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Only three strips this month but three fooking corkers.

Cover - Veeeeery nice American Reaper cover from Clint.

Dredd - Excellent. A really nasty first parter by Mike Carroll. This story made me wince several times which is always a good sign. I love the ambiguity of the main characters, I'm a rootin' and tootin' for them but am looking forward too seeing what happens when Dredd catches up to 'em! The judges names had me beaming too! Art from John Higgins is, well, it's art from John Higgins isn't it? Absolutely masterful stuff with loads of little details to make you smile (especially the little mouse on page 7.) Loved it!

American Reaper - I friggin' loved this. Big, in your face visuals that simply blew me away. I think this is going to divide the readership but I'm firmly in the Mills and Langley camp. Clint's visuals are so cinematic (yes, I know they're photos!) and reading this actually did feel like watching a rather cool movie. I really like the premise and the pages with the main character's (do we get his name?) [spoiler]son[/spoiler] gave me quite a shock - genuinely chilling visuals there. I'm a fan!

Koburn - Another chiller, it seems this is quite the Halloween special! Great work from Rennie and Carlos, as you'd expect. I'm really enjoying this...

Not read the text stuff yet but a cracking Meg for me. Oh, and Team Proudfoot lead the letters again!

Quote from: Pete Wells on 08 October, 2011, 11:26:10 AM
American Reaper - I friggin' loved this. Big, in your face visuals that simply blew me away. I think this is going to divide the readership but I'm firmly in the Mills and Langley camp.

Yep, consider it divided. I was actually sitting trying to think of how to say it nicely when you got in first. I've often said that I can take a good story with bad art a lot more readily than good art on a bad story. I can't remember ever reading something where the art works so hard to force the reader out of the story to the extent where I can barely tell whether the story was any good or not (initial thoughts: probably alright but just an update on cloning or Torquemada style possession spread out over far too many pages.)
This doesn't seem like the photo-manipulation of Slaine or ABCs, this is just a Look In photo-story pasted onto futuristic backgrounds, with all the woeful acting and jarring superimposition that implies. The skull page is the only nice thing in it, everything else I found utterly horrific.

Elsewhere, Dredd is a decent opener. I like these stories where we as readers (and the writer) get to have our cake and eat it. The protagonists get to inflict horrific revenge on the slavers but we know that, in the end, Dredd will turn up and be a bastard.

Koburn was probably the highlight.

I'm inclined to agree with Cosh. I don't like to criticise any artist's work, but I really can't get on with this style at all. Afraid to say that 'Look-In' photo-strip was the first thing that popped into my mind too.

I can't for the life of me work out why Langley persists with this dodgy photo-manipulated style when he's capable of so much better. I remember a year or two back someone posted some of his pen and ink sketches and they were gorgeous.

And thirty two pages of it? Really, Tharg? I don't want to harp on too much, as this seems to be a way of getting a higher ratio of strip pages per issue (I haven't counted), but two thirds of the Judge Dredd Megazine given over to a strip that was always going to be divisive?

I'm guessing it's a double size opener, otherwise I think it's going to be another Tank Girl situation.

Yeah, I'm not a fan of the photoref, and too much spoken exposition in the start IMHO, but the flashback reveal looked great.

See how it goes...

I'm glad the House of Tharg is still willing to risk pissing off it's fans. If Clint eventually manages to not go for too much realism with the human characters, his art will be fine.

For the first time in years im now really looking forward to the next issue of the Meg- roll on Wednesday! I loved American Reaper when Comic Heroes ran a few pages in their little sampler comic, and as a dribbling fanboy of Pat n' Clint, the thought of it having an extra long opener in the Meg has my thrill-knob jiggling.

SBT

Reminded me of those dodgy Nemesis strips art-wise, but I thought the story had promise.

Here's a pic of those judges who's names made me smile. We all know Gavin Leahy, but which border is Vaughan?

I'll answer my own question, it's Locusts innit?

I don't think it is his last name Pete!!!

