Prog 1323 - 15 January 2003
Cover by Clint Langley

Synopsis and 1st review by Gavin Hanly
2nd opinion by W.R. Logan

GH: Is this 2000AD? Who knows, because YOU CAN'T SEE THE BLOODY LOGO!!! Hell - you even have to look hard to see how much you have to spend on the comic. How will this attract new readers???

As far as the image goes - I'm not that impressed - it looks a little fuzzy, as if it's been blown up in Photoshop too much. I'm also not sure that the character of Moloch is strong enough for a cover image. A Slaine action shot would have been far more striking, as well as appealing to certain lapsed readers. All in all, a very poor choice of cover.

WRL: Clint Langley's cover is disturbing and if only his images could be that bit clearer then this would have got more of a thumbs up from me. As I keep saying, without seeing the art in its raw state you can't tell if it's the artwork or the reproduction that causes the work to be dark and at times fuzzy around the edges. Not sure about the way the image covers the cover logos. I'm not adverse to the image covering the logos, it's just that you'd be forgiven for thinking you'd just bought a magazine called Moloch and not 2000AD.

Dredd vs Aliens: Incubus - Part 3
Synopsis: Dredd and a host of judges descend on the warehouse. A dead body with its chest burst open lies on the ground between two open eggs - but one remains closed. They find one "facehugger" - already dead. Judge Brubaker looks closer at the closed egg, which opens on his approach. A facehugger leaps at him, fastening onto him. Judge Pitt attempts to cut it off - but the thing's acid blood burns her fingers off. Dredd orders the others to hold back.

As the verminators in the hospital come across some shed skin - "Freaker's getting bigger" the Judges in the warehouse see something in the shadows and open fire...

GH: It's becoming clear that any other story in 2000AD during the remaining 13 weeks of this saga is going to have to try very hard indeed to beat this for the "best story" trophy. I've read a few of the Dark Horse Aliens comics in the past, as well as some of the crossovers, and while some of them have had merit, none to my knowledge have managed to stick as close to the spirit of the (first two) films as this series has so far. Part of this can be down to the compatible nature of the two franchises - the Aliens don't seem unlikely in Dredd's world - where at the same time, he's never actually come up against something as physically dangerous as this.

The unravelling of the story in 6 page installments is also adding considerably to the tension, forcing the writers to cram storytelling and plot development into each episode. It'll be interesting to see how next week's ends - as it will be the end of the first Dark Horse issue when it's published in the States. Diggle and Wagner have done well to create the story with the strengths of the weekly format in mind, something that lesser writers would have forsaken when presented with the eventual longer issues. It also seems much more satisfying that we're already 3 issues in, and we haven't seen a full grown Alien - something which apes the tension of the first film in particular.

But it's still Henry Flint's artwork, and Chris Blythe's colour and effects which bring this one home. A large cast of distinct characters, with some great set pieces before the series has even got out of first gear - and some really nasty use of the Alien acid blood. I also see that we've got the "judge with big hair that won't wear a helmet" - harking back to the days when Anderson had a much more active role of the main Dredd story. While a little improbable, it has to be said it's nice to see a little variation amongst the judges...

WRL: What more can I add to previous weeks' reviews, and that goes for most of the
current batch of thrills. Henry Flint is one of my all time favourite 2000 artists and he continues to deliver with this episode. We've seen the ChestBurster and now we get to see the other stages of the 'Alien', Eggs, Face Huggers and just a glimpse of the full grown bug. The Alien franchise is a one trick pony and you know the set up: you know you need the characters for bug fodder, there has to be acid, bullets and blood a plenty, but even when you know the formula, seeing Dredd pitted against them so far has been the best part of the Prog. Still 13 weeks left and let the mayhem begin.

Going Underground - Part 3
Synopsis: The brigadier continues his survey of the "scene of the crime" describing incidents in Tottenham Court Road, Chancery Land and Russell Square - the "Holborn Triangle". He gets ready to send in search teams into the tunnels, with Slater's team backing them up - "scientific advisors". Verse warns them this is a bad idea for amateurs. We learn that Verse used to work for the US government, and Martinique had an unsaid vocation of sorts.

The team head into the tunnel, and are by a horde of demons..."we're all going to die horribly!"

GH: A considerable improvement this week, as the sarcastic brigadier (harking back to Dr Who perhaps?) adds some much needed sarcastic to the group dynamic. Hopefully he'll be a regular cast member. The series is certainly beginning to show some promise - although I'd still like a little more time devoted to the setting up of the "evil" they're supposed to be fighting as, despite the last page, I'm still not getting a feeling of danger from the series. I'm also a little afraid that Verse, placed squarely as the "arrogant American" could prove to be a very irritating character indeed - and some tweaking of her persona may be needed to avoid this. But the series still captures my interest, and certainly has the potential to grow from this once we move past the scene-setting stage.

The art again is nice and moody, and improving with every issue, but the last full page was distinctly lacking in impact. Reardon seems more suited to keeping his demons in the shadows, and not quite at home with the big display needed here.

