I was planning on being productive this morning, then I heard the letterbox go...
Delightfully fucked-up cover by Tim Napper, if this was related to an actual strip it would be even better.
Your Thrill Of The Future this week is Volume 2 of Hershey, can't wait.
Dredd: New story by Rob Williams and Boo Cook dealing with the aftermath of the latest apocalypse. Dredd is back on the streets but isn't the man he was, and Maitland may've found out where the judge system's been going wrong all these years. This definitely feels refreshingly low key after the excesses of the past few months.
Future Shock: Omnidetectorists by Rory McConville and Joel Carpenter. A fun nod to a certain TV show (the clue's in the title)
Hookjaw by Alec Worley and Leigh Gallagher. He's back, and apparently [spoiler]he's grown legs??[/spoiler] I guess this is a reboot rather than a continuation, as the Action Hookjaw is re-contextualised as a retelling of the actual events.
Sinister Dexter: "Fuck me!" is all I can I say after that. I won't say more but by gob has rarely been more smacked than when I read the caption on the final page.
Skip Tracer: So this is back yet again, I guess. It's never risen above being a very average strip for me, and Tharg's choice to have it in regular rotation is somewhat hard to fathom. But I've always liked Paul Marshall's art so I guess I'll stick with it. This one starts in media res with Nolan on the run, maybe it'll go somewhere interesting this time?
Stickleback: Crikey, how long has it been? (Six years according to Barney). This is very much a recap episode following the revelation of Stickleback's true identity, which was certainly necessary after all this time. Great to see this back.
No letters, but the back page is trailing Constanta by Edginton & Trevallion.
I approve of more writing partnerships! It's the classic way... It's an interesting set up for Dredd, which could make the End of days purposeful, if only by getting us back tot he kind of stories we could ahve been exploring post Day of Chaos. The computer programme of MC1s basic budgeting error was a bit laughable, but the principle is an interesting one to see explored in Dredd, just hope with a bit more nuance than the cliff hanger.... "I found a revolutionarly secret economic principle to fix everything by sliding some figures about"! I mean, I get the idea, but Maitland might have been better to have not been shocked as to be... I dunno, but something less comical/comic bookish?
That return from the past elsewhere in the prog was a well kept surprise, though I wonder if it was a hastily rewritten Shako script after they realised they had already gone too far!
Gah, I didn't even pick up that the Dredd story was a co-write with Williams & Wyatt. Yes, more collaboration between Dredd writers should be encouraged I think, especially if it leads to a more unified world rather than lots of separate mini-Dredd universes, which is how it feels sometimes.
Tim Napper's cover art:
(https://i.imgur.com/42Gu2hM.png)
Interesting no Slaine as of yet.
Only read Sin/Dex so far, after a couple of comments I'd seen. And, well. [spoiler]Brave move, if it's not rolled back. But DA's been doing a lot of alt-universe stuff for years now, and so there's every chance of a reset switch at some point. That said, perhaps DA's had enough and feels a need to end this now. Fair enough, if so.[/spoiler]
its nice to get a genuine shock from a story in 2000ad it has been a while but oh man [spoiler]sinister.dexter.....oh man[/spoiler]
oh hey hookjaw we need more updates of older stuff
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 19 September, 2020, 03:03:06 PM
Only read Sin/Dex so far, after a couple of comments I'd seen. And, well. [spoiler]Brave move, if it's not rolled back. But DA's been doing a lot of alt-universe stuff for years now, and so there's every chance of a reset switch at some point. That said, perhaps DA's had enough and feels a need to end this now. Fair enough, if so.[/spoiler]
Brilliantly timed for the 25th anniversary of the strip as well, [spoiler]just to have it end out of the blue.[/spoiler]
[spoiler]The "To Be Continued..." at least does imply the story will carry on in some form with just Dexter as the lead, so Abnett's not completely done with it yet.[/spoiler]
Cover and logo:
(https://comicsceneorg.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/img_2790.jpg?w=779)
Very impressed by this week's Sinister Dexter!
Happy as I am to see [spoiler]HOOKJAW[/spoiler] return, I'm not sure if I want 2000ad to start rehashing past glories instead of making new classics like Skip Tracer. It seems like a bad precedent.
One of the Facebook groups that often has people complaining that 2000 AD isn't as good as it was in the old days and that all new series suck now has people busy complaining about 2000 AD "rehashing" old ideas, even though after one episode we have literally no idea how the new Hookjaw is going to play out.
