Dredd starts in medias res to the point i actually though my issue was missing a page or two but nope :lol:
Terror tale feels like a lead in to a longer story
indigo prime wacky as all heck this week mash up dimension indeed :D
full tilt boogie and proteus vex continue
Cover by RM Guera:
(https://dyn.media.forbiddenplanet.com/IYJIqak1_6jNncN_ipWg45wOHnw=/trim/fit-in/779x1024/filters:format(webp)/https://media.forbiddenplanet.com/products/6b/cb/c4f0600b25e6dab57ebc8ed9a2d6b578f824.jpg)
That looks like last week's cover. (I mean, it seems to belong to last week's Dredd.)
I thought the same. I like that artists are given so much freedom to adapt Dredd's look - remember Frazer Irving's spherical helmets? - but I'm not pushed about this version.
It might grow on me, though, and it's way better than Tom Carney's Stallone helmet and straggly beard, mind you. Or Frank Miller's thankfully sole attempt at Dredd.
I like the cover. Striking. Painterly. Droid Life is fun, and Dredd opens with a bang, some throwing up, and a sticky situation. If nothing else, this one's already got my attention. Nice sound effects too, including the little THAC!
Antumnos was atmospheric and looked great, but felt more like part one than a standalone. I assume the twist is old geezer's life was burned from him. So: a bit frustrating.
Full Tilt Boogie continues to zip along with each episode, while Indigo Prime confounds. And then Proteus Vex gives us a meaty finale.
I thought this was a really good Prog – lots of stuff going on. Plenty of variety. Top stuff.
Quote from: JayzusB.Christ on 01 April, 2024, 08:51:50 PMI thought the same. I like that artists are given so much freedom to adapt Dredd's look - remember Frazer Irving's spherical helmets? - but I'm not pushed about this version.
It might grow on me, though, and it's way better than Tom Carney's Stallone helmet and straggly beard, mind you. Or Frank Miller's thankfully sole attempt at Dredd.
It's times like these I ask myself - is it still Dredd though?
And yes. It is still Dredd.
I'm not a massive fan of the depiction of the uniform, but it's definitely still Dredd in there.
'It's a pass.'
I thought it still looked Dredd enough, although the teeny tiny eagle looks a bit weird next to the gigantic armour on the other shoulder. Bit unbalanced.
Ps: I unapologetically love Frank Miller's Dredd cover. Utterly agree with it not being used, but surely it could have been a Star-Scan or something? I mean, it's Frank f*cking Miller!
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 02 April, 2024, 06:16:40 PMI thought it still looked Dredd enough, although the teeny tiny eagle looks a bit weird next to the gigantic armour on the other shoulder. Bit unbalanced.
Yep. That's my main gripe with it too. But then, original design and all that. Maybe all the big eagles were being fixed/polished? ;)
The original design had a small armour piece as well. This is like marrying the original Ezquerra eagle with, I dunno, a Bolland armour piece. But whatever. I'm fine with it, and the giant bear was fun.
Quote from: Woolly on 02 April, 2024, 06:18:38 PMI mean, it's Frank f*cking Miller!
While that would definitely have buttered parsnips with me once,
All Star Batman and Robin and
Holy Terror have happened in the meantime. So I'm fighting with John Wagner Block on this one - 'He saw you coming'.
Anyway, while I'm not mad about this latest version of Dredd, I'm very much in favour of Tharg letting it happen. Dredd wouldn't be Dredd if his look hadn't been allowed to evolve over the years.
Quote from: JayzusB.Christ on 02 April, 2024, 06:59:07 PMAnyway, while I'm not mad about this latest version of Dredd, I'm very much in favour of Tharg letting it happen. Dredd wouldn't be Dredd if his look hadn't been allowed to evolve over the years.
This is actually one of those areas where I actually love the fact that the artist have a lot more freedom. Yes, Dredd interpretations will not work for you but it is fascinating to see different people apply their trade. Not yet read this week's Dredd but from the intro last week I like Guera style.
Quote from: Funt Solo on 30 March, 2024, 10:26:53 PMThat looks like last week's cover. (I mean, it seems to belong to last week's Dredd.)
Yep defo agree there.
As for
Dredd it drops you right into the middle of the action, but not in the good, intriguing way. Its drops us in and FIGHT and then giant Bear/slothe thing and that's it. Let's see how it goes though.
Terror Tales felt like a collection of left over words from an 90s Vertigo series slammed into a thin story to try to make it sound interesting.
