Well that tagline almost makes sense...
Always love a bumper celebration Prog and this one has much to recommend it.
Dredd well that's six pages of quiet perfection, even if it has less Dredd than the Tharg story - see below.
Proteus Vex well Vex did try to warn you. Things look bleak for Vex... but then lose lips sink ships... or more accurately get you squished by the star dweller... great episode
Indigo Prime this is deeply meaty stuff and needs a re-read - which it will get as it was aces - though leave Richard Dawkins alone ... and John Smith characters stuff come to that. This one at least makes perfect sense in the context of the story. Be careful with her though!
Kingmaker - FIGHT, then hug... weird hug but arrrhhhhh.
Tharg the Mighty - does it really need 9 pages. I mean it has moments of checky fun, but 9 pages!
The Order - great stuff with journey inward and shadow monsters outwards.
Brink - As with all great things leave the best 'til last. Reflections on past events and a glorious introduction to our new perspective. Just brilliant.
So all the ongoing strips are good to great; one bonus strip is intriguing and wonderful the other is... 9 pages. Overall a treat.
Cover by Brain Bolland:
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FLyrkwEXMAExkKk?format=jpg&name=large)
Cover and Logo:
(https://dyn.media.forbiddenplanet.com/G451RPzN8pJGozd0j2dUNK8eShU=/trim/fit-in/779x1024/filters:format(webp)/https://media.forbiddenplanet.com/products/8b/11/ba936231a3b405d45d7d4dc95a48c39bae61.jpeg)
If it wasn't for Chimpsky that cover could have been from decades ago... maybe that's the point but it hardly seems relevant which was always one of the Progs strengths IMHO
Bar the decks being flipped, making menacing Tharg look like he's about to attack the DJ, it's a great piece of Bolland draughtsmanship. But, yeah, it's a pity a couple of characters weren't swapped out for something more recent. Nemesis is long gone. Dante concluded. Stront is done. Sláine is done. Perhaps the first two could have been replaced. Still a nice cover, mind. (And perhaps the nostalgia factor will draw people in? Who knows. That said, there were rumblings on Facebook that people expected to see indie what was featured on the cover.
Yeah its always nice to see more current characters featured on these montages. So Gene Hackman, Cyd, Briget Kurtis, Wren etc etc the list can go on of more recent characters that have had an impact and deserve their place ... and might actually appear in the Prog at hand!
That Tharg is the spitting image of the 3A Tharg.
Maybe it is just me but the cover is just too busy
Quote from: Colin YNWA on 21 February, 2022, 08:56:02 PM
Indigo Prime this is deeply meaty stuff and needs a re-read - which it will get as it was aces - though leave Richard Dawkins alone ... and John Smith characters stuff come to that. This one at least makes perfect sense in the context of the story. Be careful with her though!
I agree, be careful with Tyranny and her cameo in IP certainly doesn't seem as jarring or out of place as Revere did. What is jarring however is why she appears and then shoots a the beloved character Dwayne (who never spoke like that previously I'm sure...) in an act of... um.. what? Bit harsh ey? He's dead already though so might make a speedy recovery in time for next week's mash up.
Come to think of it I'm pretty sure Tyranny never spoke like that previously either. What next? Slaine as a Fatty in Dredd or Johnny Alpha as one of the villains in Stickleback?
Tyranny Rex started as an Indigo Prime character, she was always part of that series.
Quote from: Richard on 22 February, 2022, 08:11:34 PM
Tyranny Rex started as an Indigo Prime character, she was always part of that series.
Hence "making perfect sense in the context of the story."
There were some other comments between mine and yours.
so it remains to be seen but well that next prog line on the order sure seems like i called it....
as for indigo prime i dunno but the characters are completly in character to me but eh what do i know its not like i am one of the biggest indigo prime fans either smith or kek-w on this board or anything
A good celebration prog, enjoyed it.
Dredd – Good to have the old maestro back and he surely pulled me in with this opening episode even if Dredd is only mentioned.
Porteus Vex – The intrigue keeps on building as more of the past is revealed. How will Vex escape and the last page might have given him the opening. Great story with great art, Carroll and Lynch has become quite a dynamic team.
Indigo Prime – This looks an end of era as everything spirals out of control. We will see how and where this new story line takes us.
Kingmaker – This episode is consumed by one thing and that is Battle. An all action-oriented episode and we end with re-introduction. We will have to see where Edginton takes us from here.
