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Spoilers => Prog => Topic started by: A.Cow on 18 April, 2015, 04:02:02 PM

Title: Prog 1927 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: A.Cow on 18 April, 2015, 04:02:02 PM
Erm .. usually someone's posted this week's prog by now.  So I guess it's up to me, then.


Cover:  Orange.*  And good.
* (See Pete Wells' excellent Covers Uncovered (http://"http://2000adcovers.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/greg-staples-stix-in-mud.html").)

Dredd:  Brown.  And Henry Flint must be getting sick-to-death of drawing nose-plumbing.

Orlok:  White.  And, um, ... is this supposed to be funny?

Slaine:  Blue.  And for a warrior king he doesn't half whine.

Grey Area:  Browny-turquoise.  And Wallallalalalaagggggkk.

Strontium Dog:  The full spectrum.  And [spoiler]electronux[/spoiler] too.
Title: Re: Prog 1927 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 18 April, 2015, 04:53:38 PM
Haven't read mine yet but I adore the cover.
Title: Re: Prog 1927 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 18 April, 2015, 04:54:36 PM
Quote from: A.Cow on 18 April, 2015, 04:02:02 PM
Erm .. usually someone's posted this week's prog by now.  So I guess it's up to me, then.


Far too lazy I'm afraid. Got it at 7.30 am but was 'busy' in the garden most of the day.
Title: Re: Prog 1927 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: Leigh S on 18 April, 2015, 05:12:25 PM
Quote from: Mattofthespurs on 18 April, 2015, 04:53:38 PM
Haven't read mine yet but I adore the cover.

Wonder if that's a bit of a sneak preview of the Strontium Dog fan film costume, given Greg Staples Dredds...

Geek alert! *** Stixville certainly seems to undermine if not openly contradict the ending of The Stone Killers
Title: Re: Prog 1927 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: Eamonn Clarke on 18 April, 2015, 05:19:42 PM
(http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r182/Caliban_photos/1927_zps7hi5axlu.jpg)

and on the Pete Wells Block bogroll  ;)
http://2000adcovers.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/greg-staples-stix-in-mud.html
Title: Re: Prog 1927 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: moly on 18 April, 2015, 06:08:20 PM
Enjoyed this weeks prog except Orlok
Title: Re: Prog 1927 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: Steve Green on 18 April, 2015, 06:17:39 PM
Quote from: Leigh S on 18 April, 2015, 05:12:25 PM
Quote from: Mattofthespurs on 18 April, 2015, 04:53:38 PM
Haven't read mine yet but I adore the cover.

Wonder if that's a bit of a sneak preview of the Strontium Dog fan film costume, given Greg Staples Dredds...

Geek alert! *** Stixville certainly seems to undermine if not openly contradict the ending of The Stone Killers

No, it's not.

(https://2000ad.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/alpha.jpg?w=627)


As for Stixville - I wouldn't say it necessarily contradicts Stone Killers, there was already a cousin in Blood Moon - might just be that the new Stix are children of the original brothers.

Or there were more and the father thought they were dead - wouldn't be the first time the Stronts have been framed.
Title: Re: Prog 1927 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: ZenArcade on 18 April, 2015, 06:32:41 PM
Oh man, that Strontium Dog cover is just....just wonderful. The fan film poster captures Alpha to a tee. Z

Cheers Eamonn.
Title: Re: Prog 1927 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: Leigh S on 18 April, 2015, 07:15:04 PM
Aha yes - comparing the two the helmet shape and face have a resemblance, which must have sparked the idea in my head, but the detail of the film suit is more akin to the newer detailing, whereas the cover has a very old school vibe.

cousin Stix was a flashback Stix, so yeah - maybe they have multiplied in the intervening dead years!
Title: Re: Prog 1927 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 18 April, 2015, 07:41:04 PM
Great cover - but then, it's Staples! Inside it's still a bit 'as you were' for me this week. Nothing's really got me diving for the letterbox when the prog drops through it, but I'm not hating anything, either.

Dredd and Stront are the main event. Both feel like proper meaty reads. Loving the Enceladus episodes, and klegg-time is always fun. Not sure if Stixville might be one outing too many for a classic villian, (less is more) but at least sidelining the Korean stuff should stop the indignant grumbling of certain self-appointed moral guardians.

