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#1

Announcements / Re: 2000 AD - The Ultimate Col...

Last post by Le Fink - Today at 11:10:32 AM

The torn pages were a warning.
These people hate you and they have your address.

Bit dark, JW

But noted

#2

Prog / Re: Prog 2381: A grizzly fate

Last post by Le Fink - Today at 11:09:20 AM

Given these limitations, his culpability is certainly highly questionable.

Thanks for the in-depth analysis! I feel the same way, hence the question. I'm not sure what the alternative was to nuking East-Meg 1, other than surrendering MC-1. And his recommendation to get boots on the ground to investigate prior to DoC was overruled.

#3

Prog / Re: Prog 2382: Beware Iron Tee...

Last post by IndigoPrime - Today at 10:37:23 AM

Yes, the alien nature of Proteus Vex makes it something special. It has imagination and strange elements. These beings aren't just humans slightly reworked. In 2000 AD terms, perhaps Shakara is the closest strip in that regard. Although Vex is much deeper.

And I'd second the art. Honestly, I was disappointed when the artist changed and a little unconvinced by the second run. It just didn't quite feel right. But now I can't imagine this being illustrated by anyone else. Lynch's art in this strip has evolved to become nothing short of superb. Properly top-tier stuff. 

#4

Film & TV / Re: New Doctor Who series

Last post by nxylas - Today at 09:51:21 AM

I think we just have to accept that Doctor Who is firmly for kids again, and put up or shut up.

#5

Announcements / Re: 2000 AD - The Ultimate Col...

Last post by Neil C - Today at 09:18:49 AM

National Title File confirms the extension to 200.

#6

Prog / Re: Prog 2381: A grizzly fate

Last post by Tjm86 - Today at 07:23:04 AM

That MC1 would be screwed without Dredd, even though he's ultimately largely responsible for the city being in bits?

How so (genuine question)?

(I agree with the first bit. I don't understand how he's ultimately largely responsible for the city being in bits)

That's a fair point.  Perhaps a scattered review of those events that have had a major impact on MC1?

Okay, so the Apocalypse War was initiated by the Sovs.  Half the city decimated in a "total-nuke-out".  Dredd 'responsible'?  Doubtful.

Necropolis - dark Judges take over the city and cheerfully proceed to murder the population.  Dredd took the long walk off the back of what he saw as questionable decisions by the Chief Judge and those around him.  Again, not really Dredd.

Inferno (much as we would rather ignore this altogether) - psychotic criminal judges take over the city and just go nuts.  All have it in for Dredd but can we really blame him?

Judgement Day - inter dimensional Zombie Lord decides to turn the planet into a global version of the living dead. Nope, can't blame Dredd for this one.

Total War - bunch of lunatic terrorists decide to nuke their way out of Judicial rule.  Okay, you can argue the judges were the reasons they decided nuclear surgery was the only way to excise their control but as solutions go there is something a bit askew here.  Dredd's responsibility is limited to his being part of the judicial system.

Day of Chaos - group of former Sov City operatives decide to get their own back on MC1 by initiating a biological attack.  They all hold Dredd responsible for what happened to their city and his final retaliation.  We can debate the ethics of Dredd's decision until the cows come home but ultimately they had initiated a war against MC1 and invaded.  You can certainly argue that it was Dredd's actions that precipitated this event. 

Possibly the only time it is fair to say he was directly 'responsible'.  Admittedly a more nuanced approach would have argued that the Sovs started it, Dredd did what he thought was necessary and the Sovs chose to harbour a grudge for decades before taking it out on MC1.  That being the case, once more we end up with Dredd shouldering far less of the blame.

Is it fair then to say that Dredd is responsible for the shape of MC1 or is it more accurate to say that despite his seemingly unlimited powers he is actually impotent, or at least far less powerful, against forces, powers and events that transcend his more parochial role as judicial arbiter?

If anything, these events point to the limitations of the law.  In fact, one could argue that ultimately that is a them that runs through Dredd.  The whole premise as originally conceived took the most extreme alternatives expounded at the time and created an entire system and iconic character around them. 

Folded into this was a future scape not a million miles removed from where we are today.  You only have to look at some of the debates around crime in major cities across the UK and US (amongst other nations) to see how prescient the concept actually was.

Dredd has only ever been able to hold the tide at bay, so to speak.  Everyday crime that can be dealt with swiftly and simplistically is possibly the limits of his powers.  He struggles with exactly the same problems current judicial systems do when it comes to organised crime, never mind state-backed criminal activity aimed at undermining opponents.

Given these limitations, his culpability is certainly highly questionable.  At least that would be my take on this.  Feel free to dismantle my arguments though.

#7

Prog / Re: Prog 2382: Beware Iron Tee...

Last post by broodblik - Today at 06:59:07 AM

With a couple of weeks before the new Rogue Trooper run, I'm guessing we've got another Thr3ller to come.

