2000 AD Online Forum

Spoilers => Other Reviews => Topic started by: Tjm86 on 03 November, 2018, 06:55:13 PM

Title: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: Tjm86 on 03 November, 2018, 06:55:13 PM
Quote"When the archetypes, tropes, stage settings, stages, and other props of fiction grow boring and you lose enthusiasm for using them, your writing inevitably reveals this loss. The tropes and archetypes lose their mythic power and become mere clichés."  Geoff Hart http://www.writing-world.com/fiction/house.shtml

   Rob Williams' latest Dredd tale is slowly evolving into an interesting beast, living up to the promise that "There is a very big moment in Dredd's world coming." [Rob Williams prog 2100].  For some the thought of conspiracies within Justice Dept smell of cliché and such ideas have been done to death in popular media in recent years.  The team that Dredd has pulled around him; an architect, an insane Wally Squad Judge, an Accountant and a street judge certainly fail to fit most models of a crack team.  Up against the mysterious Smiley and his team of Enceladus Energy Empowered Ninja Judges and without the sanction of Hershey the team certainly seem in a challenging place.  Perhaps what is more of interest is whether this tale will prove Hart's argument that "re-examining the roles of flagging props can reinvigorate them. [which] happens whenever an author looks deep into a literary device, discovers why it still holds meaning for them, and refreshes interest in that literary device by evoking its essence in an entirely new way."  Is Justice Dept and Mega City One, is Dredd himself, that literary device that is being reinvigorated?

   History features large in this tale.  The history between Dredd and Hershey.  Dredd's pivotal role in the history of Mega City One.  Smiley's hidden role in the same history, his invisible hand that we were first introduced to in Trifecta.  Chief Judges of history; Cal and McGruder.  Frank's pre-Wally squad history with Smiley.  Dredd's old foe Kazan's aging, decaying clone.  Political challengers to the judicial system in Blondel Dupre.  Against all this ultimately looming large, locked away behind cryptography, the file for 2103; the year after Dredd and Hershey returned from the Krysler Expedition.  A year of seemingly inconsequential cases and a looming threat that ultimately evolved into all-out war with East Meg One.  It seems that the weight of those years is evolving a physical reality for Dredd, pressing down hard on him.  The question of his role in the actions that has outraged him, that sent him once before into the Cursed Earth in response to how he saw Justice Dept developing.

   Dredd has been here before, questioning his place, the role of Justice Dept, of the reign of the Judges.  Kraken puzzled over his annotated note on "the Big Lie".  Dredd shared his misgivings with his mentor.  He commented previously on the tactics the Judges use to maintain their rule.  Yet this was before the encounter with the Father of Justice, Fargo, once more.  How much do Fargo's words haunt him?  How much does his lie to Hershey bother him?  For Fargo to judge what had grown out of his works so harshly could hardly have washed off him so cleanly.  Now though Dredd does not have a mentor with whom to share his thoughts.  Moreover the circle of trust has drawn ever smaller and even that has been infiltrated.  Kazan may well have served as a foil but at the same time he also lay out small nuggets of wisdom for Dredd to mull over in his barbs.  Now even that has been taken away.

   So what is the 'Small House' of the title?  Is it Dredd's world, Mega City One?  The once sprawling metropolis that dominated the whole Eastern Seaboard now reduced by war, terror and plague?  Is it Justice Dept?  The previously indomitable judicial force now reeling from the events of the past forty years?  Is it Smiley's humble abode?  The hidden dining room that he inhabits, hidden behind the walls of the Grand Hall?  Or is it all of the above?

   Returning again to Hart, it is worth considering his observation that "what kind of living space the house is, and what it says about the inhabitants" is pertinent here.  Once more history figures here.  Smiley's house is redolent with historical iconography.  The flight of ducks on the wall would likely be a familiar figure to more aged readers.  The dining room arrangement of Smiley's house, so mundane and familiar.  The old fireplace, the gas lamps and sideboard.  All of a similar historical era.  Just like Smiley himself, both a name and character from literary history.  The quintessential spymaster always slightly removed from officialdom in his duties and actions and yet intricately linked.  Everything about him points to the past.

   In respect of Dredd, the question of house or home becomes a compelling one.  Everything seems to be pointing to a perturbation.  Everything Dredd has come to know and believe is being increasingly challenged.  His own 'father' has questioned the home Dredd has come to know and love.  It is the source of his identity, of his very being.  His commitment to justice has always been unwavering but his commitment to Justice Dept has been measured against this standard.  It is hard to imagine the conflict that such tension must provoke.  Doubtless it is only his training, upbringing and experience that has enabled him to weather it.  What then when the instability that has been introduced slowly grows into something greater?

   Is this what is at the heart of Williams' latest exploration of Dredd and his world?  In disturbing the very centre of Dredd's being, upending his world and his relationship with the other inhabitants an opportunity exists to redefine Justice Dept, its relationship with its citizens and the way in which the city is run.  Is this at the back of the reference to Blondel Dupre and the fact that the Judges are Fascists?  Are the seeds Fargo planted in Dredd's mind about to bear fruit? It would certainly be interesting to see how a world in which Dredd and his fellow Judges find themselves in a completely different relationship with the citizens they rule over would develop.

Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: Frank on 03 November, 2018, 08:47:28 PM

Interesting ideas and observations, Tjm. I'll have to wait until Wednesday to see if I have anything useful to add, but redefining Dredd would be in line with Williams's stated intention for the original Titan storyline*

It'd be even more interesting if that meant changing Dredd's relationship with MC1 and Justice Department, although introducing some kind of democratic reform seems like a more significant change to the status quo than anything else that's happened in the strip in the last 40 years**


