After last week's rather disappointing jump on, this week's takes a tick up for my money. Good strong cover from Goddard and Caldwell. Dredd ticking over nicely but with Carrol's usual propensity for using Dredd as a back up character rather than lead. Art work suits it and for my money it is showing promise.
Brass Sun is heavy on the action this week with a nice if not entirely unpredictable twist. Flesh, considering that it is always one of my least favourite tooth strips makes for a not entirely unpleasant read so that is something.
Goddard taking over lead art duties on Aquila makes for a nice transition. Couple of chuckles at the anti Christian rant. Trying to work out if Rennie is being historically accurate or deliberately provocative. The irony being that if the intent was the latter he may well discover that it is actually the former. Nice little set up and recap of previous events. Why didn't they use this last week? Would have made for a much stronger jump on.
Damnation Station is a minor improvement on last week but Harrison's artwork does not seem to maintain consistency. The computer generated backgrounds occasionally clash against the cartoony style of the line art.
So overall a bit of a surprise that the post jump on prof shows tooth's potential far more. I know this topic has been heavily covered elsewhere so will leave it at that.
A fair summary there - I enjoyed the jump on prog but this steps up a gear.
Dredd is progressing nicely and I thoroughly enjoyed the diner sequence
Brass Sun is just wonderful
I defy anyone not to enjoy the 'splash' page in Flesh and the story does at least move this week.
This is only the second time I've read Aquila (the first being the one-off in prog 2013(?)) and it made perfect sense and was very easy to follow - unlike DS last week.
Which brings me to Damnation Station which is a lot easier to follow (to me anyway) than last week's introduction.
Overall, I thought this was a strong prog.
Yeh, enjoyed it a lot. Cracking cover!
I have to say, this was a massive improvement over last week.
The Cover is lovely - I'm a big fan of Goddard and the colouring job is great too. Really pleased to see Aquila back.
Dredd was fun and fast moving. I really like both Joyce and Pax and I like the way the story is told through Pax's journal. The artwork is lovely but the Lawmasters still seem a little small.
Brass Sun. While this strip still isn't really my cup of tea it always looks stunning and I prefer these more action packed installments.
Flesh was another bit of light hearted fun. I can't help think on that the artwork is absolutely crying out for some colour though (Not that I dislike B&W art but this just looks like it needs something to lift it).
Aquila is probably my favourite thing in the prog and one of the best new thrills of the last few years. The art is wonderful - they should get this art team on the Assassins Creed comics.
Damnation Station is miles better than it was last week. Despite not remembering much from the last story I think this actually serves as a better re-introduction than last week. Again, the strip looks great, Harrison's work has an instant wow factor (similar to Langley or Bisley in that regard).
I was really feeling down about this run of strips after reading last week's prog but this is such a vast improvement. If it carries on like this for the next few weeks I'll be a happy customer.
Pretty much with the consensus on this so far limited thread. Last week was all about potential and this week is all about that potential slowly bubbling up.
Damnation Station is moving in the right direction, but still has some way to go.
Flesh is bursting with potential and is popping along pleasantly, with the hints of more still to come.
Dredd moves things up a notch while still keeping the nice character stuff. This one is building well.
Aquila makes a great start and I'm loving the switch in artist.
Brass Sun was always there, from its first episode to the latest. The best thing is for all the glory of this thrill to date this high octane episode shows a brilliant series not resting on its laurels. If this keeps up this sort of upward trajectory we'll be talking not just about one of the best new thrills of recent times but one of the comics best ever thrills.
Cover okay but somehow lacking, i felt the veiled figure could have been darker more threatening, not sure the Red Road text, why?, or am I missing something?
Thrill centre; Dark Justice promo and Damage Rant-port fair comment about TWD TV series.
Dredd New Tricks: enjoying this, and the slighty unusual layouts, love the comment about [spoiler]Joyce's [/spoiler] pass mark and the fact that Dredd recognised the [spoiler]Manta[/spoiler] by it's sound. But new tricks? shouldn't this be a bunch of retired Judges and a MILF? and a theme song by Dennis Waterman?
Brass Sun: Highly enjoyable
Flesh: a close up of his [spoiler]Doctor K's [/spoiler] would have been nice :D
Aquila: coming along nicely
Damn Station: working a treat
overall 'steady as she goes' kinda prog, which might explian the lack of comment here...
