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Other Reviews / Death Wish - Best Wishes

« on: 21 July, 2019, 09:56:06 am »

My first encounter with Death Wish was when Tiger merged with Eagle. Death Wish quickly would become one of my favorite stories in the “Eagle and Tiger” comic. Vanyo’s detailed art and Barry Tomlinson script brought the world of Death Wish to light.

I never read any of the Death Wish stories in either Tiger or Speed, so more out nostalgic reasons and curiosity I bought the first volume. This volume contains the stories and its origin from Speed before the merger with Tiger.

Typically, of stories during that period we have 4 to 5-part stories that contains a story-line. Even with the way the stories are structured it is still an enjoyable read. I thought that due to its age (mine and the stories) that I might not enjoy it as much when a wish younger. In some sense the story still holds up quite well and it is wonderful to see Vanyo’s art.

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General / Ian Gibson Interview

« on: 08 July, 2019, 02:43:43 pm »

Here is an interesting interview with Ian Gibson:

https://downthetubes.net/?p=108867

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Other Reviews / The Complete Case Files 33

« on: 03 June, 2019, 08:00:27 pm »

What I always liked about the Case Files is the variety on both the stories as well as artist. It is again the case with Case Files 33 with some of the best Dredd artists. The Case Files where not as strong as previous editions but still very enjoyable.

The highlights are:

Star Drekk :A Space Fantasy – A funny parody ripping of Star Trek.

Bodies of Evidence – A good story about human trafficking originating out of Calhab.  Art on this one is by the great Cam Kennedy.  It is always an awesome treat to read any story featuring his art.

Relentless – Colin Wilson provides the art. Dredd must venture the Cursed Earth to bring some instant justice to a mutant lizard Snake Eyes.

Chief Judge’s Man – A story where a hit-man is used by the reigning Chief Judge Hersey (or is it?) to take out any pro-democracy activist.

The volume ends with a good story out of the Meg related to the Lawlords called Lawcon. The Lawlords latest appearance was in Prog 1894 – 1899.

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Prog / Prog 2128 - The Kid who would become the King of Cool

« on: 24 April, 2019, 01:46:18 am »

Staz Johnson delivers a great cover with Max casting a shadow over whom he will become

Dredd continues to deliver. Mark Sexton art’s strong linework gives us a great visual impact on the storyline. The story continues to evolve with again a small cameo by Dredd.

Scarlett Traces covered by yellow, orange and red colouring from D’Israeli. His artwork is again the highlight of the story. The invasion of Earth has begun and this time no virus to safe our bacon.

We get more on how Normal became Normal. This time around the story focus more on Max when he was young.

We have a new talent on TFC duties, and she delivers on the story. The story reads like we have done this before but ends with a nice twist at the end.

Kingmaker the highlight of the prog.  Leigh’s art just gets better every week. The battle does not last long as Crixus meets his father. We get some more on his family’s back story.

This was a great prog and nice to see some new talent introduced.

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General / The most prolific or the most influential Dredd artist over time

« on: 19 January, 2019, 04:40:03 am »

Who is the most prolific or the most influential Dredd artist over time? and whom is the artist who has the most appearances?

I am sure that most people will without a shadow of doubt state Carlos Ezquerra on both counts. He is surely one of the co-creators along with Wagner of Dredd. 

The first 100 progs were the time of 3 artists whom together draw almost 80% of the initial run of Dredd: Mike McMahon, Ian Gibson and Brain Bolland.  These 3 divided Dredd as a major character in the comic-scene. Each one had their own distinctive style.

Next came Ron Smith which is the artist that really establish Dredd as the de facto British comic character. After the late great Ron came great artist like Steve Dillon and Cam Kennedy. It was only with The Apocalypse War that Carlos really start taking the reins and his style almost become synonym with the way that many of us saw Dredd. 

Colin MacNeil came along and only really establish himself long after his first appearance. For me the next big artist was Henry Flint.  In today's terms it will hard to decide between these two which is the mainstay Dredd artist.

The top 10 most appearance by an artist:

Artists      First Appearance   Total Appearances
Carlos Ezquerra   5         261
Ron Smith   104         151
Henry Flint   1014         119
Colin MacNeil   608         100
Ian Gibson   13         85
Paul Marshall   647         74
Mike McMahon   2         71
Cam Kennedy   342         70
Steve Dillon   205         49
John Burns   738         45


For me it all boils down to two artist Carlos Ezquerra or Ron Smith (again RIP  ). They even occupy the two top-spots in the moist appearance list. 

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Other Reviews / Judge Dredd Case Files 32

« on: 09 December, 2018, 08:08:05 am »

I just finished Judge Dredd Case Files 32. Overall this was not the best one at all but it contained one gem: Sector House by John Wagner and art by the late grate Carlos Ezquerra. The story was great but the art is certainly some of Carlos best work ever. This volume just for Carlos' art makes it worth every penny I  spend on the purchase.

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Film & TV / The Witcher Netflix Series

« on: 04 September, 2018, 07:27:43 pm »

Something interesting news for people who liked the game:

https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2018-09-04-superman-henry-cavill-cast-as-geralt-in-witcher-netflix-series

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Other Reviews / Red Fang

« on: 13 August, 2018, 06:01:04 am »

Red Fang was original published in Prog 1200-1201 and reprinted in Meg #356.

The story setting is a futuristic world where we the Mafia vs the Triad. The basic premises is Sleeping Dragon Fang (the main character) complicated scheme to take control and seize power.

For me the highlight of the story is Steve Yeowell art and complemented with coloring by Chris Blythe. His work here is some of the best I have seen Steve do. The writer here is the late Steve Moore.

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General / Stories that should be collected

« on: 10 August, 2018, 05:39:00 am »

With the recent return of a certain character of you know who which series that was published and not been in a proper collection would you like to be collected?

I have 4 that I would like Rebellion to do very much like they did for the Treasury of British Comics:
Firekind

Armoured Gideon

Bad City Blue

Brigand Doom
 

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General / Time Twisters vs Past Imperfect

« on: 31 July, 2018, 04:24:49 pm »

I was scanning trough older progs and I came across short stpry called "Past Imperfect" stories. What is the main difference between a "Time Twisters" short and a "Past Imperfect" short ?

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Other Reviews / Dan Abnett's The Hypernaturals

« on: 23 July, 2018, 10:06:11 am »

Has anyone read Dan Abnett's The Hypernaturals ? Is it worthwhile getting ?

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Welcome to the board / Oldie but a Newbie

« on: 19 February, 2018, 01:34:21 pm »

Hi, I am also one of those guys that was lurking from the shadows waiting or rather procrastinating about whether to post or not.

My knowledge was limited to the American Comics and stuff like Tintin and Asterix. My first introduction to the Prog was way back in Prog 374.  I can still remember my first Dredd “The Wreckers” with great fondness. Rogue quickly became my favorite. From that day I was hooked on British Comics (reading Eagle and Battle)

But then came the 90s and the combination of the summer assault let by Millar/Morrison/Ennis quickly killed my love for the Prog and I stopped my subscription.

I re-started my subscription again almost a third into the Day of Chaos epic. Getting the Prog locally in the News Agents became virtually impossible and the Postal Services here is as trustworthy as Blackblood. The digital route became a blessing (the getting use to not holding the Prog is the most mind-boggling thing).