A pretty good prog this week I thought.
The cover is good. A nice freaky and weird image.
Dredd was really fast paced this week which is a nice change - a great action packed episode. I'm not totally convinced by the art but I think others will love it (it's a bit too Japanese looking for my taste).
Dandridge was great fun. I can't say I've been excited much by this strip in the past but I really enjoyed this episode.
The 3riller was another really fun strip. Light hearted and fast paced. A great set up and I'm looking forward to seeing how it develops. Some nice little details in the art too.
Stickleback looks very pretty but I find the script and art quite difficult to follow. A bit too reliant on the readers background knowledge perhaps.
Who're the creative teams on Dredd & 3rillers James?
Michael Carroll and Inaki Miranda on Dredd. It's a follow up to 'Wolves' and helps clear up that controversial ending.
The 3riller is written by Gordon Rennie and Emma Beeby with art by Neil Googe.
Well one good thing about gettin' ya Prog late, at least it means the next one comes quick. New line-up here already. Its a solid if unspectacular Prog for me. Dandridge always slightly disappoints me. Its almost funny, its almost intriguing and its almost charming, maybe its trying to do to much as it never quite achieves any of its goals for me. its far from terrible just doesn't inspire me. That said with Warren Pleece on art at least it looks great.
I've never been as big a Stickleback fan as many, but really enjoyed the last series and this one starts of solidly enough. It sets up a little mystery and gets our lead back in place. Fine, but not great. Much like Dandridge though with D'Israeli on art it looks wonderful and its great fun spotting all the sci-fi references. some great classic Who monsters in particular caught my eye this week.
I really enjoyed the 3riller. It had quite a refreshing tone and all the parts seem to be 'acted' really well and felt pretty real. In contrast to what I've said before I'm not Neil Googe's biggest fan, but he was a good choice. A little nervous about what room this one has to maneuver in and hope it doesn't just become a romp. We'll see.
Bloody loved the Dredd. Not at all familiar with Inaki Miranda, the artist but he was pretty damned fine, really enjoyed his work. Loved the strip and Mike Carroll introduced a great villain. Hope this one keeps its momentum as its started at a great ol' pace.
With Zombo to come next week things are looking fine in the land of Thrills.
Yep, decent Prog this week. Enjoyed every story. Nice to see the wacky Spaniards back on Dredd and demonstrating a newer, somewhat dialled down style compared to the last time we saw their work.
Dredd:
Shenanigans! Artificial eyes that are linked through the user's central nervous system to their gun, enabling them to shoot anything they can see, is TM* Matt Timson, winner of the prestigious 'Redesign Judge Dredd' competition, 2004.
In other news- nice catch that cleared up the confusion at the end of 'Wolves.' Loved the Lawmasters.
*Or at least, that's what I intend to tell anyone that will listen.
Quote from: JamesC on 16 March, 2013, 11:54:51 AM
Michael Carroll and Inaki Miranda on Dredd. It's a follow up to 'Wolves' and helps clear up that controversial ending.
The 3riller is written by Gordon Rennie and Emma Beeby with art by Neil Googe.
Some good stuff in store for Wednesday so.
Mike Carroll would be my favourite Dredd writer from
The Bench, and Neil Googe is a much underused quality Art Droid.
Nice one.
References I spotted in Stickleback:
Talos from Jason and the Argonauts, Flying Monkeys from Oz, Kong, the space capsule from First Men in the Moon, H.G. Wells' Time Machine, an alien body from Quatermass and the Pit, Zarbi, Menoptra and Wirrn (both adult and larval) from Dr Who, the Hellraiser box, the musical box from Camberwick Green.
There's other stuff which looks familiar but I can't place yet.
Quote from: eamonn1961 on 16 March, 2013, 07:25:47 PM
References I spotted in Stickleback:
Talos from Jason and the Argonauts, Flying Monkeys from Oz, Kong, the space capsule from First Men in the Moon, H.G. Wells' Time Machine, an alien body from Quatermass and the Pit, Zarbi, Menoptra and Wirrn (both adult and larval) from Dr Who, the Hellraiser box, the musical box from Camberwick Green.
There's other stuff which looks familiar but I can't place yet.
What is it with these constantly turning up in Edginton storys? Thats twice in a year the body from Quatermass and the Pit has appeared.
The library of the Brotherhood of the Book links the Edgiverse stories, although I think a lot of the visual references come from Matt D'Israeli Brooker as well.
Loved the prog this week, Dredd is a cracker, really love the art with the exception of the strange Lawmasters. The 3hriller was great too, all the various geek memorobilia in the guys room was pretty good.
Being a relative newcomer I don't know much about Stickleback, and although the art was a bit hard to follow at times for me it looks promising.
Also the Kali statue which I think is from the Golden Voyage of Sinbad or the other Sinbad film
Quote from: eamonn1961 on 16 March, 2013, 09:45:56 PM
Also the Kali statue which I think is from the Golden Voyage of Sinbad or the other Sinbad film
I have a feeling that statue may be from one of the Tomb Raider films? Seem to remember Angelina fighting it!
One of the great things about Stickleback is that after you've read it you can go back and spend ages looking at all the references in the art. Like when the Alien face hugger turned up in the Stickleback story "England's Glory".
Looks like it is from Golden Voyage of Sinbad. D'Israeli has used it before:
http://disraeli-demon.blogspot.co.uk/2007/01/stickleback-parts-3-4-references.html
But you are right. Lara Croft encountered a living Kali statue in one of the games.
If you are looking for Stickleback references I can humbly suggest the following:
https://sites.google.com/site/scarlettracesannotations/home
Quote from: eamonn1961 on 17 March, 2013, 09:04:28 AM
Looks like it is from Golden Voyage of Sinbad. D'Israeli has used it before:
http://disraeli-demon.blogspot.co.uk/2007/01/stickleback-parts-3-4-references.html
But you are right. Lara Croft encountered a living Kali statue in one of the games.
If you are looking for Stickleback references I can humbly suggest the following:
https://sites.google.com/site/scarlettracesannotations/home
Thanks eamonn1961, some great references in the annotations. I finally managed to find the Alien face hugger which Tim mentioned (as well as an Alien egg on the top panel)!
What a superb Prog!
Stickleback is undoubtedly the star turn. I'm not an especial fan of the character, but the world he lives in is good value (in Paddington Bear's sense of the term) and just got even more interesting (I mean fascinating).
This instalment of Judge Dredd is better than 'Wolves' for my money. Deporting former Sov citizens to East-Meg 2 in exchange for food didn't add up for me. Re-settling them all in Mega-City 2 is a very interesting premise. However, I cannot recall what state Mega-City 2 was in last time we saw it or what jurisdiction it was under.