I still haven't got my copy in the mail :| hope i get it soon or may go into thrill withdrawal
Quote from: IronGraham on 24 September, 2013, 12:47:39 PM
I still haven't got my copy in the mail :| hope i get it soon or may go into thrill withdrawal
I also have no copies! They usually arrive on Mondays... :'(
Quote from: Mike Carroll on 24 September, 2013, 01:54:38 PM
Quote from: IronGraham on 24 September, 2013, 12:47:39 PM
I still haven't got my copy in the mail :| hope i get it soon or may go into thrill withdrawal
I also have no copies! They usually arrive on Mondays... :'(
You'll like the Dredd
:D
2nd week now and not delivered on sat got last week on Wednesday so fingers crossed for tomorrow
Mine is still MIA...
Quote from: Mike Carroll on 24 September, 2013, 01:54:38 PM
Quote from: IronGraham on 24 September, 2013, 12:47:39 PM
I still haven't got my copy in the mail :| hope i get it soon or may go into thrill withdrawal
I also have no copies! They usually arrive on Mondays... :'(
It's all Pat's fault. Equality between the creator and audience, you know.
Quote from: Mike Carroll on 24 September, 2013, 01:54:38 PM
Quote from: IronGraham on 24 September, 2013, 12:47:39 PM
I still haven't got my copy in the mail :| hope i get it soon or may go into thrill withdrawal
I also have no copies! They usually arrive on Mondays... :'(
isn't it great that some one livin' the dream and writing the Prog is still put out when it turns up late. Goodon ya Mike.
Quote from: Colin_YNWA on 24 September, 2013, 08:37:26 PM
Quote from: Mike Carroll on 24 September, 2013, 01:54:38 PM
Quote from: IronGraham on 24 September, 2013, 12:47:39 PM
I still haven't got my copy in the mail :| hope i get it soon or may go into thrill withdrawal
I also have no copies! They usually arrive on Mondays... :'(
isn't it great that some one livin' the dream and writing the Prog is still put out when it turns up late. Goodon ya Mike.
That's 'cos I'm still a fan! I want to know what's happening in the latest episodes of the other tales! Plus the first part of a new Aquila... How could I not be excited about that!?
-- Mike
Loved Aquila and Dredd this week. Enjoyed Brass Sun and Damnation Station. Flesh isn't for me, I fear. The dialogue spoils it for me.
But four out of five is a good hit rate. I love my prog!
- Trout
Thrill levels dangerously low and still no sign of salvation please tharg have mercy
Quote from: Trout on 25 September, 2013, 04:00:44 AM
Loved Aquila and Dredd this week. Enjoyed Brass Sun and Damnation Station. Flesh isn't for me, I fear. The dialogue spoils it for me.
But four out of five is a good hit rate. I love my prog!
- Trout
What this man said.
Aquila is pure icing on the cake for me. Love the feel of it.
I really enjoyed this prog, especially as it was the first one on my shiny new iPad.
Dredd, Brass Sun and Aquila all great, and Damnation Station made much more sense this time.
This seems like a better jumping on point to me.
Quote from: Tjm86 on 21 September, 2013, 11:04:10 AM
Goddard taking over lead art duties on Aquila makes for a nice transition. Couple of chuckles at the anti Christian rant. Trying to work out if Rennie is being historically accurate or deliberately provocative. The irony being that if the intent was the latter he may well discover that it is actually the former. Nice little set up and recap of previous events. Why didn't they use this last week? Would have made for a much stronger jump on.
I'd wager that the other three new strips are 12 parters, running straight from 1850-1861, the last issue before P2014. Aquila will be either 8 or 10 episodes, allowing for a double-length Damnation Station in prog 1860 and a double-length Brass Sun in prog 1861.
This kind of ties into last week's lengthy discussion about why things are less than satisfying. When readers can start predicting the length of everything that appears in the comic, then it spoils some of the fun. In a perfect world, though, you'd be right: I did not care for Flesh or Damnation Station, Dredd and Brass Sun were pretty good, and Aquila was by far the best thing in the issue. It was excellent, and should have been the centerpiece of the jump-on issue's promotion, but Tharg couldn't do that with P2014 just 13 issues away and still wanting to use this lineup for the autumn.
thrill level completely depleted must go to older stocks to refuel
Quote from: Grant Goggans on 25 September, 2013, 08:28:52 PM
When readers can start predicting the length of everything that appears in the comic, then it spoils some of the fun.
