2000 AD Online Forum

Spoilers => Other Reviews => Topic started by: Tomwe on 19 June, 2018, 09:31:12 AM

Title: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: Tomwe on 19 June, 2018, 09:31:12 AM
Happy to receive this year's Sci-Fi Special in the post yesterday! I went for the Hershey cover although I am unable to find a credit, either in the issue itself or online.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DgCkf7lWkAAbjWI.jpg)

I'm about halfway through at this point, I enjoyed the Dredd tale, which with Babs Tarr's choice to follow the Stallone costume design certainly matched Beeby's attempt at ruffling Squaxx' feathers (as she admitted on the Thrillcast). I also noted a layout credit to J.Wyatt. Tarr worked from Cameron Stewart's layouts for Batgirl but I think Motor Crush is all her - perhaps this was to speed up production as much as anything.

Tyranny Rex looked good overall, reminding me of Rian Hughes' work from the 90s but the storytelling could have been better.

The Rogue story hit the spot, I enjoyed that one, and the Future Shock was good too, but Darkness Descends had probably my favourite artwork so far.

Ill update with the other strips when I'm done!
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: TordelBack on 19 June, 2018, 09:51:11 AM
Man I want that cover: fantastic stuff, anyone know who it's by?
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: Link Prime on 19 June, 2018, 09:55:27 AM
Quote from: TordelBack on 19 June, 2018, 09:51:11 AM
Man I want that cover: fantastic stuff, anyone know who it's by?

Yes, it is fantastic.
It's by our own Mimikeke.
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: Molch-R on 19 June, 2018, 10:15:34 AM
Quote from: Tomwe on 19 June, 2018, 09:31:12 AM
Happy to receive this year's Sci-Fi Special in the post yesterday! I went for the Hershey cover although I am unable to find a credit, either in the issue itself or online.

(https://image.ibb.co/fJA0pd/2018_06_19_10_14_15_Summer_Special_02_pdf_Adobe_Acrobat_Pro.png)

:)
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: Tomwe on 19 June, 2018, 10:30:13 AM
Quote from: Molch-R on 19 June, 2018, 10:15:34 AM
Quote from: Tomwe on 19 June, 2018, 09:31:12 AM
Happy to receive this year's Sci-Fi Special in the post yesterday! I went for the Hershey cover although I am unable to find a credit, either in the issue itself or online.

(https://image.ibb.co/fJA0pd/2018_06_19_10_14_15_Summer_Special_02_pdf_Adobe_Acrobat_Pro.png)

:)

Thanks Mike, my bad, and I see it's there in the shop copy too, in the middle where I glossed over it:
Quote
The 2000 AD Summer Special returns with a very special line-up: for the first time in 2000 AD's 41-year history, an entire issue will have an all-female roster of writers, artists, colorists, and letterers. With covers from Tula Lotay and Emily Zeinner, and all-new stories featuring Judge Dredd, Rogue Trooper, Psi-Judge Anderson and DeMarco, P.I. by Alex De Campi, Maura McHugh, Tillie Walden, Katy Rex, Laura Bailey and many more, no holiday is complete without this thrill-packed anthology! Includes free poster by Marguerite Sauvage as shown below (click to enlarge!).

Although my copy has the other cover credit inside, so I'm not going crazy here.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DgC0N1-WAAA3rY0.jpg)
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: TordelBack on 19 June, 2018, 10:40:20 AM
It's not often I'm lured into double-dipping by multiple covers, but for this I may have no choice. Two absolute corkers.
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: Molch-R on 19 June, 2018, 10:44:21 AM
Quote from: Tomwe on 19 June, 2018, 10:30:13 AM
Although my copy has the other cover credit inside, so I'm not going crazy here.
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DgC0N1-WAAA3rY0.jpg)

Huh, apologies are in order then - the PDF sent to the printers has Emily fully credited, but print copies seem to have the inside front cover for the Tula Lotay cover. We shall take this up with our printers, as that's really not on >:(
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: moldovangerbil on 19 June, 2018, 10:54:01 AM
Super rare variant alert!
Title: Re: 2018 SCI FI SPECIAL
Post by: Eamonn Clarke on 19 June, 2018, 03:34:03 PM
(https://i.imgur.com/aIechSV.jpg)
Title: Re: 2018 SCI FI SPECIAL
Post by: Eamonn Clarke on 19 June, 2018, 03:34:31 PM
(https://i.imgur.com/GB3ZjPN.jpg)
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: Tomwe on 19 June, 2018, 03:38:10 PM
Just a quick update since I finished the issue. The last three strips were pretty strong I thought. DaNi's art is lush, Tharg's face in the Terror Tale made me smile (and that strip overall worked well), and the final story with Anderson was a success on both art and story.

I welcome more work from these talented creators in the progs of the future!
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: Bad City Blue on 19 June, 2018, 03:43:37 PM
COVER - Average but nice enough, the hershey one is much better

DREDD - Emma Beeby puts in a good tale, whilst Babs Tarr's manga-esque style grates for me though I'm sure others will appreciate it

TYRANNY REX - Katy Rex (really?) delivers a pretty boring story, with Leana Kangas's sketchy art doing nothing to improve it.

ROGUE TROOPER - For me, the art is a step up, with Sam Beck's characters still coming over a little cartoony but overall the strong, clear images and bold colour suit Alex Di Campi's well told one off.

FUTURE SHOCKS - Tillie Walden scripts and illustrates this one, and I neither liked the art or the story. meh all round here.

JUDGE DEATH - Leah Moore gets a crack at Death and sensibly goes at it in a roundabout way instead of a dull murderfest. Once again the art is very indie, but thankfully Xulia Vicente delivers it with a lot of energy, useful given the musical theme. A solid read this one, and a good idea played out well.

DIMARCO P.I - We finish off with laura Bailey's tale that just jars from the off as a woman says she's married to a Judge and everyone seems toi just accept it! It's not bad apart from that, and Dani's black and white art works well, but the shoehorned in unweildy plot device kills it for me.

TERROR TALES - THE HOCKEY STICKS OF HELL

things go all silly for the next tale, where Olivia Hicks gives us a lighthearted look at why you shouldn't make deals with the Devil. it's fun, with nice comic-y art from Abbie Bulmer, and should entertain most people although it's certainly not remotely deep.

Finally...

ANDERSON - the first thing that stands out is Emma Vieceli's nice, clean art, and after a while the value of Maura McHugh's script also leaps to the fore. A well crafted one off that shows understanding of the character, this is probably the best of the bunch and a great way to finish.
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: Tjm86 on 19 June, 2018, 04:49:08 PM
Like Tordels' I'm a double dipper on this.  The webshop exclusive is superb and Zeinner is definitely someone I'd like to see doing more covers and even interior artwork.  The contents are, to me, pretty standard special fare for the most part.  Anderson is the standout and rounds it out really well.  A writer / artist combination that is once again one that I'd like to see in the prog.

