Dredd will eat itself
Full tilt has a bit of a talky episode here and I'd have reconfigured the cliffhanger to not take the sting out if it, but enjoying it for all its odd pacing at times
Diaboliks feels like it is deliberately setting itself in the same world as Dr Sin, let alone Caballistics -this is a good thing.
The Order I have lost track of too far past, so no ready until such time as I eer get to a reread
The Out swerves from where it might have one, with hume 2 mainly there to help give Cyd a push in a direction that otherwise (and kinds still does) feel a bit plot driven rather than character driven - but can't complain as where it is going should be interesting stuff.
Is their any Rebellion comic that character DOESN'T appear in? #Dredd
Indeed.
Judge Dredd - HE IS THE LAW! (of diminiishing returns)
Quote from: JimmyNailz on 18 July, 2020, 02:38:39 PM
Is their any Rebellion comic that character DOESN'T appear in? #Dredd
An eye-catching cover by Alex Ronald! That will certainly attract new readers, if there are any in the shops these days.
Dredd -- okay, that's enough of [spoiler]Shako[/spoiler] now.
Full Tilt Boogie is as good as ever. Seems to be approaching a conclusion now.
Diaboliks is mainly setting up the next episode, but I liked the line where the detective turns out to be asking for [spoiler]priests instead of forensics.[/spoiler] And also the line about Salvatore's problem.
I don't normally like The Order, but this episode is a good one. A pretty horrifying situation to be stuck in.
The Out took a direction I didn't expect with the new character introduced last week. We also get [spoiler]an answer to the mystery of why Cyd hasn't been paid lately[/spoiler], and I think that convincingly explains why Cyd decides to do what she decides to do. Next week's episode will be action-packed, presumably.
A solid prog this week.
(https://i.imgur.com/PxhEsQ3.jpg)
Alex Ronald
Well we could pretend there's nothing to worry about. We could happily look at the fact that prior to the final page its a fine Dredd episode. Or that its just a name. We could wish it was just [spoiler]the Eskimo name for bear [/spoiler]- but I think we know that's poppycock right. Or we can just take it as a bit of cute harmless fun... but it feels pretty weak for all the reasons I'm sure we'll hear, but mainly cos it will be all that and still add nothing to the actual story... except serving as a distraction for an otherwise effective Dredd episode... and probably a lot else in the Prog aside... I mean I've not even mentioned the lovely cover have I!
Mind it doesn't distract from the fact that Full Tilt Boogie has a fine episode, the art gets better and that ending sure turns things around an interesting corner not doesn't it.
Diaboliks has a springy fun episode - enjoyed it and let battle commence... I hope Damien makes it out the other side he's a great character.
The Order... arh so it was the voice that mattered at the end of last episode... kinda hard to convey in a comic... nice origin Armoured Gideon - and setting up a possible return for Jerubaal as well - just in time for a well dramatic ending. Wonderful stuff.
The Out just gets better and better. I adore the interchange between Cyd and George and the way they part. Cyd's reasons for finding new purpose are also fantastic. This is superb.
So yeah the whole [spoiler]bear[/spoiler] thing could have been a silly distraction, but luckily the rest of the comic is strong enough that it didn't matter for long.
Oh and doesn't 'Pandora Perfect' look like its got potential in Thrills of the Future.
I'm really trying hard, but still feeling a disconnect to End of Days, more than I've ever experienced with a Rob Williams script.
Don't get me wrong, the concept is brilliant, but it just seems such a huge global event that we didn't get warmed up for. The ideas on here surrounding a set of prologue stories which would have helped lead us into events seem to be practical in fleshing out some of the ideas and characters, especially the backstory to the prophecy / Ichabod. The flying visits with little plot development and space for dialogue are hard to get my head around.
I do really like the idea that we could have read an Ichabod Azrael story (B&W) that we only realise at the end when he sets eyes on MC1, is a precursor to End of Days and bleeds into colour... remember Hewligans Haircut?! ;)
Each to their own. I'm happy to just jump into the action. Lots of stories that don't have proper endings because they're obviously just prologue to some bigger story we have to wait six months for tries my patience.