Well, you're completely wrong about the length of this Aquila story, and so may well be way off with your other predictions too. So plenty of unspoiled fun still to be had, surely?
I'm worried Mike C ( what is his droid number?) has expired due to thrill suckers!
Great prog. Looking forward to more Aquila. Damnation Station picked up a bit too though I am not sure what the drock Brent (??) got in the post, seemed important but nothing I recognised. Dredd is still going strong, looking forward to a war in the undercity and I enjoy seeing the less totalitarian judges running up against the realities of the other megs. Brass Sun - funny how it doesn't do much for some people but others like myself think that this kind of thing is one of the highlights of the 2000AD core concept! Love it from artwork to setting to story.
Its the time-drug mentioned earlier in the issue...I think
Yes. Yes it is. Damnation Station has really caught my attention this week. I had heard of the series previously but this is my first exposure to it. And Mr. Harrisons art looks stunning on an Ipad!
The time drug?
Wasn't that in Flesh?
Oh wait, no there were two time drugs this prog! This was the recreational one rather than the one to fight GoreHead with. Silly me.
Cheers
I'll repeat my thought last week and say I want Brass Sun to be full comic as I felt like it just got started then it ended grudammit! Nice to see Aquilla back, really enjoyed the last parts I read.
I could leave the rest to be honest, Dredd is a standard Dredd tale so nothing against that but Flesh still seems like nonsense and I'm not keen on the Damnation art; what's with all the bloom pumped up to 11 on nearly every panel and I don't understand what happened in the fight with the black guy and the dude with the beard - one panel he's got him by the head then the last panel the tramp is gone and the other guy is missing his coat. Did he teleport him away? Is that what the lighting thing is behind him? Because it looks the same as the flame effect that tramp was using before, did he get burned with the guys coat? Its hard to tell with all the lense flair and bloom all over the place. Is Mark Harrison an alias of JJ Abrams?
Quote from: GordonR on 26 September, 2013, 12:57:13 PM
Quote from: Grant Goggans on 25 September, 2013, 08:28:52 PM
When readers can start predicting the length of everything that appears in the comic, then it spoils some of the fun.
Well, you're completely wrong about the length of this Aquila story, and so may well be way off with your other predictions too. So plenty of unspoiled fun still to be had, surely?
NO! It's completely impossible to enjoy something when you know how long it will be, which is why hour and half hour TV shows have never caught on. Tharg needs to start adding extra blank pages at the back of the prog to trick you into thinking there's still ages to go, like proper books do.
Surprised at how much I'm enjoyng this line-up, to be honest, given that I wasn't really looking forward to it three weeks ago.
Damnation Station benefits most from this, if only because I really didn't enjoy it last time out. Simon Davis seemed woefully unsuited for the material (not a fan of his current 'floating heads' phase) and I didn't think his style meshed particularly well with Boo Cook's. Mark Harrison's done a lot to rekindle my interet - his neon electro-phantasia really suits the strip. I'm more engaged by the story this time, too. The news-cast infodump last week seemed to put some people off, but it really helped get me fully invested in what immediately felt like a living, breathing three-dimensional world.
Dredd is a cracker. Mike's post-DoC stories haven't all hit the mark for me, for various reasons, but this is a beauty so far. Pax and Joyce are adding a lot to the mix and I hope they stick around. The set-piece in the Diner was great. Loving the artwork, too.
Brass Sun doesn't rock my world quite as much as it seems to for many here, but it's infinitely better than Red Seas or Ampney Crucis (sorry Ian!) Hope it doesn't move too quickly, is all - I can forsee them moving on to the next world within the next two or three weeks, and I'd prefer a much more lesuirely exploration of the Orrery; a world like The Keep has legs. I want to explore the politics, geography and culture, not career off to a new planet every few episodes.
I have a lot of time for Pat Mills, but Flesh just doesn't engage me. How can a strip about dinosaurs, time travel and a serial-killing preacher be this boring? Not overly keen on this chap's artwork, either - too rough n' ready for my tastes.
