Okay so instead of my normal blather I'll intro this one with some logistics. Quarter finals. I've matched pairings by taking the highest Seed and putting it against the lowest Seed. One a day (with play-offs running along side) 3 days for these ones. Winners in the semis, losers into a play-off for positions 12-5... you're confused - look I'm running this thing and I'm hanging on by my fingernails too!
Seed 3 Origins (https://dreddepicsranked.blogspot.com/2020/12/epics-3-1-bitter-end.html) - Progs 1500-1504; 1505-1519; 1529-1535
Vs
Seed 9 Necropolis (https://dreddepicsranked.blogspot.com/2020/12/epics-13-10-nostalgic-favourites.html) - Progs 662 - 699
Still with the simple purity of popping the name of the Epic you prefer in a reply to this thread (remember to mark it clearly so I can spot it - bold tags are good) and then say whatever the heck you like to about these two great stories.
We're 3 day votes for these ones so this one will close first thing in the morning Saturday 10th April - winner advance to the semis - loser goes into the 12th - 5th place playoff vote.
All links go through to AlexF's simply brilliant Dredd Epics Ranked (https://dreddepicsranked.blogspot.com/) blog. You may need to scroll to find his write up of a particular story - but I'd suggest just reading the whole thing anyway - it's fantastic stuff.
Baffled by what's going on here - well we have a a thread for that (https://forums.2000ad.com/index.php?topic=47367.0) - though that might leave you more confused than anything.
Rules (https://forums.2000ad.com/index.php?topic=47367.msg1053448#msg1053448) for what they are worth.
Not sure about anything just ask and I'll blag it.
Hmmm this is a difficult one. Both pull together many previous threads, have huge legacies, and King Carlos draws all of the main epic. I don't think I can put one above the other, so will abstain.
Interesting one this for me personally as these are two of my more luke warm favourites, still... (although I should add Carlos is excellent as always).
Origins for me. Fascinating piece of "history" there!
Plus, I'm not the biggest Necropolis fan (runs for cover!). Just doesn't grab me... although the Dead Man was blooming excellent!
I find Origins curiously 'flat', so my vote goes for Necropolis- which I didnt overly enjoy at the time but which has grown on me over the intervening centuries.
SBT
abstain. chalk vs cheese innit (tho i'm pretty sure which is which).
Hugely difficult to call. I'm going for Necropolis - it had such an impact on me as a teenager, whereas Origins was something caught up on. Two tremendous tales though and both definitely epics.
Origins
Origins.
Carlos' last magnum opus.
As Steev says, I find Origins a bit 'flat' after the excellent prologue, and Booth's drawn so broadly he's impossible to take seriously as a real threat. So, although not without faults of its own, I'm voting Necropolis.
Necropolis. While Origins is historically important for the Dredd's lore, Necropolis blew me away with bone chilling images of MC1. If Necropolis goes head to head with Day of Chaos, I'd still go for Necropolis.
Necropolis.
Necropolis...
Necropolis
Fits in so much of the history of Dredd to that point, including Oz and, if you think about it, Cursed Earth. Can also be seen as the last big story of 'classic' era Dredd.
Necropolis
Pulls so many threads together.
Fantastic as Origins was, I'd have liked to see more of what it was like for normal, everyday folk when their whole world got turned to radioactive ash in a matter of days.
There may well be a bit of progstalgia here, but I'm going with Necropolis.
Necropolis, by a sliver.
Necropolis - Never thought about it before but I agree this is kind of the end of classic Dredd for me too - I more or less bailed on 2000ad once it ended (until the original prog 2000 dragged me back).
Origins. Just. I recall the thrill of anticipation when we had that advert in the previous end of year prog "history will be made".
But there will always be fondness for the Big Nec, and I'll probably vote fir it in the next round.
Necropolis. Origins has some great stuff in it, but Necropolis is the superior story overall.
Necropolis
Necropolis.
I've re-read this epic annualy for the past few plus years, always enjoy it. Perfect length and impact for an epic.
Necropolis
Necropolis, innit.
Whilst Origins was the start of a new golden period for Dredd that carried on to Tour of Duty, Origins itself just falls short of the absolute classics and so I'm going for Necropolis here.
Origins.
Origins
origins
ta
Origins, because it is trailing. Both are great really and I cannot really say one is better than the other.
Necropolis, even without including The Dead Man as a prologue. Draws together threads which had been let hanging since Oz, including some new bits which came up with Young Giant, some of which are still with us.
This one only seemed to be heading one way from the off. Last day to turn that around as both are drawing votes and I'm going to count this one up in the morning so get your votes in today.
The Big Nec. Origins is of course great, but it lacks that "Dredd feels it" splash page, the Foul-smelling Bearded Snake Woman, "Took a chance there, did Joe Dredd", "Us, against that?", "..those who did escape spoke of the sealing of the gates, and the treachery of the Judges", "Childrennnn!", "The end... of a beautiful dream" and of course "I appreciate it".
And I don't even need to touch on the build-up, Kraken, the Comportment, the Dead Man to influence my vote.
Origins is a fairly dull journey to one great scene.
Necropolis would be the winner just for the colours.
VOTING CLOSED
Well for a brief time at the start, a very early flurry of votes and an abstention or two meant Origins took an early lead. But quickly after that predictable form took over and
Necropolis
quickly took an unassailable lead and makes its way safely to the semi's. We'll see Origins in the 12-5th place play off.