Cover Debut: Patrick Goddard’s foreboding cover for Rogue Trooper: Blighty Valley!
Tuesday 29th September marks the anniversary of Rogue Trooper’s debut in the pages of 2000 AD, and to celebrate we’re happy to share with you the cover for our forthcoming collection of Rogue’s recent return to 2000 AD in Rogue Trooper: Blighty Valley by Garth Ennis and Patrick Goddard.
Created by writer Gerry Finley-Day and artist Dave Gibbons and debuting in 2000 AD in 1981, Rogue Trooper is the last of the G.I.s – Genetically-engineered Infantry designed to survive the poisoned and war-torn world of Nu Earth. Betrayed by his own side, he is a lone warrior stalking these blasted lands in search of the notorious Traitor General, accompanied by his dead comrades – their personalities encoded on ‘bio chips’ and inserted into his equipment.
Blighty Valley is Rogue’s first regular appearance in 2000 AD in a number of years – a thirteen-part story set at ‘Night’s Horizon’, the annual event where Nu Earth’s orbit carries it closest to a nearby black hole. The Norts call it Zvartchvintern; the first settlers knew it as Lightfall. Things have a reputation for going a little… screwy around this time. Now, Rogue and his bio-chip buddies are about to experience those effects first-hand…
Alongside the return of one of 2000 AD’s most beloved characters, the story also welcomed back acclaimed writer Garth Ennis (Preacher, The Boys) to the Prog following a one-off revival of comedy strip Bonjo From Beyond The Stars in 2022, which featured the last comics work by the late great Kevin O’Neill.
Ennis is joined for the full run by artist Patrick Goddard (Sniper Elite), whose artwork brings a hard-hitting and yet deeply human aspect to this fantastical tale that brings Rogue’s future war and the weary trenches of the Great War together in a tale packed with pathos, tragedy, and meaning.
Matt Smith, editor of 2000 AD said: ‘Garth Ennis has written classic 2000 AD characters before, but this is the first time he’s scripted Rogue Trooper. As you’d expect from someone steeped in war comics, his take on the G.I. is powerful, thrilling and explosive. With Patrick Goddard providing the stunning visuals, this a dramatic, unmissable addition to the Nu Earth saga.’
Rogue Trooper is also the subject of the forthcoming movie by Duncan Jones, the critically-lauded director of Moon, Source Code, Warcraft and Mute write, in a joint venture between Liberty Films and Rebellion, the Oxford-based games publishers and owners of 2000 AD.
Rogue Trooper: Blighty Valley will be available for pre-order on 14 February 2024, followed by a full release into stores and online on 2 July 2024.
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