Aquila is the mutt's nuts. Great to see Felix back - he really made an impression during his short previous apperance, and I hope he sticks around for a while this time. He gives good sidekick! Goddard's art is sumptuos - dare I say I actually prefer him on this strip to Gallagher? My one worry with this strip is the same as with Brass Sun, that it's simply moving too quickly! It powered through the Boudicca revolt and Sack of Londinium last series, and we've already missed the Great Fire of Rome - it's a fascinating wee stage of history and I want to dig really deep into it.
Quote from: sheldipez on 26 September, 2013, 08:34:56 PM
what's with all the bloom pumped up to 11 on nearly every panel and I don't understand what happened in the fight with the black guy and the dude with the beard - one panel he's got him by the head then the last panel the tramp is gone and the other guy is missing his coat. Did he teleport him away? Is that what the lighting thing is behind him? Because it looks the same as the flame effect that tramp was using before, did he get burned with the guys coat?
Err [spoiler]Joe Nowhere is missing his coat because it got set on fire when he was dodging tramp guy Walter. He had him by the head and he breaks his neck, which is rather obscured by the huge bright spotlight in the top of the panel. Then he walks away leaving Walters body and his burning coat on the
pyre, saying "If it's any consolation you weren't the first, and you won't be the last"[/spoiler]
I'm hoping that they tone down all the shinyness once they leave this carnival/festival setting but as the apartment scenes have their fair bit of future-bloom, it's probably going to persist. Not loving the artwork here that much myself to be honest but it has its moments (I liked the stuff from the last series myself, love Simon Davis artwork).
Quote from: Theblazeuk on 27 September, 2013, 10:21:25 AM
Quote from: sheldipez on 26 September, 2013, 08:34:56 PM
what's with all the bloom pumped up to 11 on nearly every panel and I don't understand what happened in the fight with the black guy and the dude with the beard - one panel he's got him by the head then the last panel the tramp is gone and the other guy is missing his coat. Did he teleport him away? Is that what the lighting thing is behind him? Because it looks the same as the flame effect that tramp was using before, did he get burned with the guys coat?
Err [spoiler]Joe Nowhere is missing his coat because it got set on fire when he was dodging tramp guy Walter. He had him by the head and he breaks his neck, which is rather obscured by the huge bright spotlight in the top of the panel. Then he walks away leaving Walters body and his burning coat on the
pyre, saying "If it's any consolation you weren't the first, and you won't be the last"[/spoiler]
I'm hoping that they tone down all the shinyness once they leave this carnival/festival setting but as the apartment scenes have their fair bit of future-bloom, it's probably going to persist. Not loving the artwork here that much myself to be honest but it has its moments (I liked the stuff from the last series myself, love Simon Davis artwork).
Cheers! Feels like a few in between panels have gone MIA so I found that hard to understand what went down (looking at it again - it's still not clear cut to me).
you know what? I'm quitely chuffed we have a black main character on the cover and nobody gives a sneck, there is hope.
We have already had a black main character on the cover in the form of Blackhawk, progs 137, 142 and 149, back in 1979/1980. Perhaps others as well during my absence from the prog!
Giant, Prog 68, Dave Gibbons art!
Not a main character, as such, but a very prominent non-Causasian cover figure was the woman from the Supercover story, prog 34...
(http://www.2000ad.org/covers/2000ad/hires/34.jpg)
-- Mike
more to the point did your prog make it?
Quote from: Proudhuff on 27 September, 2013, 03:45:55 PM
more to the point did your prog make it?
The contributor's copies arrived on Wednesday - still no sign of my subscriptions copy!
-- Mike
Is there any difference between the two?
Quote from: hippynumber1 on 27 September, 2013, 04:27:24 PM
Is there any difference between the two?
He
could tell you, but then he'd have to kill you.
Cheers!
Jim
::)
I also haven't gotten my subscription copy yet i've contacted 2000AD not sure if should buy copy from smiths tomorrow or not
Quote from: Jim_Campbell on 27 September, 2013, 05:21:17 PM
Quote from: hippynumber1 on 27 September, 2013, 04:27:24 PM
Is there any difference between the two?
He could tell you, but then he'd have to kill you.
Cheers!
