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Not read this yet but just wanted to say what an amazing cover by Chris Weston, fabulously painted, and beautifully proportioned Homage to Akira. Fab!

I don't get my copy until Wednesday but I thought I'd bagsie the second post in the thread anyway :D

Lead story is a homage to Great Expectations from Morrison with nice Dave Taylor art.  Snapshot, Hondo. And Samizdat all continue.

However, the really interesting thing is there's a text story from Mike Carrol set after Day Of Chaos.

Cover: A brilliant cover by Chris Weston, the sort of artwork I would love to adorn my wall - *****

Dredd: The start to another good Dredd strip following the life [spoiler]of a junk boy and his run in with a criminal and Dredd [/spoiler]and ending with [spoiler]his opportunity of a lifetime[/spoiler]. And the tag for the next issue being [spoiler]The Suave Assasin[/spoiler] looks like this story will only be getting better - *****

Samizdat Squad: I missed the first couple of parts to this (as this is my first Meg) and so I am still catching up with the story but this is a good part with a lot of action and with the mention of [spoiler]the gods of old[/spoiler] near the end I am interested in where this is headed. - ****

Snapshot:  This reminds me of a few Manga I used to read (both in story and art style) this issue had a lot of story exposition and I'm intrigued to see where it will go from here after finding out [spoiler]that the phone belonged to a hit-man hired by someone doing a stock market scam [/spoiler] - ****

Fiction: A Dredd story by Michael Carroll that is well worth a read from anyone who is reading the current Chaos Day in 2000AD. It follows a cadet shortly after [spoiler] the Academy of Law was destroyed [/spoiler] during his final assessment.  *****

Hondo-City Justice:  This issue gives some background to [spoiler]Project Behemoth[/spoiler] as well as setting up a[spoiler] fight with the Behemoth itself [/spoiler]for next issue - ****

Um, is this Dredd story aimed at the cross-section of Dredd fans who like Dickens novels, too? If so, that's not me. Nice art, though.

I enjoyed Samzdat Squad but have lost the thread of Snapshot a little. The Hondo City story I found impenetrable. I'll try re-reading the Meg when I'm not so tired.

Quote from: LARF on 16 June, 2012, 06:34:14 PM
Not read this yet but just wanted to say what an amazing cover by Chris Weston, fabulously painted, and beautifully proportioned Homage to Akira. Fab!

Bah. This is just a step up from Batson. What's next? "Haven't had time to read my Prog yet but just thought I'd say what a fantastic address it had on the envelope."

Surprisingly half-decent Dredd from Robbie Morrison. Takes his usual approach of focusing entirely on the perp/cits but does so with a more palatable strain of comedy rather than the usual schmaltzy crack orphan stuff. Dave Taylor's art is also interestingly different from anything I've seen from him before. Looks almost like it's done in coloured pencil and quite lovely.

None of the other strips really doing it for me. Snapshot will hopefully work better in a oner but, for the moment, the twists in the plot seem contrived rather than ingenious.

Cosh:  You bully!!! :(

Quote from: The Cosh on 16 June, 2012, 10:42:57 PM

Quote from: LARF on 16 June, 2012, 06:34:14 PM
Not read this yet but just wanted to say what an amazing cover by Chris Weston, fabulously painted, and beautifully proportioned Homage to Akira. Fab!

Bah. This is just a step up from Batson. What's next? "Haven't had time to read my Prog yet but just thought I'd say what a fantastic address it had on the envelope."

You know what, I don't know why I fucking bother these days. Why should i post a genuine enthusiastic comment and start a thread if some knob sack's going to come along and just make pathetic comments?

I've been on this forum for years, and gradually as life's got hectic I occasionally post if something genuinely takes my interest, I have enthusiasm for something, or feel strongly enough to comment. Hence I don't fanny-arse around in pissing competitions trying to take the first thread of a review. I love Chris Weston's work and for two minutes yesterday I really wanted to post how much I liked this cover, that's all.

Best thread on this forum so far is the 'thread jacking' thread, it's so true.

Chill, LARF. People, including me, had a problem with thread-grabbing where people started the thread without anything to say. If someone starts a thread, they should have something to say. IMO, you just about edge it there.  :) It is a great cover, and even better on the back of the prog, without the Meg logo.

Let's not have a flame war about it. Cosh's comment, although abrasive, doesn't say anything about this forum in general. Also, I've met him and he's a good lad.

BSC: if you think someone is bullying on this forum, please report it to the mods. I would.

- Trout

I think Cosh was merely ribbing.

Quote from: Batman's Superior Cousin on 17 June, 2012, 12:13:54 AM
Cosh:  You bully!!! :(

Eh? I don't understand this. I was having a go at him rather than you. A few weeks ago everybody went mental at you for starting threads without reading the Prog. This week Larf did much the same and I didn't think it would be very fair if he didn't get a bit of the same stick (plus I like making sarky comments.) Nor was I the first to do so.

I was going to reply to you Larf, but Trout has covered the salient points without being needlessly sarcastic and offensive.