Overall I'd say that it was pretty successful.  Certainly we've seen far worse specials in the past.  There's certainly enough to commend it and nothing that screams 'embarrassing balls-up'.
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: Richard on 19 June, 2018, 08:51:55 PM
QuoteIt's not bad apart from that

"How was your journey on the Titanic?"

"It wasn't bad, apart from this iceberg..."

Quotenothing that screams 'embarrassing balls-up'
If you say so.
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: ZenArcade on 20 June, 2018, 09:55:57 AM
That Mimekeke cover is stunning! Z
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: Jacqusie on 20 June, 2018, 12:51:41 PM
Shame the Dredd/ Anderson cover wasn't a choice we got from ordering at the 2000AD shop.

It says summer much better than the dull, gloomy slate grey Hershey version we get from ordering directly, although I did get a small bit of the wrongly credited Tula's cover inside.

I'm pleased that the Sci-Fi Special has returned, I remember an all female cast way back (in 1990?) although Tyranny Rex really has changed so much, I'm not sure it's the same Tyranny Rex that used to be in 2000AD - it must be a clone ey?

Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: Dunk! on 20 June, 2018, 12:52:56 PM
Thought I'd pop in and say I enjoyed the Sci-Fi special

As a fan of a simpler "clear line" style, I found a lot of the art refreshing for 2000ad.

My 2 pennies worth.

Dunk!
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: Jacqusie on 20 June, 2018, 12:54:58 PM
Quote from: Jacqusie on 20 June, 2018, 12:51:41 PM
Shame the Dredd/ Anderson cover wasn't a choice we got from ordering at the 2000AD shop.



Oops, I see it now is... hmmm I'm sure it wasn't there when I ordered a few months ago...  :think:
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: JamesC on 20 June, 2018, 01:03:35 PM
Well...I generally try not to be negative on these threads but I feel like I should be frank in my reactions to this special.

I started off feeling quite excited when this was announced - I always think a special is a great way to introduce new creators, try out new ideas and potentially grab new readers.
I was really blown away by the cover reveal - the Tula Lotay cover is just awesome. I love the colours and the composition is striking. By contrast I'm not at all excited by the Emily Zeinnar cover. It's a well rendered image of Hershey but isn't a particualrly interesting composition or anything. It just doesn't say anything to me or make me want to pick up the comic.

Those were my thoughts before looking through the issue in WHSmiths this afternoon. Unfortunately I have to say I'm really disappointed. I have nothing to say about the quality of the writing as I haven't read the stories but, for the most part, the art just doesn't look like it's of a professional standard. Actually, the Future Shock and Terror Tale both have decent art although neither style is my cup of tea. I thought all of the other strips looked awful. There were a couple of panels in the Tyranny Rex strip that seemed to have little thought put into anatomy or perspective. There's a panel in the Rogue strip in which Rogue is firing a grapple gun into a tree. It's the least dramatic image of Rogue I've ever seen - he looks like a disgruntled Tesco employee with a pricing gun. There's a panel in the Anderson strip where Judge Death looks...well I don't know how to describe it but it certainly doesn't do Bolland's character design much justice.
I don't like being negative and as I said the writing may be very good but I just couldn't justify paying out for this product.
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 20 June, 2018, 01:10:03 PM
I've ordered both covers from the 2000 AD shop and the website exclusive cover arrived this morning.

Have to agree with James. Massively underwhelmed. Underwhelmed to the point that I wish I had not ordered both covers now.

Neither story nor art grabbed me, in fact I would go as far to say that the artwork is just not up to the standards of a comic bearing the name 2000 AD.

Nothing against the creators involved it just does not feel like a 2000 AD product.

Probably my fault as I was expecting something and got something else instead.
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 20 June, 2018, 01:10:38 PM
I will say that the centre spread is gorgeous though.

Loved that.
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: SmallBlueThing(Reborn) on 20 June, 2018, 03:58:44 PM
It's going to be impossible to comment on this without some kind of disclaimer along the lines of "I am not a Rorschach-style bearded living at mums house-dwelling incel lunatic, but...". Needless to say, I have nothing against female comic creators* but bloody hell, this tested the patience. I sort of liked the Rogue story, but not the art, and I sort of liked the Anderson story, but again not the art. Nothing else did anything else but remind me of the worst bits of the nineties indy comics scene.

I'd love to find some positives, but I'd be struggling just for the sake of saying something nice. 

SBT

*bought a great one today- Land Creatures volume one, by Juliet Brando.

Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 20 June, 2018, 04:04:19 PM
I would like to add I am not a Rorschach-style bearded living at mums house-dwelling incel lunatic

I don't have a beard and I live in my own house.
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: Proudhuff on 20 June, 2018, 04:48:03 PM
Got the Hershey cover and love it... a bit too much  :-X
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: dweezil2 on 20 June, 2018, 08:00:38 PM
The whole thing was a good, if rather insubstantial read.
I had high expectations for Beeby's Dredd tale as she seems to have a good handle on the character usually and though the premise was sound and amusing it didn't quite hang together, not helped by some art that looked unfinished and by someone who'd only seen the Stallone movie-in fact it read more like an IDW Dredd backup strip from back in the day.
The Rogue and Anderson strips were probably my favourite from the mag.
As a showcase for new talent, it served its purpose and it was certainly worth a purchase, if only the quality was just a little higher.
Maybe next time.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: TordelBack on 20 June, 2018, 08:55:16 PM
Just a vast amount of content in this thing, some good, some not so good, but the general trend is upwards.  Shall we run through it?

I got the Lotay Dredd'n'Anderson cover, and it was even better in the flesh.  Excellent stuff, any chance of some stripwork from this artist?

Dredd: Perfectly serviceable tale from Beeby, and I actually really like Babs Tarr's art - its just the off-model Stallonish Dredd that throws it off for me.  Pity.

Tyranny Rex: I suppose this is a bit of a riff on the setup of the original Tyranny story, with 3D printing replacing cloning, but it doesn't do a lot for me plotwise - I do love the Ryan Hughes stylings of the colourful art though, even if it there's a bit of an anatomy flub on the third page. I could probably go for more of this.

Rogue Trooper: Story's okay in an old-school way (although it's hard to believe no-one had thought of utilising the trees in 3 years of stalemate), art has great expressive faces but the figures are static and there's something gone aksew with the arms... especially the Norts. And what's going on with Gunnar's sling and Bagman on that last page! Colours are neat.

