Review: 2000 AD Prog 2073

The British institution that is 2000 AD continues to provide mind bending stories to readers on a weekly basis. In this, Prog 2073, the Sci-Fi legend, entices readers with seven short stories, giving them and their thrill obsessed minds plenty to chew on for the next seven days.

This is a great Prog to start with, as each of the weekly ongoing titles within the book are starting with new storylines. It all starts and ends with the most well-recognized character of the bunch, Judge Dredd. In Part one of the Fit For Purpose, Dredd finds himself called before the SJS to be evidence in a hearing to find out if his friend and fellow Judge, Gerhart is fit to continue to serve. The script by Rob Williams and art and colors by Christ Weston and Dylan Teague are what you would expect from on the flagship story from the legendary weekly. Crisp storytelling and gritty comic art combine to give readers a fresh new glimpse into the underbelly of Mega-City. It“s exactly what you want in a Judge Dredd comic.

Of the other stories in this Prog, I must call out the masterful work in Judge Fear: Memories Are Made of This. The script by Kek-W and black and white art of Dan Cornwell are absolute standouts. This one-shot storyline shows us what happens with star Phycometrist Soren reads the mind of Judge Fear, one of the four Dark Judges from beyond earth. In an attempt to gain details of his plan to ravage Earth, she finds a well-planned trap waiting for her which will take all of her will power to escape. Seriously, the art is amazing. As fun as the entire comic is, this story alone is worth the price.

Finally, there is a need to bring attention to one more of the seven stories this week, and that is Jaegir: In the Realm of Pyrrhus Part One. In their continued battle with the Souther army, the Norts bring the fight to Nu Earth to fight their galactic foe. In this opening to the new storyline, we see just how difficult it is to actually get to the battle much less engage an enemy who knows you“re coming and is very well ready for you. The ongoing war has been hell on the Norts and you really see the effects of the long-standing battle on the entire team. It“s a solid script by Gordon Rennie and steller art and colors by Simon Coleby and Len O“Grady. Jaegir promises to deliver the thrills and action we crave from a 2000 AD story, but also teases us with a psychological depth of weary solders, ready for battle, but at what continued cost?

Reading 2000 AD is like pressing the pause button on time. The quality has consistently been there for more than 40 years and as art styles in comics have changed, the high quality of work you see this, week in and week out, has remained. I“m a believer in this weekly and have been for a long time. With continued output like this, I don“t see my loyalty to this book ending any time soon.

[yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]

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Bryan Spaulding

In his free time, other than reading comic books, Bryan enjoys listening to his ever growing record collection and driving his 27 year old roadster named Mingo.