* Less so the Icecapades of Enceladus, books 1 & 2

** And you'd expect that to involve Beeny, the literal, physical manifestation of Dredd's shifting relationship with the city and the system he embodies. The real world, office politics reason why she isn't one of the small gang of trusted colleagues Dredd's gathered around him is obvious (she's a Wagner character), but it's still a little strange not to see her there - it's the same reason Michael Carroll felt the need to insert a line of dialogue into Every Empire Falls explaining why Anderson couldn't make it (https://i.imgur.com/6Jm6FQR.png) to Nakatomi Plaza
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: TordelBack on 03 November, 2018, 10:42:41 PM
I'm not a huge fan of the larger Titan storyline (although I love the Low Life elements), but I have no problem with Beeny's absence. Frank is quite correct in terms and of the real-world reasons,  but in-universe her association with Dredd has negatively impacted her career as a judge already: her exile in Tour of Duty, and her experiences before, during and after Chaos Day (although the latter not entirely his fault). It's important to Joe that she doesn't get sucked into his dodgy dealings, because she's his one shot at redemption, at creating a better Justice Dept than he can manage,  and maybe even fulfilling Fargo's request.
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: Richard on 03 November, 2018, 11:05:48 PM
It's still a big Justice Department. Dredd doesn't need to hang out with the same judges every day. We've seen much less of Giant over the last ten years than we used to, so I'm glad he's back.
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: Frank on 03 November, 2018, 11:43:16 PM
Quote from: TordelBack on 03 November, 2018, 10:42:41 PM
(Beeny's) association with Dredd has negatively impacted her career as a judge already: her exile in Tour of Duty, and her experiences before, during and after Chaos Day (although the latter not entirely his fault). It's important to Joe that she doesn't get sucked into his dodgy dealings, because she's his one shot at redemption, at creating a better Justice Dept than he can manage,  and maybe even fulfilling Fargo's request.

I tend to think of Dredd using Beeny as a tool to perform a task he can't bring himself to complete (http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/wp-content/Fargo-Old.jpg), but it's interesting to see his motivations as more complex - that, in pushing her ascent to the Council, Dredd was also protecting her from harm (https://i.imgur.com/dKKyMlX.png)*

Thanks.


* So she survives until a time she can complete the task (https://i.imgur.com/u5uiELL.jpg) he's unable/unwilling to perform himself. It's interesting to consider whether that's the reason Dredd avoids the role of Chief Judge - because then he'd have no excuse not to do what he knows he should (references: Megazine 300 & 252, respectively). Never thought of Dredd as Hamlet (https://www.bl.uk/shakespeare/articles/hamlet-and-revenge), before.
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: Magnetica on 04 November, 2018, 11:52:18 AM
One thing that occurs to me, is can we have a major, scenario changing event happen in a non-Wagner Dredd? And I think the answer to that needs to be yes (so long as Wagner agrees to it) for the good of the strip i.e. so we know it can happen in any given story.
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: broodblik on 04 November, 2018, 12:53:15 PM
Quote from: Magnetica on 04 November, 2018, 11:52:18 AM
One thing that occurs to me, is can we have a major, scenario changing event happen in a non-Wagner Dredd? And I think the answer to that needs to be yes (so long as Wagner agrees to it) for the good of the strip i.e. so we know it can happen in any given story.

Wagner has not been writing Dredd for a while now and maybe it is time that someone takes over the reigns and direction of Dredd. Yes, Wagner is the Dredd writer and I wish that he will write more (I know he will doing a Dredd coming Feb 2019).

As Rob said in prog 2100 their is major changes coming to Dredd, it is already started with 2105 let us see where he takes us.
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: Magnetica on 04 November, 2018, 02:03:06 PM
Not sure when the last Wagner Dredd was, but it has been discussed quite often on this forum. IIRC he has been averaging about 10 to 15 episodes per year recently. I am sure someone like Frank would be able to tell us. But the thing is, he is still involved and is surely viewed by most squaxx as the "owner" (even if technically that is Rebellion) so any major changes would (morally) require his sign off (to be credible).
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: Frank on 04 November, 2018, 03:03:50 PM
Quote from: Magnetica on 04 November, 2018, 02:03:06 PM
... someone like Frank

Unfortunately yes, I am that kind of person


2012 - 30 episodes   (Meg 00)
2013 - 20 episodes* (Meg 00)
2014 - 23 episodes   (Meg 06)
2015 - 13 episodes   (Meg 03)
2016 - 09 episodes   (Meg 00)
2017 - 12 episodes   (Meg 00)
2018 - 00 episodes   (Meg 01)


Wagner wrote a few Dredds for specials and the Dark Judges story, Dominion, during this period, as well as giving us more Strontium Dog with the late, great Carlos Ezquerra. And Rok Of The Reds (https://www.rokofthereds.com/?fbclid=IwAR0sXnJUhJU3o7r5tSVI0-Wn_zF8GHgniSEJHY-c_D0E5BYh7sxEmwI41rA) arrived, with more to look forward to. Not bad for a pensioner.


* including Dark Justice, which was written in 2012 and originally meant to appear in 2013.
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: broodblik on 04 November, 2018, 03:09:20 PM
Thank you for Frank. Now we can see that his is writing less and less every year. As Magnetica says that "Wagner" must at least give his thumbs. I still believe the current batch of writers we have Dredd in good hands
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: JOE SOAP on 04 November, 2018, 03:12:25 PM
Quote from: broodblik on 04 November, 2018, 03:09:20 PM
"Wagner" must at least give his thumbs.

Justice, has a price.
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: Richard on 04 November, 2018, 04:03:55 PM
Is 2018 the first year when Wagner write no Dredd for the prog?
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: IndigoPrime on 04 November, 2018, 04:13:20 PM
At this point, you have to question why wafner would need to OK anything. Perhaps Tharg might ask him for a sanity check or second opinion, but if he's barely actively involved in the character now, perhaps it's time to pass the baton. The key, for me, is Dredd needs *someone* to be an anchor, whether that's Williams or someone else.
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: Frank on 04 November, 2018, 04:16:22 PM
Quote from: Richard on 04 November, 2018, 04:03:55 PM
Is 2018 the first year when Wagner write no Dredd for the prog?

October 1991 - May 1994 was a holiday for Wagner. He was writing Dredds for the Megazine during that time, though.


Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: Magnetica on 04 November, 2018, 05:02:26 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 04 November, 2018, 04:13:20 PM
At this point, you have to question why wafner would need to OK anything. Perhaps Tharg might ask him for a sanity check or second opinion, but if he's barely actively involved in the character now, perhaps it's time to pass the baton. The key, for me, is Dredd needs *someone* to be an anchor, whether that's Williams or someone else.

I guess I view it as a matter of respect and to be fair John has said he would be ok for others to write his 2000AD characters if he is no longer doing it. I still see him as a sort of "show runner" for Dredd (to borrow TV term).

If there was to be a new lead writer then I can think of no-one better than Rob Williams. Whether he has the time or interest, I have no idea.
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: Leigh S on 04 November, 2018, 05:14:24 PM
I can think of a few, but they aren't working for Tharg - Al Ewing being the closest I've come to thinking Dredd could be in safe hands post Wagner retirement. 

