2000 AD Online Forum

Dear God, Make It Stop!

This month's American Reaper is even more execrable than usual, with a pointless double-page title spread and SIX PAGES of talking heads that would make even Brian Michael Bendis weep.

They don't care for your opinions A.Cow - no Dreddlines once again!

I'll get my coat...

(In my haste to post my spleen-venting diatribe earlier, I forgot to mention how much I loved The Streets of Dan Francisco.  Quinn Martin block rules!)

They should of put reaper as the floppy might of read better that way

No prog but a meg? Ah well, it'll do. And screw me TSoDF is a bit fun. I like this already. :D

well its a kind of mixed old bag, a DRedd story that has a great payoff and Mr Burns' usual artwork, but the whole thing doesn't really fit in with MC1 as she stands now.

The advert for Prog is very 1990's wacky so is a bit worrying

The text stuff I'll read later, but DanFran is good but I'm hoping it has a short arc and not dragged out into a prolonged series, speaking of  AR it really has overstayed its welcome

Bob's twisted tale is another well done thang, but the best is last with Insurrection 3 firing all guns and going out in a blaze of glory... and still no letters page, I think we should take th ehint.

Thought the twisted tale was very good and the reaper file was the best think about American reaper since the story started maybe a case of what could of been

Sod it - this thread is now my nominated Dreddlines (although not eligible for Beast content)


I am writing out of hope rather than expectation of being read as we now have had 5 issues of The Judge Dredd Megazine without a 'Dreddlines' feature.

You have usually been far more reliable than 2000ad for showcasing the views of your readers and I have to say I'm disappointed that your move to a monthly schedule has coincided with the views of your readership being ignored.

I say 'ignored' but it could be that you simply have no letters to print. Personally I find this hard to believe but I must admit my own missives have gone missing, as the weeks without a letters page have dragged on. You have always turned the other cheek and printed both the bouquets and brickbats in equal measue so is it down to the new schedule? Or have the weeks without a Dreddlines convinced the readership that it's a thing of the past?

I can't believe in a world of 18 pages of 'American reaper' that no one is writing in so I'll say now that I'm resuming my letter writing protest by, er, writing in every week until the silent majority get a hearing at last! C'mon Dreddlines, make a showing - when it's balanced and well crafted it's the best page in the issue!

B'man

never mind not much love for the floppies, looks like not much lorve for the Megazine

I can't speak for 2000 AD or the Meg, but I imagine if there's no letters page, that probably mostly comes from there not being enough interesting letters. Most publications I write for have dramatically scaled back that aspect of the mag, purely on the basis of receiving fewer and fewer communications of that sort from readers.

A shame to see the art change styles in Insurrection - was this a time constraint thing I wonder? Bob Byrne's strip was lovely in colour. Haven't read TSoDF yet but looking forward to it. AR can bugger off.

Five strips, one interview and a short story? Almost a perfect issue. I'm especially pleased to see The Streets of Dan Francisco here. As the only surviving ex-Chief Judge, Francisco's story has the potential to be a genuinely original Dreddverse story. Exactly the kind of thing the Megazine was made for. Great art too.

A page or two of Dreddlines would be nice, but with this much good comic I'm already satisfied.

Great to see the Paul Marshall interview. A hugely underrated and underused Dredd artist imho.

Quote from: mygrimmbrother on 17 April, 2013, 01:06:36 AM
A shame to see the art change styles in Insurrection - was this a time constraint thing I wonder? Bob Byrne's strip was lovely in colour. Haven't read TSoDF yet but looking forward to it. AR can bugger off.

Oh dear. I'm really not happy with the change of style for Insurrection. I was really impressed with last months artwork - it elevated the strip to a whole other level, but looking at the artwork now, its devoid of that magic touch. Can someone from the Meg explain as to why this was the case? Was it - as stated already - to do with time constraint? Even so it's a damn shame.  :(

Quote from: Banners on 17 April, 2013, 08:33:39 AM
Great to see the Paul Marshall interview. A hugely underrated and underused Dredd artist imho.

Couldn't agree more Banners. Really love his Dredd.

