Prog 1674 - All the President's Men.

[Mike Gloady]

I'd recommend a re-read to anyone who's got the appropriate progs/trades - it DOES hang together very well as a piece, but it's infrequent scheduling since the end of the Romanov/Makarov war means it can suffer when read week-to-week in the prog.  There are things that the casual reader could miss out on.

Each to their own though.  If you have the stuff lying about I'd say go for it.  Even if it fails to be your favourite ever thrill, you'll certainly get more from the more recent progs as a result.

[Roger Godpleton]

Cover: Back bit should have been front bit. As it is, it's gross. Bad Stuff.

Dredd: Loved the teacup bit. Leaves it open to interpretation. My assumption is that Dredd is most upset at the suggestion that he should become a profiteer. Interesting contrast between the flamboyant Maybe and the pragmatic Sinfield. A clue as to how this will all unfold? Great Stuff.

Stickleback: Not as propulsive as previous episodes but I definitely want to know where things go after this. So a great establishing episode if not such a great episode episode. Very Good Stuff.

ABC: Do you credit it? I have quite run out of a desire to be any ruder about this whole affair. Bad Stuff.

Terror Tale: Bagwell should be in the prog every week. Another stirling script from perhaps the greatest of the Big 3 that was actually 5. Great Stuff.

Dante: Still feels a bit flat even though earth-quakingshaking stuff is happening. Still feels a bit too much like we've seen it before. Obviously stuff needs to be wrapped up but a curveball or two would not go amiss. Nor would Simon Fraser. Good Stuff.

[radiator]

Loved the teacup bit. Leaves it open to interpretation. My assumption is that Dredd is most upset at the suggestion that he should become a profiteer.

I didn't really see any ambiguity in it - it's simply the very idea that Dredd would EVER turn his back on Justice Department (the Long Walk excepted), much less become a security guard, that is so shocking.

Wonderful little character moment.

[George Dread]

Yes. fantasically well paced too, with Vienna. The whole introduction of the cuppa, to its exit.The placement of Vienna's concern for her elderly uncle also countering our appeals for Dredd's usual stoicism against even the most minor of infringements. Done with silk like charisma by the writer. And so dense! We have Rico's decisions, Ambrose's position, Sinfield's propositon, Vienna's visitation, Dredd's machinations and Fransisco AND Hershey reminiscent.

I had to read ABC's to get it out of the way. I thought it would be somewhat of a jarring read but pleasantly, it wasn't. It was an example of why Mr Mills keeps the characters alive. The moments may be getting less and less for some people. But here and there this occasion of the ABC's has been a triumph of mini-macabre-mania. And, I like the cover. A better and more mature use of Clint Langley's talents. Looks like you could scan it and make yourself a mask to cut out and keep.

Last one I read today was Twisted Tales. Firstly; KUDOS to Edmund Bagwell and his keen hand on the stack of dolls he most certainly concentrated over. Secondly; The story by Arthur Wyatt is the best I've read (as a one off short) since Chris Weston's in 2010. Immersive and parallel. I know what I mean anyway.

Dizzy delirium and Dante's disrobing, await..

[JamesC]

Another great prog.
Enjoyed all the stories, didn't like the artwork on Dredd much - John Higgins characters all looked like they've died and been stuffed by a bad taxidermist.
I'm finding Stickleback a bit tedious and I can't see what's supposed to be happening sometimes.
Other than that everything was top notch.

[radiator]

Yeah, I must say that I've never been a fan of Higgin's work. I don't think he is a bad artist or anything - his storytelling and drawing is solid - but something about it has just never clicked with me. Just a matter of personal taste.

In particular I personally find the colour pallette he uses really weird - to my eyes it seems to somehow look garish and murky at the same time.

[W. R. Logan]

I must be losing my zest for Thrill Power, after giving up the Meg I find that if it wasnt for Dredd & Dante then after 33 years 2000 may go the same way.
But I gues whilst Wagner is still writing Dredd I'll still buy the Prog no matter how much of the other stories I dont enjoy.

[Proudhuff]

That's Thrill power burn out, the candle that burns twice as brightly burns half as long, and you have burnt oh so brightly Roy Logan.

Still a good jump off point will be when Chief Judge Logan gets rodgered to death by his cadets 

[Mikey]

The tea snort was good - put a smile on my face.

On a related note, when did tea become a legal stim in the Meg? I may have said this before but over the last few years there's been quite a few peeps smoking too - and no direct bust from Dredd (I can't point out any specifics, but it's happened alright).

M.

[Jim_Campbell]

there's been quite a few peeps smoking too - and no direct bust from Dredd (I can't point out any specifics, but it's happened alright).

Any conclusive indicators that they were smoking tobacco and not some Judicially-Approved alternative?

Cheers!

Jim

[Mike Gloady]

Tea's been legal in the home for a while.  I seem to recall Rico visiting Vienna and even sharing a cup with her.  I know she's been traumatised by various experiences so maybe she's got special medical dispensation.

[Mikey]

Any conclusive indicators that they were smoking tobacco and not some Judicially-Approved alternative?

Well, no, not exactly.

Curse your logic Jim Campbell! Curse it to hell!

M.

[JamesC]

It may still contavene fire regs. i reckon it's those fake steam things they're puffing on.
Come to think of it do they have a fire department in the meg? Do robots do it?

[Mike Gloady]

Mongrol's been known to smoke a cigar or two.  Wonder if robots in the meg do, though.

[Kerrin]

"I'm coming to the conclusion that something must be done about Chief Judge Sinfield..."

I actually gave an audible "Yay!" at that line.

A step up from last week and even the ABCs engaged me this issue. It does make considerably more sense now we know Godpleton is psychically controlling Pat Mills. That poor, poor man.