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So the Meg got another make-over.

When I first subscribed to the Meg and the Prog in 2001 - my first issue was Vol.3 No. 77 -, it still had the old, larger format, which benefitted the art, but the page count was much less, also there were no articles. Then came Vol.4 with 100 pages a few month later, still no articles at first, but more stories. As a newcomer I liked the reprints. When David Bishop's Thrill-Power Overload started, it was as interesting as it was helpful for the decision what to buy of the classics.

22 years are a lot of Megs. I started at 11.45 for both the Meg and the Prog a month for Europe, at the moment it is 25.50. (No complaint, just a fact.) There were good times, there were bland times and there were tiring times as a reader. Which is to be expected.

But the last few years I often thought about cancelling the Meg. Without Lawson, the odd Dredd and some interviews or articles I guess I would have. Too many series I either didn't like the story or the art. Or both. The monthly format can be difficult for long stories, and nearly a year of this or that can be endless if you don't like it. I often questioned the wisdom of running these stories in the Meg.

Dredd was also a mixed bag. Basically it is standing still, looking too much backwards instead of going forward. But this has nothing to do with the Meg and may be a better topic for the Prog. The most enjoyable Meg of last year was the zombie edition (and I can't believe I write this). It was nonsense, of course, but it knew it and still – or because of it - everybody had fun. And this translated on most pages.

We will see how long the new format will be. Back then it didn't last long. 18 months.

[Cover]

I am a few weeks behind, but it is a good jumping on point.

Cover: I didn't mind it at all. There were a lot better for sure, but also a lot which are mediocre or downright dull.

Dredd: Masterful. Wagner can say something meaningful in five words where others need five pages. His work is still the highlight for me. I am basically of the opinion that Dredd has gone too stale and mostly by the numbers. Of course one could argue that the foundation of the series is rich enough to mine it a few years longer, so it doesn't need innovation. And stories like "Machine Law" prove this of course right, where a staple of SF and of Dredd manages to transform itself into a intriguing concept. But after too many dull court intrigues  in Judge administration and lukewarm one-offs I kind of lost interest. Too often I just skim the story and enjoy the art if possible. The one pleasant surprise in 2019 was the work of Ken Niemand.

Now Hershey's death was wonderfully written and drawn. A touching and memorable scene. She was so long a cornerstone of the Dreddverse and will be missed. (And I dearly hope that she won't be resurrected.) I like it how MacNeil manages to make the Judges sinister in just a couple of panels. And it is nice that Beeny is featured again.

Hope: I wasn't a big fan of Hope, but didn't dislike it either. I just have a hazy recollection of some nice visuals and the end being not very well realized.  As an opener this is a bit underwhelming, and in a historical series with the background WWII nobody should say "Hippy". This is just a needless anachronism which kills the atmosphere. For me, at least. Broxton's art is still very well done. I would have said Clark Gable, but there is a lot of John Wayne in Modi.

Brink: Abnett is very much hit or miss for me. I love his novels, I adore Lawson and things like Kingdom, while I mostly skip Sin/Dex or Grey Area. Brink grew on me. Abnett always tries to give little things a twist, and while I normally used to roll my eyes on the blacking out of swear words in the series, here I thought it funny for the first time. A good opener for readers who know the earlier parts, but I can see why new readers will have problems getting into it. Culbard's art is as good as ever. I hope Tunde Weyowa stays as a protagonist. Abnett can be good with everyman heroes.

Future Shocks: Not my cup of tea. I thought the art in parts confusing and the twist not very well done.

Anderson: A weak (and too long) story with some weak art. Grant can do better than this.

Defoe: I mostly skip Pat Mills' work these days. Defoe is the one exception. While the politics were as usual as subtle as a sledgehammer, at least the topic of the Levellers was original. At least for someone abroad. And I loved Gallagher's artwork. So this transition is hard for me. This is of course a matter of personal taste, and of course is the interpretation of different artists for the same characters one of the strength of 2000AD. But the artist change in Aguila for instance pretty much ended my interest in the series. And judging from the first part I am not convinced it works here either.

Sinister/Dexter: Like I already wrote, this is not for me. I don't care for the characters or the story. Yeowell sure does a good job of what is just talking heads, still I can't work up any interest for this.

The Fall of Deadworld: I am not a fan of the whole Judge Death universe. I also managed to confuse this first part with The Dark Judges in the Megazine before looking it up. So I am rather indifferent about this. Like so many other of these "fill in the blanks" series readers know the ultimate outcome, so it is a bit hard to care.

Cover: Simply marvelous.

