(Hope nobody minds if I start a new thread for reviews, since the other one is called previews.)
This was really good this year. I wasn't expecting to like it much because it was said to be aimed at younger readers (which I don't object to in itself -- we need new readers -- but the rather basic cover art made me assume that it was going to condescend to them by being infantile) but thank goodness I was wrong.
It opens with a Cadet Dredd story, which was pretty fun, mostly because of one particular panel which I won't spoil here. (Bottom of page 5, but don't look until you get there.) I was put off by the Cadet thing at first, because I remembered that as a child I didn't want to read about comics about children, I wanted to read stories about grown-ups -- but I needn't have worried, it was a fun little story.
Strontium Dog by Alec Worley and Ben Willsher tells of how a young Johnny Alpha became a Search/Destroy agent. Again, I had low expectations for this premise but the story got better than it sounds, with some strong supporting characters and in one crucial bit of the story a good callback to something that had been mentioned earlier but which didn't seem important at the time, which I thought was a good bit of story-telling. I don't want to see non-Wagner SD very often, but this one time was alright by me.
A one-page comedy by Arthur Wyatt called Intestinauts was good.
The highlight of the whole issue for me was, very unexpectedly, not even a story but a puzzle! Now I normally would never want to see a puzzle in a comic, and I think that having pages of puzzles in children's comics instead of pages of comic story is an abomination. But Chet Jetsworth: Hell Island was great! It's not credited but I'm guessing Al Ewing? (Would like to know.) It was funny and very, very difficult. I'd like to see something else like this, and that is something I never thought I'd say. I might have to go and have a lie down now.
There's a decent Future Shock from (I think) some new people. I don't normally like this cartoonish style of art, but it fits the tone of this story well. And finally there's a D.R. & Quinch story by some new people (I think). Not as good as Alan Moore but then that's a very high bar and possibly not a fair one. It was fine taken on its own merits.
No damp squibs here.
The whole thing's just FUN, innit? Surprisingly quite a lot in it too, for its size. Dredd was my highlight, just a joy.
Gonna leave it out for Tiny Rocka to discover and see if she digs it...
Quote from: Richard on 06 May, 2018, 12:02:59 AM
The highlight of the whole issue for me was, very unexpectedly, not even a story but a puzzle! Now I normally would never want to see a puzzle in a comic, and I think that having pages of puzzles in children's comics instead of pages of comic story is an abomination. But Chet Jetsworth: Hell Island was great! It's not credited but I'm guessing Al Ewing? (Would like to know.)
As far as I can tell, like
Zombo, Chet Jetsworth sprang fully formed from the head of Henry Flint:
https://2000ad.com/post/3389
Chet Jetstream
Thanks Frank. I'm going to have to re-read that Intestinauts story in prog 1822 too.
DR & Quinch was the only misfire, I think. The Strontium Dog art reminded me of a post some years back where someone had proposed an SD cartoon in the style of Batman: The Animated Series, with some really good character portraits. I have to go back to the Spot the Difference to see if I can spot the last few. (Love the evolutionary one!*)
* The "Missing Link".
Really enjoyed the comic, Tharg puts so much more effort into FCBD than anyone else in the kids' voluminous haul that I feel a bit embarrassed for him. I mean c'mon, greenbonce, just slap a few episodes of Space Girls under a reused cover and take the weekend off. Instead we get something as good as a Summer Special...
Cadet Dredd is spot on, and there'should something about Googe and O'Grady's art that just instantly makes me happy. Lovely uniform tweaks in this one. Would read more!
Strontium Pup is another strong, cohesive story, with a great style shift from Willsher. Not sure there's much more mileage here than Alec extracts, Johnny's early days are well served already.
Intestinauts was fun, and with a tiny bit more polish Humancraft could have been a top-rank Future Shock: as it is, it's just clever.
DR & Quinch Begin dont really sound, like, themselves, but amazingly the meta nature of the story means that it all works really well. Cos-player Quinch and Young Slough Feg (in the wrong cave, admittedly) had me laughing out loud.
Best bit was undoubtedly the puzzle. Spent ages on it this morning!
All in all, a shockingly good freebie.
Sigh. Another FCBD issue that I will never see.
Quote from: The Enigmatic Dr X on 06 May, 2018, 12:29:26 PM
Sigh. Another FCBD issue that I will never see.
I feel your pain. Never managed to make it in time for a FCBD copy after work, and refuse to pay anyone other than Rebellion for one.
Guess i'll just have to imagine how good they are 😢
I am in the same boat only my problem is distance
Quote from: The Enigmatic Dr X on 06 May, 2018, 12:29:26 PM
Sigh. Another FCBD issue that I will never see.
