2000 AD Online Forum

Spoilers => Prog => Topic started by: 73north on 05 May, 2018, 05:08:08 PM

Title: Prog 2080 -PSI no More
Post by: 73north on 05 May, 2018, 05:08:08 PM
I enjoyed this week's Prog , especially STRONTIUM DOG and SINISTER DEXTER , and the FUTURE SHOCK was good as well .
I regret to say , I am very pleased that PSI ANDERSON by Emma Beeby is finished , as I struggled the whole way through the story to really understand it ( and I appear not to be the only one here ) -
overall , an enjoyable read for the latest Prog
- Note to Matt Smith - please commission more STRONTIUM DOG from John Wagner ASAP -
its the highlight of the Prog !!
Title: Re: Prog 2080 -PSI no More
Post by: Eamonn Clarke on 05 May, 2018, 05:10:34 PM
(https://i.imgur.com/KRVSu6U.jpg)
Title: Re: Prog 2080 -PSI no More
Post by: Colin YNWA on 05 May, 2018, 08:34:42 PM
Stonking... well okay I'm glad Anderson is over I've struggled with how dense this one is but maybe I'll try to make time to give it another conserted go. Get the feeling those who have have reaped the benefit.

Elsewhere we're in good shape to say the least. Dredd is such fun and has a nice draft ending that doesn't stand up to any close examination, but is so cute I'm happy to turn a blind eye. The Future Shock is good, took me two goes to get it exactly if I'm honest but man I adore Nick Dyer's.

Two stars of the show both Sinister Dexter and Strontium Dog are just brilliant. Both have supreme art by masters, both pack a lot in , especially Strontium Dog which is an absolute masterclass in how to cramp such a lot in, character, story, excitment and then fresh start for next time, just astonishing. S&D is so playful yet so exciting. I do wonder if the conversation about Billi knowing them will be something to pay attention to... indeed the who premise might offer clues. Regardless a delight.

So yes for all the free comics a day can throw at you Tharg will still give you the best.
Title: Re: Prog 2080 -PSI no More
Post by: Blue Cactus on 05 May, 2018, 09:31:20 PM
Stront was a joy this week. Drinking, chat, bounties, loads of weird looking aliens, action, a little sentiment, a little humour. Kenton is growing on me as he is on Johnny. More of this type of Stront please!
Title: Re: Prog 2080 -PSI no More
Post by: Richard on 05 May, 2018, 11:45:26 PM
I agree, Strontium Dog was brilliant this week. Hoping next week's finale will be double-length.
Title: Re: Prog 2080 -PSI no More
Post by: wedgeski on 08 May, 2018, 11:20:54 AM
Agreed on Stront. It was already a good yarn, but a creative episode like this really elevates the whole story.
Title: Re: Prog 2080 -PSI no More
Post by: Proudhuff on 08 May, 2018, 06:39:55 PM
What is Damage Report about then?  :o :o
Title: Re: Prog 2080 -PSI no More
Post by: Proudhuff on 08 May, 2018, 06:47:07 PM
NOOOOO! Dullworld is returning on the next jumpy-on prog, and guess what? the all die! the suspense is killing me. :-X
Title: Re: Prog 2080 -PSI no More
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 08 May, 2018, 07:12:31 PM
Quote from: Proudhuff on 08 May, 2018, 06:47:07 PM
NOOOOO! Dullworld is returning on the next jumpy-on prog, and guess what? the all die! the suspense is killing me. :-X

...says 'The Walking Dead' reader!  :lol:
Title: Re: Prog 2080 -PSI no More
Post by: Geoff on 08 May, 2018, 10:19:59 PM
In addition to the note to Matt Smith regarding more SD, can we also have Collins and Robinson on a Dredd story please!

Dredd was fun this week as was Sin Dex and a superb episode of SD by the old masters.  Not sure about the future shock but the only real let down was Anderson, but at least that's finished.

Like another contributor, I'm not looking forward to the return of Dead World but many others seem to like it...and we have the all new story to look forward to.

Enough to keep me subbin'
Title: Re: Prog 2080 -PSI no More
Post by: Blue Cactus on 09 May, 2018, 12:27:25 AM
I love Deadworld. Can't wait. And we don't know they all die. It's sci fi. Anything could happen! Outwith Dredd and Anderson's fleeting visit, of course, where everyone is dead. Doesn't mean nobody got away beforehand (or came back afterwards).

