As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to present unprecedented challenges for the comic book industry, Rebellion publisher of titles such as 2000 AD and Judge Dredd, is determined to support creators, readers, and retailers as best it can at this difficult time.
In a press release on their website, the publisher acknowledged that with the safety of printers, distributors, and staff in mind, they have revised its 2020 graphic novel schedule to ensure readers can still enjoy the best collections in comics, making sure we are able to support retailers that remain open while also helping those that are closed by staggering new releases through to 2021.
Printing and distribution of our periodicals will continue – this includes the weekly 2000 AD, the monthly Judge Dredd Megazine, and the range of Rebellion specials. These are available from open retailers, such as newsagents and selected grocery chains, as well as in print and digital from 2000 AD and the Treasury of British Comics webshop, and the 2000 AD app.
Due to the closure of many book and comic book stores, unfortunately, some graphic novel collections will now be delayed by a few months while others have been completely rescheduled for 2021.
Graphic novels due to release in May, June, July, and August 2020 will go digital-first, with standard print editions postponed until later in the year. Webshop-exclusive print editions of some titles will still go ahead. This means readers can still enjoy collections while in lockdown, while avoiding a glut of titles hitting retailers when they reopen.
Ben Smith, Head of Publishing, in a statement said:
“Due to the challenges facing the book and comic book industry in the light of the Covid-19 pandemic, we have revised Rebellion’s 2020 publishing schedule, pushing back some graphic novel releases until later in 2020 or 2021.”
“We won’t be going on hiatus – the periodical comics will continue while some book collections will go digital-first so we can continue to share and shout about the amazing work our creators and editors are putting together while we’re all in lockdown. Where special hardback editions have already been printed we will release these from our webshop on the planned dates.”
“We look forward to getting back to normal service, but in the meantime our mission to deliver to best in new and classic comics continues.”
Customers who have already pre-ordered titles such as Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files Vol.35 will have their orders honored when the print edition is published later in the year.
Digital titles will be available from the 2000 AD and Treasury of British Comics webshops, as well as from the 2000 AD app. By registering with the same details on the webshop and app, readers will be able to purchase and read titles in both.
The revised Rebellion graphic novel schedule:
The Complete Johnny Future: print and digital – 30 April
Judge Dredd Case Files 35
- Digital release – 14 May
- Standard print edition postponed to 1 October 2020
Smash! Special: print and digital release – 27 May
Sláine: The Horned God Collector’s Edition
- Digital and webshop-exclusive edition – 28 May
- Standard print edition postponed to 3 September 2020
Strontium Dog: Search and Destroy
- Digital and webshop-exclusive edition – 11 June
- Standard print edition postponed to 12 November 2020
2000 AD Summer Sci Fi Special: Twenty Years of Rebellion: print and digital – 24 June
Concrete Surfer
- Digital and webshop-exclusive edition – 25 June
- Standard print edition postponed to 17 September 2020
War Picture Library: Battler Britton
- Digital – 9 July
- Standard print edition postponed to June 2021
Judge Dredd: Control
- Digital – 9 July
- Print edition postponed to 10 December 2020
Tammy & Jinty Special: print and digital – 29 July 2020
Hope Book 2
- Digital – 20 August
- Print edition postponed to 21 January 2021
Essential Judge Dredd: America: print and digital – 3 September 2020
Battle Special 2020: print and digital – 16 September 2020
Misty & Scream Special 2020: print and digital – 30 September 2020
The Dracula File paperback edition: print edition – 1 October 2020
The Thirteenth Floor Vol.2: print and digital – 15 October 2020
Thriller Picture Library Special: print and digital – 11 November 2020
Faceache Vol.1 paperback edition: print edition – 12 November 2020
Death Squad: print and digital – 26 November 2020
Misty Creepy Christmas Special: print and digital – 2 December 2020
Sláine: Web of Weird: print and digital – 10 December 2020
Sugar Jones: print and digital – 24 December 2020
Cor! Buster Collection: print and digital – 24 December 2020
King’s Reach: John Sanders’ Twenty-Five Years at the Top of Comics: print and digital – 7 January 2021
2000 AD Regened Collection: print and digital – 7 January 2021
Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files Vol.36: print and digital – 4 February 2021
The Vigilant: print and digital – 1 April 2021
Thistlebone: print and digital – 29 April 2021
Devlin Waugh: Blood Debt: print and digital – May 2021
Ken Reid Football Funnies: print and digital – July 2021
The Rise and Fall of the Trigan Empire Vol. 2: print and digital – July 2021
Essential Judge Dredd: Origins: print and digital – September 2021
Fiends of the Eastern Front: print and digital – October 2021
Black Max Vol.2: print and digital – October 2021
Please note: this list does not include all graphic novel titles slated for release in 2021, just new dates for titles that have been postponed from the 2020 schedule.