Pat Mills hair is back to normal - hurrah! Look no further when casting Dredd, Rebellion...
TPO is good this month - nice to see David Bishop give such warm credit to Mr Diggle.
The Meg Dredds another rerun of old themes unfortunately, but OKish I suppose - Wagner really likes his muscley women...
The Juliet November thing is a bit weak though - a mishmash of ideas that doesnt seem to hang together very well - and STUBBLE!! Grrrr....
Daily Star Dredd!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
More please.
Over in the prog, Dredd/Aliens starts to develop a plot - Lets just say "I thought as much" about the last page...
VCs is a great self contained tale, though remain to be convinced by the art - its all a bit washed out for a start.
Dante as good as we expect, but whats this? More Telguuth - urk!
All in all, worth taking the day off for - keep up the good works
Having just reread that post, its worth pointing out that Telguuth is a few weeks away..., but news still worthy of an Urk!, surely?
telguuth urkk
Telguuth? Drat and double drat, who will rid me of this trubocharged p*sh?
I just got last week's Tooth yesterday! I really should get a subscription...
Middenpud
It's plausible I'm being a dim-witted scrote-monkey, but where does this week's prog mentioned telguuth?
Sorry El S - its mentioned in the Megazine - not very clear of me there
Not read it all yet, but...
1327
Ah this weeks prog cover was drawn by an Ant. Mankind is doomed....
Dredd's looking interesting this week, know we get to the real main event I suspect.
Enjoyed the Terror Tale, I did kind of get that she was turning people to stone straight off, but it had some nice startling visuals.
Enjoyed Dante, it started to slip away last week with lots of refernces to this I don't know, but I enjoyed the simple yet absorbing story this week. I thought they'd reprinted the first episode by mistake again :)
Megazine
Waugh's ticking along, nice Dredd story, Darkies mob is as chilling as it is exciting.
Will read more later, in caefull administered doses of thrill power.
Are 2000ad and the Meg both out on the street or are you talking about subs? Sorry to ask but if they are I'm gonna sneak out of work and get 'em:)
Sorry, just subs!
"TPO is good this month - nice to see David Bishop give such warm credit to Mr Diggle."
Only a case of giving credit where credit's due. Andy pulled 2000 AD (and me) back from the brink. We argued like hellcats but it was worth every second to make the comic better.
davidbishop
both prog and meg continue to deliver the goods.
special kudos to Gary Wilkinson for getting a story and a letter in the same prog, and Floyd Kermode for having letters in both prog and meg! Is this a record?
There's another letter I noticed in the meg... uh-oh.
Meg -
Great cover. Laughed out loud at the Dredd Cupid.
Dredd - Liked this. Very funny in places.
Family/Black Sidha - Warming to these. Some nice art on both and the stories are staying the right side of cliche avoidace (although it's a close call).
Slaine/Darkie - Never read either of these before. Great tales both. Darkie was especially good in the medical crisis chapter, less keen on the super-hero alike stuff on top of the roof.
T.P.O. - Good as ever. Interesting Dante stuff.
Interview - Nice to see that they can vary the length of these.
Gordons Bit - Funny. What more can you ask for? Free Graphic novels maybe.
November - I liked this a lot. Real different feel to this for a Dredd's world tale.
Waugh - Yeah, like this. More and more please.
Other thing I liked in this issue - the return of the Daily Star Dredd and the upcoming info page. Thouroughly good prog.
2K -
Dredd - Good timing of the plot twist. Nice.
V.C.'s - Liked this. Nice little sci-fi tale.
Terror Tale - Go Gary. Nice tale, didn't see the twist coming, nice tale. Dom Reardon is growing in my esteem.
Dante - Good as ever.
Bec and Kawl - Again, liked this. Very funny in places, the art was great, nice punchline.
These publications are on a roll right now. Nice couple of hours reading and mulling there.
See Scojo finally made print in this months Meg, even if it was only a letter.
Big congrats to Gary!
Mine hasn't arrived yet, BUT I do like these weeks, where the envelope is big and fat, and full of Thrills!
Looking forward to it!
Really liked Ian Gibsons art in the Meg - the best Dredd art i've seen him do for a long time.
But that's meant to be Ghastlyhag Davina McCall isn't it?
Let's have a big cheer for Gary, now officially a droid with a promising debut.
I genuinely enjoyed it, and had a good old laugh at his appearance - and Tharg's compliment - on the letters page.
Well done Gary - and more, please!
Further thoughts:
What's great: Dredd, with Flint and Gibson art on the same day! Terrific.
Dante, with a great story, lavish and beautiful art and the promise of an intruiging next few episodes.
Darkie's Mob is really, really good fun, with tremendous, atmospheric art.
Family's coming along well.
Also pleased to see a preview of coming progs and Megs, with listings of the stories we can expect.
Atavar II? Oh dear.
