2000 AD #395

The cover of this December 1984 prog sets a delightfully chaotic scene: a tuxedo-clad figure with a blue mask spreads his arms wide amid a ballroom crowd, caught between two hulking, heavily armed figures whose enormous weapons are aimed squarely at him — his exclamation of "Blimey — Gatecrashers!" perfectly capturing the sardonic wit the series is known for. Bryan Talbot's pencils and inks bring real energy to the composition, with robots, party guests, and that dramatic standoff all packed into one gloriously busy image. With "The Stainless Steel Rat For President" continuing inside — written by Harry Harrison and K. Gosnell with art by C. Ezquerra — Prog 395 is a fine snapshot of 2000 AD firing on all cylinders.