The cover by D'Israeli:
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EmndFI0WMAAKHV0?format=jpg&name=large)
Cover plus logo:
(https://i2.wp.com/www.comicon.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/2000-ad-2208-1.jpg?resize=768%2C1002&ssl=1)
A good solid prog with both Hook Jaw and Skip Tracer ending next week.
Dredd – With all the role-players and plot lines introduced the battle for hart of the simps can start. Niemand weaves an interesting story with some good art by Steve Austin.
Stickelback – As the battle for London is fought by the goliaths the outcome is watch by all interest parties. This episode is all about the battle, but this might only be a setup by mister Holmes to commence the next sequence in the fight.
Hook Jaw – Action packed, violence and blood-fest from start to end. The wonderful, rendered splash-page sums up this episode. Leigh' art is such a highlight in this episode I almost forgot about Alec's great script.
Skip Tracer – The story is almost done, and we are setup for the final confrontation. As always, the story is quite readable and still feels like we are back in the 80s.
Fiends – The fantasy elements are still heavy in the story. The story continues to intrigue and are wonderfully told by Edginton. Tiernen's art continues to impress.
Does this prog even exist?
Maybe not on paper but as signals or data expressed as series of the digits 0 and 1
That's a smashing cover - no prog here yet. Glad to see Matt has proceeded to the next round of the Favourite CURRENT poll.
Another terrific wee prog, everything works.
I'd make particular note of the following:
- Edginton and Campbell sneak some very naughty words into this week's luminous Stickleback. Very naughty indeed.
- You know when you read a story about a giant shark, and you don't really get to see the shark properly for like 7 episodes, getting weird hybrid monster versions, and odd blurry glimpses instead, and you think, well maybe sharks just aren't as interesting as they were in the '70s, or maybe the artist just doesn't want to draw sharks? Well, this isn't that story. Wow.
- Check out that opening panel in Dredd. Fab teamwork from Austin and Blythe.
Quote from: TordelBack on 18 November, 2020, 09:26:43 AM
- Edginton and Campbell sneak some very naughty words into this week's luminous Stickleback. Very naughty indeed.
Not guilty! All inter-dimensional eldritch horror's dialogue is the artist's own!
Quote from: TordelBack on 18 November, 2020, 09:26:43 AM
- Edginton and Campbell sneak some very naughty words into this week's luminous Stickleback. Very naughty indeed.
Translation please I am not well versed with inter-dimension beings language
I'll just leave this here. You'll see why I thought Jim must be the culprit.
(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/71/64/cd/7164cdeee04be20ba30cb726de685ec5.jpg)
Quote from: TordelBack on 18 November, 2020, 10:05:17 AM
You'll see why I thought Jim must be the culprit.
That would only have happened if Bey had been facing off against an interdimensional Pete Wells, although he'd probably have shouted:
(https://i.imgur.com/jFXh275.png)
Somewhere in a box are a set of letters my teenage GF and I use to write to each other in Dwarfish Runes (as set out by Tolkien in the front of The Hobbit).
Has this had a delay this week? no sign of it and it's very rarely not here by release day.
Quote from: TordelBack on 18 November, 2020, 09:26:43 AM
- Edginton and Campbell sneak some very naughty words into this week's luminous Stickleback. Very naughty indeed.
Well, I'm quite proud of myself - I managed to work it out without having seen your transcription or knowing what script it was. But I probably wouldn't have tried if you hadn't mentioned the naughty words - I once got a week's ban here for calling Nigel Farage one of them :)
Quote from: JayzusB.Christ on 18 November, 2020, 02:01:00 PM
Quote from: TordelBack on 18 November, 2020, 09:26:43 AM
- Edginton and Campbell sneak some very naughty words into this week's luminous Stickleback. Very naughty indeed.
Well, I'm quite proud of myself - I managed to work it out without having seen your transcription or knowing what script it was. But I probably wouldn't have tried if you hadn't mentioned the naughty words - I once got a week's ban here for calling Nigel Farage one of them :)
Now I get it . It's all due to a trauma I suffered when I was a schoolboy. I was attacked by a bat
Just seen on soshul meeja that there are big postal delays this week, and please don't hassle the droids about it. Tharg will provide (eventually).
No paper Prog here either. I think it's only once ever been this late. Oh well.
Quote from: CalHab on 18 November, 2020, 08:41:23 AM
Does this prog even exist?
Not in my house it doesn't, but then it may exist OUTSIDE of my house, but as I have no proof of this I am in an Existential crisis! :think:
Quote from: Southstreeter on 18 November, 2020, 05:10:17 PM
Just seen on soshul meeja that there are big postal delays this week, and please don't hassle the droids about it. Tharg will provide (eventually).
That makes sense then. Cheers.
