have i actually got here first?
cover showing treasure steel with lawgivers pointing at her in bed next to a bloody corpse!
Nice filler dredd tale about a case of creds that gets shuffled around
part 3 of alan grant interview
armitage- following a first page manga/lesbian action(one for arris arris'thread no doubt. treasure wakes up next to dead woman
goerge romero interview
bob the galactic bumming around -i cant get into this at all
the paul grist guide to self publishing
tempest and some rats
nice issue cant be arsed going into depth as ive got ebay items ending soooon!
The Alan Grant interview was fantastic, and brutally honest in places. Didn't realise he hated writing for Dredd so much now, though it really does come through in his work for the character.
Lesbians eh?
i'm only going off the art of course maybe theyre just good friends!
Alan Grant was throwing his toys out of the pram a bit. So DC didn't think you were the second coming? Live with it. What is it with 2000AD and all the whining and bitching? It's just a bit boring, now.
Seriously, over the years I keep reading of all of these editors and writers sniping at each other. Bloody egos.
Damn. it must be a Monday.
Actually, I really didn't think much of the Meg at all. Thank fuck the Prog was ace.
>Alan Grant was throwing his toys out of the pram a bit. So DC didn't think you were the second coming? Live with it.
i think you'll find the biggest problem Alan had with DC was the fax that halfway down said he wouldnt be doing shadow of the bat anymore.
Yaaaaaaaaaaawn. I'm most of the way through the Meg and haven't been impressed yet. The Grant interview was good but the comics strips a bit dull.
Only Tempest can save the day!
- Trout
Goodish Meg with a lot to like but plenty to forget.
Not sure about that cover - it's not clear that she's in bed with a dead body and a browsing reader may just think that she's on the blob and had an accident.
That Dredd was poor, a bit like that film '20 bucks' where we see money through a series of hands. Didn't engage me at all.
The Alan Grant interview was like Grandad's pants - pish and shite everywhere! Best bit for the 3rd week in a row.
I liked the cartoon opening of Armitage although I have seen something similar done in Family Guy. The bitchy SJS woman didn't cut it for me where are the robots and truth serum? This tale is taking a while to get motoring.
Same problem with Tempest - 3 weeks in and he's not moved 10 feet! A new player enters at the end - 3rd week in a row that's happened too!
Still to read the Romero and reviews so at least I'm getting a fair bang for my buck. Problems with all the strips but less so than previously and the trajectory is definitely upwards.
Alan Grant says they nearly did Mazeworld collections but then didn't. Personally I liked Mazeworld and would buy it. Am I alone?
The only thing wrong with Mazeworld was it didn't have enough lesbians.
"That Dredd was poor"
Mm. Morrison just doesn't seem to get Dredd, and that's been the way right from the start. With other non-Wagner writers, there are often odd things here and there, but Morrison's work feels like another strip entirely, like when that other Morrison was writing Dredd, or when McKenzie was, during the bad days.
I enjoyed the rest of (what I read of) the Meg, though. Yes, Tempest has somehow managed to become templated, but it's enjoyable and slightly nuts. Armitage has gone back to its roots, and is provingâ??for meâ??a really good story. And the Alan Grant interview was excellent. I still don't see the point of the film reviews (especially having 'coming soon' previews of stuff already in the cinema, and reviews of stuff that's been out for a while), but there you go. (I understand it from a budgetary standpoint, but if we have to have three pages of text-based reviews, why not make it about comics or trades that are out?)
Or obscure cult stuff that's out on D.V.D.? Changing the remit to 'stuff we'd like but might have missed' would remove the need to be topical and would be more use. Reviews of Witchfinder General, MPD Psycho, and Sandbaggers (to pick three random things I think Meg readers would like) would be of more interest to me.
As for the rest of the Meg...It's a good sign that I was actively looking forward to the delivery instead of just expecting it at some point. A great turn around in recent months.
Dredd was so so. A nice idea mundanely executed. Bonus points for Smudge art. I was thinking it'd been a while since we'd seen his stuff. Was Cappucino really the last time he worked for Tharg?
Armitage was fun. I'm liking this run more than any of the previous. I quite like Stones stuf when he doesn't get too baroque. His last Benny Summerfield C.D. was fantastic, so perhaps I'm just feeling charitable. The opening page didn't work for me though. Needed to be proper Manga parody rather than a half hearted cartooniness. Armitage got the coolest moments in the comic, mind.
Tempest storms along nicely. Doesn't look or feel like anything else in Thargs fiefdom at the moment, and that's rarely an insult.
Alan Grants interview finished on a bang and I don't think he sounds bitter at all. He was sacked for all the wrong reasons and in a shitty way. And I'd be offended to see someone bragging like Millar is reported to have done after providing a meal and a bed for them.
