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#1
Prog / Re: Prog 2380 - By Steed and S...
Last post by norton canes - Today at 02:35:36 PMOops, bit late on this. Though we're at one of those stages where the strips are comfortably into their runs, so it's pretty much 'as you were' - P. Vex and Brink narrowly ahead of 'R&TWT&C' and Aquila, with Indigo Prime continuing to confound. The McCrea droid smashes another cover.
Obviously it's not a bad thing to have Henry Flint on the first chapter of your new strip - quite the opposite, in fact - but now it's become indelibly associated with Jake Lynch, I wonder how the protagonists might have looked if he'd been on it from the start?
Obviously it's not a bad thing to have Henry Flint on the first chapter of your new strip - quite the opposite, in fact - but now it's become indelibly associated with Jake Lynch, I wonder how the protagonists might have looked if he'd been on it from the start?
#2
Prog / Prog 2381: A grizzly fate
Last post by IndigoPrime - Today at 11:47:39 AMSpoilers ahead. Look away now, Earthlet, if you've not read the Prog...
First up, nice cover. Second up, new Mike Carroll/Joe Currie series Silver gets trailed. And then we're on to Dredd. And I'm sorry, but I hated this ending. All of it worked really well, but that first panel on the final page killed it for me. I'm not even sure what the message is here. That Dredd is unkillable? (Well, sure: he has plot armour.) That he's dangerous to be around – especially if you're a supporting character female judge, apparently? Or that by breaking character from being cautious to leaping into the fray, the Cadet sealed her own fate? Maybe it's the last of those, but I'm not sure how it benefits the story itself to wipe her out. And, good grief, 1) Who would agree to go on a mission with Dredd now? And 2) Why would the Chief Judge allow Dredd to take prominent Cadets off when he's just got another killed?
Anyway, a weird one, because I loved parts one through five, but part six just made me feel a little sick.
Aquila meanwhile, twists in a surprising way by dialling down the body count. Some thoughtful words from the key protagonists add depth to this strip and ensure it has the capacity to surprise – rather than the more obvious path of Aquila killing everyone. And Indigo Prime twists as well, to its end – although I'm not sure to what end. A new cast list? I don't know. I'm... not sure I care any more, even if that last frame did feel very old-school Indigo Prime.
Brink continues to be wonderful. As ever, Abnett/Culbard are masters at creating intrigue and interest from a lot of talking heads, and then ramping up the horror and pace with that last (and chilling) page. It's excellent compacted storytelling. And you can see why newcomers from the US might sometimes struggle with 2000 AD, because this would be an entire 20+ pages of strip in an Image floppy.
But Proteus Vex is the masterpiece this issue. Yes, it was a feint (phew). But there's then another within this single episode. And good grief at that masterful last page. I can't wait to see what happens next with this one.
In all, then, another pretty great Prog, even if what happened in Dredd felt... unnecessary at best, even cruel.
First up, nice cover. Second up, new Mike Carroll/Joe Currie series Silver gets trailed. And then we're on to Dredd. And I'm sorry, but I hated this ending. All of it worked really well, but that first panel on the final page killed it for me. I'm not even sure what the message is here. That Dredd is unkillable? (Well, sure: he has plot armour.) That he's dangerous to be around – especially if you're a supporting character female judge, apparently? Or that by breaking character from being cautious to leaping into the fray, the Cadet sealed her own fate? Maybe it's the last of those, but I'm not sure how it benefits the story itself to wipe her out. And, good grief, 1) Who would agree to go on a mission with Dredd now? And 2) Why would the Chief Judge allow Dredd to take prominent Cadets off when he's just got another killed?
Anyway, a weird one, because I loved parts one through five, but part six just made me feel a little sick.
Aquila meanwhile, twists in a surprising way by dialling down the body count. Some thoughtful words from the key protagonists add depth to this strip and ensure it has the capacity to surprise – rather than the more obvious path of Aquila killing everyone. And Indigo Prime twists as well, to its end – although I'm not sure to what end. A new cast list? I don't know. I'm... not sure I care any more, even if that last frame did feel very old-school Indigo Prime.
