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Legendary comics Battle and Action are back as part of a roster of TWELVE new special titles for 2020 from Rebellion Publishing!

Some of the biggest titles in comic books return, many of them for the first time in decades, as Rebellion lights up newsstands, comic stores, and digital devices from March through to December.

Reviving old favourites while introducing new audiences to the very best of British comics, these new specials include original fresh work from top names such as Garth Ennis (The Boys, Preacher), Ram V (Catwoman), Alex de Campi (Dredd), Rob Williams (Suicide Squad), Dan Lish (Egostrip), VV Glass (Doctor Who), Danijel Žeželj (Luna Park) and many, many more!

From the groundbreaking war stories of Battle to the violent carnage of Action, from home-grown superhero action in Smash! to old school derring-do with The Return of Sexton Blake and classic espionage in Thriller Picture Library , there's something in this line-up for all readers! As if that wasn't enough, then we're heading to the future with a special focusing on Rebellion's eagerly anticipated release of Evil Genius 2 and kicking off exciting European Cup action with Roy of the Rovers!

There's also the return of last year's hit specials – Cor!! Buster, Misty & Scream!, and Tammy & Jinty! – along with a 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special celebrating two decades of Thrill-power under the Rebellion banner!

These titles will all be available from all good newsagents and comic book stores.

All the 2020 specials will also be available to pre-order as a special £59.99 subscription bundle from the 2000 AD webshop, which includes 20% off and with an exclusive bagged reproduction of the infamous 'banned' issue of Action from October 1976!

Keith Richardson, senior editor at Rebellion Publishing, said: "We're really excited about our 2020 specials and to be able to put together such an impressive roster of talent has been a real privilege, with plenty more announcements still to come.

"Rebellion owns the world's biggest archive of English language comics and to say we're spoilt for choice is an understatement – but we've picked out iconic titles to reinvigorate for the 21st Century, alongside some of the best new products Rebellion has to offer. We're putting these comics back where they belong – back on the newsstand and back in front of new audiences."

March: Action Special
April: Cor!! Buster Easter Special
May: Smash! Special
June: Roy of the Rovers Euro 2020 Special
June: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special: Twenty Years of Rebellion
July: Tammy & Jinty Special
September: Battle Special
September: Misty & Scream! Special
November: Thriller Picture Library Special
November: The Return of Sexton Blake
December: Misty Presents... Special
Date TBC: Evil Genius 2 Special

It horrified prudes and censors alike – but the ground-breaking Action is back! The 1970s comic they tried to ban returns with the same blend of unbeatable characters and no-holds-barred action – all brought to you by the best talents of today! Featuring the killer shark Hookjaw by Dan Lish, juvenile delinquency in Kids Rule OK by Ram V and Henrick Stahlstrom, frontline German Panzer with Hellman of Hammer Force by Garth Ennis and Mike Dorey, merciless secret agent action with Dredger by Zina Hutton, and the brand new Hell Machine by Henry Flint. Plus, the exclusive edition available from the 2000 AD website will come with a bagged reproduction of the 'banned' issue of Action from October 1976!

The biggest and brightest humour comic in Britain is back for another 48-page special! A smash hit with kids, the Cor!! Buster Easter Special brings together two of Britain's most beloved humour comics for 48 pages of belly laughs and silly japes from some of the best creators around, including Lew Stringer and John Freeman on Buster and Delbert, Sweeny Toddler and Gah! by Tom Paterson, Grimly Feendish by Ned Hartley and Tom Paterson, Frankie Stein by Cavan Scott and Steve Mannion, Daisy Jones' Locket by Olivia Hicks and Shelli Paroline, Birdman and Chicken by Edward Whatley, Swines of Anarchy by Lee Langford and Pye Parr, Faceache by Matt Smith and John Lucas, Gums by Lizzie Boyle and Abigail Ryder, Deadly Hedley by Paul Goodenough and Rositsa Vangelova, Kid Kong by Alec Worley and Tiernen Travallion, and Duck Turpin by Robin Etherington and David Follett.

