2000AD Prog 2391 Review

Review by Kevin Hall

In Orbit Every Wednesday.
17th July, 2024.
Price: £3.60, Earth Money.

SPOILERS Below…

Cover Art: Dan Cornwell. 

A stunning Rogue Trooper cover, as he stands proud clasping his gun – Cornwell gives us a stunningly detailed Rogue standing on top of the dark turquoised Nort bodies, as well as the dark orange tank, is a memorable image. Cornwell’s sharp lines and bright colours, make this cover very cool.

Judge Dredd: The Bam-Hunters: Part Three.
Script: Ken Niemand. 
Art: Richard Elson. 
Letters: Annie Parkhouse. 

A fun end to this short tale – Niemand has a way with the Scottish accents that had me smiling throughout. That Skelly thinks he had Dredd with his lightning whip, only for Callum and Moira to be released from his grip and pushes Skelly into the rad-pit, Lachlan getting away and Moira and Callum seemingly passing Dredd’s lie detector and finding the talking skull, means they could be back in business. Something tells me we haven’t seen the last of these two. Elson’s chunky art is superb – his close-ups of Dredd grimacing on the Lawmaster; the shots of burly Callum and slim Moira wide eyed and running, the purple and yellow circular rad pit, the the kicks from Callum and cloak and staff welding Skelly, as well as the fall into the pit, are big and bold. Elson does some nice greys and browns in with the mix of greens and purples, to spice up the art

Brink: Consumed: Part 14.

Script: Dan Abnett. 
Art: INJ Culbard. 
Letters: Simon Bowland. 

Bonner and Wen try to interrogate Castenada about the Hirsch investigation without much success as they find out Castenada doesn’t like small spaces and needs a rep or she will walk. Wade tries to apologise and Kurtis asks Hyland for ten minutes with Castenada, before Bonner and Wen mess it up. Wade joins her looking worried as Kurtis asks Castenada about the Red Reservoir killer, and how she thinks he escaped Sophia and is now alive on Belleholme. It’s gripping stuff by Abnett, who really has a knack for engaging characters and situations. Culbard’s detailed facial art on all the characters make them distinct and different – I especially love Castenada’s robot grey arm and Hyland’s weary look. The shots of Kurtis and Wade across the table from a tired Castenada and the four of them with their arms folded in dark blue suits,  watching Bonner and Wen, as well as the greens of the HSD logo behind them and use of yellows for the lighting, each panel has so much care and attention.

Rogue Trooper: Souther Belle: Part Six.

Script: Geoffrey D. Wessel. 
Art: Dan Cornwell. 
Colours: Chris Blythe. 
Letters: Jim Campbell. 

Bagman is shocked that Rogue destroyed Belle, even though she was harming him and planning a takeover. I love it how Bagman reminds Rogue of how he got hit by a Lasbolt and lost his mind and they never leave a G.I. or Doll behind. Rogue realises it’s a residual part of Belle’s telepathy as the enemy approaches and fires on the base. Rogue commandeers a vehicle and with the help of his buddies is fully loaded, ready to take the fight to the Traitor General. Wessel ends the series on a high, with a lovely tribute to Belle by Helm. It’s stirring stuff. Cornwell’s gorgeous full on art, especially the futuristic tank crashing out of the exploding facility with a gritted teeth Rogue gripping the wheel; the Biochip panels; G.I Bagman pointing at Rogue, the details on the curved table and the different vehicle designs approaching the base Mad Max style, are highlights. Blythe’s blues on Rogue and Bagman are very stark and fab against the greeny oranges of the explosions, dark greys of the Nort vehicles and greys of the table.

Future Shocks: Crescendo.

Script: James Peaty. 
Art: Sedat Oezgen. 
Letters: Annie Parkhouse. 

Peaty’s script has some nice ideas but the techno babble and hard sci-fi moments might go over some people’s heads. It’s nice to see it set in the not too distant future, as the brain guy, Dr. Harris, wants sonic practioner Dr. Kepler’s help with sound. Harris wants to create a sonic sculpture that will get into audiences heads and that much processing power could make things better – yet Peaty’s twist shows Kepler getting rid of Harris and Kepler’s plan backfires as the audiences heads explode! The black and white art by newcomer Oezgen is well suited to drawing characters – Harris with his rotund look, beard and glasses, to Kepler and his black cloak and scruffy appearance, as well as the audience members, van and Crescendo imagery, the shadowy panels and close-up shots add to the atmosphere.

Silver: Unearthed: Book One: Part 2.

Script: Mike Carroll. 
Art: Joe Currie. 
Letters: Simon Bowland. 

The 500 year-old vampire Baroness Yelena Desilva does know what spaceships and trucks are luckily, as the collaborators with the Sepsis attack. Apparently the Sepsis massacred 600 people in Belgium and the collaborators insist the Sepsis won and colonise the Earth. Even Desilva isn’t buying this, and manages to first destroy one of the Sepsis drones and rips through the collaborators with frightening speed. That the aliens are coming and Fraser has to report this in, makes for fun and exciting reading. Carroll has created an intriguing set up and tone too. Currie’s art on Desilva, with her bald head, pointed ears and purple/pink look, work well against the yellows of the collaborators with their big guns and the yellows and pinks go well against the greys and dark blues of the background. I love Fraser’s startled looks and moustache and long hair, the thooooms and explosions, work well here.

Verdict:

Another solid Prog – this line-up of quality  stories and stunning art makes 2000 AD the only comic you need in your life right now.