AAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
I read Indigo Prime, then Angel Zero and jumped straight to Numbercruncher.
NURSE, THE SCREENS! BRING ME MEDICATION!
It's the last part of Numbercruncher this week. It's an elegant ending that I will not spoil. This has been the best story in the Megazine for many years and deserves to be collected immediately. What clever, complex storytelling.
By the way, I almost never read my anthology comics out of sequence. I'm kind of uptight that way. This morning, I jumped ahead in the Meg to Numbercruncher. That's a compliment.
- Trout
Am I going mad? It feels like Megazine 314 only arrived about two weeks ago?!?!
We have Indigo Prime, Angel Zero and Numbercruncher.
Yes, you are going mad. We are all going mad.
Abandon your consensus reality now!
A grim Saturday morning thought The Cosh as he returned from the shop to find the postie had left him a Meg but no Prog. Resolving to make the most of the hand he had been dealt, he sat down with a cup of the old chai and a hot buttered muffin and tore open the envelope.
Faced with an Alan Grant Dredd I almost gave it all up and walked away but I persevered and I'm glad I did. This was quite different any of the infrequent Dredd stories he's done in recent years. Initially it seemed as if it was going to batter us over the head with the old ecology groove that was a bit of a Grant trademark for a while and I was starting to get annoyed at the disconnect between narration and action, but then it twists away into something that I maybe should've seen coming but didn't. I'll leave it to the parents to argue whether this sick filth should be banned, but I found this a really good Dredd outing with a couple of standout moments.
I think the finale of Numbercruncher managed to wrap everything up in a suitably logical fashion but I'll need to sit down and read the whole thing before I can give a proper assessment. Something which will probably have to wait until Monday when I'm on holiday. This and Lily MacKenzie have been a real endorsement for both this creator-owned slot and the whole idea of non-Dreddworld strips in the Meg. I hope American Reaper can fill its boots.
Mr Alec Worley digs deep into compost heap of Dredd lore and comes up smelling of roses with a tight and witty tale from the Black Museum whose protagonist should really have taken heed of Marvell's chilling warning: "My vegetable love should grow // Vaster than empires, and more slow"
Bringing up the rear it looks like we're going to hear the story of how Koburn got his Curse. So far an unremarkable but rock solid story from a realiable team so I'm looking forward to seeing where this goes.
All in all, a genuinely great Meg, all wrapped up in a Duncan Fegredo cover featuring a daft speech bubble of the sort every right-thinking person loves.
Brilliant Dredd from Alan Grant. We need more of this stuff.
Numbercruncher came to an end and I thought "Finally!" It was good stuff but I've been feeling the past three episodes have been dragging. Maybe it'll read better when graphic novelised.
I've been enjoying reading the collected Mercy Heights stories which gel well together in collected format. Quick question over something that confused me in the latest batch though. (spoiler added just in case) [spoiler]In Part 5, The Taking of Mercy Heights, we see a Fedayeen Stealth Suit implode creating a black hole which apparently is going to suck in all of Mercy Heights. Eeeerrrr... What happened to it?[/spoiler]
Now that was a great Meg!
That was probably the best Grant Dredd I've read in ages, and I was quite shocked at how dark it got. I really didn't expect it to go there but it did, and I'm glad it did.
Numbercruncher has been fantastic throughout, and this last part left my head spinning a bit. I feel like there's a bunch of stuff I need to re-read, and I know it'll be brilliant when I do. The art was incredible and energetic, the script as clever and witty as anything Spurrier has done. Might give the whole thing a read tomorrow.
I'm always happy to see a fresh Tales From The Black Museum, and I was particularly pleased that this one tapped into old Dredd continuity the way it did.Grimly funny, in the way that TFTBM is perfectly formatted for.
Koburn was always going to be a joy just for the art, but the story seems to be doing some interesting stuff. It's reminding me a lot of that movie R-Point, although it's really nothing like it so forget I mentioned it.
All that and I got a letter printed, ace. Made up for not receiving the prog.
I have loved Numbercruncher all the way through, from the excellent opening text pages each month to the story itself.
But I did not understand what was going on in the final page. Maybe I'm just thick? Am I the only one who didn't get it?
(not read the rest of the Meg yet...)