Quote from: JOE SOAP on 17 June, 2012, 12:25:54 PM
I think Cosh was merely ribbing.

Correct.

Can we get on with the important stuff and advise if there are any letters? Paisley gala day seemingly sufficent reason for the postman to not bother with deliveries it would seem.

Quote from: Buttonman on 17 June, 2012, 12:58:04 PM
Can we get on with the important stuff and advise if there are any letters? Paisley gala day seemingly sufficent reason for the postman to not bother with deliveries it would seem.

It's an all-Colonial special. Goggans takes a pop at both Ezquerra & Holden. I didn't recognise the other two.

Could be an opportunity to explore the rich history of correspondence from the Commonwealth and beyond.

Chill guys,  I meant the word in a light-hearted way. Apologises for the confusion but not for the sad face (not really)!!!

Sorry folks, next time I like something I'll curb my enthusiasm and wait until someone's had more of a say first before having an opinion. I understand what both you, Trout and Cosh, are saying here but where else was I supposed to drop a quick mention on what a amazing cover other than the Meg review thread?

As for me 'edging' in there, I didn't have time to write a full review, I hardly have time to read the Meg in one go, gone are the days of lighing in bed on a Saturday morning and reading both Meg and Prog cover to cover.

I think it's only fair seeing as I started the thread I supply a review and I'll do it later, after I've read the Chris Weston article and Mike's story.

Apologies for the earlier language and the acidic reaction to Cosh's comment.

I'm with Larf Block here - who are these self appointed guardians of the thread (rhetorical) who think they can dictate what is and is not worthy of an opener? Frankly as long as you possess said Meg and can quote the strap line anything that follows is fair enough for me.

Some people may come on and be scared to start a thread as they can't articulate 500 or more words on the subject due to the worry over potential criticism! As soon as it's out there it's fair game and if I didn't have a shitehawk of a postman I'd be starting next month's with an emoticon only. And a vague one at that. hahahahahahahaha...

Not opened my copy that arrived yesterday. Been a bit busy this weekend.
That cover is top shelf material though. Bike porn if ever there was any.

The Carroll Droids Text Story was the Mutts nutts.
[spoiler]The concept of the Judicial Department grabbing orphans to replenish Judge stock is definitely worth delving into further.[/spoiler]





V

Great cover - amazed that no one's thought to do that image before!

Lovely art on Dredd this month...

Quote from: vzzbux on 17 June, 2012, 10:14:52 PM
The Carroll Droids Text Story was the Mutts nutts.
[spoiler]The concept of the Judicial Department grabbing orphans to replenish Judge stock is definitely worth delving into further.[/spoiler]

I agree that what is covered in the story is worth delving into more, I hope that this sort of stuff will be cropping up after Chaos Day has finished.

Fantastic Meg this month!

The Cover is indeed lovely and for a manga/anime head such as myself, it's embarrassing to admit I didn't make the Akira connection. It's obvious now that it's been pointed out.

The Dredd story is one of my favourite types, focusing on the lives of the citizens with Dredd as a peripheral character (for now at least). Just the right amount of humour and wackiness and Dredd himself is pitch perfect.

The beautiful art by Dave Taylor is the icing on the cake for me. Great Dredd.

I'm in no way attached to Samizdat Squad, I can take it or leave it. The art is nice, there's been some action. I couldn't tell you the names of any of the characters or why they're doing any of the things they're doing. Last part next month.

Snapshot sticks out like a sore thumb as an 'American' strip with its large, open panels, sparse dialogue and relatively slow pace. I'm enjoying it, although I thought the story was going somewhere less conventional after the last couple of episodes. Now it's all been explained, it seems a bit more like a regular crime story. Still good.

Jock seems to be using an ultra un-detailed art style which works fairly well.

Hondo City Justice is a fun enough 'romp'. I've long since bothering to get worked up about Japanese cliches in western comics but they're definitely here in abundance. The art is nice and brash and colourful, calling to mind Marvel comics of the 90's with a big brash story to compliment it.

Mike's Dredd text story is enjoyable but should have had SPOILER tags as it seems to be set well after the Day of Chaos storyline. It reveals that [spoiler]Dredd will survice (as if we thought he wouldn't) but also that Justice Department will not only survive but continue to function in the same way[/spoiler].

I don't normally even bother to read the text stories but as it was by Mike I gave it a try and really liked it. I'll read any future stories too but I do miss the film reviews.

The American Gothic floppy is excellent. I'd forgotten how much I'd enjoyed this story in the prog and reading it all in one sitting was a treat. I wonder if it was planned as a 'book 1' as the story ends in such a way to make a sequel easy to do. I'd like to see more.

Overall a brilliant Meg.

Cover: not my cuppa, I'm afraid, Why is Jeremy Beadell jimping?

Dredd: Nicely done, and in answer to Trout: This story is for those of you who don't do Dickens, think of it as an educayshun.

Text:  not yet read the artist stuff as neither floats my boat, will get to the text story on my teabreak/bus ride...

