2000 AD Online Forum

Spoilers => Prog => Topic started by: Richard on 09 March, 2019, 02:52:10 PM

Title: Prog 2122 - Your Planet Needs Thrills!
Post by: Richard on 09 March, 2019, 02:52:10 PM
Outstanding!

Judge Dredd: Machine Law is the stand-out story this week, not unexpectedly, with a very fitting finale which was even better than the best of the predicted endings speculated about on this forum. Wagner showing us all how it's done. I did wonder last week just how so much could get sorted out in just six pages, and yet he did it superbly. It's a shame the Dredd Mega-Collection finished before this could be included! Maybe there'll be room in the 2000AD one. I've hugely enjoyed this story.

Jaegir took an unexpected turn at the start of this episode; it reminded me of the film Red Sparrow. Also of the 1984 film Dune. It also introduces the new bad guy for the next story.

Tooth and Nail ends reasonably well, with [spoiler]just enough of a twist to keep in interesting[/spoiler]. I particularly like the panel at the bottom of page 3.

Grey Area is literally just talking heads, which is a bit dull, but sets up the next bit of the story.

Skip Tracer finally finishes, and about time. It's just really dated and pointless.

There's an advert for the next series of Brink.

Next week: Kingmaker and Survival Geeks.
Title: Re: Prog 2122 - Your Planet Needs Thrills!
Post by: moly on 09 March, 2019, 03:08:30 PM
Not had my prog delivered this week need spoiler for dredd please
Title: Re: Prog 2122 - Your Planet Needs Thrills!
Post by: Richard on 09 March, 2019, 03:10:52 PM
Are you sure? I know you're impatient, but they're called spoilers for a reason! Better to wait and read it, I think. But I'll relent if you're desperate!
Title: Re: Prog 2122 - Your Planet Needs Thrills!
Post by: Bolt-01 on 09 March, 2019, 03:22:33 PM
Moly - you really don't. This is easily one of the most accomplished Dredd stories I've read in the last few years. Patience young, Squaxx.

And yes, Grey area may well be 'talking heads' but OMFGrud, this is why Dan Abnett is so well regarded around here.

We are spoiled, I tells ye.

#Praise Tharg.
Title: Re: Prog 2122 - Your Planet Needs Thrills!
Post by: moly on 09 March, 2019, 03:24:31 PM
Will try and be patient (for once) and wait till its delivered
Title: Re: Prog 2122 - Your Planet Needs Thrills!
Post by: Eamonn Clarke on 09 March, 2019, 04:08:43 PM
(https://i.imgur.com/W0Z7WOM.jpg)

Image nicked from Lee on facebook

Cover by Alex Ronald
Title: Re: Prog 2122 - Your Planet Needs Thrills!
Post by: Colin YNWA on 09 March, 2019, 05:29:28 PM
Okay I'll start with a positive before I get run out of town.

Its far too early to call but cos I love a good Tharg cover if we get a better cover this year I can't wait to see it. Bllody lovely!

Okay so here we go, if you want to have any respect you might mysteriously have for me left stop reading now... see I thought Dredd was a bit disappointing... anyone still reading.... anyone...

Let me explain. The actual story was superb, I loved that it was as many predicted, but with a magnificent Wagner twist to turn it all a little on its head. Just glorious. 83.333% was wonderfully crafted BUT... here we go, 16.666% bugged me and that was page 2.

I'm sure if folks can be bothered and if anyone hasn't yet completely rejected my presence already there will be LOADS of examples to prove me wrong BUT Dredd calling rebelling Judges 'You gang of losers' just sounded awful and throw me off. Dredd's little exchange with Logan didn't work for me and Logan's reaction of suspending traitorous Judges seem odd... though it might be a measured reaction to control the response but read weird.... so yeah that page didn't work at all for me. Given how drop dead perfect its been to date that really stood out to me.

Skip Tracer had a pretty strong ending and I think this one will read better when read as one.We'll see.... eventually.

