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[Kids Rule OK!]

Kev's drawing Kids Rule OK!?

SOLD.

The cover looks great:

Gteat to habe Andy Clarke back at the House of Tharg, innit?

Via CBR

"Garth Ennis, Kevin O'Neill and more revive Action for 2000 AD with Battle Action Special, a 96-page hardcover original graphic novel.

"2000AD bringing back the controversial British comic series Action.

"The newly titled Battle Action Special is a 96-page hardcover original graphic novel featuring eight new stories, all written by The Boys co-creator Garth Ennis. He's joined by artists Kevin O'Neill, Keith Burns, Mike Dorey, John Higgins, Chris Burnham, Patrick Goddard and PJ Holden, as well as colorists Jason Wordie, Len O'Grady and Sally Jane Hurst.

"The original Action debuted in 1976 and was published by IPC Magazines. Created by Pat Mills, Mike Dorey and more, the series was notable for putting its own unique spin on classic action stories like Jaws. It also helped pave the way for more adult comic titles, like the aforementioned 2000 AD and the books published under DC's Vertigo Comics imprint.

"Take to the skies with artist Keith Burns and colourist Jason Wordie, and witness the air duel of the century as ace fighter pilot Johnny Red faces off against Skreamer of the Stukas.

"Infamous German tank commander Hellman of Hammer Force bears down on American Colonel Glory Rider in Tunisia, drawn by the legendary Mike Dorey (Ro-Busters).

"Blunt instrument of British Intelligence Dredger returns and takes no prisoners on the streets of 1980s London, courtesy of Watchmen colourist and Judge Dredd artist John Higgins, with co-colours by Sally Jane Hurst.

"Take on the selfish but fearless Crazy Keller by Chris Burnham (Batman) and colours by Len O'Grady, and meet Nina Petrova, the scourge of the Eastern Front, with art by Patrick Goddard (Judge Dredd) and colours by Jason Wordie.

"And roll out into Italy in the heat of 1944 with The Sarge as Ennis reunites with The Stringbags artist PJ Holden.

"Battle Action Special goes on sale in June from 2000 AD before arriving in traditional bookstores in September.

"Source: 2000 AD"

The Handsome Family -- Stupid Bells

Greg Lake -- I Believe In Father Christmas

Johnny Alvin -- Santa Claus Wrecked My 'Lectric Train

All we need now is for Diamond to resume shipping the Prog, the Meg and th specials outside of the UK. The last pre-orders that they fulfilled were cover dated February 2021.

Shadows
Ahead of its time: a cyberpunk thriller cross between Johnny Mnemonic and The Net (both from 1995), with a climactic nod towards The Matrix (1999), as Nina (an elite member of a heirarchical future society) loses her status and becomes a shadow-person.

William Gibson's original short story of 'Johnny Mnemonic' was published in 1981 & reprinted in his 1986 collection Burning Chrome, which was around the time of peak cyberpunk. As Arthur C. Clarke observed, science fiction cinema lags a generation behind the literature.

[Bonjo]

Bonjo

[Urban Strike]

Stevie has never been a fan of obvious humour. Doubtlessly the script droids has a lot of fun concocting the  panto for gamers that was Urban Strike, but it had a bit too much of the Mark Millars for this squaxx.

On the other hand, the Past Imperfect that introduced Dandrdge was beilliant & left this particular squaxx wanting more. When the retro-futurist fop finally found his own position in the prog, this  promise was well & truly exceeded  with bells on. Bells.

So the allohistorical days of Ford Cortina takes the flag this round. Dandridge it is.

[Universal Soldier]

The first series of Universal Soldier is one of the most cyberpunk things ever to appear in the pages of 2000ad as well as being hands down the best thing that Alan MacKenzie wrote for the prog that didn't have Luke Kirby's name attached. The introduction of Tim Kelly & his titular Eye was jarring. It came out of nowhere* & the resulting shift in the story line as well as the tone being was appositely complemented of the mighty Brett Ewins & a promising Simon Coleby delivering not their best work for the prog.

Alan Moore channeling TMO with The Shedding? Tharg the Mighty it is.

*Well yes, it was preceded by the Kelly's Eye strip in the 2000ad Action Special. But somebody forgot to tell Tharg that it was by far the weakest strip of the lot.

Yay! Stevie can finally get to read the end of the first series, which was the point that we stopped seeing progs through Diamond here in Oz.

This collection is just of John Wagner's Dredd work because including Verdus & Song of the Surfer would have made this book weight a ton, right?

Bury My Knee.

If that's not in there it's a misnamed book

Bury My Knee has to be in there.  And although I've got it in at least two other books, "Finger of Suspicion".  I'd love to see both in the same volume.

Same goes with Little Spuggy's Christmas.

[Trash]

Trash looked gorgeous & no mistake. Yet it felt like it was being deliberately pitched at younger readers. This tale of the twee eco-cop felt (ahem) forced.

Second City Blues was a classic IPC sports strip. It didn't talk down to the kids.

So Second City Blues it is.

[Droid Life]

Droid Life