Snapshot while great, it does take a looooong time to get to the point

Hondo-cit sticking with it

Letters page; ah didn't expect my whining about about inhouse adverts to appear, still no Paisley patter so I'm happy  :D

Quote from: Proudhuff on 18 June, 2012, 11:45:05 AM
Dredd: Nicely done, and in answer to Trout: This story is for those of you who don't do Dickens, think of it as an educayshun.

We don't need no educayshun.

Quote from: Proudhuff on 18 June, 2012, 11:45:05 AM

Letters page; ah didn't expect my whining about about inhouse adverts to appear, still no Paisley patter so I'm happy  :D

You're just like those Celtic supporters who hate Rangers more than they love their own club!

With regard to the Dredd Text story...

Mike- were you briefed to set this after Day Of Chaos or did it just happen that way?

Also there is a typo- If Dredd needs to get to the 30th floor and the closest road access is on the 20th, why did you say that they got out of the lift on the 20th, Surely should have been the 30th?

Mek quake awaits...

Quote from: Lee Bates on 18 June, 2012, 11:29:20 AM
Mike's Dredd text story is enjoyable but should have had SPOILER tags as it seems to be set well after the Day of Chaos storyline. It reveals that [spoiler]Dredd will survice (as if we thought he wouldn't) but also that Justice Department will not only survive but continue to function in the same way[/spoiler].

... unless Wagner decides something different and just ignores it!

Quote from: Bolt-01 on 18 June, 2012, 01:56:15 PM
With regard to the Dredd Text story...

Mike- were you briefed to set this after Day Of Chaos or did it just happen that way?

Also there is a typo- If Dredd needs to get to the 30th floor and the closest road access is on the 20th, why did you say that they got out of the lift on the 20th, Surely should have been the 30th?

Mek quake awaits...

heh, I noticed that, but was far too much of a gentleman to point it out  :D

Not a great Meg in my opinion, but maybe that's just in comparison with the Prog - the Hondo story and Sammy's Dad Squad are fun but lightweight romps, The main Dredd was the best, a nice twist on a litereary classic, but pales in comparison to what's happening in the Prog. I'm liking the idea of text stories instead of movie reviews, and this one from Mr carroll didn't dispappoint (apart from the proofreading, obvioulsy...). Snapshjot feels too much like the storyboard of a future movie than an actual comic, but it's cracking along a ta good pace and the artwork is sublime.

the floppy has been added to my endless to-read pile - can't remember very much about this from when it was originally run, but I do often enjoy them more as a single runthrough than I did, eg that Tiger sun one which didn't impress first time round, but i really enjoyed as a re-read.

Quote from: Buttonman on 18 June, 2012, 01:41:08 PM

Quote from: Proudhuff on 18 June, 2012, 11:45:05 AM

Letters page; ah didn't expect my whining about about inhouse adverts to appear, still no Paisley patter so I'm happy  :D

You're just like those Rangers supporters who hate celtic more than they love their own 3rd Div club!

FTFY  :D

Just because Michael Carroll writes a story set after Day of Chaos does not necessarily mean he knows how it will end, he may be as much in the dark about that as we are. Who is to say that Wagner had even finished writing it when MC was told about the spoilery bit in last prog?

I agree that there is a theme here which is worth following up after Day of Chaos ends.

BTW does anyone know which artist did the picture? Unusually there is no credit.

Quote from: Richard on 18 June, 2012, 03:16:30 PM

BTW does anyone know which artist did the picture? Unusually there is no credit.

It's an old Steve Dillon pic.

Argh!

Quote from: Bolt-01 on 18 June, 2012, 01:56:15 PM
With regard to the Dredd Text story...

Mike- were you briefed to set this after Day Of Chaos or did it just happen that way?

Sorry, not permitted to talk about anything regarding to Day of Chaos right now!

Argh!

Quote from: Bolt-01 on 18 June, 2012, 01:56:15 PM
Also there is a typo- If Dredd needs to get to the 30th floor and the closest road access is on the 20th, why did you say that they got out of the lift on the 20th, Surely should have been the 30th?

Mek quake awaits...

Ah... there's nothing a writer loves more than having people point out his stupid mistakes when it's far too late to do anything about them!   :-[

I shall add this one to my "D'oh!" collection of careless errors! Sorry about that...!

-- Mike

Mike- editorial shouold have spotted that for you.

QuoteIt's an old Steve Dillon pic.

Thanks Lee.

Quote from: Bolt-01 on 18 June, 2012, 04:11:53 PM
Mike- editorial shouold have spotted that for you.

Ahem. That sounds suspiciously like "blame the sub". I take issue with such an idea.

While I wish to pay tribute to Mike as one of my favourite writers, he is right. If a writer makes a mistake - even a little one like this - it's wrong to blame anyone else for it.

Buy Michael Carroll's new book!  :)

Quote from: Trout on 18 June, 2012, 05:11:37 PM

Ahem. That sounds suspiciously like "blame the sub". I take issue with such an idea.