I've just a couple of things to add at the minute: I really like American Reaper and think anyone who has any sort of problem with Insurrection needs their head seen to! It's that and Stickleback are top of the pops for me this weather. And I also enjoyed the Downlode Tales floppies over the last few months but haven't read the concluding part to the prose yarn yet.

M.

Haven't read the issue yet but can I just say that cover is absolutely amazing!
Looks like a 60s sci-fi/spy movie poster - absolutely brilliant - Arnaldo Putzu-like :thumbsup:

Yeah-forgot to mention how fantastic I thought the cover was-plus the Reaper Files mini strip.

I couldn't make head or tail of American Reaper this month but the case file was good.

I don't mind which style Colin McNeil chooses for his art as I like them all very much for different reasons.

The other stories were very good indeed - good art and writing all round. I really enjoyed reading the interview with Paul Marshall who is a fantastic artist and the short story made me giggle!

Quote from: staticgirl on 20 April, 2013, 08:25:29 PM
I couldn't make head or tail of American Reaper this month but the case file was good.

I don't mind which style Colin McNeil chooses for his art as I like them all very much for different reasons.

The other stories were very good indeed - good art and writing all round. I really enjoyed reading the interview with Paul Marshall who is a fantastic artist and the short story made me giggle!

Same here. I feel i gotta read it again to understand what the hell was going on. The case file was superb though,  Fay Dalton's artwork was amazing.

I must say my favourite strip in the Meg was a wordless one; John Byrne's Twisted Tales which was absolutely fantastic! Heart melting stuff indeed!  :D

Pretty good. Dredd story was particualrly well done IMHO. Dan Francisco is roaring along nicely like a lawmaster pursuing a perp to destruction!!!!!   :-\ Um, I think I;ve killed the analogy. Anyway good fun in Insurrection I'm a big fan of b&w art so the style change didn't really impact me much. In fact I thought it was lovely.

Quote from: Mabs on 20 April, 2013, 09:08:34 PM

Quote from: staticgirl on 20 April, 2013, 08:25:29 PM
I couldn't make head or tail of American Reaper this month but the case file was good.

I don't mind which style Colin McNeil chooses for his art as I like them all very much for different reasons.

The other stories were very good indeed - good art and writing all round. I really enjoyed reading the interview with Paul Marshall who is a fantastic artist and the short story made me giggle!

Same here. I feel i gotta read it again to understand what the hell was going on. The case file was superb though,  Fay Dalton's artwork was amazing.

I must say my favourite strip in the Meg was a wordless one; John Byrne's Twisted Tales which was absolutely fantastic! Heart melting stuff indeed!  :D

I do think that American Reaper could be a good story and I don't mind the artistic style but with each Meg it gets a little more confusing.  This months episode was very confusing and for the first time I thought 'this could do with a few more pages to fill out the story'.  Also, each episode doesn't really flow to the next - I have no idea where this story is going.

The twisted tale was fantastic and we probably all thought the same thing when they took his teddy - b*stards!

Insurrection - I don't mind the new style for this but aftwerwards I was thinking - perhaps it was more intentional than saving time.  The 'softer' style last month to reflect the beauty of the colony and now the 'darker' style as things have 'kicked off'?

Quote from: Mabs on 18 April, 2013, 11:04:44 AM

Quote from: mygrimmbrother on 17 April, 2013, 01:06:36 AM
A shame to see the art change styles in Insurrection - was this a time constraint thing I wonder? Bob Byrne's strip was lovely in colour. Haven't read TSoDF yet but looking forward to it. AR can bugger off.

Oh dear. I'm really not happy with the change of style for Insurrection. I was really impressed with last months artwork - it elevated the strip to a whole other level, but looking at the artwork now, its devoid of that magic touch. Can someone from the Meg explain as to why this was the case? Was it - as stated already - to do with time constraint? Even so it's a damn shame.  :(

Glad to say I never noticed any change was so caught up in the story, will have to go back and see what the fuss is about.

Quote from: Recrewt on 23 April, 2013, 01:26:10 PM

Insurrection - I don't mind the new style for this but aftwerwards I was thinking - perhaps it was more intentional than saving time.  The 'softer' style last month to reflect the beauty of the colony and now the 'darker' style as things have 'kicked off'?