Dredd: Seems to be some time that a Dredd story had that kind of bite. After Wagner Williams is currently the Dredd writer I like most  by a large margin. Still, the ending was a bit mystifying. Did Pin - is this really a woman? - really killed over 100 Judges? Then he/she beat PJ Maybe's score  The Weston art is wonderful. I am always baffled by the difference between Weston in color and in black and white.

Brink: Nicely done. Brink grows on me. At first I thought this a bit too The Expanse to like it, but now I am looking forward to it.

Defoe: Different artists, different visions. Always one of the strength of the Prog. But I just can't get into McNeil's version of Defoe. It has become a very different series.  Mill's is never subtle, but this seems to be a bit broad even for him  Still, I wonder who the editors were in real life. 

Grey Area: This on the other hand is an Abnett series I never could get into. Still can't.

Hunted:Furies: I am not convinced that the Rogue Trooper universe can support so many new aditions, especially the Traitor General. As the character is kind of untouchable, these tales about him lack some impact. It took some time to get warm with Jaegir, but its grimness  did work for me at the end. Maybe it is the art, but this seems to be much lighter.

[Cover]

Cover: Wonderful. 2000AD seems to have become the last bastion of good cover-art.

Dredd: I liked the art. I am not sold on the story yet, and frankly I have forgotten who "Sin" is. But it is a welcome change to the dull and endless "Judges vs Judges".

Counterfeit Girl: I am not a fan of Milligan. Normally I like the artist, but the similarity of the character design to Marvel's mutant Domino feels a bit strange and unneccesary.

Flesh: I just can't get into Mills, especially not in ABC Warriors and Flesh. Or Slaine. So this will be a few weeks of looking at the nice art only.

Hunted: I read the old Rogue Trooper collections, the classics only before the revamps, which all seemed to be a bit pointless, so I know the basics. But here I absolutly can't remember what happened before. On the other hand, it is Rogue hunting the Traitor General. Not so complicated  So, well. Even if I don't like Holden's art much, it can be a nice story.

Savage: Another one where the story lost me a long time ago. But the b/w art is nice.

What a great cover.

Dredd: A very well done fun first part. Even if blowing Dredd away has become kind of running gag lately. Still, can't wait to read the next part.

Realm of the Damned: The magic armour does the trick? Hm. If they hadn't made Balaur so absurdly invincible it would have been more plausible, I think. Still, the ending was genuinly funny.

TPO: This was entertaining. On the history of 2000AD I have read the book, seen the DVD, and this era I have witnessed as a reader myself, so this is interesting. I have to confess that I already forgot a lot of the covered series. Or don't want to remember  

Blunt: I am not sure I could follow who lived or who died, but I want to know how it will end.

Lawless: Best thing in the Meg in ages. A part of 2000AD's appeal is the diversity of artists interpretion. But Winslade has made this so much his creation that I can't imagine other artists on this. I truly hope he will continue Lawless.

Cover: Nice one

Dredd: This was a bit underwhelming. It had all the ingredients of a nice one episode story, a crazy new invention, the [spoiler]Wrinkly Pride Parade[/spoiler], and still it all was a bit ho-hum. The ending was weak.

Jaegir: When this began a few years ago, I didn't like it much. But it has grown on me, and I liked Warchild a lot. Just the right length, the art not too dark, so you could follow it,  and very well written.

Scarlett Traces: Edginton tends to loose me in later installments of his series. And frankly I can't remember much about the earlier STs. But this was well done. I liked how he took such a stock character like Iykaris and made him a bit more. Also thought this the best D'Israeli art in some time.

Outlier: I lost the plot somewhere in the second series and had no clue who was who when Survivor Guilt began. Strangely it hooked me and I began to read this with growing interest. There were some very well done sf-ideas (and some which didn't made a lot of sense, like this thing with the Gamma rays) and nice twists. Didn't see this end coming, alsways a plus. Just for once the Aliens win and humanity loses but adapts into something new. The art was consistently good, as much depended on the body-language. And Richardson delivered. Eglington is hit and miss for me, but this was well done.

Anderson: A new artist for the conclusion? Strange.  But I had no problem with it. I really hated the Dyer art. There is nothing wrong with aging Anderson, but does it has to be this extreme Ugly-Anderson? Okay, I am prejudiced. I always loved the clean Ransom version, and in the last years I really liked the Cook version, as he really brought the Mega City to life. I am not a fan of the background-free school of drawing, and combined with the muted colours and this portrait of Anderson I thought this a failure artwise.

Also the story was so-so. Anderson "possessing" Hershey to pull the trigger? Seemed a bit out of character, frankly. Since when can PSI-Judges take over other people so easily? Also seven parts was a bit too long for the plot.

Still, the last weeks for me the Prog was a joy to read. I didn't enjoy it much this year, a lot of series which didn't do anything for me. Too long or downright boring, so-so art. But this was nice.