Orlok trundles on. After a muddled beginning, then a promise of something improved on the last run (and more fun), it faltered again this week. Not an interesting episode, and downright confusing in places. What was that last page all about?! Not sure whether it's the script, art or both in conjunction, but the storytelling on this strip makes it hard work at times.

I could not for the life of me remember what the last thrill in this prog was, which doesn't bode well for Slaine. Still very talky, and starting to feel a bit slow as a result. Is Slough Gododin actually going to do anything, or just talk at Slaine indefinately? Davis makes the best of some fairly uneventful pages, and the Massimo tribute was nice.

I've been lukewarm on Grey Area in the past, but this arc is really good fun. Love 'slice of life' five pagers like this. Harrison is a great fit for the strip. It isn't going to change the world or win an Eagle award but I don't begrudge it its place in the prog.
Title: Re: Prog 1927 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: Ghost MacRoth on 18 April, 2015, 08:05:23 PM
Cover:  Very nice.  No point really going further than that....it ticks all the boxes.

Dredd:  Pootles along nicely......

Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 18 April, 2015, 07:41:04 PM
Orlok trundles on. After a muddled beginning, then a promise of something improved on the last run (and more fun), it faltered again this week. Not an interesting episode, and downright confusing in places. What was that last page all about?! Not sure whether it's the script, art or both in conjunction, but the storytelling on this strip makes it hard work at times.

Slaine:  More beautifully presented non events, interspaced with full page flashbacks, and loads of dialogue doing bugger all.

Grey Area:  Continuing to enjoy, but hope that the pace picks up next week.  We get it now....they are locked up and bored, cool...now RESOLVE! ;)

Strontium Dog:  Gotta agree the whole Stixville thing is flogging a dead horse just a wee bit.  There's a guy called Stix.  ooh, he was popular...but we killed him.  Ok....he had some brothers!  awsome!  Ah....we appear to have killed them too....fuck it, let's chuck in a whole town then!  Still....does look like Carlos is gonna be drawing a cracking shootout next week! :)



Title: Re: Prog 1927 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: Steve Green on 18 April, 2015, 08:44:23 PM
I'm not sure if you can call using characters who've appeared, what 3 times previously over 30 years of the strip Stront as flogging a dead horse.

Schicklegruber Grab, Outlaw and Blood Moon are (as far as I can remember) the only stories they appeared in previously.
Title: Re: Prog 1927 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: Ghost MacRoth on 18 April, 2015, 09:01:56 PM
Perhaps a bit over colourful in tone, I'll admit....but each time they appeared, they was dealt with, and ended.  I just don't like ressurections, reboots, or re-hashes, as it always feels a bit of a cop out.

And yes, I'm well aware which tale I'm making that comment about! ;)
Title: Re: Prog 1927 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 18 April, 2015, 10:34:45 PM
With the exception of Blood Moon there are more and more of the buggers every time the Stixes appear! Personally I find it just diminishes them as a threat. The whole town of Stixes is somehow less scary than the two brothers in Outlaw.

Just a minor grumble though, I'm enjoying the story and Wagner may yet prove me wrong!
Title: Re: Prog 1927 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: Hawkmumbler on 18 April, 2015, 11:45:31 PM
I actually like the idea that their are a shit load of Stixisisisis throughout the universe, all from one very hectic, dense family. They are suitably creepy and effective antagonists for Johnny to face each time.
Title: Re: Prog 1927 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: Leigh S on 19 April, 2015, 09:21:44 AM
Quote from: Hawkmonger on 18 April, 2015, 11:45:31 PM
I actually like the idea that their are a shit load of Stixisisisis throughout the universe, all from one very hectic, dense family. They are suitably creepy and effective antagonists for Johnny to face each time.

I like the Family Stix idea too - a neat way to get around the eternal Dredd/Alpha conundrum of killing off your best villains... that said, a whole town of them raises more questions about Stix than it answers.. though if you think about Stix generally, that tends to be the case!
Title: Re: Prog 1927 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: Colin YNWA on 19 April, 2015, 07:35:34 PM
Interesting Prog with a few of strips having steady episodes with a step down in pace. Orlok was the main exception, but that wasn't a good thing. Black Widower, after such a big set up[spoiler] dismissed just like that[/spoiler] and just what was that last page about? Am I being thick, was it just meant to be a humorous aside?

Dredd was likewise not so much a steady episode but it was quite superb. How scary was thay Klegg in the first panel. Rob Williams and Henry Flint have created a compelling story with the escapees on Enceladus, o much so I barely noticed the lack of our man Dredd, nor did I care. Quite superb.