Tharg the Mighty – These Tharg stories has always been kind of a mixed bag and mostly I disliked them. This round well it was alright a little too long for my taste.
The Order – A very good episode. The battle of the shadows did not go as planned. How will our valiant heroes get out of this jar of pickles?
Brink – A solid opener here as we are introduced to new characters. Will be interesting to see which angle this story takes but to put it plainly great to have Brink back.
The only real pity for me is that I would have liked this to be a true jump-on prog, but I am sure for practical reasons due to schedule ding it was difficult with new stories starting in the xmas prog to be completed before the anniversary prog. The only thing that really counts is that this was a very good prog. So, it is congratulations on 45 years of thrill power. To the next 45 years!!!!!!!
It must be a nightmare for Tharg to sync these things up, but, yeah, a nostalgic cover that inside has part 9 of some strips is probably not going to keep people around long-term. Oh well. As for the comic itself, a bit of a mixed bag for me, primarily because two strips I suspect are going to be great are at this point setting things up.
Dredd is one such strip. It looks great and builds intrigue, but that's all at this stage. And why are the Mechanismo droids suddenly so susceptible to begin shot? (Because the plot demands it!) Proteus Vex is another talky orange episode that nonetheless sustains itself. Good show.
Indigo Prime... Yeah, I'm not sure about this. Great art, as ever from Lee, and some Smithisms in the vocab. But on recently reading the Tyranny Rex Hachette book, that entry doesn't feel like her at all. Her link with the universe, though, at least means this isn't Kek-W mining 2000 AD's past to randomly drop characters into the mix. So let's see where this goes (and hope momentum isn't lost by part one of the next series rocking up in 2025 or something).
I continue to enjoy Kingmaker, which has great art and I suspect will read very nicely in collected form. Shout out to Mr. Campbell too, for easily the best sound effects I've seen in the Prog for years. They really feel like part of the art—far better than slapping some bright yellow font not a million miles from Comic Sans over the top of whatever needs an effect.
Tharg the Mighty. Hmm. There are some good jokes here, but good grief at how long it went on. Interesting art, veering between classic styles and Smith's current one though. The Order then rocks up for more bafflement. Again, it's full of great ideas and images, but it needs a re-read for me. It lost me weeks ago.
Then: Brink. I've no doubt this will be another classic. Right now, it's stage-setting.
If nothing else, the thing that most stands out about this birthday Prog is that the nostalgia was among its weakest components, and the newer strips for me were the standouts. I know what won't be the same for everyone, but it's great to see that 2000 AD isn't reliant on all the old hits, not least when more than half of the characters shown on the cover will likely never appear in the comic again. (In fact, only the Dreddworld ones are still going concerns.)
Proteus Vex > Kingmaker > Judge Dredd > Brink > Indigo Prime > Tharg the Mighty > The Order
i dunno she seems to be acting the way she did before she went to the nunnery to me. I can buy this tyranny as the same one who nuked a universe just to fuck with indigo prime for their part in the massacre of her race
now how it fits in with her post nunnery stuff i think you have a point there
The nuns literally turned her back into her old self again, a kind of anti-rehabilitation, so she could defend the nunnery from its attackers.
Quotewhy are the Mechanismo droids suddenly so susceptible to begin shot?
Because the attackers knew they would be there, so they planned ahead and brought the right kind of guns and ammo.
Quote from: Richard on 23 February, 2022, 03:35:43 PM
Quotewhy are the Mechanismo droids suddenly so susceptible to begin shot?
Because the attackers knew they would be there, so they planned ahead and brought the right kind of guns and ammo.
My take on this is these are Wardens not full street Judge type Mechanisms so not built to the same top spec. Just as Judges in Iso-Cubes aren't the best, or are retired / injured out (???) Judges.
Could of course be a mix of both.
Quote from: Richard on 23 February, 2022, 03:35:43 PMThe nuns literally turned her back into her old self again, a kind of anti-rehabilitation, so she could defend the nunnery from its attackers.
I recall, but I don't remember her being quite so "shoot someone in the head for the LOLs" in the last Smith story, say.
i completely forgot she got reprogrammed to protect the nunnery oops
Didn't John Smith say that [spoiler]Tyranny was in the first episode of A Dying Art, and no one could figure out where she was[/spoiler]?
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 23 February, 2022, 03:53:32 PM
Quote from: Richard on 23 February, 2022, 03:35:43 PMThe nuns literally turned her back into her old self again, a kind of anti-rehabilitation, so she could defend the nunnery from its attackers.