They're the home-grown superheroes who gave Superman and Spider-Man a run for their money – and now their back in the Smash! Special! Featuring some of the most original and unusual caped crusaders you'll ever encounter, this 64-page special features super-villain-turned-hero The Spider by Rob Williams and John McCrea, supercharged secret agent The Steel Claw by Danijel Žeželj, the 'missing link' who became the man of the future Johnny Future by Tom Raney, giant robot ape Mytek the Mighty by Suyi Davies Okungbowa and Anand Radhakrishnan, and many more!

It's going to be an incredible summer of football with the European Championships and the Roy of the Rovers Euro 2020 Special will bring you excitement on and off the pitch. Featuring the talents of the Roy of the Rovers creative team – Rob Williams, Lisa Henke and Tom Palmer – this 48-page special kicks off this June!

2020 marks two decades since Rebellion stepped in to save the Galaxy's Greatest Comic. The 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special celebrates 20 Years of Rebellion with a specially-curated look at 2000 AD during the tenure of its longest-serving owners and longest-serving editor; featuring some of the best talents of the past 20 years, this 48-page special celebrates the evolution of 2000 AD since its namesake year with comics and features about Britain's biggest and best comic!

Tammy & Jinty return for two feature-length stories from modern creators in a new 48-page comic, continuing the work of last year's hit special! Tammy and Jinty were ground-breaking female-led comics covered that everything from science fiction and fantasy to romance and domestic drama. Now retooled for the 21st Century, the Tammy & Jinty Special pays tribute to this legacy of trail-blazing comics while introducing a new audience to the medium!

It was the comic than inspired a generation and introduced readers to some of the reality of war – Battle is back and it's bigger than ever! This 96-page special features the returns of Rat Pack, Destroyer, El Mestizo, and more of your favourite characters – direct from the comic book front lines! Inspired by the classic comic and ground-breaking characters, creators such as Garth Ennis, Alex De Campi, Alan Hebden, Brent McKee, Keith Burns, Rob Williams, and more bring you stories of war inspired by real events but with the flair and excitement that made Battle the innovative comic it was!

Following the success of last year's fright-filled outing, the Misty & Scream! Special returns this Hallowe'en! Two of Britain's best loved comics reunite for an anthology of brand new tales that are guaranteed to terrify and entertain you – courtesy of a coven of creators, including Kek-W, Simon Coleby, Vincenzo Riccardi, Cavan Scott, Alec Worley, DaNi, and many more!

Thriller Picture Library was the pocket book series packed with thrilling tales of danger and adventure, which delighted audiences for more than a decade in the mid-20th Century, establishing the careers of D. C. Eyles, Mike Hubbard, Eric Parker and Septimus E. Scott. With a brand new cover by VV Glass, this 128-page special includes two classic John Steel adventures from the 1960s, drawn by Luis Bermejo (Eerie, Vampirella) and coloured for modern audiences!

He's the world's greatest detective and now one of the most popular fictional characters of all time, Sexton Blake, is back! Part Sherlock Holmes, part action hero, Blake was created by Harry Blyth in 1893
and his instant success saw him become the subject of countless novels, comics, radio, and TV, making him one of the last century's most popular characters. Featuring a guide to his adventures alongside just some of his timeless comic book adventures, The Return of Sexton Blake is a 96-page collection that will reintroduce the master of mystery and suspense!

Christmas is the perfect time for a ghost story and this year's Misty Presents... special will bring a few seasonal scares with a 48-page special that will shock your Xmas stocking off the wall and have you cowering under the tree with your presents! Prepare yourselves for a Yuletide shocker as M.R. James meets Black Mirror in a brand new title to round out a very special year!

Evil Genius 2: World Domination is coming to Steam in 2020 in a fully-fledged sequel to the 2004 classic PC game – and, like all the best villains, now that we have you captive we're going to reveal the inner workings of our fiendish plans in a 64-page special! In this spy-fi lair builder you take control of an Evil Genius, with your aim nothing less than taking over the world and the Evil Genius 2 Special will take you behind-the-scenes on this long-awaited sequel!

[Rediscover one of the most influential graphic novels ever, with the Sláine: The Horned God - Collector's Edition.]

Rediscover one of the most influential graphic novels ever, with the Sláine: The Horned God - Collector's Edition.

Timed to coincide with the 30th anniversary of its first publication, this new, larger edition of the best-selling 2000 AD collection, written by industry visionary Pat Mills, features the groundbreaking fully-painted art of comics legend Simon Bisley.

