Oxford-based publisher Rebellion has opened pre-orders and confirmed the full creative line-up for The 2000 AD 50th Anniversary Special, which hits comic shops globally on 24th February 2027. Retailing at £5.99 for a 64-page paperback edition, the standalone issue features cover art by Brian Bolland and pairs returning co-creators with contemporary favourites.
The print release acts as the direct warm-up to Rebellion’s live two-day celebration in London. Readers picking up the issue in late February will have eleven days to read it before the publisher hosts its 2000 AD 50th anniversary birthday party at Protein Studios in Shoreditch on 6th and 7th March 2027.
Confirmed Anniversary Edition Specs
While Rebellion’s press announcement initially described the special as a 60-page issue, the publisher’s official webstore listing confirms a 64-page count and full physical specifications for collectors and retailers.
- Release Date: Wednesday, 24th February 2027
- Cover Price: £5.99
- Format: Paperback
- Length: 64 pages
- ISBN-13: 9781809300027
- Dimensions: 27.6 x 21 cm
- Weight: 125g
A Decade-by-Decade Line-Up (Plus One Bonus)
Rebellion pitches the anthology as “five new stories across sixty pages, one for each decade of the comic’s existence,” though the line-up actually includes a sixth major strip, perhaps accounting for the final 64-page listing.
The confirmed stories and creative teams are:
- Decade 1 (Judge Dredd): Co-creator John Wagner teams up with artist Dan Cornwell. Wagner’s return comes roughly a year after Rebellion marketed his February 2026 storyline, Death of a Judge, as what might be his final Dredd tale.
- Decade 2 (Robo-Hunter): Robbie Morrison and Mike Perkins take over Sam Slade for a new cybernetic case.
- Decade 3 (Nikolai Dante): Robbie Morrison pulls double duty, reuniting with co-creator Simon Fraser for a new adventure featuring the space-faring rogue.
- Decade 4 (The Red Seas): Ian Edginton and Steve Yeowell return to Captain Jack Dancer for a ten-page high-seas romp featuring pirates, dinosaurs, aliens, and a 1950s Chevy.
- Decade 5 (Brink): Dan Abnett and INJ Culbard bridge the gap between Brink Book 6 and Book 7 as Kurtis and his crew travel to Luna Hab.
- The Bonus Strip (ABC Warriors): Original series writer and co-creator Pat Mills returns to 2000 AD alongside artist Colin MacNeil to revive the classic robot squad.
Pat Mills’s inclusion is a significant milestone for long-time readers. Having founded 2000 AD in 1977, Mills has frequently clashed with Rebellion over creator rights, royalties, and editorial direction. His return was sparked by a fireside sketch of Deadlock holding a Mekropolis tarot card drawn by Colin MacNeil.
Pat Mills, co-creator of ABC Warriors, told fans,
I felt the ABC Warriors should be in the 50th. Colin McNeil came up with the initial idea which I adapted.”
Colin MacNeil, artist on ABC Warriors, said in a statement,
As with so many things, it started with a drawing. In this case, whilst sat by the fireside I did a drawing of Deadlock holding up a tarot card called Mekropolis. It sparked an idea in me for a story for the 50th anniversary honouring those early ABC Warriors stories. I wrote it down and eventually sent it to Pat Mills. The rest, as they say, is a comic strip. Long story short… Yes, it’s all my fault this happened!”
Creators Revisit Classic Territory
Elsewhere in the anthology, Simon Fraser noted how naturally Nikolai Dante came back to him after years away from the character.
“it’s supremely comfortable. I don’t need any reference. My hand already knows how to draw everything. I instinctively know what every character is feeling. Everything is designed to suit how my hand moves across the paper. While it’s profoundly nostalgic to be drawing Dante again. This story has something new to offer. Which is as much as I can say…”
Robbie Morrison, writer on Nikolai Dante and Robo-Hunter, said in a statement,
I’m chuffed to have been invited to contribute to the 50th Anniversary issue, with not just one, but two stories. Returning to Nikolai – and, of course, working with my old chum Simon Fraser again – has been great fun, surprisingly easy, really, after all that time. The story itself isn’t what I expected to write, but I think it turned out quite nicely. Tharg’s reaction on receiving the script: “It’s like Dante’s never been away!” Can’t say much else, other than if you’re a Nikolai Dante fan, then it’s everything you’d want from a Nikolai Dante story – and a wee bit more besides.”
For The Red Seas, Ian Edginton and Steve Yeowell lean into the pulp adventure tone that defined the strip in the 2000s.
Ian Edginton, writer on The Red Seas, added,
a classic return to high seas shenanigans with Jack and the boys – featuring a 1950’s Chevy, dinosaurs, aliens and of course pirates”
Steve Yeowell, artist on The Red Seas, offered,
drawing this ten page anniversary romp for Jack and the boys under the dashing pen of my old shipmate Ian Edginton has been more fun than I can say. Expect the usual Harryhausen-esque antics and enjoy the swash and buckle, but be warned – steer clear of mysterious islands…”
Meanwhile, Dan Abnett confirmed that the Brink chapter fits directly into current continuity rather than acting as a standalone flashback.
Our creepy little offering takes place between Brink Book 6 and Brink Book 7, while Kurtis and co on en route to Luna Hab for what will turn out to be the most devastating chapter of the series yet. And just when the series seems to be finding rational explanations for all the ongoing weirdness, this story serves to remind us that there’s still plenty of spooky high strangeness happening on the Brink.”
The 2000 AD 50th Anniversary Special is available to pre-order now directly from the 2000 AD webshop, through UK comic book stores, via Lunar Distribution in the US, and through Universal Distribution in Canada.
Quick Links
- Rebellion: Pre-order the Special.
- Forbidden Planet: Search for the anniversary edition.