I've just finished reading American Reaper for the second time. I've not been a huge fan of Clint Langley art as I've found it muddy and hard to follow but this time round it works. It seems that Langley needs a bit of space and big visuals to breath and wow, it's come through! The downside is that the visual scale means the story will possibly suffer when we go back to normal size strip length as we're lucky to get three panels a page... And the writing is good too! Is this a film tie in? I noticed some film company was mentioned as owning the rights.

Not thrilled at all at the prospect of 32 pages of Langley, I have to say. Will probably read it at some point though. Whatever happened to that Jock/Diggle strip that was mentioned a while back? I hope to grud we're back to 4 strips next month - if not, and I may find myself reconsidering my sub.

Quick word about the floppie - no disrespect to Neil Googe (his recent Hondo City Justice work was sublime), but as soon as Kev Walker took over my interest in the strip really increased. A lot of folk say they'd rather have bad art and a good story than vice versa, but here's a prime example of just how much more enjoyable an average story can be with great art. It's absolutely beautiful stuff - can't wait for the next one now (Walker plus Jock?? Sold).

no meg for me this weekend, but the prospect of 32 pages of American Reaper means Im not that bothered. After the sublime Lily and excellent Numbercruncher, I'm really not bothered with another Langley photostory. He's such an awesome artist with pen and ink it makes it worse.

I foolishly failed to notice that my suscription ended last month, so no Meg for me. I can't afford to renew til the end of the month either.

Mind you, with 32 pages(?!) of 2 dimensional, cardboard cutout photo-story from Clint Langley to wade through, I'm not entirely gutted that I didn't get it this month.

No Meg in Huff Mansions yet, but a nice Robohunter TPB arrived instead!

I'll be getting this tomorrow but Langley's art over the last few years is just not my thing. It's so static and dark and frankly, dull. I'll give this American Reaper thing a chance.

32 pages though?  Maybe they know it'll be divisive so want to get it over with faster...

Bah! Still paying for my American trip in more ways than one - a Proudfoot-in-mouth effort was the lowlight of a great Meg for me.

I thought sci-fi was a far better use of Langley's style than Slaine and I thought the Reaper was great. A bit like the film 'Strange Days' is styles and plot - just hope Juliette Lewis gets her baps out soon.

Dredd was good too but I hope it gets away from the usual wronged person seeks revenge while Dredd picks up the clues scenario. The deaths were inventive and I hope for some surprises in the next bit.

Koburn is a bit dull for me and I've kinda lost my way with it.

More Mercy/Cyan next month too - quite liking it but we could use some variety.

Quote from: Buttonman on 11 October, 2011, 11:19:50 PM

More Mercy/Cyan next month too - quite liking it but we could use some variety.

I quite enjoyed the first two, the third was rather poor though. Surely the next volume is the last?!

sweet sweet megazine :D

I thought American Reaper was pretty good. It didn't seem too long to me and I wouldn't have known it was 32 pages if I hadn't seen it on here. Clint Langley's stuff isn't normally my cup of tea but it worked here and I found it a lot easier to follow what's happening. Early days of course but it gets the thumbs up from me so far.

Two thumbs up from me as well. American Reaper was gorgeous- very cinematic, with Langley's art opened up much wider than usual, and not as cluttered with fine detail to distract the eye. Pat's script suggests this could be classic Mills, and the extra length episode flew by. I'll be rereading this lots in the intervening time before next issue, i think.

Dredd was superb too, with a carefully structured episode that genuinely had me wanting next month now. Clever final page and panel, i must add. Ordinarily im not keen on john higgins' colour palette, but here it suited the tone of the story perfectly.

Coburn, as i hoped, kicked up a gear and rounded the meg off in an enjoyable way.

And- Scream! Fantastic! but i couldve had three times the space spent on it and still been unsatisfied.

Movie reviews enjoyable/ or not, as usual.

Top meg. Floppy may get read this month, as i remember Tor Cyan as being okay.

SBT

Interesting cover, don't know why but it reminds me of those movie mags that you get at the cinema (if you still do).

