Action 2020 Special

Action 2020 Special

I'd have liked to have written another blog sooner than this but the birth of our daughter a week ago has thrown the normal routines out of the window, but for the best reasons possible.  In fact as I write, it's currently 3.30am and my daughter is on my shoulder asleep…for now. 

This time I'll try and do a review, rather than recommendation, my problem is I find it difficult to be overly critical as I always feel for the creator who has put themselves out there and created a piece of work.  I'm no expert, with years of experience in the industry, just a returned comic reader who enjoys a variety of styles, but here goes.

Needless to say my comic reading of late has been sporadic to say the least, grabbing a moment here or there to read a few pages or the odd story. One comic I'd been looking forward to was the Action 2020 special, brought to us by Rebellion.  An anthology is perfect for me right now. Not only that I was excited to read the story, Hellman, written by Garth Ennis. As you'll know, from a previous blog, Ennis is a favourite creator of mine and his war stories are always a treat.

I chose the digital option, which got me the Action 2020 Special and a reprint of an original

Action from 1977 all for £4.99. To be honest I'm fine with digital anyway, due to restrictions on space and money.  It does allow the reader to zoom in on the artwork or the speech if your eyes are middle aged and worn out like mine. 

Straight out of the gate, Staz Johnsons cover with colours by John Charles really hit the spot for me.  Great use of Kill Bill red and yellow in the logo really popped, the segmented cover design reminded me of the 1983 2000AD annual.  The headings of mayhem, anarchy, danger gave a pulp style.

The first story was Kids Rule Ok, story by Ram V, art Henrik Sahlstrom. Set in 1986 after a virus has wiped out the adult population, only the young survive in this post

apocalyptic world. The story is dialogue light but action heavy, I've not seen Sahlstroms work before but I really enjoyed it here, dark and gritty with a flair for gore.. The mayhem quickly ensues with gruesome deaths provided by teens protecting their settlement with gun, sword and axe while seeing off a Mad Max style biker gang. A good one shot story, with a feeling of hope during dark times, to kick things off 

Next up was the one I'd been looking forward to, Hellman at the Twilight of the Reich,

written by Garth Ennis, with art by Mike Dorey and lettering by Rob Steen.  Okay so I might be biased, but this was excellent, a master class in writing. In just ten pages Ennis crammed in so much story, character development and action.  I cared for the characters and was left wanting more. I really enjoyed the black and white art from Mike Dory, another artist whose work I wasn't overly familiar with. I'd love a series of this!

Hell Machine was a strip that had piqued my interest as it was not only drawn by the excellent artist Henry Flint, but scripted by

him too. Straight away I was reminded of  Flints most recent strip in the prog, Proteus Vex, no bad thing as that artwork was awesome too. It should be noted that the second half of the story was pencilled by the equally great Jake lynch, an artist I'm growing to enjoy more and more when he appears in 2000AD.  Colours for Jake were by Jim Boswell and lettering duties throughout by Simon Bowland. Much to my chagrin I didn't read Action in the 70s so I don't know if this is a new story or an original new one. Either way I loved it from start to finish. Excellent art and storytelling, with interesting characters in an original situation. I would love to see more of this story!

Next story up was a tale about Hook Jaw, the shark obviously not inspired by Jaws, written by

Quint Amity (see what they did there) with art by Dan Lish, no lettering credit as there is no

dialogue uttered. Dan Lishs brilliant, atmospheric artwork does all the talking in this one and for someone who doesn't enjoy drawing gory scenes (as he explains on a recent 2000AD thrillcast) he draws great gory panels. I'm not going to spoil any of those scenes but there is a very nice splash page to end the story - which could lead to something epic.

To round off this Action Special was a story called Dredger, again I believe this was a story from the original comic. For me this was the one average story in the special with script by Zina Hutton and art by 2000AD regular Staz

Johnson with colours by the always excellent John Charles, letters by the intriguingly named Agent PC.  Perhaps I'd have enjoyed this more if I knew a bit more of Dredgers backstory. The character appears to be a rough arsed James Bond who, in best 70s tradition, is a loose cannon sent on a mission to retrieve a memory stick. In its favour there is an awesome panel that doesn't hold back on the blood and gore of a headshot. I also enjoyed a panel where Dredger imagines choking his boss, we've all been there. It could be a grower, especially if it was allowed to be balls out and un PC.

I'm really glad I bought this special, I'd have been happy just with Garth Ennis' contribution but what I got was a great anthology comic that felt fresh.  Good to see some new (to me) writers and artists making a great impact. I really enjoyed the art of Dan Lish and Mike Dory and loved the writing of Henry Flint. I hope this has been successful enough for us to get more Action specials in the future.