2000 AD #1640

Two gun-toting figures dominate this fiery cover to 2000 AD Prog 1640 — a wide-brimmed hat-wearing gunslinger in the foreground and a close-cropped adversary behind him, both rendered against a blazing orange inferno crowned by a snarling skull, with cover art by Leigh Gallagher that crackles with menace. The bold tagline "Know Him by the Trail of Dead… Defoe Has Returned" sets a brooding, pulpy tone that pairs perfectly with the banner promising a new Judge Dredd thriller inside. For fans of dark, atmospheric British comics, this 2009 prog delivers a compelling package from an impressive lineup including writer Ian Edginton and the triple-threat artistry of Dave Taylor.