Another rock-solid prog this week!
(http://www.2000adonline.com/assets/pimg/00/17/3a-460.jpg) (http://www.2000adonline.com/post/1746)
Cover: Wonderfully atmospheric work from Dave Kendall. (I'm not sure it'd leap off a newsagent's shelf; however, I'm not sure how many casual readers Tooth gets nowadays.)
Nerve Centre: Artwork-licking is certainly an understandable side-effect of reading the Galaxy's Greatest -- heck, we've all done it on occasions. Also good to see Droid Life on form; it's been a little self-indulgent on recent appearances but this is a good 'un.
Dredd -- Harvey (part six): Now that's how you conclude a story, allowing for future expansion. As someone commented already, a lesser writer would have just stopped two episodes back, dangling a "to be continued". I'm wasn't initially keen on John McCrea's linework style but it's really grown on me ... and his poses and action shots are astonishing. (I often complain that Robin Smith's stuff looks gnawingly static -- by contrast, McCrea's art is full of great examples of how to imbue movement in an image.)
Defoe -- Diehards (part four): I've never really warmed to Defoe but I'm finding this particular run very readable. Mills & McNeil give a masterclass in how to do talking heads without getting boring -- US comics could really do with a lesson from these guys.
Brink -- Skeleton Life (part 7): A very slow burner, this always teeters on the ... um, edge without quite getting boring. Just plot emphasis this week, but it's executed highly effectively.
Scarlet Traces -- Cold Ward: Book 2 (part 7): Aside from Dredd, this has become the highlight of the weekly prog for me. Choc-full of lovely imagery. I'm only getting the UFO/1999 references but I'm guessing some of the spaceships are paying homage too -- it'd be lovely to have a commentary on this side of things from D'Israeli. Perhaps a nice idea for a Megazine article? The images of civilian casualties are beautifully juxtaposed with dialogue.
Cursed -- The Fall of Deadworld (part VII): I know this strip can be divisive, but I've loved the current run. It seems to have finally found its feet (or decaying flesh). The flashback depiction of the Deadworld judging system is great.
Another corker from the House of Tharg!
Correction: "... but I'm guessing some of the other spaceships are paying homage too."
The tumbleweeds roll by as the damp wind blows across the barren plains of Sheffield...
A dark stranger looms at the door, he reaches into a tatty bag only to say... no prog sonny :-X
Nothing here neither, so a wait until Tuesday it is.
(http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r182/Caliban_photos/image_zps2fylnuhd.jpeg)
Progless and Hachette-less here in the book club but here is the cover.
Those demonic spider-babies from the M.R.James story The Ash Tree haunt my nightmares.
This bit of Sheffield has struck dirt at the moment.
So the Prog continues its wobble, which possibly intensifies this week... though important to note that wobble is a slip from fucking amazing to just damned good. Biggest chance this week is Blink having what felt like a steady episode, not bad by any stretch and by the end AMAZING as ever its just set its standards so high even the slightest misstep is felt.This week I was so excited to see Ben Otis and assumed he's be another character adding another layer to the story. Rather he moved aside quickly and the episode seemed to recap what had gone up to this point ... okay so the last two pages were just genius but its a misstep... still magnificent, just not as magnificent.
Defoe continued its more signficent wobble with Mills at his highest level unsubtle point making. The introduction in of Fear in Deadworld and that comedy line just brought back to front and centre the problem with the characters that haunt this strip more successfully off camera.
Scarlet Traces was fine and had a fantastic last page but my lordy didn't Dredd rule the comics world this week, Mr Wagner you clever, clever bastard you. See I've wittered about how John Wagner has been holding the rug ready to pull it from under us for the bulk of this story. We get to the last episode and so of course he has to, its just which way he does... but Mr Wagner is smarter than that. He bluffed his tug, and master that he is left us an utterly complete story that still leaves us hankering for more. You clever, clever bastard you. JUst brilliant.
The most magnificent of wobbles!
Quote from: Colin YNWA on 29 April, 2017, 09:49:38 PM
This bit of Sheffield has struck dirt at the moment.
