Well well well now that's good Proggage.
What makes it all the more impressive is one of the few problems of last issue, a fantastic comic in itself is resolved. At last in the space of 5 page of deft writing I have a reason to give a toss about Nolan Blake (even bothered to learn his name now), I've engaged with him as a character and hence engaged with the series. See its simple isn't it! All it took was a bit of family backstory, a reason to understand his anger and hardedness and a situation which I could symphise with and feel his desperation. All crafted in a beautiful first page, an action packed couple and a final couple building the story and creating the conflicit. Glorious stuff and one that makes this Prog a five out of five, the very best of progage.
The rest of the strips are as you were from 2100 and therefore magnificent.
A glorious Dredd and Smiley works Dredd, Frank gets into bother and [spoiler]Sensitve Klegg[/spoiler] returns.
Brink is just crafted, creepy glory. Such heavy atmosphere with a comic bit of world building in the last panel.
Fiends of the Eastern Front is sublime both on a visual level but also the tension it so quickly builds and the action that quickly gives it form.
Finally we have more brilliance in Kingdom and Gene does what he does best... but .. well doesn't go as well as normal and I'm completely hooked... which with this series is no surprise.
You know it was discussed that 2100 could be the best Prog ever, see this one, this one makes a case too!
(https://i.imgur.com/7n7Fd3C.jpg)
Only read Dredd so far...just gets better and better..
Best progs in ages!
I've read the last two weeks again, just to savour the sheer Thrill-power emanating from the pages. A superb line-up.
#PraiseTharg
The Saturday-morning slap of my shrink-wrapped prog hitting the porch floor has rarely sounded so good. I find myself looking forward to the next episode of Brink like I would to the next episode of Game of Thrones or Discovery. Soooo good.
Pretty good.
I didn't recognise the Higgings cover to begin with - it's not his usual style.
Looking forward to seeing where The Small House ends up - ten episode gives the story a lot of space to breathe, which is good.
Speaking of small spaces - Brink shows a much more accurate picture of Victorian/Edwardian service than Downton Abbey ever did.
Fiends is pretty good - getting a Bram Stoker's Dracula vibe from it this week (the Gary Oldman film). Have zombies appeared in the Fiends world before?
Skip Tracer - I should probably re-read the first book in the near future.
Rounding off the prog we've got Kingdom, an extended fight scene, hopefully the story will progress a bit more next week.
Quote from: sheridan on 02 October, 2018, 11:13:51 PM
Have zombies appeared in the Fiends world before?
They were used a few times in David Bishop's 'Fiends' novels, and later appeared in his 'Stalingrad' sequel comic in the Megazine.
Yeah, this is all great stuff. I enjoyed it all, and even found myself following Skip Tracer for the first time. Colin's art made me make the effort though, for the man can do no wrong.
Also, Kingdom has never disappointed me.
Ah, My liege, your words are full of right!
What a great prog. Credit to everyone for delivering a supreme top-notch prog.
Question about Dredd The Small House Part 2
SPOILERS
When Judge Smiley reminds Dredd of the high body count of his friends is he implying Hershey needs to be assassinated? Because she puts the city at risk? Is he testing Dredd's loyalty? Apologies if this is blindingly obvious to other prog readers. Another stunningly good issue!
Quote from: robert_ellis on 03 October, 2018, 07:26:19 PM
Question about Dredd The Small House Part 2
SPOILERS
When Judge Smiley reminds Dredd of the high body count of his friends is he implying Hershey needs to be assassinated? Because she puts the city at risk? Is he testing Dredd's loyalty? Apologies if this is blindingly obvious to other prog readers. Another stunningly good issue!
That's certainly how I read it.
Ah, now I might need to read it again but I took it to be a threat that Dredd has a high bodycount among friends so should be careful...
" Murder is a crime. The chain of command is followed" - Dredd
Quote from: Colin YNWA on 29 September, 2018, 04:16:42 PM
Well well well now that's good Proggage.
