2000AD #2236 Review

Writers: John Wagner; Gordon Rennie; Laurence Rennie; Rory McConville; Kenneth Niemand; Dan Abnett
Artists: Colin MacNeil; Boo Cook; Dan Cornwell; PJ Holden; Richard Elson
Colours: Chris Blythe; Len O'Grady
Letters: Annie Parkhouse; Simon Bowland; Jim Campbell
Publisher: Rebellion

 

John Wagner makes his long awaited return to the pages of 2000AD with Judge Dredd: Removal Man, a Dredd story with almost no Dredd.

Instead Bick Bickford kills people for a living, and this opening episode is a brief introduction to his life and motivations. That Wagner can take a cold hearted killer we’ve never heard of and, inside five pages, give him understandable motivations and make us care when he finds himself cornered is an incredible talent.

Within the vast belly of metallic demon Mechastopheles, a rag tag group are searching for a lost child, amid warring religious factions. These first three episodes of The Hunting Party have gradually focussed in on these characters, starting with a wide view of the world, down to local politics, and finally to individuals. It’s nice, well laid out storytelling. These are recurring characters, but they are presented here as if for the first time.

It does leave me a bit confused about just how large Mechastopheles is – we see him stomping on boats and buildings which makes him around Godzilla sized, but having an internal wasteland makes even Godzilla King of Monsters look small.  I remain confident all will become clear.

The awful Jepperson family are gradually being killed off in Chimpsky’s Law: The Talented Mr Chimpsky. Whilst the humans are being entertained by a comedy riff on Hercule Poirot, the apes who live below decks are much more serious as they realise that they’re likely to be blamed for the murders. Absolutely packed with comedy and character and detail.

Feral & Foe is topped off with a big plot twist, as a character’s true nature is revealed. I’m feeling quite smug after spending the last few weeks talking about how the whole story revolves around characters playing other characters, so the big reveal that Krod is actually the villain feels like the perfect ending.

It’s maybe a bit of a rushed conclusion, especially given how bad the big bad is supposed to be, but it all works in terms of arcs. This has been nice, chunky fantasy, and never less than highly enjoyable.