Also, I presume this planet had a name before it became known as Deadworld. So really, the title 'The Fall of Deadworld' could imply that it's in fact the world created by the Dark Judges that falls. For example, if the planet had been called, say, Scunthorpe, the series should have been called 'The Fall of Scunthorpe' if it was about the ultimate victory of Sidney's regime. But it's not, which could mean a happy ending!

This seems highly unlikely, mind.
Title: Re: Prog 2080 -PSI no More
Post by: Richard on 09 May, 2018, 12:44:34 AM
We don't know how long it all took. Dredd and Anderson might be 50 years in their future for all we know.
Title: Re: Prog 2080 -PSI no More
Post by: Trout on 09 May, 2018, 03:02:58 AM
That Stront story is superb and it's a neat little Dredd story. I liked the Dyer art (isn't his style evolving?) but was puzzled by the Future Shock story. Part of it might be the conflation of a credit union with a bank. I work for a credit union and it is definitely not a bank. Ah well. Decent prog.
Title: Re: Prog 2080 -PSI no More
Post by: broodblik on 09 May, 2018, 07:45:56 AM
A very enjoyable Prog with Strontium Dog my firm favourite.

Anderson i believe would have benefited wit an additional 2 or even 4 more episodes. I will take sometime and read it from beginning to end
Title: Re: Prog 2080 -PSI no More
Post by: Frank on 09 May, 2018, 10:45:57 AM
Quote from: Proudhuff on 08 May, 2018, 06:39:55 PM
What is Damage Report about then?  :o :o

http://2000ad.com/post/3311


Title: Re: Prog 2080 -PSI no More
Post by: Dandontdare on 09 May, 2018, 02:51:19 PM
Quote from: Frank on 09 May, 2018, 10:45:57 AM
Quote from: Proudhuff on 08 May, 2018, 06:39:55 PM
What is Damage Report about then?  :o :o

http://2000ad.com/post/3311

oh .... Was I the only one to get mistakenly excited by the instruction to "BE VIGILANT"? - for a  second I thought 'new Nemesis'

I agree with the general comments overall - SD has been a joy, proper old school Alpha; Sin Dex and Dredd both chugging along nicely, a pretty decent Future Shock and an Anderson story that had much potential but was rushed and confusing.
Title: Re: Prog 2080 -PSI no More
Post by: Steve Green on 09 May, 2018, 03:18:22 PM
https://www.millsverse.com/bevigilant/ (https://www.millsverse.com/bevigilant/)
Title: Re: Prog 2080 -PSI no More
Post by: Woolly on 09 May, 2018, 06:01:10 PM
Any other subscribers still waiting for their prog?
Or should I just go to Smith's?  :|
Title: Re: Prog 2080 -PSI no More
Post by: Dandontdare on 09 May, 2018, 06:08:57 PM
Mine came Tuesday - I usually leave it till about Thursday or Friday (when the prog has hit the shelves) and then call the subs line - they'll send out a replacement (which will probably arrive on the same day as your 'lost' prog!)
Title: Re: Prog 2080 -PSI no More
Post by: TordelBack on 09 May, 2018, 10:59:39 PM
Quote from: Blue Cactus on 09 May, 2018, 12:27:25 AM
Also, I presume this planet had a name before it became known as Deadworld. So really, the title 'The Fall of Deadworld' could imply that it's in fact the world created by the Dark Judges that falls.

Excellent point, but it seems to me that the planet is simply Earth, just another version in another dimension at an earlier point in history than 'our' MC1.  There are rather too many similarities for it to be its own thing.

"Fall" of course has multiple meanings - it could just be the Autumn of Deadworld, the point at which life begins the rapid retreat towards winter.  Or it could be the biblical fall, the disobedience and resulting mortality of humanity.
Title: Re: Prog 2080 -PSI no More
Post by: sheridan on 09 May, 2018, 11:18:21 PM
Quote from: Richard on 09 May, 2018, 12:44:34 AM
We don't know how long it all took. Dredd and Anderson might be 50 years in their future for all we know.


"I'm not talking about days, or even years.  This skin has been dead for centuries." (http://www.2000ad.org/?zone=thrill&page=thrillviewer&choice=death&thrillpage=3)
Title: Re: Prog 2080 -PSI no More
Post by: JOE SOAP on 10 May, 2018, 12:26:45 AM
Quote from: sheridan on 09 May, 2018, 11:18:21 PM
Quote from: Richard on 09 May, 2018, 12:44:34 AM
We don't know how long it all took. Dredd and Anderson might be 50 years in their future for all we know.


