Did I miss the voting threads? Are they all off in a different section this year..?
I know 2023 seems like an absolute aeon ago now, but cast your minds back through the alcohol-fuddled fug of the festive fugue, if you can, and rank your favourite three strips from last year's progs. The usual T&Cs apply: Dredd stories get their own poll (if anyone fancies starting it), no Regened strips, and no one-offs - so none of the Battle/Action crossovers or one-shots from the Christmas prog. As ever I'm always happy to change these rules if the will of the squaxx dictates! Also do let me know if I've missed any strips.
Your top choice will be awarded three points, your second choice two points and your third choice one point. I'd be grateful if you could only vote using this format (although obviously feel free to add comments!):
1. [Favourite strip - name of strip as in list]
2. [Second favourite strip - name of strip as in list]
3. [Third favourite strip - name of strip as in list]
No reverse orders please as it invites mistakes on my part. Also no joint rankings, thanks - my maths is strained enough as it is.
As we can see from previous years' results, one droid has a strangehold on this particular accolade, with consecutive hat-tricks of victories for two of their strips. Will this year see that vice-like grip broken?
2022 (https://forums.2000ad.com/index.php?msg=1096970) | 2021 (https://forums.2000ad.com/index.php?msg=1074793) | 2020 (https://forums.2000ad.com/index.php?msg=1049146) | 2019 (https://forums.2000ad.com/index.php?msg=1021174) | 2018 (https://forums.2000ad.com/index.php?msg=999394) | 2017 (https://forums.2000ad.com/index.php?msg=980057)
+++ VOTING IS NOW OPEN +++ THRILL-POWER RECEPTORS SET TO MAXIMUM! +++
Azimuth
The Devil's Railroad
Die Hoard (3riller)
Durham Red
Enemy Earth
The Fall of Deadworld
Feral and Foe
Future Shocks
Helium
Hershey
Hope
Joe Pineapples
Maxwell's Demon (3riller)
The Order
The Out
Portals & Black Goo
Proteus Vex
Rogue Trooper
Terror Tales
Void Runners
1. Rogue Trooper
2. Hershey
3. Durham Red
First and second places were nailed on - 'Blighty valley' was an absolute revelation, and Hershey's elegaic coda made for a haunting series conclusion. Azimuth, Helium and Feral and Foe might also have stolen third spot but I've been loving the Worley/Willsher take on Durham Red and 'Mad Dogs' was no exception.
1. Proteus Vex
2. The Out
3. Rogue Trooper
Missing out Azimuth/Durham Red/Feral and Foe/Hershey
Wow its always a sign of a good year when you look at the list of thrills and wonder how the hell your going to make a decision on which was best!... well number one slot aside in my case. So as of this moment I'm going
1. The Out
2. Azimuth
3. Proteus Vex
Have to give HMs to Rogue Trooper, Durham Red, Void Runners and Hershey - can't quite believe none of those make my top three! Its been a good year!
1.Proteus Vex
2.Rogue Trooper
3.Feral & Foe
1. Azimuth
2. Proteus Vex
3. Rogue Trooper
Despite not digging the Azimuth reveal, it had me hooked and delighted for the bulk of its run. Rogue was the opposite in that I didn't enjoy it at first but it wound up being incredible. Vex, as ever, sheer class.
Felt very harsh to exclude The Out. Loving both Helium and Feral and Foe at the moment, and Hershey had a great ending, but special stuff from those above.
I'm not thinking too hard about this. If you ask me tomorrow my votes might well fall differently.
1. The Out
Am I feeling a touch of the diminishing returns here? This run didn't grab me the way the previous two did.
Nevertheless, it's still my favourite so I'll keep the negatives to myself. On the positive side, Joey's 'One for the album,' is too sweet for words.
2. The Fall of Deadworld
After rereading the whole thing in the hardback collections, I'm a convert – a born-again Kek'n'Kendall fan.
3. Helium
Worth waiting for.
Runners-up? Runners-alongside?
Proteus Vex: Another thick slice of proper Twothy goodness, but there have always been so many wheels a-turning in this strip that I find it difficult to follow without constant little rereads.
Azimuth: Beautiful as all heck.
Hershey: I was reluctant to give this a chance, but it's been rehabilitated because of Fraser's art, and because it ended, and ended well. I had feared that Hershey would be out there having adventures and solving crimes for years to come.
