Cover. An action packed Strontium Dog cover by Mark Harrison. I like the artwork but I'm not entirely convinced by the composition or the big expanses of white (large areas of white space rarely work well on covers in my opinion).
Dredd. I'm really enjoying this story but I get a little confused from time to time, sometimes by the art and sometimes by the script. In this episode [spoiler]Gerhart gets badly wounded in a firefight but then says 'I'm fine, took a missile in the line'. Maybe this is supposed to tell us he's a cyborg or something but it isn't made clear in the script or the artwork.[/spoiler] little things like this (and the other week's confused air lock scene) are letting the strip down. I think a firmer editorial hand could iron out these wrinkles.
Ulysses Sweet. I'm skipping this story but the Rupert pastiche this week was quite well done.
Grey Area. Love it. An interesting story that's set in really well realised world. My favourite thrill at the moment.
Future Shocks. I really enjoyed this. Lovely artwork - don't think I've seen Eoin Coveney's work before. The script is by Gary Simpson who I'm also unfamiliar with.
I suppose the story was a bit silly but it was great fun and evoked a feeling of Future Shocks of old. I felt I could almost have been reading this strip in a summer special in 1986.
Strontium Dog. Very action packed this week and there's a lovely Ezquerra splash page. More of the same really but it's always a treat.
Very good prog overall. I'm a happy customer.
[spoiler]Gerhart took the bullet for Dredd in that one off with Trevor Hairsine.[/spoiler]
[spoiler]I presume that bit of him is bionic[/spoiler], although it's not clear from the images we see.
About that cover. I can hear what FlintLockjaw is going to say on the ECBT2000AD podcast now. Is it time to drop the top title and just go with the 2000AD logo at top left?
Looking at the cover I though for a second it was Simon not Mark Harrison. Great stuff. Really really enjoying Titan, it's a great premise well executed with fantastic art. I love the way Henry Flint has used Ezquerras colour pallet for the flashback panels. They could have come straight out Carlos' Necropolis work
Cover. Real nice, very eye catching.
Dredd. Have to agree with James about the lack of clarity in some of the panels...but the story is progressing nicely,[spoiler] never saw the independence bit coming! Seems with this, and insurrection...MC1 is losing a lot of it's outer colonies eh?
[/spoiler]
Ulysses Sweet. Still reading it, but increasingly bored/disappointed by it.
Grey Area. Very nice art, and I do like the pacing. Some folk say it trundles along, but I disagree, it suits a less helter skelter, 200mph, type of story telling.
Future Shocks. A tad different to the usual time travel 'twists', and looked great, very nice.
Strontium Dog. Picking up a bit again, but I just don't have the enthusiasm any more that SD used to generate with every tale.
Overall, good reading on a lazy Saturday!
Cover - OK!
Dredd -Titan (part six) - Explanatory!
Ulysses Sweet, Maniac for Hire - Centred (part seven) - Bo-ring!
Grey Area - All God's Children (part two) - Intelligent!
Future Shocks - Family Business - Smart!
Strontium Dog - The Life and Death of Johnny Alpha - Chapter Four: Dogs of War (part seven) - Yup!
Overall a pleasant read this week. Dredd seems to be suffering from being continuity heavy. Be interesting to see where Wagner is taking things with this idea of the impotence of Justice Dept. Feels like Day of Chaos hasn't fully finished yet.
Am I the only one that is really struggling with Strontium Dog? Johnny Alpha seems so far out of character it jars. I liked the idea of the early days stuff but this current tale just doesn't sit right.
Progs held up last weeks great form.
Dredd might have been a little pedestrian but ever story needs that bit when the motives and plots are revealed and as exposition goes this was well structured and paced. Grey Area continues a great little story and Strontium Dog steps things up and things feel like they are hurtling towards a conclusion. Worryingly the fact that the Mutants [spoiler]seem the have gained the upper hand[/spoiler] doesn't bode to well, as tables often turn in the end of such things. Can't wait to see what happens. Ulysess Sweet mixes things up enough as well this week to keep its head above water, still enjoying this, though the fact its ending next week (I think) is a relief as not sure it can sustain too much longer.
The real things that pulls the Prog beyond the norm is the inclusion of a complete Future Shock (well its more of a Time Twister but I don't think we do them any more do we?). Two creators I don't know producing a really well executed short. Not sure it would stand up to close scrutiny but its realised well enough to wipe me along with it and not feel the need to delve too much. The story is great but the art is the real highlight. To me it was kinda like the bastard offspring of Dave Gibbons and John Higgins and I have to say the child of their artwork is quite the looker. Damned fine short.
Quote from: Colin_YNWA on 01 February, 2014, 02:24:00 PM
Not sure it would stand up to close scrutiny but its realised well enough to wipe me along with it and not feel the need to delve too much.
200ad hasn't been this soft, this strong, or as thoroughly absorbent since the days when it was printed on actual bog paper. The metaphors we employ reveal so much about our psychology and experiences,
Colin - good luck at the proctologists.
What Sauchie said!
Turning to other subjects... I thought the prog was pretty good this week. I don't usually like the new Ulysses Sweet much, but the Rupert Bear spoof was brilliant. By far the best episode of this story.
I have been enjoying Titan since it started, but I was also confused by what happened to the SJS guy: does he have bionics, or is he just really tough or what? Also I don't actually believe that Hershey is such a wuss that she would hesitate to blow Titan up just because it supposedly has nearly 400 "innocent" convicts on it, even if she takes them at their word. Or that Sinfield would have even survived this long on Titan, as much as I like seeing him back again. However I enjoyed the brightly-coloured flashback panels, in contrast to the dark "present day" bits.
While Alpha acted out of character in a previous episode when he killed some POWs, I dont agree that he is still continuing to do so this week. This reads like classic b+w Strontium Dog to me.
I liked Eoin Covenay's art, have we seen him/her before? Name feels familiar but can't place it, and the Barney website seems to be having some problems lately.