You can't please some people.
and thats why i avoid those fb groups like the plague.
Hook-jaw looks [spoiler]humanoid to me. His shadow looks like a head and shoulders, and he seems to have a human nose.[/spoiler] So it may be a very different story to what went before.
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 20 September, 2020, 05:06:40 PM
One of the Facebook groups that often has people complaining that 2000 AD isn't as good as it was in the old days and that all new series suck now has people busy complaining about 2000 AD "rehashing" old ideas, even though after one episode we have literally no idea how the new Hookjaw is going to play out.
You can't please some people.
"2000AD today is just woke, with a SJW biased agenda and I haven't read it since 1989" are the most constructive and loyal of readers. :lol:
Hookjaw is [spoiler]Barry Penge![/spoiler]
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 20 September, 2020, 05:06:40 PM
One of the Facebook groups that often has people complaining that 2000 AD isn't as good as it was in the old days and that all new series suck now has people busy complaining about 2000 AD "rehashing" old ideas, even though after one episode we have literally no idea how the new Hookjaw is going to play out.
You can't please some people.
I think universal love for The Out disproves this.
Pretty enthusiastic response to Hookjaw's return, too, as well as some pretty shameless and enthusiastic pimping for the independent work of certain droids.
Quote from: The Monarch on 20 September, 2020, 05:36:20 PM
and thats why i avoid those fb groups like the plague.
Say what you will about the FB groups, but when I cross-posted
that exact same joke over on one of them, it was taken
as a joke, and not a personal insult.
Quote from: Richard on 20 September, 2020, 05:59:17 PM
Hook-jaw looks [spoiler]humanoid to me. His shadow looks like a head and shoulders, and he seems to have a human nose.[/spoiler] So it may be a very different story to what went before.
I think you might be right, they've established [spoiler]the Hookjaw in Action is a fictional retelling of the actual events which leaves a lot of leeway to take the character in a different direction.[/spoiler]
Quote from: JOE SOAP on 20 September, 2020, 07:06:37 PMI think universal love for The Out disproves this.
I don't see how. It's not like I was tarring everyone with the same brush.
I really enjoyed that. The whole thing. Thought Leigh knocked it out of the park on Hookjaw and really looking forward to seeing where he and Alec take this. I'd love for it to be a flying devil shark! Fintastic!
Really enjoyed this prog. [spoiler]Hookjaw[/spoiler] especially looked absolutely fantastic, that last page is the stuff of nightmares.
The shock ending to this weeks [spoiler]Sin/Dex is exactly what I want from 2000AD and I'm keen to see how the strip continues now. Whilst I've never disliked seeing it in the prog I've had the feeling for a while that the status quo had run out of gas a while back and this certainly shakes things up. There's loads of possibilities for where it goes from here and I'll be disappointed if this is retconned.[/spoiler]
Very much looking forward to more Constanta next week as well. Tiernan Trevallions pop-eyed giant bat vampires were amazing back in the last story with Black Max.
Holy funt.
The Prog just dropped and I've been avoiding things refering to it here and elsewhere since I picked up early Saturday that something big happened in [spoiler]Sinister Dexter[/spoiler]. So as soon as it landed I went straight to. Read it and...
... well I was expecting big, but not that. [spoiler]Tracy biting the bullet[/spoiler] was bad enough, but then that finale... well wow... Already thinking of ways it will eventually be rolled back, but damn. I'd said this story was having its flow interrupted, but this, this is just cruel now!
There's only so many times we could post "I wish this fucking thing would just end" before it got back to Dan and he called our bluff.
I'm thinking we've met the AI controlling things before.
Remember a whole bushel of years ago when Ray & Finny helped a program that spoke to them through motorway signage (In a move rather reminiscent of the film LA Story with Steve Martin)? Well, where is that program now?
Quote from: Bolt-01 on 21 September, 2020, 04:00:02 PM
I'm thinking we've met the AI controlling things before.
Remember a whole bushel of years ago when Ray & Finny helped a program that spoke to them through motorway signage (In a move rather reminiscent of the film LA Story with Steve Martin)? Well, where is that program now?
That would be call back!
