Ulises Fariñas threw this up on twitter (https://twitter.com/ulises_f/status/619920491705282560/photo/1)
"@err_freitas and I are writing Judge Dredd with @danmcdaid on the arts and it's awesome. Check out the cover for #1"
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CJpmZP3UMAAD-Og.jpg:large)
Hope it's better than the previous run.
I've got some sketches by Dan, so I'm looking forward to this.
Quote from: Ghost MacRoth on 11 July, 2015, 07:04:08 PM
Hope it's better than the previous run.
I presume it's a mini-series.
l, as some of the 4 parters were quite good, that's a plus.
"The Judge Dredd ongoing concluded six months ago, and IDW didn't want to relaunch it without a clear new direction, so former Dredd artist Ulises Farinas will now be writing Judge Dredd: Mega City Zero along with co-writer Erick Freitas with art by Dan McRaid. The book will take Dredd to the as to previously unexplored Mega City Zero, a wild place where there is no law to uphold. Farinas wants to keep the satirical core of the book, and is using internet fandom as the metaphors for the residents of this city in the wild, overgrown jungle of a city."
http://www.bleedingcool.com/2015/07/11/sdcc-15-panel-blow-blow-idw-announces-dredd-tmntbatman-rom-micronauts/
No idea about the writing team, as writers I loved Farinas' work on Mega City 2. Assuming however that that's Dan McDaid not raid that'll be enough to justify a trial.
I love that Judges head being overrun by nature....it reminds me of a recent art competition entry. Lol Z
Quote from: JOE SOAP on 11 July, 2015, 08:09:14 PM
"The Judge Dredd ongoing concluded six months ago, and IDW didn't want to relaunch it without a clear new direction, so former Dredd artist Ulises Farinas will now be writing Judge Dredd: Mega City Zero along with co-writer Erick Freitas with art by Dan McRaid. The book will take Dredd to the as to previously unexplored Mega City Zero, a wild place where there is no law to uphold. Farinas wants to keep the satirical core of the book, and is using internet fandom as the metaphors for the residents of this city in the wild, overgrown jungle of a city."
http://www.bleedingcool.com/2015/07/11/sdcc-15-panel-blow-blow-idw-announces-dredd-tmntbatman-rom-micronauts/
Just from the cover I thought this would be J Dredd's version of 'Old man Logan' or 'TDKR'.
Dan McDaid: "Here's a flavour of how my Dredd will look - gnarly, tough, ready" or as he says on his blog: "Judge Dredd piece for A Secret Thing"
Must confess, I wasn't familiar with his work but I do like what I see on his blog and Twitter feed.
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CJqNpqyWUAE0DMf.jpg)
Got a lot of goodwill towards IDW and its Dredd titles, despite the relative failure of the main series, so will definitely pick this up.
Quote from: SuperSurfer on 12 July, 2015, 09:27:00 PM
Dan McDaid: "Here's a flavour of how my Dredd will look - gnarly, tough, ready" or as he says on his blog: "Judge Dredd piece for A Secret Thing"
Must confess, I wasn't familiar with his work but I do like what I see on his blog and Twitter feed.
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CJqNpqyWUAE0DMf.jpg)
That's a fantastic Dredd pic.
Quote from: JamesC on 12 July, 2015, 10:06:38 PM
Quote from: SuperSurfer on 12 July, 2015, 09:27:00 PM
Dan McDaid: "Here's a flavour of how my Dredd will look - gnarly, tough, ready" or as he says on his blog: "Judge Dredd piece for A Secret Thing"
Must confess, I wasn't familiar with his work but I do like what I see on his blog and Twitter feed.
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CJqNpqyWUAE0DMf.jpg)
That's a fantastic Dredd pic.
Completely agree, I especially like that font for DREDD.
Compared to the terrible main series IDW Dredd attempt, that looks fantastic. (Looks great when not compared too)
Their previous main Dredd series was (IMO) terrible, but IDW have delivered the goods otherwise, and their production values are great.
I'll definetly try this- if it's well written I'll keep buying it.
I thought their previous main Dredd series was terrible, though it did have a few high points:
- Shane Pierce's art on The Stakes
- SJS Judge Verrity
I've said it on another thread in the past, but Nelson Daniel has done good artwork (if you look at his Flickr/DeviantArt page) but none of this translates to the Dredd work he did. No idea why, as the good work he has done is on SF stuff - maybe he just doesn't look on someone else's characters in the same way.
It's pretty apparent IDW gets the work they pay for.
That Dredd sketch isn't great. Proportions look, well not quite... And the helmet looks as wonky as hell. So many talented artists working in the USA market that this isn't a case of 'Americans can't do Dredd' but a case of Dredd Milliband... You can tell from the get go it won't stick the landing.
Quote from: BPP on 14 July, 2015, 02:26:27 AM
That Dredd sketch
As you say, it's a sketch - not final artwork.
QuoteThat Dredd sketch...
...looks fantastic to me. Can't wait to see more :thumbsup:
Yeah I've already tried to pre-bag this at me local comic shop despite it being very early.
I think IDW haven't misstepped with the 2kad property since the main Dredd run - plus that sketch IS nice (in my view) very Simon Fraseresque. Got a lovely European feel to it.
The art is nothing to do with how "Americans do Dredd'. McDaid is also a superb colourist. I think he is on colouring duties as well. Looking forward to this series.
Quote from: BPP on 14 July, 2015, 02:26:27 AM
So many talented artists working in the USA market that this isn't a case of 'Americans can't do Dredd' ...
Also the fact that he's British.
For what it's worth I like the sketch.
I've said this on other forums and I'll say it here, IDW's main JD series read like bad fan-fiction. (Cal in league with the Dark Judges/12 dj's instead of the original 4) even though it's a different universe it still felt out of place + the art didn't help at all! It felt rushed and cartoony when it should have been serious.
After not reading any IDW Dredd until this week as they're now dirt cheap.
So far the main Dredd series is just badly written.
Nothing to do with not getting Dredd but the writer my getting how to write an interesting story.
Just about to start the 12 Dark Judges arc.
Must admit I'm looking forward to getting to the other series especially those written and drawn by Matt Smith and Simon Coleby.
Quote from: W. R. Logan on 26 July, 2015, 02:44:02 PM
Must admit I'm looking forward to getting to the other series especially those written and drawn by Matt Smith and Simon Coleby.
Hope there's more in the way of Year One Dredd coming. Really enjoyed that series and would happily see the same team do it again. The flashbacks of young Rico and Joe by Coleby were superb.
Some details courtesy of Bleeding Cool
http://www.bleedingcool.com/2015/08/31/here-comes-judge-dredd-1-with-mega-city-zero-1-for-december/ (http://www.bleedingcool.com/2015/08/31/here-comes-judge-dredd-1-with-mega-city-zero-1-for-december/)
Sounds ... interesting... guess we'll see how it goes.
That cover is the Retail Incentive one. I smell three covers for issue one then :lol:
As long as it's not the 19 the main series had.
Personally I think it's IDW taking the piss when they do multiple covers for every issue.
Helps to make the numbers higher :thumbsup:
Is this going to be an ongoing series or just a mini?
Quote from: Max Headroom on 31 August, 2015, 07:55:31 PM
Is this going to be an ongoing series or just a mini?
Ongoing.
Quote from: JOE SOAP on 31 August, 2015, 08:31:04 PM
Quote from: Max Headroom on 31 August, 2015, 07:55:31 PM
Is this going to be an ongoing series or just a mini?
Ongoing.
Not to sound negative, but I'd have more faith in a new series of Youngblood lasting longer than this.
Just read that article Colin posted above, it does indeed sound somewhat interesting, but I can't help feel that IDW are again dropping the ball here (regarding an
ongoing Judge Dredd title, with sustainability).
I'll give it a go of course, and will be pleasantly surprised if it's a hit.
NB- Nothing against IDW, a fine comic company. I was a fan of their Dredd, Anderson & Rogue Trooper mini's and have lapped up some of their other titles too.
Here's the Subscription Variant with a link to the reason behind what is on the cover!
(https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/11144964_10207826204557395_2519309996340349823_n.jpg?oh=3aeb7ab9c0736feb3ee26f66201f335d&oe=567823AB)
75 Years of Archie Comics (http://www.bleedingcool.com/2015/09/10/francesco-francavilla-draws-archie-for-judge-dredd-1/)
I really, really, have to get that.
If Archie becomes a Chopper variation then presumably he will go up against Jughead McKenzie in Supersurf 10
Well if we ever needed more evidence it would be so great to have a Dredd story by Francesco Francavilla (though if he'd like to get back to Black Beetle first that'd be cool too!)
Quote from: Colin_YNWA on 10 September, 2015, 08:15:49 PM
Well if we ever needed more evidence it would be so great to have a Dredd story by Francesco Francavilla (though if he'd like to get back to Black Beetle first that'd be cool too!)
Feck that, get
Afterlife with Archie on schedule I say!
Maybe if Francavilla didn't produce a billion comic covers a month both series would have a chance! ;)
Didn't the Mars Attacks/Dredd crossover begin as just a cover? We could be on the verge of a whole new crossover story. ; )
Quote from: Dash Decent on 11 September, 2015, 01:21:16 PM
Didn't the Mars Attacks/Dredd crossover begin as just a cover? We could be on the verge of a whole new crossover story. ; )
You just reminded me why I'm a little bit sad that IDW no longer have rights for Doctor Who...
Francavilla is quite the talent. You know, the more I see of this book the more optimistic I am.
Quote from: jacob g on 11 September, 2015, 01:31:21 PM
You just reminded me why I'm a little bit sad that IDW no longer have rights for Doctor Who...
Don't be - Titan are doing marvellous things wi' it. Benefits the droids a lot more too! ;)
(http://media.titan-comics.com/dynamic-images/comics/issues/11D_014_Cover_A.jpg.size-400.jpg)
Is that Boo on cover duty? 'Cos it's rather good.
Yeah, that's Boo.
Quote from: CrazyFoxMachine on 11 September, 2015, 08:19:17 PM
Quote from: jacob g on 11 September, 2015, 01:31:21 PM
You just reminded me why I'm a little bit sad that IDW no longer have rights for Doctor Who...
Don't be - Titan are doing marvellous things wi' it. Benefits the droids a lot more too! ;)
Point taken ;)
Still IDW could bring us proper Doctor Who/Dredd crossover.
Quote
Still IDW could bring us proper Doctor Who/Dredd crossover.
Why the hell would you want that.
IDW do pretty crap Dredd and I'd hate to think what shite they'd do throwing the Dr into the mix.
Quote from: W. R. Logan on 12 September, 2015, 11:55:56 PM
Quote
Still IDW could bring us proper Doctor Who/Dredd crossover.
Why the hell would you want that.
IDW do pretty crap Dredd and I'd hate to think what shite they'd do throwing the Dr into the mix.
