Prog 1768: Toxic Shock!

[The Enigmatic Dr X]

DREDD

More of the same.  Which is to say, more Flint-Wagner magic. I get the feeling that this, along with the current Strontium Dog, would read fantastically well in a collection. The six page format doesn't lend itself well to the story building.


GREY AREA

Sorry, I didn't like this. I think it's too hard to do a story based so much on heavy bass music in a comic. (Now there's something I never thought I'd type).


DANTE

Starting to build to a climax now! Are we at the vinegar strokes? Dante on the loose. Yay!

A big shout to the colouring on the last two pages. Great and vibrant, after the gloomier early pages.


ABSALOM

It's hard to say anything about this without spoilerising. I think credit is due to Mr Rennie for the varied characters he has created. It'd be easy to sink into cliche in something like this, and I think all the cast - which seems to grow each episode - is as well rounded as they can be.


STRONTIUM DOG

See my comments on Dredd. Except it's Ezquezzra magic. I'm growing to like the computer colouring on this.

[Pete Wells]

Bah, no prog for me today. Can someone tell me who did the cover so I can hassle 'em?

[James Stacey]

You'll be wanting to hassle the Willisher droid for a rather splendid Dredd number.

[Pete Wells]

Gag! I've been excited to see this cover of ages too! Cheers James!

Pete dashes off to stalk the Wisher droid!

[Colin_YNWA]

I've got a couple of hours off, my wife has taken both the little 'uns to a party for which I got a pass (YAH!). Cup of tea, absorbing cricket on the radio and the most relaxed read of the Prog I've had in an age.

Then why am I a little frustrated?

Dredd, Dredd, Dredd. Really I thought I'd said all I could about this, but still it seems there's more to say. This is such a superbly crafted episode and since it was such a relaxed read I allowed myself to dwell on where this all might still go to make it more worthwhile overall, rather than an exercise in beautiful execution of a tired plot. Then I pondered on the PJ story line and how that's going to be wrapped back into things? Is PJ going to become the hero of the piece, using his expertise to save the city? Who knows but if the story becomes an examination of PJs relationship with Mega City One it might still go to new places?

The rest is as you were. Liking this Grey Area story a lot more than the first. Absalom is a punchy delight.

Then the two masterclasses continue to be masterful. Strontium Dog is a gem. Really looking forward to what revelations are to come next week. Really looking forward to it.

As ever however Dante stand imperious over all else. This episode if brilliant even my this stories own exception standards. My feeling for the twist are confirmed and I'm delighted that that's the case and Dante himself is on such gleeful form. Its quite simply one of the best comic strips I've ever read.

A Prog so good I'm not even too worried about Strauss getting himself out as I typed this!

[Colin_YNWA]

A Prog so good I'm not even too worried about Strauss getting himself out as I typed this!

Though by the sound of it I should have been!

[The Cosh]

A strong Prog again this week with Grey Area the only thing I didn't actively enjoy.

In Stront, have the stone wizards actually resurrected Wulf and the big flying thing along with Johnny in the same body?

[JUDGE BURNS]

Yet another good cover highlighting the plight of the current DREDD storyline. ( which is just sheer magic )

The only 2 stories that let it down for me, yet again, is Dante and Grey Area. I just can't seem to grasp these characters.

It will be interesting to see what Johnny Alpha has in him that has been interfering with him.

[Tim Tailz]

It will be interesting to see what Johnny Alpha has in him that has been interfering with him.

 

[IndigoPrime]

It will be interesting to see what Johnny Alpha has in him that has been interfering with him.

<joke about Wulf and his happy stick>

[Trout]

So much marvellous stuff in this prog. I loved it all.

We're spoiled by Wagner on a Dredd epic and an intriguing Stront story at the same time, but I was most excited by the way the action is moving in Dante. I felt something like joy as he escaped and started doing his thing. We knew it would happened, but that doesn't matter. That's the fun of a swashbuckling story like this.

Also, Absalom has another great new character in the Guvnor. It's all based on cop shows and has Nazi demons thrown in, so it shouldn't work - yet it does.

Great prog.

- Trout

[strontium71]

One thing - When Dante talks to Crest , is he reminising or imagining it's still there?
I couldn't be sure , and for a second thought that Crest was suddenly going to appear.

[The Cosh]

Wistful reminiscence combined with self-mocking humour in the face of what he's about to do.

[strontium71]

Aah , that makes a lot more sense.
And I also spelt reminiscing wrong...

[Buttonman]

Man, with this Dredd you spoil us Mr Tharg. Great feeling of tension and inevitability.

I can see PJ taking umbrage with someone killing his citizens - that's his job - and sorting out some retro virusy thing to save the day. He and Dredd then embrace and we all feel warm.

Sameazthat Squad in 'Grey Zone' coming soon - is that near 'Grey Area'? My script 'Grey Industrial estate' needs only a plot and characters and a premise and I'm on that bandwagon!