Quote from: radiator on 10 September, 2011, 11:24:25 AM
Am I going mad? It feels like Megazine 314 only arrived about two weeks ago?!?!
Who knew?
Well i'm gonna pick my meg up next week end (now i'm back to school I only get the oppertunity to pick up the prog and meg every saterday.
Quote from: Keef Monkey on 10 September, 2011, 08:06:47 PM
All that and I got a letter printed, ace. Made up for not receiving the prog.
Bah stuck out of the country - any good news to brighten my day? - all this massive eating, boozin and sunshine can fair dampen one's spirits.
Buttonman: neither you nor your Edinburgher arch-enemy feature on letters pages this week.
Your terrible struggle must continue.
Quote from: Toni Scandella on 11 September, 2011, 10:33:43 AM
I have loved Numbercruncher all the way through, from the excellent opening text pages each month to the story itself.
But I did not understand what was going on in the final page. Maybe I'm just thick? Am I the only one who didn't get it?
(not read the rest of the Meg yet...)
Tony, can't apologise enough for any confusion; it was a tough idea to communicate and I'm loathe to spoil it in this thread (or any other, as, hopefully it'll get collected and I'd like the end to be as unspoilt as possible). I had hoped it was clear, but just in case [spoiler]you do know that Richard Thyme is the name of the mathematician?[/spoiler]
I'm glad someone else asked :)
Thanks PJ
I should have gone back and read it all in one go... I'm sure my memory would have held up better then :D
I enjoyed the rest of the Meg, too. At first I thought Alan Grant's Dredd was being preachy, then it turned around and was brilliant. I also loved the Tales From the Black Museum - but Numbercruncher still has the edge and I will be forst in line for the trade - and thanks PJ for answering :)
Tough choice, straight to Numbercruncher or to Cursed Earth Koburn?
Koburn won, but just so I could savour the final NumberCruncher, and it did close the circle as it were. Just hope American Reefer can fill its boots. Koburn currently ticking all my boxes bythe way bigman and the Black Museum tale was a nice reference to an old Dreddverse tale too
The Dredd was a fine dark tale, [spoiler]no kids over esculators but much much worse[/spoiler] :o , the art and story telling were all done very well, the only crit would be that the skinny Dredd lacked gravitas
Lots of text articles to chew over in the coming days, pity about the letters page ;)
Sniff, this will be my last Meg purchase in the UK. :( :(
The prospect of not reading it again for a long while would have been easier a few years ago before Tharg got things sorted. Now I even enjoy reading the movie reviews.
For once my wallet hurting has been overruled by my - sniff - heart hurting and I'll add the Meg to my subscription.
I JUST GOT A FREE COPY OF INVASION!!!!!!!!! And a letter signed by...... I can't read who.
My letters in the big Meg!!!!!!
I need a damn copy now
Best thing, hands down Judge Koburn. More please :P
In the Absence of the Sacred is the most harrowing story I have read since I have come back to the fold. This story is one of those stories which will stay with me for a long time.
Looking forward - American reaper looks intersting .......... roll on next month.
Got the Droid Life collection for my letter! A nice little bonus to that monthly meg/prog blowout. Hail Tharg.
Brilliant Meg. the Dredd story alone was brutally fantastic, summing up everything that's wrong with the terrible Mega cities. (Which seem alas becoming all too true in RL). I'd hug a tree and become a "de-megger" (oo-er missus) but The Tales of the Black Museum has put an end to that.
Still enjoying Mercy Heights, cracking story.
Really enjoyed the Meg, yet again!
Wonderful Fegredo cover. More please. Or better yet, strongarm him into doing a Dredd or something along those lines.
Dredd was surprisingly good. Grant's more miss than hit these days, particularly when it comes to Dredd but this one had a nice sting in the tale.
Also a very good Tales from the Black Museum. I usually find this only passable but this was a nice, dense story.
Numbercruncher was fantastic. Along with this and Lilly McKenzie, the 'creator-owned' spots in the Meg have been consistently the strongest thing in the Meg. Sadly, it's replacement - American Reaper - has me worried. I like about half of Mills' output, the other half is the stuff he's done with Langley. It's not an art style I particularly like (I'd rather he go back to his older, painted style than this computerized, fuck-the-frame style he's been doing for the last few years). I hope to be pleasantly surprised but just in case, does anyone know how long I have to endure it?
