Prog 1315 - 30 October 2002
Cover by Simon Davis

Great cover by Simon Davis - although it did make me a tad more self conscious when I went to pick up the comic from my local corner shop. It's particularly nice the way the logo is given the same shiny effect. However, I'm sure I've read somewhere that it is unwise from a marketing/design point of view to alter an established logo without a major redesign. But I guess The Hulk gets away with a lot worse.

Another good issue - but let down by Past Imperfect which still feels like filler material.

Out of the Undercity - Part 3
Synopsis: Dredd follows Prager into the Undercity. A wall collapses as they fight, knocking Dredd out, but Prager pulls Dredd clear. When he revives, Dredd assumes this means there's still an element of Prager left in the wolf. He hears Drums coming from the old White House, where a group of armed mutants are getting Troggs "riled up" - possibly for some sort of entertainment. Prager bursts in and starts attacking - but is overwhelmed. We learn that they shot Prager before - but think this beast has eaten him - rather that actually being him. They prepare to kill him...

Review: Critchlow's art on this is still impressive - although I'm starting to wish he would use a slightly wider ranged colour palette. The overwhelming use of Blues and greys may help to illustrate the pervading darkness of the undercity - but it has started to get a little murky. Certainly the "White House" should be renamed the "Grey House" for this story - and the effect of seeing the monument is muted somewhat.

Wagner appears to once again be totally ignoring geography by putting the White House in Mega City One. Isn't MC1 supposed to be around New York? Yet Prager seems to be able to reach the White House on foot? Perhaps I'm being unnecessarily pedantic - but it does seem like a pointless plot device.

I'm finding it hard to get excited about this storyline as there's been little character development in the 3 issues so far. Perhaps the introduction of the group in the White House will raise the interest level next week.

Under the Banner of King Death - Part 3
Synopsis: We learn that the tablet from last week is the missing chapter of the Albrecht Tome, a book that lists all the 9 million names of god - thus giving the owner power over the almighty. The zombies attack, and are kept at bay by Captain Dancer's crew, and Isabella's magic. But Dr Orlando severs Isabella's connection with the spirit world, and the zombies overpower Dancer.

Review: The back story for Dr Orlando is nicely laid over the attack of the Zombies - allowing for a combination of action and exposition. Dr Orlando is shaping up into being a decent villain, even if Dancer's crew seems to be sinking under the weight of their stereotypes. Dancer himself is certainly starting to get a little grating. But it's supposed to be lighthearted, and the plot is developing well and fast - so these seem like petty complaints.

Yeowell's work is ever fantastic, and he particularly shines at depicting a raging fight without overwhelming the reader.

Part 3
Synopsis: Stuck in Belly's belly, Holt is fed psychic images of the slaughter of the aliens, and is regurgitated. Megan wants to bring the two aliens into custody, but Holt convinces her to let them go. Back at base, Holt takes a shower and Megan joins him. As they're in the shower - a screen reads "Hunter requests assistance - Call Answered..." Later, Megan is asleep as the door's security is over-ridden. Fellow hunter Corsan enters and shoots Holt...

Review: Ah - now this is starting to get somewhere. I was wondering last week how Ashcroft would be setting up an operation like this - and getting away with it. but it's starting to look like everybody but Holt knows what's really going on. The feeling of conspiracy is really starting to grow now - and next week we should get a few more explanations. Hopefully this series has a way to go yet, and doesn't get cut short like The Scrap was.

Again - the art is top notch - and drops hints about what is happening (is the reverend a shapeshifting alien?) - without giving too much away. Holt inside Belly is done very well - and his expellation is more than a little disgusting (but thankfully not dwelled on).

Red Man Rising
Synopsis: Nixon goes up against JFK in a debate - but he's poisoned JFK's food and kills JFK's chances. Nixon wins the election by a landslide, and begins a presidency that is filled with success (no Vietnam, arresting Castro, improving race relations). The 2 term limit is revoked, and Nixon could be president for life. But as he appears in an open topped motorcade in Texas, a sniper is waiting to take him out. And that sniper is JFK...

Review: Oh dear. This is a little odd. We are supposed to believe that Nixon - clearly an inveterate liar - would have been a fantastic president - just by winning the debate? This story needs the reader to swallow a little too much and simply doesn't work as a result. The art also suffers badly by not being able to depict a recognisable JFK. Edwards can do Nixon - so why is his JFK so bad? I had to read the story twice to be sure that it really was JFK at the end.

I suppose I should be a little more accepting of these one off stories, as they're often a good way for a writer and artist to break into 2000AD. However, an improvement in future issues would be welcome.

The Off-Lode Experience - Part 3
Synopsis: Dexter fills Bili in on the situation. They're on their way to take out someone called Lux, they need her to use technical data supplies by the Barfs.The group arrive on Alpha Centauri colony, "a resort dedicated to pleasure and satisfaction", but are quickly placed under arrest for "public decency". However, Sinister saves them by unleashing a depraved rant - "Years later the liberal folk of AC colony would still be talking about the magnificently depraved rant of the potty mouthed Irishman."

Sinister is led away for a night of pleasure - but it turns out he's being led by a Barf in disguise, who needed to wait until they had proved their identity (which Sinister had in spades). Sinister decides he's had enough, and it's time to move on...

Review: Another great episode, and reminiscent of the early Dredd epics (like the Cursed Earth or the Judge Child)- where every episode was an excuse to depict a wildly strange future community. Hopefully they'll keep using this premise for future episode, as it really lets Abnett off the leash, and has given us some of the best lines in SD for ages. The group dynamic is also working very well indeed, with Billi providing a nice counterpoint to the endless enthusiasm of Sinister and Dexter.

Again, the painted art is absolutely fantastic, and thank god they saved Simon Davis up for this epic, as he seems quite at home in depicting the depravity of Alpha Centauri...