2000 AD: Titles S

SANCHO PANZER Creators: Dan Abnett & Henry Flint 13 episodes: 1998 Over as soon as it begun, it seems. Sancho Panzer shouldn't make anybody's top ten lists, but this was a respectable, old-school type of 2000 AD series, with lots of short adventures advancing an overall plotline. Henry Flint's artwork for the characters (especially the too-cute Lynx) is fabulous, but I never thought much of the tank design. And was anybody really surprised by the revelation of Sancho’s origins? Reprinted? This series has never been reprinted. You'll need the original progs.
Tanked, double-length episode, 2000 AD prog 1112 (Sep. 1998). Story by Dan Abnett, art by Henry Flint. Mojo Working, 2000 AD prog 1113 (Oct. 1998). Story by Dan Abnett, art by Henry Flint. Tank Tracks, 2000 AD prog 1114 (Oct. 1998). Story by Abnett, art by Flint. Swear Box, 2000 AD prog 1115 (Oct. 1998). Story by Abnett, art by Flint. Tanks for the Memory, 3 episodes, 2000 AD progs 1116-1118 (Oct. to Nov. 1998). Story by Abnett, art by Flint. Worms, 2 episodes, 2000 AD progs 1119-1120 (Nov. 1998). Story by Abnett, art by Flint. Enemy Mine, 2000 AD prog 1121 (Nov. 1998). Story by Abnett, art by Flint. War of the Worms, 3 episodes, 2000 AD progs 1122-1123 (Dec. 1998). Story by Abnett, art by Flint. (Episodes 2-3 in prog 1123.)
SATANUS Character created by Pat Mills & Mike McMahon 6 episodes: 2001 Figuring out the continuity of anything related to Pat Mills and time travel seems like a fool’s errand, but Satanus is the evil black tyrannosaur first seen in Flesh and killed by his more powerful mother, Old One Eye, later brought back to life via cloning to roam the Cursed Earth and seen in some 1978 episodes of Judge Dredd, and later still brought through time to be the servant of Thoth in Nemesis the Warlock and finally returned to the Cretaceous period. In 2001, Satanus got a six-part series full of mad dino-action and vivid bloodshed. Roaming the Cursed Earth again, Satanus finds a party of rich vacationers looking to bag trophies for their walls back in Mega-City One and much carnage ensues. Despite being credited as creator on each episode, Pat Mills was incensed that then-editor Andy Diggle had commissioned a strip about a “character” he created, contributing to further friction between the two. Reprinted? This series has never been reprinted. You'll need the original progs.
Satanus Unchained!, 6 episodes, 2000 AD progs 1241-1246. (May to June 2001). Story by Gordon Rennie, art by Colin MacNeil.
SAVAGE Character created by Pat Mills & Gerry Finley-Day 34+ episodes: 2004-2005, 2007-present Bill Savage had been introduced in Invasion!, the classic series that saw Britain occupied by the Volgan empire in the far-flung future of 1999. Savage takes place four years after Bill had successfully sent the prince back to safety in Canada in prog 51. Amazingly, Pat Mills somehow took this slightly silly and often-mocked character and turned it into his best series - each story is called a "book" in the prog - in simply ages. Savage's uncompromising hatred of the Volgs and the collaborators that shield them, and his strength of character makes for thrilling reading, and the climax of the second book is downright amazing. The fourth series began in 2008. Reprinted? Yes, the first thirty episodes are in one great collection.
Taking Liberties, 10 episodes, 2000 AD progs 1387-1396. (Apr. to June 2004). Story by Pat Mills, art by Charlie Adlard. Out of Order, 10 episodes, 2000 AD progs 1450-1459 (Aug. to Oct. 2005). Story by Pat Mills, art by Charlie Adlard. Double Yellow, 10 episodes, 2000 AD progs 1526-1535 (Feb. to May 2007). Story by Pat Mills, art by Charlie Adlard. The Guv'nor, 4+ episodes from 2000 AD prog 1577 (Mar. 2008). Story by Pat Mills, art by Patrick Goddard.
REBELLION REPRINTS Taking Liberties (6/07). Reprints "Taking Liberties," "Out of Order" and "Double Yellow."
SCARLET TRACES Created by Ian Edington & D'Israeli 3 episodes: 2002 This strip had been created for the defunct CoolBeansWorld website, intending to display one new page 5 days a week over 14 weeks. CoolBeansWorld closed down just days after the venture started, so Edginton and D’Israeli went looking for new buyers. The Megazine’s printing of the strip showed that the internet had really lost out on a very good little steampunk story, forged from the idea that British technology leaps ahead of the rest of the planet in the wake of the failed Martian invasion from The War of the Worlds. D’Israeli’s work is far superior to his moody Lazarus Churchyard art, and the script presents some very memorable characters up against a breathtakingly villainous plot. Reprinted? This series was reprinted as a hardcover graphic novel for the American market.
Scarlet Traces, published as 3 episodes in Judge Dredd Megazine vol.4 #16-18 (Oct. to Dec. 2002). Story by Ian Edginton, art by D'Israeli.
THE SCRAP Creators: Si Spurrier & Richard Elson 6 episodes: 2002 Reprinted? This series has never been reprinted. You'll need the original progs.
The Scrap, 6 episodes, 2000 AD progs 1308-1312 (Sep. to Oct. 2002). Story by Si Spurrier, art by Richard Elson. (2 episodes in prog 1312)
SECOND CITY BLUES Creators: Nigel Long & Warren Pleece 13 episodes: 2004-2005 Reprinted? This series has not yet been reprinted. You'll need the original progs.
Second City Blues, 13 episodes, 2000 AD "Prog 2005" and progs 1420-1431 (Dec. 2004 to Mar. 2005). Story by "Kek-W" (Nigel Long), art by Warren Pleece. (Episode 1 double-length.)
SHADOWS Creators: Pete Milligan & Richard Elson 10 episodes: 1990 In this early example of a “cyberspace” series, a data hacker in a near-perfect computer world gets too close to information about The Project, a scheme of a Big Corporate Conspiracy which wants to Control the World. Naturally, she gets her life and credit rating erased and all her friends and family die. Probably Peter Milligan’s only real flop for 2000 AD. Reprinted? This series has never been reprinted. You'll need the original progs.
Shadows, 10 episodes, 2000 AD progs 672-681 (Mar. to June 1990). Story by Peter Milligan, art by Richard Elson.
SHAKARA Creators: Robbie Morrison & Henry Flint 25 episodes: 2001-2002, 2005, 2007-present On the basis of its art and design, Shakara was a unique and very stylish old-school thrill. Unfortunately there was no depth at all to the repetitive initial story, in which an indestructible weird alien proves its indestructibility by blowing almighty hell out of other, evil weird aliens, weekly. A second series began in the summer of 2005, providing some needed backstory and motivation to the storyline. Reprinted? The first series was reprinted in a Rebellion hardcover in the spring of 2005.
Shakara, 8 episodes, 2000 AD "Prog 2002" & progs 1273-1279 (Dec. 2001 to Feb. 2002). Story by Robbie Morrison, art by Henry Flint. (Episodes 1 and 8 double-length.) The Assassin, 9 episodes, 2000 AD progs 1441-1449 (June to July 2005). Story by Robbie Morrison, art by Henry Flint. (Episodes 1 and 2 double-length.) The Defiant, 8 episodes, 2000 AD "Prog 2008" & progs 1567-1573 (Dec. 2007 to Feb. 2008). Story by Robbie Morrison, art by Henry Flint. (Episode 1 double-length.)
SHAKO Creators: John Wagner & Pat Mills 17 episodes: 1977 Certainly the only series in history about a polar bear. You won't believe this, but I think Shako was the first really great series presented in 2000 AD! (The first Dredd that I really like is the Luna-1 storyline, which started a few months after Shako ended.) The killer bear returned in the third series of Armoured Gideon. Reprinted? Most of Shako! was dusted off for an abridged reprint which ran through the 1986 2000 AD annual, but if you want all sixteen episodes, try issue 18 of 2000 AD Extreme Edition, released in 2006.
Shako, 16 episodes, 2000 AD progs 20-35 (July to Oct. 1977). Story by John Wagner, Pat Mills, art by Arancio, Ramon Sola, Lopex-Vera. White Fury, 1978 2000 AD Annual (Aug. 1977). Story and art uncredited.
SHIMURA Creators: Robbie Morrison, Colin MacNeil & Frank Quitely 37 episodes: 1993-97, 2004-2006 Shimura was a judge inspector in Hondo-City who was betrayed and left for dead, and who went on to become a 22nd century ronin, ferreting out corruption and dishonor. Sometimes giant robots drawn like Nagai designed them attack the city, and judges who are shamed commit seppuku (obviously a huge problem among the Tokyo police force of today). At least this isn't full of the "so sorry/most unfortunate" crap that pervaded the 1990 Judge Dredd strip "Our Man in Hondo" that introduced the region, but there's some distance between creating a bizarre parody of modern stereotypes, as seen with, say, Emerald Isle, and just lazily regurgitating contemporary, two-dimensional thought about the culture. Reprinted? A 224-page graphic novel collection of this series, released by Rebellion/DC in December 2004, contains most of the run through 1997.
Shimura, 3 episodes, Judge Dredd Megazine vol.2 #37-39 (Sep. to Oct. 1993). Story by Robbie Morrison, art by Frank Quitely. Outcast, 6 episodes, Judge Dredd Megazine vol.2 #50-55 (Mar. to June 1994). Story by Robbie Morrison, art by Colin MacNeil. Fearful Symmetry, Judge Dredd Megazine vol.2 #72 (Feb. 1995). Story by Robbie Morrison, art by Duke Mighten & Simon Fraser. Chambara, Judge Dredd Megazine vol.2 #73 (Feb. 1995). Story by Robbie Morrison, art by Robert McCallum & Simon Fraser. The Transcendental Assassin, Judge Dredd Megazine vol.2 #74 (Mar. 1995). Story by Robbie Morrison, art by Simon Fraser. Heavy Metal, Judge Dredd Megazine vol.2 #75 (Mar. 1995). Story by Robbie Morrison, art by Duke Mighten & Simon Fraser. Assassins, 2 episodes, Judge Dredd Megazine vol.2 #76-77 (Mar. to Apr. 1995). Story by Robbie Morrison, art by Robert McCallum & Simon Fraser. Dragon Fire, 7 episodes, Judge Dredd Megazine vol.3 #14-17 (Feb. to May 1996). Story by Robbie Morrison, art by Simon Fraser (two episodes in 3.14 - 3.16). Ronin Breed, Judge Dredd Megazine vol.3 #34 (Oct. 1997). Story by Robbie Morrison, art by Simon Fraser. Scary Monsters, Judge Dredd Megazine vol.3 #35 (Nov. 1997). Story by Robbie Morrison, art by "LOL." Executioner, 3 episodes, Meg 224-226 (Oct. to Dec. 2004). Story by Robbie Morrison, art by Andy Clarke & Gary Caldwell. Deus X, 3 episodes, Meg 228-229 (Feb. to Apr. 2005). Story by Robbie Morrison, art by Andy Clarke & Gary Caldwell. The Harder They Come, 6 episodes, Meg 238-243 (Nov. 2005 to Apr. 2006). Story by Robbie Morrison, art by Colin MacNeil. Angels of Death (alternity story), 1996 Judge Dredd Mega Special #9. Story by Robbie Morrison, art by "LOL". Shimura also appeared in Judge Dredd: "Web" in Megazine vol.3 #19.
