A prog of conclusions ending most the stories started way back in the jumping on prog, 1850.
A striking cover by Henry Flint.
The conclusion to Dredd was satisfying. Emma Beeby presented a good story well told that thoroughly entertained. John Burns' artwork is always nice to see in the prog. Beeby's writing on this strip has had the feel of a Wagner strip and I hope we see more contributions from her. She captured the feel Dredd perfectly for me.
Flesh appears to get a double length feature in the prog for it's finale. Can't say I have been bedazzled by Flesh, but I have been enjoying the artwork at least. I would honestly prefer to see Mill's working on more Savage and Defoe.
Brass Sun is fantastic. Ian Edginton is fast becoming my favourite writer amongst the current roster at 2000 AD. Brass Sun is pure epic and I hope we see plenty more from it in the future. The story telling has been exciting and this conclusion leaves me wanting more. Inj Culbard's artwork is wonderful and entirely appropriate. Of the stories that started back in prog 1850, this has been my favourite.
Damnation Station's first run didn't leave a huge impression on me. This sequel may leave more of a mark if only for Mark Harrison's artwork. I think that I would have to read the first series and the second series together another time to draw any clear conclusions about the story. I found it entertaining, but difficult to follow considering I couldn't remember what came before.
(my first prog review)
Covers a stunner! Like everything, really, but looking forward to the number end of year Prog next week! ;)
American Reaper was bad enough in the Meg without hitting the prog.
Quite-nice eye-catching cover, leading into the final part of this Dredd run. Again, it's a solid tale, and although there's a hint of Robbie Morrison Dredd creeping through, Dredd's decision on the place makes sense from a resources standpoint and also as punishment for the villain. All your work—now it'll be for them, creep! Anyway, it's good to know there's another Dredd writer capable of filling Wagnerless moments, of which there are many these days.
Flesh. Oh good grief. A double-part finale? More student-level politics? More iffy art? Yet another 'ending' that's in fact a set-up. I'd have at least been happy had this been a conclusion, but it appears we're in for yet more awfulness in the not-too-distant.
Brass Sun was again lovely, and the only bad thing is that it's not continuing next week, and there's no telling when it'll be back. Soon, I hope. Damnation Station never really clicked with me this run, and the art didn't really help. Still, it ended well.
Looking forward to the end of year spectacular and the clearing of the decks.
Popping in for a (very) infrequent post, but:
That was an interesting "tweak" to Earl Reagan from Mills.
My prog was a NO-SHOW this weekend >:(
That's the first in a few months it's not arrived on time. >:(
Did anyone in CAL-HAB sector get their copy at all yesterday?????
I really liked the last page of Damnation Station.
(Think I'll re-read the whole series (from prog 1677) in one go now and see if it makes more sense. I get the feeling that the ending was planned from the beginning.)
Loved the end of Damnation Station. Most "2000AD end" to a series in a while. I actually gave a little cheer as I read it at how unnecessary it was. Excellent.
Hoping Brass Sun won't be away for too long, but Flesh has lost me if I'm honest.
I was a little confused by the typeface on the cover at first - I read it as AISH OF MELTDOWN - which admittedly, makes no kind of sense. Good striking image though.
This week sees a clearing out of stories that haven't really been blowing my socks off, mainly due to the choice of artists. A lot has been said about Flesh, and I won't repeat it but I've not been hugely keen on the art on this run of Damnation Station either - the actual drawing is great, but I don't like the flare-heavy backgrounds at all. Similarly with Bras Sun, I'm really enjoying the story but I find Culbard';s art, particularly faces, a little simplistic. And although I'm a huge John Burns fan, I don't think his style is best suited to Dredd.
So for me, the last few weeks have been enough to keep my thrill-receptors ticking over but with no risk of TPO.
Looking forward to a tasty line up for Prog 2014
Would love to see Brass Sun back as soon as possible. But only if Culbard is involved. Wonderful work from the whole Brass Sun team so far!
Quote from: JUDGE BURNS on 01 December, 2013, 08:29:21 PM
My prog was a NO-SHOW this weekend >:(
That's the first in a few months it's not arrived on time. >:(
Did anyone in CAL-HAB sector get their copy at all yesterday?????
still waiting and it's now Monday. Becoming a common occurrence. :o
Quote from: Dandontdare on 02 December, 2013, 01:42:43 PM
So for me, the last few weeks have been enough to keep my thrill-receptors ticking over but with no risk of TPO.
