2000 AD: Titles L

THE LAWLESS TOUCH Creators: Kelvin Gosnell & Barry Mitchell 13 episodes: 1979-1980 A pretty slight strip about a petty thief, albeit an unbelievably resourceful one, named Johnny Lawless who gets blackmailed by a secret organization, referred to by Johnny as the "Eurofuzz," into helping them with their plans. Trivia: Amusingly, this strip reuses the same Volgan empire established by 2000 AD in Invasion! Reprinted? This series has never been reprinted. You'll need the original Tornado comics.
The Lawless Touch, 4 episodes [19 pgs], Tornado # 11-14 (May to June 1979). Story by Kelvin Gosnell, art by Barry Mitchell. The Tornado, 3 episodes [12 pgs], Tornado # 15-17 (June to July 1979). Story by "R. Tufnell" (Gosnell), art by John Cooper. Honest Sid's, 2 episodes [8 pgs], Tornado # 18-19 (July 1979). Story by Kelvin Gosnell, art by Barry Mitchell (pt 1) and John Richardson (pt 2). The Dogs of Death, 3 episodes [12 pgs], Tornado # 20-22 (Aug. 1979). Story by "Ian Rogan" (Steve MacManus), art by Mike White. untitled episode, Tornado 1981 Annual (Aug. 1980). Story and art uncredited.
LAZARUS CHURCHYARD Creators: Warren Ellis & D'Israeli 14 episodes, reprinted in 2001 Image Comics, which published a collected edition of this series, described it thusly: "He's an ex-terrorist from the scrag-end of London with a connoisseur's understanding of every foul narcotic known to humanity. He's a four hundred year old derelict and hated by at least half the population of a poisoned and depopulated Earth. He's actually a bit of a brain locked inside a body sculpted from intelligent plastic that renders him immortal. And all he wants to do is die." You can tell Warren Ellis wrote this when he was twenty, can't you? Originally published in the early 1990s anthology Blast!, this reprinting in the Megazine was the first time many people saw this character. Top moment: Lazarus tells the tale of Lucy, his ostensibly immortal plastic predecessor. Her fate is pretty gruesome, but it's only on reflection that it becomes really chilling. How would you like to turn on your radio and hear the voice of a small girl quietly whispering "...Lucy's drowning..." Reprinted? You can get the entire series in a very nice volume from Image Comics.
The Virtual Kiss, 6 episodes [40 pgs], reprinted in Judge Dredd Megazine vol.4 #1-2 (Aug. to Sept. 2001). Story by Warren Ellis, art by D'Israeli. Alraune, 1 episode [8 pgs], reprinted in Judge Dredd Megazine vol.4 #2 (Sep. 2001). Story by Warren Ellis, art by D'Israeli. Lucy, 1 episode [7 pgs], reprinted in Judge Dredd Megazine vol.4 #3 (Oct. 2001). Story by Warren Ellis, art by D'Israeli. Women, 1 episode [16 pgs], reprinted in Judge Dredd Megazine vol.4 #3 (Oct. 2001). Story by Warren Ellis, art by D'Israeli. Inspector Sleep, 4 episodes [34 pgs], reprinted in Judge Dredd Megazine vol.4 #4 (Nov. 2001). Story by Warren Ellis, art by D'Israeli. Finality, 1 episode [12 pgs], reprinted in Judge Dredd Megazine vol.4 #5 (Dec. 2001). Story by Warren Ellis, art by D'Israeli.
LEATHERJACK Creators: John Smith & Paul Marshall 18 episodes: 2005 Reprinted? The series was collected in a Rebellion paperback in 2007.
Leatherjack, 18 episodes [116 pgs], 2000 AD progs 1450-1467 (Aug. to Nov. 2005). Story by John Smith, art by Paul Marshall & Chris Blythe. (Chapter 1 double-length.)
REBELLION REPRINTS Leatherjack (7/07). Reprints "Leatherjack."
LENNY ZERO Creators: Andy Diggle & Jock 5 episodes: 2000-2002 Lenny Zero is a fascinating character: a former Wally Squad judge in Mega-City One who has gone rogue and evaded the long arm of the law. This is a very entertaining comic, although the character looms slightly larger than his adventures since there are so few of them, spaced so far apart. Hopefully, Lenny Zero will return, but with his creators both signed to exclusive contracts by DC Comics, who released their Losers series from 2004-06, it might be a while. Trivia: Diggle wrote the initial Lenny Zero script for free, requesting that his fee be used to entice a top-level American creator to produce a special 10th-anniversary cover for the Megazine. Frank Miller was contracted, but the cover he presented was deemed by all parties unsuitable and never used.
Lenny Zero, 1 episode [10 pgs], Judge Dredd Megazine vol.3 #68 (Aug. 2000). Story by Andy Diggle, art by Jock. Dead Zero, 2 episodes [20 pgs], Judge Dredd Megazine vol.4 #1-2 (Aug. to Sep. 2001). Story by Andy Diggle, art by Jock. Wipeout, 2 episodes [16 pgs], Judge Dredd Megazine vol.4 #14-15 (Aug. to Sep. 2002). Story by Andy Diggle, art by Jock.
REBELLION REPRINTS Mega-City Undercover (5/08). Reprints "Lenny Zero," "Dead Zero" and "Wipeout."
LEVIATHAN Creators: Ian Edginton & D'Israeli 13 episodes: 2003-05 Reprinted? A Rebellion hardback was released in 2006.
