Topics

1

General / Dabnett and ...errr... Pinslade talk Lawless

« on: 12 December, 2019, 01:34:16 pm »

https://2000ad.com/news/interview-dan-abnett-and-phil-winslade-talk-lawless/?fbclid=IwAR2Lqrm8qMLrjbwj1OG2BCmiZq24s5Y8b-3NTJW-LpXwXg-LGVgadhMgOls

There's some great stuff in this interview. Most important of all they have no plans to end this series anytime soon!

WAYHEY!!!!

I could hug them tightly while weepin' with joy... but then the police would get involved again wouldn't they. One of my... if not my absolute ... favourite thingsTharg is pumping out at the moment.

When do we get lush oversized hardcover collections is the only thing I have left to care about.

2

Prog / Prog 2157 - Red Army!

« on: 09 November, 2019, 08:10:36 pm »

So its the small things that make a difference.

Dredd - Okay this is probably just me, and I don't know what I expected, but Dredd didn't completely stick the landing. Everything finished perfectly satisfactorily. The commentry on Dredd as the survivors flew back was just wonderful. The end reveal allowed a legacy without tainting a record, which was really neat. The art was stunning... but for some reason - and I think it was simply that this has been so good - I greedily wanted more. I wanted this to amaze me and turn on a sixpence ... or something. Instead I got what I should have expected a gloriously crafted masterwork with nice resolution and a great character moment.

Defoe - Well I'll be I see improvement. I'll be honest I've almost entirely dropped off the story by this point but I think the art is much improved this week. Last time I whined and cried for the art to express moments of calm and quiet when required and here we get this. Its has all the talent but dialled back enough to allow it to be appreciated. You know what it might be as simple as more panel boarders?? One really striing moment is the cutout. Now it has the same problems as the art to date. Too  much going on to really be able to pull anything useful out but in this context it looked like a 17th Century cutout of a spaceship would in my minds eye and the splash of colour was very effective.

Not going to say I liked this I didn't but was very happy to be able to appreciate the art this time out.

Everything else as you were sir (or madam).

Brink is a character masterclass. For folks who complain about talking head we get a very clear lesson in its not just the words, this strip is as much about what is conveyed in the art and here it is masterful.

Hope - might just be a cliche baddie being bad to a bunch of this up til then baddy peers but jeepers creepers its done well.

Deadworld kinda spins off on one but I enjoyed it and its really comics turned up to 11. But a good eleven.

Its a great Prog and has the Art Stars Winner Star Scan - which looks wonderful but for me doesn't quite have the impact and imagination of a couple of the entries but its hard not to be bowled over by the technic

AND wonderful confirmation that Full Tilt Boogie is heading our way in Thrills of the Future.

3

Film & TV / His Dark Materials - BBC series

« on: 04 November, 2019, 09:26:47 pm »

Anyone watching this?

I generally avoid adaptions as I feel the compromises to convert a book (or more specifically comic) to film or telly aren't necessary as we have the book or comic. That said I do make exceptions and His Dark Materials has me quite excited. Mainly as I've read this recently to my daughter. I didn't really enjoy reading it to her if I'm honest. Not that its not a great story it certainly is. Just that reading it out loud isn't the most pleasent thing. All the words felt so big and awkward in mouth and it was a bit of a struggle to get through for me, due to reading it outloud. She loved it however.

So knowing she was excited about this and giving me the chance to enjoy it just as a story was I pretty up for this.

Alas it was the very definition of the problem I have with such things. It looked great. Just not my great. Prime example being the Gyptians. Who looked cool, and perfect for how they should... just not how they should in my minds eye. The show was pretty slavish to the book, yet this just served to emphasis the differences. The extended beginning felt clumsy. It would have been great to have been bold enough to throw the viewer right into Lyra sneaking into the room to watch The Master et al.