Relode - Part 2
Synopsis: Sinister, Dexter and Billi take some time out to think over their situation. Billi tries to explain the potentially disastrous problems of being stuck in the past with the possibility of paradoxes. They manage to offend Snappy Kumbach, one of Holy Moses' hitmen. He pulls a gun on Dexter, but Sinister immediately kills him .."no one sicks a nine in me pal's face..." However - Sinister was due to kill Kumbach five years in the future...

Holy Moses learns about Kumbach's death - and sends his men to take out S&D, who decide to seek help from the only people they can trust - their younger selves...

GH: While the characters still divide the 2000AD readership down the middle, I'm still enjoying their tales. It's true to say that they should probably be given a rest, but this series is looking to be as much fun as their last, and stupid time travel stories are always entertaining. If the naysayers could put down their preconceptions of the characters for a minute, it's clear to see that the writing has better dialogue, pacing and plotting than many of the newer series on the block. So in that respect, it's not hard to see why more episodes are commissioned. The art is also still good - if a little over-posed in some panels. However, isn't it likely that Sinister might have changed his style of shades in 15 years...?

WRL: Time Travel in Sin/Dex, why didn't I think of this before: I could travel back to 1995, get Tharg completely wasted on polystyrene cups and tell him to bin that idea he has for the 2000AD winter special. Ben Willsher continues to pump the characters lips up episode by episode, at this rate I won't have to worry about killing them off as their lips will explode before the story ends, taking most of their heads with them. If that fails Billi seems to be getting younger with each panel so if her exploding lips don't get her she' ll be a foetus by the time their time travelling adventure is over. So lets play spot the 'I'm bored and I'm going to fit in some quirky references in to my art' game; is that Middenface sat in the diner? Pokemon, Hellboy, did I miss anything?

Hell and High Water - Part 3
Synopsis: Dante tows his crashed ship behind the yacht, while teaching the young boy to swordfight with a mop. He then tries to comfort Mina, and learn more about her father. He is The Lord of the Reivers, and her mother took the children away from him "because she said she didn't like the way he was beginning to look at me." Dante tells her "they say my father's dead" and his mother's "as good as".

Dolphins race along the side of the ship, but as one of them leaps at the boat they turn out to be vicious "kreelers", scouts for the Reivers. Dante fights them off, but a huge vessel bears down on them as the Lord or the Reivers gets them in his sight...

GH: While not as immediately engaging as some of the other Dante series, this is a good break for the character, allowing a different side of him to emerge. The two children are written well, and with one line Morrison manages to make us realise just how evil the impending bad guy is. Dante shows considerable hatred of his mother, which I thought he'd gotten over in previous episodes - but maybe it's time for a re-read (or some new trades, perhaps?). Burns, as ever, provides some stunning visuals.

WRL: John Burns continues to be my Dante artist of choice. An enjoyable romp this
week and Dante should be moved to the back of the Prog, Always leave them on
a high with Sláine as the final story 2000 doesn't achieve that. Dredd grabs you, great story, great art, Caballistic's isn't going to be everyone's cup of tea but for me it's a winner. Clear everyone's pallet with Sin/Dex just so you can see how bad things can be and if it was followed by Sláine the warped warriors pages may seem better by association. End on some swashbuckling Dante and you put the Prog down with the poorer stories hardly denting your thrill circuits.

Moloch - Part 3
Synopsis: Slaine comes face to face with Balor, and after ripping out his eye, kills the demon, by ripping out his heart. The humans begin to rout the Formorians, and the battle is a success. They burn the demons' carcases, as Niamh and Slaine head for a swim. Slaine says that the only thing preventing him from becoming a wanderer is his wife. Then they meet Moloch, sucking out the souls of the dying Formorians - and he and Slaine prepare to battle...

GH: Ho hum. Slaine has a very boring and preachy fight, which he wins. But did he really need to describe everything he was doing like Ainsley Harriot on a battlefield? Or did the editor realise that Langley's art simply wasn't clear enough? Either way, it's very clumsy storytelling.The only positive point is the hint at Slaine becoming a wanderer again (Mills would have been hard pressed to signpost Niamh's fate more unless he'd asked Langley to draw the grim reaper trailing behind her...). The art, as mentioned, still suffers from "what's actually going on here" syndrome, although has the occasional flashes of brilliance hidden in the panels. It's also got a lot brighter this issue, which has helped enormously.

WRL: Liked part 1, not keen on part 2 and part 3 has me split. The art seems clearer, but Pat Mills dialogue is thicker than crunchy peanut butter. "He burnt through my shield" as we see Sláine's shield being burnt, then there's, "..and stab him in the eye!" as Sláine stabs Balor in the eye, and you can pick others from this week's episode alone. For a visual medium Pat really likes to make sure you don't miss what's going on. Sláine is one of 2000's great characters, but for far too long its been in need of something special to lift it from the mire it was stuck in. Prog 2003 gave me hope and I wait to see where this latest adventure goes, before that hope is finally all gone.