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Leading European games developer Rebellion is delighted to launch its first free-to-play social game, Evil Genius: WMD.

Based on the critically acclaimed and much-loved PC title Evil Genius, the game challenges Facebook users to create their own evil empires, undertake dastardly missions and recruit friends into their evil syndicates.

Jason Kingsley, CEO, said: "This is an exciting project for us. The team has done a great job and we're thrilled at the amount of attention EG: WMD is already getting. We're looking forward to expanding the game with big new features and additional content over the coming months."

Chris Kingsley, CTO, said: "Mwahaha!"

Start your own evil empire at: http://apps.facebook.com/evil_genius

Borag Thungg, Earthlets!

Judge Dredd Megazine 305 - on sale 8 December 2010 - will include a free postcard, one of two designs that will be randomly inserted into the issue. So you could either get Liam Sharp's scrotnig Necropolis pin-up, or Ben Willsher's zarjaz multi-character image.

Also in this issue: a complete Xmas Dredd story by Al Ewing and Liam Sharp, the return of Insurrection by Dan Abnett and Colin MacNeil, the start of Samizdat Squad by Arthur Wyatt and Paul Marshall, the climax to Simon Fraser's Lilly Mackenzie, plus Liam Sharp is interviewed, there are reviews of Bryan Talbot's Grandville Mon Amour and John Hicklenton's 100 Months, and more. In the bagged graphic novel this month it's Strontium Dogs: Return of the Gronk by Garth Ennis and Nigel Dobbyn!

Splundig vur Thrigg!

This is an exclusive shot from the new Dredd movie, taken during rehearsals, of Karl Urban wearing the iconic uniform. Enjoy!

Dan Abnett will be signing at Waterstone's in Maidstone (Earl Street branch) on Saturday 30 October 2010 from 12pm to 1pm, and again from 3pm to 4pm.

SPLUNDIG VUR THRIGG!

For those of you that missed the double Grierson Award-winning documentary 'Here's Johnny', following the life of the late Judge Dredd and Nemesis the Warlock artist John Hicklenton and his battle with multiple sclerosis, it will be broadcast this Friday 10th September at 9pm on the Community Channel (Sky 539 & Virgin TV 233).

It will also be repeated on CC on 26th September at 12am, 2nd October at 11pm and 3rd October at 12.40am.

John's final work, the graphic novel '100 Months', will be published in late October.

Case Files 16 is now available from the webshop, as are Judge Dredd: Tour of Duty - The Backlash, ABC Warriors: The Volgan War Vol 3, and The Complete Harlem Heroes.

Get yer groats out!

http://shop.2000adonline.com/

US Authorities Fear Thrill-Power Overload

Rebellion can confirm the US DEA seized San Diego Comic-Con-bound 2000 AD stock for inspection due to the threat of a Thrill-power Overload. The stock has since been released and the 2000 AD droids are hoping to have it delivered in time for the weekend of the convention.

2000 AD founder and British comics legend Pat Mills joins the droids at San Diego this year to launch the exclusive US line of graphic novels, which were not amongst the stock seized.

Borag Thungg, Earthlets!

The shiny new webshop is now live at http://shop.2000adonline.com (or click on the 'Shop' tab at the top of the front page), where you'll find all manner of zarjaz goodies on sale, including the all-new Stainless Steel Rat collection, the latest progs to download, and the chance to take out a subscription online.

You'll also find a link to a brand-new Facebook application, The Dredd Quiz. Discover which classic Dredd character you most resemble and unlock free downloadable issues of 2000 AD. Invite friends to play and collect, request and trade twelve of Mega-City's finest. Are you the Law? Take the quiz now and find out: http://apps.facebook.com/dredd_quiz/

SPLUNDIG VUR THRIGG!

The Judge Dredd Megazine celebrates its twentieth anniversary this year, and we want to hear from you on your favourite moments from the past two decades. It may be cherished series like America, Anderson, Psi: Childhood's End, The Three Amigos or Devlin Waugh: Swimming in Blood, or it may be a particularly noteworthy one-off like Bury My Knee at Wounded Heart. Perhaps you have a favourite cover, or there was a point in a story where you just had to know what was going to happen next (Dredd being arrested at the start of the Wilderlands saga, for example).

Whatever stands out for you from the past twenty years, email your choices to dreddlines@2000adonline.com together with your name and address and those that are printed in the forthcoming issues will receive a special something from Tharg's Thrill-sack!