Ruth Wilson doesn't work as Mrs Coulter either for me yet. She lacks the easy dark charm I'm after. I thought Dafne Keen was great as Lyra on the other hand. Real star for me was the lad who played Roger. For some reason he just worked for me.

All in all while it will no doubt have considerable problems and I'm very interested to see how they deal with its central theme as things develop into series 2 and 3 - I'm glad the BBC (all be it considerably aided by big US companies) can still do this type of lush family entertainment.

4

Prog / Prog 2155 - Dark Angels!

« on: 26 October, 2019, 08:25:31 pm »

Well its really as you were again. I'd be expecting a very quiet Prog review thread this week, as is often the case in times of plenty, were it not for the masterclass in Dredd continuing to weave plot threads, ideas and family questions into the mix. Its just an absolute delight and one I feel when finished, however that might happen - doesn't the Next Prog suggest somethings! - this read back will give so much more. That's on the basis of it giving so, so much already!

Defoe bleeds across pages and it hurts my eyes. Stuart Moore is clearly an incredible talent but he could learn a lesson or teo from Brink that so often less is more. Its not just INJ Culbards' great strenght in this strip, focusing the read on all that is important in each panel just so expertly while somehow keeping the whole thing looking so lively and alive. Its what Dabnett is doing with the story. So little happens, yet so much occurs.

Hope is brilliant and The Fall of Deadworld is comics turned to 11.

Oh and even though we knew it was coming just seeing the Thrills of the future makes me smile. It makes me remember with all the Prog has at the moment, there is so much more and that the House of Tharg is just a wonderful place to hang out in.

5

Prog / Prog 2154 - Combat Shock!

« on: 19 October, 2019, 06:00:55 pm »

As you were  - which is a very good thing.

Dredd see more revelations and horrors. This is utterly gripping and wonderfully realised.

Defoe ... well it has words and pictures so it has a place here I guess... just none of them have an impact on me in any cohesive or emotional way.

Brink is just the opposite, everything about this is about the quiet and sometimes less than quiet impact. Just so well excecuted. The transition between pages 1 and 2 just needs to be used as a lesson to all storytellers.

Hope is brilliant and dark and tense and fantastic.

Fall of Deadworld is over the top meladrama of the very best kind.

So as I say almost exactly as we were. 4 for 5 and those 4 make it feel like a five for... reviewing the Prog these days is getting a bit samey, but what a good samey.

6

Prog / Prog 2153 - All Hail El Presidente

« on: 12 October, 2019, 05:47:56 pm »

Well what can you say, as you were really and that's a magnificent 4 for 5 worth a 5 for 5 the four are so good.

And its all behind a cover to die for. Quite how Colin MacNeil manages to get so much quiet human arrogance into that metal manic is a little beyond me.

The Dredd story itself is a glorious character piece that drives the plot forward but really examines Dredd. Its feels like the subtlest new reader story. Everything you need to know about Dredd the man in a seemingly easy six pages. And MacNeil is as good here as he is on the cover.

Defoe has the same issues for me as before. Damnit I want to love this art as it has so much to offer.

Brink is a little like Dredd in that it drives the story forward while laying our character out via quiet conversation. This is what Brink does so very well. Trick you into thinking your reading some exposition heavy talking heads piece but giving you so much more.

The Fall of Deadworld doesn't do that - it blasts it in your face front and centre. And as the Russians land stakes raise even higher. Great stuff.

As is Hope - Under Fire which plays a cliche - oh that magic it'll cost ya ya know. Cliche it might be played well it certainly is. Like when Johnny Cash covers Nick Cave. You may have heard it before by someone else and loved it then but somehow he finds a way to play it better. And this is played very well indeed. There also a panel bottom of page three that I'd swear (probably wrongly) is a tribute to Joe Kubert. Brilliant.

Letters and a competition round up a magnificent Prog. Thank you my lovely droids.