Cursed Earth Koburn was surprisingly the dullest thing in the Meg. Next ep seems like it might actually be about something!
The articles were all good to great. Really enjoyed the creator Interrogations (as usual). How about one with Steve Yeowall (or has that been done already!?)? The Western article was ok, and I'm still liking these film reviews.
As for the Mercy Heights supplement: oh, dear. Found myself enjoying the first two volumes, especially Kev Walker's art on the first few eps and it's always nice to see Trevor Hairsine's work (where's he gone!?! He doesn't seem to have done much for Marvel over the last few years either...). This third volume, however, was poor. Sloppy art and at times unintelligable storytelling. I'm guessing Book 4 is the final few eps of MH, then on to Tor Cyan. Probably enough material from that series to stretch this into a Book 5...
I echo the requests for Black Light and Sancho Panzer from one of the letter writers too! Would like to re-read both those series again, please!
Only read Tales From the Black Museum so far.
Do all issues of this focuse of something from Dreddworld's history?
I rather enjoyed learning about how father earth came to be.
Yes. The black museum itself was introduced many years ago in the main Dredd strip. It's in the Grand Hall and houses lots of curious artifacts - most recently it was mentioned in the Pj Maybe storyline - it's where his heart was kept.
Alan Grant... DARK DARK PLACES. Very good. Also quite tasteful in what it doesn't show at the end. Two 'old masters' on art duties too - what a visual treat. (kudos to EdlCz for colours too).
And tonight - sit down with all 10 parts of Number Cruncher and have a treat.
Seriously, there are forummers NOT buying this?
I really enjoyed the Meg this month and it has been a great run recently. Numbercruncher has been excellent with Bastard Zane a top character. So much so that if I ever meet PJ and get to ask for a sketch from him then it will be of Zane rather than Dredd. I just wanted to clarify the end of the story though. The mathmatician has fixed it so that he has "won." Zane goes off to wherever it is that former agents go and the mathmatician has got himself reincarnated as himself, therefore being able to start again with the love of his life. Is that right or have I missed something?
Only a week late! I wonder why I quite happily spout my foul thing on the Prog review thread, but have to actually make time to do likewise for the Meg?
Anyway. A good one- as it's been quite often recently. I've mentioned before how much I hate the cover design of the meg currently, but I'll do it again. I hate it. Vehemently. I'll also add that the paper stock used either feels flimsier than the prog, or if it's the same paper then the fatter meg somehow makes it feel crap. Does that make sense? Does anyone else feel that? I think it's high time the meg was overhauled, to be honest. I know it'll probably get a complete movie-tie-in redesign next year, but something needs to be done now. It never stands out on the shelf, always looks muted, the covers are nearly always dull and the logo and text are ugly. There. Rant over. Though, not being a fan of Duncan Fegredo's work, this month's was especially unpleasant to me.
Of the strips, Tale sof the Black Museum and Numbercruncher were the best. The Dredd was okay, but I wasn't greatly impressed- as is often the case with Alan Grant's work. Certainly I didn't find it "shocking" or "upsetting" in any way. Just a particularly long and drawn-out one parter, really.
Cursed Earth Coburn is fab, if only for the art. I'm not sure about the story yet- but after two episodes of not much happening of interest, I thought it promised much with the cliffhanger, so hopefully next time it'll kick into gear.
Much grumpiness in the reviews section this month, which is always fun to read, even if I agreed not one iota with what's written.
Features okay, as usual. Floppie will go unread, I'm afraid.
SBT
Quote from: Colin Zeal on 21 September, 2011, 12:30:58 PM
I really enjoyed the Meg this month and it has been a great run recently. Numbercruncher has been excellent with Bastard Zane a top character. So much so that if I ever meet PJ and get to ask for a sketch from him then it will be of Zane rather than Dredd. I just wanted to clarify the end of the story though. The mathmatician has fixed it so that he has "won." Zane goes off to wherever it is that former agents go and the mathmatician has got himself reincarnated as himself, therefore being able to start again with the love of his life. Is that right or have I missed something?
I feel bad for having to explain this, as it's clearly my fault in the story telling, but...
[spoiler]
The mathematicians one true love, at the end of her life reincarnates as the mathematician at the start of his life.
