Cover: Mark Sexton
Publisher: Rebellion
Judge Dredd
Script: Rob Williams & Ned Hartley
Art: PJ Holden
Colours: Jack Davies
Letters: Annie Parkhouse
Facechanger’s plan is going swimmingly. The heist is going well, despite Dredd ripping off Miles’ face, because the widow in Mega City One is raking it in from the cabal of rich cits.
To escape, Facechanger reverses the weather station’s systems to create a storm in the satellite. Meanwhile, the widow is revealed to be a character that seasoned readers will recognise.
Climate Crisis is a rollicking good time, with each episode packing great moments. It’s Dredd turned up to 11. It’s violent, silly and larger than life. What more could you want?
Herne & Shuck
Script: David Barnett
Art: Lee Milmore
Colours: Gary Caldwell
Letters: Annie Parkhouse
The Lady of the Woods tells Herne that they only rejected him so that he could remain with his friends, to save Caris, who was taken by the Crawly Man some time ago. Jordy fetches the hosts of the podcast Lore Explore, and with them, their team is complete.
Herne & Shuck has never been my cup of tea, but this episode really doesn’t do it for me. Herne and Jordy’s respective quests have nothing in common, so the awkward convergence of storylines reveals the logical inconsistencies.
If the Lady of the Woods cared about Caris’ welfare, why didn’t she seek out Herne while he was halfway through the gods instead of however many days later? Why not bestow Herne with power now, so that he has more options in dealing with St Michael?
I could go on, but in short, this strip is not for me.
Tharg’s 3rillers: Who is Adrian Apollo
Script: Liam Johnson
Art: Steven Austin
Colours: John Charles
Letters: Rob Steen
Adrian Apollo is an intergalactic spy, like if James T Kirk acquired double-O status. We find him in the throes of passion with T’Sone Vex, whose necklace is a key to a doomsday weapon. Passion soon turns into a fistfight when he tries to steal it.
It’s a great introduction to Apollo, to his world and to the stakes of the story. I could see this 3riller spinning off into its own series, and I’d be there to read it.
Brink
Script: Dan Abnett
Art: INJ Culbard
Letters: Simon Bowland
Regina Castanada settles into her new home on Luna Hab. Kurtis calls her to say that the agency will replace her prosthetic arm.
Throughout is Castanada’s inner monologue, giving the whole thing a John le Carré feel. Though the plot moves only a few steps forward, part two of Brink is oozing with atmosphere and character. In future parts, I’m keen to see how the mystery is revealed.
The Discarded
Script: Peter Milligan
Art: Kieran McKeown
Colours: Jim Boswell
Letters: Annie Parkhouse
Veera finally meets Aaxon, and at that moment, she remembers that she has a bomb under her collarbone. It does feel overly convenient that the bomb made Veera forget about it, but in revealing how she is expected to kill Aaxon, the stakes are raised in an interesting way, so it works for me.
But can she detonate it? After meeting all of the people she met on Junkfall, she’s not the same as when she arrived, so she has doubts, but Aaxon has been corrupted by the chip. If she doesn’t kill him, he’ll kill her.
The Discarded is a highlight of the prog for me, so long may it continue.
Overall: 6/10
Tony Holdsworth is a comics writer based in Dundee, Scotland, who reviews 2000AD each week.
His comics can be found here: https://tonyholdsworth2.wordpress.com/category/portfolio/
