indie box: Nemesis

Tags

2000AD, alien, Eagle Comics, indie box, Indie Comics, Kevin O'Neill, Nemesis, nemesis the warlock, Pat Mills, racism

What’s inside the short-box of indie comic books this week? Nemesis, published by the UK-based Eagle Comics, and originating in the pages of 2000AD. Thanks to Brian and his older brother Michael, the insanity of British comic books was percolating into my awareness by the mid-1980s. By the time creators such as Alan Moore, Grant Morrison, and Warren Ellis (to name just a few) were working on mainstream franchises at Marvel and DC (or their subsidiaries), I was primed for a ‘British Invasion’ of American comics that rivaled that of blues-based rock music in the 1960s.

For me, it began with Nemesis. When Brian saw this creative team sparked my interest, he also shared with me Marshall Law and Metalzoic. Since then, I’ve dug O’Neill’s art on League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, and Mills’ work on Flesh, which I only discovered decades after its original publication.

The following story about Nemesis begins in a dungeon where alien species are imprisoned, along with humans suspected of harboring or assisting aliens. Though they suffer, their spirits are lifted by memories of the revolutionary alien warrior: Nemesis!

Nemesis the Warlock! His name strikes fear into the hearts of humans everywhere — humans living in a religious monarchy that persecutes and exterminates all aliens! Just look at this glorious propaganda poster for Torquemada, the arch-nemesis of Nemesis and totally disgusting scumbag.

BE PURE! BE VIGILANT! BEHAVE!

That’s right. This evil freak is everywhere, spearheading an inquisition across the galaxy to torture and murder peace-loving aliens! It’s almost like living in the United States in 2019!

But take heart, species of the universe. Nemesis the Warlock has an even freakier face than Torquemada, and his sword is way more huge! So huge that it has its own origin story — a violent, grotesque space epic of suffering and sacrifice for all the wrong reasons. Suck it, humans!

Collector’s Guide: From Nemesis the Warlock; Eagle Comics, 1984. By Pat Mills and Kevin O’Neill.

Dan Dare

Tags

2000AD, black and white, Dan Dare, Indie Comics, Massimo Bellardinelli, science fiction, UK comics

For years, we passed up UK science-fiction hero Dan Dare because of his terrible name. Big mistake! But, some scans of his early adventures in 2000AD really floored us. Fantastic space art full of raging aliens cranks the awesome-meter into the red. Dan Dare has the interesting points-of-view and dramatic panel layouts chock-full of action that typify the 2000AD classics.

If you know of a collected edition that features these 2000AD tales, we would love to hear from you. We can’t find one! Many artists and writers, including Pat Mills, Dave Gibbons, and Massimo Bellardinelli worked on Dan at 2000AD. We will share with you a few of the scans we found from these late 1970s stories.

A more vintage take on Dan Dare “The Pilot of the Future” awaits readers in a series of Titan Books reprints collecting early Frank Hampson tales in the 1950s and 60s. Readers wanting a more contemporary take on Dan might enjoy the Dan Dare by Garth Ennis Omnibus, Ennis being well-known for his work on Preacher, The Boys, and Punisher.

Rogue Trooper

Tags

2000AD, black and white, Brett Ewins, Dave Gibbons, Gerry Finley-Day, IDW Publishing, Indie Comics, Major Magnam, Nu-Earth, Rogue Trooper, UK comics

IDW began publishing a Rogue Trooper series this year. This character, like Judge Dredd, comes from the pages of UK comics magazine 2000AD. Co-created by Dave Gibbons, the original Rogue Trooper blended war comics with science-fiction. The G.I.’s of Rogue Trooper were not “Government Issue” but laboratory-spawned “Genetic Infantrymen” designed to withstand the harsh and toxic environments of an utterly poisoned Nu-Earth. Readers in the States may recognize Rogue Trooper from the video game of the same name, although the comics have never truly penetrated the mainstream here.

Our gallery today features parts one through four of the “Major Magnam” story – short enough that you can easily enjoy all of it, but long enough to give you a good idea of the vibe of this series. We also included some full-color covers from 2000AD featuring Rogue Trooper. Artist Brett Ewins, one of several to provide top-notch work on Rogue Trooper, dramatically illustrates this deliciously dark script by Gerry Finley-Day.

Collector’s Guide: You can enjoy the Rogue Trooper classics in two paperback volumes that, together, come to about 800 pages: Rogue Trooper Tales of Nu-Earth 1 and Tales of Nu-Earth 2. You can also enjoy the first issue free, courtesy of the BBC.

