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Spoilers => Megazine => Topic started by: Freddychopper on 16 September, 2017, 08:07:13 PM

Title: Meg 388 - This Means Waugh!
Post by: Freddychopper on 16 September, 2017, 08:07:13 PM
Wow! Managed to start the Meg thread for a second week in a row. Is no-one else getting their copies? We do have a new postie so maybe Tharg has employed him.
Nice fine and dandy Devlin Waugh cover
Anyway, another strong Megazine this month with a nice one off Dredd that focuses on the relatives of his 'victims' in a support group which was a neat idea. Some very Cam Kennedy style art from Nick Dyer that fits in with the story pretty well.
Anderson chugs along nicely and loved the Lego people robots! My bank is the same ( you'll know what I mean when you read it)
The return of Devlin Waugh felt a little bit flat for me but I know it's only the first episode. Is this the first time John Smith hasn't written Devlin? I always liked his first story with the prison and vampires. It could end up being good , so will wait and see. Artwork certainly captured Sean Philips Devlin's likeness.
Good Frank Miller career spotlight even if I know pretty much everything it focused on. The other text article is a book review about Comics Storytelling which will be good for the kiddies!
Dredd Furies conclusion has a naughty swear word in it but is a pretty action packed end to the tale. Nuff said.
Standout strip for me again is Wagner & Percival's Dark Judges Dominion. This, to me is what a Dark Judges film could be without any Dredd related stuff. Nice, moody, gruesome and has a tense claustrophobic feel to it. Love how some pages just let the amazing art tell the story and build the suspense. Really reminds me of The Thing meets Aliens meets Walking Dead. That last page is a belter!
Lawless returns next month as well. Yay!
The floppy a 'Whatever happened to..?' compilation with Tweak, Giant, Maria, The Griblings, etc, etc
So now you know!  :)
Title: Re: Meg 387 - This Means Waugh!
Post by: Eamonn Clarke on 16 September, 2017, 08:33:12 PM
(https://i.imgur.com/ocaRTGT.jpg)

Alex Ronald cover
Title: Re: Meg 388 - This Means Waugh!
Post by: Freddychopper on 16 September, 2017, 08:40:44 PM
Ooops - started the thread with the wrong issue number!  (387 instead of 388 What a virgin!) Can anyone change that???!
Title: Re: Meg 387 - This Means Waugh!
Post by: oshii on 16 September, 2017, 10:06:50 PM
Quote from: Freddychopper on 16 September, 2017, 08:07:13 PM
Is this the first time John Smith hasn't written Devlin?

Not written by John Smith? Didn't know that.  What's the story there I wonder?
Title: Re: Meg 387 - This Means Waugh!
Post by: Frank on 16 September, 2017, 10:39:16 PM
Quote from: oshii on 16 September, 2017, 10:06:50 PM
Quote from: Freddychopper on 16 September, 2017, 08:07:13 PM
Is this the first time John Smith hasn't written Devlin?

What's the story there I wonder?

You're not the only one.


Title: Re: Meg 388 - This Means Waugh!
Post by: ZenArcade on 18 September, 2017, 12:26:07 PM
Belting Alex R cover.  Disappointing (To put it mildly) that John Smith isn't penning the story.

Z
Title: Re: Meg 388 - This Means Waugh!
Post by: Richard on 18 September, 2017, 01:47:15 PM
I think we're all disappointed about that, but there's probably a reason for it, and there hadn't been a new DW story for ten years. I'd rather have a good DW story by someone else than no DW ever again. Let's give Rory a chance to see what he can make of it. I wasn't aghast at the first episode, so here's hoping.

The Dredd one-off was good. Seemed like a lenient sentence at the end though -- [spoiler]20 years for 50 murders?! Give over![/spoiler]

Dominion is, of course, utterly brilliant, and the highlight.

Will read the other stories tonight.
Title: Re: Meg 388 - This Means Waugh!
Post by: glassstanley on 19 September, 2017, 07:42:55 AM
I really enjoyed Waugh. It really felt like he was back. I like how we're suddenly seeing places that Smith avoided (Vatican). It felt like Rory was staking his claim to the series.

Not a big fan of Dominion's artwork (I prefer my Dark Judges to have line art) and I'm not really sure it's going to give me anything new with the Dark Judges. The storytelling is,of course, masterful.

Dredd was a nice short, and I like the way the situation tangled the characters beliefs and histories.

Anderson is chugging along nicely. Still need to read the other Dredd strip.