Not sure what's happening with the cover. When I saw it in the solicitations some time back I was very excited to read the strip that went with it. Alas it would appear not,
Anyway to things fantastic. And this Prog is. I mean I will not get over
Sinister Dexter which is clearly the funtin' best thing in the Prog. I mean I don't really think they've done that for keeps (I worry that [spoiler]Tracy[/spoiler] might be gone for good mind) but they played it straight enough to make it feel like it was a sticker.
Dredd was great. I mean yes we've done the whole not what he was before thing plenty of times before but this worked really well and then that ending was very,
very intriguing. I wonder if the writing partnership is going to be based on the idea of Rob Williams being the telly show runner. He sets the premise and ideas someone else delivers. Utter speculation on my part, looking forward to how this one develops though.
Future Shocks I was taken by it was all a bit hollow and the shock of I didn't like those folks and so after a string of fairly random events I stuck it to them. Good art mind.
Hookjaw. Colour me intrigued this one is all set up and mystery but its got me... you ready... its got me... you really ready... its got me.... yeah I'm really going to do this... its got me
HOOKED. Did you see what I did there.
Oh and didn't Mr biten in half do well to get those final words out!
Skip Tracer well its a decent start, but this strip has done that before and only really landed it once. We'll see how it goes though but can't fault this opening. Oh and nice Sinister Dexter tribute given what happened this week... that is Polly Anna right?
Stickleback Well its nice that Ian Edginton apologises for the delay in getting this too us and a good recap to get us back up to speed while giving us the connection to Holmes and bish bash bosh big glowly energy eyes thing in the middle of the city to pull us immediately into now (story now that is). Great job.
All this plus more Hershey to come (I'm very much in the Pro-Hershey camp) an ad for Fiends coming back to boost the lineup next week - no Slaine mind for those waiting for it poor Tharg does seem to be having traffic control issues but he's still supplying the goods.
. I wonder if the writing partnership is going to be based on the idea of Rob Williams being the telly show runner. He sets the premise and ideas someone else delivers.
Nope.
Quote from: Art on 21 September, 2020, 11:30:40 PM
. I wonder if the writing partnership is going to be based on the idea of Rob Williams being the telly show runner. He sets the premise and ideas someone else delivers.
Nope.
Arh well.
Quote from: Colin YNWA on 21 September, 2020, 09:00:56 PM
Skip Tracer well its a decent start, but this strip has done that before and only really landed it once. We'll see how it goes though but can't fault this opening. Oh and nice Sinister Dexter tribute given what happened this week... that is Polly Anna right?
Wait, wait, wait, does this mean that yer man in Skip Tracer (Skip? Mr. Tracer? this story really has left very little impact in my mind) is really Sinister? Is Johnny Skip an anagram of Malone, or Dracula written backwards? Usually they make the switcheroo story a little less low key. I'm afraid that Skip Tracer has not engaged me much compared to the other stories and I'm sure some big stuff has happened, but it just hasn't forced itself into my consciousness.
Really enjoyed the other stories this week by the way.
As was clearly established in part 274 of the last Skip Tracer series, the lead character of Skip Tracer - Gary Tracer - prefers to be called Gary, as "Mr Tracer" is what people call his father. His father works as a comic book inker, so it's not meant as a compliment.
This will be the first issue of my renewed sub! Can't wait! 😀
Dredd – Dredd is where he should be handing out justice on the streets. He is again starting to question himself. We also have some board-room stuff going on which most likely will drive the story. When was the last time we saw Boo cook in the prog (his last work was for the meg on Blunt)
Future Shock – It started as a very generic shock but ended in an interesting twist. It is maybe time that Tharg gives Rory McConville a bigger jab at a more substantial story than all these once-offs.
Hook Jaw – I did not see this coming, I expected something completely different. It is great to see Rebellion is preparing to use their acquisitions. Let us see how this series unfolds. Leigh's art is always a great plus in the prog, he is one of my favourite artists. Last point is maybe this opens the door for a return of certain polar beast to return to the fold as well.
Sin/Dex – After last week shocking ending I tough this could not go worse for the duo. How wrong was I. The ending was a total surprise, wrapped around a panel by panel action-fest.
Skip Tracer – I enjoyed the previous series of Skip but this one is not really tingling my interest that much but let us see where this leads too.
Stickleback – Great to see this return after so many years. Edginton and D'Isreali (just loves his B/W art here) sure knows how to deliver. This is a more a catch-up episode but after so many years we needed this.
