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Lawless #3
Lawless, Book Three: Ashes to Ashes
Colonial Marshal Metta Lawson was appointed to the frontier township of Badrock on the planet 43 Rega, intent on stamping her authority on the colony. But in doing so, Lawson made many enemies, including Munce, Inc., the mega-corporation that funds Badrock. Now, Munce is planning to dispose of Badrock once and for all...
112 pages, Paperback
Published August 5, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 28, 2022
I liked Insurrection, but it ended on a bit of a bad note. Here's a happier one to take back some of that damage. Not all, but some.
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March 24, 2022If I'd read this two months ago, it would have felt like a fairly standard, trope-heavy Dreddworld war story, though I'd still have enjoyed that intricately detailed yet never inert Winslade art. Now, though? A ragtag bunch of defenders, led by someone with a CV you might not think would make them much of a war leader, stick up for their home against a much larger force of utter bastards. Who are outraged at the idea of a settlement which was formerly run for their convenience now daring to be run for the inhabitants' benefit instead, and would rather destroy it than see it free. And even though our heroes do much better than expected, the story never becomes simple triumphalism because it's always painfully aware of the cost, the tally of lives needlessly cut short by the greed and hubris of absolute wankers.
"It's a tactical option."
"It's the desperate action of violent men who like to kill."
"Isn't everything?"
Truly shit reasons for a read to land harder, of course, but then it's the 2020s – most things have shit reasons.
"It's a tactical option."
"It's the desperate action of violent men who like to kill."
"Isn't everything?"
Truly shit reasons for a read to land harder, of course, but then it's the 2020s – most things have shit reasons.
September 15, 2021
Great conclusion of Bedrock story-line about our brave Marshal, Metta Lawsson, trying to bring law and order to a frontier planet reminiscent of the wild wild west.
Finally, showdown with Munce Inc and their nonviable asset termination department. I wont go into details but number of twists and turns is just great. I was not sure what is going to happen 'til the very end. And what an ending. All in all excellent book and I hope they continue to add more stories about our heroine.
Art as always is just wonderful. Level of detail and movement on every panel is .... amazing I guess is the word. That view from the Bedrock ramparts onto the incoming Munce armada, with tanks and walkers and bombers flying above. It is epic.
Recommended to all fans of action SF. And now I need to see where can I find that old SF western "Outland"...... man :)
Finally, showdown with Munce Inc and their nonviable asset termination department. I wont go into details but number of twists and turns is just great. I was not sure what is going to happen 'til the very end. And what an ending. All in all excellent book and I hope they continue to add more stories about our heroine.
Art as always is just wonderful. Level of detail and movement on every panel is .... amazing I guess is the word. That view from the Bedrock ramparts onto the incoming Munce armada, with tanks and walkers and bombers flying above. It is epic.
Recommended to all fans of action SF. And now I need to see where can I find that old SF western "Outland"...... man :)
January 8, 2022
(Note: this Review was rejected by amazon for failing to comply with their guidelines.)
‘Lawless: Ashes to Ashes’ is the third compilation of comics originally printed in the ‘Judge Dredd Megazine’ (a monthly anthology of serialized comics, most of which are set in the ‘Dreddverse’, published in the UK by 2000 AD).
‘Ashes to Ashes’ features episodes of Lawless that first appeared in the Megazine in issues 400 (October 2018) to 409 (July 2019).
The Lawless franchise is one of the most successful in the Judge Dredd portfolio, even to the point where writer Abnett has produced a Lawless ‘Musical’ soundtrack (?!). Indeed, it’s available at the 2000 AD website, as well as Soundcloud.
It contains 11 songs, ranging in style from Old Tyme piano rags, to blues, spirituals, Adult Contemporary ballads, and thrash metal / rap (explicit lyrics). Abnett did the music and lyrics, and members of his circle of family and friends contributed instruments and vocals.
It’s not bad, but I also suspect it’s one of those things, like Bovril, Rupert Bear, naming boys ‘Angus’, and having dilapidated ‘caravan’ trailers descend en masse on village greens, that requires one to be British in order to [truly] understand………..
Anyways, having familiarity with the previous Lawless story line, available in the trade paperbacks ‘Lawless: Welcome to Badrock’ (2017) and ‘Lawless: Long-Range War’ (2018), is helpful to understand what is taking place in ‘Ashes to Ashes’.
‘Ashes’ starts off with a sci-fi western homage to the Battle of the Alamo: the undergunned and undermanned town of Badrock is faced with an attack by the mercenary army of the evil Munce corporation.
The leader of the Munce army, Texanna Pincher, has given the order: no survivors. Can our heroine, Marshall Metta Lawson, aided by Deputy Nerys Pettifer, talking guerilla Kill-A-Man Jaroo, bounty hunter Rondo, and stable owner Audie Hankers, fend off the assault long enough for aid to come from an unexpected source ?