Possibly I still havent forgiven Rob Williams for that horse(!), but the tone of his strips seldom chimes with my idea of what "feels" right for Dredd - but then, he gets closer than Alan Grant, long time collaborator on many of my favourite thrills, so them's big tight boots to fill
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: Magnetica on 04 November, 2018, 05:34:57 PM
Al Ewing would be good and I discounted him because as you say he hasn't worked for Tharg for ages.

With regard to the Small House, it is worth remembering that he wrote the Dredd parts of Trifecta
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: Frank on 04 November, 2018, 06:22:38 PM
Quote from: broodblik on 04 November, 2018, 03:09:20 PM
Now we can see that (Wagner) is writing less and less every year.

There's one last story Wagner really wants to write*, and has pitched to Tharg on more than one occasion (with no success (https://www.facebook.com/groups/2000adDiscussion/permalink/1561662993994899/)). It'd be his last, though, and Carlos is no longer around to draw it.


* I would like to write (Dredd's) death story, and have suggested it to Rebellion. I've thought about it for some time now. Fans have even suggested pooling their money together to get me and Carlos to create that comic. But, I couldn't do it without Rebellion's agreement. You never know. there may be an Elsewhere like story one day. (Dredd's Dark Knight) would be a lovely story to tell, but I would have to give it a lot more though. Something like (Dark Knight); not an epic, but maybe something as long as Dark Justice, a dozen or so episodes.

https://www.bleedingcool.com/2016/07/29/judge-dredds-creator-john-wagner-plans-to-kill-him-offf-forever/
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: broodblik on 04 November, 2018, 06:32:23 PM
There is a few I can think off: Mike Carroll (I really liked his last story "The Paradigm Shift"), Rob Williams or even Gordon Rennie. El Ewing  am not sure (maybe because I really hated Zombo).
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: Jim_Campbell on 04 November, 2018, 06:35:54 PM
Quote from: Magnetica on 04 November, 2018, 05:34:57 PM
Al Ewing would be good and I discounted him because as you say he hasn't worked for Tharg for ages.

When Al was interviewed for the Thrill-Cast recently, he said fairly definitely that he's not finished with the House of Tharg, and anticipates a time when either his US commitments slacken off or he purposely makes time to do more 2000AD work.
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: Jim_Campbell on 04 November, 2018, 06:41:55 PM
Quote from: broodblik on 04 November, 2018, 06:32:23 PM
El Ewing  am not sure (maybe because I really hated Zombo).

Al's Dredds were consistently good, and often genuinely excellent. Felt like 'proper' Dredd without being slavishly Wagner-esque. I'd like to see Abnett take a consistent run at the strip, TBH. He's done a handful of admittedly run-of-the-mill episodes, but that was a long time ago and the quality of the work he's delivered for TMO in recent years suggests it might be worth giving him another crack at it.
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: Magnetica on 04 November, 2018, 07:29:39 PM
That's really good news about Al Ewing - I have fallen out of the habit of listening to the Thrillcast and so missed that.

As for Dan Abnett, I am fairly sure he would do an awesome job, but I wouldn't like to see it if it was detrimental to writing his other strips. What with Sinister Dexter, Grey Area, Brink, Kingdom and Lawless it already feels like he is writing half of Tharg's stories as it is.

Not to mention work elsewhere- so it beats me how he would find the time.
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: IndigoPrime on 04 November, 2018, 07:40:42 PM
Anyone who's not convinced about Al Ewing's ability to do Dredd should find a copy of Hachette's Served Cold Dredd Mega Collection book (vol. 83); the only bad bit is realising that he may never do any more Dredd, frankly.
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: Richard on 04 November, 2018, 08:11:57 PM
Al Ewing was brilliant and I'd love to see more from him.

It's unlikely that Carlos would have wanted to illustrate a Death of Dredd story even if he'd been asked to, since he refused to draw Alpha's death. But whoever the artist might be, I would sincerely like to see Wagner's vision of how that story should go, even if it was officially non-canonical.
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: Goosegash on 04 November, 2018, 08:13:46 PM
Quote from: Magnetica on 04 November, 2018, 05:02:26 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 04 November, 2018, 04:13:20 PM
At this point, you have to question why wafner would need to OK anything. Perhaps Tharg might ask him for a sanity check or second opinion, but if he's barely actively involved in the character now, perhaps it's time to pass the baton. The key, for me, is Dredd needs *someone* to be an anchor, whether that's Williams or someone else.

I guess I view it as a matter of respect and to be fair John has said he would be ok for others to write his 2000AD characters if he is no longer doing it. I still see him as a sort of "show runner" for Dredd (to borrow TV term).

If there was to be a new lead writer then I can think of no-one better than Rob Williams. Whether he has the time or interest, I have no idea.

The problem with no-one else but Wagner being permitted to tell the stories that "matter" in the wider Dredd universe has been building for a long time now, it was going to have to be addressed sooner or later. In the event I think the Big Guy has kind of forced the issue by all but stepping away from regular Dredd writing.

My feeling is that Williams more than anyone else is currently filling that vacuum, and the fact he got the TV show gig as well would seem to confirm Tharg puts a lot of faith in him to lead the direction of the overarching narrative.

OTOH, I'd be completely in favour of more Ewing in the Prog, having Dredd duties split between Rob and Al would be an ideal scenario to my mind.
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: JOE SOAP on 04 November, 2018, 08:19:38 PM
Quote from: Richard on 04 November, 2018, 08:11:57 PM
It's unlikely that Carlos would have wanted to illustrate a Death of Dredd story even if he'd been asked to,

He was up for it.

(https://i.imgur.com/FiI85Da.jpg)
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: Frank on 04 November, 2018, 08:27:56 PM
Quote from: JOE SOAP on 04 November, 2018, 08:19:38 PM
Quote from: Richard on 04 November, 2018, 08:11:57 PM
It's unlikely that Carlos would have wanted to illustrate a Death of Dredd story even if he'd been asked to,

He was up for it.

(https://i.imgur.com/FiI85Da.jpg)

Oh man, that's sad.

I know for a fact Carlos was prepared to draw exactly such a story, a little more than a year ago.


Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: Richard on 04 November, 2018, 11:59:47 PM
That's a great shame. Missed opportunity. Still think it's worth doing anyway though.