Sure Brendan McCarthy has more or less already done it that
Anyone read Burning Heart by Dave Stone?
Quote from: W. R. Logan on 12 September, 2015, 11:55:56 PM
Quote
Still IDW could bring us proper Doctor Who/Dredd crossover.
Why the hell would you want that.
Cuz I kinda like Dredd/Mars Attacks crossover.
Dan was kind enough to post these up on facebook :D
(https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xlf1/t31.0-8/11958186_533685606784350_2374113281358328905_o.jpg)
It arrives next week; http://www.midtowncomics.com/store/dp.asp?PRID=1488327
I'll pick up at least the first few issues to check it out, and I have to get that Francavilla Archie cover.
What's with the Vol 5 listing?
Midtown must be including the Eagle & DC runs...
Quote from: Link Prime on 09 December, 2015, 11:20:14 PM
It arrives next week; http://www.midtowncomics.com/store/dp.asp?PRID=1488327
I'll pick up at least the first few issues to check it out, and I have to get that Francavilla Archie cover.
What's with the Vol 5 listing?
Midtown must be including the Eagle & DC runs...
I've got several of those Blank covers ordered via my local comic shop so here's hoping he gets them as I have a lot of plans for them. :thumbsup:
From the IDW solicitations for March 2016:
"Mega-City Zero, Part 4! As Dredd continues to unravel the mystery of what has become of Mega-City One, he's brought before "The Forum" to be judged himself!"
Isn't that what happened IDW Dredd volume 1? ;)
Quote from: Link Prime on 16 December, 2015, 03:31:43 PM
Isn't that what happened IDW Dredd volume 1? ;)
Can't help you. Erased all memory of IDW Dredd :o
That didn't take long to read, only 20 pages long and luckily for Buttonman, they're doing a readers letters page ;)
As known, there were 3 covers, plus a blank sketch variant. What they didn't tell us was there's also a Nerd Block Exclusive Cover, which is a similar thing to what Zavvi does.
Looking forward to reading this, and as much as I love Dan on art duties I'm kind of longing for a Stokoe Dredd series after that variant.
picked this up today (Archie cover) and thought of CF as soon as I saw the blank cover advertised. looking forward to seeing what he gets done to them!
The comic is better than the previous IDW stories, the artwork is loose and the colouring muddy IMO, Dredd's faced off with the Mechismo could have been a 'Fist of Dredd' moment but missed, the children are a pain and the whole internet savvy-ness also painful at times.
I'm out, anyone short of an Archie cover?
I've got mine (Blank Cover, just in case) today. Haven't found time to read, only quick peek at the art and, damn, I'm glad MacDaid was picked as artist for this new ongoing.
Quote from: COMMANDO FORCES on 16 December, 2015, 06:51:01 PM
That didn't take long to read, only 20 pages long and luckily for Buttonman, they're doing a readers letters page ;)
As known, there were 3 covers, plus a blank sketch variant. What they didn't tell us was there's also a Nerd Block Exclusive Cover, which is a similar thing to what Zavvi does.
I really hate the fact that IDW do so many variant covers.
Thought multiple covers were a thing of the 90's but IDW continue to pump out multiple covers, wouldn't be so bad if the covers were wrapped around anything decent.
First thoughts: I've read through it once, have the standard cover (which is all we saw of the new series for the longest time), though quite like the look of the retailer incentive cover (the wrap-around Mega-City One cityscape which has done the rounds for a few months now - but I wouldn't want to put any comic shop through the hoops they'd have to go through to get one).
Story-wise it packs the first episode of a 2000AD-style tale, but in twenty pages instead of six, but this is a well-known difference between UK and USA comics so I won't labour that point... So far it reminds me of nothing as much as an Alternity Dredd story.
Dredd was a bit quick in shooting Puppy Kicker through the head, though other than that this story could fit into IDW, 2000AD or even DC Dredd quite comfortably. That might be more due to there only being three sepia-tone flashback panels of 'real' Mega-City One. The children's speech patterns started to annoy me pretty quickly, when I re-read I'll try to give them a Mad Max III accent and see if that improves them. Speaking of Mad Max, the water scenes were more than a little reminiscent of Fury Road. The fossilised Ang Avi (did anybody not get that?) reminded me of the Petrified City from Terror Watt.
Highlights: the full-page view of Ang Avi and the last page of story, with the view of 'Echo Chamber' / ruined plaza.
For the record I already like this artist over Nelson Daniel. Okay, I think it really helps that this story ark starts out as a fish out of water/mystery story because the moment I saw those mech units I realized this story takes place in the future so Already I'm curious enough to want to know how Mega-City ended up like this and if this future can be prevented. I'll be buying the next issue.
Quote from: sheridan on 17 December, 2015, 01:17:38 AM
First thoughts: I've read through it once, have the standard cover (which is all we saw of the new series for the longest time), though quite like the look of the retailer incentive cover (the wrap-around Mega-City One cityscape which has done the rounds for a few months now - but I wouldn't want to put any comic shop through the hoops they'd have to go through to get one).
No hoops required, just order one from Disposable Heroes!
http://www.disposableheroes.co.uk/this-weeks-releases/idw/judge-dredd-ongoing-1-1-10-variant/prod_224984.html
Quote from: dweezil2 on 18 December, 2015, 06:47:27 AM
No hoops required, just order one from Disposable Heroes!
http://www.disposableheroes.co.uk/this-weeks-releases/idw/judge-dredd-ongoing-1-1-10-variant/prod_224984.html
I was under the impression that comic shops had to order large quantities (50+) to get the retailer incentive covers, though the line 'JUDGE DREDD (ONGOING) #1 1:10 VARIANT' suggests the ratio is ten comics to get this particular cover.
Quote from: sheridan on 17 December, 2015, 01:17:38 AM
Story-wise it packs the first episode of a 2000AD-style tale, but in twenty pages instead of six, but this is a well-known difference between UK and USA comics so I won't labour that point...
Actually in comparision to many other monthy US books first issue of Mega City Zero tale have more action than other can squeez in few issues. And it's only 20 pages with 12 page of adverts (for real? 12? for 4 dollars).
The cover's beautiful (standard one) and the main reason I bought it. The story is intriguing though and I'll be getting no. 2 despite the kids being rather grating and the art a bit muddy. Interesting to see where this is going..
I thought after there first attempt that IDW might have learnt a few things from their failure to get a Dredd comic right.
How wrong could I have been, truly awful and with 5 different covers it seems as if no matter how much we moaned about multiple covers in the 90's the comic companies are still trying to screw every fanboy as much as they can.
I've got this on order and will persevere til issue 3 and if it remains this bad then I'll pick up the issues in the bargain bins as I did for the initial IDW Dredd's.
Yes I read it. It was ok I guess, in as much as it was an improvement on the previous one, but if that turned up in the Prog or the Meg, I don't think I would be too happy. For what it is worth I have subscribed.
Now that reminds me, I still haven't read the last few episodes of the last run, what a year later?
hmmm - must get round to it. Problem is I have too much Mega Collection to read, not to mention Dan Dare and (original) Harlem Heroes, and .....
The good - the art was better than I feared. He gives good Joe face and helmet. Although Dredd does seem to have a broken shoulder all the time. The colours masked where the lines got to messy but it was not bad. However page composition wasn't great and characters relative positionings jumped around.
The bad - the story. It's inept.
1) as an issue one there is no reason to like Dredd or any way to get who he is. So bye bye new readers while the loyal will be thinking...
2) 'this' Dredd is inept - why randomly escalate v one mechanismo then turn your back on the second standing right beside it?
3) you get the Dredd playpen to play in and you immediate remove everything key about the character - ie MC1, its citizens, it's enemy's, the tension in law and justice?
4) why is Dredd trying to cube kids when he knows there are no cubes, he's not in MC1 and everyone is doing far worse? What?
5) verbose talking Dredd. Talking to himself. Instead of chucking his internal processing into boxes here we have Joe wandering around musing on his situation like the bard.
And yet still it is far far better than the two previous 'all' IDW efforts. But honestly I just don't get it. I don't understand how IDWs editors aren't thinking this thru better.
I know rebellion are quick to stand up for IDW and that IDW do good work in comics but the way they are trying to sell Dredd in the states just baffles me.
Quote from: BPP on 15 January, 2016, 12:48:46 PM
I know rebellion are quick to stand up for IDW and that IDW do good work in comics but the way they are trying to sell Dredd in the states just baffles me.
The only thing that's certain about trying to sell Dredd in the States is that unadulterated, straight 2000AD-style Dredd
doesn't sell. There's thirty-odd years of efforts to do so that proves this, including sticking out collections with the names of some of the biggest creators in comics on the front, and the Merkins
still won't buy it.
If we're down to 'chucking stuff at the wall and seeing what sticks', it's hardly surprising.
Cheers
Jim
C) give it someone who brings an audience and loves the character... Like Archie did with their various reboots.
It's not as if Dredd isn't popular with US creators and well crafted SciFi has been booming under Image and BOOM. if things like Coppertown are hits then there is no reason a quality product around Dredd 2000ad quality couldn't be. Instead it's badly edited, low page rate, badly written. I get the feeling this stuff is skimming a profit rather than aiming for success.
I've always thought IDW aimed to produce content to access not 2000ad fanboys or curious North American readers but the trade collection market that services bookstores, newsagents, schools, libraries, prisons - as well as foreign territories in translated form.
As for the dissonance between IDW Dredd and 2000ad Dredd, isn't that just the "if Wagner didn't write it" thing again? Some Dredd writers just do it differently.
Not really. It's marginally better than the DC Dredd, but so far removed from actual Dredd that it's almost an entirely separate character. To be fair, that's also happened sometimes during 2000 AD/Meg history, but only really during the bad old days, and also only rarely. The odd modern Dredd is sometimes a bit off, but not nearly to the same extent.
I actually really enjoyed #1.
It's got that slighty 70's dystopian movie vibe going for it which appeals to me and, as noted, it's so far a better stab at the character than IDW's last attempt, although the Anderson and Year One mini-series' I really enjoyed.
It's a different take on the character and I personally don't have a problem with that.
It's early days yet, but I'll stick with it-the art is great too!
All I'll say thus far, is I will get the next few at very least. Not overly impressed at all, but happy to tag along to see if it's got something interesting up it's sleeve.
Quote from: Magnetica on 10 January, 2016, 03:55:23 PMNow that reminds me, I still haven't read the last few episodes of the last run, what a year later?
The last few episodes were better than most of those preceding, for the SJS Judge (which was about the only thing worth reading the whole series for).
Quote from: BPP on 15 January, 2016, 12:48:46 PMAnd yet still it is far far better than the two previous 'all' IDW efforts.
Two previous all IDW efforts? Year One and Mars Attacks! both featured script or art droids.