Overall, the jump-on-prog did deliver in a solid way. Two surprises for me with only one slight disappointment. We do not always know the intrigues and issues to get the prog delivered in this trying times. Great jump-on point Tharg.
I am looking forward to the return of Fiends, next weeks new story looks quite interesting.
Quote from: ChickenStu on 23 September, 2020, 12:40:10 AM
This will be the first issue of my renewed sub! Can't wait! 😀
Good place to start from for sure.
[spoiler]Defund the Judges?[/spoiler]
Interesting, but maybe a bit on the nose.
Well that was a mighty read, expectations confounded, confections expounded.
Love the Cover, this (and Booda's virus one from the Sourdough Spring) put me in mind of the Maestro's series of wraparounds in the 300s that lured me into this accursed briar patch in the first place. I spent an unreasonable amount of time pinch-zooming about before I even started reading the prog-proper. Why is there a Judge's head in the maw of the main mechababyheadworm? WHY? More of this kind of thing, and more Tim Napper while you're at it. This is what I pay my digi-groats for!
Dredd is a solid old-school epic-logue, with Boo pulling out all the stops: that Atlantic Wall shot was great. Not in love with Beeny being the one to voice 'the poorer the population the more violent crimes they commit', seems a bit disappointing from a supposed reformer, but I suppose she's still a fascist bullyboy like the rest of them.
Omnidetectorists was a great one-off from McConville, and best of all a new (to me) twist. Liked the stark inking and robot designs from Carpenter. When a FS works there's little better.
Now I was a little underwhelmed by the idea of more Hookjaw, but this take was a fun surprise. Worley can write gorey horror like a bad'un, and Gallagher (here gone Full Talbot) can most assuredly draw it. Shouldn't you be drawing Kingmaker, Leigh? Isn't that why we let you off Defoe? Ah, we'll let you moonlight on this for a bit, but no dawdling.
Sinister Dexter . Powerful shocks aplenty, but for me this draws us back to the Tron explanation for post-Generica events ('Bulletopia'? 'Boys in the HUD'?). And could all this be happening as an AI simulation in Dex's headcase? No disrespect intended to Assirelli, who does strong work here, but it would have been better to have this sort of major event under the pen of the current series artist (although I appreciate that unknown circumstances may have meant further unwanted interruptions).
Skip Tracer returns.
...
Oh alright, I'll give it one more chance to engage me. It's not a great sign that he's still not chasing skips, and the Logan/Cable/Lone Wolf route is well trodden, but at least Marshall has taken pains to make the character design a bit more distinctive. Bring it on.
StIckleback. Hrrrrrrgh. so beautiful To be honest, I didn't think this, one of my all-time favourite series, would ever return, and I wasn't at all keen on the Holmes thing. But not only is it back and as soooo beautiful stunning-looking as ever, but Edginton sells the new status quo and the current crisis so adeptly that I'm already frothing at the mouth for more. I'll just have another little read, shall I?
Great, great prog!!
Dredd right on the button, Marvelous having Shirley Holmes back with that beautiful art work in Stickleback and so happy to see SinDex finally starting to wind down, fingerscrossed its not the big two reboot button in a couple of iusses, or worse, we're all living in a video game AI simulation.
the aptly named Skip story is back too.
Did anyone notice a certain superhero in the Dredd strip?
Quote from: broodblik on 23 September, 2020, 12:49:47 PM
Did anyone notice a certain superhero in the Dredd strip?
Was just about to say!
SPIDEY SENSE TINGLING!
QuoteWhy is there a Judge's head in the maw of the main mechababyheadworm?
I don't know why, but it's my favourite bit of the cover! I love his anguished expression!
Quote from: broodblik on 23 September, 2020, 12:49:47 PM
Did anyone notice a certain superhero in the Dredd strip?
One of the side-benefits of Into The Spiderverse. I also liked the female judge in the skull-cracking scene who was wearing her respirator with the same attention-to-purpose as many mask-wearers.
I really liked Boo's work on the strip. Haven't been a massive fan in past, but i thought he really brought life to the strip, and included so much brilliant background detail.
Quote from: broodblik on 23 September, 2020, 12:49:47 PM
Did anyone notice a certain superhero in the Dredd strip?
Is it our modern savour Quantitative Easement?
Sin Dex - that's how to do a punch up that fills an entire episode. Pat take note! I thought it was a superb piece of writing. I figured Finny was going to come back from the dead, due to the nano tech, and like the other characters I thought Ramone's hesitation in the last couple of pages was down to grief at losing his friend. But no, he was just looking for his super gun to finish him off, as he knew he wouldn't stay down. Wow.