Slaine: The Horned God – Collector's Edition is a 208-page 210 x 276mm paperback collection, retailing at £19.99/$24.99 and arriving in stores on May 20, 2020.

One of the most popular stories ever published in the pages of 2000 AD, The Horned God is a heady mix of Celtic mythology, extreme violence, and beautiful artwork. Originally published in 2000 AD in three instalments between 1989 and 1990, as well as Mills' fascinating characters and saga-like storytelling, the stunning enormity of Bisley's work on the series cannot be understated, with epic battles and vast landscapes evoking everything from the work of Frank Frazetta to Gustav Klimt.

The Horned God sparked a revolution in sequential comic books and spawned a multitude of imitators, but even after three decades Mills and Bisley's masterpiece is as fresh and startling as it was when it was first published as a weekly serial.

Created by Mills and artist Angie Kincaid in 1983, Sláine is a wandering warrior cast out from his tribe and wandering the mist-wreathed realm of Tír na nÓg, the 'Land of the Young', with his duplicitous dwarf, Ukko. This deluxe collector's edition returns us to this ancient land, suffering under the dominion of the Drunes; strange druids who have poisoned the land with their magic. Sláine has had enough of their tyranny and, through the Earth Goddess, he learns some shocking truths about the priesthood and his own future. Now Sláine must unite the four kings of Tír na nÓg and use their mystical weapons as he and the Sessair tribe prepare for all-out war!

Pat Mills' writing and editorial career started in Dundee, working for D.C. Thomson on the teenage romance magazine Romeo. Later he went freelance and started a long relationship with IPC Magazines, initially writing for girl's titles like Tammy, Pink and Sandy. He then worked with Malcolm Shaw on devising Jinty before moving over to rejuvenate boy's comics. He created Battle (with John Wagner), Action, Misty and 2000 AD. Other notable works include Marshal Law, Third World War in Crisis, and Requiem Vampire Knight.

Simon Bisley occupies an almost unique place in 2000 AD history as one of the first UK artists to popularise the fully painted style. His highly dynamic artwork made his two major series in the Galaxy's Greatest Comic — A.B.C. Warriors: The Black Hole and Sláine: The Horned God. He also illustrated Heavy Metal Dredd before going on to paint the hugely successful first Batman/Judge Dredd crossover story Judgement on Gotham. Bisley has provided countless pin-ups and short pieces across an astonishing variety of comics, from legendary fantasy anthology Heavy Metal to anarchic DC superhero series Lobo, and has an even more extensive CV in Europe, where his painted style enjoys enormous success.

My copy of Home Sweet Home arrived today. The shifting art styles work pretty well, although it's entertaining that the sections with Tom Paterson are among the freakiest. No spoilers from me about the plot, but it's a solid tale that feels very coherent and standalone; there's also an entertaining one-shot called The Romantic, and four pages of reprint that basically form an ad for the Rebellion trade of the original story. Good stuff, all round, and close to the Tammy special as my favourite from this year's crop.

So that's it from this year's specials. Not a duff one among them. The only real disappointment is that at least three of them aren't more regular.

[Mutant mayhem: gorgeous new hardcover for 2000 AD classic, Strontium Dog, coming summer 2020]

Mutant mayhem: gorgeous new hardcover for 2000 AD classic, Strontium Dog, coming summer 2020

The earliest adventures of one of 2000 AD's greatest characters - Strontium Dog - are to be reprinted in colour for the first time in decades.

Reprinted with its original colour pages, Strontium Dog: Search and Destroy is a sumptuous 144-page hardcover collecting the origins of John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra's hard-hitting story of prejudice and violence.

The 210 x 276mm book, retailing at £19.99, will hit shelves on 26th June 2020 with a new introduction by co-creator John Wagner and featuring gorgeous artwork by Ezquerra, along with Brendan McCarthy, and Ian Gibson.



Strontium Dog: Search and Destroy brings back into print one of the seminal series of British comics, a science fiction Western that merges everything from time travel to a trip to Hell itself. This new edition, with colour centre spreads lovingly restored, is a must for fans and collectors alike, putting these stories back to their rightful place as one of the key series in the annals of British comics.