Quote from: Scolaighe Ó'Bear on 15 January, 2016, 08:31:50 PM
I've always thought IDW aimed to produce content to access not 2000ad fanboys or curious North American readers but the trade collection market that services bookstores, newsagents, schools, libraries, prisons - as well as foreign territories in translated form.
As for the dissonance between IDW Dredd and 2000ad Dredd, isn't that just the "if Wagner didn't write it" thing again? Some Dredd writers just do it differently.
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 15 January, 2016, 08:48:54 PM
Not really. It's marginally better than the DC Dredd, but so far removed from actual Dredd that it's almost an entirely separate character. To be fair, that's also happened sometimes during 2000 AD/Meg history, but only really during the bad old days, and also only rarely. The odd modern Dredd is sometimes a bit off, but not nearly to the same extent.
I also don't think it is just that Wagner isn't writting it. There are numerous examples of fantastic Dredd stories in the Prog and Meg that weren't written by him but by the likes of Al Ewing, Rob Williams, Michael Carroll (and that's without even mentioning Alan Grant).
Quote from: BPP on 15 January, 2016, 12:48:46 PMAnd yet still it is far far better than the two previous 'all' IDW efforts.
QuoteTwo previous all IDW efforts? Year One and Mars Attacks! both featured script or art droids.
Yeah, I appreciate that but often all IDW's attempts at the Dreddverse gets lumped togethet as an abject failure on how to approach the character.
Often unfairly in my opinion.
The only good IDW Dredd universe stories were written or drawn by creators who had previously worked on Dredd.
The Anderson and Year One storylines were enjoyable but everything else has been destined for the bargain bucket.
Even their Dredd classics have looked no better than the 'Quality' reprints.
I've picked up all the IDW comics out of UK & AUS bargain bins.
Mars Attacks Judge Dredd seemed to go down well (on this board, at least) while it was being released? It's seeming that it's being lumped in with the main IDW JD now. Confused...
Anderson, Mars Attacks, Year One, even Rogue trooper, all quite good.
Just the main title and 'city of courts' that sucked ass in my opinion.
To clarify, my distain was and is for the main line. Year One was fine, and the Mars Attacks crossover was amusingly madcap. Rogue Trooper was, to my mind, a massive missed opportunity, in terms of a potentially great reboot for the character. I felt cheated when that was done, and I've never been a fan of Rogue (bar, to some extent, War Machine).
Quote
Quote from: BPP on 15 January, 2016, 12:48:46 PMAnd yet still it is far far better than the two previous 'all' IDW efforts.
Two previous all IDW efforts? Year One and Mars Attacks! both featured script or art droids.
The main title and City of Courts. 'All' IDW efforts in that the other three Dredd titles had 2000AD / Rebellion alumni working on them.
I managed to grab all the covers, including the Nerd Block exclusive.
As for the comic itself, 20 pages, which just took us past the staples. We wuz robbed! I'd've preferred it in black and white, as having seen some of the uncoloured pages, they look a lot better.
The story and how Dredd reacts are just not Dredd, PERIOD
Page 4, Dredd seems to mysteriously move around the assault scene. In one panel he's in front of the boys and all of a sudden he's behind them, EH!
The poor bloke that they are beating up goes for Dredd's weapon, after Joe yanks the main trouble maker off him and so Dredd blows the back of his head off. That seemed way over the top for Dredd. The bloke was being beaten up, he's probably in a bit of shock, so why not just subdue him!
The Mechanismo incident! Dredd shoots one of the robots head off and doesn't immediately do the same on the other, so it starts shooting. On page 13, the middle right hand panel, it looks like Dredd has been shot in the back, as the laser targeting beam (I'm guessing it's that) is on Dredd's back. The problem is that it's the same colour of the shots that take out loads of people straight after, which is were the confusion lies.
Then we have the assault to take out the 2nd Mechanismo and Dredd decides not to shoot this one in the head. All during this, time seemingly happens at different speeds, which you will notice as you read the sequence with incredulity.
There are numerous other inconsistencies but why ruin all your fun, for when you pick it up!
Obviously I'll be collecting it, as I'm mad!
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 16 January, 2016, 01:53:10 PM
To clarify, my distain was and is for the main line. Year One was fine, and the Mars Attacks crossover was amusingly madcap. Rogue Trooper was, to my mind, a massive missed opportunity, in terms of a potentially great reboot for the character. I felt cheated when that was done, and I've never been a fan of Rogue (bar, to some extent, War Machine).
I really enjoyed IDW's Rogue Trooper, such a shame it didn't take off!
Have now read the second one....it is not growing on me. Messy art, and some of the red text on blue backgrounds while also being thin and warped....yeah, cheers for the eyeache! Then there's the 'lets make it like the internet with trolls and admins and stuff but it's real life!!' storyline that's just doing nowt for me at this point. Hopefully it's another 4 parter, and they will stop this garbage soon and move onto something which had better be an improvement.
In my opinion art is the only good thing in this series. Since I saw McDaid in Doctor Who I was waiting for his interpretation of Dredd. Sadly this is another out of character Dredd...
First volume of collected MC0 now listed for pre-order at Amazon UK:
Judge Dredd: Mega-City Zero - volume 1 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1631406272) – 23rd June 2016, IDW, paperback, 100 pages.
Well as far as the first two issues are concerned it's all a little....flat.
Dan's art is simply magnificent, too get the positives out of the way. I'd love to see him in the prog sometime. The story on the other hand feel's quite tired, well troden and generaly not very well written.
Quote from: Hawkmonger on 24 January, 2016, 09:07:03 AM
Well as far as the first two issues are concerned it's all a little....flat.
Dan's art is simply magnificent, too get the positives out of the way. I'd love to see him in the prog sometime. The story on the other hand feel's quite tired, well troden and generaly not very well written.
I'm with you here, Hawk.
The artwork has really impressed, but the story and crucially the portrayal of Dredd hasn't.
I appreciate that the writers are enthusiastic and were trying something different, but it just doesn't read as 'Judge Dredd'.
If this was the other way round (great story with questionable art) I genuinely think I'd stick with it, but as is I'm out after 2 issues.
I kinda like how the story is making fun how people behave in the net. The problem is Dredd, nervous, triggerhappy... he's not like Dredd in previous IDW horrible attempt but still they missed the oportunity.
Seriously, the only US market Dredds I liked was always done by 2000 AD writers, first 4 issues of Legends of the Law, Year One, Mars Attack vs Dredd.
Damn, after first MC-0 issue for a second I thought this can be good.
Bought part one of this latest series where IDW has another go at taking the law to the lawless. I liked the art but didn't get on with the story. But it isn't aimed at me and so isn't for me so I guess I'm out with this series. Production values top notch, as usual with anything I've bought from IDW, though. Great cover to issue 1.
Here are my thoughts on issue 2.
It seems to me what they are trying to do is explain the Dredd world set up as quickly as possible. What I don't get is, what the rush is nor the way they are going about it.
So instead of showing us Mega City One, all the bonkers stuff in it, how the Judges deal with it and letting us work it out for ourselves over time, what they have decided to do is remove Mega City One from the story, and have a load of dialogue providing a commentary the Justice system. The problem I have with this, is I just didn't find it very engaging or very exciting. I would have thought it would be much better to just show the reader what the scenario is. After all that is how most drama does it.
There are plenty of scenarios they could have used, for example futsies, fatties, uglies, stookie, bat gliders, sky surfers, boing, scrawlers, etc.
I also don't really see the point of these "fish out of water" type stories as an introduction to a character. The question is often asked on this forum what is the best story to introduce a new reader to Dredd, and as good as they are I would never recommend the Cursed Earth, the Day the Law Died or the Judge Child to a new reader.
Another thing a found odd in this episode were the numerous references to established things e.g. PJ Maybe, Judge Giant, Block Mania, Kraken. These will mean absolutely nothing to new readers (indeed I guess they won't even notice them). For long terms readers they didn't really add anything to the story as they were pretty much blink and you miss them references.
I thought the art was a bit scratchy, but not in a way that appealed to me. Now it doesn't have to be all Bolland or Kev O'Neill clean lines, but IMO there is a way of doing scratchy that looks good and this isn't it. (Mike McMahon for example).
Given the comments on the board (those that have been made and the general lack of comments) I guess not too many of you are reading this. I have subscribed, mostly out of being a Dredd completist and partly out of want to support this. But given how much I am not enjoying this and how much I didn't really enjoy the first (main) IDW stab at Dredd, I'm not sure how valid that is. Part of me wants this to succeed but I would be surprised if it makes it passed ten issues. I think it was Kevin O'Neill who said something along the following lines on the recent Future Shock film "you think you want 2000AD to have mainstream success, but in order to have it, the content would have to be mainstream, and you really don't want that." So given that 2000AD Dredd is largely a parody of America and I am guessing that won't go down to well in the American market, I am not sure the IDW Dredd will ever hit the spot for me. But I will continue to buy it.
(I did like their Rogue Trooper and it is a real shame it didn't go beyond 4 episodes).
Quote from: Magnetica on 25 January, 2016, 10:07:04 PMThere are plenty of scenarios they could have used, for example futsies, fatties, uglies, stookie, bat gliders, sky surfers, boing, scrawlers, etc.
I do wonder if how a concept like the fatties would be handled today, if it was introduced now.
QuoteAnother thing a found odd in this episode were the numerous references to established things e.g. PJ Maybe, Judge Giant, Block Mania, Kraken. These will mean absolutely nothing to new readers (indeed I guess they won't even notice them). For long terms readers they didn't really add anything to the story as they were pretty much blink and you miss them references.
I don't have ish 2 yet (hopefully I'll make it to the comic shop today, but I have the folks visiting and rain is looking risky), but that sounds like the best kind of fan references - doesn't get in the way if you don't get it and from the sounds of it doesn't impact too much if you do.
Read it. Liked it.
Very Eurocomic in flavor, I thought, though the decompressed pages and pacing offsets that. McDaid's art is distinctive and consistent, which is always a good way to go with Dredd, finely complimented by Ryan Hill's digital colouring and Chris Mowry's aesthetic choice of rectangular speech balloons, which shouldn't really work but does - and also feeds back into the aforementioned Eurocomic feel.
Hints in the dialogue - "flame war" and everyone talking like an angry internet troll can be seen either as a gag about the devolution in intelligence of the citizens, or an indicator of the cause of the phenomenon (I'm hoping the latter, as the former was old hat when Brian Bendis was doing it back in the early 2000s as a chickenshit way of getting the last word on critics), but either way, the central gimmick is a good one and I could see it being used in a 2000ad/Meg Dredd story. Dredd's character is a little inconsistent, but here and there are hints of the Dredd we know.
I can see this making a good trade collection - possibly this is IDW's master plan: to get some of that phat TPB cash Rebellion have been raking in over the years.