A heck of a lot happened in Strontium Dog and yet it was all so deftly handled, so supremely presented that Wagner and Ezquerra were about to give us what felt like a bit of a breather while hurtling the plot forward quite a bit.

Much more classic slowness and intraspection could be found in Slaine yet in a very different way Pat Mills and Simon Davis did a very good job of making it fascinating reading, probably the best episode of this current run to date and looking forward to seeing whats next.

Grey Area very much made a point of being a slice of life, quieter episode, okay so slice of life in this case being a bunch of police personel stranded in an alien colony, frustrated in their attempts to alert their 'supervisors' to the looming universal threat. Its quite brilliant and I loved this episode, in what has been a great story to date.

What a steadily fantastic prog.
Title: Re: Prog 1927 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: Geoff on 19 April, 2015, 07:45:54 PM
Great prog this week, full house for me - loved the cover and enjoyed all the stories!

Dredd and klegg always a good combo and the Sovs turning up was a surprise.

Even enjoyed Slaine this week but mostly for the Massimo flashbacks.

Orlok's enjoyable if rather confused at times. I'm normally a fan of b/w art but not so sure about this.

Grey area - sexy aliens and an amusing shower scene, what's not to like!

Loving Stronty Dog and this week especially the artwork over the last few pages. The shiny digital colouring can make the art
look a bit flat but those last few pages look great.

Good prog Tharg - keep up the good work!

Title: Re: Prog 1927 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: ThryllSeekyr on 20 April, 2015, 02:25:55 AM
Quote from: Steve Green on 18 April, 2015, 06:17:39 PM
Quote from: Leigh S on 18 April, 2015, 05:12:25 PM
Quote from: Mattofthespurs on 18 April, 2015, 04:53:38 PM
Haven't read mine yet but I adore the cover.

Wonder if that's a bit of a sneak preview of the Strontium Dog fan film costume, given Greg Staples Dredds...

Geek alert! *** Stixville certainly seems to undermine if not openly contradict the ending of The Stone Killers

No, it's not.

(https://2000ad.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/alpha.jpg?w=627)


As for Stixville - I wouldn't say it necessarily contradicts Stone Killers, there was already a cousin in Blood Moon - might just be that the new Stix are children of the original brothers.

Or there were more and the father thought they were dead - wouldn't be the first time the Stronts have been framed.

I Googled for a Strontium Dog fan-film when I saw that poster and all I got was this....

Strontium Dog - Cops & Robbers (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRa9mMCq9-4)

Shame about the way Slaine appears to be going....

Title: Re: Prog 1927 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: ThryllSeekyr on 20 April, 2015, 02:30:07 AM
Keep watching that You-tube link I put up for more 2000AD related videos. Including the well known Horned God Trailer and some documentary that was made in 1989 involving some words from  Alan Moore in the beginning.

Title: Re: Prog 1927 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: jabish on 22 April, 2015, 10:38:38 AM
I don't think the return of the Stix diminishes them at all. As has been said; its even creepier if there's loads of them. Loving Strontium Dog at the mo. Classic thrill. A strip that I do think is giving diminishing returns is Orlok. Just not sure what the point is. Orlok in the Dredd (and Anderson) strip was always a terrific and serious villain. What exactly is the point of this strip? I don't imagine people were crying out for Orlok the early years but fair enough if the pitch is strong and compelling. Unfortunately I don't think this is and its comedy overtones does actually diminish him a bit as the villain we knew and loved. I like the art but not the strip. Pity. Sometimes they should just let the dead villains stay dead.
Title: Re: Prog 1927 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: Link Prime on 22 April, 2015, 10:59:13 AM
Quote from: jabish on 22 April, 2015, 10:38:38 AM
Sometimes they should just let the dead.... stay dead.

That Johnny Alpha, eh?
Title: Re: Prog 1927 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: Keef Monkey on 22 April, 2015, 04:16:32 PM
Great prog this week, and was a chance to give my new tablet a spin (had been reading on a Nexus 7 for a while and that starting to play up coupled with how good the Dark Justice art was prompted me to upgrade to a 9) and everything looked fantastic.

Cover is brilliant. Really, really brilliant.