As I've said elsewhere, the floppy was a great idea. I'm hopeful for a collection of the Grant flashback series of one-offs now.
Title: Re: Meg 388 - This Means Waugh!
Post by: Bolt-01 on 19 September, 2017, 04:55:07 PM
This was the first Meg I've read cover to cover in a good few months; so double thumbs up from me, Tharg.

Rory set up a decent tale for Devlin, and it doesn't hurt getting Mike Dowling on art, either. He's come a long way since his work for FQP and seems to be developing into a solid scribe.

Dominion reads really well, and no slight to Nick Percival, but I can't help but wonder what this would look like if Dave Kendall was on for the art.
Title: Re: Meg 388 - This Means Waugh!
Post by: Proudhuff on 19 September, 2017, 05:40:49 PM
Outstanding Devlin Waugh cover from Alex.

A nice one-off Dredd that again shows a different side to MC1. Only wee grump was Dredd looks pretty chubby in a couple of frames, also the final action [spoiler]crash[/spoiler]  took a wee bit of working out otherwise Nick Dyer gives good Dredd!
Anderson chugs along at a pedestrian pace and the lack of detail and extra-lite story seems to grate on my nerves somehow.

The return of Devlin Waugh was a revelation to me, as it was always something I CBA with, enjoyed this outing tremendously.

Frank Miller career spotlight looks like it had to be passed through the lawyer office a couple of times, but still managed to let us know exactly what a obnoxious gungo-ho fannypad he is.

Dredd Furies  I liked this one, more Mighty One please.

The Deadhorse Award goes to Wagner & Percival's Dark Judges Dominion. When the Mighty W wacked the four stooges into space, I'd hoped that was us shot of them... no such luck, this and the Deadworld, really are my idea of what drags comic down.
Lawless returns next month as well. Yay!
The floppy a 'Whatever happened to..?'
Title: Re: Meg 388 - This Means Waugh!
Post by: Richard on 19 September, 2017, 06:17:59 PM
In fairness to JW, the Dark Judges are back by popular demand. At least this story will be different, in that it has them without Dredd or Anderson to contend with, and they could even win.

Also I don't care what Nick Percival paints as long as it looks as amazing as this.
Title: Re: Meg 388 - This Means Waugh!
Post by: Freddychopper on 19 September, 2017, 08:53:49 PM
Quote from: Richard on 19 September, 2017, 06:17:59 PM
In fairness to JW, the Dark Judges are back by popular demand. At least this story will be different, in that it has them without Dredd or Anderson to contend with, and they could even win.

Also I don't care what Nick Percival paints as long as it looks as amazing as this.

Yeah, I really love it and I also think that things will not end well for the colonists. It kind of has a grim feeling that the Dark Judges are in charge here...
Title: Re: Meg 388 - This Means Waugh!
Post by: Proudhuff on 20 September, 2017, 03:13:35 PM
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41rC3KcOHpL.jpg)
Title: Re: Meg 388 - This Means Waugh!
Post by: TordelBack on 20 September, 2017, 05:22:58 PM
He was one of the IDW Dark Judges, right?
Title: Re: Meg 388 - This Means Waugh!
Post by: Proudhuff on 20 September, 2017, 07:15:53 PM
You cannot kill which has not livvvvvvvvvved!

was his catchphrase, that and Stare into the cap of gloop!
Title: Re: Meg 388 - This Means Waugh!
Post by: Jim_Campbell on 20 September, 2017, 07:23:55 PM
Quote from: Proudhuff on 20 September, 2017, 07:15:53 PM
You cannot kill which has not livvvvvvvvvved!

was his catchphrase, that and Stare into the cap of gloop!

I thought it was: Gaggg on myyy ssssalty goodnesssss!

QuoteThe touch of Judge Marmite delivers enough vitamin B12 to kill an ordinary man... but Dredd is a judge, and judges are not ordinary men!
Title: Re: Meg 388 - This Means Waugh!
Post by: Geoff on 20 September, 2017, 07:24:53 PM
Really enjoyed this months Meg, best for a while.

The Dredd tale was superb, it confounded my expectations with where it went and ended up with the story. Refreshing to be surprised and amused (darkly) by Dredd again.

Mike Dowling is a top artist, stands as equal to the other talented artists (Sean Phillips has, I seem to remember perhaps Chris Weston also...) who've 'done' Devlin as it were. And this opener from Rory has got me hooked. 

