European artists have played a pivotal role in the history of British comics and its characters, chief among them, of course, being Carlos Ezquerra, whose influence has pervaded 2000 AD since its inception. But its equally hard to imagine Ace Trucking Co without the crazed genius imagination of Massimo Belardinelli, Flesh’s gory drama without Ramon Sola, or something like Eagle’s The House of Daemon without the supremely creepy inks of José Ortiz. The Continent tends to do a better job of celebrating comics art than the UK, which is why anthology title Metal Hurlant made such a splash upon publication fifty years ago, and continues to be a seminal magazine that Pat Mills famously drew upon when pulling together the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic. It’s English-language version, Heavy Metal, has been through various publishers over the years, but it’s back with a new #1 and a return to a focus on European creators, including unseen stories from the likes of Ortiz and co. You can find out more from the interview with the editors and contributors in this month’s issue – and the Meg showcases another unsung European artist in Rafael Busóm Clúa, whose The Haunting of Jilly Johnson has recently been collected by the Treasury of British Comics, which, like Sugar Jones before it, wonderfully captures a particular era with its own stylish élan. Enjoy! JUDGE DREDD // ZOOMERSMega-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! MEGA-CITY 2099 // CARDIAC ARRESTMega-City One, 2099 AD. Before the Judges took complete control of the metropolis, there were two strands of law enforcement – regular uniformed cops did much of the day-to-day policing, while the helmeted Judges were called upon to pass judgement on certain criminals, their vested powers giving them the ability to dispense on-the-spot sentences… CADET DREDD // THE HAUNTING OF ISO-BLOCK 8, Part FiveMega-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! TALES FROM THE BLACK MUSEUM // KILLING CODEMega-City One, 2147 AD. Deep in the heart of the Grand Hall of Justice lies the Black Museum, Justice Department’s permanent exhibition of the relics from bygone crimes. Whether it’s a notorious serial killer’s trophies or the weapons of the Dark Judges, the violent history of the Big Meg is laid bare here. Let undead guide Henry Dubble show you around… ROK THE GOD // Chapter TwoThe hilarious sequel to Rok of the Reds. Alien footballer Rok becomes a god – but even gods have enemies. Meanwhile ten-inch-high Kyle Dixon and corrupt referee Nigel Bull go on the strangest ‘buddy movie’ break out you can imagine.
