Outstanding cover by David Millgate.
Inside there's an advert for a new Dark Judges story starting in Meg 400. The Torture Garden, by David Hine and Nick Percival.
The Sons of Booth have gone mental after watching to much TV and are on a mission to rescue the man that killed the planet. Someone shoot these fools.
Survival Geeks is still going strong and this is my favourite story arc yet. Good stuff!
An old friend returns in The Order and another guy forgets how to dance. I love this series!
Mechastopheles gets a bit dark and a little girl loses her temper. I'm enjoying this series and this in particular is a very fine episode.
Grey Area twists and turns like a politician. Excellent final episode to the current arc.
There's a letters page.
Great Prog - Long may it continue!
Cheers
I think things are going to go 'very' wrong in Grey Area.
A superb prog in my opinion.
#praiseTharg
Grey Area has been the highlight of the current line-up in my opinion
This latest series of Grey Area has been very good.
I'm warming to Mechastopheles. This is the sort of series that belongs in 2000AD every now and then -- giant demon-possessed robots fighting other demons in an apocalyptic world.
I like Survival Geeks, and this one in particular has been funny.
Judge Dredd is alright. I'm not a fan of The Order I'm afraid.
Looking forward to Megazine 400 next week, The Torture Garden especially. I thought Wagner would be writing it, but Dave Hine is good too so I'm not disappointed.
(https://i.imgur.com/kvnkykO.jpg)
Excellent prog, and since 2097 only arrived Friday morning, I was able to read them back-to-back!
Laughed out loud at Survival Geeks. I love that strip. Grey Area takes a slightly predictable turn but nothing worth getting worked up about.
Okay so maybe I was in a bit of grump last week, or maybe two stories that bugged me have genuinely got better in my eyes?
First Dredd. I didn't like the fact that a story that's run for some time was going to end on a simple sting, and some action. However this week while that didn't change much it was well fleshed out. More significently it added some nice touches to remind me why the storyline as a whole has been so enjoyable.
"Control the narrative, we control the outcome." which has been a clear theme and this makes the sting work of course. I'm settling more with the stupid gun being linked to the themes as well, lets see how its used in the imminent end.
With a single part to go it will be interesting if they pull everything together in a satisfying way, but I have more hope than last week.
Secondly Survival Geeks won me back over... and in this case I'm not sure why, but it did and have to say in the past when this strip has lost me its never done that so very interested to see if it sees this through to the end?
Elsewhere much as you were really. The Order is simply superb and really starts to pull things together, while pushing things further. Love this and can't wait to find time to re-read. I think Mecha-somestuffhappenin but for different reasons. In this case as I've stopped caring enough to pay attention.
Grey Area nicely sets up our next developments and while in what is a quieter affair it sets up its return very well. So next week we'll see how the other strips making their landing. And then a relaunch. With this and Meg 400 we certainly live in interesting times.
Bags of fun in Survival Geeks, plus action in The Order and genuine excitement in Mechastopheles. I'm anticipating the next part of Dredd, too. Still four out of five from me, but quality proggage.
Nice to see a Millgate Dredd again, too!
A very enjoyable prog with Survival Geeks the surprise package. My favorites are both The Order and Mechastopheles. The Booth Dredd I like more than the previous runs. The current run was highly enjoyable and cant wait for prog 2100
Loving Dredd just now, Sons of Trump are a classic MC1 bunch of nutters.
Dredd character spot on too.
Survival geeks is great too, love that art and the dialogue, but I fear that not watching these films I miss sooo many Easter eggs.
Grey area is as expected, while I just pretend the other two tales don't exist.
Buttonman missing from the lettes page... he must be back inside.
I really like the 90s-tasting Dredd cover.
Dredd was good. I've been enjoying this story and the artwork is excellent.
Survival Geeks was fun. I didn't enjoy the Doctor Who one at all but this genuinely funny and exciting.
The Order baffles me slightly but I still enjoy it. It reminds me of being a kid and watching programmes or films I didn't understand, just enjoying the spectacle.