Here, ye don't think there's any chance Edgy is positioning Fiends as part of Sláine's universe, in advance of Pat's alleged swansong in the upcoming Manco-drawn series?
(I ask more in a spirit of fun speculation than anything serious, and don't mean to impugn Ian's professionalism in any way at all).
I know there's no shortage of triple goddesses (there's 2 (or 6) in the current prog alone), but this wonderful run has had such a heavily fantasy bent that I can't help wondering if it's laying groundwork. If you remember, Myrddin describes the Nazis as an incarnation of the Cythron's plan, so Constanta and his fiends could fit right in there as immortal enemies of the Goddess.
I can't believe Rebellion could leave Sláine fallow, as a Top Three Most Widely-Recognised Character, and it's not like Ian is a stranger to linking worlds that initially appear entirely unconnected (hitherto just his own - which neither Fiends nor Sláine are). Could this tall tale be a tentative backdoor into Sláine-related shenanigans, a sort of proactive Strontium Dogs?
Quote from: TordelBack on 19 November, 2020, 11:36:41 PM
I can't believe Rebellion could leave Sláine fallow, as a Top Three Most Widely-Recognised Character, and it's not like Ian is a stranger to linking worlds that initially appear entirely unconnected (hitherto just his own - which neither Fiends nor Sláine are). Could this tall tale be a tentative backdoor into Sláine-related shenanigans, a sort of proactive Strontium Dogs?
Pat has said, repeatedly, on Twitter of late that he has assurances that no one else will write his characters or create in-universe spin-offs. I have no inside information, but I find that mildly surprising given the direction that most of the bridge-burning seem to have come from... although he also seems to have modified his stance from "done with 2000AD" to "no current plans to write anything" so perhaps the two things are not unconnected?
I've read Pat's statements, and while I understand and respect his feelings re: one of the greatest (and my favourite) of his creations, I can't believe it'd be sustainable for Rebellion to retire its top IP as soon as creators no longer want to, or can't, write it. Again the clusterfuck of comics rights rears it's head: if there was a proper royalty situation for creators, Pat & Co could step back when they wanted to, and still benefit from the monetization of their genius.
But I didn't want to divert the review thread into this overcrowded siding yet again! Apologies!
Rather, I wondered if anyone else thought how easy and natural it would be for the Ever Living Ones, or even the Guledig, to pop up in this story and describe Wilson or Constanta in terms of their respective trans-time causes. And how if you were going to set up a universe of fantasy spin-offs that eventually spiralled (geddit) back to the big man in an otherwise drear post-Pat future, this might be how you start.
I remain convinced that the supposed existence of this prog is a cruel hoax.
Quote from: CalHab on 20 November, 2020, 09:28:22 AM
I remain convinced that the supposed existence of this prog is a cruel hoax.
If it makes you feel any better, I haven't had mine yet, either.
Quote from: Jim_Campbell on 20 November, 2020, 09:33:40 AM
Quote from: CalHab on 20 November, 2020, 09:28:22 AM
I remain convinced that the supposed existence of this prog is a cruel hoax.
If it makes you feel any better, I haven't had mine yet, either.
Proof that my theory is correct!
Look, can we talk about Fiends of the Eastern Front for a minute?
It's lovely to look at, and I appreciate the playful way Edginton is introducing new layers of mythology in each episode to create a ridiculous yet fitting origin tale.
AND YET.
The original Fiends was the same length, but that story somehow felt more like pure thrills - a protagonist who basically faced the spectre of death at the end of each episode. It's like a totally different strip, moodwise.
I'm guessing in the final chapter there'll be that thing where one of the two tale-tellers turns out to be Constanta in disguise, a bit like the end of the first strip. But is it too much to ask to have some soldiers being menaced by vampires (as well as bullets and boredom) in my 'What if there were vampires in the two World Wars' series??
Quote from: CalHab on 20 November, 2020, 09:35:23 AM
Proof that my theory is correct!
Well, I can confirm that about 20% of the contents definitely exists...
Quote from: AlexF on 20 November, 2020, 10:02:02 AMThe original Fiends was the same length, but that story somehow felt more like pure thrills - a protagonist who basically faced the spectre of death at the end of each episode. It's like a totally different strip, moodwise.
Which I'm quite happy about, because I already have the other story on the shelf. I don't want a retread. (See also: Hookjaw.) Fiends is currently by some margin my favourite thing in the Prog.
Quote from: AlexF on 20 November, 2020, 10:02:02 AM
But is it too much to ask to have some soldiers being menaced by vampires (as well as bullets and boredom) in my 'What if there were vampires in the two World Wars' series??