Brink continues to be wonderful. As ever, Abnett/Culbard are masters at creating intrigue and interest from a lot of talking heads, and then ramping up the horror and pace with that last (and chilling) page. It's excellent compacted storytelling. And you can see why newcomers from the US might sometimes struggle with 2000 AD, because this would be an entire 20+ pages of strip in an Image floppy.
But Proteus Vex is the masterpiece this issue. Yes, it was a feint (phew). But there's then another within this single episode. And good grief at that masterful last page. I can't wait to see what happens next with this one.
In all, then, another pretty great Prog, even if what happened in Dredd felt... unnecessary at best, even cruel.
#3
Books & Comics / Re: Completely Self-absorbed T...
Last post by Colin YNWA - Today at 11:38:26 AMOh oh oh. Keep forgetting to say for alternative superhero takes the best two are from the house of Tharg (well ish) in Zenith and New Statesmen from Crisis which is next door to Tharg's Thrill-house so we'll take it as ours hey.
No doubt you've read them Doomlord666 but they need to be mentioned in any conversation of this type.
No doubt you've read them Doomlord666 but they need to be mentioned in any conversation of this type.
#4
Film & TV / Re: Last movie watched...
Last post by Colin YNWA - Today at 11:27:25 AMThe Tiger
2015 film about the hunt for the last tiger in Korea in 1910s when Korea was under Japanese rule. The tiger is very much a mythical beast in this and the one mistake this film makes is moving away the barely seen flashes of tigerinessin the trees and bushes, we see in the opening hour which are just superb into full blown CGI tiger monster we see bashing numerous folks around in the second half.
It moves the tiger away from mythical mountain lord preparing to ascend to godhood that is so central to this piece and its themes of the old ways moving on and the cost of this. I see why they do it as it humanises the tiger as a character which is also important but I'm sure this could have been done without going full hulk tiger mode.
That aside an exquisite film with some fantastic central performances, wonderful cinematography and which pack quite the emotional punch. So moving and so well done.
Its on Amazon prime and well worth a go if you have a sub there.
2015 film about the hunt for the last tiger in Korea in 1910s when Korea was under Japanese rule. The tiger is very much a mythical beast in this and the one mistake this film makes is moving away the barely seen flashes of tigerinessin the trees and bushes, we see in the opening hour which are just superb into full blown CGI tiger monster we see bashing numerous folks around in the second half.
It moves the tiger away from mythical mountain lord preparing to ascend to godhood that is so central to this piece and its themes of the old ways moving on and the cost of this. I see why they do it as it humanises the tiger as a character which is also important but I'm sure this could have been done without going full hulk tiger mode.
That aside an exquisite film with some fantastic central performances, wonderful cinematography and which pack quite the emotional punch. So moving and so well done.
Its on Amazon prime and well worth a go if you have a sub there.
#5
Books & Comics / Re: Completely Self-absorbed T...
Last post by Colin YNWA - Today at 11:18:55 AMQuote from: Le Fink on Today at 08:58:16 AMFollowing a previous review I've nearly finished reading Elektra Assassin for the very first time. I did see it on shelves near the time it came out but I think I was put off buying it by the art which looked a bit pretentious. Let's face it, it is a bit pretentious, but it's also ruddy good - love it!
Nice! Glad you enjoyed it.
Quote from: Hawkmumbler on Today at 09:19:59 AMKill or Be Killed has been on my list for so long now, believe it was billed to me at TB years ago as 'Satanic Panic Button Man' and yeah, looks dope.
Ha! That's an interesting take on it. Read it and make your mind up Zac.
Quote from: IndigoPrime on Today at 10:56:47 AMQuote from: BadlyDrawnKano on Today at 09:32:40 AMIt's Lonely at the Centre of the Earth by Zoe ThorogoodWonderful book. I hope everyone her owns a copy.
That's another one I fully intent to check out at some point DAMN SO MANTY DAMAGED GOOD COMICS OUT THERE...
#6
Books & Comics / Re: Completely Self-absorbed T...