Somehow I think you always get the prog when I don't Colin, you must live in the lowlands rather than on one of the hills where the postie lightens his load...
...still it's a Bank Holiday for the Queens postal service and I'm sure postman plod will scrape my prog off the floor at somepoint next week... after all holding ones breath will only make me blue...
:think:
Prog waiting for me on my return from Weegeevile.
Not a fan of the cover, especially after a day ODing on Frank Quitley work.
Cyber Matt seems to have things in hand in Damage Report.
Everything else in the prog top notch, as Deadworld doesn't exist in my world.
Quote from: Jacqusie on 30 April, 2017, 12:38:20 AM
Quote from: Colin YNWA on 29 April, 2017, 09:49:38 PM
This bit of Sheffield has struck dirt at the moment.
Somehow I think you always get the prog when I don't Colin, you must live in the lowlands rather than on one of the hills where the postie lightens his load...
Oh no I'm high, we have quite the impressive view over the glorious city of dreams... but we are in a bit of a posh bit so probably postal folks daren't not deliever!
Quote from: Colin YNWA on 30 April, 2017, 11:37:49 AM
Quote from: Jacqusie on 30 April, 2017, 12:38:20 AM
Quote from: Colin YNWA on 29 April, 2017, 09:49:38 PM
This bit of Sheffield has struck dirt at the moment.
Somehow I think you always get the prog when I don't Colin, you must live in the lowlands rather than on one of the hills where the postie lightens his load...
Oh no I'm high, we have quite the impressive view over the glorious city of dreams... but we are in a bit of a posh bit so probably postal folks daren't not deliever!
Elitist! Lining your posties pockets with gold to get your share of thrill power on time! Why I oughta... :lol:
Quote from: Hawkmumbler on 30 April, 2017, 11:57:22 AM
Quote from: Colin YNWA on 30 April, 2017, 11:37:49 AM
Quote from: Jacqusie on 30 April, 2017, 12:38:20 AM
Quote from: Colin YNWA on 29 April, 2017, 09:49:38 PM
This bit of Sheffield has struck dirt at the moment.
Somehow I think you always get the prog when I don't Colin, you must live in the lowlands rather than on one of the hills where the postie lightens his load...
Oh no I'm high, we have quite the impressive view over the glorious city of dreams... but we are in a bit of a posh bit so probably postal folks daren't not deliever!
Elitist! Lining your posties pockets with gold to get your share of thrill power on time! Why I oughta... :lol:
I know I'll be a Pat Mills villian before you know it!
Heh! I must say though, even without having the prog in my hands at this moment, that cover...yeah, fuck it, that'll be on my top 5 come the end of the year. Properly nasty!
I've not read everything yet, but the Dredd finale was rather excellent. I've really enjoyed John McCrea's art and hope this isn't a one-off. There's some great energy within, and the colouring by Mike Spicer was also an interesting change.
The only other strip I've read is Cursed, which has flipped from 'this might be interesting' during its initial run to the first thing I read. I didn't mind Fear being lobbed into the mix. The whole thing comes across as gruesome and creepy, bringing some much-needed horror back to the Dark Judges in a way I'm not sure's been really successfully done since Necropolis. More, please.
So that's it then: the Perfect Prog, full 5/5 plus bonus star for cover. Oh crap, this is a coma fantasy isn't it? (Checks whether prog printed on goldenrod).
The variety in art and palette, the different paces and tones, the deft conclusions and last-page kickers, the mjx of old and new, the convincing characterisations new and familiar... It's the best comic I've read in ages, and it's just business as usual.
Brink and Scarlet Traces make me feel a bit lost, but I think that's largely due to my poor memory from week to week. I still liked them both though, and I really enjoyed the rest. I'm sure the stories above will read well in one go.
I liked that little twist in Dredd, and Deadworld is a highlight. ([spoiler]So he actually has a use for those shrunken heads he wears on his belt. Brrr.[/spoiler])
Oh and the Droid's Life strip was rather amusing.
