Rebellion Releases — 18 December 2024

Button Man is an action-packed thriller, deservedly regarded as one of the greatest strips ever to be published in 2000 AD and a high point in the career of Arthur Ranson, whose photo-realistic artwork astonished readers. Written by John Wagner, the series follows military vet Harry Ex, who returns to England with no idea what to do with his new domestic life. When he gets contacted by an old comrade, however, he finds himself drawn into a vast and strange new world. He is hired to be a “Button Man”: paid by unseen powerful men to engage in underground shootouts to the death with other professional killers.

After surviving his first fight and making his name in the scene, Harry finds himself dragged deeper and deeper into the world – but each shootout could be his last. How long can Harry keep this up, especially when his thirst for violence finds himself at odds with the shadowy figures who hired him in the first place?

Written by Judge Dredd co-creator John Wagner and fully-drawn by Arthur Ranson in this run, Button Man is also currently being adapted into a TV series by The Fall Guy director David Leitch.

Arthur Ranson has long been one of 2000 AD’s most popular artists; having made his initial impact working on Judge Anderson, he teamed up with John Wagner to create the highly acclaimed Button Man series, and later worked with Alan Grant for Mazeworld. He has also co-created the character of pyrokinetic Mega-City One citizen Juliet November, and illustrated both Judge Dredd and several Future Shocks.

This Apex Edition reprints nearly 200 pages from the first three stories, newly scanned from the original art, printed at the size the pages were drawn, and without the inclusion of the dialogue balloons, to give you a real insight into Arthur Ranson’s meticulous work. Each page of this book has been scanned directly from Ranson’s art and presents each page as if you were looking at it in person!

The Button Man by Arthur Ranson Apex Edition will be released in as a Standard Edition available from comic book stores via Diamond Distribution and the 2000 AD webshop; and as a webshop-exclusive edition with special slipcase. This limited edition slipcase version also features a tip-in sheet featuring the cover art for 2000 AD Prog 789, individually signed by Arthur Ranson.

Note: Unlike previous Apex editions (which measured 47.5 x 36.5cm / 19 x 14") this volume is 36.1 x 27.6cm / 14 x 10" reflecting the smaller size of the original Button Man artwork.

And now, this week's releasees...

2000AD Prog 2413
Cover: Andy Clarke.

JUDGE DREDD // LIFE LESSONS by Ken Niemand (w) David Roach (a) Chris Blythe (c) Annie Parkhouse (l)
FIENDS OF THE WESTERN FRONT // WILDE WEST by Ian Edginton (w) Tiernen Trevallion (a) Jim Campbell (l)
PORTALS & BLACK GOO // A QUORUM OF FIENDS by John Tomlinson (w) Eoin Coveney (a) Jim Boswell (c) Simon Bowland (l)
THISTLEBONE // THE EEL OF HARROWVALE POND by T.C. Eglington (w) Simon Davis (a)
AZIMUTH // SANTA'S LITTLE HELPERS by Dan Abnett (w) Tazio Bettin (a) Matt Soffe (c) Jim Campbell (l)
ROGUE TROOPER // HOLIDAY IN THE HOTZONE by Karl Stock (w) Ilias Kyriazis (a) Simon Bowland (l)
THE OUT // BOOK FOUR by Dan Abnett (w) Mark Harrison (a) Simon Bowland (l)
HAWK THE SLAYER // THE LAST OF HER KIND by Alec Worley (w) Simon Coleby (a) Gary Caldwell (c) Annie Parkhouse (l)
FUTURE SHOCKS // TIS THE SEASON FOR TAKING by Rob Williams (w) Pye Parr (a & l)
STRONTIUM DOG // DOGHOUSE ROSES by Garth Ennis (w) Henry Flint (a) Rob Steen (l)

Judge Dredd Megazine #475
Cover: Chrstian Ward.

JUDGE DREDD // COMING TO TOWN by Ken Niemand (w) Paul Marshall (a) Dylan Teague (c) Annie Parkhouse (l)
DEATH CAP // FRONTIER JUSTICE by T.C. Eglington (w) Boo Cook (c) Simon Bowland (l)
FARGO & MCBANE // NEW YORK'S FINEST by Ken Niemand (w) Anna Readman (a) Quinton Winter (c) Annie Parkhouse (l)
DEVLIN WAUGH // TWO MONTHS OFF by Alex Kot (w) PJ Holden (a) Jack Davies (c) Jim Campbell (l)
JUDGE DREDD: FALSE WITNESS by Brandon Easton (w) Kei Zama (a) Eva De La Cruz (c) Shawn Lee (l)
CADET RICO // THE CYCLE by Liam Johnson (w) Rob Richardson (a) Jim Campbell (l)
RILEY'S REBELS by Honor Vincent (w) Stewart K. Moore (c) Simon Bowland (l)
LAWLESS // A TOWN CALLED BADROCK by Dan Abnett (w) Phil Winslade (a) Simon Bowland (l)

Battle Action Volume 3 #5
Cover: Tom Foster.

JOHNNY RED // A COUPLE OF HEROES by Garth Ennis (w) Keith Burns (a) Jason Wordie (c) Rob Steen (l)
DEATH GAME 1999 by Dan Abnett (w) Tom Foster (a) Rob Steen (l)

The Stainless Steel Rat Colour Omnibus by Kelvin Gosnell and Carlos Ezquerra
Rebellion ISBN 978-183786273-3, 18 December 2024, 208p, £24.99. Available via Amazon.

The 2000 AD adaptation of Harry Harrison's classic science-fiction novels by Kelvin Gosnell and Carlos Ezquerra returns in a new full color omnibus!
    James Bolivar DiGriz aka 'The Stainless Steel Rat' is many things - a con man, a thief, and a member of an elite law-enforcement agency known as the Special Corps. After escaping the corps, DiGriz crosses paths with the beautiful but deadly Angelina who, like Jim DiGriz, is also a master criminal, albeit a lot more ruthless. They must travel through time to stop a master criminal meddling with the past, and help to overthrow an evil President by having The Rat become a candidate for the job himself!
    A classic from 2000 AD's first 'golden age', Stainless Steel Rat is a must-read for fans of Harrison or old school sci-fi action with bold characters and a wry twist of humour, complemented by Ezquerra's dynamic and inimitable artwork.