Messages

I hope to bump into you all. I've slightly madly got a T-shirt made with my avatar so I'll be wandering around looking like a deranged perfume advert. So I'll be easy to avoid, at least. Anyway I'm a proper Southerner, tall slim glasses-wearing nerdy type, middle of age. Look forward to meeting some fellow boarders.

Cool Beans. I'll defo look out for you.

 I'm proper northern (well from Merseyside and Sheffield so the south of proper northern) and look like a typical Sheffield Gammon (while promising I'm not a gammon and have much more liberal views!). Bald, middle aged and probably a little red of face by the time I arrive (though pasty and gray I'd imagine on Sunday if Saturday evening is as much fun as other cons I've attended!). Overweight of course too - but this is were the Sheffield comes in - but an inability to avoid middleclass outdoor excerise so infecting the middleclass parts of Sheffield mean there's hints I'm trying to do something about it... trying...

Great to hear you are going - is it both days?
Just look for a mad Scotsman and his sidekick (wife) and say Hi.

Yep got a very early train on Saturday morning which will get me there for the start and my train back is early afternoon on Sunday so will get to most things Sunday and can play out Saturday night , if folks aren't at this gala thinkie.

Looking forward to meeting you with any luck Trooper McFad.

Well finished this one on my run this morning and another fine episode it is too. Interesting to hear Simon say he just wants to crack on and get done. Super excited to hear thoughts as we now head towards the end.

To celebrate I finally took the plunge and made all my bookings to come see you both at Lawless... I mean I might have done that for unrelated just finally want to get to Lawless at last reasons but hey let's not spoil the fun.

Looking forward to seeing the live podcast - I'm very curious who the guest is...

I had a go at a booking hotel this weekend and now I'm just playing chicken with the hotel prices so think I am.

Hooray!

Well that's super kind. Since I've just booked ticket, hotel and train its looks like I'm defo, defo in.

Let's see how happy you are when I actually see you - would be lovely to arrange a meet up but I'll also see if I can dig out my forum avatar badge that served me so well at the 40th.

Really looking forward to this now and meeting as many of you as possible.

My fav alternative superhero comic (and the only one needed - if making that call) is known, it's Savage Dragon by Erik Larsen! He's done it all and then some.

Ohhhh interesting. I got something like the first 6 archieve editions which is about the first 150 issues in a Humble Bundle a few years ago and its getting pretty close to the top of the pile. Kinda really intrigued by this one.

I'll champion Martin Edens THE O-MEN until the day I die as the unsung cape capers masterwork.

Oh make sure you're around in a few weeks...

[Dredd]

Hmmmm...

Well let's get too it shall we. Dredd, good in some ways, annoying in others. Why was this 8 pages? Rob Williams seems to get these extended endings a lot and this one just felt so indulgent and just wasn't justified for needed. The story ends as so many have done before BUT in this instance that's disappointing ... or is it... we don't know yet... I hope. So to be of any value this needs to open something else. If Moon is just gone and the point is "Death's coming... won't be long now." that's weak. If Moon's fate has some ramifications for Dredd and Williams' Dredd tales and take on the character then fine. It not this is just annoying as it stands.

This tale was enjoyable enough fun on one level but offered little new except that key specific of the ending which leaves a lot of questions... or not... and if its the latter its just poor... hmmm what a strange ending.

Everything else is top draw mind.

Aquila - nice turn of events.

Indigo Prime great stuff, and now want to re-read to piece a few bits together. I think I have a reading that works for me, we'll see but this was great.

Brink - genius as ever.

Proteus Vex - yes but she's the fun kinda mass murder. What a character what a story!

So great Prog except a decent Dredd that's left me with more questions than answers... I hope...

Oh oh oh. Keep forgetting to say for alternative superhero takes the best two are from the house of Tharg (well ish) in Zenith and New Statesmen from Crisis which is next door to Tharg's Thrill-house so we'll take it as ours hey.

No doubt you've read them Doomlord666 but they need to be mentioned in any conversation of this type.

[The Tiger]

The Tiger

2015 film about the hunt for the last tiger in Korea in 1910s when Korea was under Japanese rule. The tiger is very much a mythical beast in this and the one mistake this film makes is moving away the barely seen flashes of tigerinessin the trees and bushes, we see in the opening hour which are just superb into full blown CGI tiger monster we see bashing numerous folks around in the second half.

It moves the tiger away from mythical mountain lord preparing to ascend to godhood that is so central to this piece and its themes of the old ways moving on and the cost of this. I see why they do it as it humanises the tiger as a character which is also important but I'm sure this could have been done without going full hulk tiger mode.

That aside an exquisite film with some fantastic central performances, wonderful cinematography and which pack quite the emotional punch. So moving and so well done.

Its on Amazon prime and well worth a go if you have a sub there.

Following a previous review I've nearly finished reading Elektra Assassin for the very first time. I did see it on shelves near the time it came out but I think I was put off buying it by the art which looked a bit pretentious. Let's face it, it is a bit pretentious, but it's also ruddy good - love it!

Nice! Glad you enjoyed it.

Kill or Be Killed has been on my list for so long now, believe it was billed to me at TB years ago as 'Satanic Panic Button Man' and yeah, looks dope.

Ha! That's an interesting take on it. Read it and make your mind up Zac.

It's Lonely at the Centre of the Earth by Zoe Thorogood

Wonderful book. I hope everyone her owns a copy.