Grey Area is alright.
Quote from: Colin_YNWA on 01 February, 2014, 02:24:00 PM
The story is great but the art is the real highlight. To me it was kinda like the bastard offspring of Dave Gibbons and John Higgins and I have to say the child of their artwork is quite the looker.
Personally I'd have suggested a three-way bohemian orgy between Gibbons, Higgins and Cliff Robinson (with Cam Kennedy joining the party for the last couple of panels).
Definitely a bit of Kennedy in that Future Shock.
Henry Flint @henryflintzombo
Cocked up shoulder pads in today's 2000ad sub. Not twice, 3 times! If Titan is to be collected MUST make changes. (Don't tell Mek-Quake.)
Sorry. Meant to say that is a tweet from Mr Flint himself. I presume he is referring to the eagle on Gerhart's left shoulder which I hadn't noticed until he pointed it out.
Quote from: eamonn1961 on 02 February, 2014, 09:13:40 AM
Henry Flint @henryflintzombo: Cocked up shoulder pads in today's 2000ad sub. Not twice, 3 times! If Titan is to be collected MUST make changes. (Don't tell Mek-Quake.)
Happens to the best:
(https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR3weB7KsB1pNEumv7f68tFIVTfimOSeN9QOopuo7iWRBlKqiaGYw)
Quote from: sauchie on 02 February, 2014, 09:33:17 AM
Quote from: eamonn1961 on 02 February, 2014, 09:13:40 AM
Henry Flint @henryflintzombo: Cocked up shoulder pads in today's 2000ad sub. Not twice, 3 times! If Titan is to be collected MUST make changes. (Don't tell Mek-Quake.)
Happens to the best:
(https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR3weB7KsB1pNEumv7f68tFIVTfimOSeN9QOopuo7iWRBlKqiaGYw)
That's not an Eagle, that's a large sparrow!
The only thing i didn't enjoy about this weeks prog is Ulysses Sweet...the rest is fine, but DREDD is firing on all guns as usual ( even if he is sitting back a bit ). Really enjoying the Titan storyline.
Quote from: eamonn1961 on 02 February, 2014, 09:15:48 AM
Sorry. Meant to say that is a tweet from Mr Flint himself. I presume he is referring to the eagle on Gerhart's left shoulder which I hadn't noticed until he pointed it out.
Don't the SJS normally have their eagle on the oposite shoulder to regular judges? The error I spotted was the fourth panel on page one where Gerhart's got the regular eagle on the right shoulder then the SJS style left shoulder eagle in the next panel.
Quote from: Kudos on 02 February, 2014, 05:22:11 PM
Don't the SJS normally have their eagle on the oposite shoulder to regular judges?
Yep:
(https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRLa6iVMKdLYG6l3o3UvHPW2QFvCzJNqZPS1V9KoPs8hfw4EhBx)
Correctly guessed who was going to be on the cover this week!
Cover: Nice pic if a little disjointed due to the strange empty spaces and random muties (Johnny and Middenface are recognisable but thats about it, who are the others?)
Judge Dredd: Finally Nixon Arm-gate is answered! A good episode with Dredd looking as done in as I've seen him (he looks worse even than the end of City of the Damned pic by Ron Smith) and some of the reasons why have been revealed which puts some things into perspective. Though it seems like a big risk by the prisoners, be [spoiler]recognised as an independant state[/spoiler] or be blown up into oblivion. Fingers crossed this will not be solved by a big explosion countdown in two weeks time and Dredd suddenly cured of all his ills by [spoiler]a bottle of Nixon's Fiji water[/spoiler]. High hopes for a good conclusion.
Ulysses Sweet: You know a strip is in trouble when a Rupert the Bear format is the highlight of the last few weeks. Also did he even move this week?
Grey Area: A very interesting 2nd part to this story, I'm really intrigued as to how and why these aliens [spoiler]killed their own god/s[/spoiler].
Future Shock: Great art and better than average story but could have done with 1 more page as it wrapped up way too quick for a cool idea.
Strontium Dog: The war carries on hotting up but there is no way that Dad Nabett was that evil a bad guy that he needs a whole page to pray witness[spoiler]to his death by gunfire on board his firey barge[/spoiler] not even Nelson Bunker Kreelman [spoiler]got that when he was killed off.[/spoiler] Anyone else finds Kid Knee a little grating considering the situation the muties are in? Curious to see where this will conclude and even if it will finish this 'chapter'. A welcome turnaround for SD.
Mrs Judgerufians cover comment: Why does Strontium Dog have turtle shells on his helmet, he looks like the evil guy from Sonic....
Great cover from Harrison. I'm enjoying seeing more of him in the prog lately.
Dredd is still the meat in the prog sandwich, the other strips all feeling a bit lightweight this week. Have to admit that the Gerhart bit didn't quite make sense to me - 'I took a missile in the line of duty.' Er, yes? So? How does that allow you to survive a sudden lack of head? I'm assuming it means he had a lot of parts replaced with bionics, but it's not clear - hopefully clarified next week.
Ulysses Sweet, much like the titular character, is in a bit of a lull this week. Loved the Rupert bit though. Bit hard to find much to say this week, except that (much as I'm enjoying it) I definately think this strip has been a bit too long for its own good.
Grey Area goes abruptly from 'inoffensive filler' to 'cliched and annoying.' It's mainly - and I think I've said this before - the dialogue of the characters that grates on this strip. Not a one of them talk like soliders, but characters from an 'edgy' US teen drama. It's all ludicrously and needlessly macho; case in point, this week we have 'back the hell off' when a simple 'back off' would have done just as well. On the next page we do indeed have a 'back off', but it's followed by another 'back the hell off' and then yet another 'back the hell off.' Then comes 'freaked them the hell out' and 'What the hell you on about?' It's a way to artificially contrive a greater sense of drama and it sounds very immature. Abnett's capable of better - but I hate to moan without throwing some positives into the mix, and thankfully Goddard's art is still utterly superb.