Yeah - there's other criticisms I could level at this story, but I've got no problem with the lack of lead-up. There's no shortage of contemporary 2000AD stories that are endlessly setting things up - fair play to Williams for just getting stuck in this time.
I don't think it's a good idea to evacuate citizens to the Undercity - it's got troggies, rogue robots, criminals evading arrest, werewolves, xenomorphs and vampires.
Judges have got silver bullets. It'll be fine.
Dredd - I enjoyed the panic onboard Justice 2 and escalating situation back in the Big Meg. Also, have got QUITE the crush on the Judge stood with Logan at the bottom of page 2. What's her name?
I wasn't a fan of the end reveal, and do worry that this is "all a dream" and Dredds journey through British comics history.
Full Tilt Boogie - Not my favourite episode of this series, but still a series I'm enjoying. I'm just disappointed we didn't get to a honeymoon beach planet, OK??
Diaboliks - Great stuff. I really like the pace to each episode of this. The artwork continues to be gorgeous. Looking forward to the battle to come.
The Order - Roared along and challenged us to keep up, as ever. Really liked the horror of the final page.
The Out - continues to be brilliant and this week has a cameo from George Clooney! Loving it!
Quote from: Colin YNWA on 18 July, 2020, 08:57:12 PM
Oh and doesn't 'Pandora Perfect' look like its got potential in Thrills of the Future.
I 100% agree about how great Pandora Perfect looks. A real classic sounding/looking character. Look forward to reading it.
Quote from: JimmyNailz on 21 July, 2020, 10:19:18 AM
Dredd - I enjoyed the panic onboard Justice 2 and escalating situation back in the Big Meg. Also, have got QUITE the crush on the Judge stood with Logan at the bottom of page 2. What's her name?
Judge Patrick, I think?
Quote from: sheridan on 22 July, 2020, 02:25:44 AM
Quote from: JimmyNailz on 21 July, 2020, 10:19:18 AM
Dredd - I enjoyed the panic onboard Justice 2 and escalating situation back in the Big Meg. Also, have got QUITE the crush on the Judge stood with Logan at the bottom of page 2. What's her name?
Judge Patrick, I think?
Patrick is on Justice 2 with Dredd.
The judge stood with Logan is (presumably)
Han. If so, Flint draws her quite differently to MacNeil.
A good solid prog with a few minor niggles.
The highlight for me is the awesome cover. The cover feels like the old sci-fi novels done to pull you in to buy the book.
I did not expect another old character to be introduced in the Dredd saga. Currently the story feels just too disjointed [spoiler]and having the bear in it feels out of place[/spoiler]. We have still a few episodes left so hopefully everything will come together.
The rest of the stories are going at a nice pace and starts feeling like they are heading for an end. The Out turns a angle which I did not expect.
Dredd End of Days has now officially jumped the shark or should that be [spoiler]jumped the bear[/spoiler]. I'm an infrequent reader of the prog, & I mainly read it for Dredd but now I don't feel that bothered with continuing, this is the worst Dredd story I have read in years. I can't believe that Rob Williams wrote this, its just a bunch of things happening with little depth or sense of threat. If we'd seen a backstory to these 'four horsemen' maybe in a prologue story? Or just something to give a bit of weight to events. At least the artwork is good, even though that final panel is groan inducing it looks great.
In all the various reactions to that [spoiler]character[/spoiler] showing up, can I just comment how bloody brilliant an image that last splash page of Dredd is? Henry really knocked it out of the park.
Flint is always a joy in any prog but the last panel is just awesome
There is a lot of really harsh crit for Dredd right now and I'm not sure its really valid. Rob is, IMO writing a summer blockbuster strip that is built to rattle along at a breathless pace. Personally I'm really enjoying it in exactly that way.
It isn't 'America', and it isn't trying to be.