Mechastopholes is a strange one. I don't feel like I'm getting to know any of the characters and the big robot hasn't really done anything. When they used to make episodes of Knight Rider they had to have a KITT quota. The car was always given something exciting to do as that was what the kids were tuning in for (even though the stories were really about Michael Knight). Mechastopholes feels like an episode of Knight Rider in which KITT sits in a multi storey car park for the entire 45minutes.
Grey Area is the best thing in the prog again. Tharg, please say we're going to get a run of complete Grey Area reprints at some point!
(https://i.imgur.com/vnfjzer.png?1)
Cover: You see, Dougal, the city looks small, but the judge is far away...*
Matters of scale dominate this week, from the elastic proportions of Armoured Gideon, who's sometimes big enough he needs to duck to fit through a doorway and then as big as a house a few panels later, to an okay Dredd story that feels twice as long as it needs to be.
The return of Staz Johnson's hugely welcome, but that opening shot of judges on bikes reminds me of Phil Elliott (http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zDYy_ahCZtg/TmxTcxDyS9I/AAAAAAAAAN0/CWKcl_96-r4/s1600/gaiaconspiracy.jpg)'s Little Tyke lawmaster, mentioned on the Droids You Forgot thread (https://forums.2000ad.com/index.php?topic=45440.msg991250#msg991250), recently. Staz could do with avinit large, but I'm as big a fan of the chunky, industrial design of his bike as I am of the rest of his depictions of MC1 technology.
Grey Area's story is too big to fit into the number of issues Tharg has before prog 2100*. It really feels like Abnettt's building to something of enormous significance***, which is ironic, since the incongruity of the small domestic moments like the Bullietts curling up in front of Newsnight and the EPIC
The only thing that isn't epic about Grey Area are the A-cups in the shower scene. Represent.
* The early nineties, to be precise.
** 2100 should really feature the coverline TILL I COME (https://youtu.be/Ke8jkogx63M)
*** Dramatic convention suggests a cliffhanger with either [spoiler]Birdy or Bulliett thrown under the bus[/spoiler] by Mabelline Master-race, although Brink's S1 switcheroo suggests Abnett can be trusted not to take Route 1. Even if he obeys the comics laws concerning the marriages of lead characters, maybe the half of the partnership who disappears into a whisky bottle before pulling themselves to avenge the death of their beloved won't be the 50% tradition dictates
Bollocksed that up by posting too early due to a weird key-press combo, but you get the idea.
Another excellent prog in the current run, 2100 has its work cut out.
Dredd moves along its interesting path, and although the pacing and structure of the episode feel a bit odd, that might be because we're not usually privy to Dredd's cunning plans until some last minute revelation (e.g. Apocalypse War, City of the Damned, Oz). Here, we're seeing Linus & Co blundering into Joe's trap over several episodes, which seems like rare ground for the strip - although the immediately previous 'Better Class of Criminal' story had a somewhat similar gimmick. And while I'm not looking forward to seeing the whole gang go gaga (or super-intelligent!) when the Stupid Gun misfires next week, I am hoping that they'll be revealed as just one cell of a larger movement. It's a good concept that should stick around, giving a bit of breadth to the democracy movement.
Survival Geeks vies for top-spot this week, just so much fun in every panel. I know I bang on about how completely delightful I find Googe's (and Caldwell's) art, but really it's become spectacular: just have a look at the original 3Riller to see how far he's spread his wings over the course of this strip. Fighting a strong urge to go out and buy the collection, even though there are a dozen books head of it in the queue.
The Order: Yay, he's back! Fight choreography gets a bit muddy this week, AG/C should really have more of a presence, but that magnificently executed first page more than makes up for it.
Mechastopheles: Not sure how I feel about the plot shortcut that the portals represent, or the abrupt loss of the intriguing Cardinal Cesare, but for the third week in a row I'm fully on board the robodemon. Hopefully a return to wastelands wrassling next week doesn't dislodge me.
And then we come to the crowning glory of the current run, Grey Area. Another astonishingly brilliant 5 pages of talking heads, which even managed to make the by-now ubiquitous ETC shower scene feel sweet and natural. Abnett's only-in-comics approach to what is essential a 3-page dialogue showscases just what a craftsman he has become; and I challenge the Glimmer Rateratti or Vermin Stans to say this series isn't Harrison's masterpiece. 2019? But I want it now!
