2000 AD Online Forum

2000 AD => General => Topic started by: Colin YNWA on 13 October, 2021, 06:36:08 AM

Title: The Killing v Portrait of a Mutant - Bolt-01 Cup - SEMI-FINAL 2
Post by: Colin YNWA on 13 October, 2021, 06:36:08 AM
Well what do you know we've hit the semi-finals and I suspect that there are going to be some very tough calls to be made for some folks. For others some of these might feel very straight-forward.

Our second semi has the last remaining none 'Epic', but a thrill that for many exemplifies the series. Mind in the other corner we have one of 2000ad great origin stories for any series. Tough calls all round one suspects

As ever all you need to worry about is which of the following you prefer:

The Killing - more info (https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.php?cat=96&id=4963)

VS

Portrait of a Mutant - more info (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Strontium-Dog-Portrait-Alan-Grant/dp/1781081433)

Just reply in this thread naming your favourite of these two stories at the beginning of your post (or use Bold tags so I can spot it easily) and say what you like about these wonderful stories after that.

Match ends early on the morning of Saturday 16th October and the winner gets a place in the semis.

... there's a spreadsheet (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1F3W5KkY37ZcH39J93nq5hR5_RhPIvaOapv7sZ0EmvUQ/edit?usp=sharing) to make following easier... if you fancy. If not, don't worry just VOTE!!!!

I've tried to explain the finals here.  (https://forums.2000ad.com/index.php?topic=47894.0)

What on Earth is ALL of this? (https://forums.2000ad.com/index.php?topic=47697.msg1064493#msg1064493)

Why (https://forums.2000ad.com/index.php?topic=47696.0) on Tharg's Earth head are we doing this?

Any questions, just ask as ever - and have FUN!

Oh and my 'More info' links... well I don't say how much more and they get pretty wonky at times!
Title: Re: The Killing v Portrait of a Mutant - Bolt-01 Cup - SEMI-FINAL 2
Post by: broodblik on 13 October, 2021, 06:39:27 AM
Portrait of a Mutant
Title: Re: The Killing v Portrait of a Mutant - Bolt-01 Cup - SEMI-FINAL 2
Post by: Rogue Judge on 13 October, 2021, 06:59:50 AM
Portrait of a Mutant. Another round that makes me feel guilty to vote against the other.
Title: Re: The Killing v Portrait of a Mutant - Bolt-01 Cup - SEMI-FINAL 2
Post by: Barrington Boots on 13 October, 2021, 08:54:15 AM
The Killing for me.
I had Portrait down to win the tourney from the start, and whilst it's a magnificent origin tale and a brilliant read, it's not the Stronty-est of Stronts imo and it's a very grim, serious read throughout as befits the story it's telling. The Killing is neither of these - It's got Wulf, absolutely masses of cool enemies, black humour, bounty hunting and such a great ending. It's one of the top 3 SD for me and it gets my vote here.
Title: Re: The Killing v Portrait of a Mutant - Bolt-01 Cup - SEMI-FINAL 2
Post by: credo on 13 October, 2021, 09:48:52 AM
Has to be The Killing. Portrait is great, but for a story about mutant bounty hunters, it's a little light on the actual bounty hunting (although not, I suppose, on the mutants).

Someone in the hive mind will be able to tell me, where does The Killing sit on the publication timeline of "stories about organised murderous games where contestants must fight it out until only one survivor is left"? Must be pretty early?
Title: Re: The Killing v Portrait of a Mutant - Bolt-01 Cup - SEMI-FINAL 2
Post by: Timothy on 13 October, 2021, 09:53:38 AM
I am seriously torn here. Portrait is a huge part of the SD story and is a great piece of world building with some cracking characters. The Killing though doesn't put a foot wrong. It's funny, tense and exciting and it has Wulf. Both great stories, but for me The Killing just nudges it. God only know how I will cope with an Outlaw vs The Killing final.
Title: Re: The Killing v Portrait of a Mutant - Bolt-01 Cup - SEMI-FINAL 2
Post by: Leigh S on 13 October, 2021, 10:08:41 AM
Hmm - Barrington makes a great point about The Killing - it is much more quintessentially "Strontium Dog" than the war story / childhood trauma of Portrait. 

