Almost exactly as you were really.
Dredd remains superb. Adored the Dredd Maitland interaction and we seem to be entering the end game with Judge Pin.
Indigo Prime remains superb. Adored the Christhullhu squirting sticky corrosive tentacle goo allover folks. And what lurks under the collapse building...???
Anderson - remains mah.
Absalom remains superb - Adore that this is what passes as a breather in this story!
Thistelbone remains superb - Adore the wau tensions boil over and cans of petrol are bought.
Wonderful stuff in a 4/5 prog.
Well had a 'Major Malfunction' of my own messing up the thread title. Lets see if this sticks?
(https://i.imgur.com/6is9L8L.jpg)
Adam Brown cover. Apologies for crappy phone photo of it.
I'd like to add Indigo Prime to my list of unlikely hardbacks. The complete IP, including Kek-W's recent runs.
Absalom, Dredd and Thistlebone are absolute quality.
In the Anderson strip we once again see Robot Judges. I wonder if this is just for continuity or whether it suggests that they are number enough, and planning, to seize control.
Cheers.
Wow, just finished the prog, and as a returning squaxx for just over a year, for me the current line-up is the best it's been since I came back.
This is my first encounter with Judge Pin, but I imagine there's been a bit of a build up to this showdown between her and Dredd. Two episodes in and already things are hurtling towards the climax. I've been enjoying the references to Dredd's past: we had a Dead Man/Necropolis reference last week, and this week City of the Damned.
Anderson is solid, but with all the other quality in the prog, is probably the story I'm least invested in. I'm not really sure why Anderson is so concerned about Karyn, apart from the obvious "being one of the good guys" deal - they don't really have much of a personal connection. Still the artwork has grown on me, especially the colouring. There were some lovely subtle touches last week with reflections from windows and city lights passing by in a speeding car.
I think Kek W is doing great work with Indigo Prime who are basically being wrecked by the corporate entity that owns them. And what a great cover!
Thistlebone is really cooking now. Is Seema all she appears to be, or is Avril paranoid? [spoiler]I think Seema's a bad 'un as that sock to the nose she gave Avril seemed very over the top.[/spoiler]
Can't wait for the Absalom finale next week, although slightly concerned there's too many loose ends to tie up in one episode. It has been excellent though.
This was a fantastic prog. I've read and re-read cover to cover, which I don't do that often these days, and I'm glad I did.
#PraiseTharg!
Prog free Proudhuff.... not a happy bunny :-\ :-
mine didn't turn up until yesterday. First time in a long while it has been late.
Cracking read though, well worth the wait.
(https://i.imgur.com/twd2uSG.jpg)
I hope, like me, everyone who insists it's easy to draw Anderson as a pensioner is enjoying the posts on social media from readers excited by Judge Pin and asking if Dredd will finally take him down.
Dredd is fantastic both in terms of story and art. Good to see consequences from the Small House, even if other writers glossed over it (cough - Wagner. :lol:). Weston continues his best Bolland impression and I have to say he is the best at it (Tom Foster not withstanding).
Indigo Prime. I'm so glad this is the last ever series. I know a lot of people like it, but sorry not for me. I like to have some clue as to what is going on week to week.
Anderson. Just shows how great a writer Alan Grant was: good stories well told.
Thistlebone. Great, atmospheric story and great art. Was half expecting a Slaine/ Horned God/Slough Geg cross over.
Absalom. Sorry but I'm finding this a very disappointing final series. Not sure how they will wrap everything up in the last episode, but I'm absolutely not expecting a happy ending.
Absalom does have a hint of "just get it done", but perhaps it's best to think of this and the previous series as a single entity. As for Indigo Prime, when was it stated this is the last one?
Tharg's use of latest was mistaken by some, including me, for last. Wishful thinking on my part.