I recall, but I don't remember her being quite so "shoot someone in the head for the LOLs" in the last Smith story, say.
She does hold a serious grudge against IP for [spoiler]genociding her species[/spoiler].
B/W Cover:
(https://2000ad.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/2000AD-45-BMP1.jpg)
Just like to say my highlight was the Tharg story! Seriously!
Very funny with good art.
Dredd was good, obviously, but it's just a set up at the moment.
I saw a couple of copies in my local Co-Op last night.
It's been years since they stocked it and that seemed to be only the occasional issue. And I mean occasional - in fact hardly ever is more accurate.
So is Tharg push pushing out extra copies of this?
I've only read Dredd and Tharg so far. I liked them both a lot - the floating lightbulb in the TMO strip was great, pure Droid Life which is a bonus in my book. I would like to have seen a few actual Rebellion staff members in droid form though, like the old days. Unless I've missed something?
So who are the partially-seen characters on that cover? Has to be Quinch on the right, and TBH it looks like D.R. on the left. Shakara behind Tharg's elbow?
Quote from: JayzusB.Christ on 25 February, 2022, 02:31:15 PM
I've only read Dredd and Tharg so far. I liked them both a lot - the floating lightbulb in the TMO strip was great, pure Droid Life which is a bonus in my book. I would like to have seen a few actual Rebellion staff members in droid form though, like the old days. Unless I've missed something?
I knew something was bothering me about the tharg strip. there wasn't any creator droids in it!
In Soft Bodies, Tyranny violently beats a hospitalized man to death in a fit of pique. She's very mercenary (https://youtu.be/rmgcliPVjYg).
I'm not disputing the character's penchant for violence. I'm wondering about how it follows on from the most recent Smith run. But, yeah, maybe her response to IP does work. It'll be interesting to see what Kek-W does next with the series regardless.
Is that supposed to be Bix Barton, ordering the vodka martini?
Quote from: Funt Solo on 26 February, 2022, 04:10:46 PM
Is that supposed to be Bix Barton, ordering the vodka martini?
Fat middle-aged Zenith surely?
Quote from: The Corinthian on 26 February, 2022, 07:47:24 PM
Quote from: Funt Solo on 26 February, 2022, 04:10:46 PM
Is that supposed to be Bix Barton, ordering the vodka martini?
Fat middle-aged Zenith surely?
I had it as Bix. Very McCarthy (other one) inking style attempt I'd say?
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 23 February, 2022, 03:53:32 PM
Quote from: Richard on 23 February, 2022, 03:35:43 PMThe nuns literally turned her back into her old self again, a kind of anti-rehabilitation, so she could defend the nunnery from its attackers.
I recall, but I don't remember her being quite so "shoot someone in the head for the LOLs" in the last Smith story, say.
I just don't think that whole scene / set up really worked - the dialogue and the action just seemed all rather matter of fact and careless. Still the toys are well and truly out of the pram to be played with and I do often think of John Smith and how he must feel at times.
Saying that, I did appreciate how way back on a 'A Dying Art, Kek-W completed an unfinished story in a credible and respectful way and forged a head with what has always been one of my favourite concepts in 2000AD.
I look forward to the next installment, which lets hope isn't that far away so there might be a faint chance we can remember the prologue!
Quote from: Colin YNWA on 26 February, 2022, 07:59:03 PM
Quote from: The Corinthian on 26 February, 2022, 07:47:24 PM
Quote from: Funt Solo on 26 February, 2022, 04:10:46 PM
Is that supposed to be Bix Barton, ordering the vodka martini?
Fat middle-aged Zenith surely?
I had it as Bix. Very McCarthy (other one) inking style attempt I'd say?
Looks quite a lot like a certain R. Harris, unfortunately.
My copy of this arrived Saturday, so I'm late to the review party.
I'm not a fan of this cover really, for the same reasons others have said about the choice of characters used.
Dredd Lovely start and lovely art. The creative team and hype has me very excited for this and for a scene setter this is a very very good episode.
Proteus Vex Another exposition heavy episode, this time with squishing. Cool stuff as ever.
Indigo Prime Didn't enjoy this much: bit of a series reset under mounds of near-gibberish dialogue. I'd leave this series to rest tbh and move Lee Carter onto something better.
