First time in a long time I've read the Prog on a Saturday.
A new Dredd thriller " A Penitent Man" starts. And it's absolutely cracking. Great art by Tom Foster - we really need to see him in the Prog much more often. The story is intriguing and a nice introduction, plus there is a mini twist at the end. Really looking forward to this.
I really like Thistlebone and think it will be worth re-reading the first series just to make sure I have got all the plot points. It seems to be building nicely.
A Deadworld spin off called Visions of Deadworld starts. It's kinda ok, but I long ago lost track of what I'd going on in this series. But this can be read as a stand alone terror tale set in that world.
Speaking of Terror Tales, there is one of those as well. It's not really my kind of thing, but is was ok.
Rounding off the Prog is another of my favourites - Feral and Foe. Just the usual excellence from Dan Abnett and Richard Elson.
Cover by Tom Foster:
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ExUYhQRXMAIlCv-?format=jpg&name=large)
Cover and Logo:
(https://dyn.media.forbiddenplanet.com/QnzgvGLE7j614_nuBX7sk5fawW8=/trim/fit-in/779x1024/filters:format(webp)/https://media.forbiddenplanet.com/products/25/6f/1f0a3ed5d550af1f36f3c862e6eeb7298a37.jpeg)
Interesting mix this Prog - a couple of done in ones and stories in various stages of their runs. Makes for interesting times.
Dredd - Start of a new Niemand, this time with Tom Foster more than ably assisting. Its a good opener. What happens when a 20 year Titan Judge returns to the big Meg. Well if the odds are stacked against a regular citizen then, well you can imagine. Seeds being sowed and we are already given reason to care about our ex-con Kyle Asher. Excellent
Thistlebone - the creepy and disturbing are high on this Progs agenda and nothing says creepy and distrubing more than a Robin signing to you from the 'corpse' of a taxidermied badger... actual you might not believe it from that description, but its Thistlebone, of course it works.
Visions of Deadworld - well love can set you on fire...but in Deadworld we know its course will not run smooth. Yep this one cranks up the disturbing.
Terror Tales - the twisted history of a seperated twin and the violence that surrounds him. More creepy and disturbing thank you. You know by this stage you'd think we'd been topping out on our creepy and disturbing but each of these last three thrills has done it so differently. It kinda fascinating.
Then though we get the palette cleanser of Feral and Foe - played for hoots and it delivers. Brilliant stuff.
Pretty good Prog and Mr Watson will want to check out the last page...
Oh and the Nervecentre calls out some positive sounding news about sales in hard times - watch some commentators twist and turn to make this one into a negative.
Worth nothing that the Terror Tale is the return of John Tomlinson to the prog after 11(?) years.
Really enjoyed the opening to this new Dredd story. Niemand has fast become my favourite modern Dredd writer and I'm glad we've had a run of stories penned by his hand. Tom Foster's art is as lovely as ever. I don't fancy poor Kyle Asher's chances!
Side note: Has there been an SJS story where they aren't the bad guys? I'd be well up for a Line Of Duty style SJS story where they are rooting out genuinely "Bent Judges" (or should I just get doodling a picture of SJS Judges Hastings, Arnott and Flemming and get this fan-fic concept out of my head?)
Thistlebone keeps up the creepy but I too need a reread to remember who the main players are and where we left them at the end of the first arc.
Visions Of Deadworld - DARK JUDGE SEX ACTION!?!?! Certainly got me hot under the collar! I'd have thought any pleasures of the flesssssh would be very much frowned upon!!! Very enjoyable stuff though. I like a Deadworld one-shot. It makes it much easier to follow.
Terror Tales - Suitable creepy story with great black and white artwork. Enjoyed it muchly!
Feral & Foe - Love these characters and this chapter kept up the fun dialogue. Greatr stuff.
Overall, another great prog. Aren't we lucky Earthlets!
Quote from: JimmyNailz on 30 March, 2021, 11:59:22 AM
Side note: Has there been an SJS story where they aren't the bad guys? I'd be well up for a Line Of Duty style SJS story where they are rooting out genuinely "Bent Judges" (or should I just get doodling a picture of SJS Judges Hastings, Arnott and Flemming and get this fan-fic concept out of my head?)
Really like that idea - though does Jaegir kinda cover that ground all be it in a different setting and context?
Ahem --
(http://www.futurequake.co.uk/imagebucket/CoverWebbies/Cover-Z39-Web-S.jpg)
Tales of Mega-City One - A Cold Heart by writer Heath Ackley and artist Dave Peloe
(http://www.futurequake.co.uk/imagebucket/Z39/AColdHeart-Blog.jpg)
I'll just leave this here, shall I?
Oh, quick prediction for 'A [spoiler]Penitent Man' -- The Cit that was beaten to death was responsible for the death of the former Judges family.[/spoiler] There are other thoughts than this, but this is the one I'm going for.
Quote from: JimmyNailz on 30 March, 2021, 11:59:22 AMSide note: Has there been an SJS story where they aren't the bad guys?