The current Tharg's (three-wheelers?) serial is a bit of a slow burner for me. It reminds me (so far) of Tales from the Flat by Laurence Powell and Oliver Lambden, so it doesn't feel like reading anything new (yet).
Cracking Cover and a ten page intro to Stickleback, what's not to like?
I went striaght to Stickleback after a moments hesitation to read the Megs Insurrection III first, the Memsabib having kindly brought both comics and also coffee to me bedside.
I spotted the usual refs in THE Library and had a chortle at each, (is there a backstory to those thirty pieces of silver between their first hand over to PP and where they are now?) but the great piece of storytelling is that last page and the [spoiler]Lizard proles, Big Lizards (Tips?) pulling carts, and the giant mecanno robots!![/spoiler] Looks like Stickleback has a bit o catching up to do.
The Dredd Story is a nice follow on from Wolves, I'm a bit uncomfy with the art, Sue me I'm an old git, but the body length seems out of wack and my usual moan about Dredd ( and now Hershey) lacking Gravitas too, one question, how did that assasin reconnect his/her hand?
Danbridge was fine, who are those Ghostbuster chappies?
Triller, not a cheap out of you Whistler, made me feel a right old git, if it wasn't for the clubbing, scanties, fags and bumfluff, I would swear they were all bairns, its not just Polis who look like freshfaced kids now...
Next prog : ZOMBO!!
Quote from: House of Usher on 18 March, 2013, 11:13:26 AMThis instalment of Judge Dredd is better than 'Wolves' for my money. Deporting former Sov citizens to East-Meg 2 in exchange for food didn't add up for me. Re-settling them all in Mega-City 2 is a very interesting premise. However, I cannot recall what state Mega-City 2 was in last time we saw it or what jurisdiction it was under.
It's varied between bombed-out wreck and rebuilt by Sino-City, the latter subsequently ret-conned out of existence. As for the strip in this issue, I thought it was a fantastic rollocking ride. Also, a really smart edit to clear up the mess at the end of the previous strip. Nicely done all round, I'd say.
Cudos to the Carroll Droid for pandering to us moaning bastards by dotting the i's and crossing the t's from that final panel from the other week. He is rapidly becoming my second fave Dredd stoty teller. Some writers hit the Dredd tales from other characters points of views, it's as if they are scared to try to get into Dredds head. Not too sure on the bike design. What is this now the mkIV? As opposed to the Willisher/Flint mkIII??
V
Reminded me a bit of Doug Braithwaite's version, which I always liked.
(http://www.reverttosaved.com/junk/db-lawmaster.jpg)
An excellent prog. I swelled with pride to see Dredd accompanying the Hersh to the meet. Not like there's anyone else she would have taken of course but still nice to be reminded that not matter what differences they have there is still a strong and unspoken bond between them and there is nobody she would choose to have at her side more. The art was excellent and the lawmasters very cool.
The 'Insurrection' ad is worth the price of admission alone and got me thinking the unthinkable. How wonderful would it look in colour and who would be the droid best suited to take it on. That's not a question for here though of course.
I love Dandridge and must admit although there's no reason to compare them, I think he is eclipsing Ampney Cruscis at the moment as 2000AD's premier occult investigating cad about town. Shame the Pleece droid didn't commit to replicating an ACTUAL arcade game in the pub scene. Would have loved to have seen my old favourite Defender making an appearance in the prog. However, great to see Dandridge back and looking forward to the rest of the story.
Tharg's 3rillers was excellent. I chuckled at the 'Shining' poster but Meatloaf? I thought Simon was supposed to be cool! Couldn't work out the poster on the far left above "Tharg's 3rillers" if anyone can help. Stickleback was grand and a welcome return. The references and attention to detail are superb.
That only leaves the return of Zombo. There aren't many things that ease the stress of not seeing a letters page but a Zombo ad is one of them. Bring on next week!
Quote from: vzzbux on 18 March, 2013, 01:38:53 PM
Cudos to the Carroll Droid for pandering to us moaning bastards by dotting the i's and crossing the t's from that final panel from the other week.
Worth pointing out that this episode was written and drawn well before the previous issue ever even reached the Nerve Centre, so it was pretty much the plan all along ;)
An awesome prog! I still have Stickleback to read so i'll comment on the rest later, but i have to say my eyes were drawn to Tharg's 3riller, in particular to Simon's room which is a treasure trove for geeks! These are some of the stuff i spotted;
Star Wars;
Admiral Ackbar 'it's a trap' poster
Princess Leia poster
The Empire Strikes Back bed cover (original!)
Storm Trooper helmet
Judge Dredd;
Helmet
Anderson vs Death model work (who was that beside them though? Was it Joe Pineapples?)
Other posters;
No Country For Old Men
The Shining
Meatloaf
Pulp Fiction
Doctor Who
Aliens; Weyland Yutani
The Lord Of the Rings; Two Towers
V for Vendetta signature
Replica weapons
A lawgiver
Pulse rifle (Aliens)?
And some replica swords which i didn't recognise
Anyone spotted anything else please feel free to add! :D
From memory there was a Stargate SG1 Jaffa staff weapon on the left of the pic.
Quote from: James Stacey on 20 March, 2013, 01:32:13 PM
From memory there was a Stargate SG1 Jaffa staff weapon on the left of the pic.
Yes
Great prog!
Love all four stories, strong start to Dredd!
(http://i.imgur.com/hzdrJ7f.jpg)
Quote from: James Stacey on 20 March, 2013, 01:32:13 PM
From memory there was a Stargate SG1 Jaffa staff weapon on the left of the pic.
Yes it was! I don't know how i could've missed that. :-\
Dredds got some knickers on his helmet. There, now we know he's Bisexual. :lol:
Is that not Hammerstein's 'new' head on the hat rack?
Dredd was exciting. I personally quite enjoy seeing artists' different take on the lawmaster, which is hard to draw. Got a bit confused by all the new vehicles in a derelict MC2. Overall, I like the way this fleshes out Dredd's world.
Dandridge was my favourite this week. I enjoy these type of decadent shenanigans, as readers of Death Sentence will attest, though the stories and worlds are satisfyingly different. Good to see Alec back in the prog.
Survival Geeks was a funny and well written debut, as you'd expect from Rennie and Beeby. Art was a bit Time Flies in places, but it looked cool and the storytelling worked really well. Entertaining!
