2000 AD #1322

Prog 1322 of 2000 AD kicks off 2003 with a suitably grim cover: Judge Dredd has a bloodied, writhing alien creature by the throat, his expression pure iron-jawed authority as he snarls "Start talking, creep!" — a confrontation that makes the tagline "Aliens have entered Mega-City One!" feel less like a warning and more like a declaration of war. Kevin Walker's cover art captures Dredd at his most unyielding, every detail of the judge's armour and the creature's grotesque, fleshy form rendered with visceral confidence. Inside, John Wagner and Andy Diggle continue the story with art by Henry Flint, colours by Chris Blythe, and lettering by Tom Frame — a strong creative team delivering the second chapter of what promises to be a genuinely unsettling sci-fi thriller.