Mega-City One Archives Volume 3: Lawbreakers is published by Mongoose in June 2010, covering the various villains and perps that have plagued the Big Meg. You can grab a sneaky peek of the contents via a free downloadable preview available now on the Mongoose website: http://www.mongoosepublishing.com/rpg/detail.php?qsID=1800

JUDGE DREDD GOES INTO PRODUCTION FALL 2010
RELIANCE BIG PICTURES TO FINANCE

Reliance BIG Pictures, together with IM Global, the international sales company that Reliance acquired only last week, will finance DNA's 3D production of JUDGE DREDD, a $45 million film adaptation of the iconic 2000 AD comic-book character created by John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra.

Filming will take place over the fourth quarter of 2010 in Johannesburg.

JUDGE DREDD is being made by the writer/producer partnership behind The Beach, 28 Days Later, 28 Weeks Later, Sunshine, and Never Let Me Go. Alex Garland, Andrew Macdonald and Allon Reich will produce a script written by Garland.

Pete Travis, director of Omagh, Vantage Point, and Endgame will direct.  Wagner will be a creative consultant on the film.

DNA has engaged Michael Murphy (District 9) as South African co-producer.

Jason Kingsley and Chris Kingsley, owners of Rebellion/2000 AD, will co-produce.

Said John Wagner: 'Alex Garland's script is faithful to the original concept that made Judge Dredd a favourite bad-ass hero.  It's a high-octane slay ride through the dark underbelly of the vast future city. A fan pleaser. With their track record, I have every faith in Alex Garland, Andrew Macdonald and Allon Reich.'

Said Alex Garland: 'I grew up reading Judge Dredd. The incredible writers and artists of 2000 AD were formative influences on me. Andrew, Allon and I have developed this adaptation of Judge Dredd with an emphasis on adrenaline and realism, but with all the scale and spectacle of Mega-City One. We think Pete's propulsive, edgy style is a perfect match for the project.'

The deal was negotiated on behalf of Reliance by IM Global CEO Stuart Ford assisted by attorneys Strook and Strook with DNA principals Macdonald and Reich, DNA head of business affairs Jo Smith, and Miles Ketley of Wiggin & Co. Ford's IM Global will handle international sales on the project.


About Reliance Big Entertainment:
Reliance BIG Entertainment Ltd. (RBEL) is the flagship media and entertainment arm of India's Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group, with a significant presence in film entertainment (film production, distribution, and exhibition), broadcasting and new media ventures.

RBEL's motion picture brand, Reliance BIG Pictures (www.reliancebigpictures.com) has built an impressive film production slate in Hindi, English & other Indian languages, which it markets and distributes worldwide. Following Reliance BIG Pictures' association with IM Global, the company now benefits from an international sales team with an excellent reputation and global presence dedicated to selling its Bollywood and regional language slate.

In Hollywood, Reliance BIG Pictures has partnered with Steven Spielberg and Stacey Snider on the formation of DreamWorks Studios and has development deals with Nicolas Cage's Saturn Films, Jim Carrey's JC 23 Entertainment, George Clooney's Smokehouse Productions, Chris Columbus' 1492 Pictures, Tom Hanks' Playtone Productions, Brad Pitt's Plan B Entertainment, Jay Roach's Everyman Pictures, Brett Ratner's Rat Entertainment, Julia Roberts' Red Om Films and Brian Gazer and Ron Howard's Imagine Entertainment.

RBEL's group company, Reliance MediaWorks Limited (www.reliancemediaworks.com), is India's fastest growing film and entertainment services company and a member of the Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group.  It operates BIG Cinemas, India's largest cinema chain with over 525 screens spread across India, US, Malaysia, Nepal and Netherlands. Reliance MediaWorks has a dominant and comprehensive presence in Film Services: Motion Picture Processing and DI; Visual Effects; Film Restoration and Image Enhancement; Animation; 2D to 3D Conversion; Digital Mastering: Studios and Equipment rentals with presence across at US, UK, Japan and India. Reliance MediaWorks' television venture, BIG Synergy, is among the top players in the television programming industry.

The Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (www.relianceada.com) is amongst India's top three business houses and has interests in telecommunications, energy, financial services, infrastructure and media and entertainment. 


About IM Global:
IM Global was founded in March 2007 by former Miramax International head Stuart Ford. The company quickly established itself as one of the leading sales agents in the international community handling a wide variety of mainstream commercial, arthouse and genre fare.

The company is one of the most prolific players in the international arena, and its slate currently has in post production Oren Peli's Area 51, Will Ferrell starrer Everything Must Go, The Astral from SAW director James Wan, The Company Men with Ben Affleck and Tommy Lee Jones, and John Cusack thriller The Factory. In active pre-production are Halle Berry starrer Dark Tide, Kevin Costner starring and directing vehicle A Little War Of Our Own, Protection starring Dwayne Johnson, and Madonna's directorial debut W.E.  In May of 2010 it was announced that Reliance Big Pictures had acquired a majority interest in the company.