Best effing single panel of the year:
(https://i.imgur.com/XtmTrc4.jpg)
Most memorable speech balloon (for better or worse):
(https://i.imgur.com/Wxm4KUW.jpg)
1. Rogue Trooper
2. The Out
3. Deadworld
1. Azimuth.
2. Rogue Trooper.
3. Hershey.
1. Azimuth
2. Helium
3. Feral & Foe (series 3)
I like these the most because apart from being skilfully plotted and beautifully drawn, they have also been the most fun strips for me. The others I have appreciated but they haven't given me as much sheer enjoyment. Also there's nothing in the way these strips are presented that gets in the way of me enjoying them - all the contributors to these strips, but particularly for me the artists, have excellent storytelling skills.
1: the out
2. Feral and foe
3, azimuth
Lots of great thrills this year, but these three had me grabbing at the progs to see what was going to happen next.
1. Azimuth
(https://i.imgur.com/qXY7ZMw.png)
2. The Fall of Deadworld
(https://i.imgur.com/LjH3FU9.png)
3. Rogue Trooper
(https://i.imgur.com/04JgFMw.png)
1. Proteus Vex
2. Azimuth
3. Hershey
HM to Rogue Trooper, The Out, and Helium.
I thought the overall quality of the art was really high this year.
1. The Out.
2. Fall of Deadworld.
3. Proteus Vex.
Cheers
1. THE OUT
2. PROTEUS VEX
3. HELIUM
Hms go to Azimuth, Rogue Trooper and Hershey.
Not a bad year at the prog by any measure, but stop me before I start gushing over The Out again.
1. Void Runners
2. Helium
3. Hershey
(1) Feral & Foe
(2) Azimuth
(3) Hershey
Honourable mentions: Durham Red, Hope, The Out and Rogue Trooper.
Really surprised myself with this, but my votes go:
1) Helium
2) Rogue Trooper
3) Hope
HM:
Proteus Vex
The Out
Azimuth
1. Azimuth
2. Proteus Vex
3. Feral and Foe
1. The Out
2. Feral & Foe
3. Helium
Just bubbling under - Hershey
norton canes, you doing the best Dredd strips topic(s) or do you want me to do them...?
1. Rogue Trooper
2. Azimuth
3. The Out
(Honourable mention to Feral & Foe.)
Quote from: Batman's Superior Cousin on 06 January, 2024, 01:56:34 PMnorton canes, you doing the best Dredd strips topic(s) or do you want me to do them...?
Oh you go ahead! One's more then enough for me :)
Quote from: norton canes on 06 January, 2024, 08:12:24 PMQuote from: Batman's Superior Cousin on 06 January, 2024, 01:56:34 PMnorton canes, you doing the best Dredd strips topic(s) or do you want me to do them...?
Oh you go ahead! One's more then enough for me :)
Good, I'll start the first topic hopefully tonight then.
Bump! Let's give this a couple more days. Can we get it onto its third page..?
1) Azimuth
2) Maxwell's Demon - Am I the only one keen to see this develop as a series? It's like RoboHunter but with demons instead of robots, and lovely English countryside.
3) Enemy Earth - it's the breakneck pace and asbolutely bonkers art that wins for me.
bubbling under: Feral & Foe (haven't really liked this story up to now but this latest outing has won me over)
Helium (worth the wait, but not quite as thrilling as that first series. Rather falls under the Brass Sun category of wonderful character and plot in the first series, then falling headlong into an Edgingtonian race through as many worlds and ideas as he can)
Quote from: AlexF on 10 January, 2024, 12:47:14 PMMaxwell's Demon - Am I the only one keen to see this develop as a series? It's like RoboHunter but with demons instead of robots, and lovely English countryside.
I would love to see it developed in its own series as well
It's been nearly six years since we last saw Brass Sun. This guy is almost as bad as Pat Mills at finishing things he's started!
1) Hershey
2) Azimuth
3) The Out
HM goes to Die Hoard (3riller), Feral and Foe, Helium, Proteus Vex & Rogue Trooper.
Quote from: Richard on 10 January, 2024, 02:13:38 PMIt's been nearly six years since we last saw Brass Sun. This guy is almost as bad as Pat Mills at finishing things he's started!
On balance, I'm pretty sure I'm worse. The trouble with Ian "this guy" Edginton is that he's created a multiverse but hasn't managed to access the alternate universe versions of himself in order to keep his multiverse plates rotating at a high enough TPP (Thrills Per Prog). It may be that the Edginton from this universe is the only one that's good at writing, and all the others are drunk on Captain McLean's Old Rotgut, or have been eaten by a monstrous horde shouting KHIII! Perhaps if he got in touch with Professor K, there might be some way of accessing a resurrection tank and getting more fingers on deck - although hopefully not the deck of the Leviathan.
