The second series of fungal frightener Death Cap wraps up this issue – fans of The Last of Us may well appreciate its vision of a new life form seeking hosts to propagate it – and Armitage unmasks the guilty party in the conclusion to Murder. Setting: Automated, Express. Meanwhile, there’s a complete Dredd thriller from Outlier creators T.C. Eglington and Karl Richardson in Trashed, and more action and intrigue in Cadet Dredd, Barrel & Hammer, Rok of the Reds and Atomfall (the videogame for which this story is the prequel to seems to have made quite the splash since its release in March, judging by the media coverage and the refocus on the Windscale disaster that proved its historical inspiration). In addition, we have the next chapter of the Meg Files, and Stephen Jewell takes a look at a new collection of unseen John M Burns artwork, just published by The Book Palace. As we head into summer, make sure you don’t miss The 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special, which is up for pre-order now on shop.2000AD.com, and features all-new tales for Dredd, Strontium Dog, The Out and Ampney Crucis from Al Ewing, Dan Abnett, Mark Harrison, and more! JUDGE DREDD // TRASHEDMega-City One, 2146 AD. This vast urban hell on the east coast of post-apocalyptic North America is home to over 200 million citizens, bordered by the irradiated Cursed Earth to the west and the toxic Black Atlantic to the east. Tensions run a knife-edge and crime is rampant. Stemming the tide of chaos are the Judges. Toughest of them all is Judge Dredd – he is the Law! DEATH CAP // FRONTIER JUSTICE, Part EightThe Cursed Earth, 2144 AD. This blasted, irradiated wilderness covers much of what’s left of post-apocalyptic twenty-second century North America. Here, mutants scratch out a meagre existence in ramshackle townships. Former Judge Anita Goya’s family were massacred, and she became infected with a virulent fungus. Now she’s being hunted by Justice Dept… ARMITAGE // Murder. Setting: Automated, Express, Part TwoBrit-Cit, 2147 AD. While the UK equivalent of Mega-City One has its own Judge force, it’s retained its CID plainclothes division, of which Detective Inspector Armitage was one of its veteran officers. Now a consultant, Armitage hasn’t lost his surly demeanour and distrust of authority – and now he’s looking into another of his cold cases.. CADET DREDD // THE HAUNTING OF ISO-BLOCK 8, Part TwoMega-City One, 2076 AD. Overcrowding in the metropolis is rife, unemployment is at ninety per cent, boredom is universal and crime is rampant. Only the Judges can stop total anarchy. Cadet Joe Dredd – together with his clone-brother Rico – is a rising star in Justice Department, and will one day be its finest officer. Make no mistake, he is the Law! ROK OF THE REDS // Chapter FiveDangerous intergalactic outlaws and an arrogant footballer collide, on the run after his home world is destroyed, Rok of Arkadi needs a hiding place. And that hiding place happens to be troubled football star Kyle Dixon. A black comedy about revenge, redemption and the ‘beautiful game’. ATOMFALL // Part ThreeIt’s 1957, and investigative journalist Jenny Coggins has been sent by her bosses to explore the picturesque village of Wyndham. Nothing ever happens in Wyndham – except that recently a mysterious plant has been built in the confines of the village. After receiving a message that the plant is not all that it seems, Jenny finds out that something very strange is happening in the woods… BARREL & HAMMER // CASTAWAYDeep in the void of space, the far future. The buccaneers that patrol the galaxy on the hunt for ships to plunder have a strict hierarchy that they have to adhere to – certain targets are only available to those that belong to the Space Pirates Guild, and to break that ruling can land you in a whole heap of trouble…