What makes it all the more impressive is one of the few problems of last issue, a fantastic comic in itself is resolved. At last in the space of 5 page of deft writing I have a reason to give a toss about Nolan Blake (even bothered to learn his name now), I've engaged with him as a character and hence engaged with the series. See its simple isn't it! All it took was a bit of family backstory, a reason to understand his anger and hardedness and a situation which I could symphise with and feel his desperation. All crafted in a beautiful first page, an action packed couple and a final couple building the story and creating the conflicit. Glorious stuff and one that makes this Prog a five out of five, the very best of progage.
The rest of the strips are as you were from 2100 and therefore magnificent.
A glorious Dredd and Smiley works Dredd, Frank gets into bother and [spoiler]Sensitve Klegg[/spoiler] returns.
Brink is just crafted, creepy glory. Such heavy atmosphere with a comic bit of world building in the last panel.
Fiends of the Eastern Front is sublime both on a visual level but also the tension it so quickly builds and the action that quickly gives it form.
Finally we have more brilliance in Kingdom and Gene does what he does best... but .. well doesn't go as well as normal and I'm completely hooked... which with this series is no surprise.
You know it was discussed that 2100 could be the best Prog ever, see this one, this one makes a case too!
This ^^^^
Another fine prog - as one would expect the standards from last week are well and truly maintained, though most of the stories have a slow burn installment. The Small House layers on the intrigue while building the tension, it's been said this is building towards something big and the knowledge of that only serves to heighten the excitement. I can see I'm going to have to read up on Sensitive Klegg.
I don't know about slow burn but Brink practically goes into hibernation, I suspect this is the sort of measured episode that puts a few people off the strip, but for me it simply again raises the anticipation a notch. Despite the luscious artwork of Dave Taylor I must admit that FOTEFET has been a little underwhelming script-wise, the story not doing anything particular unexpected or adventurous. 'Jejune' appears to be the appropriate term. Still there's time for that to change, as proved by Skip Tracer, which this week finally escapes its jejune shackles with a simple reflective moment that adds an extra dimension to the protagonist's character. I've liked James Peaty's simple but lucid storytelling style on this strip, which though sometimes superficial has never been a chore to read.
And finally we come to Gene the Hackman, for whom the phrase 'slow burn' means only a method of cooking meat. It's great to see this chapter's first exploding head gore eruption in the third page, a grand tradition continued.
What did Smiley mean by "your little glowing friend"?
I'm certain he said it before, in Trifecta or Bullet to King Four, but I can't remember what it means.
Did Dredd covertly take a photo? That little flash on his glove made me think it was a camera flash. (Although flash photography doesn't seem very discreet so I could be very wrong.)
Quote from: Magnetica on 04 October, 2018, 11:12:47 PM
What did Smiley mean by "your little glowing friend"?
Quote from: They Might Be GiantsI'm your only friend
I'm not your only friend
But I'm a little glowing friend
But really I'm not actually your friend
But I am
If that's the only meaning, then Smiley is just saying to Dredd that he's the only friend Joe can count on.
Fantastic prog, absolutely fantastic.
Dredd was compelling, good to see the various long-running threads pulling together, plus added [spoiler]Sensitive Klegg[/spoiler]. Lovely colours from Blythe too. My only niggle was Smiley's list of Dredd's "saving the City" moments - not sure why the Cursed Earth mission is on there (and not just because he killed everyone in MC2 a dozen years later...), and perhaps it might have been constructive to instead mention something like the Texas City takeover, in the cause of bringing the various writers' sub-universes into one continuity. Still a gripping episode though.
Brink almost defies sensible comment. The sense of tension, of claustrophobia, the dread instilled by eating nudge-laced food... I don't know how those lads inject all that into an episode that's essentially about dusting, but I'm in awe. Amazingly good, thrill of the week.
Skip Tracer: what's that now, has this strip just graduated from competent but forgettable entertainment to something a lot more engaging? I do believe it has, justifying this reader's strained patience. Pray continue, gentlemen.