Dredd is doing a great job of building suspense and dread about what's in store, and Aimee Nixon is one of the best ongoing characters the series has seen in the last few years so always great to see her reappear. She's had a great arc.

Orlok I'm not quite getting, the tone hasn't really clicked with me. I like the art but can't say I'm gripped by the story. The last series seemed very serious and this one is (I think?) going for more of a wacky approach, but it's not really grabbed me yet.

Slaine I've been enjoying more than usual recently, Simon Davis taking over on art has massively revived my interest in the series. Haven't felt very invested in the character for years, and this has got me sitting up and paying attention again because it just looks AMAZING.

I love Grey Area, and it's always been good as these kind of character episodes. Choice of artist is perfect.

Strontium Dog is something that (like Slaine) I'm mainly in for the art, as Ezquerra is one of my favorites so I'll always get some enjoyment out of anything he does. I've kind of forgotten what's going on mind you, but that's probably more to do with my swiss cheese weekly memory than the writing.

Title: Re: Prog 1927 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: ZenArcade on 22 April, 2015, 06:00:17 PM
Got to say how much I'm enjoying the new line up, there isn't really a bad strip in 1927.

Dredd is by far and away the best. The writing and art are literally stunning. That Sov ship is nothing but a big fat lunch hamper I feel.

Delighted with the prog at the moment. Z
Title: Re: Prog 1927 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: Timothy on 22 April, 2015, 07:06:38 PM
What exactly is the Stixes mutation. They look a bit weird, and all the same, but has it ever been specifically spelt out what their special features are?
Title: Re: Prog 1927 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: ZenArcade on 22 April, 2015, 07:15:53 PM
Not too sure, after all there is at least one intervening nuclear war and FTL between us and them. At a guess medical advancement engenders survival from close interbreeding. The result seems to be an amoral psycopathic, focussed near clone type with a penchant for super futuristic duster coats and brimmer hats. Z 

And if memory serves an ability to penetrate concrete ets with their hands.
Title: Re: Prog 1927 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 22 April, 2015, 07:39:51 PM
Quote from: Timothyjacobs on 22 April, 2015, 07:06:38 PM
What exactly is the Stixes mutation. They look a bit weird, and all the same, but has it ever been specifically spelt out what their special features are?

Well you've answered your own question there.

They don't have any 'powers', if that's what you mean. Johnny's almost unique in the Stront universe in that he does. I think the Stixes are cooler for the fact that their bad assery is due entirely to their bitter, cussed natures and nothing to do with being mutants.
Title: Re: Prog 1927 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: Magnetica on 22 April, 2015, 07:57:07 PM
Great Prog.

Nice cover - good to see Mr Staples had time to do something else as well as Dark Justice. He is pretty much the stand out cover artist for me over the last 3 or 4 years. Still a bit odd to see anyone other than Carlos drawing Alpha though. Slight nick pick - hasn't the SD Agency been disbanded and so Alpha and the Stixes shouldn't be wearing SD badges and indeed it doesn't follow that all the Stixes have  to be SD agents. (Carlos gets it right inside).

Dredd - great episode. Good to see some-one try to negotiate with a Klegg. You some how know that is never going to go well.

Orlock. As some one else said, I am not sure whether this is meant to be funny or not, but the tone just doesn't fit with the Orlock from Block Mania. Ignoring that, I'm enjoying it well enough.

Slaine. I like the Masimo tribute and the first page  of that really served to contrast the older Slaine with the younger Slaine. Some how the older / current Slaine seems beaten down / tired by all that has happened to him over the years. However...now I do like a good story arc and things that happened earlier to have meaning later on....but this is, I think, at least the 4th time we have had the Wickerman story (the original with Masimo, a catch up at the start of the Horned God and a re-appraisal in the Book of Scars). I think we have also had the story of Slaine's mother's death two or three times. Its ok to show how it is affecting the older Slaine, but it is beginning to feel a little repetitive.

Grey Area: ticking along nicely.

Stronitum Dog. Best thing in the Prog alongside Dredd. This feels just like one of the capers Strontium Dog does so well. I really prefer Strontium Dog when it does this kind of story rather than the whole mutie-norm war stuff.
Really glad it has moved on from the resurrection stuff as well.



Title: Re: Prog 1927 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: Steve Green on 22 April, 2015, 08:25:17 PM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 22 April, 2015, 07:39:51 PM
Quote from: Timothyjacobs on 22 April, 2015, 07:06:38 PM
What exactly is the Stixes mutation. They look a bit weird, and all the same, but has it ever been specifically spelt out what their special features are?

