Review: 2000 AD – Prog 1890
This weeks cover art is provided by Karl Richardson whose Aquila sets a very powerful tone for the issue. The blood detail on the sword and the fire is particularly noteworthy, while the angle employed sets a daunting presence for the warrior.
Judge Dredd – Student Bodies (Pt. 1)
Script: John Wagner
Art: Boo Cook
Letters: Annie Parkhouse
We have a continuing theme since the last Dredd story of having a more light-hearted themes showcasing Dredd’s more heartfelt character, as well as the potential for comedy within the law and the setting. Here, the Judge is on the hunt for a missing student, a missing mutant student, who’s been badly bullied and segregated by his fellow students. Boo Cook’s art is the obvious highlight, with the pallette changes for different stories and perspectives, and the panel layout keeping the rhythm flowing so it feels as conversational as it should. One of the most enjoyable aspects of Mega City One is that it’s so easy to create easily interpreted analogies to social issues without it feeling crass, and this is a perfect instance. Granted, Wagner is behind the steering wheel, and I’m fairly certain he could write an award-winning Dredd story in a coma at this stage, but still, I wanted to giggle as much as cry reading this first part, and that’s impressive. Going to be an entertaining and poingnant story, as usual.
Sinister Dexter – The Generican Dream: Congo (Pt. 2)
Script: Dan Abnett
Art: Jake Lynch
Letters: Ellie De Ville
I had my qualms about our favorite hitmen’s previous outing for being a bit too excessive with the exposition, but this time around there is no room for such concerns. This entire instalment is based around a giant fist-fight and quick escape as Finny finds himself like a trapped rat. While action can feel chaotic with multiple bodies, Sinister Dexter never suffers such concerns. The action is quick and concise, with the choreography easily followed as each cronie is taken down in tow before the hap-hazard leap of faith away to for Dexter to find his Sinister. That said, with Abnett scripting it’s no surprise, though Lynches distinct black and white art really brings the action to life with just two tones. Then, the instalment ends with an invitation to a BBQ. Badass doesn’t quite cover it, but this is the kind of story these two should always be involved in. Lets hope the momentum remains strong throughout.
Aquila – Carnifex (Pt. 1)
Script: Gordon Rennie
Art: Leigh Gallagher
Colors: Dylan Teague
Letters: Annie Parkhouse
What if 2000 AD did Assassin’s Creed and set it in Rome? Just imagine it for the a second; the horror, the violence the heinous imagery. Well, imagine no more. Aquila feels like just that, with a mysterious headhunter needing seven particular heads to obtain power and our assumed protagonists being aware of it and needing to run away, and fast. The imagery showcased is great and just the right level of jarring, with the panelling feeling a tough sporadic at times adding a sense of momentum. Rennie’s scripting is great as far as story, but hios exposition ruins the flow a little bit because of the language used – it feels authentic to the setting, and thus not quite casual English. Gallagher and Teague more than make up for it with the character designs however, with everything having slightly grim overtones and atmosphere to leave the right level of bad taste in your mouth.
Tharg’s Thrillers Presents ‘Voodoo Planet’ (Pt. 3)
Script: Guy Adams
Art: PJ Holden
Colors: Steven Denton
Letters: Simon Bowland
Speaking of bad tastes in mouths, this is an ending that’ll haunt you a little bit. This has been a short curve-ball of a story. Just pure dystopic, dark science fiction that started dark and got darker as it went. There’s a succinct poetry to the script of this conclusion as it reaches the climax and once it gets there, Denton and Holden just knock it out of the park in the last panel for something that will absolutely haunt your nightmares. Memorable short stories don’t get much better than this, I can tell you that for nothing. Horrifying.
2000 AD Prog 1890 is out now.
[easyreview cat1title=”The Arcade Verdict” cat1detail= “Another strong showing from 2000 AD. Bar some slightly tough to read exposition, a great issue.” cat1rating=”9″]
