2000 AD #1458

This September 2005 prog of 2000 AD greets readers with a brooding, blue-toned painted cover by Mark Harrison — a cold-eyed, close-cropped man raises a pistol directly at the viewer while ghostly figures loom in the background amid vivid red blood splatter, all anchored by the bold tagline "Blood Will Run in the Streets of Mega-City One." It's a striking, atmospheric piece that sets a tense, noir-tinged mood for the anthology's contents, including the sixth chapter of "Mandroid," brought to life by the combined talents of writer John Wagner and artist Kev Walker. If you're following the 2000 AD universe in 2005, this is a prog that earns its place on the shelf.