Stickleback was great in both art and script. I'd have liked it more if it was five or six pages. The extra strory space seemed a bit decompressed, with a set up and explosion that would otherwise have fitted into a normal episode. Wouldn't mind a bit, perfectly valid storytelling, except it means four stories not five. When the prog hasn't got five stories in it I feel it's missing something. I went to read the last story and got all disappointed.
Anyway, I read all the excellent annotations on here from Eamonn and others and then reread the last two stories again, and found lots more to enjoy. So thanks for that. Good value.
Can't wait for Zombo!!
Quote from: hippynumber1 on 20 March, 2013, 03:25:52 PM
Is that not Hammerstein's 'new' head on the hat rack?
I thought it was a Storm Trooper helmet, but it does look very much like what you've cited but the colouring is wrong. :-*
Think the sword next to the SG-1 Jaffa-cake staff weapon is Arwens sword from LOTR. http://lotr.wikia.com/wiki/Hadhafang Also you see in one the next page that the model is indeed Joe Pineapples, and not, as I originally thought, a warhammer 40K Vindicare. *removes nerd hat*
Quote from: Mabs on 20 March, 2013, 02:27:39 PM
Quote from: James Stacey on 20 March, 2013, 01:32:13 PM
From memory there was a Stargate SG1 Jaffa staff weapon on the left of the pic.
Yes it was! I don't know how i could've missed that. :-\
You both also missed the lightsabre alongside them, for shame!
By Yoda's green ears - you're right! And i call myself a Star Wars fan boy (or man).. :(
The whole Prog was drokking zarjaz. Loved every page.
Great Prog!
Dredd was a good little action piece. I'm not super hot on Dandridge as a strip yet, I'm not sure if I ever will. But this was good enough. Survival Geeks... for some reason I can't stop thinking this could be the new Bec & Kawl that the Prog desperately needs IMO. If it ever comes back after this run. Great art style.
And Stickleback. Whoa mama, things sure have changed for our ol' Pope of Crime, eh?
Next week. ZOMBO. Yesssss.
Also, by my count this is the 3rd run of 3rillers, yes? Presumably they'll be two more 3riller runs this year. I wonder if we'll see a 3riller trade next year some time. I'm really digging the format, not all of them have been amazing, but I'm liking them a bit more then Future Shocks as a proving ground for concepts and creators.
Quote from: Mabs on 20 March, 2013, 05:15:09 PM
Quote from: hippynumber1 on 20 March, 2013, 03:25:52 PM
Is that not Hammerstein's 'new' head on the hat rack?
I thought it was a Storm Trooper helmet, but it does look very much like what you've cited but the colouring is wrong. :-*
The colouring's 'wrong' because the curtains are closed so the light is filtered blue? Maybe? :-\
One thing I did notice in Dredd - What's with all the facial hair on the H-Wagon Judges? Is it a reference/in joke to something? Are Judges even allowed facial hair? Dunno. *scratches head*
As for the helmet in the bedroom, no way is that a Stormtrooper helmet, looks nothing like one. Probably something obscure from Blakes 7 or Dr Who or something.
Quote from: Fisticuffs on 20 March, 2013, 09:17:55 PM
As for the helmet in the bedroom, no way is that a Stormtrooper helmet, looks nothing like one. Probably something obscure from Blakes 7 or Dr Who or something.
It's Hammerstein's Ro-busters head.
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 20 March, 2013, 09:33:43 PM
Quote from: Fisticuffs on 20 March, 2013, 09:17:55 PM
As for the helmet in the bedroom, no way is that a Stormtrooper helmet, looks nothing like one. Probably something obscure from Blakes 7 or Dr Who or something.
It's Hammerstein's Ro-busters head.
Yes it is! Good spot there Dark Jimbo! :)
Quote from: Molch-R on 19 March, 2013, 03:40:51 PM
Quote from: vzzbux on 18 March, 2013, 01:38:53 PM
Cudos to the Carroll Droid for pandering to us moaning bastards by dotting the i's and crossing the t's from that final panel from the other week.
Worth pointing out that this episode was written and drawn well before the previous issue ever even reached the Nerve Centre, so it was pretty much the plan all along ;)
I was going to mention that too. The line up of this Prog will have been long settled before we read Wolves. The chaos don't rustle these stories up between Progs...
My review is here - http://judgetutorsemple.wordpress.com/2013/03/21/2000ad-prog-1824-general-release-200313-spoilers/
And there is a link in there to my review of Wolves that discussed Mega City Two background in brief.
Anyone thinking the lizard people in Stickleback could be linked to the lizard people we saw in Red Seas a couple of stories back? along with the Dinos from under the earth...
Quote from: Proudhuff on 21 March, 2013, 10:17:18 AM
Anyone thinking the lizard people in Stickleback could be linked to the lizard people we saw in Red Seas a couple of stories back? along with the Dinos from under the earth...
I do wonder about all this. We all (or should I just say I rather than speak for others?) seem to be waiting for the Edgiverse explode, or should that be implode, into one interconnected 'event'. There are so many hints about that happening. Maybe he's just teasing us though and allowing the subtle interplays just stand rather than thrash it all out?
That or all the different stories are set on different planets in the Brass Sun world, that's my latest!
That's a really cool theory, Colin. I was reading an interview over at CBR which Edginton gave, and he gives us a tantalizing clue;
http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=42421
It all ties in with the Brotherhood of the book apparently. Also i'm sure you guys know all this already, but i thought it was rather cool that the character of Orlando Doyle, the book keeper in Stickleback, is first seen in Red Seas being a nusiance to our Jack Dancer! :D
It's been a while since I posted in a prog thread, but I'm now back up to date with me comics.
Cover - rip snortingly good. It's bold, it's intruiging and is chock full of texture. Brilliant.
Dredd - great stuff! Really happy to see a follow up to Wolves so soon. Art is lush, but I'm a fan of Mirand and de la Cruz so I would say that, but found myslef looking for where the sniper reattached his hand. Minor niggle in a fast paced exiting opener.
Dandridge - also great, made me chuckle and served as a nice warm up for this series. It manages to tread just on the right side of camp as a series, it could all be excruciatingly knowing in the wrong hands. Seeing the art I wish Second City Blues would come back too.
3riller - Excellent. Lovely lines and colours from the art duo and yeah, looking forward to the next two installments.
Stickleback - Prog highlight for me. It's been away too long and having a bumper length opener was a real treat. Can't add any more than it's a welcome return for one of my favourite series! The whole 'Edgiverse' thing is interesting but I hope there's never any explicit joining of the strips - they work so well alone, the connections are just an added bonus.
