2000AD 1550 - 15 August 07

Cover by Cliff Robinson

Gavin Hanly: After many years of stock Dredd poses, Cliff Robinson has been put to somewhat better use in recent times, especially when Tharg wants something a little different to emphasise the kind of comic that 2000AD is - if not the actual content. Much like his work for issues 1493 and 1496, this seems more like an advert for 2000AD than a normal cover (and maybe it's being used as such elsewhere) and that can't be a bad thing.

Robinson certainly has it in him to create all manner of bizarre beasties - and it'd be great, especially after last week's stellar work on Judge Dredd, to see him do some more strip work in this vein.

Adam Crabtree: The work of Cliff Robinson, seen in a rare full-strip only last week, is typically only ever relegated to covers, and moreover the sort of anonymous cover that could be applied to any of a thousand progs; jokey renderings of robot readers, out-there aliens and daystick wielding Dredds.

These are often something of a non-event, and it is because of Robinson’s obvious and distinctive talents that this is so; surely he should be residing proudly within the pages, not exerting himself on this fluff? I’m sure we’re all looking forward to the day, but in the meantime we continue to get these fairly imaginative but still rather uninteresting pages; still, as a “jumping-on point” cover, it may well serve as a decent advert for the contents… 

Cit-emp Script: Gordon Rennie Art: Len O Grady Letters: Annie Parkhouse

Dredd proves he's not getting soft...

Synopsis: Judge Dredd is on the street and his actions are being fed directly into an Academy Citizen Empathy Training lecture. Dredd is scheduled for light duties only but ends up teaching the rookies that it's better to use shock & awe tactics against the citizens of MC1 rather than sympathise with them. The lecture rounds up as Dredd breaks up a siege and tells them that life on the street is very different from class theory.

Gavin Hanly: From Gordon Rennie, who's normally a much better Dredd scribe, this is unfortunately Dredd by Numbers. Admittedly, this is harder than it looks and Rennie pulls it off with more aplomb than others before him, but I can't help feel I've seen this story many times before - i.e. Dredd proving to a desk jockey that there's no need to cosy up to the cits. It passes the lime, but leaves absolutely no lasting mark.

As for O Grady's art, it's also passable - but that's about all. Obviously his colouring, which he's had more time to perfect, is top notch, but his line art veers from good to amateurish, often on the same page. He certainly has the makings of a good artist - but needs a few more Future Shocks under his belt before he should be allowed another crack at Dredd. Given that this is a flagship issue, the lead strip should really have been put in some higher-profile hands. Frankly, this should have been included in last week's comic, and the excellent Morrison/Robinson tale reserved for this week.

Adam Crabtree: A tough talking tale from Gordon Rennie, who’s approaching the level of finesse John Wagner brings to the strip; a unique mix of the empathetic and the fascistic! Len O’Grady’s artwork, with its balanced sense of grand scale and intimate characterization, is also reminiscent of another great Dredd creator, Lord Henry Flint. It would be unjust though, to dismiss this as a mere approximation of a great Dredd tale; “Cit-Emp” is funny, clever and darkly thrilling all at once, with both creators bringing the mad flavourz (I especially love i-Teech; give him his own strip!).  

Rennie hits on that classic Dredd debate between the word of law and the people it ought to protect, stressing the salvation of the law-abiding over the punishment of the guilty. A pitch perfect representation of MC-1 that shouldn’t fail to pull in new or lapsed readers… 

The Volgan War - Vol 2, Ep 1 Script: Pat Mills Art: Clint Langley Letters: Simon Bowland

Blackblood sows the seeds of dissent...

Synopsis: In Broadband Asylum, the imprisoned Volkhan asks for Mek Quake's help, but he refuses. However, Blackblood calls him to tell him that the ABCs are moving on to pick up his replacement, Zippo. Mek Quake decides to return to Volkhan.

Back with the Warriors, they continue to tell their war tales, this time centering around a battle in Vladivostok in 2081. Hammerstein and his fellow war droids were taking on Blackblood and his Straw Dogs...

GH: It may seems that 2000AD Review has been giving Mills a bit of a hammering recently, but given that every review of Mills's work tends to degenerate into talk about he man himself and his entire body of work, it made sense to pull that discussion out into another platform. Now that that's out of the way, it should be possible to refocus on his current output and let it live or die by its own merits.

That said, the return of the ABC Warriors is certainly fortuitous. The recent revamp with Langley alongside Mills has been something of a tour de force, with extraordinary visuals, typified by the remarkable double-page spread the ends this episode. It's hard to believe that, when Langley was announce as the artist on ABC Warriors, we ever doubted his ability. But it would take a fairly blinkered reviewer to fail to admit that he's produced some of the best artwork in 2000AD's history in the run of the Volgan War. There's a good deal of computer gimmicky going on here - but where it was only intermittently successful in Sláine, it works perfectly here. The art also feels unashamedly "Sci Fi" in a way that much of 2000AD's other output doesn't really pull off. It's a remarkable achievement.