Now I haven't been down the town to check this yet, as my good lady collected my Thrill Power for me yesterday. I did notice that the floppy was on the front cover side of the Meg and cover to cover, thus it won't be well advertised if it's on the shelves in Smiths like that!

DREDD loved this opening part of the story with its twist in the middle and Dredds one warning. I do think one of the Judges should have been wearing a bowler hat though! My one tiny gripe would have been that surely the Justice Dept vehicle that fast ropes the assault team onto the compound would have had some external weaponry fitted to take out any defences. Still a great opener and how weird that monofilament would be used to great effect in this issue of the Meg and the floppy from years back.
I agree with the ending, sometimes even the greatest of plans can come undone by pure bad luck, depending on which side you are on.

SCREAM! thoroughly entertaining article but as SBT said it should have been longer.

AMERICAN REAPER I like it but I don't like it. Visually the opening shots remind me of Tim Burtons Batman but I just glanced over the art as there was nothing really to see. In fact they look like cinema posters. Once we get into the story I must admit the art helps carry it along but I would have preferred inks or paint. It just reminds me of those books you used to get that took loads of stills out of a movie and was released as a Movie photo story book.
The one bit that wound me up was the gun porn scene [spoiler]how on earth did the kid miss from that distance[/spoiler].
I did feel it was way too long and overpowered the Meg and it could have been a floppy in its own right.

REVIEWS I read them all for a change but only because of the wood chipper picture and I will watch that one when I can.

KOBURN it seems to heading to its conclusion which is a good thing as its not really doing it for me. I think its just one of those stories that takes for ever to actually get anywhere. I hope the payoff is worth it!

LETTERS I always wonder how many of these are on the forum. Obviously Tom is but sometimes I see another name from my town and I just wonder who it is. It seems to me to be much harder to write a letter, especially if using pen and paper to Dreddlines than be on here. Each to their own I know but it would be great if all these letter writers joined the forum.

FLOPPY very enjoyable but next month takes us to five in a row! Are we running out of ideas chaps, how about CRUSADE as everyone loves that  ;)

Quote from: COMMANDO FORCES on 13 October, 2011, 12:56:57 PM
LETTERS I always wonder how many of these are on the forum. Obviously Tom is but sometimes I see another name from my town and I just wonder who it is. It seems to me to be much harder to write a letter, especially if using pen and paper to Dreddlines than be on here. Each to their own I know but it would be great if all these letter writers joined the forum.

Can't say definitively CF as to who is a boarder but the Beast reveals :

'Scott' from Dorset is likely to be Scott Taylor from that parish whom we last encountered in Meg 283 in 2009. This is his 3rd letter in total and 2nd in the Meg.

Doug Bulter is a newish convert who now has 3 letters all Meg, all this year - M309, M312 & M316.

Ross Trapnell is true to his letter's content in that this is his first letter.

Tom Proudfoot - no idea.

I thoroughly love my Meg but this has been the weakest one in AGES.

Only a two page text article? No droid interview? And 32 pages of a marmite writer teamed with a marmite artist? That story needed a bloody good edit - the panels were way too large for the page.
Koburn just ain't doing it for me, but at least Dredd was a good opening episode.

Haven't read the floppy yet but I will do as I've enjoyed the Mercy Heights stuff over the last few months - maybe it's time for something different though?

This has been the quickest read for a Meg in ages :-\

In fairness, I've read American Reaper now and I'll admit it wasn't bad. What others have said about Langley's stuff working better because it has more room to breathe is fair enough. I still don't want 32 pages of it though. Yes, he's more suited to this sort of dark sci-fi than Slaine, and some panels were rather effective. But overall to me it's ugly and static and it's just not comic art. Anyway, that's enough out of me.

