Due to the inevitable delay in interstellar shipping, it means that that this prog is sent to the print-bots a couple of weeks before Xmas, but you Squaxx won’t see it until the second week of January. As a consequence, this news has already circulated widely online, but nevertheless I must pay tribute to art-droid Ian Gibson, who sadly passed away on 11 December after a long battle with cancer.

One of 2000 AD’s longest-serving artists, contributing to the first Dredd multi-parter The Robot Wars in 1977, and going on to draw a huge number of classic Dredd stories as well as co-creating Robo-Hunter with John Wagner and The Ballad of Halo Jones with Alan Moore, he leaves an extraordinary legacy in the pages of the Galaxy’s Greatest.

With his unmistakable style, combining humour, action and beautiful characterisation, he was a brilliant storyteller — whether it was the crazed robots in Verdus, the gang war in Rumble in the Jungle or future-war on Moab in Halo Jones, he could handle it all, and the pages glowed with energy and excitement.

Rest in peace, Ian. You will be much missed.

JUDGE DREDD // A BETTER WORLD, Part One

Mega-City One, 2146 AD. Home to over 200 million citizens, this urban hell is situated along the east coast of post-Mega-City One, 2146 AD. Home to over 200 million citizens, this urban hell is situated along the east coast of post-apocalyptic North America. Crime is rampant, and only future cops the Judges — empowered to dispense instant justice — can stop total anarchy. Toughest of them all is JUDGE DREDD — he is the Law! Now, Accounts Judge Maitland has been conducting an experiment in Sector 304 in a bid to reduce crime…

THE DEVIL’S RAILROAD // Part Eleven

The Earth year 3038, and Planet Diaspora X-167 is a world that has been ravaged by war, a conflict that sees no sign of ending despite years of death and destruction. One couple, Palamon and Constance, are attempting to escape the caranage, especially now that Constance is pregnant — if the baby is born on Earth, it’ll have full Earth rights. Seeking a new life, these refugees must take a risky journey…

ENEMY EARTH // BOOK THREE, Part Five

The near future. Mother Nature has turned against the people that live upon the Earth’s surface. Now, the planet’s flora and fauna have mutated and are viciously attacking humanity. As society crumbles, and survivors seek safety, young Zoe, who has lost her own family, has rescued Jules, who’s the prime minister’s son. Now, the PM and the two youths have been captured and held in a military base…

THISTLEBONE // THE DULE TREE

Britain, 2020. It’s been over a year since journalist Seema Chaudry accompanied cult survivor Avril Easton back to the village of Harrowvale, where she suffered at the hands of THISTLEBONE worshippers, a crazed occult group that believed in an ancient woodland deity. One man in the village, Malcolm Kinniburgh, was keeping the Thistlebone legend alive — but now he’s dead, and his house is being cleared…

FERAL & FOE // BAD GODESBERG, Part Thirteen

It’s been over five years since the Last-of-All-War, when the Monarchy succeeded in defeating the Malign Lord. With their leader dead, his minions are scattered, fleeing retribution from the Wretchfinders. Necromancer Bode and warrior Wrath are two such beings, and were offered a deal — hunt and kill their own kind or be declared FERAL & FOE. Now, they’ve travelled to Godesberg, a stronghold that’s in trouble…