Prog 1823 - Last Dance

[Taryn Tailz]

The trade paperback actually has three stories in it:

"Under the banner of king Death"
"Twilight of the idols"
"Meanwhile"

So I would definitly recommend that you still try and get hold of the paperback version, which if I remember rightly also has an introduction by Ian Edginton, a scetchbook by Steve Yeowell, and a covers gallery.

[Hawkmumbler]

I got mine today...but it's the paper back. Did we order from the same source? Anyway, more than chuffed with it. Not a huge hardback fan unless it's something truely special (EG Marshal Law, Nemesis: Deviant edition).

[I, Cosh]

This week's Past Imperfect really is the best one-off story in an age. Good script that seems dense rather than too wordy (a neat trick which reminded me of a couple of Alec Worley's early outings in that respect) and lovely Fraser artwork with the utopian vision of what should be allowing him to bust out some of those cityscapes he's so good at.

... it was what an ending to Red Seas had to be. A fun bit of adventure full if vim and magic. So basically a qualified triumph and I for one really can't wait for my big re-read (you guys should tremble cos I don't doubt I'll be wittering about it quite a bit here, maybe in a Sinister Dexter way even!).

I managed to time my reread perfectly so I was able to top it off with a replay of this story a couple of days after the Prog landed. Sure the strip lost its way through scheduling, it's clear that some strands have been dropped and maybe it was a bit of a shaggy (two-headed) dog ending but overall I still enjoyed it. On the other hand, I could've named all the characters on the final page before I started rereading it so obviously I've been getting something from it that others haven't all along.

I have quite a few thoughts on The Red Seas as a whole which, like so many others before it, I shall almost certainly never get round to writing up. How does Goggans do it?

Despite not enjoying it week on week and - in complete contrast to Red Seas - not being able to remember simple elements of the plot, this run of Savage has turned out to be the best since the second in my view. The later sub-Snatch shenanigans and continuity porn really haven't been to my taste and I have a vague recollection of complaining about the lost opportunities for stories looking at life under occupation, resistance infighting and potentially swapping one occupier for another. Given that Pat has delivered all of this in good style this time around, along with an unexpected bit of character development for our hero I really liked this a lot. I'm still not keen on the idea of Bill and proto-Hammerstein teaming up to take out Quartz but, as long as there's some more of this stuff in there, then bring on the next one.

[Mabs]

I got mine today...but it's the paper back. Did we order from the same source? Anyway, more than chuffed with it. Not a huge hardback fan unless it's something truely special (EG Marshal Law, Nemesis: Deviant edition).

I ordered from the seller called 'peterparker', it specifically said paperback on the site even the order slip, so i don't know why he sent me a HC? I've sent him a message, lets see what he has to say. But even if it comes to nothing i won't be too fussed, because the book itself is really nicely presented. And as Tim has suggested,  i might get the TPB at a later date.

[Hawkmumbler]

I got mine today...but it's the paper back. Did we order from the same source? Anyway, more than chuffed with it. Not a huge hardback fan unless it's something truely special (EG Marshal Law, Nemesis: Deviant edition).

I ordered from the seller called 'peterparker', it specifically said paperback on the site even the order slip, so i don't know why he sent me a HC? I've sent him a message, lets see what he has to say. But even if it comes to nothing i won't be too fussed, because the book itself is really nicely presented. And as Tim has suggested,  i might get the TPB at a later date.

Ah! Checking my reciet it seem's I ordered from SweetBuzzards by mistake, coming to a some total of 'gasp' 1p more than if I had ordered from peterparker! Robbing bastards! 'sigh'

Seriously though, it looks lovely and I can't wait to tuck into it, dunno how I managed to overlook who I was ordering from though...

[Colin YNWA]

I managed to time my reread perfectly so I was able to top it off with a replay of this story a couple of days after the Prog landed. Sure the strip lost its way through scheduling, it's clear that some strands have been dropped ...

I was wondering how your re-read was going as I remember you saying you were doing one. I'm intrigued by your thoughts that some strands have been dropped along the way. I know one bit I'm particularly looking forward to, as I don't remember a great deal about it, is the short series starring Erebus set during the blitz. I seem to remember that had all sorts of foreshadowing in it, or at least apparent foreshadowing. Does that still read well in the context of the finished piece?

[Mabs]

I got mine today...but it's the paper back. Did we order from the same source? Anyway, more than chuffed with it. Not a huge hardback fan unless it's something truely special (EG Marshal Law, Nemesis: Deviant edition).