While I wish to pay tribute to Mike as one of my favourite writers, he is right. If a writer makes a mistake - even a little one like this - it's wrong to blame anyone else for it.

Sometimes you are too close to a work to see the mistakes, it's part of the reason a work goes through someone else's hands before being published.

Quote from: Sedgendary on 18 June, 2012, 09:05:28 PM

Quote from: Trout on 18 June, 2012, 05:11:37 PM

Ahem. That sounds suspiciously like "blame the sub". I take issue with such an idea.

While I wish to pay tribute to Mike as one of my favourite writers, he is right. If a writer makes a mistake - even a little one like this - it's wrong to blame anyone else for it.

Sometimes you are too close to a work to see the mistakes, it's part of the reason a work goes through someone else's hands before being published.

That's what I do for a living.

I suspect Dredd is on his way to slap a parking ticket on that Lawmaster. Complete right-angle to the road markings.

Love it as a work of art though.

Quote from: Trout on 18 June, 2012, 09:07:31 PM

Quote from: Sedgendary on 18 June, 2012, 09:05:28 PM

Sometimes you are too close to a work to see the mistakes, it's part of the reason a work goes through someone else's hands before being published.

That's what I do for a living.

It's true, he works for The Cuorier.

Quote from: Dudley on 19 June, 2012, 10:17:14 AM

Quote from: Trout on 18 June, 2012, 09:07:31 PM

Quote from: Sedgendary on 18 June, 2012, 09:05:28 PM

Sometimes you are too close to a work to see the mistakes, it's part of the reason a work goes through someone else's hands before being published.

That's what I do for a living.

It's true, he visits The Cuorier each day.

FTFY

Quote from: Proudhuff on 19 June, 2012, 10:50:00 AM

Quote from: Dudley on 19 June, 2012, 10:17:14 AM

Quote from: Trout on 18 June, 2012, 09:07:31 PM

Quote from: Sedgendary on 18 June, 2012, 09:05:28 PM

Sometimes you are too close to a work to see the mistakes, it's part of the reason a work goes through someone else's hands before being published.

That's what I do for a living.

It's true, he occasionally visits The Cuorier.

FTFY

Cheers.

phones it in?  :D

Quote from: Proudhuff on 19 June, 2012, 11:05:22 AM
phones it in?  :D

Passes everything unseen and blames it on the writers, apparently.    :lol:

Quote from: Dudley on 19 June, 2012, 11:02:36 AM

Quote from: Proudhuff on 19 June, 2012, 10:50:00 AM

Quote from: Dudley on 19 June, 2012, 10:17:14 AM

Quote from: Trout on 18 June, 2012, 09:07:31 PM

Quote from: Sedgendary on 18 June, 2012, 09:05:28 PM

Sometimes you are too close to a work to see the mistakes, it's part of the reason a work goes through someone else's hands before being published.

That's what I do for a living.

It's true, he occasionally visits The Cuorier.

FTFY

Cheers.

Trouty - now spot the spelling mistake  :lol:

Got to say that although I thought Mike's text story was spot on, it should have had a massive "Spoiler" tag across it.

I would advise anyone who doesn't want potential Day Of Chaos spoilers to avoid it til another time. Do read it, though, cos it's aces.

Really quite annoyed about that story.Up to now we have no clue how things will pan out in Days Of Chaos, so why on earth would you run a story in the Meg that is POST Chaos Day!!?? There are lots of clues and indeed statements as to what WILL happen.NO spolilers ,nothing.Stupid.

I'm not remotely criticising Mike ,not his fault at all ,and the story was good.The timing was though ,was awful.

Running a story set post-chaos day that spoilers the outcome of said story would seem like a MASSIVELY silly thing to do. And it is for this reason that i dont for one minute believe it spoils anything. Mike's response above, and the mere fact that tharg aint no ninny, suggests something else going on here. Curious.

While i havent read the meg yet, i wanted to comment on the cover. It's no secret i think that, for the most part, meg covers are lousy- however good the art is. I think it's the design. But this- my grud, THIS- THIS is a thing of beauty. While the rest of you were squealing like a bunch of girls over ten seconds of dodgy cheese, ive been staring at this serpentine beast of lawmaster. I dont think ive ever seen it rendered so... growly... and waiting to be ridden. It's alive in that pic. Absolutely love it, and very glad tharg saw fit to print it on the back of the prog, textless, like a star scan of old. I may yet cut it out and stick it to my wall, like it's 1982. If i had one criticism (cont)

(cont) it would be that the eagle on the front looks bit flimsy- as if it would be prone to snapping at 400mph on the skedway. I always figured it to be more solid than that. But that's a minor thing. Top cover, and i hope the interior matches up. Ive read the letters, and am really upset the film reviews have gone! Didnt see that coming.

SBT

Yeah it does look like a real brute, doesn't it.

Chris Weston is managing somehow to get better and better. Saw some of his original artwork (and had a chat with him) at Kapow.