DC/REBELLION REPRINTS Volume One: Shimura (12/04). Reprints "Shimura," "Outcast," "Fearful Symmetry," "Chambara," "The Transcendental Assassin," "Assassins," "Dragon Fire," "Judge Dredd: Web," "Inaba: Babes with Big Bazookas," "Ronin Breed," "Inaba: Big Lix and Flying Kicks."
SILO Creators: Mark Millar & Dave D'Antiquis 6 episodes: 1990 Drawing equal parts inspiration from The Shining and Die Hard, this is a tale of two soldiers locked in a military base. One of them gets possessed by the ghost of an insane writer executed there centuries before and all hell breaks loose. Pretty chilling stuff, but undermined by the influences worn so loudly on its sleeve. Trivia: Steve Yeowell contributed a cover for prog 706 to introduce this thrill, but the artwork was so badly damaged by the post office that it could not be used. Reprinted? This story was reprinted in 2006's 2000 AD Extreme Edition # 14.
Silo, 6 episodes, 2000 AD progs 706-711 (Nov. to Dec. 1990). Story by Mark Millar, art by Dave D'Antiquis.
THE SIMPING DETECTIVE Creators: Simon Spurrier & Frazer Irving 18 episodes: 2004-2005, 2007 Reprinted? All of the episodes are available in one collected edition.
Gumshoe, Judge Dredd Megazine 220 (6/04). Story by Simon Spurrier, art by Frazer Irving. Crystal Blue, 3 episodes, Judge Dredd Megazine 221-223 (7/04 to 9/04). Story by Simon Spurrier, art by Frazer Irving. Innocence: A Broad, 3 episodes, Judge Dredd Megazine 224-226 (10/04 to 12/04). Story by Simon Spurrier, art by Frazer Irving. Playing Futsie, 3 episodes, Judge Dredd Megazine 234-236 (7/05 to 9/05). Story by Simon Spurrier, art by Frazer Irving. Fifteen, Judge Dredd Megazine 237 (10/05). Story by Simon Spurrier, art by Frazer Irving. Petty Crimes, 2 episodes, Judge Dredd Megazine 238-239 (11/05 & 12/05). Story by Simon Spurrier, art by Frazer Irving. No Body, No How, 5 episodes, Judge Dredd Megazine 253-257 (1/07 to 5/07). Story by Simon Spurrier, art by Frazer Irving.
REBELLION REPRINTS The Simping Detective (9/07). Reprints "Gumshoe," "Crystal Blue," "Innocence: a Broad," "Playing Futsie," "Fifteen," "Petty Crimes" and "No Body, No How."
SIN CITY Creator: Frank Miller 3 episodes reprinted in 1998 Three episodes of Frank Miller’s long-running crime noir series were reprinted in the Megazine soon after its relaunch as a Mature Readers title. Teamed with Judge Dredd and reprints of Preacher, this might have sold much better in America with better distribution and a more reasonable price!.
The Babe Wore Red, 3 episodes, Judge Dredd Megazine vol.3 #42-44 (June to Aug. 1998). Story and art by Frank Miller.
SINISTER DEXTER Creators: Dan Abnett & David Millgate 296+ episodes: 1995-present Any series which can rampage its way into the upper echelon of “most episode” thrills in only five years probably deserves more than just a mere mention. Unfortunately in the case of Sinister Dexter, this is a strip which has run at least twice as long as it needed to, and new episodes are appearing long after the point where fans were excited to see it back. Happily, Tharg seems to have noticed this problem, and despite the series’ popularity among casual readers, it no longer holds the “semi-regular” status it once did, apparently downgraded from about 40 episodes annually to twenty. Set in the gigantic Euro-city of Downlode, Finnigan Sinister and Ramone Dexter are the very best hired gunsharks money can buy, who will kill anyone for a price. This grisly premise is offset by dollops of humor, ranging from ridiculous puns to pop culture parodies to some goofball situations, all the while maintaining a very strong continuity and large cast of recurring characters, each of whom grow and change as the storyline progresses. Sin Dex’s mix of violence, amusing characters and Tarantino-styled wordplay clicked quickly with readers and it became a fast favorite. Then-editor David Bishop elected to keep the strip alive as a semi-regular with a revolving bank of artists, very much at odds with the style seen in the early 90s where a strip would run for eight weeks and vanish for months. The initial 13-week run was followed by a six month break, followed by ten weeks in and twenty out, and it then appeared in almost every issue for the next 88 weeks, echoing thrills of the past like Rogue Trooper and Strontium Dog. And it was good stuff, too. There was a freshness and confident energy to 2000 AD during this period, and the regular appearance of Sin Dex, as well as the only-slightly-less-regular Nikolai Dante, gave the comic a stability it had been lacking. There was even a three month period, from progs 1085-1095, which featured two Sin Dex episodes doubled up in each issue. By the end of this run, there was, however, a palpable sense that it had gone on a bit long. Only one of these stories was at all bad - “Smoke & Mirrors,” which, with its horrible art by David Bircham, was very bad indeed - but the situations felt repetitive, and there’s a solid sense by the end of “Eurocrash,” which sees our heroes split up after failing to protect their principal boss Demi Octavo from assassins, that this wasn’t fun anymore. If you’d cut “Smoke & Mirrors” and perhaps six of the one-shots and ended it right there, people would remember Sinister Dexter very highly. Unfortunately, the series quickly resumed under the title Downlode Tales (reflecting Sinister and Dexter’s split), which felt entirely wrong, with far too serious a tone and humor that simply didn’t work (the crime-busting cop force which Dexter joins is called “The Ass Kickers.” Crickets chirped.) Finnigan and Ramone reunited after 24 episodes of this, and while Abnett has certainly pulled out a few remarkable installments (“Fully Laundromatic” and “Glock Around the Clock” are wonderful, and “I Say Hello” is absolutely astonishing), Sinister Dexter has gone from an integral part of a working 2000 AD formula to, bluntly, filler material, to be slotted in when Steve Moore hasn’t gotten his Future Shocks to the Nerve Centre on time. There’s a pervasive sense of time-marking about Sinister Dexter these days. It should be rested for a few years. Reprinted? A Hamlyn volume entitled "Gun Lovin' Criminals" collected many early episodes. Gunshark Vacation, which compiles 20 of the first 24 episodes (excising "Curl Up and Die!" and the three episodes drawn by Tom Carney), was released in September 2004. A second collection, "Murder 101," was released in January 2005 and a third, "Slay Per View," in May.