Bob the Galactic Bum is belting. Funny, well drawn, and new to me. Perfect reprint.
Haven't read the whole meg yet but the Grant interview was great. I think he's got every right to have the odd dig at DC, if the fax they sent him was worded the way he says it was then that's a shocking way to sack someone. "Everything's going great and brilliant and the future looks bright, so guess what? We don't want you any more, get tae". Don't have the issue in front of me but I believe that's verbatim.
Buttonman more or less says it all...
Alan Grant interview the best bit. I've enjoyed (?) hearing all the happenings behind some of the strange goings on in comics over the years, bit like a comics version of Chat or Hello
Thought that Dredd had a few holes in it, with Dredd turning up at the radpit or did I turn two pages at once?
yip, a culty 'stuff on DVD' would be better than film reviews in this Huff's opinion.
Hunblehand
Phew. Tempest rescues the Meg!
Bloody good stuff, making up for a weak lead Dredd, and nothing much else to recommend the comic. I did enjoy the Grant thing, but I buy the Meg for its original strip content.
- Trout
Perhaps I was a bit opinionated, earlier... But someone's got to play devils advocate ;) It was still very entertaining to read.
Armitage is currently the best thing in the Meg at the moment. I really hope that by June things start to look up. There's really nothing epic or spectacular happening. Dredd is very by the numbers and treading water while the weekly Dredd is probably the best it's ever been.
Tempest is mad action, enjoyable, and a good end-note, but there's no real epic, meaty stuff here. Certainly nothing that I'd want to buy a graphic novel collection of, anyhow. I was reading Xtinct in the bookshop the other day - we need more of this sort of thing, and yet we're stuck with filler and film reviews.
Armitage is trash. Does the action usually surround Steel? I find her amazingly boring considering she is a nubile police lesbian. I'd much prefer an Armitage-centric story.
Dredd was passable. Two massive coincidences in this money passing malarky, but I didn't think that Dredd was mis-written by whatsisname. In his recent stories Dredd has hardly appeared anyway.
I'm enjoying Bob TGB more than those two at the moment as it is new to me, but Tempest is friggin mental. I am enjoying it, but the last page splashes are an annoyance (I think I said that last month too).
Not had chance to read the text stuff as of yet.
Says something when the only strip I can bring myself to read is Armitage. Funking Armitage!
I'd buy a Mazeworld collection too. Mogzilla, you are not alone
Not bought my meg yet but a Mazeworld GN I would buy.
V
Didn't think the Dredd was that bad actually. Nothing special, but a decent enough filler.
Armitage, I find almost unreadably dull.
The art on Tempest was the best thing about this month's Meg. Particularly that last page.
Fairly uninspiring Meg. After the dreadful Year of Satanus, anything would have looked fantastic, and thus the relaunch stories (in comparison) are wonderful. Standing on their own, though - it's such a pale flicker of light next to the fiery beacon of the weekly.
Dredd: filler. Throwaway. Fluff. Okay art. Not even any orphans.
AG Interview: entertaining, but when the most entertaining thing in the comic is an interview then there's something wrong with the comic.
All other text: filler I don't read.
Armitage: suffers from what Armitage always suffered from: it's dull, kitchen-sink Dredd. To be honest, this is the best new strip in the Meg at the moment, as it does have quite an interesting story, following the misadventures of Treasure Steel. Despite the story actually moving at a cracking pace, it still seems ponderously slow. Bleak art doesn't help a bleak story about bleak people being bleak on a bleak island.
Bob the Galactic Bum: the best comic strip in the Meg. When reprint material is the best strip in the comic, then there's something wrong with the comic.
Tempest: sort of entertaining, but completely unbelievable. Why is it that werewolves and android gangs were perfectly acceptable but this rat-guy, the tele-head and so on, just aren't? The art is good, but it's a tale too tall. Also, there's nobody to root for.
---
Hey - what's this? I think it's an old broken record of mine:
"Get a new editor for the Megazine" *click* "Get a new editor for the Megazine" *click* ...
Thought Dredd was okay, nothing fantastic but a nice wee crime story and for the most part the art was very nice.
Don't remember ever reading an Armitage series before(apart from a one off in a Dredd yearbook) and am really enjoying this, particularly liked the different style for the drunken flashback.
Bob The Bum Galacticus is alright with a couple of chuckles but it's not doing much for me to be honest.
And finally I;m finding Tempest great fun. The first episode has been the best so far, but I do like the bonkersness of the whole thing, and laughed out loud when he set himself alight. Like the manga-tinged artwork too. This was probably the highlight for me if I'm honest.
Not a brilliant issue, about 50% thrill-power and 50% meh power but now that Satanus isn't chundering along everything seems pretty fresh.