Things pick up in a big way with Tillie Walden's Future Shock, which is start-to-finish great, probably the best thing in the Special. That's my kind of story, more of this please!

Maguerite Sauvage's Anderson poster is amazing.  Heading for my office wall.

Moore's Judge Death is another solid story, but Xulia Vicente and Pippa Mather's art is a highlight of the whole comic - love it! 

Laura Bailey and Dani's DeMarco is intriguing. This is kind of how I had hoped a DeMarco series would work, back before such a thing existed.  Galen could use some kind of a nose, but otherwise I thought this was a great concept, well-executed with a good ear for the peculiarities of the character and MC-1.  Definitely like to see more in this vein. 

The Terror Tale, I dunno. Bulmer does a skilful and colourful St Trinian's thing, but the story didn't really work for me. 

McHugh wraps things with a busy and enjoyable Anderson, well-observed and sharply rendered by Vieceli and Nosenzo.

All in all the Special had some bits that didn't agree with me, but there was so much in there that the odd misfire didn't matter.  I'd be happy to see more of a good chunk of this, both in terms of individual creators and some of their versions of strips.  A very worthwhile showcase!



     



Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: Woolly on 20 June, 2018, 09:11:34 PM
What Tordelback said, thats pretty much my review in a nutshell.

One question: is the Judge Death tale set in Gotham?
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: Richard on 20 June, 2018, 09:47:16 PM
Now that I've read this, I'd like to take back my earlier comment, based as it was on an untrue review by another poster.
Quote(DeMarco P.I.) just jars from the off as a woman says she's married to a Judge and everyone seems toi just accept it! It's not bad apart from that
What actually happens is DeMarco exclaims "What are you talking about? Helmets aren't allowed to have romances, let alone a partner. Trust me..."

That is the exact opposite of what the reviewer described, and it's unfair to the writer, Laura Bailey, who not only turned in a perfectly good story with [spoiler]a suitably macabre ending[/spoiler], but also did her research, since the "Trust me" and other comments clearly allude to DeMarco's own past. In fact, DeMarco's surprise and scepticism also serve to alert the reader that something is up, so that the pay-off does not spring out of nowhere but is fair to the reader. I have no issues with this story.

Turning to the rest of the Special, I have the colourful Tula Lotay cover and I love it.

Emma Beeby's Judge Dredd story is okay but is let down by some dreadful art, which is a shame.

Tyranny Rex is just terrible, story and art. I have nothing good to say about it.

Rogue Trooper is good. Alex de Campi has written a good story, and it's something of a rarity in Rogue Trooper stories in that it has some supporting characters with their own identities, not easy to do in a one-off. There's a good mix of violence and humour. I thought the art was good too (in spite of that one panel that was criticised in another post).

I'm probably being dense, but I didn't quite get the precise ending of the Future Shock, although I got the rough idea. I enjoyed reading it.

The poster is good, and it's on nice glossy paper too, not just printed on regular pages.

I really liked the Judge Death story, which presumably is indeed set in Gotham. It's a nice homage to Judgement on Gotham, which I'm going to go and have another look at later. I like the energetic art style, although the artist struggles a bit with disembodied hearts. Practice will, I'm sure, make perfect, if Tharg gives her the opportunity.

I haven't read the last two stories yet, because I immediately had to start this review as soon as I finished DeMarco. But overall, I don't think this Special deserves the tsunami of negativity that, predictably, has started above. It's not all good, but I never expect a special to be all good. There's enough good content to make me happy to part with my £5.
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: Richard on 20 June, 2018, 09:51:57 PM
After reading my last post back to myself, there are too many "good"s there (must. Click. Preview.). I should have used adjectives like excellent, brilliant, zarjaz.
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: IndigoPrime on 20 June, 2018, 10:01:37 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pVRl7jcwrw
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: abelardsnazz on 20 June, 2018, 11:39:34 PM
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/jun/20/the-futures-female-2000ads-all-women-special
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: broodblik on 21 June, 2018, 06:23:09 AM
I enjoyed the special. These specials are always a combination of hits and misses. Some cases it is the story, the art or even the specific character.

The only real exception was the Tyranny Rex strip. I did not help that I do not really like the character but overall this just did not work for me.
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: sheridan on 21 June, 2018, 01:06:21 PM
Quote from: Bad City Blue on 19 June, 2018, 03:43:37 PM
TYRANNY REX - Katy Rex (really?) delivers a pretty boring story, with Leana Kangas's sketchy art doing nothing to improve it.


I wondered about that name too.  As for the story, it was okay but style-wise seemed more like Sinister Dexter than Tyranny Rex.
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: sheridan on 21 June, 2018, 01:10:35 PM
Quote from: Jacqusie on 20 June, 2018, 12:51:41 PM
I'm pleased that the Sci-Fi Special has returned, I remember an all female cast way back (in 1990?) although Tyranny Rex really has changed so much, I'm not sure it's the same Tyranny Rex that used to be in 2000AD - it must be a clone ey?

I think you're thinking of 1989 (http://www.2000ad.org/?zone=prog&page=specials&choice=SCIFI89): Judge Anderson/Corey, Tyranny Rex, Moon Runners, Zippy Couriers and Maze Dumoir

(http://www.2000ad.org/covers/specials/mediumres/SCIFI89.jpg)
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: sheridan on 21 June, 2018, 01:13:20 PM
Quote from: SmallBlueThing(Reborn) on 20 June, 2018, 03:58:44 PM
Needless to say, I have nothing against female comic creators*

*bought a great one today-


Didn't realise female comic creators were for sale these days?

Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: sheridan on 21 June, 2018, 01:22:35 PM
Quote from: Woolly on 20 June, 2018, 09:11:34 PM
What Tordelback said, thats pretty much my review in a nutshell.

One question: is the Judge Death tale set in Gotham?


Yep - though I'm sure if it was written in the story it would have taken a few years of negotiations between corporate lawyers of Rebellion and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc...
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: Woolly on 21 June, 2018, 05:55:15 PM
Quote from: sheridan on 21 June, 2018, 01:22:35 PM
Quote from: Woolly on 20 June, 2018, 09:11:34 PM
What Tordelback said, thats pretty much my review in a nutshell.

One question: is the Judge Death tale set in Gotham?


Yep - though I'm sure if it was written in the story it would have taken a few years of negotiations between corporate lawyers of Rebellion and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc...

Yeah, thats what I was thinking.
Sneaky Rebellion!
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: Leigh S on 21 June, 2018, 10:13:13 PM
I saw a comment (here or elsewhere) that it wasnt very 2000ad, but I think it upholds the feel of a Sci-Fi special very well, and the bits that "don't feel 2000AD" are not always the worse for that.