Likewise. The prog's been worse but it's certainly been a lot better.
Dredd ends in fine style. Beeby-Dredd sits somewhere between Rennie-Dredd and RobbieM-Dredd, which is actually a damn fine mix - Rennie Dredd can be a bit too bad-tempered and aware of his own legend, while Robbie's tends to be too bleeding-heart, so it's nice to have one that compliments them both. Overall I've found this much the same as Mike Carrol's Dredds, in that it's fine and does the job but doesn't set my world on fire. Really hoping for some more Wagner or Ewing soon.
When it comes to
Flesh it's hard to do better than Gordon Rennie's recent facebook status -
'Bravo to 2000AD for encouraging raw young talent by publishing 12 pages of fanzine material this prog. It's good to see-- Wait.....it's WHAT? Seriously?'. Whatever way you cut it this is just sub-par. It's arguably not professional standard and it makes me cringe to think people might pick up this prog and think '
This is the flagship comic of the British comic industry?'
I understand there were some behind-the-scenes problems regarding the art deadlines, but it's not even made up for by a good script. I've been a Pat Mills apologist for years now but even I can't bring myself to defend this. Clunky exposition, subtle-as-a-sledgehammer angry-Leftie politics, and as Indigoprime says an ending that's just yet more set-up. The last books of Savage, ABC Warriors, and Defoe have all been the same thinly-disguised political rants, and I dearly wish Pat would just remember how to have fun with comics. Big corporations are bad, banks are bad, the Republican party is bad, we get it, we get it,
we get it.
Brass Sun ends nicely. It's good solid adventure stuff with Edginton's usual overripe dialogue but some cracking sci-fi concepts. It adds a distinct and welcome flavour to the prog, but I don't quite see what has so many people declaring it the greatest thing since Halo Jones week after week.
Damnation Station was the best thing this prog by quite a way. It's hard to see how it could have ended any other way but all the same the wrap-up did seem a bit too brief. Such a leap in quality from the first Book, which I didn't really enjoy. I think the art's had a lot to do with that - Mark Harrison seems much better suited to this sort of material and his style's come on leaps and bounds across the course of this strip. I really think he's nailed the marriage of digital and ink now (earlier episodes were not quite so sucsessful). I mean, just look at that first page! Beautiful stuff. And a classically downbeat '2000AD' last page.
My prog arrived today....MONDAY ! :D
Didn't like the cover much at all. But at least it may stand out on the shelf at the newsagents.
Dredd finishes nicely and I can possibly see the 2 juves, Roman and Tilly, maybe returning in the future, who knows. Lovely art work by a fellow BURNS :D
Flesh. What has happend to this? The artwork has been looking a bit rushed as if to meet a deadline, the last few weeks. Very dissapointed as this was my favourite way back in the early progs.
Brass Sun I have re-read the whole story , but it's the art that puts me off . Dreadful art. This story was not to my taste at all. :(
Damnation Station Beautiful art throughout, but the storyline itself , again,was a bit confusing. :-*
Thrills of the future: Jaegir by Gordon Rennie and art by Simon Coleby. Looks like the Norts are coming back !
Top Story : DREDD
Looking forward to a new set of thrills next issue....2014 :D
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 02 December, 2013, 04:48:19 PMIt's arguably not professional standard and it makes me cringe to think people might pick up this prog and think 'This is the flagship comic of the British comic industry?'
I genuinely wonder what would happen if someone wrote a script like that and their name was not Pat Mills. I imagine Tharg would 'return to sender' with a bunch of Rigellian hotshots attached. At the very least, it's most interesting to read that chap who does the weekly 2000 AD blog over at Forbidden Planet (http://www.forbiddenplanet.co.uk/blog/tag/2000ad/). He first picked up the Prog a couple of years back as an experiment, and has written about it almost every week since. He hates Flesh. He thinks it's utter crap. Just one person's opinion, but I do wonder how many others who lack the nostalgia for Mills and/or Flesh feel the same. Anyway, it's gone (for now) at least.
Quote from: JUDGE BURNS on 02 December, 2013, 05:56:37 PM
Thrills of the future: Jaegir by Gordon Rennie and art by Simon Coleby. Looks like the Norts are coming back !
I'm quite keen to see this. Gordon's been a long-time fan of WWII fiction and I know he's wanted to find a way to bring that sensibility to Nu Earth. I love the idea of doing something like Cross of Iron in the Rogue Trooper universe.
