Cover by Neil Roberts

William Hobson: A fairly conventional cover that, though not among 2000AD's finest, does exactly what it needs to. I like the wings and the use of colour though, even if its not a character I could name.

Charles Ellis: Simple and to the point: this comic has big, mean-looking angels in it with big swords and they want to use their swords on YOU.

Synopsis: Dredd enters the town quietly, killing the mutant gang as he goes, with the intention of wiping them all out. However, Pink Eyes and some of his crew have found his bike and a shoot-out begins. Dredd is pinned down in the town and he shoots at Pink Eyes - who uses his powers to deflect the bullet, rip Dredd's lawgiver from him and send him hurtling into a building. The mutants close in on him, but Dredd's not out for the count yet as he presses a remote trigger...

William Hobson: The badlands of the cursed earth bring out the best in Dredd - which turns out to be the absolute worst for the Pink Eyes gang.

This strip was all about the narration as it did a great job of delivering Dredd's cold resolution to kill - to rid the world of this petty evil and the harm it can do. Although I love seeing the tiny human core of ol' stony face, seeing just how brutal the Judge system and the man who lives by its code can be is equally satisfying. Given that this whole story is about Dredd taking a fall for showing some sympathy, it's almost refreshing to see some straight out bloodshed. Although I know he's hardly the type, at the start of the strip Dredd really reminded me of a post-apocalyptic Bud Dwight (Russell Crowe in LA confidential).

The artwork is pretty functional really - nothing in the strip is particularly original or iconic - but there's something really effective about the panels where Dredd is just finishing them off. It's easy to take the action for granted in Dredd given that there's so much of it, but sometimes something jumps out at you.

Still, although I'm enjoying this little story, and the rest of the Tour Of Duty arc, I'm waiting for the mutie townships to really become a part of things. Though I'm sure action will move back to the Big Meg fairly soon in the grand scheme of things, the change of scenery is fun while it lasts. I just hope that it gets the pay off it deserves - like I say, I still feel like I'm waiting for a storyline to get my teeth into.

Of course, this could turn out to be the strip which gives me that - Pink Eyes is obviously a little more than I originally thought. Seeing the tables turned suddenly was a great moment, and the coming battle has 'High Noon' written all over it.

Charles Ellis: After all the slow build up and multiple plot threads and crammed-in story, we get ourselves a stripped-down, fast-paced action strip. This one’s more tense and brutal than Dredd’s norm: operating in silence, breaking necks and shooting without terse one-liners, the art all grime and desperate, pleading eyes. This would be standout just for that, but then Wagner chucks in a quick reversal of fortune and a contingency plan by Dredd in the last page and a half. Our cup overfloweth!

What’s going to happen next? No way of telling right now, but probably something violent…

Synopsis: Brenneka manages to confuse the Shakaran base long enough for his ships to destroy the monster attacking them. He sends his troops after Shakara who cuts a swathe through them. Brenneka offers it the chance to surrender - but Shakara refuses - "Not Shakaran way"...

William Hobson: I really want to like something this imaginative and well, epic, but I really find it hard to care about Shakara(!) beyond some of the artwork. It's mad and some of the concepts are great, but there's no character I really care about in there.

Although we seem to be finally moving towards the climax of this volume (perhaps the whole thrill), I'm not too excited. The carnage has gone beyond a level I can really relate to, and given the lack of focus I'm just a little lost.

I do think it would be really interesting to see one of these stories in full colour though given how amazingly busy the art gets at points. That said though the minimal use of blue and red is one of my favourite things about a strip I don't really have all that much time for.

Charles Ellis: I was sure Cinnabar was about to be torn apart by the Voices of the Shakara, but the sly git finds a way out! He continues to do well as a villain, though at this rate it doesn’t seem credible that Shakara could either defeat or escape him in six pages. (Maybe he won’t…)

For some reason though, I’m not that invested in whether Shakara will or won’t win this time; maybe I’m just too used to him pulling victories out of the hat all the time. Still, the art manages to keep me wanting to see more. It remains dynamic, violent, and even four books in, Henry Flint is STILL coming up with new designs for the alien hordes.