Things remain on Tharg's type form, that is to say magnificent, just not exceptional magnificence.
Dredd Neimand and Lynch to stella new (well we assume in one case and I'm sure some folk are going to come and tell me Jake Lynch has been working for Tharg for 10 years or something!) stars produce yet more stella work. Another great Dredd as the alien learns from his heritage and Dredd learns of his powers.
Sinister Dexter returns - this always makes me happy - see below - and this is a solid opening to the latest story.
Zaucer of Zilk is superb and turns in a more sober and emotion episode yet all the more entertaining for it.
Skip Tracer remains dependably solid, yet not inspiring yet. Still happy to give it time as this has (second story) be capable of great things.
Feral and Foe has another winnign episode as we are reminded of the ties that bind and our anti-heroes join a new fellowship on an already deadly mission.
Nothing bad at all, just not as much astonishing this time... well except the astonishingly good news in Tharg's Nerve Centre that we're going to get a celebration of Sinister Dexter's 25th birthday in the form of "massive arc". Can't wait and hope we get to keep the Mighty Yeowell for that one.
(https://i.imgur.com/YrTho8N.jpg)
Jake Lynch
(https://i.imgur.com/s3U054T.jpg)
My favourite bit of Sinister Dexter was [spoiler]"Fun Rides and Slots," fnarr fnarr.[/spoiler]
Lynch's artwork is steadily evolving and becoming slicker, but sadly not really his actualy Dredd, as for me he draws Dreddy's head like a lozenge, a bit too elongated like Jimmy Hill. It makes him look a bit nerdy if I'm honest.
I'm hoping that we get a Williams or Wagner Dredd down the line this Spring, as good as Ken is on script duties, Dredd for me is always great when we visit characters that move things forward in his world.
Best story for me is Zaucer which I'm really enjoying and I think Hogan's spin on it all works well in a more mature but fantastic looking experience. I know everyone likes Vex, but I find it a bit too bonkers in my advancing years and Feral and Foe is much easier on the eyes.
Quote from: Jacqusie on 09 March, 2020, 11:01:15 AM
Lynch's artwork is steadily evolving and becoming slicker, but sadly not really his actualy Dredd, as for me he draws Dreddy's head like a lozenge, a bit too elongated like Jimmy Hill. It makes him look a bit nerdy if I'm honest.
I know it's subjective, but that's how Dredd looks in my mind, with the elongated face. Probably because Henry Flint was drawing him in the 90s when I started reading and I think Lynch is influenced by Flint's earlier work (and the McMahon influence that predates both)
A good solid prog but not as great as when both Vex and Brink was in the prog.
It's all about Jake Lynch's exquisite artwork for me this week. I was going to mention last time how much I loved the way he'd designed and drawn Qgggl, especially those warm, almost bottomless amber eyes; this week is simply a masterclass in how to perfectly execute both alien anatomy and otherwordly planetscapes. And while his depiction of Dredd is equally fantastic, it's almost a disappointment when something so familiar shows up. Top, top quality stuff, reinforcing Lynch's burgeoning status among the pantheon of all-time Dredd greats.
(His cover is awesome too but the colouring's a bit... not muddy exactly, but pastelly... and the background detail's a little distracting)
Elsewhere SinDex is as reliably enjoyable as ever - looking forward to an extended run for this forthcoming major arc. Feral & Foe keeps the thrill-o-meter needle firmly in the red. And Skip Tracer once again teeters on the edge of being brilliant, it really only needs a tiny nudge! Hopefully this chapter is going to be up there with 'Legion' in delivering top thrills.
Wow just about to start the review thread for this weeks Prog and lord above its very quiet on here?!? No one read the Prog. Are you all struck dumb by Tharg's brilliance or just too polite to spit the bile its raised in your belly (so gone to FB were spitting bile is par for the course!).
....and for people still reading the prog: mentioned in the letter page, we have Aquila returning in two weeks and the week after that the finale of Survival Geeks
Quote from: Colin YNWA on 14 March, 2020, 08:48:07 PM
Wow just about to start the review thread for this weeks Prog and lord above its very quiet on here?!? No one read the Prog. Are you all struck dumb by Tharg's brilliance or just too polite to spit the bile its raised in your belly (so gone to FB were spitting bile is par for the course!).
Haven't received any progs since the regened one #subscriber
Phone them, they're very good at sorting out that kind of thing.
Quote from: Richard on 15 March, 2020, 01:28:32 PM
Phone them, they're very good at sorting out that kind of thing.