One little nitpick though: wouldn't Tharg's eyes be ruby, rather than emerald? Not including his eyelids and other surrounding area, of course.
I have to admit, since around the end of Day of Chaos / Nikolai Dante, I've been struggling a bit to keep my interest in the prog. I've been wondering if, after about 36 years of reading, I've finally outgrown it.
But then the likes of Harvey and Deadworld come along and i realise that there's no possible way i can get by without finding out what happens next. Like Firekind, Zenith Phase 4 and Revere, they'll ensure that i don't lapse.
I like Defoe too - i really like the introduction of Colin McNeil and am delighted to see that he's painting again, black and white or no. I hope it doesn't begin to meander scriptwise; Pat Mills' scripts can do that these days (though i do recognise there would be no prog without him).
I'm enjoying the slow pace of Brink too - nice to see a story can deliver the goods without guns, fistfights and explosions.
Scarlet Traces - not really following it like i feel i should be. I kind of skimmed through the last series and should probably reread it.
Cover: Now that is a cover. Eerie, disturbing, malevolent, magnificent.
Dredd: Perfect... up to the last page. Not really keen on those hanging endings, I'd rather a story was either wrapped or at least gave some idea was given as to what might develop. Seems like we're in the familiar situation where we're thinking well, this might be followed up in weeks, months, who knows..? Anyway, liked Dredd's begrudging admiration for Harvey. Maybe we'll see him in other stoies that don't directly involve the Mechanismo arc?
Defoe: Ha, Pat Mills in full-on polemic mode is a thing to behold.
Brink: Wonderful as ever. The suicide sequence was great. Love Kurtis's perma-scowl. But Bridget, bit of advice - if you can't sleep, try turning off the MASSIVE BLUE-LIGHT STRIP THAT GOES ROUND HALF THE ROOM. Just saying.
Scarlet Traces: Frustrating. What does this strip want to be? Quirkily humorous one moment, then it's a Star Wars rip-off with space fighters trying to disable a force field, then there's graphic carnage... I'm not saying stories can't mix their styles, but this is all over the place.
Deadworld: ++ TOP THRILL ++ Awesome. At last, Fear gets to hog the limelight. The tech guy! Fantastic.
Favourite line of dialogue: Kurtis calling Junot a 'specially special person'.
Great prog again. Can't wait to see a new Dredd story next week.
Quote from: norton canes on 05 May, 2017, 10:53:34 AM
Scarlet Traces: Frustrating. What does this strip want to be? Quirkily humorous one moment, then it's a Star Wars rip-off with space fighters trying to disable a force field, then there's graphic carnage... I'm not saying stories can't mix their styles, but this is all over the place.
See I thought that was brilliantly done. As you say, a SW rip-off (even more precisely a combined TFA and R1 rip-off), executed with ubercool retro fighter designs. Beautifully done, but nothing very new: and then you see the carnage on the ground, and it becomes something much richer and more thoughtful, building on the first book's multicultural domestic vibe: a marriage of 70/80's space adventure and 70/80s TV realism. That be 2000AD-clever stuff, that do.
Quote from: TordelBack on 05 May, 2017, 11:03:44 AM
See I thought that was brilliantly done. As you say, a SW rip-off (even more precisely a combined TFA and R1 rip-off), executed with ubercool retro fighter designs. Beautifully done, but nothing very new: and then you see the carnage on the ground, and it becomes something much richer and more thoughtful, building on the first book's multicultural domestic vibe: a marriage of 70/80's space adventure and 70/80s TV realism. That be 2000AD-clever stuff, that do.
Agree 100%. It's epic stuff!
Ahh, postie found my prog stuffed down the space/time continum - a week late, that's black holes for you.
Still, Dredd ended rather strangely - not what I was expecting. The robo judges still on the blink and the Cheif judge ignoring their track record of nousing up... hmmm... sounds familiar.
Still we are left wanting and being promised more on this, so I will reserve judgement at half time.
Scarlet Traces gets a bit tasty - we are back in 'Great Game' territory for this one and the wonderful Dizzy space scenes, marvelous stuff. :thumbsup:
Brink? nah...