3riller Tooth and Nail.... I think I'm being dumb with that so Nail was the lad all along right.... did we know how he did that - was I just not playing attention?

Jaegir was pretty great but way to leave us hangin! Looking forward to this one returning.

Quote from: Richard on 09 March, 2019, 02:52:10 PM

Grey Area is literally just talking heads...

Yep

Quote from: Richard on 09 March, 2019, 02:52:10 PM
....which is a bit dull, ...

Nope.

Its a bloody masterclass. As Dabnett has shown before in Sinister Dexter, some folks can do talking heads, so folks can't and Dabnett's talkign heads are like David Byrne's talking head bloody magnificent and this is just wonderful.

Great Prog aside for 16.666% of Dredd (and 3riller) - oh and we got our 1cm back.
Title: Re: Prog 2122 - Your Planet Needs Thrills!
Post by: Tjm86 on 09 March, 2019, 09:01:12 PM
Quote from: Colin YNWA on 09 March, 2019, 05:29:28 PM
Okay so here we go, if you want to have any respect you might mysteriously have for me left stop reading now... see I thought Dredd was a bit disappointing... anyone still reading.... anyone ... BUT... here we go, 16.666% bugged me and that was page 2.

I get what you are saying, but at the same time, consider the author.  Consider what Dredd stands for, where he has stood.  I'm not sure that it is completely inconsistent.  Dredd is not willing to stand for anyone who won't respect the 'rigid application of the law'.  I would suggest that Logan was right "it was most instructive".

More importantly, consider that closing scene.  How does Wagner consider the characters he created?  Dredd / Harvey?  Wagner is a master at commentary on current events, albeit incredibly subtly.  What is he really saying?
Title: Re: Prog 2122 - Your Planet Needs Thrills!
Post by: Magnetica on 10 March, 2019, 10:53:19 AM
I'm pretty much on the same page as Colin:

> Dredd calling them "losers" seemed off to me

> I also thought "ok so was it that the lad was Nail all along...is that it?". Indeed the whole story doesn't seem very 2000AD - he could have just been spinning them a yarn, or was there a transformation I missed?

> talking heads in Grey Area = not boring at all. Actually it's a master class in how to wrap up hanging threads and move the plot along.

Title: Re: Prog 2122 - Your Planet Needs Thrills!
Post by: IndigoPrime on 10 March, 2019, 11:28:55 AM
The one thing that baffles me about the end game in Dredd is the past tense being refereed to on referring to a character that presumably can be replicated at any time. Or has no-one in Mega-City One heard of the concept of back-ups?
Title: Re: Prog 2122 - Your Planet Needs Thrills!
Post by: Magnetica on 10 March, 2019, 11:49:12 AM
Yes quite... but that seems to be a thing with androids/ robots / computers in sci-if in general.

I guess a backup = immortality = lack of peril = boring story.
Title: Re: Prog 2122 - Your Planet Needs Thrills!
Post by: Geoff on 10 March, 2019, 12:09:34 PM
Superb prog!

Starting with a great Tharg cover and then the finale to one of the best Dredd tales in ages.  Wagner rounded it off beautifully. 

Have to say, I didn't feel that the scenes where Dredd quelled the brief rebellion were off at all.  In his usual abrupt way he just dismissed their lame attempt and immediately re-asserted his beloved status quo.  With some physical force, but really more just the force of his personality and presence.  That's classic Joe to me.  Logan being measured in his response chimed with his character too.

Please write more Mr Wagner, Dredd needs you!!

The rest of the prog was also pretty good. Skipping Tracer, the future shock thingy was entertaining, a pretty classic reveal and not very 2000ad but it worked. 

I'm pleased to say I've been able to get back into Grey Area from this prog, having lost touch with it under all the flashing lights and confusing action (oh what an old git I am..) And Jaegir is always a blast, with top quality art. 

With Harvey...I'm sure another model can be produced but maybe the units develop and change with their experiences and so on.  Some sort of machine learning that makes each model over time develop differently in subtle ways.

