Really spectacular cover, highlights just how strong a design Vex is as he moves through the hands of very different artists and remains instantly recognisable - think we have an enduring 2000AD character on our hands.
Good to see Scarlet Traces returning, could this be the final chapter, now all the characters are (nearly) back on Earth?
The Dredd feels a bit like a missing chapter from Carroll's 'Black Snow' sequence (wittily over-titled 'Dredd in the Land of the Soviets' by a certain AlexF), or 'Deep in the Heart', neither of which would be my favourites from his work, but I can't deny that I'm intrigued to see where it goes.
Unfortunately the high-concept setting doesn't really suit Simpson's lovely character-focused art. I sometimes have no idea what the characters were looking at. Million-dollar tanks? Where? I find myself imagining what D'Israeli or Googe could have done with the brief 'Death Belt Ewok Village'.
That said, I really do love the smoky, visceral action Simpson draws, and above all else his craggy Dredd, another chunk of lofted rock in motion. More of this, please!
I've considered mentally replacing resurrected Hershey with a resurrected Aimee Nixon with an undercover Hershey face-job, and enjoying the very pretty story on that basis. Maybe one day.
Sláine. Manco's beautiful art eases back a bit on the stuffing and becomes much more enjoyable for me. I'm pleased to see that he's gone for a mix of 2- and 4-legged dragons, bridging the considerable design gap between Dragonheist and Horned God, with a healthy nod to Bellardnelli in his red female dragon.
I've no problem with the story being simple, Sláine has found new purpose and is coming to destroy New Troy in vengeance for the events on the Isle of Man, a direct continuation of the last episode of Brutannia Chronicles. He's also coming to terms with the truth and meaning of his origins. In some ways this would have worked better positioned as a conclusion to that story, and I wouldn't be surprised to learn that was the original plan: it always seemed odd that most of the events in the 'Brutannia Chronicles' didn't take place in Britain.
What does puzzle me a bit is why Sláine seems to be moving from Ballina to Enniscrone on his journey from the Isle of Man to London, but maybe all will be revealed.
Proteus Vex continues in high style, a well-balanced mix of space mystery, violence and striking visuals. Interested to see if Andrum is really a wee pilot-person too. May need to re-read that bit.
Durham Red chucks a nice baddie design Inyo an already stylish story, particularly enjoying the colours.