What's pish:
Black Siddha. WTF? I don't want to judge it too early, but: what?
Perhaps Mills and Davis just don't mix. I was utterly bored and confused throughout. The art was nice but didn't seem to tell the story in Mills' style. Anyone with me?
I reckon the Prog has nosed ahead of the Meg now, but it was a very happy moment to see them arrive together yesterday, and a very happy evening sifting through them.
- A satisfied Trout
Cheers David! : )
I can't believe nobody's pointed out The "Mat Pills" reference in Bec & Cawl...I think he was due for a bit of a gentle piss take :)
I didn't get Black Siddha, nor did I get Bec & Cawl. Both seem a wee bit gimmicky to me. Or maybe I'm just suffering from being away over the weekend.
Neo-pagan gibberish! Titter!
Well I spose its my Two cents worth....
Megazine
Dredd nice little Wagner by numbers tale, enlightened me to location of Walter (but I should have remembered that). Good Fun and Gibson Art.
Black Sidha, well maybe. It seems good and may be a return to form from Mr Mills. With Slaine doing not so bad in the Prog it looks good for ABC Warriors in the Spring.
Family, does this read like the Sopranos with a twist (Superpowers) to anyone else. I like.
Time Killer, excellent.
Darkies Mob, excellent.
TPO is as good as always. Some nice little juicy bits in there and David Bishops critism of his own tenure is a good thing.
Juliet November, Rather weak, but would probably look a lot better in a weaker Megazine
Devline Waugh, WOW. Lots of Vampires and Killings and a bit of Marine twisting.
Overall the Meg is keeping up its rather high standard. Congrats to Gordon, I look forward to his vampire lesbianism column (oo-er) next month.
2000ad
Dredd, well we were all wondering about Prager. Are we gonna see more of him in this tale? Id like to, but how do you intorduce him to newish audience. A nice twist with an entrance ti the Undercity
Bec&Kawl, Ive never really liked these two. But this story was fun and much better than I expected. Were getting a longer story next week. Might be interesting.
The VC's is great and once again we get some very nice ideas from Dan Abnett. Lets hope it keeps up the high standard of book 1.
Terror Tales, rather nice story from a regular messageboard member. Take a bow Gary. Were now waiting for Art's past imperfect......
Nikolai Dante has to be one of the most consistent stories running in 2000ad. I cant remeber a bad story. This one is great, we get some good old background on him and his mum. Fantastic.
The prog has picked up and in some ways equals the meg, but in my opinion not quite yet.
Yer "Jonathon Ross" Slippo
Just picked up the Meg - haven't read it properly yet but flicked thru it for quarter of an hour in borders.
Anyway I wanted to say how much I like the feel of it becoming more a real 'magazine' in style, with lots of bits 'n pieces to dip into. I mean as well as the main strips you have TPO, the Pat Mills Interview, Gordo's soapbox, Daily Star Dredd, Halo Jones pin-up bit, Sin Dex, Future Shock.
I guess it feels more meaty & substantial than it used to. Happy days.
'more meaty & substantial' suits you sir!
Yes indeedly the Meg is big and hefty this month, can we get badges of the Cupid Dredd?
Nice Pat Mills bit, not fitting the stereotype, resist getting into the pigeonhole at all times!
I enjoyed the rest, although Slaine looks a bit 'clumpy' now.
Can I just say, if the great Thargy is listening, how good 'TPO' is? Having worked with collectors (of a different type) for the last ten years or more, I'm amazed how similar business decisons/structures and feck ups are in Fleetway etc to where I am, never really thought about Zooad this way.
Middenpus
>>Can I just say, if the great Thargy is listening, how good 'TPO' is? Having worked with collectors (of a different type) for the last ten years or more, I'm amazed how similar business decisons/structures and feck ups are in Fleetway etc to where I am, never really thought about Zooad this way.
But wouldn't it have been so much better if they'd followed Floyd Kermode's advice in the letters column this week and concentrated more on the stuff about ancient old union disputes?
That would have been truly zarjaz!
Re: Pat Mills interview.
He said about doing a scene for one of his French comics featuring a celebrity being killed.
I don't know who it was but that ain't the point - she's a real person & he's definitely doing "defemation of character" here.
How can he then justify others having an attempt at Sl?ine?
This was him using someone else's character (her *actual* character) without permission. He might consider his hatred a good enough reason to do it, but why then is someone else's love of a character a bad thing?
Just a thought.
Dunno my guess was he was on about Princess Di & you can't libel the dead. Probably wrong tho.
It mentioned the german magazine stern, so a quick search and voila!
http://members.lycos.co.uk/bajuu/
La Placa Rifa,
W. R. Logan.
you can't libel the dead
... and Pat can't sue over Sl?ine (being Rebellion's an' all) - so it's totally just the principle.
