
So we reach the end of 2006, such an important year for me and Thrillpower. Its interesting to reflect on these early steps in by return to our relationship. The early issues aren't in retrospect that good - especially when you think about the quality just around the corner (in relative terms) but things quickly ramp up and I have a few quicks thoughts on the end of 2006 and the start of my blooming love (again).
1. Prog 1507 has an odd feature
Chiaroscuro starts to flicker into action - more on that later - at the start of the Prog, with Dredd apparently relegated to the back. I assume this is a production error?
2. The issues sees Stone Island end with doors open, aliens out a (welcome) return just around the corner.
3. Dante's pirating days also end in the same Prog with quite the cliffhanger, with an image that has been my phone background for quite some years now. Just love it as Dante, facing almost certain death calmly looks at the reader and "...if you've got to go, you might as well go in style!". John Burns is an absolute master.
4. Prog 1508 has a wonderful tribute to Tom Frame, clearly one of Tharg's greatest and best loved servants, who sadly passed during 2006.
5. It also features another start to a wonderful relationship as Anthony Williams take Finny back to Downlode and starts a run on Sinister Dexter that, unlike many - I'm very, very fond of, as The Many Moses saga really kicks off after many years of build up.
6.
86ers also makes a return... and washes right over me. Its a strip that just doesn't take to the air for me and just skims along.
7. Prog 1509 then sees
Harry Kipling (Deceased) return (unexpected) but this one also skims over me and leaves little or no impression.
8. Prog 1511 starts the ramping up big time as the triumvirate that once saved the Prog returns and unbeknownst to me probably cements my return. With Dante becoming the Sword of the Tsar with a return of Simon Fraser. These three thrills on top form just grabbed me...
9... except they didn't really. At the time I was really enjoying Sinister Dexter as its clever word play and simply drawn wonderful character... well character as no Dexter yet just grabbed me. Dante however was an immediate hit. Reading back I can see why, it was fun and exciting but I wasn't yet bought in. Not having the background the emotional impact and importance of this tale didn't yet resonate with me. It was fun but nothing more...
10... Then Dredd. Its Carlos and Wagner on a Mega Epic and felt like a welcoming warm blanket to a returning reader. The welcoming arms of an old love pulling me in to the new things to learn and explore. The trouble is those arms where going through their own things (errr should have dropped that over extended metaphor a while ago shouldn't I - oh well in for a penny... ) and its not quite sure what to do. The mixing of backstory and new hunt for Fargo just don't quite mesh neaty. Its cleverly done but kinda kills the momentum on each. Shame. I really enjoy this but not as much as I might.
11. Chiaroscuro is another sleeper great. I love this now. The way it aptly feels like a movie, how its paced like the Omen (or similar) its just superb. The trouble is I remember not getting on with the art at the time and I wasn't gelling with this.
12. Prog 1513 brings me my first taste of Red Seas, another series I'd come to absolutely adore, but again its got its own things going on stopping us bonding in the way we will. Its a cute aside, as Newton's trail of Roman Werewolves brings Augustus to the story. Its just a bit of daft fun, but lacks the breathless epic charm of the series as we know it.
13. So as the years ends we have Epic Dredd, a wonderful new horror thrill adding something a bit different, and three long form Stone cold classics, two (Dante and S&D) in absolute top forms and Red Seas maybe not at the crest of its wave but still good. Looking back this is almost the dream line up. But to me then it felt like a slightly clumsy ackward mix and we were both a little nervous in our new embraces.
14. As the year end all the thrills (well Dredd aside with a curious schedule) reach very satisfying endings, well okay Red Seas is a bit Scooby Doo, but Dante is brilliant, Sinister Dexter gives us Dexter back... with a damaged back and our horror tale pretty much sticks its landing. Its good times, at least in re-read.
So there we are. No specials this year so next time I'll look back at 2006 and hint at my excitment at 2007 as we both get a bit more confident as we get to know each other a bit better again.