Villordsutch reviews Mega-City Undercover Vol. 03…
Mega-City Undercover Vol. 03 follows the lives of those that dwell within the not so black and white world of the Justice Department – the undercover enforcers, those that are called the Wally Squad. Each member is unique in their skill set, able to pass as one of the citizens or Perps in a blink of an eye; however it’s also noted that a life as a Wally Member isn’t going to end particular well for you, for if life on the streets doesn’t get you insanity will.
This latest release from 2000 AD comes in three parts with the first two centring on Dirty Frank. The first chapter, called Low Life – The Deal from Rob Williams and with D’Israeli showing off some brilliant artwork, brings us to where we see Aimee Nixon’s eventual arrest which led to her incarceration on Titan. We are rapidly brought up to speed as we learn that the Yakuza – from Hondo City – moved in to Dirty Frank’s area and took over. It’s here he discovered most of his Wally Squad were corrupt and Aimee Nixon went missing. What follows is Dirty Frank being offered the chance to take the Long Walk, however he has a different idea and offers the Justice Department another deal: to go to Hondo City and return with Aimee Nixon or not return at all.
Our next chapter is more of a Low Life epilogue were we find ourselves in “The Really Big Christmas Sleep” again by Rob Williams and art by D’Israeli; we follow one of Dirty Frank’s few – if not only – loyal remaining members of his Wally Squad, Nicky Marko, who suffers from a bad case of narcolepsy. After Dirty Frank has been suffering from insomnia for a weeks he puts Nicky on a case that was always meant for Frank.
The final closing chapter of Mega-City Undercover Vol.03 is Lenny Zero – Zero’s 7, written by Andy Diggle and with some excellent art from Ben Willsher. We discover what happens with all the collected loot that the Justice Department accrues over its many busts, and it’s now time for them to transfer nearly a Billion Credits in well-armed, army-destroying escort to the first sector bank. However, fallen Wally Member Lenny Zero along with an overly friendly cash machine, a polar bear and numerous other members of the not so savoury places within Mega-City One intend on taking it; but for Lenny this is actually about more than money, this is about revenge.
Mega-City Undercover Vol. 03 contains some excellent slices of 2000AD storytelling. Yes they’re not classic pieces of lore, but they are some brilliant tales that run alongside the regular Dredd and Anderson ones we normally see. It was also rather great to return and see how Dirty Frank brought in his protégé and how it affected him.
If you fancy seeing how the other half live I’d recommend picking up Mega-City Undercover Vol. 03 today.
Rating: 8/10
SEE ALSO: Interview – Rob Williams talks Judge Dredd: Titan
Mega-City Undercover Vol.03 is released on October 6th and can be bought from the 2000AD Online store here priced £13.99.
Originally published October 6, 2016. Updated April 16, 2018.