I've not been overly impressed with this Dredd so far, but the sudden appearance of [spoiler]a giant polar bear called Shako- even if Shako is just "the eskimo word for bear" and not necessarily our favourite CIA Death List killer, who after all died well at the end of his story[/spoiler] perks things up for me greatly. I dont care how many times [spoiler]bears called Shako turn up in modern 2000AD publications,[/spoiler] I love them all. But not as much as I would love a[spoiler] brand new series dedicated to him[/spoiler].
Other than that, all I have to say about prog 2191 is The Out is possibly my favourite thing in the prog for years- even more so than Brink. This week's episode was sublime.
SBT
Oh okay- The Order was more interesting this week, what with the Jericho stuff, Diaboliks was okay and Full Tilt Boogie is slipping away I fear. But Dredd and The Out- just wow.
Quote from: SmallBlueThing(Reborn) on 22 July, 2020, 12:07:14 PM
Full Tilt Boogie is slipping away I fear.
I wonder if this is where the danger of Regened strips moving over to the Prog may prove a risk? FTB has a lot of the sensibilities of (okay, admittedly to my very limited knowledge and experience here) manga-esque strips. It is aimed at growing a younger audience so this makes sense. What it does mean though is that to the "more seasoned readers" among us there is less for us to connect with?
I am enjoying Full Tilt Boogie and would like to see more of it when the first series is done (except if is written as a once-off series).
Quote from: Eamonn Clarke on 18 July, 2020, 04:06:51 PM
(https://i.imgur.com/PxhEsQ3.jpg)
Alex Ronald
I confess that I wasn't all that taken by the design of the Full Tilt Boogie craft. I think it's nice enough in depicting a sci fi jet*, how I'd imagine a short range fighter like your BSG Vipers or Star Wars X-Wings**, but not so much a multi-crew vessel which is essentially a home for your protagonists.
I've gotta say though, it looks absolutely phenomenal on this week's cover. Vicious and beautiful all at once. A very dynamic image.
I enjoyed this week's prog. I'm finding some strips hard to follow, but that's likely my faulty memory, except where the Order is concerned, as I think that would be baffling if I read it in one go. (I have no real issues following Judge Dredd week to week though, but it's a simple plot. I don't intend this as a criticism, I'm enjoying it.)
None of it was bad.
Concerning Judge Dredd, [spoiler]I know that creature is diseased, but it really doesn't look like a polar bear. A nasty beast though.[/spoiler]
*Technically not a jet since you wouldn't use jet propulsion in outer space- but I'm sure you get what I mean. It basically looks like a sci-fi fighter plane with jagged bits added.
** Yeah I understand the rebel fighters in SW have hyperdrives which mean they can travel interstellar, but as single person fighters you probably wouldn't use one as a home like you might, say the Falcon, Serenity, etc.
I only read the Sci Fi special last week, and the second appearance of [spoiler]Shako[/spoiler] wasn't really for me.
The Out is pretty amazing though. Anyone else getting a Halo Jones type vibe here?
Again, The Out and Full Tilt Boogie are highlights for me. I'd welcome more series of these.
Does this technically now mean Dredd is [spoiler]in the same continuity as Kingdom[/spoiler]? ;D
Quote from: JayzusB.Christ on 23 July, 2020, 09:09:12 AM
I only read the Sci Fi special last week, and the second appearance of [spoiler]Shako[/spoiler] wasn't really for me.
Wasn't it also this year that [spoiler]Shako[/spoiler] fought Hookjaw? Making it his third(!) appearance this year...
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 23 July, 2020, 09:43:27 AM
Quote from: JayzusB.Christ on 23 July, 2020, 09:09:12 AM
I only read the Sci Fi special last week, and the second appearance of [spoiler]Shako[/spoiler] wasn't really for me.
Wasn't it also this year that [spoiler]Shako[/spoiler] fought Hookjaw? Making it his third(!) appearance this year...
Yes correct so we can assume the third horseman will be [spoiler]a shark[/spoiler]
Quote from: JayzusB.Christ on 23 July, 2020, 09:09:12 AM
I only read the Sci Fi special last week, and the second appearance of [spoiler]Shako[/spoiler] wasn't really for me.