Well you've answered your own question there.

They don't have any 'powers', if that's what you mean. Johnny's almost unique in the Stront universe in that he does. I think the Stixes are cooler for the fact that their bad assery is due entirely to their bitter, cussed natures and nothing to do with being mutants.

The original Stix could dig his hands into concrete to climb down a building in the Schicklgruber grab.

Also put the frighteners on Harvey, but probably just intimidation rather than a rival to Alpha's powers.

I remember toughened skin being mentioned somewhere.
Title: Re: Prog 1927 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 22 April, 2015, 09:06:37 PM
Quote from: Steve Green on 22 April, 2015, 08:25:17 PM
The original Stix could dig his hands into concrete to climb down a building in the Schicklgruber grab.

Oh yeah.  :-[
Title: Re: Prog 1927 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: Timothy on 22 April, 2015, 09:39:10 PM
I don't necessarily mean powers, but what's their thing. Middenface has his lumps, Kid Knee has a head on his leg, The Torso is a torso etc. They've got bad haircuts. Is that it?
Title: Re: Prog 1927 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: Ghost MacRoth on 22 April, 2015, 09:54:02 PM
Fishlips?
Title: Re: Prog 1927 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 22 April, 2015, 09:55:19 PM
Well as you said, they don't quite look 'right.' It's that weird grey skin and elongated face.

Some Stront mutations don't even have to be visible. There was that perfectly normal-looking lass in Blood Moon sent to the Kreeler camps because she had a 'rebellious gene.'
Title: Re: Prog 1927 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: Beaker on 23 April, 2015, 09:19:21 AM
Strontium Dog is definitely the stand-out strip for me at the moment. A real classic in the making.

Orlok...still not warmed to it

Grey Area. Loving it.

Slaine...Just like Game of Thrones for me. It looks lovely, but I have no idea what's going on!

Dredd. Great as always.
Title: Re: Prog 1927 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: Frank on 23 April, 2015, 09:11:03 PM

Oh yeah, Carlos - right there ... you're the best ...


(http://i.imgur.com/6DJPnFr.jpg?1)


Alpha on a skimmer; a planet that looks like a Western, complete with a shutterboard township mistrustful of the stranger riding in from the desert in a cloud of dust - looks like classic Strontium Dog to me. If Alpha sets the skimmer to autopilot then flanks the unsuspecting bad guys I'll be in heaven.

Wagner's script does a great job of dropping the zombie Alpha (who doesn't have Wulf around to shout a catchphrase and buy a round of drinks to distract him from the memories of all the things he's seen and done) into the kind of set-up that could have run anytime between progs 100 and 500.

A recent guest on ECBT2000ad (https://2000ad.wordpress.com/2015/04/21/ecbt2000ad-podcast-episode-203/) reckoned he didn't want to see Alpha brought low and haunted, but ach, Johnny vas always der dark vun, and Wagner's performing a similar trick to his modern Dredds by placing the character, with all the accumulated baggage of a lifetime, into situations familiar from their past (into classic strips *, actually) and seeing how the changes wrought upon the character produce different themes and outcomes.


* I'm not the first to observe that Origins is The Cursed Earth, Tour of Duty is The Day The Law Died, and Day Of Chaos is The Apocalypse War
Title: Re: Prog 1927 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: Hawkmumbler on 24 April, 2015, 10:30:59 AM
Lovely cover by the Staples Droid. Does this machine need sleep?!

Dredd is utterly superb at the moment, from the surprise reapearence of the Kleggs (albe it on a screen) to THAT cliffhanger, it was a cracking story. And great to see the Enceladus rebels in such poor shape. Malnourished, freezing and constantly angry. Flint has a grasp over the human anatomy like no other.

Orlok and Grey Area tick along, neither really theilling me but entertaining none the less. The Black Widower has to be the most obnoxious character i've read in quite some time.

Slaine is talky but fun this week, but whats new their? The art as others have pointed out is superb. Simon Davis has taken the series and made it his own. The colours are so vivd and the characters so well deffined, really quite an outstanding display. I'm a massive Davis fan buy but even I have to say he's out doing himself right now. (Plus a lovely little acknowledgment to Massimo Belardinelli, always raises a smile when artists acknolwedge their inspiration).