What a great Future Shock! My respect for anyone who can craft a good one of these has increased tenfold since the format shrunk from five to four pages. This did everything right, and it's always a bonus when I don't see the ending coming (not that it was a 'shock' per se, but a satisfying way to round off the narrative.)
Strontium Dog shows the way forward for Grey Area - not a word wasted. The characters say exactly what needs to be said, and no more, and at no point do I hear the writer talking, as opposed to the characters. Otherwise this is a hard episode to review in isolation as it's very much just a small part of an ongoing story (does that make sense? Wagner seems to be writing more for the trade than anything else here.) Sad to say, quite a long way from Ezquerra's best, but love his colours.
A nice cover - but I would really like to see Carlos back on cover duties if it is going to be his characters.
I loved Dredd and Stront. That page of SD with the explosion in classic Carlos. It doesn't get better than that!
Read it first thing this morning on my phone. The day got a good start may I say.
DREDD won me over as usual, and Titan is starting to feel like it's wrapping up MC Undercover in a way, at least Nixon. The bomb Nixon mentions goes back when she worked the docks? Cool that Dredd is stuck between the SJS wanting to blow the prison up and those wanting to make it a colony!
Strontinum Dog also did well. Continues feeling equally hopeless and badass with each page thick with blood and fire. Love it.
I only eyed area and sweet for a bit, and I'm saving the future shock for later.
But this prog felt like business as usual lately. Gold!
I'm a little bit confused with the Dredd story at the moment....
Sinfield says to Hershey
"Three hundred and eighty-six inmates decided they want no part of us"
"They elected meas their leader. I want no part of this"
By "no part of us" is Sinfield saying he still thinks of himself as part of MC-1??
By "I want no part of this" is he saying he's not in cahoots with Nixon??
Quote from: Verence on 05 February, 2014, 11:10:05 AM
I'm a little bit confused with the Dredd story at the moment....
Sinfield says to Hershey
"Three hundred and eighty-six inmates decided they want no part of us"
"They elected meas their leader. I want no part of this"
By "no part of us" is Sinfield saying he still thinks of himself as part of MC-1??
By "I want no part of this" is he saying he's not in cahoots with Nixon??
This confused me as well but it seems you've deciphered it there.
Although, how you can be elected leader of a cause you don't agree with and want no part of, I don't know.
Quote from: A.Cow on 01 February, 2014, 01:37:20 PM
Cover - OK!
Dredd -Titan (part six) - Explanatory!
Ulysses Sweet, Maniac for Hire - Centred (part seven) - Bo-ring!
Grey Area - All God's Children (part two) - Intelligent!
Future Shocks - Family Business - Smart!
Strontium Dog - The Life and Death of Johnny Alpha - Chapter Four: Dogs of War (part seven) - Yup!
Yep, couldn't have said it better myself.
Quote from: eamonn1961 on 02 February, 2014, 09:15:48 AM
Sorry. Meant to say that is a tweet from Mr Flint himself. I presume he is referring to the eagle on Gerhart's left shoulder which I hadn't noticed until he pointed it out.
I'm looking forward to
A Doctor writes about those SJS wounds... :D
Quote from: Spaceghost on 05 February, 2014, 11:39:29 AM
This confused me as well but it seems you've deciphered it there.
Although, how you can be elected leader of a cause you don't agree with and want no part of, I don't know.
I suppose Sinfield could have told the prisoners that he didn't want to be their leader but they went ahead and voted for him anyway.
Presumably Nixon is the real power but forcing Sinfield to act as her spokesman because he's good at politics??
Read mine on my phone as well. Very nice read it was too. Four out of five excellent thrills for me, same as last week. Top stuff from the galaxy's greatest anthology!
I'm not so keen on the direction Dredd has taken, surely Hershey would now just blow Titan up? Especially after the last time. With no word on Dredd, she'd have to assume him dead & I'm fairly sure their stance would be on not negotiating with terrorists. These ex Judges are meant to be serving time after all, they can't just be allowed to swan away ... it will be interesting to see how this finishes up ..
After all he's been through, I rather imagine it will be Dredd's finger on the button when it comes down to it. Be a shame to waste all that explosive...
Cover. Nice, like the use of white space
Thrill Centre: Lawless, big guns, Texas Ranger? Dan Abnett what's not to like? Damage Report, Is that our Uniformed chums he's talking about CF? ;)
Dredd. loving this tale, the odd wee gripe about layout but otherwise cracking artwork.SJS Black Knight: 'Tis but a scratch!
Ulysses Sour. I'm skipping this story, but did read and enjoyed the Rupert pastiche this week
Grey Area. Not setting the heather on fire but an enjoyable thrill
Future Shocks. I really enjoyed this. Proper Timetwister and sterling art.
Strontium Dog. Joint top thrill this week, you know its all going to go horribly wrong don't you?
Very good prog overall. I'm a happy customer.
Quote from: Tjm86 on 01 February, 2014, 02:12:04 PM
Am I the only one that is really struggling with Strontium Dog? Johnny Alpha seems so far out of character it jars. I liked the idea of the early days stuff but this current tale just doesn't sit right.
[/quote
nah, me too ive missed the prog for a few weeks due to illness but stronty normally would have me crawling over hot coals to keep up not so now, I did get to wondering if the little green blob johnny expelled was really him or his conscience and something else has taken over the body impersonating him? wild theory I know ..
Dredd - Nice bit of exposition explaining how Nixon got from MC-1 to Titan, and the motivation behind the prison-riot. Not too sure about the Gerhart injuries - they seem a bit excessive, even if he has bionic implants.
Ulysses Sweet - I loved the homage to Rupert the Bear and the fact that the Ulysses and the space pirates are now face-to-face, but it has felt like nothing much has happened for the last two weeks. I think the cutaways to the retreat leader reacting to events have slowed the strip down somewhat, and I hope that it does pay off. I think we've got two more installments left. If Ulysses Sweet is to return, it needs to be in more bite-size chunks.