I have asked my LCBS to put one in my pull list if they have one available but I buckled before getting a reply and snagged one off eBay for £3.00. Can't not let the collection be complete.
Forbidden Planet in London always has a surplus of them which you can pick up later.
If you don't live in London, you can organise a bank holiday weekend holiday for the family in London as an excuse to go.
If that's too expensive, you can tell your wife that you're going to visit your mistress in London for the day.
So there's no excuse for missing out on FCBD, especially this year.
Quote from: Richard on 06 May, 2018, 03:39:30 PM
If you don't live in London, you can organise a bank holiday weekend holiday for the family in London as an excuse to go.
What are these things you call "bank holidays"...? </freelancer>
Well have to say that was magnificent. I loved it all. Dredd, tick, Strontium Sprog Tick, Future Shock Tick Tick, Dr and Quinch Tick. But its the puzzle pages and extra bits in the middle that are the real boon of this comic. Well all the extra stuff from Joko-Jargo replacing Green bounce, to Intestinauts (if a little cramped on the page). The absolute highlight was the glory that was Chet Jetstream - Escape Hell Island, just brilliant, absolutely, makes me miss Zombo something rotten!
Anyway what was particularly interesting is being a big fan of the Phoenix how this underlined what 2000ad offers that's so much more. I mean I do love the Phoenix, more importantly my kids love the Phoenix, but it is all just a little safe and middle class. This had the same vibe, the same clean art, the same packed fun, but of course it had that 2000ad edge, that sense of anarchy and irreverance. The almight mischief in its twinkling eye.
Christ alive I wish this could be a regular thing!
Fantastic experiment Tharg and well done for making such a wonderous product, which stands out a mile on FCBD.
Sounds like the Regened was a success. Just wish that they make it available digitally as well for our poor folk who does not have access to this.
Quote from: broodblik on 07 May, 2018, 03:33:58 PM
Sounds like the Regened was a success. Just wish that they make it available digitally as well for our poor folk who does not have access to this.
That would sort of defeat the point of FCBD, surely?
(I mean, maybe, six months later or something, I wouldn't mind a paid-for digital version...)
Quote from: Jim_Campbell on 07 May, 2018, 03:37:41 PM
That would sort of defeat the point of FCBD, surely?
(I mean, maybe, six months later or something, I wouldn't mind a paid-for digital version...)
I agree, maybe in 6 months time. I will gladly pay for it
Quote from: Colin YNWA on 07 May, 2018, 08:57:18 AM
Well have to say that was magnificent. I loved it all. Dredd, tick, Strontium Sprog Tick, Future Shock Tick Tick, Dr and Quinch Tick. But its the puzzle pages and extra bits in the middle that are the real boon of this comic. Well all the extra stuff from Joko-Jargo replacing Green bounce, to Intestinauts (if a little cramped on the page). The absolute highlight was the glory that was Chet Jetstream - Escape Hell Island, just brilliant, absolutely, makes me miss Zombo something rotten!
Anyway what was particularly interesting is being a big fan of the Phoenix how this underlined what 2000ad offers that's so much more. I mean I do love the Phoenix, more importantly my kids love the Phoenix, but it is all just a little safe and middle class. This had the same vibe, the same clean art, the same packed fun, but of course it had that 2000ad edge, that sense of anarchy and irreverance. The almight mischief in its twinkling eye.
Christ alive I wish this could be a regular thing!
Fantastic experiment Tharg and well done for making such a wonderous product, which stands out a mile on FCBD.
Thanks for such a positive review Colin. hopefully, this will lead to more of the same.
I'd love to see more and more also in the chance for new characters.
Quote from: Colin YNWA on 07 May, 2018, 08:57:18 AM
Anyway what was particularly interesting is being a big fan of the Phoenix how this underlined what 2000ad offers that's so much more. [ ... ] This had the same vibe, the same clean art, the same packed fun, but of course it had that 2000ad edge, that sense of anarchy and irreverance. The almight mischief in its twinkling eye.
FCBD.
Now this is intriguing. It'll be interesting to see what my kids make of it when it turns up then. My youngest quite enjoyed my old Titan Ro-Busters. It's oft been noted that the early stuff has a different sensibility that can appeal to that age group. It would be great if Tooth could recapture that. Perhaps the next Winter special if ongoing is too risky at present?
well, the 2000ad fcbd titles have never made it to fp in southampton, in my experience. and the same was true this year. and as a collector, i am incomplete. despite no longer even being based there, tharg is so london-centric!
I'm going to buck the trend and say I didn't like it, but I appreciate what it was trying to do - just that in previous years, 2000AD has had the best comic by far and this time, it didn't do anything for me. Mind you I think this was a generally weak FCBD (Not even a mouseguard)
Me and the sprogs loved this and we'd welcome more! I think the Stront story was the biggest hit.
