Prog 1312 - 9 October 2002
Cover by Richard Elson

As the Scrap comes to an end , we get an action packed - and fairly violent - cover from series artist Richard Elson. It's very good indeed, but it's a strange marketing decision to feature a story on the front cover just as it's coming to a close. Only 4 stories this issue, and they're all winding up, as we get ready for next Prog's "Autumn Offensive" (Surely it should be "Autumn Assault?"). It's a fairly good issue for one that is effectively comprised of "filler" material, and next week's line up of Dredd, Sinister Dexter, Red Seas and Asylum certainly looks promising too.

Waiting
Synopsis: A citizen receives a "Compulsory Summons Citation" to see Dredd at Sector house. He's told to wait till Dredd's ready, and after getting Dredd's attention, Dredd reaffirms this. Another citizen informs him that if Dredd's called him in, then he's really in trouble. After a few hours, he tries to get the attention of some judges restraining a futsie - who then gets loose and bites him. Following a round of rabies shots and a caution, he is confronted by 2 SJS members, who subject him to a highly irregular "full cavity search", "suspecting" him of being Dredd's "bagman". Finally at the end of the day, a disheveled Dredd returns and tells him to come back tomorrow. The citizen is about to go berserk, Judges pull their firearms, but Dredd calms them down and looks at the citation. It's a case of mistaken identity, and Dredd lets him go - as "It's been a LONG day..."

Review: PJ Holden returns to Dredd, and does a sterling job. His work seems to have considerably increased in detail since we last saw his work in 2000AD, and he proves himself to be comfortable in high action scenes, as well as the more quieter comic relief moments. His Dredd certainly looks much harder than he used to portray him, and the "block war" panel is a particularly good Dredd rendition. Hopefully we'll get a return visit from Holden soon.

Gordon Rennie once again proves himself to be one of the best Dredd writers who isn't John Wagner, with an amusing, well paced story. As mentioned before, this is in marked contrast to his Rogue Trooper work.

Part 5 - The Alpha and the Omega
Synopsis: Conclusion. A riot breaks out and Mallis and the other enforcers begin restraining the crowd violently when the monster reappears. After grabbing the man with the jobdisc, it retreats below, and Mallis follows. Passing a number of hanging heads, she finally comes upon the creature, who turns out to be the bored AI in another guise. It's being retrieving heads to try and get them to take over the city - all with complete failure. Mallis destroys the AI with the discarded jobdisc. She takes over control of the city herself - succeeding where others failed because she doesn't have a reason to escape. She promises changes in the Scrap. Last line: "I've just realise...in a strange sort of way - I'm a mother again."

Review: The series is over after only 5 issues, and it's certainly benefited from the tight short run. In many ways, it to have overtones of a slightly drawn out "Future Shock" with the surprise ending, but Spurrier has shown himself to adept at science fiction storytelling, weaving an interesting tale within a realistic sci-fi world. in some ways the story seems too short. There were a number of issues raised, like the baby in stasis and the plight of the AI, that could have benefited from further analysis. However, this is simply nitpicking, and I should be happy that I've enjoyed the series, especially after initially treading it with such trepidation.

Finally,of course, kudos must go to Richard Elson, who's provided some quality artwork on this series. As one of the few 2000AD artists to colour his own work these days, he could certainly prove to be a much needed asset for the comic. He's been around for ages, but this is the first time I've really sat up and noticed his work.

Low Life
Synopsis: Sinister and Dexter are laying low after last weeks events. Sinister tries to disguise himself so they can go out, but Dexter is against the idea. They come upon another guest in their hideout - Georgy Pinkell - a gunshark who's been hiding there for 25 years! They tell him that no one's after him an more, and realise that it's better to take risks than spend the rest of their lives hiding, and go back to the city.

Review: Very, very much a filler story. It's quite funny, but really doesn't do anything apart from lead into the next big story. Still, amusing throwaway stories are certainly better than dire ones, although I'm looking forward to the promise of a story with a larger scope beginning next prog. the art's OK, but a little too overtly "comic" in style for my own liking. Roberts also co-created Bec & Cawl - which readers of the reviews will know is a sore point for me...

Requiem
Synopsis: Kinsella and Colonel Logan steal a shuttle so they can help Rogue with his "medical condition". Meanwhile, War Marshall Zell is visiting his son's remains (he was the one killed by Rogue in the big warsuit in "Overkill"). After killing the chief who he held responsible for his death, the was marshall promises to have his revenge on Rogue...

Review: So after 12 issues of Rogue, where are we? Rogue has an unidentified medical condition, and he's pissed off a war marshall. This episode would have been acceptable if it was printed about 4 or 5 issues earlier. We're finally getting to the meat of the story, and now it's going to finish until the new year! the "Nerve Center" this week promises "interesting developments" for Rogue next year, and there'd better be. Here's what I'll be hoping for:

• A more coherent plot that flows through all issues of the strip - dropping all the one or two parters that didn't work out this time.
• Development of the characters of Gunnar, Bagman and Helm. Rogue was always a bit dull, and when the focus is on him too much, this is very obvious. In earlier strips, his equipment had particular characteristics that combined to give an overall much more rounded character. Treat the biochips as Rogue's conscience, as oppose to expository elements, and you're well on your way.
• A colour strip. He's one of the biggest 2000AD characters. Why waste him in black & white?

Which brings us to the art. With a number of contributors, it's been pretty much all over the place. This week' Simon Coleby's muddy art makes a return. If he used more of the "greying out" effect in his art - as shown on the last page, his work could be a little easier on the eye. Next time let's try to get one artist in for the whole event?

Overall this series has been a major disappointment. The concept deserves another chance, but one more failure like this and it'll be time to put Rogue out to pasture.