As for the story itself, the Warriors may spend a little too much time bickering, but the Mek Quake/Volkhan sub-plot is being handled well, and you can't help but look forward to Blackblood in full Straw Dogs mode. When Mills is writing the Warriors, he really seems to be enjoying himself, and this is half the battle in making the whole strip enjoyable for the reader. Easily the crown jewel of the latest 2000AD "Summer Offensive".

AC: This review will probably be written over the course of a few hours; I might… I might not… I might not be able to keep myself from… jus’ looking at it…

Yep, it’s back. Competently written (most of the time), but transcendent in its art, Book Two of The Volgan War is upon us. Man, I hate myself for frothing up every time I talk about it, but never, within Tharg’s stable or without, have I encountered such immersive work. Never have sand-going whales and giant robots seemed so plausible! Pat Mills also gives a good account of himself, serving up some real intrigue as Volkhan seduces Mek-Quake to the Dark (Russian) Side, and genuine poignancy, funnily enough; the moment where Blackblood reaches out to Mek-Quake was a surprisingly human one, especially for a strip about (say it with me) giant robots.

A very impressive start. 

The Harrowers - Part 1 Script: Ian Edginton Art: Simon Davis Letters: Ellie De Ville

Harry going back to nature...

Synopsis: After the destruction of Long Barrow prison one of the survivors, Harry (half converted into an alien like the rest of the prisoners), ekes out an existence on the moors while the other survivor "Sara" lives nearby. However, Sara is attacked by the aliens although Harry comes to her rescue. But as soon as he does, the authorities surround the house.

GH: It's fair to say that the previous series of Stone Island was not met with overwhelming praise. So why it's coming back as part of the big Summer push is anyone's guess. The original Stone Island started as an interesting premise, but rapidly went downhill, saved only by some excellent art by Simon Davis.

On that last note, we should at least be glad that it looks like we're in for more of the same this time around. Davis work here is just as astonishing, albeit in a completely different style, as Langley's work on the Warriors. Perhaps he's been able to see something in the premise that we haven't - because, like last series, he's producing some of the best art of his career on this.

As for the story? Well, Ian Edginton's certainly earned the right to an appeal, which is how I'm treating this story. He's a normally incredibly gifted writer, so in many ways I can see why Tharg's giving him a second chance on Stone Island. This opening episode was certainly a lot less annoying than majority of Stone Island 1 - so I'll be willing to give the series a few episodes' grace before becoming too damning...

AC: This time last year, eh? Summer was riding high, Blair was still in the White House (or something), and we had Prog 1500 to be going on with. The first instalments of Stone Island held great promise, with an intriguing Ian Edginton script and Simon Davis’ art showcasing a style of storytelling that was pacy, yet spacious and decompressed, with great care and attention lavished on the macabre splash pages; never did a fall come so far and so fast. It derailed spectacularly as survival horror stereotypes chewed the scenery, inexplicable aliens chewed on them, and the plot descended into a morass of overwritten, overblown fromage. 

But, and I concede, it started pretty damn well. And funnily enough, so does “The Harrowers”. Our requisite female character from the last one makes a reappearance, shorn of her tedious mardy-ness, and even given a name! From there we see the set-up of a very effective post-apocalyptic world; bunny slaughter (gotta be one of the best panels ever!); psychic noise; horse slaughter (more fine work as the slobbering horse retreats from mutant ex-lag Harry); “F.O.A.D” and a fight to the death to round things off. Edginton still shares a common trait of 2000AD writers (Simon Spurrier’s another example) of just trying to fit more words in; just how long are you gonna spend talking to your alien aggressor? Otherwise, it’s actually not too hard to believe Stone Island has had a “difficult first year”, and better things might be on the horizon… 

For now… 

GH: For what should have been a superlative "launch" issue, this week's 2000AD manages to fall far short of the mark, with only the ABC Warriors really being worth showcasing, as Stone Island still has a lot of bad feeling to overcome.

It seems odd that the stories that we're really waiting for (Button Man and Caballistics) are being launched in the following issue - but at least that means we should see a quantum leap in storytelling by this time next week. But for the moment, disappointing.

Best Story: ABC Warriors

AC: And just time to big up the “Great Moments in Thrill Power” features; my personal favourite is Richard Elson’s Bad Company splash (though Johnny Alpha’s Revenge has a special place in my Apple Tart). Ian Gibson’s revisiting of Halo Jones, unfortunately, just reminds you of how good his original black and white stuff was; the feeble colouring of his newer work only diminishes it.  

As for the prog, it’s difficult to make it last when there are only three stories on offer; just as well that there’s a great display of quality here. When it comes down to choosing a favourite… well, I hope you’ll forgive me for my folly, but even greater is my hope that next few weeks don’t compromise this early approval… 

Best Story: Damn it to Hell, it’s Stone Island…