Preview The 2018 2000AD Sci-Fi Special: History In The Making!

(Cover by Tula Lotay)

The 2000AD Sci-Fi Special 2018 – a very, very special!
Every year, 2000AD delivers a summer special of intense thrill-power. But the 2018 Sci-Fi Special is going to go down in 2000AD history as a very important, very special event.
For the first time in its 30+ year history, 2000AD has an issue featuring an entirely female lineup of creative talent. Eight brand new strips featuring a fabulous line up of both characters and talent.

(Variant cover by Emily Zeinner)

Editor Matt Smith had this to say when he announced the 2018 Sci-Fi Special:

I’m especially excited to welcome a group of new creators to 2000AD… This year’s historic Sci-Fi Special is going to be packed with unique voices and amazing talent.

The talents gathered together in this Sci-Fi Special includes writers and artists from the UK and abroad, some new to 2000AD, some already familiar to readers; Emma Beeby and Babs Tarr (Judge Dredd), Laura Bailey and Dani (DeMarco P.I.), Maura McHugh and Emma Vieceli (Psi-Judge Anderson), Leah Moore and Xulia Vicente (Judge Death), Alex De Campi and Sam Beck (Rogue Trooper), Olivia Hicks and Abigail Bulmer (Terror Tale), Katy Rex and Liana Kangas (Tyranny Rex), and Tillie Walden (Future Shock). And in addition, we have colourists Eva De La Cruz, Pippa Mather, Barbara Nosenzo, and Gab Contreras, plus the magnificent lettering talents of Annie Parkhouse and Ellie De Ville. Covers come from Tula Lotay and Emily Zeinner and include a spectacular Anderson centrespread by Marguerite Sauvage…

There has been much discussion online about the 2000AD Sci-Fi Special, most of it good, some critical. And yes, sadly, the worst of it, as you could probably have guessed, was the usual whining of boy trolls. Amongst the critical responses were several complaining that 2000AD should have been doing this already, and that this was mere tokenism, a one-off thing that is more PR stunt that genuine move forward. To which I’d imagine the talented writers, artists, colourists, and letterers involved would all have considerable issue with.
The 2000AD Sci-Fi Special 2018 is a magnificent collection of comic strips, featuring the best of the comic, all produced by an extremely talented group of creatives. And I have no doubt at all that we’ll be seeing these incredibly talented names for years to come in 2000AD.
But right now, it’s our pleasure to be able to show you a rather large preview of the Sci- Fi Special, available in the UK from 20th July and in the USA from 11th July.
JUDGE DREDD: THE FEELS – EMMA BEEBY & BABS TARR

TYRANNY REX: DON’T FORGET TO BLAST MY CACHE – KATY REX & LIANA KANGAS

ROGUE TROOPER: THE THOUSAND DAYS – ALEX DE CAMPI & SAM BECK

FUTURE SHOCKS: DELIVERY – TILLIE WALDEN

JUDGE DEATH: DARKNESS DESCENDS – LEAH MOORE & XULIA VICENTE

DEMARCO, P.I.: LOVE REMAINS – LAURA BAILEY & DANI

TERROR TALES: THE HOCKEY STICKS OF HELL – OLIVIA HICKS & ABIGAIL BULMER

ANDERSON, PSI DIVISION: SPA DAY – MAURA MCHUGH & EMMA VIECELI