2000 ad prog 1928 feature Columns 

Multiver-City One: 2000 AD Prog 1928

By and | April 29th, 2015
Posted in Columns | % Comments

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Welcome, citizens, to this week’s installment of Multiver-City One! Every Wednesday we examine the latest offerings from Tharg and the droids over at 2000 AD, the galaxy’s leading producers of Thrill-Power entertainment! Between the weekly “2000 AD” itself, the monthly “Judge Dredd Megazine”, an extensive library of graphic novel collections, and new US-format one-shots and mini-series, they have decades of zarjaz comics for you to enjoy.

We’ve got a brand-new Prog this week, so we’ll jump right in after a quick public service announcement!

I. AN EARTHLET’S GUIDE TO 2000 AD

We understand that having such a large selection of comics to choose from can make knowing where to start with 2000 AD seem daunting. What do they publish? Where can I get it? What’s up with Judge Dredd? Can I still read “2000 AD” if I don’t like Judge Dredd?

So to help new & potential readers, we’ve put together An Earthlet’s Guide to 2000 AD. A regularly updated FAQ, The Guide will collect everything you need to make your initial foray into the 2000 AD Thrill-verse as simple as possible.

II. THIS WEEK IN PROG 1928

Cover by Mark Harrison

 

Judge Dredd: Enceladus – New Life, Part 5

This week’s strip, I think I can safely say, is the finest art I’ve seen from Henry Flint. Anyone who’s read this column with any regularity will know that we’re huge fans of Flint’s, so that claim is not meant to diminish any of the work he’s done before this. He’s been one of the best comics artists on either side of any ocean for a while now, but what he’s done here? It’s special.

Choosing an image for this week’s review was very difficult. I went with the above because not only is it gorgeous art, but it feels like a real turning point in the story. Believe me, if I could run every page from this strip I would; it looks that good. I want everyone to see the bold linework and rich colors Flint is putting down on these pages. Speak g of colors, he seems to be spreading out a bit, as the neons and fluorescents he’s been using as otherworldly accents move to the forefront of a number of panels. There’s an instance of an Otomo-esque panel composition that Flint bathes in plum and salmon with splashes of blood red. It’s one of those panels that stops you dead in your tracks and make you linger on it. I’d post it here, but it’d be a big spoiler.

The story took a big leap forward this week as we see what the Sovs have planned for Enceladus and its hidden treasures. Williams is walking us though how 1,000 ex-Judges became one empty ship, and this is where the slow attrition we’ve been witnessing picks up its pace. There’s a fair bit of heartbreak to be found on these pages, both macro and micro. Sinfield and Nixon have been put through the wringer, but this seems as if they may not be near the end of their anguish.

We’re also given a bit more to chew on in terms of the mystery ice Dredd has been trying to wrap his head around. Williams is setting up quite the puzzle here, both in terms of the ice and the fate of Aimee Nixon. At this point as readers, we’re nearly as in the dark as Dredd is. We know as well as he does that there is nothing good that can come from any of this, but don’t know enough to determine where the danger is hiding. I’m sure Williams has given us a lot of the pieces, now we just have to assemble them before it’s too late!

Credits: Rob Williams (script), Henry Flint (art), Ellie de Ville (letters)

 

Sláine: Primordial, Part 5

2000 AD art droids are called upon to depict a wide-range of things. From alien worlds to technological wonders to shambling horrors and all manner in-between, you need to be on your game to handle whatever a good Prog script throws at you. “Never be at peace” is a horrific phrase but also pretty vague; I can think of a lot of ways to not be at peace. And while I’m sure Mills gave Davis some direction here (or maybe longer-time readers of “2000 AD” know if this is based on an earlier depiction of Ifurin), Davis flips some script here on at least my default hell-scape image and comes up with something really unsettling.

Continued below

Part one is Ifurin itself. I originally thought of it as a frozen wasteland, but while the predominant color palette is blue & white, I don’t think that automatically makes it Hell-Hoth. What that color DOES do is make all the rest of the non-blues pop. So the ‘animal’ eyes and fiery mouths embedded in the black shapes accentuate their otherworldly nature with two separate emphases.

