2000AD Prog 1591 - 18 June 08

Cover by Anthony Williams (after Ice-T)

Darren Stephens: This is a really weak cover. It's a homage to an iconic Ice-T CD cover for 'Power', released in 1988 (heh, topical!). The only problem with that is, if your not familiar with the original it just looks like three characters stood in a line.... on a white background....not something that will catch the eye, let alone draw in any new readers. Bland.

David Page: I had no clue this cover was a reference to something before reading the forums so I am judging this as I see it. Boring, too much white and the actual characters could have easily been stick figures and done the same result. Worst cover in a good while.

The Edgar Case - Part 3 Script: John Wagner Art: Patrick Goddard / Lee Townshend Letters: Annie Parkhouse Colours: Chris Blythe

Edgar takes one last swing...

Synopsis: Dredd tries to contact Edgar for more information, but she's refusing his calls. Dredd investigates further, looking into the judges investigating the Boden and Deine murders. Judge Wintergreen, now at the academy, said they had two suspects in the Deine case - Jimboy Boden and the painter Darko Bovic. They were sure it was Boden, but he had a voicebox installed and beat the lie detector. He was dead days afterwards anyway - killed by the Citizen's Court, a group of vigilantes who killed the perps that the judges couldn't touch. They were responsible for thirteen murders and were never caught.

Elsewhere, Judge Masterson meets with Judge Ramos and tells him that Dredd's been investigating Deine. Ramos says there's nothing they can do - but Masterson warns him that Kubitts won't think that. Indeed Kubitts, whose name has come up in Dredd's investigation, is preparing to take Dredd out of the equation...

DS: The star of the comic proves his worth once again. Dredd's investigation into the mystery of the dying Judge Edgar's evidence is handled in a very controlled, slow burning fashion. It's also hinting at some sort of conspiracy involving several long serving members of Justice Dept. This week's episode ends on quite a cliffhanger. Are the rogue Judges seriously going to try and off Dredd next week? Good luck with that guys! 

Patrick Goddard, Lee Townsend and the ever reliable Chris Blythe should also get a mention for their artwork, which, while a bit workman like, flows nicely and suits the strip perfectly. 

It's amazing that, after all these years and in a Prog with such strong line up, Dredd still manages to hold his own.

DP: Oh man, this story is getting good. It's been a while since Dredd story makes me want next week to come faster but that’s what this story has done. I can’t wait to see what happens next in Edgar's final shell game…..

Part 3 Script: G Powell Art: D'Israeli Letters: Simon Bowland

Bless makes friends in the jungle...

Synopsis: Meridien Bless joins the commandos on an attack on the Froggys. There, she sees them up close and finds herself repulsed by their customs. They are spotted and the attack begins, with Bless being dragged to safety by a wounded Crispy. She's still curious about his identity, but even he doesn't know who he really is. They return to the base where the chairman has the rocket ready to fly. However, they start getting interference, only to realise that Veldt has captured the Froggy leader...

DS: Another good strip (surely Tharg can't keep this up through the whole Prog? Well, more about that in a minute....).

I'm not sure what G. Powell (who he?) has been sniffing, but this is one strange tale. The main character, Meridian Bliss, isn't that memorable - although I like the mysterious Crispy a lot though and hope he plays a bigger part in upcoming episodes- but it's the planet Vort and its inhabitants that make this strip what it is.

Of course, a lot of the credit for this goes to artist D'israeli, who pulls out all the stops and has created the most surreal, beautiful artwork we have seen in the prog for some time. The Froggies, the planet Vorts natives, with their "eyes like assholes", look a bit too comical and harmless for my liking though!  

DP: Beautiful art but I can’t help but feel it would be even better not coloured at all. As for the story it is keeping me interested but nothing much more to say than that.

Brethren of the Night - Part 3 Script: Pat Mills Art: Leigh Gallagher Letters: Ellie De Ville

Bendigo loved his job...