Cheers
Jim
I used to be a big admirer of Mills' work until I read Slaine: The Book of Invasion. I think the last good Slaine story was Treasure's of Britain and that owed a lot to the truly beautiful artwork. Maybe it is Clint Langley's 'artwork'. Anyway, after that I began having doubts.
Flesh never wowed me. I have looked over it for years. I figured this was standard for a Flesh story as the recent stories are the only ones I know.
Mills' politics doesn't bother me, but what does is his frequency to use violence against women as plot devices. I'm not making any accusations (at the moment). I just find it disturbing the amount of times he does it.
Quote from: pictsy on 02 December, 2013, 11:59:23 PM
I used to be a big admirer of Mills' work until I read Slaine: The Book of Invasion...
Mills' politics don't bother me, but what does is his frequency to use violence against women as plot devices. I'm not making any accusations (at the moment). I just find it disturbing the amount of times he does it.
Are you referring to Niamh's demise? In fairness to Pat the scene was originally a straight fight/kill, and the 'assault' was added at the behest of Tharg...
Quote from: Cyber-Matt on 30 January, 2003, 11:20:20 PM
In the first draft of his script, Pat had the scene between Niamh and Moloch close on them fighting, then cutting to Slaine finding his dying wife. It was my suggestion that we give Niamh - a long-term supporting character - a death scene to remember, which would make Slaine's desire for vengeance all the more powerful. She's been an important character in the Slaine stories, and to gloss over her death seemed like a missed opportunity. It was intentionally shocking, but it needed to be if it was going to shake Slaine's world to the core...
So, I apologise if you were offended by the manner of her death, as I am responsible to a large extent. It was a horrific page - and Clint did a fantastic job - but that's the nature of evil...
I wouldn't say Pat made use of that sort of motif particularly often, anyway - it seems to happen far more in Robbie Morrison's work, for instance - not that I would say he was at all misoginistic either...
Quotea death scene to remember
Ironically I have no recollection of it.
Well a lovely cover brings an end to the year and an end to what has clearly been one of the most divisive sets of thrills in the Prog for some time. It would appear though that while everyone seems to have fallen out with one thrill or another there is a great variance in which thrill (or thrills) it is. For every fan of Brass Sun there's a detractor. For all the grief Flesh got some people love it. I've given up on Damnation Station (though will re-read when I get the chance) but it has people who love it. That alone must be something to celebrate, if 2000ad is anything its diverse and means different things to different people. That has been brought into sharp focus of late and perversely though we all seem to dislike at least one strip, that is something to be glad of. Always testing us, always making us try different things. That my friends is why 2000ad is the Galaxies Greatest.
To specifics then, mine at least. I personally really enjoyed the Prog. Double Flesh is defo better than double Damnation and I though it ended really well. If we must wait for its return Pat gave us a great send off. A solid bit of closure to round things off but with more than enough to have fans of the strip hankering for its return. With Claw and Reagan firmly back front and centre of any return as and when that happens we'll be in for a real treat!
Likewise Brass Sun wraps up better than last time, with a little less of a direct cliff hanger but still a nice open ending to assure us of its return. A return for which I can't wait. This has been the best new addition to the Prog for quite some time and its been a joy on every level.
The Dredd ends really well too. The only annoyance being one I saw coming with Dredd [spoiler]going too easy on Roman[/spoiler] for my tastes but over all this has been a solid tale and I've enjoyed it.
Of course all this leads to the other great thing about 2000ad alongside its diversity and that is change. We'll all soon get the lavish 100 end of year Prog to tide us over until we get to a whole new set of thrills to disagree over. We enlightened few who nuzzle into Tharg's splendid broad chest really are very luck don't ya know.
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 03 December, 2013, 12:20:52 AM
Are you referring to Niamh's demise? In fairness to Pat the scene was originally a straight fight/kill, and the 'assault' was added at the behest of Tharg...
I am not referring solely to Niamh's death scene. In my recent reading memory other examples include the rape of Bill Savage's niece in Book Two of Savage and the misogynistic murderer Pastor Sunday in Flesh.
