Seasonal Tiernen Trevallion cover with Dredd duking it out with some robotic Santa helpers. Quite like.
The now traditional Al Ewing Christmas Dredd is a bit of a banger free cracker. Focus is on Judge Pal's PR man trying to sideline Santa with predictable and Futurma-esque consequences.
Grant Morrison and Frank Quietly interviews - get the sense were general releases as the Morrison one especially doesn't mention 2000ad at all.
Reaper goes great guns and Armitage is OK with him teaming up with Dredd on a yet to be defined case.
The last part of Koburn is a welcome relief as I was lost from the off and nothing much is sorted out apart from a portentious 'ohh there may be more to come' ending - Hope not.
Movies OK but the Tintin one waffles on about Nazi collaboration and PC in the Congo - nice new angle there!
Letters page but no correspondence of consequence with the worst line easily - "Selachimorphian actrobatics" - run that past me again?
Forgot to add my subber's copy was bagged with a Forbidden Planet catalogue stuffed full with Who and Star Wars crap that no one needs. Barely a Dredd in sight - eventually found Cae Files 18 and Missionary Man on the back page - opportunity missed?
I'll have to stop this working Saturdays, :( hopefully this will be waiting for me now that the new subbie is up and hopefully running...
Cursed Earth Koburn I feel would be better in the Prog as weekly it would run on together well, spaced out over a month it loses its Umph, IMHO.
American Reaper is shaping up to be Pats best strip in years, and I say that as someone who thinks Pat already come along way from those mid-90s Tony Skinner collaborations! Still wish the artists were reversed though!
Al's Dredd was great I thought - a neat idea and loved the "Iso-block 87" line, which I take as a nice nod to Santas appearance in the Daily Star Dredd 174 and subsequent Heavy Metal Dredd strip... was there another appearance somewhere too - sure there was?
Maybe they were a bit wary of bringing up Dredd in the interview (or the Rogue film for that matter...brrrr, keep forgetting then remembering that piece of news). But it would have been the things of most interest to me as well.
Armitage is dead space for me unfortunately, though the art looks nice - Dredd teaming up makes it even less likely I'll pick at it to be honest.
Same kinda goes for Rico in Koburn, though at least this one got read. I like my Ezquerra goodness in stronty form as a first preference, but this is still Ezquerra goodness! Storywise seems to just fizzle out on a promise/threat, but for what - 40 odd pages?, felt pretty light on incident to afford to be a set up for something more meaty in the future. Especailly when I'm hoping for lots of meaty Stront - After all, why go to the bother of resurrecting him if the ultimate result is a story every year or two?
About the FPI catalogue... If youre going to include these, make sure the sellotape actually seals the envelope - mine was totally open, with the weight of the presumably smashing the tape aside. I dont mind a relatively harmless freebie (almost got excited about some Flash Gordon reprint until i read the small print), but not at the expense of my Meg going postal!
Judges give away items from toothpaste to Vibrators to the pals. Class, Pals baby? genius.
That panel alone is worth the yearly sub.
V
Forgot to add 'Introducing fists of justice' on the vibro bill board.
V
Should suggest them to Planet Replicas...
I've only read Dredd so far and whilst it was alright and slightly amusing in places, I wasn't blown away by it.
I wasn't keen on the stupidly harsh laws quoted at the beginning such as overly cautious walking and picking your nose in public. It seems at odds with the more serious tone in most modern Dredd. Not saying there's no room for comedy but this seemed quite far removed from the current framework.
Also, I don't see how the 20 year sentence for 'causing the death of a Judge' can be justified. 20 years? He didn't really do much to put Judge Pal in harms way. It just seemed like ticking a box on a list of things to include in a Judge Dredd one off circa 1981.
9) Judge Dredd must arrest everyone at the end of the story.
I could be being picky perhaps but it just seemed a bit lacklustre to me.
Quote from: Lee Bates on 05 December, 2011, 12:15:34 PM
I could be being picky
:o
Wel that was a fine Meg, Excellent Dredd nearly spilt my Stella at the
Paul Gadd Children's Charity along with the vibro ad.
Armitage seems to be on th eright track with suitable artwork this time and CE koburn finished nicely but with the usual 'i'll be back baddies'...
That "elachimorphian actrobatics" won me a Rstricted Files 02
Quote from: Proudhuff on 05 December, 2011, 04:12:56 PM
Quote from: Lee Bates on 05 December, 2011, 12:15:34 PM
I could be being picky
:o
Yeah, alright, maybe I'm being a grumpy sod, it just didn't float my boat. It didn't help that I'd just read this week's Dredd episode in 2000 AD which is a blinder. Compared to that, this Meg story seemed like an over-exaggerated caricature of a Judge Dredd story.
