2000AD 1379 - 3 March 2004
Cover by Steve Yeowell and Chris Blythe

Synopsis and review by Gavin Hanly
2nd Opinion by Richmond Clements

Summaries and reviews contain spoilers for this issue.

GH: A solid but rather unremarkable cover from Steve Yeowell, which works as a "grabber", and in that aspect does its job well.

RC: Superb, eye catching image. A very effective selling cover; I spotted it from across the shop I my local newsagents, and that is what a good cover is all about. Much as I want to resist the pun, but it does leap off the page at you.

Brothers of the Blood – Part 2

Dredd takes charge...

Synopsis: Out on patrol with Rico, Dolman begins to see the attraction of being a judge - but can't yet understand why he wants to reject the life. Rico tells him it was the principal's decision to send him on patrol, not his, and that he will stand by Dolman's choice. He stops by to introduce him to Vienna - still recovering from her trials in The Satanist. She tells them that Dredd has come by on awkward visits but he's making an effort at least and that she's having trouble going outside. After hearing about Dolman's intention to leave the academy, she wishes him luck.

They are called to a Cit-Def riot in progress, being put down by a group of judges with Dredd in charge. Dredd recognises Dolman, but we are unsure if he knew of his existence before this meeting. The Cit Def launch a half smart missile at the judges, wounding many, so the Dredds head in...

GH: As mentioned in last week's review, this works well in the same vein as "The Pit". There's a much greater emphasis on supporting characters than we've had lately in Judge Dredd and the story is all the greater for it. There aren't many major comic creations where the lead character can remain as a barely seen character in his own strip, but it's a measure of Wagner's writing that he can pull it off here. When Wagner's writing on full stretch as here (and to an extent in his current Legends of the Dark Knight arc) he lifts the series to new heights. It's stories like this that should be used to show all those doubters why Dredd has remained such an enduring series over the years.

As for Ezquerra, the lack of action sequences in last week's episode are made up for here with a great opening montage, and a fantastic one page Dredd shot (see above) which manages to sum up in one image just why Dredd's so tough. Not sure about his Vienna, though. It looks like there may be an effort to put some family resemblance into her, but a with a similar attempt in the recent Robo Hunter revival, it looks a little odd...

RC: Sometimes I think the biggest problem with the work of these two creators is that we all too easily take it for granted. Yeah, we all say, Wagner is a great writer. But do you ever stop to think exactly why? Well, I don't think you have to look any further than this week's Dredd.

The first page gives us two greats working at the height of their powers. The beautiful work by Carlos, allowing one frame to overlap perfectly over the other, matched by Wagner’s cracking script, as Dolman begins to understand what exactly it takes to be a Judge in MC 1. And that is only the first page! This is before we get to what, for me, is the real surprise of the episode: the reintroduction of Vienna. Again, the combination of Carlos’ art, right down to Vienna’s wry look, and the subtle texturing of her hair, and Wagner’ effortless characterisation, leave every other writer artist team way behind.

Witness Dolman's tight arsed reply, Vienna's description of Dredd's visits, and Rico's human warmth. And all this is before we even see "The Great Man Himself", and what an image it is when we do. And Wagner allows the reader the rare treat of having him say Those Four Words.

This is just brilliant.

Twilight of the Idols - Part 10

Aladdin discovers the price of knowledge

Synopsis: Laputa is like a graveyard to the gods, with idols left to represent them. One idol is of a Norse man and appeared to have been holding something, but what was there has been removed. Aladdin appears, with a Lightening Bow, taken from the idol, attacking Dancer's men. He has become younger, and bullets bounce off him. He disappears, appearing once again wearing a strange mask over his head. As he pulls it in front of his face, he turns into a wolf creature, slashing at the men, while running around them at a speed quicker than the eye can follow. But Dancer uses the discarded Lightening Bow to stop him in his tracks, forcing Aladdin to change back. Growing ever younger, he runs into the Arboretum, followed by Dancer, and takes a bite of the forbidden apple at its centre. He is suddenly given ultimate knowledge, but this drives him insane, leaving him catatonic and harmless.

Dancer removes his ring and summons the Djinn. He frees the Djinn asking for favours instead of wishes - hide the island, heal the wounded, and take them all home. The Djinn agrees and tired of the world, he decides to remain on Laputa with Aladdin. Dancer and his crew are instantly transported back to the Jolly Cripple. But Dancer also has the magic ring. It may not be magical any longer, but it's solid gold, and the first round's on Dancer...

GH: So the Red Seas comnes to an end. Although this is a double-sized episode, I can't help but feel a little let down by this episode, as everything is wrapped up a little too quick. We only just learned that Aladdin is the bad guy and already it's over. A few more episodes in Laputa would have been more welcome, and given the character of Aladdin more time to develop.

That said, this feeling of disappointment is probably due to the fact that one of the most enjoyable series in recent 2000AD history is over. I enjoyed the first Red Seas to an extent, but this has been a far more enjoyable ride, with many of the criticisms of the first series answered. Dancer has been a much better lead, taking a more active role in the development of the plot and has been given a great line in laid back humour. The supporting cast are slowly being developed (although thankfully more work on those is promised). Plus the main female character wasn't anywhere near as irritating as Dancer's girlfriend from the last series.

This coupled with some immensely effective work from Steve Yeowell, who was given much more to play with this series, has made this a welcoming recurring series to 2000AD. Thankfully, another one is in the works now. Can it be even longer too?

RC: Has it really been ten weeks already? This week, it is the turn of Captain Jack Dancer and his crew to get the double length treatment, in an episode that looks to me as if it was written as a single ten page strip, rather than two weeks worth stuck together.

