Prog 1617 - With Extreme Prejudice

Pop Culture Bandit · 03 January, 2009, 07:56:03 PM

Walked into my local WH Smiths today and was surprised to find two copies of the new Prog out on the shelf. Without pausing, I picked up the less creased copy and went to the till.

Reading it excitedly and half expecting to come online and see a thread already for it, I was surprised to see there wasn't. Am I the only person who has gotten their hands on the prog this early?

Anyway, Reviews:

Cover: I think this might be a homage to the Terminator. (Possibly a theatrical poster of the movie). Could be wrong though. It's not bad and it's unusual to have no borders around the title. It just kinda bleeds into the image. Not bad but nothing particularly striking.

Nerve Center - Looking forward to more Dante (I'm thinking this year might be the last), Cradlegrave looks intriguing from the previous image I saw (must be back in Prog 2008) and Zombo could be fun (Last promo'd in Prog 2009). Not sure if the promo for 'Necrophim' is Megazine or 2000ad, but it's good to see Tony Lee writing more stories after Stalag 666. This one looks like it has a more serious, less (prison) camp vibe to it...

Judge Dredd: Good start to a multi-parter. I'm not up on my Dredd history so I don't know if the [spoiler]seemingly immortal[/spoiler] character is a recurring one or not, but they seemed to be a force that even Dredd might have trouble with. Also I'm curious as to the contents of the box and whether it will be linked to the parade. 5/5

Greysuit: Didn't read the first series of this so all the references to the past are lost on me. I get that he is some kind of bionic man, but the complexities of it don't make any sense to me. No idea why there was [spoiler]people dressed up as the Mad Hatter and Nelson?[/spoiler] Also, was the character at the end meant to be some big relevation? Not quite sure about this one... 2/5

Maruader: Nice storytelling although I get the feeling that despite it being a new strip, there is some past reading I should catch up on with this one. Has this cadet been in any other Dredd stories before now? 4/5

Red Seas: Loved the character designs on the new creatures, especially [spoiler]the guy with a face in his stomach.[/spoiler] Glad it looks like these creatures will be in the next part. They were excellent visuals! The story seems to be plodding at a decent pace and the fantasy setting contrasts well with the rest of the Prog. 3/5

Strontium Dog: Another great cliff-hanger and wisely the cliff-hangers aren't reliant on Johnny's Fate (since it is a flashback) but on characters we have no knowledge of the future with. [spoiler]I'd be surprised if the girl does actually detonate her bomb, but there's always the chance she might...[/spoiler] Great plot, looking forward to the next episode. 5/5

Best of Prog: Strontium Dog.

The Downside to getting the Prog this early means that I have to wait longer for the next one! Darnit!

Dandontdare · 03 January, 2009, 11:59:13 PM

What!...the prog's in WH Smith before subscribers get a sniff? That's just wrong - I'm jonesing for a prog after the Xmas break!

Mardroid · 04 January, 2009, 12:01:30 AM

I'm kinda surprised W H Smith got it this early. I was hoping for it today, but I wasn't that surprised when it didn't arrive, what with it still being close to Christmas/New Year etc.

Grey Suit bionic? Heh, I totally see why a new reader might think that. [spoiler]If I understand correctly, his abilities are based on harnessing adrenaline based on fight and flight response. That's why they go on about phobias etc, I.e. he was actually intentionally exposed to his phobias to trigger the response. Bionics or genetic engineering would be more believable though. (I think there is a bit of the latter going on though particularly with some of the other agents with special powers. I'm not sure what's going on with the pale eyes either.) Adrenaline can increase your strength but only for a limited period, and hardly to that extent.[/spoiler]

Dandontdare · 04 January, 2009, 12:08:51 AM

Quote from: "Mardroid"I'm kinda surprised W H Smith got it this early. I was hoping for it today, but I wasn't that surprised when it didn't arrive, what with it still being close to Christmas/New Year etc.

Grey Suit bionic? Heh, I totally see why a new reader might think that. [spoiler]If I understand correctly, his abilities are based on harnessing adrenaline based on fight and flight response. That's why they go on about phobias etc, I.e. he was actually intentionally exposed to his phobias to trigger the response. Bionics or genetic engineering would be more believable though. (I think there is a bit of the latter going on though particularly with some of the other agents with special powers. I'm not sure what's going on with the pale eyes either.) Adrenaline can increase your strength but only for a limited period, and hardly to that extent.[/spoiler]

I distinctly remember the first time I ever heard the word "adrenaline" - it was when the enemies of the bionic woman had concentrated it into a kind of pink chewing gum that gave people super strength - nice to see it's still being used for sci-fi bollox well into the 21st century!

flesario · 04 January, 2009, 10:27:58 AM

I frequently pick up the prog on a Sunday in WH Smiths at Liverpool Street station in London, but never on a Sat.