With the knowledge that another series of Brink will come and Kingmaker back next week all seemed perfect...until the mention of those Survival Gits returning next week. But since it'll be replacing Skip Tracer it's not so bad.

Keep it up Mighty One!   
Title: Re: Prog 2122 - Your Planet Needs Thrills!
Post by: Southstreeter on 10 March, 2019, 01:14:28 PM
Skip Tracer - I'm confused. Can anyone tell me how he disarms the bomb, and then somehow sends another (the same?) bomb to the baddies' HQ?
Title: Re: Prog 2122 - Your Planet Needs Thrills!
Post by: 73north on 10 March, 2019, 02:32:35 PM
really enjoyed this week's prog
highlight was the end of Jaegir - with the next series going to be called
Valkryie -
with Dredd a close second , Skip Tracer was okay along with the end of 3riller Tooth and Nail
( with a nod to ' The Usual Suspects ' Film ) Grey Area was very nice - and I look forward
to the next part of KingMaker
( although having to wait 2 years - is a bit too long to wait since the last series - in my opinion )
Title: Re: Prog 2122 - Your Planet Needs Thrills!
Post by: Darren Stephens on 10 March, 2019, 02:40:07 PM
That cover is all kinds of wonderful! Only read Dredd as of yet, but loved it. It was pretty close to how some had predicted, but with that usual Wagner spin. A masterclass in storytelling.
Title: Re: Prog 2122 - Your Planet Needs Thrills!
Post by: Leigh S on 10 March, 2019, 04:56:21 PM
Quote from: Southstreeter on 10 March, 2019, 01:14:28 PM
Skip Tracer - I'm confused. Can anyone tell me how he disarms the bomb, and then somehow sends another (the same?) bomb to the baddies' HQ?

It's not clear to me - I'm assuming it's the same bomb, though how Blake gets it to not detonate, away from the major crime scene and onto the other guy (other than "new magic powers") is hard to decipher
Title: Re: Prog 2122 - Your Planet Needs Thrills!
Post by: Richard on 10 March, 2019, 10:43:18 PM
In Tooth and Nail, [spoiler]every scene that wasn't of the guy who was tied to a chair and being interrogated was only a depiction of the story that guy was telling his interrogators. He was an "unreliable narrator." He told them he was some harmless guy who met Nail, but he was lying; he himself was Nail all along.[/spoiler]
Title: Re: Prog 2122 - Your Planet Needs Thrills!
Post by: Magnetica on 10 March, 2019, 11:15:45 PM
Quote from: Richard on 10 March, 2019, 10:43:18 PM
In Tooth and Nail, [spoiler]every scene that wasn't of the guy who was tied to a chair and being interrogated was only a depiction of the story that guy was telling his interrogators. He was an "unreliable narrator." He told them he was some harmless guy who met Nail, but he was lying; he himself was Nail all along.[/spoiler]

Thanks for clearing that up. That being the case, there doesn't appear to be any fantasy or sci-fi element to the story at all. Which is fine, except this is 2000AD.
Title: Re: Prog 2122 - Your Planet Needs Thrills!
Post by: Richard on 11 March, 2019, 10:10:05 AM
Neither did Button Man.
Title: Re: Prog 2122 - Your Planet Needs Thrills!
Post by: IndigoPrime on 11 March, 2019, 10:19:01 AM
I'll admit to having a kind of whoosh moment with Tooth & Nail as well. Skip Tracker, too, although I've been kind of skim-reading that. I should probably go back and tackle that one from the start again, and see if it's any better in collected form.
Title: Re: Prog 2122 - Your Planet Needs Thrills!
Post by: Magnetica on 11 March, 2019, 10:48:46 AM
The thing about Button Man is, it was originally intended for a completely different comic (Toxic) but was rejected. It was then offered to 2000AD and Steve MacManus decided to run it despite acknowledging that it wasn't a good fit with the brief of "future fantasy".  He did so because it was high quality. [Soure - Thrill-Power Overload].