Storywise, I think the Dredd , Rogue and Anderson stories feel VERY 2000AD - good ideas for the most part well exectured ( there are a couple of odd moments in the Dredd where it isnt clear what is going on (the end of the first page and the top of the final page). Scriptwise, a few of the stories (Dredd/Tyranny/De Marco feel like they all needed a page to help with the set up or resolution, but that's about the worst I can say - some strong concepts in there, which is more than half the battle.

I always felt De Marco was badly served by the strips that came after Doomsday -  this is the kind of thing we should have had.

The art is maybe more of a mixed bag - I enjoyed Babb Tarr's Dredd art more than I thought I would from the previews but think it would have worked much better with an on model (or at least off Stallone model) Dredd.

Sam Beck's Rogue art is a bit stuff and perhaps more problematically very clean - needs more chem clouds!

Top marks for Emma Vieceli's Anderson art, which has a bit of Willsher about it to my eye.

Overall, this is certainly a perfectly good Sci-Fi special as well as being a successful venture in it's owwn right, or maybe being a perfectly good sci-fi special is what makes it a successful venture?  It certainly proves there is value in looking outside of the usual suspects
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: Richard on 22 June, 2018, 12:11:34 AM
I wasn't expecting to like the Hockey Sticks story (the Terror Tale) but it was hilarious and brilliant.
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 22 June, 2018, 07:54:36 AM
Quote from: Leigh S on 21 June, 2018, 10:13:13 PM
I saw a comment (here or elsewhere) that it wasnt very 2000ad, but I think it upholds the feel of a Sci-Fi special very well, and the bits that "don't feel 2000AD" are not always the worse for that.


I said something along those lines.

And I can see what you are getting at but for me it's just too far removed.

Like buying oranges and receiving cat litter.
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: Apestrife on 22 June, 2018, 10:41:50 AM
Bit different, but I quite liked it overall. Especially Dredd, Death and DeMarco.

I think Beeby writes a good fun Dredd. "Excessive affection. Outbreaks of hugging." :D
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: Richard on 22 June, 2018, 03:26:19 PM
Emma Vieceli's art on Anderson is outstanding. Her style reminds me of David Roach. Would be very happy to see more from her.
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: TordelBack on 22 June, 2018, 03:33:20 PM
Quote from: Richard on 22 June, 2018, 03:26:19 PM
Emma Vieceli's art on Anderson is outstanding. Her style reminds me of David Roach. Would be very happy to see more from her.

Yeah, and she takes on a hell of a lot of established visual elements in this strip for a first timer, and succeeds with 90% of it: only Orlok felt a wee bit off to me.  I'm really enjoying this development of Anderson as a multi-writer strip, after years of thinking it as 'Grant only', and to be honest, believing the character was entirely played out. 
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: Richard on 22 June, 2018, 04:43:43 PM
Was there a Sci-Fi Special last year, or did we get Misty & Scream! instead?
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: broodblik on 22 June, 2018, 08:12:04 PM
Quote from: Richard on 22 June, 2018, 04:43:43 PM
Was there a Sci-Fi Special last year, or did we get Misty & Scream! instead?

No special last year only the Scream & Misty Special
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: Leigh S on 22 June, 2018, 09:07:53 PM
Yeah, what I'n getting at is that Sci-Fi specials with other creators often feel "off"/different - there is nothing like Dan Dare vs the frogs or Dredd and wind resistance here - if anything, a lot of the scripts feel very on model - the Rogue is more GFD than Rennie for example.  The art is more of a mix, but again. Sci-F special-at leas this time those differences are as a result of asking for difference ratehr than misfiring attempts to ape a style?

Quote from: Mattofthespurs on 22 June, 2018, 07:54:36 AM
Quote from: Leigh S on 21 June, 2018, 10:13:13 PM
I saw a comment (here or elsewhere) that it wasnt very 2000ad, but I think it upholds the feel of a Sci-Fi special very well, and the bits that "don't feel 2000AD" are not always the worse for that.


I said something along those lines.

And I can see what you are getting at but for me it's just too far removed.

Like buying oranges and receiving cat litter.
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: Tjm86 on 22 June, 2018, 09:44:41 PM
Over the last few years Rebellion has given over the special to trying out new creative teams.  We've had first time try-outs, all-female creative teams, combinations but with a view to giving something completely different a shot.  There is none of the pressure of the mainstream prog or the meg but we get a chance to see what they can do.

I have to be honest, if I had half the talent that we'd seen in the prog I'd have been a very happy bunny.  There may be imperfections but I would say that overall the contributors comported themselves well.  I have absolutely no problem with double dipping on this one.

Compare that with some of the specials of yore which were a combination of filler, new strips, reprints ... Especially the last couple.  I personally would argue that Rebellion is giving us far more quality. 
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: The Monarch on 23 June, 2018, 11:31:38 AM
i thought it was a solid issue not a single duffer of a story and the art across the board was mostly good

i do agree though that the wrong dredd drawn in the dredd story threw me off at first
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: Jacqusie on 23 June, 2018, 02:14:19 PM
Quote from: sheridan on 21 June, 2018, 01:10:35 PM
Quote from: Jacqusie on 20 June, 2018, 12:51:41 PM
I'm pleased that the Sci-Fi Special has returned, I remember an all female cast way back (in 1990?) although Tyranny Rex really has changed so much, I'm not sure it's the same Tyranny Rex that used to be in 2000AD - it must be a clone ey?

I think you're thinking of 1989 (http://www.2000ad.org/?zone=prog&page=specials&choice=SCIFI89): Judge Anderson/Corey, Tyranny Rex, Moon Runners, Zippy Couriers and Maze Dumoir

(http://www.2000ad.org/covers/specials/mediumres/SCIFI89.jpg)


That's the badger, I remmeber the Anderson / Corey story being rather powerful at the time. The days when John Smith wrote Tyranny Rex too. 2018's incarnation hasn't the bite of her old stories and I agree with the some folks on here that at times, there doesn't seem to be much due care and love put into a few of the stories.

I'm all for blooding new writers and artists, it's great that 2000AD has always done this and should keep taking risks, but the use of an all female crew for this might have stretched an ideology without decent stories or art to back it up on a couple.

Which in some cases must be a tough gig on stodgy and the rather dull DeMarco world type scripts (I have no idea why she continues to be rolled out) and I do have to applaud the efforts to keep faithful to the prog without going too left-field on others.