Quote from: Lee Bates on 06 December, 2011, 09:07:42 AM
Quote from: Proudhuff on 05 December, 2011, 04:12:56 PM
Quote from: Lee Bates on 05 December, 2011, 12:15:34 PM
I could be being picky
:o
caricature of a Judge Dredd story
I'd agree with that. I thought it was good fun but I think Lee's assessment is a good one, for the reasons given in this thread.
I've hesitated to comment on the Meg lately because of American Reaper. It dominates the comic and it isn't really for me. I'm never keen on digital art and I'm finding this difficult to follow. Maybe I should try re-reading it in natural light. Also, I think the dialogue is stilted, and the whole strip takes no time to read. It doesn't feel like good value for money.
I haven't read Armitage yet and I may not get around to it. I didn't like the last series.
Happily, Koburn saves the Meg at the end. I'm very sorry to see it end. It's a strong, creepy, action-packed story with great art from our own Squirrel.
- Trout
Cover - we all need much, much more Tiernen Trevallion in our lives. If I had my way, we'd also get much more Dylan Teague and Staz Johnson on Dredd duties too.
Agree that Dredd was a bit out of touch, but then with things cracking off in the prog and the tradition of darkly comic xmas one-offs in the meg, I guess Al's hands were tied.
Nice to see a change of artist on Armitage, I might actually read this one.
Which is more than I can say for Reaper. I skip it, the whole thing is cumbersome and ugly and unreadable for me.
Enjoyed Koburn.
Floppy - Simon Coleby's come a helluva long way since this hasn't he? Whereas Henry Flint was always a genius. Remember these from first time round and had fond memories of 'Stealth', if only for Flinty goodness, and it still holds up today.
Didn't anyone spot Santa talking to his elf via a 3a tharg Doll?
V
People saying how the Judge Dredd story in this Prog is stupid are missing the point. It's an almost perfect Judge Dredd story.
i.e.: Stupid-stupid-stupid. Stupid-stupid-stupid. Stupid-stupid-stupid-stupid-stupid. And then Judge Dredd turns up and shoots everybody.
Classic.
Quote from: Proper Dave on 06 December, 2011, 11:47:33 PM
People saying how the Judge Dredd story in this Prog is stupid are missing the point. It's an almost perfect Judge Dredd story.
i.e.: Stupid-stupid-stupid. Stupid-stupid-stupid. Stupid-stupid-stupid-stupid-stupid. And then Judge Dredd turns up and shoots everybody.
Classic.
Or in other words, predictable, by-the-numbers, derivative and disposable.
That's being harsh though. I did kind of enjoy it, I just thought it was a little bit perfunctory.
I've read the rest of the Meg now and didn't find much else to charge up th old Thrill circuits. Clint Langley's art on American Reaper is so distracting that it's completely putting me off the story. The fact that Langley used himself as the model for the main character
and the young kid (seemingly anyway) he was persuing made it even more ridiculous. Not a fan.
Cursed Earth Koburn goes out on a whimper rather than a bang leaving me wondering what the point of it all was.
Which leaves Armitage, which has never done anything for me up to now but this first episode is actually really good. Action! Explosions! Mental girl! And the final panel was a classic.
I skim read the Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely interviews and, as usual, enjoyed the film reviews but with only one strip that I really enjoyed and another floppy which I won't read, the Meg is looking like an expensive load of nothing this month.
Hopefully John Smith's lunatic brain can sort things out next month with Strange and Darke.
oh-oh, the Al-E-wing backlash begins...
Quote from: Proudhuff on 07 December, 2011, 10:08:49 AM
oh-oh, the Al-E-wing backlash begins...
How dare you? I love that bearded hunk of a man. I've enjoyed every Dredd he's done to date (except this one) and Zombo is one of my favourite thrills of all time.
I love you Al!!! Don't listen to Proudchuff!!!
You're such a hater
The anti- backlash begins!!
Okay, I enjoyed the Dredd (especially the Paul Gadd background gag), but count me with those who thought the arrest of Grinch was a bit rubbish. It pulled me out of the story as I rechescked what had gone on before and went "Gah! That's nonsensical!". Apart from that it was a good Christmas romp.
Grud knows where Armitage will go, but it was a good start.
American Reaper is a good story, and I love the dramatic proto photo art, but the dialogue is a bit wooden.
Glad Koburn is over, as it banged on for what seemed like double it's actual length. The only time I haven't enjoyed him. Rennie needs recharging.
