Prog 7

  

What a cracking cover Prog 7 has. If I saw this sitting with the other comics in the store I guarantee it would've been the first thing I grabbed. With an intense-looking Dan Dare and the world in peril, I'm sold immediately. Let's get into it and see if the stories live up to the cover. 

Prog 7
9 April 1977

The first page of Invasion is just as good as the Dan Dare cover. With Volgans at Paddington station commandeering the London to Cardiff train, there are several things that catch my eye. The first thing I notice is the sign proclaiming the channel tunnel opening in 2002.  For once British Rail was ahead of history, and the channel tunnel in reality opened in 1994 - a small victory for the British rail system over the artist in this case. I also notice the return fare to Oxford of 234 pounds. Inflation has been bad, but I don't recall it getting quite to those levels in terms of expense to Oxford in 1999. Elsewhere, the two-hour hover train to Glasgow seems pretty good to me, if only it came to fruition. Meanwhile, back in the story itself, a convoy of Volgans is delayed at a signal crossing the signalman, who turns out to be Bill Savage. Stuck on the train lines, the earlier commandeered train, loaded with troops, strikes the Volgan convoy - killing a Field Marshall and killing hundreds of troops in the derailment. It's not a total victory for the resistance, they are attacked by helicopters after a tip-off from one of their own. There is a lot to like in this issue, there is great art at every turn, and my eye lingers long on several pages. Bill Savage is at his best, this time picking up a rocket launcher to take out the choppers, and this gives him a couple of great lines and memorable images. This opening story has made an impression on me that I hope the rest of the issue can match. 

Rating: 7.5/10

Best Line:  "Off the train British scum, when we Volgans travel, we go first class!"

The story continues to move forward in Flesh, although the central plot today is dominated by the Dinosaurs rather than the humans. While Earl Reagan is in Carver City, the rest of his rangers wait, not knowing that at that moment Reagan is in the midst of a battle with the old one-eye, the Tyrannosaur. Things aren't looking good for Reagan, but the fumes of the burning plastic get into the eye of old one-eye, setting her rampaging out of the city. After killing a ranger, and then an Alamosaur, old one-eye finally calms down and the story returns to Reagan who makes an uneasy truce with Claw Carver as they leave Carver City, facing hundreds of miles of jungle and armed with only Reagan's knife Carver's claw. This issue is a step up from last week, and I appreciated seeing more dinosaur action, without the need for humans to be on every page. Like the preceding Invasion, there are many stand-out panels, and the final panel sets out what could be a heroic journey next week. 

 Rating: 6/10

Best Line: "If that's someone's idea of a good time, I think I'll choose ice planet Zeldo-6 for my next holiday" 

Harlem Heroes builds nicely on the story from last week as they continue their match against the Siberian Wolves. his week. I wasn't the biggest fan of last week's issue, but this one takes it and adds to the story in a compelling manner. The action remains firmly in the field of play, and as the game unfolds so does the wider story. The Russians are still playing hard, their own casualties a second thought to obtaining victory. Things reach a peak as the last page sees Giant's jetpack malfunction, sending him on a collision course with the roof. As he ejects he has two thoughts - is someone going to catch him, and is this a deliberate attempt to sabotage the Harlem Heroes. Previously I haven't been a fan of seeing these games play out, but I do like this one. There is a very good mix in this issue between the instant action, and the wider plot, making for a story that delivers instant gratification and some intrigue. 

 Rating: 7/10

Best line: "They've taken out Borises two, four, six, and seven..but one Boris is nearly through!" 

The high levels set by Dan Dare last week are maintained through this week's episode as his troubles with the Biogs continue. After taking control of an alien axe that has a mind of its own, Dan and Monday find the mother Biog, from which all Biogs draw their energy. I enjoy seeing Dan take on the mother Biog, but unfortunately, the battle is rather underwhelming as she is easily defeated with Dan's living axe. From here they take off from Jupiter's surface, only to face the Biogs living spaceship in the final panel. The artwork on the planet, and of the Biogfs themselves, is fantastical, and just as good as the story. The battle with mother Biog is the only disappointment in the issue, it seems all too easy for Dan and his axe, but with every other part of the story capturing my imagination I can overlook this easy enough. I find myself typing this every week, but I can't wait until the next issue! 

 Rating: 7/10

Best line: "This alien axe has a mind of its own! It's alive and it's trying to kill me"  

It feels like a lot happens in this issue of M.A.C.H. 1 and after going back and counting the pages I see it sprawls across seven pages. Like some of the other stories, it continues to build on its previous issues, and in this case, once again we see John Probe ignoring the computer side of him, and instead, he is running with his emotions. I like this aspect of the story, and it raises it above John being a mere instrument of good and bad. The fact that the government would like him to be an unfeeling instrument is shown in the first pages as it is sent to South America to rescue a British arms dealer, Armstrong,  something that perhaps doesn't feel quite as heroic in modern times. Guided by a local, Pepe, he finds his man who is at first reluctant to be rescued, given that the chances of survival seem slim. Upon making their escape, John sees that Pepep has been taken prisoner, and ignoring the advice of his computer sets about rescuing him. After several pages of action, with John fighting, then feigning weakness, before being taken captive, we come to the highlight of the issue. Tied to two stone columns, like a modern Samson, John pulls it all down around himself, freeing himself, Pepe, and the Armstrong.  Another successful mission sees Probe fly off in a helicopter towards next week's issue. The action scenes here are well paced, and the story has more room to breathe across seven pages. I haven't had a lot of good things to say about MACH 1 so far, but this is the best issue of the run to this point.  

Rating: 6/10

Best line:  "Don't get soft Probe. You're here to get me out- not a dirty peasant brat" 

The opening panel of Judge Dredd is fantastic, with a giant statue of a judge erected beside the statue of liberty. From this opening panel, the story takes off and doesn't stop until the final panel a few pages later. As the statue is unveiled, a group of muggers is in action in the street below. Judge Dredd brings justice to them, as their leader takes to the sky in an air taxi, wrecking more havoc. The ever calm Judge Dredd proceeds to the top of the statue, from where he shoots the perpetrator who ends up impaled on the neighboring statue of liberty and delivers the knowing line "No one can take liberties with the law" These Judge Dredd stories make me laugh so much, I love the playful aspect of them. And it helps that he looks so cool in every panel. I wouldn't consider this issue high literature, but all the elements come together in a tidy package that makes for an enjoyable read. 

 Rating: 5/10

Best line:  "We can deal with him! He ain't a robot, he's human.... I think!" 

Prog 7 final ratings:

Overall: 6.5/10

Best Story: Invasion 

Best Line: Earl Reagan  "We gotta cover hundreds of miles of jungle - with no guns. We'll be fighting dinosaurs on their own terms. But I've got my knife... "

Best Panel: