2000 AD Online Forum

2000 AD => General => Topic started by: Vernoona on 31 December, 2018, 06:29:01 AM

Title: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 31 December, 2018, 06:29:01 AM
Happy New Year's Eve, everyone!

I've picked the start of a new year to start a new writing project. 2000AD Thrillshots will review and explore a Volume from the Judge Dredd Mega Collection and the 2000AD Ultimate Collection, in order of the first story to appear in each Volume.

The Collections are great, and hopefully this project will provide a roughly chronological journey through a large amount of the Galaxy's Greatest Comic!

Check it out at http://thrillshots.wordpress.com, and check back every Monday for a new post.

Thanks!
Liam
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: sheridan on 31 December, 2018, 01:20:45 PM
Shall keep an eye on it!
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: The Monarch on 31 December, 2018, 01:31:58 PM
"do you find walter bearable" is kinda the bawwier to entwy of early judge dwedd i hate him

have bookmarked the blog
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 07 January, 2019, 06:15:39 AM
New post up on the blog today, Volume 53 of the Mega Collection: "Brothers of the Blood".

https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/01/07/brothers-of-the-blood/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/01/07/brothers-of-the-blood/).

Also, a quick request for help! I'm using the subtitle on the back of each Volume as the title of each post, but my copy of "The Day the Law Died" printed the info for "Necropolis" instead! Can anyone who has the correct version let me know what they used for "Day"? Thanks!

(The back image for "America" is posted below so you can see which bit I mean).

(https://thrillshots.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/screen-shot-2019-01-07-at-5.12.51-pm.png)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Greg M. on 07 January, 2019, 08:29:51 PM
An enjoyable read. A recent 'Best Dredd Stories Ever' thread saw 'Blood Cadets' make my personal top ten. It's interesting that, although John Wagner didn't come up with the 'Dredd as clone' angle, whenever he deals with it, it consistently leads to his finest work on the character.
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 08 January, 2019, 01:20:56 AM
Thanks Greg! There are some wonderful storylines with the clone plot - can't wait until I get to cover "Oz" and "Necropolis" in particular.
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: The Monarch on 12 January, 2019, 12:51:59 PM
i was looking at my copy of the day the law died and my back copy was also necropolises i wonder if its a screwup on all versions

if it helps my gn version of it published by rebellion uses tyranny wrecks as back cover which is bloody clever
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 13 January, 2019, 12:06:11 AM
Quote from: The Monarch on 12 January, 2019, 12:51:59 PM
if it helps my gn version of it published by rebellion uses tyranny wrecks as back cover which is bloody clever

Oh that's excellent! I'll definitely use that!
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 14 January, 2019, 06:26:26 AM
New entry up on the blog for Judge Dredd Mega Collection #85: Tales of Ordinary Madness.

https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/01/14/still-crazy-tales-of-ordinary-madness/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/01/14/still-crazy-tales-of-ordinary-madness/)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 21 January, 2019, 10:19:19 PM
Time to grab the Land Raider and Killdozer combo pack - new entry up on the blog for Judge Dredd Mega Collection #32: The Cursed Earth.

https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/01/21/the-cursed-earth/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/01/21/the-cursed-earth/)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: The Monarch on 22 January, 2019, 08:03:32 AM
am i going nuts or isn't the jimp in the law according to dredd a mutant not a robot

also isn't darkside of the moon technically before the cursed earth chronologicall....-is shot-
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Fungus on 22 January, 2019, 09:12:01 AM
Quote from: The Monarch on 22 January, 2019, 08:03:32 AM
am i going nuts or isn't the jimp in the law according to dredd a mutant not a robot

also isn't darkside of the moon technically before the cursed earth chronologicall....-is shot-

It's a robot.

What are you referring to with 'dark side of the moon'?
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 22 January, 2019, 09:18:57 AM
Quote from: Fungus on 22 January, 2019, 09:12:01 AM
Quote from: The Monarch on 22 January, 2019, 08:03:32 AM
am i going nuts or isn't the jimp in the law according to dredd a mutant not a robot

It's a robot.

He's absolutely a mutant! Don't be led astray by that chin - it's a hunk of metal he's bolted to his face to make himself look more like Dredd.
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Fungus on 22 January, 2019, 09:49:00 AM
Dang. I read that recently, too. It's a mutant  ::)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 22 January, 2019, 09:56:30 AM
It is a mutant! What was I thinking?!

Regarding the Dark Side of the Moon volume, I'm going by the first story actually presented in the volume which in that case is "Darkside". A few Luna-1 stories are in there, but there towards the end of the book.
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: The Monarch on 23 January, 2019, 11:21:34 AM
ohhh yeah darkside was the first story in the collection my bad
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 28 January, 2019, 08:02:48 AM
"A steadily escalating robot-world epic that starts in a 'pretty crazy' gear and ends with 'utter insanity'".