Summary: yes, "this guy" - hurry up and provide us more of Brass Sun, Helium, Kingmaker, Scarlet Traces and Stickleback. And maybe Ampney, if that's not done. Detonator XI?
I find it really hard to be mad at Ian and his many multifaceted, wonderful collaborators for taking a little while to pen more of my favourite comics as, grud damn it, whenever I drop in and say hi to he and Disraeli at TB they're ever so very nice people.
Sod it, take all the time you needs lads, I'll wait until my back turns to dust before Helium Book 3, I'm sure it'll be worth the wait.
Quote from: Funt Solo [R] on 10 January, 2024, 03:30:14 PMSummary: yes, "this guy" - hurry up and provide us more of Brass Sun, Helium, Kingmaker, Scarlet Traces and Stickleback. And maybe Ampney, if that's not done. Detonator XI?
Apparently we will get the next chapter of Kingmaker this year but it will also ending with this arc - so lets all touch all of us wood here to get lady luck on our side. I am hoping for Brass Sun as well.
Quote from: broodblik on 10 January, 2024, 03:53:35 PMlets all touch all of us wood
I live in the US, so what you're suggesting is ... interesting. It is possible that some kind of homo-erotic ceremony would provide the mystical energy required for "this guy" to ... wait, is that sirens?
1. The Out: Still my favourite thing in the prog. Lovely stuff. Also subverting the original expectations masterfully, and then whatever expectations you had about what it might become next.
2. Helium: Would have been my number one, but, well, gaps. Bloody fantastic though. Superb art and a great story. I just fear it'll be well into the 2030s before we get more.
3. Azimuth: Despite my regular bellyaching about this, it started off really interesting and even when it was revealed to be the new Dexter, it was still very, very good. I'm intrigued to see where it goes. And, to be honest, I haven't given two hoots about Sin+Dex in a very long time. So it must be doing something right.
HMs to: Durham Red, Feral and Foe, Hershey and Proteus Vex.
Quote from: broodblik on 10 January, 2024, 01:30:32 PMQuote from: AlexF on 10 January, 2024, 12:47:14 PMMaxwell's Demon - Am I the only one keen to see this develop as a series? It's like RoboHunter but with demons instead of robots, and lovely English countryside.
I would love to see it developed in its own series as well
+1
Isn't it being developed? Or did I hallucinate that? And, yes, that one was fun too. I should have added it to my HMs.
Quote from: Le Fink on 10 January, 2024, 06:01:27 PMQuote from: broodblik on 10 January, 2024, 01:30:32 PMQuote from: AlexF on 10 January, 2024, 12:47:14 PMMaxwell's Demon - Am I the only one keen to see this develop as a series? It's like RoboHunter but with demons instead of robots, and lovely English countryside.
I would love to see it developed in its own series as well
+1
+2 vs. Demons
Maxwell's Demon was good but the fact that the Newcastle woman was named Jordy Coquet makes me wince every time I think of it.
Quote from: Blue Cactus on 11 January, 2024, 05:43:33 PMMaxwell's Demon was good but the fact that the Newcastle woman was named Jordy Coquet makes me wince every time I think of it.
Oh, I just got the Jordy/Geordie bit. It's not Coquet as in "coquettish", is it? Because, y'know, vomiting a little into my cup of tea if that's true. The actual character in the story seems like she'd stab you in the eye with a fork if you called her coquettish.
Quote from: Funt Solo [R] on 11 January, 2024, 06:59:54 PMQuote from: Blue Cactus on 11 January, 2024, 05:43:33 PMMaxwell's Demon was good but the fact that the Newcastle woman was named Jordy Coquet makes me wince every time I think of it.
Oh, I just got the Jordy/Geordie bit. It's not Coquet as in "coquettish", is it? Because, y'know, vomiting a little into my cup of tea if that's true. The actual character in the story seems like she'd stab you in the eye with a fork if you called her coquettish.
I think it's probably pronounced the same as 'coquette'. I could be wrong but that's how I read it anyway.
Next prog: Meet Cannaeba Gattyudor!
Absolutely definitely the last call for votes! Results imminent!
1. Helium
2. Azimuth
3. Joe Pineapples
Quote from: norton canes on 11 January, 2023, 10:59:12 AMAs for 2023... will the forthcoming Abnett/Bettin blockbuster Azimuth embark on the first step of its own trio of triumphs? Can anyone knock 2000 AD's imperious scribe off his perch?
