Prog & Meg and Sin Dex book all in one happy letterbox clatter. I'll be gracious and let someone else nab the Prog ('IN FOR THE KILL!) as I'm busy gorging the lot and some porridge. Both issues have letters with many familiar faces in sight! More, regretably, follows.
Oh, I get it. It sounds almost like "recycle" if you don't pronounce the letter H at the start of words.
Letters were pish. Much better correspondence in the Prog.
Didn't think much of any of the stories either. I may change my mind after breakfast.
What??? I thought Mike Carroll's Dredd was absolutely brilliant, the twist at end totally blew me away.
Really enjoying American Reaper, for the reasons I enjoy a good Pat Mills tale - I'm not as averse to Langleys art as others and think it works a lot better here than Slaine. That said, I'd probably enjoy it more drawn in the same style as the Fay Dalton "adverts" - not sure if she could handle a comic strip, but the feel of those painted pages makes me wish the strip was more like that. I suppose the effort of creating this stuff digitally means theres not the time to "disguise" the photo-strippy, but I'd prefer art over photos, if only because it would appear less limiting in terms of "acting" and dynamic anatomy etc.
What Sin Dex book?
Quote from: The Adventurer on 07 November, 2011, 09:28:52 AM
What Sin Dex book?
I think he may have got it due to having a letter printed...
Quote from: Proudhuff on 07 November, 2011, 11:51:13 AM
Quote from: The Adventurer on 07 November, 2011, 09:28:52 AM
What Sin Dex book?
I think he may have got it due to having a letter printed...
Ideed I did - 'Money Shots' - that's a misnomer I can tell you from the off!
Still no sign of my copy, why me? thats two months in a row :(
Looks good- glad to see American Reaper getting another huge chunk of the pagecount, and a welcome return for Black Museum. However, two things: Not overly keen on the cover, as for the first time in ages it's a Dredd that, to me at least, doesn't actually look like Dredd. I know that's ridiculous, as he's been drawn a hundred different ways by a hundred different artists, but this is the first time I can remember looking at a picture and thinking "no, that's wrong". Sorry to the artist- it's a personal taste thing, obviously, but I thought it was worth mentioning, as it struck me as so weird that I'd think that after thirty-five years of different interpretations.
And the other thing: Next month Venus Bluegenes? REALLY? I remember now why I am so completely disinterested in the whole Rogue Trooperverse. Seriously, if everything that had ever been printed in he prog was published as trades, RT would be the one series mysteriously absent from my Thrill-Archive. I've not read the floppies for months now, and am beginning to get that reactionary twitch that says "I object to paying for this!", which is never good.
Will read the thing later, I just wanted to "bag the thread for the non-subscribers". ;)
SBT
Quote from: Proudhuff on 08 November, 2011, 12:16:00 PM
Still no sign of my copy, why me? thats two months in a row :(
hee-hee-hee :P
Read it!
Top thrill: American Reaper. Loved it again, and went back and read the two parts consecutively to see how it flows. Great stuff, and I've already mentally bagged me a trade version as and when.
Next: Dredd. Quite touched by the ending of this, and even though I felt the expanded page count was a bit unnecessary and it could've been just as effective at the normal prog amount, I enjoyed it probably a bit more than I have been 'Age of Chaos' in the prog. Did that sentence make sense? Up yours, grammar!
Then: Black Museum. A good story, well told. Can't criticise the story at all, all wrapped up nicely and nothing left wanting. Groovy. Hope we get a collection of these sometime soonish. Even if only as a Meg floppy. Perhaps they could rename it 'Rogues From The Rogue Museum', as they seem to only like printing things from that particular universe at the moment. Arf and indeed arf.
Last: Koburn. Don't ask me how the Ezquerras come in at the bottom, but they do this month. I'm just not feeling this at all- and the [spoiler]old Rico's[/spoiler] comedy reappearance at the end just made me flashback to the likes of 'Helter Skelter', et al.