Harlem Heroes

Tags

2000AD, aeroball, black and white, brains, Dave Gibbons, Harlem Heroes, Indie Comics, Pat Mills, sports, sports comics, Tom Tully, UK comics

Audiences in the States may know 2000AD as the UK magazine that spawned Judge Dredd. Our readers know we love 2000AD for the dinosaur series Flesh, the violent time-traveling fantasy of writer Pat Mills. Artist Dave Gibbons may not be a household word, but the American film industry made more people aware of the most famous book he drew: Watchmen. Our gallery today features another of Pat Mills’ brilliant ideas: the Harlem Heroes.

Dave Gibbons drew the Harlem Heroes, of which we share with you the first fifty pages or so. Tom Tully’s script delivers action and heroism at a breakneck pace. The Harlem Heroes play a futuristic game called Aeroball, and the series blends an outrageous dose of science-fiction themes with sports in a barrage of non-stop conflict. When one of your team members is a brain in a vat, what else can you expect?

These second-hand scans we found years ago while looking for images from Flesh leave something to be desired, but they give a good impression of the awesomeness of this little-known series. If you want a high-quality reproduction of the complete series, you can buy the collected Harlem Heroes on Amazon. Also know that the UK’s version of Amazon has three informative reviews of Harlem Heroes that do not appear on the States’ version of Amazon.

Well, what are you waiting for? Let’s play aeroball!
 

Satanus Unchained!

Tags

2000AD, Colin Macneil, dinosaur, dinosaur comics, Gordon Rennie, Satanus, Satanus Unchained, tyrannosaurus rex

Satanus the Black Tyrannosaur! Undisputed Lord of Sauron Valley! Satanus returns from the pages of Judge Dredd in a six-part story called Satanus Unchained. Dinosaur mayhem and carnage ensue when a pack of sport hunters decide to take down the living legend. This is one gorgeously painted story! Check out the first three pages in our gallery today.

Collector’s Guide: From Satanus Unchained; Serialized in 2000AD, progs 1241-1246. Published by Fleetway in 2001. Script by Gordon Rennie, art by Colin Macneil.

Sleep is No Refuge for Impure Thoughts!

Tags

2000AD, be pure be vigilant behave, Kevin O'Neill, Torquemada

Here is a piece of promotional art by Kevin O’Neill for Nemesis the Warlock. The evil visage of Torquemada appears to remind us that even when we sleep he monitors our every thought. So be pure — be vigilant — behave!

Collector’s Guide: – From 2000 AD #318.

Alan Moore: Script Robot!

Tags

2000AD, Alan Moore

Here’s a funny portrait of Alan Moore as a robot tasked with cranking out scripts.

Collector’s Guide: From 2000 AD #322.

2000AD: Flesh Finale – The Cover Gallery!

Tags

2000AD, dinosaur, dinosaur comics, eating dinosaurs, Flesh, hunting dinosaurs, Pat Mills, time travel

We hope you’ve enjoyed the raging dinosaur time-travel madness of Flesh as much as we’ve enjoyed sharing it with you. To wrap things up with a bang, let’s rock these three 2000 AD covers that featured Flesh!

Collector’s Guide: From 2000 AD magazine, #1-19. Collected in Flesh: The Dino Files TPB; Rebellion, 2011. Originally printed in 2000 AD #1-19; Fleetway, 1977.

2000AD: Flesh 20 – The Flesh Game!

Tags

2000AD, dinosaur, dinosaur comics, Flesh, Flesh Game, Pat Mills

By the 23rd Century, most animals had been destroyed. Man survived on synthetic foods alone. But he still craved real meat.

But it wouldn’t be complete without The Flesh Game! Dig these dinosaur cards designed to play this twisted game which must have come from the mind of Pat Mills.

Collector’s Guide: Collected in Flesh: The Dino Files TPB; Rebellion, 2011. Note: the collection, while awesome, does not include The Flesh Game. Originally printed in 2000 AD #1-19; Fleetway, 1977.

2000AD: Flesh 19!

Tags

2000AD, dinosaur, dinosaur comics, Flesh, Flesh the Dino Files, Pat Mills, time travel

By the 23rd Century, most animals had been destroyed. Man survived on synthetic foods alone. But he still craved real meat… With the discovery of time travel, he was able to go in search of it – back 65 million years to the Age of the Great Dinosaurs!

Mars Will Send No More celebrates the original epic Flesh from 2000 AD magazine, created by Pat Mills, and starring Old One Eye, the mother of Satanus! Now fire up your electric whip and get ready for major dinosaur mayhem!

Collector’s Guide: Collected in Flesh: The Dino Files TPB; Rebellion, 2011. Originally printed in 2000 AD #1-19; Fleetway, 1977.

2000AD: Flesh 18!