Short answer: Yes, and no! Once again, as one Dan Abnett saga drops back, another emerges from his oeuvre's serried ranks to take its place. Who would bet against us finding ourselves here in a couple of years heralding a hat-trick of hat-tricks?
| | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Total |
| Azimuth | 6 | 6 | 2 | 32 |
| The Out | 7 | 2 | 2 | 27 |
| Rogue Trooper | 3 | 3 | 3 | 18 |
| Proteus Vex | 3 | 3 | 2 | 17 |
| Helium | 2 | 3 | 3 | 15 |
| Feral and Foe | 1 | 2 | 3 | 10 |
| Hershey | 1 | 1 | 4 | 9 |
| The Fall of Deadworld | | 3 | 1 | 7 |
| Void Runners | 1 | | | 3 |
| Maxwell's Demon | | 1 | | 2 |
| Durham Red | | | 1 | 1 |
| Enemy Earth | | | 1 | 1 |
| Hope | | | 1 | 1 |
| Joe Pineapples | | | 1 | 1 |
Naturally that all depends on what future Azimuth has in store, but for now it's done what most of the Abnett droid's stories do and been instantly catapulted into its readers' affections. Tazio Bettin's phenomenal artwork has hardly been a hindrance, of course, and along with Matt Soffe's colours and it has to be said some pretty damn decent lettering, it's once again raised the bar for any competition.
(https://www.comicbooknews.co.uk/img/2000AD/2023/2000-AD-Prog-2338-azimuth.webp)
Azimuth's success shouldn't obscure the continued popularity of The Out, which finished in a strong runner-up spot, closer to the top than third place, where we find Rogue Trooper heading up the chasing pack, having wowed us with the hard-hitting 'Blighty Valley'.
First-place votes for Proteus Vex, Helium, Feral and Foe, Hershey and Void Runners all demonstrate that the Squaxx have a diverse range of favourites, and with only a handful of strips receiving no votes at all (but plenty of honourable mentions), and after factoring in the year's wonderful Dredd, Regened and one-off strips, I think it's safe to say the GGC isn't wanting for talent. But Tharg, you might want to check the Abnett unit is fitted with those extra-durable thrill circuits.
Cool - great to see the results Norton Canes. Thanks for doing that.
While I knew Azimuth was well liked have to say I'm a little surprised it managed to topple The Out. We still live in a world full of justified Dabnett love. Also good to see the strength in depth on display there.
Azimuth was a big surprise but for me it is the first time where I can say that I cannot wait for the return of a Sin/Dex strip. The whole way that this strip has been done to I am not sure what is the right word reset/reboot/re-image/restart the franchise was quite brilliantly done.
Another thing thank you for running this mister Canes
Notable with The Out that it appeared to be marginally more loved than Azimuth, but the latter got more lower votes. So fewer people who didn't love The Out had it in their lists at all. I'm sure that'll give Dan Abnett #1 a lot to mull on while he and Dan Anbnett #2 scrap over which clone gets to take the prize back to their recharge station this year. (Seriously, the man is a machine, with his output. As a writer myself, I find it deeply inspiring.)
Feck sake, who had Nu-Sinister/Dexter as the Forum's favorite strip on their 2023 bingo card?
No one could argue that at least the top 5 places in this survey deserve their kudos - great material all.
Thanks also to our favourite Stinkin' Nort for running the show once again.
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 15 January, 2024, 03:11:02 PMNotable with The Out that it appeared to be marginally more loved than Azimuth, but the latter got more lower votes. So fewer people who didn't love The Out had it in their lists at all.
I was about to make the same point - I think The Out is a bit marmitey. I don't want to be too down on it as it's rather beloved by many here, but it's not for me.
So if this was the Olympics then The Out with 7/2/2 would have been placed first and Azimuth second with 6/6/2
Quote from: broodblik on 15 January, 2024, 05:52:33 PMSo if this was the Olympics then The Out with 7/2/2 would have been placed first and Azimuth second with 6/6/2
Very true! I hope I make it clear enough in my intros that 3/2/1 points will be awarded.
Quote from: Link Prime on 15 January, 2024, 03:55:07 PMThanks also to our favourite Stinkin' Nort for running the show once again
Stak! It was no trouble. I managed to find an online Excel to BBCode converter this time, which made constructing the results table easier.
Just to add to the thanks, norton!