Last post by IndigoPrime - Today at 10:56:47 AMQuote from: BadlyDrawnKano on Today at 09:32:40 AMI'd not heard of him before but really want to check his work outHis most recent thing for 2000 AD was Pandora Perfect (although he only wrote it and didn't draw the strip). His personal work includes Abigail & The Snowman, which my kid got out of the library and we both adored. Long OOP, mind. He's also created hundreds of semi-autobiographical dailies, which you can read on his website. There are currently three properly chunky HC collections on his web store. (They are superb. His packaging... less so. Although mine arrived OK.)
QuoteI noticed on Ebay that "Muppet Mash" and "Four Seasons" are the cheapest trades, would it matter if I didn't read the series in order?My recollection – I bought the book a decade ago – is it's much like The Muppet Show, in the main. So it doesn't really matter in which order you read. FWIW, someone on eBay is selling five trades for 25 quid right now.
QuoteI absolutely get what you mean, and Thor may well have benefitted from being one of the first Marvel comics I'd read in a very long time.I think had that been the case for me, I'd have enjoyed it more. I remember I largely did the first time around – although it was perhaps also boosted by running alongside a Captain America arc I abhorred (the Hydra thing). I'm into the Unworthy arc now, and it's very readable. But it's not "buy it in HC and put it on the shelf worthy" for me. (I one day had the option of buying just the God Butcher deluxe or the entire Aaron Thor run, for equivalent per-page prices, both of which were reasonable. I'm glad now I went for just the one book. Not sure I would have wanted to keep the others long term.)
QuoteI've really got in their comics, starting with Unbeatable Squirrel Girl (which I love beyond words)I have the first HC of that. I need to get back into it. Not sure I've ever been in quite the right mood. (Also, annoyingly, Marvel did its usual thing and cancelled the collections in that format. There was – maybe is – an omni, but it's about the size of garden shed, so no thanks on that.)
QuoteI'm definitely suffering from Marvel burn-out when it comes to the films (though I have just started X-Men 97 and find it fun) but it's yet to happen on the comics side.Mm. The films feel like going through the motions. The best of the recent ones for me was The Marvels, but mostly because Iman Vellani is such a joy as Ms. Marvel. And that just made me sad that she only got one TV series. I think apart from the Spidey films, I've not really annoyed one in a big way since Ragnarok, back in 2017.
The TV shows, though, I've mostly really liked. There are exceptions (Falcon/Winter Solider did not click with me at all), but I enjoyed She-Hulk's subversion, WandaVision's strange set-up, Hawkeye borrowing from my favourite run of the comics (bro), etc. But even there, we're now several series behind, and I'm honestly not sure if I care enough to watch Secret Invasion, Loki 2, What If 2 and Echo, not least given that no-one at Disney now seems invested in the Eries, and certainly not to the degree they will be ongoing and built upon.
There was so much scope in Ms. Marvel, but the TV show was ultimately just a way to introduce the character and shove her into a movie. This feels a lot like what happened in the comics, where she started as a really interesting character in her own book, before becoming subsumed into teams and ending up being just another superhero.
QuoteIt's Lonely at the Centre of the Earth by Zoe ThorogoodWonderful book. I hope everyone her owns a copy.
#7
Books & Comics / Re: Completely Self-absorbed T...
Last post by BadlyDrawnKano - Today at 09:32:40 AMQuote from: IndigoPrime on 03 May, 2024, 08:40:26 PMThe Muppets omni is a wonderful thing. I love Roger Langridge's stuff.
I'd not heard of him before but really want to check his work out, I noticed on Ebay that "Muppet Mash" and "Four Seasons" are the cheapest trades, would it matter if I didn't read the series in order?
QuoteAs for the other Thor, I did like her a lot (and her story). It's a lot of the other bits that kind of bored me – all of the war bits. But I might have just had too much of it after trudging through literally hundreds of Marvel comics since the autumn. Sometimes that stuff is a bit like a repeating background on a cartoon. "Oh look: Mysterio back! Again! Yawn."
