported how anti road campaigners in Eire had borrowed Pat Mills 2000AD character Slaine to promote protest over the building of the M3, much to Pat's delight at the time.

Sadly, it seems not even barbarian warriors have been able to stop the road building, which will destroy an archaeological complex containing at least 160 sites covering a timespan from 3600BC through to bronze and medieval ages, even though the European Commission has effectively said the construction work is illegal.

The road has been described by archaeologists as the worst case of state-sponsored vandalism ever inflicted on Irish cultural heritage.

SchNews reports that last Wednesday at the Hill Of Tara. Ireland, the solidarity vigil camp was evicted by an assortment of goons led by the Office of Public Works. The camp - on public land - was mostly destroyed, including a (newly made) wooden temple structure shredded by chainsaws, but the protesters managed to save the sacred fire, lit two years ago, within a tipi.

At 9.30am the camp was descended upon by 20 OPW workers plus 15 private security and twenty Gardai (police) - and amongst the security was at least one known employee of Ferrovial, the Spanish construction company running the project which will put the M3 motorway through one of the most important archaeological sites in Europe.

This latest development comes after the Direct Action camp at Rath Lugh was evicted on 17th April.

Since last July, when the European Commission declared that construction of the M3 broke 37 EU laws, the road build has continued, illegally - in fact it has been rushed through because of this.

The head of the OPW archaeologists have agreed to leave the fire until a meeting on May 19th, as they could not quote a law to use to extinguish it - just as they couldn't offer a legal legitimation for the entire eviction. Protesters are arguing that the fire is part of their individual and collective religious belief, which apparently carries some weight in Ireland as 'rights to religious expression' is in the constitution.

It also looks like this whole road fiasco is being built on a financial sandcastle. Ferrovial haven't paid any of the contractors yet for their work, leading many Irish firms to the brink of bankruptcy, and recently Howley Construction of Cork were repossessed. Several quarries are now refusing to supply the roadworks with hardcore until they'vebeen paid, and landowners whose land was compulsory purchased have not seen the cash. Protesters say that Ferrovial - presumably (hopefully) suffering financially in the crunch - are forced to bring in their own employees as security because they have no doubt run up tabs with all the local security mobs and are running out of goons.

As always, more people are needed at the Hill of Tara to continue the fight against this illegal and destructive road project.

• See www.tarataratara.net for updates or Indymedia.ie, Savetara or HillOfTara Yahoo groups for the latest news