Many Scrotnig Returns

Stars of 2000 AD old and new celebrate 20 years of Rebellion in this year’s sci-fi special

AFTER COMMEMORATING ITS 40th birthday and 2,000th Prog in recent years, the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic reaches another milestone this summer with two decades having passed since 2000 AD was purchased by Rebellion. It’s an auspicious occasion that will be marked in the 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2020.

“The stories in this are different to previous anniversary issues in that we’re celebrating two different periods of 2000 AD history: pre- and post-Rebellion,” 2000 AD editor Matt Smith tells Red Alert. “So we’ve got characters from two different eras going up against each other for the first time.”

Now a leading Marvel scribe, Al Ewing helms Judge Dredd alongside artist Jake Lynch, teaming up the Lawman of the Future with the undead star of satirical horror strip Zombo. “I went for creators that had worked on the series from the Rebellion era, and as Zombo would be appearing, I naturally asked Al to write it,” explains Smith. Meanwhile, the Brit Cit-set

Storm Warning moves over from the Judge Dredd Megazine to the Prog itself, courtesy of John Reppion and Clint Langley: “With Storm Warning, I needed a Psi-Judge that was created in the last few years.”

The 96-pager also sees Dan Abnett and Richard Elson returning to the postapocalyptic environs of Kingdom, while Ian Edginton and Steve Yeowell reunite on The Red Seas as they pit Captain Jack Dancer against the oversized insects of Ant Wars. “I chose Kingdom and The Red Seas as they felt symptomatic of the new stories that debuted in the Rebellion era, plus The Red Seas was the first series I commissioned,” says Smith. “It’s always good to see them back and the creators that are associated with them. I won’t reveal who Gene the Hackman will be encountering in the Kingdom story, so people will have to check out the special to see!” SJ

2000 AD Summer Sci Fi Special: Twenty Years of Rebellion is out on 24 June.