2000AD Prog 1610 - 29 October 08

Cover by Cliff Robinson

John Amans :  A decent Cliff Robinson cover, one of those artist who you depend on for a good cover, which sets the tone for this weeks Dredd episode.

Whole new Judge Dredd Script: Al Ewing Art: David Roach Colours: Chris Blythe Letters: Annie Parkhouse

Not exactly Dredd's first choice...

Synopsis: Top fashion designer Fabian D'amour has designed a new judge's uniform with a built in AI and Dredd is testing it out. It soon becomes clear that the designer used his own personality for the AI of the suit and it starts firing on citizens it believes guilty of crimes against fashion. The suit ditches Dredd and goes on a self powered killing spree before Dredd destroys it and Hershey has D'Amour arrested.

JA: We’re in a bit of Dredd lull at the moment. 2008’s big meaty stories are past, or yet to come and we have some filler Dredd episodes, mostly with a tinge of comedy about them.

Ok, this episode isn’t up with the best of the Dredd comedy episodes but it does have the hallmark of a decent Dredd filler. It parodies its modern day equivalent well, it's snappy, has functional art and has some good snippets of dialogue.

Overall this delivers what it is meant to do and as it is essentially a “seat warmer” for other stuff to come.

Killer Fortune Script: Jaspre Bark Art: Tiernen Trevallion Letters: Ellie De Ville

The old "fine print" trick...

Synopsis: Gilgamaine, a great leader, is leading his army of freed slaves into the city of Sarkandia. He joins up with a magician to trick the leader of the city into agreeing a spell to kill everyone who covets his gold. The whole city is thus laid to waste, allowing Gilgamaine and his men easy entry. However, Gilgamaine had also made a deal - selling the souls of all his soldiers in return for the victory. They die at his feet leaving him the only living soul in Sarkandia...

JA: Ah, the great filler prog Future Shock. This is one of those “Big Mac” episodes. You eat it and then 5 minutes later you’ve forgotten all about it. It was not that terrible but it doesn’t exactly stick out as tasting delicious. With a hint of Tales of Teleguuth (was it a long lost script from that series?) it has some good artwork and a not bad ending.

Part 11 Script: Tony Lee Art: Jon Davis-Hunt Letters: Ellie De Ville

Holland makes his feelings clearly known...

Synopsis: Holland convinces his rescuers to return him to the planet so that he can try a rescue operation himself. Chapman refuses to go with him, so Holland is dropped back alone, with a proximity sensor implanted in him. He's brought back to the camp where he finds out that Mother was the traitor and is now in charge. Holland is put into The Pit...

JA: Ok - it's time to get something off my chest.

Reading the reviews and some of the message board comments over the last few weeks anyone would think that this story is a crime against humanity. Over my 31 years of reading 2000AD I can honestly say that I read a lot lot worse. For example, all of Rogue Trooper from 1990 - present, the Space Girls, that appalling feminist Valkyrie pap a few years back, or Bad Company 3 (hurried, badly drawn and an affront to its noble predecessors). When put against those crimes against nature then Stalag 666 isn’t that bad.

I think this should be viewed as  more of an opportunity lost. Early on the back story to the war could have been fleshed out more. Some of the characters could have been developed better and the connection to the WW2 “Great Escape” genre is perhaps a little clumsily done.

However the art isn’t bad. We’ve seen a lot worse. And I also believe that the story has been paced well and has its heart in the right place. It’s not preachy, over complicated and has some semblance of a plot (no matter how badly executed). It doesn’t tick all of the boxes but it doesn’t deserve the mauling it has received.

To all of the Stalag haters I would say - if you really believe that you can do better, then why not use the opportunity to write a script or produce some artwork and submit it to Tharg? Many of us might find it a lot harder than we think and that it is always easier to criticize than to do something better.

The Forget Me Knot - Part 10 Script: Simon Spurrier Art: Carl Critchlow Letters: Annie Parkhouse

Hogg makes his feelings clear too...

Synopsis: Random tricks the demon into possessing Klik insted of Bless, using his claws to sever the tether holding them together. With self harm failsafes in place, the demon cannot jump to a new host and the E-mag prevents it from leaving the centre of the Vort.

All's looking great until Hogg and Pinn's ship comes crashing in to spoil the party. Klik insults Hogg who shoots Klik. The demon has escaped once more, takes over the nearby froggy and begins to take over the whole planet. Random and the others only just escape in Hogg & Pinn's ship as the demon eats the souls of everything on the Vort. The demon is now out and Random has one warning for the universe - "Run and hide, kids. Run and fragging hide".

JA: Every week I have asked the same question. Why isn’t this floating my boat?

I loved the first Lobster Random story. It was witty, sharp, had inter robot-crustacean sex and the art was utterly complimentary to the story. Basically, it had everything. The second series wasn’t as good but it still had that special element that made it work.

Sadly this post “Vort” story has lacked that special ingredient. Maybe it’s the story, which is a touch confusing and muddled. Maybe it’s that the Random character himself has reached the end of his useful life and no matter what you do with it its just not going to get any better. Perhaps that first series set the bar so high it just can’t be repeated.

As an ending goes it was good. But as I read the last panel I just couldn’t help but thinking, this was good, but it wasn’t that good.

A shame really.

JA: Rather than all of the current series finishing at the same time, they seem to be wrapping up one at a time - this week it was Lobster Random. Though half of this week’s edition was blatant filler, at least it was entertaining filler. Is this a new editorial process to wind down slowly rather than the big bang finish? Can’t complain, as what was in this week’s edition was generally pretty good.

Best Story: Stalag 666.