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Spoilers => Prog => Topic started by: NapalmKev on 15 June, 2019, 01:05:01 PM

Title: Prog 2136 - Last Chance To Shine!
Post by: NapalmKev on 15 June, 2019, 01:05:01 PM
Cover by Tiernen Trevallion.

Thrill of the future - Feral & Foe by Dan Abnett and Richard Elson.

Dredd - The Samaritan, part 1 starts well and even though Chinface only appears in one panel it is a sight to behold.

Scarlet Traces - Homefront, Part 10 has some excellent use of colour with it's various shades of purple against the stark black and greys of Space and the Moon respectively. Great writing, too. This series begs for a hardback collection.

Thistlebone - Part 2: A very talky episode (in a good way) giving a bit more background to the Cult. I like the slow burn aspect of this and the artwork is stunning! Again, Hardback please!

Absalom - Terminal Diagnosis, Book 2, Part 1 which weighs in at a meaty 10 pages. And why not? Action heavy and the loss of Clockwork Kojak sees the team fragmented and pretty beaten. Glad to see the return of the series and if it's to be the last I'm going to start banging on about Hardback collections again.

There is a letters page.

Great Prog!

Cheers
Title: Re: Prog 2136 - Last Chance To Shine!
Post by: Richard on 15 June, 2019, 01:50:08 PM
I've only had time to read Dredd so far, but that is a hell of an opening episode. More from the Kenny droid please.
Title: Re: Prog 2136 - Last Chance To Shine!
Post by: Frank on 15 June, 2019, 03:30:13 PM
Quote from: Richard on 15 June, 2019, 01:50:08 PM
I've only had time to read Dredd so far, but that is a hell of an opening episode. More from the Kenny droid please.

Niemand?


Title: Re: Prog 2136 - Last Chance To Shine!
Post by: broodblik on 15 June, 2019, 04:11:07 PM
Quote from: Frank on 15 June, 2019, 03:30:13 PM
Quote from: Richard on 15 June, 2019, 01:50:08 PM
I've only had time to read Dredd so far, but that is a hell of an opening episode. More from the Kenny droid please.

Niemand?

From Staz Johnson's twitter "it contains the first episode of the Dredd story 'The Samaritan' by Kenneth Niemand, Chris Blythe & yours truly."
Title: Re: Prog 2136 - Last Chance To Shine!
Post by: Leigh S on 15 June, 2019, 04:15:33 PM
Yeah, Niemand does it again with this opener - fab stuff
Title: Re: Prog 2136 - Last Chance To Shine!
Post by: Eamonn Clarke on 15 June, 2019, 04:35:58 PM
(https://i.imgur.com/Mh6eCc5.jpg)
Title: Re: Prog 2136 - Last Chance To Shine!
Post by: Colin YNWA on 15 June, 2019, 09:16:20 PM
Quote from: Leigh S on 15 June, 2019, 04:15:33 PM
Yeah, Niemand does it again with this opener - fab stuff

Doesn't he just.

Grand Prog if a four thrill bill. At least we get another delightful double.

But lets get back to Kenneth who produces a brilliant Dredd, just brilliant. Really nice set up epsiode and then bang that ending. Glorious art by Staz Johnson too.

Scarlet Traces switches back to The Moon but doesn't switch to being anything less than superb. While Thistlebone may down size to five pages but doubles double on the atmophere and thrillpower. This has the making of a classic about it already. Lets see how it holds up.

Loved the opening to Absalom and action packed rest doesn't quite hold up to the its suitably chaotic and bursts this thrill back by raising the stakes and setting the scene.

A great Prog also serves up some great news as we get a 'Thrills of the Future' for Dabnett and Elson returning to us with 'Feral and Foe' ... this could be more from the world of Kingdom with that title right? Right? And we get the news we will be getting a fullseries of Full Tilt Boogle so ya know that's some great news too!
Title: Re: Prog 2136 - Last Chance To Shine!
Post by: Proudhuff on 16 June, 2019, 12:55:07 PM
Not a missstep anywhere in this prog, all art and story telling at their best and there's even good news in Damage Report :)
The Niemand droid knocking it out the park again and Starz art shifts up a gear, loving his Megscapes.
Sadly the letter of the week may become a regular spot given the demographics of prog readers...