"I'm not talking about days, or even years.  This skin has been dead for centuries." (http://www.2000ad.org/?zone=thrill&page=thrillviewer&choice=death&thrillpage=3)

But is it a question of natural ageing or application of the dead fluids?

Title: Re: Prog 2080 -PSI no More
Post by: IndigoPrime on 10 May, 2018, 10:58:27 AM
Quote from: TordelBack on 09 May, 2018, 10:59:39 PMExcellent point, but it seems to me that the planet is simply Earth, just another version in another dimension at an earlier point in history than 'our' MC1.  There are rather too many similarities for it to be its own thing.
I still find the discrepancy in terms of things like uniforms odd. The Bolland Death clearly had garb that was a strange mirror to MC1's. Death's garb post-Young Death doesn't really make sense, since it bears little relation to the Doherty-designed uniform for Deadworld judges.

As for the series in general, I'm very happy to see this one back. I always liked the potential of the Dark Judges, but Wagner in particular just can't help himself veering into comedy territory with them. In part, it's presumably because they're so absurd, and also maybe because topping the extremely grim Necropolis just wasn't going to happen.

The Fall of Deadworld showcases the horror of what happened to the world, and is properly creepy. The art is superb, too. As for "they all die", well probably. But who really knows what the future holds? And as Strontium Dog fans were happy to point out during the reboot, it's more about the journey than the destination.
Title: Re: Prog 2080 -PSI no More
Post by: norton canes on 10 May, 2018, 11:18:38 AM
Cover: Nice work from the Roach and Teague droids

Dredd: Really enjoyed that, a great resolution to last week's kinda-OK setup. Genuine laugh out loud at the panel with the missile firing off in the wrong direction.

SinDex: Excellent, showcasing the strip as a template for all kinds of crazy sh*t

Anderson: What's the opposite of a snowball effect? Something that gets less effective the longer it goes on?

Future Shock: Gonna have to just re-read that one more time. Have ta say my favourite Future Shocks are the straight-out creepy ones rather than the 'Aaaaah!' plot twist ones.

Strontium Dog: 'The Son' has weirdly meandered but what it's lost in focus it's gained in contrast and variety. Sad to see it go next week, hope there's more on the way soon.


And, bring on Deadworld! Knowing what else is coming up, hopefully this means we'll get a few progs with a dream line-up of Dredd/SinDex/Deadworld/Brink/The Order.
Title: Re: Prog 2080 -PSI no More
Post by: sheridan on 10 May, 2018, 01:12:36 PM
Quote from: JOE SOAP on 10 May, 2018, 12:26:45 AM
Quote from: sheridan on 09 May, 2018, 11:18:21 PM
Quote from: Richard on 09 May, 2018, 12:44:34 AM
We don't know how long it all took. Dredd and Anderson might be 50 years in their future for all we know.


"I'm not talking about days, or even years.  This skin has been dead for centuries." (http://www.2000ad.org/?zone=thrill&page=thrillviewer&choice=death&thrillpage=3)

But is it a question of natural ageing or application of the dead fluids?


My thought was it could be more to do with Mortis - but that's the only indication of time periods between World being Deaded and Sidney going to MC1, so... stet.
Title: Re: Prog 2080 -PSI no More
Post by: sheridan on 10 May, 2018, 01:15:04 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 10 May, 2018, 10:58:27 AM
The Fall of Deadworld showcases the horror of what happened to the world, and is properly creepy. The art is superb, too. As for "they all die", well probably. But who really knows what the future holds? And as Strontium Dog fans were happy to point out during the reboot, it's more about the journey than the destination.