Future Shock - Nice little first-time entry from a new writer and artist droid. I liked the set-up, but the twist felt like it came out of nowhere and could have benefited from some additional panels. Looking forward to seeing some more from both droids.
Grey Area - I like the change of tact, showcasing the ETC's more diplomatic skills rather than a standard action orientated adventure.
Strontium Dog - Nice twist that the confrontation with Dad Nabbett and Johnny Alpha wasn't a brutal mano-a-mano battle, but allowed all of the mutants to contribute to the fascist's demise. Looking forward to seeing how the status quo is set at the end of this tale.
For a more detailed review, check out my blog post - http://www.popculturebandit.co.uk/2014/02/2000ad-prog-1867.html (http://www.popculturebandit.co.uk/2014/02/2000ad-prog-1867.html)
A Doctor writes (but remains puzzled by the injuries)
http://eamonn1961.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/total-eclipse-of-gerhart.html
Quote from: eamonn1961 on 07 February, 2014, 01:27:33 PM
A Doctor writes (but remains puzzled by the injuries) http://eamonn1961.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/total-eclipse-of-gerhart.html
Even allowing for comic licence and the fact I'm enjoying Gerhard apparently taking on the same narrative function as Herr Starr in
Preacher -
nasty prick whom you relish seeing suffer as they lose limbs and vital organs in piecemeal fashion, rather than just dying all at once - it's amazing how much of our surface area turns out to be little more than surplus meat and bone once we're forced to lose some of that excess weight we've been carrying around for no reason:
GENUINELY HORRIFIC INJURIES DO NOT CLICK IF YOU ARE OF A NERVOUS DISPOSITIONhttp://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.1182331!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_635/kabang13n-1-web.jpg
http://m24digital.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/kabang-e1350336220584.jpg
Just a note to say these are pictures of injured animals , and not people which I was expecting. I wouldn't have clicked if I'd known they were of dogs :(
Quote from: strontium71 on 07 February, 2014, 06:07:05 PM
Just a note to say these are pictures of injured animals , and not people which I was expecting. I wouldn't have clicked if I'd known they were of dogs :(
Yikes! I used the images of that dog -
who is fine now - precisely because I thought they'd be less upsetting than the many images describing what happens when alcohol, shotguns and the human face interact. Sorry, neebs.
With me at least , I have no problem seeing the damage that can be done to the human body , but even so much as a scratch on an animal then I just can't look.
Anyone feelings sorry for Dredd?
I once treated a big hairy biker (not one of the baking variety) in A&E. His mates had brought him in after he had been stabbed in the belly during a difference of opinion with another gang.
He kept insisting he was fine as more and more bits of bowel squished out from between his fingers.
I believe he was using the expression "I'm fine" in the same way that Gerhart does
'Tis but a flesh wound (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhRUe-gz690).
can't believe nobody's mentioned the back boob babe in Strontium dog. Nice one Carlos!
I'm loving this story, but I don't think we've heard the last of that 'spook' form Johnny's head - it wouldn't have been introduced and "resolved" so easily if it didn't have bigger meaning. But at the same time, I have no problem with Johnny's war tactics - he did put a stop to the execution of civilians when challenged by McNulty; otherwise, it's the same murderous resolve he showed as an 18 year old general or as the man who avenged Wulf.
QuoteAnyone else finds Kid Knee a little grating considering the situation the muties are in?
he's always been presented as a dick in this story - his dad wasn't much cop, but Knee Jr is a proper tool. I'll lay evens that Johnny kills him before this story's over.
As for thr rest;
TITAN -,loving it, but I also found Sinfield's conversation confusing - is he with Nixon or not?
GREY AREA - doesn't bug me, but doesn't excite me either. Solid meat'n'potatos thrill.
ULYSSES SWEET -I loved this at first, but would've been better as a one off or a 3 parter - it's getting a little stretched after 7 episodes.
Future shock - nice - these must be so hard after every ideas been done, but I enjoyed this one
Quote from: Dandontdare on 07 February, 2014, 11:34:09 PM
TITAN -,loving it, but I also found Sinfield's conversation confusing - is he with Nixon or not?
He says not.
Quote from: Dandontdare on 07 February, 2014, 11:34:09 PM
can't believe nobody's mentioned the back boob babe in Strontium dog. Nice one Carlos!
I spotted that! I wonder how she'd breastfeed if she had a little nipper? Mindboggling that!
Dredd - Really unclear what happened to Gerhart here. How is he still alive with huge holes in him? Art was fine for the most part, but really confusing for this section.
Ulysses Sweet - Was going to skim over until I came across the Rupert bits. Cute.
Grey Area - I do like the whole 'no universal translator' shtick, and the mentioning of dialects was a nice touch. Makes the 'gifted' thing less deus-ex'y and shows Abnett's given the concept a bit of thought. The whole plot falls down for me though on the premise that the aliens would be so offended. Firstly, it's established they don't speak English, so how did they even understand the samaritan to be offended in the first place? Secondly, they're obviously intelligent and know the difference between 'your god', 'my god', e.t.c., so the overreaction just feels so forced.
Future Shock - Nice little tale. Name checking places near me (Durham) will always get a story extra points :)
Strontium Dog - Lovely splash page of the ship exploding. Colouring was spot on and really helped convey the impact of the moment. Just noticed the main redneck is called 'Dad Nabbett'. Seriously? Completely in keeping with the way the strip has always been, but... seriously? :lol:
My tribute to Titan! Hope the Flint and Williams Droids don't mind!
http://nexuswookie.wordpress.com/2014/02/08/my-tribute-to-judge-dredd-titan/
:D
Quote from: Mabs on 08 February, 2014, 09:10:04 AM
I spotted (the mutant with breasts on her back)! I wonder how she'd breastfeed if she had a little nipper? Mindboggling that!
