It’s amazing there are still dedicated 2000AD fans out there who were between 8 to 12 when the comic came out in 1977 and still buying the Prog every week.

It’s also amazing that there are fans out there who were introduced to the world of 2000AD thanks to the kids comics launched to tie in with the Sly Stallone Dredd movie. Hands up, you know who you are, it’s nothing to be ashamed of. We bought them too!

So here we are with 2000AD Regened – another stab at pulling in younger readers and the first of four this year. Cleverly incorporated into the comics ongoing numbering system die hard fans will be there. And yes they may even share their copy – or buy another to give to someone far younger than themselves. Rebellion will no doubt hope people just buy a copy, if not to indoctrinate them into the cult of 2000AD but buy the other kid friendly titles they are launching during 2020. It looks an exciting roster for young and old.

It’s an odd world we live in when you see kids in eating places being given tablets to watch Dora the Explorer (it’s educational but will still ‘ruin your eyes’), late teens in student digs don’t have their own TVs in their room anymore (posture doctors and arthritis experts are the future as they hunch over laptops on their beds, only to come out to watch communal TV Bake Off!) and comics are now regarded as perfect for improving literacy in the old and young (your wasting your time reading that rubbish!). But hey, we already knew that, right?

I still feel I should approach this review through the eyes of an 8 year old but that’s hard to do. I guess the thing that will stand out to them are the things that scare you – the Seaelephants in Cadet Dredd, the Church Grim in Finder & Keeper, the outcome of the Future Shock, Atlantis Valentine in the Gronk and the GI Rejects in Rogue Trooper (Agro Smash!).

My stand out stories are Finder & Keeper (although still feels more Misty and Scream to me), Rogue Trooper (although I was more interested in the General storyline and the art of Gibbons, Kennedy and Ewins than the character itself back in the day) and you can always rely on Judge Dredd, cadet or no, to be fairly dependable.

There is an overall sense of consistent quality in the art and writing, and the package as a whole. The tone of the strips isn’t a million miles from the regular Prog and although (as a pretend ‘critic’) I could grumble a little about flat endings and not enough laugh out loud humour (for me) but to a young reader I don’t suppose that will matter too much. As an ‘adult’ I’d love to see an older Finder & Keeper, Agro and Atlantis Valentine (just a great name) migrate to 2000AD as they are strong characters that stand out for me. Maybe the little and big kids will think that too!

Don’t forget the 80 Day ComicScene Comic Book Challenge ends 29th February. We are asking you to purchase just one item from the ComicScene store and 50p for each item will go towards the Little Heroes Charity who provide comics kits for kids in hospital. Why not pick up the Dredd cover issue 10, which also features part one of the serialised Rok of the Reds by John Wagner, Alan Grant and Dan Cornwell. Join the challenge at http://www.getmycomics.com/ComicScene and thanks in advance!