Originally published in Starlord, 2000 AD's sister comic, these early stories had a profound effect upon readers, including future film director Edgar Wright. After the comic merged with 2000 AD, Johnny Alpha quickly became a fan favourite character and Strontium Dog remains one of the most iconic strips in the history of British comics.

The series is set in a world where nuclear war has left two classes of people - the mutants and the Norms. The mutant, their bodies warped by Strontium 90 fallout, are a persecuted minority barred from public life and herded into ghettos. Their only option for employment is as 'Strontium Dogs', bounty hunters tracking down the scum of the galaxy for cold, hard cash. It's a difficult and dangerous life where only the toughest can survive. But Johnny Alpha and his Viking partner, Wulf Sternhammer, are the toughest there is.

One of the most influential names in the British comics industry, John Wagner started his professional career in the 1960s, working for DC Thompson in Dundee. Sub-editing various titles including Romeo, Wagner went freelance in the early seventies, forming a writing partnership with Pat Mills. Soon after, Wagner then made the move down south, joining IPC's staff, where he initially edited girls' titles, Sandie and Princess Tina, before helping to develop Battle Picture Weekly. Appointed as editor to the ailing boys' comic Valiant, Wagner had an instant impact, co-creating and writing the hard-hitting cop strip One-Eyed Jack. He is best known as the co-creator of both Judge Dredd and Strontium Dog for 2000 AD.

Carlos Ezquerra is one of the biggest names in British comics, his utterly unique style and designs inspiring generations of comics fans and creators. Originally from Zaragoza in Spain, Ezquerra began his career on Spanish romance titles before getting work for IPC in London, where he moved from romance onto war and action stories, working extensively on Battle Picture Weekly and Action on strips such as El Mestizo, Rat Pack and Major Eazy. As co-creator of Judge Dredd for 2000 AD, Ezquerra designed the classic original costume as well as visually conceptualising Mega-City One. He also co-created Strontium Dog and illustrated A.B.C. Warriors, Judge Anderson, Tharg the Mighty, Al's Baby and Cursed Earth Koburn, amongst many others. Away from 2000 AD, Ezquerra illustrated Third World War for Crisis magazine, and regularly worked with Garth Ennis on Adventures in the Rifle Brigade, Bloody Mary, Just a Pilgrim, Condors, The Magnificent Kevin, and Preacher. He passed away in 2018.

Rebellion is pleased to announce a new range of 2000 AD merchandise from GB eye, one of the world's leading suppliers of licensed products!

The brand new range of items, available from leading high street retailers and on GB eye's website, includes mugs, badges, and framed prints featuring some of the most iconic artwork from the past four decades of Britain's biggest comic book export.

Featuring the artwork of Mick McMahon, Cliff Robinson, Ron Smith and Glenn Fabry, the first tranche of high quality merchandise includes iconic covers that will delight fans of Judge Dredd and Sláine, two of 2000 AD's biggest characters.

This new range provides ideal and affordable gifts for fans as well as those looking to pick up a present for the 'Squaxx Dek Thargo' (otherwise known as readers of 2000 AD) in their life.

The new the product range is available now online at www.gbposters.com and will be going into retail stores in the coming weeks. It launches with:

• Judge Dredd Badge Pack
• Cliff Robinson Judge Dredd (Prog 494) Card Holder
• Judge Dredd: Look Out You Alien Creeps! (Prog 164) 12" x 16" Collector Print
• Sláine: Slay (Prog 448) 12" x 16" Collector Print
• Judge Dredd: Out in Force (Prog 229) 12" x 16" Collector Print
• Cliff Robinson Judge Dredd (Prog 494) 12" x 16" Collector Print
• Judge Dredd: Out in Force (Prog 229) Mug
• Cliff Robinson Judge Dredd (Prog 494) Mug
• Cliff Robinson Lawmaster (Prog 513) Mug
• Judge Dredd: Beware of Rats (Prog 63) Mug

Emily Aldridge, Head of Licensing at GB eye Ltd., said "We are excited to welcome 2000 AD to our product range. The creative comic strip designs have not only been a stable in pop culture since 1977 but the unique sci-fi designs translate amazingly to our product ranges and we can't wait for fans to see what's on offer. With posters, mugs, badges and card wallets to choose from, the range focuses on some of the most iconic comic covers from over the last 40 plus years."