Full Tilt Boogie was a step up as the Prog looked like it was going to struggle. Building nicely.
Indigo Prime clatters along at a great pace and shows the Terror Tale how its done.
Proteus Vex gives us an ending on a high and an ending on a high. Brill.
As the Prog went on it got stronger and stronger.
Definitely looks like a cover intended for last week.
I'm not a fan of this Dredd / judge interpretation either, but as others have also said, I like the fact that his look is open to interpretation by various artists, so no real issues here.
Dredd - I like the fact that the story starts mid-action but yeah, there's nothing intriguing or even especially interesting about the way it starts. It's only the opening episode, but this wasn't an enjoyable episode for me, it was just there. Maybe its just setting flashbacks to that terrible story where Dredd surfed a wolf.
Terror Tales I didn't enjoy this either. Colin nails it with his description above. Lovely splash page: bit of a waste of the art imo, sadly.
Full Tilt Boogie Big improvement! Although how are we on part ten already? The next part of the plot is set up. This is very easy to read and the art for me feels both fresh and nostalgic.
Indigo Prime mildly confusing in the best way. M*A*S*H mashups.
Proteus Vex Highlight this week: the world seems fully formed, the action and characters are ridiculous and interesting all at once. Horrible tongue-scene!
Quote from: Colin YNWA on 02 April, 2024, 09:04:21 PMAs the Prog went on it got stronger and stronger.
Absolutely this!
Enjoyable prog with some minor bumps on the road.
Dredd – I like the opening episode as we are thrown right into the action. The what/why/where is not yet explained but the focus first are about survival. Like the art by Guera he has a very Stallone-Dredd vibe.
Terror – This has a feeling like it is the start of something rather than a complete tale but I can also see it as opening Pandora's' Box. The story feels like it is just a rehash of many other similar stories.
Boogie – This has become quite interesting especially the last panel of where the story is heading. I cannot see that everything will be resolved in this book. I am enjoying this and hope to see more in the future.
Prime – When reading this I feel like Yoda-talk is the way forward. Confusion we have story brings resolved no way. Wow looks at fancy panel we have picture very beautiful color does get lost.
Vex – It feels like this episode are a setup to land the final panel of what everyone is believing to be the truth. Excellent art, great story as always.
I don't have any problem with this interpretation of Dredd's uniform. If anything, it seems more practical than most, in that the visor is actually big enough for Dredd to see through. In most versions, you have to assume that Dredd is either half-blind all the time, or else the red bit is actually see-through in one direction.
I'm all for different interpretations and artists putting their own spin on Dredd, but at least keep it consistant.
Dredd's bits and bobs including his helmet keeps changing shape and size throughout and that dead chicken on his shoulder reminds me of when they nailed poultry to Judge Death in Judgement on Gotham.
Am I allowed to think this is pretty awful?
I agree, the shoulder isn't my favourite version of it.. I'm not a fan of the tiny little badges or the Stallone-esque helmet personally either, but no real problem with the artist making it their own.
Weird cookie-related problems yesterday meant I couldn't log in. @IndigoPrime that's why you've got an email from me requesting authorisation to set up another account. Seems to be okay now though, so I guess I don't need to bother. Anyway... Galvanised by last week's gripping prologue I woke this morning
(now yesterday morning) positively slavering at the prospect of reading
'Rend & Tear with Tooth & Claw' and I'm relieved to say, I wasn't disappointed. To think it wasn't so long ago we were reading 'End of Days' wondering if the Williams droid's best Dredd tales were behind it (hang on, that was
four years ago? How did
that happen?). Well as the old football saying goes, Clive, form is temporary, class is permanent - and there's plenty of class on display as this tale comes out swingin' straight from the bell, literally serving up blood and guts. There's hardly time to catch a breath as we're whisked through seven pages of exploding heads, gory transfixings and giant mutant bear action, all gorgeously rendered by RM Guera who as far as I'm concerned can draw as many tiny eagle heads as he likes as long as he carries on giving us hideous radland bandits, flying brains and yes, those amazing fishbowl helmets. Great (belated) cover too.
Ah. Thought I'd copied the entire text from my abortive attempt yesterday. Turns out I only saved the bit on Dredd. Oh well... in summary: 'Antumnos' was bloody brilliant, surprised others weren't so keen. Clearly angling for a full run but I'm all for it.