Yes to European style hard backs to all of these stories.
Title: Re: Prog 2136 - Last Chance To Shine!
Post by: Link Prime on 16 June, 2019, 02:04:26 PM
Someone PM me the identity of Kenneth Niemand ffs.
Title: Re: Prog 2136 - Last Chance To Shine!
Post by: TordelBack on 17 June, 2019, 03:49:51 AM
Quote from: Link Prime on 16 June, 2019, 02:04:26 PM
Someone PM me the identity of Kenneth Niemand ffs.

And me! (If it pleases your lordships).
Title: Re: Prog 2136 - Last Chance To Shine!
Post by: Magnetica on 17 June, 2019, 02:57:12 PM
Kenn(eth)y Who?
Title: Re: Prog 2136 - Last Chance To Shine!
Post by: Magnetica on 17 June, 2019, 08:01:12 PM
Read the Prog on the tube in the way home, and what a good one it was too.

What was shaping up to be a good Dredd was raised to another level by that last page. I usually think single panel pages are a waste, but this time it was worth it.

Scarlet Traces continues to do its thing. Which is to say, entertain and slightly confuse at the same time, but it's nothing that a complete re-read once complete won't solve.

Thistlebone - instant classic.

The thing about Absalom is how come we have had to wait so long for this? It is telling that it is set in 2017. Which is fine, it just would have been good to have had it a couple of years ago.
Title: Re: Prog 2136 - Last Chance To Shine!
Post by: Proudhuff on 18 June, 2019, 03:12:37 PM
Quote from: TordelBack on 17 June, 2019, 03:49:51 AM
Quote from: Link Prime on 16 June, 2019, 02:04:26 PM
Someone PM me the identity of Kenneth Niemand ffs.

And me! (If it pleases your lordships).

add me to that list ya bunch of ()*&&*()^%^$%£
Title: Re: Prog 2136 - Last Chance To Shine!
Post by: Colin YNWA on 18 June, 2019, 09:20:47 PM
I think I've said it before but that won't stop me, but I really hope there's not some poor f**kin' super talented writer sat at home reading this say...

"What is it with those gits. Why do they keep asking who I am... Mum why did you call me Kenneth and do you think Dad will be pissed if I change my surname to Trout or something, Neimand just isn't working for me..."
Title: Re: Prog 2136 - Last Chance To Shine!
Post by: broodblik on 19 June, 2019, 03:15:35 AM
A very good prog again.....

Dredd – Great Dredd story by the Niemand droid. Staz provides us with some great visuals especially the last page.

Thistlebone – The story continues to intrigue, and this can become one of those instant classic thrills.

Scarlet Traces – Now we move scenery and actors again as the story settles on the moon. The story is still brilliant, as we all must keep track of who and where.

Absalom – Another ten-pager with a full action introduction. As we start gasping for air the premise is set for the rest of series. Great to see the series return knowing that this is the last.

Title: Re: Prog 2136 - Last Chance To Shine!
Post by: CalHab on 19 June, 2019, 07:54:56 AM
Absolutely textbook use of the format in Dredd. Can't wait for next week.
Title: Re: Prog 2136 - Last Chance To Shine!
Post by: Timothy on 19 June, 2019, 09:42:33 AM
[spoiler]I'm sure I recall a Wagner interview in which he suggested that were Dredd to die it wouldn't be at the hand of a big villain but in an everyday stupid back-street shootout. Of course he's not dead, but if he were it'd be a good way to go.[/spoiler]
Title: Re: Prog 2136 - Last Chance To Shine!
Post by: Frank on 19 June, 2019, 01:42:19 PM

(https://i.imgur.com/cmA4g7D.png?3)


Frank's disease is a condition of the arse.