Not overly fussed about the features this month, and missing the film reviews.
A middling Meg, buoyed by American Reaper and a couple of strong other strips.
SBT
Tales From the Black Museum made me literally laugh out loud - a well-observed and positively skewering Jet Set Willy pastiche. I did feel a little guilty afterwards, though... poor Matthew Smith. Too far, too fast...
despite fully expecting not to like 'Mercan Reaper, and despite the photomontage talking heads doing nothing for me, and the action shots being very stilted, I'm actually really enjoying it. Think how arsom it could be in pen and ink. Mills at his best.
Dredd - Good conclusion, another sign that Carroll is a man for Dredd's future.
Black Museum - a good little tale, with some nice dialogue.
Merkin Reaper - Still going strong, I want to read more.
CEKoburn - Boring, a waste of SuperSquirrel's talents.
Cover - Nice colours and everything, but something about the face don't hit the spot.
GN - Metcey Heights outstayed its welcome, and now we have the equally clunkily written Tor Cyan. Really boring, please stop this shite.
Meg was pretty good this month - Dredd, Koburn and Black Museum were all entertaining. I don't want to just be overwhelmingly negative about American Reaper, so I won't bother saying anything at all.
Cover was dire however. Looked like a real half-arsed effort IMHO.
QuoteGN - Metcey Heights outstayed its welcome, and now we have the equally clunkily written Tor Cyan. Really boring, please stop this shite.
Personally I'm happy to own this particular volume for the art alone, which is superb. Three of my very favourite artists, Walker, Jock and Colin Wilson.
re: the Dredd - was it supposed to be a twist that [spoiler]the guys friend/son was imaginary[/spoiler]? Because I twigged that last month.
He wuz whut? I'll have to read that again. :-[
Cover - Dredd is all vertical and maybe that makes it a boring layout. Plus his face is a touch too handsome perhaps. I liked the colouring though, the background was what caught my eye in the newsagents.
It was all good. I am actually quite enjoying CEKoburn but then I've not encountered him before. It's a simple tale perhaps but it's okay.
American Reaper - still not loving the uncanny valley faces and the action is a bit stilted, I agree but the rest of the art is gorgeous, full of imagination and great colour schemes. The story is as cynical and fast moving as you would expect from Mr Mills.
I enjoyed the Jim McCarthy interview. It's been good to discover the history behind my favourite stories and magazines of the early 90s. That Carry On story still scares me when I see it.
I liked da cover and meg was pretty fun as I'm progless this week. Boo! That will teach me not to subscribe. Anyway Dredd was excellent and Black Museum seemed long but it got there in the end, Reaper continues to excell in the utter bonkers states and Koburn certainly had an unusual final few panels.
Quote from: SmallBlueThing on 09 November, 2011, 09:10:37 AM
Not overly keen on the cover, as for the first time in ages it's a Dredd that, to me at least, doesn't actually look like Dredd. I know that's ridiculous, as he's been drawn a hundred different ways by a hundred different artists, but this is the first time I can remember looking at a picture and thinking "no, that's wrong". Sorry to the artist- it's a personal taste thing, obviously, but I thought it was worth mentioning, as it struck me as so weird that I'd think that after thirty-five years of different interpretations.
SBT
The cover with Mark's rationale is on my blog SBT. Dunno if it'll change your mind any but it's a great read. Mark always great value in his cover break downs!
Quote from: Pete Wells on 12 November, 2011, 03:55:10 PM
The cover with Mark's rationale is on my blog SBT. Dunno if it'll change your mind any but it's a great read. Mark always great value in his cover break downs!
As ever, Pete, I'm in awe of your blog- and yes, that was a fantastic piece on Mark Harrison's thought-processes behind the image. I enjoyed it far more, I'm sorry to say, than I did the actual Meg cover! Fascinating though- but it didn't change my mind :(
But never mind, Mr Harrison is responsible for the Durham Red trilogy, and so will forever be alike to a god to me. A god, I say!