Full Tilt Boogie was a refreshing palate-cleanser and
Indigo Prime a delightful
amuse-bouche before the sweet arrival of Proteus Vex and its mouth-watering tart. Only the canned Pineapples on the final page left a bad taste.
I quite like the art on Dredd.Its one of the main reasons I picked up this weeks prog.I tend to dip in and out.I can see the faults but there's something about it.
@Norton: Weirdly, I didn't get that email. Although it's worth noting that when the forum does this, admins can't get in either, from what I can tell. (I certainly can't.)
I agree that the Terror Tale felt like a backdoor pilot. And did they have to call the mysterious organisation Herne, when we already have the Herne and Shuck stories?
Is this the first time the judge helmets have been drawn with a strap?
I also really like the art on Dredd! I wouldn't be happy if everyone started drawing Dredd like that but it's good for a change. I like to see artists putting their own spin on the Judges.
Yes 2000AD is immeasurably better for not imposing a house style.
I feel this is pertinent...
(https://64.media.tumblr.com/146303fd59473275989683d90df460fb/tumblr_ore8e8wqjV1sutddeo2_1280.jpg)
Yay for Proteus Vex , excellent and weird and ridiculous and intriguing like it always is. Boo for Indigo Prime which is none of those things, like Kek-W always isn't
Also enjoying Full Tilt Boogie a lot and wouldn't complain about further stories around that Terror Tale. Definitely the Dredd cover for last week though.
Quote from: norton canes on 04 April, 2024, 11:04:39 PMI feel this is pertinent...
(https://64.media.tumblr.com/146303fd59473275989683d90df460fb/tumblr_ore8e8wqjV1sutddeo2_1280.jpg)
I'm noticing that Belardinelli just gave up on the Lawgiver altogether and went with the finger gun instead.
Quote from: norton canes on 04 April, 2024, 11:17:12 AMThere's hardly time to catch a breath as we're whisked through seven pages of exploding heads, gory transfixings and giant mutant bear action, all gorgeously rendered by RM Guera who as far as I'm concerned can draw as many tiny eagle heads as he likes as long as he carries on giving us hideous radland bandits, flying brains and yes, those amazing fishbowl helmets.
Forget the uniform quibbles. My big problem with this story is that Dredd & Moon are only alive by sheer luck, while everybody around them are being slaughtered. And the
Deus ex machina bear thing? Surely this could have been foreshadowed to explain its presence, e.g., "Thankfully we haven't run into any of this region's mutant bears..."
So far, this feels a little like Michael Carroll's (below-par for him)
The Shroud. Or, worse still, Grant Morrison's
Crusade.
Quote from: A.Cow on 05 April, 2024, 02:37:00 AMAnd the Deus ex machina bear thing? Surely this could have been foreshadowed to explain its presence, e.g., "Thankfully we haven't run into any of this region's mutant bears..."
(https://i.imgur.com/3pMp1Sl.png)
Quaequam Blag! It's an in the pipe, five-by-five prog-a-licious thrill-fest!
I mean, sure, the cover should've been on last week's Dredd, so Tharg should be letting Mek-Quake give him a bit of a spanking, but - on the other hand - that makes this prog special. It's a good cover (to last week's prog).
Judge Dredd
Who can argue with vomiting blood, sniper-fodder, death-by-chillbilly, OH FUCK IT'S A GIANT MUTANT BEAR! Well, some of you, clearly. But I liked it - Dredd's mission is a shit show. I want to know why he's out there, though. Last week, we saw a map to northern Scandinavia. This week, Dredd's been shot down in the Northern Radlands. Where is that? What's his mission, anyway? Looks like it's just going to be Moon and Dredd.
Otherwise, for this prog, I'm with Norton Canes block.
Quote from: norton canes on 04 April, 2024, 11:04:39 PMI feel this is pertinent...
(https://64.media.tumblr.com/146303fd59473275989683d90df460fb/tumblr_ore8e8wqjV1sutddeo2_1280.jpg)
Where is this from? I trust the editorial droid who spelled Garry Leach's and Brett Ewins' name wrong was set to Mek-Quake.
Quote from: Vector14 on 04 April, 2024, 08:51:59 PMI also really like the art on Dredd! I wouldn't be happy if everyone started drawing Dredd like that but it's good for a change. I like to see artists putting their own spin on the Judges.
I need to add "me too" to this. I'd hate there to be a tightly defined house style.
I actually really like the style this story is using, it really suits it. It's different but it's great.
I've always really enjoyed the different art styles that run through 2000AD and The Meg. Long May that continue.