Had a quick flick- all looks good. An interview with Grant Morrison without directly asking him about Zenith reprints, though?
Hurrah! The end of the Tor Cyan/ Venus Bluegenes stuff! Next month: Durham Red! Yay!
Booo: Pricerise next month, up to £5.60 from whatever it is now (£5.40? £5.45? £5.48? £5.49? I can't read the teeny font and that last digit could be anything!) Does this mean the prog is going up too? £2.50's my bet.
SBT
I loved the Dredd story, typically festive with an offing of a Santa. Nice to see Armitage back Proper Dave.
V
Just finished reading the Meg -what a disappointment.
DREDD - That must be the worst Dredd I've read in a very long time, it read like a story made up by P14 in Droid life it was that bad.The Judges were made to sound like the Ministry of Silly Walks, the off-the-wall offences and sentences really jarred with the current Dredd world and the Judge Pal death scence was too awful for words.
REAPER - Like reading a dear deidre photo comic strip in the Daily Star.Loves itself to death and you can tell, why use one panel when you can use an entire page.Virtually nothing happens and totally bored of it already.Big fan of Clint Langley and some of the art is excelllent esp in the intro strip but overall this is just a classic case of style over substance.
ARMITAGE - Never been a fan
KOBURN - Love this character early stories were just excellent and would love to see more.This story however,would have been far more suited to the Prog and it never really went anywhere in the end which was a shame.Laying groundwork for the future by the looks of it.
Both the Meg and the Prog have been on a very strong run for years so this is just a blip I guess..
I thought the Dredd was just great. Now that Wagner seems content doing long more serious soap-opera style epics, it's great to have Rennie, Ewing et al pitching in with the wackier one-shots.
Fantastic cover too.
Truly cracking cover on the latest Meg, I thought. The only thing that was missing was a corny speech bubble along the lines of: "Daysticks can seriously damage your elf."
Dredd wasn't a classic but still the best strip to be found. Koburn sort of fizzled out like everyone has said. I'd still like to see it back before too long. Armitage was Armitage and American Reaper was the same empty, declamatory shite it's been since the start. I know it's different strokes for different tastes and all that but I genuinely can't see how anyone could possibly find this anything but a chore to get through.
NB I am quite proud that I managed to rein myself in here and not go over the top about how awful I really think American Reaper is.
Quote from: The Cosh on 08 December, 2011, 11:04:49 PM
Koburn sort of fizzled out like everyone has said.
I didn't say that. I liked it.
Quote from: The Cosh on 08 December, 2011, 11:04:49 PM
NB I am quite proud that I managed to rein myself in here and not go over the top about how awful I really think American Reaper is.
Me too. I tried to bear in mind all the great stuff Pat has given us, and show him proper respect.
- Trout
Well done Cosh, save the bile for when you meet him ;)
onyways... I think the Meg missed a trick by not bagging the Trade Foppie of Medivac 318 with the Megazine 318
i enjoyed it apart from reaper...that just aint doin it for me dunno if its the "art" but,,,,nahhh.
anyone doesnt want their fpi catalogue pm me and ill throw a stamp your way ...
Quote from: King Trout on 09 December, 2011, 01:17:33 AM
Quote from: The Cosh on 08 December, 2011, 11:04:49 PM
NB I am quite proud that I managed to rein myself in here and not go over the top about how awful I really think American Reaper is.
Me too. I tried to bear in mind all the great stuff Pat has given us, and show him proper respect.
I think I liked it better when you made up puerile nicknames for his Meg stories.
Enjoyable Dredd with the return of your pal Judge Pal. Had me chortling as well as deciding which boarders to shop to Justice Department central for real and imaginary crimes. Reaper is alas becoming too well, dull and so I will just look have to accept that my initial interest has not lasted. Koburn which I'd enjoyed I just found a tad confusing and may need a re-read, the art again though was fun.
Armitage was cool and has b&w art and that always gets a thumbs up from me.Nice to see our heroes getting along as usual in the last panel.
Great cover again shame it wasn't reflected with all that was inside.
freebie was okay as i'd never seen all that much of the Venus Blue genes stories, so it was interesting to look at the eye watering colour schemes !
That freebie wow they are scraping the barrel now first bore cyan now this...
I'd like to rescind my comment from last month about Reaper getting interesting. The premise is already getting tired and the amount of column inches its getting when I could be reading Ian Gibsons Lifeboat or the new Lily Makenzie makes me cry inside. They should have left it as a glossy euro hardback graphic novel as thats clearly what it was written for.
Oh everything else I enjoyed. Nice opener for Armitage and I agree Koburn didn't go anywhere much but it was enjoyable none the less.