It's a good point, that was the USP of the strip, but the we have already had another WW2 run through (Bishop & MacNeil's Stalingrad one), the Durham Red one-off, the WWI Black Max run, and a trilogy of WW2 prose novels that apparently still buy Bishop the odd refill of staples. I think the diversions of this and the Napoleonic story are very worthwhile additions, but I certainly wouldn't mind if we circled back to the Eastern Front at some future point.
I agree in principle with not diverging too much from a strip's original premise for fear of losing its appeal, but when the result is something as wonderful as the current Constanta run... well, sometimes a bit of vicissitude wins the day. (Tiernen Trevallion art moment of the week: Varujan's boggle-eyed expression in the first frame of the final page)
Maybe we could have a one-off special prog where all five stories (including Dredd!) are chapters from Constanta's history.
Simply Normal continues to be great even though this episode kind of treads water with the song sequence and some large panels. That final frame is just beautiful, though. Is it a throwaway thing, do we think, or anything to do with the story?
Elsewhere...
- That centre spread obviously, thought it's actually a shame it has two extra panels and an 'AAAAH!' otherwise I'd buy an extra prog and frame it.
- I wonder how the Acoustic Resonance Chamber thing will play out in Skip Tracer? Will Van Hess regret his decision to confront his quarry there..? Hmm.
- Chuckled at the rude runes in Stickleback, the rudest of which doesn't exactly need a translation
Is anyone else still waiting on theirs?
I've had neither Prog nor Meg this week.
Quote from: Something Fishy on 20 November, 2020, 02:06:09 PM
Is anyone else still waiting on theirs?
Yep. Postal service well buggered at the moment, it seems.
ah OK cheers. Must be a wider issue still.
Presumably Nolan will use his variable mind power generator to generate a variable minid power to get them out of the situation.
While Simply Normal does feel slightly stretched, it is wonderfully realised (burn on Jack Point, there?) and I wonder if this was a "bog paper" strip, we'd have big doouble page spread intro pages and all this action condensed into 4 pages instead?
Quote from: norton canes on 20 November, 2020, 12:07:23 PM
I wonder how the Acoustic Resonance Chamber thing will play out in Skip Tracer? Will Van Hess regret his decision to confront his quarry there..? Hmm.[/li][/list]
Strikes me that the acoustic resonance chamber might play into the young lady being a singer...
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 20 November, 2020, 10:49:11 AM
Which I'm quite happy about, because I already have the other story on the shelf. I don't want a retread. (See also: Hookjaw.) Fiends is currently by some margin my favourite thing in the Prog.
Same here. Much love for original fiends but it didn't need a return - bringing it back needed to add something different and IMO Tharg has nailed it with each new series has better than the last in terms of adding brand new elements to keep it really, really interesting and fresh. This series reads like a proper fairytale and it's so different to the last one with Black Max and his mad science craziness and that was so different from the Napoleonic stuff with Baba Yaga and so on.
I'd be happy for a strip to run in the prog that's got that 80s style constant cliffhanger feel to it but I'd prefer it to be new and I think this is where something like Skip Tracer could shine.
No time for a proper review this week but Hookjaw and Fiends are blowing me away. That Hookjaw spread is something else!
The current Fiends series is my favorite off them all and Ian got it spot-on. I just love the fantasy elements in the story. In some sense the story does not feel like a Fiends story but let's see how Ian ties up the whole thing.
Quote from: Bolt-01 on 20 November, 2020, 02:39:29 PM
Strikes me that the acoustic resonance chamber might play into the young lady being a singer...
It's almost like you read a lot of scripts, Bolt!
To be honest, I think variable mind power generator would be less cheesy.... If it is a combination of both "I use my variable power to channel her singing..." then I'm out.
Quote from: Bolt-01 on 20 November, 2020, 02:39:29 PM
Strikes me that the acoustic resonance chamber might play into the young lady being a singer...
Leigh - be very careful making threats like that.
However, on the positive side of things - I think this has been the best received strip for Skip that we've had. I know I've enjoyed it and especially the Paul Marshall / Dylan Teague artwork.
Quote from: Something Fishy on 20 November, 2020, 02:06:09 PM
Is anyone else still waiting on theirs?
I've had neither Prog nor Meg this week.
saw a postie driving up and down the street earlier looking for an address ... seems like parcel delivery is their focus right now. Only seen a letter delivery once this week. Still awaiting the prog and meg.
:(
I'm talking purely out of Skip T - rest of the prog is holding my attention decently
Quote from: Bolt-01 on 20 November, 2020, 03:39:51 PM
Leigh - be very careful making threats like that.
However, on the positive side of things - I think this has been the best received strip for Skip that we've had. I know I've enjoyed it and especially the Paul Marshall / Dylan Teague artwork.
Still no prog or Meg. It's been a long time since it was this late.
I realise it's not their fault, but it would be nice if they could provide a digital prog for paper subscribers.