Really excellent prog Tharg.
M.
Prog 1824
A stonking good read! D'Israeli's cover was beautifully rendered. I very much doubt that it's a coincidence that some of my favourite 2000ad covers have been by him.
Judge Dredd was a really fun read. I don't think i've encountered Inaki Miranda's artwork before but it is absolutely superb. Very stylistic with vibrant colours; i love his back ground artwork too especially on the very first panel and the 2nd page. I like the sleek design of the Lawmasters, it's keeping in tone with the design of other vehicles especially Envoy Larinov's ship (which is awesome by the way - very much like the hovercopter in Minority Report). The story was also engaging and had me enthralled from the offset. More of the same please next prog.
Dandridge was also enjoyable. This was my first encounter with the character hence i feel i'll need to read a further few prog's before i fully get the jist of the character and the world. But the artwork by Warren Pleece was very nicely done.
Tharg's 3rillers was a very fun read indeed. I really loved the artwork which was quite evocative of Locke & Key/ Runaways. As i mentioned before, Simon's room is a treasure trove for geeks and i loved the attention to detail and nods to so many iconic films and TV series'. I'm really looking forward to the next 3riller and hope to see more of Neil Googe's artwork in the prog.
Stickleback was outstanding. Having recently read the collection i know much of the setting and characters. If i am honest - i was slightly in the dark with regards to the start of this new series, because i did not read what happened to the 'Pope of crime' after England's Glory. But it is alluded to in the strip so it wasn't too much of a problem. I'm really glad to see Edginton's name still in the prog; since coming on board to 2000ad i've loved the hell out of his stories especially Brass Sun and Red Seas, and Stickleback for me is up there with his best. D'Israeli's artwork was beautiful to behold and a character in itself. His panel's are rendered with such devilish aplomb and a joy to observe, just surveying the fine details and even spotting something of vital interest in the process. And i for one love it.
A very strong line-up overall this prog, looking forward to next week and especially to Zombo which has got me all intrigued!
5/5
Now, over to this months Meg...
Great reading as usual Mikey, Mabs your in for a treat with Zombo. One of the funniest strips to come out of Toothy since...ever, I think. Truely it's only one of two storys to nearly have me in tears with laughter, the other being Low Life.
QuoteI do wonder about all this. We all (or should I just say I rather than speak for others?) seem to be waiting for the Edgiverse explode, or should that be implode, into one interconnected 'event'. There are so many hints about that happening. Maybe he's just teasing us though and allowing the subtle interplays just stand rather than thrash it all out?
It is interesting that so many Ian Edginton strips seem to be running right now and making references to each other. It does feel like something might be brewing under the hood.
Quote from: Hawkmonger on 21 March, 2013, 07:35:25 PM
Great reading as usual Mikey, Mabs your in for a treat with Zombo. One of the funniest strips to come out of Toothy since...ever, I think. Truely it's only one of two storys to nearly have me in tears with laughter, the other being Low Life.
Yeah thanks for the heads up mate. I'm really looking forward to it; i might add the first trade to my ever growing list of must buy/read 2000ad stories (Cradlegrave, Defoe, Insurrection and others already on it)! Also, another good reason is because we'll have Henry Flint back on art duties. Can't wait!
Well Dr. Doyle in this week virtualy paraphrased Stickleback Jr. from last months Crucis (or was he paraphrasing Doyle, damn you continuity) so even on a subliminal level, never mind the meeting between Stickleback Jr. and lady Calliope, the Babbagists and lizard men, and the activity within The Brother Hood of the Book. Something is going on for sure.
Quote from: Mabs on 21 March, 2013, 07:51:46 PM
Quote from: Hawkmonger on 21 March, 2013, 07:35:25 PM
Great reading as usual Mikey, Mabs your in for a treat with Zombo. One of the funniest strips to come out of Toothy since...ever, I think. Truely it's only one of two storys to nearly have me in tears with laughter, the other being Low Life.
Yeah thanks for the heads up mate. I'm really looking forward to it; i might add the first trade to my ever growing list of must buy/read 2000ad stories (Cradlegrave, Defoe, Insurrection and others already on it)! Also, another good reason is because we'll have Henry Flint back on art duties. Can't wait!
True, that. Any prog with either Flint or Ewing in is a must buy!
One of the best progs in ages (not that this years' progs havent been anything but great).
The Judge Dredd story was very nice. Got right into it and I loved the urgency. A thrilling opener. I haven't had a chance to look at the other stories yet but I will. I skimmed through the 3hriller one, looked pretty interesting. Will come back with more concise thoughts when I've properly had time to look at this magnificent beast!
This prog was a great read and I really liked that you can have such variance in style between all the writers and artists and yet they are still all very 2000AD
Just got this Prog today and was blown away by Stickleback.
I loved the hints from Orlando Doyle that Stickleback was once someone else, a far better person than the crippled criminal he is now. Personally I'm still thinking that [spoiler]Stickleback may be an older Captain Jack Dancer[/spoiler], as someone else suggested on the forum a few weeks back.
Quote from: Tim Tailz on 23 March, 2013, 07:34:47 PM
Just got this Prog today and was blown away by Stickleback.
I loved the hints from Orlando Doyle that Stickleback was once someone else, a far better person than the crippled criminal he is now. Personally I'm still thinking that [spoiler]Stickleback may be an older Captain Jack Dancer[/spoiler], as someone else suggested on the forum a few weeks back.
Wow. That is a mindblowing theory, Tim! I[spoiler]f we were to go on that possibilty, then what could've turned Jack into the Pope of Crime? From a sea faring pirate to an East End kingpin? [/spoiler] interesting!
I think its important to keep in mind, as established [spoiler]The worlds of Stickleback and Red Seas are separate universes. Connected, and similar, but different. The Orlando we met in Red Seas and the one we see regularly in Stickleback are two different versions of the same character. Now... its likely our pal Ampney Crucis is currently hanging out in the future of Stickleback, but he's not originally from there.
That isn't to say Stickleback isn't some alternate universe version of Jack Dancer, just that he'd be a different man then the one from Red Seas. You know... unless Jack Dancer ended up bopping around between universes at some point...[/spoiler]
I thought Orlando of Red Seas was the same one of Stickleback! I didn't know they were different characters, i mean same but er, different! I wondered about that; i built a theory in my head that having suffered defeat at the hands of Jack Dancer and his crew, Orlando ponders upon his past transgressions and chooses a different path in life, ie, book keeper! :D Of course it doesn't explain how he crossed into another universe. Thanks for clearing that up, The Adventurer!