I never get the 'they all die' argument - that's one possibility - three obvious other possibilities are:
a) they're still there somewhere, hidden
b) they escaped off-planet
c) they escaped off-dimension
Title: Re: Prog 2080 -PSI no More
Post by: IndigoPrime on 10 May, 2018, 01:35:07 PM
Hence the probably. My point was even if that's the inevitable end of the strip (assuming we get to see that far), I don't care because I'm enjoying the journey (if 'enjoy' is the right world for a horror of this sort). But, yes, there would be other ways to deal with things, and it's quite fascinating how a simplistic "we killed everyone" shifted to the odd flashback of judges doing the Dark Judges' dirty work, to the elaborate, outright nasty shit going on in that strip right now. It's great!
Title: Re: Prog 2080 -PSI no More
Post by: Frank on 10 May, 2018, 08:12:34 PM
Quote from: JOE SOAP on 10 May, 2018, 12:26:45 AM
Quote from: sheridan on 09 May, 2018, 11:18:21 PM
Quote from: Richard on 09 May, 2018, 12:44:34 AM
We don't know how long it all took. Dredd and Anderson might be 50 years in their future for all we know

"I'm not talking about days, or even years.  This skin has been dead for centuries." (http://www.2000ad.org/?zone=thrill&page=thrillviewer&choice=death&thrillpage=3)

But is it a question of natural ageing or application of the dead fluids?

Only took a month for Sidney to get in that state (https://i.imgur.com/Tf1S3je.jpg?1) (Meg 1.11).

Nothing we've read suggests the Dead Dead Gang are getting any more dead than they are already (which is Very Dead). The tech (sic) judge (Prog 149 (https://i.imgur.com/QxolTuq.png?1)) only said the skin sample looked like it belonged to something that had been dead for centuries.

Some fantastically weird Carlos aliens and actual bounty hunting take Strontium Dog right back to the strip's origins in the week of Starlord's 40th anniversary.  I wish Johnny and Kenton could have bonded over 9 weeks of this, rather than Girlfriend-In-A-Fridging, but they manage to pack almost 2 months worth of action and fun into this 1 episode.

Such was the narrative compression, I had to check they hadn't been given extra pages to wrap things up. Other strips in this issue could learn a lesson from Carlos & Co. in how to condense incident and character development without affecting cohesion and comprehension.

Nobody else is saying much about Sinister Dexter, so I'll have a go. To be honest, until last week, I was skim-reading it. The Devil's a rubbish villain and I'm not interested in Billi or why she's the only one who remembers which one's Sin and which is Dex, but the meta-textual touches of the lettering and use of thought balloons echoing the form of old Battle/Commando comics caught my interest.

Anyone writing a trapped-in-virtual-reality story in 2018 probably deserves a slap, but if mainstream critics can praise Black Mirror as topical for doing exactly the same thing (USS Callister)* (https://youtu.be/qgTtyfgzGc0), I suppose you can't blame a seasoned pro like Abnett for blowing the dust off the 3.5" floppy marked STORY IDEAS he's been using as a coaster for the last quarter of a century.

It's amusing, isn't it? Not hilarious, not surprising, but definitely amusing.


* I'm thinking specifically of the idea of phoning a friend in the real world to help get you out of the simulation. The Matrix used phones as a means to communicate with Grebo Zion, but that was by characters who could pop in and out of the Baudrillard at will, rather than being trapped there, and Abnett's definitely doing something more interesting by having the characters trapped in a genre and a medium as much as a game.
Title: Re: Prog 2080 -PSI no More
Post by: Steve Green on 10 May, 2018, 08:49:14 PM
Doesn't dreams of deadworld mention that Mortis has been bored out of his (sheep) skull for a couple of hundred years, even before he gets fat-shamed into his svelte beach body readiness appearance in the Dark Judges?
Title: Re: Prog 2080 -PSI no More
Post by: Frank on 10 May, 2018, 09:27:20 PM
Quote from: Steve Green on 10 May, 2018, 08:49:14 PM
Doesn't dreams of deadworld mention that Mortis has been bored out of his (sheep) skull for a couple of hundred years, even before he gets fat-shamed into his svelte beach body readiness appearance in the Dark Judges?

Tainted and Cursed seem intended to dovetail with previously published Zombie Nation stories, but Dreams Of Deadworld read more like self-contained tone poems that could have happened at any time before or after Dredd rocked their (Dead)world*.


* Even if Tharg threw a minor wobbly over the suggestion that the Deadworld Justice Department Expanded Universe wasn't strictly 'canonical' (https://forums.2000ad.com/index.php?topic=42553.msg892029#msg892029).
Title: Re: Prog 2080 -PSI no More
Post by: Woolly on 10 May, 2018, 09:44:54 PM
Quote from: Frank on 10 May, 2018, 09:27:20 PM
Quote from: Steve Green on 10 May, 2018, 08:49:14 PM
Doesn't dreams of deadworld mention that Mortis has been bored out of his (sheep) skull for a couple of hundred years, even before he gets fat-shamed into his svelte beach body readiness appearance in the Dark Judges?

