2000ADHD – A Prog a Day – Prog 287

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Welcome to my personal Prog slog through 2000AD. Here, I post daily about my favourite story from each Prog. I started doing this as a means of focusing my attention on something. A hobby, if you will. Something that will bring joy and fond memories for fans as well as draw attention to and hopefully bring in new readers to The Galaxy’s Greatest Comic. I have never read these Progs before. I recall reading some of Flesh at some point in my childhood, knew of Judge Dredd from a PlayStation One game and then the 1995 Movie, Rogue Trooper from the PlayStation 2 Game and had heard of other stories and seen other characters from seeing posts online. So I’m pretty much experiencing most of these stories as an intergalactic virgin. Or something. So if you are an established reader whose loyalty to Tharg has been unwavering, or if you’ve dropped off reading 2000AD, lie somewhere in between or if you are a newcomer to The Galaxy’s Greatest Comic then please let me know via the comments or hit me up on my socials!

Without further ado…

Welcome to Prog 287 featuring ‘Harry Twenty on the High Rock‘, ‘Robo-Hunter‘, ‘Tharg’s Future-Shocks‘, ‘Rogue Trooper‘ and ‘Judge Dredd‘, published on 23 October 1982.

Cover Art Robot: Alan Davis

A new thrill makes the cover this week as Harry Twenty on the High Rock announces his arrival!

My pick of the Prog is: Harry Twenty on the High Rock

Script Robot: Gerry Finley-Day

Art Robot: A Davis

Lettering Robot: T Jacob

It’s not uncommon for the first episode of a new thrill to make my Pick of the Prog and so Harry Twenty adds himself to the list. I love The Shawshank Redemption and I love a lesser known gem called No Escape (if you haven’t heard of it/seen it please check it out, its one of my favourite Ray Liotta movies). Both of these are predated by Harry Twenty so again, through my retro lens, I relate to the story in a way that wasn’t possible back then when the influences would have been things like The Great Escape and other movies/shows I haven’t seen or don’t recall.

Until I started this Prog, I don’t think I had ever heard of Harry Twenty or the High Rock so this was a nice surprise for me!

Anyway, sent to a prison in the Earth’s orbit for smuggling food to the needy, Harry finds himself on the receiving end of a guard’s brutality as he is schooled on the ways of the High Rock. Aside from the setting another thing that called out to me here is the narrative perspective which pits us, the readers, as Harry. Almost like a choose your own adventure without the dice rolling and option choosing. As if we are set on a pre-determined course that we cannot escape. Just like Harry?

Prog 287 incarcerated way up high! Join me on the next one to see who/what grabs the pick of Prog 288.

Florix Grabundae!

Have you read this Prog? If so, what was your favourite strip? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!