Prog 1325 - 29 January 2003
Cover by Fraser Irving

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

GH: Ooh. A very nice attention-grabbing cover from Frazer Irving this week. Like last week's, it's clearly laid out, and the cover headings and logo are clear. But most of all, Irving really can draw Zombies very well indeed. It's a pity he wasn't let loose on Caballistics, as his art style clearly suits the series down to the ground.

WRL: 2000AD’s horror artist of choice turns in a stunning piece of art for this week's cover, proving me wrong in my opinion that dark covers can’t grab your attention. The artwork has depth and feels as if the zombies are just inches away from grabbing hold of you and dragging you into the cover...

Dredd vs Aliens: Incubus - Part 5
Synopsis: After Verminator Millar is killed, the rest lose it. Fisk is immediately taken out, and her boyfriend Marinello lets off a few rounds - unfortunately hitting the dead Fisk's backpack fuel tank. The flaming body of Fisk falls down the tube, taking out Maier too. 3 down, 3 left. Meanwhile Dredd is is back at the hospital, where a panicked evacuation is taking place. He warns the Verminators that the creature is alien. Dredd, Giant and Sanchez land mid block, and try to break in, but Sanchez hears scratching from the other side. The Alien rips through the door...

GH: Things hit a breakneck speed here, as the Verminators are routed. The pacing is extraordinary, with a great action set piece to start off the episode worthy of any Alien film (and better than many). The sense of panic and fear is fully evoked in this episode, and you really get the impression of how dangerous the alien is. The image of the alien perched on Fisk is a classic alien pose, but Flint really has managed to find a new and exciting ways to show off Giger's creatures. And the last page is damned good too.

On another note, Fox are planning a 9 DVD set of the Alien saga this year - so with luck, this series will get publicity from that and be the success it deserves to be in the states.

WRL: Last week I said "let the mayhem begin" and with this week's episode it’s certainly started. True to the Alien formula, any characters that you’ve not met before are fair game to die in the most horrible of ways. Having seen many of the pages of Henry's artwork before they were coloured, its good to see a colourist that adds to the art and doesn’t detract or go over the top. Chris Blythe may be the unsung hero of Dredd/Aliens as his colouring looks so good that its easy to forget that this story is assembled by an ensemble cast: two writers, artist, colourist and letterer that separately can create work far above the call of duty. But together this team has created a story that works on many levels and will remain in the reader's memory way after we eventually get to the final page. Talking of final pages, the last page of this week’s episode is a great full-page pic that should be hung in a frame and exhibited for the world to see.

Going Underground - Part 5
Synopsis: Back in 1945, a hellbomb, designed to "rip open big holes in the fabric of the psychosphere" was launched at London by the Nazis but it didn't explode, lying in Holborn station for years. Rayne says it's due to the psychic misery of the commuters worrying about their dreary lives that the bomb has gone off - but it's lost power over the years. They get to the portal, and Rayne says he'll need help, taking Miss Simmons with him. The help he needs turns out to be a sacrifice - as he throws Miss Simmons into the portal...

GH: I am kind-of enjoying this series, but still feel it could be something more. Perhaps there are a few too many Caballistics to make the team work. But if that's the case, that should be less of a problem after this issue. I think I'll enjoy this a lot more if the scope opened up a little. Dredd/Aliens has achieved a remarkable amount in 5 episodes, but Caballistics Inc. seems stuck on a not-very-interesting case. It's not that the strip is bad per-se, but that it could be a little faster, and a little clearer in its intentions. It will probably work better as a complete series - but that's not really the point is it?

Reardon's art is getting better, despite some very dodgy depictions of London in the early scenes. He certainly seems more at home with the characters than their surroundings, however, and he struggles when he has to depict much more than moody tunnels.

Hell and High Water - Part 5
Synopsis: The Kraken retreats, killing one of his own men and eating his heart to show Dante what he'll do next time they meet. Dante and the kids are taken to Pacifica, home of the black dragons, an alliance of the Yakuza. Pacifica is a fortress built on the ocean after Japan was devastated by tidal waves (thought to have been initiated by Tzarist agents). Their ruler Akita Sagawa got where she was by having herself delivered to the Tzar - "in a life sized golden dragon - naked, with the severed head of her father resting in her lap" - assassination being the preferred Yakuza method of succession.

Dante and the kids emerge from the ship as a Red Dragon captain reads out the charges against him. Akita is impressed: "You're remarkably cool, considering you're the most wanted man in the world. If not the universe." - ordering him to be "scrubbed and shaved and sent to my chambers"

But the captain challenges him to a duel to avenge his comrade Pyre. Dante agrees, but swiftly disposes of him with a kick to the face.

GH: After some smaller scale Dante Episodes, Morrison takes us back into the world, so to speak, with the introduction of a major new culture to the world of Dante. The Red Dragons seem to have considerable power, but still kowtow to the Tzar. We'll have to see if Dante manages to ingratiate himself with them, or as his crest would fear, mess it up by seducing their leader. But the scope has opened up considerably, and what I thought would be a quieter Dante tale has progressed in a completely different direction. John Burns, as ever, does a fantastic job, especially as he's now given the chance to establish a new and lavish culture. His depiction of Pacifica in particular does a wonderful job of emphasising the size of the island.