Title: Re: Prog 2136 - Last Chance To Shine!
Post by: Leigh S on 19 June, 2019, 07:33:05 PM
I'm taking it there are good reasons for Neimand pseudonym and leaving it at that, but it would be somewhat hilarious (though I'm not suggesting this is likely in even a fraction!) if it was Wagner using a pseudonym to show the forum moaners who look for Wagner's name and complain about the story no matter what on the basis it isn't Wagner - obviously that would have backfired somewhat!

Though the reference to a "deluded" conspiracy around the Apocalypse War in the Megazine Dyer story did read like a writer ignoring what others were doing (specifically Smiley's confession over in the progs)!

Quote from: Magnetica on 17 June, 2019, 02:57:12 PM
Kenn(eth)y Who?
Title: Re: Prog 2136 - Last Chance To Shine!
Post by: Colin YNWA on 19 June, 2019, 08:53:45 PM
Quote from: Leigh S on 19 June, 2019, 07:33:05 PM
I'm taking it there are good reasons for Neimand pseudonym and leaving it at that, but it would be somewhat hilarious (though I'm not suggesting this is likely in even a fraction!) if it was Wagner using a pseudonym to show the forum moaners who look for Wagner's name and complain about the story no matter what on the basis it isn't Wagner - obviously that would have backfired somewhat!

Funnily enough that crossed my mind - as you say probably poppycock but wouldn't it be hilarious.
Title: Re: Prog 2136 - Last Chance To Shine!
Post by: BPP on 19 June, 2019, 09:49:40 PM
2000ad is on fire atm.
The Meg has been storming it since Meg 400

Halcyon days my friends.
Title: Re: Prog 2136 - Last Chance To Shine!
Post by: norton canes on 20 June, 2019, 09:49:28 AM
About as perfect as a prog gets. 'The Samaritan' nails exactly why I read Dredd. Scarlet Traces has blossomed into something glorious. Absalom is ab-solutely sublime, as ever. And I know I was a bit harsh on Thistlebone last week; well, I reckon this instalment would've made a much better introduction, since it hints at the evil at work rather than going straight in with a big reveal.

All this and a double whammy of good news: a full series of Full Tilt Boogie, and a new series from Abnett and Elson, doubtlessly to keep them ticking over until the next chapter of Kingdom. 
Title: Re: Prog 2136 - Last Chance To Shine!
Post by: SmallBlueThing(Reborn) on 20 June, 2019, 12:33:49 PM
Well if that wasn't a corker of a prog, I don't know what is. Every page was riveting, and that's even with reading it at close to 2am after the most stressful day I can remember in years. If I had to choose a favourite strip it'd be Scarlet Traces, simply because I haven't seen a comic strip that looked that beautiful- and dragged me from panel to panel so effectively for a long time. Oh my god those colours!
But everything was top notch. That last page of Dredd!  Thistlebone! Hazzer back with a kentic opener! A cover featuring an old man on a deckchair! Haha! Letters!
Perfect prog.
And next week... oh bugger it's another Anderson strip. Arse.
Still, four out of five will always be good in my book.
SBT
Title: Re: Prog 2136 - Last Chance To Shine!
Post by: Proudhuff on 20 June, 2019, 06:02:42 PM
SBT that is an excellent cover isn't it? one I'll be voting for come xmas....
Title: Re: Prog 2136 - Last Chance To Shine!
Post by: sheridan on 21 June, 2019, 10:37:30 PM
Quote from: Frank on 15 June, 2019, 03:30:13 PM
Quote from: Richard on 15 June, 2019, 01:50:08 PM
I've only had time to read Dredd so far, but that is a hell of an opening episode. More from the Kenny droid please.

Niemand?


Who?  ;-)
Title: Re: Prog 2136 - Last Chance To Shine!
Post by: sheridan on 22 June, 2019, 02:16:43 AM
Quote from: sheridan on 21 June, 2019, 10:37:30 PM
Quote from: Frank on 15 June, 2019, 03:30:13 PM
Quote from: Richard on 15 June, 2019, 01:50:08 PM
I've only had time to read Dredd so far, but that is a hell of an opening episode. More from the Kenny droid please.