I know but what usually happens is they send a replacement and then a month later the original arrives. Then I send one back as I don't want to profit. What's annoying is rebellion stuff gets there in 48 hours but subs stuff often goes MIA for 2 plus weeks. It's clear the post office / subs handling company have an issue because it's a regular thing yet I've no problem with any other post including direct from 2000ad
Quote from: broodblik on 15 March, 2020, 04:36:21 AM
....and for people still reading the prog: mentioned in the letter page, we have Aquila returning in two weeks and the week after that the finale of Survival Geeks
No indication Survival Geeks is ending any time soon...
Quote from: Fungus on 15 March, 2020, 07:57:03 PM
No indication Survival Geeks is ending any time soon...
Unfortunately this is how it looks like. A quote out of what is coming in April:
and the Survival Geeks are back for their final adventure as they battle parallel-dimension versions of themselves in 'Crisis of Infinite Nerds' https://2000ad.com/news/whats-coming-from-rebellions-comics-imprints-this-april/ (https://2000ad.com/news/whats-coming-from-rebellions-comics-imprints-this-april/)
It was mentioned in the prog as well but with a receding hairline comes other gives like where did I put my glasses ?
Survival Geeks really grew on me. It'll be a loss for the prog when it ends.
Quote from: Colin YNWA on 14 March, 2020, 08:48:07 PM
Wow just about to start the review thread for this weeks Prog and lord above its very quiet on here?!? No one read the Prog.
Not going to the shops unless absolutely essential (I know, I know) so in progless isolation. Digital beckons for the next few months, but I haven't got me finger out yet.
Quote from: TordelBack on 16 March, 2020, 08:51:18 AM
Digital beckons for the next few months, but I haven't got me finger out yet
It's certainly one way of keeping yourself entertained...
Heh! As it happens I remembered that Big Bang in Dundrum opens onto the street, as opposed to my lreguksr haunts deep in the bowels of a West Dublin plague pit, so I organised a drive-by prog heist. The wife kept the motor running while I waddled in in my full-cowl wetsuit, headshotted the guy breathing heavily over by the manga racks as a precaution, grabbed the Prog and full sets of Crossed and Walking Dead for research purposes, threw a handful of toilet rolls at Bruno and made it out with a box of shotgun shells and a medkit. Result.
Solid prog, with 2000 AD being very much in a "cross-fade" phase with older stories reaching their conclusion while the newbies are ramping up.
Zaucer has become a lot less whimsical and heavier with Zaucer's future grown-up daughter wanting to eradicate the timeline that leads to her own existence. Being a digital subber, I'm still waiting for its conclusion in 2173. I've enjoyed this tale, a lot though. Feels very distinct in tone and art style from other stuff in the prog, and bring back nostalgic memories of early 90s whimsy like Hewligan's Haircut.
The Dredd tale is really ratcheting up. We're thoroughly rooting for our alien visitor, and Dredd and Mega-City One bureaucracy are the antagonists.
Feels to early to really pass much judgement on Sinister Dexter and Skip Tracer. Sinister is a welcome return, Skip Tracer less so, but very much hope the new story exceeds my expectations. Looking forward to the big Sinister Dexter story mentioned in the Nerve Centre to celebrate its 25th anniversary. Like Jaegar, Sinister Dexter has been given to us in dribs and drabs lately, so a big, meaty portion would be most welcome.
Finally, Feral and Foe feels like the first episode of new story arc, which surprised me as I was assuming it, too, would be ending soon. Maybe it will end with a cliff hanger.
Risky run to get physical copy probably worth it (we'll see on 14 days).
Love that cover, and love Lynch's spectacular work on Dredd. I'm going to throw 50% of that appreciation at Boswell - he gives Lynch's amazing movement and design a polish and a resulting solidity that lifts it to new heights. Great pairing.
SinDex. This whole team is so smooth now, the strip practically reads itself. Great painless recap, gentle setup, and just happy it's back.
Zaucer has won me back at last. With TuTu back centrestage the story has found the missing weight it needed to anchor the oh-so pretty pictures. Perhaps knowing the stakes earlier would have helped me engage more, but I've been happy enough just enjoying the sights.
Skip Tracer. More of the same. Peaty is a good storyteller, but I've so little interest in the character or setting that his talents, and those of Marshall & Teague, are wasted on me. Aside: I only realised last week that Nolan is black, and I re-read the whole thing at Christmas.
Feral & Foe: Wow, the Elsons are burning up the page this week! So many amazingly detailed designs! This strip has hit a great rhythm, satisfying short stories in an ongoing narrative, and I hope there's loads more to come.
Despite all the great art this week, the page that stopped me in my tracks, and that I keep turning back to, was Federico Arevalo's Death. Spectacular image in the (necrotic) flesh, a very worthy winner.