Prog 2162 : The gift of Thrill Power!

[IndigoPrime]

++ ADMIN KLAXON ++

For the record, people here are welcome to express their subjective opinions on someone’s work, but we will not tolerate rudeness directed towards creators, not least returning ones.

As you were…

[Colin YNWA]

And if you’re not reading Resident Alien, you should be.

Yep

Hogan's Resident Alien is excellent.

Yep again.

I've mentioned this over at the 'New comicbook day Mega Thread' so many times this series of mini-series has been just wonderful. We're waiting the final part I believe and you all really should be snapping it up in anticipation of that.

[Colin YNWA]

So in amongst all the not doing very much I've managed to stick to my (new) X-Mas traditon and read the end of year Prog as my X-Mas treat to myself. And as everyone else has gone to bed already after a day of high octane not doing much other than having fun what better way to unwind and get ready to see in Boxing Day that share my thoughts with you lovely folks.

I have to say what a lovely treat the bumper Prog was. So gloriously atypical in many way but all the more 2000ad for it I'd say.

Okay so the Dredd was a pretty weak run of the mill affair, but aside from that it was all pretty top notch.

Graduation Day was a nice nasty little epilogue to Absalom. Figure that might be all we get but if they fancied doing more in this work I'd be happy with that.

Durham Red was an effectively harsh one off.

Deadworld likewise a lovely done in one that foreshadows much more to come one feels.

Brink - well Brink is Brink as ever and that's such a fine, fine thing. Everything about this was brilliant and that final page just superb.

Its the three(ish) new thrills that really make this feel special and make me very excited about the start of 2020. These three will carry on into the New Year and its a pleasently intriguing mix to say the least.

Feral and Foe gives us what appears to be that rare genre in 2000ad a fantasy feature. On the basis of this pulsating opening, which masterfully covers a lot of ground with seeming ease, one of those even rarer things in 2000ad a fantasy piece that really works. Really looking forward to seeing where this one goes.

The Zaucer of Zilk, while not a new thrill has been absent for almost 8 years (what - hey - how bloomin' long) after only one thrill and so feels like a new series. The tone is wonderfully of kilter to. So perfectly in keeping with the zinging Brendan McCarthy art. Its light and frothy and zips along at an engaging pace, but there's something darker sneaking at the edges and its all just glorious. Criminaut merits its place in the Prog alone!

But its Proteus Vex that most tickles my intrigued gland. It reads to me like Mike Carroll has been wondering through Henry Flint's sketch books and wondered how to make sense of all those glorious flights of fancy that sit there. Its dawned on him it might not make entire sense but by heck its going to be fun sowing it all together into one crazy tapestry. There's so much slammed in here, so much to ponder and return to, to wrap your head into, or just go with the flow. Whichever you choice it all just seems to work. Its a blinding opening and one that has me hooked for the rest of the series.

Am I the only one of did anyone else think the opening page was a tribute to Walt Simonson. I often over read these things but its gotta be right?

Alongside all this we have a nice text piece about how different Droids approach drawing Dredd. a lovely Jake Lynch Star Scan of Joe, a bumper letters with Lego from these parts and more fun beside.

Anyway firmly anchered by solid classics like Dredd and Brink I think Feral of Foe, Zaucer of Zilk and Proteus Vex is going to give us one of the most experimental line-up we'll have seen for a while and I for one am very much looking forward to it. It may not be to everyone's tasted but its damned well going to be exciting to see where this all goes I suspect. Roll on 2020 I say.

[broodblik]

Dredd – The Dredd story feels like classic Dredd stuff where in this case two unfortunate families get caught in Dredd’s scrupulous sense of justice.  Richardson provides to art to illustrate the fall (or in this case the destruction) of the two families.

Graduation Day – This tale serves as an epilogue for the just concluded Absalom story.  This can also be an introduction to a new story in the Caballistics-verse (as seen on the page just after the conclusion of the story – The Diaboliks). As always Tiernen provides wonderful B&W art with some nice action sequences.

The Zaucer of Zilk – This highlight of this story is the eye-candy colour extravaganza art of McCarthy/O’Grady. The story starts with a mini update on what happened before, before it starts delving into the main villain. The story sees also to return of Hogan on writing duties.

Brink - Brink continues its trajectory with some great storytelling and compelling art.

Proteus Vex - Glorious start to a new strip, got me hooked from the first page. Just love the foreign alien design of the art. Flint’s work as always is a joy too look at. The most surprising fact is that this is Carrol’s first original work for 2000AD (bar some Future Shocks). Hopefully he can use this strip to launch so more original work.  A second Vex series is already in the works, so I believe we are in for a treat.