[/spoiler]
Wait, what?!
So [spoiler]he's going to spend eternity alternately avoiding/stalking himself whilst also occasionally shagging himself?[/spoiler]
[spoiler]Was that his plan? It sounds more like a terrible punishment to me.[/spoiler]
Quote from: pauljholden on 21 September, 2011, 01:22:45 PM
Quote from: Colin Zeal on 21 September, 2011, 12:30:58 PM
I really enjoyed the Meg this month and it has been a great run recently. Numbercruncher has been excellent with Bastard Zane a top character. So much so that if I ever meet PJ and get to ask for a sketch from him then it will be of Zane rather than Dredd. I just wanted to clarify the end of the story though. The mathmatician has fixed it so that he has "won." Zane goes off to wherever it is that former agents go and the mathmatician has got himself reincarnated as himself, therefore being able to start again with the love of his life. Is that right or have I missed something?
I feel bad for having to explain this, as it's clearly my fault in the story telling, but...
[spoiler]
The mathematicians one true love, at the end of her life reincarnates as the mathematician at the start of his life.
[/spoiler]
Don't blame yourself PJ, as I've just had a look back at the page in question and that is quite clearly what happens. I can't believe I mnaged to misinterpret it quite so badly.
Quote from: Lee Bates on 21 September, 2011, 01:42:19 PM
Wait, what?!
So [spoiler]he's going to spend eternity alternately avoiding/stalking himself whilst also occasionally shagging himself?[/spoiler]
[spoiler]Was that his plan? It sounds more like a terrible punishment to me.[/spoiler]
Plan or accident or devine calculator ultimate revenge?
Only way to find out is one sequel! NUMBERCRUNCHER 2: division by zero! [spoilers]i kid! I kid! there isn't a sequel[/spoiler]
Hmm. I reread Numbercruncher in full the other night and thoroughly enjoyed it. I don't think there is anything wrong with your presentation of the last page PJ. What you've said is exactly what I thought was happening. My problem with it was why? I couldn't figure out what good that did.
A day or so later, the following occured to me. Feel free to correct it if you like.
[spoiler]In his final incarnation, where he will have no knowledge of his past lives, the mathematician sends himself back as the hippy Allmother chick. Having already ensured that she will get to live a life free of sin, he is then ultimately released from whatever the deal was about that. Finally, he arranges for Jessica to come back as him so that ultimately she will also be the Allmother and they will both be freed from the wheel of Karma together. Or it's a paradox and their love really was the expression of one soul living in two bodies, but that's a bit soppy.[/spoiler]
Quote from: The Cosh on 21 September, 2011, 04:13:18 PM
Hmm. I reread Numbercruncher in full the other night and thoroughly enjoyed it. I don't think there is anything wrong with your presentation of the last page PJ. What you've said is exactly what I thought was happening. My problem with it was why? I couldn't figure out what good that did.
A day or so later, the following occured to me. Feel free to correct it if you like.
[spoiler]In his final incarnation, where he will have no knowledge of his past lives, the mathematician sends himself back as the hippy Allmother chick. Having already ensured that she will get to live a life free of sin, he is then ultimately released from whatever the deal was about that. Finally, he arranges for Jessica to come back as him so that ultimately she will also be the Allmother and they will both be freed from the wheel of Karma together. Or it's a paradox and their love really was the expression of one soul living in two bodies, but that's a bit soppy.[/spoiler]
Oh my job is done if you understand what actually happened, the whys and wherefores are Mr Spurrier's Dept :) (and I invite rampant speculation!)
all seemed clear to me, artwise, mentally it took a couple of somersaults to get to grips with it :D
Likewise. I blame the eight month lag since we learned about [spoiler]the zero clause[/spoiler]. Looks like a re-read is in order.
WANT....MORE....NUMBERCRUNCHER!!!!!!!!!!!! >:(
On a side note though, please do revisit this little stnker of a story in a one off or two.
That would be very well recieved I forsee.
Meg 315 finally went up on Clickwheel. I think that, for any strip to receive the level of interest and excitement as Numbercruncher did, it must "count" as a triumph. It's a story that everybody wanted to understand, as opposed to, say, Mercy Heights, which nobody did. Round of applause for Holden and Spurrier!