Quote from: The Cosh on 17 June, 2012, 01:04:08 PM

Quote from: Buttonman on 17 June, 2012, 12:58:04 PM
Can we get on with the important stuff and advise if there are any letters? Paisley gala day seemingly sufficent reason for the postman to not bother with deliveries it would seem.

It's an all-Colonial special. Goggans takes a pop at both Ezquerra & Holden. I didn't recognise the other two.

Could be an opportunity to explore the rich history of correspondence from the Commonwealth and beyond.

Stevie had the very first  letter printed in Revolver.

Beat that Paisley boy

Quote from: O Lucky Stevie! on 21 June, 2012, 07:33:05 AM

Quote from: The Cosh on 17 June, 2012, 01:04:08 PM

Quote from: Buttonman on 17 June, 2012, 12:58:04 PM
Can we get on with the important stuff and advise if there are any letters? Paisley gala day seemingly sufficent reason for the postman to not bother with deliveries it would seem.

It's an all-Colonial special. Goggans takes a pop at both Ezquerra & Holden. I didn't recognise the other two.

Could be an opportunity to explore the rich history of correspondence from the Commonwealth and beyond.

Stevie had the very first  letter printed in Revolver.

Beat that Paisley boy

Beat what? Some facile pretentious tosh spewed out for the benefit of the six readers of a defunct trashzine?

Ok then. I had this letter printed in Eagle in 1982:



Oh and 84 letters in the two best publications on the planet!

Any claims to Thargian glory Stevie?

Wow, that reply is... Staggering "yes, those horses came round and forced the riders on their backs, horses are very strong willed you know..."

Quote from: Buttonman on 21 June, 2012, 07:55:55 PM

Beat what? Some facile pretentious tosh spewed out for the benefit of the six readers of a defunct trashzine?

Ah, But Peter Hogan has worked with both Morrissey & Marr, Milligan & McCarthy so the man knows quality.

Quote from: Buttonman on 21 June, 2012, 07:55:55 PM

Ok then. I had this letter printed in Eagle in 1982:

A chap could set his clock everytime that piece of tat gets an airing.

Quote from: Buttonman on 21 June, 2012, 07:55:55 PM

Any claims to Thargian glory Stevie?

Absolutely & he has the David Hine Dredd Mug to prove it.


It'll be in your spirax & everything.

Back on topic, got to say that cover is the most exciting thing that Stevie's seen all year.

http://shop.2000adonline.com/products/judge_dredd_megazine_325

Great to know that The Mighty One is finally making the transition to in the meg.

Heralding the return of the legendary Eric Bradbury, no less.

That is Mek-Quake in Nemesis Book III level thrilling.

Do you refer to yourself in the third person when you're speaking as well Steve? Lee thinks that would make you sound like a right berk. Moreso than just typing it.

It gets right on Lee's nerves.

Quote from: O Lucky Stevie! on 22 June, 2012, 04:41:02 AM

Heralding the return of the legendary Eric Bradbury, no less.

Sorry I missed that, whats Eric Bradbury going to be working on?

Nothing, Eric Bradbury died in 2001 at the age of 75

Quote from: metcalfecarr on 22 June, 2012, 02:51:38 PM
Nothing, Eric Bradbury died in 2001 at the age of 75

Donc

Quote from: Link Prime on 22 June, 2012, 11:44:37 AM

Quote from: O Lucky Stevie! on 22 June, 2012, 04:41:02 AM

Heralding the return of the legendary Eric Bradbury, no less.

Sorry I missed that, whats Eric Bradbury going to be working on?

There was a mixup with the covers on the website - the shop was originally showing the cover for prog 325 (http://shop.2000adonline.com/images/index/progs/179x235/325.jpg) instead of Meg 325.

Quote from: a chosen rider on 22 June, 2012, 03:57:24 PM

Quote from: Link Prime on 22 June, 2012, 11:44:37 AM

Quote from: O Lucky Stevie! on 22 June, 2012, 04:41:02 AM

Heralding the return of the legendary Eric Bradbury, no less.

Sorry I missed that, whats Eric Bradbury going to be working on?

There was a mixup with the covers on the website - the shop was originally showing the cover for prog 325 (http://shop.2000adonline.com/images/index/progs/179x235/325.jpg) instead of Meg 325.

Cheers for the explanation Chosen.
I thought Stevie had finally lost (whats left of) it there for a minute...

Loved the text story and the Robbie Morrison / Dave Taylor Dredd. The Chris Weston interview was good stuff. As I haven't bought the Meg before can anyone advise me -  Do they usually tell you what's in next month's mini-graphic novel or is it a surprise each month?

I think most of the time they tell you, unless the strip needs the extra page-count.

Thanks for reminding me i hadnt commented on the content. I really, REALLY, enjoyed this month's Dredd strip- Great Expectations (the david lean film, not the book for grud's sake, im not tom baker!) is one of my favourite things, and this was an absolute hoot. Thanks to all concerned.