Tainted and Cursed seem intended to dovetail with previously published Zombie Nation stories, but Dreams Of Deadworld read more like self-contained tone poems that could have happened at any time before or after Dredd rocked their (Dead)world*.


* Even if Tharg threw a minor wobbly over the suggestion that the Deadworld Justice Department Expanded Universe wasn't strictly 'canonical' (https://forums.2000ad.com/index.php?topic=42553.msg892029#msg892029).

RE: Ancient Flesh - It's down to the dead fluids.

We won't know exactly when Fall of Deadworld is set until it explicitly tells us so, assuming it ever does. Something tells me that this isn't the point.
It's a great story that could go anywhere, just love it for that if nothing else.
Title: Re: Prog 2080 -PSI no More
Post by: Frank on 10 May, 2018, 09:56:06 PM
Quote from: Woolly on 10 May, 2018, 09:44:54 PM
Something tells me that this isn't the point

Yep.*


Hopefully, we'll never get the equivalent of TordelBack's favourite 5 minutes of Revenge Of The Sith, where events are telescoped to the point of absurdity so we can see absolutely everything that happened between the end of the prequel and where we came into the original story.
Title: Re: Prog 2080 -PSI no More
Post by: Leigh S on 10 May, 2018, 10:07:43 PM
Wouldnt Death's skin get to be Centuries old in the time they spent stuck on Deadworld after wiping everyone out?  Not sure what it establishes in the story around prog 901-903 - Ian Gibson art-  that established they stole the dimension hopping tech from dimensional travellers who arrive at some point (could be centuries?) after Deadworld is all dead
Title: Re: Prog 2080 -PSI no More
Post by: TordelBack on 11 May, 2018, 09:55:05 PM
One fine comic there, no complaints at all from me.

Dredd: Now that's a good citizen-focused tale.  Strong characters, characterful designs, lots of humour and action, Dredd wins, then a satisfying reversal. More of this kind of thing!

Sin/Dex: wasn't too sure about the first part, but this week really hit the spot. And Yeowell's art is fantastic: that middle page that's largely a phone conversation, simply spectacular

Anderson: Good conclusion to a fascinatingly different Anderson run - as seems to be the general feeling, I think this could have handled a few extra pages to close it out (especially around Kazuo and the Hondo squad, but also the vampires and the old lady psi), but to be honest I just appreciate the sheer amount of material Beeby squeezed into 8 episodes.  She also made me interested in Karyn, and that's an achievement in itself.  And Collins and Robinson, what a combination. 

Future Shock: neat little tale, and beautifully drawn - Dyer has developed such a brilliant sense of light and space, he gives Yeowell a run for his money. Way up there in my list of top current artists.

Strontium Dog: reigns supreme over even this strong stable of stories.  I could read this one forever, two consummate masters doing what they do best and clearly loving every minute.  Please Tharg, never let it end.
Title: Re: Prog 2080 -PSI no More
Post by: JamesC on 12 May, 2018, 08:25:35 AM
I haven't really enjoyed the last couple of progs.

Dredd was okay but 'wacky old ladies in incongruous situations' is such a tired comedy trope that I just find it annoying.

I'm normally a big Sin Dex fan but I'm not really enjoying this story. I've never been a big war comic fan so the parody isn't really something I'm enjoying. Yeowell really needs to put more effort in too. I'd consider myself a Yeowell fan but recently his work looks rushed and frankly unfinished in places.

Anderson lost me.

The Future Shock was okay but felt like a rather half baked idea.

Strontium Dog was excellent though - the best thing in the prog by an absolute mile.
Title: Re: Prog 2080 -PSI no More
Post by: TordelBack on 12 May, 2018, 09:00:11 AM
Quote from: JamesC on 12 May, 2018, 08:25:35 AM
Yeowell really needs to put more effort in too. I'd consider myself a Yeowell fan but recently his work looks rushed and frankly unfinished in places.

I've thought his recent SinDex to be his best work in ages, helped along (or Dr least not hindered) by Charles' bold colouring. I did slightly regret that the conceit of the current story wouldn't  have benefitted from a more 'war story' artist, someone like Weston or Holden maybe (in the absence if either Kennedy) but this week's pub scenes settled me down. I do wonder if some intercut panels showing what the boys are actually doing in the real world (as it's AR, not VR) might be fun.