Sinister Dexter, 2000 AD Winter Special 7 (Nov. 1995). Story by Dan Abnett, art by David Millgate & Junior Tomlin. Nervous Rex, 2000 AD prog 981 (Mar. 1996). Story by Dan Abnett, art by David Millgate. Curl Up and Die!, 2000 AD prog 982 (Mar. 1996). Story by Abnett, art by Anthony Williams & Del Frost. Bratwurst Than Death, 2000 AD prog 983 (Mar. 1996). Story by Abnett, art by Tom Carney. Max Vactor, 2000 AD prog 984 (Mar. 1996). Story by Abnett, art by Williams & Junior Tomlin. Death and Taxis, 2000 AD prog 985 (Mar. 1996). Story by Abnett, art by Charles Gillespie. Finigan's Minigun, 2000 AD prog 986 (Apr. 1996). Story by Abnett, art by Carney. The Eleventh Commandment, 2 episodes, 2000 AD progs 988-989 (Apr. 1996). Story by Abnett, art by Gillespie. Alibi of Broadway, 2 episodes, progs 990-991 (May 1996). Story by Abnett, art by Gillespie. Wish Upon a Czar, 2 episodes, progs 992-993 (May 1996). Story by Abnett, art by Simon B. Davis. Family Man, prog 994 (May 1996). Story by Abnett, art by Henry Flint. Executive Unction, 1996 Sci-Fi Special (June 1996). Story by Abnett, art by Tom Carney, David Millgate. Learning Kurv, prog 1023 (Dec. 1996). Story by Abnett, art by Millgate. Gunshark Vacation, 8 episodes, progs 1024-1031 (Jan. to Feb. 1997). Story by Abnett, art by Davis. Headcase, prog 1032 (Mar. 1997). Story by Abnett, art by Marc Wigmore. Murder 101, 12 episodes, progs 1051-1061 (July to Sept. 1997). Story by Abnett, art by Davis (2 episodes appear in 1061). Luck of the Irish, prog 1062 (Sept. 1997). Story by Abnett, art by Paul Johnson. Waiting for God Knows, prog 1063 (Oct. 1997). Story by Abnett, art by Julian Gibson. 60 Seconds, prog 1064 (Oct. 1997). Story by Abnett, art by Paul Johnson. Market Forces, prog 1065 (Oct. 1997). Story by Abnett, art by Marc Wigmore. The Mating Game, prog 1066 (Oct. 1997). Story by Abnett, art by "Siku" (Ajibayo Akinsiku). The Worst Fight We Was Ever In, prog 1067 (Nov. 1997). Story by Abnett, art by Julian Gibson. A Brief History of Gunsharks, prog 1068 (Nov. 1997). Story by Abnett, art by Robert McCallum & Dondie Cox. Last Orders, prog 1069 (Nov. 1997). Story by Abnett, art by Marc Wigmore. Pedal Power, prog 1070 (Nov. 1997). Story by Abnett, art by Andrew Currie & Alison Kirkpatrick. Things to Do in Downlode When You're Dead, prog 1071 (Dec. 1997). Story by Abnett, art by Julian Gibson. Long to Rain Over Us, prog 1072 (Dec. 1997). Story by Abnett, art by Paul Johnson. Roll With It, prog 1073 (Dec. 1997). Story by Abnett, art by Julian Gibson. Dead Cert, prog 1074 (Dec. 1997). Story by Abnett, art by Steve Sampson. Whack the Dinosaur, 2 episodes, prog 1075 (Dec. 1997). Story by Abnett, art by "Siku" (Ajibayo Akinsiku). Downlode Blues, prog 1076 (Jan. 1998). Story by Abnett, art by Alex Ronald & Dondie Cox. F.A.Q., also in prog 1076 (Jan. 1998). Story by Abnett, art by Clint Langley. Dressed to Kill, prog 1078 (Jan. 1998). Story by Abnett, art by "Siku" (Ajibayo Akinsiku). Taking the Mick, 4 episodes, progs 1079-1082 (Jan. to Feb. 1998). Story by Abnett, art by Steve Yeowell. The Merry Weirdo, prog 1083 (Feb. 1998). Story by Abnett, art by Neal Brand. London Town, double-length episode, prog 1084 (Feb. 1998). Story by Abnett, art by Greg Staples. The Big Stiff, 2 episodes, prog 1085 (Mar. 1998). Story by Abnett, art by Alex Ronald & Alison Kirkpatrick. Lyrical Bollards, 3 episodes, prog 1086 (Mar. 1998). Story by Abnett, art by S.B. Davis. Hand Maid in Downlode, 2 episodes, prog 1087 (Mar. 1988). Story by Abnett, art by Andrew Currie & Dondie Cox. To the Devil a Detour, 4 episodes, progs 1088 and 1089 (Apr. 1998). Story by Abnett, art by Andy Clarke & Dondie Cox. Drop Dead Gorgeous, 4 episodes, progs 1090 and 1091 (Apr. 1998). Story by Abnett, art by Greg Staples. Mother Lode and the Red Admiral, 8 episodes, progs 1092-1095 (May 1998). Story by Abnett, art by Calum Alexander Watt & Alan Craddock. Word Is, prog 1096 (June 1998). Story by Abnett, art by "Sheer." Tan Lines, prog 1097 (June 1998). Story by Abnett, art by Paul Johnson. Tax Returns, prog 1098 (June 1998). Story by Abnett, art by David Millgate. Bullfighting Days, prog 1099 (June 1998). Story by Abnett, art by Andy Clarke, Dondie Cox. End of the Line, prog 1102 (July 1998). Story by Abnett, art by Paul Johnson. Slay Per View, 5 episodes, progs 1103-1107 (July to Aug. 1998). Story by Abnett, art by Marc Wigmore (pts 1-3) and Julian Gibson (pts 4-5). Dead Man Whacking, 2 episodes, progs 1108-1109 (Aug. 1998). Story by Abnett, art by Steve Yeowell. Death is a Lonely Donnegan, double-length episode, prog 1111 (Sep. 1998). Story by Abnett, art by Paul Johnson. Anatomy of a Throwdown, prog 1112 (Sep. 1998). Story by Abnett, art by Greg Staples. Unofficial Business, 2 episodes, progs 1113-1114 (Oct. 1998). Story by Abnett, art by Steve Sampson. Sucker-Punch, prog 1115 (Oct. 1998). Story by Abnett, art by Sean Phillips. Coptalk, prog 1116 (Oct. 1998). Story by Abnett, art by "LOL." Smoke and Mirrors, 6 episodes, progs 1117-1122 (Oct. to Dec. 1998). Story by Abnett, art by David Bircham. Grey's Allergy, prog 1123 (Dec. 1998). Story by Abnett, art by Patrick Woodrow, Stephen Baskerville & Alan Craddock. Twas the Fight Before Christmas, double-length episode, prog 1124 (Dec. 1998). Story by Abnett, art by Steve Yeowell & D'Israeli. Automate, 2 episodes, prog 1125 (Jan. 1999). Story by Abnett, art by Paul Marshall & Alan Craddock. Reservations, prog 1126 (Jan. 1999). Story by Abnett, art by Andy Clarke & Dondie Cox. Eurocrash, 13 episodes, progs 1127-1139 (Jan. to Apr. 1999). Story by Abnett, art by S.B. Davis. (Episode 12 is 27 pgs, making this effectively 17 pts. in length.) Exit Wounds, "Prog 2000" (Dec. 1999). Story by Abnett, art by S.B. Davis. Observations, prog 1181 (Feb. 2000). Story by Abnett, art by Paul Johnson. Mission to Mangapore, 9 episodes, progs 1189-1197 (Apr. to June 2000). Story by Abnett, art by Andy Clarke & Dylan Teague. (episode 1 double-length.) Life Behind Bars, 2 episodes, progs 1198-1199 (June 2000). Story by Abnett, art by S.B. Davis. Feeding Frenzy, 3 episodes, progs 1200-1202 (July 2000). Story by Abnett, art by Davis. Gun Play, 3 episodes, progs 1203-1205 (Aug. 2000). Story by Abnett, art by Nigel Raynor, Stephen Baskerville & Len O'Grady. Shrink Rap, 6 episodes, progs 1206-1211 (Aug. to Sep. 2000). Story by Abnett, art by Andy Clarke & Chris Blythe. Lucky, prog 1220 (Nov. 2000). Story by Abnett, art by P. Goddard, L. Townsend & Len O'Grady. Way Out West, 2 episodes in prog 1221 (Dec. 2000). Story by Abnett, art by P. Goddard, L. Townsend & Len O'Grady. Scene of the Crime, prog 1222 (Dec. 2000). Story by Abnett, art by Steve Roberts & Chris Blythe. Bullet Time, prog 2001 (Dec. 2000). Story by Abnett, art by Andy Clarke & Chris Blythe. The Man in the Ion Mask, 4 episodes, progs 1223-1226 (Jan. 2001). Story by Abnett, art by S.B. Davis. Money Shots, 2 episodes, progs 1227-1228 (Feb. 2001). Story by Abnett, art by Clarke & Blythe. Point Blanc, 3 episodes, progs 1231-1233 (Mar. 2001). Story by Abnett, art by Clarke & Blythe. Dirty Habits, prog 1234 (Mar. 2001). Story by Abnett, art by Steve Roberts & Chris Blythe. Quality Time, prog 1235 (Mar. 2001). Story by Abnett, art by Steve Roberts & Chris Blythe. Barf Bag, 3 episodes, progs 1243-1245 (May to June 2001). Story by Abnett, art by Andy Clarke & Len O'Grady. Fully Laundromatic, 3 episodes, progs 1246-1248 (June 2001). Story by Abnett, art by Ian Richardson & Len O'Grady. I Say Hello, prog 1264 (Oct. 2001). Story by Abnett, art by Mark Pingriff & Chris Blythe. Fear and Clothing, prog 1265 (Oct. 2001). Story by Abnett, art by Paul Johnson. On the Fidel, 2 episodes, progs 1266-1267 (Nov. 2001). Story by Abnett, art by Steve Roberts & Chris Blythe. Black and White, prog 1268 (Nov. 2001). Story by Abnett, art by Frazer Irving. Night of the Living Dude, prog 1269 (Nov. 2001). Story by Abnett, art by Cam Smith. Sumo Enchanted Evening, prog 1270 (Nov. 2001). Story by Abnett, art by Jon Haward, John Stokes & Angus McKie. Suddenly, Genghis, prog 1271 (Dec. 2001). Story by Abnett, art by Siku. Glock Around the Clock, prog 1272 (Dec. 2001). Story by Abnett, art by Mark Pingriff & Angus McKie. Slay Bells in the Snow, prog 2002 U R Here, prog 1279 (Feb. 2002). Story by Abnett, art by Adrian Bamforth & Len O'Grady. Narked for Death, prog 1281 (Mar. 2002). Story by Abnett, art by Adrian Bamforth & Len O'Grady. Tart au Citroen, prog 1282 (Mar. 2002). Story by Abnett, art by Steve Roberts & Angus McKie. Poker Face, 2 episodes, progs 1283-1284 (Mar. 2002). Story by Abnett, art by Ian Richardson & Angus McKie. Croak, 3 episodes, progs 1290-1292 (May 2002). Story by Abnett, art by Mark Pingriff & Angus McKie. House of Whacks, prog 1294 (June 2002). Story by Abnett, art by David Bircham. Animal Firm, 3 episodes, progs 1296-1298 (June 2002). Story by Abnett, art by Cam Smith. Deaky Poobar, We Hardly Knew Ye, 4 episodes, progs 1307-1310 (Sept. 2002). Story by Abnett, art by Steve Parkhouse & Chris Blythe. Wising Off, prog 1311 (Oct. 2002). Story by Abnett, art by Mike Collins & Gary Caldwell. Low-Life, prog 1312 (Oct. 2002). Story by Abnett, art by Steve Roberts & Angus McKie. The Off-Lode Experience, 9 episodes, progs 1313-1321 (Oct. to Dec. 2002). Story by Abnett, art by Simon Davis. Relode, 4 episodes, progs 1322-1325 (Jan. 2003). Story by Abnett, art by Ben Willsher & Chris Blythe. Bouncers, Judge Dredd Megazine 202 (Feb. 2003). Story by Abnett, art by Steve Roberts & Simon Gurr. Dead Famous, Judge Dredd Megazine Megazine 203 (Mar. 2003). Story by Abnett, art by Steve Roberts & Len O'Grady. Gag Reflex, Judge Dredd Megazine 204 (Apr. 2003). Story by Abnett, art by Steve Roberts & Simon Gurr. Big Game, 2 episodes, progs 1343-1344 (June 2003). Story by Abnett, art by Cam Smith. Write from Wrong, 3 episodes, progs 1345-1347 (June 2003). Story by Abnett, art by Steve Yeowell & Len O'Grady. Oh Kal Cutter, prog 1348 (July 2003). Story by Abnett, art by Andy Clarke & Gary Caldwell. Junk Bond, 6 episodes, progs 1356-1361 (Sep. to Oct. 2003). Story by Abnett, art by Simon Davis. Just Business, 3 episodes, 2000 AD progs 1380-1382 (Mar. 2004). Story by Abnett, art by Andy Clarke & Gary Caldwell. Job Jobbed, 3 episodes, 2000 AD progs 1383-1386 (Mar. to Apr. 2004). Story by Abnett, art by Andy Clarke & Gary Caldwell. Scare Tactics, 3 episodes, 2000 AD progs 1397-1399 (July 2004). Story by Abnett, art by Cam Smith. Off-Ramp, 2000 AD prog 1415 (Nov. 2004). Story by Abnett, art by Jack Lawrence. Dunce Macabre, 2000 AD "Prog 2005" (Dec. 2004). Story by Abnett, art by Simon Davis. Latte Animals, 2 episodes, 2000 AD progs 1429-1430 (Mar. 2005). Story by Abnett, art by Marc Pingriff & Gary Caldwell. Vircade, 2000 AD prog 1431 (Mar. 2005). Story by Abnett, art by John McRea & Gary Caldwell. Life's a Beach, 3 episodes, 2000 AD progs 1433-1435 (Apr. 2005). Story by Abnett, art by Steve Yeowell & Len O'Grady. Slow Train to Kal Cutter, 7 episodes, 2000 AD progs 1443-1449 (June to July 2005). Story by Abnett, art by Simon Davis. ...and death shall have no dumb minions, 10 episodes, 2000 AD progs 1459-1468 (Oct. to Dec. 2005). Story by Abnett, art by Simon Davis (episode 10 double-length). Festive Spirits, 2000 AD "Prog 2006" (Dec. 2005). Story by Abnett, art by Simon Davis. A Night Off, Meg 242 (Mar. 2006). Story by Abnett, art by Steve Roberts & Simon Gurr High Tide, Meg 243 (Apr. 2006). Story by Abnett, art by Steve Roberts & Len O'Grady. Places to Go, People to Do, 6 episodes, 2000 AD progs 1508-1513 (Oct. to Nov. 2006). Story by Dan Abnett, art by Anthony Williams. Pros and Cons, 4 episodes, 2000 AD progs 1514-1517 (Nov. to Dec. 2006). Story by Dan Abnett, art by Ian Richardson & Andrew Elder (pts 1-2), Richardson, Simon Coleby & Gary Caldwell (pt 3) and Anthony Williams (pt 4). Christmas Time, 2000 AD "Prog 2007" (Dec. 2006). Story by Dan Abnett, art by Simon Davis. The Last Thing I Do, 6 episodes, 2000 AD progs 1528-1533 (Mar. to Apr. 2007). Story by Dan Abnett, art by Simon Davis. The Doctor is In, 4 episodes, 2000 AD progs 1535-1538 (May 2007). Story by Dan Abnett, art by Simon Coleby & Len O'Grady. Normal Service, 2000 AD prog 1539 (May 2007). Story by Dan Abnett, art by Anthony Williams. Life is an Open Casket, 6 episodes, 2000 AD progs 1560-1565 (Oct. to Nov. 2007). Story by Dan Abnett, art by Anthony Williams. Inner Waldorf Hire and Dice, 2000 AD "Prog 2008" (Dec. 2007). Story by Dan Abnett, art by Simon Davis.