But even given that, this was the first Stront story I read in full (missed the first part of Bad Boys Bust)  and it make me a life long fan.  It does have enough bad assery from adult Alpha for me - Eggheads cracking and "that" end.... "Please, don't let me die...."  Along with one of 2000ADs all time great panels (the Disbanded Kreelers as the new Police is one of 2000ADs most on point political messages)....

The Killing is great fun and a superb high concept (I also wonder where it sits in the "Fortnite" timeline!)


But overall, i cannot deny my vote to Portrait of a Mutant for the depth of character, world building and messaging. 
Title: Re: The Killing v Portrait of a Mutant - Bolt-01 Cup - SEMI-FINAL 2
Post by: AlexF on 13 October, 2021, 11:05:06 AM
Just been looking into that whole timeline of 'death games' stories question, and it's not something the internet seems to have agreed upon...

Per TV Tropes (https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/DeadlyGame (https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/DeadlyGame)), it's all more or less based on Roman Gladiators (and similar to various Aztec/Maya/Meso-American ballsports)* but the earliest versions of this in fiction apparently start with 'The Most Dangerous Game' (1924; the 1932 movie is excellent BTW) - but that's basically just rich people hunting humans for sport. Arguably Han's Tournament from Enter the Dragon (1973) is more similar, with its contestants routinely dying at the end ofeach fight, rather than just being knocked out.

The nearest I can see that is much more like the Killing is, apparently, a Modesty Blaise strip from 1976 called 'Those about to Die', something it's easy to imagine Wagner and Grant having read. Although I think, again, that's more about peole being rounded up for a death sport, not willing volunteers on a Game Show, in the manner of your Battle/Hunger/Squid Game Royale variety.

And then of course there's Judge Dredd: You Bet Your Life' (1977, Prog 25) and 'The Game Show Show' (1982, Progs 278-9), which sees willing contestants risk their lives for money (although they're not killing each other). Wagner and Grant definitely read those strips, because they wrote 'em!

And frankly, after doing even this cursory research, I'm giving my vote to the Killing for being super fun and, perhaps, an original story idea!

*Pat Mills might like to wave Murderball in your faces, too
Title: Re: The Killing v Portrait of a Mutant - Bolt-01 Cup - SEMI-FINAL 2
Post by: Buttonman on 13 October, 2021, 01:01:29 PM
One stront tale to take to a desert island? Of these two I'm taking The Killing.
Title: Re: The Killing v Portrait of a Mutant - Bolt-01 Cup - SEMI-FINAL 2
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 13 October, 2021, 05:14:40 PM
Portrait of a Mutant.
Title: Re: The Killing v Portrait of a Mutant - Bolt-01 Cup - SEMI-FINAL 2
Post by: GoGilesGo on 13 October, 2021, 05:29:12 PM
Here, every time it comes around, the age-old ritual of The Killing gets my vote.
Title: Re: The Killing v Portrait of a Mutant - Bolt-01 Cup - SEMI-FINAL 2
Post by: Southstreeter on 13 October, 2021, 10:01:45 PM
The Killing is quintessential Stront. Portrait is great, but a diversion from the main action.
Title: Re: The Killing v Portrait of a Mutant - Bolt-01 Cup - SEMI-FINAL 2
Post by: Colin YNWA on 15 October, 2021, 06:32:39 AM
Last chance to vote on this one. Counting up in the morning. This one is close but looks like it might be what I consider a surprise...
Title: Re: The Killing v Portrait of a Mutant - Bolt-01 Cup - SEMI-FINAL 2
Post by: Rogue Judge on 15 October, 2021, 06:41:04 AM
I was on the train heading home from work today and found myself thinking about Strontium Dog, then this comp and my vote for Portrait (how weird is that...but what else is there to think about when starting blankly out a window to avoid making eye contact with the stranger facing you from two feet away). Anywho, I've decided if I could only read one of these stories ever again it would be the Killing. Not sure I can change my vote,  but there you have it.
Title: Re: The Killing v Portrait of a Mutant - Bolt-01 Cup - SEMI-FINAL 2
Post by: Trooper McFad on 15 October, 2021, 08:52:49 AM
Portrait of a mutant for me
Title: Re: The Killing v Portrait of a Mutant - Bolt-01 Cup - SEMI-FINAL 2
Post by: Leigh S on 15 October, 2021, 10:49:38 AM
My reasoning is sort of the opposite - if you had to remove one story from existence, which would it be? The Stront universe could remain entirely unaffected by removing "The Killing", but without Portrait, you dont have the New Britain background for Johnny's character - no Kreelman, no McNulty, no Torso from Newcastle.  You lose the motivating drive behind Alpha's quest to right wrongs.



