Messages

Wot?  Is nobody going to mention that stunning cover?!?  One of the best depictions of Death in recent years, in this cow's humble opinion.

And yet ... shurely misleading, given the prog's actual content?  (Where's that number for Trading Standards...?)

Yeah, that's a really great cover. Nothing like his style, but I can imagine it as a Brett Ewins on an old fashioned bog-paper Prog.

Regards,
Robin

I wasn't sure where to post this, but as it's ultimately about me, Off Topic seems appropriate...

That was hard.

Just clicking two buttons.

But it's done. After a month shy of 38 years, I'm no longer a 2000Ad reader.


I was kind of there at the start. At that age I was into dinosaurs and The Six Million Dollar Man, so there was an obvious attraction for me in those first few issues. However, for reasons lost to the mists of time it didn't become a regular thing. Instead, when I was in my teens a new kid at school introduced me to the Eagle Judge Dredd reprints. At some point I picked up a copy of The Best of 2000AD Monthly #6. Then I started getting it regularly with the Prog 466.

But now it's over. There's little point lamenting the reasons. Better instead to remember the pages and pages and pages of great stories over many years. Better to remember that I managed to get my name into an episode of Dredd and made a small contribution to Dredd history. There's only a few of us who've been that lucky.

What's more, if I ever change my mind, we live in a world where back issues, both physical and digital, are so easily available. And there are plenty of reprints.

I won't be going away, because this is a great place, full of news and gossip. So be careful what you say about me. I'm always watching.

And finally...

Jim, you grumpy old bastard, never fucking change.

Very best wishes,
Robin

But the system's never going to really change, because if it does that's the end of the series.

I don't that's the case, for reasons I mentioned in an earlier post: crime is still going to exist, the same way it does in our world despite education and democratic systems. There'll still be a place for Judges. Dredd can still be Dredd. The city might change over time, but the realistic procedurals, the future crimes, all the weirdness is still there to play with.

Regards,
Robin

[SPOILER WARNING for Judge Dredd: Origins]

SPOILER WARNING for Judge Dredd: Origins (because it's in the latest Complete Case Files)

Origins ended with Fargo pleading with Dredd to end the system he had created, but Dredd didn't do anything about it then and it wasn't followed up on. Then at the end of Day of Chaos it was obvious to everyone that Justice Dept had failed to protect the city. If neither of those events prompted Dredd to change his views, I'm not sure what else would.

Dredd's problem is that he doesn't know what else to do. Here, Maitland had shown him an alternative, or at least a positive way forward, and proved it could work.

Now, it may be that there will be follow-up stories where Dredd kicks the shit of Hernandez and then gets someone else to implement Maitland's vision. Hell, for all we know they really plan to reveal that Maitland isn't really dead and Hernandez is being played.

Maitland's vision doesn't doesn't stop Dredd being Dredd or undermine continuation of the series. There will still be future crime. There'll still be ordinary crime. Hell, we have an education system, some countries have better ones, but crime, poverty, and hopelessness still exist. It is possible to make the city better, but still need the Judges. Maybe fewer of them. Maybe like that early depiction of the system where you have and ordinary police force and the Judges.

The story that set this all up probably stopped me dropping the comic at the time. This story just rubbed me up the wrong way, and I can't see the point any more. Perhaps I'm wrong and I'll get story I want, but, you know, I'll pick it up in the collections.


Regards,
Robin

[Dredd:]

So much thrill power it ends up even on the back cover. In all, a good Prog, I thought, despite some oddities.

Dredd: Ends on a massive downer. Sets the board up for the next round. I still think it a pity that one of the very few prominent women in the strip was killed, and all the blokes are mostly OK. Perhaps that will be temporary. I don't know.

Questions: Dredd has felt ineffectual to some degree. "We can never do enough." Well, sure, Dredd, but you did fuck all. Perhaps Maitland wouldn't be alive if you'd done more, but you could have done something. But also in his confrontation with Hernandez, that doesn't feel like a Dredd with stature – this feels more like a Dredd marginalised. And, frankly, given that he repeatedly refuses to take up a position of authority, what right does he have to keep trying to steer Justice Department?

My subscription's due to be renewed in a week or two.

I think it's finally time for me to draw the line.

Regards,
Robin

Okay.

It's conceivable that Maitland had a plan when she rattled Hernandez's cage. It's conceivable that she put a robot double in place to seemingly take her out of the picture. After all, she and Dredd were talking before she confronted Hernandez. Neither of them are stupid. Both of them can anticipate and plan.

God, I hope so.


Regards,
Robin

And yeah, some of us do consider Maitland a major character.

What if they stopped at (or just before) The Horned God?

Personally, that would do me fine, even though I liked that post-HG one-off by Fabry and The Books of Invasion/Wanderer.

Regards,
Robin

Having a bit of a Prog/Meg catch up. I'm not automatically hostile to the idea of the Regened issues, but I was reminded of a strip in Bloom County where Opus is reviewing a movie...

