Review: 2000 AD – Prog 1880
Easily the most memorable and poignant cover in recent memory, this one. I’ve spent enough time gushing over Simon Davis’ simply stirring artistic work on the current Sláine run, but this front page truly shows how good he is at being both artistically strong and relevant to the story. The almost dull color pallet plays easy on the eyes and delivers a cover that not only grabs your attention but is also a well-crafted piece of artwork. Combined with the headline of Sláine’s search to redeem Sinead’s soul, new readers already have everything they need to know to catch up with A Simple Killing in its current state, what more could you ask for? Well, I’d like this on a poster, but in the meantime there’s 32 pages of Prog to get through first.
Dredd gets off on an altogether grim start in part two of A Shooters Night, first. Okay, so, last week wasn’t exactly cheery, but this rabbit hole only goes deeper and more subversive as the pages go on. While our favorite Judge continues his search for the perp who’ll pay the price, we see the antagonist’s story come together, too. Much like the previous story Mega-City Confidential, Wagner is utilizing a parallel narrative with both sides of the coin being
represented to us at once. Normally, I would frown upon using the same plot device twice running, but the actual main story-line running through A Shooters Night is frankly interesting enough to pull it off and compliments the previous thrill while still working to showcase much of what made that story good. The tension rises with this one.
I had absolutely no idea what to expect with Indigo Prime making it’s proud return to the Progs this week, penned by John Smith. Not a clue. I was still taken aback by the contents. Being about an inter-dimensional Men In Black of sorts who police the alternate realities, you’d expect things to be very strange and odd. Odd goes some way to covering it, but by the time the punchline of this first part hits, it’s already so confusing that it just washes over you and you’ve no idea what you just read. That said, it is the right kind of confusing. While the narrative feels almost incoherent on first read, it is not without calculation. There’s a strong sense that this is definitely going somewhere and that while the likes of Terry Gilliam and David Lynch spring to mind as influences, Perfect Day looks to prefer a stronger sense of easier to understand structure. We’ll see in the coming parts if that’s correct.
Middle of the book brings the thrill of the hour, Sláine. Last week not a lot happened, and this week again not a lot happens, but we do get important context for future action. Lore is introduced, as well as Slaine’s drive to get what he needs to do done. There’s a beautifully sorrowful tone over the book at the moment what with Sinead’s character and it translates so well with Pat Mills’ script and Simon Davis’ art. Pat Mills has a real penchant for merging the fantastical titling that comes with a story steeped in mythology and putting it into believable dialog that isn’t camp or ridiculous. There’s still a level of ridiculousness, sure, but you believe the 
words as they’re written and you believe the exposition and you believe in what’s happening in the story, and that’s impressive.
What happens if a group of survivors on Stalin’s Railway to Nowhere find a cosmonaut in mysterious circumstances? Tharg’s Thrillers aims to answer with Colony, a frostbitten tale of forgotten souls who are just about surviving in a harsh and all too real reality. As the fourth story in the progs, this was a nice breath of fresh air against the sci-fi and fantasy heavy tales surrounding it. A gentle reminder of regular humanity and that it is in fact possible to write a story where the characters are reacting to otherworldly elements rather than living with them is well-timed, and it helps the content is actually interesting, too. The script, by Kek-W, is very grounded and there’s a range of characters at various levels of despicable without any one of the small ensemble standing out as being particularly noticeable apart from the narrator. Looking interesting, this one.
Outlier brings up the rear then as the last of the two new thrills beings to breathe it’s last. Tension is mounting as the story is reaching fever pitch with all parties in the one place and all devious plans coming to the fore. Our protagonist, Caul, shows some very typical but no less badass lead underdog tropes as he beings his final assault on the villains of this piece. Truly, T. C. Eglington’s script has remained tight, coherent and polished and Karl Richardson’s art more than functional. Next prog is going to be a fun one, though I will be sad to see the back end of this thrill for now.
2000 AD – Prog 1880 is available now.
