Dredd Meets Johnny Alpha Like Never Before In This Year’s ‘2000 AD Sci-Fi Special’ Mash Up
by Richard Bruton
Just announced, this years’ 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special continues the theme of the last couple of years with alt-versions of Dredd et al – this year we’re having multiple mash ups to give us Judge Alpha and more…
We’ve seen a Dreddverse zombified in 2022, seen what could have happened to the comic if 2000 AD had merged with Battle back in the ’70s and ’80s in 2023 – so this year’s 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special had to up its game in terms of making it an event — and it could be that they’ve managed it, as this year we’re getting a mash-up special bringing together some of the most famous characters in the 2000 AD work and mashing them up to create something new.
So that means that we’re going to be seeing Judge Dredd and Strontium Dog combined to create Judge Alpha. There’s a new career for Sinister Dexter as Robo-Hunters instead of gunsharks, we’ll see what it would be like if Rogue Trooper joined the Strontium Dogs Search/Destroy Agency, whilst Stickleback finds himself all at sea – a red sea. And then there’s the small matter of the return of writer Al Ewing to his finest creation, Zombo, or at least a sporty version of him!
More info as we get it. All we have right now is the PR below and that Mike Perkins image above – full line-up to be announced, but there’s definitely Al Ewing writing The Harlem Zombos mashing up Zombo and The Harlem Heroes, Ian Edginton writing Stickleback mixed with his Red Seas characters, Dan Abnett writing the SinDex/Robo-Hunter mash-up Tb, plus the involvement of artists Ben Willsher and Nicolo Assirelli.
Okay, here’s the 2000 AD PR…
“This all-new Sci-Fi Special comes beamed from an alternate dimension – one in which familiar characters from the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic have been given a different twist. The Thrill-powered characters you thought you knew have been amalgamated into one other in strange and unpredictable ways, creating an all new version of the Galaxy’s Greatest!
In this sideways universe there is only one person who has the strength to enforce the law in Mega-City One… and he’s a high-powered mutant! With eyes which can emit piercing Alpha waves, Judge Alpha makes sure that nobody messes with the Justice Department!
When robots go rogue and start causing chaos in the neighbourhood, who’re you gonna call? Sinister and Dexter, of course, the Robo-Sharks! Hired to track down and terminate troublesome droids, this pair of robo… hunters? never miss their targets!
The Search/Destroy Agency have a number of highly-trained bounty hunters on their intergalactic roster: but none were as skilled as Friday! Framed for a crime he didn’t commit, this Rogue/Dog is now being hunted by his fellow bounty hunters!
Ahoy! When you’re out on the wild seas of the world, flag flying in the wind and your team of scurvy dogs on deck, no bounty goes unclaimed! But the Red Wench’s captain is a rather strange chap: who is Stickleback?
And if you’re a fan of high-octane thrill-sports, there’s only one place to enjoy extreme and enervating combat! The most violent sport of the future features undead, flesh-eating teams… welcome The Harlem Zombos to 2000 AD!”
