‘2000AD: Prog 2440’ – Various

 

If you’ve been following the blog this week, you’ll know that this week has been the worst week, for reading, that I’ve had in a long time. I’ve been great at starting books, I’ve started loads (perhaps too many), but when it’s come down to finishing any of them… Yep, that’s when things went wrong :o) Apparently, ‘chemotherapy brain’ is a thing and can leave a chap short of concentration and memory. Thank goodness I was able to get more work done, than ‘books read’, this week… Fingers crossed for a quiet weekend and a better week, for reading, next week ;o)

I did want to read at least one thing though, that wasn’t a work document, so on the way to a hospital appointment yesterday, I bought myself a copy of ‘2000AD’ to read in the waiting room. I didn’t read it in the waiting room, ended up talking to the man sat next to me, but polished it off on the way back home, go me ;o)

I’m normally all about the trades (it’s the only way that I can guarantee getting the whole story, I’m rubbish at remembering to pick up single issues) but every now and then, I like to pick up an individual comic and just see what’s happening. Quick thoughts follow on the stories inside Prog 2440. Bear in mind that I’ve just jumped into an ongoing comic book at random and on a total whim, so I’m not going to get too judgy about the plot etc for each story.

‘Judge Dredd: Tunnels’ (Part 2) – Williams, Guera. Brusco, Bowland

I totally missed the ‘Part 2’ (to be fair, it was written very small), to start off with, but I would never have guessed as this chapter is remarkably self contained. We’re asked, again, if Judge Dredd is getting too old for all this and he just might be. What I ended up staying for though was 2000AD’s take on the police station scene for ‘The Terminator’ and it ended up being just as cinematic, it looked awesome. I’ve obviously never read Part 1 but I’d still be interested in seeing where this tale goes next. An intriguing tale backed up by some decent artwork.

‘The Ravilious Pact’ (Part 1) – Eglington, Austin

A London gang-land tale with added demons. You’d be forgiven for shrugging your shoulders and to be fair, this story isn’t doing an awful lot that’s new. With some strong looking characters though, I think this could develop into something very readable. Ravilious is holding things together very well so far.

‘Far Below Eden’ (Part 3) – Kerr, Richardson

I’ve come into one story at Part 2 and joined the following story right at the start. It only seemed right that I join ‘Far Below Eden’ as it concludes ;o)

Even though I’d come into ‘Far Below Eden’ far too late, I could still see the ending from a mile off but that was ok. I liked the twist and events move so quickly that I was happy to just sit back and let it all happen at me. I thought the artwork was great as well.

‘Azimuth: Abandoned By God’ (Part 1) – Abnett, Bettin

I have no idea what is happening here but the amount of background from Abnett makes for an incredibly rich setting and Bettin’s art really complements it. I want to read more of this tale, whether I remember to pick up subsequent issues or just pick up the trade.

‘Scarlet Traces: Empire of Blood’ (Part 9) – Edgington, D’Israeli

The only story that I was a little non-plussed by but that’s not its fault. Come in at Part 9 and you’re up against insurmountable odds in terms of catching up. Not only that… I got the feeling that while Part 8 was probably awesome and Part 10 will probably hit that target as well, Part 9 is very much a bridging chapter that will set us up for the goodness of Part 10, an entirely necessary approach but not one that makes for exciting reading. Oh well :o)

Not a bad read overall then ;o) I like the ‘Dredd’ and ‘Azimuth’ stories so maybe I’ll stick with 2000AD for a few issues and see where it takes me.