Review of Robo-Hunter: Volume 1 is up on the blog now.

https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/01/28/robo-hunter-volume-1/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/01/28/robo-hunter-volume-1/)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 04 February, 2019, 07:02:33 AM
"Dredd having to go underground to fight his own people. The City under the rule of a tyrant Judge – who's also absolutely insane. Deputy Chief Judge Fish!!"

Line up in alphabetical order and check out the new post on "The Day the Law Died".

https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/02/04/the-day-the-law-died/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/02/04/the-day-the-law-died/)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Greg M. on 04 February, 2019, 06:41:11 PM
I'd largely agree with your assessment of The Day the Law Died - it has a lot of great moments and elements, but it's not consistently a great story. It's a good story, but it's certainly not as strong as its immediate predecessor The Cursed Earth. That said, I love Cal himself enormously, even if he is just John Hurt in I, Claudius (or, with his original haircut, Pat Mills.)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 04 February, 2019, 09:44:07 PM
Thanks Greg - it's a really tough one to review! A huge amount of the individual elements are some of the best Dredd ever, so it feels weird and strange to write a somewhat downbeat review of the whole thing.
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 11 February, 2019, 10:05:57 AM
"2000AD space nonsense at its best." Strontium Dog: Volume 1 is up on the blog.

https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/02/11/strontium-dog-volume-1/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/02/11/strontium-dog-volume-1/)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: AlexF on 11 February, 2019, 02:56:03 PM
Finally got around to having a read on your blog, and I must say it's excellent! Some real insights there, and a willingness not to just gush over how good it all is (because it isn't). I especially appreciate the effort you've taken to say at least something about every story in each collection.

I echo your frustration that the Strontium Dog volume starts with Walrogs and omits any of the StarLord stuff. not only did that have some cracking full colour art, almost all of those stories function as better introductions to the strip than Walrogs, which is fine but could easily have been left out.

Anyway,you'll be busy on this for years, so that's good news for my idle times at work...

Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 12 February, 2019, 01:50:07 AM
Thanks Alex - I really appreciate the feedback! I try to find a balance between positive and negative, but as with everything it's all so individual what works and what doesn't.

Hope you keep enjoying the posts!

Liam
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 18 February, 2019, 11:07:48 PM
Noble robot warrior Hammerstein is tasked by a mysterious human officer with collecting robots for a secret mission: It's the first volume of ABC Warriors up on the blog.

https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/02/18/abc-warriors-volume-1/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/02/18/abc-warriors-volume-1/)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 25 February, 2019, 09:56:03 PM
In Mega-City One, any well-organised craze catches on fast... – "Blobs", 2000AD Prog 290.

"Crazy Town" is up on the blog.

https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/02/25/stand-out-from-the-crowd-crazy-town/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/02/25/stand-out-from-the-crowd-crazy-town/)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 04 March, 2019, 09:20:39 AM
The Crime Isss Life – The Sssentence Isss Death!

"Judge Death Lives!" Is up on the blog.

https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/03/04/judge-death-lives/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/03/04/judge-death-lives/)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 11 March, 2019, 11:40:54 AM

Dredd! In! Space! It's the third Dredd mega epic. The Judge Child is up on the blog.

https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/03/11/the-judge-child/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/03/11/the-judge-child/)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: broodblik on 11 March, 2019, 01:35:02 PM
I like your reviews Vernoona, keep them up
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 11 March, 2019, 09:26:46 PM
Thanks broodblik, I really appreciate it!
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Fungus on 11 March, 2019, 10:33:54 PM
Enjoying these bitesize reviews. Judge Child did seem to get a bit of a kicking, and in context I might see why. But, compare to the Dark Years and it's glorious. Objectively!
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 12 March, 2019, 12:49:34 AM
Thanks Fungus!

I went back and forth on The Judge Child a fair bit - I even note in the review that I'm being negative and piling on! I think it's a big challenge with reviewing works like these, where you can see the story get so close to being amazing, but just not quite get there. Is it fair to judge Wagner and Grant by a higher standard? I don't know, but I definitely did here.

As with all reviews, it's all so personal. I'm sure many people like the sudden about-turn at the end, but to me it just undermined the whole story. But I can totally imagine I'll come back to this review in a couple of years and go "what was I thinking??"
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 18 March, 2019, 09:19:10 PM
"Reading this Volume was my first ever exposure to Nemesis, and it was a thrilling, dense, high-speed, macabre and dizzying read."

"Nemesis the Warlock: Volume 1" is up on the blog.

https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/03/18/nemesis-the-warlock-volume-1 (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/03/18/nemesis-the-warlock-volume-1)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 26 March, 2019, 06:39:06 AM
"I can't imagine there was huge fan demand for all the vaguely-ape related stories to be easily accessible in one book."