The Out is pretty amazing though. Anyone else getting a Halo Jones type vibe here?
I as just about to say, if this is another crispy/deadman/malone twist and it turns out to be Halo Jones Book IV, I will be very pissed off. It does have that vibe though, in all the best ways.
I think the prog's on good form at the moment - I've found many thrills a bit lacklustre earlier in the year, but I enjoyed all of the current offerings.
Least favourite is probably Full Tilt Boogie, which isn't grabbing me much, but it ain't bad. I can appreciate the desire to get the kids back on board with Regened, but it's not my cup of tea.
I agree that the Dredd story could badly have done with some more scene-setting or build-up as it feels a bit disjointed, but I didn't mind [spoiler]the bear. And she doesn't say that's his actual name, just that "I call him Shako" - well if you had a giant murderous polar bear, what the hell would YOU call it?[/spoiler]
The Order is bonkers and always has been, but I'm enjoying the ride.
Diaboliks is fantastic - captures the cabalistic vibe perfectly, the characters are interesting and well defined and the b/w art is horrifically lovely.
I can't imagine DA/MH are writing Halo Jones Book 4. Why would you bother, when you've set up your own universe? Halo Jones is part of 2000 AD's past. The Out could well be part of its future.
Might as well spoiler the whole of my first paragraph...
[spoiler]Typical. You wait 26 years for a Shako comeback (since his appearance in Armoured Gideon) then it happens twice in the same month. As Harry Hill used to say, 'What are the chances?!' I do love the idea of Rob Williams writing this instalment of End Of Days while thinking to himself, "Oh man, there's no way they are going to expect this!". And I suppose ironically he was right - given that Dan Abnett had just done it, it probably was the last thing anyone was expecting. [/spoiler]
Anyway, EOD continues to be more dog's dinner than dog's bollocks but I still love it. And there's some blinding stuff elsewhere this week too - that last panel of Diaboliks, for instance - I do love a good 'Heroes Assemble!' moment. Is this the mkII Caballistics, Inc.? Then there's that breathtaking swerve in The Out which catapults it into exciting new territory. But above all there's The Order, where Kek-W finally takes a break from the relentless (but totally compelling) narrative to give us a dark moment of truly disturbing fear and panic. TOP THRILL and extra oil rations to all droids concerned.
I'm getting a Steve Coogan/Brasseye vibe from ideas that The Out might be a continuation of Halo Jones.
In 1987, no-one wrote a story that was like Halo Jones book III.
In 1988, no-one wrote a story that was like Halo Jones book III.
In 1989, no-one wrote a story that was like Halo Jones book III...
In 2020, one person wrote a story that was like Halo Jones book III.
Quote from: JayzusB.Christ on 23 July, 2020, 09:09:12 AM
The Out is pretty amazing though. Anyone else getting a Halo Jones type vibe here?
Where did she go? Out. It's right there in the title!
I had supposed her payments were ceasing because (life on) Earth had been destroyed somehow [spoiler]but now they're resumed that theory doesn't seem to hold water[/spoiler].
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 23 July, 2020, 10:16:59 AM
I can't imagie DA/MH are writing Halo Jones Book 4. Why would you bother, when you've set up your own universe? Halo Jones is part of 2000 AD's past. The Out could well be part of its future.
I do think (hope) it's unlikely, but the similarities in the plot, and even the title, made me a little worried. I'm loving this as a new strip, but if they did try a sneaky callback reveal, as seems to becoming more and more common, it would be a big misstep.
Quote from: norton canes on 23 July, 2020, 10:26:04 AM
I'm getting a Steve Coogan/Brasseye vibe from ideas that The Out might be a continuation of Halo Jones.
In 1987, no-one wrote a story that was like Halo Jones book III.
In 1988, no-one wrote a story that was like Halo Jones book III.
In 1989, no-one wrote a story that was like Halo Jones book III...
In 2020, one person wrote a story that was like Halo Jones book III.