Do'h! Thought my subbie has a couple o months to run, but no it expired poor dear, have now renewed so hopefully I will get to see that glorious Button free letters page asap.
:D

Oohh a weirdy prog. Reaper is a strange one I admit and it read much like a film script story board  in fact i saw Xingu films TM on it somewhere. Visuals good but as mentioned by others very Tim Burton (no bad thing for me others will have a very different view), but i am looking forward to seeing some more. Dredd was ace and Koburn a good solid read. Most fun for me was Kev walkers art on Mercy Heights. Certainly very  "Rogueish" in story tone.

enjoyed the dredd, shades of mandroid with a man done wrong doing wrong to the men what wronged him?

koburn love it but will have to re read in one as i get confuzzed by the time hopping storytelling...

reaper....hmmmm still have to read this but it seems a bit much i aint a fan of the langley photo stories but i'll give it a go but it were too long....


  though i will say this , a scream revival with langley on doomlord?

I love Clint Langely's work and always have done so the over rendered look is fine by me. I think if you look down to the left of the New York 2062 city shot you can see something that resembles a single gate of the Thames Barrier!

Not very Nuu-York but I can easily forgive this photo manip over paint since the rest of the work is equally amazing in it's Film-ik realism. Even the shooting of the Emo brat looks like a John Woo shoot out.

I do hope this is going to be a Movie though I understand how the painting style could be seen as too 'dead' and over done by others. I'm a fan and I dread to think of the long hours Mr Langely worked on this and I like the story idea.

The rich, old effectively stealing the lives of the  the young is a sort of twist on the vampire myth. It's been done before but I think it reflects what is happening in the world today with an aggressive, mostly already wealthy elite helping themselves while damning  the rest of us to Debt and lower living standards.

Eat the Young -not the Rich it seems to be these days.

The opening part of American Reaper was all kinds of wonderful and I for one love the art, intriguing and provocative premise to the story also-top marks for messers Mills and Langley!

The rest of The Meg was none too shoddy either. Excellent stuff.

DREDD: Love it! Nice to see the artist back on it, as his work; Dredd: Monkey on the Back was one of my fave Meg stories. Also I thought out one thing in this, is that young man Caesar some of person in that man's mind, as it like other people only see him?

AMERICAN REAPER: It looks really impressed with high quality artwork! But it very interesting about body kidnap, and like that Glasses gadget!

KOBURN: Enjoy it, nice to see the group of Outdoor Judges again, and that leader woman really gone mad?

Thatg did say in Prog 1755's Nerve Cente that American Reaper is already in development as a movie, and from the first episode it looks like perfect movie fodder.  The art is astounding, but I'm not so sure whether I like it as comic strip art, as it really does remind me of photo stories that used to be in stuff like My Guy back in the 70's / 80's.  Some of the facial expressions are just as cheesey as those, too - no amount of photoshoppery can hide that.  The non-people bits really are very very good, though, and the story is looking good.

Rest of the Meg... I'd never read Scream! as I had stopped buying comics at that point as I thought I was too old for them (dumb) but it made me want to find them and read them.  Dredd and Koburn are waiting to be read (and I read Reaper twice, so it definitely has a hold of me!)

you used to read "my guy"? :lol: ;)


 

I needed the posters of Gary Numan and Adam Ant.

I'm just making this sound worse.

hey, its the 21st century were not here to judge. ;)

Really enjoyed the Dredd. Fantastic stuff!

American Reaper: Love the concept and the story is pretty good if a little bare. Some of Langley's artwork is cool but once characters get involved, it all goes to hell. It's so static and lifeless.

Koburn was good, not great. Liked all the articles too. Have yet to read the floppy!

Geez Toni, you could have at least claimed that you had only read your older sister's copies when you were hiding in her wardrobe to watch her getting it on with her boyfriend.

I would have if I were Jarvis Cocker and was researching writing 'Babies.'

I actually read my girlfriend's copies and stole the posters.  I am not ashamed at coveing my walls in pictures of men in make-up, but then, I'm not heterosexual so I have an excuse...

Well, i AM heterosexual, and my walls were plastered with adam ant, marc almond and duran duran. Plastered WITH you notice, not BY. My teenage bedroom was not some kind of bukkake dungeon, walls dripping with popjizz.

But there's no shame in reading girls comics- i'd kill for a set of Mistys, and the nascent photostories in my guy et al fascinate me now.

And i still wear makeup when i go somewhere good.

