Just a quick blow by blow while I wait for Steam to finish downloading Skyrim… it’s half price
btw.
Cover - Like it. Wouldn’t have pegged it as Edmund Bagwell though. Seems heavier than his usual
stuff.
Advert inside for the Total Recall remake. Everyone seemed to hate this. I thought it rocked.
Give it a chance. If nothing else it has Kate Beckinsale looking stunning and Colin Farrel in a
vest for the ladies.
Dredd - Violent Night. Lets just take a second to enjoy that title shall we?
A cool xmas story that still feels like Dredd and even had me buying his uncharacteristic bit of
charity at the end. That said Dredd being charitable is just giving them a year’s sentence so it
fits with his slightly increasing humanity of late while still making sure we know the law comes
first.
Ben Willsher gets to draw Dredd taking a headshot AGAIN (the mans a fucking jinx) and the combo
of his artwork and Chris Blythes colours is pretty much perfect Dredd for me. Great stuff.
Judge Death returns – About fucking time
Absalom – Dirty Postcards.
Nice little one and done from the series regulars with a suitably creepy and slightly topical
scooby doo monster of the week. Manages to slip in a bit of plot for the bigger storyline which
I’m sure will be picked up in the next arc and also inform more on some of the supporting cast.
Got the Ghosts of London trade for xmas so this has made me want to go back and re-read all of
that. As I’ve said in the past, this is probably my fave ongoing strip at the moment with both
creators kicking the living shit out of it. Class.
Savage – Rise Like Lions
Anyone else get a wave of Watchmen from the first few pages of this? Somewhere Alan Moore just
had a little cry. Never mind.
Anyway, good opening installment and it’s of note that Savage has ZERO reaction to the fact a
family has been gunned down due to being mistaken for him. Ok, the father was a collaborator but
still the wife and little girl cant really be blamed for that. Savage is on our side but he’s no
good guy.
Still the best thing Pat Mills is writing at the moment and Mr Goddards art continues to blow me
away. Was lucky enough to skim through a load of the finished artwork for this upcoming arc…
there’s some seriously cool stuff coming. Can’t wait.
Ampney Crucis – The Entropy Tango
This strip continues to grow on me and I was surprised just how much I enjoyed this issue. The
instant flood complete with prehistoric sea monsters was brilliant and I’m liking how Crucis and
Cromwell are having to deal with the fact they’re standing in for versions of themselves who
aren’t exact duplicates.
If I was Crucis though I’d demand to see Cromwell and Calliope stood next to each other before I
got down to any more dirty business as she does look a bit like Cromwell with the mustache off
and a wig on. Whatever floats his boat I suppose. Anyway, another strong opening installment
that’s got me eager to read more.
Ack-Ack Macque - Indestructable
Bit hard to judge this one as, to be fair, its really an extended advert for the novel. That
said, while I was half expecting it to end with Macaque enjoying a Hostess Twinkie it was a fun
read and you cant go wrong with a monkey with a machine gun. It does throw everything bar the
kitchen sink at you but as a comic trailer it works.
And you can stick your Trifecta up your arse. THIS is how you do a crossover! Notice the subtle
way Judge Dredd’s BDAMs are woven into the story. I hope Marvel and DC are taking note.
Red Seas - Fire Across the Deep
Think my enjoyment of this installment was all gonna hang on my opinion of the Kraken. So as such
this did nothing for me… pretty much like 99% of previous Red Seas installments. I’m looking at
the double page splash again and the monster looks like someone said “Hey… five year old kids
might see this so lets make it as unthreatening as possible”. It’s just ridiculous. Didn’t like
it. Moving on.
Aquila - Quo Vadis Domine?
Gonna be quick with this one as well. I’m just not an Aquila fan and this has done nothing to
change that opinion. Gallaghers art is excellent as always, tho for me loses some of its bite
when coloured, but the story just left me cold. I’m just struggling to care about the main character. Was glad to see this was a one and done and not continuing to be honest.
Oh, but despite my earlier mention of the colours, which was no slight on Gary Caldwell’s work, I just like black and white art,the Judas panel was absolutely beautiful. And I do have to give points for working the crucifixion into an Xmas issue.
The Visible Man - Scars
All felt a bit Quatermass retro but enjoyable stuff and with Henry Flint on art it’s obviously amazing to look at. Curious to see how exactly they escaped… not totally confident we’ll get told. Good slice of sci-fi anyway.
Mek Quake Returns - See earlier comment re: Judge Death
Strontium Dog – Mutant Spring
Alpha escapes… thats about it really. He honks up his secret accomplace who climbs into Sir Pelham who takes him over. All while the guards look on asking “are you ok?”. Riiiight. Hoping to enjoy this but so far I think I’d have preferred them to leave Alpha dead.
Pick of the litter? It’s a toss up between Dredd and Absalom
Good to have you back, Chief! Nice wordage!