Kingmaker As a stand alone episode this is superb: exciting visceral fighting, dragons, wraiths, battle tank things, massive cats made of brambles and then a happy a reunion. The art is fantastic, the combat is chaotic, the characters are superbly realised. The story however is losing me. Over the course of seven episodes Ablard dies, Ablard comes back, Ichnar possessed the Duke, Ablard and Yarrows Dad reunited the nine realms and now the Duke's army has been defeated. The earlier series had much more of a slow, character-centric build and this feels like it's been hugely compressed. I'm alarmed, because I love Kingmaker and want it to continue, not conclude or suddenly change focus. Is it just me feeling this?
Tharg the Mighty Far, far too long. Fist of Red gag a nice one though.
The Order - the Order is still being The Order! Enjoyable episode.
Brink - Bold decision to take the series back to such an early point and switch perspectives like this. Like Dredd, it's hard to comment on this as an individual episode and it's mainly talking heads, but as it's Brink I feel like this will be good so I'm excited to see where this goes.
Yeah the cover's just riffing on the character heads from prog 500 and 40 Years of Thrill-Power. Shame the Bolland droid couldn't have come up with something as iconic as his classic prog 2000 Iwo Jima scene. The 'Stars on 45' skit inside seems to exist largely to pack in as many humorous references to the 'Fist of Dredd' panel as possible.
So it's okay to use the likenesses of Pat Mills's characters, but not to script them, even in a parodic capacity?
'The Citadel' has a low-key opening episode even by John Wagner's laid-back standards, which is good as it gives Dan Cornwell's art and Dylan Teague's colours chance to open up. I've said before, the Cornwell droid is really developing into one of the prog's all-time great talents - although this week he has stiff competition from Jake Lynch in the very next strip. The final panels on the last page of this week's instalment of Proteus Vex really took me back to the very ealiest years of 2000 AD when abrupt acts of violence, characters being suddenly snuffed out like this, really had the power to shock. Note to Tharg: when we talk about what's lacking from the Regened content, this is what we mean. Please, make sure that graphically horrific moments like these are never given up.
Most of Indigo Prime happened during my 27-year prog-lapse, so I know very little about the continuity. I didn't even care that much for its comeback run a couple of years ago. I did ilke this one-off, though - it certainly seemed to inpsire Kek-W to write more entertainingly than he does in The Order which is, sad to say, becoming increasingly perfunctory. Also, as has been noted, Kingmaker seems to have lost a lot of its winning depth and subtlety in this run.
Which leaves Brink. It's just occured to me that even if the speech bubbles were left empty, you could tell the dialogue was good just by their frequency, and position relative to the characters. You would intuitively deduce that it's flowing and naturalistic. A very different kind of final panel to Proteus Vex, but no less disquieting.
On Brink if you go way back to prog 1984 the last page of the episode links directly up with the start of the news series.
Quote from: norton canes on 28 February, 2022, 04:44:16 PM
So it's okay to use the likenesses of Pat Mills's characters, but not to script them, even in a parodic capacity?
Are there any Mills characters in the strip...? Plus, y'know, Rebellion does
own them.
Quote from: Jim_Campbell on 28 February, 2022, 06:57:47 PM
Quote from: norton canes on 28 February, 2022, 04:44:16 PM
So it's okay to use the likenesses of Pat Mills's characters, but not to script them, even in a parodic capacity?
Sorry... I mis-read your post, and it's too late to edit my original idiocy...!
Yeah sorry I was genuinely just asking what the legal position was :)
Quote from: norton canes on 28 February, 2022, 09:02:32 PM
Yeah sorry I was genuinely just asking what the legal position was :)
God, don't apologise — as I said, I mis-read your post! However, [insert usual "no inside info, not a lawyer" caveats here] Rebellion
does own them. I'm assuming Rebellion are OK with the same 'take the reprint money' model that seems to be the case with Zenith (and, to be fair, there's nothing stopping Tharg commissioning Zenith Book 5, or Halo Jones Book 4... I'm damn sure DC would have done it by now if they owned those properties).
Quote from: Jim_Campbell on 28 February, 2022, 10:58:50 PMto be fair, there's nothing stopping Tharg commissioning Zenith Book 5, or Halo Jones Book 4
In unrelated news, I'm quietly hopeful about a pitch I'm sending to Tharg, starring Blaine, the Welsh barbarian, and Yukko, his gnome sidekick. :-)
Llaine, surely?
coming soon to 2oooad
the xyz warriors