A gripping, atmospheric first-person shooter, Metro 2033 is a story of intense underground survival, set in the shattered subway of a post-apocalyptic Moscow. Out now from THQ on Xbox 360 and PC, you can win a copy on Xbox 360 by entering the competition in Prog 1682, on sale 28 April 2010. Not only that, but one lucky winner will also get their hands on an Xbox 360 console alongside a copy of the game!

To grab a peek at the game, visit: http://www.metro2033game.com

[2000 AD announces the launch of US graphic novel line]

2000 AD announces the launch of US graphic novel line

Rebellion Publishing is pleased to announce the upcoming US launch of iconic British comic 2000 AD's US graphic novel list this June. The books are to be printed in the United States and distributed by industry major Simon and Schuster. The new North America-only list includes classic collections, outstanding new work from the hottest up-and-coming talents as well as thematic compilations, which collect the work of some of the biggest names in comics, such as Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons, Garth Ennis, Grant Morrison, Alan Davis, John Wagner, Brian Bolland, Pat Mills, Mark Millar and many others.

2000 AD will be releasing two books a month, with the first two books going on sale 15 June 2010. The first releases are:
Judge Dredd Case Files 01: a 400-page collection of John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra's iconic creation Judge Dredd – this starts an ongoing series of Judge Dredd collections, which are already European bestsellers.
The Complete D.R. & Quinch: Alan Moore and Alan Davis's comedy masterpiece, featuring a new Alan Davis cover and excerpts from Alan Moore's original script.

Founded in 1977, 2000 AD was acquired by the internationally renowned independent videogame developer Rebellion in 2000. In the ten years of its ownership, 2000 AD has gone from strength to strength, with the graphic novel collections becoming bestsellers throughout the UK and Europe. Many of the biggest names in comics today honed their skills and wrote their first important works within its pages.

For many years 2000 AD graphic novels have only been available in North America in highly sought-after imported editions through the direct comics-store market.  2000 AD has developed a large following in the United States, evident in the success the cult British comic has had selling out at every San Diego Comic-Con. This new list meets the clamouring demand from Thrill-seekers throughout North America for Judge Dredd and 2000 AD's roster of stellar characters.

Simon & Schuster, a part of CBS Corporation, is a global leader in the field of general interest publishing, dedicated to providing the best in fiction and non-fiction for consumers of all ages, across all printed, electronic, and audio formats. Its divisions include Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing, Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, Simon & Schuster Audio, Simon & Schuster Digital, and international companies in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit: www.simonandschuster.com

Rebellion Publishing is a division of leading European independent videogames developer Rebellion. Its portfolio includes multi- award-winning British sci-fi comic 2000 AD, the 2000 AD graphic novel line, Solaris Books, the internationally acclaimed fantasy, sci-fi and horror imprint, and Abaddon Books, the imprint delivering the best up-and-coming authors in genre fiction. Rebellion Publishing is dedicated to providing the highest quality and most innovative approaches to the sci-fi, horror and fantasy genres.  For more information please visit: www.rebellion.co.uk

Available from 15 June 2010:
Judge Dredd Case Files 01 by John Wagner, Brian Bolland, Mike McMahon, Carlos Ezquerra et al - 978-1-906735-87-6, $19.99 US, $27.00 CAN
The Complete D.R & Quinch by Alan Moore & Alan Davis – 978-1906735-88-3, $17.99 US, $23.99 CAN

Pat Mills, Kevin O'Neill and Dave Gibbons are taking part in a panel hosted by journalist Danny Graydon called 'Architects of Thrill-power: The Legends of 2000 AD', discussing the early development of the Galaxy's Greatest Comic and their own contributions to the title.

It takes place on Saturday 24 April 2010, from 6.00pm to 7.30pm, as part of the UniComics Festival at the de Havilland campus, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, Herts, which runs from 22 to 25 April. Tickets are £10 (£8 concessions/£5 students and children).

Writer Ian Edginton will also be leading a storyboarding workshop on Thursday 22 April at 3.00pm, Dave Gibbons will present artist workshops on Saturday 24 April at 10.30am and 1.30pm, and Pat Mills and Gary Erskine are amongst the panel discussing 'Sixty Years of The Eagle and Dan Dare' on Sunday 25 April at 6.00pm.

For all the info, visit: www.unicomics.co.uk

Borag Thungg, Earthlets!

With a few minutes to spare before my next patrol of the work cubicles, ensuring my droids are pumping out one hundred per cent Thrill-power, I just wanted to congratulate the Rebellion videogame 'bots on Aliens Vs Predator being top of the charts this week. It truly is a zarjaz experience, and one I wholly recommend you get your humanoid paws on.

To see what's being said about the top-selling game of 2010 so far, head over to: www.rebellion.co.uk

SPLUNDIG VUR THRIGG!
THARG