2000AD 1560 - 24 October 07

Cover by Kev Crossley

Gavin Hanly: Kev Crossley seems keen to show us just what the ladies love about Dante in a pose which seems purely designed to show off his "pouch". Despite this, it's a good enough effort, with some excellent detail in the background - but the awkward stance of Dante and his slightly too tight trousers somehow ruins the effect...

Mandroid - Instrument of War Part 6 Script: John Wagner Art: Carl Critchlow Colours: Peter Doherty Letters: Annie Parkhouse

Not going to end well...

Synopsis: Dredd remotely views the devastation in Freetown and sends the disgraced Judge Little (who let Slaughterhouse get away) to investigate. Once there, Little feels it might be the work of an arms manufacturer running a test - but Dredd still suspects the actions of the Mandroid.

Meanwhile Slaughterhouse tries to help Kitty rebuild her mind, but it's slow-going despite the robo doc giving her a learning booster. The General also finally gives Slaughterhouse his real target - a central warehouse of the "Cranberry Corporation". However, the warehouse is a front for the judges, and stores hundreds of mekanoid vehicles and robots. The general wants to use them against the judges - but Slaughterhouse is dead against the idea...

GH: Oddly enough, missing an episode due to the sodding postal strike doesn't really cause much confusion when reading this week's Dredd. The last episode I read showed Slaughterhouse dropping into Canadia - and this shows the after-effects. In some ways, not showing the attack actually works rather well. Still, I'm sure I'll catch up once the posties have finished reading my copy...

There's some catching up to do with Kitty's situation, to be fair, where Wagner does seem intent on making things as miserable as possible for the Mandroid. Couple that with Dredd hoping that Slaughterhouse isn't responsible for the massacre and we're left with a palpable feeling of dread and impending tragedy thoughout.

And then Wagner throws in Meks! Tsk - that Justice Department, eh? Never learns...

The Chaperone - Part 1 Script: Robbie Morrison Art: John Burns Letters: Annie Parkhouse

The charmer, back in action...

Synopsis: We are, at first, introduced to the Mongolian Savage Lands, where genetic experimentation runs wild and the evil warlord Skar rules over all, and kills those who cross him.

Back in the Imperial Palace, Jena is still giving Dante the cold shoulder. Arkady has been put in charge of the Scarlet Wraiths and also set up for an arranged marriage to Sonia Sladek, the daughter of a powerful Mongolian Warlord. Dante is to be sent with him to act as chaperone, but Dante has figured out that Arkady is responsible for Jena knowing about Dante's last indiscretion, and the hate simmers between them...

GH: These days, Dante seems to be one of the few strips in 2000AD that is happy to have fun, while only occasionally and more effectively dipping into serious territory. Therefore it's something of a relief to have him back after a few weeks of quite dark storytelling in the weekly (and Stone Island, but we'll quietly brush that one under the carpet...).

Morrison is starts well, continuing to mix in the court intrigue and backstabbing with Dante's adventures that makes the recent stories so compelling (and the sea-faring stories so unmemorable). This time it's John Burns on art duties, and I'm happy to see him once again effectively combining painted art with inks to bring out the detail. Having seen his work in person, it seemed much more vibrant than printing seemed able to do justice, so his way of enhancing detail in this fashion makes for far more satisfying results on the page.

All in all, a good start - great to have the Russian Rogue back.

Life is an Open Casket - Ep 1 Script: Dan Abnett Art: Anthony Williams Letters: Simon Bowland

The boys celebrate their return...

Synopsis: A trio called the "Boys from Brazil" (although one of them is a girl) arrive in Downlode airport, ready to work for Apellido. John Croak learns that Appellido is a clone of Holy Moses. Sinister and Dexter are thrown a surprise party at Bar None, and are worried that they were actually surprised. Could they be losing their touch...?

GH: While some readers are feeling a little cheated by Ramone's miraculous recovery, a perfectly understandable reaction, I find myself really not being bothered at all. Much like my reasons for welcoming Dante back with open arms, I'm actually please to see the lighter touch on a story like Sinister Dexter.

The number of threads that have been liberally thrown around for the last few years are finally starting to come together in the Moses War, and I'm really looking forward to a good few weeks in the gunshark's company. That's coupled with Anthony Williams on art, an 2000AD artist from the 90s who, much like Simon Coleby, has improved dramatically and whose work seems much more naturally posed than some of his earlier efforts.

Once again - good effort all round.

A Terrible Hunt Script: Alec Worley Art: PJ Holden Letters: Simon Bowland

One last hunt...

Synopsis: An aging hunter with a terminal illness, Sir Iain Zaroff, is about to die, leaving a fortune with no heir. He goes on one last hunt, but is bested by another hunter. However, the hunter is a younger clone of Zaroff, who takes off where his older self left off...

GH: It's been quite a while since we had a Future Shock in the comic, and this little tale by Alec Worley - he of the Megazine film reviews - is actually quite a good effort. Like most Future Shocks, it ticks all the sci-fi cliche boxes, but does it with a certain degree of panache which should lead to Worley getting more commissions.

It helps that he's backed up by PJ Holden's greyscale artwork which is, frankly, some of the best work I've seen from him in a while. I'd love to see more of this kind of art from Holden in the future - or perhaps let him color his own work from time to time?

The Hitman's Daughter - Part 10 Script: John Wagner Art: Frazer Irving Colours: Fiona Staples Letters: Ellie De Ville

Adele fights back...

Synopsis: Adele is let out of hospital and her uncle Max warns her to lie low. But Byrne sends his men after her again - only to have them die in a huge explosion in a trap set by Adele. She confronts Byrne herself, shooting him in the leg as he tries to escape. However, Byrne finally reveals the truth to her - that Max was behind her father's death after he tried to walk away from The Game and the training that he had sent her on when she was young was all about setting her up to be a Button Woman...

GH: Another story where I've missed the last part, but as it seemed to have been a Harry Exton-centric episode, I'm still more or less up to speed. This is, without doubt, uniformly excellent in both art and writing. Wagner's had a real slow burn on this one, which is really starting to pay off now, as the character of Adele is well developed in advance of her realising her vocation. Although I should have really seen this week's twist coming, he pulls it off with extraordinary panache.

Just fantastic...

GH: It's only the excellence of this week's issue which has made me realise that 2000AD's been missing of late. The light-hearted touch of some of the stories makes for a far more enjoyable and balanced prog - with not a bad story in sight.

Best Story: Button Man .