2000 AD #1625

Prog 1625 of 2000 AD — "The Galaxy's Greatest Comic" — arrives with a viscerally striking cover by Pye: a skull-like mask rendered entirely in dripping blood, set against a bullet-riddled green wall, with the stark tagline asking, "Is this the beginning of the end for the 86ers?" It's an arresting, blood-soaked image that sets a tense, foreboding mood perfectly suited to "The Ecstasy Part 9," a story brought to life by writer John Wagner and artist/inker Paul Marshall, with colors by Chris Blythe and letters by Annie Parkhouse. Whether you're following the 86ers' struggles or picking this up cold, that cover alone makes a compelling case for diving in.