Wasn't it implied that the temple of the Brotherhood of the Book (as seen in this weeks Stickleback) is the gateway between the different universes of Edginton's story?
Quote from: Tim Tailz on 23 March, 2013, 08:30:26 PM
Wasn't it implied that the temple of the Brotherhood of the Book (as seen in this weeks Stickleback) is the gateway between the different universes of Edginton's story?
Yes it was. Erm...*sctatches head*...could it be that it was the
same Doyle?
Curse my memory...i've totally forgotten about that... :-\
I'm trying to remember where details of the Brotherhood of the Book organization was hashed out. I want to say it was a couple of Red Seas ago, the one where Isaac Newton was introduced as the RedSeas representative. Also, I think we were given a clear glimpse of each unique world in Ampney Crusis a couple of serials ago.
Quote from: Tim Tailz on 23 March, 2013, 08:30:26 PM
Wasn't it implied that the temple of the Brotherhood of the Book (as seen in this weeks Stickleback) is the gateway between the different universes of Edginton's story?
Yeah, I thought the chap with the eye existed in a kind of world between worlds. A bit like that woodland with the Pools in
The Magician's Nephew* but more, well, literary. And with keepers.
*The prequel novel to
The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe, in case you're wondering what I'm drivelling on about.
Excellent prog this week! Well done all! :)
D'Israeli's own references
http://disraeli-demon.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/stickleback-number-of-beast-part-1.html
Thanks for that eamonn1961.
That is a lot of references condensed into a few pages of work!
Quote from: eamonn1961 on 24 March, 2013, 10:11:46 AM
D'Israeli's own references
http://disraeli-demon.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/stickleback-number-of-beast-part-1.html
Excellent stuff. I was hoping he'd post one of these.
Quote from: eamonn1961 on 24 March, 2013, 10:11:46 AM
D'Israeli's own references
http://disraeli-demon.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/stickleback-number-of-beast-part-1.html
That is indeed very insightful! Part of the joy of reading Stickleback is spotting these references to past works of literature and film. Thanks for sharing, eamonn1961!
Quote from: eamonn1961 on 24 March, 2013, 10:11:46 AM
D'Israeli's own references
http://disraeli-demon.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/stickleback-number-of-beast-part-1.html
Amazing stuff.
and my own annotations to the earlier Sickleback stories including links to D'Israeli's own posts
https://sites.google.com/site/scarlettracesannotations/stickleback
and London's Burning
https://sites.google.com/site/scarlettracesannotations/home/stickleback-london-s-burning
Blown away by D'Israeli's work on Stickleback. He manages to combine an assured sense of design, incredible detail and depth, a fantastic sense of place and atmosphere, a great sense of fun, and a sure grasp of character. He's truly up there with the best to ever grace the prog, and I hope Tharg can retain his services.
Thanks for the links and references, eamonn; fascinating reading. The London Overground transport network advertised in the last panel of this week's story does have some basis in reality; before underground railway operators developed methods to deal with the coal fumes from engines, detailed plans for an overhead network were developed to avoid suffocating paying customers (but never built). I'm not sure they included anything quite as sophisticated as that depicted here, but a touch like that adds to the sense of a parallel/alternate history.
That D'Israeli's a bit good isn't he?
I don't think I would ever have spotted the Key to Time from Doctor Who in this weeks Stickleback if it wasn't for D'israeli's annotations.
It was interesting to read that he forgot to add something to one panel as I always thought it was D'israeli who choose what references he put into each panel but it must be Ian Edginton.
Quote from: Tim Tailz on 24 March, 2013, 01:44:43 PM
It was interesting to read that he forgot to add something to one panel as I always thought it was D'israeli who choose what references he put into each panel but it must be Ian Edginton.
The Edge and D'Israeli seem to be very much of a mind regarding the references to antiquarian science fiction and fantasy, which brings to mind a quite sweet image of them getting excited about what bits from HG Wells and Harryhausen they can incorporate into strip. Given that so many of Edgington's recent stories have featured just such a cavalcade of ephemera, I think it's a really wise decision to have those scenes illustrated by artists with wildly divergent styles. If this was Week 15 of Steve Yeowell drawing the clockwork owl from
Clash of the Titans perching on the shoulder of Rod Taylor it would be getting a bit old.
Speaking of style; has Brooker's
Stickleback work always featured that combination of speckled monochrome (almost as if it's been dabbed on with a sponge) and oddly translucent white line work? The white line is an old D'Israeli trait, but here it gives the impression that some of the characters are phantoms or apparitions, haunting the panels. Which, I suppose, is appropriate for something dealing with a parallel history of London. The speckling aspect reminds me of MacNeil's technique on
Insurrection - which is a good thing.
Excellent Prog. My favourite story this week was the 3hrillers one, Survival Geeks. I especially enjoyed Neil Googe's artwork and all the geek references. And then there were all the references in Stickleback!
Quote from: Alien Goodness on 25 March, 2013, 01:02:02 AM
Excellent Prog. My favourite story this week was the 3hrillers one, Survival Geeks. I especially enjoyed Neil Googe's artwork and all the geek references. And then there were all the references in Stickleback!
Yep, Survival Geeks did it for me too. I used to DREAM of owning a Star Wars duvet cover. Loved the room full of geek tat, lots of which I own *coughmapofazerothcough*, and the story was very amusing. Loved her reaction when she woke up. So many parallels in my life... ::)
Adventure Geeks may have the ability to become a fan fave of mine. I already like Sam, she kinda reminds me of one of my ex's, Rufus I can tell i'm gonna like. Pot Heads for some reason are the one cliche I can abide 100% of the time. Can't comment on either Simon or NOT-Edward Elric yet but the concept alone is fun. At only three parts it might be a tastey snack before Defoe (which I presume will be taking it's place).
A top prog, was 1824.
Mostly i was unfamiliar with the strips (either it was new stuff, or established stuff i hadnt read before), so much to enjoy. Dredd was a nice little story, and featured some nice art from Miranda. Nice to see the panels explaining last weeks slightly confusing ending.
It does raise a lot of questions about MC1, though. Potential problems for the future if its filled with dis-satisified Sov citz.
Danbridge is a strip ive never come across before, but enjoyed this strip. Tharg's 3rillers was the pick for me as well. Some nice art from Googe. And its always fun to play spot the memorabilia. Good stuff!
And last but no least; Stickleback. The cover, and the strip featured some choice art from Mr Diz. The strip, for those unfamiliar with it, was easy enough to follow. A good read all in all. And Zombo (another character im unfamiliar with) returning next week. Looks like some good thrills are heading our way the next couple of weeks/months.