Not half as tricky as the question of how Kid Knee would pray if he converted to Islam. That episode was much more like it, with lots of
damn you - damn your mutant hide to hell! exchanges of dialogue, rather than characters dryly explaining what's happening. Taking a full page to deliver the
Murder On The Orient Express style coup de grace to Dad Nabett wasn't just an excuse for a lovely bit of Ezquerra art, it lent the kind of weight and significance to the character's end and a variation in tone and pacing which the last few weeks have been missing.
Handily finding a cache of arms no-one else needs just lying around sets things up for an epic conclusion, but however that battle goes I've a feeling things aren't going to resolve well for Alpha. When the previous conflict between mutants and norms came to an end, it was possible for the political class and bureaucrats to offload responsibility for the horrors of that conflict onto NBK - they were led astray by a mad demagogue, and mutant violence was a response to the insanity of the horror he visited upon them.
The men in suits are clearly in charge here, and the mutant leadership don't have the polarising hate figure of NBK to excuse their excesses - the tallest poppy and the most likely repository for blame with regard to the terrible crimes committed by both sides is Alpha himself. All those little vignettes, like Alpha ordering any of his men who try to retreat to be shot and this week's
show mercy/like you showed to us? exchange, are going to need to be explained and excused if norm and mutie are to live side by side in future - and Alpha's the most likely candidate.
Wagner appears to be using conflicts like the Balkan wars as his template for this cycle of stories, and a resolution which saw Alpha become a
Radovan Karadzic figure, forced to go on the run and accept the blame for the crimes of his people as well as his own, would bring the strip back to the regular format of Alpha as outcast in exile, but with the narrative impetus of the classic
Outlaw storyline. A few years of that, and then
The Trial of Johnny Alpha has a nice ring to it. It would be a fitting end if Johnny found himself performing the same role and in
almost the same position as the father he despised.
Please let me die ... please let me die ... please let me die ...
Quote from: sauchie olympics on 08 February, 2014, 11:31:10 AM
Quote from: Mabs on 08 February, 2014, 09:10:04 AM
I spotted (the mutant with breasts on her back)! I wonder how she'd breastfeed if she had a little nipper? Mindboggling that!
Not half as tricky as the question of how Kid Knee would pray if he converted to Islam.
According to the tenets of Islam, anyone unable to kneel can pray sitting down! ;)
Quote from: Proudhuff on 06 February, 2014, 11:51:10 AM
Cover. Nice, like the use of white space
Thrill Centre: Lawless, big guns, Texas Ranger? Dan Abnett what's not to like? Damage Report, Is that our Uniformed chums he's talking about CF? ;)
CF is Ban Ki Moon in that particular schism.
I think this has been the best issue this year;
Titan has been the highlight for every issue of it's run but I did love the Ulysses episode this time round.
For the most part I've been reading but not engrossed by the current stories but I think everything stepped up a gear this time round.
Well done, droids.
Prog didn't really do it for me.
Cover: Striking, colourful, effective.
Dredd: Yakkity yakkity. A whole episode explaining things that wouldn't need explaining if the story hadn't just brought them up. While I like the contrast with the judges of Purgatory, I don't buy Sinfield's characterisation, and if I was a betting man I'd have said his unique Willsher-designed facial prosthesis was there specifically to stop him talking. I don't buy Gerhard's extensive bionics, which appear to be beyond the Mandroid level, in comparison to less severe injuries that have kept other judges off the street. I also don't buy Aimee's fleshy arm, which seems unnecessary and unlikely in equal measure. Are we going to see any of the Titan colony beyond the generic prison, a place where the inmates endure endless labour in Titan's dense nitrogen/methane atmosphere as the severest punishment for the betrayal of their office? Is it just somewhere you go to get your nose chopped off? Art still lovely, but I'm afraid the story and its completely ineffective Dredd has lost me.
Ulysses Sweet: Rupert pastiche well executed. That is all.
Future Shock: Impressively dense, atmospheric and brilliantly drawn, if not the most original idea.
Grey Area: "'To Serve Man'.... it's a cookbook!", and other hilarious cultural misunderstandings. Nice art, but devoid of memorable characters and as dull as dishwater. Still waiting for some signature Abnett wit.
Strontium Dog: Thank the gods for Wagner and Ezquerra. 'Splosions, brutality, high drama. Lurid and gripping.
You have had near indistinguishable from human robots before though, in the form of Inga.
Although it's not like Justice Department to bother with aesthetics, it wouldn't be a bad idea to have one of the team (particulalry a member of SJS) to have that trick up his sleeve (or head).
Or (possible spoiler)
[spoiler]How does Mike Carroll's snapshot work again?[/spoiler]
Dredd: Okay, there's a fair bit of exposition, but that had to happen eventually and I kind of like it. A near Dredd-less episode, showing the big man entirely vulnerable, after a few Dredd-filled episodes which focused in large part on Dredd's fears: of failure to do his duty, of weakness, of Titan itself and what it represents.
Gerhart's injury is clearly ridiculous, but I kind of like that too - there's been nearly 40 years to establish Dredd as an unstoppable hard bastard, so something extreme had to happen to Gerhart to bring him up to par. I can see this ending with a "who the hell's gonna mess with us" moment.
Also, how did Sinfield get his uniform back?
Ulysses sweet: This has lost me. Ulysses sort of feels like an unlikable Zombo.
Grey Area: Oh no, a cultural misunderstanding! Aggro reaction! Take the shot! Hit the lock down! Oogg gahh! Back off now! Loud noises! contains 36 exclamation marks.
Future Shock: I'm never overly keen on stories which rely on narration, but this is quite nice.
Strontium Dog: The inevitable happens as a bunch of nazis get brutally killed. Lovely Ezquerra explosions (pro tip - never shoot at flying machines directly overhead). This storyline seems to have been going for a while, and I can't see an ending in anything other than mass slaughter. I'm enjoying it, despite not really liking Johnny as a man anymore,
Worth noting that Nixon's Girlfriend In A Coma monologue, addressed to a recumbent and unresponsive Dredd, makes it clear that Gerhard made the drop team because SJS were responsible both for shipping the cons to Titan and the violent excesses which instigated the insurrection.