Strontium Dog is also firing on all cylinders as Johnny ditches the little shit and poor mans Gronk in favour of solo investigation. Carlos art is on fire right now with the aformentioned skimmer panel being frame worthy. Really enjoying this much more mellow story arc in comparison to the last few runs being grim fests.
Title: Re: Prog 1927 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: robert_ellis on 24 April, 2015, 11:48:07 AM
Really loving Strontium Dog for the first time in ages. The prog is in great shape.
Title: Re: Prog 1927 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: Muon on 24 April, 2015, 01:32:13 PM
Now that was a masterpiece of a prog.

Among the general greatness of the Dredd story the element I really noticed was the dynamism of the way the panels are arranged. The way they flowed on from one another really ramped up the tension of the story and gave each scene a cinematic quality, particularly the bit where Nixon goes mad about Hershey smiling and disappears into the snow. Great, gripping storytelling by both writer and artist.

Grey Area was good fun and again this installment managed the tricky feat of moving a larger story forward while simultaneously functioning as a little standalone story with a punchline. Creating a longer, coherent story is difficult enough, and coming up with a punchy little vignette is even harder in a lot of ways, but achieving both at the same time has got to be something else altogether.

Orlok is still not really pulling me in but the weird little comedy bit with the Aussie bloke at the end made me smile. I wasn't entirely sure what was happening but the pictures looked funny.

In contrast to Grey Area, Slaine is taking its time to tell a long story. The spiky haired one is in for the long haul. The art is lucious and Simon Davis's obvious love for the subject matter is still shining through. I also noticed the homage to Belardinelli this week and there seemed to be quite a Bisley-like sheen to the sequence where Feg was swallowed by the timeworm last week. He didn't have to go for that sense of continuity but he did, and it's a great little touch. This time round the story's pretty talky but I got a kick out of the ridiculousness of some of their exchanges. I'm really enjoying this run.

Strontium Dog is back to the fun of old. It's as if he never died and turned into a miserable git. Just shows you that getting horribly murdered and then getting resurrected and possessed by a weird demon shouldn't spoil a fella's mood forever. Ezquerra's art has recovered its old verve and I think part of that might be the scenery. He seems to love his glittering spacescapes and desert scenes. I do too.
Title: Re: Prog 1927 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: Colin YNWA on 24 April, 2015, 01:58:28 PM
Quote from: Bogbrush on 24 April, 2015, 01:32:13 PM

Grey Area was good fun and again this installment managed the tricky feat of moving a larger story forward while simultaneously functioning as a little standalone story with a punchline. Creating a longer, coherent story is difficult enough, and coming up with a punchy little vignette is even harder in a lot of ways, but achieving both at the same time has got to be something else altogether.


That's something that I think Dan Abnett is particularly good at. For all the screams of derision at Sinister Dexter there's countless examples of him doing it there.
Title: Re: Prog 1927 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: Muon on 24 April, 2015, 02:46:32 PM
Quote from: Colin_YNWA on 24 April, 2015, 01:58:28 PM
That's something that I think Dan Abnett is particularly good at. For all the screams of derision at Sinister Dexter there's countless examples of him doing it there.

Yeah, I see what you mean. I'm not a fan of Sinister Dexter myself but I remember noticing examples of what you mention. As a weekly reader or even a lapsed reader it's easy to forget the strange confusion of picking up your first prog and not knowing what the hell's going on in any of the strips.

It's like turning up to a party where the music's amazing and all the women are beautiful but no one bothers to talk to you. Sinister Dexter and Grey Area are that kindly soul who comes and sits next to you on the sofa, offers you a glass of red wine and a friendly smile.

That said, I think Grey Area does it more successfully than Sinister Dexter. The cast of characters and setting seems to lend itself to more interesting situations that can achieve that tricky blend of long and short story, and I guess Sinister Dexter has been around for much longer so it's probably harder to create fresh situations for those characters.

No, don't start the dancin'!  :P
Title: Re: Prog 1927 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 24 April, 2015, 05:31:22 PM
Quote from: Bogbrush on 24 April, 2015, 01:32:13 PM
Strontium Dog is back to the fun of old. It's as if he never died and turned into a miserable git.

Turned into?! Johnny spent most of Portrait, Outlaw, Moses Incident, Rage and most of the stories after that with a right old cob on. As Butch says - Ach, alvays he is being der dark vun.

