2000AD 1554 - 12 September 07

Cover by Dave Kendall

Gavin Hanly: Regrettably not by Dom Reardon, the first Caballistics cover in a very long while is still a highly impressive piece of work by Kendall, whose only other 2000AD work was in a Tales of Telguuth episode. A vibrant image of Demon Jennie that echoes Reardon without outright copying him. Based on this, Kendall should be lined up for another cover as soon as possible.

Test Flight Script: Gordon Rennie Art: Colin MacNeil Colours: Chris Blythe Letters: Annie Parkhouse

Not easily impressed...

Synopsis: A group of judges, led by Dredd perform a test run of the latest Justice Department Vehicle - the Manta V4, AKA the Blackhawk. It performs a test run with aplomb until Dredd notices that a vehicle has been shadowing their progress. As they launch a pursuit, what appears to be a simple U-Hauler drops its camouflage and accelerates faster then the Blackhawk can follow.

Later, It appears that the Blackhawk has been built by Faustus Krush (Aka Robert Krush, Faustus' evil half brother) and the other craft was his own...

GH: After Rennie's rather uninspiring turn on Dredd last week, this is a real return to form - a neat little tale which rather overtly links to his previous Dredd efforts. Rennie has, over the years, done enough Dredd that he's managed to set up a group of characters that he can play with himself - without having to fear treading on Wagner's shoes. Last Year's House of Pain was one such story, which promised more of Faustus (although he's not really, you see) Krush. Of course, Origins got in the way and well over a year later, we're finally seeing the strands of House of Pain picked up. Sort of...

In fact, this issue we get even more foreshadowing, which is both a good and bad thing. Good in that it's a tense tale that smartly introduces the judges new toy - which you can only hope they got some good insurance out on - and promises big things afoot. Bad in that Rennie has let a few plot points dangle in his Dredd stories without adequately resolving them for a very long time. These things can work well in trade form, but with a year's gap even I had to go searching through the site to remind myself who Krush was. So let's hope that Tharg solicits another proper Dredd series from Rennie soon, before we forget all over again.

Ashes - Part 4 Script: Gordon Rennie Art: Dom Reardon Letters: Annie Parkhouse

Subtle exposition...

Synopsis: Jennie invades Magister's mind, looking for answers. Once she breaks through his mental defenses, she discovers an image of a church underground. Ravne reveals that the British have been holding an angelic super being and that they can use it against Kostabi if they can find it. Jennie takes this opportunity to reveal that she is pregnant...

GH: Moving onto Caballistics, we have another story in which Rennie lays a number of plot threads and then wanders off for a year. It's like he enjoys toying with us... At least we're getting close to some answers here. The only thing I can honestly say about Caballistics Inc. at the moment is that it's better bloody well not be the last series.

Oh and that Reardon is possibly the best thing to come out of 2000AD since Frazer Irving. But more of him later...

The Volgan War - Vol 2, Ep 5 Script: Pat Mills Art: Clint Langley Letters: Simon Bowland

Smushing narrowly avoided...

Synopsis: Lara and her fellow fighters take the opportunity to trash as much of Blackblood as they can and then dump him in the swamp. After 3 months, he was recovered but Mongrol is unimpressed with this story, since he admitted killing Lara's parents. Mongrol says that once the mission is over, either he or Blackblood should leave the Warriors...

GH: Although much of this week's ABC Warriors had me reaching for the light switch, it's still hard not to have some form of appreciation for Langley's art. Even if I couldn't work out what was going on for half of this week's episode, there's no denying that he's an extraordinary talent. As for the story side of things - I'm unfortunately starting to get a mite bored with the ABC's history and would rather Mills got on with the action as opposed to this robotic naval gazing.

Oh, and I hope Mongrol does leave. Since he got his mind back, he's been dreadfully dull...

The Harrowers - Part 5 Script: Ian Edginton Art: Simon Davis Letters: Ellie De Ville

Harry's pep talk...

Synopsis: Despite their leader blowing up on them, the remaining band of "fighters" decide to carry on with the task at hand. They come across some of the TDIs who have been sliced apart and wonder if there's something in the dimension that can help them out. They discover a marker of a former gateway, and Harry hears a tower talking to him...

GH: I took the opportunity last week to put the boot into Stone Island somewhat. This week, although I have to be completely convinced, I must admit that it's won me over slightly. After the death of Carmody, the remaining merry band of fighters are complete misfits, and the series has taken on a pleasingly light touch. When not indulging in uber-violence. More importantly, the character of Sara is starting to become likeable and that alone is starting to make this series of Stone Island bearable.

(Although the "enemy of my enemy" section was really quite poor and deserved a derisive punchline or two. )

So, the series gets something of a reprieve from me. Unless it turns into twaddle again next week...

The Hitman's Daughter - Part 4 Script: John Wagner Art: Frazer Irving Colours: Fiona Staples Letters: Ellie De Ville

Not someone to piss off...

Synopsis: Mr Selwyn Hawkins (AKA Harry Exton) is being followed. Back at his cottage, he catches the man following him and breaks his neck - somewhat regretting the incident. He discovers that he is a private eye, Owen Brady, and he appeared to have linked Hawkins with Harry Exton. Exton is not happy about this - but before he can mull it over further, the phone rings...

GH: A veritable masterclass in restrained storytelling, Wagner (with phenomenal help from Frazer Irving) manages to set up the current whereabouts of Harry Exton with next to no dialogue. And any strip which can portray a visit to Tesco's with an overall air of menace has to be a work of genius. While I've enjoyed previous Button Man outings, I've never been as big a fan of the character as others, until now.

So far, this is the best thing 2000AD's printed in years. A classic in the making...

GH: A much more solid issue of consistent thrill power than last week's, capped off with an astonishingly good Button Man episode. Definitely back on form.

Best Story: Button Man.