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Spoilers => Prog => Topic started by: Colin YNWA on 13 July, 2021, 09:09:22 PM

Title: Prog 2240 - In with a bullet!
Post by: Colin YNWA on 13 July, 2021, 09:09:22 PM
Hold on its Tuesday evening and I've bagged the Prog thread - what's that all about! My Prog landed today and I've had a chance to read it this evening and its an absolute corker. I real humdinger.

Dredd What a way to start a story. A opening scene that is both shocking and funny. Then snap into an unfamilar setting a church, a shake down, a lack of forgiveness. Then bang straight into an apparently unconnected crime scene. Things will be linked I'm sure but at the moment its just three wonderful seperate 2 page package of fresh picked intrigue. So invested in this one already!

Aquila just superb, from a staggeringly designed flashback page rich in guilt, to an act of self appeasement - or at least an attempt, to villains circling this is just wonderfully done.

As is Department K Blackcurrent's dramatic entrance to short lived our heroes enter an alien nest and seem to face danger, but that's as short lived as Blackcurrant's enterance giving us a fantastic ending and so much to learn.

Skip Tracer... well last weeks gave this potential and this week it lands it. Lands it very, very well. This is a superb episode and its a crying shame, almost cruel that its still the least good thing in the Prog BUT this time it is nothing to do with the story here, rather how good - how exceptional the things around it are. In many Prog I'd have happy hailed this top thrill... or there abouts. We've been given a reason to cry. Blake is given the humanity, he needs and that means all the action and the turn on the last page is made to matter. Now come on keep this up and we might have a story as good as the second one.

And after a Prog this good Tharg can still save the best until last. Chimpsky does not does nail the landing, the story it lands the double-double dismount. This is just fantastic. Brutal and charming, chilling and thrilling, funny and sad. Just a perfect strip and I'm sop glad this series, given its chance to blossom outside of Dredd has not only seized it opportunity but grabbed it with both hands, squeezed all the thrillpower out of it and injected same straight into out thrillglands. Just bloody brilliant stuff and I can't wait for this to be back.

So yeah we had some great prog in the last few years but this one is right, RIGHT up there. Just a shame we had to wait until Tuesday to hear all about it!
Title: Re: Prog 2240 - In with a bullet!
Post by: DrRocka on 14 July, 2021, 01:17:14 AM
"Many atomised husks have been found clutching my Mighty Organ"
-you dirty boy, Tharg (hyuk hyuk)....
Title: Re: Prog 2240 - In with a bullet!
Post by: broodblik on 14 July, 2021, 04:29:29 AM
A good solid prog

Dredd – Another Wagner Dredd this time art is provided by John Higgins. Great introduction to the new arc especially the first two pages. Higgins's art is superb especially the colouring by Sally Hurst. As the story progress we are introduced too few characters and this night be a tale about revenge, but the last panel might suggest something different.

Aquila – As our heroes' journey continues it is a time for reflections about our memories/sins/misdeeds. A lot more talking this episode and some fun moments to add. The story ends with a nice cliff-hanger and our heroes will face the "wrath of a god".

Department K – The story continues as another set of heroes continue perilous journey into the heart of the beast. Our heroes are stalked by an external threat as Blackcurrant realized. A good climax ending with our heroes facing the threat. Good art by Cornwell and the story has certainly picked-up.

Skip Tracer – Well this episode was quite good as it did not follow the normal episodic formula.  We now know what the title of the story means and where the plot will lead us. We also get introduced to an old friend as the episode closes.

Chimpsky – The first solo series of Chimpksy comes to an end and it was a delightful debut series and hopefully this is not the last we see off our hero. 
Title: Re: Prog 2240 - In with a bullet!
Post by: broodblik on 14 July, 2021, 04:30:05 AM
Cover by Toby Willsmer:

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E5w5uDAXMAAIoTg?format=jpg&name=large)
Title: Re: Prog 2240 - In with a bullet!
Post by: broodblik on 14 July, 2021, 04:30:23 AM
Cover and Logo:

(https://dyn.media.forbiddenplanet.com/180n0sQzj9Jqx8LPqnWem4R_7QQ=/trim/fit-in/779x1024/filters:format(webp)/https://media.forbiddenplanet.com/products/e7/8f/a5386ae391d842b31eb69c5fd9693e7cede6.jpeg)
Title: Re: Prog 2240 - In with a bullet!
Post by: wedgeski on 14 July, 2021, 11:51:12 AM
We're going to have to start reviewing the Nerve Centre because this week's intro was top-shelf Tharg.
Title: Re: Prog 2240 - In with a bullet!
Post by: IndigoPrime on 14 July, 2021, 12:08:35 PM
Quite rare that the Prog hits a 5 out of 5, but it did this week. Although there wasn't anything that blew my socks off (the Chimpsky ending came closest), Dredd started well and the other three strips — which  I'm not usually bothered about — were all engaging. Top stuff.
Title: Re: Prog 2240 - In with a bullet!
Post by: SmallBlueThing(Reborn) on 14 July, 2021, 12:14:03 PM
Behind that Nineties-tastic (in the best possible way!) cover, lies a prog that may well be one of the few in living memory where -almost- everything is just magnificent. There is one strip I'm not feeling despite a great start- and that's Dept K. Every other page was just splendid. Skip Tracer has finally arrived- this story is excellent, and if it had been this good from the start it would have been a modern classic by now. Chimpskey ended with me now wanting a second series, like, immediately, Aquila is great (though a couple of bits of dialogue this week felt off) and how bloody fantastic was that Dredd?

Thanks Tharg, happy Earthlet here.

SBT
Title: Re: Prog 2240 - In with a bullet!
Post by: broodblik on 14 July, 2021, 12:36:13 PM
I can even say that this episode of Skip Tracer was the single best Skip Tracer episode ever.
Title: Re: Prog 2240 - In with a bullet!
Post by: Timothy on 14 July, 2021, 01:10:40 PM
Is that Gort Hyman?
Title: Re: Prog 2240 - In with a bullet!
Post by: oshii on 14 July, 2021, 04:41:17 PM
Quote from: Timothy on 14 July, 2021, 01:10:40 PM
Is that Gort Hyman?

That's what I was wondering.
Title: Re: Prog 2240 - In with a bullet!
Post by: Leigh S on 14 July, 2021, 06:05:44 PM
Yeah, that's [spoiler]Gort Junior and his brother Simson - Hester and Gort Seniors two boys[/spoiler].  Excellent stuff!

The cover is none more 90s, but not in a  good way for me.

To continue my contrarian streak, I'll say Skip Tracer hits  new low for me in this episode - It's already a Fleischeresque strip, but making the main character a total arsehole just pushes it completely into Junker territory - Denying a child is his, shouting at the mom and generally being a dick about the situation.  Doesnt help that Nomrod reminds me of Fleischers version of Artie Gruber.  Also there's a weird emphasis on the last panel of page 1 "HER name is Eden" - as if Nolan had referredto the child as a "he", which he doesnt. 

Aquila is fine even with a bit of casual homophobia to add to the 90s vibe from the cover and Fleischery ST (and yes, I'm aware that makes the character homophobic rather than the strip, but even so - not quite Ducky from Millar Robohunter, but not sure its a good look for the main protagonists sidekickto be the one expressing it?

Dept K is not really grabbing, but Chimpsky is good, if only wrapping up in a way that wasnt entirely unexpected.

But that Dredd is a super smashing great enough return to the 80s to overlook the 90s stylings elsewhere


Quote from: oshii on 14 July, 2021, 04:41:17 PM
Quote from: Timothy on 14 July, 2021, 01:10:40 PM
Is that Gort Hyman?

That's what I was wondering.
Title: Re: Prog 2240 - In with a bullet!
Post by: broodblik on 14 July, 2021, 07:47:30 PM
An article related to the new Dredd story which will be a 6 episodes:

https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/preview-2000-ad-new-judge-dredd-series (https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/preview-2000-ad-new-judge-dredd-series)
Title: Re: Prog 2240 - In with a bullet!
Post by: Colin YNWA on 14 July, 2021, 09:03:41 PM
Quote from: Leigh S on 14 July, 2021, 06:05:44 PM
Yeah, that's [spoiler]Gort Junior and his brother Simson - Hester and Gort Seniors two boys[/spoiler]. 

Quote from: Timothy on 14 July, 2021, 01:10:40 PM
Is that Gort Hyman?