Buttonman · 05 January, 2009, 05:04:44 PM

No Prog in Paisley - Bah just what I didn't need to cope with the onset of the 2009 diet.

No mention of the new Megazine anywhere - it is Meg week too isn't it?

I, Cosh · 06 January, 2009, 12:01:23 AM

Yep, today should've been a double whammy but it turned out to be a real damp squib with only a phone bill reminder waiting on my doorstep.

Tiplodocus · 06 January, 2009, 12:17:13 AM

My subs are about to run out and I think I'll just have to give up and buy it from WH SMITHS because I don't think I can afford the lump sum at the moment.

Cosh, I'm moving out to the Gyle shortly (closing Edi House). Is that where you are or are you at Gogarburn?

Mardroid · 06 January, 2009, 01:52:43 AM

Quote from: "Tiplodocus"My subs are about to run out and I think I'll just have to give up and buy it from WH SMITHS because I don't think I can afford the lump sum at the moment.

Cosh, I'm moving out to the Gyle shortly (closing Edi House). Is that where you are or are you at Gogarburn?

I'm pretty sure my subs has been and gone. They didn't notify me though (no that it's a big deal, I'd have renewed it.) I pay monthly though, so maybe the system is different there. (I.e. do they keep sending them until you notify them to cancel, if you so choose?)

I didn't receive mine today either. I had hopes it'd arrive considering the early arrival of W H Smiths mentioned above... but never mind. As long as it arrives by Wednesday.

worldshown · 06 January, 2009, 10:44:56 AM

No sign of my prog yet either and the postie has just been.

Arkwright99 · 06 January, 2009, 01:34:21 PM

I assume there's been some sort of hold-up in posting out the subs copies this week because the latest prog has turned up in the local newsagents a day early but not in my letterbox sadly.

Proudhuff · 06 January, 2009, 03:05:11 PM

Quote from: "Tiplodocus"I'm moving out to the Gyle shortly

Tips you poor thing, I spent about 5 years oot there, it really is the most depressing place, as is the getting to and from it.
I would suggest a bike along the Canal tow path rather than the germsoup/fug that infests the No 30 bus, can't speak about the train as the station opened the week after I left.

The wind and rain always seems to come horizontally and the smell is from the Biscuit Factory if your lucky, but must days it brings the smell of the Chicken and Pig sheds which are just to the west over the bypass.

The Ritz can be okay of a Friday lunchtime or Monday one even! but expensive, while the cheaper Starwars Cantana upstairs in the Gyle exemplifies Scottish hospitality at its best.

The Cottars (sp) at Sighthill is passable at lunchtime if you can coral a designated driver to take and return you to it.

You may think the shopping is good until you try and locate something useful, or a pair of shoes that aren't trainers or clowns shoes, on a positive note the M&S store is the dumping ground for all the odd sizes that all the other M&S's can't sell .

you really do have my sympathy, this has been a public service Huffcast.

and no I haven't got my 2k yet either

Mardroid · 06 January, 2009, 03:44:31 PM

Sigh. Looks like Wednesday it is then.

Matt Timson · 06 January, 2009, 03:54:47 PM

Quote from: "dandontdare"
Quote from: "Mardroid"I'm kinda surprised W H Smith got it this early. I was hoping for it today, but I wasn't that surprised when it didn't arrive, what with it still being close to Christmas/New Year etc.

Grey Suit bionic? Heh, I totally see why a new reader might think that. [spoiler]If I understand correctly, his abilities are based on harnessing adrenaline based on fight and flight response. That's why they go on about phobias etc, I.e. he was actually intentionally exposed to his phobias to trigger the response. Bionics or genetic engineering would be more believable though. (I think there is a bit of the latter going on though particularly with some of the other agents with special powers. I'm not sure what's going on with the pale eyes either.) Adrenaline can increase your strength but only for a limited period, and hardly to that extent.[/spoiler]

I distinctly remember the first time I ever heard the word "adrenaline" - it was when the enemies of the bionic woman had concentrated it into a kind of pink chewing gum that gave people super strength - nice to see it's still being used for sci-fi bollox well into the 21st century!

Adrenalazine. Actually.

8-)

I, Cosh · 06 January, 2009, 08:02:01 PM

Quote from: "Tiplodocus"My subs are about to run out and I think I'll just have to give up and buy it from WH SMITHS because I don't think I can afford the lump sum at the moment.

Cosh, I'm moving out to the Gyle shortly (closing Edi House). Is that where you are or are you at Gogarburn?

I'm at Gogarburn. Just narrowly avoided a move to Cornerstone at the turn of the year so joyous feelings there. Huff's already given a lowdown on your local drinking options. The only one I can add is the bar in Gogarburn House, which is quite pleasant but absolutely dead after 7pm.

Oh. Still no bloody Prog either.