Leviathan, 10 episodes [55 pgs], 2000 AD progs 1351-1360 (July to Sept. 2003). Story by Ian Edginton, art by D'Israeli. (part 10 double-length) Chosen Son, 1 episode [5 pgs], 2000 AD "Prog 2005" (Dec. 2004). Story by Edginton, art by D'Israeli. McLean's Last Case, 1 episode [5 pgs], 2000 AD prog 1465 (Nov. 2005). Story by Edginton, art by D'Israeli. Beyond the Blue Horizon, 1 episode [5 pgs], 2000 AD prog 1466 (Nov. 2005). Story by Edginton, art by D'Israeli.
A LIFE LESS ORDINARY Based on the film written by John Hodge, Andrew MacDonald and Danny Boyle 8 episodes: 1997 This was a great movie and I was looking forward to the comic version when I saw it. Sadly, the comic is at least four parts too short to really do the movie justice, and as a result much of what is presented is disjointed and unclear. On the other hand, the movie was a box office bomb, so it's probably for the best it wasn't taking up valuable space any longer than necessary! Yeowell's art is as good as ever. Reprinted? This series has not been republished; you'll need the original progs.
A Life Less Ordinary, 8 episodes [48 pgs], 2000 AD progs 1063-1070 (Oct. to Nov. 1997). Based on the film written by John Hodge, Andrew MacDonald and Danny Boyle. Comic scripter uncredited (presumed to be David Bishop), art by Steve Yeowell & Alan Craddock.
LOBSTER RANDOM Creators: Simon Spurrier & Carl Critchlow 36 episodes: 2003-04, 2006, 2008 Lobster Random is an ex-military torturer-for-hire, busted from prison by criminals in need of his unique abilities. Not miles removed from Quality's old Pressbutton series in tone and attitude, the strip was a big success with readers and returned in 2004. Reprinted? The first 8 episode story was released as a Rebellion hardback in March 2005.
No Gain, No Pain, 8 episodes [45 pgs], 2000 AD progs 1342-1349 (May to July 2003). Story by Simon Spurrier, art by Carl Critchlow. (Final episode double-length.) Tooth and Claw, 9 episodes [50 pgs], 2000 AD progs 1411-1419 (Oct. to Dec. 2004). Story by Simon Spurrier, art by Carl Critchlow. (Final episode double-length.) The Agony & the Ecstacy, 9 episodes [50 pgs], 2000 AD progs 1482-1490 (Apr. to May 2006). Story by Simon Spurrier, art by Carl Critchlow. (Final episode double-length.) The Forget-Me-Knot, 10 episodes, 2000 AD progs 1601-1610 (Aug. to Oct. 2008). Story by Simon Spurrier, art by Carl Critchlow. (Final episode double-length.)
LONDON FALLING Creators: Simon Spurrier & Lee Garbett 5 episodes: 2006 An interesting, if arguably complicated, story about what became of many of the bizarre characters of old English folklore, like Black Annis, Rawhead, Bloodybones and the like. The immortal beings faded into society and started lives as humans... until one of them snaps, angered that culture has forgotten them, and decides to get the old band back together. Reprinted? Not as yet.
London Falling, 5 episodes [30 pgs], 2000 AD progs 1491-1495 (June to July 2006). Story by Simon Spurrier, art by Lee Garbett.
A LOVE LIKE BLOOD Creators: John Smith & Frazer Irving 7 episodes: 2001
A Love Like Blood, 7 episodes [36 pgs], 2000 AD progs 1243-1249 (May to July 2001). Story by John Smith, art by Frazer Irving.
REBELLION REPRINTS Storming Heaven: The Frazer Irving Collection (1/07). Reprints "A Love Like Blood," "Storming Heaven," "From Grace," two Future Shocks, three Terror Tales and two "Shaun of the Dead" episodes.
LOW LIFE Creators: Rob Williams & Henry Flint 40+ episodes: 2004-present The "Low Life" is an incredibly run-down section of Mega-City One, where a judicial presence is maintained by undercover judges from the Wally Squad. The series focusses on two, Aimee Nixon and the not-completely-sane Dirty Frank. The initial series was very successful, thanks in no small part to Rob Williams' masterful understanding of what makes Mega-City One tick. Henry Flint moved on to other commitments after the first 13 episode run; Simon Coleby took over art duties afterward.
Paranoia, 10 episodes [52 pgs], 2000 AD progs 1387-1396 (Apr. to June 2004). Story by Rob Williams, art by Henry Flint. Heavy Duty, 3 episodes [15 pgs], 2000 AD progs 1397-1399 (July 2004). Story by Rob Williams, art by Henry Flint. Rock and a Hard Place, 4 episodes [20 pgs], 2000 AD progs 1425-1428 (Feb. to Mar. 2005). Story by Rob Williams, art by Simon Coleby. He's Making a List..., 1 episode [10 pgs], 2000 AD "Prog 2006" (Dec. 2005). Story by Rob Williams, art by Simon Coleby. Con Artist, 7 episodes [35 pgs], 2000 AD progs 1484-1490 (Apr. to May 2006). Story by Rob Williams, art by Simon Coleby. Baby Talk, 4 episodes [20 pgs], 2000 AD progs 1521-1524 (Jan. to Feb. 2007). Story by Rob Williams, art by Simon Coleby. War Without Bloodshed, 4 episodes [36 pgs], Judge Dredd Megazine 271-274 (May to Aug. 2008). Story by Rob Williams, art by Rufus Dayglo. Creation, 7+ episodes from 2000 AD prog 1624 (Feb. 2008). Story by Rob Williams, art by D'Israeli.
REBELLION REPRINTS Mega-City Undercover (5/08). Reprints "Paranoia," "Heavy Duty," "Rock and a Hard Place," "He's Making a List...," "Con Artist" and "Baby Talk."