Quote from: House of Usher on 18 March, 2013, 11:13:26 AM
This instalment of Judge Dredd is better than 'Wolves' for my money. Deporting former Sov citizens to East-Meg 2 in exchange for food didn't add up for me. Re-settling them all in Mega-City 2 is a very interesting premise. However, I cannot recall what state Mega-City 2 was in last time we saw it or what jurisdiction it was under.
As far as I can recall the last time MC-2 appeared in 2000AD was during the Dredd story, California Babylon (Progs 1731-1734) and was completely ruined and being fought over by various Cursed Earth gangs
Quote from: Verence on 25 March, 2013, 02:45:47 PM
Quote from: House of Usher on 18 March, 2013, 11:13:26 AM
This instalment of Judge Dredd is better than 'Wolves' for my money. Deporting former Sov citizens to East-Meg 2 in exchange for food didn't add up for me. Re-settling them all in Mega-City 2 is a very interesting premise. However, I cannot recall what state Mega-City 2 was in last time we saw it or what jurisdiction it was under.
As far as I can recall the last time MC-2 appeared in 2000AD was during the Dredd story, California Babylon (Progs 1731-1734) and was completely ruined and being fought over by various Cursed Earth gangs
And before that Hondo was re-building it. As I said, continuity shit storm, MC2 make's no sense as no two writers can agree what should be done with it post Judgement Day let alone post DoC.
Quote from: Hawkmonger on 25 March, 2013, 03:01:58 PM
Quote from: Verence on 25 March, 2013, 02:45:47 PM
Quote from: House of Usher on 18 March, 2013, 11:13:26 AM
This instalment of Judge Dredd is better than 'Wolves' for my money. Deporting former Sov citizens to East-Meg 2 in exchange for food didn't add up for me. Re-settling them all in Mega-City 2 is a very interesting premise. However, I cannot recall what state Mega-City 2 was in last time we saw it or what jurisdiction it was under.
As far as I can recall the last time MC-2 appeared in 2000AD was during the Dredd story, California Babylon (Progs 1731-1734) and was completely ruined and being fought over by various Cursed Earth gangs
And before that Hondo was re-building it. As I said, continuity shit storm, MC2 make's no sense as no two writers can agree what should be done with it post Judgement Day let alone post DoC.
California Babylon was also written by Mr Carroll too. I assume he used it to clear the decks for this current arc. He's the only person to touch MC2 since the Sino plot-line which Tharg himself has confirmed as Retconned.
Quote from: James Stacey on 25 March, 2013, 03:04:44 PM
Quote from: Hawkmonger on 25 March, 2013, 03:01:58 PM
Quote from: Verence on 25 March, 2013, 02:45:47 PM
Quote from: House of Usher on 18 March, 2013, 11:13:26 AM
This instalment of Judge Dredd is better than 'Wolves' for my money. Deporting former Sov citizens to East-Meg 2 in exchange for food didn't add up for me. Re-settling them all in Mega-City 2 is a very interesting premise. However, I cannot recall what state Mega-City 2 was in last time we saw it or what jurisdiction it was under.
As far as I can recall the last time MC-2 appeared in 2000AD was during the Dredd story, California Babylon (Progs 1731-1734) and was completely ruined and being fought over by various Cursed Earth gangs
And before that Hondo was re-building it. As I said, continuity shit storm, MC2 make's no sense as no two writers can agree what should be done with it post Judgement Day let alone post DoC.
California Babylon was also written by Mr Carroll too. I assume he used it to clear the decks for this current arc. He's the only person to touch MC2 since the Sino plot-line which Tharg himself has confirmed as Retconned.
It was? For some reason I thought it was by Al Ewing. 'facepalm'
Well, it was years ago and one of my first progs so i'll let myself off with a slapped wrist. If the Hondo theme has been 'shudder' retconed then at least it kind of make's sense, but the regeneration of MC 2 was strangely rapid.
robot workers .. lots of them ... or a wizard
Quote from: Hawkmonger on 25 March, 2013, 03:01:58 PM
And before that Hondo was re-building it. As I said, continuity shit storm, MC2 make's no sense as no two writers can agree what should be done with it post Judgement Day let alone post DoC.
Not really, since the "Hondo was re-building it" thing was referenced once, a lot of years ago, and was quietly dropped. There are plenty of in-continuity reasons one could formulate for why that particular course of action didn't pan out, if you don't want to accept the retcon, but there was never any in-story indication that Hondo
actually rebuilt MC-2.
Cheers
Jim
I'm a firm believer that writers can try and mould there idea's to what they have, retcon make's me feel a bit disheartened tbh. But saying that, if the Hondo scheme was mentioned literaly a few times then dropped I doub't it makes much difference.
Quote from: Jim_Campbell on 25 March, 2013, 03:11:39 PM
Quote from: Hawkmonger on 25 March, 2013, 03:01:58 PM
And before that Hondo was re-building it. As I said, continuity shit storm, MC2 make's no sense as no two writers can agree what should be done with it post Judgement Day let alone post DoC.
Not really, since the "Hondo was re-building it" thing was referenced once, a lot of years ago, and was quietly dropped. There are plenty of in-continuity reasons one could formulate for why that particular course of action didn't pan out, if you don't want to accept the retcon, but there was never any in-story indication that Hondo actually rebuilt MC-2.
Cheers
Jim
Isn't there an entire Chopper story written by Mr Wagner and drawn by Dyl that is set in or partly set in a rebuilt MC2 where they are holding a supersurf to celebrate the opening. That said a megacity is a big place and it could be rebuilt in several different places and not impact on the other rebuildings :)
Quote from: James Stacey on 25 March, 2013, 03:19:55 PM
Isn't there an entire Chopper story written by Mr Wagner and drawn by Dyl that is set in or partly set in a rebuilt MC2 where they are holding a supersurf to celebrate the opening.
No, there is an entire Chopper story written by Alan Mackenzie and drawn by John Higgins that is set in an under-construction MC2 where they are holding a supersurf. The subsequent Wagner series is set in MC-1.
I don't mind abandoning the whole 'Japanese MC-2' idea since it was utterly preposterous and an awful story to boot, but I would love just a line to explain, as Jim suggests, why the rebuilding might have been abandoned. Even just a nebulous disaster that is never referred to again - I hate the idea of something being flat-out retconned out of Dredd continuity without even a throwaway explanation.
Quote from: Greg M. on 25 March, 2013, 03:31:44 PM
No, there is an entire Chopper story written by Alan Mackenzie and drawn by John Higgins that is set in an under-construction MC2 where they are holding a supersurf.
