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I agree with those who argue that this story is way too light to be his last. There's some good elements in the mix but the two basic problems are that 1) Teague seems to be domainting Goodard's pencils so the Hitch like bigness/scale of their previous collaborations is being lost and 2) for the whole plot to work Chopper has to act like an idiot.

Will

Ah my awful spelling returns once more to haunt me. In my defence I had been sat at my computer for nigh on 5 1/2 hours getting these two reviews done so even my very limited proof reading skills were tested.

Thanks for the good feedback.

Will

It can be a bit tempermental although across all sections there are enought good writers to make it worthwhile..plus the pop ups aren't nearly as annoying as some American websites.

Still each to their, of course I won't take offence I hate the bastards myself (the pop ups that is).

Will

My review of the complete run of Big Dave is up over at 411mania.

All feedback appericated and sought

Will

Link: http://www.411mania.com/comics/reviews/article.php?reviews_id=3445" target="_blank">Grant Morrison and Mark Millar before they were fa

If think the idea is that it shows the violence and hatred that the frontline Judges have for dems (and remember this would have been in the aftermath of the Grice plot against the "moderate" Dredd). The fact that she was already dying just underscored the pointlessness and unjustified nature of the shots. Also the idea of America, fatally woundered desperately trying to fly her flag whilst her enemies take pot shots my in some minds have metaphorical potency.

Will

By that statement I meant that I'm not inflating my opinion of the comic to hook the reader into the review this is what I actually think.

And I stand by it as being the greatest comic story just because it excels in three very distinctive mature-comics genres-franchise character deconstruction, personal/character stories and political analysis plus it has fantastic art.

In addition and I think I forgot to mention this in the review but if you compare this as Wagner's statement on Dredd with what Miller does with Batman in DKR you see how good the writing is. To deliever the definite statement on Batman Miller relies on a lot of crutches or props from the character's history i.e. Two-Face, Joker, Catwoman, Robin and so forth to add to the story the resonance that he wants it to possess. Wagner manages to deliever an even more powerful summary of the essence of Dredd and his world without resorting to the use of any of Dredd's established background cast. To me that's extremely impressive.

Will

Yeah that's a bad typo, I really do proof read but its difficult to proof read your own work esp. on computer and as I have no copy editor/mates who are into comics I fear that typos are going to continue.

I didn't mention Craddock's colouring because I didn't review the sequel. I had orignally planned to review the whole tpb but it was 2,600 words and 8.30 at night and I needed to do Big Dave as well ( I was two days past the deadline to boot) when I finished saying what I had to about America so I changed the review to just America. Personally whilst the colouring is awful and I wished they'd done it as line art or better yet get MacNeil to paint it the story itself is still good and I'd personally pay 20quid for America on its own.

Thanks for the positive feedback, glad you liked it.

Will

Its very, very close to being a worthy sequel but MacNeil decison not to paint it and then thet DIRE colouring kind of lessens the impacts. Extremely frustrating as you can just see the classic underneath the day-glow colouring with Wagner developing (from a slightly less promising premise) quite a moving and thoughtful story with the ending being a clever way to deliever a happy, constructive ending. In addition its a natural sequel (unlike say DKR2) in that it does work with the conventions of the original and maintains a similar tone. Its just a shame that the colouring lets it down especially as in parts you can really see MacNeil's linework as being even better than in America.

Glad you like the review and thanks for the feedback.

Will

Just thought I mention that my review of the masterful America is up over at 411mania. Hope you like it.

All feedback appericated and sought

Will

Link: http://www.411mania.com/comics/reviews/article.php?reviews_id=3443" target="_blank">The Greatest Comic Story Ever

I agree although I'm a bit of cheerleader for him. Also I don't think he views them as negative as UKdane assumes for example earlier in the thread he says that he'd never work on Dredd as Wagner's boots are too big to fill. I think what he says about their lack of range is probably true but for different reasons. In Wagner's case its because he's just there week in week on the same character so unlike an Alan Moore he doesn't get the opportunity to majestic, novel type comic stories. With Mills its more his utilitarian approach to comics as a soap box that stops him devoting himself to all but a select through projects.

Will

Just thought I mention that my review of the masterful America is up over at 411mania. Hope you like it.

All feedback appericated and sought

Will

Link: http://www.411mania.com/comics/reviews/article.php?reviews_id=3443" target="_blank">The Greatest Comic Story Ever

Over at Millarworld Warren Ellis is doing a big Q&A and being the 2000AD obsessed sun of a gun I am I asked about his opinion on Wagner and Mills. Here's what he says:

"John's untouchable, when he's on his game. When he's not... he's not someone who has much territory between "brilliant" and "just kind of laying there". Black comedy, he can do. Broad comedy, not so much. In my opinion, anyway. He's similar to Pat Mills in that he doesn't have, or at least hasn't really shown, much of a range. When Pat is focussed and working on something that raises his ire, he's fucking brilliant. When Pat's not focussed, his thinking visibly gets pretty sloppy. If Pat Mills had been able to concentrate on short work, everyone in this room would know his name and own his books."

Thoughts?

Will

Basically my family were Thatcher's children; both first generation tory voters from council houses who during the eighties managed to successfully establish their own business and prosper. That's left me a preference towards the freer market (I'm a conservative not a liberitain so I do want some regulation) and the state not over-regulating or over-supporting a person as either way stops success. As for what I believe I basically wanted to extend the Thatcherite revolution away from the private sector to the public sector and social issues-more freedom for the consumer when using public services and more freedom for the indiviual to live their life the way they see fit.

I would explain how this fits in with conservativism but I need to make a phone call.

Will

Ignore that post-I was attempting to portray my attitude in a glib/satiric manner (of old fashioned homophobes) and it kinda missfired.

As for Tory Homophobia-well it exists still with Kent council bringing forth their own version of Section 28 (although perhaps it seems worse as I focus almost as much on American politics through Fox as British) but its basically the lack of any credible pro-gay rights tories. Most who are moderate on the issue are either crazed libertains like Alan Duncan with the asinine suggestions to extend civil partnerships to non-sexual relationships i.e. siblings or memembers of the Blairite fringe like Portillo or Maude.

I don't equate conservativism with homophobia but a significant element of the Conservative and Republican Parties. There have been improvements since the eighties but there still lacks a real understanding of the desire of gay and bisexual people to be open about who they are and properly incorparate that into a comprehensive Tory policy.

Will

Bascially the argument's a fig-leaf. I'm bi-sexual and hate homophobia yet I passionately believe in most of the tenants of conservativism. So I'm basically clingling on and holding my nose for now in the hope that by the time my generation is in power (say 20-25years) they'll be a more gay-friendly conservativism. Its not big and its not clever but I lost my religion through my sexuality, could loose a lot my friends and family when I come out so I'm bloody well not going loose the political ideology I've believed in for the past 12 years because of it.

Will