Quote from: The Mind of Wolfie Smith on 08 May, 2018, 01:01:04 PM
well, the 2000ad fcbd titles have never made it to fp in southampton, in my experience. and the same was true this year. and as a collector, i am incomplete. despite no longer even being based there, tharg is so london-centric!
It's up to the comic shops what they order (if they're participating in FCBD at all - quite an outlay for a small shop) - I do wonder what the criteria is for a shop to choose which ones they'll go for.
I think I need to read it again to really absorb it, but I loved it. The main strips (Dredd & SD) were a hoot and it was a great opportunity to see how a few new creatives worked. I Think Indio has come a long way since his work on the early Dogbreaths but unfortunately some of his panels really didn't work for me.
I'd love for this to be a semi-regular title, it would be a great home to some of the 'Treasury' cast and having the 2000 AD vibe I can't see a down side.
Top work Tharg!
QuoteI'd love for this to be a semi-regular title
You know it's every year, right?
Quote from: Bolt-01 on 10 May, 2018, 08:19:51 AM
I'd love for this to be a semi-regular title, it would be a great home to some of the 'Treasury' cast and having the 2000 AD vibe I can't see a down side.
Top work Tharg!
Is the Phoenix weekly or monthly (or something else)? Isn't the 'generation' for young readers about three years? It'd have to come out often enough that new readers have something to get in to before they age (or progress to Tooth).
Quote from: sheridan on 10 May, 2018, 01:18:52 PM
Quote from: Bolt-01 on 10 May, 2018, 08:19:51 AM
I'd love for this to be a semi-regular title, it would be a great home to some of the 'Treasury' cast and having the 2000 AD vibe I can't see a down side.
Top work Tharg!
Is the Phoenix weekly or monthly (or something else)? Isn't the 'generation' for young readers about three years? It'd have to come out often enough that new readers have something to get in to before they age (or progress to Tooth).
Phoenix is weekly. My son is 6, my daughter almost 9 I reckon Phoenix will last folks until 11-13... or to you know adult age like me - I await the day I admit the subscription is really for me! Plenty of space for the right product it seems.
Quote from: Richard on 10 May, 2018, 12:51:12 PM
QuoteI'd love for this to be a semi-regular title
You know it's every year, right?
You might want to rethink the flowers and wine policy there? Perhaps a candle lit dinner? Might increase the frequency?
I read mine last night. Echoing others here, I think this got the all-ages vibe spot-on, in that it seemed safe for kids, but not dumbed down. As an adult, I wasn't sitting there thinking it was playing it too safe. The only general criticism I'd make is that the entire thing was very male-oriented, not just from the leads, but also regarding backgrounds. (The Dredd story is a good example of that – no reason the Aeroball teams couldn't have been of mixed gender; it was at least nice to see the female Judge at the end though.) And, yeah, I bang on about this subject a lot, but then I have a nearly 4yo sprog who I'd like to have more options for reading, without always having to read about boys.
In terms of the stories themselves, Dredd was enjoyable, entertainingly showing that he's always been a stickler. And, yes, that panel on page five was superb – the funniest thing in the comic. Strontium Dog felt like it was from a different continuity, where mutants have powers rather than mere deformities. In a sense, it felt like an 'Ultimates' take on the character – a modern, fresh, reboot for younger readers. I'd happily read more.
The quiz pages were, well, quiz pages, and Dr. Globulon was an odd and entertaining single-pager. Hell Island was surprisingly fun. It again showcases what can happen when you have more freedom over the contents of a comic, and can just do strange little things like this. (It feels like a modern take on what you might have once seen in the pre-1985 annuals, or perhaps an early summer special. I pity the poor sod who had to figure out the mesh though. I've done this sort of narrative in the past, and it's a bloody nightmare.)
Next up, Humancraft wouldn't have felt out of place in the Prog. Surprisingly dark ending in a comic for kids. Which leaves Dr. and Quinch. Bringing them back doesn't really bother me, given that it's already happened before, they don't seem terribly important characters in 2000 AD's history, and Moore himself has in the past somewhat disowned them. Everything felt a little 'off' here, though, in terms of Dr's voice. The meta nature of the strip largely worked, though, and seems fitting for this particular book.
It'd be interesting to see more, but also it's interesting that this was seen as the vehicle for Regened. I'd love to have been a fly on the wall when that decision was taken, rather than issuing it as a summer special. Perhaps this was testing the water. One would hope that if a comic of this sort did find its way on to the shelves, it'd sell well to younglings, who'd then want more.
Oh, and as for The Phoenix, that appears to be slowly spreading. It's even on sale in our local WHSmith now. \o/