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¦ Features ¦ The review
of the year - part 4
 PAR
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29th
December 03 |
WR Logan-
site reviewer and 2000AD fan-in-chief
 Best
Strip: Easily Caballistics, Inc.
There have been some great strips especially in the early part of 2003 but Caballistics
is one of a few strips that I enjoy reading when its in the Prog and cant wait
for it to come back when its not.
Best Writer:
John Wagner
Another easy category, although Gordon Rennie is the heir apparent, whilst John
Wagner is around he’ll be in the shadow of the great man. As yet, the old
man's time isn’t over.
Best Artist:
Henry Flint
Whilst we’ve seen some great artwork this year, there’s also been
a fair share of mediocre and downright awful artwork as well. One artist has worked
on more than one story, more than one genre and each time he just proves that
he’s the best art droid that Tharg has produced for years. His Black &
White artwork has been truly wonderful and even his colour work puts many an art
droid to shame. Step forward the Galaxies Greatest Comic’s best artist,
Henry Flint.
Best Single
Episode: From Grace Part 1
A hard choice here, there’s the first appearance of Judge Logan in Judge
Dredd: Satanist or the Death of Colonel Logan in Rogue Trooper but I think I’ll
go for Prog 1357 and the first part of From Grace.
The pairing of
Simon Spurrier and Frazer Irving brought us something new to 2000AD and whilst
it may not be everyone’s cup of tea it proved that The Mighty One is still
willing to try something new.
  Best
Cover: 1335
Another not too difficult category as there have been some hugely disappointing
covers this year and for me it was a choice between Progs 1335, 1337
& 1363
But as I’ve got to pick a winner it’s going to have to be Prog 1335.
Best Newcomer
- Dom Reardon & Boo Cook
Newcomer awards and 2000AD don’t exactly go well together as artists or
writers may be new to us but have been around for a while, or by the time we notice
them we don’t realise that they've progressed through Future Shocks to the
point where we notice their names in the Credit Box. My vote has to go to two
droids this year, and whilst not exactly new, this was the year they became "known"
to us. Dom Reardon first appeared in Prog 1281 (6th March, 2002) & Boo Cook's
first appearance was in Prog 1208 (30th August, 2000) but this for me has been
the year that both of these droids graduated from wannabes to art droids.
Most Underrated
For me this has to be how underrated the artwork of Siku on Judge Dredd, Tharg
really underrated how bad this was going to be.
 Most
Overrated
Dan Abnett's Durham Red, and the case of the shrinking outfit. Durham’s
revamp looks good with Mark Harrison's paint & pixel artwork but its all style
over substance and the story lost me ages ago. I really don’t care about
the characters and especially the fate of Durham herself.
The best thing
about 2000AD in 2003
The first six months were great, the Thrill Power was making my thrill circuits
buzz, although it faded towards the end of the year it was great to see that 2000
really still is the galaxies greatest comic. The Dredd Vs Death game, it may not
have set the gaming world alight but I enjoyed running around blasting away with
my Lawgiver and dispensing justice.
The worst thing
about 2000AD in 2003
The return of Sláine. This turkey should know when it's time to return
to the Earth. More Pseudo religious crap and mother Earth ramblings, Sláine
was once one of Tharg’s best, now its like some shambling zombie, it's been
dead a long time, it just seems that it doesn't realise it.
Finally –
the last section is "What would you like to see from 2000AD in 2004?"
Some great covers, a design that looks like its had as much time spent on it as
its sister publication The Megazine, with the Nerve Centre & Input pages being
overhauled and once again becoming an integral part of the Prog.
A good mix of
old & new and less of the seasonal offensives and more Progs where when a
new story starts, others are halfway through their run and others at their end.
With maybe only two Progs a year where all the stories start, like one in the
summer and the other being the end of year 100 page special.
John Amans
- Site reviewer
 Best
Strip: Lobster Random & Leviathan joint first.
I really couldn't separate these two. Both were excellent and worth the cover
price alone. A mention must go to Strontium Dog as well. Where other established
strips continually disappointed, "The Tax Dodge" was pure quality.
Best Writer
: Simon Spurrier.
His work on Lobster Random and From Grace was by far the most original piece of
writing this year.
Best Artist
: Clint Langley
For Slaine. His work on both Golamh and Moloch was breathtaking
Best Single Episode : The Last episode of Leviathan in prog
1360.
A fitting finale to a superb story.
Best Cover :
1351.
The Double fold Golamh cover by Clint Langley was simply stunning!
Best Newcomer
: Lobster Random.
I hope we will see him back in 2004.
 Most
Underrated : Slaine. Most
people loved the artwork, but hated Pat Mill's clunky script. In years to come
we'll realise it wasn't that bad!
Most Overrated
: The return (yet again) of Rogue Trooper.
Sorry a
return to Nu-Earth cannot save this now fading strip. It's the Mike Tyson of 2000AD.
Someone needs to knock it out once and for all to stop it from being truly embarrassing.
The best thing
about 2000AD in 2003
Brilliant artwork by Clint Langley and some excellent stories by Simon Spurrier
kept me reading every week.
The worst thing
about 2000AD in 2003: The "Autumn Offensive".
Most progs
in October, November & December were poor. In fact..they were bloody terrible
once Caballistics finished! I hope the editorial team learn their lessons and
don't do that again in a hurry.
What would I
like to see from 2000AD in 2004?
A good
Judge Dredd mega 20 episode plus series. Isn't it about time Mega City 1 locked
horns with Sino-Cit? This has been indicated in past episodes and it's about time
it was resolved! Team Dredd up with Rico and lets have something akin to "the
Pit" or "Apocalypse War". Dredd has been very poor this year. Time
to put it back on the map.
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