Oh excellent spot you two. That one flew right by me. This could get very interesting and I'm wondering if this will tie to Beeny in some way. Colour me even more interested.
Title: Re: Prog 2240 - In with a bullet!
Post by: broodblik on 15 July, 2021, 09:51:27 AM
Cover in B/W:

(https://2000ad.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/process-2-784x1024.jpg)
Title: Re: Prog 2240 - In with a bullet!
Post by: Barrington Boots on 15 July, 2021, 11:17:18 AM
Speed review from me this week as work is aaaaargh

Whilst the cover IS quite 90s it's striking and I quite like it.

Dredd – Bloody hell, this is good. I didn't twig that it was [spoiler]Gort and Simson[/spoiler] in the church but once you know all the clues are there: good spot guys. 

Aquila – Quieter episode after two weeks of craziness. I have always assumed we're supposed to think Felix is vile. Good to see Goddards take on some earlier stuff from Leigh Gallagher's lovely run on the strip. So what does Aquila himself forget in the river?

Department K – We're seven episodes in and I am not feeling it: it just doesn't have anything that interests me beyond Dan Cornwell's absolutely great art.

Skip Tracer – Having read other Squaxx's comments, I'm in agreement that this is both a good episode (this really shakes things up) and not so good (Nolan is an utter bellend). Things can go either way from here.

Chimpsky – This felt a bit unsatisfactory to me on the ending. I'm not sure if I thought this would be something other than it was, but it seemed like a lot of setup with no real twist or anything at the end? Not that this was an unexciting ending or anything: I can't help but feel maybe the disappointment is on me for anticipating something that was never promised. Anyway, overall I've enjoyed this, especially the visual storytelling / art throughout and it's a suitably optimistic finish. I'd be happy to read more Chimpsky but I do think he's worked better away from Dredd, so hope that continues.
Title: Re: Prog 2240 - In with a bullet!
Post by: broodblik on 16 July, 2021, 04:33:01 AM
Here is nice article on how the Damage Report came to existence:

https://medium.com/meanwhile/the-comical-covert-communications-contained-in-comics-indicia-86b6ce437dc6 (https://medium.com/meanwhile/the-comical-covert-communications-contained-in-comics-indicia-86b6ce437dc6)
Title: Re: Prog 2240 - In with a bullet!
Post by: PsychoGoatee on 17 July, 2021, 04:58:06 AM
Quote from: broodblik on 14 July, 2021, 04:29:29 AM
Wagner Dredd

The sweetest words in the English language! Very exciting.
Title: Re: Prog 2240 - In with a bullet!
Post by: BPP on 17 July, 2021, 08:25:36 AM
Genuine question - does the lawgiver only eject casings on covers? I'm sure I've seen it before om covers but not that I've seen it in stripwork.
Title: Re: Prog 2240 - In with a bullet!
Post by: Southstreeter on 17 July, 2021, 12:01:09 PM
I recall Gort and Hester Hyman (leader of the Dems, right?) but not the kids. Did they feature in the original democracy storylines?
Title: Re: Prog 2240 - In with a bullet!
Post by: Leigh S on 17 July, 2021, 02:19:04 PM
In both - in the orgiinal story I think there is an altercation with the whole family in the Block Park with a judge (not sure it is Dredd) which Hester sites as one of the reasons for fighting?

and in the REvolution story, doesnt Dredd threaten to have them both inducted into the Academy unless Hyman denounces the movement?


Quote from: Southstreeter on 17 July, 2021, 12:01:09 PM
I recall Gort and Hester Hyman (leader of the Dems, right?) but not the kids. Did they feature in the original democracy storylines?
Title: Re: Prog 2240 - In with a bullet!
Post by: Colin YNWA on 17 July, 2021, 03:30:43 PM
Quote from: BPP on 17 July, 2021, 08:25:36 AM
Genuine question - does the lawgiver only eject casings on covers? I'm sure I've seen it before om covers but not that I've seen it in stripwork.

Have you seen PJ's started a thread to answer this? Just in case you haven't

https://forums.2000ad.com/index.php?topic=47699.0 (https://forums.2000ad.com/index.php?topic=47699.0)
Title: Re: Prog 2240 - In with a bullet!
Post by: norton canes on 19 July, 2021, 09:07:50 AM
Quote from: Leigh S on 14 July, 2021, 06:05:44 PM
The cover is none more 90s, but not in a  good way for me.