Wow. I
completely blotted that out of my memory. Apologies.
Cheers
Jim
Quote from: Greg M. on 25 March, 2013, 03:31:44 PM
Quote from: James Stacey on 25 March, 2013, 03:19:55 PM
Isn't there an entire Chopper story written by Mr Wagner and drawn by Dyl that is set in or partly set in a rebuilt MC2 where they are holding a supersurf to celebrate the opening.
No, there is an entire Chopper story written by Alan Mackenzie and drawn by John Higgins that is set in an under-construction MC2 where they are holding a supersurf. The subsequent Wagner series is set in MC-1.
I don't mind abandoning the whole 'Japanese MC-2' idea since it was utterly preposterous and an awful story to boot, but I would love just a line to explain, as Jim suggests, why the rebuilding might have been abandoned. Even just a nebulous disaster that is never referred to again - I hate the idea of something being flat-out retconned out of Dredd continuity without even a throwaway explanation.
Ah yes that's the one.
Quote from: Greg M. on 25 March, 2013, 03:31:44 PM
Quote from: James Stacey on 25 March, 2013, 03:19:55 PM
Isn't there an entire Chopper story written by Mr Wagner and drawn by Dyl that is set in or partly set in a rebuilt MC2 where they are holding a supersurf to celebrate the opening.
No, there is an entire Chopper story written by Alan Mackenzie and drawn by John Higgins that is set in an under-construction MC2 where they are holding a supersurf. The subsequent Wagner series is set in MC-1.
I don't mind abandoning the whole 'Japanese MC-2' idea since it was utterly preposterous and an awful story to boot, but I would love just a line to explain, as Jim suggests, why the rebuilding might have been abandoned. Even just a nebulous disaster that is never referred to again - I hate the idea of something being flat-out retconned out of Dredd continuity without even a throwaway explanation.
There were a couple of things mentioned in California Babylon
Dredd mentioned that seven years before the story took place Texas City dispatched a team to the ruins of MC-2 to look at the possibility of reclaiming the city
"Father" the villain of the story then said that the same year a massive earthquake took place killing all the members of the team except him
In the first episode of the story Siobhan Garrison one of 19 members of the MC-2 Justice Department who survived Judgement Day in a bunker mentioned another big quake that took place a few weeks before the story.
That part of the US is prone to quakes due to the San Andreas Fault so if necessary the Hondo-Cit version of MC2 could be explained away by having been destroyed in a quake.
Chief Judge Francisco makes a rather amusing comment in that episode
"We've neglected Mega-City Two for too long"
didn't that hondo rebuilding MC-2 story go the same way as a mentally unstable scottish telepath wiping out scotland?
Has the mentally-unstable Scottish telepath story ever actually been contradicted though? Every time I can remember seeing Scotland in the Dredd universe since the conclusion of 'Cal-Hab Justice', it's been a ruined mess rather than a Mega-City, which fits.
Well, I was going to review each feature individually but I'd just be repeating what other said. I'll just say that Sov judge has great skills (and coincidentally cybernetic eyes like Dredd), and I enjoyed all the popculture junk in 3hrillers. I am unfamiliar with stickleback but it was a good starting point.
Quote from: Greg M. on 25 March, 2013, 08:09:44 PM
Has the mentally-unstable Scottish telepath story ever actually been contradicted though? Every time I can remember seeing Scotland in the Dredd universe since the conclusion of 'Cal-Hab Justice', it's been a ruined mess rather than a Mega-City, which fits.
Scotland was still there a few years ago - wasn't PJ Maybe hiding out there at one point?
Quote from: Richmond Clements on 25 March, 2013, 08:44:16 PM
Scotland was still there a few years ago - wasn't PJ Maybe hiding out there at one point?
Wasn't it all wild and clannish and Byron Ambrose was doing philanthropic work there to help the local populace though? (Or am I talking mince? I've probably got some of that wrong or missed something important.) That's what I meant by 'a ruined mess' - it exists, but in a savage state. That fits in with the Wagner stories where people are 'hunting the wild Scotties' - we've degenerated back into a sort of 18th-century lifestyle.
Quietly brushing McKenzie's story to the side was almost certainly for the best, but give that controversial former Tharg a little credit: the people of Hondo wanting to move somewhere - anywhere - and start a satellite mega-city really makes sense. That's just not a very big island that they have, and mega-cities tend to be huge.
I think it makes sense to say that the experiment was an economic failure, however, as the site was just too far away, and Hondo rapidly lost control and withdrew. It spiraled into chaos, the few cits who relocated there moved to other settlements in the Cursed Earth like the New Territories that everybody helltreks to, or to Canadia or Texas-City. Eventually, a major earthquake destroyed what little infrastructure remained, and the remnants were overtaken by criminal mutie gangs.
There's a gap of something like fifteen years between "Supersurf 13" (progs 964-71) and "California Babylon" (1731-34). That's plenty of time for everything to fall apart.
Quote from: Grant Goggans on 25 March, 2013, 10:13:02 PM
Quietly brushing McKenzie's story to the side was almost certainly for the best, but give that controversial former Tharg a little credit: the people of Hondo wanting to move somewhere - anywhere - and start a satellite mega-city really makes sense. That's just not a very big island that they have, and mega-cities tend to be huge.
I think it makes sense to say that the experiment was an economic failure, however, as the site was just too far away, and Hondo rapidly lost control and withdrew. It spiraled into chaos, the few cits who relocated there moved to other settlements in the Cursed Earth like the New Territories that everybody helltreks to, or to Canadia or Texas-City. Eventually, a major earthquake destroyed what little infrastructure remained, and the remnants were overtaken by criminal mutie gangs.
There's a gap of something like fifteen years between "Supersurf 13" (progs 964-71) and "California Babylon" (1731-34). That's plenty of time for everything to fall apart.
Makes sense to me
Quote from: Grant Goggans on 25 March, 2013, 10:13:02 PM
Quietly brushing McKenzie's story to the side was almost certainly for the best, but give that controversial former Tharg a little credit: the people of Hondo wanting to move somewhere - anywhere - and start a satellite mega-city really makes sense. That's just not a very big island that they have, and mega-cities tend to be huge.
I think it makes sense to say that the experiment was an economic failure, however, as the site was just too far away, and Hondo rapidly lost control and withdrew. It spiraled into chaos, the few cits who relocated there moved to other settlements in the Cursed Earth like the New Territories that everybody helltreks to, or to Canadia or Texas-City. Eventually, a major earthquake destroyed what little infrastructure remained, and the remnants were overtaken by criminal mutie gangs.