:lol:
I'm sure I read an interview the other week where either Mark Harrison or Dan Abnett said that Harrison had enjoyed working on Grey Area but because he followed on from Karl Richardson it never felt it was his own work, which is why Abnett created The Out. If that's the case (and it's not a monumentous piece of misdirection), itt seems extremely unlikely that this is going to be any sort of tie-in.
Having been pondering the surprise character introduction in 2191, I've been idly fantasizing about the cover to 2192. Imagine my surprise on seeing the announcement on Facebook that not only was it almost EXACTLY as my most fevered imaginings had hoped, but the artist was EXACTLY who I'd hoped it would be.
Now, if the tagline is [spoiler]"The only bear on the judges' Death List"[/spoiler], the eruption in the SmallBlue Underpants will be legendary.
SBT
Mabe the plan is to get [spoiler]Shako[/spoiler] to appear in all the stories.
Imagine if [spoiler]he[/spoiler] was revealed in the final panel of every strip in the prog :D
What an idea.....
I think that could possibly be the only way they could repeat the Trifecta trick.
So my thoughts this week seem to run opposite to last week.
Exception being The Out which is still pushing pretty much all the Tordelbuttons at once. Dr 'Doug Ross' George gave me a chuckle, and how I loved that bit of misdirection. This strip is the perfect example of the artist-led partnership, Harrison is just soaring with his glorious book-cover concept, and Abnett trying to out-do him with low-key character moments... Ah, bliss. May this never end.
Perhaps not quite as complete an episode as last week, but hey if Full Tilt Boogie isn't just the first part of something longer or better-yet ongoing I'll be quite miffed - this is lovely work, and I'm already very invested in the characters and a setting that feels well-defined. If this is all the Regened progs ever give us, I cock a snook at the naysayers.
While we're being effusive, the accompanying RonaldCover fair reminds me of one of my childhood faves from master of the control panel Peter Elson:
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91GCw5RaA9L.jpg)
End of Days is actually growing on me now: the MC-1 scenes are suitably dramatic (and I love Flint's Logan), the near-panic on Justice 2 is engaging, and while I feel like tut-tutting Tharg for unfortunate timing, the last page reveal was really great - and thematically perfect, given that character's long-standing association with arctic germ warfare. Note too that [spoiler]Shako[/spoiler] already exists in Dredd's world via Lenny Zero's Shuggy Bear who I think mentions him. Still can't work out what Ichabod brings to the table, mind. Special shout-out for Blythe's colours this week,
After giving out about the apparent blandness of Armoured Clara in last week's The Order, I am forced to eat my words this week - this is a very fine bit of backstory, and a chilling last page from Burns. In future I will trust in Kek-W to get to the good stuff in his own sweet time.
Diaboliks seems to be meandering a bit for my tastes, and while I really like Fuso's more Adlardian art it does lack the deceptive simplicity that gives Dom's Cabsverse its particular character.
I'm not sure I buy Logan as Chief Judge, and his slightly implausible actions/dialogue in this prog are part of that. He gives the impression of being a place-holder CJ, and I've assumed that he was going to get bumped-off in an epic. My money had been on a Mechanismo running amok, but I'm now expecting some sort of undercity-based shenanigans.
I love Full Tilt Boogie, it feels fresh and quick on its feet. A really nice manga influence on Ocana's art - I could well picture the series as a long-running anime. I think this is the way forward for the regened style if the aim is to bring younger readers on board, I teach 11-12 year olds and I know they'd be much more likely to get caught up in a story in this style.
The Out is also wonderful. The Prog is on great form at the moment!
Quote from: CalHab on 23 July, 2020, 12:30:31 PM
I'm not sure I buy Logan as Chief Judge, and his slightly implausible actions/dialogue in this prog are part of that. He gives the impression of being a place-holder CJ, and I've assumed that he was going to get bumped-off in an epic. My money had been on a Mechanismo running amok, but I'm now expecting some sort of undercity-based shenanigans.
I'm getting a bit of a place-holder CJ as well, though I think he'd take the Francisco route. I don't think they'd get killed off due to being based on a real person who is no longer with us. Though plot armour only goes so far, so far. Whatever happens to the character, I don't think they'd leave in a conventional way.
