Messages

It's fine if you don't like 'em, I'm just not sure the argument that 2000AD isn't innovating holds up. If anything, people seem to argue that there are too many stories on the roster, which leads to longer gaps between series of a specific strip while everything else gets its turn.

I think Jim's in the right here. (He usually is, except when he's disagreeing with me, of course.)

I'm not connecting with the Prog at all right now, and in all honesty probably haven't been for years. Even Dredds that are clearly good stories are just not resonating with me. I went digital this year and I scroll through half the Prog when I can be bothered to download a few issues and catch up. I'm very seriously considering not renewing the subscription.

But ultimately, I think the problem is largely me. I hesitate to say it's age, because there are people as old or older than me who are still enjoying the Prog, but there again it really could be that simple.

Or perhaps it's the other way round. I've not outgrown 2000AD; 2000AD has outgrown me.


Regards,

Robin

[Strontium Dog]

I've not voted in a single one of these votes before, so if that kinda disqualifies my vote, I've no problem with that.

Strontium Dog

Dante is a masterpiece, and probably the only strip since Zenith that I think stands alongside the early classics.

However, Strontium Dog is one of the early classics and Johnny Alpha is the only comic character who I care about as much as Dredd.

Regards,
Robin

For you knowledgeable Gamebook-ers, what would you say is the current state of the art in this genre?

That's a good question. Gamebooks are definitely niche stuff now, so the art is very variable. I think a lot of it is sadly below par but as Richard says Tazio Bettin is doing the latest FF and I've just got a gamebook with art by Neil Googe.
My Freeway Warrior books have new art and it's quite cartoony in feel - feels more modern and less classic, if that makes sense?

There's a FB group called 'Fighting Fantasy (and other gamebooks),' that's pretty active with a lot of enthusiastic fans and new creators. There's a number of people doing fairly decent artwork for these books too. The group gives a pretty good insight into what's happening at the moment.

Regards,

Robin

Now feeling really bad I didn't buy it 😞

I watched it yesterday - and I know what you mean, but I couldn't really justify it.

Really interesting to hear commentary from the perspective of people who understand the techniques.

Regards,

Robin

I rather enjoyed The Sandman back in the day, although the art was all over the shop. I've not been so impressed by Gaiman's novels, though. And I find his fans a little too adoring, much like Pratchett fans, although Pratchett is the better writer.

The first three episodes I've seen of the TV adaptation have been great fun. It certainly seems to be going down well with folks I know who are unfamiliar with the source material. Some great casting choices, wisely made changes, and imagery straight out of the comic.

Regards,

Robin

A solid Dredd, but, yes, he's being a dick. He does love brinksmanship.

I've been getting this vague sense for a while now that there's a desire to toughen Dredd up again. Away with these namby-pamby doubts and hints of a two-dimensional character. It's frustrating, because the stories are generally pretty good.

Only other story I read was Jaegir, which is good, although I somehow managed to lose track of what the hell is going on several series ago.

Went digital at the start of the year. Struggling for reasons to renew at the start of 2023. I suspect I'll succumb to my OCD surrounding Dredd, but I dunno.

Regards,

Robin

I have never read 'Finn' and know next to nothing about it. Could someone knowledgeable recommend or otherwise? If my fellow Squaxx deem it a worthwhile purchase, I will go for the Webshop exclusive hardcover.

The title character is a man who (in the Third World War series) seduces a lonely young woman in order to plant a bomb inside the truck she's driving.

(It's been 30-something years - I'm more than prepared to acknowledge that I'm misremembering that...)

Regards,
Robin

What a great cover and really pleased Jagir is back with the bio-wire

I was instantly reminded of Cinnabar, which is never a bad thing.

Regards,

Robin

Just wanted to do a shout-out for Simon Furman and Laurent Lefeuvre on The Leopard from Lime Str. Both are capturing the feel of the original, even with the introduction of a supernatural element.

Really hope this gets to continue.

Regards,

Robin

I'd like to see the Catweazle series given this treatment, although I don't know how much of it there actually was. I never watched it on TV, but I read Richard Carpenter's novelisations of the two series a couple of years ago and thought they were really good fun. (It would be really, really easy to do a proper, modern, sequel following on directly from the end of the original, probably staring Mackenzie Crook.)

There was apparently a cinematic German remake last year...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fA9nEsm0kE

Thanks - I think I might have seen the teaser, but I'd not seen that one. Looks like a pretty good kids' movie.