WRL: After a few slow (but enjoyable weeks) the story picks up a pace and the Russian Rogue once again has that glint in his eye. He always seems to come to life when he’s got a good looking lady to try and impress. Dante continues to meet people who knew Count Pyre and want to exact revenge on him. You may have thought that as the story of Pyre’s demise spreads, the stories of how underhand Dante can be when challenged to a duel would have followed. In usual form Dante proves that he’s no gentleman and the nod to the reader in the final frame ends this weeks installment wonderfully.

John Burns continues to hold the mantle of best Dante artist and unless Simon Fraser returns to the Russian Rogues adventures you cant imagine any other artist prising that title from his hands. The opening shot of the Pacifica city reminds me of sci-fi design that I remember reading as a kid and invokes great memories, while also looking fresh and new. It's just a shame that Dante couldn’t hold on to his place as the last story in the prog as, with Dredd and Caballistics, the Prog starts and continues on a high, peaking with the final frame of Dante. After his look to the reader, the rest of the Prog starts to go downhill...

Relode - Part 4
Synopsis: Moses and his crew attack, with the Sinisters, Dexters, Billi and the professor pinned down. But Billi has an idea - and makes a future booking with Mr McCandless. His rocket immediately rips through the building and the older gunsharks and Billi escape, leaving the younger ones with plenty of explaining to do. Billi made the appointment with McCandless saying that as soon as he fitted his D-Jump, he should pick them up. But they soon discover he's not the Manx that dropped them off - meaning they weren't in their own reality at all. But they should still be able to get home.

But back where they left, Holy Moses expresses interest in the professor's "pet project"...

GH: Sinister Dexter comes to another close as everything ends happily, but with a clear degree of foreshadowing at the end, as Holy Moses' intentions are potentially due to cause our heroes grief in the future. So an enjoyable episode - but please give them a rest for a bit now!! I do enjoy their yarns, but even I can understand that the characters are in very great danger of outstaying their welcome. Let something new develop for a while, eh Tharg?

WRL: Then as you reach that peak of excitement and your thrill circuits are about to reach some state of hyper thrill overload, you're brought back to earth with a bump. Now I know how the wife feels, although that may be more info than you really want in my weekly review...

For the previous three weeks the ongoing tales of Sin/Dex have reached an all time low, but with this final episode of Relode it plumbs new depths that surpass even those reached by Death Planet. The only saving grace of the whole 5 pages is on the last panel of page 5 where we have “The End” printed in wonderful red lettering. One can only hope that this is the last we see of Downlode’s gunsharks but I’m sure that my joy of seeing the story come to an end will be dampened pretty soon when we see a new story start.

Moloch - Part 5
Synopsis: Slaine, Niamh and Ukko visit a seer to learn of the future. After some trouble, the seer describes a world that sounds suspiciously like ours: "men without axes, forests without trees, seas without fish." Niamh goes for walk to say a prayer and thank the goddess for their victory. She is confronted by Moloch, who wants a "tryst". Niamh resists, and a fight starts, but Moloch ends it, skewering her with his sword, and then raping her. Slaine comes on the scene, coming across two swords "A reptile symbol! It means...a double cross!". he finds Niamh, who dies in his arms...

GH: Now this episode actually starts off well, with some much needed humour coming from Ukko's comments on the Seer's abilities. Even the skewed view of the future is fun. But then things get all angsty again. The fight and raping of Niamh would have been much more shocking if Mills hadn't clearly signposted it over the last few weeks. He laboured the point so much that I'm almost glad he's got her out of the way now. This is something of a shame, as the episode isn't all that bad. The fights are still a tad preachy, and the "double cross" causes the reader to emit a loud sarcastic groan, but Niamh does come to a nasty end. But Mills, please - stop treating your readers like children, and give us the benefit of the doubt. Some of us are actually able to understand subtext and hints without it all being shoved in our face.

The art continues to improve this issue, though - mainly because we can see what's going on (although things get dimmer again at the end - I'll need new contact lenses by the time this series is over...) and the last panel of Slaine cradling Niamh is particularly impressive.

WRL: With some light in the background the artwork on Sláine is more accessible and does achieve some sense of clarity, but is that enough to save a story that started well but over the last 4 weeks has started to slide? Niamh’s death has been signposted for a couple of progs and it becomes a reality this week. Niamh and Moloch battle, Moloch wins and just to show his contempt rapes Niamh before she lets out her final breath. If this was any other story, by any other writer the rape seen may get more comment but Pat Mills has already used rape once in this latest outing for the warped warrior and has been used in other Pat Mill’s stories (Marshall Law) as a way of giving the main character a reason for his single minded obsession in dealing with his opponents and never allowing them any closure when the eventual revenge is achieved.

Artistically this week’s episode is an improvement but the story doesn’t seem to fit a weekly anthology title. As the Horned God was the biggest selling Sláine Graphic Novel and continues to sell well abroad especially in Europe and anywhere longhaired, biker jacketed comic fans pray to the altar of Bisley. I feel that this latest three book saga is designed more for a graphic novel collection and the appeal it will have for the people who have only ever read the Horned God, more than to the average weekly reader of 2000AD.