Rogue Trooper: Blighty Valley Review (Garth Ennis, Patrick Goddard)

If you grew up reading 2000AD like me, Rogue Trooper is one of those iconic characters you’ll never forget with his blue skin, blank eyes and cool gear - except that’s all I think of when I think of the character. Unlike Dredd or Slaine, there’s no Dark Judges or Horned God Saga storyline to point to as a high point in that character’s history. And I think that’s why Rebellion brought in Garth Ennis: to finally give Rogue one of those memorable storylines.

2000AD Prog 2207 Review

My latest review for Multiversity Comics went up today - it's the first part of Judge Dredd: Simply Normal: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/news-columns/multiver-city-one-2000-ad-prog-2207/

2000AD Prog 2206 Review

My latest review for Multiversity Comics went up today - it's the one-shot Anderson, PSI Division: Early Warning: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/news-columns/multiver-city-one-2206/

2000AD Prog 2205 Review

My latest review for Multiversity Comics went up today - it's the second and final part of Judge Dredd: They Shoot Talking Horses, Don't They?: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/news-columns/multiver-city-one-2205/

2000AD Prog 2204 Review

My latest review for Multiversity Comics went up today - it's the first part of Judge Dredd: They Shoot Talking Horses, Don't They?: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/news-columns/multiver-city-one-2204/

Judge Dredd Megazine 425 Review

My latest review for Multiversity Comics went up today - it's the second part of The Returners: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/news-columns/judge-dredd-megazine-425/

2000AD Prog 2203 Review

My latest review for Multiversity Comics went up today - it's the fourth and final part of Judge Dredd: Carry the Nine: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/news-columns/multiver-city-one-2203/

2000AD Prog 2202 Review

My latest review for Multiversity Comics went up today - it's the third part of Judge Dredd: Carry the Nine: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/news-columns/multiver-city-one-2202/

2000AD Prog 2201 Review

My latest review for Multiversity Comics went up today - it's the second part of Judge Dredd: Carry the Nine: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/news-columns/multiver-city-one-2201/

2000AD Prog 2200 Review

My fifth review for Multiversity Comics went up today - it's the first part of Judge Dredd: Carry the Nine: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/news-columns/multiver-city-one-2200/

Judge Dredd Megazine 424 Review

My fourth review for Multiversity Comics went up - it's the first part of The Returners: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/news-columns/judge-dredd-megazine-424/

2000AD Prog 2199 Review

My third review for Multiversity Comics went up today - it's the third and final part of Saphir: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/news-columns/multiver-city-one-2199/

2000AD Prog 2198 Review

My second review for Multiversity Comics went up today - it's the second part of Saphir: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/news-columns/multiver-city-one-2198/

2000AD Prog 2197 Review

My first review for Multiversity Comics went up today - it's the first part of Saphir: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/news-columns/multiver-city-one-2197/

Judge Dredd, Volume 2 Review (Duane Swierczynski, Nelson Daniel)

Droids is revoltin’ in Mega-City One – and they’re also turning against the human populace, yukyukyuk! That means Dredd’s outta his usual weaponry and he’s gotta save the life of a bestselling teen author from the rioting robots with just his mitts and wits. No Lawgiver. No Lawmaster. No problem. Also, clones for some reason?!

Zenith: Phase One Review (Grant Morrison, Steve Yeowell)

Nazi superman/Lovecraftian monster wants to destroy the world - arrogant British popstar superhero gotta stop him!

Zenith is really early Grant Morrison (1987-88, back when he was still writing for 2000AD) but it’s not bad and is actually quite accessible and entertaining.

Predator Vs Judge Dredd Vs Aliens: Splice and Dice Review (John Layman, Chris Mooneyham)

You know what’s interesting about Predator vs Judge Dredd vs Aliens? Nothing.

An emoji-themed cult leader being pursued by Dredd and an unoriginal Doctor Moreau-type experimenting with splicing Xenomorphs with humans and animals bring the three franchises together for a brief and forgettable argy-bargy.

Judge Dredd, Volume 3 Review (Duane Swierczynski, Nelson Daniel)

Hmm. I am NOT having much luck picking out good comics this week! I’m not a huge fan of Duane Swierczynski’s but he’s written some ok books in the past. Unfortunately I seem to have managed to grab two of his worst comics efforts with Birds of Prey Volume 3 and now Judge Dredd Volume 3 - and I’m gonna be avoiding any books with his name on going forward! 

Judge Dredd: Hondo City Law Review (Robbie Morrison, Frank Quitely)

Hondo-City is the Japanese version of Judge Dredd’s Mega City One. Dredd’s Japanese stand-in? Inspector Aiko Inaba and her mentor, the Ronin Judge Shimura. 

I picked this one up out of pure nostalgia. I used to read all the variations of 2000AD when I was a kid in the 90s and came across the story Babes with Big Bazookas in an issue of the Judge Dredd Megazine in 1996. Sure, the scantily-clad ladies probably cemented my memories of this comic at the time but I remember loving the art too though it’d be years before I knew the name Frank Quitely. 

Rogue Trooper Review (Brian Ruckley, Alberto Ponticelli)

Back when I was a teenager and read nothing but 2000AD (in between Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams novels), Rogue Trooper was a character I couldn’t care less about. He had this iconic, cool look with his striking blue skin but he didn’t seem like a particularly complex or interesting character with a discernible goal – he just ran around a dull, rocky planet, killing stuff while his gun, helmet, and backpack talked to him (which I admit was a nifty detail). 

Well, it’s now many years later and I’ve finally read a complete Rogue Trooper arc, and I’m surprised that my initial impression of the character was spot on! 

Nu-Earth is a planet so ravaged by war, it’s atmosphere has become toxic. Enter the Genetic Infantry, troops engineered to survive and fight under its hostile conditions. Blue (what a racist nickname!) is the last survivor in his group but his comrades live on in the biochips he’s attached to his helmet, gun and backpack. After deserting and pursuing his own objectives, Blue is labelled the Rogue Trooper, on a seemingly endless mission in this vague and terrible war.

Brian Ruckley takes the right tack in this book - Rogue Trooper is essentially an ‘80s action movie with big, brainless violence and a ripped guy without a shirt firing a huge gun, and that’s how Ruckley writes it. There are no lofty themes decrying the horrors of war or complex characters - it’s pretty much shallow killing from start to finish, and that’s fine.

That said it’s not totally without soul. I love how the biochips, Gunnar, Bagman and Helm have these concerned talks about Rogue’s mental state out his earshot, like they’re looking out for their buddy even in death. There is a poignant sadness in how Rogue seems to carry the weight of his friends’ deaths as if he’s responsible which is maybe why he’s so withdrawn a character compared to the strangely lively and chatty biochips.

Alberto Ponticelli’s art isn’t on the same level as Glenn Fabry’s cover art but it’s still good. He’s not given much to work with given that Nu-Earth is mostly a barren wasteland with muted colours but Ponticelli’s work is never boring to look at. Also when Rogue goes after the soldiers out to bring him in, the battle is nicely choreographed in an easy-to-follow way.

Rogue Trooper’s not the most amazing comic you’ll read but it’s entertaining enough and it’s enjoyable seeing Rogue gunning down such two-dimensional baddies. Normally I’d critique that kind of thing but I feel it’s appropriate here as I think that’s how the character’s always been so Ruckley’s just being true to the spirit of the title.

In the mood for a comic you don’t need to think about to enjoy? Rogue Trooper’s your man and this book is a great introduction to him.

Rogue Trooper