SBT

Just got digital copy. This is one of best Meg cover as it to my fave Akria poster!

Couldn't get further than page 3 of the posts on this Meg. I haven't read the Carroll story and the spoiler risk was just getting too great. So I've jumped to the end to say "Hi!"

PJ's Samizdat art and Snapshot are the highs for me. I do think Snapshot reads better in one go. So far at least!

And I really, really don't need Dickens meets Dredd. Sorry. Hopefully others like it though.

One of the better Meg covers this year. Nice bike detail.

Love the Dredd story. Wonderful art, great little touches in the dialogue - "You in the robo-pants" -, perfect pacing. The Dickens homage fits fine with me, and it's impressive how it doesn't feel at all strange transposing it into Dredd's world.

Snapshot was strong. One possible problem: the story has depended so much on WTF-grade mystery that now things are getting explained it might well run out of steam. It could easily degrade into a predictable action-adventure thing at this point, I hope it doesn't.

Samizdat was okay, Shimiru I'm reserving judgement on.

REALLY loved the floppy. American Gothic felt like something out of an old Eerie mag, but in a good way. I'm gonna have to check if they really had telescopic rifle sights in 1865, but the [spoiler]exploding cactus bombs[/spoiler] more than make up for any inaccuracies. 

Cover - Now that's lovely. The more I look at it, the more it grows on me. A

Dredd - Okay, this wins points for "Octo-pants".  Didn't really expect to enjoy this story with the Dicken schtick, but for the moment I'm on board with only minor reservations, probably mostly thanks to the beautiful art.  It's an unexpected stylistic choice for Dredd, but it really works for this story, and I wouldn't mind seeing more like this. B+

Samizdat Squad - Still loving the art and there's some good dialogue, but I've got to admit I'm not remembering the story very well from month to month.  Will have to reread this from the beginning when it's done.  Still, I'm enjoying it. B

Snapshot - After last month's nearly all-action chapter, this one goes heavily expositiony.  I'm sure the pacing will flow better in collected form, but in Meg-sized chunks it's a bit awkward.  Still solid stuff, but I'm losing interest a bit. B

Text Story - Not sure why this needed to be set after Day of Chaos, really; there's nothing in the plot that wouldn't work just as well set after Necropolis or Doomsday.  (Unless it's a cunningly planted red herring to lull us into a false sense of security...)  The first-person POV didn't really click for me for some reason, but it's a decent enough little tale. B

Hondo-City Justice - Still liking this. Plot's nothing special but it rattles along well enough with clean art and nice colouring, and having two female leads is a pleasant novelty.  Although their tiny waists are starting to bug me the more I look at them.  Overall, B+

Reprints:

American Gothic - Really liked this!  Nice little self-contained tale with lovely atmospheric art. Great stuff. B+

Terror Tales are both good too.  Have there been enough of those for a collection?  Might be neat to have themed Future Shock collections of these and the Time Twisters.

Overall, a very strong Meg with no weak links this month.

One quibble with the Dredd story, weird how he seems to have forgotten to pack his lie detector. Seeing a cit get away with fibbing to a Judge twice in one day is a little jarring. . .

maybe all those junked electronics lying around mess up the birdies?

I def. want to see more Dave Taylor in the mag and the prog. His work in this story has a hand-coloured look, it's a nice change from the more common flatter digital effect.


Just read the text story, pretty good. Can only assume that the major plot twists in Day of Chaos are done and dusted, otherwise printing this story at this point it times is a bit bizarre. A couple of lines of dialogue rang a little false - I can imagine Dredd grimly intoning "you better have a good reason for this, rookie," but not yelling it. Overall, though, a solid piece.

Dredd was the highpoint for me this month.
Enjoyed the interviews as always.
As mentioned previously, Snapshot seems more suited to American comic with its low panel count.
The other two seem... lightweight.
Haven't read the text story or floppy yet.

An easy read overall but not that memorable when compared to the heights the weekly is hitting

Quote from: Buttonman on 21 June, 2012, 07:55:55 PM

Quote from: O Lucky Stevie! on 21 June, 2012, 07:33:05 AM

Quote from: The Cosh on 17 June, 2012, 01:04:08 PM

Quote from: Buttonman on 17 June, 2012, 12:58:04 PM
Can we get on with the important stuff and advise if there are any letters? Paisley gala day seemingly sufficent reason for the postman to not bother with deliveries it would seem.

It's an all-Colonial special. Goggans takes a pop at both Ezquerra & Holden. I didn't recognise the other two.

Could be an opportunity to explore the rich history of correspondence from the Commonwealth and beyond.

Why was the response written by Walter the Wobot?
Stevie had the very first  letter printed in Revolver.

Beat that Paisley boy

Beat what? Some facile pretentious tosh spewed out for the benefit of the six readers of a defunct trashzine?

Ok then. I had this letter printed in Eagle in 1982:



Oh and 84 letters in the two best publications on the planet!

Any claims to Thargian glory Stevie?

Regarding the Dredd Text story.