I was just wondering, what style was the previous two series in? Was it the soft style or the more 'clear' style? Or both? I think that could be a good indication of whether it was just a stylistic choice or one based on saving time for the recent change. I don't unlike it,  but the opener was more beautiful to behold and evocative of MacNeil's work for America.

Errr don't know, sorry - I have only recently been getting the Meg so I have not read the previous series! Anyone else?

Also, after re-reading my post 'I don't mind the new style' was a spectaculer understatement on my part as both styles have been some of the finest art in the Meg of late!

The previous instalments in Insurrection where with MacNeil's trade "Marbled Effect" as seen in last months meg.

Well, I have to say that I'm finding the Meg far superior to the prog at the moment.  Other than Stickleback (which I like for the art) there's not much for me in the prog - but I really do think that the Meg is on top form at the moment.

The sheer variety of styles on offer is in itself a delight.

Dredd - really enjoyed this one-off - nice to see John Burns back on Dredd, and Michael Carroll has been writing some cracking Dredds of late.  Wagner's on a break, GRennie seems to have lost his touch since he took his long break, and the Robs have never really clicked for me when writing Dredd - but Michael Carroll on Dredd doesn't seem to disappoint.   

Interrogation - enjoyable enough as filler.

Dan Fransisco - what a splash page!  As for the story, it depends where things go from here - Francisco is a complex character who has been through a lot - and mixing action with character-based drama could be a winning mix.  Just hope they don't turn Dan into another one-dimensional judge and actually do something interesting with him - the political undertones could be very interesting.

American Reaper - Nice centre page splash.  Once you get past Pat's expositionary dialogue (not as cringeworthy as usual) and the usual exagerrated facial expressions there's a summer blockbuster in there somewhere.  Not only that, but it's short which also allows us to have...

Tipping Point - Cracking art by Fay and a nice little story.

Twisted Tales - always been a fan of these...just wonder how far Bob can take the whole "tiny creature" idea.  Nice art, and following Reaper it really reinforces that you don't need to "say" when you can just "show".

Going Wheely - I like these short stories - far better use of space than reviews, and this one is pretty good.

These alone would be worth the money, but then to finish off with -

Insurrection - a real gem...the first series was probably the most enjoyable thing for in the meg me for many years, and although sequels never quite reach the same heights, the two following series are still hitting a pretty high bar.


And then I realise there's also the bagged collection - haven't read this yet, but nice to have yet something else in the package:)

Was the new style on Insurrection not to do with having someone else doing the greytones this time around? Maybe MacNeil had to ink heavier to guide the tone artist - just a thought. (I don't have it to hand so forgive me for not using his name)

Quote from: Daveycandlish on 25 April, 2013, 05:36:15 PM
Was the new style on Insurrection not to do with having someone else doing the greytones this time around? Maybe MacNeil had to ink heavier to guide the tone artist - just a thought. (I don't have it to hand so forgive me for not using his name)

John-Paul Bove is credited with doing the Greytones.

Reaper is a good story but the way it's been done it's not right atall.

I still liked Reaper. For what it's worth.

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk 2

Quote from: sheldipez on 02 May, 2013, 10:16:52 PM
I still liked Reaper. For what it's worth.

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk 2

I like the idea of Reaper and upto this month's Meg I was happy with it but it seems to have hit a wall!  The recent episode was confusing and I wasn't even sure at one point if we were in the same location that it started in?

Quote from: sheldipez on 02 May, 2013, 10:16:52 PM
I still liked Reaper. For what it's worth.

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk 2

I didn't

Sent from my PC using my fingers

Quote from: Dandontdare on 03 May, 2013, 11:05:17 PM


Sent from my PC using my fingers

:lol: :lol: :lol:

American Reaper.  I would comment on this months instalment specifically, except I gave up reading it last month.  I've been buying 2000ad since about '86, and the magazine since it began.  I've managed to get hold of all the back issues and read them all too.  This means I have read some pretty damn poor strips and series over the years, and unfortunately, here's another.