Part two is the inset panel on Slaine’s face. If Mills called for that shot, he most likely wanted something framed on Slaine’s eyes. Davis knows enough to eskew the straight-on horizontal-wide eye panel and tap his camera a few degrees to Slaine’s right, so we’re getting a look at him with a little more opportunity for Davis to draw Slaine as a real person instead of something like this, effective as that can be in the right place.

Kirby & Byrne X-Men eyes

And like all the best artists, Davis can make us FEEL that the image we see above him is weighing on Slaine. Those eyes, as well as the choice of angle as if he has turned away from the horizontal eye closeup we’d expect in that panel, are showing him processing that prediction from Gododin; that he, too, will end up in Ifurin. Chilling stuff, regardless of whether or not any ice is involved.

Credits: Pat Mills (script), Simon Davis (art), Ellie de Ville (letters)

 

Grey Area: Locked In, Part 2

Where last week was an exploration of environment, this week’s strip serves to remind us of who some of these characters are. When Feo and Bulliet find themselves witnesses to a bit of bullying, they can’t help but step in. Well, Bulliet can’t; Feo would have been fine letting the whole thing work itself out. It was only when Bulliet marched himself into harm’s way that she couldn’t stand idle.

As per usual, Harrison’s art is outstanding. The way he seems to limit his linework whenever he sees someplace where he can use colors to denote shape or create depth impresses me. Doing this gives the story a feeling of dreaminess and unfamiliarity, serving to always keep the reader aware of the characters’ alien surroundings. Well, that and the character design. Lots of artists would probably end up repeating themselves if they had to come up with as many types of characters as are needed for this story, but Harrison seems to have a deep reservoir to draw from.

Credits: Dan Abnett (script), Mark Harrison (art), Annie Parkhouse (letters)

 

Orlok, Agent of East-Meg One: The Rasputin Caper, Part 5

This comic makes me incredibly happy. I wish more comics would embrace absurdity the way ‘Orlok’ does. Which isn’t to say ‘The Rasputin Caper’ is played exclusively for laughs. There’s plenty of super-spy action in these pages, but it’s cut with wit and humor to make the whole thing a rich and multi-textured reading experience.

I was rereading some of David Mazzucchelli’s “Daredevil” last night and it made me realize how much of an influence his art has on what Jake Lynch is doing here. The use of negative space, utilizing half tones to create depth and texture: it’s all there. Of course, Lynch’s line is uniquely his own, as are his page layouts and storytelling, but it was neat to see where he has so clearly drawn inspiration.

Credits: Arthur Wyatt (script), Jake Lynch (art), Ellie de Ville (letters)

 

Strontium Dog: The Stix Fix, Part 5

No, that’s not Johnny Alpha going up against a gang made up of clones of the Saint of Killers from “Preacher”. (Although, interestingly enough, artist Carlos Ezquerra did draw the four-issue “Preacher: Saint of Killers” spin-off written by Garth Ennis.) Johnny’s taking on a whole bundle of Stix brothers; they aren’t saints but they certainly are killers. Although geniuses also seems to be beyond their capabilities as well.

Wagner & the aforementioned Ezquerra are easing Johnny back into his old bounty-hunting life, and bringing him into contact with some of his old friends to help give him opportunities to be reminded of that past, as well as how deep-down he is ready to re-embrace it, despite his earlier determination to go right back into the grave. (Yes, he was dead once. Long story, we’re moving on.) She isn’t named in the strip this week, but Johnny’s old flame and possible “Total Recall” extra is Precious Matson, a reporter who was researching his life after he died and was instrumental in bringing him back to life.

Continued below

And incentive to stick around. Wheatus interruptus, indeed.

Credits: John Wagner (script), Carlos Ezquerra (art), Simon Bowland (letters)

 

III. OF INTEREST

We were not able to get a copy of the Free Comic Book Day Prog as of press time, so our review of this gratis gratuitous slab of Thrill-Power will have to wait until next week. But that doesn’t stop us from being able to shed a little more light on it in the meantime!

In addition to this being available in all the usual places for the unusual price of zero pounds/dollars/francs/looneys/etc., the official 2000 AD signing will be held at the London location of Forbidden Planet, from 3-4pm on this Saturday, 2 May 2015.