Have we met Cadet Farez before?

Quote from: edo on 24 June, 2012, 10:40:27 PM
Regarding the Dredd Text story.

Have we met Cadet Farez before?

Mmm .. I don't think so, but then again I've got a memory like a...er.. what are those little orange fish called again?

Quote from: edo on 24 June, 2012, 10:40:27 PM
Regarding the Dredd Text story.

Have we met Cadet Farez before?

Yep: "Judge Dredd: In Control", prog 1717 (19 Jan 2011), script by me, art by Simon Fraser.

-- Mike

Told you! I'm rubbish.

Quote from: Dandontdare on 24 June, 2012, 10:49:37 PM

Quote from: edo on 24 June, 2012, 10:40:27 PM
Regarding the Dredd Text story.

Have we met Cadet Farez before?

Mmm .. I don't think so, but then again I've got a memory like a...er.. what are those little orange fish called again?

Sieves.

Fish fingers?

Quote from: Mike Carroll on 24 June, 2012, 11:13:44 PM

Quote from: edo on 24 June, 2012, 10:40:27 PM
Regarding the Dredd Text story.

Have we met Cadet Farez before?

Yep: "Judge Dredd: In Control", prog 1717 (19 Jan 2011), script by me, art by Simon Fraser.

-- Mike

I recognised the character straight off -that was a very good one off in 2000ad.I like it when minor characters like this are followed up and given more flesh so to speak.I do think we need more Judge characters (esp now more than a few have been killed off). Besides Anderson teaming up with Dredd again would be my first choice(it does seem strange not to hear a word about her with the Dark judges free), failing that would love to see psi Judge Karyn return ,I thought she was great...(hinty, hinty ;))

Great Executions - Great executions, ha ha ha ha.  :lol: I loved the Dickens/Dredd mashup. Given that Dickens was the John Wagner* of the Victorian era it seems right. Both write about perps and cits living in urban hellholes having adventures and facing impossible odds. Both can be angry and grim or amusing and affectionate and both are great at cliff hangers, having written in episodic publications for years.  So for both worlds to mesh seems quite amusing and makes me think about Mega City one and its inhabitants in a new way.

It was a cracking idea and a clever adaptation of various elements from Great Expectations from Robbie Morrison. Charlie is less of a passive snobbish little wanker** than Pip was too (so far). The Next Issue: The Suave Assassin has me hoping that Morrison is going to take a pop at Ian Fleming as well.

Dave Taylor does some really beautiful art too. I loved the pencilly/painty bits, the lovely faces and the muted colours. I shall be keeping more of an eye for him.

Samizdat Squad - I'm really enjoying this series. The current story will probably read better all at once but there's some great ideas and it was quite creepy this month. Art = fab. I love all those greys.

Snapshot - The story never really seems to take off and get weird. I'm not interested in a boring action movie. However the art is great and I wish I could make mine look that fresh. Jock may well agonise over the placement of every line but it looks full of energy and dash.

Hondo-City Justice - The story is a bit 'seen it all before' but the art is fine. The judge and her cadet aren't obnoxiously Barbied up although the cadet doesn't seem very young. I would love to see a story about a female criminal rising through the ranks and facing the same problems as Judge Inaba though.

Features: I love the interviews with artists as I often love the artists of yesteryear without knowing much about them. If David Hine ever reads this I will just say I was one of the readers who liked Tao de Moto a lot, not least because of his art.

The Greater Good was a bit confusing at I wasn't expecting it to be set when it is set but it wasn't a bad story once I got into it. I was surprised at how well a text story worked actually as the visuals are so important to the Dredd world.

I read all the Meg in one go which is unusual. I can't work out if that means it was better than normal or there was less to digest than normal. It feels peculiar.


*heh!
**No really, despite the main character being an idiot, the book's really funny and angry at social injustices with a damn fine plot.

And I forgot to say the floppy was great! I really love Westerns at the moment thanks to having overdosed on Deadwood and Hell on Wheels recently so a horror/western was right up my street.  Of course Westerns are a genre dear to the hearts of 2000AD creators even if they do whack future-judges, post-life gunslingers, dinosaurs or monsters into them too. Hurrah!

I hate Dave Taylor. He's so good I'm off to buy my first Batman book since The Killing Joke.

So glad to see him back in the 2000AD fold, time for more of his dead-judge stories with Edginton.

I like the angle used for the cover view of the bike, but the writing makes it seem like Dredd (or someone in the Justice dept bike maintenance crew) has parked it the wrong way.  Three months, creep!

Wow. This is the first time in... a year an a half that I've been up to date enough to comment on an issue without it looking like a necropost.

I just want to say - the cover, what a fcking dandy. Lovely stuff.

Also - the discussion about the text story - surely shouldn't be about spoilery but the half-arsed not-at-all-credited not-at-all-related old Steve Dillon picture attached to it. Not bad of course not, but - I mean. Aren't there "pin-up" shots even closely related to the story that aren't from the archive? JUST SAYING. 