I ordered from the seller called 'peterparker', it specifically said paperback on the site even the order slip, so i don't know why he sent me a HC? I've sent him a message, lets see what he has to say. But even if it comes to nothing i won't be too fussed, because the book itself is really nicely presented. And as Tim has suggested,  i might get the TPB at a later date.

Ah! Checking my reciet it seem's I ordered from SweetBuzzards by mistake, coming to a some total of 'gasp' 1p more than if I had ordered from peterparker! Robbing bastards! 'sigh'

Seriously though, it looks lovely and I can't wait to tuck into it, dunno how I managed to overlook who I was ordering from though...

If i had know that the same seller sold me the hardcover, and yourself the paperback - then i would've been very unhappy indeed! If only i had overlooked the seller and gone for the other one *sighs*, oh well.

[Mabs]

I take the last part back. I just spoke with my seller, he said that he'll post me the paperback version first thing Monday morning, and that i get to keep my hardcover copy as way of apology. Wow! 

[Colin YNWA]

I take the last part back. I just spoke with my seller, he said that he'll post me the paperback version first thing Monday morning, and that i get to keep my hardcover copy as way of apology. Wow! 

Arh the sellers fear of negative feedback is a powerful thing!

That is quite a result - enjoy um.

[Hawkmumbler]

I take the last part back. I just spoke with my seller, he said that he'll post me the paperback version first thing Monday morning, and that i get to keep my hardcover copy as way of apology. Wow! 

Cracking! 

[Dandontdare]

when i was sent a hardback insetad of the advertised paperback, the seller refunded my money and told me to keep the book anyway! I was well impressed.

[Mabs]

That is impressive, Dandontdare! In the mean time i'll read what i have, this being the first series of Red Seas i can already see some differences in Yeowell's art; Erebus looks much different here than in the present stuff, as does the Lightbringer. Looks like a cracking read!

[Goaty]

Sorry, don't know why I feelings bitter-sweet when read this prog, with Dredd, Red Seas and Savages, thought the Past Imperfect was the highlight! Wish that was more pages!

But looking forward to next week!

[Zarjazzer]

lovely cover dredd was fine but Red Seas had a grand ending and a lovely last shot in the boozer. And what a double page in there that was by Mr Yeowell. And Insurrection back in the next meg and Stickleback returns soon.

Hooray for twoothy!

[TordelBack]

My boat, she is only partly afloat,

High water mark: Red Seas.  A satisfying well-constructed finale, providing that all the innumerable loose ends are chased up elsewhere.  The only thing that really disappoints is the lack of a bittersweet reunion for Ginger Tom and Jim: if there was ever a scenario where a heartbroken father could provide drama, it is surely in battle with his dead son on the plains of the afterlife. Failing that, a tense scene between Tom and Erebus would have sufficed.  I wonder is the hand of Tharg at play here, in a 'look Ian, this is taking forever, could we wrap this one up?' sense?  I'm not saying he's wrong, mind, but I will miss Jack & Co.

Mark Twain: Savage  Bit of an unexpected way to finish this particular chapter -sorry, book-  but it was nicely done and gorgeously drawn.  I happened across some of Goddard's early Savage the other day, and it highlights just how much he's grown into this task.  Hopefully we'll be back at the bridge soon. 

Plimsol Line: Dredd:  TC Eglinton was my personal discovery of 2012, with a run of superb Future Shocks that really stood out.  His sharp ideas and dense stories are on show again here, but I'm afraid this one doesn't really work for me.  Yet another useless judge, and a decent plot made overly complicated to the point of confusion. While I did think the DoC references were well integrated, I got no sense from the story that anyone had actually died in the recent past, let alone almost everyone - but this is hardly a failing unique to Eglinton (and who knows when he actually wrote this one).  Even Richardson's work feels cramped and static with so many talky panels, and his figures look squashed and shrivelled.  This kind of over-stuffed writing is par for the course for new hands on Dredd, and I've every confidence that Eglinton will find his rhythm with a few more turns in the Big Chair.

Sandy Bottom: Time Thingies: Well you surely can't beat Simon Fraser for fantasy soviet architecture and distinctive beards, but I think a pretty clever concept rather runs away from the writer here, with too many jarring elements in the execution to really hold together. It is however atmospheric and dense, and I like those in a Future Twister Past Telguuth thing.