Ben Smith, head of Books, Comic Books, Film and TV at Rebellion, said: "2000 AD is part of the cultural fabric of Britain and has been such a fundamental part of the upbringings of millions of people. It's our duty and privilege to spread the word about 2000 AD, so we're delighted to be working with GB eye to bring four decades of iconic artwork onto affordable, high quality merchandise so that fans everywhere can celebrate this most ground-breaking of comics. We look forward to seeing the range grow and develop in the future."

GB eye is one of the world's leading suppliers of licensed posters and giftware with thousands of customers in over 60 countries and an enviable roster of over two hundred brand licenses. Working in partnership with the world's biggest brands in music, TV, film, gaming, sport and many other genres, GB eye forged its reputation for identifying forthcoming trends in popular culture and reacting quickly to bring the best quality products to an ever changing global market.

[Subscribers to 2000 AD can now get 50% off vouchers, pin badges, the 2000 AD Poster Prog, and an exclusive print!]

Subscribers to 2000 AD can now get 50% off vouchers, pin badges, the 2000 AD Poster Prog, and an exclusive print!

Rebellion is proud to announce its new free gifts for subscribers to the Galaxy's Greatest Comics!

There's never been a better time to be a 2000 AD reader and the new subscriber-exclusive gifts are a simple thank you to those readers who help support 2000 AD and ground-breaking British comics!

All new subscribers will receive a 50% off voucher for the 2000 AD webshop, while there's a subscribers' 30mm enamel pin badge (above), a 2000 AD Poster Prog (poster art below) featuring a brand new story written by Rob Williams (Judge Dredd, Suicide Squad) and drawn by Will Simpson (Game of Thrones, Rogue Trooper), and an A3 screen print by superstar artist Tula Lotay (Rebels, Supreme Blue Rose) up for grabs!

Plus, those who take out a print subscription get these benefits:
Get issues up to four days before they hit shelves!
Get every issue delivered direct to your door, including the bumper end-of-year issue!
Save money on every issue and avoid future price rises!
Judge Dredd Megazine subscribers get a subscriber-exclusive print of each month's cover art!
All existing subscribers will also receive the incentives, rewarding readers who subscribe direct!*

Print and digital subscriptions are available from the 2000 AD webshop at shop.2000ad.com while you can also get digital subscriptions through 2000 AD's apps for Apple, Android, and Windows 10 devices.

All digital subscriptions through the apps automatically get an account on the 2000 AD webshop (when using the same log-in details) where you can download DRM-free PDF/CBZ files of all purchases.

The new exclusive subscription tier goodies are >>

Take out any digital subscription on the 2000 AD webshop or app (Apple / Android / Windows10) and get a 50% off voucher for the 2000 AD webshop, giving you half off an order of print or digital titles!**

Take out a monthly print subscription to 2000 AD or the Judge Dredd Megazine (or both) and you'll get the 50% off web voucher as well as a zarjaz 30mm subscribers' enamel pin badge!

Take out annual print subscription to 2000 AD or the Judge Dredd Megazine and you'll get the 50% off web voucher, the subscribers enamel pin badge, and the subscriber-exclusive 2000 AD Poster Prog, written by Rob Williams and drawn by Will Simpson! (cover pictured below)

Take out an annual combi print subscription to 2000 AD and the Judge Dredd Megazine and you'll get the 50% off web voucher, the subscribers enamel pin badge, the 2000 AD Poster Prog, and an A3*** screen print by superstar artist Tula Lotay!

* Terms and conditions apply
** Voucher does not apply to merchandise or special edition books
*** 297 × 420 mm / 11.7 × 16.5 inches

––––

[Small print in the Prog suggests existing subscribers will get relevant gifts early next year — IP]

Well, that was a nice surprise. I'm not sure what I was expecting from this special, and I have no experience of the original strips some of these stories were based on. But this was a breezy, well written and well illustrated comic. Although a number of strips were lightning fast origins, they worked as standalones – often moreso than those in the other specials. Surprisingly, I think this is my favourite of the specials so far this year.

[2000 AD]

I'm clearing out graphic novels, so they don't take over our entire house. Feel free to make offers on the below. Postage at cost, or collection from GU51 (off M3, J4a).