I mentioned Slaine: The Book of Invasion because that's when I started to think less of Mills' writing. Those stories were tiresome before it even got to Niamh being raped (which is something as it happened near the beginning). I don't think the rape added anything and I am not surprised that Mills was told to amp up the death scene because it just came across as a forced attempt to shock. That whole series of Slaine stories were awful and I really came to despise Clint Langley's.... contribution. It's around that time I felt ABC Warriors started going down the toilet as well. Maybe how I feel about these two strips is how many people feel about the new Flesh stories.
Marshal Law's girlfriend (Lynn?) existed purely to be raped and killed by the villain of the very first Marshal Law series.
It's a lazy and kinda nasty trope we really need to stop using.
Quote from: GordonR on 03 December, 2013, 10:31:45 AM
It's a lazy and kinda nasty trope we really need to stop using.
You'll put Mark Millar out of business...
Cheers
Jim
The Niamh thing was, I think, a big mis-step. It didn't really add anything, and as Niamh had already been shown to be a fierce warrior in previous strips, it would have been more powerful to have had her fight Moloch in sight of Sláine and visibly lose before could reach her. The use of rape as a trigger is, as Mr R points out, horribly overused in comics, and it just feels unnecessary. (And although my replacement idea is also something of a cliché, it's not one where I'd finish reading and think: Ick.)
I was aware that was Tharg's decision, though, so won't chalk that up to Mills. But his strips in general, as noted elsewhere, hardly cheerlead for women, and Flesh in particular has had a very grubby and teenage take on women that at best feels like it's been dragged kicking and screaming from the 1970s.
Quote from: Jim_Campbell on 02 December, 2013, 11:38:18 PM
Quote from: JUDGE BURNS on 02 December, 2013, 05:56:37 PM
Thrills of the future: Jaegir by Gordon Rennie and art by Simon Coleby. Looks like the Norts are coming back !
I'm quite keen to see this. Gordon's been a long-time fan of WWII fiction and I know he's wanted to find a way to bring that sensibility to Nu Earth. I love the idea of doing something like Cross of Iron in the Rogue Trooper universe.
Cheers
Jim
yeah got a little tingle when i saw those shoulder patches.
The prog:
Cover: ye olde skoole and no bad thing once in a blue moon.
Dredd: I always fine Mr Burns' art a bit static, but the story was fine, except that Dixon of Dockgreen cuff round the ear round, I just pretended that panel didn't happen, story was uneffected :D
Flush: Tharg pleeeease get your photos back, this is getting embarassing: 'Oh and by the way in a sub para did I mention there's all out war between the Corporations and the Prez?'
Brass sun: The long chase ends, naw kidding!!
Damnation station: The highlight of the prog for me, for those of us who stuck with this its a great payoff, well worth a re-read if you got waylayed, the earlier strand all tie up nicely and its all very thought provoking and a classic twist ending. How it should be done. Hats off to the E-wing Droid.
List for Prog 2014:
Dredd, SD, ABC warriors, Sin Dex, Grey Area, Ulysses Sweet, Absolm and Ten seconders>
something there for everyone !!
Quote from: GordonR on 03 December, 2013, 10:31:45 AM
Marshal Law's girlfriend (Lynn?) existed purely to be raped and killed by the villain of the very first Marshal Law series.
It's a lazy and kinda nasty trope we really need to stop using.
As comic fans we should be asking why the buggery of a male friend isn't banded about comics the way rape is ? and why one kind of rape is acceptable and the other not?
Quote from: GordonR on 03 December, 2013, 10:31:45 AM
Marshal Law's girlfriend (Lynn?) existed purely to be raped and killed by the villain of the very first Marshal Law series.
It's a lazy and kinda nasty trope we really need to stop using.
I've never read Marshal Law so I didn't know about that one. I agree that it is a lazy and trope.
Made me think further about the two examples of Mills written rape I mentioned above. As it shows in the quote from Cyber-Matt posted by Dark Jimbo, the rape of Niamh was used to drive Slaine. So it wasn't so much a focus on Niamh getting raped but more a focus on Slaine's lover being raped. That is to say, something that happened to Slaine. The same parallels can be made of its use in Savage. It becomes a driving force for the male characters and we don't really see how the niece deals with it.
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 02 December, 2013, 06:21:27 PM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 02 December, 2013, 04:48:19 PMIt's arguably not professional standard and it makes me cringe to think people might pick up this prog and think 'This is the flagship comic of the British comic industry?'
