Created by Gerry Finley-Day and Dave Gibbons, Rogue Trooper might be the ideal 2000AD strip. ‘Rogue’ is the last Genetic Infantryman, one of a team of tailored soldiers sent to fight the Nort forces on the shattered warzone world Nu-Earth. Betrayed by one of their own, the G.I.s are massacred and only Rogue survives. Aided by the biochips of three of his dead comrades, Bagman, Gunnar and Helm, Rogue and his digital ghosts set off across the largest battlefield in history to seek vengeance.

It’s a GOOD, horrible time and Duncan Jones’ animated movie version just released its first teaser. Stand by your bunks, Infantry, Alasdair Stuart’s got the intel.

 

0.01 – On the bounce

Look at our boy! Mayhem has clearly been caused and he’s on his way somewhere to do more. Note in particular the T-shirt. Rogue’s original aesthetic was ‘shirtless doombringer’ and while that worked for John Rambo, it doesn’t do so well now. Nice to see a subtle change being made.

0.03 – Bagman takes Gunnar

As Rogue jumps off that very tall facility (which we’re pretty sure is going to explode behind him), you see Bagman reach out and stow Gunnar, the rifle folding up for storage. This is one of the core ideas of Rogue Trooper, that he’s never alone. It’s also the terrible secret of the Genetic Infantrymen. They’re never allowed to rest and they’re at least as effective dead as they are alive…

0.03 – Eyes

Because ‘fan’ is spelt ‘complain’ to so many people, a lot of folks don’t like the fact Rogue has normal(ish) eyes for most of the trailer. Look at this spot though and you can see the white/black circled eyes of the comics. Presumably it’s an ability G.I.s have, to drop a filter over their eyes in harsh environments. Nice touch.

0.09 – Chesney Hawkes?!

Oh Duncan Jones you prankster. Chesney Hawkes’ rock power classic is a frequent flier in Duncan Jones movies. In Source Code it’s Christina’s ringtone. It’s background music for a video game in Mute, Jones would have appeared playing it on a lute if the scene hadn’t been cut in Warcraft and most tellingly it’s Sam’s wake up alarm in Moon. There it’s a musical lie to convince Sam he’s unique. Here, slightly curdled, it’s a battle hymn. The last clone, Rogue Trooper, waging a one man war.

0.13 – Bagman

That’s Reece Shearsmith as the voice of Bagman, Rogue’s buddy whose biochip ends up in his backpack. Played slightly more for laughs than expected but it lands.

Rogue Trooper, like Bagman says, is due ‘soon-ish’ which we’re guessing means the second half of the year. It stars Aneurin Barnard as Rogue, Hayley Atwell as female G.I. Venus Bluegenes, Sean Bean, Matt Berry, Asa Butterfield, Jermaine Clement, Alice Lowe, Diane Morgan, Adrian Edmondson(!!!) and the voices of Jack Lowden, Reece Shearsmith and Daryl McCormack as Gunnar, Bagman and Helm.

And 2000AD have provided a handy reading guide for the character!

The Ultimate Rogue Trooper Reading Order!

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