I don't think it needs to be the case that only Wagner is allowed to write major stories, just as long as someone consults him so that they don't write something that contradicts his own plans for the series.
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: Pete Wells on 05 November, 2018, 12:43:48 AM
Great thread!

I'm loving The Small House but am with Tordelback in so much as I have some issues with the larger Titan storyline (the magic horse, invisible judges in the Halls of Justice (yuck,) Smiley in the cupboard etc.) I like my Dredd to be fairly grounded and many of these elements are just a little too fantastical for me. Add to that, that in recent years several other writers were all doing their own arcing epics too - some with very similar themes (so, so many corrupt judges, invisible sectors, Sov meddling) and it all just started to blend into one and get confusing... I'm not as young as I once was, y'see? Nurse!?! Where am I?

HOWEVER, rare Pete Wells moaning aside, The Small House has got me REALLY excited about Dredd again for the first time in years. The tension between Dredd and Hershey is amazing and I'm desperate to see the further ramifications of the story. I need to know what happens to Frank too, I love that guy! I really hope Rob will stick around for the long haul after it is finished.

We've all been saying it for years, Dredd needs a single, strong showrunner to keep it consistent and coherent. For me, if Dredd isn't on form, then my enthusiasm for the whole prog suffers. I really feel for Tharg, his job must be one of the hardest in the world!
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: broodblik on 05 November, 2018, 02:59:55 AM
I do not mind multiple writers doing Dredd with each one having his on story-line but they should be coordinated.
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: CalHab on 05 November, 2018, 08:07:48 AM
Quote from: JOE SOAP on 04 November, 2018, 03:12:25 PM
Quote from: broodblik on 04 November, 2018, 03:09:20 PM
"Wagner" must at least give his thumbs.

Justice, has a price.

A new meaning to digital comics.
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: Fungus on 05 November, 2018, 10:33:24 AM
This talk of Williams and the much-missed Ewing at the helm(et) of Dredd is pretty mouth-watering, even if it's highly speculative. The Small House has been a welcome return to grandiose and serious Dredd, after a long lean spell in the prog (for me anyway).

Could be no mention yet of Flint on this thread? But there is a heft to his Dredd, especially as written by Williams, that is just perfect. In the (G)olden days Dredd for me was Ron Smith's -- Flint's is how I 'see' Dredd now...

To my surprise I'm anxious to read Wedneday's prog..... :o
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: Magnetica on 05 November, 2018, 11:42:41 AM
I think is because most on here probably take it as read that Henry Flint is now the go to art droid for Dredd (with MacNeil and Willsher up there for me as well).

Whereas the most uncertainty is around who is going to be writing the strip long term. For me Rob Williams and Al Ewing's Dredd Stands head and shoulders above any other non Wagner / Grant Dredd.
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: Jim_Campbell on 05 November, 2018, 11:44:35 AM
Quote from: Fungus on 05 November, 2018, 10:33:24 AM
This talk of Williams and the much-missed Ewing at the helm(et) of Dredd is pretty mouth-watering, even if it's highly speculative.

If you listen the the Thrill Cast I mentioned, Al doesn't sound like Dredd is at the top of list of 2000AD-related things he wants to do, unfortunately.
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: TordelBack on 05 November, 2018, 12:51:46 PM
I rate Ewing's Dredds very highly, in the all-time Top 5, the overall tone and ultra-dark humour are just perfect, but I wonder how well he'd handle the remorseless grind of a regular slot. That said,  I'd pay good money to see him quash my doubts!

I do agree that a more co-ordinated approach to using the stable of excellent writers Tharg has on Dredd is the best way to deal with the demands of almost 400 high-density pages a year. Acknowledging that I know nothing about the realities of editorial or writers' fees,  I envisage some sort of internal pitchfest, with major events and arcs roughed out a couple of years in advance,  and the breakdown of unconnected one-offs,  short-runs and the various 'mythos' arcs loosely sketched out so that everyone knows what's going on around their own stories.

It'd be nice,  for example,  to see Carroll's Texas City shakeup reflected in the manoueverings of Judge Smiley,  Lamia responding to the fallout from an invasion of alien ice-intelligences,  or Judge Pin tangentially crossing paths with Joyce and Pax. Obviously the trick here would be not to constrain anyone's writing,  risking further choking the flow of fresh ideas that the strip thrives on, but the goal of a cohesive world with a shared direction,  rather than parallel individual kingdoms, could be worth it.
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: AlexF on 06 November, 2018, 06:41:26 PM
I agree that Williams has been doing excellent work on longer-form, continuity-important-seeming stories (aren't they all imaginary, as a wizard once said) - but for my money the best fun one-offs lately have been by McConville and Eglington. Eglington has also proven his chops on longer Dredd with the Sons of Booth trio, I really enjoyed that I did.

Sure, it's always nice to read the future history of Mega City One, but is it not generally agreed that the golden age of Dredd was between Apocalypse War and Oz*, i.e. when Wagner and Grant were mostly doing funny one-offs, and ignoring the sub-par City of the Damned?


*aka when young me was first introduced to the Prog, surely a coincidence...
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: TordelBack on 06 November, 2018, 09:32:09 PM
Certainly was my favourite period of Dredd, along with the Deadman/Necropolis and Day of Chaos eras. But for all the self-contained stories of that time, with Wagner and Grant there was the reassurance of things moving forward, with the fallout (of all kinds) and recovery from the Apocalypse War, Dredd's near breakdown, the growing Democracy movement, and even the reappearance and development of old characters (Mean, Krysler, Chopper), McGruder's first fall and the changing makeup of the Council of Five. There was also an apparently endless fountain of novel ideas from the two greats, which gets ever harder to equal after 40+ years of stories.

But quite agree about Eglinton and McConville.
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: Funt Solo on 06 November, 2018, 10:51:42 PM
Quote from: AlexF on 06 November, 2018, 06:41:26 PM
...is it not generally agreed that the golden age of Dredd was between Apocalypse War and Oz...