2000 AD

£15 / ABC Warriors Mek Files (unread)
£5 / Absalom: Ghosts of London
£5 / Bad Company: Goodbye, Krool World
£5 / Bad Company vol1 (Hachette)
£4 / Banzai Battalion hardback
£4 / Dr & Quinch (Rebellion)
£5 / Judge Dredd: Total War (Hachette)
£5 / Meltdown Man
£5 / Robo-Hunter vol 2 (Hachette)
£10 / Shakara The Avenger/The Destroyer (Rebellion)
£5 / Shakara vol2 (Hachette)
£4 / Skizz (Rebellion/DC edition)
£40 / Sláine vols 1-8 (Rebellion) - Warrior's Dawn; Time Killer; The King; Horned God; Demon Killer; Lord of Misrule; Treasures of Britain; Grail War
£5 / Zombo: Can I Eat You, Please?

£offers / Cam Kennedy subscriber boxed prints set
£offers / John Higgins   subscriber boxed prints set

Others

£4 / Transformers: Stormbringer
£5 / War Within: Dark Ages (Hachette)
£8 / Space Pirates (Hachette)

£10 / Preacher Book One (hardback, 2009 edition)

£4 / The Pulse vol 3: Fear
£5 / Ultimate Iron Man v1 (hardback)

£5 / League of Extraordinary Gentlemen vol 1

A proper big slab of news today, with a whopping EIGHT new Rebellion specials over the next seven months. Six of them are available in a bundle, which seems quite the bargain. 20 quid for all six (saving six quid), free shipping, and sent as and when they're released.

You can order the 2019 specials bundle from the 2000 AD shop.

[Firekind/Leatherjack]

There's been speculation about a Hachette 2000 AD book collection extension. The Marvel collection rumbles on with no end in sight. Dredd, though, only got a ten-book continuation. Marvel's well is deeper than Dredd's, and I suspect commercial viability played a part. But assuming the latter works for 2000 AD as well, there are loads of strips that haven't yet been collected.

So if Hachette were to extend the series, which ONE book (in the ~200–250-page range) would you like to see? And it'd be great if in this thread, people didn't repeat anything that's been included previously.

Mine, unsurprisingly, is: Firekind/Leatherjack

Firekind remains one of the all-time 2000 AD classics, and it deserves a hardback collection. Leatherjack is also pretty great, and by the same team of Smith/Marshall. In all, there's 194p of strip, according to Barney, and so it should be possible to squeeze into one book. (Frankly, I'd love to see more Smith, but this above all others.)

[Dredd]

On the cover, Hackman's back and growly. Turn the page and you've Dredd. He's angry. There's a revelation that'll possibly rock those who've been reading the Prog for a long while. And then at the end... oh my. I mean, [spoiler]we all knew there was something going on with Frank,[spoiler] but... I think I need a little sit down before I read the rest of this week's strips.

I resubscribed to 2000 AD and the Meg today. It just happened, because I'm on a rolling sub, but I just wanted to publicly note how well Rebellion deals with this. Three months ago, I got an email reminder about the costs involved, and when the subscription would happen. Then two more over the next two months. Loads of advanced notice. This is vanishingly rare these days with such things – mostly, it seems publishers hope you forget you're subscribing to something, so they can take your money. (And with some comics I subscribe to, the subscriptions portal no longer provides any indication of how long the current sub has to run – it now just says 'ongoing', which is useless.)

So anyway: hurrah, Rebellion! Good job!

I know plenty of people here are fans of the excellent Chunky Comic Reader for iPad. The developer's just put out a call for testers for Chunky NG (for iPad AND iPhone). If you're on Twitter, bung him a DM for a TestFlight invite and give him some encouragement and constructive feedback. (If you're not on Twitter, you can email him via the website linked to above.)

[So, the point]

I buy trades from a variety of places, including 2000 AD's own shop. I am, however, trying to scale back Amazon purchases, in part because of the trend of that organisation towards monopoly, and also because its pricing is now frequently not that great. If I'm going to pay close to RRP, I'll buy direct.

To that end, I've been increasingly using Wordery, which has excellent customer service, decent prices (not least when Sterling strengthens), and happens to be British. (No, I don't subscribe to BRITAIN FOREVAR, but if you've the option to support local companies, it's good to take them before said companies are eaten or vanish entirely.)