Cover by Mark Harrison: Not my cup of Tetley's unfortunately. It looks a little muddied and I'm not too keen on Alpha's look. Also the way he's holding his gun looks odd. However, the four figures below Alpha are nicely rendered, very Boo Cook-esque and nice use of white space. It reminded me of James Harren's cover in Prog 1819.
Judge Dredd:Titan (Part Six) - Another interesting episide this, however, just a few quibbles. For instance, that injury to Gerhart: it's difficult to understand how he's still able to converse with Austin with half the side of his face missing! I understand he's had work done on him after taking a missile hit in Prog 1836, but he must have some steely grit to be still standing and attempting the rescue of Dredd. Some other interesting developments too with Aimee Nixon demanding independence of Titan from MC1, and Sinfield trying to play the good guy. And we haven't even started on Dredd, who is in pretty bad shape. These injuries sustained here and over the years are bound to take their toll on him (as we saw in Rob William's terrific story in the Meg 'The Man Comes Round', which delves upon this issue). Will Chief Judge Hershey blow up the prison colony with Dredd still inside?
The artwork from Henry Flint is again outstanding. I especially loved the colour schemes on his flashback scenes, it was very evocative of Carlos Ezquerra's style. Rob Williams' script is also engaging, and I'm having a lot of fun with it. Very looking forward to seeing how this storyline developes next Prog.
Ulysses Sweet - Maniac for Hire: Centred (Part Seven) - I've been enjoying Ulysses' deranged escapades from the opening episodes but in recent weeks I felt the story did lapse. However, we're back on form here in what is a hilarious episode, the key point being the homage to Rupert Bear! Guy Adams' script, both in poetry and prose was really funny. Of course it's all in Ulysses' head as he's still zoned out while dribbling from his mouth and holding a rabbit like posture, and at the same time the Amethyst Cluster comes under attack from Space Pirates. Paul Marshall's artwork especially the mentioned homage pages, are a real treat. I also love the page wherein we see Ulysses trying to break out of the confines of the boxed panels! He's much too dangerous for even Tharg's Mighty Organ!
Grey Area: All God's Children (Part Two) - The Rookuk (an alien warrior race) are mighty peeved after the good samaritan Anders mentions 'god' while trying to help them. Seems like the Rookuk are not too keen on god and Anders finds his throat the brunt of their leader's anger. The ETC try to resolve the standoff via diplomatic means instead of violence. While I am enjoying this new series, this particular story was a little poor. The dialogue seems too generic, and I'm sure someone of Dan Abnett's stature can do far more better. Even the Rookuk's native language seems poor - Klingon it sure ain't. Patrick Goddard's artwork however, remains the highlight.
Future Shocks: Family Business - This was a nice little Future Shock from new writer Gary Simpson, accompanied by lovely black and white art from Eoin Coveney (also new to the Prog). The story concerns time travel and our protagonist encounters himself on several visits. Suffice to say the twist at the end was an interesting one and brought a smile to my face. I hope to see more from both these new droids in the future.
Strontium Dog: Dogs of War (Part Seven) -This was a terrific episode! We catch up with the battle of Ongar as Johnny Alpha and his Strontium Dog agents/fellow muties close in on Dad Nabbett, leader of the Norm Brotherhood. The Muties show no mercy to the Norms, and the action is unrelenting. Carlos Ezqurra's art is superb particulary on page four: nobody does a more better scene of carnage and mayhem quite like him. Wagner's script is also engaging, showing Aplha as a leader who who will stop at nothing to uphold the rights of his fellow mutants. But of course there's a nagging doubt regarding some of his actions.
Overall, a strong Prog this week and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Its just occurred to me that when MC1 colonies shake off the justice department's control, it seems the first thing they will do is embrace democracy.
Rico's return from the mutant townships after Day of Chaos was explained with "They'd held a vote...the vast majority decided it was the right thing to do"
Hmmm, good point from Tempunaut, the Megazines Insurrection certainly seems to point in that direction as well.
Mark Harrison doesn't capture Alpha as well as in that Durham Red story from the early 90's, can't rem exact one. But by God did he get it right then.
Dredd, still excellent.
Ulysses Sweet still has me in stitches, it's the first one I go for when I open the prog.
Quote from: Tempunaut on 09 February, 2014, 01:39:48 PM
Its just occurred to me that when MC1 colonies shake off the justice department's control, it seems the first thing they will do is embrace democracy. Rico's return from the mutant townships after Day of Chaos was explained with "They'd held a vote...the vast majority decided it was the right thing to do"
In the same way any country which overturned the ruling elite defaulted to communism
(or fascism) for most of the twentieth century, and the only way English and French revolutionaries could imagine filling the power vacuum left by the loss of their charismatic leaders was to revert to monarchy. Folks don't have a great imagination when it comes to these things, and the dialogue promoted by Justice Department is a dualistic choice between the iron rule of law and the chaos and uncertainty of democracy.
When kritarchy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kritarchy) breaks down, it's natural that some form of democracy is the automatic go-to for MC1 and its outposts of empire.
Quote from: Mabs on 09 February, 2014, 01:22:25 PM
Cover by Mark Harrison: It reminded me of James Harren's cover in Prog 1819.
Judge Dredd:Titan (Part Six) - The artwork from Henry Flint is again outstanding. I especially loved the colour schemes on his flashback scenes, it was very evocative of Carlos Ezquerra's style.
Everyone was thinking the same thing about that cover layout,
Mabs;
you said it. And yeah, Carlos's hand coloured stuff did use that technique for flashbacks, didn't it - applying a wash of single colour and fading out areas of shadow into a lighter shade. That's another great spot - being an artist yourself must help, but I'm glad Rob Williams's take on Titan was a little more subtle than your own. That's basically how I feared the story was going to go, with a big name villain resurrected for maximum internet publicity.