The Fall of Deadworld however, is such a good concept that is being handled well with some wonderful creeeepy art.
Defoe? Yargh!
Quote from: Darren Stephens on 05 May, 2017, 10:30:59 PM
Quote from: TordelBack on 05 May, 2017, 11:03:44 AM
See I thought that was brilliantly done. As you say, a SW rip-off (even more precisely a combined TFA and R1 rip-off), executed with ubercool retro fighter designs. Beautifully done, but nothing very new: and then you see the carnage on the ground, and it becomes something much richer and more thoughtful, building on the first book's multicultural domestic vibe: a marriage of 70/80's space adventure and 70/80s TV realism. That be 2000AD-clever stuff, that do.
Agree 100%. It's epic stuff!
yip! 100% agreed.
A held off getting my copy until FCBD - just in time for the next prog's thread to begin ;-)
Just to add to the other praise - Fall of Deadworld is one of the best tales to grace the Prog since my return a few years ago. Outstanding art and writing, pure quality all round!
Cheers
Maybe it's stupid but... since logo of recent Deadworld storyline is almost the same font as movie Dredd, is this kinda off indication that Deadworld is Dark Judges story but for movie Dreddverse?
Quote from: jacob g on 08 May, 2017, 09:48:39 PM
Maybe it's stupid but... since logo of recent Deadworld storyline is almost the same font as movie Dredd, is this kinda off indication that Deadworld is Dark Judges story but for movie Dreddverse?
I thought similar due not only to the logo but some of the design choices like the bike, armour and brutalist city-blocks look like riffs on the film.
Quote from: JOE SOAP on 08 May, 2017, 09:56:00 PM
Quote from: jacob g on 08 May, 2017, 09:48:39 PM
Maybe it's stupid but... since logo of recent Deadworld storyline is almost the same font as movie Dredd, is this kinda off indication that Deadworld is Dark Judges story but for movie Dreddverse?
I thought similar due not only to the logo but some of the design choices like the bike, armour and brutalist city-blocks look like riffs on the film.
I must admit, the font choice hadn't escaped my attention.
Could we be due one of those crossovers by stealth? :o
Another thing I just noticed that may link the Dark Judges story to the movie Dredd(s):
Isn't the cover line "FEAR ME" a cheeky nod to what Stallone said the "diminutive" Danny Cannon once shouted to everyone on the set of the first Dredd movie?
(As quoted in "TPO", which I'm currently enjoying very much).
Quote from: dweezil2 on 08 May, 2017, 11:21:29 PM
Quote from: JOE SOAP on 08 May, 2017, 09:56:00 PM
Quote from: jacob g on 08 May, 2017, 09:48:39 PM
Maybe it's stupid but... since logo of recent Deadworld storyline is almost the same font as movie Dredd, is this kinda off indication that Deadworld is Dark Judges story but for movie Dreddverse?
I thought similar due not only to the logo but some of the design choices like the bike, armour and brutalist city-blocks look like riffs on the film.
I must admit, the font choice hadn't escaped my attention.
Could we be due one of those crossovers by stealth? :o
Clever lads, hadn't picked up on any of that. Hope it ain't true, since I'm not a fan of the movie Dredd strips (as opposed tongue film itself), but it is a fun idea.
"tongue film"? I think I've inherited SBT's autocorrect settings.
Quote from: TordelBack on 09 May, 2017, 06:06:14 AM
"tongue film"? I think I've inherited SBT's autocorrect settings.
Sounds like a very useful dental hygiene product - or even some kind of prophylactic.
Quote from: Eamonn Clarke on 29 April, 2017, 03:44:28 PM
(http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r182/Caliban_photos/image_zps2fylnuhd.jpeg)
Anyone else notice that this prog is a few mm taller than the other progs in recent weeks? It stands proud in amongst the other little progletts...
I know, it's a late observation from me as usual... :rolleyes:
I checked this morning and can confirm this to be the case.
How does that happen? Someone twiddle the wrong dial on the printers?