I really like Logan as CJ - he's not showy or over-designed, but he has both his own strong opinions and a sort of a weary vibe that plays well with his largely administrative background. Plus there's the taint of Mortisssss lurking unexplored in the background: it's not like that thread is going to remain untugged forever.
Quote from: Dandontdare on 23 July, 2020, 10:05:32 AM
I as just about to say, if this is another crispy/deadman/malone twist and it turns out to be Halo Jones Book IV, I will be very pissed off.
Me too. I think Tharg needs to retire that particular style of twist for at least another twenty years. Mind you, I'd trust Dan Abnett to handle Halo better than Robbie Morrison, whose (thankfully) brief use of her in
A Night 2 Remember had her saying something like 'My mama always told me to live dangerously'. Halo's mama? Read the bleeding story, Robbie.
If it was just the second appearance, that would be one thing, but with the Action Special, thats a third appearance this year.
Quote from: Leigh S on 23 July, 2020, 04:09:39 PM
If it was just the second appearance, that would be one thing, but with the Action Special, thats a third appearance this year.
Yep desperate stuff. & what is the point of Ichabod Azrael being in it? In fact all the supporting characters are pretty pointless. God this is dreadful, imagine what Wagner could have done with such an interesting premise.
I can see similarities between The Out and Halo Jones but so far they're entirely superficial. The story of the ordinary traveller who sees extraordinary things. The main vibe I'm getting is of an instant classic.
I'm just not feeling it for End of Days. It's just a load of stuff happening and the cameo made me groan. Great image, though.
Caballistics 3.0 and Boogie different kinds of good without quite catching fire. The Order lost me years ago but it is pretty.
I think some on the forum are being a little harsh on Dredd. Admittedly, it has not thus far been as epic as it could or should have been; but it is an interesting, enjoyable tale nonetheless.
Quote from: judgeurko on 23 July, 2020, 07:12:34 PMGod this is dreadful, imagine what Wagner could have done with such an interesting premise.
If history is any guide, he'd have been saddled with a different artist every week, rapidly got bored and wrapped it up with some kind of non-sequitor. Or maybe just pushed a bit too far and
actually ended the world, without telling Tharg in advance. So on balance, I'm almost glad this one is in other hands!
I've had plenty of reservations about the story so far myself, but I find it hard to see this week's episode as anything but fun and exciting - and I think tying Pestilence to [spoiler]germ-capsule-swallowing Shako[/spoiler] is every bit as clever as pairing him with [spoiler]Gene[/spoiler] was (just a pity they happened in the same Summer!). I'm still well into the emaciated Dredd look - and what's he going to look like when he gets a dose of whatever [spoiler]Shako[/spoiler] poops out?
Quote from: judgeurko on 23 July, 2020, 07:12:34 PMimagine what Wagner could have done with such an interesting premise.
We don't need to imagine; he (and Alan Grant) did it 33 years ago.
(https://i.imgur.com/yfxyVtJ.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/6XCoSCK.png)
Quote from: TordelBack on 23 July, 2020, 09:08:10 PM
Quote from: judgeurko on 23 July, 2020, 07:12:34 PMGod this is dreadful, imagine what Wagner could have done with such an interesting premise.
If history is any guide, he'd have been saddled with a different artist every week, rapidly got bored and wrapped it up with some kind of non-sequitor. Or maybe just pushed a bit too far and actually ended the world, without telling Tharg in advance. So on balance, I'm almost glad this one is in other hands!
Did that happen with Necropolis? Did that happen with Origins? Did that happen with Day of Chaos?
Quote from: JOE SOAP on 23 July, 2020, 09:18:46 PM
Quote from: judgeurko on 23 July, 2020, 07:12:34 PMimagine what Wagner could have done with such an interesting premise.
We don't need to imagine; he (and Alan Grant) did it 33 years ago.
I'd forgotten about that! So far, Dredd's world has two Satans and eight Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Also, Pa, Junior and Link Angel are still wandering about somewhere.