Quote from: sauchie olympics on 09 February, 2014, 03:10:58 PM
Quote from: Mabs on 09 February, 2014, 01:22:25 PM
Cover by Mark Harrison: It reminded me of James Harren's cover in Prog 1819.
Judge Dredd:Titan (Part Six) - The artwork from Henry Flint is again outstanding. I especially loved the colour schemes on his flashback scenes, it was very evocative of Carlos Ezquerra's style.
Everyone was thinking the same thing about that cover layout, Mabs; you said it. And yeah, Carlos's hand coloured stuff did use that technique for flashbacks, didn't it - applying a wash of single colour and fading out areas of shadow into a lighter shade. That's another great spot - being an artist yourself must help, but I'm glad Rob Williams's take on Titan was a little more subtle than your own.
More like an
amateur artist, sauchie, but thank you all the same! :D
QuoteThat's basically how I feared the story was going to go, with a big name villain resurrected for maximum internet publicity.
Most definitely, you have to applaud Rob for going down the
other route. And in hindsight, even though I was slightly disappointed at first (probably more because I was unfamilar with the main antagonist) I feel Rob made the right decision.
Quote from: Steve Green on 09 February, 2014, 09:58:28 AM
You have had near indistinguishable from human robots before though, in the form of Inga.
Yes, plenty of convincing humanform androids from Ueno Hama to that Judge assassin in Day of Chaos, but not so much with the cyborgs. Cyborgs tend to look like Nate Slaugherhouse, Bonny Crickle, Guthrie or indeed Aimee Nixon. Look at Nero Narcos, he would surely have had the best full-body prosthesis money could buy, but he wouldn't have passed for human. There are plenty of judges who have been retired from active duty due to injury - if Gerhart's extensive bionics are available even after the Chaos, why the waste?
I'm not suggesting that Aimee's arm is of a similar unprecedented nature (McGruder had a replacement hand that was so good no-one ever mentioned it again), it just seems like a lot of effort to expend on a (spectacularly) bent judge, and I harbour unworthy suspicions it's a last minute script fix for an already-drawn oversight.
Quote from: TordelBack on 09 February, 2014, 05:21:22 PM
I harbour unworthy suspicions it's a last minute script fix for an already-drawn oversight.
That's a sickening degree of cynicism (my thought too). Well done on the McGruder hand - I can't even remember where that was mentioned.
Quote from: sauchie olympics on 09 February, 2014, 05:37:16 PM
Well done on the McGruder hand - I can't even remember where that was mentioned.
She lost her hand in the Apocalypse War, and had a bionic replacement fitted, but I don't think it was ever referred to again.
Tordels, your forgetting Nero could replace his war head with a number of civilian ones. I'd say he could pass off as a human. I think Gerhart is either a full android or "he's more machine now than man".
Quote from: TordelBack on 09 February, 2014, 05:46:21 PM
Quote from: sauchie olympics on 09 February, 2014, 05:37:16 PM
Well done on the McGruder hand - I can't even remember where that was mentioned.
She lost her hand in the Apocalypse War, and had a bionic replacement fitted, but I don't think it was ever referred to again.
Oh, Papa Homer, you are so learned.
Quote from: TordelBack on 09 February, 2014, 05:46:21 PM
Quote from: sauchie olympics on 09 February, 2014, 05:37:16 PM
Well done on the McGruder hand - I can't even remember where that was mentioned.
She lost her hand in the Apocalypse War, and had a bionic replacement fitted, but I don't think it was ever referred to again.
Actually, I seem to recall it was indeed referenced in 'The Marshal' - it was detonated by an explosive bolt.
You like that one Pepe, wait 'til I tell you about Alan the Cowboy.
Quote from: Greg M. on 09 February, 2014, 06:08:45 PM
Actually, I seem to recall it was indeed referenced in 'The Marshal' - it was detonated by an explosive bolt.
Out-learned. Again.
Quote from: Greg M. on 09 February, 2014, 06:08:45 PM
Quote from: TordelBack on 09 February, 2014, 05:46:21 PM
(McGruder) lost her hand in the Apocalypse War, and had a bionic replacement fitted, but I don't think it was ever referred to again.
Actually, I seem to recall it was indeed referenced in 'The Marshal' - it was detonated by an explosive bolt.
You're a scary guy,
Greg. Is it your reviews (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/cdp/member-reviews/A2TFD1UO20P261/ref=cm_cr_pr_auth_rev?ie=UTF8&sort_by=MostRecentReview) I read every time I buy a Dredd book off Amazon?
Awesome recall there TordelBack, and to think I involved myself in a debate with you on Judge numbers......pssst hey the rest of you guys, TordelBack's the cyborg, get the b*****d!!
Quote from: sauchie olympics on 09 February, 2014, 06:41:42 PM
You're a scary guy, Greg. Is it your reviews (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/cdp/member-reviews/A2TFD1UO20P261/ref=cm_cr_pr_auth_rev?ie=UTF8&sort_by=MostRecentReview) I read every time I buy a Dredd book off Amazon?
Yep, that's my purple prose, all right.
Quote from: Greg M. on 09 February, 2014, 06:53:47 PM
Quote from: sauchie olympics on 09 February, 2014, 06:41:42 PM
You're a scary guy, Greg. Is it your reviews (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/cdp/member-reviews/A2TFD1UO20P261/ref=cm_cr_pr_auth_rev?ie=UTF8&sort_by=MostRecentReview) I read every time I buy a Dredd book off Amazon?
Yep, that's my purple prose, all right.