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News / Ennis writing Rat Pack for Battle Special

« on: 10 October, 2019, 12:52:09 pm »

Not had a chance to read this as rushing to a meeting but the headlines makes it a keeper and worth sharing...

https://downthetubes.net/?p=111554&fbclid=IwAR0lIJa5mGfbMgwDk6-O4s-WhcaZYqaLR0eI9IZKeGtSgGLY9YpKrpMgqt0

I'm assuming this is wonderful news. Could someone read it and fill me in!

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Prog / Prog 2152 - Watch the world burn!

« on: 06 October, 2019, 09:27:17 am »

Behind a magnificent Cliff Robinson cover lies a Prog on the ground work being laid out over the last couple of weeks.

Dredd is just magnificent. The fragile diplomacy providing a veil over motives as thin as a golden spray job. Quite now much character Wagner and MacNeil are able to imbue into our robotic dictator is wonderful to behold. Yet another masterclass from these two as we get the added bonus on Dredd slipping of to... well we'll see...

Defoe has lost me already alas and a low point in this otherwise stella Prog.

Brink I was speaking of masterclasses before and here's one in how to do an exposition dump, with only a tiny pretense of being anything other than that and make it compelling reading all the same. Adore the exhausted last page as well. Also nice touch having us look in through the HSD logo on that title panel. Should I be reading more into the fact it reversed other than that's our point of view?

Hope Under Fire is brutal and brilliant in equal measure.

The Fall of Deadworld is brutal and brilliant in equal measure.

Another 4 out of 5 but those 4 make it feel like a five-for.

9

Prog / Prog 2146 - Law in Motion

« on: 24 August, 2019, 06:54:31 pm »

What a difference a week can make hey.

Dredd, well if I was disappointed with the ending of the otherwise superb 'Control' the beginning The Fall of Barbarbara Grimm by Mike Caroll and Nick Dyer is quite brilliant. Okay so there's the old panel where the otherwise wonderful Dyer overworks the cross hatching, but that aside wow. I'm reminded of the awful closing in that I felt reading the Block protection racket story in my Prog slog recently.

Sinister Dexter remains fantastic, that opening panel is just great.

Similarly Indigo Prime remains superb, so full of invention.

3riller - Red Road is a blasting, kinetic opener. Its thrilling and while I've not much of a clue about the background yet I'm drawn in. As ever with 3riller its all in how it builds from here though.

Jaegir cranks it back up to the Max with a wonderful episode. Though  do think medical staff in any Sci-fi / action scenario seriously need to some self defense training.

In summary 5 out of 5 Prog. Now that ain't bad is it!

10

Website and Forum / How to make a healthy vibrant forum?

« on: 22 August, 2019, 07:41:27 am »

So a conversation on one of them there Faciebook groups has go me pondering about the future of the forum. It was basically asking is there any point in this Forum anymore from a once pretty regular poster. Things have been slowing down around here for quite sometime and a quick look at the usage stats

https://forums.2000ad.com/index.php?action=stats

shows the cold hard evidence of that. This year looks to be the slowest to date. Official comments are thin on the ground, to none existant and frankly as other channels of communication become more and more prominant who can blame them. I have no way knowing what plans, if any Rebellion have for maintaining this site but there may be something we can do?

Amongst all the usual claims that this is a horrible place on this Facebook chat, claims I just don't see, a few scraps aside I've always found this the most lovely oasis on the Internet, there were some very good points. Firstly is the format of forums just old hat and such places will naturally wither on the vine and slowly die off? Should I just accept our fate and enjoy what we time we have left together?

BUT as also pointed out the format of a forum is by and far the most useful, practical and well organised way of keeping the discussion we have together, certainly a LOT better to use than Facebook for such things - even Search has got better. I have to be honest I use this place as almost a journal of my comic nerding and such - in a way that other platforms just won't replace - as my friends in the 'real' world just aren't comic-positive.

SO TO A POINT AT LASSSSTTTTT

What can we do to get this place buzzing again. How do we make this forum I adore so much, that has given me so much pleasure of the last 11 years - longer for others - a place that Rebellion can't ignore. That becomes the defacto place of choice for 2000ad fandom as it once was...