Fiends: Doesn't mess around this one! Enjoyably old-school in its pacing, and simply glorious to look at. One minor quibble: the introduction of the zombies/ghouls took place in one corner of a very small panel: I appreciate that there's a lot going on in that page, but perhaps this important reveal could have been given more space. Turning out to be a very worthy prequel to a series I've always enjoyed.
Kingdom: Gloriously action-packed episode mixes things up yet again. Kingdom has never put a foot wrong. More than interested to see what else South America has to throw at Gene.
Quote from: Richard on 05 October, 2018, 12:35:03 AM
I'm certain he said it before, in Trifecta or Bullet to King Four, but I can't remember what it means.
Did Dredd covertly take a photo? That little flash on his glove made me think it was a camera flash. (Although flash photography doesn't seem very discreet so I could be very wrong.)
Even without the flash it is quality Arthur fist meme action.
Quote from: TordelBack on 05 October, 2018, 03:09:56 AM
Lovely colours from Blythe too. My only niggle was Smiley's list of Dredd's "saving the City" moments - not sure why the Cursed Earth mission is on there (and not just because he killed everyone in MC2 a dozen years later...),
That jumped out at me as well - it didn't even cross my mind that it was only a temporary save - more that it was a list of saving the city which included an entirely different city. I think my list would have been Cal, Apoc, City of the Damned, Necropolis and Chaos Day (the last being what happens if you don't listen to what Dredd says).
Do we know how long Smiley is supposed to have been there? Assuming it was post Apocalypse War, where was he during Necropolis for example, or the Texas City stuff?
I have to say, I've never beena fan of "secret" Judicial subterfuge groups - they have a long line going back to the early days of the Meg - a Hershey story I recall, ironically if so?
However, Flint and Williams makes a change from the norm, and if it pushes the world forward (or at the very least resolves some of these things I find a bit off!), I'm more engaged than usual
Since Cal, IIRC. We were given to understand that he was nudging things along behind the scenes throughout all the big crises, although not many were mentioned by name. His activities during the Big Nec would be interesting, did he even escape the Sisters' control? He may not have been bothered by the Texas takeover, Pamela may have been easier to manipulate than Barbara and he'd get an extra city into the bargain.
Basically it's part of the central conceit of a good character, much like Mrs Gunderson's continued survival, so I'm happy to accept it.
A bigger question is where he was when the Grand Hall was razed to the ground on at least 3 occasions!
I thought it had been suggested Smiley had been about all the time, which tips an unlikely concept into silly for me - as you say, he survives the Grand Hall being destroyed multiple times and on top of that, has failed to sae the City once, relying on Dredd to step up so his lecture to Dredd rings pretty hollow!
He may have saved the city on occasions we don't know about, because he stopped things from reaching crisis point in the first place. But yes, without Dredd there'd be no city, so Smiley should just shut up.
If Smiley saved us from the Millar/McKenzie Sino-Cit mega "epic" then I'll give him a pass! :)
Quote from: Richard on 06 October, 2018, 12:03:35 PM
He may have saved the city on occasions we don't know about, because he stopped things from reaching crisis point in the first place. But yes, without Dredd there'd be no city, so Smiley should just shut up.
Quote from: Richard on 05 October, 2018, 12:35:03 AM
I'm certain he said it before, in Trifecta or Bullet to King Four, but I can't remember what it means.
Did Dredd covertly take a photo? That little flash on his glove made me think it was a camera flash. (Although flash photography doesn't seem very discreet so I could be very wrong.)
Interesting -I just took it as Dredd cracking his knuckles after being called essentially a 'thickie'.
A bit confused myself here as to what on earth is going on :lol:. I'm sure will be revealed.
Quote from: The Sherman Kid on 07 October, 2018, 05:43:14 PM
Quote from: Richard on 05 October, 2018, 12:35:03 AM
I'm certain he said it before, in Trifecta or Bullet to King Four, but I can't remember what it means.
Did Dredd covertly take a photo? That little flash on his glove made me think it was a camera flash. (Although flash photography doesn't seem very discreet so I could be very wrong.)