Tags

2000AD, dinosaur, dinosaur comics, Flesh, Flesh the Dino Files, Pat Mills, time travel

“By the 23rd Century, most animals had been destroyed. Man survived on synthetic foods alone. But he still craved real meat. With the discovery of time travel, he was able to go in search of it – back 65 million years to the Age of the Great Dinosaurs!”

Mars Will Send No More celebrates the original epic Flesh from 2000 AD magazine, by Pat Mills, and starring Old One Eye, the mother of Satanus! Now fire up your electric whip and get ready for major dinosaur mayhem!

Collector’s Guide: Collected in Flesh: The Dino Files TPB; Rebellion, 2011. Originally printed in 2000 AD #1-19; Fleetway, 1977.

2000AD: Flesh 17!

Tags

2000AD, dinosaur, dinosaur comics, Flesh, Flesh the Dino Files, giant spiders, Pat Mills, time travel

By the 23rd Century, most animals had been destroyed. Man survived on synthetic foods alone. But he still craved real meat. With the discovery of time travel, he was able to go in search of it — back 65 million years to the Age of the Great Dinosaurs!

Mars Will Send No More celebrates the original epic Flesh from 2000 AD magazine, by Pat Mills, and starring Old One Eye, the mother of Satanus! Now fire up your electric whip and get ready for major dinosaur mayhem!

Collector’s Guide: Collected in Flesh: The Dino Files TPB; Rebellion, 2011. Originally printed in 2000 AD #1-19; Fleetway, 1977.

2000AD: Flesh 16!

Tags

2000AD, dinosaur, dinosaur comics, Flesh, Flesh the Dino Files, Pat Mills, time travel

By the 23rd Century, most animals had been destroyed. Man survived on synthetic foods alone. But he still craved real meat. With the discovery of time travel, he was able to go in search of it – back 65 million years to the Age of the Great Dinosaurs!

Mars Will Send No More celebrates the original epic Flesh from 2000 AD magazine, by Pat Mills, and starring Old One Eye, the mother of Satanus! Now fire up your electric whip and get ready for major dinosaur mayhem!

Collector’s Guide: Collected in Flesh: The Dino Files TPB; Rebellion, 2011. Originally printed in 2000 AD #1-19; Fleetway, 1977.

2000AD: Flesh 15!

Tags

2000AD, Day of the Dinosaurs Revenge, dinosaur, dinosaur comics, Flesh, Flesh the Dino Files, Old One Eye, Pat Mills, time travel

By the 23rd Century, most animals had been destroyed. Man survived on synthetic foods alone. But he still craved real meat. With the discovery of time travel, he was able to go in search of it — back 65 million years to the Age of the Great Dinosaurs!

Mars Will Send No More celebrates the original epic Flesh from 2000 AD magazine, by Pat Mills, and starring Old One Eye, the mother of Satanus! Now fire up your electric whip and get ready for major dinosaur mayhem!

Collector’s Guide: Collected in Flesh: The Dino Files TPB; Rebellion, 2011. Originally printed in 2000 AD #1-19; Fleetway, 1977.

2000AD: Flesh 14!

Tags

2000AD, dinosaur, dinosaur comics, Flesh, Flesh the Dino Files, Pat Mills, time travel

Mars Will Send No More celebrates the original epic Flesh from 2000 AD magazine, by Pat Mills, and starring Old One Eye, the mother of Satanus! Now fire up your electric whip and get ready for major dinosaur mayhem!

Collector’s Guide: Collected in Flesh: The Dino Files TPB; Rebellion, 2011. Originally printed in 2000 AD #1-19; Fleetway, 1977.

2000AD: Flesh 13!

Tags

2000AD, dinosaur, dinosaur comics, Flesh, Flesh the Dino Files, Pat Mills, spider, time travel

Mars Will Send No More celebrates the original epic Flesh from 2000 AD magazine, created by Pat Mills and starring Old One Eye, the mother of Satanus! Now fire up your electric whip and get ready for major dinosaur mayhem!

Collector’s Guide: Collected in Flesh: The Dino Files TPB; Rebellion, 2011. Originally printed in 2000 AD #1-19; Fleetway, 1977.

You Been Feeding the Monsters with Rotten Meat!

Tags

2000AD, dinosaur, dinosaur comics, Flesh, Flesh the Dino Files, Pat Mills, time travel

Mars Will Send No More celebrates the original epic Flesh from 2000 AD magazine, by Pat Mills, and starring Old One Eye, the mother of Satanus! Now fire up your electric whip and get ready for major dinosaur mayhem!

Collector’s Guide: Collected in Flesh: The Dino Files TPB; Rebellion, 2011. Originally printed in 2000 AD #1-19; Fleetway, 1977.

There’s a Dinosaur War A-Coming!

