2000AD 1557 -3 October 07

Cover by Rufus Dayglo

Gavin Hanly: Mr Dayglo lives up to his name with a fairly garish cover that works much better at a glance than it fares under scrutiny. Not a bad thing, since the cover should be designed to "grab" at a distance. A solid Dredd visage peers out behind a figure of Slaughterhouse with an odd "moire" effect - but I just can't decide whether I like it or not.

Mandroid - Instrument of War Part 3 Script: John Wagner Art: Carl Critchlow Colours: Peter Doherty Letters: Annie Parkhouse

Mandroid shops for a new look...

Synopsis: Dredd visits General Vincent, who plays him a doctored version of the call he took from Slaughterhouse - which manages to fool Dredd into believing that Vincent is not protecting the Mandroid. Later, Dredd tells control that they should allow his wife's body to be given up for transplant, but keep the info quiet so that Slaughterhouse still believes she's at the hospital - and therefore might try attacking.

Meanwhile, Vincent prepares to get Slaughterhouse a new body, telling him that he's grown to hat the city. He tells Slaughterhouse that the body will take 3 months - but in the meantime, he has prepared something for him - something that looks like his wife, Kitty...

GH: A change of artist already? Luckily, retaining Peter Doherty as colourist makes the change less jarring - and Critchlow and Coleby's art do share some similarities. Certainly, Critchlow has plenty of experience with robots, and if the "next issue" tagline is to believed, he'll get a chance to illustrate some more of his trademark "machine love." At least it'll make it easier to bear the continued absence of Lobster Random.

Elsewhere, the story continues along a bleak road, with Dredd's decision to free Kitty's body up for transplant, in an offhand remark no less, is sure to have huge implications soon. But overall, the tale isn't quite as compelling as the original Mandroid was. While it stands on its own as a fairly good Dredd outing, it's yet to come close to the "modern classic" status of the original.

The Harrowers - Part 8 Script: Ian Edginton Art: Simon Davis Letters: Ellie De Ville

Parachuting behind enemy lines...

Synopsis: The team make it to the top of the tower and launch the missile. They then parachute down, trying to avoid the horde of monsters below and make for the exit.

GH: For a few weeks now, I've been wanting to be proven wrong about the return of Stone Island and for a spectacular turnaround that would have me hailing Edginton's genius. However, at episode 8 I must admit that it's never going to get much better. Admittedly, the lighter tone in "The Harrowers" is an improvement on its predecessor - but that alone can't disguise that this is a bit of a mess. Let's hope Stone Island comes to a complete end soon.

Still, as a silver lining, the "wish the dozy arsehole had left us his gun!" line was an admittedly great one...

The Volgan War - Vol 2, Ep 8 Script: Pat Mills Art: Clint Langley Letters: Simon Bowland

Deadlock strikes a pose...

Synopsis: Deadlock joins battle with Kal, Volkhan's son and destroys him. He then turns on Volkhan and defeats him too - telling him that he was designed for "true justice", not "victor's justice" and he's about to show Volkhan what that means...

GH: Unfortunately, the past few weeks have seen the return of "murky Langley" and the dark tone of this week's episode makes it particularly difficult to work out what the hell's going on. All I can work out its that Deadlock is spouting quotes from something I'm supposed to recognise but don't, while he gets into a bit of a scrap.

Alas, I'm enjoying this run of the ABC Warriors far less than the original run at the beginning of the year. The strip now seems to be stretching things out until we get to the real plot of the revived Volkhan vs the latter day Warriors.

All just a bit "meh", I'm afraid.

Ashes - Part 7 Script: Gordon Rennie Art: Dom Reardon Letters: Annie Parkhouse

Getting down to business...

Synopsis: Ravne meets up with Billy who reminds him not to trust Ness. Ravne lets Billy die, making good on an earlier promise. Meanwhile Kostabi is also preparing in case he dies - ready to move on and his estate has been left for whatever identity he decides to come back in. The next day, Kostabi meets the Caballistics on Salisbury Plain - ready for the big showdown. Verse starts things off by shooting at him with a high powered rifle...

GH: A decent episode of Caballistics, wrapping up yet more storylines, but I can't help but think that it's all moving too quickly. With some of these story strands laid down for years, surely this could all have been slowed down somewhat - allowing more of the characters room to breathe. Indeed, only Ravne and Kostabi have been given any meaningful moments this series - with all the others pushed to the sidelines.

Hopefully this won't be "it" after the end of this run, and the story will open up somewhat - as i can't help but feel it all has so much more life in it. It would be a shame not to let this run for at least one more series - if for no other reason than to give us a decent sized paperback collection...

The Hitman's Daughter - Part 7 Script: John Wagner Art: Frazer Irving Colours: Fiona Staples Letters: Ellie De Ville

Adele turns the other cheek...

Synopsis: Adele decides not to kill Ralph Byrne and instead returns to Uncle Max, confronting him about The Game. She tells him that she let Byrne live and Max tells her that this was a very bad decision indeed. At that moment, armed goons break into her Nan's house, looking for Adele...

GH: Still a tale of slow burning menace, Button Man is one of the best things in the comic in years - with Irving's artwork being a fine replacement for the much-missed Ranson. The slow pace is indeed one to be savoured, as Adele and Harry's paths still seem some world's apart. However, this pace also makes it particularly difficult to review in chunks...

But despite this - interesting developments still appear. A particular example being Adele turning away from revenge - a more believable approach than the bad-ass ninja she had been built up to be. Although we can only see what Byrne's goons are doing and realise they're making a big mistake.

GH: Three high quality tales are only marginally let down by the coasting ABC Warriors and the rather pointless Stone Island. But despite rushing to the finishing line, Caballistics Inc is still way out in front.

Best Story: Caballistics Inc.