There's a gap of something like fifteen years between "Supersurf 13" (progs 964-71) and "California Babylon" (1731-34). That's plenty of time for everything to fall apart.
I could definetly go along with that. In fact that's cannon for me now until the strip says otherwise. :lol:
Maybe someone who does Twtter/Pus-book should ask Mr W the state of MC2? I missed the whole Cal-Hab getting vapped or what ever, so its still there for me :D
I asked Mr W a while ago and he said it was Pat Mills baby and nothing to do with him.
Quote from: James Stacey on 26 March, 2013, 10:26:30 AM
I asked Mr W a while ago and he said it was Pat Mills baby and nothing to do with him.
To the Millsmobile!!
They were building it. They stopped.
You're welcome.
Quote from: Professor James T Bear on 26 March, 2013, 11:26:09 AM
They were building it. They stopped. You're welcome.
So you're saying Smiley foiled the nefarious schemes of the wily Nipponese? I presume that's what Smiley is for - explaining that stuff which didn't make sense at the time or which doesn't make sense in retrospect was guided by the invisible hand of the man who lives in Hershey's wall cavities, and thus all part of The Plan. My guess is that Smiley was particularly active during the period in which Mark Millar was writing Dredd stories; installing conveyor belts, diverting all MC1's energy output to special logic inhibitors installed along the city walls ...
Smiley exists to retcon the retcon.
Quote from: sauchie on 26 March, 2013, 07:19:43 PM
installing conveyor belts, diverting all MC1's energy output to special logic inhibitors installed along the city walls ...
And putting big stone platform boots on the Statue of Judgment so that it was now several hundred miles high, in order that it could fall on the West Wall to allow the Judges a means of escaping the city on the offchance it was ever invaded from space by a single ship full of disorganised and borderline-disabled prison inmates.
Quote from: Professor James T Bear on 26 March, 2013, 10:06:34 PM
And putting big stone platform boots on the Statue of Judgment so that it was now several hundred miles high, in order that it could fall on the West Wall to allow the Judges a means of escaping the city on the offchance it was ever invaded from space by a single ship full of disorganised and borderline-disabled prison inmates.
Hey -- that very same thing took place at the end of our road just last week. You'd be surprised how often it happens.
Hi all, just wanted to say love the cover on this! Only read survival geeks so far but glad I bought this prog before the new one tomorrow.
Just caught up on my prog stash. Prog of the year so far.
Smiley was put in place to oversee the construction of a second statue of judgement, overlooking the Wall instead of the other side of the city, along with some much smaller than usual squat city blocks, several years prior to the events in "Inferno." Also, during the events of that story, the original statue was also blown up, although Morrison and Ezquerra elected not to depict that moment, as the Western statue's collapse was the one that allowed the story to proceed, with Dredd re-entering the city. The rebuilding of the original statue was shown in prog 954, and references to "Inferno" in that narrative are referring to the collapse that we were not shown.
Smiley's awesome.
So was Smiley involved in the conception of "Dredd's impossible niece, Vienna"?
No, Rico managed that much without him. (See prog 1300.)
Quote from: Grant Goggans on 29 March, 2013, 08:55:29 AM
No, Rico managed that much without him. (See prog 1300.)
Aye, but who got that hack liquored-up and into the Titan interview room? Dredd speaks of her being given special
"permission" ...
Hmmm. There's a point.
Hey guys, late to the party on this one but I thought I'd work my way through the current stories, leaving quick reviews from my "new-to-2000AD" perspective. It'll help me get up to date and get to know you fine folks. I actually started reading with Prog 1820 but didn't really have any clue what was going on (not including Dredd) so I've decided to start here and plow onwards. Without further ado...
Cover
I've never read Stickleback before but I'd say this cover is an impressive introduction. What a unique style. More on this later...
Dredd
Great way to start the prog. Fast, frantic action, the drama of the assassination attempt and some sci-fi goodness re: cybernetic eyes/targeting system. Glad that this will be my first strip reviewed, it's my favourite of the week by a good distance.
Dandridge
I think I'm in the minority here but I really enjoyed this. With just the blurb and this set-up strip I feel like I know these characters inside and out. That could be a bad thing (one-dimensional characters perhaps) but with a strip this charming I'm putting it in the plus column. I noticed that there are no Dandridge collections in the 2000AD shop, is this a young strip or just not a very popular one? Unlike Stickleback, which I'll get to later, this strip requires very little background knowledge to be enjoyable so for a new reader this was a nice surprise. Looking forward to the next chapter.
Survival Geeks
Another stroke of luck for a new reader, a completely fresh tale, 3 chapters, no strings attached. Works pretty well without being exceptionally interesting. I did enjoy poking around Simons room though, what a treasure trove.
Stickleback
And finally, the much hyped cover star himself. He certainly doesn't disappoint. The art is just incredible, so much detail, such an interesting and unique style and really making the most of the black and white format. As for the story, it seems like this one has a pretty rich back story but the blurb and this first chapter set me up nicely. The only criticism is sometimes Sticklebacks dialog is a sort of hybrid of childish and vulgar when m aybe it doesn't need to be. But I suppose that's part of his character and after a few more progs it'll read a bit smoother. It's not as easy a world to get caught up with as Dandridge but I'm not struggling as much as I thought. Onto 1825...
Quote from: Dan Banks on 27 April, 2013, 10:28:53 PM
Dandridge
I think I'm in the minority here but I really enjoyed this. With just the blurb and this set-up strip I feel like I know these characters inside and out. That could be a bad thing (one-dimensional characters perhaps) but with a strip this charming I'm putting it in the plus column. I noticed that there are no Dandridge collections in the 2000AD shop, is this a young strip or just not a very popular one? Unlike Stickleback, which I'll get to later, this strip requires very little background knowledge to be enjoyable so for a new reader this was a nice surprise.
This is only the fourth story - and one of those was a one-episode one-off. So not a massive page-count yet.
This hasn't been his best story but I'm a big Dandridge fan too - I find it surprising actually that it doesn't seem too popular here on the boards. If we must have a dandy supernatural sleuth in the progs then I'd rather him than Ampney Crucis any day of the week.
I've got to admit, I was surprised by the 'meh' reaction the strip was getting when I read through this thread. Perhaps it's just in comparison with the other strips being particularly good or well liked.
Cheers for the reply anyway. I suppose it would be easy enough to gather the relevant back issues if there's no paperback on the horizon. Get myself caught up that way. I'll see how this story plays out anyway.