Other stuff was pretty good too, and a strong floppy to boot!   
Title: Re: Meg 388 - This Means Waugh!
Post by: Jim_Campbell on 20 September, 2017, 07:25:41 PM
Quote from: Geoff on 20 September, 2017, 07:24:53 PM
and a strong floppy to boot!   

Matron!
Title: Re: Meg 388 - This Means Waugh!
Post by: TordelBack on 20 September, 2017, 07:26:02 PM
The crime is yeasssst... the sssentence is extraction...
Title: Re: Meg 388 - This Means Waugh!
Post by: The Monarch on 20 September, 2017, 08:38:28 PM
new devlin was good i was in the "if its not smith whats the point" camp but now reading it its very good i have high hopes for kek ws indigo prime now
Title: Re: Meg 388 - This Means Waugh!
Post by: Colin YNWA on 20 September, 2017, 09:36:11 PM
The Meg remains in very good form. I really enjoyed the Dredd a nice one, off centre one off and man I love Nick Dyer's art so all good here. Anderson I've been enjoying up to now but this episode felt by and large to just not move things on. Its as if the story was commissioned but didn't quite fill the space it was meant to and had tooo beee sttrrreettcccchhhheeddd. Still lets see how it progresses from here, as I say its been good to date.

Movie Dredd was fun enough. The 'happy' ending felt a little cranked on and forced into place, but overall probably my favourite movie Dredd story to date.

Now normally I'd leave Dark Dominion to the end - after all its bloomin' brilliant, I'm loving it, which defies all expectation. After all like Proudhuff I'm well and truly done with the Dark Judges. Haven't really like them for the longest time and I'm not Nick Percival's biggest fan. Here however with the glorious 'Alien' vibe superbly in place everything just clicks together perfectly. The scene were the survivors wakes in the hibanation chamber and then explores the surrounding of death is just chilling and gloriously realised.

But there's a bigger issue in the Meg this week and one I've genuinely approached with an open mind and the return of Devlin Waugh without John Smith is a big deal... except its not... it loved glorious and Mike Dowling produces typically fantastic work. Storywise its not bad... not bad at all... just not great... and I couldn't help but wonder... alas wondering will do me no good and I've got to take this on face value and will continue to do so. So on those terms not a bad start and enough to give me hope.

The added bonus is the floppie, previously normally unread as its normally been stories I have is starting to become essential reading as again it cover material I don't own. Here the 'Whatever happened to' stories are hit and miss... or rather hit and mah. Nothing is terrible but not much (Tweak really) is great.Still the fact that its new material is great news and more than makes up for this months lukewarm text article.

Over all The Meg is becoming superb value.
Title: Re: Meg 388 - This Means Waugh!
Post by: James Stacey on 22 September, 2017, 09:51:44 AM
That was a cracking meg. Strongest in a while, even without Lawless. Really enjoyed the Dredd, a very strong one parter. I find the 'Dredd' stories unnecessary but it was well executed and ended well. Anderson is barreling along nicely and Waugh had a very strong start. I do find Mr Percivals art a bit confusing to follow if wonderfully atmospheric. All in all though I'd say every strip is a hit and a stronger lineup than the Prog which has been a while for me with the Meg.
Title: Re: Meg 388 - This Means Waugh!
Post by: CalHab on 22 September, 2017, 11:24:06 AM
One of my highlights of the Meg this month was the Frank Miller article. It made a good case for his best work and was honest about the frustrating and disappointing nature of much of his output.
Title: Re: Meg 388 - This Means Waugh!
Post by: IndigoPrime on 22 September, 2017, 02:05:48 PM
The ending of the Miller piece was odd – quite a positive note after a fairly critical piece on the whole.

As for the rest of the Meg, I really enjoyed that Dredd – superb in both script and art. DD and Anderson are fine, and Dredd was OK, although I wasn't keen on that ending either. (Either he should have been taken down by Dredd or been smart enough to figure out a workaround. The bittersweet just felt a bit pat.)

Devlin Waugh is something I admit I'm going to have difficulty with, largely on the basis John Smith has such a distinctive voice. This first episode has a decent enough set-up and some nice art, but Rory McConville for me hasn't quite nailed it yet. I hope he does. (Also: blimey regarding Rory McConville's work rate. It seems he's writing a really big chunk of 2000 AD and the Meg of late. Fair play to him.)
Title: Re: Meg 388 - This Means Waugh!
Post by: The Monarch on 22 September, 2017, 03:00:34 PM
bravo on him hes good
Title: Re: Meg 388 - This Means Waugh!
Post by: DrJomster on 22 September, 2017, 09:29:40 PM
Great Meg this month, I have to say.