I wonder if a Winter-Special is being proposed along the same lines?  :think:

Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: broodblik on 23 June, 2018, 02:29:11 PM
Quote from: Jacqusie on 23 June, 2018, 02:14:19 PM
I wonder if a Winter-Special is being proposed along the same lines?  :think:

It is going to be an all male cast of writers,artists, colorers and letters  :lol:. Something quite unique for the industry  :lol:
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: Blue Cactus on 23 June, 2018, 02:59:30 PM
Loved that Dredd, I thought the script was pretty much a perfect balance of action, laughs, weird future crime and Dredd sounding like Dredd. Sure, the uniform a bit off (isn't that back plate from the Karl Urban version?), but other than that I thought it all worked well and would happily see more Beeby Dredd.

Agree with the comments above about this being more like what DeMarco's solo stories should have been like from the off. I found the smartarse, conveniently rich, squeaky clean private detective with comedy gorilla sidekick version a let down for a character who actually had some depth and baggage - her penchant for unjudicial liasons, unhealthy fixations and sometimes making bad choices seemed to be forgotten (other than her going out with Jack Point). Bailey seems to have a much better understanding of the character and her past than some others who have written her. The Carroll stories were getting there but I'd like some more of Bailey's DeMarco. I agree that her lack of nose in some panels was kind of distracting though!

As for the rest, like all these specials there are good points and bad, so I won't dwell on the bits I wasn't keen on, though I thought the manager on the final page of the Death strip was a little too casual with what was going on around her, sitting back drinking a beer. And that [spoiler]loveheart [/spoiler] at the end of Tyranny Rex really bothered me for some reason!

I had no idea Bulmer drew full strips herself, a lovely cartoony style - she draws a great Tharg!
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: Taryn Tailz on 23 June, 2018, 04:21:39 PM
Did anyone else find they had to turn back to the contents page in order to glean the title of the Terror Tale? That font was completely unreadable.

Though there were numerous niggling issues, I enjoyed most of that. Rogue Trooper, Anderson, Dredd, and Death were all enjoyable reads, with DeMarco PI being the standout of the issue for me.

The only two strips I didn't get on with were Tyranny Rexx (which was very poor in both script and art departments) and the Future Shock. (Though I will admit that I had absolutely no idea what was going on in that story. I couldn't make the art out in key places.)
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: Blue Cactus on 23 June, 2018, 05:02:20 PM
Quote from: Taryn Tailz on 23 June, 2018, 04:21:39 PM
Did anyone else find they had to turn back to the contents page in order to glean the title of the Terror Tale? That font was completely unreadable.


Absolutely!
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: Richard on 23 June, 2018, 07:10:37 PM
Ive looked at the Future Shock again and I think (but stand ready to be corrected) that [spoiler]the delivery woman was putting pieces of her pet monster in the boxes and delivering them to people, who will then be either eaten or impregnated by them, to make more big monsters.[/spoiler] If that's what was happening, then it was a decent story.
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: Daveycandlish on 23 June, 2018, 08:34:16 PM
Quote from: Richard on 23 June, 2018, 07:10:37 PM
If that's what was happening, then it was a decent story.

But the fact it wasn't clear is a problem.
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: Colin YNWA on 23 June, 2018, 09:32:48 PM
Quote from: Leigh S on 21 June, 2018, 10:13:13 PM
I saw a comment (here or elsewhere) that it wasnt very 2000ad, but I think it upholds the feel of a Sci-Fi special very well, and the bits that "don't feel 2000AD" are not always the worse for that.

Not sure about those sentiments at all felt very like a 2000ad Special to me, for all the good and bad. It was a bit hit and miss and these things always are but the tone was on the nose for me.

Dredd was solid and nothing more, some interesting if uncomfortable design decisions aside!

I quite enjoyed the Tyranny Rex, it looked great - as Tordelback said something very Rian Hughes about it and the story was like the original story in a cute compacted way.

Rogue Trooper I enjoyed as it was about to keep the old skool action and ideas while using the Souther troops to add some character.

Arh damnit the Future Shock looked superb and when I got to the story, or at least my best guess at the story it was a good un. The trouble is I really had to work at it to settle on what I thought was happening. Such a shame as that makes it a magor fail and it was so close to being a major success!

Judge Death - Judge bloody amazing fun more like. Loved it.

DeMarco PI looked as good as the Future Shock but had the opposite problem, the story was too telegraphed and it was pretty clear what was what half way down page two. Just goes to so though being too obvious but good, is better than being to obsure and good!

Terror Tale
took a story as old as time and made it fresh and fun. Good easy fun

Finally Anderson was great, short snappy yet felt like ti carried weight. Another absolute hit. 

So by my count  the good fair outweighs the bad by some way and all the shiny extra, cover and poster were lovely and it felt packed so overall a bit of a success I'd say.
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: Frank on 23 June, 2018, 11:48:03 PM
Quote from: Bad City Blue on 19 June, 2018, 03:43:37 PM
Leah Moore gets a crack at Death

Too soon.

When this special was announced, I thought it was a fucking awful idea; the worst kind of tokenism. If you want to give new creators a shot, just put them on the same Future Shocks-until-you-get-the-hang-of-compressed-storytelling treadmill as everyone else, rather than making a fuss to score woke points.

Having read it, I think it's 100% successful.

That doesn't mean everything's great - 3/4 of it's unexceptional filler - but the bits that work (specifically, which bits work) show Tharg the way for the future. Basically, the stuff where new creators are ventriloquising old creators, trying their best to imitate Wagner, Finley-Day, or Grant, are like gorging on rice pudding then being brought extra large helpings of rice pudding for desert.

Dreary, turgid stuff.

But the bits where new creators are allowed to speak in their own voices are a breath of fresh air. I honestly couldn't care whether Tharg employs women or not, but finding new creators capable of crafting strips that aren't reviving old characters or ripping off Lovecraft/Dr Who/Wells is a self-evidently good idea.

In conclusion, if Tharg thinks serving up yet another story set inside Anderson's mind, where transparent versions of the characters do psychic kung-fu, is in any way new, exciting, or even acceptable, just because the creators are free of Adam's apples, he can shove that Rosette of Sirius right up his dark green, puckered, indeterminate-but-anus.

But if he's serious about letting new creators tell original stories about fresh subject matter in their own style(s), he can have my money. How Tharg balances that with keeping the kind of reader who asks if Dan Dare will ever come back happy is beyond me, but that's why they call him Mighty One.


Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: sheridan on 24 June, 2018, 03:00:57 AM
Quote from: Colin YNWA on 23 June, 2018, 09:32:48 PM
DeMarco PI looked as good as the Future Shock but had the opposite problem, the story was too telegraphed and it was pretty clear what was what half way down page two. Just goes to so though being too obvious but good, is better than being to obsure and good!