Quote from: Scolaighe Ó'Bear on 27 January, 2016, 12:34:42 PM
I can see this making a good trade collection - possibly this is IDW's master plan: to get some of that phat TPB cash Rebellion have been raking in over the years.
They have already issued collected editions of the previous Dredd stuff they did. You can see an ad for it on the 4th page before the inside back cover.
They are collections..whether they are
good collections I will leave others to judge for themselves.
Quote from: sheridan on 27 January, 2016, 10:14:33 AM
Quote from: Magnetica on 25 January, 2016, 10:07:04 PMAnother thing a found odd in this episode were the numerous references to established things e.g. PJ Maybe, Judge Giant, Block Mania, Kraken. These will mean absolutely nothing to new readers (indeed I guess they won't even notice them). For long terms readers they didn't really add anything to the story as they were pretty much blink and you miss them references.
I don't have ish 2 yet (hopefully I'll make it to the comic shop today, but I have the folks visiting and rain is looking risky), but that sounds like the best kind of fan references - doesn't get in the way if you don't get it and from the sounds of it doesn't impact too much if you do.
Read it now - it was okay, but didn't love it. The continuity references were subtle enough that it didn't detract from the story at hand. Nothing special plot-wise, but miles better than the previous main IDW JD title. Wouldn't mind that SJS judge I keep banging on about turning up at some point.
The next issue cover is all great art and that, but does look like we're going to get a hackneyed arena fight...
Some nice Jesus Redondo artwork to look forward to in issue 6 for the few of you still reading this.
http://www.comicbookresources.com/comic-previews/judge-dredd-6-idw-2016
What a curious comic. Reads like an early Star Trek and Dredd's look is vintage '77/'78 ! Have no idea if that's standard for IDW, I baled out long ago.
But yeah, you had me at 'Redondo'. Ta.
Very nice Redondo art indeed in issue 6, but......the story is awful.
Such a shame that they can't get Dredd right. I enjoyed the first issue and thought that this might be OK but it rapidly went downhill and just gets worse.
How dare you say the story is terrible. Who doesn't want to see Dredd living with Anderson in a typical home situation :lol:
I have to admit, I have no idea what is going on at the moment but if it is to do with that gas in #5 then I will be not impressed, then again, what am I saying, I am not impressed :lol:
I know it goes against the grain but I'm still really enjoying this and Redondo's art is a joy.
I know they aren't getting our Dredd right but I think there's enough evidence to make it clear it ain't our Dredd. Its an interesting Dredd completely out of his depth as they fish out the water, Tarzan out the jungle, Dorthy definately not in Kanas trope to a wonderfully intriguing extreme.
While I get that people don't like it and why. For whatever reason I find myself entirely embracing its bravey to do something different. Its biggest problem will be how it makes its pay off. Get that right and we've had a wonderfully different and fresh Dredd story. Fluff that climax and a sticky end may spoil the fun up to that.
We'll see, but colour me interested.
I'm thinking we've kinda had the payoff....he's off his tits on some mad drug that psychically connects folks.... he'll wake up in the shower and give Pam a fright in a minute.
Yeah that's the explaination (though is there more to come?) but not the pay off.
I don't know what to think of this series.
I like MacDaid art since Jersey Gods so I really enjoy his take on Dredd. I like some ideas in script, it's like 60's Marvel take on the internet. You have space gods, lsd powered magic and all that stuff but disguised internet folklore, it's bold and I like it.
Joe is the problem, I get it, but after horrible Swierszczynski Dredd this still feels like improvement. This story can be better, just need some actuall brit in creative team maybe?
This isn't really a specific diss on the writer, but it does seem odd that IDW can't find a decent Dredd scribe despite currently employing several.
Quote from: Professor Bear on 02 June, 2016, 10:43:28 AM
This isn't really a specific diss on the writer, but it does seem odd that IDW can't find a decent Dredd scribe despite currently employing several.
But isn't that kinda the point. This is meant to be different otherwise what's the point? Whatever anyone thinks of its success on other fronts surely we can all agree it's defo different!
I'm actually enjoying this one. Compared to the last main strip omnishambles this one is far better. Not prog standard but certainly late 90s Meg standard. Nothing wrong with trying something different.
This is getting worse and worse with every issue. I think I would prefer the 678 dark judges again.
It might be the first Dredd I own that is actually unreadable. Not because it is just bad Dredd, it is plain bad writing full stop.
I get it is supposed to be a satire on those idiotic Men's Rights little boys you see in the comments section of any internet thing with comments enabled where women call out men's bullshit, but it is really poorly done.
If this is where American comics are at, I am glad I do not read any.
Just read #6, the Redondo issue. Bought it with low expectations and found the story.... just horrible, horrible. I'm at a complete loss as to what IDW is thinking of.
The story has just completely lost me in the last two issues. I now haven't a clue what is going on.
I didn't even notice one of the leading support characters getting killed off. Just shows how engaging it is.
Quote from: Toni Scandella on 15 July, 2016, 12:15:39 PM
If this is where American comics are at, I am glad I do not read any.
It's where American Judge Dredd comics are at.
The same publisher (IDW) also currently produce one of the best comics on the market-
Ragnarok.
I wonder how this version of IDW Dredd is doing compared to the previous effort.
Will it make it to issue 12?
Quote from: Link Prime on 15 July, 2016, 01:52:36 PM
Quote from: Toni Scandella on 15 July, 2016, 12:15:39 PM
If this is where American comics are at, I am glad I do not read any.
It's where American Judge Dredd comics are at.
The same publisher (IDW) also currently produce one of the best comics on the market- Ragnarok.
Yeah to judge all American comics by this one would be daft. Though again as I say I'm quite enjoying it.
This story can be better, just need some actuall brit in creative team maybe? >>
McDaid is a Brit.
Quote from: SALMON63 on 15 July, 2016, 10:08:32 PM
This story can be better, just need some actuall brit in creative team maybe? >>
McDaid is a Brit.
And a damn good artist too boot. Best thing in the book TBH.
Having read through 1-8 in one sitting it's a strange but not bad comic. Certainly way better than the first IDW and the truly baffling Wolk fiasco but curious in a number of ways.
For those that haven't read it the story starts with Dredd in a grassy wastelands around the remenents of one city block. That block is the only structure for miles. It is guarded by Mechanismos that don't recognise Dredd. Dredd arrests then becomes ward of three feral children with whom he infiltrates the block. The block seems run on a social-media credit heirarchy that rejects law and encourages trolling up to a limit. There is a truely strange issue (3) where Dredd arena fights a troll (in the Internet sense) who grows Tetsuo-style in relation to how inflamed / angry he gets. The kids get expelled from the block and Dredd sets off in pursuit passing through the under city (4), going against and into a 'male' 1950s VR (5-6) and then a sort of high brown guardian reader cult of political correctness (7) before rescuing said colony's children from a gang infusing the kids with fluids from the Dark Judges 'in order to protect them' from the grass (8). In effect it all reads as a Cursed Earth saga with Internet communities replacing the traditional cursed earth cults.
Set against this, and somewhat out of nowhere, issue 5 seeds the 'explaination' for all this. Post Chaos Day a AI has begun manufacturing and distributing a drug called Green (grass anyone?) which is causing mass disappearance and suicide. A young judge, Berger, sees parallels in her own work on reducing crime which has some sort of social media / The Matrix vibe to it. Dredd and Anderson investigate but respirators are ineffective and Anderson becomes addicted. Berger teams up with Dredd and seems left in a position to further her strange reform ideas...
What to make of it all? It's certainly interesting when read as a whole. The main criticism is that it's incredibly decompressed and is taking far too long. The 'real MC1 Dredd' bits put the story back on an interesting footing but it took 5 issues before this was introduced. Or 15 of your earth pounds. To the creative teams credit 'real MC1' Dredd is pretty convincing. He acts, speaks and operates largely as the Prog Dredd would do. It sort of rebuts the 'you have to do something different with Dredd' line used when IDW Dredd acts like a loony. Furthermore after issue 5 we only get small progression in the 'real MC1' story element as the writer returns to his goal of critiquing / parodying online life.
As to whether it's 'our' Dredd it's hard to say. The 'real MC1' Dredd is convincing but only in the piece sporadically. In the latter issues the 'future / grass' Dredd has become more of a ward to the children while trying to comprehend better what the link of the green drug to the grass is. He's not a bad 'old man on the Long Walk' version of Dredd. What is odd however is both issues 1 and 6 where Dredd 'wakes up' in a new environment (first in the grass and secondly in a 1950s male-topia) Here Dredd acts completely inconsistently with both 'our' Dredd and the character in the bulk of the story. In both he runs around shouting he's the law, trying to beat up everyone and wasting his ammo. It makes no sense on any level. Given that's the 'Dredd' of issue 1 you would be concerned about how new readers would take to the character and just when the comic seems to have got to a more rational, logical realistic Dredd it goes and does the exact same thing with the 1950s VR machine. Frankly it's odd and poor writing / editorial.
The art is okay to good. It suffers a bit of very wonky figure work (Dredd seems to have permanently dislocated shoulders) and the colours can be muted-to-confusing. However there is good kinetic work and some very atmospheric work at times. The descent into the under city was a great couple of pages that would grace the Prog. However the children are clearly causing the artist problems, their body shapes and sizes seem to constantly change, one minute Dredd is pulling out 'adult' scale children from refuse, the next the children are pre-puberty formless bodies. And on that the whole 'naked' children thing in issue 6 is very very weird and unnecessary (although that was the guest artist).
Overall I'd put the series so far on a mid to high score. It's definately not without flaws but on its own rhythm it works. I'd hope this story resolves by issue 12 (4 to go) and the same creative team get down to some MC1 stories because they certainly have shown that they can deliver that. And frankly I'm not too sure how much more 'critiquing Internet culture' the story can take.
That's a pretty fair summary.
Hope this arc wraps up soon. I'm intrigued what the creative team have planned next.
If only it was fair to middling. Let's see what the reboot brings, as it bloody needs one!
Highlight for me, Jesús Redondo :thumbsup:
Fuck. I must be going blind. Been searching for this thread for weeks now and couldn't find it.
Anyway: I got to hang out with the writer (and City Of Courts artist) Ulises Farinas at SDCC (we'd both been asked to take part in the official Star Trek 50th anniversary art show and ended up doing a signing together) and we got talking about Dredd quite a bit. I've been very harsh on IDW's Dredd title bar the mini-series/spin-offs but Farinas talks a good game. His reasoning towards this version of Dredd was pretty simple: Dredd as he appears in 2000AD has never really worked over here in the US and he wanted to try something radically different with the character to see what happened. He also felt a bit like the current Dredd stories in 2000AD are too po-faced and dour, with no humor- something I happen to strongly agree with. I started up with the usual defense tactics but after two failed movies and God-knows how many comic companies and titles have tried over here, I have to admit I felt a bit stumped trying to explain what's wrong with this version.