That's another one I fully intent to check out at some point DAMN SO MANTY DAMAGED GOOD COMICS OUT THERE...

Anyway if anyone else has recommendations for comics or graphic novels like KOBK or ones that have a different take on the superhero story I'd be interested

Black Hammer is perhaps an obvious one, and pretty great. Ordinary, if you've not read it in the Meg, flips superheroes on its head quite nicely, and is currently two quid if Forbidden Planet for the hardcover.

Hmmm Black Hammer. Is it making the list Colin? I didn't make it past the first series because of the way it went a bit up its own arsehole. The journey up to that point was pretty good. I was wondering about picking it up again as there has been quite a bit more, and it generally reviews well. I need a write-up, Colin!

Yeah Black Hammer really is the obvious go to for recommendations of alternative takes on Superheroes. In many ways its the only superhero comic you need as it covers so much ground.

Its defo on the list but will need some thought as I'm still trying to process 'The End' and work out if I liked it or not. Its place was determined before it started (or as it just started). I might read The End again to see if it worked ahead of my write up.

Norm Breyfogle's Detective Comics stuff is, for my money, criminally under-rated with some absolutely insane stuff going on. 

I think its a bit liek Nocenti's DD run. It might not be top of many lists but its starting to get the credit it deserves and more and more positive reflections... certainly will here!

...
IRREDEEMABLE - Story by Mark Waid, Art by Peter Krause & Diego Barreto
...
MY BAD - Story by Bryce Ingman, Mark Russell, Art by Peter Krause
...
THE VICTORIES - Story & Art by Michael Avon Oeming

Yep, yep and The Victories is a good call. Not on the list but I really enjoyed it.

Colin: I've been reading through hundreds of Panini Marvel reprints that cover the 2000s, and figuring out which I want to keep. Turns out, the answer is 'none of them', including the mostly strong Mighty World of Marvel. However, I have used them (and 'temporary' ownership of the first 60 volumes of the original Hachette Marvel collection) to govern some deluxe/omni purchases, most of which are relatively standalone own nature. I really enjoyed:

I've got a few of these I kinda randomly picked up and must crack them open as they make for great try out material and can be picked up for bobbins.

I didn't get on with The Visions - which surprises me as I love the other King stuff I've read. Similarly the Slott Allred Silver Surfer didn't work for me, much as I love Allred's art.

Ms Marvel is another one I must get around to trying at some point.

Now I'm just left with my extensive Batman collection which will be a harder wrench. I have a 1940's Batman comic, a good many Batman and Detective from the 1960's and straight runs of both from 1970's and 80's. It would involve a lot of work to grade and document these and I don't have the time or inclination yet. Apologies for going a bit off topic.

There will never be a need to apologise for talking about any comics here. I mean the one who drifted into Usagi Yojimbo talk way ahead of time hint hint).

Wow! That sounds like a really impressive Batman collection, really impressive. Which are your fav runs. I have two more Batman runs still to appear here. Nothing as exciting as is in your collection I imagine.

It would be well worth organising as there may well be some decent value there (as I suspect you know) so even if its just for insurance purposes at least listing would be a good idea I reckon. I use a cateloguing app to track my collection. That's as much so I have good record of what has passed through my collection, as its quite an active thing. I've hit space limits and so any as I get new stuff, older stuff has to go. I'm currently in a bit of a paradigm shift in my tastes (as this thread will start to reveal I suspect) and so there's a LOT of that going on at the moment.

All of which is a very long winded way of saying part of what I love about collecting is the ongoing cateloguing, sorting and rearranging of shelves. I sometimes wonder if I enjoy that as much as reading them! I'm still a librarian at heart I guess.

BTW Fatale is coming out as a single issue softback Compendium collection at the end of July (656 pages of Brubaker/Phillips goodness for £36 via awesomebooks). Hope their other stuff will be released in a similar format

Also meant to say things for the heads up on this one. I've added it to my list of go to places (alongside Speedy Hen) before I go to amazon. Nice one.

Ha! I mean, there are still copies in the channel, so it's not like you need to buy it tomorrow. But if you start to see it vanish from various stores, I wouldn't hang about too long. When that happened last time, it was years until a reprint happened, and the set went for silly money on eBay. (There are the paperback trades as well, of course, although I've no idea how easy – or not – they are to source these days.)

Yeah having dome a little watch of Near Mint Conditions review (should have done that before pestering you fine folks) it looks lovely and a good size for a comfortable (well in the boundaries of at least) read. The only question is how long after the 18th (payday) will I last? I got Usagi Yojimbo Saga Volume 5 this month as I'm trying to make sure I get all of them before the start to disappear (same for Giant Days Library Editions).

You've totally sold me on 'Kill or be Killed' there!

Nice - hope you love it. 

I'm curious how excited I am about more Intestinauts. Really looking forward to it!

Think it might just been with the last couple of line-ups want something a bit light a fun but good and this one ticks those boxes.

Yes. Saga is the UY DH content. The Fantagraphics set is basically everything that came beforehand – the first seven trades with a cover gallery and interview in the second book. The set was also OOP for years and so I imagine it would be smart to buy it sooner rather than later if you're interested.

EDIT: Er, sorry, PsychoGoatee. I wasn't trying to duplicate your post – my browser didn't see it. *kicks the cache machine*

Thanks to you both... though maybe not Indigo Prime whose given me FOMO! Must wait until pay day as I've spent too much on comics this month already... must wait....