Quote from: judgeurko on 23 July, 2020, 09:47:10 PM
Did that happen with Necropolis? Did that happen with Origins? Did that happen with Day of Chaos?
Did any of those have the premise 'Dredd goes on a quest to kill supernatural beings' that are destroying the world'. 'Cos this one does, and that's the setup you were speculating about Wagner writing.
Relax, I'm not knocking Wagner, who could!, I'm just noting that this is the type of tale he has on occasion got bored of and knocked out a quick wrap-up for. In other words, I don't see Wagner being particularly interested in doing much with this plot.
And the reference to going too far and ending the world was indeed about Day of Chaos.
Quote from: TordelBack on 24 July, 2020, 02:03:22 AM
Quote from: judgeurko on 23 July, 2020, 09:47:10 PM
Did that happen with Necropolis? Did that happen with Origins? Did that happen with Day of Chaos?
Did any of those have the premise 'Dredd goes on a quest to kill supernatural beings' that are destroying the world'. 'Cos this one does, and that's the setup you were speculating about Wagner writing.
Relax, I'm not knocking Wagner, who could!, I'm just noting that this is the type of tale he has on occasion got bored of and knocked out a quick wrap-up for. In other words, I don't see Wagner being particularly interested in doing much with this plot.
And the reference to going too far and ending the world was indeed about Day of Chaos.
Yes, but I am looking to Wagner's mega epics in general & plotting. He is a better writer now than he was then with those epics that this awful one is referencing. Maybe that's the problem for me, things like The Cursed Earth & The Judge Child Quest are fun in a nostalgic way but I prefer a bit more depth to my stories now. I just don't care about anything that is happening in End of Days because it feels like there are no real consequences, 2 dimensional bland characters & now an old character being dragged up...again. I wonder if this has been rushed out due to current circumstances?
Quote from: TordelBack on 24 July, 2020, 02:03:22 AM
Quote from: judgeurko on 23 July, 2020, 09:47:10 PM
Did that happen with Necropolis? Did that happen with Origins? Did that happen with Day of Chaos?
Did any of those have the premise 'Dredd goes on a quest to kill supernatural beings' that are destroying the world'.
;)
Quote from: JayzusB.Christ on 24 July, 2020, 09:10:01 AM
Quote from: TordelBack on 24 July, 2020, 02:03:22 AM
Quote from: judgeurko on 23 July, 2020, 09:47:10 PM
Did that happen with Necropolis? Did that happen with Origins? Did that happen with Day of Chaos?
Did any of those have the premise 'Dredd goes on a quest to kill supernatural beings' that are destroying the world'.
;)
Well APART from Necropolis... :-[
I was thinking that the Big Nec was about Dredd returning home, and the end of a much longer story about doubt and compromise, rather than him off questing after magic baddies, but it's a (tough but) fair cop!
I'm letting you off with a caution this time, citizen. If it happens again, you'll do time.
Quote from: sheridan on 23 July, 2020, 10:28:35 AMI had supposed her payments were ceasing because (life on) Earth had been destroyed somehow [spoiler]but now they're resumed that theory doesn't seem to hold water[/spoiler].
As a freelancer, currently battling with several companies in trying to get paid, it really doesn't take the destruction of the planet to not get what you're owed, sadly.
As for all the Dredd gripes, I'm not feeling that. The story does make the error of providing a supporting cast of newbs that get killed off one by one, when big characters have metre-thick plot armour. But otherwise it's just 'Dredd as Hollywood movie', which Wagner's also done plenty of during his time. Not every Dredd should be slow-burn epic, deep detective movie, or whatever.
The one thing I do wonder, though, is at what point the city will effectively cease to function in any meaningful manner. I mean, Day of Chaos (still wrongly, in my opinion) wiped out the vast majority of the citizens. Since then, we've had yet more millions die, and this latest epic is killing off yet more people. MC1 citizens must breed like rabbits during the tiny periods of peace to keep the numbers up.
I am also on the same page as Indigo related to all the epics wiping out massive numbers of the population. Hopefully the MC-1 will not be "destroyed" as in previous destruction-driven epics.