He's a big fan of both Dredd movies too for various reasons and all this would have been so easy to torpedo except he's a genuinely nice guy. We ended up having a good natter about our favorite shite movies and a pathetically satisfying and in-depth discussion about all things Star Trek.
In any case, yeah it's most certainly not the Dredd we're used to and I don't know how on board with it I am but I'm certainly a bit more open to it than before after talking with him. Apparently they're talking about rebooting it again possibly and returning it to a more conventional approach but honestly, whatever reservations I might have about this current run, I prefer it to what came before with the initial team.
Quote from: blackmocco on 07 August, 2016, 06:06:33 PM
whatever reservations I might have about this current run, I prefer it to what came before with the initial team.
Can't argue with that blackmocco, although oddly, some of the stories seperate from the main arc weren't too bad.
Quote from: James Stacey on 04 June, 2016, 07:35:48 PM[/size]I'm actually enjoying this one. Compared to the last main strip omnishambles this one is far better. Not prog standard but certainly late 90s Meg standard. Nothing wrong with trying something different.
That's about how I feel about the newest series - hoping that reboot happens though.
Quote from: blackmocco on 07 August, 2016, 06:06:33 PM
I started up with the usual defense tactics but after two failed movies
I wouldn't say 2012 was an unmitigated failure - I've not read a bad review of it, and it was number one in the box office the week it was released. It's also been number one in whatever-category (sci-fi, dvd, blue-ray, etc) on amazon a few times.
Quote from: sheridan on 08 August, 2016, 01:08:55 PM
Quote from: James Stacey on 04 June, 2016, 07:35:48 PM[/size]I'm actually enjoying this one. Compared to the last main strip omnishambles this one is far better. Not prog standard but certainly late 90s Meg standard. Nothing wrong with trying something different.
That's about how I feel about the newest series - hoping that reboot happens though.
Quote from: blackmocco on 07 August, 2016, 06:06:33 PM
I started up with the usual defense tactics but after two failed movies
I wouldn't say 2012 was an unmitigated failure - I've not read a bad review of it, and it was number one in the box office the week it was released. It's also been number one in whatever-category (sci-fi, dvd, blue-ray, etc) on amazon a few times.
I love the 2012 movie but sadly, it was an unmitigated failure at the US box office. There may well be various different reasons for that failure but at the end of the day, nobody went to see it over here.
I keep coming back to this like a dog to its sick...
I thought CF would be happy to see a beardy Dredd :D
That's the best bit ;)
Quote from: Proudhuff on 08 August, 2016, 03:53:50 PM
I keep coming back to this like a dog to its sick...
I thought CF would be happy to see a beardy Dredd :D
He is Dredd-Christ!
And he will smite all unbelievers down!
Same for Beliebers too!
Quote from: blackmocco on 08 August, 2016, 02:46:27 PM
Quote from: sheridan on 08 August, 2016, 01:08:55 PM
Quote from: James Stacey on 04 June, 2016, 07:35:48 PMI'm actually enjoying this one. Compared to the last main strip omnishambles this one is far better. Not prog standard but certainly late 90s Meg standard. Nothing wrong with trying something different.
That's about how I feel about the newest series - hoping that reboot happens though.
Quote from: blackmocco on 07 August, 2016, 06:06:33 PM
after two failed movies and God-knows how many comic companies and titles have tried over here, I have to admit I felt a bit stumped trying to explain what's wrong with this version
I wouldn't say 2012 was an unmitigated failure - I've not read a bad review of it, and it was number one in the box office the week it was released. It's also been number one in whatever-category (sci-fi, dvd, blue-ray, etc) on amazon a few times.
I love the 2012 movie but sadly, it was an unmitigated failure at the US box office. There may well be various different reasons for that failure but at the end of the day, nobody went to see it over here.
Apart from the amusing social media conceit in this and Ulises Farinas's art on
MC2, IDW Dredd isn't for me. But as Blackmocco points out, it isn't supposed to be for me.
All ideas have their time and place, and neither RIGHT NOW nor THE USA seem to be Dredd's. Classic Dredd's had 30 years to break America without making more than a dent, so it would be crazy to keep doing the same thing expecting different consequences.
At least with
Zero, IDW are trying the WHAT IF PETE MILLIGAN HAD A GO AT DREDD(?) approach, rather than Swierczynski's WHAT IF MARK MILLAR HAD NEVER STOPPED WRITING DREDD?
If it's not zombies or spandex clad enforcers of American foreign policy, are comic readers in the states really interest in anything different?
Quote from: dweezil2 on 08 August, 2016, 07:00:25 PM
If it's not zombies or spandex clad enforcers of American foreign policy, are comic readers in the states really interest in anything different?
I letter about 6,500 pages a year, most of them for US publishers, and I've only worked on one book this year that could really be called 'superhero'-y. You'd be forgiven for thinking that there's very little beyond the Big Two apart from the odd breakout Image book, but that's down to the online comics press as much as anything.
Jim, I knew I should of edited my post to read "mainstream comic readers in the states!"
Now I wish I had! :-[
It's been almost a decade since I read any monthly US titles. What do less xenophobic readers than myself and the foul Dweezil reckon would sell Dredd comics to a US comic reading audience?
From my position of ignorance, Dredd's a bit like Batman and The Punisher - so maybe they should emphasise more personal revenge narratives, as well as novel ways of killing people and/or cool gadgetry?
The more soapy elements of The Pit and the strip's now quite sizeable female supporting cast could be a bit like eighties X-Men?
I realise I'm just displaying my ignorance about current trends in US titles, but that's your cue to tell me what American nerds go buck wild for these days - apart from the words FIRST ISSUE on the cover, which seems to account for most of the top twenty:
http://www.comichron.com/monthlycomicssales/2016/2016-06.html
Quote from: dweezil2 on 08 August, 2016, 07:14:01 PM
Jim, I knew I should of edited my post to read "mainstream comic readers in the states!"
Now, that's a fair point.
Quote from: Butch on 08 August, 2016, 07:36:25 PM
It's been almost a decade since I read any monthly US titles. What do less xenophobic readers than myself and the foul Dweezil reckon would sell Dredd comics to a US comic reading audience?
From my position of ignorance, Dredd's a bit like Batman and The Punisher - so maybe they should emphasise more personal revenge narratives, as well as novel ways of killing people and/or cool gadgetry?
The more soapy elements of The Pit and the strip's now quite sizeable female supporting cast could be a bit like eighties X-Men?
I realise I'm just displaying my ignorance about current trends in US titles, but that's your cue to tell me what American nerds go buck wild for these days - apart from the words FIRST ISSUE on the cover, which seems to account for most of the top twenty:
http://www.comichron.com/monthlycomicssales/2016/2016-06.html
Judging by the majority of DC and Marvel's output that I've purused, I'd suggest all female judges, Anderson, Hershey, etc to have disproportionate sized breasts, a sprayed on uniform and none of them to look older than 19, oh and bent over suggestively or legs akimbo at every possible opportunity, then, and only then, is Dredd in for a fighting chance!
I'm not sure I'd want to lose Ben Willsher and Andrew Currie to the US market.
Quote from: dweezil2 on 08 August, 2016, 07:58:49 PM
Quote from: Butch on 08 August, 2016, 07:36:25 PM
It's been almost a decade since I read any monthly US titles. What do less xenophobic readers than myself and the foul Dweezil reckon would sell Dredd comics to a US comic reading audience?
From my position of ignorance, Dredd's a bit like Batman and The Punisher - so maybe they should emphasise more personal revenge narratives, as well as novel ways of killing people and/or cool gadgetry?
The more soapy elements of The Pit and the strip's now quite sizeable female supporting cast could be a bit like eighties X-Men?
I realise I'm just displaying my ignorance about current trends in US titles, but that's your cue to tell me what American nerds go buck wild for these days - apart from the words FIRST ISSUE on the cover, which seems to account for most of the top twenty:
http://www.comichron.com/monthlycomicssales/2016/2016-06.html
Judging by the majority of DC and Marvel's output that I've purused, I'd suggest all female judges, Anderson, Hershey, etc to have disproportionate sized breasts, a sprayed on uniform and none of them to look older than 19, oh and bent over suggestively or legs akimbo at every possible opportunity, then, and only then, is Dredd in for a fighting chance!
You've been perusing the wrong books.
Oh and a hot lesbian scene between Anderson and Hershey when things like an interesting plot are too hard to come by.
On and Dredd just needs the love of a good woman to make him realise what a waste of time this whole silly law enforcing thing really is, ahhh!
Actually, anyone got Geoff Johns mobile number?
The argument that 'this' Dredd is not for more seasoned Dredd fans doesn't cut any mustard, in my opinion. The only people over here who know Dredd are either fans of 2000AD or people who have seen the 1995 movie (but mix it up with Demolition Man). As the 1995 movie was a titanic flop over here, it clearly makes no sense to try appeal to that section so instead, IDW should be trying harder to genuinely appeal to fans of the character and comic and getting some writers in who can inject a little of what makes the 2000AD version work. Build on it from there maybe. Yes, a more mainstream and accessible version, but trying to be everything to everyone never works. Farinas' version is a jump, for sure, and I can't imagine it being ongoing much longer in its current form, but at least it's taking a chance in recognizing what didn't work with the first run.
I don't really know what has to be done to get an American audience on board though. It's been tried and tried again without much success bar team-ups with Batman and Alien, etc. Maybe they're just not into it outside of a niche audience. At the end of the day, most American comic readers want their heroes cleanly defined as good guys and Dredd blurs that line a little too much....?
I spent the weekend reading the Uncensored Cursed Earth and it's so gleefully manic to read and so effective presenting Dredd as an unabashed hero that maybe that's the way to go with it over here.
Like you say Blackmocco, maybe the AD version of Dredd is a tough sell.
The whole anti-hero thing seems to be a tough sell for readers used to more conventional heroes.
Even Punisher had a tragic backstory to mitigate his brutal evisceration of bad guys theme and Dredd doesn't even go easy on the innocent!
There's the whole fascist/commie element that much of American society seems uncomfortable about addressing in any form, especially entertainment.
Perhaps playing up the more heroic, Pat Mills idea of early Dredd is the way to make him more palatable to potential U.S readers, which in some ways, Ulises Farinas has done with having Dredd team up with the kids in Mega-City Zero.
"It's not for us" seems like an after-the-fact justification for not getting it right, a notion supported by the multiple reboots to try something else - it might not be for us, but it doesn't seem to be for the American market, either. Which is a bit barmy when you remember that (even now) so much of Dredd is derived from successful American movies, even the fascistic elements used a shield against criticism of Dredd's failure to crack the US market.
There's undoubtably a myriad of reasons why Dredd hasn't taken of in America, with his failure to rescue kids from a burning building on a regular basis being just one.
There's still a discerning element who "get" and enjoy Dredd just not enough to crack the mainstream.