Quote from: Rogue Judge on 15 October, 2021, 06:41:04 AM
I was on the train heading home from work today and found myself thinking about Strontium Dog, then this comp and my vote for Portrait (how weird is that...but what else is there to think about when starting blankly out a window to avoid making eye contact with the stranger facing you from two feet away). Anywho, I've decided if I could only read one of these stories ever again it would be the Killing. Not sure I can change my vote,  but there you have it.
Title: Re: The Killing v Portrait of a Mutant - Bolt-01 Cup - SEMI-FINAL 2
Post by: Magnetica on 15 October, 2021, 01:11:37 PM
The Killing
Title: Re: The Killing v Portrait of a Mutant - Bolt-01 Cup - SEMI-FINAL 2
Post by: Huey2 on 15 October, 2021, 02:22:16 PM
Portrait of a Mutant
Title: Re: The Killing v Portrait of a Mutant - Bolt-01 Cup - SEMI-FINAL 2
Post by: Colin YNWA on 16 October, 2021, 07:18:06 AM
VOTING CLOSED

Well my ability to predict these tourneys has always been shakey and in my head I had a nailed on final for this one. There were a couple of outliers that I though might nudge in but in reality I struggled to see a final other than Rage and Portrait, two cornerstones of Johnny's story. I love Portrait its not only a great Johnny Alpha story, sort of Johnny mets a Battle story, its also an astonishingly powerful origin story and frankly just a suerb story. It introduces so much to the world.

At the end of the day though

The Killing

Is pure, high octane fun. Its raw entertainment and I think (see above what do I know!) that's what has earnt it, its place in the final, surprise place... well to me...
Title: Re: The Killing v Portrait of a Mutant - Bolt-01 Cup - SEMI-FINAL 2
Post by: broodblik on 16 October, 2021, 09:10:26 AM
This one is for me a big surprise. 
Title: Re: The Killing v Portrait of a Mutant - Bolt-01 Cup - SEMI-FINAL 2
Post by: Leigh S on 16 October, 2021, 06:04:36 PM
Democracy isn't working...  :o :'( :)
Title: Re: The Killing v Portrait of a Mutant - Bolt-01 Cup - SEMI-FINAL 2
Post by: Funt Solo on 17 October, 2021, 06:12:23 AM
But The Killing doesn't even have any *thwup* guns, fer chrissakes.
Title: Re: The Killing v Portrait of a Mutant - Bolt-01 Cup - SEMI-FINAL 2
Post by: The Bissler on 17 October, 2021, 11:17:07 AM
This one was a bit like "which limb would you prefer to lose?" I had missed this vote but, for what it's worth, while Portrait is an incredible origins story, The Killing would have edged it for me by the tiniest of margins.
Title: Re: The Killing v Portrait of a Mutant - Bolt-01 Cup - SEMI-FINAL 2
Post by: AlexF on 18 October, 2021, 09:02:46 AM
BIG surprise! But following the Tourney from the start you could always see a lot of love for the Killing, and it is surely the best of the 'purely fun' Stront stories. And in that vein, it's made for a worthier final, having a comdey battling it out with a revenge-tragedy.