I still hope Tharg's just told Kek-W to cut off as many yards of Indigo Prime as he needs to fill a trade paperback - never mind the quality, feel the width - rather than forcing us to endure years of the literary equivalent of watching Bennet Beeny stumble around in America Jara's body, slurring his/her words and pissing themselves.
(https://i.imgur.com/9OiN84k.png?2)
Very good prog.
The only question for me is how will Absalom wrap up in one episode, but lets wait and see
Quote from: Frank on 31 July, 2019, 10:14:29 AM
I still hope Tharg's just told Kek-W to cut off as many yards of Indigo Prime as he needs to fill a trade paperback - never mind the quality, feel the width - rather than forcing us to endure years of the literary equivalent of watching Bennet Beeny stumble around in America Jara's body, slurring his/her words and pissing themselves.
Well each to his own, but I think Kek is doing some good stuff with the IP IP. Would it be better if John Smith was in a place where he could continue his story? - absolutely, but for someone else to take over such a sprawling narrative I think he's doing a stand-up job.
Maybe you've covered this elsewhere, but what in particular don't you like about it?
Quote from: MumboJimbo on 31 July, 2019, 02:55:00 PM
Maybe you've covered this elsewhere, but what in particular don't you like about it?
If you've got a spare weekend, here (https://forums.2000ad.com/index.php?topic=44800.msg970746#msg970746) and
(to a lesser extent) here (https://forums.2000ad.com/index.php?topic=45933.msg1009367#msg1009367).
I don't think Kek-W's done a bad job. I don't think there's no way anyone other than Smith can write
Indigo Prime. I just can't see the point.
The link was helpful - particularly this nugget:
Quote from: Frank on 17 July, 2019, 04:16:43 PM
[* DISCLAIMER: I'M IDEOLOGICALLY OPPOSED TO CONTINUING INDIGO PRIME WITHOUT JOHN SMITH, SO I'M ESSENTIALLY A BAD FAITH ACTOR AND MY OPINIONS SHOULD BE UNDERSTOOD IN THAT CONTEXT
I guess that's a fair stance, but when you're commenting on a particular prog it's only fair (in my opinion) to critique the episode on its own merits. Otherwise you're just repeating "I'm ideologically opposed to this" with different words. But actually you're not, as I didn't pick up on that. But perhaps the others who regularly comment on the "review the prog" posts know you and understand your opinion on this.
Quote from: MumboJimbo on 31 July, 2019, 03:39:48 PM
when you're commenting on a particular (deleted for analogical purposes) it's only fair (in my opinion) to critique the episode on its own merits.
I urge you never to click on any of the various
Watchmen, Star Wars, Star Trek, Dr Who or Politics threads.
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Glad to see Grub's Disease get a mention in Damage Report :thumbsup:
Loving this Dredd and the fact someone's finally worked out how to (mis)use those eyes, and Maitland's my new hero btw
IP, totally unfair I know, but I skip this, totally beyond me, sorry!
Anderson, not really working for me either...
Absalom: too short! we need ten pages of this at a time! Is next week's a bumper issue? Nooo!? everything else is continuing, cant see how this will all tie up unless its a total slaughterbowl.
Thistlebone: that last page is a cracker, cant wait for Saturday's installment
Dredd is firing on all cylinders right now, rare for me to be enjoying a Rob Williams Dredd to this degree, but Pin and Gerhart are such good characters I can't help but love this. The Weston droid delivers in spades.
IP is fascinating to read week by week, but not something I can easily follow. I just wish Tharg had waited for John Smith. Kek-W's work is absolutely fine, but it all feels a bit 'unofficial'.
Anderson isn't doing it for me sadly. Nothing wrong with it, just isn't for me.
Absalom continues to be wonderful, damn shame this is the end. Still, leave 'em wanting more I guess! 😉
Now, Thistlebone should be right up my street, but something just isn't working for me. Can't quite put my finger on it, so I'll assume it's just me!
Good prog though.
Oh, and the cover is outstanding! 👍
I, uh, l enjoyed that very much. Even the bit I don't like was very pretty.