I have no idea why Dredd hasn't broken the US market in a big but I'm sure its for more subtle reasons than the silly cliched perception of US comics being trotted out here. You could just as well ask why hasn't Corto Maltese made it big in the UK, probably 'cos he doesn't run around eating cow pie and causing mischief in a stripy jumper.
Quote from: Colin_YNWA on 08 August, 2016, 09:14:35 PM
I have no idea why Dredd hasn't broken the US market in a big but I'm sure its for more subtle reasons than the silly cliched perception of US comics being trotted out here. You could just as well ask why hasn't Corto Maltese made it big in the UK, probably 'cos he doesn't run around eating cow pie and causing mischief in a stripy jumper.
A cliche is only a cliche because it's true!
A bloke down the pub told me that and I wasn't arguing with him-he was bigger than me! 😳
I don't buy the whole 'US mainstream comics readers don't like violent, morally-questionable lead characters ' argument - they love those kind of characters. Just look at the huge success of Deadpool, Harley Quinn and the morally-bankrupt Rick Grimes. Whatever the problem is, I don't see Dredd's bastardliness (bastardosity?) as it.
Quote from: Greg M. on 08 August, 2016, 09:31:25 PM
I don't buy the whole 'US mainstream comics readers don't like violent, morally-questionable lead characters ' argument - they love those kind of characters. Just look at the huge success of Deadpool, Harley Quinn and the morally-bankrupt Rick Grimes. Whatever the problem is, I don't see Dredd's bastardliness (bastardosity?) as it.
Yeah, but Deadpool and Harley Quinn are undercut with knowing humour and wisecracking, Dredd, particularly modern Dredd, not so much.
Grimes is protecting his family, Dredd hss no such affiliations, that in part was why the 1995 movie made Dredd emotionally bruised over the judging of his brother Rico, to soften the character, to make him more relatable to a mainstream audience.
An angle the comic and latest movie widely avoided.
Quote from: dweezil2 on 08 August, 2016, 09:03:30 PM
There's undoubtably a myriad of reasons why Dredd hasn't taken of in America, with his failure to rescue kids from a burning building on a regular basis being just one.
You don't have to go back to Pat Mills for Dredd as good guy - Wagner and McRae's
Shooter's Night (1879-1882) and Wagner/Cook's
Student Bodies (1890-1891) feature Dredd making sure clearly defined bad guys (recognisable from real life) get their comeuppance.
Outside of the Dredd-as-bastard glory days of 1987-1990, all you need to do to make Dredd the straightforward good guy of most stories is chop off the final panel, where he makes a dickish joke about the perp smelling awful because he's shot off their nose.
I agree that IDW's appeals to the assumed tastes of US readers have resulted in wonky comics, but that doesn't mean trying to do something different is
inherently mistaken.
Year One, Anderson, and
Mars Attacks were straight up Dredd, and they fared no better.
On US appeal, Dredd's world is also a mirror, showcasing in a black and satirical level what the US might become. Dredd is a cop, doing his job, in the sewer the USA becomes. I suspect for a great many people that alone is hard to stomach. It's certainly the impression I got from a lot of the negative US Dredd movie reviews.
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 08 August, 2016, 09:50:09 PM
On US appeal, Dredd's world is also a mirror, showcasing in a black and satirical level what the US might become. Dredd is a cop, doing his job, in the sewer the USA becomes. I suspect for a great many people that alone is hard to stomach. It's certainly the impression I got from a lot of the negative US Dredd movie reviews.
I'm sure that's a factor, but then the original Robocop had those elements and was a big success.
Maybe there's only enough room for one future cop in this equation?
Of course Murphy did discover his humanity by the end credits and the film didn't really spin off into a successful comic series.
Quote from: dweezil2 on 08 August, 2016, 09:40:56 PM
Quote from: Greg M. on 08 August, 2016, 09:31:25 PM
I don't buy the whole 'US mainstream comics readers don't like violent, morally-questionable lead characters ' argument - they love those kind of characters. Just look at the huge success of Deadpool, Harley Quinn and the morally-bankrupt Rick Grimes. Whatever the problem is, I don't see Dredd's bastardliness (bastardosity?) as it.
Yeah, but Deadpool and Harley Quinn are undercut with knowing humour and wisecracking, Dredd, particularly modern Dredd, not so much.
Grimes is protecting his family, Dredd hss no such affiliations, that in part was why the 1995 movie made Dredd emotionally bruised over the judging of his brother Rico, to soften the character, to make him more relatable to a mainstream audience.
An angle the comic and latest movie widely avoided.
On top of that, the characters Greg mentions are all part of a much larger universe of mainly black-and-white good guys/bad guys and inhabit an area somewhat inbetween. If Dredd is your main draw and the closest thing to a good guy, and mostly only by virtue of the fact he's less scary than his various adversaries, than that may well be a dynamic American audiences can't/don't want to grasp. Deadpool/Harley/Punisher are all portrayed with sympathetic backgrounds as to how they ended up where they are. Now obviously, that didn't work with Dredd in the '95 movie so perhaps there's something with the character that could be approached from a different angle. I still refer back to the likes of Cursed Earth which had Dredd enforcing the law but in a strip that doesn't really have any cynicism attached. We like the cynicism, let it be said, but perhaps an American audience doesn't.
Quote from: dweezil2 on 08 August, 2016, 09:55:11 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 08 August, 2016, 09:50:09 PM
On US appeal, Dredd's world is also a mirror, showcasing in a black and satirical level what the US might become. Dredd is a cop, doing his job, in the sewer the USA becomes. I suspect for a great many people that alone is hard to stomach. It's certainly the impression I got from a lot of the negative US Dredd movie reviews.
I'm sure that's a factor, but then the original Robocop had those elements and was a big success.
Maybe there's only enough room for one future cop in this equation?
Of course Murphy did discover his humanity by the end credits and the film didn't really spin off into a successful comic series.
But once again, Murphy didn't arrive fully formed as Robocop. He had a sympathetic backstory that enabled you to empathize with what he had become.
Quote from: blackmocco on 08 August, 2016, 10:25:54 PM
Quote from: dweezil2 on 08 August, 2016, 09:55:11 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 08 August, 2016, 09:50:09 PM
On US appeal, Dredd's world is also a mirror, showcasing in a black and satirical level what the US might become. Dredd is a cop, doing his job, in the sewer the USA becomes. I suspect for a great many people that alone is hard to stomach. It's certainly the impression I got from a lot of the negative US Dredd movie reviews.
I'm sure that's a factor, but then the original Robocop had those elements and was a big success.
Maybe there's only enough room for one future cop in this equation?
Of course Murphy did discover his humanity by the end credits and the film didn't really spin off into a successful comic series.
But once again, Murphy didn't arrive fully formed as Robocop. He had a sympathetic backstory that enabled you to empathize with what he had become.
Very true Blackmocco!
Dredd's a hard one to love for sure, but by Grud we do! :)
I've never bought into the idea Americans "don't like Dredd", whether it be a niche character or not is a different question, but if Dredd is niche in America he's in every other country too.
Quote from: JOE SOAP on 08 August, 2016, 10:34:02 PM
if Dredd is niche in America he's in every other country too.
Yeah, it's not as if everyone at primary school was eating out of Dredd lunch boxes*.
You can see why so many people have wasted millions trying to turn Dredd into
a thing though. It
looks like a billion dollar idea, even if the fan base is only large enough to sustain one of those low budget horror films that are just night vision footage of things moving slightly in bedrooms.
* Burdis probably was
Quote from: blackmocco on 08 August, 2016, 10:25:54 PM
But once again, Murphy didn't arrive fully formed as Robocop. He had a sympathetic backstory that enabled you to empathize with what he had become.
Aye, Dredd has no equivalent when it comes to RoboCop stomping through his old home while images of his wife and son flash before him as video memories - "He's ain't heavy, he's my brother" is Dredd's closest match and we know how they did that in 1995.
Quote from: Butch on 08 August, 2016, 10:54:08 PM
Quote from: JOE SOAP on 08 August, 2016, 10:34:02 PM
if Dredd is niche in America he's in every other country too.
Yeah, it's not as if everyone at primary school was eating out of Dredd lunch boxes*.
You can see why so many people have wasted millions trying to turn Dredd into a thing though. It looks like a billion dollar idea, even if the fan base is only large enough to sustain one of those low budget horror films that are just night vision footage of things moving slightly in bedrooms.
* Burdis probably was
Low budget horror films that usually end up doing a killing at the US box office, it must be noted.
I thought it was more interesting that the IDW Dredd atm has three inconsistant personalities - two of which are not that far from a 2000AD Dredd. 'MC1 Dredd' is pretty on the money Prog Dredd, right down to the prog continuity references. The main 'Grasslands' Dredd is very Tales of the Dead Man and so not that out of character given he's 'been' in the grasslands over a year. Its not great and the writing has many vague inconsistant moments that may seem 'out of character' but overall the tone is there.
The other one is just straight up James Stokoe Rogue Trooper (http://www.forbiddenplanet.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/tumblr_m7ipjofLjQ1qf1pjzo1_1280-540x834.jpg (http://www.forbiddenplanet.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/tumblr_m7ipjofLjQ1qf1pjzo1_1280-540x834.jpg)) and it even looks odd in the comic. It comes across as just straight up bad writing, especially when it happens a second time by the same trigger (stranger in a strange land scenarios).
Have no idea if this Dredd is a success (you can see reasons why it wouldn't be regardless of the personality of Dredd - this is straight up an ODD comic on many levels) but it does seem an oddly familar Dredd given the authors statements reported above.
Part of the reason Dredd wont work in the States by now is just the bad rep. The old movie, the 'failed' new movie, the terrible Quality reprints, the translation of page sizes.... these micro-factors of reputation keep the massees away.
The Dredd V A V P comic atm is a good idea - if AvP fans read it and think 'thats a good character' its likely to draw more of them to check out more Dredd. Sadly IDW's main title dosen't seem too likely to capitalise on that. Imagine if you gave those AvP readers the Wagner / Diggle / Flint 'Dredd v Aliens' and then something like Titan.. they'd be hooked. If they check out 'the old man and the sea' vs anthropomorphic chickens on social media story its not clear they'll connect.
Quote from: JOE SOAP on 08 August, 2016, 10:59:29 PM
Quote from: blackmocco on 08 August, 2016, 10:25:54 PM
But once again, Murphy didn't arrive fully formed as Robocop. He had a sympathetic backstory that enabled you to empathize with what he had become.
Aye, Dredd has no equivalent when it comes to RoboCop stomping through his old home while images of his wife and son flash before him as video memories - "He's ain't heavy, he's my brother" is Dredd's closest match and we know how they did that in 1995.
