Rebellion has announced the return of the 2000 AD Annual after a hiatus of over thirty years – alongside the second release of their popular, sell-out Treasury of British Comics Annual. Both of which with special webshop exclusive covers – with the 2000 AD Annual getting a retro-style cover from the legendary Brian Bolland (!!!).
According to Rebellion:
“After the runaway success of last year’s Treasury of British Comics Annual, these new hardcovers are bringing the proud tradition of annuals back with a vengeance for 2025 – guaranteeing maximum enjoyment this Christmas!”
2000 AD Annual 2025 and the Treasury of British Comics Annual 2025 will each be 112 page hardcovers comprising a mix of new and reprint material for fans and newcomers alike to sink their teeth into. Releasing November 2024, webshop preorders open on Wednesday, June 19.
2000 AD editor Matt Smith says:
“The 2000 AD Annual was the highlight of many a reader’s year, and often a staple Christmas present. In the past they’ve showcased some of the best stories to emerge from the House of Tharg, and I’m delighted to see the annual return, containing a mix of classic Thrills and bold new strips. I’m sure the 2025 edition will be top of every Earthlet’s list to Santa!”
Hardcover annuals released in the run up to the holiday season have been a regular tradition in the space of British publishing – though recent decades have seen a thinning of the line to a mere handful of titles (Beano, Dandy, The Broons/Oor Wullie, are some consistent comics examples). 2000 AD, then-published IPC-Fleetway, had annuals produced from the inception of the title – running from 1977 to 1990 (each one cover dated for the following year). Additionally, its star character Judge Dredd had his own annuals from 1980 to 1990, and Rogue Trooper had one published in 1990.
2000 AD Annual 2025 will be the first time that a new 2000 AD annual has been published under Rebellion (who became publisher in the year 2000), and the first of this millennium. Prior to this, the only Christmas tradition that the weekly title enjoyed was an expanded 100-page special issue that often acts as a jumping-on point for new series while the weekly went on a three week hiatus.
Rebellion have already given us a rough idea of what creators to expect. For 2000 AD Annual 2025 we have work from: John Wagner, Alan Grant, Simon Spurrier, Dan Abnett, Phil Winslade, Fernando Blanco, Ian Gibson, Dave Gibbons, Mick McMahon, and Emma Vieceli. The standard edition cover will be by Jake Lynch, with the webshop exclusive cover by Brian Bolland seeing his first such cover since 2000 AD Annual 1983 (published in 1982).
Treasury of British Comics Annual 2025 will see three new stories joined by a host of reprints from the archives featuring appearances by Adam Eterno, Cursitor Doom, Stryker, and Major Eazy. David Roach will provide the cover for the standard edition, with Andreas Butzbach on the webshop exclusive edition. New stories include:
- Kelly’s Eye, by Simon Furman & Mike Collins — based on a popular kids adventure strip featuring a kid in possession of a powerful mystic relic (first appearance Knockout, 1962)
- Black Beth, by Alec Worley and Anna Morozova — vintage sword and sorcery character (first appearance Scream! Holiday Special 1988), who has seen a number of new takes in recent years
- Robot Archie, by Paul Grist and Simon Williams — popular kids adventure series (first appearance Lion, 1952)