I feel like the polls, and the not-really-a-poll favourite covers thread have been quite illuminating, in respect of the '2000AD isn't as good as it used to be' crowd. A decent mix of new(ish) and classic thrills — although it's hard to know how to categorise Azimuth, since it's such a ground-up revamp of the strip-formerly-known-as-Sinister-Dexter. A year of largely well-received Dredds without a Wagner story in sight. The top three covers would (I think) poll strongly against the covers from many past years, even some of the 'classic' years.
I mean, obviously, we're hardly a statistically representative sample of the readership at large, and the moaners are always gonna moan, but looking back over 2023, it looks like a pretty damn good year for the prog. IMO, at least.
Aye, thanks, Norton.
So much great content in the prog and the Meg - I mean, we're spoiled, really! If you think about the amount of work that goes into coming up with the characters, and the dialogue, and then the story structure and the framing, the lettering and the special effects - it's a bananas amount of thrillage for not much in the way of spondulacks.
I had a weird prog-year, though, and didn't start reading the weekly until Azimuth launched in prog 2337. That cover literally lit a thrill-fuse in me and got me back into comic-reading. So, playing catch-up, I decided to only read what I wanted to, and some thrills fell by the wayside and remain (for the moment) unread.
Tin Man I started and then simply couldn't bring myself to continue reading past the first episode. I don't know if that's to do with Mills' behavior in the meta, or the continual retreading of once-beloved characters. I do feel that at some point the polemical Rubicon was crossed and it became obvious that the characters only serve as mouth-pieces for a dogmatic authorial voice. I'm a huge fan of Mills' early work - without which perhaps no comic at all etc. So, mostly, this is very disappointing.
Heart of Darkness I've avoided because I'd gotten to the stage with the last couple of series where I wasn't following who anyone was anymore. This has gone into the "deserves a re-read and perhaps a spreadsheet" bucket. I've always loved the art, but the story lost me eventually, and I need to start again.
Enemy Earth feels like a Regened invasion. I tried my best with Regened, but the quality of storytelling, in general, is very poor, in my experience. Maybe it's not quality - maybe it's content. I just don't like Regened. My kid pushed a recent copy of the Phoenix in front of me the other day, where a character was infected by a poop-Pokemon and then everyone was chanting "you've got poop on your brain"! It was really, really funny. You should track it down. It's got a punk attitude to storytelling that early 2000 AD had in spades. Regened is missing the punk gene. It's like "2000 AD Sanitized for Clean Middle-Aged Moms 'n' Pops Who Like Clean Surfaces and Clean Minds and Well-Behaved Honorable Surfers". Scrappy Doo in comic form, basically. (Enemy Earth might be absolutely amazing - I haven't read it beyond the first book, so I have no idea. I'm ranting about Regened.)
I'm also avoiding The Devil's Railroad - but I want to give it a fair go at some point. Honestly - I was so turned off by the reboots of Bad Company - that's why I'm avoiding it. A bit silly, but there you go.
Sorry if I've offended any creators - I'm just one reader, and opinions are like arseholes - everyone's got one. Don't pay me too much heed.
QuoteRegened is missing the punk gene. It's like "2000 AD Sanitized for Clean Middle-Aged Moms 'n' Pops Who Like Clean Surfaces and Clean Minds and Well-Behaved Honorable Surfers". Scrappy Doo in comic form, basically.
This sums up my view of Regened completely.
(To be fair, there are still some Regened stories I have liked. But overall, it rarely feels like 2000AD.)
I think for me one of the big problems is that there is a tendency to think, "oh, kids love Harry Potter, we need to pull on that." So we end up with the likes of Lowborn High which reads like Harry Potter meets Waterloo Road. Sorry, but that doesn't work too well.
The best strips have been bonkers or managed to find a new twist on old ideas. Pandora Perfect captures that manic, mischievous fervour that gives the old Cor / Buster stuff a sci-fi twist and then cheerfully rams it down your throat! Enemy Earth took the old Survival and crossed it with Day of the Triffids on steroids with a dash of Independence Day crossed with the Fly.
The biggest disappointment with EE has been the artwork that shows so much potential but doesn't quite deliver. Mind you, when you look back at Henry Flint's early Rogue Trooper work you wouldn't think it was the same artist who is giving us the latest Dredd strip.
There have been some good Regened issues and some quality strips in individual issues but for me the trend has been downward over the most recent ones. I'm at the point now where I groan at the prospect rather than look forward to it. I know I'm not the target audience but simply looking at them as a supportive critic I'm finding that a challenge.