DC/REBELLION REPRINTS Volume One: Gunshark Vacation (9/04). Reprints "Sinister Dexter," "Nervous Rex," "Max Vactor," "Death and Taxis," "The Eleventh Commandment," "Alibi of Broadway," "Wish Upon a Czar," "Family Man," "Learning Kurv" and "Gunshark Vacation." Volume Two: Murder 101 (2/05). Reprints "Murder 101," "Luck of the Irish," "Waiting for God Knows," "60 Seconds," "The Worst Fight We Was Ever In," "A Brief History of Gunsharks," "Pedal Power," "Things to Do in Downlode When You're Dead," "Long to Rain Over Us," "Roll With It," "Whack the Dinosaur," "Downlode Blues" and "Taking the Mick." Volume Three: Slay Per View (5/05). Reprints "London Town," "The Big Stiff," "Lyrical Bollards," "To the Devil a Detour," "Drop Dead Gorgeous," "Mother Lode and the Red Admiral," "Tan Lines," "Tax Returns," "Bullfighting Days," "End of the Line," "Slay Per View," "Dead Man Whacking," "Death is a Lonely Donegan," "Anatomy of a Throwdown," "Unofficial Business," "Sucker-Punch," "Grey's Allergy" and "Twas the Fight Before Christmas."
SINNER Creators: Carlos Sampayo & Jose Munoz 4 episodes, 1990-91
Viet Blues, 4 episodes, Crisis # 52-55 (Nov. 1990 to Feb. 1991). Story by Carlos Sampayo, art by Jose Munoz & Steve Whitaker.
SKIZZ Creators: Alan Moore & Jim Baikie 48 episodes: 1983, 1992, 1994-95 Skizz was the first regular ongoing series in 2000 AD from Alan Moore, and it’s become a minor cult classic. It’s overshadowed by his other big 2000 AD strips, but Skizz is hugely rewarding for its humanity. Other writers have brought the odd comparison with The Boys from the Blackstuff, and they’re absolutely right. Skizz feels like what you’d get if Alan Bleasdale had written E.T.: the magical childhood business wouldn’t be there; instead you would feel the real humanity of the characters, and their desperation and unemployment, as informed by their relationship with this strange alien who can only speak a few words of English. Skizz himself is almost a plot mcguffin, despite how interesting his design and his reactions to people are. You read this series to see Roxy’s relationship with her parents, and to see Cornelius, uneducated, unemployed, bound for a life of poverty, and so determined and unbent that bullet wounds do not bother him. “I’ve still got my pride!” means as much to 2000 AD readers as “Gissa job?!” meant to television drama fans of the day. Baikie’s sequel Skizz stories are very good. The pace is quite slow, but he obviously spent a lot of time creating the cultures of the various alien races, and of course the art is superb. Baikie even crosses Book III over into Judge Dredd, filling a plot hole that had been bothering him. However, the books aren't nearly as great as the original. Moore would top himself with other stories later, but the original is still sublime, and worth finding. Top moment: Van Owen has just shot Cornelius in front of a mob of locals. The crowd falls silent except for people individually speaking about Cornelius. “I knew him…” one says. “Ee was my mate,” says another. It becomes chillingly apparent that Skizz was right: Van Owen is the alien. Reprinted? The original story has been reprinted in the American 2000 AD Presents and in a Titan graphic novel. Another edition is coming from Rebellion/DC in February 2005.
Book I, 23 episodes, 2000 AD progs 308-330 (March to Aug. 1983). Story by Alan Moore, art by Jim Baikie. Book II: Alien Cultures, 9 episodes, 2000 AD progs 767-775 (Jan. to Mar. 1992). Story and art by Baikie. Book III: The Gunlords of Omega Ceti, 16 episodes, 2000 AD progs 912-927 (Nov. 1994 to Feb. 1995). Story and art by Baikie.
DC/REBELLION REPRINTS Skizz (2/05). Reprints "Skizz" (Book I).
SLAINE Creators: Pat Mills & Angela Mills 292 episodes: 1983-91, 1993-2000, 2002-2006 The debut of Slaine, after lengthy research into Celtic myth, marked the first time 2000 AD had really moved away from a traditional SF-based story. Set in Ireland, the Land of the Young, a few thousand years ago, it is the story of a barbarian wanderer, accompanied by a dwarf called Ukko, who later unites his tribes against oppressive beasts and horrible mythological monsters and becomes the first High King of Ireland. Getting to this point had readers undertaking a long, wonderful continuing narrative. First up were several months of stories with art chores alternated between Massimo Belardinelli - who is blunderingly wrong for a strip like this - and Mike McMahon, who contributed the best work of his career: painstakingly detailed hatching which looks truly breathtaking. Slaine had already been a wandering warrior for some time prior to these tales, which see him making his way back to his tribe to be with his beloved Niamh again. Slaine had been forced to leave the tribe after he got Niamh, the king’s chosen, pregnant. On the way back, he gets involved in a war against the Cythrons, extra-dimensional creatures left on Earth to tend the prisons of Lovecraftian “Ever-Living Ones,” one of whom, Grimnisimal, Slaine despatches in “Tomb of Terror.” He also meets his immortal, time-travelling enemy Elfric in these stories. “Slaine the King” details his reunion with Niamh, who rejects him and sends their son Kai to be raised in a seminary by druids. However, he rallies his tribe against the Fomorians who have enslaved them and is made their king, setting the stage for the epic 31-part “Horned God” series. This sales-shattering success, 2000 AD's first lengthy series to feature fully-painted art (by Simon Bisley) certainly looked wonderful, but the script was an overlong, tedious bore, with way too much exposition and not enough action. This came to a perfect conclusion in prog 699, reaffirming that Slaine’s reign would only be seven years long, after which he would be ritually put to death. There wasn’t a better place for it to end. Except that it has continued, endlessly. For much of the mid-90s, Slaine was unreadable pagan garbage, with Mills preaching and pontificating endlessly about the evils of Christianity while his immortal warrior slaughtered various Romans or British sheriffs, travelling upwards through time at the behest of the goddess Danu. This format continued for 82 agonizing episodes. The 1998 run of stories, mercifully, dealt with his untold time as High King of Ireland and were considerably more readable. There followed one of 2000 AD’s weakest moments, an epic entitled "The Secret Commonwealth," which featured Slaine's return to Ireland just a few years after his ceremonial death. This met with horrible reader response, fueled principally by the very poor artwork by David Bircham, and Slaine was rested again. He returned in 2003’s “Moloch,” the first of five in "The Books of Invasion," which sent Slaine on a vengeful quest for the sea demon who raped and murdered Niamh. The series met with mixed reaction, in part due to Clint Langley's interesting artwork, which, controversially, was built around computer-manipulated photo-real imagery, and which occasionally looked muddy or staged. However, the story had some occasionally remarkable moments, principally in its final 48 pages, which contained some of the most awesomely dramatic moments in Slaine's history, and a gut-punching emotional final episode which must surely rank among the finest scripts Pat Mills has ever written. (An unnecessary epilogue, "Carnival," sadly diluted its grand-finale impact somewhat.) Reprinted? Various stories have been collected here and there, some in a few rather nice Hamlyn editions. Belardinelli's episodes have mostly been skipped apart from the US reprint in the Spellbinders comic from Quality. A definitive reprint of the 1980s episodes is coming; Warrior's Dawn, which collects the first 30 episodes, was released Rebellion/DC in April 2005. A second volume, with the next 29-30, was planned for July, but postponed indefinitely in the wake of the termination of the DC deal.