Just thought of another way the DeMarco story could be read.  Am I right in thinking that all of us readers knew there was something fishy about the Judge-boyfriend line?  And yet DeMarco the detective couldn't see it, due to her history...
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: Blue Cactus on 24 June, 2018, 09:55:25 AM
Quote from: sheridan on 24 June, 2018, 03:00:57 AM
Quote from: Colin YNWA on 23 June, 2018, 09:32:48 PM
DeMarco PI looked as good as the Future Shock but had the opposite problem, the story was too telegraphed and it was pretty clear what was what half way down page two. Just goes to so though being too obvious but good, is better than being to obsure and good!


Just thought of another way the DeMarco story could be read.  Am I right in thinking that all of us readers knew there was something fishy about the Judge-boyfriend line?  And yet DeMarco the detective couldn't see it, due to her history...

That's quite a satisfying way to read it.
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: abelardsnazz on 24 June, 2018, 10:51:07 AM
Got the Hershey cover which I think is great. Striking and moody.

Highlights for me were Tyranny Rex, which I think could have done with a few more pages to flesh out its ideas some more. And Anderson, with precise art and references to her history. Hope we can see more of these stories from the respective creative teams.
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: Frank on 24 June, 2018, 11:45:50 AM
Quote from: Leigh S on 21 June, 2018, 10:13:13 PM
I enjoyed Babb Tarr's Dredd art more than I thought I would from the previews but think it would have worked much better with an on model (or at least off Stallone model) Dredd

I enjoyed Tarr's art, too, the characterful design of the three perps (https://i.imgur.com/eFhVo8G.png?2) being a highlight.

Tarr's version of the uniform is that of someone who definitely remembers seeing something about Judge Dredd, once. Stallone's a reference point, but if you try to identify specific elements that look like 1995, you realise only the eagle is a little I-knew-you'd-say-that* and there's at least as much Dredd3D.

It reminded me of JOE SOAP's manga-Dredd (https://forums.2000ad.com/index.php?topic=44823.0); the product of a visual version of Chinese Whispers.

Tarr's open-sided eagle (https://i.imgur.com/uahyxdd.png) is a detail I can't remember seeing before; the bars on the left shoulder pad running forward-to-back instead of left-to-right, likewise. The arse pockets on Dredd's trousers (https://i.imgur.com/9yTSqtu.png) and the little bit of Fargo flesh on show in the gap between cuff and matinee gloves were more why not? than WHY?!!!

Tarr's art was in service of a perfectly respectable story, written to a formula of which, by now, I am sick.


* And the Stallone film eagle is, of course, also The Kev Walker Comic Eagle. I'm pretty sure Tarr was copping a riff from Danny Cannon's Magnum Horriblis, but that eagle's graced some of the best and/or most important stories in the history of the strip. Although seldom (if ever) spoken of in those terms, Kev Walker is a defining Dredd artist in the same way and for the same reasons as an artist like Cam Kennedy; both are among the most talented storytellers and stylists ever to grace the strip with their presence.
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: Richard on 24 June, 2018, 03:29:07 PM
The oddest thing about Tarr's version of Dredd's uniform isn't that it's based on the film version, but that she thinks the armour plates are made of fabric. She's drawn creases in them.

However, my main objections to her style of art are all the dots everywhere and the weird, warped Manga-mouths.
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: Frank on 24 June, 2018, 06:26:02 PM
Quote from: Richard on 24 June, 2018, 03:29:07 PM
... my main objections to (Tarr's) style of art are all the dots everywhere and the weird, warped Manga-mouths

She'll never use Douglas Carswell and Laura Kuenssberg as life models again.

T-Rex[1]: I thought this was a prequel to the first published story, rather than a variation on it[2]. It's an idea, not a story, and seeing another of John Smith's characters passed around like Lynx: Africa after 5-aside is distasteful, especially in a title encouraging a welcoming environment and fair treatment of creators.

I don't think the ending of Tillie Walden's Future Shock was unclear, but it might have undersold the Shock part of the premise. Maybe a greater sense of fear from the shut-in homeowners and a line about deliveries from couriers[3] keeping them alive during the curfew would have underscored the irony[4].

In my ideal world, all comics would be the work of writer-artists, because when that works, the result is a distinct product of a singular vision. That's the case here, with even the lettering forming part of the atmosphere and character of the story.

It's difficult to imagine Walden's idiosyncratic style working on classic 2000ad strips, but that's a good argument for letting those characters remain where they are, fondly remembered, and telling stories that suit today's most talented creators.

Walden was the highlight of this special, for me, and I bought her autobiographical Spinning (https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/dec/12/spinning-tillie-walden-review-portrait-of-adolescence-on-ice-graphic-novel-skating-memoir) on the strength of it. So, if Tharg's aim was to have me sitting up until 2am reading a book about lesbian ballerinas in Texas, mission accomplished.


[1] It's pronounced tir-ANNIE, right? She's a female dinosaur, not Stalin.

[2] It's supposed to be how she met her accomplice (nerd with glasses) from the debut Smith/Dillon story, with the line about music leading into that original story. No?

[3] Both it and the Future Shock revolve around duplicitous home delivery services. Maybe being a creator working from home means a visit from an Amazon courier is the highlight of your day.

[4] Or maybe that would have bludgeoned the reader over the head with THE POINT (TM)
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: Frank on 24 June, 2018, 06:30:39 PM
Quote from: Frank on 24 June, 2018, 06:26:02 PM
ballerinas

Ice-skaters, even.


Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: james newell on 24 June, 2018, 11:24:37 PM
Loved the Dredd & Anderson cover, all the stories ware really great, standouts ware Judge Death, Dredd & the Future Shock , will give them a "FRESH" rating for both stories and art.

Would love to see more Tyranny Rex in the Prog by the same team.
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: IndigoPrime on 25 June, 2018, 11:04:42 AM
I approached this special with positive thinking regarding the intent but also an open mind regarding the creators, many of whom are new to me. Overall, I think it's a broadly successful special, with no outright misfires, and I'd happily see more from a number of these creators in the Prog. I don't really follow Frank's line here, on the successes only being the new content – for me, there was a good mix of novel ideas and reinterpretations.

I got these standard newsstand edition, and the cover is pretty great. Dredd was a fairly by-the-numbers script, and the art had great energy, but I'm not sold on the judge uniform. Perhaps we've got too used to a lack of variation, but these seemed a step beyond – almost reminiscent of Lawman of the Future. Still, I'd happily see Tarr on Dredd again if she was perhaps nudged in the direction of a more 'standard' design for that one thing.

Tyranny Rex felt more like a pilot than a standalone, and ended accordingly (in the sense it kind of didn't). There were some really good bits (not least what came out of that printer – urgh in a very John Smith way). Bar her arm on page three, I quite liked the art, too, which felt very Rian Hughes – someone who I very much miss from the Prog. However, I'm still a bit hmmm about how many John Smith characters are now being sent over to other writers, when he was such a distinctive voice. (I suspect by this point, whatever relationship the Prog and Smith had is broken, but I hope not. It would be a crushing shame if he never penned anything for the Prog again.)