Quote from: Proudhuff on 23 September, 2020, 11:48:25 AM
so happy to see SinDex finally starting to wind down, fingerscrossed its not the big two reboot button in a couple of iusses, or worse, we're all living in a video game AI simulation.
Well that's certainly a possibility and those who feel that the series has run it's course will probably be thinking it's rather inevitable that not just an alternative reality was enough, but an AI one too where it's all happening in Ray's headcase or something.
I reckon that the next time we see the story, the action will pan out frame by frame to reveal it's all been taking place in say a modest glass cube, no even better a shimmering pyramid. This will be sat in the back seat of the Edsel as the pair head off to start another 30 odd years of every decreasing circles... :P
Sticky is back and looking as wonderful as ever, I always hoped it would return in some guise, but with the reveal you never knew...
...now just Helium to ressurect in 3 years time!
What a superb prog. What an episode of SiniDex! HookJaw is off to a splendid start- this is obviously a completely different take on HookJaw, far removed from Action, and all power to Tharg's elbow- and the droids involved- for a brilliant synthesis of story and art, and for wrong footing me so successfully.
Fantastic to see Stickleback back, and I really wish I could say I'm completely up to speed, but six years is a long time and I am old. Looking forward to where it's going (which I seem to be saying a lot about the prog this week, what with SiniDex and HookJaw.
Everything else was also very good- a decent Future Shock, a solid Dredd, and even Skip Tracer wasnt awful
It's still the weakest thing in any given prog and a Meg floppy waiting to happen, but this one held together okay, and only the colour palette puts me off the art. It looks brown, even though it's actually quite vibrant. Like John Higgins on an off day.
Still dont like the cover though. And the inevitable price rise next week was a small shock, even though it is of course worth twice that.
SBT
Really enjoyed this prog.
Already I have to say I like this type of Dredd better than the scary monster mega-epic that came before. Slow-burning, low-key and menacing, with just the right amount of politics going on behind the scenes (though I'm not a huge fan of Rob's judge dialogue, all the 'drokkin's' and 'stomms' take me back to the Ennis days).
Really enjoyed Stickleback; despite a nagging sense of deja vu - I know the Moriarty fight scene is in the original stories, but I knew I'd seen it in a comic before. ([spoiler]League of Extraordinary Gentlemen[/spoiler], that is.) I actually prefer the strip now we know who the main man really is - it adds a whole new layer of interest.
Sin / Dex - yeah, it was a bit of a shock, but to be honest I'm just expecting another SinDex reset. I really thought in the past that Dexter was paralyzed and that that skeleton story was a sort of omen of their imminent end, but everything just went back to normal and I'm guessing we'll get something similar this time.
[spoiler]Hookjaw[/spoiler] was a very nice surprise - I don't know what the hell's going on but it's great fun, and reminds me very much of the Old Greg episode of the Boosh.
I have to confess I groaned to see another Hershey series - her death scene was perfect, and I wish this would just go the way of the resurrected Pa, Junior and Link.
Haven't read the rest but like I say, a quality prog to go with the Megazine's new lease of life.
In no particular order:
Dredd felt like we've been here before, so it'll be interesting seeing how they put a new spin on this, though I don't think "funding education" is going to turn out as planned, as the last few years have made it painfully clear that even highly-educated people can still be complete fucking dumbasses.
Skip Tracer is a masterpiece example of praxis and as a communist myself, I fully endorse the practice of expending the minimal amount of effort necessary to reap the rewards of capitalism, and that is what Skip Tracer does. Someone needs to have a word with the artists, though, because they're clearly putting in actual effort and we don't want them going up against a wall with all the landlords when the Glorious Day comes.
Slaine is long past its prime and full of David Ickian conspiracy theori
It kind of felt like Stickleback didn't really join the dots between "Sherlock Holmes" and "supervillain", it just sort of says he did one thing one day, then did another the next. As readers, why are we still reading about Stickleback when we know he's just Sherlock Holmes in a funny hat? How are we supposed to go back to investing in the fiction within the fiction? I guess we'll see.
Adventures Of Land Shark looks like it's either going to be very, very silly and bad, or very, very silly and good. On the slim chance there are actual OG Hookjaw fans coming to the prog for this alone, I am curious what they'll make of it.