The Time Monster, 2000 AD prog 330 (Aug. 1983). Story by Pat Mills, art by Angie Mills. The Beast in the Broch, 4 episodes, 2000 AD progs 331-334 (Aug. to Sept. 1983). Story by Pat Mills, art by Massimo Belardinelli. Warrior's Dawn, 2000 AD prog 335 (Sept. 1983). Story by Pat Mills, art by Mike McMahon. The Beltain Giant, prog 336 (Oct. 1983). Story by Pat Mills, art by Mike McMahon. Bride of Crom, 6 episodes, progs 337-342 (Oct. to Nov. 1983). Story by Pat Mills, art by Massimo Belardinelli. Creeping Death, prog 343 (Nov. 1983). Story by Pat Mills, art by Massimo Belardinelli. The Bull Dance, prog 344 (Nov. 1983). Story by Mills, art by Belardinelli. Hero's Blood, 3 episodes, progs 345-347 (Dec. 1983). Story by Mills, art by McMahon. The Shoggey Beast, 4 episodes, progs 348-351 (Dec. 1983 to Jan. 1984). Story by Mills, art by McMahon. Sky Chariots, 9 episodes, progs 352-360 (Jan. to Mar. 1984). Story by Mills, art by McMahon. Dragonheist, 7 episodes, progs 361-367 (Mar. to May 1984). Story by Mills, art by Belardinelli. The Battle of Clontarf, 1985 Annual (Aug. 1984). Story by Mills, art by Belardinelli. Time Killer, 22 episodes, progs 411-428 and 431-434 (Mar. to Sept. 1985). Story by Mills, art by Glenn Fabry (pts 1-2, 9-11 & 17-19), David Pugh (pts 3-8, 12-16 & 20-22) and Bryan Talbot (inks, pt 19). Tomb of Terror, 15 episodes, progs 447-461 (Dec. 1985 to Mar. 1986). Story by Mills, art by Glenn Fabry (pts 1-2 & 12-14) and David Pugh (pts 3-11 & 15). The Devil's Banquet, 1986 Sci-Fi Special (June 1986). Story by Mills, art by Glenn Fabry. The Spoils of Annwn, 7 episodes, progs 493-499 (Oct. to Dec. 1986). Story by Mills, art by Mike Collins & Mark Farmer. Slaine the King, 12 episodes, progs 500-508 and 517-519 (Dec. 1986 to Apr. 1987). Story by Mills, art by Glenn Fabry. The Killing Field, prog 582 (July 1988). Story by Angela Mills, art by Fabry. "the mini-series," 3 episodes, progs 589-591 (Aug. to Sept. 1988). Story by Pat Mills, art by Fabry. The Arrow of God, 1989 Annual (Sep. 1988). Story by Mills, art by Steve Parkhouse. The Horned God, Book I, 10 episodes, progs 626-635 (May to July 1989). Story by Mills, art by Simon Bisley. The Horned God, Book II, 10 episodes, progs 650-656 and 662-664 (Oct. 1989 to Jan. 1990). Story by Mills, art by Bisley. The Horned God, Book III, 11 episodes, progs 688-698 (July to Sept. 1990). Story by Mills, art by Bisley. Slaine the High King, 1992 Yearbook (Sep. 1991). Story by Mills, art by Glenn Fabry. The Jealousy of Niamh, 2 episodes, progs 850-851 (Sept. 1993). Story by Mills, art by Greg Staples & Nick Percival. Demon Killer, 8 episodes, progs 852-859 (Sept. to Oct. 1993). Story by Mills, art by Glenn Fabry (pts 1-7) and Dermot Power (pt 8). The Return of the High King, Slaine Poster Prog #1. Story by Mills, art by Dermot Power. The Queen of Witches, 8 episodes, progs 889-896 (May to July 1994). Story by Mills, art by Power. The Name of the Sword, 7 episodes, progs 950-956 (July to Sept. 1995). Story by Mills, art by Greg Staples. Lord of Misrule, 10 episodes, progs 958-963 and 995-998 (Sept. 1995 to June 1996). Story by Mills, art by Clint Langley. The Bowels of Hell, prog 1000 (July 1996). Story by Mills, art by Jim Murray. The Treasures of Britain, Book I, 10 episodes, progs 1001-1010 (July to Sept. 1996). Story by Mills, art by Dermot Power. The Cloak of Fear, 2 episodes, progs 1011-1012 (Oct. 1996). Story by Mills, art by Steve Tappin. The Treasures of Britain, Book II, 8 episodes, progs 1023-1031 (Jan. to Feb. 1997). Story by Mills, art by Power. The Demon Hitch-hiker, prog 1032 (Mar. 1997). Story by Mills, art by Tappin. King of Hearts, 7 episodes, progs 1033-1039 (Mar. to Apr. 1997). Story by Mills, art by Nick Percival. The Grail War, 10 episodes, progs 1040-1049 (Apr. to July 1997). Story by Mills, art by Tappin. Secret of the Grail, 10 episodes, progs 1090-1099 (Apr. to June 1998). Story by Mills, art by Tappin. Lord of the Beasts, prog 1100 (24 pgs.) (June 1998). Story by Mills, art by Rafael Garres. Kai, 4 episodes, progs 1104-1107 (July to Aug. 1998). Story by Mills & Gallagher, art by Paul Staples. The Banishing, 2 episodes, progs 1108-1109 (Aug. 1998). Story by Mills & Gallagher, art by Wayne Reynolds. The Triple Death, prog 1111 (10 pgs.) (Sep. 1998). Story by Mills, art by Reynolds. The Swan Children, 3 episodes, progs 1112-1114 (Sep. to Oct. 1998). Story by Mills, art by "Siku" (Ajibayo Akinsiku). Macha, 4 episodes, progs 1115-1118 (Oct. to Nov. 1998). Story by Mills, art by Paul Staples. Beyond, "Prog 2000" (Dec. 1999). Story by Mills, art by Greg Staples. The Secret Commonwealth, 17 episodes, progs 1183-1999 (Mar. to July 2000). Story by Mills, art by David Bircham. Moloch, 6 episodes, "Prog 2003" & 1322-1326 (Dec. 2002 to Feb. 2003). Story by Mills, art by Clint Langley. (Episodes 1 and 6 double-length.) Golamh, 6 episodes, progs 1350-1355 (July to Aug. 2003). Story by Mills, art by Clint Langley. (Episodes 1 and 6 double-length.) Scota, 7 episodes, "Prog 2004" & 1371-1376 (Dec. 2003 to Feb. 2004). Story by Mills, art by Clint Langley. (Episode 1 double-length.) Tara, 7 episodes, 2000 AD "Prog 2005" & 1420-1425 (Dec. 2004 to Feb. 2005). Story by Mills, art by Clint Langley. (Episode 1 double-length.) Odacon, 7 episodes, 2000 AD progs 1436-1442 (Apr. to June 2005). Story by Mills, art by Clint Langley. (Episode 7 double-length.) Carnival, 8 episodes, 2000 AD "Prog 2006" and progs 1469-1475 (Dec. 2005 to Feb. 2006). Story by Mills, art by Clint Langley.
DC/REBELLION REPRINTS Volume One: Warrior's Dawn (4/05). Reprints "The Time Monster," "The Beast in the Broch," "Warrior's Dawn," "The Beltain Giant," "Bride of Crom," "Creeping Death," "The Bull Dance," "Heroes' Blood," "The Shoggey Beast" and "Sky Chariots." Volume Two: Time Killer (2/07). Reprints "Dragonheist" and "Time Killer."
SLAUGHTERBOWL Creators: John Smith & Paul Peart 8 episodes: 1993 The Slaughterbowl is a future game that death row inmates from across the world play, with genetically engineered dinosaurs and all the missiles they need. The last man standing is a millionaire until the next year's event. Our "hero" is Stanley Modest, a hapless weed convicted, he claims unjustly, of multiple murders (including his own children). He only joins the Slaughterbowl to raise money for his comatose wife's life-saving operation. I'm not taken with Peart's art (his work on Tracer is superior), but the script's a gem, with a hell of an ending. Writer Smith has cogently pointed out that this comic would make a fantastic video game. Reprinted? This series was collected in issue 23 of 2000 AD Extreme Edition in 2007.
Slaughterbowl, 8 episodes, 2000 AD progs 842-849 (July to Aug. 1993). Story by John Smith, art by Paul Peart.
SLEEZE 'N' RYDER Creators: Garth Ennis & Nick Percival 8 episodes: 1993 A well-regarded story where two tough MC-1 bikers take to the Cursed Earth for mayhem. Reprinted? This series has never been reprinted. You'll need the original Megs.
Sleeze 'n' Ryder, 7 episodes plus prologue, Judge Dredd Megazine vol.2 #19-26 (Jan. to Apr. 1993). Story by Garth Ennis, art by Nick Percival.
SMALL PRESS IN THE MEGAZINE anthology series 22 episodes: 2006-2007 In 2006, as a cost-saving measure, the Megazine gave over a few pages of each issue to small press creators to bring some of their copyrighted offerings to a much larger audience. This was a controversial move among some professional creators as the strips were unpaid, but amateurs nevertheless lined up for the chance at free advertising in a mass-circulation magazine. As of spring 2007, one creator, Bob Byrne, had landed a commission, with three Bob Byrne's Twisted Tales appearing in progs 1536-1538.
By the Pricking of My Thumbs, Judge Dredd Megazine 244 (May 2006). Story by Edward Berridge, art by Keith Burns. Springheeled Jack, Judge Dredd Megazine 245 (May 2006). Story and art by Dave Hitchcock. I Married Ghost Girl!, Judge Dredd Megazine 246 (June 2006). Story by Jeff Loew, art by Oscar Capristo. Mr. Amperduke, Judge Dredd Megazine 247 (July 2006). Story and art by Bob Byrne. Easy Prey, 2 episodes, Judge Dredd Megazine 248-249 (Aug. to Sep. 2006). Story and art by Jason Paulos. Monsters, Judge Dredd Megazine 250 (Oct. 2006). Story and art by I.N.J. Culbard. Out of the Box, Judge Dredd Megazine 251 (Nov. 2006). Story by Christopher Bunting, art by Kit Wallis. The Strange Fate of Dr. Roberto Tesla!, Judge Dredd Megazine 252 (Dec. 2006). Story and art by Gary Ochiltree. Bulldog: Empire, Judge Dredd Megazine 253 (Jan. 2007). Story by Jason Cobley, art by Neill Cameron. Sancho: The Drowned Village, Judge Dredd Megazine 254 (Feb. 2007). Story and art by Alan Nolan. Trilithon, Judge Dredd Megazine 255 (Mar. 2007). Story and art by Stephen Prestwood. Crystal Tips, Judge Dredd Megazine 256 (Apr. 2007). Story and art by Simon Perrins. A Fool and His Honey, Judge Dredd Megazine 257 (May 2007). Story by Nick Aires, art by Peter Anckorn. Boar War, Judge Dredd Megazine 258 (May 2007). Story by Colin Dinnie, art by Nick Dyer. City of Secrets: prologue, Judge Dredd Megazine 259 (June 2007). Story and art by James McKay. Freak Show: The Quiet Man, Judge Dredd Megazine 260 (July 2007). Story by Robert Curley, art by Declan Shalvey. Holt Bros, Judge Dredd Megazine 261 (Aug. 2007). Story by Chris Denton, art by Steve Denton. Lights Out, Judge Dredd Megazine 262 (Sep. 2007). Story by Chris Lynch, art by Stu.Art. Neroy Sphinx: What You See Ain't What You Get, Meg 263 (Oct. 2007). Story by Dan Whiston, art by Johnny McMonagle & Richmond Clements. Wishpoosh, Meg 264 (Nov. 2007). Story and art by David Goodman. Grey Days, Meg 265 (Dec. 2007). Story and art by Nick Neocleous.