Deadworld – This is almost like an epilogue with the storyline that ended the previous prog. This time the focus is on what happened to our main culprit Death to be plus more t come.

Feral and Foe - Abnett and Elson already proven to us that they are a lethal combination. The new fantasy romp has a great start and looks like the tradition will continue.

Durham Red - the progs end with a nice one-shot with a blood-sucking ending.

This was a solid 8/8 prog with the new stories promising a great start to 2020. This was great xmas-prog. With the return of Slaine advertised again (so hopefully we can get it next year) plus as mentioned before a new story from Rennie and Reardon in the Caballistics-verse.

[IndigoPrime]

The rapid worldbuilding and artist for Proteus Vex put me in mind of Shakara – and that’s no bad thing.

[Jacqusie]

Hogan wasnt a perfect fit for 2000AD, but he was a lot better than much of what was around. 

Stronts.... I remember being pleasd that someone was trying to put back the pieces of the stront universe to the point the Agency was up and running again - felt like it had momentum in the right direction

I agree, he was left with an impossible task and a right old mess, which I thought Hogan delivered well in the circumstances. The sight of Middenface drawn by Trevor Hairsine was a welcome light at the end of a very long and gloomy tunnel.

I liked his Durham Red, she had character and the cast of supporting characters were ones that you could warm too. Good to see him back in the Prog.

Which sadly isn't what I can say about the creators of the two Christmas Dredd stories in the Prog and Meg. Why did we have the same artist for both and I'm sorry but the stories were very much underwhelming along with the Meg's cover, which looks like it was done on the back of a fag packet.

[TordelBack]

Lots of good stuff in this one, under a truly sumptuous cover (I would have liked some more updated droid models front-and-centre too, CyberMatt and Molch-R for example, but what is there is loverly).

The new strips all have promise, but I was a teensy bit let down by Feral & Foe, which at first sight seemed too much like a slight Warcraft accent on Kingmaker.  It is however from one of my all-time favourite creative teams, so I have high hopes for the future, and boy does the art look nice.

Hogan's take on Zaucer seems like a seamless bleed from Ewing, so that's a very good start, and in Proteus Rex Carroll and Flint look to have something potentially awesome on their hands.

Brink continues to be the most readable, gripping slow-burn in living memory, and it along with a very welcome Absalom epilogue and a superdense Deadworld were my personal highlights.

At the weaker end of things Durham Red continued a run of pretty aimless stories which don't really make the best of how damn slick they look, and the Dredd was a perfectly serviceable Christmas tale.

The Karl Stock article was, bizarrely, too long for my tastes.  I kept thinking it was done, and then turned the page to find more... some nice nuggets in there, though. 

A great big-value read all told!

[JayzusB.Christ]

the Meg's cover, which looks like it was done on the back of a fag packet.

Bit harsh.  I liked it - not an all-time classic but a perfectly decent Christmas Dredd scene.

[Jacqusie]

Ok maybe a tad harsh, but I think we've been spoilt by some great artists such as Greg Staples and Colin McNeil on Xmas covers and the last few for the Meg and 2000AD have been rather average.

In fact there have been quite a few covers for 2000AD this last year that have been rather 'work experience kid on the graphics package' type...

[JayzusB.Christ]

Ok maybe a tad harsh, but I think we've been spoilt by some great artists such as Greg Staples and Colin McNeil on Xmas covers and the last few for the Meg and 2000AD have been rather average.

In fact there have been quite a few covers for 2000AD this last year that have been rather 'work experience kid on the graphics package' type...

Not getting any less harsh here, and as a professional mural painter myself, I can't think of any 2000ad artists I could match.  Some creators look at this forum too.

[norton canes]

The Staz Johnson cover? It's brilliant!

[Proudhuff]

The Staz Johnson cover? It's brilliant!

This
, made me smile,  great stuff, it reminds my of the old adage: sorry for the long letter, no time to send a short one. I feel it’s the same with art, just because something appears simple doesn’t mean it is, some 2k artists throw in everything including the kitchen sink, keeping it focused like this is an art form in its self.
You go Staz!

[TordelBack]

Wait, are we talking about the Christmas Meg cover now? I thought that one was brilliant! Diff'rent strokes, I suppose.

[Fungus]

For the record, Staz Johnson’s linework and his covers are ACE!

[Bolt-01]

For the briefest of moments I thought it was a Winslade cover, as the linework for Lawson was so 'right' then I recognised the linework as Staz'.

It is NOT a simple cover by any means. As with many things it takes hard work to make something look so simple.