I genuinely wonder what would happen if someone wrote a script like that and their name was not Pat Mills. I imagine Tharg would 'return to sender' with a bunch of Rigellian hotshots attached. At the very least, it's most interesting to read that chap who does the weekly 2000 AD blog over at Forbidden Planet (http://www.forbiddenplanet.co.uk/blog/tag/2000ad/). He first picked up the Prog a couple of years back as an experiment, and has written about it almost every week since. He hates Flesh. He thinks it's utter crap. Just one person's opinion, but I do wonder how many others who lack the nostalgia for Mills and/or Flesh feel the same. Anyway, it's gone (for now) at least.
Well as a fairly new 2000 AD reader with no nostalgia glasses for Mr. Mills I can say of what strips I've read (that being ABC WArriors return to earth, Invasion rise like lions, Defoe the damned and this Flesh) I'd say the ones I enjoyed was Defoe and Savage I think the artists on it helped alot and they had more of an adventure strip feel, ABC was ok I appreciate what Clint Langley does with his photo and CGI but it's not for me and Flesh I just had a hard time telling who was who. Hope that made sense
Must admit that I bailed on buying the prog for this entire run of Flesh. (Not entirely intentionally, to be fair - I missed an issue, and then after hearing Flesh was running, felt no motivation to pick the prog up again until it was gone.) I found the cheese-cakey art very skeevy and off-putting to me as a female reader in a way not at all typical of 2000AD, and the general incoherence of the story provided nothing to make up for it. I was very nearly tempted back by the prospect of the Beeby/Burns Dredd story, but ultimately Flesh is just not something I want to be paying money for. Looking forward to being able to buy the prog again now that it's over.
Quote from: IronGraham on 03 December, 2013, 12:22:40 PM
Well as a fairly new 2000 AD reader with no nostalgia glasses for Mr. Mills I can say of what strips I've read (that being ABC WArriors return to earth, Invasion rise like lions, Defoe the damned and this Flesh) I'd say the ones I enjoyed was Defoe and Savage I think the artists on it helped alot and they had more of an adventure strip feel, ABC was ok I appreciate what Clint Langley does with his photo and CGI but it's not for me and Flesh I just had a hard time telling who was who. Hope that made sense
I agree. Defoe and Savage are probably the best that Mills is churning out for the prog. I haven't really enjoyed ABC Warriors as much since they returned to Mars. To paraphrase another member, it just hasn't been as fun. The Shadow Warriors was OK, but only because Henry Flint was involved. Flesh hasn't interested me, but I have liked the artwork. Clearly it's not for everyone.
Nevertheless, I wouldn't have missed this current run. I am thoroughly enjoying Brass Sun and I am looking forward to seeing where it is going. The idea of visiting multiple worlds and cultures has the potential to keep the story fresh and it looks like we're at the beginning of an epic adventure, which would be fantastic. The artwork seems apt and I love the deceptively simple style. It was the real highlight.
Damnation Station, I think, deserves a re-read from the beginning. It suffered for me because the original run didn't make a big enough impression on me (I am a little put of by Simon Davis' artwork and I'm never entirely sure why). I totally forgot Boo Cook was involved as well which has me even more curious as to why I don't remember much about it.
It's certainly a good mix of stuff and it's been a safe bet these last 11 progs that there is going to be something for (nearly) everyone. I've enjoyed it and I hope the new line up is just as good at the least.
Top Dredd there. More Beeby please! She definitely understands the character and this is arguably the best depiction of the post-Chaos city we've seen.
I also loved Damnation Station and Brass Sun.
That's enough comment from me.
- Trout
As a great man once said:
(http://fc01.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2010/026/d/8/Son__I_am_Disappoint_by_SonIAmDisappointPLZ.jpg)
Not quite the end-of-year Prog one could wish for, and certainly no Trifecta.
Dredd is the standout this week, clear coherent storytelling reflecting both the miserable state of the city and some semblance of hope for the future. While mostly great I felt the art got a bit confusing in the middle, but overall this was a well-judged crisply paced story with strong characters and a satisfying upbeat conclusion.
Brass Sun, usually my top pick, loses half a mark for just sort of ending for the second time, without leaving any real incentive to continue beyond its own intrinsic and considerable charms. It has however been a thoroughly enjoyable run in every way, probably the highlight of the year all told, and I eagerly await a swift return. I recommend no oil baths or daylight for the Culbard droid until the next chapter is in the bag. Additional locks on the cubicle would be a plan.
As to the rest, cripes what a mess, and from two of my favourite strips at that.