It's certainly got some top thrills.  On my patented Yay:Meh:Boo scale, it scores an impressive 37:51:11

Oh no, it's a list:

The Apocalypse War
Meka-City
The League Of Fatties
Fungus
The Game Show Show
Gunge
Destiny's Angels
Rabid
Blobs
The Executioner
Jimps
The Night Of The Rad-Beast
The Last Invader
Shanty Town
Prezzel Logic
Trapper Hag
The Prankster
The Starborn Thing
[King Of The Road]
The Stupid Gun
Condo
Cry Of The Werewolf
The Weather Man
Requiem For A Heavy-Weight
The Graveyard Shift
Suspect
Rumble In The Jungle
Bob & Carol & Ted & Ringo
Pieromania
The Highwaymen
Are You Tired Of Being Mugged?
Bob's Law
Citizen Snork
The Haunting Of Sector House 9
High Society
The House On Runner's Walk
Portrait Of A Politician
The Switch
[Rookie Dekker]
Superbowl
Bingo
The Making Of A Judge
The Wreckers
Many Unhappy Returns
Dredd Angel
Gator
[Doubts]
Question Of Judgement
Error Of Judgement
A Case For Treatment
The Wally Squad
City of the Damned: A 2000AD Postergraph
City Of The Damned
The Hunters Club
Monsteroso
Spugbug
[Juve's Eyes]
Sunday Night Fever
[Hagatha Smeld]
[Aftermath Ron Reagan]
[Thirteenth Assessment]
[Casey's Day Out]
[99 Red]
Midnight Surfer
Nosferatu
West Side Rumble
[Back On The Streets]
[Get Smart]
Something Abnormal About Norman
The Man Who Knew Too Much
Magnificent Obsession
Megaman
Death Of A Politician
Love Story
The Lemming Syndrome
The Squadron That Time Forgot
The Uglybug Ball
A Day At The Block Wars
The Lurker
A Merry Tale Of The Christmas Angel
The Warlord
Beggar's Banquet
A Chief Judge Resigns
The Secret Diary Of Adrian Cockroach aged 13 1/2 months
The Last Voyage Of The Flying Dutchman
Letter From A Democrat
[The Falluci Tape]
Gribligs
The Big Sleep
It Pays To Be Mental
[Rumours Can Kill]
[Zombies]
[The Exploding Man]
Riders On The Storm
The Law According To Judge Dredd
Paid With Thanks
The Art Of Kenny Who?
Russell's Inflatable Muscles
[The Dredd Syndrome]
The Urge
The Fists Of Stan Lee
Atlantis
[Block Rite]
Pinboing Replay
[The Peeper]
Attack Of The 50 Foot Woman
[The Dead Ringer]
Phantom Of The Shoppera
Tomb Of The Judges
[Hell's Packers]
The Witness
[A Real Xmas Story]
Varks
Superslab
Slick Dickens
They Shoot Deejays, Don't They? (Or At Least They Ought To)
The Taxidermist
The Beating Heart
The Comeback
[The Genie]
The Shooting Party
Navel Manoeuvres
Night Of The Ripper
The Interrogation
The Blood Donor
10 Years On
What If...The Judges Did The Ads?
So You Want To Be A Judge?
Pit Rat
The Raggedy Man
Simp
Reasons To Be Fearful
Fairlyhyperman
Revolution
Bug
Alabammy Blimps
Return Of Death Fist
[Corporal Punishment]
Killkraze
Oz
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: Richard on 06 November, 2018, 11:22:24 PM
Nonsense, it got even better after Oz. The democracy and Necropolis storylines were awesome.

After that, you also have The Pit, Sector House, numerous Al Ewing stories, and Tour of Duty, not to mention every PJ Maybe story.
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: TordelBack on 07 November, 2018, 06:48:13 AM
Funt's list covers about 5.5 years of progs (and includes the first two Democracy stories,  the first PJ Maybe story, the start of Dredd's doubts and The Graveyard Shift) . Richard's covers 25 years of Progs and Megs, the great majority of the strip's history.
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: Richard on 07 November, 2018, 01:21:35 PM
Hey, it's all a golden age!  ;)
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: Magnetica on 07 November, 2018, 03:32:43 PM
I would prefer this thread to be a discussion about the shocking events currently going on in the Small House story rather than a discussion of when the golden age of Dredd was; I haven't been this excited about a Dredd story since he put his boot through Jack Point's door*.

But if you are going to discuss that, I would start it earlier than the Apocalypse War. Back to the Judge Child, or even earlier. As well as that being my favourite epic, there were some fantastic one offs and shorts either side of it, such as New Year is Cancelled, Xmas Comes Early to Des O'Connor Block, Uncle Ump's Umpty Candy, the Aggro Dome, Monkey Business at the Charles Darwin Block, Pirates of the Black Atlantic, Otto Sump's Ugly Clinic, the Mega Rackets, Judge Death, Unamerican Graffiti, and Judge Death Lives, not to mention Block Mania.

Classics, every one IMHO.

* if it was Jack Points door- but that isn't really the point.
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: TordelBack on 07 November, 2018, 04:05:39 PM
On the speculation front, could Dredd just be playing to the watching Smiley when he publicly [spoiler]disses Hershey[/spoiler]?  I am genuinely excited to see Frank's story playing out at last, but I sort-of wish it was in his own strip, with a bit more room to breathe.

It is all good and lovely-looking fun, but I'd possibly be more engaged with The Small House if I didn't suspect every other writer will completely ignore anything currently happening, much as they did with Every Empire Falls (where Giant was in another of Dredd's secret gangs, IIRC). I retract this reservation if it turns out that there really is some shift in the status quo that is reflected in the wider strip.


Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: The Enigmatic Dr X on 07 November, 2018, 06:48:45 PM
Quote from: TordelBack on 07 November, 2018, 04:05:39 PM
On the speculation front, could Dredd just be playing to the watching Smiley when he publicly [spoiler]disses Hershey[/spoiler]?  I am genuinely excited to see Frank's story playing out at last, but I sort-of wish it was in his own strip, with a bit more room to breathe.

It is all good and lovely-looking fun, but I'd possibly be more engaged with The Small House if I didn't suspect every other writer will completely ignore anything currently happening, much as they did with Every Empire Falls (where Giant was in another of Dredd's secret gangs, IIRC). I retract this reservation if it turns out that there really is some shift in the status quo that is reflected in the wider strip.