Story wise, ok, body-snatchers of the future.  Fair enough, but it's just so DULL. I've noted folk have said they couldn't follow it, and I'm not surprised.  It's not cause it's overly complex, it's because (IMO) it fails to engage the reader, both in dialogue and layout.  Then there's the artwork.  Perhaps Clint Langley has done a better job of his photo-strip, but I'm still put in mind of Tony Luke's piss poor work on Nemesis many moons ago.  Photo-strips (Even computer enhanced ones) we really don't need.  He doesn't appear to be the only one to use pictures as part of the process in producing his work of course, both Arthur Ranson and Dan Abnett's work look almost like they have traced photo's then worked over the top of them.  Not a new technique by any means, but at least their work fits in the tone of a comic.

If I wanted photo stories, I'd go buy some back issues of 'Jackie' magazine.  I know I'm not the only one who doesn't like the strip, but equally I appreciate there will be those who like it.  I simply wish to chuck my penny in the well and wish for it to go away. ;) 

Quote from: Ghost MacRoth
...both Arthur Ranson and Dan Abnett's work...

Do you mean Simon Davis?

Damn, mixing up my Sinister Dexter artists......yeah him! 

ransons a god compared to some stuff i see.

needed to break into a tenner today and pondered getting the meg, i liked the abnett & davies's work on downlode tales last month and the idea of getting a whole book of it was enticing as was fay daltons art which improved upon clint langleys stuff by a country mile.Didn't get the meg.

bought the prog a couple of days prior, Holdens stuff was great, flints work was good, the rest was so-so

really not loving current 2000ad stuff as i thought i would when i first got into it a couple of years ago (because of DREDD) I ahve to throughly research old storylines and find them on ebay/amazon just to get a story i like from creative teams i like.find find gems at boot sales like this.


the only thing that makes me enjoy 2000ad is is forum community which is strange as i couldn't give a damn about some marvel forum yet I adore the comics.

and I think there is a reason that some otherworldy force stops me from putting my art submission in the post.

thats my rant

final word:

megazine=meh 2000ad in general, get with the times

Quote from: Ghost MacRoth on 08 May, 2013, 10:59:38 PM
Damn, mixing up my Sinister Dexter artists......yeah him!

Dan Abnett's the writer of Sinister Dexter, not an artist.

Meh, like I say...memory ain't what it was! 


Or is it?.....I can't recall.....

From what I've seen of the artwork in previous Insurrections, the greytones were all hand- done with ink washes by Colin himself, giving it a more textured, gritty, 'visceral' sort of look which (IMO) really raised the bar on the art in a big way. The latest series seems to be standard issue greytone blurs along with the linework which (IMO) lack entirely the 'visceral' properties of the hand painted tones- almost like a sort of homogenised effect which I don't think adds to the linework in anything like the same way as the hand painted stuff. It's not that it's badly done or anything- it just doesn't really do anything particularly interesting.

American Reaper... yeah, I stopped bothering with this long ago- pages and pages of 3d model/ photo-shopped mates' talking heads, odd angles that leave you wondering what the picture actually is and a story that just goes on and on and on and never seems to go anywhere it hasn't already been (or, at least, not at any measurable pace). Sure, there's an interesting story premise there, just... you know... DO something with it, cos atm it's terminally dull. I liked Clint Langley's (relatively) recent B&W work on ABC Warriors- wish he'd do that more often- it was great.

Not a fan of silent comics- flipped past Bob Byrne's with barely a second look. Dan Francisco was great though. Overall the line up seems to be needing freshening up a bit- Insurrection helps, but for God's sake- if you won't drop AR, at least give us a little break.

Agree with comments about Fey Dalton's art- really liked that, more from Fey would be a welcome addition. Both the Meg and Prog recently, for me, have been on an uncharactaristic convergance of slumps- normally it's one or the other, but recently I've been finding both a bit heavy weather- it'll pass.

Judge Dredd Megazine #335

A superb cover by Fay Dalton. Very reminiscent of spy/action movie posters. I think the cover would've looked better without the Reaper file art at the bottom, it takes some of the coolness away from the main picture. But thats just my view of course.

Judge Dredd - Shotgun by Mike Carroll (script) John Burns (art) and Annie Parkhouse (letters)

John Burns is fast becoming one of my favourite artists on 2000AD/ Judge Dredd Megazine. His linework and watercolour technique is so darn beautiful - not to mention very special aswell. The story by Mike Carroll was a nice one too involving a bank robbery by a woman who's seemingly at the end of her tethers in terms of financial hardship and having to support her family after the Chaos bug devestation. The story had a nice twist at the end which i genuinely did not see coming.

