• Best of 2000 AD Vol. 1
    Best of 2000 AD Vol. 1
    Writer:
    John Wagner, Dan Abnett, Alan Moore, Adam Karenina Sherif, Alan Grant, Jamie Delano, Alan Davis
    Artist:
    Kev Walker, INJ Culbard, Ian Gibson, Carlos Ezquerra, Arthur Ranson, Brendan McCarthy, Jamie Hewlett, Alan Davis
    Letterer:
    Annie Parkhouse, Simon Bowland, Steve Potter, Tom Frame
    Cover Artist:
    Jamie McKelvie
    Publisher:
    2000 AD
    Price:
    $22.99
    Release Date:
    2022-09-21
    Colorist:
    Chris Blythe, Barbara Nosenzo, Mark Farmer

In 1975, visionaries Kelvin Gosnell, Pat Mills, and John Wagner came up with a grand idea to create a weekly magazine to cater to the growing science fiction audience with comics wrapped in anti-authoritarian satire. Two years later, 2000 AD was born. The magazine went on to become one of the most successful British titles, competing with other comic book publishers of the western world. Over the years, it has inspired creators, musicians, and auteurs alike, becoming a mainstay of British pop culture and the world. Best of 2000 AD collects stories from industry giants like Alan Grant, Alan Moore, Dan Abnett, and John Wagner, with artwork from Carlos Ezquerra, Arthur Ranson, and Barbara Nosenzo, as part of a six-volume collection.

Best of 2000 AD Vol. 1 begins with a Judge Dredd story, one of their most recognizable, bankable, and tentpole titles to date. But there is a treasure trove of wondrous stories other than that, waiting to capture the imagination of science fiction fans everywhere. Even though published a while back, none of the tales featured here have lost their potency. Best of 2000 AD is also a historical showcase; much has changed between then and now regarding the comics landscape, especially in regards to coloring techniques and general presentation, which can both be a point of contention and nostalgia.

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Best of 2000 AD Vol. 1 Judge Dredd

Judge Dredd leads the lineup with a classic John Wagner and Kev Walker story. "Judge Dredd: Mutie Block" starts slowly like a ticking time bomb, exploring partisan emotions and bigoted worldviews until anarchy comes crashing through the door. What begins as a satire of right-wing populist politics slowly becomes a virile show of macho power as the smell of gunpowder and blood mixes to create an enthralling read. The artwork features Walker's distinctive inking with Chris Blythe's muted shades bringing out the shabbiness of life in Mega-City One. The follow-up to the Judge Dredd story is Dan Abnett's "Brink: Book One, Part One," which mixes riveting murder mystery and crazed cultists in a sprawling interstellar habitat. The narrative takes its twists and turns through overcrowded corridors and awe-inspiring architecture, as imagined by Inj Culbard and Simon Bowland, giving audiences a grimy tale.

"The Ballad of Halo Jones: Book One" by none other than Alan Moore is the wackiest and most chaotic tale of the lot. Perhaps it is the artistic influence of Ian Gibson and Barbara Nosenzo that allows for an open interpretation. But there is no denying the magic in Moore's writing that makes even a simple narrative of fetching a list of groceries look and feel like the end of the world. As if to balance the storytelling spectrum, Alan Grant and Arthur Ranson's "Anderson, Psi Division: Shamballa" dives deep into the lost world trope while also being a thought-provoking segment. It follows Judge Anderson, a psychic law enforcer, who stumbles onto a mysterious case of mythical beings reemerging on Earth. The narrative finds a balance between romance and intrigue, with an underlying sadness in Grant's narration.

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Best of 2000 AD Vol. 1 Judge Anderson

Best of 2000 AD Vol. 1 collects a sampling of the titles that have helped earn 2000 AD its impressive reputation. Although connected by a common thread of gritty storytelling and futuristic aesthetics, no two stories are alike in either theme or delivery. What this collection really brings to the fore is the multitude of styles that each artist and creator applies to their craft, undoubtedly making Best of 2000 AD Vol. 1 a must-have for comic book fans, regardless of their genre preferences.