Rogue Trooper: I really liked this. I'm sure people will bellyache about a lack of innovation, but... it's Rogue Trooper. Had Tharg removed the author's name from the credit card, I'd never have known this was a newcomer to the strip. And that sting in the tail was perfect 2000 AD. The art did the job nicely, too.

Delivery really annoyed me, purely on the basis that I feel like a massive idiot for not fully getting what was going on. The idea is superb, though, and it reminded me a little of those Bob Byrne strips that ran a while ago. Perhaps it just needed a touch more signposting for thickies like me. On a re-read, it's properly creepy stuff. I've no idea what Tharg's plans are, but it'd be interesting to see some more Walden one-offs.

Judge Death again had a nice scrappy energy about the art (and I mean that in a good way), echoing the nature of the script. I wasn't entirely sure what was going on with Death (a manifestation?), but I suppose that doesn't matter in a one-off. It felt suitably daft and, again, 2000 AD in nature.

DeMarco PI is, as others have said, a character that needs to be mined. The way she was sidelined as Jack Points girlfriend really irritated me, although I did enjoy some of her other solo adventures. I'd happily see a Bailey/Dani series (perhaps as a set of single-prog one-offs or two-parters) to see where they could take the character.

Terror Tales felt very old-school 2000 AD in the way it was constructed, and had some great lines. And then Anderson, which perfectly did the job.

Overall, for me, this was a solid special, which I think did what it was supposed to – showcased newcomers and (hopefully) opened the door to them and others.
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: TordelBack on 25 June, 2018, 11:39:31 AM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 25 June, 2018, 11:04:42 AM
Rogue Trooper: [....] Had Tharg removed the author's name from the credit card, I'd never have known this was a newcomer to the strip.

Very good point! 

On the DeMarco subject, we do go all on about the (much-missed) Travis Perkins, Urbane Gorilla, and Jack Point's Main Squeeze days, but there's a whole run of Carroll post-DoC/Trifecta strips over in the Meg that head off in other strange directions where she's effectively a plainclothes Judge again, or at the very least an agent of the City.  I still don't think any of the solo incarnations worked particularly well for the character.

TBH I think the whole thing went off the rails in her very first post-Judge story, Doomsday, where after some brief and engaging gumshoe establishing sequences, DeMarco is right back into saving-the-city mode in a couple of pages, in order to anchor the non-Dredd half of the story.  We have plenty of heroic judge types - what we don't have is private detective stories set in the Meg (Simping Detective's whole schtick is that Jack is wally squad, so that doesn't count).

DeMarco's edge should be her judge training and experience, and possibly her connections with the Dept that let her operate a little more freely than most, but beyond that, she should be down in the Blocks and streets helping the little guy for a little green.  The version we get in the Special is pretty much this, a return to those opening pages of Doomsday.  No billions, no Sovs, no Justice Dept conspiracies.  Love to see more (but maybe Travis had a brother/son/clone?).

Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: sheridan on 25 June, 2018, 02:46:31 PM
Quote from: Frank on 24 June, 2018, 11:45:50 AM
Tarr's version of the uniform is that of someone who definitely remembers seeing something about Judge Dredd, once. Stallone's a reference point, but if you try to identify specific elements that look like 1995, you realise only the eagle is a little I-knew-you'd-say-that* and there's at least as much Dredd3D.


My immediate thought with all the current riot-police / motorcycle armour was of the 2012 Dredd, so was surprised that there were so many references to 1995 in this thread (unless I missed it, the post I'm replying to was the first mention of the better film!)
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: sheridan on 25 June, 2018, 02:47:38 PM
Quote from: sheridan on 25 June, 2018, 02:46:31 PM
Quote from: Frank on 24 June, 2018, 11:45:50 AM
Tarr's version of the uniform is that of someone who definitely remembers seeing something about Judge Dredd, once. Stallone's a reference point, but if you try to identify specific elements that look like 1995, you realise only the eagle is a little I-knew-you'd-say-that* and there's at least as much Dredd3D.


My immediate thought with all the current riot-police / motorcycle armour was of the 2012 Dredd, so was surprised that there were so many references to 1995 in this thread (unless I missed it, the post I'm replying to was the first mention of the better film!)

p.s. we only get two shots of the lawmaster, but both look more like Urban's LM than any other depiction I've seen.
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: sheridan on 25 June, 2018, 02:49:40 PM
Quote from: Frank on 24 June, 2018, 06:26:02 PM
[2] It's supposed to be how she met her accomplice (nerd with glasses) from the debut Smith/Dillon story, with the line about music leading into that original story. No?


It's been a while since I read the original story, but I read is as meeting the accomplice as well.
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: Richard on 25 June, 2018, 09:52:14 PM
Quote(but maybe Travis had a brother/son/clone?).
Let's not go there! That would be naff!
I agreed with everything else Tordelback said.
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: Frank on 26 June, 2018, 06:21:19 PM

(https://i.imgur.com/1ugt7Eu.png?3)
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: Richard on 26 June, 2018, 10:19:18 PM
Ha ha!
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: Max Headroom on 28 June, 2018, 05:25:37 PM
ZARJAZ!
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: sheridan on 29 June, 2018, 03:33:17 PM
Nice one, Frank!
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: DrJomster on 03 July, 2018, 11:07:23 PM
Late to the party on this one...

... but I really enjoyed it. Great to see so many non-regulars show their stuff, some of whom are pretty well known in their own right to say the least. Some nicely different sensibilitities to story and art too. Quite small pressy in places, but I like that style, so was really pleased to see it get such a showcase.

Here's hoping some of them come back either in another special or as regular droids!

Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: AlexF on 10 July, 2018, 02:59:43 PM
Even later to the party! I had a good time with this Special, that felt very much like the last few years' worth of Specials - not quite as good as the Prog, but lots to like and an impressive variety of stories and art that just felt that little bit different to the norm, in a refreshing way.

I'm a lot less bothered than Frank by writers sticking to a formula, some characters and settings are kind of built for that kind of thing, no? Rogue Trooper in particular felt like one of the very best GF-D era one-offs, even if the art was not quite as good as that. And 'The Feels' was a triumph of capturing mid-80s Dredd along with thumbing a nose to the male-readership. Top marks! The Anderson story, less so, although I enjoyed the characterisation on that one a lot, and was delighted to see Psi Judge  Shakta back in action!

