2000 AD #1984

The cover of prog 1984 leans hard into Orwellian territory — Judge Dredd stands armed and imposing over a fallen figure on a bleak Mega-City street, while a massive propaganda billboard behind him declares "The Justice Department Is Watching You," complete with his own helmeted visage staring back. Graffiti scrawled on the walls ("Dredd Stinks," "Chopper") adds a street-level defiance to the authoritarian mood, and the issue's own tagline, "Orwell That Ends Well…?", ties the visual language together with a wry wink. Matt Ferguson's cover art in crisp black, white, and red makes this 2016 prog a sharp encapsulation of everything that makes Mega-City One such a fascinatingly oppressive place to visit.