Reviewer: Will Cooling
Editor: Matt Smith
Publisher: Rebellion
Judge Dredd
Title: Terror: Pt. 1
Written by: John Wagner
Art by: Colin MacNeil
Lettered by: Tom Frame
When John Wagner works with Colin MacNeil you know he’s got his serious hat on. Wagner has delivered not only his tour de force “America†with MacNeil, but also its almost as effective sequel, the amazing Chopper series “Song of the Surfer†and more recently the second story in the “Chief Judge’s Man†story arc. This time they reunite in what is being hyped as a pro-script to “America†centring as it does on the organisation Total War.
One of the things that Wagner is famous for is for being a very concise, taut writer yet it’s equally true that when he wants to hammer home the impact of something or to set a mood he does decompression as well as anyone. This opening part is especially true centring as it does on two people drinking in bar at the same time as a terrorist outrage is being planned. And that’s pretty much it, hell Dredd doesn’t turn up until the last page and then only for one panel.
Now this makes actually evaluating the writing quite difficult, as we can’t judge where he’s going with the story. What we can say is that he’s very astute and effective with how he builds the two characters up and how he shows the skinhead jingo fringe that acts as a bulwark against democracy revelling in even the most ancient reversals for the movement and how politics. The actual content is well written with good dialogue and action.
Apart from that fact there isn’t really much to add except that MacNeil’s art looks as ever fantastic. His delicate and subtle linework provides some of the most naturalistic and beautiful art in a business full of steroid-spandex hybrids (not that I’m complaining mind you) while his paints have a soft almost pastoral feel.
An intriguing and in many ways a mysterious opener although you trust the creative pair to pull off whatever they have in mind.
Savage
Title: Book 1 ~ Taking Liberties: Pt. 6
Written by: Pat Mills
Art by: Charlie Adlard
Lettered by: Ellie De Ville
Having returned from his sojourn in Canada, fresh with the identity of his late brother, Jack Bill Savage is now intent on killing Volg scum. Last week we saw him hook up with the resistance to lead an attack on local Volgan forces and this week we see them attack a local Volg headquarters.
Ah, this is the stuff! Mills delivers some great action as he depicts the street fighting in a brilliantly raw manner with the chaos being highlighted excellently. We are taken in as we see a viscous mob building outside the headquarters with Mills getting over the revolutionary feeling and the hatred that the locals feel for the occupiers. He also writes some great action sequences with the storming of the headquarters and its searching featuring some deliciously meaty fight sequences. He also manages to weave some deeper moments of characterisation as we see Bill torn between his desire to smash the Volg and the safety of Noddy.
Adlard is sooo good at the action scenes with his chunky, rough, McMahon-esque artwork being superbly suited to the pandemonium as we see the braying mob, the ad hoc command meetings between the insurgents and best of all the SHOOTAH. All of which delivers a wonderfully visceral and raw story that manages to make you overlook some flaws in the writing notably some very stilted dialogue at the end and confusion as to what the f’ing hell the resistance is storming.
A.H.A.B
Title: Untitled: Pt. 6
Written by: Nigel Kitching
Art by: Richard Elson
Lettered by: Annie Parkhouse
Last week, Tashtego led a mutiny against the increasingly despotic and diffident rule of A.H.A.B with the two facing off at the end. This week, Tashtego does indeed successfully “Cross the Rubicon†only to find that A.H.A.B is made of sterner stuff, like something out of a Marvel comic you might say. In addition, amid the chaos of mutiny, despotism and racketing Lizzie confirms her decision last week to stay and ensure the vaccine reaches Earth, plus we learn more of A.H.A.B’s dark motives.
This story is cracking along nicely filling the spot usually taken by either Dan Abnett or newer creators of the “sound†story. As a sound story A.H.A.B is perfectly readable, offering plenty of action and decent characterisation and drama yet it just fails to engage you fully as great series would. Perhaps that’s due to a flaw in the writing, what with a concentration on so many split plot lines making it hard to devote time to develop any fully or with the art as Elson’s solid yet generic linework is the very epitome of “sound†comics. Still hats off to them both without the crutch of an established character or a superstar artist they deliver a more than worthwhile story.
Low Life
Title: Paranoia: Pt. 6
Written by: Rob Williams
Art by: Henry Flint
Lettered by: Ellie De Ville
Last week, Aimee stared at her vastly inflated bank balance and instead of planning her vacation, realised that her and her undercover colleagues cover was broken and that she must warn them. Alas, she reached her first port of call Parker too late; with him and his target slain and their murderer pointing a gun at Aimee’s head. This week, said villain gets to play Dr. Evil by:
- Hinting at Unspecified Mysterious Past
- Telling Aimee his EVIL plans
- Performing bad, ego-sapping psycho-analysis on hero
- SPOILER
Now, while one should laugh and point at Williams for resorting to such clichés. He can do them well. He manages to take what should be a ridiculous scene (and is slightly) and do it with real intensity and verve although one can’t help but wonder whether he would have gotten away with it partnered to a lesser artist.
Ah Henry Flint his artwork has been amazing throughout this series. His linework has evolved into a more mainstream, cyberpunk version of Eddie Campbell with some great character work, as Williams really works him with an average seven panels to a page. Together they do great stuff in a slightly silly but still enjoyable and worthwhile lull in the pace as Aimee reels from the attack and we see her nemesis.
Chopper
Title: Big Meg: Pt. 6
Written by: John Wagner
Pencilled by: Patrick Goodard
Inked by: Dylan Teague
Coloured by: Chris Blythe
Lettered by: Tom Frame
Last week, for lust, Chopper broke into the cola heir’s sky fortress home to retrieve some documents that Calista claimed he was using to blackmail her into performing lewd acts. At the end of last week, he was poised to get them and now this week all hell breaks loose with Chopper desperately trying to get out of Dodge. You know, this is more like it, with some great sky surfing action and best of all some nasty characterisation on Wagner’s part as he slowly and carefully pulls the rug underneath his plot. We also get to see Dredd return to renew the battle with Chopper with his usual…er…enthusiasm for justice. Hell, even the art looks a little better with Goodard/Teague handling the skysurf scenes very well, although the art still lacks that oomph and bigness that usually makes it such a joy.
A much-needed improvement this week, which bodes for an interesting close even if we’re asked to believe that Chopper is incredibly stupid and trusting (I’m talking Sting levels here folks).
