Prog 1357 - 10 September 2003
Cover by Frazer Irving

Synopsis and review by Gavin Hanly
2nd Opinion by John Amans

Summaries and reviews contain spoilers for this issue.

GH: A brilliant cover from Frazer Irving - rightfully announcing Saving Grace (too often 2000AD doesn't put new series on the cover till the end of the run - this and Lobster Random appear to be recent exceptions). This certainly makes you want to open the issue and find out what From Grace is all about - and the placement of the tagline also works very well - emphasising the overall symmetry of the piece. Very good indeed.

JA: A rather nice colour Frazer Irving that heralds the arrival of "From Grace" and is intriguing enough to grab the attention. After a few disappointing covers this is a return to form and sets-up nicely the new story. A warm golden feel on one side with a charming collection of heads on poles on the other certainly made me look forward to the issue. Also, I rather liked the attention-grabbing slogan. Irving's covers rarely disappoint and this is no exception.

Holding On

Synopsis: The Tetzlaff family's roadster has malfunctioned, sending then careering off the road, precariously balanced above a 1000 meter drop - with only Judge Dredd keeping them from falling by holding on the car while waiting for an H Wagon. The Tetzlaffs are all "big-boned" and Dredd can't keep his grip forever, so the surrounding citizens decide to bet on the outcome - until Dredd arrests them for gambling. One laughs and ambles away, goading Dredd, so he shoots him in the knee and tells the others to stay put. Then the Lucy Lawless Musclegirls coach stops, and they offer to help Dredd by making a rope from their bras and thongs - but the road collapses, sending the Roadster and Dredd hurtling into oblivion. Luckily the H Wagon finally arrives, and grabs the car. After landing, Dredd advises the Tetzlaffs to start using the gym, and gives the Lucy Lawless girls 30 seconds to cover up to avoid a public nudity arrest.

GH: A one-off Dredd tale like Wagner and Grant used to do them. Based on a frankly absurd idea, this works very well, and drives home the idea that Mega City 1 laws are just a wee bit different from ours - something that can occasionally be lost in the more serious Dredd tales. As usual, Rennie shows that he simply "gets" Dredd, in a way that those before him, like Millar, Morrison and Ennis, simply didn't manage as well. This is admittedly a throwaway tale, but it's extremely good fun, right from the muscle girls stripping off to help Dredd to the last minute rescue and advice for the Tetzlaffs. This combines well with Gibson's, as usual, brilliant Dredd art. His work has improved immeasurably since he started colouring it again, and Rennie's obviously decided to take full advantage of his ability to draw scantily clad women. One-offs like this occasionally don't work very well, but when they're as ridiculous as this, you can't help but smile.

JA: After the damp squib that was "The Satanist" we have one of those Judge Dredd filler episodes. Gordon Rennie writes a passable, amusing, but distinctly empty episode. What rescues it is Ian Gibson's rich colourful art. These types of episodes tend to dwell on the interaction with the Judges and the average MC1 citizen with a dash of humour thrown in. Gibson stretches his portrayal of the female form to new heights, but it adds little to an episode that is really a between meals snack. Whimsical fun and mildly entertaining, but not much else.

Part 7

Synopsis: Lament and Sky are brought to a large eye-shaped object at the centre of Leviathan, and thrown in by the stokers. They fall into what looks like nothingness until they land heavily. Looking about they see what looks like phantoms and then realise they are caught in the hand of a huge demon, and completely surrounded by the phantoms.The demon says they are forsaken, and that he is Arch-Duke Hastur, who sits at the right hand of the devil. Lament suggests that the demon is as trapped as they are, but the beast corrects him, saying that everyone on the Leviathan is there because of him - as he is the heart of the Leviathan and feeds off the misery of her passengers. The only reason Lament and Sky are alive is because Hastur wants them to serve him...

GH: To say that this week's Leviathan takes an unexpected turn is something of an understatement. Ok - we had the idea already laid down that those in the Leviathan might actually be damned raised earlier, but I was expecting that to be a red herring. I guess the best way to hide foreshadowing is in plain sight. Of course there's still a glut of questions raised by this week's episode, not least Ashbless' involvement, and I fervently hope that this series isn't going to end on a final note - as I really, really want to see a lot more.

As ever, Edginton's compelling script is expertly backed up by stunning artwork from D'israeli, who manages to put in one spectacular image each episode (and achieving many more this week). This is certainly in the running for best new story this year.

JA: The last couple of episodes have started to really make this the hit that we knew it was from the first episode. Though, I feel a little concerned that this story has taken a rather predictable route this episode. I was not in the least bit surprised that an arch demon was at the centre of the ship. It just reminded me a little of past 2000AD stories that have various demons, devils and other Princes of Darkness emerging out the woodwork to explain all of the bloodshed and mayhem. Though, this may be different. Saying that though, the script is still good and the artwork continues to complement the premise: you really feel as if you're in some 1920's setting. The next episode is, I feel, the critical one for me. If Leviathan cops out á la Judge Dredd: "The Satanist", then it will remain a good story that fell at the last hurdle. I wait with baited breath…

Junk Bond - Part 2

Synopsis: Dexter opens fire on the Samurai, but his bullets bounce off, and the robot slices his guns in two, before knocking him unconscious. After he wakes, he's told that the robot has taken Wendy. He calls Sinister, and meets him and Rhodes at the bar. They decide there's a Mangapore connection, from the robot, and track a private charter about to leave for Mangapore. Sinister and Dexter rush to the scene, taking out most of the Mangaporian groundcrew - but the ship escapes. They have no choice but to go to Mangapore and get Wendy back.

