2000 AD #397

Part of the beloved "City of the Damned" arc, this December 1984 prog from IPC delivers a cover by Steve Dillon that's genuinely hard to look away from — a massive, reptilian creature rears up menacingly as multiple Judges, including a grimacing Judge Dredd, scramble to face it against a blazing red background. The cover's tagline, "Gaze Upon the Doom That Was Foretold!", sets a deliciously ominous tone that perfectly captures 2000 AD's flair for pulpy, end-of-the-world drama. Inside, Carlos Ezquerra brings his sharp linework to the latest chapter of Harry Harrison and Kelvin Gosnell's "The Stainless Steel Rat For President," making this a fine example of the anthology at full creative steam.