Review by Luke Williams
Sadly passing away in 2016 at the far too young age of 54, Steve Dillon was and is a hugely respected artist. Known for speed, reliability and facial expressions. Making his debut for Marvel UK on Nick Fury in Hulk comicat 16, moving onto a slew of other strips including Axel Pressbutton, Absolm Daak the Dalek Hunter. Dillon’s career took off in the US following his work on Animal Man, with celebrated runs in partnership with Garth Ennis on Hellblazer , the creator owned Preacher and reinvigorating the moribund Punisher.
This, the latest edition in the series of Rebellion’s Apex editions, celebrates Dillon’s 2000AD work. Dillon also drew hundreds of pages for 2000AD most notably on Judge Dredd, Rogue Trooper, his creation Hap Hazzard, Future Shocks, Tyranny Rex the new Harlem Heroes and others. Sadly, not every strip is represented here, but with Dillon’s output, that would be a VERY big book.
Like the other editions from Bolland, McMahon and O’Neill this is a compilation of near original page size high quality scans of original art pages. Rather than complete strips, there are example pages though there is a at least one complete strip here, the word is that compiling these books is a herculean logistical and diplomatic effort.
Get past the wonderful sleeve images of a Zenith and Rogue Trooper cover and the contents page, the reader is presented with pages from early Dredd strips such as his weekly JD debut and classic “ Alone in a Crowd”. From the get-go you see Dillon’s trademark facial expressions, the solid figure work, the easy panel layouts and action. The bigger size makes you appreciate how powerful and brilliant these early Dredd pages are, the drama of “Block Mania” the action and dynamism of the much celebrated “Cry of the Werewolf”.
Dillon was not known for his painted work, but nevertheless there are examples present, covers (like his Best of 2000AD cover for “Cry of teh Werewolf”),trading card art and some rare painted strip work (“Oz”) There are unlettered, Wendy Simpson coloured pages of “Emerald Isle” Dillon’s first work with long term collaborator Garth Ennis on Dredd that would lead to bigger things. Once you get past Dredd, there is work from Mean Area, Abelard Snazz. The jewel in the crown, his collaboration with Alan Moore and John Higgins on “Red Planet Blues” the only ABC Warriors story not written by Mills, is here in its entirety, and it’s beautiful. Examples of “Friday“ era Rogue Trooper pages demonstrates where his art could save a poor script, making a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. It’s fascinating to see the development and growth of Dillon as an artist over his stay at the Galaxy’s Greatest. If there is a criticism, it’s the lack of an introduction and commentary which seems like an oversight.
Such was Dillon’s work rate, and assuming the art still exists, (far) more volumes are possible, though no plans have been announced. It’s a worthy tribute to a 2000AD and all time British comics great.
ComicScene magazine 
Leave a comment