George Phblat's new film 'Bengi Saves the Universe', has brought the word 'bad' to new levels of badness.

Bad acting. Bad effects. Bad everything. This bad film oozed rottenness from every bad scene... simply bad beyond all infinite dimensions of possible badness.

Well maybe not that bad, but Lord, it wasn't good.


As others have noted, great cover. Really great cover.

Regards,
Robin

[Black Orchid]

Sooo much to recommend here. Other people have made some very good suggestions, but I'll add the Black Orchid 3 of 3, by Gaiman and McKean. McKean's art here is (based on a 30-something year old memory) better than his Arkham Asylum, parts of which are also jolly good.

I'll also encourage you to look at Sandman Mystery Theatre. Just a shame you've not got it all - well worth collecting the rest. It's a tragedy that two attempts to have this collected in full have failed. It's one the best comic series I've read.

Regards,
Robin

One of the great, distinctive creators who made 2000AD stand out from all the rest.

It's easy to point to Dredd as done by wonderful artists like Bolland, Dillon, and Ron Smith... but then you have someone like Gibson whose style was so different to their realism, and yet still absolutely, 100% Dredd.


Regards,
Robin

[wise]

toasters that complain about white bread

I blame the pastry-archy.

You're a bad man.

JUDGE DREDD: Are you sure that's wise, Sir?

Channeling Sgt. Wilson.

Respect to any artist who could convey Wilson's eye-rolling through the helmet!


Regards,
Robin

[Judge Dredd!]

Smashing Robo-Hunter continuity into Judge Dredd? Hark. I think I hear the Robin Low alarm ringing!

Unfinished, of course, and in the (attempted) style of the time...

HUNTERS
A six-page Judge Dredd story by Robin Low

PAGE ONE
PANEL ONE

Dredd shaking hands with Chief Judge Goodman in the Chief Judge's office. We're talking 2099 here, so keep in mind the style of uniform and décor (a huge eagle chair for the Chief Judge, that kind of thing).

CAPTION: Mega-City One 2099. A few months after the Robot War. Chief Judge Goodman is talking to his top officer, Judge Dredd!

CHIEF JUDGE GOODMAN: Good to see you, Dredd. Glad you could find time to see me.

JUDGE DREDD: Always happy to make time, Sir! How can I help you?

PANEL TWO

The Chief Judge is showing Dredd a wall screen filled with images of Judges fighting various malfunctioning robots, vehicles and household appliances.

CHIEF JUDGE GOODMAN: You defeated the robot rebellion, but there are still problems. Rogue droids, malfunctioning autocabs, toasters that complain about white bread ... so much automation.

CHIEF JUDGE GOODMAN: It's a drain on our time.

PANEL THREE

CHIEF JUDGE GOODMAN: I've set-up a civilian group to tackle this. Youngsters who understand robots, computers and electronics. They can deal with rogue machines, leaving Judges to get on with the real work!

PANEL FOUR

JUDGE DREDD: Are you sure that's wise, Sir? It takes an experienced Judge to deal with Heavy Metal Kids and psycho gardening droids!

CHIEF JUDGE GOODMAN: That's why I need you, Dredd! Someone who can show these youngsters how it's done!

PANEL FIVE

Dredd stands with his hands on hips, looking strong and noble, while Goodman pats Dredd on the shoulder.

JUDGE DREDD: Seems mighty risky to me, Sir, but I'll do my best to kick them into shape!

CHIEF JUDGE GOODMAN: Good man, Joe, I knew I could rely on you!

PANEL SIX

Goodman is holding his thumb and forefinger together to indicate the one little problem.

CHIEF JUDGE GOODMAN: There is just one little problem...

PAGE TWO

PANEL ONE

CHIEF JUDGE GOODMAN: ...And his name is Slade. Samuel Slade!

Regards,

Robin

Well, it's taken a bit longer than we'd hoped - let's blame covid - but at least we found a home for our collection. It's with Liminal 11, each comic is accompanied by an essay on the folklore subject and it's been beautifully designed. You can see some of the pages here:
https://comicbook.com/comics/news/liminal-11-reveals-first-look-preview-of-fascinating-folklore-a-compendium-of-comics-and-essays-exclusive/

That's great news. I don't buy many comics these days, but I'm looking forward to this one.

Regards,
Robin

Harry Belafonte, aged 96.

As a boy, he was simply the voice of Christmas in my parents house on a crackly old vinyl. As an adult I realised what a great force he was as an activist. I'm a heavy metal guy and people are always surprised to find Belafonte records in my collection. I'll be spinning some tonight!

Island in The Sun was one of the songs we played at my Dad's funeral around this time last year.

Regards,
Robin

Haven't read a Prog for several months now

So, your opinion is completely invalid...? Please do share your thoughts on other things you have no direct experience of but somehow think you're qualified to spaff on about.

Blimey, have things changed that much since Prog 2311? I better get my subscription renewed.


Regards,
Robin