Regarding my top three....

Leader of the pack for me was Dredd. Lovely little story, gorgeous art and loved the colour palette choice going on there. More please, Oh mighty Tharg.

Devlin was a nice little starter, again gorgeous art, and the Dark Judges is progressing very nicely.

Let's see if Prog 2050 can top this next week. Hope so!

Title: Re: Meg 388 - This Means Waugh!
Post by: sheridan on 23 September, 2017, 05:11:02 PM
Quote from: Freddychopper on 19 September, 2017, 08:53:49 PM
Yeah, I really love it and I also think that things will not end well for the colonists. It kind of has a grim feeling that the Dark Judges are in charge here...

Completely read that as colorists - thought it was something about B&W comics in the US!
Title: Re: Meg 388 - This Means Waugh!
Post by: A.Cow on 24 September, 2017, 07:19:35 PM
Quote from: The Monarch on 20 September, 2017, 08:38:28 PM
new devlin was good i was in the "if its not smith whats the point" camp but now reading it its very good i have high hopes for kek ws indigo prime now

<mode="flamewar-bait">
I don't get why John Smith's writing seems to be receiving quite so much unrequited love.

Yes, he's written some good stuff (like early Indigo Prime and Leatherjack) but a fair quantity of his published output (e.g. Pussyfoot 5, Slaughterbowl and Tyranny Rex) are one-note strips that disappeared up their own backsides.  And don't get me started on his Dredd.

Even Cradlegrave, his best work for years, was really just an extended Future Shock.  (Heck, it probably would have been a Tharg's 3rillers if published today.)

Writing speech punctuated with ':' & '/' symbols does not make someone a visionary, IMHO.
</mode>
Title: Re: Meg 388 - This Means Waugh!
Post by: Richard on 24 September, 2017, 07:35:47 PM
Devlin Waugh is Smith's best work, so they're big shoes to fill.
Title: Re: Meg 388 - This Means Waugh!
Post by: Skullmo on 24 September, 2017, 07:42:39 PM
I think John Smith is an excellent writer and it is a shame that he is seemingly no longer in 2000ad and the meg. He had a very distinct voice and was not afraid to take risks with his stories - one of my main criticisms of the recent Meg and 2000ad is a lot of the stories (in my opinion of course) are a bit safe and generic and Smith was certainly neither of those so for me it is a big loss.

Title: Re: Meg 388 - This Means Waugh!
Post by: TordelBack on 24 September, 2017, 07:51:36 PM
Quote from: A.Cow on 24 September, 2017, 07:19:35 PM
Even Cradlegrave, his best work for years, was really just an extended Future Shock.  (Heck, it probably would have been a Tharg's 3rillers if published today.)

You're entitled to your opinions of course, but if you really think Cradlegrave is just an extended Future Shock I think you completely missed what makes that strip special.  It doesn't even have a surprise/twist ending.

Out of interest, what was wrong with John's Dredds? 
Title: Re: Meg 388 - This Means Waugh!
Post by: Frank on 24 September, 2017, 07:55:57 PM

Cow guy's right*. They should just replace Smith with one of the many writers who are like him.


* Cow guy is not right.
Title: Re: Meg 388 - This Means Waugh!
Post by: Leigh S on 24 September, 2017, 08:23:34 PM
Waugh wasn't a bad read, but felt more like a Moffatt Who story than it did a Devlin Waugh story... I'm also wary it might be mining all those background things Smith threw in for flavour and putting them up on the big screen - see the Star Wars thread for more of that kind of thing!
Title: Re: Meg 388 - This Means Waugh!
Post by: Goosegash on 26 October, 2017, 12:10:46 AM
I've been thinking about why it is Smith's absence bothers me - it's not just the fact that the strips are being farmed out to other writers, although it does make me sad that he appears to have severed ties with the comic entirely. I think it's just a loss of one of those creative voices that will be always be unique and always bring something unexpected to the table.

For me, 2000AD has always been at it's best when it's a constant churn of ideas, crazy, high-concept stuff no-one has thought of before. Writers like Smith and Si Spurrier and Al Ewing are masters at this. I mean, they might not always have a 100% hit rate but when they were on, they were on.

I'm always just waiting for the next Lobster Random or Revere or Zombo, the next something that makes you go, "Wooooah, now this is different." but that's a feeling I experience less and less these days. That's not to disparage the work of any of the current droids, but I do wonder where all the madmen have gone(to work for bloody Marvel, probably).