SBT

Oi, what's wrong with The Thompson Twins ;)

Quote from: Toni Scandella on 17 October, 2011, 05:16:36 PM
I would have if I were Jarvis Cocker and was researching writing 'Babies.'

I actually read my girlfriend's copies and stole the posters.  I am not ashamed at coveing my walls in pictures of men in make-up, but then, I'm not heterosexual so I have an excuse...

not that it matters but ar you the first/only openly "not heterosexual" on the board?

  oh and i had a picture of sam fox in a wet "antigua" t-shirt on my wall...to be honest i'm surprised my mum and dad let me have that !

Well I used to read Jackie (not My Guy though) and it seems to have been Photostories which was one of the things which killed girl's comics - a lack of investment by the publishers in writing and art and the narrowing of the things you could do a story about because of the difficulty of setting the scene and costume.

You can't accuse either Langley, Mills or Rebellion of this though and computer manips mean you don't have the cost problem anymore. I don't know why photographed characters fail to work - is it the Uncanny Valley? Or is it because you can't get enough expression in a real person's face like you can a caricature? Is it because the artists generally uses people he knows or models rather than actual actors for financial reasons?

I dunno but they were the only bits in Reaper I didn't like. I thought the rest of it was beautiful - I do like a cyber-Burtonesque look. I like the idea of the story and it was pretty horrific what the father felt he had to do. I'll be tuning in next issue for sure.

Koburn is a pretty cool character even if the story a bit uneventful and Dredd is always ace. I can see why Mercy Heights lost its way now though - it took a wrong turning when it left the ship behind and focussed on only one character who'd been peripheral beforehand (even though he is really cool).  I would quite like to see it back though, perhaps with new characters, perhaps not but with a look at how they'd fared in the intervening years - but it has to be the Mercy Heights setting if it did. I missed the droid interview too.

funnily enuff i was the opposite! i started enjoying mercy heights more when it was tor and that glorious kevin walker art helps

Just wanted to add that I thought American Reaper was great and I'm looking forward to more. One thing I thought was that it's really decompressed, but I assume that's for the US market. But I really liked Langley's work on this much more than on Slaine (and I like it there monstly too!) and I think it's a winner all round.

M.

Quote from: staticgirl on 27 October, 2011, 05:13:56 PM
I don't know why photographed characters fail to work - is it the Uncanny Valley? Or is it because you can't get enough expression in a real person's face like you can a caricature? Is it because the artists generally uses people he knows or models rather than actual actors for financial reasons?

There's all of that and also the fact that Clint always 'plays' the main character himself so the lead guy in Reaper is just Slaine with a quiff. I thought the story was good and the sequence where the son turns round to reveal he's a wrong 'un was brilliant. Actually gave me chills.

On the whole though, I'd prefer the art without the photoshopped faces.

Dredd was ace. Mike knows the right words to put in Dredd's mouth and it's always nice to see a man having his head sliced in two.

Koburn is decent enough. I imagine it's heading for an indiscriminate bloodbath.

Scream article was pretty cool and made me wish it had continued. If it was still going it would probably be running stuff like Caballistics Inc. and Chiaroscuro.

And that was it for the Meg...

Hope it's a more satisfying read next this month, with less American Reaper.

Quote from: mogzilla on 28 October, 2011, 09:45:06 PM
funnily enuff i was the opposite! i started enjoying mercy heights more when it was tor and that glorious kevin walker art helps

Does that mean I should give Mercy Heights a go then? I've been a bit unimpressed with the look and feel of the previous free floppies of MH after flicking through but have to admit I might just have a better look at Mr Walker's stuff..

Great to see American Reaper Marmite dividing opinion as expected...

REAPER,
Story YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ART WORK  :o NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

looks like an old  girlie comic/magazine.

but i have always accepted the Meg takes these decisions and goes with them,
its the style i dont like, they did it with Anderson some years back i recall. so its my view not the artistic value of the piece.

the only time this worked was when we had Nemesis on the MRT as a photo strip, or was that a drug induced haze.