Completely agree about Strontium Dog, though - towers over the rest.
Title: Re: Prog 2080 -PSI no More
Post by: Steve Green on 12 May, 2018, 10:21:52 AM
Agree on the AR/VR thing - I guess it maybe would distract from telling a Battle/Commando comics style story.

Could have been interesting splitting the art between 2 artists, Steve in the real world and someone with a bit of history of war comics in the sim.

The type for the captions bugged me a bit too.
Title: Re: Prog 2080 -PSI no More
Post by: SmallBlueThing(Reborn) on 12 May, 2018, 11:19:03 AM
I'm not sure if my thoughts this week are entirely relevent, as I'm really not feeling too hot- which is probably best left for another thread- so I'll concentrate on the positive.

SiniDex was smashing- really liking this story, and the change of pace. The suggestions made above would have been interesting, but as we have it it's more than good enough.

Stront is magic. Loving this run, in a way I haven't for a long time. He needs a Wulf (of some kind).

That's about it, really. I didn't get the Future Shock, I gave up on Anderson a few weeks ago and Dredd was basic stuff. Of the cover I will just repeat what was asked of me, as the prog was laying on the coffee table: Why is that woman's fanny on fire?

SBT
Title: Re: Prog 2080 -PSI no More
Post by: Colin YNWA on 12 May, 2018, 11:22:19 AM
Quote from: JamesC on 12 May, 2018, 08:25:35 AM
Yeowell really needs to put more effort in too. I'd consider myself a Yeowell fan but recently his work looks rushed and frankly unfinished in places.

My admiration for Yeowell is well recorded across this site so I'm clearly biase, but this really surprises me. Clearly as with all art its so subjective so I can't disagree with James point but I'm just surprised.

I think his current style feels more solid complete than other work he's done of late. The use of some brush effect (I'll not try to work out what but do plan to buy a page from this run so will report back) to add 'greytone' really adds something to his art. I've always liked the way the Mighty Yeowell is brave and confident enough in his work to leave lots of white space, but here I think the use of 'greytone' really adds an extra depth to his already supreme work . What's even better is he knows when to use it.

In the bar scenes in the Satan story it was all over the place, adding atmosphere. In this story a lot less, letting the space open to add movement ... Jez I could go on but suffice to say I'm finding his current work some of his best to date.

But that's what 2000ad all about. Different strokes for different folks!
Title: Re: Prog 2080 -PSI no More
Post by: JamesC on 12 May, 2018, 04:06:36 PM
It's really more about the little details. I totally agree with most of what Colin has said and I certainly wouldn't argue that the story is hard to follow.
It's hard for me to point out specifics as I don't have the progs to hand but there's a panel this week in which Ray is in a phone box and Fin is outside. Fin's hand looks terrible - l suspect Yeowell has just marked a couple of lines to indicate where a hand should be and never got around to drawing it. The worst one was in the devil story where a character was driving a car - the hand was in the extreme foreground of the panel and looked like a cross between a pig's trotter and a seal's flipper. Again, I think the 'inked' version had gone straight over the 'layout' stage (I realise it doesn't work the same with digital art) without there ever being finished pencils to tighten things up.
It irks me because I'd usually describe Yeowell as quite a precise artist and his old work doesn't have these problems.
Title: Re: Prog 2080 -PSI no More
Post by: TordelBack on 12 May, 2018, 05:25:58 PM
Heh, I was rating the phone box page as one of the most accomplished things I've seen in ages: it's just such a neat, interesting way to show a long series of potentially dull talking heads. 

But I do see what James means about Finny's rather naff hand - I just didn't notice it all, which may be the real point for me.  I suspect it may be the perennial problem of colouring Yeowell's supremely open linework, with the graded tones dropped on it your eye is forced to fill in the (unlikely) 3D shapes, whereas when it's (count 'em) three or four B&W lines, you would probably just accept 'hand' and look straight through it. 
Title: Re: Prog 2080 -PSI no More
Post by: The Sherman Kid on 12 May, 2018, 07:56:29 PM
Cover  Cool cover nicely done

Dredd Entertaining and concise

Future Shock Very good with sharp art

Anderson Episode one included some good ideas and it was a welcome return for Karyn but overall this was an unholy confusing mess that made less sense as it went on. The lack of clarity was irksome (colour coded 'identity' thoughts weren't a problem, another good idea, but the way they were used muddled the narrative greatly).