This. The problem with non-Wagner Dredd is not that it's non-Wagner Dredd. The problem is that every other bugger ignores it.
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: Magnetica on 07 November, 2018, 07:07:04 PM
Quote from: The Enigmatic Dr X on 07 November, 2018, 06:48:45 PM
Quote from: TordelBack on 07 November, 2018, 04:05:39 PM
On the speculation front, could Dredd just be playing to the watching Smiley when he publicly [spoiler]disses Hershey[/spoiler]?  I am genuinely excited to see Frank's story playing out at last, but I sort-of wish it was in his own strip, with a bit more room to breathe.

It is all good and lovely-looking fun, but I'd possibly be more engaged with The Small House if I didn't suspect every other writer will completely ignore anything currently happening, much as they did with Every Empire Falls (where Giant was in another of Dredd's secret gangs, IIRC). I retract this reservation if it turns out that there really is some shift in the status quo that is reflected in the wider strip.

This. The problem with non-Wagner Dredd is not that it's non-Wagner Dredd. The problem is that every one else ignores it.

Not sure that is completely the case. The events in the Small House reference story elements from writers other than Rob Williams and John Wagner

Yes it does include stuff  from Wagner and Wagner / Grant stories (and ok they aren't "non-Wagner") e.g most notably as pointed out by Jim and Frank above the fracturing of Dredd and Hershey's relationship in Tour of Duty, but also going further back to Letter from a Democrat and the subsequent stories that followed on from that (based on the Blondel Dupre reference).

As far as non-Wagner it also referencing the further split in their relationship in Bullet to King Four and the Cold Deck (both Al Ewing) , the Kazan Clone in Bullet to King Four and the black ops stealth Judges in Family Man and the Cold Deck (both Al Ewing).

And ok Rob Williams came up with the whole Trifecta story with Al Ewing and Simon Spurrier - but that just goes to show writers can collaborate when they want to.

Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: Pete Wells on 07 November, 2018, 08:19:03 PM
Yep, when the (fantastic) writers are going in the same direction, it really is magical. I was great how other writers subtly sneaked in how Mega-City was getting colder during the run up to Enceladus. Small touches that meant a lot...
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: TordelBack on 08 November, 2018, 07:12:42 AM
Yep,  the getting-colder thing is my favourite modern example of how I'd like to see the Dredd strip work.

The problem I have isn't so much that non-Wagner characters are ignored by other writers (Wasn't Maitland originally Al Ewing's creation? And Carroll regularly uses Rennie, Ennis and Dave Stone characters), it's that major events are. For example,  when Smiley was listing crises there was no mention of the fact that MC-1 was just recently the subject of a briefly-successful coup by Texas City - something that sounds right up Smiley's alley,  and that storyline ran for many months in both the Prog and Meg.
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: CalHab on 08 November, 2018, 09:11:56 AM
Yes, the Texas City thing has apparently had zero ramifications on the city.

To be fair, this isn't a new phenomenon. Didn't all the kids of MC1 disappear in an Alan Grant Anderson story, and was completely ignored by everyone else?
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: wedgeski on 08 November, 2018, 09:17:41 AM
Isn't the kind of collaboration we're looking for an *editorial* responsibility, rather than one for the writers? Or is that simply not how 2000AD operates?
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: IndigoPrime on 08 November, 2018, 09:25:31 AM
2000 AD seems to have more freedom. I suspect that's mostly because strips tend to be written by a small number of writers throughout their entire history, or there's a kind of tag-team process in place, where someone takes over a strip. With Dredd, though, the universe is so sprawling that even when Wagner was writing a lot of it, there were plenty of contradictions. Now, it does feel like it needs a bit of a showrunner, although perhaps Rebellion thinks that would hem in other writers too much.
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: TordelBack on 08 November, 2018, 09:53:46 AM
I'm sure that's exactly the concern. It can't be easy to keep coming up with fresh Dredd tales for 60+ episodes a year, and telling writers they have to do so within an overall arc or continuity scheme might make it even harder.

I don't think it has to be proscriptive so much as just slightly more coordinated: it might be nice to see Dredd refer to (for example) Sector Zero when he's been rooting out another secret judicial conspiracy at the very same time, or vice versa. Or have Giant pause to reflect on the fact that he's part of yet another of Dredd's secret resistance cells, and maybe it's not a great look on his resume.  Grud knows Matt Smith can't have many spare moments putting out 180 pages of original comic and who-knows how much reprinted content month, but I think having a slightly heavier editorial hand on Dredd in particular might be worth the extra effort.
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: Magnetica on 08 November, 2018, 09:59:30 AM
How hard would it be to have writers meetings every so often where they put forward major plot points over the coming period and allow others to at least reference them in their stories (just like the Encladeus I've thing) and allow characters that given writers major on to appear in strips by the others so long as their use doesn't contradict their true motivations e.g. so and so is really a double agent working for the Sovs or Smiley? You could even have them doing stuff towards their real agenda in those stories, just being subtle about it.

Or is that just not how it works - I don't know as I 'm not a writer.
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: TordelBack on 08 November, 2018, 10:15:30 AM
That's my problem too - I really don't know the mechanics of it all: how stories are pitched, approved, scheduled and edited. The brilliant coordination of the Trifecta strips was instigated by the writers involved, but presumably Matt had to move heaven and earth to actually deliver it. I wouldn't suggest anything on that scale, but it does indicate that mechanisms exist.
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: broodblik on 08 November, 2018, 10:38:24 AM
I think that Dredd will definitely benefit out of show runner. I still do like it that we have different writers creating their own worlds within the bigger Dreddverse. Each writer should just make sure that the overall arc is kept in tack.
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 08 November, 2018, 11:01:11 AM
Quote from: TordelBack on 08 November, 2018, 09:53:46 AM
I don't think it has to be proscriptive so much as just slightly more coordinated: it might be nice to see Dredd refer to (for example) Sector Zero when he's been rooting out another secret judicial conspiracy at the very same time, or vice versa.

I do think Sector Zero in particular was a real mistep. Even putting aside the fact I didn't think it was a particularly good story, the concept made less than no sense and was a paler imitation of both Trifecta's ninja-judges and Smiley's 'I have been secretly influencing and guiding the city' schtik.

The fact that 'ninja-judge story' has already become a shorthand for the problems of modern Dredd says it all, really!
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: Magnetica on 08 November, 2018, 11:17:39 AM
I actually really like the Ninja Judge and Smiley story lines. I guess the issue was having another one almost the same.

I seem to recall a podcast with probably Rob Williams where he said something like the co-ordination required for Trifecta was really hard work.