GH: A considerable improvement on the lackluster opening salvo, this is an entertaining romp, even if it is over incredibly quickly. Compressing the first two episodes into one would certainly have helped. While this is fun and readable, if a little inconsequential, it's something of a continued disappointment that after the moody introduction of Vijay that he's sidelined so much. Davis' art is also an improvement on last week's episode, where the static closing image held no tension at all. So all round, an improvement, but there's still a nagging doubt at the back of my mind. This is the 99th Sinister Dexter appearance in 2000AD (or so I'm led to believe by the 2000AD website) and you can't help but feel the phrase "less is more" could be aptly used to describe the gunsharks these days.

JA: I didn't quite know what to make of the return of Sinister & Dexter. The last three series have been less than earth shattering. However, SD Davies is my favourite S&D artist. OK, the artwork is predictable: you know what you're getting with his interpretation of the gun sharks. At least we're not just being spoon-fed some of the usual S&D story by numbers stuff, though I get the distinct impression that they’re the "A" Team of the comic world: no bullets ever hit them. The thought of them returning to Mangapore at least makes me want to read next weeks episode. I just hope this story actually goes somewhere rather than previous efforts. Perhaps S&D is due for a real shake-up to rescue its reputation from terminal boredom? Killing off a couple of the side or even main characters might be a good start.

Part 1

Synopsis: Kaith is dying, as his life is replayed to him in snatches. At he age of 15 he is told by the elders that everything is sacred - but not apparently himself. As he flies, tearing open a small bird, to see if it is sacred inside, he is attacked by other winged creatures, the Shee, who call him Paleskin - but they are frightened off by his brother. He flashes back to the age of twelve, as he is told of the first raid by the wingless humans from the cities, one of them who scarred his brother, and raped his mother - fathering him. Back to the age of seventeen, and a radiation sickened man wanders through the plains. Kaith is being taunted again, when they come across this "wingless". Kaith lifts up a large rock and dashes the man's head in - "...no sacredness there either..."

GH: This has been a much anticipated new series, what with Simon Spurrier coming off the high of Lobster Random, and with Frazer Irving's work being a big fan favourite. And this episode is certainly a very good opening episode. After a shaky start, Spurrier is quickly becoming one of the rising stars of 2000AD, with 3 innovative series (including this) and one smash hit (Random). The jump-around nature of this issue works extremely well, and both the writing and the colour coded art make the storyline surprisingly easy to follow. It may be a little too early to make a complete judgement on this strip, but all the signs are there for another classic. As a series opener, this is also a perfect self contained strip within its 5 pages - something which Spurrier started to perfect during Lobster Random. It's still something of a surprise that this is the same writer behind Bec & Kawl, and much as that series may appeal to certain parts of the 2000AD readership (just not me) I'd much prefer it if he carried on with stuff like this. Irving's art marries well with the story, and I find myself preferring his colour art here to his colour work on Storming Heaven, with some well thought layouts throughout, and the clear colour pallet.

JA: I really enjoyed Simon Spurrier’s last series, Lobster Random. To be honest, I had to read this twice to have an idea what was going on! Darker in tone and theme than some of his other work, I'm not quite sure what to make of it. It's not that instant as say Leviathan, but it certainly has something. Littered with brutal violence and a distinct feel I think that it needs a couple of episodes to really get going. The artwork complements the story but reminds me too much of "Storming Heaven". A promising start.

The Tax Dodge - Part 8

Synopsis: Johnny fires a number 2 explosive cartridge, destroying a huge pillar, which topples, squashing one of the Brothers (Midas). The last remaining Brother, Judas, opens fire and all hell breaks lose on Gnob, as the Hundred Years Peace is finally over and rioting erupts in the marketplace. Judas runs for it as Wulf catches up - neither of the brothers at the hideout had the Kabob. They wade into the riot, clearing the way before them, and dragging Paxman along. Reaching Midas, they see he doesn't have the Kabob - so Judas must have it. But then the guards they knocked out at the temple see them - and announce that they are the thieves. The crowd goes quiet as Alpha protests their innocence but the crowd, led by the Gnobleman Norb (from 1354) doesn't believe them. The high priest wades in, trying to bring back calm, but decides to put them before the Gnobbian Inquisition in the tower of Gnob, asking Alpha if he's heard of "the death of 34 humiliations" - "Didn't get that far in the guidebook."

GH: A fantastic episode, and perhaps the best in the series so far. This is mainly due to the great pacing in the six pages on show here, in which we go from all-out riot to sudden quiet, as the Stronts and the Taxman find themselves in a very unfortunate position indeed. There's more of the Gnobbians (who are a truly wonderful creation) and their unwarranted surliness and Alpha and Sternhammer still seem one step behind their goal as the kabob and the last Brother remain just out of reach. Wagner's work here makes me easily forgive him his recent mis-steps on the more moodier Judge Dredd tales, and hopefully he'll bring some of this insanity to a future Dredd epic. As ever, Ezquerra makes this strip his own and while he's still willing and able to draw it - no one else should be allowed near it.

JA: After 8 episodes it continues to be the best story going. Carlos' art is as good as ever and takes me back to the great days of "Rage" and "Portrait of a Mutant". Though The Tax Dodge doesn’t have that real classic quality, it still has enough to make it the best story currently running. What I particularly like is the element of wit that is present. The rather permanently irate Gnobs rather remind me of a few people I know! Paxman is a good addition to the story without being annoying. Also, we don't have J Alpha just blowing away the unrighteous brothers with comparative ease and getting back the relic. Can't wait to see what happens at The tower of Gnob! The return of SD has been a real success and certainly better than the return of Rouge Trooper on Nu-Earth.