2000 AD #227

Two figures square off in a tense confrontation as a U.S. Air Force jet spirals down in a ball of fire behind them — one armed with a pistol and delivering the chilling speech balloon "HERE'S THE REWARD FOR MAKING ME ALL-POWERFUL, STONE... DEATH!", while the other clutches what appears to be a remote control device. Cover art by Massimo Belardinelli brings real energy to this August 1981 installment of Britain's beloved weekly anthology, with the bold tagline "COUNTDOWN TO MELTDOWN!" promising high stakes inside. Part four of "The Gronk Affair" — with interior work from artist Brian Bolland and writer T. B. Grover — this prog is a fine snapshot of 2000 AD at its pulse-pounding best.