Latety late late - didn't think I had the creds for my Prog at all this week, but somehow the missus rustled up a double-handful of coppers (is that an Anderson innuendo?) this morning, and off I skipped through the apocalyptic weather like a kid with his pocket money. And it was a good'un too.
Cover: Didn't care for it in preview, think it looks great full-size.
Dredd: Lee Carter in colour -arsomsauce. There is a teeny niggle for me, carried over from Necrophim, in that torsos always seem too long in comparison to legs, other than that: wow, that's great stuff. Vibrant, detailed, well-designed. His Judges pop-out from the background, which is how I've always thought the uniform was meant to work, visible deterrence in action.
As to the plot, an apparently familiar tale with a great final-splash reveal. I've become a broken record on this subject, but this is the first major Wagner-script gap where everyone involved has produced Dredd that I believed was the real thing, wanted to read, and really enjoyed, week after week: Ewing, Carroll, Grant and Rennie - well done all.
Terror Tale: Well structured, good punchline, lovely art - our man Redondo was born to draw pretty people kissing. Result. However... is it just my eyesight or do the lovely B&W lines look horribly pixellated? I always have the same problem with Red Seas, but I'd sort-of put it down to whatever programme Yeowell was using. Now I see the same effect on Redondo. Is it just me?
Cadet Anderson: Love this story - as long as Grant and the Ezquerras can keep it at this level of fun, I'll be very pleased. Anderson should be fun, not maudlin introspection and looming dread, at least not all the time. She's the sherbet of Justice Dept, and this series delivers just that.
Red Seas: More lovely Yeowell swordfightin', and presumably the end of the Cradle.
Absalom: This just gets better and better. Dare I say I prefer this to Cabs Inc? I hope it doesn't get too close to a modern Stickleback to become a problem, but seeing as that strip seems to have moved away from it's 'crabby geezer with a mysterious past leads gang of zombies and freaks around a supernatural London underworld' premise we should be okay.