I guess subsequent series got commissioned because it was popular.
Title: Re: Prog 2122 - Your Planet Needs Thrills!
Post by: broodblik on 11 March, 2019, 01:30:52 PM
Button Man although not really fitting into the main setup of 2000ad is one of the best strips that ever grazed the pages of the prog. I am glad that it never got ran in Toxic (their lost 2000ad fans gain)
Title: Re: Prog 2122 - Your Planet Needs Thrills!
Post by: Richard on 11 March, 2019, 08:39:54 PM
Button Man set a precedent though. If it's happened once (plus three sequels), then why not do it again, just for three episodes? There are four other SF stories in those three progs. I don't have a problem with it -- variety is the strength of an anthology format.
Title: Re: Prog 2122 - Your Planet Needs Thrills!
Post by: Magnetica on 11 March, 2019, 09:48:48 PM
"Why not do it"...because it's a sci-fi and fantasy comic. That's the proposition.

For me Button Man is an exception. It was by arguably the top 2000AD writer of all time and had already been drawn (series 1).
Title: Re: Prog 2122 - Your Planet Needs Thrills!
Post by: metcalfecarr on 12 March, 2019, 02:07:39 PM
Quote from: Magnetica on 11 March, 2019, 09:48:48 PM
"Why not do it"...because it's a sci-fi and fantasy comic. That's the proposition.

For me Button Man is an exception. It was by arguably the top 2000AD writer of all time and had already been drawn (series 1).
.

But then why run Chiarrascuro?  Why run Cabalistics and Absolom and Carver Hale and Brigand Doom and Silo?  All of them are horror stories and don't really fit the sci-fi and fantasy brief
Title: Re: Prog 2122 - Your Planet Needs Thrills!
Post by: dweezil2 on 12 March, 2019, 02:44:02 PM
Quote from: metcalfecarr on 12 March, 2019, 02:07:39 PM
Quote from: Magnetica on 11 March, 2019, 09:48:48 PM
"Why not do it"...because it's a sci-fi and fantasy comic. That's the proposition.

For me Button Man is an exception. It was by arguably the top 2000AD writer of all time and had already been drawn (series 1).
.

But then why run Chiarrascuro?  Why run Cabalistics and Absolom and Carver Hale and Brigand Doom and Silo?  All of them are horror stories and don't really fit the sci-fi and fantasy brief

And don't forget Leviathanand Cradlegrave!

Two other crackers and not really Sci-Fi or Fantasy either.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Prog 2122 - Your Planet Needs Thrills!
Post by: broodblik on 12 March, 2019, 03:06:58 PM
When 2000ad was created its primary focus was sci-fi the fantasy element was added later on as well as the horror type of stories.  With the merger of Tornado Black Hawk changed from a historic type of story to the more sci-fi related story. So historic wise 2000ad was sci-fi comic. I do not mind what type of story is published as long as it is a quality story(I still prefer sci-fi with fantasy a close second).
Title: Re: Prog 2122 - Your Planet Needs Thrills!
Post by: Magnetica on 12 March, 2019, 04:40:49 PM
Ok I am counting horror in the broader definition of sci-if and fantasy. The recent 3hriller however doesn't fall into any category of this nature.
Title: Re: Prog 2122 - Your Planet Needs Thrills!
Post by: Richard on 12 March, 2019, 05:41:39 PM
Shako
Big Dave
Title: Re: Prog 2122 - Your Planet Needs Thrills!
Post by: Magnetica on 12 March, 2019, 06:01:39 PM
Why not just serialise Eastenders?
Title: Re: Prog 2122 - Your Planet Needs Thrills!
Post by: Proudhuff on 12 March, 2019, 06:16:02 PM
I love Alex's art, but after recent events on Westminster Bridge, I find that choice of image unfortunate.

Judge Dredd: Machine Law is the stand-out story this week with a very fitting finale.
I see what people are saying about Dredd's reaction... 'Report to SJS for re-assignment' might have been a tad more old Dredd, but the Big W is the man who knows his man so I'm happy with that.
I've hugely enjoyed this story from the get go and totally satisfied with the outcome.