The 2012 version got the idea right, I think. Namely, make Dredd the anchor of the movie and pair him up with a sympathetic and relatable character an audience can relate to. But as much as I love the movie, it's a pretty bleak and mostly humorless tone. For one thing, that's going to put a mainstream audience off. Hard to see the likes of The Stupid Gun, for example, working in that version. Wasn't Doug Jones' idea for a Dredd movie to have a camera crew follow Dredd around for a day in MC1 showing off the insanity of the city? See, that's a fucking awesome idea that doesn't involve Dredd having a dreaded character arc.
Quote from: blackmocco on 08 August, 2016, 11:21:07 PM
Wasn't Doug Jones' idea for a Dredd movie to have a camera crew follow Dredd around for a day in MC1 showing off the insanity of the city? See, that's a fucking awesome idea that doesn't involve Dredd having a dreaded character arc.
That was it -
Dredd as Dan Francisco*. A found-footage film + cops film was released the same time as Dredd in 2012 - End of watch - and no doubt Dredd would've "ripped-it-off" the same way it did The Raid.
*Shankar swiped the idea for his "bootleg" Venom short'
Quote from: JOE SOAP on 08 August, 2016, 11:32:11 PM
Quote from: blackmocco on 08 August, 2016, 11:21:07 PM
Wasn't Doug Jones' idea for a Dredd movie to have a camera crew follow Dredd around for a day in MC1 showing off the insanity of the city? See, that's a fucking awesome idea that doesn't involve Dredd having a dreaded character arc.
That was it - Dredd as Dan Francisco*. A found-footage + cops film was released the same time as Dredd in 2012 - End of watch - and no doubt Dredd would've "ripped-it-off" the same way it did The Raid.
*Shankar swiped the idea for his "bootleg" Venom short'
Quote from: Colin_YNWA on 08 August, 2016, 09:14:35 PM
I have no idea why Dredd hasn't broken the US market in a big but I'm sure its for more subtle reasons than the silly cliched perception of US comics being trotted out here. You could just as well ask why hasn't Corto Maltese made it big in the UK, probably 'cos he doesn't run around eating cow pie and causing mischief in a stripy jumper.
Well said. The sneering insinuation that, unlike the cultured aesthetes on here, Yanks are just too thick to get Dredd becomes pretty wearing after a while.
Quote from: Butch on 08 August, 2016, 07:36:25 PM
I realise I'm just displaying my ignorance about current trends in US titles, but that's your cue to tell me what American nerds go buck wild for these days - apart from the words FIRST ISSUE on the cover, which seems to account for most of the top twenty:
http://www.comichron.com/monthlycomicssales/2016/2016-06.html
A bit unfair to make that statement in the month that DC are relaunching its entire monthly line. Fairer to look at the previous few months instead (there are a number of first issues, usually of mini-series, but not as many as in June).
Quote from: The Cosh on 09 August, 2016, 09:49:39 AM
Well said. The sneering insinuation that, unlike the cultured aesthetes on here, Yanks are just too thick to get Dredd becomes pretty wearing after a while.
Especially when they never had a problem getting the complexities of Watchmen, V for Vendetta or Miracleman and ended up being the publishers of all 3 significant works.
Quote from: JOE SOAP on 09 August, 2016, 01:28:35 PM
Quote from: The Cosh on 09 August, 2016, 09:49:39 AM
Well said. The sneering insinuation that, unlike the cultured aesthetes on here, Yanks are just too thick to get Dredd becomes pretty wearing after a while.
Especially when they never had a problem getting the complexities of Watchmen, V for Vendetta or Miracleman and ended up being the publishers of all 3 significant works.
Well, I was thinking more of Catch 22 and Gravity's Rainbow but those are all good examples too.
Quote from: Butch on 08 August, 2016, 09:45:24 PM
Outside of the Dredd-as-bastard glory days of 1987-1990, all you need to do to make Dredd the straightforward good guy of most stories is chop off the final panel, where he makes a dickish joke about the perp smelling awful because he's shot off their nose.
"My perp's got no pancreas!"
"How does he secrete zymogens into his duodenum?"
"Terrible!"
I thought Wolk's Dredd by way of Futurama story was great. *shrugs*
Quote from: The Cosh on 09 August, 2016, 01:44:44 PM
Quote from: JOE SOAP on 09 August, 2016, 01:28:35 PM
Quote from: The Cosh on 09 August, 2016, 09:49:39 AM
The sneering insinuation that, unlike the cultured aesthetes on here, Yanks are just too thick to get Dredd becomes pretty wearing after a while.
Especially when they never had a problem getting the complexities of Watchmen, V for Vendetta or Miracleman and ended up being the publishers of all 3 significant works.
Well, I was thinking more of Catch 22 and Gravity's Rainbow but those are all good examples too.
Issue #34, where Slothrop came home to find Jamf had murdered Katje and hidden her body in the refrigerator, is the best. I prefer Roger Mexico in the old yellow and blue costume.
If US readers don't like Dredd because they're thick, most of Europe must be eating glue at the back of the class as well. The French read comics in industrial quantities, but
2000ad books are about as popular there as Marine Le Pen's sex tape.
2000ad fans use
Robusters as a palette cleanser between re-readings of Proust, but my question about
what aspects of Dredd chime with current US reader tastes was a genuine inquiry, rather than an attempt to summon The Pub Landlord.
No takers on that score?
Quote from: Butch on 09 August, 2016, 05:52:54 PM
my question about what aspects of Dredd chime with current US reader tastes was a genuine inquiry, rather than an attempt to summon The Pub Landlord.
No takers on that score?
After two movies and various attempts at a new comic line from various publishers- we just don't know seems to be the consensus.
Quote from: Butch on 09 August, 2016, 05:52:54 PM
2000ad fans use Robusters as a palette cleanser between re-readings of Proust
Made me snort :)
(Not that type of palate, though)As to the lack of purchase of Dredd in the US, I dunno. Definitely not intelligence, but perhaps the saturation coverage of superheroes and US product means they needn't look further afield for yet more? The scale of the US does weird things to their sense of perspective and global interests (possibly US boarders will claim otherwise).
My other thought about IDW's woeful Dredd is that if TB Grover wrote the thing it'd fly, that's it's just script quality. But Wagner/Grant wrote Legends... in the 90's and though I have the issues I can't remember how they read (and it's highly probable I never did get around to read them).
Quote from: Butch on 09 August, 2016, 05:52:54 PM
The French read comics in industrial quantities, but 2000ad books are about as popular there as Marine Le Pen's sex tape.
With the very notable exceptions of Slaine, and ABC Warriors since Langley's been on it.
Quote from: Fungus on 09 August, 2016, 06:24:09 PM
Quote from: Butch on 09 August, 2016, 05:52:54 PM
2000ad fans use Robusters as a palette cleanser between re-readings of Proust
Not that type of palate
Balls! I proof read that, too.
Wagner and/or Grant would certainly convince
me to buy IDW's Dredd, but I'm not sure how many US readers that would be worth. It does make me think that one thing IDW, DC and even the Quality/Eagle reprints haven't tried is big name creators.
Does Ennis still have enough of a following to bring new readers with him when he signs on to a book?
Mark Millar Presents* above the title of a US Dredd book might only cost Tharg as much as returning the copyright to his old
2000ad strips.
Doesn't it seem like a no-brainer to make the IDW Dredd title a co-production with Rebellion, sharing costs and running it as either the main strip or the back-up strip in the
Megazine? The Meg gets a cheap strip and IDW get cash to attract creators with a profile.
* He wouldn't be interested in writing it - I mean as an Executive Producer, with a cheap newbie scribe adding flesh to his plot outlines and tone guidance
I remember mentioning Ennis' name a while back in relation to a U.S Dredd title- might bring some of his Punisher readers along, if nothing else.
Get Steve Dillon back on art duties and ker-ching!
Surely IDW could use some of that filthy TMNT's money to fund such an enterprise?
Quote from: dweezil2 on 09 August, 2016, 07:59:08 PM
Get Steve Dillon back on art duties and ker-ching!
Having his name on the strip hasn't made much of a difference before. Neither has putting out books with Morrison and Millar's names prominently featured on the front cover. I'm not sure what's being proposed here that would make a new venture featuring the work of now-much-more-famous 2K alumni any more likely to sell than attempts to promote books using their names in the past, other than throwing a large amount of money down a hole commissioning new material from them.
Quote from: Butch on 09 August, 2016, 05:52:54 PM
2000ad fans use Robusters as a palette cleanser between re-readings of Proust, but my question about what aspects of Dredd chime with current US reader tastes was a genuine inquiry, rather than an attempt to summon The Pub Landlord.
Ha. As I'm sure you're aware, I don't have a problem with the question*, just some of the inevitable responses.
* I lied. I do have a problem with the question. It's that I really don't care that American readers have failed to take the various incarnations to their collective bosom and whenever the question is raised it just goes round in the same circles. If the IDW Dredd was good I'd feel obliged to buy it and nobody needs that on their conscience.
Now I know next to nothing about the American comics market, but looking at the sales list Butch posted what strikes me is the sheer number of titles - 430 of them. It seems to me it must be hard for any new comic to break into that market. Sure it can happen but that is surely the exception not the rule.
Also the thing about the various IDW Judge Dredd comics and to a certain extent the previous DC ones is that they are just not very good (in my opinion). They seem to lack excitement and humour.
But - dumb question- does it really matter ( to 2000AD readers) if they aren't successful? Does Rebellion's financial success depend on this? (I wouldn't have thought so). I am wary of what Kevin O'Neil said on the recent documentary- you might think you want 2000AD to have mainstream success but you don't really as it would then have to have mainstream content.
BTW way what was that Rogue Trooper comic BPP posted a link to?
Quote from: Jim_Campbell on 09 August, 2016, 08:07:11 PM
Quote from: dweezil2 on 09 August, 2016, 07:59:08 PM
Get Steve Dillon back on art duties and ker-ching!
Having his name on the strip hasn't made much of a difference before. Neither has putting out books with Morrison and Millar's names prominently featured on the front cover. I'm not sure what's being proposed here that would make a new venture featuring the work of now-much-more-famous 2K alumni any more likely to sell than attempts to promote books using their names in the past, other than throwing a large amount of money down a hole commissioning new material from them.
The slight difference is that putting a now-internationally-famous person's name on a reprint might catch the attention of people who see it, but having that same creator publish new work makes headlines (on the various comics / geek websites) which will prompt enquiries at comic shops and orders through online sellers.
Quote from: Magnetica on 10 August, 2016, 09:21:46 AM
Also the thing about the various IDW Judge Dredd comics and to a certain extent the previous DC ones is that they are just not very good (in my opinion). They seem to lack excitement and humour.
This is the key thing alright: I'm a pretty ardent Dredd fan, but the only IDW title that I've read and actually enjoyed enjoyed enough to buy until the end was City of Courts. So if I, predisposed to the character, can't be arsed to buy the stuff, why would prospective US readers?