Buell and Garcia were usually portrayed as being basically decent. And there are a few stories where SJS give Dredd a hard time because it's their job rather than out of actual malevolence.
After last weeks Prog of mainly jollity this was one a bit dark.
Dredd - Great start to this series, establishing Asher as a sympathetic character and Dredd as a right git. This is a story I'm surprised we haven't seen told before. Does Niemand mainly write from the cits point of view or am I imagining this? Tremendous art from Tom Foster.
Thistlebone - Feels like this is starting to pick up. For an episode that was 90% two people talking in a green room, still holds your attention. Something I like about this story is that we still have no idea what is going on whatsover and it's creepy as. I didn't realise until my second readthrough that the badger has binding running through it's ribs that someone's obviously put there.
One thing I wasn't sure on was why Seema is running out of the hospital feeling sick before she encounters this mustelid horror?
Visions of Deadworld - What a completely fucked up little story that was! I really love Deadworld, a thrill so grim by wife has stopped even looking at the pictures, and I'm especially into these little short form stories where the horror is more of an intense hit and the worldbuilding is sprinkled about. Fire being characterised as a bit.. fiery works for me. The thought of this one having a follow up is almost too awful to contemplate (in a good way)
Terror Tales - These stories are hit and miss and for me this one was a miss. Nothing especially wrong with it, just didn't click for me. Nice to see a new John Tomlinson credit though.
Feral and Foe - Played 100% for laughs this week, Feral and Foe absolutely rules. Art and story are just top notch - it reminds me a little of when SinDex was still fun.[spoiler]My theory: Gyre and Krodgun have also been bodyswapped which is why Krodgun keeps saying what a top dude he is.[/spoiler]
Quote from: The Corinthian on 30 March, 2021, 01:15:07 PM
Quote from: JimmyNailz on 30 March, 2021, 11:59:22 AMSide note: Has there been an SJS story where they aren't the bad guys?
Buell and Garcia were usually portrayed as being basically decent. And there are a few stories where SJS give Dredd a hard time because it's their job rather than out of actual malevolence.
As an SJS strip like that suggested would be great, I think.
Quote from: JimmyNailz on 30 March, 2021, 11:59:22 AM
Side note: Has there been an SJS story where they aren't the bad guys?
They literally have skulls on their helmets
"Are we the baddies?"
Cover in B/W:
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Exuk_dEWYAEmBXz?format=jpg&name=4096x4096)
Not a bad prog overall but the prog feels little like it is in middle of everything.
Dredd – Another Dredd story from the pen of Niemand and what a great opening he delivers. Tom Foster provides some great visuals, and the last panel is reminiscing of Brian Bolland. Top thrill for this week
Thistlebone – The build-up continues with a very talkative episode and Eglinton's script hits the spot and Davis art and panel placement adds to the creepy narrative.
Deadworld – Another dark twisted story in the continuous misadventures of our darker judges.
Terror Tales – As with Deadwordl a dark and twisted tale which felt very much like déjà vu I have read this somewhere before but can not put my finger on it.
Feral & Foe – Another great episode with some great character interaction (or banter). Both Abnett and Elson knows how to deliver. Great story.
Quote from: The Corinthian on 30 March, 2021, 01:15:07 PM
Quote from: JimmyNailz on 30 March, 2021, 11:59:22 AMSide note: Has there been an SJS story where they aren't the bad guys?
Buell and Garcia were usually portrayed as being basically decent. And there are a few stories where SJS give Dredd a hard time because it's their job rather than out of actual malevolence.
Don't forget Gerhart.
It's all about the horror this week really isn't it, with Thistlebone, Deadworld and a Terror Tale all delivering different takes on that style. Not that I'm complaing I love a good horror story. The Terror Tale maybe feels like the weakest of the bunch, it's just a story that's been done so many times before. Deadworld is a glorious little pyromanic love story and Thistlebone just keeps ramping up the tension with tales of searing flesh and mutilated badgers.
Bookending the horror we've got the start of a new Dredd which is shaping up well - concur with those upthread that it's hard to see this ending well for Asher. And Feral and Foe providing some much needed comic relief, love the first series and this one is shaping up really well.
with another 3riller joining the mix next week I guess the end of Slaine is still a few weeks away.
Quote from: sintec on 31 March, 2021, 11:23:20 AM
with another 3riller joining the mix next week I guess the end of Slaine is still a few weeks away.
Might be earlier depending how many episodes Visions of Deadworld will be running for. I think that Intestinauts will run after the 3riller "Chorus & the Ring".
Did we know that Titan inmates were castrated, or is this just an unpleasant joke/implication on the part of the SJS office? It makes a certain kind of sense that external genetlia would be a liability working in a vacuum, so maybe some kind of surgical repositioning is what is being alluded to.
Either way the existence of Vienna seems even more improbable now.
Quote from: ianlineham@yahoo.com on 30 March, 2021, 02:33:15 PM
Quote from: JimmyNailz on 30 March, 2021, 11:59:22 AM
Side note: Has there been an SJS story where they aren't the bad guys?