Calhab - it's not Rebellion, it is the postal service that are having issues...
Not really up to TMO to recompense you.
Quote from: Bolt-01 on 21 November, 2020, 12:44:14 PM
Calhab - it's not Rebellion, it is the postal service that are having issues...
Quote from: CalHab on 21 November, 2020, 11:27:21 AM
I realise it's not their fault
Yup still nothing here either. No prog or Meg from last week and, of course, not this week.
Have they said what is going on with the postal service?
True cal, or just an update formally telling us what has happened.
Quote from: CalHab on 21 November, 2020, 11:27:21 AM
Still no prog or Meg. It's been a long time since it was this late.
I realise it's not their fault, but it would be nice if they could provide a digital prog for paper subscribers.
This is the fourth time in the last couple of months that my prog has been late - and by late, I'm talking a couple of days past the day it hits the newsagent, rather than just "it didn't arrive the Saturday before". I've twice had to ask the subs team to send new copies as two progs simply didn't arrive at all, one after two weeks of waiting for it. It's the worst the subs service has been since I started subscribing back in the early '00s, and while it's clearly a postal issue I think the subs team are considering ways to manage it - last time a prog went missing, the subs team sent a replacement and offered to unlock the digital prog for me until it arrived. Something like that (if it could be set up simply, and not open to abuse) would be a nice gesture for physical subs who are experiencing regular delays.
That sounds good. I did email them yesterday but got no reply. Is there a specific address I can forward it onto the subs team?
Quote from: Something Fishy on 21 November, 2020, 03:08:34 PM
That sounds good. I did email them yesterday but got no reply. Is there a specific address I can forward it onto the subs team?
There was a specific subs email at one point, but every time I've contacted them recently it's been through the contact form on the website. Response times have varied from same-day to four days later, and I think it's simply a case of how busy they are that week.
ah ok cheers. I've tried the shop address and will see what happens.
Quote from: Something Fishy on 21 November, 2020, 02:21:03 PM
Yup still nothing here either. No prog or Meg from last week and, of course, not this week.
Have they said what is going on with the postal service?
There was a Tweet a few days ago about it.
It's not remotely their fault yet their business could suffer for it in the long run. A business they have done extremely well to keep going throughout this crisis, and for which I am both grateful and impressed.
For myself - I just sit and wait patiently. As at yesterday, I was fully up to date having received Meg 426 and Prog 2208 afew days ago. I suspect 2209 will be late, it's ok though. It can't be helped. My full sub is due in January, it absolutely WILL be renewed, as it always has been since around 2005.
IT'S LANDED!!! Its landed its landed, its landed... now to find time to read it...
"My comic is late, which is diabolical even though I wouldn't have time to read it yet anyway. I demand compensation from the people whose fault it isn't. I will have my vengeance, in this world or the next!"
Quote from: Richard on 21 November, 2020, 04:12:16 PM
"My comic is late, which is diabolical even though I wouldn't have time to read it yet anyway. I demand compensation from the people whose fault it isn't. I will have my vengeance, in this world or the next!"
Ha! :D
I think everyone knows Rebellion isn't at fault here, so this more just spitballing about whether there's anything they could/should do given that the post situation doesn't seem to be getting any better.
Well when the Prog is this good its worth the wait - and if I'm lucky will mean the next one lands soon so we get to the thrilling conclusion of Hookjaw soon!
Dredd - Neimand is just so good. This is a superb interlude that also serves to really drive things forward as well. Wonderful.
Stickleback - Bang, smash, CRASH - all action monster episode - what fun!
Hookjaw - speaking of all action monster episodes that's exactly what this one is too. Imaginatively and excellently executed, Ranking up the tension before next weeks finale. Fantastic stuff.
Skippy the not to bad any more - was pretty exciting again and I'm looking forward to seeing how they wrap this one up next week.
Fiends - Continues to craft its tale immaculately as Constanta come home - though he doesn't know it and meets a fate he wasn't expecting from a wicked Uncle... though we know that won't turn out as his uncle hopes! Just magnificent.
What a great Prog.
no prog this week - things are really bad - lucky if i get a Prog at all during week lately
hope this arrives at start of the new week - sadly Prog less
Yeh, not received this prog yet, or last week's. There where none in either of the two branches of Smith's locally, either.....I'm sure they'll arrive eventually. Can't be helped!
Thank Grud for my local newsagent, it hasn't let me down so far! :thumbsup:
For those like me who never received this prog, Tharg's minions are now suggesting you contact them:
https://twitter.com/2000AD/status/1330826422416519168
Didn't get my subscription prog this week, so I got a copy at the newsagents before it was too late.
Mine came today. It was worth the wait.
It has arrived! Hooray!
still waiting -sigh-
so yeah got it today all is good in this prog i am even starting to warm up to skip tracer