BEST OF 2000AD

The Best of 2000ad
Prion Books
£20.00

An handsome 390 page book collecting together classic strips from the SF comic's early years. The list of contents is impressive - Invasion 1999, Dredd, Judge Death, Flesh, Slaine, Harlem Heroes, Mach 1, Terror Tube, Shako, Bad Company, Mean Arena, Rogue Trooper, ABC Warriors, Halo Jones, Robo Cop and both Future Shocks and Time Twisters.

As someone who read the comic from 1977 up to the mid eighties I was delighted with this book. I don't really like the modern day 2000AD (though I do still sometimes read the Judge Dredd Megazine ((sic)) ) but these classic strips will always have a special place in my heart. The book is well put together too and looks an impressive volume on the shelf.


The book is obviously aimed at the nostalgia market and anyone who remembers 2000AD when it was still the best comic around will love this book.

I'd like to see further volumes along these lines. I'm still particularly found of the early strip Flesh, of which several instalments are collected here but I'd love to see the entire strip released as a graphic novel. Some of the more well known strips are already available as collections and Dredd is being published in its entirety but early classics like Flesh, Shalko and Harlem Heroes are largely ignored. Also Robo Cop, a cross between Raymond Chandler and Blade Runner is a particular favourite of mine.

One disappointment was that it doesn't feature the 2000AD version of Dan Dare but then I suspect that was a rights issue. On the comic's original launch Dan Dare was the flagship character, Dredd didn't pop up until the second issue and would take some time to become the iconic character he is today. I'd like to see that early post-modern Dan Dare story that, if I remember correctly, was the colour strip that took the centre pages. In UK comics of that period the centre pages meant TOP OF THE BILL.

I hope this sells well and encourages more of the same.


What would really be nice would be a monthly magazine reprinting classics comic strips from the likes of 2000AD, Battle, Eagle, Tiger etc. Imagine a magazine featuring Judge Dredd, Johnny Red, Billy's Boots, The Sarge, Charley's War, Harlem Heroes, Dan Dare and maybe even Roy of the Rovers. As well as the strips there could be features of football teams, rock bands, cars, films of bygone years - Now I'd buy that.


I guess I'm just a nostalgia nut but I can't be the only one...