Indeed it is going the be a Thr3ller, from the 2000A DX (the former artists know as Twitter) feed:

The climb begins in Prog 2383...

From @davidbaillie/@NickBrokenshire/Annie Parkhouse

#8

Off Topic / Re: Boys Adventure comic blog

Last post by Richard S. - Today at 06:56:41 AM

more original art by Jock from 'One dark knight' - as seen at the 'Kapow - the art of making comics & film' exhibition last Summer

https://boysadventurecomics.blogspot.com/2024/05/kapow-art-of-making-comics-film.html

#9

Off Topic / Re: Boys Adventure comic blog

Last post by Richard S. - Today at 06:48:00 AM

Just wanted to say, again, that this is a brilliant thread and blog, and I'm incredibly grateful for all the hard work you put into them, Richard.

ah, that's very kind indeed. Thanks so much. As with most things in life you don't do them to be thanked but it IS lovely to be thanked.

I'll do it for as long as I enjoy it and, nearly 3,000 posts in, I'm still enjoying it so there's plenty more to come!

Thanks again

#10

Prog / Re: Prog 2382: Beware Iron Tee...

Last post by Tjm86 - Today at 06:45:44 AM

I would have to agree on the standard of this prog.  Some outstanding artwork across the board.  Dredd sets its basic premise nicely, highlighting exactly how dire the straits are for MC1. 

Actually, I'd say this is something that hasn't fully been explored properly before.  Other than the TC1 takeover attempt and other oblique references in the odd story, it's a bit of an unspoken issue.

When you consider what MC1 was like when we first started, how powerful Justice dept was and how it stood on the world stage, present day MC1 is a pale shadow of this (kind of like Britain ....).  The effects of these events have never fully been laid bare.  So it's nice to see Niemand leaning into this shortcoming.

As for the rest of the prog, aye, Aquila's ending and setting up the final story make for a fine ending to this chapter.  On one level it will be a shame to see this go but at the same time, that closure is welcome.

Agree on Brink.  Having been working my way slowly through previous runs to try and bring myself up to speed, it really has been interesting to see how this has 'evolved' so to speak.  Culbard manages to create an impressively disturbing environment at times, conveying the claustrophobia of living conditions in habitats that are so massive in scale.  This episode might have been a bit 'talking-heads' in scope but there's still a scintilla of action to keep things moving.

I have to admit to being less than impressed with Intestinauts to date.  Not entirely sure why but this just hasn't clicked with me.  Shades of Banzai Battalion but without the characterisation maybe?  The fact that it is literally toilet humour perhaps?  Possibly the stories to date that haven't done much for me. 

Clearly this is personal so I'm going to be careful with my assessment of the tale.  Maybe this will be the one that finally clicks and forces a reappraisal?

Certainly I can't fault the artwork.  It's up there with some of the best Tooth has to offer.  There's that fine balance between humorous, cartoonish and serious sci-fi.

The plotting is neatly done.  The premise for the tale is lain clearly with the multiple threats comfortably established.  TBH I can't remember where the 'bots were at last time round so there on scene arrival and the tribulations they'd just overcome are lost in the recesses of my addled memory.  I imagine for new readers that might be a problem and deter from appreciation. 

The same holds for the 'big bad' introduced in the final moments.  Who is it?  What do they want?  Why have they got it in for the Intestinauts?  How does this link with the incident in the lab? 

If this episode has any flaws it is here.  Don't get me wrong, it's a nice, dramatic ending.  Unfortunately it lacks the full punch it deserves as a result.  Certainly for me, anyway.

This series of Proteus Vex has been far more interesting than previous ones.  This week we literally dig into who or what Flesh Pilots are.  Revelations produce as many questions as they do answers.  To say that this tale is multi-layered is an under-statement of epic proportions.

This is rapidly becoming one of my favourite strips, Tooth at its finest.  It is so far removed from the 'Federation-esque' styling of far too much Sci Fi - a pseudo-human world in which aliens are the periphery.  Everything about it is alien, every single character, events, relationships ...

I would also have to say that on this strip Lynch has utterly transformed himself as an artist.  He has capably and ably stepped into Flint's shoes after the first storyline, no mean feat for a man second only to Belardinelli for the creation of the utterly alien in Tooth for my money.  Gone is the artist who delivered the grotesquerie of the Orlok strip.   He may well have taken Flint's template but he has also made it his own, building deft touches that set it apart from that first run.

With a couple of weeks before the new Rogue Trooper run, I'm guessing we've got another Thr3ller to come.  Be interesting to see what this one comes up with.  They seem more challenging than Future Shocks with a bit more space to breathe but the challenge of delivering the story in 3 acts, so to speak.

BTW, IP has not done full justice to Percival's cover work.  The full wraparound is up to his normal standards with the back cover focusing more on the main protagonists of this tale.