SNOW / TIGER Creators: Andy Diggle & Andy Clarke 7 episodes: 2003 Reprinted? This series has not yet been reprinted. You'll need the original progs.
Pax Americana, 7 episodes, 2000 AD progs 1336-1342 (Apr. to May 2003). Story by Andy Diggle, art by Andy Clarke & Chris Blythe.
SOUL GUN Creator: Shaky Kane 12 episodes: 1993-95 The Soul Gun adventures were a daring and experimental step for 2000 AD, giving Shaky Kane the chance to offer all the wonders of his Jack Kirby style and attitude into a story about the Cold War, the sabotage of the American space program and the ghost of Yuri Gagarin. The coloring is exceptionally rough for 2000 AD, but the art perfectly captures Kirby, and the rabidly anti-Communist dialogue is a good pastiche of Stan Lee. The second series even adds men in tights! In fairness, it should be noted that only about fifteen people ever liked this series, and we’re all nuts. It has long been suggested that the series was scripted by an uncredited Alan McKenzie. Trivia: In tribute to Jack Kirby after his death, Shaky contributed a pin-up of Tharg surfing in space on the 2000 AD logo in the manner of the Silver Surfer. This appeared on the back cover of prog 883. Top moment: In one of the most bizarre sequences ever to appear in 2000 AD, our hero Kim West sits underneath a gigantic technological phantasmagorical superstructure ready for his aura to be freed by the soul gun. This occurs when a small, innocuous revolver pops out of the machine in front of him and shoots him in the head. Reprinted? This series has never been reprinted. You'll need the original progs.
Soul Gun Warrior, 6 episodes, 2000 AD progs 867-872 (Dec. 1993 to Jan. 1994). Story and art by "Shaky 2000" (Shaky Kane). Soul Gun Assassin, 6 episodes, 2000 AD progs 920-925 (Dec. 1994 to Feb. 1995). Story and art by "Shaky 2000" (Kane).
SOUL SISTERS Creators: David Bishop, Dave Stone & Shaky Kane 9 episodes: 1992 Just about as unpopular as a series can be, this one tells of two "vigilante nuns," Sisters Hope and Faith, who are involved in a scheme by Auntie Incipia and the National Frump to take censorious control of Brit-Cit. Also involved are a double-headed East End gangster, the hapless Judge Lestrade and the robot double of Pope Bob the Second. As with Soul Gun, you might only like this if, like me, you enjoy Shaky Kane's artwork, otherwise not. Reprinted? This series has never been reprinted. You'll need the original Megs.
Soul Sisters, 8 episodes, Judge Dredd Megazine vol.2 #2-9 (June to Aug. 1992). Story by David Bishop & Dave Stone, art by Shaky Kane. The Dark Nuns Return, 1993 Judge Dredd Yearbook (Sep. 1992). Story by Bishop & Stone, art by Kane.
THE SPACE GIRLS Creators: John Tomlinson & Jason Brashill 5 episodes: 1997 For an idea as outright wrongheaded as this one was, the resultant Space Girls wasn’t nearly as bad as it could’ve been. Oh, it wasn’t good, but neither are most Future Shocks, and this is just as forgettable as most of those. This was a misbegotten effort to get the mainstream press to notice 2000 AD by introducing a quintet of hyperactive sci-fi heroines with goofy nicknames, such as Wide Open Space, pictured here. The notion of creating stories with mainstream media promotion in mind isn’t necessarily a bad one, but it would require a much better series than this. Reprinted? This series has never been reprinted. Don't count on it, either.
Space Girls, 4 episodes, 2000 AD progs 1062-1065 (Sept. to Oct. 1997). Story by John Tomlinson, art by Jason Brashill & Dondie Cox. Bazzajan Quilty's A-Z of Bizarre Sex, 2000 AD prog 1066 (Oct. 1997). Story by Tomlinson, art by Brashill & Cox.
THE STAINLESS STEEL RAT Adapted for 2000 AD by Kelvin Gosnell & Carlos Ezquerra 36 episodes: 1979-80, 1984-85 2000 AD printed 12-part adaptations of three of Harry Harrison’s SF novels about an intergalactic con man and thief. Reprinted? A six-part miniseries from Eagle Comics reprinted six episodes per issue.
The Stainless Steel Rat, 12 episodes, 2000 AD progs 140-151 (Nov. 1979 to Feb. 1980). Story by Kelvin Gosnell, art by Carlos Ezquerra. The Stainless Steel Rat Saves the World, 12 episodes, 2000 AD progs 166-177 (June to Sep. 1980). Story by Gosnell, art by Ezquerra. The Stainless Steel Rat for President, 12 episodes, 2000 AD progs 393-404 (Nov. 1984 to Feb. 1985). Story by Gosnell, art by Ezquerra.
STARLORD ONE-OFFS anthology series 4 episodes: 1978 .
Good Morning, Sheldon, I Love You!, Starlord 11 (July 1978). Story by "T.B. Grover" (John Wagner), art by Jose Casanovas + Jr. Earn Big Money While You Sleep, Starlord 16 (Aug. 1978). Story by "T.B. Grover" (John Wagner), art by Jose Casanovas + Jr. The Snatch, Starlord 17 (Sep. 1978). Story by Alan Hebden, art by Pena. Skirmish!, Starlord 20 (Sep. 1978). Story by Alan Hebden, art by Pena.
STICKLEBACK Creators: Ian Edginton & D'Israeli 21 episodes: 2006-present .
Mother London, 9 episodes, "Prog 2007" and progs 1518-1525 (Dec. 2006 to Feb. 2007). Story by Ian Edginton, art by D'Israeli. (episode one double-length) England's Glory, 12 episodes, "Prog 2008" and progs 1567-1577 (Dec. 2007 to Mar. 2008). Story by Ian Edginton, art by D'Israeli. (episodes one & twelve double-length)
STICKY FINGERS Creators: Myra Hancock & David Hine 12 episodes: 1989 A story about a construction worker with a criminal past who turns to shoplifting as her situation becomes desperate. It's a good story, if a little slight, although its lighter tone played well as a counterpoint to the heavier stories Third World War and Troubled Souls, which ran alongside it in Crisis. Hancock and Hine later reteamed for Tao de Moto in 2000 AD. Reprinted? This series has never been reprinted. You'll need the original Crisis comics.
Sticky Fingers, 12 episodes, Crisis # 15-21 and 23-27 (Apr. to Sep. 1989). Story by Myra Hancock, art by David Hine.
STONE ISLAND Creators: Ian Edginton & Simon Davis 18 episodes: 2006-2007 Reprinted? A collection is planned for March 2008.
Stone Island, 8 episodes, 2000 AD progs 1500-1507 (Aug. to Sep. 2006). Story by Ian Edginton, art by Simon Davis. (Episode one double-length.) The Harrowers, 10 episodes, 2000 AD progs 1550-1559 (Aug. to Oct. 2007). Story by Ian Edginton, art by Simon Davis. (Episodes one and ten double-length.)
STORM Creators: Scott Goodall & Musquera 19 episodes: 1979 A series about a boy raised by wolves in the Highlands who has remarkable speed and agility and who, after being chased by grumpy landowners and newspapermen, erm, becomes a track and field runner. There's some nice art by Cam Kennedy at any rate... Reprinted? This series has never been reprinted. You'll need the original Tornado comics.
Storm, 19 episodes, Tornado # 3-15 and 17-22 (April to Aug. 1979). Story by Scott Goodall, art by Musquera (pts 1-5) and Cam Kennedy (pts 6-19).
STORMING HEAVEN Creators: Gordon Rennie & Frazer Irving 7 episodes: 2001-2002 Heaven should have been spectacular; there were enough brilliant ideas crammed into its two-month run to fill a couple of years of epic storylines. Unfortunately, it ended up a barely coherent mess. The story explained that in the 1960s, a chemist synthesized an LSD derivative which gave him astonishing super powers. He forcibly seceded San Francisco from the rest of the United States and opened its borders to anyone willing to turn up, tune in and evolve with him and the rest of the supermen. Years later, the city is full of super people and has attracted the attention of a Manson-like monster bent on destroying their utopia. Then-editor Andy Diggle had espoused a “rocket fuel” approach to the weekly, having writers fill their episodes with racing action and wild ideas, rather than drag out over several series which move like glaciers (see Mambo and Hogan’s run on Strontium Dogs and Durham Red). For the most part, this policy worked, but Storming Heaven was a notable exception, suffering terribly from having far too much happen in far too short a time. When characters are first mentioned offscreen only to have their deaths briefly recounted in a narrative caption, is there any way to care? In the end, Storming Heaven is just a confusing mess, although one awfully pleasing to look at, thanks to Frazer Irving’s amazing artwork. Reprinted? Yes, in a collection with several other Irving-illustrated stories.
Storming Heaven, 7 episodes, 2000 AD "Prog 2002" & progs 1273-1278 (Dec. 2001 to Feb. 2002). Story by Gordon Rennie, art by Frazer Irving. (Episodes 1 and 7 double-length.)
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.
STRAITGATE Creators: John Smith & Sean Phillips 5 episodes: 1990 An absolutely chilling story about a young man slowly descending into madness and murder, this was serialized across the first four issues of Crisis in its monthly incarnation.
Genesis, Crisis # 50 (Sep. 1990). Story by John Smith, art by Sean Phillips. Exodus, Crisis # 50 (Sep. 1990). Story by John Smith, art by Sean Phillips. Leviticus, Crisis # 51 (Oct. 1990). Story by John Smith, art by Sean Phillips. Numbers, Crisis # 52 (Nov. 1990). Story by John Smith, art by Sean Phillips. Deuteronomy, Crisis # 53 (Dec. 1990). Story by John Smith, art by Sean Phillips.