Quote from: broodblik on 24 July, 2020, 01:51:11 PM
I am also on the same page as Indigo related to all the epics wiping out massive numbers of the population. Hopefully the MC-1 will not be "destroyed" as in previous destruction-driven epics.
Another vote for MC1 overpopulation here. The Big A was one thing, but it still left the Meg with 400,000,000 citizens. After Chaos Day the city of the future was smaller than the largest city in the present, losing something in the process (well, 350,000,000 citizens, for a start). Latest count on the contents pages is 14,000,000.
Quote from: sheridan on 24 July, 2020, 02:16:17 PM
Latest count on the contents pages is 14,000,000.
Decimal point error - 140,000,000.
You are correct Sheridan they where just over enthusiastic because that is the number of the End of Days are done and dusted. So it is 14 000 000 and not 140 000 000
Quote from: Bolt-01 on 22 July, 2020, 10:57:50 AM
There is a lot of really harsh crit for Dredd right now and I'm not sure its really valid. Rob is, IMO writing a summer blockbuster strip that is built to rattle along at a breathless pace. Personally I'm really enjoying it in exactly that way.
It isn't 'America', and it isn't trying to be.
I'm fightin' with bolt-01 block. Williams is writing a great fun Dredd and Flint is the perfect artist. In retrospect I think MacNeil draws too good a anonymous facist face of authority and the ensemble crew looked all the same. Now it's more distinct and firing along. Just great.
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 24 July, 2020, 01:38:19 PM
MC1 citizens must breed like rabbits during the tiny periods of peace to keep the numbers up.
Have you seen MC1 unemployment rates? Watching holovid, bat-gliding, or committing / being a victim of crime can only take up so much of a day. They have
plenty of time to engage in conjugal unpleasantness.
End of Days reads for me very much like the old classics like Cursed Earth and Judge Child but feels more like City of the Damned. One thing and might be the main reason why City of the Damned felt disjointed is the continuous usage of different artist. It is strange that it should not make a difference but it is and for the same reason End of Days feels the same. I prefer that one artist is used for the whole story. Maybe this week the [spoiler]return of Shako[/spoiler] felt out of place but still I am sure by the next episode I will be back onboard. Overall, I am still liking this, and Williams has always been a very capable Dredd writer in my eyes (different from Wagner or our other fiend mister Grover)
I don't feel Day of Chaos or Tour of Duty suffered too much from having multiple artists and only one artist ever achieved such a feat (twice) within Tharg's schedule.
Those were written as stories within the main story where in most cases the same artist was used. You can add The Pit to this as well. I still like it when one artist is responsible as we could see with Ezquerra doing the full Necropolis and Apocalypse War.
They're not making any more Super Squirrels, I'm afraid, so 189+ fully coloured pages over just 7 months just aren't in our future.
As it goes the structure of this tale lends itself to different artists, and MacNeil and Flint compliment each other well. I think a lot of my problems with this story arose from just how wonderfully grim Colin was painting everything, literal end-of-the-world bleakness, while what I was getting from the script was more conventional action-horror, or as others have said, a summer blockbuster.
With the switch to Flint that became clearer (to me), and I find I'm more at ease with the general silliness than I was.
None of this is to say that Colin's work was anything other than arsom - I consider him the most important 2000AD artist from the last 30 years - it was more a matter of my expectations.
I'd have a gut feeling that one artist for an entire mega-epic produces the best results (witness Apoc War and the Big Nec) but then we wouldn't have gotten the artwork of Bolland, McMahon and Smith tag-teaming on The Cursed Earth, Day the Law Died, the Judge Child and Block Mania.
Quote from: sheridan on 26 July, 2020, 09:52:15 PM
I'd have a gut feeling that one artist for an entire mega-epic produces the best results (witness Apoc War and the Big Nec) but then we wouldn't have gotten the artwork of Bolland, McMahon and Smith tag-teaming on The Cursed Earth, Day the Law Died, the Judge Child and Block Mania.
Obviously other artists were involved with two of those stories, but the three I've mentioned did the majority.