2000 AD #1752

This 2011 prog from Britain's beloved weekly anthology finds itself "Big in Japan," as the cover — rendered in D'Israeli's striking ukiyo-e-inflected style — depicts a figure dressed in tattered red robes doubled over under the force of a blow, a wooden staff in hand, with an armored warrior looming in the misty background against a pagoda and rain-soaked landscape. The tagline promises that Frank hits Hondo — and Hondo hits back — so there's clearly no shortage of punishment being dished out on both sides. Inside, John Wagner continues "Day of Chaos: Downtime" with art by Ben Willsher, colors by Chris Blythe, and lettering by Annie Parkhouse, keeping 2000 AD's reputation for sharp, inventive storytelling very much alive.