Now we don't need it at that level i.e. 3 stories running simultaneously all needing to interlock. Just a bit of planning and consistancy. The earlier comment about needing to feel there are consequences to what happens is spot on.
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: Frank on 08 November, 2018, 12:14:23 PM
Quote from: wedgeski on 08 November, 2018, 09:17:41 AM
Isn't the kind of collaboration we're looking for an *editorial* responsibility, rather than one for the writers?

Some readers want Trifecta every six months, but most commenting here only seem to think an occasional line of dialogue referencing previous events or suggesting a writer tweaks their story so it doesn't duplicate someone else's efforts is in order.

Those things seem more easily achieved by Tharg (or a writers' WhatsApp group) than quarterly strategy meetings where everything's set in stone and bringing in a showrunner who has to interfere to justify their paycheck.


Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: JamesC on 08 November, 2018, 12:33:56 PM
It all comes down to whether Tharg and/or the readers want things to feel like they're happening in the same world. People get all tied in knots over 'canon' but for me it's more about investment in the world. To take an example listed above - Alan Grant Anderson strips never felt like they were taking place in the same world as Dredd and, for me, that hurt the strip. Surely there can be some consenus over which big ideas are good and are worth investing in across Dredd-world strips. If all the kids in MC1 go missing, surely that's a pretty dramatic situation - I'm sure someone could have at least referenced it in an episode or two of Dredd.   
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: IndigoPrime on 08 November, 2018, 02:24:50 PM
That's it. I couldn't give much of a shit about tangential crossovers, like Strontium Dog and Rogue Trooper in Dredd. (I recall Robin Low on the old alt.2000ad group and I having discussions about the wider continuity, and him somehow managing to even get Robo-Hunter into that mix – hi, Robin, if you're reading, you nutcase, you.) But with Judge Dredd strips, it does feel a bit weird when the strip doesn't even acknowledge city-wide events. This is perhaps even more overt these days, with the way Wagner steered the strip – away from the oddball antics of the old b+w days, and to a more grown-up and procedural affair. And I'd agree to some extent with the wider Dreddworld strips – it's useful and coherent when they align, although I will happily take Anderson and such on their own merits.

Frankly, that's the case with everything, to be honest. I'm not that bothered if MC-1 is invaded by flying doughnuts that off 50% of the citizens in a multi-part epic than another writer broadly ignores. The strip's still enjoyable and one of the finest achievements in modern comics when taken as a whole. But it does have that something extra that's so very rare in comics when it all ties together – a kind of coherence that makes the world seem that little bit more real, and despite its weirdness and futuristic nature able to hold that suspension of disbelief. (See also: the entire Hellboyverse, and Usage Yojimbo, for two examples.)
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: TordelBack on 08 November, 2018, 02:40:24 PM
One of the things that continually surprises me when I do a Dredd re-read is that the start of one of the greatest long arcs of the strip, PSU and Edgar (eventually dovetailing with the deMarco and the Frendz storylines) , begins as a one-off 'aftermath' strip for one of the usually-ignored-by-and-ignoring-continuity epics, Inferno, itself ostensibly a sequel to the entire Democracy arc. That's the kind of link I'm after.

Incidentally, I really don't want to give the impression that I don't think The Small House is a very good story, and an important one. My concern is really that the rest of the strip treats it as such subsequently. I want the changes in relationships we see here to stick.
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: broodblik on 08 November, 2018, 02:56:08 PM
I really enjoy "The Small House" and we all can see how Dredd's world is changing (an hopefully the stories following will align with the changes). The only issue I have is that this has been building up over a few years and you do lose some cohesion and understanding when reading the story. It would be nice when the dust has settled to have to whole thing bundled together in one collection.
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: robert_ellis on 19 November, 2018, 05:21:03 PM
Agreed - I'm guessing the Titan/Enceladus is the latest material to collect this storyline. Is there enough for a new Rob Williams volume?
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: Frank on 19 November, 2018, 05:39:04 PM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 19 November, 2018, 05:21:03 PM
Agreed - I'm guessing the Titan/Enceladus is the latest material to collect this storyline. Is there enough for a new Rob Williams volume?

(https://i.imgur.com/tXiCv6t.png?2)


Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: broodblik on 19 November, 2018, 06:15:35 PM
Thanks for that Frank, will be looking to get the collection next year
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: broodblik on 23 November, 2018, 01:01:28 PM
From Rob Williams blog: http://www.robwilliamscomics.co.uk/archives/1417 (http://www.robwilliamscomics.co.uk/archives/1417)
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: broodblik on 10 September, 2019, 03:41:50 AM
Interview with Rob Williams: https://www.comicsbeat.com/interview-rob-williams-judge-dredd-the-small-house/ (https://www.comicsbeat.com/interview-rob-williams-judge-dredd-the-small-house/)

The last part of the interview he mentioned that his working on a new long-form Dredd story
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: IndigoPrime on 10 September, 2019, 10:38:10 AM
Good to know he's not gone. I feared the previous story was his Dredd swansong.
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: TordelBack on 10 September, 2019, 12:19:49 PM
I found it very interesting that between The Small House and the most recent story he killed off (or appeared to kill off)[spoiler]pretty much all of his own original characters[/spoiler], but of Dredd's 'tribe' left [spoiler]Ewing's Maitland[/spoiler] and of course Wagner's Giant. It suggests a change of focus for his future work.
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: AlexF on 13 September, 2019, 11:00:51 AM
Having just re-read the Small House in collected form, with the prologue, I liked it even more than when it was first in the Progs. I remember it felt like a breakneck thrill-ride at the time, with not enough explaining what was going on and what it all meant - but in collected form that's really not a problem at all. I sort of wish there were another couple of earlier stories in there bridging the Rob Williams 'saga' in between Titan/Enceladus and Act of Grud, but that's the thing with Dredd - it is possible to break it into satisfying chunks, but to get the absolute most out of it, you've just got to read basically ALL of it!