THE STRAITJACKET FITS Creators: David Bishop & Roger Langridge 13 episodes: 1991-92 Reprinted? This series has never been reprinted. You'll need the original Megs.
The Straitjacket Fits, 12 episodes, Judge Dredd Megazine vol.1 #9-20 (May 1991 to May 1992). Story by David Bishop, art by Roger Langridge. The Final Fit, 1993 Judge Dredd Yearbook (Sep. 1992). Story by David Bishop, Dave Stone, art by Roger Langridge.
STRANGE CASES anthology series 8 episodes: 1991-93 Reprinted? This series has never been reprinted. You'll need the original Megs.
Feed Me!, Judge Dredd Megazine vol.1 #7 (Apr. 1991). Story by Warren Ellis, art by Sean Phillips. Magic, Judge Dredd Megazine vol.1 #8 (May 1991). Story by Ian Edginton, art by Sean Phillips. Eating Out, 1991 Judge Dredd Mega Special #4. Story by Dave Stone, art by Dean Ormston. Demonspawn, 1992 Judge Dredd Yearbook. Story by Dave Stone, art by Kev Hopgood. Skin Games, Judge Dredd Megazine vol.1 #17 (Feb. 1992). Story by John Smith, art by John Hicklenton. Monsters, Judge Dredd Megazine vol.1 #18 (Mar. 1992). Story by Dave Stone, art by Nick Percival. Where the Heart Is, 1992 Judge Dredd Mega Special #5. Story by Nicholas Barber, art by Nick Percival. Young Love, 1993 Judge Dredd Mega Special #6. Story by Jim Alexander, art by "Siku" (Ajibayo Akinsiku).
STRONTIUM DOG Creators: John Wagner & Carlos Ezquerra 380 episodes: 1978-90, 1992, 1999-present When Strontium Dog finally ended its first run in 1990 with the death of Johnny Alpha, it really was the end of an era. Basically a traditional Western in the future, featuring bounty hunters in the badlands hunting down outlaws and criminals, the storyline has a feel somewhere between a Spaghetti Western and Have Gun, Will Travel, and Carlos Ezquerra's unbeatable artwork complements the action beautifully. The principal character is Johnny Alpha, warped by strontium radiation to have x-ray eyes. Mutants like Alpha are ostracized in this violent future, leaving the only real employment prospect the Search/Destroy Agency, which accepts commissions from lonely frontier planets to bring criminals to justice. Search/Destroy Agents, referred to as "strontium dogs" by a populace that loathes them, have a deserved reputation as being violent thugs. Johnny and his allies Wulf Sternhammer, Middenface McNulty and Durham Red are among the few decent agents. Others, such as the Weerd Brothers, Doc Death, Big Cynthia and the Stix family, become recurring antagonists and have few qualms about killing any stinking norms that get in the way of their alien bounties. The scripts are always excellent, with tongue darting to cheek when necessary (witness the toothy, smiling Osmongs, a murderous family in "The Killing"), and getting almost depressingly dark in others, like the entire "Ragnarok"/"Rage" arc that lasts 44 (!) episodes. On that note, the credits might seem a little misleading. The series was scripted by John Wagner solo from the beginning though "Journey Into Hell." From "Death's Head" through "Stone Killers," it was co-written by Wagner and Alan Grant, but credited to Grant alone for payment purposes. Grant wrapped up the original run in 1990 as the solo writer. The series lost a lot when Ezquerra left to draw Third World War for Crisis. Simon Harrison's anarchic artwork didn't really fit the tone, although the last six episodes of the original series, with color artwork by Colin MacNeil, are breathtaking. Strontium Dog began in Starlord, and at least seven stories appeared in that comic. Some years later, Showtime bought the rights to make a TV adaptation of the comic. While this sadly was never developed, John Wagner adapted his pilot script for the TV series into “The Kreeler Conspiracy.” This was the first in a new series of “untold cases” for Johnny Alpha, and while he isn’t currently appearing with quite the frequency he once was, each of his new stories has been a gem of story and art, with 2003's hilarious "Tax Dodge" being one of the very best Johnny Alpha adventures. Top moment: In “The Schiklegruber Grab,” Johnny and Wulf have gone back to 1945 to apprehend Adolf Hitler in order that he may stand trial for his crimes. Hitler is such a ranting loudmouth that Wulf gags him with one of his dirty socks, periodically removing it to hear more of the same bluster and re-gagging him. Finally, Hitler calms down and when Wulf removes the sock, Hitler meekly promises to behave and would Mr. Sturnhammer please not put another dirty sock in his mouth. It is also worth noting that another time job, to rescue Ronald Reagan from alien freedom fighters, results in a classic editorial note from Tharg advising young Earthlets against firing catapults or slingshots around the president. Reprinted? You can pick up plenty of classic stories in an American comic reprint and some old Best of 2000 AD magazines and some of the Megazines towards the end of volume 3. There was an old Titan graphic novel which reprinted some Starlord episodes and a more recent one which collected "Portrait of a Mutant" and "The Schicklegruber Grab," but a definitive edition finally began in the spring of 2005 from DC/Rebellion. The first collection included the first four 2000 AD stories, but the line was superceded by a new series from Rebellion.
Max Quirxx, 2 episodes, Starlord #1-2 (May 1978). Story by John Wagner, art by Carlos Ezquerra. Papa Por-ka, 3 episodes, Starlord #3-5 (May to June 1978). Story by John Wagner, art by Carlos Ezquerra. No Cure for Kansyr, 2 episodes, Starlord #6-7 (June 1978). Story by John Wagner, art by Carlos Ezquerra. Planet of the Dead, 3 episodes, Starlord #8-10 (July 1978). Story by John Wagner, art by Carlos Ezquerra. Two-Faced Terror, 4 episodes, Starlord #12-15 (July to Aug. 1978). Story by John Wagner, art by Carlos Ezquerra. Strontium Dog, Starlord Summer Special (July 1978). Story by Bill Henry, art by Brendan McCarthy. Demon Maker, 3 episodes, Starlord #17-19 (Sep. 1978). Story by John Wagner, art by Brendan McCarthy (pt 1) & Ian Gibson (pts 2-3). The Brain, 2 episodes, Starlord #21-22 (Sep. to Oct. 1978). Story by John Wagner, art by Carlos Ezquerra. The Galaxy Killers, 9 episodes, 2000 AD progs 86-94 (Oct. 1978 to Jan. 1979). Story by "TB Grover" (John Wagner), art by Carlos Ezquerra. Journey into Hell, 15 episodes, 2000 AD progs 104-118 (Mar. to June 1979). Story by "TB Grover" (Wagner). art by Carlos Ezquerra. Assault on Trigol 3, 1979 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special (June 1979). Story by "Ian Rogan" (Steve MacManus), art by Rob Moran. Funfair of Fear, 1980 Starlord Annual (Aug. 1979). Writer uncredited, art by Brendan McCarthy. untitled, 1981 Starlord Annual (Aug. 1980). Writer uncredited, art by Keith Page. Death's Head, 4 episodes, 2000 AD progs 178-181 (Sept. to Oct. 1980). Story by (John Wagner and) Alan Grant, art by Carlos Ezquerra. The Schicklgruber Grab, 7 episodes, 2000 AD progs 182-188 (Oct. to Nov. 1980). Story by (John Wagner and) Alan Grant, art by Carlos Ezquerra. Mutie's Luck, 2000 AD prog 189 (Dec. 1980). Story by (John Wagner and) Alan Grant, art by Carlos Ezquerra. The Doc Quince Case, 4 episodes, 2000 AD progs 190-193 (Dec. 1980). Story by (John Wagner and) Alan Grant, art by Carlos Ezquerra. The Bad Boys Bust, 4 episodes, 2000 AD progs 194-197 (Jan. 1981). Story by (John Wagner and) Alan Grant, art by Carlos Ezquerra. Portrait of a Mutant, 19 episodes, 2000 AD progs 200-206 and 210-221 (Feb. to July 1981). Story by (John Wagner and) Alan Grant, art by Carlos Ezquerra. The Gronk Affair, 4 episodes, 2000 AD progs 224-227 (Aug. 1981). Story by (John Wagner and) Alan Grant, art by Carlos Ezquerra. untitled, 1982 Starlord Annual (Aug. 1981). Writer uncredited, art by Carlos Ezquerra. untitled, 1982 2000 AD Annual (Aug. 1981). Story by Gary Rice, art by Steve Kyte. The Kid Knee Caper, 6 episodes, 2000 AD progs 228-233 (Sept. to Oct. 1981). Story by (John Wagner and) Alan Grant, art by Carlos Ezquerra. Incident at the Back o' Beyond, 1983 2000 AD Annual (Aug. 1982). Story by "Staccato" (Alan Grant), art by Robin Smith. The Moses Incident, 11 episodes, 2000 AD progs 335-345 (Sep. to Dec. 1983). Story by (John Wagner and) Alan Grant, art by Carlos Ezquerra. The Killing, 10 episodes, 2000 AD progs 350-359 (Jan. to Mar. 1984). Story by (John Wagner and) Alan Grant, art by Carlos Ezquerra. Outlaw!, 23 episodes, 2000 AD progs 363-385 (Apr. to Sep. 1984). Story by (John Wagner and) Alan Grant, art by Carlos Ezquerra. The Big Bust of '49, 9 episodes, 2000 AD progs 416-424 (May to June 1985). Story by (John Wagner and) Alan Grant, art by Carlos Ezquerra. The Slavers of Drule, 10 episodes, 2000 AD progs 425-434 (July to Sep. 1985). Story by (John Wagner and) Alan Grant, art by Carlos Ezquerra. The Beast of Milton Keynes, 1986 2000 AD Annual (Aug. 1985). Story by Alan Grant, art by Carlos Ezquerra. The Ragnarok Job, 21 episodes, 2000 AD progs 445-465 (Nov. 1985 to Apr. 1986). Story by (John Wagner and) Alan Grant, art by Carlos Ezquerra. Smiley's World, 2 episodes, 2000 AD progs 466-467 (Apr. 1986). Story by (John Wagner and) Alan Grant, art by Carlos Ezquerra. Rage, 21 episodes, 2000 AD progs 469-489 (May to Sep. 1986). Story by (John Wagner and) Alan Grant, art by Carlos