Jaegir as always, a far too short run on this, other series go on and on and on like an unwelcome house pest, while this seems to go in fits and starts (if it fits it starts), Tharg get the GRenniedroid tied up in a Gordian contract that makes him tie up every hanging chad from every story ever written....seems fair?


Tooth and Nail ends well, I kinda hoped the dog was the killer  :-X

Grey Area is literally just talking heads... so I read the first and last couple and got the gist  :-[

Skip Tracer finally finishes, really not seeing the point of this, sorry chaps, its all perfectly serviceable but doesn't really bring anything new to Tharg's stable.

Next week: Kingmaker(boo!) and Survival Geeks. (yeah!)
Title: Re: Prog 2122 - Your Planet Needs Thrills!
Post by: Trout on 13 March, 2019, 12:40:27 AM
Top Dredd, including the dialogue. These were major events and we're getting insight into Dredd's character from the writer who created and developed it. To say it doesn't sound like Dredd is to call for a formulaic approach to all Dredd dialogue. If Wagner wants to script it differently, we have to trust him on it. This had impact.

I loved this Dredd story. Every panel of art was excellent and the story was compelling and even ended with a twist. This is good comics, and John Wagner is (IMO) the most consistently good writer in comics.

Jaegir was exciting stuff, too. I'm anticipating the next series and I loved the way it suddenly switched to the team story that Grennie has clearly been building up to quietly. Also Coleby is a bloody good artist who doesn't get enough praise.

The rest of the comic didn't grab me, especially the story that included four pages of 16-panel layouts showing talking heads. I'll look forward to more Brink instead. When Dabnett is good, he's great.

Cheers

- Trout
Title: Re: Prog 2122 - Your Planet Needs Thrills!
Post by: broodblik on 13 March, 2019, 11:20:00 AM
Again, very good prog, cannot wait for the return of Kingmaker.

Cover – this feels like a retro 80s cover and it so cool, love it. It oozes of cover of the year

Dredd - Mister Wagner knows how to spin a tale and mister MacNeil know how to give the tale form and image. This was a great Dredd story. A lot predicted a certain outcome and Wagner delivered of a slight twist.

Skip Tracer – Although the final parts where quite adequate I found the middle part of the story to much of trying to add too much without really adding anything.  This is one of those stories which I do read and enjoy when it is the prog but if it never returns, I will not miss it.

Grey Area – One thing I can say is that Abnett has mastered the art of telling a story with just dialogue and no action. This was for me a great introduction and the path to the next chapters.

Jaegir – Firstly I am very much disappointed that we again only get 6 parts and hopefully we do not have to wait another year for the next part. This was one of the highlights for me the last few weeks and Rennie has created a world within the Rogueverse that in many cases has surpassed the original story-line


Title: Re: Prog 2122 - Your Planet Needs Thrills!
Post by: CalHab on 13 March, 2019, 12:48:38 PM
Just to repeat the above, I hope Jaegir is back soon as well. Simon Coleby is outstanding on this and the series is one of the best things in the prog in years.
Title: Re: Prog 2122 - Your Planet Needs Thrills!
Post by: The Enigmatic Dr X on 13 March, 2019, 05:40:08 PM
I've not got my prog. It has started to come on a Thursday! I want my sub back on a Saturday.
Title: Re: Prog 2122 - Your Planet Needs Thrills!
Post by: Jim_Campbell on 13 March, 2019, 07:01:26 PM
Quote from: The Enigmatic Dr X on 13 March, 2019, 05:40:08 PM
I've not got my prog. It has started to come on a Thursday! I want my sub back on a Saturday.