If Joe's main emotion is 'grim', Johnny's is 'brooding.'
Title: Re: Prog 1927 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: Muon on 25 April, 2015, 03:25:59 AM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 24 April, 2015, 05:31:22 PM
Turned into?! Johnny spent most of Portrait, Outlaw, Moses Incident, Rage and most of the stories after that with a right old cob on. As Butch says - Ach, alvays he is being der dark vun.

If Joe's main emotion is 'grim', Johnny's is 'brooding.'

Ah - my bad. Maybe I should have written that as "turned into more of a miserable git"?

Now you mention it I have vague memories of Johnny Alpha throwing a wheelchair-bound guy down a cliff and instantly killing another guy by kicking a table into his face. He's never been a particularly happy-go-lucky guy, but I guess you can hardly blame him.
Title: Re: Prog 1927 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: Link Prime on 29 April, 2015, 01:51:00 PM
Quote from: Butch on 23 April, 2015, 09:11:03 PM

Oh yeah, Carlos - right there ... you're the best ...


(http://i.imgur.com/6DJPnFr.jpg?1)


Ha, can't argue with that!
Title: Re: Prog 1927 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: ThryllSeekyr on 04 May, 2015, 02:15:33 AM
It's all good, but I have just two things to say about Slaine evolving vernacular.

Quote from: SlaineBack off or your HOMICIDE is likely

It could be that Slaine has travelled into France not long after it had left the middle ages behind it.(At a guess!). I guess Slaine did get around in his wandering years and might have picked that word up during the Grail War. (I'm just guessing that one as well!). It is a French word and is taken from the Old-Latin - Homicidium

I doubt very much he would have found time to be watching this.... 


It just seems very out of place otherise.

MY only other irk here is that Saline is also saying things like....

Quote from: SlaineI'm eminently severe in the work of violence![/b]

I just don't think that one has quite the same catch that Kiss My axe ever did.

My advice is that Slaine shouldn't evolve his vernacular (Yeah, just let me know if I have been miss using this word....otherwise it just sounds so cool!) too much.....

That one could get annoying if he keeps on repeating it!

Slaine's beard here two, reminds me of mine.....



When I still had one!
Title: Re: Prog 1927 - A Town Called Malice!
Post by: ThryllSeekyr on 04 May, 2015, 09:19:54 AM
That was really meant o be referring t last weeks prog,

I really just should have said here.....

Simon work when he has Slaine recall events from Bride of Crom (One of the last stories from Pre-Horned-God Slaine that I ever read!) his duplication of Massimo's work exceeds through use of new colours and now I wonder if this could be officially re-worked and respectfully.

The earlier flash back to his final earthly confrontation of Slough Feg (Not nearly as identical to the work of earlier [b[Simon[/b] and definitely having his own spin.) not even as intimate as it was first shown.

Sinead who was getting easier on the eyes, is now lapsing with facial expression that almost has me believeing she might be a different person from one Prog episode to the next. Then I suddenly notice light brown fur lion-cloth (Almost a Merkin]/b]!) she seems to now be wearing suddenly in stark contrast with the rest of her umm......uniform.

After a look through earlier episodes,  just to see if she had the same gear on (Down there!0 in earlier episode and was surprised to find that she had been wearing that since this second chapter of Slaine started and then I went back further and found that I couldn't find any clear pictures of what she had on until I saw a very clear picture of her standing in water up to her ankles and the loin cloth is definitely there as well against he small odds I thought what she is wearing only on consisted of two dark leathery straps crossing in the middle only covering what was needed to keep her modest.  The lion cloth definitely looks different here. (I notice these things  ;)) Like does anybody aside from Slaine ever get changed  Nearly once per every artist and with that his appearance as well.....) or really worry about that sort of thing in those times.  With the changing of that little bit of fur, I now only wonder if she will slowly transform into Anne Faris (Totally not her, but another favourite of mine and at that I'm not even suggesting she does either!)

Regarding Slaine's physique, those breasts and torso and wondering if this is Simon's subtle allusion to a breast-plate of some kind, despite his near-half-nakedness. The erect-nipples are kind of disturbing as well. It's like Mel Gibson's - William Wallace had sent his own teats backward in time (Perhaps at the very moment of death during his execution....yelling FREEEDOOOOOM!!!!!) to merge with the breasts of this version of Slaine. (Halting this line of thought before it gets even sillier!) 

That's all I have for now.....