... or do we simply hold its hand and sing it a soft tear filled lullaby as we watch it drift away into the next life?

11

Books & Comics / New Luther Arkwright coming - just be patient

« on: 22 August, 2019, 07:21:11 am »

So I know there's a few Luther Arkwright fans, certainly a number of Bryan Talbot fans still hanging around this quiet corner of the internet. If you are you will be delighted to hear that there a new volume coming... in 2022!

So settle down, get a cup of tea, maybe something to read. Heck you've even got time to pop to the shops and I'll see you back here in three years.

https://www.bleedingcool.com/2019/08/21/bryan-talbot-legend-of-luther-arkwright-after-almost-twenty-years/

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Prog / Prog 2142 - Major Malfunction

« on: 27 July, 2019, 03:47:00 pm »

Almost exactly as you were really.

Dredd remains superb. Adored the Dredd Maitland interaction and we seem to be entering the end game with Judge Pin.

Indigo Prime remains superb. Adored the Christhullhu squirting sticky corrosive tentacle goo allover folks. And what lurks  under the collapse building...???

Anderson - remains mah.

Absalom remains superb -  Adore that this is what passes as a breather in this story!

Thistelbone remains superb - Adore the wau tensions boil over and cans of petrol are bought.

Wonderful stuff in a 4/5 prog.

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General / 2000ad and Rebellion at Comic Con 2019

« on: 22 July, 2019, 12:57:12 pm »

I'll give this a new thread in case more pops up - and I'm not sure where else to put this - but a nice write up from The Beat about the Satire or Super Cop at San Deigo this year

https://www.comicsbeat.com/sdcc-19-judge-dredd-satire/?fbclid=IwAR38wuR_egiYDswPgDzRFMoJK_f3NXt_-f8jsqF2FXSc8QnoUmR6aY9HJWc

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Prog / Prog 2138 - Nightmare Fuel!

« on: 29 June, 2019, 06:49:27 pm »

Never very good in the heat so I guess while you lot have all been lapping up the sunshine I've been hidden inside lapping up a double dose of thrillpower (2137 landed today for me too).

Another cracking Prog. Started really nicely with a Thrills of the Future. In just one panel the mighty Flint has got me hackering for more of his and Michael Carroll's 'Proteus Vex' whatever that will be.

Dredd continues to shine as Neimand and Johnson bring part 3 of The Samaritan. The partnership of Pats and Wrex just shines doesn't it. But those moments with Patsy ... somethings up here ... isn't it? Superb.

Thistlebone lets us know much more directly that somethings up and while a snarling black dog is a horror mainstay by George its put to great use here. As are the three kids and the main characters and the last panel... well every element of this story is just used to perfection!

Anderson - Martyrs is also much as it was. The art just isn't quite there for me, which is a shame as it doesn't allow what is a pretty good story so far to shine the way it might otherwise.

Unlike Scarlet Traces which concludes fantastically. Can't wait for this one to come back.

Absalom is also much as you where, playing much the same tricks as last week, but those are great tricks so all good with me. Loving the way this is cranking things up as we head to our climax.

So over all another top Prog. Two such in one day need to be careful and with Indigo Prime coming back next week we have much to look forward to.

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Books & Comics / Vertigo no more

« on: 21 June, 2019, 10:25:06 pm »

So Vertigo is being canned... or as the offical press release has its "Sunsetting"

https://www.bleedingcool.com/2019/06/21/dc-officially-rebrands-closes-vertigo-renames-zoom-and-ink/

Its been a long time coming. What I always get surprised by is how much many of the comics that are so associated with Vertigo were actually long formed, or even well past their classic runs by the time the label started. That's not to say that Karen Berger's time in charge of the imprint isn't very important, but the movement and her work was well under way. I don't don't it will continue.

Just not under the Vertigo label.