I've just had a look at the German reviews - a lot of positivity not only for this movie, but also for the original series. Some very negative ones, too, but even these seem to love the original. Obviously has a little bit of a German following.

Regards,

Robin

Mine arrived Friday - very nice piece of work. I was rarely a reader of Look-in, but suffer badly from nostalgia, so this stuff is just fantastic as far as I'm concerned.

I'd like to see the Catweazle series given this treatment, although I don't know how much of it there actually was. I never watched it on TV, but I read Richard Carpenter's novelisations of the two series a couple of years ago and thought they were really good fun. (It would be really, really easy to do a proper, modern, sequel following on directly from the end of the original, probably staring Mackenzie Crook.)

Regards,

Robin

RookeiNerd mentioned Grey Linen Ottoman boxes, so I thought I'd throw this Ottoman from Dunelm in as an option (which may be what RN was referring to):

https://www.dunelm.com/product/foldable-black-ottoman-1000111408?defaultSkuId=30420484

You can often find them in different colours and material options.

I had stacks of Progs and Megs, but I've been gradually transferring the lower ones as they flatten under the weight of those above into these. They're much wider than the comics, so there's a lot of room down the sides if you want to add in specials or annuals. They're also taller than the comics, so there's  some room to lay other stuff on top (like the Meg floppies).

They are sturdy enough to sit on. If you have the room you can make a feature of them - I have five of them arranged long edge to long edge, covered over with a duvet and pillows at one end. I've not tried sleeping on it, but it's more than comfortable enough to lie back and read. With a few more blankets, I think they would make a decent spare bed.

They look to be a much bigger, cheaper and more attractive storage option than comics boxes. However, they don't have handles, so they may be less convenient if you move around a lot.

Regards,

Robin

Aside from Fantastic Four 1 and possibly Amazing Fantasy 15 is the cover of JLA 1 the most hommaged cover ever? I'd bet it is, half the time the hommage by Kevin McGuire himself. Would be a fun thing to have a 2000ad version of, especially since Tharg is a big fan of a montage.

You are probably right...

Another theme for an anniversary cover (or X-Mas bumper Prog) would be Tharg and the Droids - though I imagine Kevin Maguire would find you suggestions more fun to draw.

Well, it would definitely work as a theme and it probably could be amusingly arranged. And while I've never been a huge fan of Tharg and the Droids, I'd still pay to see Kevin Maguire's depiction of them all.


Regards,

Robin

On a roleplaying forum I'm on, I'm reading a thread about it being 35 years since Justice League International, the only incarnation that matters. Obviously, the wonderful art of Kevin Magiure has been mentioned, and somebody posted this, which I've never seen:



I've said it before and I'll say it again, I'll pay serious money to see Maguire's Dredd... and Johnny Alpha for that matter. Hell, an anniversary cover with Dredd, Alpha, Anderson, Nemesis, Hammerstein, Jones, Slade (Sam, although the band might be fun)), Dante, Zenith, Garp, and Slaine would be incredible.

In fact, this got me thinking about themes:

Aliens of 2000AD: Nemesis and Grobbendonk, Ace Garp and crew, Shakara, Proteus Vex

Women of 2000AD: Anderson, Hershey, McGruder, Beeny, Maitland, Durham Red, Purity Brown, Naimh, Elena Kurakin, Halo Jones, Samantha Slade.

Robots of 2000AD: All of the ABC Warriors... with a very nervous Walter, Hoagy and Stogie in the foreground.

Regards,

Robin

Paging Robin Low! Paging Robin Low!

Most people know where I stand. Most people don't care, either.

The fact is, if Strontium Dog is not Dredd's future, then Johnny Alpha cannot come back and help defeat Sabbat, in which case Sabbat almost certainly wins. The Alpha future has to happen or else the Dredd present won't be.

Making Strontium Dog the future of Dredd is not only logical, it's also entirely harmless. Come 2050+ we can still have our increasingly elderly Dredd pottering around in MC1. There are just a few more nuclear deserts.

However, it's not going to happen, although we might get an episode in 2028 or whenever in which it's referenced and then quietly brushed under the carpet.

It's a shame really, because it would make a great story. "Nobody ever knew who fired the first missile - but suddenly the whole world went crazy!" Actually, we do know. It was was Dredd, because who else would have the guts to burn the planet in 2050 in order to save it in 2114?

Regards,

Robin