Max Bubba (Ragnarok) V The Bitch - Bolt-01 Cup - Qualifying - Epic: Game 04
Some mad tough decisions percolating up ... for some this will be easy, for others... Games 3 and 4 from the Epic Region - these stories in Group 2
All you need do is vote for your favourite between:
Max Bubba (Ragnarok Job) - more info (https://www.comicartfans.com/gallerypiece.asp?piece=1531588)
Vs
The Bitch - more info (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18775099-durham-red)
Just reply in this thread naming your favourite of these two stories at the beginning of your post (or use Bold tags so I can spot it easy) and say what you like about these wonderful stories after that.
Match ends early on the morning of Saturday 31st July and the winner (I'll count up who gets the most votes basically) gets 3 points towards qualifying... huh...
... there's a spreadsheet (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1F3W5KkY37ZcH39J93nq5hR5_RhPIvaOapv7sZ0EmvUQ/edit?usp=sharing) to make following easier... if you fancy. If not, don't worry just VOTE!!!!
What on Earth is all this? (https://forums.2000ad.com/index.php?topic=47697.msg1064493#msg1064493)
Why (https://forums.2000ad.com/index.php?topic=47696.0) on Tharg's Earth head are we doing this?
Any questions, just ask as ever - and have FUN!
Max Bubba (Ragnarok) all the way my all time favorite Alpha story
I suspect I'll be in the minority but I'll go for The Bitch.
This isn't the easiest choice but I'm also going with The Bitch
Ragnarok is a good story and obviously super important but I think it only kicks into gear once it gets past all the stuff with trolls and goblins. I do love the designs on Bubba's gang.
The Bitch isn't the strongest SD tale but I still appreciate all the Reagan jokes and I like the trio of villains.
Two flawed tales here. Bitch is a bt too long and the REd/Alpha relationship is unhealthy in more ways than the writers intended.
The Ragnorak Job is also a bit too long and I'm not sure the Trolls and Goblins really fit in (or at least, they could if they'd ahve been given an explanation)
of the two.... it's closest yet, but The Ragnorak Job
Max Bubba for me
Quote from: Leigh S on 28 July, 2021, 09:30:51 AM
Two flawed tales here. Bitch is a bt too long and the REd/Alpha relationship is unhealthy in more ways than the writers intended.
Excellent point, this aspect of the story is weird and mildy uncomfortable. What's up with that shower scene? Might have a rethink on this.
This might be heresy and I'm risking being run out of town but, I don't think Carlos's art was suited to the Viking scenes. I have always thought certain artists suit certain types of story and historical sword / axe stuff isn't a good match for Carlos. For instance I've never wanted to see his take on Slaine.
Space Westerns on the other hand....
Currently there is a sale on for the digital versions of the S/D Agency Files as well as the Final Solution:
https://shop.2000ad.com/catalogue/on-sale (https://shop.2000ad.com/catalogue/on-sale)
Max Bubba (Ragnarok Job) for sure, for all its significance and finally getting to see Wulf's origin.
I'm surprised by the the dislike of the trolls and goblins here - I really enjoyed those aspects of the story. I thought they fit in perfectly with Vikings and time travel. There are plenty of mutants, supernatural beings and aliens in SD, how do the trolls and goblins fit any less?
Regarding Carlos art here, you won't get run out of town, fair opinion. I, however, think he draws killer vikings (Wulf is the original Viking of SD afterall) - I think he blends mutant bounty hunters, soldiers and vikings as good as anyone could have. Maybe not your match for Carlos but certainly no dip in the quality of his art here. It doesn't get any better than Wulf killing dragons with der happy-stick and Johhny sending trolls to the Doghouse using a time grenade!
Just thought I'd comment as the time hopping and trolls were a highlight for me, a very different environment from the other space/earth/planets that were used to seeing. Each to their own, the joy of voting!
Ragnarok
Honestly, both these stories ran on way too long, and neither of them is top Dog. Guess I'll vote Bitch because, fun as the Viking Saga is, any story that introduces as great a character as Durham Red deserves to be recognised. I still remember how naughty it felt at the time to run a story with that title, on the cover no less!
I love both of these stories, I'd go a draw here but the GCC overseer will revoke my voting license so I'll go with Ragnarok.
Not sure what this 'creepiness' felt by others about Bitch is, didn't feel that at all.
Another gripe about the length of these stories, but Bitch took things a step too far on that scale, and I these days am not keen on seeing truly horrible politicians played for buffoons and laughs. That's part of why we have Johnson as PM. So: Ragnarok.
Oooh. Bitch was a childhood memory. It introduced Red, who is still with us. But Ragnarock? Man, I wrote a prose version of that in an old diary my dad had lying around.
So, I guess I need to spoil my ballot here.
FARTS!
It can only be Ragnarok.
One day to go here, get your votes in now and I'll announce the results in the morning.
I agree with a few folks here that state that both these thrills were overlong and neither has ever really done it for me and sit right down in my Strontium Dog rankings. The use of Reagan in The Bitch wears thin after about 2 parts and is a cold rehash the Spitting Image version of a horrible man. That said Ragnarok - as I've always called it - just rumbles and roams into areas that don't interest me for episode after episode. The Bitch however gave us Durham Red and so has a legacy to be proud of and on that basis:
The Bitch
The Bitch.
I've found this the hardest vote so far by some way. I think, on balance, I'm voting for Bitch. I loved finding out where/when Wulf came from - and the bookending scenes are probably the most important in the strip's history - but The Ragnarok Job just has too much padding along the way, and it's never quite as fun as you want it to be. By contrast, Bitch is a lot more fun than its reputation would have led me to believe. There's no question that it's too long, or that it leans too hard on Reagan jokes - but Reagan was before my time, and I know so little about him in any case that I can treat his appearance here as a generic 'goofy politician' character, totally divorced from the real guy. It does a lot right, too, and Durham is a hugely important part of Strontinuity who makes an immediate impression, shaking Johnny right out of the doldrums he was in post-Wulf.
Ragnarok all the way - Comedy Reagan you can keep Nancy.
VOTING CLOSED
Two similar stories here (well for me) and the battle between them was pretty tight but there was always one thrill just ahead and that one was:
Max Bubba (Ragnarok)
Portrait of a Mutant 3 10
Max Bubba 3 3
The Bitch 0 -3
Final Solution 0 -10