Synopsis: As Defoe continue to clean out the zombies, they come across Gonoph Bendigo - a "Gong farmer" who is using his job as cover to send boys into ruined houses and loot them. Bendigo was a bare knuckle boxer, and Defoe was a fan so is unwilling to have him arrested. However, he's worried that the two boys he's sent down into the ruins have been sent into a nest. The boys themselves are more worried about the mysterious Mr Quick...

DS: A zombie infested London. An odd assortment of characters, all wielding inventive undead dispatching weapons. Brilliantly yukky (in a good way!) artwork, dripping with detail. This strip has it all! 

So far there isn't much in the way of story for us to get our teeth into, but when a strip is this much fun, I'm willing to give it a little time to set things up. This weeks installment centres on the zombie hunters run in with Gonoph Bendigo, a Gong Farmer. Gong being sewage... Nice.

DP: Ah, the lettering problem has been sorted and the mayhem continues. Good zombie-splattering fun with great art and fantastic writing from Pat Mills. I can’t help but feel that I really do not want to meet Defoe’s dirty Dozenne in a dark alley though. I'm also looking forward to meeting Mr Quick, although let's hope he's not an anti- climax, eh?

Yer Ass from Yer Elbow - Part 3 Script: Dan Abnett Art: Leigh Gallagher Letters: Ellie De Ville

Cutter literally plays his hand too soon...

Synopsis: Sinister and Dexter get a job from the mockney speaking Benny Bournemouth. They tell him that they are taking the jobs between he two Moses - hoping to balance them out. Sinister isn't too happy about the idea of working for Bournemouth until he's introduced to their charge - the buxom Tessa Racked...

DS: The prog's one bum note, Sinister Dexter has never really been a favourite of mine and I'm sorry to say this latest story has done nothing to change my mind. It's not that there is anything seriously wrong with the strip. I know it's very popular among the 2000AD faithful, but I've never really understood exactly why. 

Abnett's story is okay and the trademark snappy dialogue, which I find mildly annoying for some reason, is present and correct. Williams artwork is actually really good, though not really suited to these characters. The whole thing tastes a bit like 'filler' to me. 

DP: I hate this....

Okay, a bit harsh I'll admit, but I feel like this story (the boys protect a hot babe who will most likely have a bad past/ ties to the villain/be a hindrance) has been told too many times in this series. For all the build-up, the War of the Moses has been a lame duck so far….that is unless it hasn’t started yet…

Amerika - Part 3 Script: Pat Mills Art: Anthony Williams Letters: Ellie De Ville

Dante proves a point...

Synopsis: Dante is taken to hospital, where his weapons crest helps to heal him faster. Jena visits him and tells him that the origin of the explosive device is still being investigated while Dante is worried that the Tsar is becoming more oppressive every day just to hold onto power.

Jena visits the United Nations to meet Jason Futura, a weapons designer with plans for developing New York, and who has plans to run for president in the upcoming elections. Meanwhile, a flag wearing "superhero" breaks through the defences...

DS: This latest adventure for the Russian rogue is shaping up to be one of his best yet. Morrison has served up a fantastically  topical tale set in a Russian occupied USA, a heady mix of political intrigue, suicide bombers, an oppressed citizenship and vigilantes roaming the streets (in the guise of superheroes that look vaguely familiar!).

It's no surprise to see Dante having survived last weeks bomb blast, but physical injury aside, its not left him in the best shape mentally. It will be interesting to see how things pan out in the coming weeks. 

All this is topped off with the outrageously good artwork of strip co-creater Simon Fraser. 'Nuff said! 

DP: Assemble! That ending made me laugh so much.

Robbie Morrison hasn’t put a foot wrong thus far. Simon Fraser's artwork is just terrific in complimenting the great story. I know we saw his head on a pike at the end of Tsar Wars but did anyone else think of Andreas before the reveal at the end?

DS: A fantastic Prog this week and the new thrills are really starting to pick up the pace after the previous slightly downbeat run of stories. It's filled to the brim with a variety of strips the like of which you wont find anywhere else. I'm really looking forward to the next issue, which is something I have'nt said since, well, last week! 

Best Story: Nikolai Dante

DP: A great prog with four stories steaming on at full speed, only let down by Sinister Dexter.

Best Story: Defoe