LOL! I brought
The Life & Death of Johnny Alpha a while back going on your review, Greg! Spot on by the way! I've got a fair few of my my own reviews aswell, mainly on the Judge Dredd collected TPB's. My review for
The Day of Chaos: Fourth Faction got the most feedback, it seems like a lot of people bought that one. But man, there's so many typos in some of my reviews! :-\
Quote from: Greg M. on 09 February, 2014, 06:53:47 PM
Quote from: sauchie olympics on 09 February, 2014, 06:41:42 PM
You're a scary guy, Greg. Is it your reviews (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/cdp/member-reviews/A2TFD1UO20P261/ref=cm_cr_pr_auth_rev?ie=UTF8&sort_by=MostRecentReview) I read every time I buy a Dredd book off Amazon?
Yep, that's my purple prose, all right.
Thanks for combining the necessary useful contents information with insightful criticism and real enthusiasm, neebs. Those aren't qualities commonly found in the accompanying customer reviews,
Mabs's aside.
Apologies TordelBack, it appears Greg M's the replicant.
Quote from: sauchie olympics on 09 February, 2014, 07:14:01 PM
Thanks for combining the necessary useful contents information with insightful criticism and real enthusiasm, neebs. Those aren't qualities commonly found in the accompanying customer reviews, Mabs's aside.
Cheers sauchie and Mabs - glad the reviews have proved helpful to folks.
Quote from: sauchie olympics on 09 February, 2014, 02:55:16 PM
When kritarchy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kritarchy) breaks down...
Woah! Y'just gone and lerned me a new werd!
"Kritarchy." Yup, I likes the sound o' that. That there is Justice Dept. in a nutshell.
Quote from: A.Cow on 10 February, 2014, 03:11:43 AM
Quote from: sauchie olympics on 09 February, 2014, 02:55:16 PM
When kritarchy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kritarchy) breaks down...
Woah! Y'just gone and lerned me a new werd! "Kritarchy." Yup, I likes the sound o' that. That there is Justice Dept. in a nutshell.
Like everything else worth knowing in life, I learned it from
JOE SOAP.
As far as the cybernetics go, Sinfield had a chin when he left for Titan I seem to remember so the injury at the hands of SJS or other inmates would have happened on or on the way to Titan. It's entirely consistent then it would be as basic as possible. Rico has a prosthetic chin doesn't he and that's not noticeable.
Nixon was Wally squad so wouldn't have an expensive realistic prosthetic if it would compromise her. She may even have had it purely to help her undercover. Again the arm makes sense in that context. The only one that really doesn't fit is Guthrie. He was a great character and it seemed odd the way he was retired off due to what seemed illogical prosthetics.
Quote from: James Stacey on 10 February, 2014, 09:45:32 AM
As far as the cybernetics go, Sinfield had a chin when he left for Titan I seem to remember so the injury at the hands of SJS or other inmates would have happened on or on the way to Titan.
Aye, we see him starting out on Titan with the robochin at the start of The Skinning Room.
For me, the Prog is rolling along nicely at the moment. Yeah, perhaps its not the best it could be but there is a lot going right which means I look forward to each week's addition.
Quote from: Goaty on 07 February, 2014, 08:16:08 PM
Anyone feelings sorry for Dredd?
If I had a complaint about Titan it would be that Dredd has been very ineffective throughout. He nearly bought it on entry, seemed to take forever to figure out the handcuff/rust thing and now spends most of his time on his arse. I know that several fights have occurred off page but he just doesn't seem up to the job. I get that they are trying to show that he is now older and not so invincible but if you push it too far then surely folks will wonder why he hasn't gone on the long walk?
Quote from: James Stacey on 10 February, 2014, 09:45:32 AM
The only one that really doesn't fit is Guthrie. He was a great character and it seemed odd the way he was retired off due to what seemed illogical prosthetics.
I seem to remember a line or two to the effect that he 'retired' due to how the citizens would react to be judged by an almost fully-robotic man, than any inability to do his job. Not that it still wasn't an utterly stupid end for a once-great character.
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 10 February, 2014, 01:42:51 PMNot that it still wasn't an utterly stupid end for a once-great character.
Not necessarily the end. Isn't he currently the warder on the former WayneCorp vessel
Saw MMCXXXIX? Bound to have survived the Chaos bug out there.
Quite a smart cover by Mr Harrison, which I didn't totally like to begin with, but has grown on me loads.
Ulysses Sweet again, is a fun and bonkers read, that im not disliking. Though as I said before, itll not really be owt ill return to, id imagine.
Still liking - a lot, is Grey Area. Not really put a step wrong since its return. And to be fair, I quite enjoyed it before. Good stuff. The Future Shock is OK. These tend to pass me by now, but not a bad example all told.
And after a good few weeks of this not really kicking in - for me, Stronty is a particularly fine episode this week.
And then there's Dredd. :thumbsup:
Still the best of the bunch by a long way, though this weeks helping is, perhaps, slightly muddled.
Loving Gerhart's reveal - though it doesn't seem to quite tally with Prog 1836.
And the last two pages needed to be re-read and pondered upon. This tale is aces though, and can easily survive a slightly 'off' episode.
Very keen to see how all this plays out, but not that keen to see it end, if you know what I mean.
Im happy for this to run its weekly course.
Good stuff.
Enjoying DREDD on TITAN - loving some ideas (feels like Dredd is genuinely at the edge) more than others (returning villains, revenge plot) and similarly the art (loved the free fall sequence, Dredd threatening people but not so keen on trying to work out what the heck was going on at the airlock or with Gerhardt's ott injuries).
GREY AREA and STRONT are both solid reads but lack the zing (different kinds) I'd expect from their respective writers.
ULYSEES SWEET hasn't connected with me yet - I'm frightened to start reading it all again.
ABC WARRIORS is just utterly impenetrable to me know. I genuinely haven't got a clue what happened when or who some of the characters are. And sadly, I'm not even a fan of the art - though it should be perfect for mechanicals.
I liked the Futureshock.
Blimey - reading back that review probably is the reason I've not been rushing to download the progs as soon as they come out. I do it in batches of about 4 or 6. I wonder if I went back to weekly I'd be more engaged?