In all, a hugely satisfying conclusion to the Trifecta / Titan sequences; a slight shame that the 'ramifications' basically amount to a couple of character deaths (I will miss you forever, Dirfty Frank!) Hershey resigning and us getting a new chief Judge - one of these days Wagner or someone is going to dare to relax the iron rule of the Judges into some sort of democracy. Can you imagine if Dredd has to step back to being merely Judge, but requiring another person / body of people to take over the jury/executioner parts...

or maybe that would break the whole concept of the character/story too much.
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: broodblik on 19 September, 2019, 01:23:37 PM
Scripts from Rob Williams site:

http://www.robwilliamscomics.co.uk/archives/1461 (http://www.robwilliamscomics.co.uk/archives/1461)
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: Dash Decent on 27 September, 2019, 01:09:52 AM

I've just read "The Small House" GN.  Interesting stuff!  I want to mull over the story some more, but in terms of 'consequences' and what sticks (the main discussion point of this thread), it's interesting how much of present Dredd revolves around those key, well-known 'we all read them' events of the past.  Just as the Chaos bug came out of the Apocalypse War, we now jump back and learn that Smiley could have stopped (delayed?) the Apoc War and therefore many of the subsequent problems and ramifications are down to him. The present is built on the past however, and what happens now has consequences for the future.  It will be interesting to see if events continue to chain through the years so that in ten years from now we are enjoying stories that are only happening because of the events in "The Small House" and other 'currently recent' stories.

The only thing that seemed a bit odd was when they all left their special Encephalagraph goggles behind with Sam.  With invisible killers lurking about, you'd think you'd keep them on you. 

Henry Flint's art is as brilliant as ever.  I love Dredd's gritted teeth (p.40), the overhead shot of Dredd in Kazan's cell as he arranges a meet with Smiley (p.64), the medical Judge with a red cross symbol on the left bum cheek of her uniform, Dredd with his face in the dark (p.61) and much more.
Dredd standing up as he rides his bike through the door (p.49) reminds me of a great drawing of Dredd boosting his Lawmaster over a jump or gap.  I think it was also a Henry Flint drawing.  It may have been in the story with Nimrod?

It's striking what a difference the colouring makes.  Gary Caldwell's work on "Pets" is much more vibrant than Chris Blythe's muted tones in the rest of the book.  Unfortunately this makes it look a little gaudy in comparison (Dredd looks rather yellow on p.91).

We get a good view of the ghost Judge's uniform on p.45, when he's held in the Wally Squad safe house.  It looks very much like a nod to the 2012 movie uniform.

Smiley's very British sitting room with ducks on the wall, cups of tea, etc seems odd for a futuristic American, but perhaps he's tickled by referencing his namesake, or perhaps it's part of the Mega City angophilia madness that has them name city blocks after ancient British celebrities.  (Look out for a future story where the twin towers are rebuilt and named 'Ant' and 'Dec'.)


Quote from: Leigh S on 04 November, 2018, 05:14:24 PM
Possibly I still havent forgiven Rob Williams for that horse(!)


Quote from: Pete Wells on 05 November, 2018, 12:43:48 AM
the magic horse

Perhaps the magic horse uses the Enchilada energy in the same way as Smiley and his secret ghost Judges, lurking about in corridors and emerging into view when needed.


Quote from: TordelBack on 08 November, 2018, 09:53:46 AM
Grud knows Matt Smith can't have many spare moments putting out 180 pages of original comic and who-knows how much reprinted content month, but I think having a slightly heavier editorial hand on Dredd in particular might be worth the extra effort.

Pfff. The real problem is that Matt Smith sees all this stuff before anyone else, probably on a bigger scale too.  What he really does is lay all the new pages out on the floor, locks the office door, then he spends the rest of the day lying on his stomach reading comics and eating packets of Monster Munch.  Then he goes home.  Every day.  How jammy is that?!?
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: Robin Low on 28 September, 2019, 07:08:53 PM
To my mind, because of Dirty Frank, The Small House really begins with the first Low Life story. On that basis, can anyone provide an order of reading of all relevant/connected stories leading up to The Small House, and whether or not they've been collected?

Too lazy to do it myself, but if there is a sequence of books collecting the full story line, I'd be tempted to get them all and put them on the shelf together. I might even get a second set and send them to a friend in New Zealand.

Regards,

Robin
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: abelardsnazz on 28 September, 2019, 07:10:37 PM
As a dodger, most definitely.

What else has Smiley known about/influenced/left to run its course? Brilliant game-changing stuff from Williams, paying tribute to and developing all of Wagner and Grant's work.
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: AlexF on 04 October, 2019, 12:45:54 PM
Quote from: Robin Low on 28 September, 2019, 07:08:53 PM
To my mind, because of Dirty Frank, The Small House really begins with the first Low Life story. On that basis, can anyone provide an order of reading of all relevant/connected stories leading up to The Small House, and whether or not they've been collected?

Too lazy to do it myself, but if there is a sequence of books collecting the full story line, I'd be tempted to get them all and put them on the shelf together. I might even get a second set and send them to a friend in New Zealand.

Regards,

Robin

If you're going to bring Low Life into it, and you should, the ultra-complete reading order, as available in collected form, would be:

Judge Dredd Mega Collection Vols 20 and 21 (all Low-Life all the time, + the first bit of Titan)
or else Mega-City Undercover Vols 1, 2 and 3 (All of Low Life + Lenny Zero + Max Normal)

Trifecta

Judge Dredd: Titan (Which covers Titan + both books of Enceladus)

Judge Dredd: Cold Wars (which has a couple of Williams-scripted bits about Sov stuff - but you could easily skip this volume)

Judge Dredd: the Small House (which includes a vital pre-Small House story, and a neat epilogue)

That pretty much has it all. There are a couple of uncollected Rob Williams Dredd stories you could arguably throw in that delve into the Dredd-Hershey relationship, and introduce SJS Judge Gerhard, and heck why not all the stories with Sensitive Klegg, but you don't need to read those to follow the overall story. Plus, I can't remember what they're called or which Progs/Megs they were in.

If you're being super thorough, you might want to hunt out some uncollected Gordon Rennie and Al Ewing stuff, to see where the Kazan Clone came from (Gulag, I think?), and to meet Account Judge Maitland (The Bean Counter?). The Rennie Stuff will come up in the Case Files soon enough...
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: Robin Low on 26 October, 2019, 02:09:33 PM
Quote from: AlexF on 04 October, 2019, 12:45:54 PM
If you're going to bring Low Life into it, and you should, the ultra-complete reading order, as available in collected form, would be:

<snip>

I'm sorry Alex, I completely failed to pay attention there! Thanks for putting that together.

Regards,

Robin
Title: Re: Musings on The Small House.
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 26 October, 2019, 05:01:18 PM
To be really complete, it's worth noting that Smiley first shows up in The Simping Detective...