For Americans, this was like space Sgt. Rock, if Ice Cream Soldier and Bulldozer and L'il Sure Shot all hated the new guy.

That might not be entirely accurate, but pretty close! From 1987, 2000 A.D. Presents #16, reprinting strips from 2000 AD and Tornado #140-#145 and 2000 AD #61-#63. Cover by Tom Grindberg!

It took me a dog's age to find the previous issue, which had the conclusion of space prison break serial Harry Twenty on the High Rock: Alan Davis art! So, this issue starts a new serial, the VC's. Not unlike the much later Bad Company or any number of British war comics, it starts with a new recruit joining a squad of hardened, grouchy, slightly insane veterans. In space! Which explains one of the taglines for the series: "If you're hit, you're dead!" since almost any hit would rupture a space suit. Young Steve Smith had signed up to help earth and the colony worlds defend against the invading "Geeks," but is surprised to realize he had been assigned to a unit of all colony soldiers, who of course do not immediately take to him. They have to explain their private joke squad nickname, short for "the Vacuum Cleaners." I had thought this issue might be most of their storyline, but the V.C.s not only ran for a while, it got a revival starting in 2002. (Written by Gerry Finley-Day, art by Mike McMahon, Garry Leach, and Cam Kennedy.)

Also this issue: Dan Dare on "Nightmare Planet!" (Written by Jack Adrian, art by Brian Lewis.) Yeah, it's a world of illusions and Dan has the will to see through it, but it is an excuse to show his old foe the Mekon for a sec. Dare had a little over two years at 2000 AD, including a stretch with Dave Gibbons art, but might never have really fit in there? After a seemingly ill-advised shift towards a more superheroic bent, Dare's last strip for the time was 1979's 2000 AD and Starlord #126. Back to this title, though: I thought I had more of this, I'm missing like the next eight issues!