2000 AD #1771

Prog 1771 is the "Ghafflebette Bumper Birthday Issue" marking 35 zarjaz years of 2000 AD, and Mick McMahon's variant cover (1 of 2) throws open the gates with a gloriously dense crowd of the anthology's most recognizable characters — Judge Dredd in his full-eagle helmet jostles for space alongside a skeletal green figure, a beak-masked figure, a gruff gunman in a wide-brimmed hat, a robot, and dozens more familiar faces packed edge to edge. The speech bubble cheerfully announces "It's rather awesome, Mister Reader!" — and it's hard to argue with that. Inside, John Wagner continues "Day of Chaos: Eve of Destruction Part 07," with art by Ben Willsher and colors by Chris Blythe, promising seven mind-melting thrills and a free poster to round out this celebratory package.