I have to say that Lawless is the only series I absolutly loved in the last year of the Meg. I am deeply tired of the summer of Carroll here and in the prog. For me his work misses the essential fun elements of Dredd's world. It is just one dull and too long political intrigue too many after the other.

Same goes for The Carousel, which just didn't work for me. This was like a low budget flick, a couple of stock-characters killing a couple of incompetent red-shirts in a dark warehouse. The medical-center must have been the only Mega-City facility without robots. It is not that the idea was bad - even if it read in parts as a direct contradiction to From the Ashes a month before, where Dredd was given the okay by the medical chief -, but if you do the rejuvenation-story, why stop in the middle and not do it right, give him a new body? Now an old heart and old glands must work double-time to power new muscles? It doesn't make sense and was half-hearted. Either do it right or don't do it at all. (And shouldn't such an important progression in the character - regardless how well it is executed or not - not be done in the prog?)

Realm of the Damned  is just another concept done to death. Van Helsing? Really? At least it is done competently after a very shakey start. Frankly at first only the violence and the nudity kept me reading. If you have to do the newest variation of the vampire-world tale, at least do it right. In this regard this is okay. But I won't miss it when it is over.

Blunt is nice. It has Boo Cook, so even if it didn't make sense - which it does - you get great art.

Lawless was perfect. Dan Abnett is hit-and-miss with me, but here he hit the jackpot. This is fun in any regard and will be the only new series of the last years I will buy when it - hopfully - gets collected.

But on the whole the Meg is disappointing at the moment.

A mixed bag.

Dredd: Well, that was weird. It just stopped. Or does it continue next week? And wouldn't the [spoiler]attack of the Sovs be seen as an act of war?[/spoiler]

Still this is great work.

Orlok: No, this doesn't work for me at all. Neither the story nor the art.

Slaine: I gave up on this – again.

Grey Area: Still not convinced this is the best material for Harrison's strength. And this episode feels a bit like treading water.

Strontium Dog: This was fun. The story is unpredictable, the balance of action and introspective is much better then in the last SD tales. The shootout was very well drawn, and Johnny getting some action was also nice to see. After all the endless grimness and depression it made Mr. Alpha much more relatable as a character.

[Dredd]

Nice cover.

Dredd:
I really like this. The transformation of Aimee from Low Life to Titan is so well done. A lot of villians are written as deparate, but somehow here her desperation is made real. If even the horrible trek on Eceladus is better then giving up, it gives a nice contrast to the Judges. And I like Dredd's doubts. [spoiler]A creep is a creep.[/spoiler] And still he ponders.

Orlok:
After three parts I really don't like it. There is nothing which makes Orlok an indispensable character in his own tale, it would work if this would be East-Meg agent Stalin. And the [spoiler]Marvel parody[/spoiler]is not very interesting. It is [spoiler]X-Men Australia with Crocodile Dundee against the Black Widow.[/spoiler]But what is the point? This just doesn't work for me.

Slaine:
This is still not for me.

Grey Area:
Okay, the guys of Grey Area Earth just happen to jump through the galaxy to end in the Grey Area Homeworld? Some coincidences are a bit much  I am not convinced that Harrison is the best choice for this, if this is playing for his strengths. But the joke at the end was funny.

Strontium Dog:
This is indeed subtle as a brick. And the coincidence that the [spoiler]black sheep of the Stix [/spoiler]is just on the same station is a bit much. But that [spoiler]General Bing[/spoiler] (groan) is trashing [spoiler]Johnny[/spoiler] was an amusing twist.

[Dredd]

This is a nice cover.

Dredd: A nice start with the usual great Flint artwork. As it happens I read "Titan" just a short time ago. It sure left a impression. So I am really interested how this will continue.

Slaine: I liked the recap-pages. A good idea for these all-new progs. Also for old readers; as with most of the following characters I lost the plot a Long time ago so this was helpful. Still I don't think it will be necessary as a regular feature.

As far as Slaine is concerned, I stopped reading this, and I am not a fan of Davies, so I really don't care one way or the other.

Grey Area: I like a lot of Abnett's work, even bought the Kingdom collections, but some I could never connect with. GA is one of those. Harrison's art sure changed.

Orlok: Some characters just work better as a foil for the the hero or a secondary-character. Orlok is just not an interesting character on its own. So I am not convinced he merits his own series. I thought the first story not very good and in parts difficult to follow. This first part also couldn't grab me at all. Both in story and art. A whole page for [spoiler]the  Black Widower[/spoiler]? And who is this guy? Is this supposed to be Orlok? No, this series doesn't work for me.