Bob Byrne's Twisted Tales

This Twisted Tale from Byrne's was absolutely brilliant! Wordless yet articulate thanks to Byrne's superbly illustrated panels; it involves a convict and a teddy bear and their heart warming relationship in the face of opression from the prison doctors and guards. It was both funny and heart warming, one of the best of the Twisted Tales up till now and the highlight of this months Megazine in my view.

The Streets Of Dan Fransico Part One by Arthur Wyatt (Script), Paul Marshall (Art), Chris Bythe (Colours) and Elle De Ville (Letters)

I'm only a little familar with the character of Dan Fransico. I think i encountered him last in the 'Mega City Justice' TPB. He's a very interesting character though and this new series was a great read, as our vid-star Judge goes back on the streets to dish out justice - live. He comes up against looters and juves - but its clear later on that that's half the problem because the 'Dune Sharks' have come-a-calling.

I really enjoyed this opening story, sure it's only getting started but i feel its been set up pretty well. And the artwork by Paul Marshall is just plain awesome - especially the double page spread at the start. That was...something. In fact if I hadn't of turned the page over when I did i'm pretty certain my eyes would have leapt out of their sockets! Superb stuff.

American Reaper II Part Four by Pat Mills (Script), Clint Langley & Fay Dalton (Art)

I've been a fan of American Reaper since the start of the series, i've found it exciting and the premise was very interesting. Hell I even thought the artwork was cool, something different at least. But reading this months instalment...it just lost me a couple of pages in. Yes it was bloody boring, I'm sorry to say, but thankfully the Reaper File which followed was anything but. Although brief at a mere two pages it was beautifully illustrated by Fay Dalton. Absolutely mesmerising to say the least. And a very enjoyable short story or case file to boot. Those two pages were better than the whole of the eight pages which preceeded it in my opinon.

Insurrection III Part Two by Dan Abnett (script), Colin MacNeil (Art), Jean-Paul Bove (Greytone) and Simon Bowland (Letters)

A lot of discussion on the forum regarding the change in style of the artwork. While I am a massive fan of MacNeil's 'soft style' I also love his 'normal' stuff too (by 'normal' I mean extraordinary; Colin MacNeil's art is still special no matter what technique is used). My qualm was the fact the stylistic change took place mid-story and also that i missed the 'dreamy' feel of the opening episode (I described it as if 'my soul had ascended to Zarjaz heaven' in my review for it!) but since Colin so kindly took the time to address the reasons for his change, I will not delve on the matter any further.

The story was very exciting, akin to a storm after the relative calmness of the first episode. MacNeil's gorgeous black and white artwork helped to convey a sense of high octane drama in the midst of war. It was also quite astonishing to see how effective the explosion scenes were without colour and the last panel/page was excellent. Great stuff.

As for the features; Interrogation was a joy to read because our interviewee was none other than Paul Marshall. It was great to learn about his influences and his love of other comic strips. Some of Marshall's work on show was a pleasure to see. Going Wheely (Part Two) - the short story by T.C Eglington was also an enjoyable read.

So all in all a really fun Meg - Twisted Tales and Judge Dredd being my favourite, but the others also being very good. I've yet to read the floppy (Downlode Tales Vol. 3), so I'll forward my thoughts on it later.

4/5

For anyone who's not seen the Meg 336 topic, Colin himself weighs in regarding the changes in his artwork (http://forums.2000adonline.com/index.php/topic,38533.15.html).

Great review Mabs, I do enjoy enjoy reading these. 

I see a few people have said they liked the Dredd story but for some reason I just didn't like it at all.  Highlights of the Meg for me were Dan Fancisco and Insurrection.  Also, agree that the text parts (interrogation and going wheely) were really good.  I love that they do this in the Meg and it's one of the few things it has over the Prog!

Thanks Recrewt! And you're right about the features; some really insightful and genuinely interesting articles and interviews. This months Meg we have  Luke Skywalker getting interrogated! As a Star Wars fan I went ape shit when I saw that!  :lol: