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Spoilers => Megazine => Topic started by: Richard on 17 June, 2017, 08:50:59 PM

Title: Meg 385 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: Richard on 17 June, 2017, 08:50:59 PM
Wow!

A phenomenally good Dredd one-off by Michael Carroll, and in my view he's now made it as one of the top Dredd writers. This feels like an '80s (in a good way) Wagner & Grant tale. It's got a solid sf idea underpinning it, it's funny, it has a decent plot, and it introduces a fun character who I really hope we'll see again.

I'm so delighted with this one that I haven't even waited to read the rest of this issue yet - although this has the last episode of Lawless and a new Anderson story.
Title: Re: Meg 385 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: Richard on 18 June, 2017, 11:48:58 AM
So there's also a decent Tale From the Black Museum by Rory McConville and Andy Currie (when did we last see his work?) (which includes an obscure reference to America).

The "new" Anderson story is actually a continuation of the last one.

Lawless finishes for now, but this storyline will continue.

A good [spoiler]double-page spread[/spoiler] in Havn.

There's also an obituary for Edmund Bagwell, and features about Skizz and One-Eyed Jack. Personally I'd like to see Wagner do some new OEJ stories in 2000 AD, or maybe a Dredd time-travel story where he meets Jack.
Title: Re: Meg 385 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: Eamonn Clarke on 18 June, 2017, 12:20:40 PM
(http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r182/Caliban_photos/meg385_zpsclzdkepd.jpg)

Phil Winslade is a drokking wonder!
Title: Re: Meg 385 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: Richard on 18 June, 2017, 12:31:05 PM
And that cover continues on the back!
Title: Re: Meg 385 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: Richard on 18 June, 2017, 12:31:57 PM
By which I meant the picture continues on the back, not just the paper, which you knew already.
Title: Re: Meg 385 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: Geoff on 19 June, 2017, 08:14:47 AM
Great self contained Dredd and the rest of the Meg's pretty good too.

May just be me, but the facial expressions on the 2 Marshalls on the cover look a bit odd to me...
Title: Re: Meg 385 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: CalHab on 19 June, 2017, 08:46:38 AM
Quote from: Geoff on 19 June, 2017, 08:14:47 AM
Great self contained Dredd and the rest of the Meg's pretty good too.

May just be me, but the facial expressions on the 2 Marshalls on the cover look a bit odd to me...

Yes, Lawson looks a bit off to me as well.
Title: Re: Meg 385 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: Batman's Superior Cousin on 19 June, 2017, 03:41:59 PM
Quote from: CalHab on 19 June, 2017, 08:46:38 AM
Quote from: Geoff on 19 June, 2017, 08:14:47 AM
Great self contained Dredd and the rest of the Meg's pretty good too.

May just be me, but the facial expressions on the 2 Marshalls on the cover look a bit odd to me...

Yes, Lawson looks a bit off to me as well.

They look almost simian to me!!!
Title: Re: Meg 385 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: Proudhuff on 20 June, 2017, 04:41:34 PM
Quote from: Richard on 17 June, 2017, 08:50:59 PM
Wow!

A phenomenally good Dredd one-off by Michael Carroll, and in my view he's now made it as one of the top Dredd writers. This feels like an '80s (in a good way) Wagner & Grant tale. It's got a solid sf idea underpinning it, it's funny, it has a decent plot, and it introduces a fun character who I really hope we'll see again.


This ^^^

I'm enjoying Lawless but not as much as others here, personally I'd like a bit more Deadwood and less Lone Ranger, but that's just me  ;)

There is something right happening in the state of Havn and its keeping us guessing which is great, Anderson seems, sorry to say being done by numbers, and I'd prefer a more dynamic and varied approach to the artwork.

The two text pieces are fine advertorials and do answer the question, WTF does Demi-god Moore make of the reprints.

Sadly no Dreddlines to brighten Butt'mans Hols.
Title: Re: Meg 385 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: sheldipez on 21 June, 2017, 10:42:10 AM
The Meg has been on a roll for months now. Regularly enjoy it over the prog and no exception this month. Dredd was laugh out funny with great art. Again laughed through Black Museum. Sad to see the wonderful Lawless go. And both Havn (which was a slow burn for me) and Anderson to heat up.  I've loved reading through Necrophim back to back in the floppy; some stories really do click more when read in a big chunk, hope they finish it off next floppy. IMO there hasn't been a bad story in Meg for ages. Brill.
Title: Re: Meg 385 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: Proudhuff on 21 June, 2017, 10:52:38 AM
BTW its brilliant to have Carl Critchlow back in TMO's thrall, he does a cracking job on this Dredd.
More please and in the Prog too. :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Meg 385 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: AlexF on 23 June, 2017, 11:17:00 AM
Such as good Dredd tale this month! I do hope we see the narrating psychic again; I expect there's mileage in her adopting different narration styles depending on which sector of the city she's in. Get her into Angeltown and see what happens...
Title: Re: Meg 385 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: sheridan on 23 June, 2017, 12:58:56 PM
Loved the narrating psychic!

Can't figure out why [spoiler]double-page spread[/spoiler] was spoilered.
Title: Re: Meg 385 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: Richard on 23 June, 2017, 04:15:00 PM
They're more effective when they're a surprise.
Title: Re: Meg 385 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: IndigoPrime on 23 June, 2017, 04:24:47 PM
Lawless continues to be superb. I mentioned to Mrs G that Iceland was the setting for a Dreddworld strip. I got a 'look'. She... wasn't overly thrilled by the elves component.
Title: Re: Meg 385 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: Colin YNWA on 23 June, 2017, 09:52:01 PM
Yep - GREAT Meg. Loved the Dredd, just a really fantastic trick and I hope we haven't seen the last of ... Narrator Lady (sorry her name escapes me!). Likewise Lawless just sings and shines as gloriously as it always does. Can't wait for it to be back but by George its been a delight. One of the best comics about full stop.

Havn is losing me a little... well a lot if I'm honest BUT in a really good way, not in the throw it away can't handle that way. Rather in the man I can't wait to give this another go and to get my head into what's going on. That's the good way by the way.

Anderson continues were we left off with a solid opener... which isn't really an opener and I almost wish there'd been a bit of a gap between the twop stories.Just would of had a better rhyme... but happy enough to have it continue. Nice little Black Museum story.

As its new comic book day (well for me) haven't got to the text articles but they are looking nice so will.
Title: Re: Meg 385 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: I, Cosh on 24 June, 2017, 02:51:14 PM
Great to see Crotchless Critchlow back in Tharg's mighty organ and this was a great little story. One of Carroll's best Dredds.

Some really great art wrapping up Lawless and good to hear the wait will be relatively short.
Title: Re: Meg 385 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: The Monarch on 24 June, 2017, 03:02:13 PM
the text piece on the skizz trade is the second time its been mentioned that both the baike skizz strips have never been reprinted.....but didn't book 2 get a nice Hamlyn trade in the 90s?
Title: Re: Meg 385 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: sheridan on 24 June, 2017, 06:52:25 PM
Quote from: Colin YNWA on 23 June, 2017, 09:52:01 PM
Yep - GREAT Meg. Loved the Dredd, just a really fantastic trick and I hope we haven't seen the last of ... Narrator Lady (sorry her name escapes me!).
Laurel Docks.
Title: Re: Meg 385 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: staticgirl on 27 June, 2017, 04:11:06 PM
I didn't like the cover a heck of a lot, the humans do look Simian because their noses are way too short and high up. It lengthens the bottom half of the face although this does make them look very aggressive. The Lawless comic inside was great though.

I thought that was a great Dredd story and I would love to see Laurel Docks return. The rest of the strips were really enjoyable too.

I didn't realise that Edmund Bagwell did Syd Serene! I used to adore that in Deadline. It was pure Acid House in the form of a comic. I was a fan much earlier than I ever knew. What a great loss he is.
Title: Re: Meg 385 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: Magnetica on 28 June, 2017, 09:17:10 AM
Yes that was a great Dredd, one of the best in ages, he said merely echoing what others had already said. I hope we get to see Laurel Docks again, he said stating the obvious.

Tales from Black Mueseum - whilst I think there will always be a need for one off tales, this one didn't grab me.

Havn - right, wasn't expecting that. Intriguing.

Anderson - not sure why this is billed as a new story. It's a direct continuation from last month. Given the revelation that [spoiler]Dredd is possibly descended from Lizard people[/spoiler] you would think it should make more of an impact. But obviously that's not going to be the case, is it?

Lawless - just the usual. Which is top notch, easy to engage with, exciting comics.

I do also agree The faces on the cover just don't look right.

Oh and Carl Critchlow is seriously under used by Tharg.
Title: Re: Meg 385 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: von Boom on 30 June, 2017, 02:36:29 PM
A great Dredd story to be sure, but Lawless has been simply fantastic! I'm sad this story is over, but I can't wait for the next story!
Title: Re: Meg 385 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: Mikey on 07 July, 2017, 02:58:51 PM
Haven't posted my review views in a while, but simply had to publicly declare that The Third Person was simply brilliant from start to finish. That Carroll fella is a smart bugger an no mistake. It made me smile, I was immediately hooked and hanging on every word, not to mention the always exemplary art by yer man Critchlow who gives good MC1.

I was entirely charmed by the whole affair and would actually love this to be a true one off - it'll be talked about for years already. So yeah, more smart and funny one and dones please!

Can't say I'm getting on great with the rest of the Meg right now. I've lost the thread in Havn, feel Anderson is just OK and I've wandered off from Lawless a bit too. This last view is a surprise as I lapped the yarn up initially, but I don't know, I just seemed to have stopped caring about it. I think it's too much of a Western for me or something (generally don't like 'em that much) and I struggle to see how or why it's in Dreddworld. Just my opinion like, and I generally enjoy the creative team's work, so it's definitely me. 
Title: Re: Meg 385 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: Link Prime on 18 July, 2017, 10:17:20 AM
Quote from: Mikey on 07 July, 2017, 02:58:51 PM
The Third Person was simply brilliant from start to finish.

Just caught up on this Meg last night and want to echo the love for 'The Third Person'.
Best Dredd one-off in years.
Title: Re: Meg 385 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: IndigoPrime on 18 July, 2017, 07:43:38 PM
I was interested in Havn, having an Icelandic wife. She grilled me a bit about the strip. Quite a lot of eye-rolling followed, although the names at least are suitably Icelandic.