Oddboy stirring that bucket of poo
Here's my thoughts on this week's 2000AD.
Judge Dredd/Aliens: Loving it so far. Dredd kicked that Aliens' Butt!!
Bec and Kawl: Not really my thing I'm afraid. Ganja man kinda puts me off.
V.C.s: Good story, great art, nuff said.
Terror Tales: Saw it coming on the first picture.
Dante: Great stuff. Really enjoying this, and now mom is back in things, it should get better.
Link: The A-Z of Cal-Hab
here is my opinion on tooth
dredd: whoa colur me shocked i knew about the mutant thing but i didn't realise it was the bone guy and his muties from out of the undercity does this mean we'll see prager back?!?
bek and kawl: nope not my thing either sadly
v.cs yes its back yes excellent love it
dante; good another flashback and dante and mum reunited
future shock: nice story gary although i saw it coming
"But wouldn't it have been so much better if they'd followed Floyd Kermode's advice in the letters column this week and concentrated more on the stuff about ancient old union disputes?"
GR why can't we have both?
The Committee.
I also assumed he meant Princess Di, it seems the obvious candidate for this sort of puncturing of image. If I was a millionaire, I could travel the world looking sad and letting charities use my name :....( I think to say Mills is motivated by hatred is a bit lazy, he said he was angry at the hypcrisy he'd discovered.
Pat may not be able to sue Rebellion, perhaps he could, Morrison is in the courts but either way it barely seems the point Oddboy, why upset one of your greatest contributers over a piece of fan fiction? Not exactly good business.
Who was the rectally challenged (what the hell does that mean anyway Pat, someone who has had bowel cancer?) writer? Could it be...
Think you mis-understood some of what I said there PVS, but not to worry...
I was saying that Pat couldn't sue Zarjazz, (not Rebellion) because it would be up to Rebellion to take the action.
'Hatred' might seem too strong a word, but doing something from anger is a form of hatred surely?
Especially as the reason was hypocracy, which was my point - he's nicked someone's real character & done bad things to them but he complains when someone else nicks his made-up character in homage.
Sorry I misread that bit Oddboy, I thought it was weird thing to say, and of course you didn't.
He's taken a real person (albeit dead) and used her as a character in his book, so what, he did it with torquemada, it's not stealing anything and I don't see how it's hypocritical.
People who protest against something that makes them angry don't have to be motivated by hatred. I think that's just word play, you could equally say Ghandi was motivated by hatred.
I find it odd that people seem so angry about not having the right to write the adventures of a character which they didn't create, have never written and don't own.
My two cents *g
Prog:
Dredd: What can I say, I just like this tale. Great artwork, great writing.
Bec&Kawl: Sorry, not for me.
The V.C.S : Nice One.
Terror Tales: It was okay, I guess, nice art though.
Dante: as good as ever.
MEG:
So Alan Barnes likes Morrisons Doom Patrol and Master of Kung Fu? A man after my heart.
Dredd: well, this was rather blah. What was the point exactly?
Black Siddha: this is dull. Can?t get into it. And Davis? artwork isn?t for me.
Family: if they keep introducing new characters at this rate, you?ll need a scorecard by part 6. But it is much better than Bendatti Vendetta.
Slaine: so this is the Slaine of old? I still don?t get what is so great about this series, guess you had to be there in the past. But the kitchen sink approach to the story is amusing.
Darkie?s Mob: Great Stuff.
T.P.O: as good as always. Actually the first thing I read. this will be missed.
Juliet November: this is nice. Grant still does deliver.
Incoming: Yes and No. Interesting to see what is coming, but the prospect of a month or longer of Bec&Kawl, Avatar II AND Tales of Tel. is dire indeed. And Ennis writes Dredd. Hopefully this is better than Helter Skelter. For a newbie like me this was rahter impenetrable and read like FanFiction.
Devlin Waugh: this is good.
SinDex: if only they were always this short.
All in all, somewhat weaker than the last ones.
Hatred will always follow anger if you listen to Yoda... whatever the word you chose, it means -ve rather than +ve.
I still reckon using a real person's character is more suspect then using a fictional one... even if the laws don't cover this.
Anyway I don't care if Pat is right or wrong as long as he makes Books II & III entertaining.
Well, as we are all negative about things, it's not a hanging offense is it Oddboy, you're post was negative I wouldn't say you were inspired by hate
As for using real people as characters in books, either as themselves or to parody them, then you could kiss a good section of Dredd and literature away in one fell swoop.
Anyway, yes, looking forward to books II and three myself.
I've red the rest of the meg and AD now.
I'm not convinced by Family or Black Siddha yet.
I think Juliet November is good stuff, fairly light hearted dredd, something a bit different, actually surprised by Dredd turning up, maybe this was just short sightedness on my part.
I've read the B&K, still doesn't for anything for me, so I'll just skip it next time along with the sin dex.