Sinister Dexter - I think my problem with this was the same one that others have experienced: it doesn't convince me that events will hold as this strip has simply been going for so darn long and gone down so many story paths already that the "endings" it's done in the past have been much more satisfying than this one - it really didn't seem like killing his best friend of forty years was that much of an imposition on Ramone. Maybe like the rest of us he can't believe it's finally over.
A decent enough prog. I liked that it was a good mix of things, though as a jumping-on point I cannot say if it made newcomers feel they were sufficiently up-to-speed with everything by the end and hadn't missed much in the other two thousand one hundred and ninety-nine issues.
Here are a few possibilities for [spoiler]Sin/Dex future:
1. Finnigan is really gone, done, and dusted and Dexter continues with the story
2. With the story continuing Dexter do destroy the AI but, in the process, also expires thus this is really the end
3. Finnigan was replaced but is still alive and helps to destroy the AI
4. After the AI is destroyed the world resets again
5. Finnigan wakes up in a shower and recalls this vivid dream
6. Add your own theory here[/spoiler]
Quote from: JayzusB.Christ on 23 September, 2020, 09:57:08 PM
Really enjoyed Stickleback; despite a nagging sense of deja vu - I know the Moriarty fight scene is in the original stories, but I knew I'd seen it in a comic before. ([spoiler]League of Extraordinary Gentlemen[/spoiler], that is.) I actually prefer the strip now we know who the main man really is - it adds a whole new layer of interest.
It's Game of Shadows that popped into my head when I read that.
I still think the Holmes conflation was a bit of a misstep to take with such a wonderful and original villainous character, and I wonder if Ian regretted it (hence the massive gap). However, with this current episode selling it as a broken Holmes rebuilding himself after Reichenbach makes it quite an appealing idea in itself. A distorted Holmes for a twisted world isn't a bad premise.
Quote from: Richard on 20 September, 2020, 05:59:17 PM
Hook-jaw looks [spoiler]humanoid to me. His shadow looks like a head and shoulders, and he seems to have a human nose.[/spoiler] So it may be a very different story to what went before.
[spoiler]Hookjaw/Shako hybrid is my guess. SHAKJAW![/spoiler]
Quote from: broodblik on 24 September, 2020, 05:56:11 AM
Here are a few possibilities for [spoiler]Sin/Dex future:
1. Finnigan is really gone, done, and dusted and Dexter continues with the story
2. With the story continuing Dexter do destroy the AI but, in the process, also expires thus this is really the end
3. Finnigan was replaced but is still alive and helps to destroy the AI
4. After the AI is destroyed the world resets again
5. Finnigan wakes up in a shower and recalls this vivid dream
6. Add your own theory here[/spoiler]
7. Finnigan's consciousness is still alive within the AI and manages to overcome it, with the help of Dex, just when all everything seems lost and then they Thelma and Louise it to a FULL ending.
Quote from: JimmyNailz on 24 September, 2020, 11:27:48 AM
Quote from: Richard on 20 September, 2020, 05:59:17 PM
Hook-jaw looks [spoiler]humanoid to me. His shadow looks like a head and shoulders, and he seems to have a human nose.[/spoiler] So it may be a very different story to what went before.
[spoiler]Hookjaw/Shako hybrid is my guess. SHAKJAW![/spoiler]
Or HookPAW?
Surely just Sharko?
Almost wanna make a sealab 2021 reference but i dunno if anyone would get it
Quote from: JimmyNailz on 24 September, 2020, 11:27:48 AM
Quote from: Richard on 20 September, 2020, 05:59:17 PM
Hook-jaw looks [spoiler]humanoid to me. His shadow looks like a head and shoulders, and he seems to have a human nose.[/spoiler] So it may be a very different story to what went before.
[spoiler]Hookjaw/Shako hybrid is my guess. SHAKJAW![/spoiler]
Aw, not the bloody [spoiler]polar bear [/spoiler]again. He's already outstaying his welcome a bit.
Killer Shark from the Harley Quinn cartoon show, the Flash tv series, and at least three of the recent DCAU movies would be a more contemporary point of reference, but if you want to go geek, there's about a dozen cartoon shows from the 1980s featuring humanoid sharks before you even get to actual franchises based on the premise of humanoid aminuls amnimals fish people like Street Sharks (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqGQyMF5a_0).
