Judge Dredd Megazine 264 - 13 Nov 07

Cover by Steve Roberts

Adam Crabtree: An appealingly sticky vision of Fink Angel is the most commendable thing on a fairly dark and indistinct cover from Steve Roberts. Just once I'd like to see a black and white cover from Roberts (like the story within), just as an experiment; some of his most striking stuff's been included in the Angel series.

Martin Charlton: A simple, straightforward piece by Steve Roberts that could possibly do with a wider palette, but a nice enough effort with a ‘star scan’ feel to it. 

Tribal Script: Robbie Morrison Art: Tan Eng Huat Colours: Chris Blythe Letters:Annie Parkhouse

Brandon gets into the spirit of things...

Synopsis: Bruce Brandon, an anthopological explorer, has turned his sights on Mega City 1 for his latest TV show - deciding to investigate the "Scorps" gang. He's soon brought into their ranks and given an initiation where he kills a group of innocents in the street. He has a life rad scorpion grafted onto his back which helps him to lose his inhibitions and become a true member of the gang. However, his show has made the gang famous, and now everyone wants to join, making them less "cool". He eventually kills the leader of the gang, taking his place until Dredd blows him away - warning anyone watching that the same will happen to them if they join a gang.

AC: Quality follows quality for the future lawman. Last month we saw off the latest, profoundly disturbing PJ Maybe tale. This week Robbie Morrison fires off something less cerebral (though still clever), more vital and altogether like a cold power shower to the nuts.

It confroms to the gold standard of Dredd satire as a Bruce Parry-a-like anthropologist falls foul of MC-1 "tribes"; indeed it may well have been business as usual but for the fresh pencils Tan Eng Hat and colouring of Chris Blythe, who render the tale so vividly as to raise it to a new level of quality. Read it, love it.

MC: A respectable attempt by the erratic Robbie Morrison, and some tasty art by Tan Eng Haut gives a solid ‘filler’ Dredd, albeit one which doesn’t feature the big man himself all that much. Some leaps of logic in the plot but the subtle digs at certain sub-genres of documentary win him points in my camp.  

Big Robots - Part 8 Script: Alan Grant Art: Dave Taylor Letters: Ellie De Ville

Kong leads the way...

Synopsis: Using the big Kong robot, a fight begins between the two sets of robots. Eventually the buildings believe that the city has risen against them and are ready to be destroyed. Instead, the judges use Kong to lead them out of Mega City One to form a sattellite city outside of the gates - with Kong watching over the robot blocks and the millions of citizens within them.

AC: Phew. Let me be plain; this has been bee-YOO-tee-full to behold, with a huge concept, faciliated by a very sophisticated artist blessed with a generous sense of scale. However, at eight months in length, with Alan Grant phoning it in on script duties, it's pushed its luck a little. Still, I daresay it ends on its finest moment,the establishment of the "satellite city".

It should also be reflected that something other than sophistry is needed to properly render character faces and expressions. Look at the second page of this instalment, you'll see exactly what I mean.

MC:The best thing about this is that it’s over. Mega City One now has a satellite city that we’ll never see again, and I’ve lost about 2 hours of my life reading this. It’s not bad, but it’s fluff, really. This is inoffensive work by a writer without any motivation to write to the best of his abilities. A wasted opportunity. 

Blood of Satanus 3 - The Tenth Circle 8: The Authors of Misfortune Script: Pat Mills Art: Hicklenton Letters: Simon Bowland

Dredd takes a beating...

Synopsis: Dredd arrives at the ninth circle to meet the "Authors of Misfortune" who help to turn Dredd's people against him. First, Destinos warps Judge Donna's mind and turns her against Dredd. Then Judge Vakula reverts to his Vampiric self and starts feeding on Meg. He rips the micro bomb from her and uses it to commit suicide, taking Destinos with him.

AC: Personally?

I think it's a piece of experimental art, dealing in abstracts, memorably grisly imagery, and a plot strung together by wacky concepts and puns, and I look forward to reading it all in one go. I ALSO think someone should tell Pat Mills there's a time and a place.

MC: Apparently finishes next issue. I quote the letters page: ‘The blame lies equally with the editor, who upon reading this should’ve first reached over his shoulder to check for a spine’. This has only been published because it’s written by Pat Mills, and that’s a sad indictment of the current state of 2000AD. 

Pizen: Impossible - Part 2 Script: Simon Spurrier Art: Steve Roberts Letters: Ellie De Ville

Fink lets loose...

Synopsis: Fink and the Cursed Earth native are still looking for the Swampstinger, but he doesn't know what it looks like. She leads him to a tree where the swampstinger is supposed to be and is impressed that he's not afraid to take it on. A fight with a huge beast ensues during which Fink Kills the monster after it eats Ratty. He cuts open the creature but can't find Ratty - and then discovers that he's been bitten but is not poisoned. It turns out that the woman is in fact the Swampstinger in disguise and likes to test its prey before eating them. It stings Fink...

AC: More Spurrien madness from the Pizen extraordinaire, and there's a brilliant rug-pull at the end of this part. It's just FUN is what it is; colourful dialogue, the likes of which we're useful from the writer, some incredibly dynamic two-tone artistry from Steve Roberts and between the two of them we have enough gross out sci-fi concepts to start a farm for the little buggers.

MC: Like Mean or even Death, Fink makes a great villain, but also makes a great anti-hero. Some classic dialogue keeps this going, with Fink proving himself capable of being a legitimately funny character, and any strip with a Rat in a bowler hat is always going to be pretty sweet. Another home run for Simon Spurrier and Steve Roberts (care of Mike McMahon). 

Reprint: Future Shocks
New Comics: Phonogram
John Hicklenton Interview
Kings of Cult: Takashi Miike
Small Press - Wishpoosh
New Movies

AC: A truly charming small press piece brightened up my day with its stylised and beguling depiction of a shapeshifters tribulations. It's sweet, but not such an extent that it will rot your teeth, or indeed your frontal lobe. A fascinating Hicklenton retrospective is supplemented by the classic reprint, drawn by the man himself and scribed by Grant Morrison (superficially interesting but his best work was definitely still ahead of him).

Alec Worley cotinues to sound off to whoever still wants to hear about how crushingly disappointing modern cinema is, a bitesize guide to insane Japanese film-maker Takashi Miike (seriously, take this as your starting point and follow the rabbit hole all the way down) and, as a counterpoint, a sensitive write-up of indie comic Phonogram.

MC: I already knew Phonogram kicked 7 types of ass. Now you know too. John Hicklenton seems like a nice guy (no excusing Satanus though…), Takashi Miike makes weird films, a lean month for cinema reviews neuters this feature somewhat, and the Dredd files rill ever on (slower than the publication new strip), while the small press is nice but of little note. 

AC: It's not all gold, but it's still an institution. I've always got time for the Judge Dredd Megazine, and if you look in your heart I think you do too.

Best story: Judge Dredd

MC: Dredd’s ok, Fink Angel is of the expected high quality and the rest of the Meg trundles on like nothing is wrong. This publication really needs its own editor to give it identity. I have nothing but the highest respect for 99% of what Matt Smith does, but he’s only one man. With this in mind I’m not going to renew my subscription next year, and I’ll probably only pick the Meg up when Jack Point rolls into town. Which is a real shame, as it used to be the high point of my month. 

Best story: Fink Angel