Roll on Prog 2014, hell roll on 2014 full stop.
Dredd wins the prog for me. Good combo of gorgeous art and quality script. More please!
Have to echo the points above though. Haven't seen such a differing set of views on the prog for a while.
Looking forward to the year end prog.
By the by, I've just read Meg 340 and that was a blinder! Give it a go if you're thinking of trying out the Megazine. Stormingly good stuff!
Now that is a cracking cover. Love it.
The contents though will remain unread for a bit. This and last weeks prog have been put aside for my Christmas reading pile
Quote from: Judge Jack on 04 December, 2013, 11:09:37 PM
Now that is a cracking cover. Love it.
Yes, I should have mentioned that: really superb cover. And the Coleby panel inside is enticing too.
Quote from: pictsy on 03 December, 2013, 11:46:00 AM
Quote from: GordonR on 03 December, 2013, 10:31:45 AM
Marshal Law's girlfriend (Lynn?) existed purely to be raped and killed by the villain of the very first Marshal Law series.
It's a lazy and kinda nasty trope we really need to stop using.
I've never read Marshal Law so I didn't know about that one. I agree that it is a lazy and trope.
Made me think further about the two examples of Mills written rape I mentioned above. As it shows in the quote from Cyber-Matt posted by Dark Jimbo, the rape of Niamh was used to drive Slaine. So it wasn't so much a focus on Niamh getting raped but more a focus on Slaine's lover being raped. That is to say, something that happened to Slaine. The same parallels can be made of its use in Savage. It becomes a driving force for the male characters and we don't really see how the niece deals with it.
There's a whole big issue with this that's been going on a long time.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Women_in_Refrigerators
More love for the cover here! Great stuff! :thumbsup:
Quote from: A.Cow on 05 December, 2013, 05:35:56 AM
There's a whole big issue with this that's been going on a long time.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_Refrigerators
Ahh yes, I've heard of that before - thanks for the reminder ;)
The cover is excellent but I thought the writing on the sides could have done with being a bit more distinct. This would have helped make it clearer that it was related to Flesh rather than being a generic cover.
Dredd was very good and seeing John Burns in the prog is always a treat. Well developed story as well and I'm keen to see more work from Beeby in the prog and not just on Dredd.
Brass Sun continues to be top-notch and might well be my favourite new story of the last couple of years. i can't wait for the next book. sadly this doesn't apply to Flesh which seemed to be set up for at least another couple of books which I'm not particularly looking forward to. I think the extra pages helped this issue as the story seemed to flow a bit better but it's still a bit of a mess and the plot jumps all over the place. The return of Carver and Reagan was set up as a big plotline at the end of the last book and this story has barely featured them until the past couple of weeks.
Damnation Station was a story I just haven't been able to engage with this time around. I enjoyed the previous books but this run just didn't connect with me for some reason.
My digital sub appears to have ceased renuing after several months of doing such automatically.....
Quote from: pictsy on 03 December, 2013, 06:02:19 PM
The Shadow Warriors was OK, but only because Henry Flint was involved. Flesh hasn't interested me, but I have liked the artwork. Clearly it's not for everyone.
I thought The Shadow Warriors was excellent. Great, fun storytelling from Mills, and some mouthwatering b&w art from Flint.
Quote from: pictsy on 05 December, 2013, 10:02:34 AM
Quote from: A.Cow on 05 December, 2013, 05:35:56 AM
There's a whole big issue with this that's been going on a long time.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_Refrigerators
Ahh yes, I've heard of that before - thanks for the reminder ;)
Interesting stuff, how would 2K fair if a similar list was made? and which writers would top the list?
Quote from: Proudhuff on 05 December, 2013, 06:11:56 PM
Interesting stuff, how would 2K fair if a similar list was made? and which writers would top the list?
How many times has Anderson been in a coma?
Quote from: Hawkmonger on 05 December, 2013, 02:07:25 PM
My digital sub appears to have ceased renuing after several months of doing such automatically.....
Have you messaged the app crew? They're pretty prompt, at least in my experience.
As for me, I liked the Dredd story, I hope to see more from Beeby in the future. I too was surprised by Dredd's leniancy, but maybe his age is finally getting to him, or maybe the effects of the Day of Chaos have even made someone like him do a double-take. Sad to see Brass Sun go but it's probably better to give it time to sit and develop before chugging along.