Down to the 'Royal' Mail, unfortunately. :-(
Title: Re: Prog 2122 - Your Planet Needs Thrills!
Post by: norton canes on 13 March, 2019, 08:12:23 PM
Quote from: Richard on 10 March, 2019, 10:43:18 PM
In Tooth and Nail, [spoiler]every scene that wasn't of the guy who was tied to a chair and being interrogated was only a depiction of the story that guy was telling his interrogators. He was an "unreliable narrator." He told them he was some harmless guy who met Nail, but he was lying; he himself was Nail all along[/spoiler]

I get this, but... the interrogee does actually change appearance, doesn't he? From page 5, he's suddenly not the kid from the rest of the story. Has Staz Johnson just drawn him more 'macho'? No, the face is different, and he's bigger. Am I imagining this?! If not, then either the child in the chair is as imaginary as the flashback sequence, or he's actually got shape-changing powers.

Confused. Please help.

Anyway on the subject of whether this belongs on 2000 AD - don't forget Invasion, another non-SF prog classic.
Title: Re: Prog 2122 - Your Planet Needs Thrills!
Post by: Richard on 13 March, 2019, 09:47:56 PM
I thought that was artistic licence, and he didn't really change his appearance, but only for our benefit. But maybe he did and he's some sort of shape-shifter.

Arguing against my main point here, but Invasion was set 22 years in the future.
Title: Re: Prog 2122 - Your Planet Needs Thrills!
Post by: Colin YNWA on 13 March, 2019, 09:59:51 PM
Yeah that was my issue. I nothing about the story suggested it was either a change for the reader to emphasize the deception nor a physical change for the character but it was one or the other and I'm not sure which - this is a significent problem with the story... or more for bieng dumb!
Title: Re: Prog 2122 - Your Planet Needs Thrills!
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 13 March, 2019, 10:05:05 PM
Quote from: Richard on 13 March, 2019, 09:47:56 PM
Arguing against my main point here, but Invasion was set 22 years in the future.

But by that logic, Button Man is also sci-fi as it was set '22 seconds into yout future' or something similar.
Title: Re: Prog 2122 - Your Planet Needs Thrills!
Post by: Sinx on 14 March, 2019, 10:49:13 AM
The only problem I have with contemporary fiction (like the 3hriller) is the tendency to ignore the effect of smart phones even though they may be present in the story. "Who the hell is this guy? Send me a pic of him before you off him". Even on cheaper burners now.

Thought Jaegir was just awesome.
Title: Re: Prog 2122 - Your Planet Needs Thrills!
Post by: norton canes on 14 March, 2019, 11:02:52 AM
Quote from: Richard on 13 March, 2019, 09:47:56 PM
I thought that was artistic licence, and he didn't really change his appearance, but only for our benefit. But maybe he did and he's some sort of shape-shifter

Hopefully future installments will shed some light...

Anyway away from Tooth and Nail, this was a really interesting prog. First of all, that's a cover and a half from the Ronald droid. He drew the cover for prog 2016, my 'return to the fold' prog, so I guess he should take the credit for enticing me back to 2000 AD after 27 years!   

Machine Law concluded smoothly, with a poignant twist. I didn't have a problem with Dredd's action on the second page but the phrase 'gang of losers' did grate a bit, yes. And I'm sure Harvey's memories and personality algorithm could be downloaded into a new body but I guess it's the symbolism of his sacrifice that counts.

So was that the last Skip Tracer ever? I wonder if time will be kind to this rather maligned strip. For my part I've always thought it's been full of great ideas, and the art of Marshall and MacNeil has never been less then stunning. As others have said, the biggest let-down has been the lack of charactersiation for the protagonist.

Have people really been giving Dan Abnett stick for including a talking heads interlude? Merciless! All I'll say is that it's perfectly placed after the hectic action of the last few progs - and even if dialogue-heavy strips aren't your thing then surely it's worth it for the gorgeous amber colour palette alone.

Finally, the only problem with Jaegir is we don't get enough of it! 