There are a whole slew of creators both at that signing but also just working on the FCBD Prog itself. Having an American artist new to “2000 AD” was always part of the plan this year, but due to unforseen circumstances, it didn’t turn out to be the creator originally intented. Mike Hawthorne is stepping in for the recovering Norm Breyfogle; not only that, but he’s also donating part of his fee from the job to benefit Norm Breyfogle and his recovery fund. You can find out more about that inspiring story here.

Perps must have dumped something into the water supply, because everywhere I look I’m seeing free comics. But that’s no hallucination in this case: 2000 AD announced recently that all digital comics purchased will now be available as DRM-Free web downloads, no matter of where the original purchase was made!

Direct from 2000 AD comes this news:

All digital purchases (both past and present) made from any 2000 AD platform – webshop, iOS app, and Android app – are now available to download as DRM-free PDF and CBZ files from the 2000 AD webshop, thanks to the new Rebellion ID system that ties them all together.

Purchases on one platform will ALSO be available across all of our platforms i.e. if you buy a comic through the app on your Android Phone, it will automatically be available not just as a DRM-free download through the web, but also on the app on your iPad!

And if you buy a digital comic on the 2000 AD web store, it will also automatically show up on both our Android and iPad/iPhone apps, so long as you log in with the same email/password.

You can read more about this new development here. Links for all 2000 AD outlets are included at the end of the column.

IV. RECOGNIZE THE LAW

It’s no secret that there are a great many flavors of Judges from a great deal of Mega-Cities, so we’re aiming to use this space as a way of exploring as many types of Judges as we can. Did you know that in Mega-City One there are Accounting Judges? And Exorcist Judges?

We all know that Judge Joe Dredd is the best a Mega-City Judge can ever hope to be. So it’s not surprising that Dredd and his mighty chin have achieved some level of in-story fandom. Often imitated, never duplicated, this week we turn our attention towards one of Dredd’s fiercest impersonators… Judge Dredd?!

Features of Radland Judge Dredd:

  • Former standard issue Judge’s helmet with custom ‘Make My Day’ shield (bell shape, salvaged)
  • Metallic jaw extension, bolted to jawbone
  • Eagle of Justice shoulder pad (right side, salvaged and refurbished)
  • Non-issue shoulder pad (left side, assembled from scrap)
  • Judge’s jumper (stripped from retired Judge’s corpse, two sizes too small)
  • Non-issue elbow pads (assembled from scrap)
  • Hand carved badge with non-standard zipper chain
  • Former standard issue Judge’s gloves with knuckle reenforcement (custom bullet holders)
  • Utility belt with shield badge and bullet holders, holster
  • Non-issue knee pads (assembled from scrap)
  • Judge’s duty boots (stripped from retired Judge’s corpse, three sizes too small)
  • Copy of “My First Law Book,” handwritten
  • Copy of 3000 AD, complete with pull-out poster

This Judge Dredd impersonator probably found most of his gear on the dead bodies of Mega-City One Judges who passed during their ‘Long Walk.’ While his methods left something to be desired, and probably shouldn’t have punished every infraction with death, he did try to bring law to an wild place. He appeared in the two-part story “The Law According to Dredd,” written by John Wagner and Alan Grant, with art by Kevin O’Neill. You can read it in the forthcoming US-edition of “The Complete Case Files” volume 10.

Continued below

That’s gonna do it for us this week! “2000 AD” Prog 1928 is on sale today, “2000 AD” FCBD will be on sale this Saturday, and both will be available from:

So as Tharg the Mighty himself would say, “Splundig vur thrigg!”

 


//TAGS | Multiver-City One

Greg Matiasevich

Greg Matiasevich has read enough author bios that he should be better at coming up with one for himself, yet surprisingly isn't. However, the years of comic reading his parents said would never pay off obviously have, so we'll cut him some slack on that. He lives in Baltimore, co-hosts (with Mike Romeo) the Robots From Tomorrow podcast, writes Multiversity's monthly Shelf Bound column dedicated to comics binding, and can be followed on Twitter at @GregMatiasevich.

EMAIL | ARTICLES

Mike Romeo

Mike Romeo started reading comics when splash pages were king and the proper proportions of a human being meant nothing. Part of him will always feel that way. Now he is one of the voices on Robots From Tomorrow. He lives in Philadelphia with two cats. Follow him on Instagram at @YeahMikeRomeo!

EMAIL | ARTICLES


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