Unlike many here (but like a few!), I really enjoyed the tone of the Tyranny Rex strip, both writing and art. Yes, the story itself was very slight, but it really had that feel of early 90s hang-out comics, which I miss from the Prog (I'll make an exception for The Order, where the plot is so beyond my reading that it ends up feeling like a hang-out story).

My fave art was on the Judge Dredd and Judge Death strips (probably helps that they had the two most tried-and-tested writers, who are a proper safe pair of hands for Tharg by now). I don't think either artist would work on those strips in the Prog, but that's what I like about Specials, they can afford to be playful. But I'd love to see those artists doing something in the Prog on a comedy-based series, like Ace Trucking or RoboHunter or, better yet, something entirely new!

From the Podcast, I know some of the creators were deliberately trying to give readers what they might expect a girl to do, if only to show how silly this is. Overall it worked for me - a genuine breath of fresh air, with a nice side-helping of being poked with a stick.

Anyone complaining about the quality of this Special I think needs to compare it to other specials, not the Prog - it's waybetter than a lot of them over the years. I mean, when was the last time you cracked open one of the Judge Dredd Mega-Specials from the mid-90s...
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: sheridan on 18 July, 2018, 12:46:05 PM
Quote from: AlexF on 10 July, 2018, 02:59:43 PM
Anyone complaining about the quality of this Special I think needs to compare it to other specials, not the Prog - it's waybetter than a lot of them over the years. I mean, when was the last time you cracked open one of the Judge Dredd Mega-Specials from the mid-90s...

Or the Sci-Fi specials from the 1970s, early 1980s.  As with the annuals, it seemed the prog was bought out of pocket money, so had to be good, while the annuals and specials were more expensive, so would be presents and bought by somebody who would never actually read them.
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: Richard on 18 July, 2018, 01:18:23 PM
That explains everything!
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: Professor Bear on 18 July, 2018, 01:22:36 PM
Late to the party, I thought a lot of this was impressive, but not pro standard.  The weight of expectation that comes with doing long-running characters or properties is a bit of a grind for new creatives, so I have - from the comfort of my internet armchair where I don't have to ever actually expend any creative effort myself - come up with the notion that they should have given the creators Rebellion's recent IP acquisitions to play with instead, though I grant you this runs the risk of having a 2000ad special that is 90-100% stories about catgirls.
Dunno why I'm bothering being critical, though, as I buy 2000ad stuff out of habit.  Make the next Special a collection of Junker relaunches and I'm still there.
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: Fungus on 18 July, 2018, 06:18:40 PM
It was good of Tharg to trail the strips in the Thrill-Mail. The art dissuaded me, I just couldn't get along with it. First non-purchase for since returning, haven't seen anything ti convince me I'm missing out.
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: Fungus on 18 July, 2018, 06:24:58 PM
Quote from: AlexF on 10 July, 2018, 02:59:43 PM
From the Podcast, I know some of the creators were deliberately trying to give readers what they might expect a girl to do, if only to show how silly this is.
If this is true, that's pretty dispiriting?
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: Richard on 18 July, 2018, 07:25:15 PM
If they didn't agree with the concept then they should have turned down the work and let someone else have a go.
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: sheridan on 18 July, 2018, 09:58:51 PM
Quote from: Professor Bear on 18 July, 2018, 01:22:36 PM
come up with the notion that they should have given the creators Rebellion's recent IP acquisitions to play with instead, though I grant you this runs the risk of having a 2000ad special that is 90-100% stories about catgirls.

We've had the Scream!/Misty special, plus we have that V thing coming up (can never remember what it's called, Valiant/Vanguard/V-something else).
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: Professor Bear on 18 July, 2018, 10:23:01 PM
It's called a marketing push.  All that spare IP represents an "in" to a wider market than the one that exists for the known quantity of 2000ad and its wide array of antiheroic stubbled heteros shooting lasers to get them out from under the heel of The Man.
Plus I kind of expect that Valiant thing to be a massive dud.

Quote from: Richard on 18 July, 2018, 07:25:15 PM
If they didn't agree with the concept then they should have turned down the work and let someone else have a go.

Were they in a position to knock work back and still have enough content to fill this thing?  They had to seek out creators from elsewhere as it is.
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: Richard on 19 July, 2018, 12:18:58 AM
I mean the creators, not Rebellion.

QuoteFrom the Podcast, I know some of the creators were deliberately trying to give readers what they might expect a girl to do, if only to show how silly this is
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: M.I.K. on 19 July, 2018, 06:29:41 PM
Quote from: Fungus on 18 July, 2018, 06:24:58 PM
Quote from: AlexF on 10 July, 2018, 02:59:43 PM
From the Podcast, I know some of the creators were deliberately trying to give readers what they might expect a girl to do, if only to show how silly this is.
If this is true, that's pretty dispiriting?

No it isn't.

I haven't listened to the particular podcast in question, but the two most obvious examples of intentional 'girliness' in the special are the Dredd story, (in which people are exposed to a drug that makes them express their feelings), and the Terror Tale, (about a demonic hockey match at a girls' school), both of which are handled in an appropriately (old school) 2000adish way.
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: Tiplodocus on 15 August, 2018, 12:53:42 PM
Wasn't massively fussed on this on first rushed reading. Too much of the art wasn't my cup of tea and I genuinely thought there are story telling and clarity issues in quite a lot of the strips. Especially Delivery. I genuinely didn't comprehend it let alone get round to interpreting it. (But I loved the art style).

Second , more leisurely, pass I cut it more slack. There's actually not much that's any harder for me to follow than an average episode of THE ORDER or DEADWORLD or when Mark Harrison goes ballsout page splurging in Grey Area.

So yeah, take your time, be open to art styles that aren't your cup of tea and there is LOTS to like here.

What was the Anderson poster? Can't see it on download.

Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: sheridan on 15 August, 2018, 01:15:43 PM
Quote from: Tiplodocus on 15 August, 2018, 12:53:42 PM
What was the Anderson poster? Can't see it on download.

Tis shown here (http://forbiddenplanet.blog/2018/previewing-2000-ad-sci-fi-special-2018/).
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: sheridan on 15 August, 2018, 01:16:18 PM
Quote from: sheridan on 15 August, 2018, 01:15:43 PM
Quote from: Tiplodocus on 15 August, 2018, 12:53:42 PM
What was the Anderson poster? Can't see it on download.

Tis shown here (http://forbiddenplanet.blog/2018/previewing-2000-ad-sci-fi-special-2018/).

(http://forbiddenplanet.blog/wp2013/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Copy-of-SFS-MARGUERITE-SAUVAGE-POSTER.jpg)
Title: Re: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 2018
Post by: Tiplodocus on 15 August, 2018, 05:38:26 PM
 I can see why people would splash out on that.