2000 AD #1042

Prog 1042 of 2000 AD from May 1997 sports a wonderfully atmospheric cover by Dermot Power, depicting a hunched, goblin-like figure — Ukko — peering through a keyhole with a quill in hand, rendered in moody, shadowy tones that perfectly suit his new role as a private eye. The banner announces a new Nikolai Dante story joining the Romanov Dynasty, and the packed lineup also includes Judge Dredd, Al's Baby, and Mercy Heights. It's a satisfying weekly anthology that captures the wit and range that made 2000 AD such a distinctive corner of British comics.