I was never familiar with Flesh or Damnation Station so the stuff there I couldn't understand. I remember when they first introduced the presidential candidates a few progs back and had Smedly Butler III, I thought they were just being ironic by having him the opposite of his namesake. But now he's gone and done it. Damnation Station I felt was a bit anti-climatic but I suppose it was the only way it could end.
I guess we got to see what they have in store for the annual.
Quote from: GordonR on 05 December, 2013, 06:16:07 PM
Quote from: Proudhuff on 05 December, 2013, 06:11:56 PM
Interesting stuff, how would 2K fair if a similar list was made? and which writers would top the list?
How many times has Anderson been in a coma?
Fewer times than Dredd, at a guess.
QuoteMy digital sub appears to have ceased renuing after several months of doing such automatically.....
I've actually cancelled by App sub with this issue. Not because I'm dropping tooth, but because I'm going to be using the 2000AD shop instead. The app only gives me PDF versions for back-up purposes, the shop gives me cbz. It's worth a few more cents. Don't get me wrong, the app sub savings is great, and it's back issue bonus is great for new readers. But for this ongoing reader cbz is more ideal.
Oh right. The issue.
Great Flint cover. Dredd conclusion was good, if a tad predictable. I don't think Beeby quite has Dredd's voice yet. He's almost... nice in this. But a solid post-DoC story. I hope to see more from Emma Beeby in the future!
Flesh sure was long this week. But goodness the way it summarized events and reestablished characters, it almost felt COHERENT! Too bad the rest of the series didn't make the effort to clarify events.
Brass Sun ends on a high note. Can't go wrong with sky pirates.
Damnation Station ends much like Flesh, on a much higher note then it's proceeding weeks. It's not great when your conclusion is presented as a narrated flashback and it makes more sense then it's regular presentation. The ending would have been a lot better if I could remember who the last surviving character is. I could have swore she was dumped out of an airlock last week.
Overall I'm glad this run has concluded. There have been a few nuggets of greatness, but overall a bit dull. Can't wait for the new year line up!
I actually enjoyed this Flesh but it did look pretty rough. I've always liked the idea more than the actual thing I think, assumed that it was just unfamiliarity that left me a little cold but it's not terrible, just not thrilling.
Damnation Station was disappoint. Bit of a cheap ending and rushed through its intrigue + the enemy.
Enjoyed Brass Sun wish it didn't end this prog. I guess if you imagine a musical sting (and if the artwork was a little more fluid in that last panel) it would have been more of a satisfying ending.
Dredd was good - loved the artwork and the angry juves. Nice bit of the broken meg
I thought flesh ended well, but the art was awful
Quote from: The Adventurer on 05 December, 2013, 11:19:57 PM
The ending would have been a lot better if I could remember who the last surviving character is. I could have swore she was dumped out of an airlock last week.
Come to think of it, that was also bugging me. I had also thought she was one of those that got flushed out the airlock.
She survived. You see her in the medbay beside Brett in the previous episode.
I thought that's what it said, but her face was all covered in the panel. And if that was her in the med bay all messed up, she looked a lot better after escaping a crashing space ship onto an alien world by the skin of her teeth.
Quote from: The Adventurer on 07 December, 2013, 10:09:13 AM
I thought that's what it said, but her face was all covered in the panel. And if that was her in the med bay all messed up, she looked a lot better after escaping a crashing space ship onto an alien world by the skin of her teeth.
Yup. I'm not quite ready to set out my thoughts on Damnation Station as a whole, but I thought this was a weak and dismissive ending.
I thought the ending of Damnation Station was quite clever. The series started with Humans killing "Alien Invaders" who turned out to be refugees fleeing a cruel and controlling overlord, and ended with aliens killing a human "invader" who was actually fleeing a cruel and controlling overlord.
I'm with Tombo on this one, the (at the time) random elements of erlier episodes are all knitted together beautifully here and should read well as a collected whole.
Well i've not got much closure on why my sub ended but I got a feeling it was to do with the end of year prog and i'll buy this prog and 2014 individually then restart my sub next year. Hello, I might even buy 2014 physically for that annual feel.
Just had a sneak peak on CBR; (in Ten-seconders) that must be the most realistic depiction of a pint and a packet of Golden Virginia I've seen in comics!!
The prog looks absolutely fantastic (minus the cover which is quite poor). Can't wait for Wednesday! :)
Oh shit....... :-[
Dredd - nice conclusion to the four parter, serving both Dredd's character and the Juve's situation.