I absolutely get what you mean, and Thor may well have benefitted from being one of the first Marvel comics I'd read in a very long time. When I got in to US comics in the late eighties / early nineties I was much more of a DC / Vertigo kid (and yeah, I wince when I type that, it seems so silly now), there was the odd Marvel title like She-Hulk or Groo that I bought but not very many at all.
For long, dull reasons there was a gap between 1996 - 2007 where I wasn't reading any comics, and when I did get back in to them I had so much to catch up on that again I rarely dipped in to Marvel. But since a relationship ended in 2019 and I started collecting trade paperbacks again it's the first time I've really got in their comics, starting with Unbeatable Squirrel Girl (which I love beyond words) but then Thor, and so a lot of it was new to me, I had no history with the characters, and how many times they'd confronted various villains.
I'm definitely suffering from Marvel burn-out when it comes to the films (though I have just started X-Men 97 and find it fun) but it's yet to happen on the comics side. But then I'm deliberately trying to avoid reading anything by any one company or writer in any particular time period, so this year I've gone from Doctor Strange by Jason Aaron to Monsters by Barry Windsor-Smith, Batman Inc by Grant Morrison to It's Lonely at the Centre of the Earth by Zoe Thorogood, Judge Dredd Case Files 15 to Cinema Purgatorio by Alan Moore, and the first House Of X / Powers Of X collection to Charley's War by Pat Mills, etc, etc. (And I know she credit the artists who make all of those books so stunning, and next time shall try and avoid being so lazy!)
#8
Books & Comics / Re: Completely Self-absorbed T...
Last post by Hawkmumbler - Today at 09:19:59 AMBeen doing a bit of a catch up, delighted to see Eric Powell make the list in any capacity once again proving Colin knows what the good stuff is.
Kill or Be Killed has been on my list for so long now, believe it was billed to me at TB years ago as 'Satanic Panic Button Man' and yeah, looks dope.
Keep up the stellar work mate!
Kill or Be Killed has been on my list for so long now, believe it was billed to me at TB years ago as 'Satanic Panic Button Man' and yeah, looks dope.
Keep up the stellar work mate!
#9
Books & Comics / Re: Completely Self-absorbed T...
Last post by Le Fink - Today at 08:58:16 AMQuote from: Colin YNWA on Today at 07:49:39 AMIts defo on the list but will need some thought as I'm still trying to process 'The End' and work out if I liked it or not. Its place was determined before it started (or as it just started). I might read The End again to see if it worked ahead of my write up.Looking forward to reading that review!
Back on topic, I'll look out for Kill Or Be Killed, sounds good, brilliant write up, thanks. I did have a look for Fatale but looked a bit expensive to get hold of, but the aforementioned cheaper omni coming up sounds perfect (I've not moved to digital... yet).
Following a previous review I've nearly finished reading Elektra Assassin for the very first time. I did see it on shelves near the time it came out but I think I was put off buying it by the art which looked a bit pretentious. Let's face it, it is a bit pretentious, but it's also ruddy good - love it!
#10
Books & Comics / Re: Completely Self-absorbed T...
Last post by Colin YNWA - Today at 07:49:39 AMQuote from: IndigoPrime on 03 May, 2024, 05:16:14 PMQuoteAnyway if anyone else has recommendations for comics or graphic novels like KOBK or ones that have a different take on the superhero story I'd be interestedBlack Hammer is perhaps an obvious one, and pretty great. Ordinary, if you've not read it in the Meg, flips superheroes on its head quite nicely, and is currently two quid if Forbidden Planet for the hardcover.
Quote from: Le Fink on 03 May, 2024, 09:05:41 PMHmmm Black Hammer. Is it making the list Colin? I didn't make it past the first series because of the way it went a bit up its own arsehole. The journey up to that point was pretty good. I was wondering about picking it up again as there has been quite a bit more, and it generally reviews well. I need a write-up, Colin!
Yeah Black Hammer really is the obvious go to for recommendations of alternative takes on Superheroes. In many ways its the only superhero comic you need as it covers so much ground.
Its defo on the list but will need some thought as I'm still trying to process 'The End' and work out if I liked it or not. Its place was determined before it started (or as it just started). I might read The End again to see if it worked ahead of my write up.