Ezquerra. Fever, 1987 2000 AD Annual (Aug. 1986). Story by Alan Grant, art by Kim Raymond. Incident on Mayger Minor, 7 episodes, 2000 AD progs 490-496 (Oct. to Nov. 1986). Story by (John Wagner and) Alan Grant, art by Carlos Ezquerra. War Zone, 3 episodes, 2000 AD progs 497-499 (Nov. to Dec. 1986). Story by (John Wagner and) Alan Grant, art by Carlos Ezquerra. Bitch, 25 episodes, 2000 AD progs 505-529 (Jan. to July 1987). Story by (John Wagner and) Alan Grant, art by Carlos Ezquerra. The Royal Affair, 5 episodes, 2000 AD progs 532-536 (July to Aug. 1987). Story by (John Wagner and) Alan Grant, art by Carlos Ezquerra. Complaint, 1988 2000 AD Annual (Aug. 1987). Story by Alan Grant, art by Carlos Ezquerra. A Sorry Case, 4 episodes, 2000 AD progs 540-543 (Sep. to Oct. 1987). Story by (John Wagner and) Alan Grant, art by Colin MacNeil. The Rammy, 10 episodes, 2000 AD progs 544-553 (Oct. to Dec. 1987). Story by (John Wagner and) Alan Grant, art by Carlos Ezquerra. Stone Killers, 13 episodes, 2000 AD progs 560-572 (Feb. to Apr. 1988). Story by (John Wagner and) Alan Grant, art by Carlos Ezquerra. Incident on Zeta, 2000 AD prog 573 (May 1988). Story by Alan Grant, art by Carlos Ezquerra. The No-Go Job, 8 episodes, 2000 AD progs 580-587 (June to Aug. 1988). Story by Alan Grant, art by Simon Harrison. The Town that Died of Shame, 1988 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special (July 1988). Story by Alan Grant, art by Colin MacNeil. Incident at the Birth of the Universe, 2000 AD Winter Special 1 (Nov. 1988). Story by Alan Grant, art by Kevin Walker. The Final Solution, 28 episodes plus recap, 2000 AD progs 600-606, 615-621, 636-641, 645-647 and 682-687 (Nov. 1988 to July 1990). Story by Alan Grant, art by Simon Harrison (pts 1-23) and Colin MacNeil (prog 682's recap and pts 24-28). Incident at the End of the World, 1991 2000 AD Annual (Aug. 1990). Story by Alan Grant, art by Keith Page. The Walking Lady (An Untold Tale), 1992 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special (June 1992). Story by Peter Hogan, art by John Ridgway. The Kreeler Conspiracy, 13 episodes, 2000 AD "Prog 2000," 1174-1180 and 1195-1199 (Dec. 1999 to June 2000). Story by John Wagner, art by Carlos Ezquerra. (Episode 1 double-length) The Sad Case, double-length episode, 2000 AD "Prog 2001" (Dec. 2000). Story by John Wagner, art by Carlos Ezquerra. Roadhouse, 8 episodes, 2000 AD progs 1300-1307 (July to Sep. 2002). Story by John Wagner, art by Carlos Ezquerra. (Episode 1 double-length) The Tax Dodge, 9 episodes, 2000 AD progs 1350-1358 (July to Sep. 2003). Story by John Wagner, art by Carlos Ezquerra. (Episode 1 double-length) The Headly Foot Job, 4 episodes, 2000 AD progs 1400-1403 (July to Aug. 2004). Story by Wagner, art by Ezquerra. Traitor to His Kind, 10 episodes, 2000 AD progs 1406-1415 (Sep. to Nov. 2004). Story by Wagner, art by Ezquerra. A Shaggy Dog Story, 5 episodes, 2000 AD "Prog 2006" and progs 1469-1472 (Dec. 2005 to Jan. 2006). Story by Wagner, art by Ezquerra. (Episode 1 double-length) The Glum Affair, 11 episodes, 2000 AD "Prog 2008" and progs 1567-1576 (Dec. 2007 to Mar. 2008). Story by Wagner, art by Ezquerra.
DC/REBELLION REPRINTS Volume One: The Early Cases (4/05). Reprints "The Galaxy Killers," "Journey into Hell," "Death's Head" and "The Schicklegruber Grab."
REBELLION REPRINTS Search/Destroy Agency Files: Volume One (12/06). Reprints "Max Quirxx," "Papa Por-ka," "No Cure for Kansyr," "Planet of the Dead," "Two-Faced Terror," "Demon Maker," "The Brain," "The Galaxy Killers," "Journey into Hell," "Death's Head," "The Schicklegruber Grab," "Mutie's Luck," "The Doc Quince Case," the 1978 Starlord Summer Special story, and the three episodes from the 1980-1982 Starlord Annuals. Search/Destroy Agency Files: Volume Two (6/07). Reprints "Portrait of a Mutant," "The Gronk Affair," "The Kid Knee Caper," "The Moses Incident," "The Killing," "Outlaw!" and the untitled story from the 1982 2000 AD Annual. Search/Destroy Agency Files: Volume Three (9/07). Reprints "The Big Bust of '49," "The Slavers of Drule," "The Ragnarok Job," "Smiley's World," "Rage," "Incident on Mayger Minor," "War Zone," "Incident at the Back o'Beyond" and "The Beast of Milton Keynes."
STRONTIUM DOGS Creators: Garth Ennis & Steve Pugh 59 episodes: 1991-96 This is the followup to Strontium Dog, set in the period after Johnny Alpha's death. It centers on many of the supporting characters from that strip, namely Feral, the Gronk, Middenface and Durham Red and starts its own interesting continuity in which nothing much happens. After Garth Ennis left the strip, Peter Hogan began a rather drawn out process of introducing several long-running subplots, the overall effect being that each of the stories you see listed (as well as Hogan's 14 Durham Red episodes from 1994-96) are merely snippets from the overall story and not really adventures in their own right. The result was a grand space opera that embraced the concept of inertia, advancing the subplots at a snail's pace. With so much space devoted to nothing happening, the strip was quietly cancelled and the focus shifted to the future adventures of Durham Red under a new writer. Top moment: It’s overlooked by everyone, but in the first story, Feral has fallen in love with an ex-military nurse named Bet, who has allied with the muties to kill her ex-husband, now hunting them down. In the aftermath of their showdown, Feral has murdered the colonel and thinks that it’s all over, but Bet sadly opens her coat to show him that she was shot and has been mortally wounded. Ennis and Pugh pace this scene criminally well, and it’s an absolutely devastating ending. Reprinted? Only "Monsters" has been reprinted, across two issues of the American 2000 AD Showcase.
Monsters, 12 episodes, 2000 AD progs 750-761 (Sep. to Dec. 1991). Story by Garth Ennis, art by Steve Pugh. Dead Man's Hand, 1993 Yearbook (Aug. 1992). Story by Garth Ennis, art by Simon Harrison. Return of the Gronk, 8 episodes, 2000 AD progs 817-824 (Jan. to Feb. 1993). Story by Garth Ennis, art by Nigel Dobbyn. Angel Blood, 1993 Sci-Fi Special #16 (June 1993). Story by Igor Goldkind, art by Jon Beeston & Colin Macneil How the Gronk Got His Heartses, 2 episodes, 2000 AD progs 850-851 (Aug. 1993). Story by Ennis, art by Dobbyn. The Darkest Star, 12 episodes, 2000 AD progs 855-866 (Oct. to Dec. 1993). Story by Ennis, art by Dobbyn. The Cage, Strontium Dogs Poster Prog #1. Story by Peter Hogan, art by Dobbyn. Crossroads, 3 episodes, 2000 AD progs 897-899 (July 1994). Story by Peter Hogan, art by Dobbyn. The Alphabet Man, 3 episodes, 2000 AD progs 937-939 (Apr. to May 1995). Story by Hogan, art by Dobbyn. High Moon, 8 episodes, 2000 AD progs 940-947 (May to July 1995). Story by Peter Hogan, art by Mark Harrison. The Mutant Sleeps Tonight, 2000 AD prog 957 (Sep. 1995). Story by Peter Hogan, art by Simon Harrison. Hate and War, 7 episodes, 2000 AD progs 993-999 (May to July 1996). Story by "Alan Smithee" (Hogan & David Bishop), art by Trevor Hairsine.
SWIFTY Creators: Pete Milligan & Brendan McCarthy 36 episodes: 1986, 1989 Sooner or Later was a delightful back-page humor strip drawn maniacally by Brendan McCarthy, with a flippant style which complemented Peter Milligan’s wonderfully winking scripts. Over two years later, Swifty returned in a four-part series drawn by Jamie Hewlett. A light, breezy little series, this did not take itself any more seriously than it had to. Top moment: Swifty has been forced to spend 24 hours in four different time periods before he can get to the eternal party. Exhausted, they arrive in the early 1970s at a Yes concert and fall asleep. 24 hours later they wake up and Yes is still playing. The same song. Reprinted? This series has not been reprinted. You'll need the original progs.
Sooner or Later, 32 episodes, 2000 AD progs 468-496 and 498-499 (May to Dec. 1986). Story by Peter Milligan, art by Brendan McCarthy. (2 episodes in 499.) Swifty's Return, 4 episodes, 2000 AD progs 614-617 (Feb. to Mar. 1989). Story by Peter Milligan, art by Jamie Hewlett.
SYNNAMON Creators: Colin Clayton, Chris Dows, Lawrence Campbell & Lee Townsend 16 episodes: 2003-2004, 2006 Proof that Tharg is a benevolent and kind alien editor. Despite misfiring with Bison, a strip which prompted more vitriol and loathing from fandom than perhaps any other, its creators were given the chance to create another new series. Synnamon is not a particularly original strip - despite the Emma Peel costume and Modesty Blaise action poses, there's nothing here that Rose O'Rion couldn't have done - but it's miles better than Bison was and seemed, briefly, to have joined the ranks of those recurring series with an once-yearly run. Reprinted?: This series has not yet been reprinted. You'll need the original progs.
Facing Mecha, 9 episodes, 2000 AD progs 1362-1370 (Oct. to Dec. 2003). Story by Colin Clayton & Chris Dows, art by Lawrence Campbell, Lee Townsend & Gary Caldwell. Recalibration, 3 episodes, 2000 AD progs 1416-1418 (Nov. to Dec. 2004). Story by Clayton & Dows, art by Laurence Campbell, David Roach & Gary Caldwell. Arc of Light, 4 episodes, 2000 AD progs 1473-1476 (Feb. 2006). Story by Clayton & Dows, art by David Roach & Gary Caldwell.