Niemand?


Who?  ;-)

I see others beat me to it!
Title: Re: Prog 2136 - Last Chance To Shine!
Post by: Trout on 22 June, 2019, 03:11:39 AM
Every panel on every page of this comic is excellent. I loved it all.

The dialogue in Absalom is particularly good.

- Trout
Title: Re: Prog 2136 - Last Chance To Shine!
Post by: Tiplodocus on 23 June, 2019, 11:54:25 AM
Top proggage is much appreciated here in the Tips household.

Scarlet Traces has really wowed me on this run. That DREDD final page also full of shock and awe. Thislebone alsoo great. But best of all is Absalom. Perfect combination of art and script.
Title: Re: Prog 2136 - Last Chance To Shine!
Post by: TordelBack on 05 July, 2019, 05:34:28 PM
Slowly returning to the sourland of the half-dead after a fortnight cavorting naked in the forests of Gaul and generally slapping my dwarf about, and am now greedily catching up on my proginches and threadacres. I didn't think it too many (because I somehow managed to miss 2137).

Many thanks to those curtain-twitchers who passed on the scéal on Mr. Niemand, it was as I suspected but somehow still an extremely pleasant surprise! I'm not sure any revelation would have given me as much pleasure, other than some newly-minted robotic prodigy bursting fully-formed from the Rosette of Sirius.

And what a Dredd the quasi-anonymous one gives us this time, even after a superficially similarly-themed story the last few weeks. Not often those final-page splash reveals (beloved of the Carroll droid) land with such a dramatic thud!  Johnson doing some excellent character work here too, very nice.

Thistlebone marries rather stilted dialogue to glorious art and comes out on top.  Still intriguing, but needs to do a bit more than expositional conversation to keep it that way.

Scarlet Traces summarises its longer-term plot for the second time in several weeks, but as with Thistlebone when things look this good it's no chore to read.  Ahron, I love you, but we only have two more episodes to save the Earth!

Absalom finds Rennie already despatching his characters with characteristic abandon.  In media res never started this well.
Title: Re: Prog 2136 - Last Chance To Shine!
Post by: Dandontdare on 06 July, 2019, 01:16:09 AM
anyone confused by the hypocrisy of "publcly in that post - i;m a drunk  doofus and it should've been a PM to Tords
Title: Re: Prog 2136 - Last Chance To Shine!
Post by: Fungus on 06 July, 2019, 02:46:15 AM
Wise words as ever, TB. Be aware that slapping your dwarf about need not involve such extensive travelling in future.

Anyroad: with you on Thistlebone and Scarlet Traces. Lovely to gawp at but there's little story-wise to thrill the circuits. There are cliches aplenty.

Title: Re: Prog 2136 - Last Chance To Shine!
Post by: Frank on 06 July, 2019, 06:25:30 AM
Quote from: Dandontdare on 06 July, 2019, 01:16:09 AM
Quote from: TordelBack on 05 July, 2019, 05:34:28 PM
Niemand

anyone confused by the hypocrisy of "publcly' in that post - i;m a drunk  doofus and it should've been a PM to Tords

If that doesn't give the game away, I'm not sure what will.


Don't blame the booze, Dan - even the non-rat-arsed among us have to check two or three times before sending a PM that we're not posting our links to guinea pig porn on the Prog Review thread or CCing Eammon Clarke into our bitchy denunciations of Eammon Clarke
Title: Re: Prog 2136 - Last Chance To Shine!
Post by: DrJomster on 12 July, 2019, 10:10:18 PM
The great prog catch up continues. And what a lovely prog that was. Just excellent! Gorgeous cover too.

Praise be to Tharg, my friends, praise be to Tharg.
Title: Re: Prog 2136 - Last Chance To Shine!
Post by: Funt Solo on 06 May, 2021, 05:47:56 PM
(https://i.imgur.com/PoLlQiS.png)

*applause*

(Still on my catch-up read after a bit of a break to recharge my thrill-buffers.)