My thoughts on this week 2000ad
Judge Dredd/Aliens: Nice slow build up on the story and the arts great.
Bec and Kawl: Fantastic art (the double page spread was a stand out) and an amusing if slight story, looking forward to seeing more of them next week and in the future!
V.C.s: OK story and not great art that rock texture was used far too much!
Terror Tales: Nice art way better than his stuff on Caballistics. Very reminiscent of Sean Phillips stuff. Nice little story.
Dante: Enjoyable but not exactly edge of the seat.
The standard is much higher recently and long may it continue:)
What was the point of the Cupid Stunt tag line on this months Meg?
Yes I DO realise what happens if you say it too quickly. Just seemed childish and irrelevant to me!
Obviously not a Kenny Everett fan
>>I still reckon using a real person's character is more suspect then using a fictional one... even if the laws don't cover this.
What about Zenith Phase II, with a slimy millionaire who didn't look at all like Richard Branson?
Or my 'Big Lie' Dredd story, featuring a slimy revisionist historian called 'Irving Dirving'?
Happens all the time, Odd. Some targets deserve it.
Gah!
I'm not saying writers shouldn't do it!!!
I'm saying that Mr Mills shouldn't complain so much about fanfic!
Hmm here's a stick. Which end shall I take hold of?
Oddboy gives up on this topic, as he really doesn't care about it
canon fodder too has tons of real life people (albiet dead ones in it)
but anyhoo meg
dredd: its just an excuse to see gibson the master at drawing gorgous women drawing err gorgous women
family: i'm slowly warming to it
siddah: i hate it i ---ing hate it
slaine: see above i just don't like slaine
darkies mob the highlight of the meg
t.p.o: the other highlight of the meg
november: not bad at all
waugh: hey devin does something cool!!
letters page thats it i'm bloody changing my name to floyd kermode maybe then i'll get a letter printed oh scojo beh
sindex: what is this except space filler nuff said
Had a chance to read this at last :
-dredd: ok, decent Gibbo art but it was all pretty throw-away stuff.
family: enjoying this - both story and art are really good.
siddah: well i'm afraid this is getting a thumbd down despite the nice art - please, please will something other than people talking hindu mumbo-jumbo better happen soon.
slaine: didnt like this at all last issue but I'm getting into it - I think I was trying to read it as a serious story when really its just a fabulously inventive flight of imagination.
darkies mob : i think my views on this are known, but its nice to hear other people seem to be enjoying it, otherwise I'd look a bigger twat than I already am & would be forced off the board in a hail of derision.
t.p.o: yep this is picking again up after some bland episodes, first thing I read. Iss there still gonna be a '70's war & action comic sequel ??
november: story & art are utter pants
waugh: great art, decent story, just not enough of it !!
sindex, halo info, daily star dredd: its nice to have these little extras scattered about.
weirdly the worst things in the meg for me were wagners dredd, grants november and mills' siddha. I must be doing something wrong.
FInally updated 2000AD Review with my thoughts on 1111327. Generally pretty good, but I vented my spleen a bit at Bec & Kawl. Very theraputic.
Hope to get Meg reviews up next week.
Link: 2000AD Review
Marbles,
Disagree with you about November, adn to be honest, I didn't think Dredd would appear, so that might even be an added bonus. (I think the art is very refreshing).
But I agree about the Sin/Dex, Halo, Daily Star (and to some extent) TPO... to me, these are the small (hidden) extras that have turned the Meg from a video into a DVD, if you catch my drift.
Nice job- Barnesy!
Just a thought, can we have seperate SPOILER threads for those who want to give their two euros worth on the Prog but don't have the Meg, and vice-versa? So kind :)
er yeah... i was ready to tuppenth re 1327 but havenae read the meg yet.
Gary well done, i really enjoyed it & didn't see it coming, tho obviously they were real people sculptures. Doms are was spot on for it.
enjoyed B&K too, in joke chortles.
VC's fantastic man, i was going into flash back mode, i loved when he looks at his smoking gloves thru the visor. yup, been there done that.
dredd; wasn't it great ? isn't flints art fantastic, blythes colouring fascinates too. brill.
& Dante great too.
Finished off Family, Devlin & November the other night...
Family seems good, but I'm not sure that it actually is good. To be honest I'm sure I don't understand it...
Devlin: wonderful - supurb art work YAY MacNEIL!! and the story's really gripping.
November: Moved significantly higher in my opinion from last months' episode - and I liked that one!
Great stuff from the Meg, let down only by my total apathy to Black Siddha, which I didn't even bother reading this month.
the best i have read in so long. each month for me goes from strengh to strengh.very very strong.
the TPO.the gold,every story so much depth and pleasure. superb art.
i could not ask for more and expect to get it.
i have no ill to speak.
AMAZING
total thrill power for me.