Tags

2000AD, brains, dinosaur, dinosaur comics, Flesh, Flesh the Dino Files, Pat Mills, time travel

By the twenty-third century, most animals had been destroyed. Man survived on synthetic foods alone. But he still craved real meat. With the discovery of time travel, he was able to go in search of it — back sixty-five million years to the age of the great dinosaurs!

Here is a spash page from the original epic Flesh in 2000 AD magazine, created by Pat Mills and starring Old One Eye, the mother of Satanus! Fire up your electric whip and get ready for some major dinosaur mayhem.

Collector’s Guide: Collected in Flesh: The Dino Files TPB; Rebellion, 2011. Originally printed in 2000 AD #1-19; Fleetway, 1977.

2000AD: Flesh 10!

Tags

2000AD, dinosaur, dinosaur comics, Flesh, Flesh the Dino Files, Old One Eye, Pat Mills, time travel

Mars Will Send No More celebrates the original epic Flesh from 2000 AD magazine, by Pat Mills, and starring Old One Eye, the mother of Satanus! Fire up your electric whip and get ready for major dinosaur mayhem!

Collector’s Guide: Collected in Flesh: The Dino Files TPB; Rebellion, 2011. Originally printed in 2000 AD #1-19; Fleetway, 1977.

The DinoPuncher Smashes Them out of the Way!

Tags

2000AD, dinopuncher, dinosaur, dinosaur comics, Flesh, Flesh the Dino Files, Pat Mills, time travel

Mars Will Send No More celebrates the original epic Flesh from 2000 AD magazine, by Pat Mills, and starring Old One Eye, the mother of Satanus! Fire up your electric whip and get ready for major dinosaur mayhem!

Collector’s Guide: Collected in Flesh: The Dino Files TPB; Rebellion, 2011. Originally printed in 2000 AD #1-19; Fleetway, 1977.

2000AD: Flesh 8!

Tags

2000AD, dinosaur, dinosaur comics, Flesh, Flesh the Dino Files, Pat Mills, time travel

Mars Will Send No More now celebrates with you the epic Flesh from 2000 AD magazine, issues #1-19. Flesh was created by Pat Mills. Fire up your electric whip and get ready for major dinosaur mayhem!

Collector’s Guide: Collected in Flesh: The Dino Files TPB; Rebellion, 2011. Originally printed in 2000 AD #1-19; Fleetway, 1977.

You Could Be Risking the Herd If You Went In!

Tags

2000AD, dinosaur, dinosaur comics, Flesh, Flesh the Dino Files, Pat Mills, time travel

Mars Will Send No More celebrates the original epic Flesh from 2000 AD magazine, created by Pat Mills and starring Old One Eye, the mother of Satanus! Fire up your electric whip and get ready for major dinosaur mayhem!

Collector’s Guide: Collected in Flesh: The Dino Files TPB; Rebellion, 2011. Originally printed in 2000 AD #1-19; Fleetway, 1977.

We Need Fuel to Burn the Dinosaurs Out!

Tags

2000AD, dinosaur, dinosaur comics, Flesh, Flesh the Dino Files, Pat Mills, time travel

Mars Will Send No More celebrates the original epic Flesh from 2000 AD magazine, created by Pat Mills and starring Old One Eye, the mother of Satanus! Fire up your electric whip and get ready for major dinosaur mayhem!

Collector’s Guide: Collected in Flesh: The Dino Files TPB; Rebellion, 2011. Originally printed in 2000 AD #1-19; Fleetway, 1977.

2000AD: Flesh 5!

Tags

2000AD, dinosaur, dinosaur comics, Flesh, Flesh the Dino Files, Pat Mills, time travel

Mars Will Send No More celebrates the original epic Flesh from 2000 AD magazine, by Pat Mills, and starring Old One Eye, the mother of Satanus! Now fire up your electric whip and get ready for major dinosaur mayhem!

Collector’s Guide: Collected in Flesh: The Dino Files TPB; Rebellion, 2011. Originally printed in 2000 AD #1-19; Fleetway, 1977.

Her Pack of Tyrannosaurs Came Screeching to Her Side!

Tags

2000AD, dinosaur, dinosaur comics, Flesh, Flesh the Dino Files, Old One Eye, Pat Mills, time travel

By the 23rd Century, most animals had been destroyed. Man survived on synthetic foods alone. But he still craved real meat. With the discovery of time travel, he was able to go in search of it — back 65 million years to the Age of the Great Dinosaurs!

Mars Will Send No More celebrates the original epic Flesh from 2000 AD magazine, created by Pat Mills and starring Old One Eye, the mother of Satanus! Now fire up your electric whip and get ready for major dinosaur mayhem!

Collector’s Guide: Collected in Flesh: The Dino Files TPB; Rebellion, 2011. Originally printed in 2000 AD #1-19; Fleetway, 1977.