Dredd is good fun, Weston elevating proceedings into the upper atmosphere. I may not be wild about Williams Dredd, but there's no denying that he has that Pat Mills genius for inspiring the very best art.
Absalom is storytelling taken to a surgical level: precise, intense, compelling, relentless. Brilliant work.
Thistlebone continues to entrance, and Anderson looks great and holds my interest.
It's all-round great comics.
Quote from: Magnetica on 31 July, 2019, 08:08:42 AM
Indigo Prime. I'm so glad this is the last ever series. I know a lot of people like it, but sorry not for me. I like to have some clue as to what is going on week to week.
Is it? I can't remember seeing that announced anywhere?
Will be sad if it is...
Quote from: TordelBack on 31 July, 2019, 10:51:46 PM
Absalom is storytelling taken to a surgical level: precise, intense, compelling, relentless. Brilliant work
Thank you - I was trying to articulate how much I love this strip and you've done it perfect justice.
Like others I can't believe this is going to wrap in five or six pages, but I've no doubt the Rennie droid is up to the task. In fact I can't believe that the whole Rennie world which began so long ago with Caballistics, Inc is going to disappear.
Oh and there were some shouts a few weeks ago that D'Israeli should enter the pantheon of all-time great 2000 AD artists; well, absolutely, as long as he's joined by Tiernen Trevallion, whose work on Absalom has been stunning.
Quote from: Jacqusie on 31 July, 2019, 11:41:21 PM
Quote from: Magnetica on 31 July, 2019, 08:08:42 AM
Indigo Prime. I'm so glad this is the last ever series. I know a lot of people like it, but sorry not for me. I like to have some clue as to what is going on week to week.
Is it? I can't remember seeing that announced anywhere?
Will be sad if it is...
See Frank's post on the previous page. I think some misread "latest" as "last", which suits me fine as Lee's artwork on it has had some reeeeeeal high points.
Speaking of the visuals, damn, I would buy a book of Chris Weston's un-lettered Dredd strips just to gawp at. Holy smokes.
For me the latest Prog was good with just 2 Stories that I wish would end sooner rather than later
( PSI Anderson and Indigo Prime )
The Dredd story about Judge Pin is just wonderful - zero complaints .
Indigo Prime - I consider myself an educated and intelligent man , and I struggle to follow the story
a bit , I just don't rate it ( the artwork is good )
PSI Anderson - sorry , but although Emma Beeby is a not bad writer - this is just so-so , not enjoying it
Thistlebone. I am really enjoying this - gets better and better
Absalom. Gordon Rennie usually delivers the goods , and this has been fun .
Looking forward to last part - then Jaegir in Valkyrie next Month !!
for me , along with John Wagner , Pat Mills and Michael Carroll ,
Gordon Rennie is the best writer 2000AD has in the Prog .
Quote from: 73north on 01 August, 2019, 02:13:23 PM
along with John Wagner , Pat Mills and Michael Carroll ,
Gordon Rennie is the best writer 2000AD has in the Prog .
Dan Abnett?
Great Adam Brown cover, he's going from strength to strength. Love to see him doing a Dredd. Z
So given many of us find out tomorrow, how do we think Absalom is going to end? Inspector and Guv'nor both dead, I'm sure, but the kiddies? Alive? Transformed into hideous monsters that Absalom has to kill? Dead since the start? Never existed at all, juse an excuse/trick for Absalom to pursue his war? Place your bets!
Quote from: ZenArcade on 02 August, 2019, 09:25:24 AM
Great Adam Brown cover, he's going from strength to strength. Love to see him doing a Dredd. Z
Or Slaine.
Quote from: TordelBack on 02 August, 2019, 10:49:22 AM
So given many of us find out tomorrow, how do we think Absalom is going to end? Inspector and Guv'nor both dead, I'm sure, but the kiddies? Alive? Transformed into hideous monsters that Absalom has to kill? Dead since the start? Never existed at all, juse an excuse/trick for Absalom to pursue his war? Place your bets!
It was all a dream or a nightmare (depends on your perspective)
Quote from: TordelBack on 02 August, 2019, 10:49:22 AM
So given many of us find out tomorrow, how do we think Absalom is going to end? Inspector and Guv'nor both dead, I'm sure, but the kiddies? Alive? Transformed into hideous monsters that Absalom has to kill? Dead since the start? Never existed at all, juse an excuse/trick for Absalom to pursue his war? Place your bets!
Absalom IS his grand kiddies.
hmmm, Harry has been around for a very long time, so how do we know that his grand kiddies aren't all grown up?
Maybe Harry is in for a shock when he gets there, and I wouldn't be too surprised to see Harry take the Guv'nor down a peg as well.
Either way, it has been a great series and congrats to Gordon & Tiernan for finishing the series.
It can also be that his grand kiddies is behind everything they are the ultimate enemy
My guess is that the kids are being held by rivals to the Rathbornes who wanted Harry to take them down, and not in the Mills at all.
Alternatively Harry's actually an angel, and his 'grandchildren' are billions strong and millennia old and are in fact all of humanity who he is trying to rescue from secret demonic rule.
Which is why I'm not writing for the Prog!
Are ye all sure to be sure that there is not another series after Terminal Diagnosis? Surely the next episode ends on a 'to be continued' cliff hanger!
Nope, it's been confirmed this is the end of Absalom.
As for Absolam? Well, I guess he could make a comeback... 😉🤔
Quote from: Tiplodocus on 02 August, 2019, 03:37:44 PM
Quote from: TordelBack on 02 August, 2019, 10:49:22 AM
So given many of us find out tomorrow, how do we think Absalom is going to end? Inspector and Guv'nor both dead, I'm sure, but the kiddies? Alive? Transformed into hideous monsters that Absalom has to kill? Dead since the start? Never existed at all, juse an excuse/trick for Absalom to pursue his war? Place your bets!
Absalom IS his grand kiddies.
... and so is his wife!
Quote from: Woolly on 02 August, 2019, 06:51:23 PM
Nope, it's been confirmed this is the end of Absalom.
As for Absolam? Well, I guess he could make a comeback... 😉🤔
That's a pity, I can think of 2 other current strips I'd rather see the back of than Absalam! :-\
Quote from: geronimo on 02 August, 2019, 10:57:26 PM
That's a pity, I can think of 2 other current strips I'd rather see the back of than Absalam! :-\
Sometimes there is no more story to tell and I would rather have the creator finishing his/her story in the way that they want to it (even if we do not like the ending). Too many series go on for too long and becomes a rehash of the same-old theme without adding something new.
I also do not want to see the end of Absalom
Quote from: TordelBack on 02 August, 2019, 10:49:22 AM
So given many of us find out tomorrow, how do we think Absalom is going to end? Inspector and Guv'nor both dead, I'm sure, but the kiddies? Alive? Transformed into hideous monsters that Absalom has to kill? Dead since the start? Never existed at all, juse an excuse/trick for Absalom to pursue his war? Place your bets!
Something more nasty and investigative than I can chime up with bit I'll go with: Harry had to kill them himself bit not before they eat the big man.
Quote from: I, Cosh on 03 August, 2019, 09:31:40 AM
Something more nasty and investigative than I can chime up with bit I'll go with: Harry had to kill them himself bit not before they eat the big man.
What a euphemism. And you say you don't have a nasty imagination.
I wish the dgital copy was available sooner... I really want to read that last episode.
Patience my young Padawan, just another 12000 seconds
I do love that cover.
Quote from: Woolly on 31 July, 2019, 07:10:18 PM
IP is fascinating to read week by week, but not something I can easily follow. I just wish Tharg had waited for John Smith. Kek-W's work is absolutely fine, but it all feels a bit 'unofficial'.