Flying green lizards from nowhere ...er ... fine, I guess.  They are riding on a highway when the road gives way they stop and drop a flare into the undercity, clearly they are still on the highway. Buildings collapse for no apparent reason...? Anderson looks at a blank piece of paper..what? They stand in the rubble above the undercity..Anderson enters a block...Flowers and Kazuo are....somewhere...Echo is somehwere.

Anderson is dangling well above the undercity. Echo is descended the outside of a towerblock into the undercity. Echo is now back on the highway 'greeting' the other rogue psis above ground with the meg in the background?? What the...where the hell are we?

Metal guns that don't work for psi's erm what?? Really? Whatever...fine. Foreign judges invited in...after the Texas fiasco? Really? Ermm fine....whatever.


Echo shoots Karyn? No, its some kind of psi thingy. Anyway Karyn is mortally wounded...somehow.

A Hondo judge stands over someone 'Is she dead?' Who is that..? Karyn? A rogue psi, ah, yes, well, that was not clear. Karyn is on the floor looking like shes been ..well...shot.


Someone who loves looking at entrails is caring for the psis, well, that's ..encouraging.

An unpteenth garbled piece of dialogue appears from 'blind?' entrails woman who doesn't deserve a name, in response to Anderson's question 'How many did we lose?' -'Four so far,who were more seriously injured. It's not really a coma their spirits have ...retreated' -who talks like this? Obviously they were seriously injured -their dead!? Entrails woman touches the stomach of a patient, God she misses those entrails.

Karyn with only a 'few moments left to live' is ...actually ...alive. Whatever (sigh).

PS -Ilsa is ...??? Where on earth did she go??



Title: Re: Prog 2080 -PSI no More
Post by: A.Cow on 13 May, 2018, 04:41:59 AM
Quote from: Steve Green on 12 May, 2018, 10:21:52 AM
The type for the captions bugged me a bit too.

Glad I'm not the only one irked by that.  Yes, you find Roman/serif captions in Look & Learn and Eagle but I don't recall seeing it in any war comics.  Not only did it ruin the effect but they also missed the opportunity to use old-style typeset corrugated-edge speech balloons.  A shame.
Title: Re: Prog 2080 -PSI no More
Post by: Colin YNWA on 13 May, 2018, 09:16:25 AM
Quote from: A.Cow on 13 May, 2018, 04:41:59 AM
Quote from: Steve Green on 12 May, 2018, 10:21:52 AM
The type for the captions bugged me a bit too.

Glad I'm not the only one irked by that.  Yes, you find Roman/serif captions in Look & Learn and Eagle but I don't recall seeing it in any war comics.  Not only did it ruin the effect but they also missed the opportunity to use old-style typeset corrugated-edge speech balloons.  A shame.

Funnily enough that's being discussed over at the 2081 Thread. For me it worked really well evoking the early Johnny Red strips from Battle.
Title: Re: Prog 2080 -PSI no More
Post by: IndigoPrime on 13 May, 2018, 01:24:32 PM
There's been a bit of 'off the shelf' lettering of late. Sláine had the same problem in the previous series. Not sure what's going on. There surely must be better options from typographic, design and legibility standpoints.

As for Anderson, I'm keen to re-read. I like Beeby's stuff. But it feels like something's been lost between script and page, or perhaps head and page. It reminded me a bit too much of some of the strips during the 1990s in the Meg, where it was clear the author knew what was going on, but figuring that out as a reader was a mite trickier.
Title: Re: Prog 2080 -PSI no More
Post by: sheridan on 17 May, 2018, 12:06:34 AM
Quote from: Leigh S on 10 May, 2018, 10:07:43 PM
Wouldnt Death's skin get to be Centuries old in the time they spent stuck on Deadworld after wiping everyone out?  Not sure what it establishes in the story around prog 901-903 - Ian Gibson art-  that established they stole the dimension hopping tech from dimensional travellers who arrive at some point (could be centuries?) after Deadworld is all dead


Was that the one where they went to Bournemouth?
Title: Re: Prog 2080 -PSI no More
Post by: Colin Zeal on 17 May, 2018, 11:42:17 PM
I'm hoping that Anderson will read better/make sense now that I can do a full read through in one go. It's the first story I've been pleased to see the back of in a long time and I hope that is down to me rather than anyone else.