To continue my contrarian streak, I'll say Skip Tracer hits  new low for me in this episode - It's already a Fleischeresque strip, but making the main character a total arsehole just pushes it completely into Junker territory - Denying a child is his, shouting at the mom and generally being a dick about the situation.  Doesnt help that Nomrod reminds me of Fleischers version of Artie Gruber.  Also there's a weird emphasis on the last panel of page 1 "HER name is Eden" - as if Nolan had referredto the child as a "he", which he doesnt. 

Aquila is fine even with a bit of casual homophobia to add to the 90s vibe from the cover and Fleischery ST (and yes, I'm aware that makes the character homophobic rather than the strip, but even so - not quite Ducky from Millar Robohunter, but not sure its a good look for the main protagonists sidekickto be the one expressing it?

Dept K is not really grabbing, but Chimpsky is good, if only wrapping up in a way that wasnt entirely unexpected.

But that Dredd is a super smashing great enough return to the 80s to overlook the 90s stylings elsewhere

Just going to echo all this, it sums up my opinion pretty well, would probably add the obligatory kudos to the Cornwell droid for its stunning artwork.
Title: Re: Prog 2240 - In with a bullet!
Post by: MumboJimbo on 26 July, 2021, 05:08:33 PM
Why did Hastings arrange a convoluted abduction of Nolan, involving a staged accident, when he was on his way to see her anyway? Yes, it happened last prog, but I was kinda holding out for a decent explanation in this prog, but all we got was "it's important to cover your tracks when you're on the run". Clearly it was just to clumsily crowbar some action into the last episode. It's this kind of lazy use of action movie tropes that's always put me off the series. I want to like it, honest. Having a partner, daughter and a beard (in that order) is going in the right direction in actually one day furnishing the lad with a personality.

With that moan over, the rest of the prog is tops. A good first outing for Noam Chimpsky in his own strip, and we're being spoilt with all the Wagner Dredd in recent weeks. Department K is kind of Black Science for a slightly younger audience - Blackcurrant Science, if you will - but no less enjoyable for that.

Aquila is developing nicely, though I'm a little concerned this story will mostly be a journey through the underworld with various battles and sundry other encumbrances on the way. I guess that makes it quite different from the previous series, which was a real breadcrumb trail of McGuffins. To find Amit, speak to Nero, who's in the underworld, so find a decapitated head to find some witches who will tell how to get into the underworld but only if you tell them the real name of Yahweh and to that you have to infiltrate a Jewish fort under siege, but they've all killed themselves so you have to perform a spell to bring one of them back, but now you're blind! Etc etc. Blimey. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it (as you can probably tell I re-read it recently) but it was hard to keep it all straight in your head. I'm not really sure why Aquila and the witch woman became mortal enemies. I guess Felix did cut her son's head off, but before that they were both trying to access Hades, so I can't really see where the original beef came from. Anyway, I'm wittering now...
Title: Re: Prog 2240 - In with a bullet!
Post by: MumboJimbo on 26 July, 2021, 05:14:52 PM
Also, what became of Mille Ploog-Jepperson, the mousy distant member of the Jeppersons who just wanted some money for her mom's operation? That bit of the plot never seemed to go anywhere. Could she be the one currently interfering in Chimpsky's business?
Title: Re: Prog 2240 - In with a bullet!
Post by: Barrington Boots on 26 July, 2021, 05:20:39 PM
She's seen floating amongst the dead in Prog 2239, so that didn't go anywhere sadly!
Title: Re: Prog 2240 - In with a bullet!
Post by: MumboJimbo on 26 July, 2021, 06:17:13 PM
Ah, shame.
Title: Re: Prog 2240 - In with a bullet!
Post by: Sean SD on 22 August, 2021, 03:17:48 AM
My Top 3 for Prog 2240

Solid prog all round with something to enjoy in each strip for me

1st - Dredd - Wagner back again, as said above three 2 page stories in this one, and I'm keen to see where each of the threads end up

2nd - Aquila - enjoying this travel through the River Hades.

3rd - Chimpsky - Love the last three pages summing up Chimpsky's goal to help others in MC1. Great call back to iconic cover of Prog 2178 in the last panel.

As a digital sub just had to order myself a physical copy of Prog 2178 a few days ago (plus a TPB or two) Prob will end up framing the cover, its a classic

Honourable mention to Dylan Teague for great colouring work on Aquila and Skip Tracer this prog