MAZEWORLD - FUCK YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I thought the Dredd was quite a solid story. Perhaps would have been recieved better if it was titled under 'Tales from the Meg' rather than being a straight Dredd story. There have been alot worse.
V
>Armitage: suffers from what Armitage always suffered from: it's dull, kitchen-sink Dredd
im enjoying the story, what its suffering from is very bad art
Or obscure cult stuff that's out on D.V.D.? Changing the remit to 'stuff we'd like but might have missed' would remove the need to be topical and would be more use.
Bring back the Heatseekers! They were an underrated feature of the Barnes-era Meg, I feel. Scott Gray's comics page was always interesting.
I think I could read/listen to Alan "Frank" Grant all day. Brilliant stuff, and he so closely echoes my own feelings on his work and its development that it's a bit scary. I wouldn't be a big fan of his later work, but you have to admire someone who gets so much respect from his fellow creators, while still being painfully honest with his opinions.
I agree on Armitage. "Kitchen sink Dredd" sums it up well.
- Trout
I thought The Meg was a distinct improvement this month-Tempest is suitably bonkers, the Dredd tale, while leaning towards the filler side, was interesting enough, while the Alan Grant interview was painfully honest and equal parts hilarious.
Glad to see Anderson's back so soon(know doubt tying in with the GN released in June-go Ranson)hopefully Boo Cook's generally excellent art will give it a much need injection of quality, which sadly eluded the last storyline.
Haven't really been into the meg for a while now. I'm sure there were good reasons for making it smaller but for me there just isn't enough to engage me these days. I've never been a fan of Robbie Morrison's Dredd. Used to love Armitage but it's a bit boring now. I like Tempest, though, not sure if the squeaky-clean artwork suits the Undercity but it's all good fun. I agree about hotshots - bring them back, Matt!
I was dissapointed this month, weakest for a while for me. Found Tempest a little bit 'wordy' too, although it was the highlight of the prog for me.
The articles were the best bit for me this week - they were all solidly interesting. I'm not sure whether that's a good thing for the Meg, it certainly isn't for Playboy.
I'm enjoying Tempest - file under "good different".
Armitage is okay, I actually like the art, but I wish it would get a move on - Treasure Steel's domestics just aren't that interesting. Oooh wait, she's a feisty lesbian. No, still not interesting.
Bob TGM is meh-ish, but amusing.
Barely got through the Dredd, although the art was interesting. That Smudge really doesn't like drawing eyes, does he?
I like the art too, but I'm finding the story a bit like pulling teeth. No amount of dynamic art could penetrate it's ponderous...ness! I agree that Steel is a bit dull but isn't Armitage also?
I was thinking the same thing about Smudge and the eye thingy- I think there's only one panel where someones eyes are actually seen. I haven't gotten into this Dredd story at all.
Alan Grant interview was a good enough read- frank and humorous.
I didn't bother with the rest of the text stuff. It bores me rigid.
Bob I'm liking. Never read it before, so it's a good reprint as far as I'm concerned.
Tempest is an odd one- I'm quite enjoying the story, but it doesn't feel like a Dreddworld one. I just can't get to grips with a Ninja Judge. Couldn't it have just been a judge with martial arts, but in a proper judge uniform? Somebody said that there was nobody to root for, I have to agree that I'm not really bothered about any of the characters so far- but it's a good enough read.
I disagree. I like Tempest. A proper looney, which I think has been pretty well written and drawn so far.
I'm rooting for him, but I think it was right to have him alongside a normal protagonist. Think of how better the first Dirk Gently book (which focused on a regular guy) was compared to the second one (which concentrated on the maverick Dirk). The latter took away some of the magic of the character because we could see the working out.
The latter took away some of the magic of the character because we could see the working out.
Good point, Bad Andy. Although in its favour the sequel does boast one of the all time great titles, which rattles round my head in a mocking fashion whenever I'm feeling sorry for myself.
Man, that Dredd story was dire.
Following a case full of money around had some potential IF each stop-off point had been interesting. They weren't. Nothing unusual or imaginative happened at the various points and the characters were marginally more interesing than the case of money. So instead of a story what we got was an illustrated version of a Routemaster print-out.
Add to that two really stupid moments: Dredd being outrun by a mortally wounded criminal and not thinking of following the trail of blood. And then finding the corrupt Judge with no given explanation.
I like Morrison's stuff when he remembers to tell an actual story but this was poor.
Tempest set himself on fire before a fight! Priceless.
Alan Grant interview was great, loved the Romero piece, I'd forgotten Bruiser even existed I must try and track it down. Coincidentally I was watching the new Creepshow DVD the other day too, it's brilliant.
Bob was great fun, Dredd and Armo a bit meh but not bad.
I'm liking this lineup.