Brass Sun - it's been a great series and I look forward to seeing a collected edition soon!
Damnation Station - I also thought Tura died in the last episode. Her survival wasn't overly clear - mainly because she appeared to let go rather than holding on for survival. I liked the way the various plot threads were tied up, even providing one last shock at the end.
Flesh - Little bit of prep for the next storyline, which looks like a return to the classic era of Flesh with Claw Carver and Earl Reagan. I do wonder whether Gorehead is truly gone though...
For a more detailed review, check out my blog here > http://popculturebandit.blogspot.com/2013/12/2000ad-prog-1861.html (http://popculturebandit.blogspot.com/2013/12/2000ad-prog-1861.html)
Quote from: Pop Culture Bandit on 10 December, 2013, 04:08:48 PMI do wonder whether Gorehead is truly gone though...
It's Mills. Of course he's not gone.
Excellent Prog.
I liked the ending to Damnation Station, and Flesh.
Brass Sun is always quality.
Cheers
Well, with college,although subscribed to the clickwheel, i fell behind on the prog so had a 12 issue pile up to get through the last 2 weeks. All in all, have to say this run of stories was far far better than the previous (as in slaine(for me incomprehensible), the wolf one, and ten-seconders(although it started off well, i thought it got very convlouted)).
So, ill review each story as a whole:
DREDD: Solid enough, never brilliant but i enjoyed reading. Both the "Eldster" story and the one by TC Eglington both used the cliche of the villian explaining their plans at the end of the story, which was a bit annoying, but both started off fantastically.
BRASS SUN: I really liked this. It had strong, well-developed characters and each episode followed a self-contained imaginative story while progressing the story as a whole which works brilliantly for a serial such as this. My only problem was that the ending of this particular book had no sense of conclusion at all, it had the same type of ending to all the other episodes in the book.
FLESH: Dumb, 70s/80s-style comics, but i didnt mind it, it was fun enough. Was much much better than DEFOE anyway, which i found unforgivably terrible. My main gripes: 1. The characters were extremely poorly developed. To make it worse, characters were referred to casually by name as if we're supposed to immediately recognise who they are and what they're like, when in reality there is very little difference between each bland, flat character. This made a very simplistic story irritatingly confusing. 2. As with DEFOE, the story took ages to progress. We had a whole episode devoted to that lizard gang trying to get Gorehead into a cage. A WHOLE EPISODE! and there were also consecutive episodes which, because so little story had progressed had the EXACT SAME CLIFFHANGER end.
But, all in all, i pretended i was reading an 80s comic and didnt mind it half as much. Still, stories like this in 2000ad really need to be improved.
Damnation Station: Great, concise little ending and i liked this as a whole as well. Each character felt real and fun and the story progressed nicely. Would have probably liked it more if i read the first book as well but oh well. My only problem was that for such an intriguing concept, the actual conclusion and action in the book didnt take it to its full potential and felt more like an action story than sci-fi. Still, it was enjoyable.
All in all, as a new reader, I have yet to be completely blown away by 2000ad. It's not in any way bad, but it's also in no way mind-blowing. Im subscribed for the next 6 months though, so hopefully i'll like its next run of stories enough to make me subscribe again!
Stonking cover, and who is this EL GRECO that's mentioned in the damage report?? And my eyes must be getting worse, as I have to take my glasses off to read them now!
So a prog of endings;
Dredd - A fine four parter, that if it hasn't totally bowled me over, was a good read. And always nice to see Mr Burns on ANY art duties.
Flesh - was a far better episode this week, than last weeks. Kinda hope it does return, but clearly there's gonna changes. And nice to see Carver and Reagan (Well, there's summat we didn't know!) get plenty of panel time. More of this, please.
Brass Sun - Well, its been a joy. Come back soon.
Damnation Station - Wraps up nicely, and a lovely downbeat ending. Deffo deserves a complete reread. I was slow to engage with this, but ive grown to like it a lot.
Next Prog - 2014!
Nice to know I'm not the only one way behind with the prog. Battling through the pile now. Flesh and Damnation Station did nothing for me. Flesh actively put me off reading the prog. Hope that's the finale proper.
Brass Sun remains best thing in 2000 ad in my opinion, bloody hate the gaps between books. Sigh.
Onto prog 2014.
Happy new year all.