SBT
The Dredd tale was a nice finish, with some lovely art. Really enjoyed the McCarthy interview (though his mentioning that he talks to Peter Milligan more than his own brother seemed to hint at some frayed familial ties... or am I being dramatic??)
Quite enjoyed American Reaper. I'm liking the concept, I'm liking the script... but the art. The woeful, woeful character art. Those terrible faces. Jesus christ, they look bad. It's sort of like bad movie concept art. I don't mind the cityscapes and the like, but the second a dialogue scene occurs everything falls flat. It's also taking up quite a big chunk of the Meg: how long is this being planned to last for, out of interest?
Tales from the Black Museum was good. The story, while nothing earth-shattering, was well told and hit all the right points. Thought the art was very good too. Didn't recognize either of the creator names, guessing this is one of the first things they've done in the Meg so that's a very nice start.
Cursed Earth Koburn was better than the last few months but still screams of filler. I actually forgot it was Rico with him and not Dredd :-[
Haven't read the floppy yet but I'm very much looking forward to the art: Kev Walker, Jock and Colin Wilson? Yes fucking please.
The Henry Flint doodle interview was quite good too. Might have to check that book out!
Quote from: Buttonman on 09 November, 2011, 07:43:10 PM
Quote from: Proudhuff on 08 November, 2011, 12:16:00 PM
Still no sign of my copy, why me? thats two months in a row :(
hee-hee-hee :P
At last The meg arrived, no chance of getting a letter in at this rate :(
Read it!
Bottom thrill: American Reaper. there seems just too much space in each of the panels to my eye, and the Jackie-sque teen lovers just leave me cold, as do the haircuts that scream 2011, liked the Northern patch, but that's the trouble with this artwork, ones eye wonders off the story thread into the details, it all seems a bit over indulgent to me.
Next: Dredd. I know we shouldn't gripe and it take all sorts, but the colouring leaves me cold, as does the neo-letratone that flattens the whole page, again this might look good on the creators screen but on the page its too flat added to this the muted palette and its a bit of a flash back to the mucky brown old Meg
Then: Black Museum. Liked this but thought the
crypt keeper, sorry attendant was a bit too much a demon to look at.
Last: Koburn. was liking this up to Rico Snr's appearence lets hope its all just a dream and Koburn steps out the shower soon
None of the text stuff sets my heather alight but will read em regardless...
The first time I feel the meg has fired a dud in a while mostly down too the anti climax that is Amereaper
Quote from: Proudhuff on 21 November, 2011, 02:52:09 PM
Quote from: Buttonman on 09 November, 2011, 07:43:10 PM
Quote from: Proudhuff on 08 November, 2011, 12:16:00 PM
Still no sign of my copy, why me? thats two months in a row :(
hee-hee-hee :P
At last The meg arrived, no chance of getting a letter in at this rate :(
Read it!
Bottom thrill: American Reaper. there seems just too much space in each of the panels to my eye, and the Jackie-sque teen lovers just leave me cold, as do the haircuts that scream 2011, liked the Northern patch, but that's the trouble with this artwork, ones eye wonders off the story thread into the details, it all seems a bit over indulgent to me.
Next: Dredd. I know we shouldn't gripe and it take all sorts, but the colouring leaves me cold, as does the neo-letratone that flattens the whole page, again this might look good on the creators screen but on the page its too flat added to this the muted palette and its a bit of a flash back to the mucky brown old Meg
Then: Black Museum. Liked this but thought the crypt keeper, sorry attendant was a bit too much a demon to look at.
Top: Koburn. was liking this up to Rico Snr's appearence lets hope its all just a dream and Koburn steps out the shower soon
None of the text stuff sets my heather alight but will read em regardless...
The first time I feel the meg has fired a dud in a while mostly down too the anti climax that is Amereaper
Comics Bulletin review:
www.comicsbulletin.com/main/reviews/judge-dredd-megazine-prog-317