Nordland Rising
A new crossover from Rebellion
From Rebellion and crossing over 2000 AD - Prog 2400 and Judge Dredd Megazine #472, Nordland Rising has several classic 2000 AD characters interacting with and against the Norts from Rogue Trooper.
Every so often, we get some exciting crossovers from 2000 AD. Usually, they are like Judge Dredd/Johnny Alpha, but recently, there have been others across the dimensions in play here.
In this case, the catalyst is coming from the Norts - enemies of Rogue Trooper, who are an analogue to the Nazis.
The Norts want to conquer everything by crossing over the dimensions and using the local black hole to reach Nu-Earth.
The story itself is well-plotted. It starts with the attack on Mega-City One during the Apocalypse War, and the Norts team up with the Sovs of the East Meg. This pattern is repeated across the stories of both 2000 AD and Judge Megazine. The Norts come in, team up with the local villains, and defeat the good forces. And that is where the fightback comes from.
Also, from the world of Rogue Trooper, we learn how the eventual victory of the Norts came about and the fight back, as there are now two GIs to coordinate efforts. Blue is the initial starter, and she helps get the team together with Bad Company, The VCs, Major Eazy, and the lord vampire from Fiends of the Eastern Front. It's an eclectic mix, and seeing them all together works well. Dredd seems to settle in, too.
As the fightback progresses, things aren’t straightforward. There are deaths of significant characters as well as some predictable betrayals.
This was a gripping story outside of the main continuity (of course). It had a good combination of action sequences, character moments, and time to shine for several of the characters. The plotting was really well done, and for Rogue Trooper fans, there was an excellent cathartic moment that many may have wished for.
This ends up being a nice pallette cleanser before the new jumping on issue from 2000 AD.
Available in print from: 2000 AD webshop, book stores, Amazon, and comic book stores via Diamond
Available in digital from: 2000 AD webshop, 2000 AD app for Apple & Android
I couldn't help noticing various continuity errors, though. Jaegir's changing hair colour, Venus Bluegenes dying in one story then, inexplicably appearing in the next. I also noticed how Dan Cornwell seemed to think he was drawing Cursed Earth Koburn for a couple of pages before realising it was Major Easy and changing the uniform. I guess it's difficult to curate that many artists on a single project, from an editorial standpoint.