I love Survival Geeks - I've always found it to be refreshing fun among the more serious accompanying stories that surround it. I'm very much hoping Benjamin Wood's request is ignored because if it isn't, I'll be putting forward my own request that the confusing snooze-fest called The Order is ousted too. Honestly, I've given up reading it.
Other than that, a fine prog - I'm looking forward to the next batch of stories commencing soon - especially excited about the return of the Fiends Of The Eastern Front. :D
Quote from: TordelBack on 13 September, 2018, 10:19:14 AMAnd while I'm not looking forward to seeing the whole gang go gaga (or super-intelligent!) when the Stupid Gun misfires next week...
Oh grud. SPECULATIVE SPOILER: [spoiler]Linus is going to get zapped by the jury-rigged Stupid Gun and become super-intelligent, and instantly realise that Booth was a psychotic madman and repent his ways - but not before identifying the Judges as just as bad[/spoiler].
Quote from: Frank on 12 September, 2018, 09:19:53 PM
(https://i.imgur.com/vnfjzer.png?1)
Cover: You see, Dougal, the city looks small, but the judge is far away...*
or it could just be an 3d architect's model on a table in front of him ;)
The Prog is in fine form at the moment. I can't understand comments (mainly over in Facebook) that it's "in the doldrums".
Grey Area is now a top quality thrill. I never really rated Survival Geeks before but it too has become a top thrill and I agree about the art - just great stuff.
Even The Order is to my liking this time round, Mechstopheles is a good new story and Dredd continues with remarkable quality 41 years in.
What's not to like?
OK, haven't been posting in the review threads for a few weeks, because I was away for a fortnight and when I got back the nice man at WH Smith hadn't kept progs 2095 and 2096 back so I had to mail order them and so this is the first prog I've actually bought on release day for a month and so this is more a review of the stories over the past four weeks than a review of prog 2098 specifically but that's OK because it's mostly the same stories...
and breathe...
Dredd: The Sons Of Booth story has been good stuff, even though they all seem a bit gullible to present a real threat. Intrigued to see where the arc goes next.
SG: Great innit! Script and art are a delight, even though I'm not getting quite as much from the Slasher references as I did from the Who stuff in the last chapter. The 'Cabin in the Woods' is a parody referencing a parody, yeah?
Oh and Sam's socks gain a stripe in the final panel.
The Order: Maybe not quite up to the standard of previous books and John Burns' art looks a little bit rushed in places but still one of my top thrills.
Mechastopheles: A palpable hit, the sort of classic 2000 AD story that would have been at home in any era. Maybe there's a bit too much going on, which is why the crew have to be ported out en masse this week, but I'm sure the strands will all be given attention in time.
Grey Area: OK, I'll level with you - I'm not really that keen on the premise of Grey Area. It's all too much of an obvious immigration allegory and the characterisations of the protagonists are sourced directly from a dozen military training movies and stuff like Aliens. The plot developments are often a bit cliched too. But in the hands of Dan Abnett, one of the best dialogue writers in comics right now, it absolutely sings, and Mark Harrison's busy style provides the perfect artwork.
With the continuation of Brink and Kingdom in prog 2100, Abnett is cementing his place as the lynchpin of "))) AD's script droids.
Quote from: norton canes on 13 September, 2018, 11:47:43 AM- I'm not really that keen on the premise of Grey Area. It's all too much of an obvious immigration allegory and the characterisations of the protagonists are sourced directly from a dozen military training movies and stuff like Aliens.
Is it really an immigration
allegory when it's explicitly about immigration, and attitudes towards immigration, and the characters are policing an immigrant detention area? By which I mean, it's less of an instructive metaphor than it is a
setting.
Quote from: TordelBack on 13 September, 2018, 10:19:14 AM
Vermin Stans
Only you and I get this joke. It is a very funny joke and I have now told you that.
Quote from: Magnetica on 13 September, 2018, 11:24:41 AM
The Prog is in fine form at the moment. I can't understand comments (mainly over in Facebook) that it's "in the doldrums".
