2000 AD Covers Unveiled: “JUDGE ALPHA? – Who Will I Pay?” Mike Perkins Featured in 2024 Sci-Fi Special

Comics

July 3, 2024

Every week, 2000 AD presents you with the finest works of art in the galaxy and Covers from 2000 AD discovered takes you behind the scenes with the key artists behind our best covers – join bloggers Richard Bruton and Pete Wells as they discover the best covers 2000 AD!

It’s a summer spectacle of side-universe stories! Yes, it’s July, and that means 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special returns in 2024! On a fantastic Mike Perkins cover – Judge Alpha!

This is a 48-page collection of Zarjaz strips that are unlike any other – transported from another dimension and harnessed by the power of Tharg. Five strips feature familiar GGC characters that are mixed, merged, combined and smashed together to give you something unique, spectacular and strange!

So expect a new Law in MC-1 when you meet this amazing Judge Alpha; discover a whole new way to hunt robots with Sinister and Dexter, Robo-Sharks; Experience bounty hunting in Search/Destroy like never before as Friday is hunted for a crime he didn’t commit Villain/Dog; take to the high seas to experience adventures aboard the Red Virgin Sticklebackand watch with amazement/amazement the most brutal sport of the future, which will take Aero Ball to incredible/ridiculous heights Harlem Zombo!

It’s all inside Sci-Fi Special Episode 2024. But first, let me tell you about the thriller that is the cover… Mike Perkins…

MIKE PERKINS: ‘Judge Alpha? Johnny Alpha as a judge? And you ask if I’d be interested in producing a cover of that?’ – Who should I pay?

Okay… I didn’t say that last one, but I’m sure it crossed my mind.

Art droids everywhere cringe when they hear such words, because they know Tharg will understand that the droids are supposed to pay him, not the other way around!

But we understand exactly what Mike means – who wouldn’t jump at the chance to show us JUDGE ALPHA?!?!

Okay, back to Mike…

MIKE PERKINS: Tharg knew more or less what he was looking for, but I cobbled together a few sketches based on known Strontium Dog paintings.

I really wanted a crossover holster, but it would cover up the Judge’s uniform too much.

However, I REALLY wanted a Westinghouse and found the perfect photo on the Termight Replicas website...

The single image of Alpha was chosen from the sketches, but the two previous Rebellion covers I had illustrated were medium-range, straight-on shots, and I was wary of repeating that, so I approached this one with a more confrontational pose.

I also finished a full-color version of the cover – but ultimately decided to go with the gray and red version because it stood out more.

Johnny Alpha wasn’t on Prog when I started getting him weekly (from Prog 240)… probably because Carlos was busy Apocalypse War – BUT I knew it from the yearbooks and soon after I bought all the back issues and caught up with 239 other, emotional, progressive releases.

He’s always been a favorite of mine… now if only I could get a Robo Hunter cover…

And there you have it – next in line for Perkins’ droid – Robo-Hunter. Tharg can do it!

Big thanks to Mike for sending everything over – it’s a ghafflebette cover worthy of the once-a-year magic that is 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special! You can find it on shelves now – wherever Thrill Power is sold, including Online store 2000 AD.

If you want more of Mike’s looks, we’ve got some great ones for you – here’s his latest, a Christmas 2023 one. Judge Dredd Megazineissue 463. There’s also his gorgeous 2017 FCBD cover here.

Really, he just didn’t do enough for 2000 AD! Tharg, Tharg… Mike is after Robo Hunteryou can solve it, right?