Quote from: Greg M. on 24 September, 2020, 11:44:20 AM
Surely just Sharko?
A cantankerous, grizzled creature from a bygone era, wantonly attacking vessels with capitalist and commercial interests.
Could be some kinda...Legendary Shark
*Stares at camera 3*
Ugh I only just twigged the Innsmouth inferences in Hookjaw.
Quote from: Professor Bear on 24 September, 2020, 01:05:45 PM
Ugh I only just twigged the Innsmouth inferences in Hookjaw.
Ohhh yeah!
Quote from: TordelBack on 24 September, 2020, 10:56:39 AM
I still think the Holmes conflation was a bit of a misstep to take with such a wonderful and original villainous character
Just noticed you have a Sherlock Holmes avatar. Nice Sherlock Holmes avatar! You must be a Sherlock Holmes fan.
The Holmes thing has been teased for a while and there's clues littered around some of the previous stories.
Quote from: SmallBlueThing(Reborn) on 23 September, 2020, 08:45:22 PM
Still dont like the cover though. And the inevitable price rise next week was a small shock, even though it is of course worth twice that.
I agree about the cover it's really not my cup of tea and an odd choice for a jumping on prog where there is no story to which it pertains to (good to confuse the new readers!)
In regards to Stickleback and the reveal, there were many clues that he wasn't the man he always appeared to be and parts of the previous stories had scenes where dialogue and visual nods and winks were appearing.
I really like the back story and it's been fun trying to work things out over the saga, although I couldn't solve the complete pseudonym and identity puzzle, which made the spinal shedding even the more wonderful all those years ago.
It will be interesting how Stickleback Holmes will enagage with his former self over the series in what promises to be a visual feast.
Quote from: broodblik on 23 September, 2020, 04:51:09 AM
Future Shock – It started as a very generic shock but ended in an interesting twist. It is maybe time that Tharg gives Rory McConville a bigger jab at a more substantial story than all these once-offs.
oint is maybe this opens the door for a return of certain polar beast to return to the fold as well.
Tharg did with Devlin Waugh. It made Skip Tracer look like Bad Company and Zenith
McConville writes a perfectly good Dredd, though (e.g..A Better Class of Criminal, Commuter Pain, Future Crimes Unit). I wouldn't hold a weak Devlin against anyone, even Smith struggled on occasion, and it's so his strip that any other voice is in immediate difficulty.
Quote from: metcalfecarr on 25 September, 2020, 03:17:21 PM
Quote from: broodblik on 23 September, 2020, 04:51:09 AM
Future Shock – It started as a very generic shock but ended in an interesting twist. It is maybe time that Tharg gives Rory McConville a bigger jab at a more substantial story than all these once-offs.
oint is maybe this opens the door for a return of certain polar beast to return to the fold as well.
Tharg did with Devlin Waugh. It made Skip Tracer look like Bad Company and Zenith
His Devlin was definitely not John Smith but it was not that bad. It is not always easy taking on someone else creation and running with it.
Well I really enjoyed that Prog from beginning to end. A fantastic mix of varied writing and art.
But goodness knows what someone jumping in for the first time (or the first time in twenty years) made of it.
Still great stuff and look forward to more of it all.
Quote from: Tiplodocus on 28 September, 2020, 10:46:10 AM
goodness knows what someone jumping in for the first time (or the first time in twenty years) made of it
A couple of weeks ago I said how strange it was that Dredd stories in jumping-on progs often referenced the preceding story when doing that might be confusing for new readers - instead, they might be better making a clean start. It's since dawned on me that the whole point of referencing previous events is so those new readers eventually buy the collection version. Of course! Sensible strategy.
Anyway, surely something for all jumping-on readers in this edition, with its kaleidoscopic melange of stories. Excellent punchline in Dredd - how gloriously obvious that it would never have occurred to the Judges that an educated populace would be more likely to behave itself! Hookjaw looks like it's going to go to all kinds of dark places (can we have it in a regened prog please, Tharg?), Skip Tracer does his... skippy thing, and Sinister Dexter [spoiler]oh come on, you must have all read it by now![/spoiler].
Ah. Just realised I haven't got round to reading Stickleback yet. Will remedy that immediately.
Quote from: The Monarch on 24 September, 2020, 12:48:06 PM
Almost wanna make a sealab 2021 reference but i dunno if anyone would get it
I get it!
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img923/1922/qR7O5W.png)