Summer’s Coming: The ‘2000 AD Sci-Fi Special’ Hits In July
by Richard Bruton
Always a highlight of the summer (whatever the weather), the 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special hits stores in July with the return of Al Ewing to Judge Dredd, and new tales for Strontium Dog, The Out, Future Shocks, and a decade-awaited return for Ampney Crucis, occult detective.
Oh, the Summer Special, guaranteed to fill those of us of a certain age with nostalgic glee. Even living as I do in the desert heat of Vegas now, with May temps soon to be hitting the 100 °F mark, I still remember those English summers of a week, maybe two if you were lucky (or posh) of summer holidays, where the weather was pure luck. You could spend a week on the beach roasting in sun and humidity, or you could spend seven days locked in a caravan watching the rain pour down. But it didn’t matter to me, as long as I had my supply of summer special comics. Beano, The Dandy, 2000 AD, all were devoured on those glorious holidays.
And the tradition continues every year with the 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special, a summer special by another name. This year that means 48 pages of the best sci-fi 2000 AD has to offer, with Judge Dredd, The Out, Strontium Dog, a Future Shock, and the return of Ampney Crucis after 10 long years away.
Here’s the 2000 AD spiel for this one…
“Judge Dredd heads off on his hols thanks to writer Al Ewing, making his long-awaited return to Mega-City One after thrilling readers around the world on series like Immortal Hulk and Absolute Green Lantern! We’re sure it’ll be a nice and peaceful trip for him, and certainly nothing horrific will happen which will require the full force of the Law to be upheld!
Dredd’s followed through spaceport security by the return of Strontium Dog Johnny Alpha and his team of intergalactic bounty hunters! Best pack a few extra time grenades and make sure you’ve brought a spare charger for the Electro-Nux, because trouble always follows Johnny, Wulf, and the Search/Destroy Agency!
This packed issue also checks in Cyd Finlea for a one-off The Out story by creators Dan Abnett and Mark Harrison – if anyone knows about getting away from it all, it’s galactic photojournalist Cyd: nobody has gone further “Out” of the known universe than she has!
We’ve a brand new Future Shock from the team of Andi Ewington and Nick Dyer to get you panicking ahead of your own holiday this year… and this special is rounded out by the return of all-round gentleman and occult detective Ampney Crucis to the Galaxy’s Greatest for the first time in… what, a decade? Where the deuce has he been? Only Ian Edginton and D’Israeli know!”
The 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2025 is out on 16th July