So, the point: is anyone here using Wordery, and, if so, how have things been for you with hardbacks? I've just had two cracks at buying Deadworld, and both books arrived in a sorry state. The problem is Wordery whacks books inside card containers, but doesn't stop them moving. A ding on a corner and the book's done for. First time round, they made a three-way offer: refund; 50% off; replacement. So they cannot be faulted on that scale. But it feels wasteful to be returning damaged books, and I'm therefore wondering if this has been bad luck, or if it's typical of Wordery with this kind of book.

(Basically, they need to do a Hachette. Since that company changed its packaging, the partworks have been arriving in much better condition. They're not perfect, but I've not had to ask for a replacement for damage – only for misprints.)

This topic has been moved to Classifieds.

http://forums.2000ad.com/index.php?topic=44784.0

A Friday Prog. Bar post-Christmas issues showing up early, I think that's a first. Not had a proper read yet, but lovely to see a little Edmund Bagwell tribute on he Nerve Centre page, and Brendan McCarthy is back on Dredd! \o/

Oh, and it's the last part of Fall of Deadworld. Boo, hiss, and all that. (But it will return. Oh yessssss.)

In some Humble Bundle or other, I got hold of the first Invincible compendium. It's a comic I'd always been interested in (I got a few free issues a long time ago) but I'd been put off by Walking Dead. Although I enjoy the Walking Dead TV show (well, enjoy might be a stretch much of the time, but it's generally compelling), I found the comic leaden, tiresome, and full of minutiae, over-long unnatural dialogue, and a weird obsession with teenage romance.

Invincible, though, starts really well. It's a breath of fresh air that at once feels rather subversive, but that's also extremely accessible. It's superheroes done right. At least at first. At about the halfway point of the compendium, I notice the same problems I found in Walking Dead appear. We get pages of rambling dialogue, loads of screen time given over to dull relationship wrangling with the depth and insight of a 14-year-old. Some of the plots are still decent as I approach the end, but it's strange that yet I find I'm initially really interested in a Kirkman book, before figuring I might not even continue reading.

Looking at the timelines, it does feel a bit like he suddenly lacked time when juggling both. The thing the latter issues in the compendium lack is refinement. It feels like there's no editing going on – no-one there saying "you know, less can be more".

So are the mid-30s and 40s in Invincible 'it' for how the writing continues, or does it freshen up again? Perhaps I just don't gel with Kirkman's writing style!

So it looks like Hachette's warming up a Transformers collection. It talks about "remastered stories and exclusive bonus content" and word is Furman's been editing. The first four issues are pretty good on the whole: the rather fab Target 2006, IDW's fairly decent Stormbringer, The Primal Scream (TF origins), and Edge of Extinction (Unicron Saga). Issue five, though, is War Within – an unfinished chunk of the unfinished Dreamwave series.

Rumblings on Transformers forums have questioned the viability of this series, but I can't imagine Transformers doesn't have the nostalgia factor and fan base to succeed. I'm interested, though, in where they are sourcing the material. IDW's Classics books are on the whole dreadful, artwork on the US books ruined by boneheaded remastering, and the UK books with weirdly tiny art (double gutters) and poor scanning. I know Dredd partwork subscribers have grumbled about the repro there now and again, but, really, it's nothing on the IDW Transformers books.

Anyway, good to see Hachette's still trying new things rather than just flinging out Marvel books again and again. And I must admit that if I see issue 1 knocking around anywhere locally for two quid, that at least will be a must-buy.

I have a lot of paperback trades, many of which are 2000 AD books. These are on IKEA Billy cases in our den. I've noticed of late that quite a few books are curved/bent, presumably due to the spines being wider and sturdier than the rest. Over time, I only imagine this will get worse. In some cases, it's already pretty bad.

So does anyone here have any tips for storage? (Beyond "only buy hardbacks in future", natch.)

Double wraparound cover for Lawless, which very much needs to be collected—and soon. This was a breathless and exciting double-length penultimate episode, in what for me has become the Meg's standout strip. But fuck me, there was a lot of shitting swearing in the fucking thing. Fuck! (No drokks in the colony planets, apparently.) Looks like Damned is ending next month, too. So 'all change' for 377 (although what's coming looks pretty good).