Mixed in with the major story arc of the battle against the Munce corporation are some interesting, if at times recycled, pop culture tropes and sub-plots. We get the Galaxy’s Largest Bulldozer. The ‘robot with a heart’ motif from the 2009 movie ‘Terminator: Salvation’. Noble aliens who are appalled by the brutishness of humankind. Catastrophic Psychic Sendings. A Gender Fluid saloonkeeper (most Woke, that…..)
And…..would you believe…..’Old Woman Log--- err, Lawson’ ?!
As always, what makes Lawless stand out is the exemplary artwork by Phil Winslade. There is much to admire here, particularly chaotic battle scenes crowded with meticulously rendered figures. The Old Woman Lawson segments feature panels crammed with shading and cross-hatching effects that are so labor-intensive, one wonders how Winslade met his deadlines.
As I write this review in January 2022, Rebellion / 2000 AD are planning to release, in June 2022, the fourth installment in the graphic novels: ‘Lawless: Boom Town’. I certainly will be looking out for that, and additional Lawless trade paperback compilations that come to American shores.…..especially if Jonah Hex somehow was to show up in Badrock……….?!
‘Lawless: Ashes to Ashes’ is the third compilation of comics originally printed in the ‘Judge Dredd Megazine’ (a monthly anthology of serialized comics, most of which are set in the ‘Dreddverse’, published in the UK by 2000 AD).
‘Ashes to Ashes’ features episodes of Lawless that first appeared in the Megazine in issues 400 (October 2018) to 409 (July 2019).
The Lawless franchise is one of the most successful in the Judge Dredd portfolio, even to the point where writer Abnett has produced a Lawless ‘Musical’ soundtrack (?!). Indeed, it’s available at the 2000 AD website, as well as Soundcloud.
It contains 11 songs, ranging in style from Old Tyme piano rags, to blues, spirituals, Adult Contemporary ballads, and thrash metal / rap (explicit lyrics). Abnett did the music and lyrics, and members of his circle of family and friends contributed instruments and vocals.
It’s not bad, but I also suspect it’s one of those things, like Bovril, Rupert Bear, naming boys ‘Angus’, and having dilapidated ‘caravan’ trailers descend en masse on village greens, that requires one to be British in order to [truly] understand………..
Anyways, having familiarity with the previous Lawless story line, available in the trade paperbacks ‘Lawless: Welcome to Badrock’ (2017) and ‘Lawless: Long-Range War’ (2018), is helpful to understand what is taking place in ‘Ashes to Ashes’.
‘Ashes’ starts off with a sci-fi western homage to the Battle of the Alamo: the undergunned and undermanned town of Badrock is faced with an attack by the mercenary army of the evil Munce corporation.
The leader of the Munce army, Texanna Pincher, has given the order: no survivors. Can our heroine, Marshall Metta Lawson, aided by Deputy Nerys Pettifer, talking guerilla Kill-A-Man Jaroo, bounty hunter Rondo, and stable owner Audie Hankers, fend off the assault long enough for aid to come from an unexpected source ?
Mixed in with the major story arc of the battle against the Munce corporation are some interesting, if at times recycled, pop culture tropes and sub-plots. We get the Galaxy’s Largest Bulldozer. The ‘robot with a heart’ motif from the 2009 movie ‘Terminator: Salvation’. Noble aliens who are appalled by the brutishness of humankind. Catastrophic Psychic Sendings. A Gender Fluid saloonkeeper (most Woke, that…..)
And…..would you believe…..’Old Woman Log--- err, Lawson’ ?!
As always, what makes Lawless stand out is the exemplary artwork by Phil Winslade. There is much to admire here, particularly chaotic battle scenes crowded with meticulously rendered figures. The Old Woman Lawson segments feature panels crammed with shading and cross-hatching effects that are so labor-intensive, one wonders how Winslade met his deadlines.
As I write this review in January 2022, Rebellion / 2000 AD are planning to release, in June 2022, the fourth installment in the graphic novels: ‘Lawless: Boom Town’. I certainly will be looking out for that, and additional Lawless trade paperback compilations that come to American shores.…..especially if Jonah Hex somehow was to show up in Badrock……….?!
March 5, 2026
Recent Reads: Lawless Book 3 - Ashes To Ashes. Dan Abnett's neo-noir space western gets all timey-wimey as Munce bring the hammer down on Badrock. But this is a town built on a natural psychic amplifier and as secrets come out, so destinies change. Metta Lawson knows it's better to talk than shoot.
April 14, 2022
Great conclusion with an excellent twist :D
July 18, 2022
Such a brilliant wrap up with exhaustingly busy art. Abnett is the best.
November 7, 2024
Carries on with the same level of excellence that the previous volume (Mega Collection #90) had. Superb throughout.
Read as collected in the 2000ad Ultimate Collection #170
Read as collected in the 2000ad Ultimate Collection #170
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews