Got the post today - only read finale of the Torture Garden before i go myself to the garden centre. (See what I did there?). Stunning wraparound cover by Percival. His covers and art on this series has been spectacular each month and this is a great end to the series. A very thoughtful end too. Love this take on the bad boys of Dredd's universe and think they work much better removed from the world of Dredd . Can't wait to see where these two creators, Percival and Hine (hopefully!) take them next. Right! time to buy some top soil and then onto Lawless. To be continued.... ;)
(https://i.imgur.com/lwsTtt0.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/J16Cq5w.jpg)
Better quality pic!(https://www.previewsworld.com/SiteImage/CatalogImage/STL119305?type=1)
Interesting what the great John Wagner & Tharg (Mr Smith) have to say about the potential return of Stronty Dog...
I like the fact that Simon Colby & Colin McNeil are being mooted to maybe continue the new Spector series in the Sci-Fi special, which may or may not be a good omen for Johnny Alpha and chums to continue... :thumbsup:
Torture Garden has been phenomenal. I'm going to find time to re-read Dominion and TG in one sitting.
Well as is the way of things round 'ere, while the prog soars mightily over head Icarus style, the Meg slumps in the doldrums like some drifting derelict.
Dredd is a wordy but amiable drawing to getting of half a dozen story lines, with the continuation of Tharg's great ape obsession...
Lawless spoils the last six months by [spoiler]confirming Bobby did step out of the shower [/spoiler]
Diamond Dogs feels a bit more diamanté I love an Easter egg but these seem a bit forced...but lets give it a chance to breath,
The Returners do what it says on the tin, nothing feeling fresh here,
The Stab Four: at last! finally the sexy ostriches of space are finally deadified... or are they woooooo :rolleyes:
Sorry to sound off, but its really not doing it for me
Lawless worked for me. Sure, they could have basically destroyed everything and left it as old-woman Lawson gets shot by the SJS for being a pain in the arse. But for me the timey-wimey get-out worked nicely, and it's not like a reset. Things have changed. But, frankly, getting more of that strip beats getting no more of it regardless.
True, maybe its just my time o the month, but I do like a bleak ending, or a ending that surprises, astounds or ends...to be contd?
Quote from: Proudhuff on 18 June, 2019, 03:29:11 PM
The Stab Four: at last! finally the sexy ostriches of space are finally deadified... or are they woooooo :rolleyes:
I must have missed something. What the f**k is a sexy ostrich when it's at home...?
Quote from: Nick Percival on 18 June, 2019, 10:07:00 PM
Quote from: Proudhuff on 18 June, 2019, 03:29:11 PM
The Stab Four: at last! finally the sexy ostriches of space are finally deadified... or are they woooooo :rolleyes:
I must have missed something. What the f**k is a sexy ostrich when it's at home...?
I presume it's a very droll reference to American Reaper, from Pat Mills, which ran in The Meg a while back!
Can't say I get the connection either! :rolleyes:
Quote from: Nick Percival on 18 June, 2019, 10:07:00 PM
I must have missed something. What the f**k is a sexy ostrich when it's at home...?
Fay Dalton's (fantastic) cover for Meg 371 (http://www.2000ad.org/?zone=prog&page=megprofiles&choice=321) has come to symbolize, for
Huff, everything he feels is testing his patience. He's lost interest in the Dark Judges in general, rather than having a problem with specific stories.
Ah, right. That's...er...totally clear now.
I felt the end of Dominion was a bit of a cop-out. Aren't all the Dark Judges now floating about (some on the planet, Death in space)?
Again.
This is the third or fourth time they've been left - literally - hanging about.
Quote from: The Enigmatic Dr X on 19 June, 2019, 08:10:18 AM
I felt the end of Dominion was a bit of a cop-out. Aren't all the Dark Judges now floating about (some on the planet, Death in space)?
Again.
This is the third or fourth time they've been left - literally - hanging about.
Don't know if it's that many times. At the end of Dominion, Death, Fire & Mortis were still on the planet having killed nearly all the inhabitants, which led directly into the start of The Torture Garden. The end of Torture Garden (yes, involves some space floating!), does set up the next epic, however...
Personally I couldn't imagine a more fitting punishment for Judge Death than trapping him in a box with only a collection of life-affirming poetry for company, all delivered in a seriously beautiful final page! A staggeringly well-earned story beat from messers Hine & Percival. Am curious to see if any of it will seep into Death's philosophy going forward...
Thanks - glad you liked it!
Quote from: Nick Percival on 19 June, 2019, 01:14:25 PM
Quote from: Doc X on 19 June, 2019, 01:14:25 PM
This is the third or fourth time they've been left - literally - hanging about.
Don't know if it's that many times. At the end of Dominion, Death, Fire & Mortis were still on the planet having killed nearly all the inhabitants, which led directly into the start of The Torture Garden. The end of Torture Garden (yes, involves some space floating!), does set up the next epic, however...
I think the
Doc's also referring to the end of Dark Justice (https://i.imgur.com/lmFtaIj.png) and Anderson's debut solo adventure, when Cliff Robinson and TB Grover cast 2many4Js into the endless limbo between dimensions '
forever', which turned out to be an overly optimistic assessment of the situation.
(https://i.imgur.com/EXKi1Fm.png?2)
It's just a symptom of the existential threat posed by the nature of the characters; creators have to find some reason why they don't just come back five minutes later and start killing everyone all over again.
@ Nick Percival, I found your depiction of the Dark Judges excellent. Hopefully we can see you work return soon in the Meg :thumbsup:
A very good Meg this month, covered with a great wrap-around cover
Dredd – Excellent start to a new Dredd story. I must admit that when I first saw Lynch art, I did not like it but his style has won me over.
Lawless – Another excellent story coming to an end (but it will be back). The whole story worked for me and I like the way that Abnett used the concept of "time-travel" where Lawson did not go to the future but rather experience a choice she could make.
Diamond Dogs – It is to early to judge but the story has a good start and looks interesting.
The Returners – I enjoyed the first series so hopefully this one will life up to the standard that was set. I do like the art on this one as well.
Dark Judges – This was an excellent series with awesome art from Pervical. As we all know you can never keep the Dark Ones at bay.
Quote from: Frank on 19 June, 2019, 01:34:03 PM
Quote from: Nick Percival on 19 June, 2019, 01:14:25 PM
Quote from: Doc X on 19 June, 2019, 01:14:25 PM
This is the third or fourth time they've been left - literally - hanging about.
Don't know if it's that many times. At the end of Dominion, Death, Fire & Mortis were still on the planet having killed nearly all the inhabitants, which led directly into the start of The Torture Garden. The end of Torture Garden (yes, involves some space floating!), does set up the next epic, however...
I think the Doc's also referring to the end of Dark Justice (https://i.imgur.com/lmFtaIj.png) and Anderson's debut solo adventure, when Cliff Robinson and TB Grover cast 2many4Js into the endless limbo between dimensions 'forever', which turned out to be an overly optimistic assessment of the situation.
(https://i.imgur.com/EXKi1Fm.png?2)
It's just a symptom of the existential threat posed by the nature of the characters; creators have to find some reason why they don't just come back five minutes later and start killing everyone all over again.
Yup:
Cast into space at the end of the Anderson one (before Necropolis)
Then Death was cast into hell
Then cast into space
Then cast into space again.
The art was tops though, Nick!
Quote from: The Enigmatic Dr X on 19 June, 2019, 04:44:16 PM
Quote from: Frank on 19 June, 2019, 01:34:03 PM
Quote from: Nick Percival on 19 June, 2019, 01:14:25 PM
Quote from: Doc X on 19 June, 2019, 01:14:25 PM
This is the third or fourth time they've been left - literally - hanging about.
Don't know if it's that many times. At the end of Dominion, Death, Fire & Mortis were still on the planet having killed nearly all the inhabitants, which led directly into the start of The Torture Garden. The end of Torture Garden (yes, involves some space floating!), does set up the next epic, however...
I think the Doc's also referring to the end of Dark Justice (https://i.imgur.com/lmFtaIj.png) and Anderson's debut solo adventure, when Cliff Robinson and TB Grover cast 2many4Js into the endless limbo between dimensions 'forever', which turned out to be an overly optimistic assessment of the situation.
(https://i.imgur.com/EXKi1Fm.png?2)
It's just a symptom of the existential threat posed by the nature of the characters; creators have to find some reason why they don't just come back five minutes later and start killing everyone all over again.
Yup:
Cast into space at the end of the Anderson one (before Necropolis)
Then Death was cast into hell
Then cast into space
Then cast into space again.
The art was tops though, Nick!
Ha! It's OK - not fishing for compliments - just showing up my lack of Dark Judges story knowledge! Thanks for the kind words and for folks that enjoyed the series (can't please everyone, I know) - Back on Dredd in the Prog for bit and then, something ssssinisster....
QuoteBack on Dredd in the Prog for bit
Excellent news!
Like the Dredd in this month's Meg!
Dredd's on a mission and the story seems like it may even involve Dredd in an actively successful role. He's not (yet) been out-smarted or beaten up and we've seen Justice 4 (I think for the first time).
Lawless is always a treat. The middle two stories, ho-hum...
Glad to see the back of the dark judges, I wish they really would be killed off but I doubt it. Hope to see Percival's art back soon though.
Good Meg, just not the great Meg I was hoping for. To start off with though the two endings landed brilliantly.
I thought Lawless was pitch perfect. After the BIG events of the last couple of stories the switch in tone set up here is glorious and just what the strip might need. Of course Lawson haunted by here reflection suggestions all is not well, but the prospect of fresh stories to come is just brilliantly teased. One of my favourite thrills not just of recent years but ever and it just doesn't seem to let up on the quality.
Torture Garden has lost some of its edge from the early episodes. Mainly do to the Dark Judges being a look too up close and personal and I enjoyed it more when they were monster in the shadows. That said I thought this ending was great. well hard Judge Ogrons bizarre stand off aside. Casting them into space is about all you can do with the Dark Judges these days and while I wonder if they can sustain their potency in future story this (and Deadworld) have got me engaged with these characters in a way I haven't for years.
The rest is a little disappointing, which isn't to say bad, just not as good as the line-up made it look. Thought Diamond Dogs sounded like it had real potential but it felt a flat and I'm not bought in yet. Still early days and Warren Pleece boys any thrill.
Same with the new Dredd I mean that lineup have been doing great work of late. This story was just so set up it was untrue. It didn't try to disguise it and as such again felt flat and was weighty. Still we're past that now and so we'll see how it develops.
I really enjoyed the first Returners story. This one however hmmm it read like a completely different strip. Our reluctant protagonists forced against their will to serve on a mission. Bit cliche if I'm honest. Still again early days and the fact I enjoyed so much about the first series means I have high hopes this will get past this.
Decent text pieces and Mind Wars was better in my head then in reality alas.
While this wasn't the Meg I was looking for the three new strips still have plenty of potential to give me new hope.
I enjoyed this month's Meg a great deal, but I have to say that if Mike White did draw that episode of Mind Wars that's credited to him, it's a genius-level imitation of Redondo's style. My suspicion is that it's maybe an art assist of some kind on his part, and a mistake in the original credits...
Quote from: Jim_Campbell on 21 June, 2019, 10:11:40 AM
I enjoyed this month's Meg a great deal, but I have to say that if Mike White did draw that episode of Mind Wars that's credited to him, it's a genius-level imitation of Redondo's style. My suspicion is that it's maybe an art assist of some kind on his part, and a mistake in the original credits...
My thoughts exactly
Thirded - at least it gave me an excuse to pore over that beautiful Redondo art looking for tell tale signs - if it WAS an art assist, it was pretty seamless - the Gibson pages stand out a mile to me, and Gibson's tyle isnt a hundred miles off Redondo's - certainly closer than Whites is to Redondo I would say - Did Mike White have art in that issue elsewhere?
Quote from: Jim_Campbell on 21 June, 2019, 10:11:40 AM
I enjoyed this month's Meg a great deal, but I have to say that if Mike White did draw that episode of Mind Wars that's credited to him, it's a genius-level imitation of Redondo's style. My suspicion is that it's maybe an art assist of some kind on his part, and a mistake in the original credits...
Quote from: Jim_Campbell on 21 June, 2019, 10:11:40 AM
I enjoyed this month's Meg a great deal, but I have to say that if Mike White did draw that episode of Mind Wars that's credited to him, it's a genius-level imitation of Redondo's style. My suspicion is that it's maybe an art assist of some kind on his part, and a mistake in the original credits...
Aye, maybe, but that wouldn't make White's contribution Redondont...
...I'll see meself out
Quote from: Jim_Campbell on 21 June, 2019, 10:11:40 AM
I enjoyed this month's Meg a great deal, but I have to say that if Mike White did draw that episode of Mind Wars that's credited to him, it's a genius-level imitation of Redondo's style. My suspicion is that it's maybe an art assist of some kind on his part, and a mistake in the original credits...
They're maybe the credits for Alan Hebden's other story in Star Lord, Holocaust. Its last two episodes go entirely uncredited as it's all got a bit confusing and jumbled over there - the first two pages are in colour and by someone else, but Mike White seems to be doing at least part of it (I get the distinct impression that at least the last two epsiodes of Holocaust are several episodes that have been jammed together in order to end the story quickly).
Incidentally, the conclusion to Mind Wars is in the 1981 Star Lord Annual.
Just finished the second part of Mind Wars, the story itself is quite generic but still enjoyable. The highlight is the art of Redondo.
The Mind Wars one-off in the annual wasn't by Alan Hebden, isn't very good, and isn't worth tracking down. I've always thought of the last episode of Mind Wars as the one we've all just read.
Quote from: Richard on 22 June, 2019, 10:33:21 AM
The Mind Wars one-off in the annual wasn't by Alan Hebden, isn't very good, and isn't worth tracking down. I've always thought of the last episode of Mind Wars as the one we've all just read.
Well, the artist seems to be having fun, at least.
Although I'm pretty sure that wearing a shirt that tight would give Ardeni a really terrible migraine.
Which
would explain why she's looking so grumpy...
So on a Thrillcast a while back James Peaty was trailing Diamond Dogs, suggesting it was going to take a look at at different side of Brit Cit. And yes, while technically we haven't seen the future Isle of Dogs before (and it does look v. cool under Warren Pleece's pens), I'm a bit unclear what's different about having grumpy senior Judge Armitage and spunky rookie Judge Treasure Steel being our protagonists.
Sorry, I've already forgotten those characters' real names.
Obviously not fair to pass judgement after just the opening episode, but I do hope this strays a lot further from UK crime movie whatnot.
Quote from: Frank on 18 June, 2019, 10:30:29 PM
Quote from: Nick Percival on 18 June, 2019, 10:07:00 PM
I must have missed something. What the f**k is a sexy ostrich when it's at home...?
Fay Dalton's (fantastic) cover for Meg 371 (http://www.2000ad.org/?zone=prog&page=megprofiles&choice=321) has come to symbolize, for Huff, everything he feels is testing his patience. He's lost interest in the Dark Judges in general, rather than having a problem with specific stories.
Thanks Frank nicely put, and appolies to Nick, Its not you its me. :-[
In Huff's version of reality, D'eath is still in Anderson encased in BONG
C, I know I'm a divv, but I have all the issues other have with these characters (how can you kill what does not live?) and then some...
again its not you its me :wave:
No worries, sir!