Prog 2012

[The Enigmatic Dr X]

Too much to take in over one sitting, especially as it's got to last.

Read SinDex and Stront.

SinDex is going to be really divisive. It works well as a comic strip, and fits into the jumping on nature of the prog. Thing is, I reckon this is the last episode of SinDex. Last ever. I don't know for sure, but it feels that way. If it is then it is a terrible way to end. Even if it isn't, and it is merely the end of the current story (which it is for sure) then it feels really wrong and out of kilter with the rest of the story. What am I blabbing about? Two words: helter skelter.

Stront. Wowzas. Johnny has new powers. Being dead can do that, I guess. I haven't read anything else but I suspect this just wees all over everything else in the prog.

Another highlight is the subscription add. I love the disclaimer text. "Commissioned by the Infernal Molchiavellin PR Departmenet of Rebellio IV". Ho, ho, ho!

[radiator]

Sinister Dexter will outlive us all.

[The Cosh]

Really enjoyed this. It felt good and meaty as I lay in the bath reading it.

I definitely prefer these when there are a few one-offs and even a proper Christmas story rather than mostly extended episodes of normal strips.

Dante and Absalom the standouts on a first reading.

Mr Ewing's Christmas Dredd manages to be a good advert for the upcoming CYO Dredd adventures, a clever use of the conceit (works better than the recent issue of Unwritten, for example) and a great, funny Dredd all in one. Chapeau.

Sin/Dex very meta, but I don't think it really is an end end. Didn't Abnett recently say they were looking at getting it back to short, comical format for a bit?

More later.

[Colin_YNWA]

Yeah I remember Dan Abnett saying that he was really excited after discussing his plans for S&D in 2012. So I for one am glad that this is not the end. Only one I've read so far and while it was fun seemed a bit throw away for something that is ending (I think) years of story.

I do wonder what Tharg has planned for the 35th anniversary. All this talk of mixed universe and series ending makes me wonder if there's going to be some sort of crossover coming. Seems really unlikely but the more I see of stuff the more I wonder...

[TordelBack]

I'm getting Prog 2012 for Christmas from my long-suffering wife, marking a return to proggery after too-many months abstinence, and my receptors are all a-tingle with anticipation.  Hence I can't stay away from this Forbidden Thread of Mystery. 

A Sinister Dexter story in an end of year Prog that reads like it was the last one?  That'd be the third example of the form, at least!  Memorable precedents include the one where they so dead that were actually ghosts, and the one were Finny gives in to fantasy and finally despair in his prison cell (one of my all-time favourites).  Can't wait!

[Colin_YNWA]

A Sinister Dexter story in an end of year Prog that reads like it was the last one?  That'd be the third example of the form, at least!

One thing I should have said is that it didn't read to me like an ending to the series as a whole at all. It read like an end to the storyline (a bit) but certainly not the series. Just my take of course.

[Dark Jimbo]

Frankly it read about the same as if had Abnett had left the last few pages blank and scrawled across them with a marker pen 'Yeah, I'm bored of this now.'

[Darren Stephens]

Mmmm. no Prog yet. Maybe the postie has borrowed it and I'll get it Monday. Can't blame him. 

[Jared Katooie]

Sinister Dexter is like war or racism - it's atrocious and we'll never be rid of it. So don't worry folks it'll be around for-evuh.

[Bolt-01]

An awesome prog. Seriously.

Stront really does steal it for me, but everything else is so strong it is scary. It is also so surprising that two of the strongest strips are two of the newest- Absalom and the incredible Aquila.

My only let-down was Sin/Dex- sorry, but I could have done without the 'fan w***' feel of this. Also- how could they survive a trip to the Quartz zone? Editorial should have vetoed that. In my opinion. I've said it before and I'll say it again- Sin Dex should be here every week for the forseeable. Get a stable of strong artists and really kick this story into overdrive.

Sorry for the mini rant; I don't want to spoil the thread as this is a superb prog and deserves to be a massive hit for the house of Tharg!

[Grey M@a]

Mmmm. no Prog yet. Maybe the postie has borrowed it and I'll get it Monday. Can't blame him. 

Same here, no prog today so fingers crossed it lands on Monday.

[flintlockjaw]

'BlackHawk' is back!!!! Woohoo!!!
Well, kinda. 'Aquila' is fantastic. Leighs art is amazing...re usual! Gordon Rennie concept and script are excellent!!!

Absolutely loved Al Ewings/John Higgins strip. Nice nod of the head to Ian Livingstone, Steve Jackson and Joe Dever. Mr. Ewing...you're a genius...but you already know that.

Can't wait to do the podcast on this Prog with Rich and gang. Should be a blast!

[radiator]

Why is it that it's only ever the progs that I'm really excited about that fail to arrive on the Saturday?

[A.Cow]

Unlucky 13?  I could be sticking my neck out a bit here but I felt a tad disappointed with this year's bumper prog.  Aside from Dredd and Strontium Dog this was all a bit 'satisfactory' rather than 'good'.

Sinister/Dexter: Woah!  Didn't we do all this in Armoured Gideon a few years back?  This story has done a lot of damage to the slight credibility that the strip regained recently.

[Richmond Clements]

I usually start at the front and read the comic in order. But I had to go straight to Strontium Dog. But it was so good I suffered a catastrophic Thrill Power Overload and have been unable to read the rest of the Prog yet.