I thought Tharg did wait? Two years, with art that was paid for but couldn't be used until a story was finished...
Quote from: sheridan on 08 August, 2019, 09:00:59 PM
Quote from: Woolly on 31 July, 2019, 07:10:18 PM
IP is fascinating to read week by week, but not something I can easily follow. I just wish Tharg had waited for John Smith. Kek-W's work is absolutely fine, but it all feels a bit 'unofficial'.
I thought Tharg did wait? Two years, with art that was paid for but couldn't be used until a story was finished...
Time Flies, Series One, Episode One, Prog 700, 13th October 1990 (http://www.2000ad.org/?zone=prog&page=profiles&choice=700)
Time Flies, Series Two, Episode One, Prog 1015, 19th October 1996 (http://www.2000ad.org/?zone=prog&page=profiles&choice=1015)
Philip Bond only completed five episodes of series two (i), presumably shortly after the first series. And Tharg waited 20 years (http://www.2000ad.org/?zone=thrill&page=profiles&Comic=2000AD&choice=INDIGO) for Smith to write another
Indigo Prime story without Squaxx storming the Command Module demanding his head.
Obviously, I'm being a dick (ii), but I'm being a dick to make a point. I think finishing the series Smith started so Lee Carter could get paid for all the incredible work he'd put into the series is fair enough, but freezing Smith out and giving other writers the keys to
Devlin Waugh, Tyranny Rex and Revere (iii) was a dick move.
I say that without knowing everything that went on behind the scenes, but the same applies to anyone saying they reckon it was fair enough, doesn't it.
(i) The remaining episodes being completed by various combinations of Jon Beeston, Roger Langridge, and Simon Jacob
(ii) Comic rock star Philip Bond was unlikely to be sitting waiting eagerly on his cheque from Tharg so he could buy the kids new shoes, for one thing
(ii) To such negligible effect, especially
Quote from: Frank on 08 August, 2019, 09:37:27 PM
Quote from: sheridan on 08 August, 2019, 09:00:59 PM
Quote from: Woolly on 31 July, 2019, 07:10:18 PM
IP is fascinating to read week by week, but not something I can easily follow. I just wish Tharg had waited for John Smith. Kek-W's work is absolutely fine, but it all feels a bit 'unofficial'.
I thought Tharg did wait? Two years, with art that was paid for but couldn't be used until a story was finished...
Time Flies, Series One, Episode One, Prog 700, 13th October 1990 (http://www.2000ad.org/?zone=prog&page=profiles&choice=700)
Time Flies, Series Two, Episode One, Prog 1015, 19th October 1996 (http://www.2000ad.org/?zone=prog&page=profiles&choice=1015)
Philip Bond only completed five episodes of series two (i), presumably shortly after the first series. And Tharg waited 20 years (http://www.2000ad.org/?zone=thrill&page=profiles&Comic=2000AD&choice=INDIGO) for Smith to write another Indigo Prime story without Squaxx storming the Command Module demanding his head.
I didn't realise that the Bond episodes of the second series of Time Flies had been in the drawer for six years - I wonder what inspired the eventual publication?
With Frank on this one. Z
Quote from: sheridan on 09 August, 2019, 08:32:15 AM
I didn't realise that the Bond episodes of the second series of Time Flies had been in the drawer for six years - I wonder what inspired the eventual publication?
You already know the answer to that one, bud - as Dave Bishop says in his official history of
2000ad, company policy was that anything that had been paid for had to be run in the comic.
Yet agaon add my agreement here. I'm not in the business of editing the galaxy's greatest anthology, or wrangling its stable of savants, so my opinion is as uninformed as possible, but for my money Smith was as vital to 2000AD's longevity as Mills was to its creation. He's an utterly unique voice, and I wish some other more open-ended and generally respectful way had been found to deal with his legacy.
No disrespect meant to the writers who have worked on Smith strips, all have done good work. I even thought some of the Waughs have come pretty close to the originals. I just can't enjoy any of it.