After-rant: This is a minor niggle actually, this meg was a beaut. The gorgeous cover aside - no movie review nads - just two lovely interviews with relevant creators. Dave Taylor on a well-thought-out Dredd story,  some gurt lush Holden greywash (despite what Goggans thinks), some nice intrigue in Snapshot which is just the kind of widescreen thriller comix wot sell so well (and get turned into moving picatures and the like) but it's great seeing Diggle and Jock back. Hondo-Cit is a'ight. Colouring is a bit cock.

American Gothic was good - I remember reading it on my lunchbreaks when I used to work at MORRISONS (or Moribunds as my WAG of a father likes to say) way back when. Works better now, and although a bit disjointed is a bit of a neat yarn. The two Terror Tales are good though - that Dom Reardon one is a bloody treasure. Nice to see it again. That Ewing sure can write.

And although I'm not up-to-date enough to comment in the prog threads as yet. I will say. I liked Zaucer of Zilk. Suck it.

Quote from: CrazyFoxMachine on 02 July, 2012, 11:36:37 PM

Also - the discussion about the text story - surely shouldn't be about spoilery but the half-arsed not-at-all-credited not-at-all-related old Steve Dillon picture attached to it. Not bad of course not, but - I mean. Aren't there "pin-up" shots even closely related to the story that aren't from the archive? JUST SAYING. 

Yeah, much as I love Dillon, that pic's not exactly his finest hour. I'm guessing it's a very early piece, before he settled on his trademark skull-tight helmet.

Quote from: Syne on 03 July, 2012, 07:10:42 AM

Quote from: CrazyFoxMachine on 02 July, 2012, 11:36:37 PM

Also - the discussion about the text story - surely shouldn't be about spoilery but the half-arsed not-at-all-credited not-at-all-related old Steve Dillon picture attached to it. Not bad of course not, but - I mean. Aren't there "pin-up" shots even closely related to the story that aren't from the archive? JUST SAYING. 

Yeah, much as I love Dillon, that pic's not exactly his finest hour. I'm guessing it's a very early piece, before he settled on his trademark skull-tight helmet.

Reading through the case files, it becomes apparent that Dillon started off with the tight helmet, and then expanded it to the wide, samurai style seen it that pic, possibly influenced by Brendan McCarthy.

Quote from: Lee Bates on 03 July, 2012, 08:56:12 AM

Quote from: Syne on 03 July, 2012, 07:10:42 AM

Quote from: CrazyFoxMachine on 02 July, 2012, 11:36:37 PM

Also - the discussion about the text story - surely shouldn't be about spoilery but the half-arsed not-at-all-credited not-at-all-related old Steve Dillon picture attached to it. Not bad of course not, but - I mean. Aren't there "pin-up" shots even closely related to the story that aren't from the archive? JUST SAYING. 

Yeah, much as I love Dillon, that pic's not exactly his finest hour. I'm guessing it's a very early piece, before he settled on his trademark skull-tight helmet.

Reading through the case files, it becomes apparent that Dillon started off with the tight helmet, and then expanded it to the wide, samurai style seen it that pic, possibly influenced by Brendan McCarthy.

He was drawing the tight helmet in the early 90's when I quit the prog, did he go to the wide-style after that? Have to say I prefer the tight style for him.

and Michael's story is set during Chaos Day. Just seems lazy. He's even got a fcking Mark I lawgiver.

Quote from: CrazyFoxMachine on 02 July, 2012, 11:36:37 PM
but the half-arsed not-at-all-credited not-at-all-related old Steve Dillon picture attached to it.

To be fair he has written his name in big letters on it  :D

I thought it was some newbie art droid paying homage - 'specially given it doesn't say it properly anywhere.

Quote from: Lee Bates on 03 July, 2012, 08:56:12 AM
Reading through the case files, it becomes apparent that Dillon started off with the tight helmet, and then expanded it to the wide, samurai style seen it that pic, possibly influenced by Brendan McCarthy.

I don't think Steve ever managed to pull off the McCarthy sty;e helmet.I have the same problem, I could never get that flared style to work for me either. It's something in our art style that really doesn't lend itself to those more out there flourishes.

Quote from: a chosen rider on 23 June, 2012, 11:40:28 AM
the Dicken schtick

Hurrr!

M.

Quote from: pauljholden on 03 July, 2012, 07:48:51 PM

Quote from: Lee Bates on 03 July, 2012, 08:56:12 AM
Reading through the case files, it becomes apparent that Dillon started off with the tight helmet, and then expanded it to the wide, samurai style seen it that pic, possibly influenced by Brendan McCarthy.

I don't think Steve ever managed to pull off the McCarthy sty;e helmet.I have the same problem, I could never get that flared style to work for me either. It's something in our art style that really doesn't lend itself to those more out there flourishes.

Brendan's the only artist I can think of to make the flared style work.

I love Pete Doherty's art but in the 90's his Dredd helmet was flared to the point that it looked like he was balancing a wok on his head. He's got it out of his system now though.