Interesting -I just took it as Dredd cracking his knuckles after being called essentially a 'thickie'.
A bit confused myself here as to what on earth is going on :lol:. I'm sure will be revealed.
There is another flash in the story too, wasn't this previously a sign that a stealth assassin was about?
I think the reference to glowing friend was something along the similar lines?
The "glowing friend" line is definitely a reference back to the use of TMBG lyrics in Trifecta, drawing on the "blue canary in the outlet by the light switch / who watches over me" idea, but more pertinently the flip-flopping and vague menace of:
I'm your only friend
I'm not your only friend
But I'm a little
Glowing friend
But really I'm not
Actually your friend
But I am
The knuckle flash I initially took as comics-shorthand for a painfully clenched fist, is supposed anger, but I'm open to the idea that it's a signal to Roffman/recording device or whatever.
"Suppressed anger". Cheezus, no more posting from my phone.
Yeah, I read it as Dredd clenching his fist in anger.
I'd be surprised if someone who has secretly been living in Justice Dept HQ's walls for 40-odd years would be caught out by a digital camera in a glove.
I stand corrected ;)
Anyone have problems downloading on the ipad app?
Just comes up as N/A
Logged out and back in, also deleted and reinstalled the app.
Working on mine, Steve.
Cheers Eamonn,
weird - will give it a couple of days - see what happens when 2102 surfaces.
I just download prog 2102 for the iPad. Their is an update available for iOS, maybe try that first.
Hi,
yeah installed iOS update, restarted app, ipad and still unable to buy it.
1202 has appeared to buy as do previous progs but 1201 shows as N/A.
Cheers
Steve
Quote from: Steve Green on 10 October, 2018, 08:37:40 AM
Hi,
yeah installed iOS update, restarted app, ipad and still unable to buy it.
1202 has appeared to buy as do previous progs but 1201 shows as N/A.
Cheers
Steve
I've had issues like this a couple of times but it's usually only the day that issue comes out and it gets fixed later.
Not very helpful, but you can usually still go to the rebellion shop and buy the issue there and it should become available on your iPad. If the shop site works on your iPad, which can be a problem.
Seems to be more severe than just the prog.
It can't connect to the server, so when I reinstalled the app, all the downloaded content had gone inc graphic novels etc.
I just get a 'sorry the content server cannot be accessed, please try again later'
Time to contact support I guess.
Sorted now, although weirdly I couldn't complete purchase through the webshop for it either.
Thanks to Caty at tech support for fixing whatever it was.
Quote from: Steve Green on 10 October, 2018, 11:54:24 AM
Sorted now, although weirdly I couldn't complete purchase through the webshop for it either. Thanks to Caty at tech support for fixing whatever it was.
History suggests a Zraggian plot to steal Tharg's wi-fi or strike action by unions* over tea breaks and/or Nelson Mandela.
Talkiest episode of
Kingdom ever. Abnett's
really good at writing to the strengths of his co-creators, so presumably, all those narrow horizontal panels of 80% speech bubble are just getting all the pain out in a single episode, so Elson and Gene have the rest of the series to do what they do best. This is me (https://youtu.be/k9_8YxDQYCo), when the character Numan is mentioned.
The distinction between this
Fiends prequel and Finley-Day/Ezquerra's original is one of sensibility. The founding story was a war strip with one fantastic element; the
sprequel (sic) is a dramatised game of
Family Fortunes, where The Edge names as many spooky things the general public might remember from other stories in under a minute.
Which is fine, but the addition of a new Universal horror staple in every episode means the finale's going to be an army of Frankensteins fighting werewolves led by The Mummy. I suppose that's the difference between an original story and building a universe. Ah, the children of Alan Moore and Kev O'Neill; what beautiful music they make.
And Dave Taylor's art
is beautiful.
* subversive communist stooges
Loved the panel layout on page 2 of Dredd. And obviously the first panel on page 5.
Lovely stuff!
Caught up on three progs today... still suffering from thrill power overload... this was great.