They literally have skulls on their helmets
"Are we the baddies?"
Excellent!
Quote from: Barrington Boots on 30 March, 2021, 01:41:23 PM
Visions of Deadworld... The thought of this one having a follow up is almost too awful to contemplate (in a good way)
Of course, I now rememver the Fire - Despair romance was actually followed up in the original Visions of Deadworld, but there's bound to be some other horrific chapter in this story.
Seeing Judge Fire getting high and getting it on with his lady, like a university student, is the image my 2021 probably didn't need.
A nicely gruesome prog, all told. Poor Dredd just doesn't seem to get to run things his own way when the Niemand droid is on script duties, does he? Must be frustrating, hope he doesn't lose his cool. Better Thistlebone this week but Seema is still short on characterisation. Also, the guy did well not to lose that eye! Kek-W's Deadworld tales are always more satisfying when he adds some humour into the mix and Dave Kendall's art is as magnificent as ever. Really liked 'Half Life' but thought it didn't actually need the last page - Aaron Doplo smashing his head repeatedly against the wall seemed a satisfyingly sick twist in itself. Did love that the judge handed down a sentence of forty years with a recommendation to serve twenty, nice touch. Feral & Foe treading water a little perhaps this week, but impossible to fault, really. Richard Elson's depiction of the wilderness reminds me very much of Gary Chalk's board art for the 2nd edition of Talisman.
Quote from: norton canes on 01 April, 2021, 12:03:40 PM
Better Thistlebone this week ... the guy did well not to lose that eye!
I thought this was an interesting choice, given the importance of the loss/sacrifice of an eye in the first series. That Hillman suffered appalling injuries to one side of his face but retained the eye seems significant.
Good point. You're more well versed in the ongoing plot than me!
Forgot to mention the Foster droid's excellent cover. Like Dave Taylor, he seems to delight in making Dredd look very old and very gaunt.
Quote from: TordelBack on 31 March, 2021, 01:21:24 PM
the existence of Vienna seems even more improbable now.
Not really. The policy may only have been introduced some time within the last 50 years.
Saving this question up for my upcoming interview with a Mr. P. Mills of France: "Knowing how much you love intricate, decades-old continuity questions, is tadger removal canon for Titan inmates and, if so, how did Vienna's mum get pregnant? You have ten seconds to answer sensibly or you will be berated (and, yes, I was sent here by editorial to punish you)."
see i always thought Vienna was from Rico's pre-Titan days. The it does raise the thorny question of age doesn't it, considering how old she is when we first meet her.
Quote from: Tjm86 on 01 April, 2021, 08:15:47 PM
see i always thought Vienna was from Rico's pre-Titan days. The it does raise the thorny question of age doesn't it, considering how old she is when we first meet her.
Rico's been on Titan for 20 years in 'The Return of Rico!' (published in 1977) and Vienna's about five when we first meet her in the eponymous story from two years later.
Wagner did eventually come up with a plausible-ish explanation in one of Vienna's 21st century appearances.
In prog 1300 there was a flashback to when a journalist went to Titan to interview Rico there, and one thing led to another. That was some time in the 2090s.
Quote from: Richard on 01 April, 2021, 06:23:53 PM
Quote from: TordelBack on 31 March, 2021, 01:21:24 PM
the existence of Vienna seems even more improbable now.
Not really. The policy may only have been introduced some time within the last 50 years.
Possibly as a direct consequence...?
Quote from: Funt Solo on 01 April, 2021, 07:24:48 PMSaving this question up for my upcoming interview with a Mr. P. Mills of France ... You have ten seconds to answer
You've never heard Pat Mills speak have you?
There's something about Dabnett being in the prog that just raises it for me. I chuckled all the way through last prog (though expected "more" from the endings of Chimpsky and Nakka). And I went "eeuurgh!" through most of this Prog. But in a good way.
And reading a Tom Foster DREDD on my Tom Foster chromebook makes me feel very happy.
Any other subbers not got this yet? It's like 2020 all over again...
My Top 3 for Prog 2225 :)
1st - Terror Tale // Half Life - enjoyed this tale of 'it wasn't me' officer
2nd - Visions of Deadworld - Judge Fire giving in to the sins of the flesssssshhh
3rd - Dredd - Joe not getting his own way with the SJS
Heartening to see the prog gaining some new and returned Squaxx over the last 12 months as per the letters page
Good start to Dredd, but I'll always hate those comically massive SJS badges. Really takes away from what should be a sense of malevolence around them.
Still in the frustrating permanent one week behind that developed over the last year or so!
But that was a top prog and I really enjoyed the overall dark tone of the majority of strips. Top banana this week for me was Visions of Deadworld. I'm much more keen on these focused one off type episodes for this as it almost feels like your trapped in them. Much as I love the longer form too of course, and Dave Kendal's work somehow manages to get more gruesome and filthy with every outing. Superb.