I see Kingmaker and Survival Geeks are back next week. I love Survival Geeks and can't wait. Ian Edgington isn't one of my absolute favourite script droids - both Brass Sun and Scarlet Traces have nice concepts but kind of drift vaguely on - but Kingmaker has a more solid background and I'm looking forward to it. It says in the Nerve Centre that the upcoming SG story has a 'dungeon crawler' theme - should be interesting, given that Kingmaker is also basically a slanted look at the D&D genre.
Title: Re: Prog 2122 - Your Planet Needs Thrills!
Post by: Satanist on 14 March, 2019, 11:18:06 AM
Tharg should give the 2 droids on Dredd another go at it as that was a master class on how to tell a fantastic Dredd tale.
Title: Re: Prog 2122 - Your Planet Needs Thrills!
Post by: wedgeski on 14 March, 2019, 11:48:21 AM
Quote from: Satanist on 14 March, 2019, 11:18:06 AM
Tharg should give the 2 droids on Dredd another go at it as that was a master class on how to tell a fantastic Dredd tale.
I doubt anyone here would disagree! :)
Title: Re: Prog 2122 - Your Planet Needs Thrills!
Post by: Tiplodocus on 14 March, 2019, 03:06:36 PM
Still loving my prog.  What a line up of talent veteran and (relatively) new.

Really liked the cover. Just oozed modern technique on old school sensibilities. Dredd obviously great - and we have heard the big man spout corny out of place dialogue before under Wagner - almost as if sometimes emotion fights its way out and he doesn't quite know how to express it. (I'll admit, that's a stretch...)

Jaegir and Grey Area could have permanent residence and I'd be happy.

And I enjoyed Skip and Nail too.

"I'm all for a bit of fascism..." in the letters did make laugh. Then worried.
Title: Re: Prog 2122 - Your Planet Needs Thrills!
Post by: Timothy on 14 March, 2019, 03:18:32 PM
I seem to recall that we got the democracy storyline and all of the wonderfulness that followed as a result of Wagner becoming concerned that some did not see the satire in Dredd and thought him a straight action hero. Perhaps that letter will inspire further greatness.
Title: Re: Prog 2122 - Your Planet Needs Thrills!
Post by: Richard on 14 March, 2019, 09:00:56 PM
MAKE MEGA-CITY ONE GREAT AGAIN!
Title: Re: Prog 2122 - Your Planet Needs Thrills!
Post by: sheridan on 14 March, 2019, 09:27:58 PM
Quote from: Colin YNWA on 09 March, 2019, 05:29:28 PM
Okay I'll start with a positive before I get run out of town.

Its far too early to call but cos I love a good Tharg cover if we get a better cover this year I can't wait to see it. Bllody lovely!


Initially I thought the same, but then I noticed the number 38 bus.  Totally unrealistic!  What would that service be doing on Westminster Bridge?  It heads north from Victoria station, not East!  Also, Elizabeth Tower has loads of scaffolding on at the moment, so is this a vision of the future or past?
Title: Re: Prog 2122 - Your Planet Needs Thrills!
Post by: CalHab on 14 March, 2019, 09:51:19 PM
Quote from: norton canes on 14 March, 2019, 11:02:52 AM

So was that the last Skip Tracer ever? I wonder if time will be kind to this rather maligned strip. For my part I've always thought it's been full of great ideas, and the art of Marshall and MacNeil has never been less then stunning. As others have said, the biggest let-down has been the lack of charactersiation for the protagonist.


The recent podcast interview suggests that Tharg has commissioned at least one more series, unless I misunderstood.
Title: Re: Prog 2122 - Your Planet Needs Thrills!
Post by: sheridan on 14 March, 2019, 10:24:38 PM
Quote from: Proudhuff on 12 March, 2019, 06:16:02 PM
I love Alex's art, but after recent events on Westminster Bridge, I find that choice of image unfortunate.


What's happened on Westminster Bridge recently?  Most recent thing I can think of is that car driver who tried to kill some people on bikes at around eight in the morning, but even that seems about six months ago (and wasn't on the bridge, it was on Parliament Square going towards Millbank).  All the protests and that harrassment in January were on College Green - other side of the Palace of Westminster from the Bridge.
Title: Re: Prog 2122 - Your Planet Needs Thrills!
Post by: norton canes on 15 March, 2019, 02:28:19 PM
One other thing about the denouement to Machine Law...