Jim
The contributors copy has
Matt's Thargs true mug on the interior. Thats horrifying! :o
Dredd - Enjoying the dynamic between the Judges and I suspect there may be some misdirection in making us think Joyce will fail, with Pax possibly failing instead? Love the Undercity as a location, so this should be a fun adventure!
Brass Sun - Love it. It's rare for me to be immersed in the characters and story so quickly, especially when I've missed earlier stories, but I am really enjoying the mood to this series, due to the steampunk elements and Inj Culbard's ace artwork!
Flesh - Bit more confusing than last week, again relying on prior knowledge of the last series (and potentially the original series from 1977) - at face value, it's okay, but it might get tough to follow the more it relies on obscure plot points of the past.
Damnation Station - Nice bit of intrigue with Joe Nowhere and some foreshadowing of the future. I'm surprised that Walter got dispatched so quickly, but the story is progressing nicely.
Aquila - Being unfamiliar with this strip, I was surprised with how conventional it appears - there's a slight mystical angle, but largely it seems to be a very historical strip, in no way do I mean that as a criticism. I liked the sidekick and the creepy Caesar sniffing bad breath sequence!
For a more detailed review, check out my blog here > http://popculturebandit.blogspot.com/2013/09/2000ad-prog-1851.html (http://popculturebandit.blogspot.com/2013/09/2000ad-prog-1851.html)
Solid prog again nice work on the Dredd story and the last panel is fab with the new mutie army, Brass Sun very good and Flesh was fine but a bit confusing over the panel direction flow, Aquila was a good set up as and Damnation Station my fave with a character being knocked off already and threats of the "bigger bad" on the way.
A good 'n' solid prog this week. Still not sure about Damnation Station, but all the rest its cooking on gas.
Nice cover this week, i thought. And coming after a few consectutive ones that failed to grab.
Dredd is grand stuff again. But, even after all these years, im still thrown by panels showing the old skyscrapers under MC1... :-\
Brass Sun is a joy, again. Plenty of action, and a wee bit of gore. Those 'red eyed devils', for the wont of a better name, are singularly creepy.
Flesh continues in prime old skool fashion. That double splash page is a just superb.
Again with Damnation Station, its maybe to soon to judge. Not totally sure about the art.....
Cover: Very Tornado, as it should be.
Dredd: Liking this, hope neither Joyce nor Pax buy it before the end. You can never have enough distinctive judges to call on. Still not quite sure what it is about Davidson's art that throws me, maybe still too reliant on face on/side profile heads, which is a bit of a pity as the more isometric views are fab. What I am sure of is that he gives great Undercity.
Damnation Station: Harrison's current style still proving disjointed for me, and I'm surprised to see the Nowhere explanation trotted out so early in the game. However, as it was fairly obvious from the end of last series I suppose there's no point making it a mystery in this.
Aquila: Ah Felix, I wondered what had become of him. Confess that I had rather wanted to see Aquila and Peter hang about for a bit. I take it that's Nero playing at augur? Love this strip, and love Goddard's Rome and his slightly less Hulkish Aquila.
Flesh: Look, if there's anything else in this episode other than a divinely rendered exploding Alamosaur it should be viewed as a bonus feature. I confess that I'm a bit bored of the Pastor Sunday plot, just string the bastard up McGuirk.
Brass Sun: Things move along at a lick as Katerina Dante sends the Graf Orlok into battle. Hope we don't leave The Keep too soon, I'm enjoying its Gormenghastliness.
Quote from: TordelBack on 29 September, 2013, 01:11:29 PM
Dredd: Liking this, hope neither Joyce nor Pax buy it before the end. You can never have enough distinctive judges to call on. Still not quite sure what it is about Davidson's art that throws me, maybe still too reliant on face on/side profile heads, which is a bit of a pity as the more isometric views are fab. What I am sure of is that he gives great Undercity.
That was what struck me this week. 3 panels in a row with a virtually identical profile of Dredd, even when the rest of his body was almost square on in one of them. It just all feels a little awkward. Scripts top notch though
Mine still hasn't arrived..any other subscribers still waiting ?
you may need to contact them about that thats what i did
My review... the link says 1850 but it is 1851...
http://judgetutorsemple.wordpress.com/2013/10/03/2000ad-prog-1850-general-release-250913-spoilers/
Really enjoyed this prog. A solid 4/5 and no mistakin. Think we're getting back on form now following on from the jump on prog. Good work team!