Strontium Dogs: As a latecomer to 2000AD SD is one of the series I never could get into it. Or into its prequels (sequels?) like Middenface. So I was rather indifferent to his resurrection. Some of the new stories were fun, some I thought very dull for Wagner. Too many not very interesting political intrigues, too many parts, too many speeches. But this was a welcome jumping-on point. Even if I didn't buy this [spoiler]'Kill me now[/spoiler]characterisation of Alpha this is a classic set-up. So I am looking forward to next week.

On the whole a very mixed prog for me.

'Wot I diD dooring Dark Justis' will be PJ watching a vid stream of the events from his armchair, loudly critiquing the events after his plans were set in motion.

He would, wouldn't he?

Count me for those who thought this a bit meh. The art was lovely, still I am not convinced that painted art works well on what is basically a shoot 'em up. I love Wagner, but this was in parts too plot-driven to make sense. I don't mind the "too be continued" ending, the villians floating in space, it can be a great beginning for some successful visual space opera if done right. But after all they have been put through by the Dark Judges neither Dredd nor Anderson  seemed on top of their game. Which made this a bit by the numbers.

[Dredd]

Nice Cover.

Dredd was great. Successful one part stories have become rare, and frankly I miss them. 300 Seconds worked on all levels, right to the pun at the end. A lot of Edginton's work has left me a bit cold in the past, but this was just perfect. Same goes for the art.

Savage: I gave up on this a long time ago, but Goddard's art is very well done. Also the man draws wonderful backgrounds and architecture. Not so exciting as brains or robots, I know, but this shot of St.Paul's? Many artists would have done less work on such a throwaway panel.

Survival Geeks: I find the humor forced. "Smug" is also a good description. But this kind of strip is not for me, I also loathed Beck&Kewl. Not too wild on the art style either. BUT this art is amazing in every aspect. The details, the expressions, the whole package. It is just fun.

Tharg's 3Rillers: Hm. I have to wait till the end to say something about this.

The Order: One the whole I liked it. Nice to see Burn's again. I always was a fan of his work. But this would have read better if it would have been shorter, I think. The last parts dragged a little.

American Reaper? Really? Sigh.

Wagner and Flint on Dredd, this will be missed. I am not a big fan of DeMarco, thought the last one much too long, and this first part didn't grab me either. Dredd:The Cop is too early to say anything about it. Still, the prospect of having to skip half of the Meg for the next half year till AR finally and merciful ends is not  an enjoyable one.

[Dredd: Dark Justice]

I guess I am in the minority, thought the whole issue underwhelming.

Dredd: Dark Justice: While I loved Staples covers I am not a big fan of this painted (?) art. Also I guess I am in a minority there but I am not convinced that there is much lineage left in Judge Death. On the other hand it is Wagner, so will we see.

Visible Man: I had forgotten the last installment and therefore absolutly no clue about what Frank's deal is. Did this story had a point, except that the priest thing has been done to death?

The Order: I like Burns and was intrigued when Anna found the revolver. At first I thought 'huh?', but after her finding a robot head it was okay  . Too soon to say if this will be a good read or not, but at least it will have nice art.

Ulysses Sweet: On the other hand, this I think is a very forced concept. I stopped reading it after the first episodes in the regular prog, and I don't think I will start again. Also not a fan of Marshall's art.

Jaegir: This is the first story of Jaegir I actually liked. I thought the first episodes of the series not particulary interesting and often downright confusing on the art, who was who and so on. But here was for the first time some glimpses of what potential this could have, and the story was well constructed.

Low Life: That was a nice one.

Max Normal: I don't like the character and frankly didn't get it.

Savage: Just no. Like a lot of Mills'  stuff I stopped reading this a long time ago and don't care about it.

Dredd: Ghost: I am not a fan of Carrol's stories. They are competent, no doubt, but they just don't grab me.

Overall 2014 was a mediocre year for 2000AD. For me, I hasten to add. Dredd was mostly the best strip in the prog, too many series I stopped reading after a few episodes. Or just skipped. I hope I will enjoy the Prog again more in the future.






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[Judge Dredd]

The Megazine has become enjoyable again.

Judge Dredd is very good. Wagner and Flint at the top of their game. I am really curious if it will all end in tears or the Cubes or not.

Lawless has grown on me. At first I wasn't very interested. Not the next western frontier-town/Firefly  with the sassy Anderson-clone. But this has been fun, and the art has been fabulous.  Winslade is doing outstanding work here. And I don't have a problem with the few very modest pseudo-nude panels which imho don't even merit the term T&A. I thought the bathtub-scene very funny.

Man from the Ministry: It wasn't bad, and a few parts were fun. Still I thought the whole thing rather by the numbers in its LOEG fashion. And I am not a big fan of the art.

Dredd: Nice one.

Interviews were good. They are much better done in the Megazine then the usual online stuff you mostly get today.