Make a good US format comic, that would seem to be the first step in attracting an American audience.
Quote from: Magnetica on 10 August, 2016, 09:21:46 AM
does it really matter ( to 2000AD readers) if they aren't successful? Does Rebellion's financial success depend on this? (I wouldn't have thought so)
The current owners seem to run
2000ad as an indulgence, but it's a good idea for Tharg's books to be in the black, in case of freak jousting accidents or the games industry experiencing the kind of decline the music, print, and home video industries have seen in recent years*.
Click on the third link in my signature to see Tharg hinting that - like every other newsstand title -
2000ad's readership isn't
growing. Assuming
2000ad runs at break-even, it probably costs around 2 million quid per year to keep the prog on shelves and dropping through letterboxes.
You can see a friendly proprietor subsidising a small proportion of that, but not if reader numbers and revenue keep declining. Assuming Tharg is on 10% of IDW Dredd's cover price, it's worth around the same to him as 150 new subscribers - without costing him a penny!
* Doesn't seem to be a problem - nerds love shooting zombies with sniper rifles: https://www.endole.co.uk/company/02770940/rebellion-developments-limited
Quote from: sheridan on 10 August, 2016, 12:46:39 PM
Quote from: Jim_Campbell on 09 August, 2016, 08:07:11 PM
Quote from: dweezil2 on 09 August, 2016, 07:59:08 PM
Get Steve Dillon back on art duties and ker-ching!
Having his name on the strip hasn't made much of a difference before. Neither has putting out books with Morrison and Millar's names prominently featured on the front cover. I'm not sure what's being proposed here that would make a new venture featuring the work of now-much-more-famous 2K alumni any more likely to sell than attempts to promote books using their names in the past, other than throwing a large amount of money down a hole commissioning new material from them.
The slight difference is that putting a now-internationally-famous person's name on a reprint might catch the attention of people who see it, but having that same creator publish new work makes headlines (on the various comics / geek websites) which will prompt enquiries at comic shops and orders through online sellers.
That was precisely what I was getting at sheriden.
I admit to not understanding the inner workings and contractual machinations of the U.S comic book industry, but I would think that a
new U.S Dredd title from Punisher and Preacher stars Ennis and Dillon would generate some buzz from comic buyers if nothing else.
Even if it was just a mini-series.
Quote from: dweezil2 on 10 August, 2016, 02:42:03 PM
Quote from: sheridan on 10 August, 2016, 12:46:39 PM
Quote from: Jim_Campbell on 09 August, 2016, 08:07:11 PM
Quote from: dweezil2 on 09 August, 2016, 07:59:08 PM
Get Steve Dillon back on art duties and ker-ching!
Having his name on the strip hasn't made much of a difference before. Neither has putting out books with Morrison and Millar's names prominently featured on the front cover. I'm not sure what's being proposed here that would make a new venture featuring the work of now-much-more-famous 2K alumni any more likely to sell than attempts to promote books using their names in the past, other than throwing a large amount of money down a hole commissioning new material from them.
The slight difference is that putting a now-internationally-famous person's name on a reprint might catch the attention of people who see it, but having that same creator publish new work makes headlines (on the various comics / geek websites) which will prompt enquiries at comic shops and orders through online sellers.
That was precisely what I was getting at sheriden.
I admit to not understanding the inner workings and contractual machinations of the U.S comic book industry, but I would think that a new U.S Dredd title from Punisher and Preacher stars Ennis and Dillon would generate some buzz from comic buyers if nothing else.
Even if it was just a mini-series.
Well, now we're into the other and more general problem plaguing the comics scene: How much is IDW willing to pay to secure the likes of Ennis and Dillon's services...? Answer: not fucking much. There's a reason the likes of Dredd (but look at a lot of the titles across the board) doesn't get the top-notch writer or artist. Like anything else in life, you generally get what you pay for.
Quote from: Butch on 10 August, 2016, 02:07:54 PM
The current owners seem to run 2000ad as an indulgence, but it's a good idea for Tharg's books to be in the black, in case of freak jousting accidents or the games industry experiencing the kind of decline the music, print, and home video industries have seen in recent years*.
* Doesn't seem to be a problem - nerds love shooting zombies with sniper rifles: https://www.endole.co.uk/company/02770940/rebellion-developments-limited (https://www.endole.co.uk/company/02770940/rebellion-developments-limited)
An important difference is that once you've pirated an album, book, comic, film or tv series, it can be shared ad infinitum - games these days generally need a constant (and verified) connection to a server to be able to work (or at the least to use the networking modes). So as long as Rebellion keeps putting out games people want to play, the source of our indulgence is going to be constant.
Quote from: blackmocco on 10 August, 2016, 03:00:41 PM
Well, now we're into the other and more general problem plaguing the comics scene: How much is IDW willing to pay to secure the likes of Ennis and Dillon's services...? Answer: not fucking much. There's a reason the likes of Dredd (but look at a lot of the titles across the board) doesn't get the top-notch writer or artist. Like anything else in life, you generally get what you pay for.
There's another potential problem. It came up in another thread where a 2000AD creator had an exclusive contract with a US publisher, which didn't preclude them from working on Tooth - but presumably it would cause friction on that side of the pond?
As this is officially coming to an end after issue 12, anyone heard any rumours regarding IDW Dredd V3.0?
Quote from: Link Prime on 15 November, 2016, 02:49:31 PM
As this is officially coming to an end after issue 12, anyone heard any rumours regarding IDW Dredd V3.0?
I'm sure artist Ulises Farinas stated that something is happening Dredd related in 2017.
Quote from: dweezil2 on 15 November, 2016, 03:47:41 PM
Quote from: Link Prime on 15 November, 2016, 02:49:31 PM
As this is officially coming to an end after issue 12, anyone heard any rumours regarding IDW Dredd V3.0?
I'm sure artist Ulises Farinas stated that something is happening Dredd related in 2017.
Think he was talking about the movie sequel.
Farinas has mentioned on his FB page he'll be writing Dredd in 2017. Spoke to him at SDCC and he said IDW were interested in returning Dredd back to more recognisable environments and stories.
(He's a very nice chap.)
Quote from: blackmocco on 15 November, 2016, 04:02:47 PM
Farinas has mentioned on his FB page he'll be writing Dredd in 2017. Spoke to him at SDCC and he said IDW were interested in returning Dredd back to more recognisable environments and stories.
(He's a very nice chap.)
Good news that Dredd will have further presence with a U.S title next year! :)
It Seems the IDW book will live on, in this new annual!
Ulises Farinas (W/A/C), Erick Freitas (W), Dan McDaid (A), Pablo Tunica (A), Pablo Tunica (VC),
It has been 10 years since the events of Mega-City Zero, and Judge Dredd continues his mission to restore order to a lawless land. But what has been happening on Luna-1 and in Mega-City Two, and how might that affect Dredd's sworn duty? The mystery of The Blessed Earth begins to unfold here!
:lol: They've even dared to make a subscription cover at that price.
Quote from: dweezil2 on 15 November, 2016, 03:47:41 PM
I'm sure artist Ulises Farinas stated that something is happening Dredd related in 2017.
There's also John McCrea's as-yet-unannounced Dredd thing he's writing and drawing for IDW, which is due March-ish next year.
I appreciate I'm in a minority here (a very small one at that!) but I for one am quite happy to see this incarnation of Dredd continue, if surprised.
Didn't seem to be doing great numbers and critical reaction (from the little I've seen beyond the Boards own response!) wasn't overwhelming.
Still I think its provided a really fresh and very different version of Dredd, but one I've enjoyed on its own terms.
I have enjoyed it for what it is. Leaving aside the 'it's not our Dredd' argument it's readable and batshit crazy in its own way.
Finally finished it and I must say I am at a loss for words here. It's definitely the most bizarre Judge Dredd series I've read to date.
I want Dredd to succeed in America, but this series isn't going to do that, I mean it just ended in such a clusferfudge that I'm having a somewhat difficult time figuring out what I read. :(
I am also baffled by this series as well. I'm not entirely sure what they are hoping to achieve by making it so bizarre and non-linear. IDW should just follow the formula 2000AD has established over the last 40 years.
I did enjoy parts of this series (mostly the first 6 issues and the mystery behind waking up in the green) but the ending was pretty confusing. [spoiler]Why was it that Iggy was the grass and she needed to be destroyed before reality could be restored? Did Berger bestow that upon her - if so how and why Iggy?[/spoiler] Too many unanswered questions...that I don't particularly care are answered in the series.
However, I didn't hate the series; the art was great throughout and I am curious do see where it goes next. Hopefully the February annual provides some clarification and a new direction.
Well just finished a re-read of Mega City Zero and read over three nights with limited distractions I'm going to declare it a qualified triumph of a comic.
Why qualified?
Well I love Dan McDaid's art, but I'm not sure it was the right choice for this story. It needed something sharper, cleaner to allow the ideas in the story, to allow the considered madness to really shine. Dan McDaid's art it hard and bitter. It looks jaded and tough and in that would be perfect for so many Dredd's. Having read this we could only dream of what a success it would have been drawn by Brendan McCarthy or with co-writer's Farinas' art. Maybe that would have been too obvious, and the very juxtaposition was a choice to reflect one of the key themes of the story... just don't think it helped the appreciation?
If you look at the Jesus Redondo issue though I do get a sense that issue moves that way. Redondo being almost a middle house between what the art was and what I could envisage it to be, still tough and hard, but with a clean crisp line that carried things more clearly.
Anyway the art is great, just not the right art for me on this tale.
The tale itself is also a qualified triumph. Its a bit of a cliche to compare things to Alice in Wonderland... but I'm old, lazy and dumb enough to do it anyway. This is Dredd in Wonderland. Its broken story structure like the the various crazied scenarios that Alice finds herself in. Each depicting commentry on one aspect of society before lurching via hole, biscuit, potion or whatever to the next. This is exactly what Mega City Zero does. It retains Dredd's social inspection, while at the same time providing a very close examination of Dredd and his world by throwing him unceremoniously out of it.
I loved the very direct commentry on online behaviour, mascultiity and more it hammered home some really nice satire, seemingly jarringly, but with a coherant story pulling you through when you looked at it read the way I have. And I have to say it ended the story magnificently when for long periods I could not imagine how it would and couldn't quite remember.
The qualified bit is that even read in one go (ish) it does hammer and it is jarring. The very things its trying to be do make it a struggle at times. Flipping you the reader around as it does Dredd. Disorientating you with him and hammering so many ideas home sometimes its hard to keep track. Still with a bit of effort and an open mind it really worked.
As I've said before its certainly not our Dredd. But we have loads of our Dredd, so I'm really happy the team that produced this book had the courage not only to give us a brave and original new story and way to explore Dredd. But did so with such conviction and dedication to their abnormal aims.
Well worth a revisit.