A man faces the ultimate test, and there’s a cautionary tale about greed.

This month’s tales courtesy of the Mighty Tharg draw on Future Shocks from Progs 109 and 240, with Alan Hebden and Mike White’s Sacrifice taking the majority of the running time, and Alan Moore and Paul Neary’s A Cautionary Fable giving us an updated warning for all those of the over-eating persuasion.

The original Sacrifice took up seven pages, which gives Natt Tapley and his team plenty of material to work from, and we get a satirical look not just at penny-pinching accountants, but also those whose paycheque from a great corporation at the end of the month seems to give them tunnel vision with regard to said corporation’s status. Gabby Hutchison-Crouch’s script does a great job in quickly investing us in the life of the colony whose future is under threat, and we understand why decisions are made – or at least the human ones. Some of the Tarkaans’ defy logic, and Lisa Bowerman gives the computer voice a wry self-awareness.

A Cautionary Fable was Alan Moore’s eighth Future Shock and his first with Paul Neary. The five page story is told in what might be termed Rupert Bear style – two lines of verse accompanied by a suitable drawing. Natt Tapley’s adaptation retains the narrative verse, but adds plenty of “character participation” along the way. While 2000AD readers revelled in Timothy’s transmogrification from Billy Bunter-esque hog to an obscenely large Arcade figure, listeners get a great soundscape from Rick Blything and Pete Dennis that leaves us in no doubt as to the growing threat.

Verdict: Another enjoyable half hour of audio thrills with Tharg (and family!) 8/10

Paul Simpson

Future Shocks Radio is available exclusively to 2000 AD and Judge Dredd Megazine subscribers via the 2000 AD app