I presume it isn't routine for a Judge droid to carry massive amounts of hi-ex in its casing? So Harvey must've known there was going to be a bomber at the protest march?
Title: Re: Prog 2122 - Your Planet Needs Thrills!
Post by: Pyroxian on 15 March, 2019, 04:41:38 PM
Quote from: norton canes on 15 March, 2019, 02:28:19 PM
One other thing about the denouement to Machine Law...

I presume it isn't routine for a Judge droid to carry massive amounts of hi-ex in its casing? So Harvey must've known there was going to be a bomber at the protest march?

I assume it was standard lawgiver hi-ex rounds - just all detonated simultaneously. I imagine the a droid judge can carry a lot more ammo than a regular one.
Title: Re: Prog 2122 - Your Planet Needs Thrills!
Post by: Richard on 15 March, 2019, 06:49:38 PM
Or they have a self-destruct function.
Title: Re: Prog 2122 - Your Planet Needs Thrills!
Post by: I, Cosh on 15 March, 2019, 08:33:34 PM
Or an internal power supply.
Title: Re: Prog 2122 - Your Planet Needs Thrills!
Post by: Leigh S on 15 March, 2019, 08:51:17 PM
Technically it was inspired by the fact the original protestors were meant to be Nudists, but the managment nixed that idea and they ahd to come up with some other protagonists - I take your general point though!

Quote from: Timothy on 14 March, 2019, 03:18:32 PM
I seem to recall that we got the democracy storyline and all of the wonderfulness that followed as a result of Wagner becoming concerned that some did not see the satire in Dredd and thought him a straight action hero. Perhaps that letter will inspire further greatness.
Title: Re: Prog 2122 - Your Planet Needs Thrills!
Post by: norton canes on 18 March, 2019, 06:47:15 PM
P.S. I just noticed that Grey Area's talking heads episode is exactly two years on from SinDex doing the same in 'The Salad Of Bad Cafe'.
Title: Re: Prog 2122 - Your Planet Needs Thrills!
Post by: Fungus on 18 March, 2019, 11:06:46 PM
Quote from: norton canes on 18 March, 2019, 06:47:15 PM
P.S. I just noticed that Grey Area's talking heads episode is exactly two years on from SinDex doing the same in 'The Salad Of Bad Cafe'.

Ggbbbhhbgh. Just when we got that pun out of our system.
Title: Re: Prog 2122 - Your Planet Needs Thrills!
Post by: Richard on 19 March, 2019, 07:11:00 PM
I liked that SinDex story, because although it was mostly talking heads, it was funny and there was just enough of a change at the end to keep it interesting. Great Area didn't have that.
Title: Re: Prog 2122 - Your Planet Needs Thrills!
Post by: DrJomster on 28 March, 2019, 09:41:59 PM
I'm in the opposite camp and Grey Area worked well for me this week. Things would get boring if we all thought the same, wouldn't it?*

*Apart from Dredd. Everyone liking that is just fine! ;)
Title: Re: Prog 2122 - Your Planet Needs Thrills!
Post by: O Lucky Stevie! on 18 September, 2019, 05:59:30 AM
Quote from: Magnetica on 10 March, 2019, 11:15:45 PM
Quote from: Richard on 10 March, 2019, 10:43:18 PM
In Tooth and Nail, [spoiler]every scene that wasn't of the guy who was tied to a chair and being interrogated was only a depiction of the story that guy was telling his interrogators. He was an "unreliable narrator." He told them he was some harmless guy who met Nail, but he was lying; he himself was Nail all along.[/spoiler]

Thanks for clearing that up. That being the case, there doesn't appear to be any fantasy or sci-fi element to the story at all. Which is fine, except this is 2000AD.

Stevie's finally catching up with his back progs. I think that the twist in Tooth & nail was[spoiler]the expectation of a non-existent SF/F element distracted the reader from what was right in front of them all the time. All a bit meta, really. [/spoiler]