Anyway, it all ends well, with a satisfying finale. For the little time he spent as it, Aladdin made a good villain, and his comeuppance was a clever one. Part of me wishes that he had kept the ring, though. The aloof world weariness of the Djinn would have sat nicely with the happy go lucky attitude of Dancer. Not to mention the undoubted mess he would have made of his wishes!

There is not a lot else I can say about Yeowell’s work that I have not said before. He has been one of my favourite artists for a long time, and the body of work he has put into this strip has been among his best yet.

Part 3

Valkyries under fire

Synopsis: Fighting back an attack, the Valkyries are cornered by the returning Mega Warrior. They duck into an office, leaving the confused warrior to fight their attackers. They find data cubes in the office, and seize them, fighting their way back to the ship. Back in safety, They look at the datacubes and see the "Odin's Men" making a deal with the Trez species - who created the genetically modified Mega Warrior. Further cubes show them creating the wormhole technology, and stealing the world. Kara suddenly remembers the human arm inside the alien stomach and realises that Ymir's World war given to the Trez "as a larder full of fresh meat". She tries to get word back to Admiral Ingridsdottir who brushes Kara's accusations aside. So now they're on their own, with a frigate closing in on them. It forces them towards a Trez ship, dropping out of hyperspace...

GH: This strip has been in for some criticism from the 2000AD fandom, but I'm still thoroughly enjoying it. Sure, the more riskier points could have been toned down for a comic that is still kept in the kid's area of WH Smith, but everyone's growing up faster these days and it's a little too tempting to be nannyish about those things (I know I've been guilty of this myself). Those points aside, the story is developing well, with the idea of an entire planet given o a species as food an entertaining an original one. Highly enjoyable and a good fit in 2000AD.

RC: The more I read this strip, the better it gets. I was one of those, who, when it began, expressed doubts about it’s whole, well, you know… Now, looking at it this week, I can’t help but think that the, admittedly eye-catching, sex and nudity, of the opening episode, wasn’t needed at all. Because, when you look at it, the strip has a strong enough story on it’s own, without resorting to T&A.

The art by Lucas and O’Grady is lovely. Too lovely, I think, for 2000AD. That sounds bad, I know, but I do think their work is very good, just not suited for this particular comic. I would like to see them working on a big US strip, where their work would be perfect.

Part 10 - Just for one day

Lyx and Lin Fu share a final moment...

Synopsis: The VCs start wiping out the Geeks ahead of them and get to com control. Lin Fu gets to work with warning Earth while Ryx tells her that he's in love with her. Before she can reply, she gets through to Earth and sends word of the Mass Driver weapon but after she presses send, saving the planet, gunfire breaks out and Lin Fu is gunned down. Veto has left in the ship, letting the remaining Geeks come up behind the VCs.

A distraught Ryx is led out as Lin Fu's body is left behind, with another Geek ship heading in. But this one's piloted by Smith, ready to pull them out.

GH: Having just glanced back at my reviews for the whole VC series, it's not hard to guess what my opinion of the whole thing is going to be. Things started out so well in Prog 2004, with the promise of some real changes, but then everything went horribly wrong. Most of this series has been spent with the characters wandering from one firefight to another, with long stretches of very little happening in between. While this is the sort of set up that can be rescued by some great character work, that's not been the case here. We've spent week's in the company of characters who have little or no redeeming qualities whatsoever, and after a while it's hard not to wonder what the pont of it all is.

Possible worst of all was the Lin Fu/Ryx affair. Lin Fu's death this week should have been a tragic moment, but while it worked on the shock level, the lack of any sympathy for these characters makes the scene somewhat worthless. The whole "I'm in love with you" scene was beyond cringeworthy, and couldn't have felt more tacked on if tried. Indeed - this whole series seems to have been only set up to lay a few plot points for the future - i.e. Diderot's mysterious past and Ryx need for revenge. While this may bode well for the next series - this could just have easily been achieved with a tighter 6 issue run.

On a more positive note, Williams' art has dramatically improved this time around. He's learned to combine the computer well with his line art, and has toned down the feeling of being someone experimenting with Photoshop that was evident in the last series. However, he's slightly restricted by some of the designs of the VCs that he's inherited. The Geek ships are simply dull looking, and the Geeks themselves are in need of a design overhaul. Coupled with this, the cast spent most of the time with their heads covered, so that by the end you had little idea of who was who. A redesigned helmet could get around this problem.

So in all, a major disappointment. Maybe there's hope for the VCs yet. Abnett can pull a few tricks out of the bag when he tries, but it just didn't feel like he was trying here. Hopefully a stronger editorial hand will lead to a better series next time around, or the VCs tales should be curtailed for good.

RC: I'm not entirely sure, and I can’t be bothered to check, but I think that I reviewed the final episode of the previous series too. If I did review it, I reckon I would have said something similar to what I'm about to say about this one. This series started well, with what appeared to be a spectacularly brave step, in killing off almost all the main cast. But the momentum this could have produced was swiftly bogged down in muddy morass that is the VR prison.

A group of characters we didn't care about then did things for the next eight weeks. So, why then, do I think the episode this week is corking?

The script is tighter, and the action pacy. Why couldn't have been this good every week? Because, if it was, the story would have been told in two or three weeks, as most of the time over the past series has been spent with the cast fannying about and doing nothing to further the plot. For those of you not following it, the plot consisted of nothing more than them having to get a warning to Earth.

Lin-Fu gets a good death, and the last couple of pages show just what Abnett is capable of when he puts his mind to it. And that's no way to end a series, is it?

Bottom line: Yes, I want to see what happens next.

As Abnett turns in a nice script, so Williams rises to it, with a series of strong images, and nice panel layouts. Hopefully, Tharg will keep this droid working on this tale when it returns.