2000 AD Prog 2174 Featured Columns 

Multiver-City One: 2000 AD Prog 2174 – Blind Fury!

By , , , and | March 25th, 2020
Posted in Columns | % Comments

Welcome, Earthlets, to Multiver-City One, our “2000 AD” weekly review column! Every Wednesday we examine the latest offerings from Tharg and the droids over at Rebellion/2000 AD, the galaxy’s leading producers of Thrill-Power entertainment. Let’s get right to it!

Cover by William Simpson

THIS WEEK IN 2000AD

Judge Dredd: Hair of the Dog Part 1
Credits Ian Edginton (script) D’Israeli(art)Annie Parkhouse(letters)

Michael Mazzacane: The “Scarlet Traces” creative team have come in for a two part “Dredd” strip that presents the Judges with a very large small problem. This is my first time seeing D’Israeli work in the Dredd side of things since I read “Scarlet Traces,” he brings an interesting perspective to things. Since Prog 2169 the art has been pushing into a more cartoonish realm, D’israeli’s figure work is the most cartoonish and exaggerated of recent artists – their environmental work sticks closer to what passes as normal for Mega City One. He really draws out the monstrous and aged quality of Dredd in comparison to Tek-Judge O’Reily, which isn’t something you see that much. It is their application of color that brings out the highest degree of difference. Everything is saturated, bringing out the distinct shadows of wreckage as Dredd and Tek-Judge O’Reilly investigate the scene of the crime. The application is different from “Scarlet Traces” which had a lot of smooth blends even when hard shadows were involved. Their use of color here would be considered anti-noir and German Expressionism, but the shapes this color pallet create is in that direction with a Jackson Pollock twist.

The scene of the crime, the wreckage of an explosion at an research and development lab is puzzling. They are clearly standing in the middle of an explosion, evidence of something happening is all around them. But when they play the tape back there is no way to tell what really happen, three Judges are suddenly riddled with bullets and a prototype next generation lawgiver goes missing.

The first two pages do a good job of setting up a mystery. By the third page the particulars of how this crime and who committed it are revealed and the real point of this strip is made clear. Edginton and D’Israeli are riffing on “Ant-Man,” Pym Particles, and cop narrative cliches. Their perp is a rogue alien and their former partner is coming in to help put the collar on him. This is an interesting twist of well known narrative structures with slightly novel references to provide a twist.

As far as the start to a multipart strip goes this does everything well enough.

Aquila: The Burning Fields, Part One
Gordon Rennie (Script), Patrick Goddard (Art), Pippa Bowland (Colours), Jim Campbell (Letters)

Christopher Egan: The blind, immortal former Gladiator Aquila returns in the new strip ‘The Burning Fields.’ 79 A.D., on the bay of Naples, Aquila once again finds himself at the center of spectacle as he fights in private matches as men wager on his ability to win. This issue opens with plenty of bloody brutality to appease those looking for a nasty fight scene. Aquila’s takes him home to heal after the latest fight, and as they walk through the empty streets, he wonders how they found themselves in their latest predicament. Aquila recounts their story, starting ten years prior and fills us in on the beginning of their quest to find the evil goddess known as Ammit the Devourer.

Having been a part of Spartacus’s slave revolt, Aquila was crucified with the rest of the rebellious former slaves. Before his death, Aquila called out to the gods of vengeance and was answered by Ammit. Ammit granted him immortality, but the price he had to pay was keeping her fed with the souls of evil men. Aquila became known by many names and was feared by those he hunted. The ones he had to kill and the ones who had already passed on the the underworld; knowing he would eventually hunt them down as well for their souls. He became a horrible legend slicing his way through his enemies. Growing wary of his savior and these terms he struck up with her, Aquila wants to be released from those bonds. He now scours the Earth hunting for Ammit.

Continued below

This first chapter was a great re-introduction to the character of Aquila. Even for readers who are unfamiliar with his past exploits, this catches up everyone completely. Rennie’s script is filled with exposition, but it moves really quickly. While there is nothing of note in terms of groundbreaking writing, you have to commend his ability to keep things interesting. Giving a moderately sized info dump and telling a new story is never an easy task, but Rennie does is so well, you can’t help but turn the pages with eagerness.

Like a grindhouse production of Gladiator, this bad-ass action story will satiate readers’s blood lust. The fast paced and disgustingly brutal violence are perfectly executed by Goddard. His illustrations are clear and concise while giving us plenty of detail. He allows his artwork to tell the story just as much as the script. Bowland’s colors are dark and melancholic. Between the depressing backstory of Aquila and the wild bloodshed, her ability to execute the colors of both the dark emotions, and harrowing, but exciting action sequences is perfect.

For readers new or old, “Aquila: The Burning Fields” will pull you in with its heavy broadsword battles and mashing fists. This is a treat for anyone that loves exploitation gladiator flicks.

Sinister Dexter, The Frighteners, part 3
Credits: Dan Abnett (script), Steve Yeowell (art), John Charles (colors) Annie Parkhouse (letters)

Gustavo S. Lodi: Readers returning to “Sinister Dexter” will find the usual balance of crime noir, asimovian sci-fi, and a twisted sense of humor on these pages. Ablett, Yeowell, and Charles are at home with this new adventure, having more fun than in previous stories.

Perhaps the biggest contributor to that is the nature of this investigation, which separates the two protagonists to their own part of the tale. The sheer absurdity of what is going on, involving a rogue artificial intelligence, a crime-filled theme park apartment, and an antagonist who is as much of a foil as a mystery, the sense of surprise is present on every page.

A lot of credit has to go to Yeowell on art, particularly on the timing of some of the visual gags that dominate the latter half of this issue. There is plenty of physical humor to be found on the latest “Sinister Dexter” and that might steal a couple of laugh-out-loud moments for its audience.

All in all, ‘The Frighteners’ is less of a scare, and more of a good laugh, told within the confines of the “Sinister Dexter” universe. Readers will feel right at home with the art style and characters, but be taken on a far more amusing ride than previous installments.

Skip Tracer: Nimrod, Part 4
Credits: James Peaty (script), Paul Marshall (art), Dylan Teague (colors), Simon Bowland (letters)

Brian Salvatore: After an installment eschewing the flashback format, it is back again in this week’s ‘Nimrod.’ This device continues to be good from an exposition standpoint, but it is such a constant stop and start of action that it can be hard to remember what exactly is going on in the present. If the flashbacks were particularly exciting, it would maybe be more excusable, but these flashbacks aren’t exactly scintillating.

This issue deals with the origin of Nimrod, the titular character of the strip. His origin is your standard issue, ‘soldier harmed in combat becomes government experiment’ story, but because the reader got no time with the character before, and knows that he’s a villain, it doesn’t really do anything for the story. A one sentence description would have done just as much good, and would have saved a ton of time.

Marshall’s art continues to be strong, a throwback

Feral & Foe: Part Twelve
Credits: Dan Abnett (script), Richard Elson (art), Richard & Joe Elson (colors), Annie Parkhouse (letters)

Christa Harader: We’ve hit an end, of sorts. I think?

“Feral & Foe” ends on a bit of a cliffhanger this week. Things go boom in a big way, and although the potential character death doesn’t feel earned, I’m frankly a bit relieved that we might be toward the end of the road here.

That may sound harsh, but as I mentioned last week there’s just too much plot up and down in this strip to stay cohesive. Weekly strips are a hard beast to manage, and Abnett and Elson do a good job building on an interesting premise with a good bit of humor, but the novelty only gets us so far. Wrath and Bode are compelling in their relationship to each other, and that’s mostly fallen by the wayside over the past month. Elson’s art remains serviceable, and there are some nice big booms to deck out in brighter colors this week. Parkhouse sees it through, as she always does, and keeps everything readable – even with the smaller dialogue from a dying character to contend with.

“Feral & Foe” would sing if it was tightened up. The high fantasy tropes blended with the sarcastic humor throughout work well. It’s just too darn long, and meanders a bit too much to keep us hanging on, and with plenty of other strips each week, it’s easy for “Feral & Foe” to get a bit lost in the heap.


//TAGS | Multiver-City One

Brian Salvatore

Brian Salvatore is an editor, podcaster, reviewer, writer at large, and general task master at Multiversity. When not writing, he can be found playing music, hanging out with his kids, or playing music with his kids. He also has a dog named Lola, a rowboat, and once met Jimmy Carter. Feel free to email him about good beer, the New York Mets, or the best way to make Chicken Parmagiana (add a thin slice of prosciutto under the cheese).

EMAIL | ARTICLES

Christopher Egan

Chris lives in New Jersey with his wife, daughter, two cats, and ever-growing comic book and film collection. He is an occasional guest on various podcasts, writes movie reviews on his own time, and enjoys trying new foods. He can be found on Instagram. if you want to see pictures of all that and more!

EMAIL | ARTICLES

Michael Mazzacane

Your Friendly Neighborhood Media & Cultural Studies-Man Twitter

EMAIL | ARTICLES

Christa Harader

EMAIL | ARTICLES

Gustavo S Lodi

Gustavo comes all the way down from Brazil, reading and writing about comics for decades now. While Marvel and DC started the habit, he will read anything he can get his hands on! Big Nintendo enthusiast as well.

EMAIL | ARTICLES


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