Bad Company (comics)

Bad Company is a British comic book series created by Peter Milligan and Brett Ewins, with initial character designs by Jim McCarthy. It first appeared in the anthology comic 2000 AD in 1986.

The series follows the exploits of Danny Franks, a naive young soldier who enlists in the Free Company, a mercenary unit fighting on the planet Krool. Krool is a brutal and desolate world, home to a war between humanity and the Kroolish natives, who are adept at psychic warfare.

Danny quickly discovers the reality of war and the true nature of the Free Company, which is largely composed of psychologically damaged and often outright insane individuals. He is mentored by Kano, a veteran soldier and the leader of the titular "Bad Company," a particularly notorious group within the Free Company. Other key members of Bad Company include Thrax, a savage brute, and Mad Tommy, a near-catatonic psychic.

The series is noted for its dark humor, gritty realism, and exploration of the psychological effects of war. It incorporates elements of science fiction, horror, and satire. It also features a distinctive visual style, particularly in the earlier installments by Brett Ewins.

Bad Company has undergone several revivals and continuations over the years, with different writers and artists contributing to the series. However, the initial run by Milligan and Ewins remains the most highly regarded. Key themes explored throughout the series include trauma, the dehumanizing effects of violence, and the struggle to maintain humanity in the face of overwhelming brutality. Later stories have added further layers to the mythos, including exploring the origins of the Krool war and the nature of Kroolish psychic powers.