Yeah I'm a member of a few groups on Facebook and while some seem more open minded and fune, a few also seem so set in their ways and averse to anything that even vaguely challenging to read. Its a curiously negative place to follow the Prog - but Facebook giving them a place to bitch and moan keeps them out of our hair!
Mainly.
Millgate is great.
I am often rubbish at spotting the references to films and things in strips like Survival Geeks so I would like to take this opportunity to express my pride and smugness at recognising the Gargoyle miniature and combat dice from Hero Quest on p.1 of the strip this week. Having said that, you lot are probably all not mentioning it because you all spotted it and knew it wasn't worth mentioning.
Dredd's been quite decent this story, although I am really fed up of the 'Dredd and Hershey discuss the situation' thing that seems to happen so often now. Why not just have Dredd explain the plan to his pal Judge Mono/Mond, who's been with him this whole story but hasn't got a word in? The Chief Judge has more important things to be getting on with running a city the size of MC1 as head of Justice Department AND effectively Prime Minister, no? Staz Johnson is great.
Survival Geeks has been ok, it suits a short snappy storyline of a few episodes and this one has worked just fine. Googe is great.
The Order... I mean, yes, 'The Order has lost me a bit', which is a stock phrase every prog thread, but I'm still thoroughly enjoying it. Burns's Worm horses are wonderful. I really hate Armoured Gideon's new (old) face though, is that one red eye or two black eyes on either side of it, and the mouth makes it look like he's laughing inanely all the time because his bottom jaw is now attached to his chest. This is presumably an earlier model of AG than the one in the original series... John Burns is great.
Mechastopheles I'm kind of enjoying and I'd happily see another series. I'm genuinely not sure how this can work as a narrative long term in terms of setting/storyline - the wee humans are all more interesting than the big demonic robot, so the Rennie's having to create storylines that incorporate both in a satisfying way will be a challenge! I've enjoyed the last couple of episodes though - they've managed to have lots of characters running around doing things without it being confusing, although I'd like to see a wee bit more character depth as the series continues. Richardson is great.
Grey Area. Does anyone know how to pronounce 'Bulliet'? Is it 'Booleet' or 'Bullet' or Bullee-ay' or what? This is a wonderful series, they could run it for a bigger chunk of the year and I'd be happy. Harrison is great.
That effect they've given to the Alpha on the back cover looks ace!
Quote from: NapalmKev on 08 September, 2018, 06:06:44 PM
Outstanding cover by David Millgate.
Yes it's rather good isn't it? I'm loving the old School paint job and the colours that seem somehow much more vibrant than the computer artwork.
I'm not impressed with the stuff inside though, it seems to suffer from ' jumping on prog clearout fade ' and I don't think much to the Artwork on display. I'm getting the sense of years gone by that we've been somewhat spoiled with some great artists, this stuff is pretty lame and middle of the road at best...
Survival Geeks and Grey Area top the prog for me. Nice stuff!
Roll on the next prog!
Still enjoying this run very much.
Regarding the shower/bed scenes in GREY AREA, I kinda like that they are used in just the normal day to day bits of the relationship showing intimacy.
Normally whenever you get nudity, especially in films, it's the big coming together (yes, I chose my words carefully) of the breeding pair; "It's you... It's always been you.".
This is a refreshing change and is used as simple character stuff.
In terms of this specific couple the bathroom nudity has a particular significance - the whole relationship started with the rather excruciating clothed-Bulliet and naked-and-possessed-Birdy episode. To see them now so casual and relaxed together is great (if deeply ominous).
That too.
Loved the cover- why can't we have David Millgate back on Sinister Dexter, eh Tharg?
Dredd is a good one, but Grey Area is the stand-out Thrill at the moment. Abnett's dialogue is pleasing to the ear and I genuinely care about the characters. This is the best "new" strip of the past few years. How long's it been going now?
Mechastopheles is okay. I'm not 100% sold, but it's not unwelcome.
Survival Geeks has finally found a story I like, so whereas I've hated it with a passion over the past arcs, this one is pushing the correct buttons. More like this, please.
The Order outstayed it's welcome many weeks ago.
Looking forward to the new line-up in 2100, though sad that Grey Area is disappearing for a few months.
SBT