The blog takes a slight detour to look at the recent collection "Nobody Apes the Law".

https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/03/25/extra-thrillshot-meet-the-primate-perps-nobody-apes-the-law/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/03/25/extra-thrillshot-meet-the-primate-perps-nobody-apes-the-law/)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 01 April, 2019, 09:16:53 AM
Dredd as police procedural TV?

War on the Streets is up on the blog.

https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/04/01/urban-pacification-war-on-the-streets/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/04/01/urban-pacification-war-on-the-streets/)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 08 April, 2019, 12:39:51 PM
"It's fascinating how despite Dredd's blunt decision to just walk away from the Judge Child mission, its legacy remains a part of his world for decades."

Krysler's Mark is up on the blog.

https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/04/08/kryslers-mark/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/04/08/kryslers-mark/)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Greg M. on 08 April, 2019, 12:58:06 PM
Before I read this particular post, I had a bet with myself. The bet was: "City of the Damned" will be proclaimed ok, but somewhat lacking.

Yup!

There are people who absolutely love City... and in my experience, they're the ones who read it on a weekly basis. I imagine that, experienced as intended, it was pretty bloody exciting. But I didn't start reading 2000AD till a hundred progs after City... ended, and it sounds so much better as a plot summary than it actually turns out to be. Some great bits though - the "To be eyeless in hell" sequence is astounding, and about as good a summary of Dredd's character at the time as you're going to get. Overall though, it's maybe best viewed as a dry run for Necropolis, which takes the same basic concept - city becomes hell due to monstrous psychic force - and does it for real, rather than in a parallel timeline.
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 08 April, 2019, 01:35:39 PM
Quote from: Greg M. on 08 April, 2019, 12:58:06 PM
Overall though, it's maybe best viewed as a dry run for Necropolis, which takes the same basic concept - city becomes hell due to monstrous psychic force - and does it for real, rather than in a parallel timeline.

I think that's it, really, isn't it? You can talk about too many artists, too few supporting characters, this-that-or the other, but at the end of the day I think it fails because it just feels a bit 'empty' - that it doesn't ultimately matter.
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Dandontdare on 08 April, 2019, 02:00:29 PM
Another good blog, I'm enjoying these - not much to add as I reckon your conclusions are pretty spot-on.
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 08 April, 2019, 11:48:42 PM
I'm going to have to write some truly incorrect reviews soon, just so you lose some bets! "Necropolis - yawn. So boring and terrible."

It's a really good point about the difference between reading weekly and collected, particularly these early progs. They're really not designed to be read in one big go. Makes reviews tough!

Quote from: Greg M. on 08 April, 2019, 12:58:06 PM
Before I read this particular post, I had a bet with myself. The bet was: "City of the Damned" will be proclaimed ok, but somewhat lacking.

Yup!

There are people who absolutely love City... and in my experience, they're the ones who read it on a weekly basis. I imagine that, experienced as intended, it was pretty bloody exciting. But I didn't start reading 2000AD till a hundred progs after City... ended, and it sounds so much better as a plot summary than it actually turns out to be. Some great bits though - the "To be eyeless in hell" sequence is astounding, and about as good a summary of Dredd's character at the time as you're going to get. Overall though, it's maybe best viewed as a dry run for Necropolis, which takes the same basic concept - city becomes hell due to monstrous psychic force - and does it for real, rather than in a parallel timeline.
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 08 April, 2019, 11:49:15 PM
Quote from: Dandontdare on 08 April, 2019, 02:00:29 PM
Another good blog, I'm enjoying these - not much to add as I reckon your conclusions are pretty spot-on.

Thanks Dandontdare!
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 15 April, 2019, 06:58:02 AM
(https://thrillshots.files.wordpress.com/2018/12/Screen-Shot-2018-12-28-at-2.15.47-PM.png)

Welcome back, voorms!

The journey through the Mega and Ultimate Collections continues with Strontium Dog: Volume 2.

https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/04/15/child-of-the-revolution-strontium-dog-volume-2/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/04/15/child-of-the-revolution-strontium-dog-volume-2/)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: broodblik on 15 April, 2019, 02:35:18 PM
I enjoy your reviews Vernoona so keep it up  :)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 16 April, 2019, 08:53:18 AM
Thanks Broodblik, much appreciated!
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Greg M. on 16 April, 2019, 05:52:53 PM
Quote from: Vernoona on 15 April, 2019, 06:58:02 AM
The journey through the Mega and Ultimate Collections continues with Strontium Dog: Volume 2.

Portrait of a Mutant's wonderfulness is pretty much universally accepted, but by crikey, The Moses Incident has to be one of the greatest Strontium Dog tales of them all. The atmosphere of pervading dread and hopelessness - despite the wacky banter from Brood's brothers' heads - is second to none, and I'm not sure anyone has ever drawn more frightening zombies than Carlos. (He repeats the trick in the earlier parts of Judgement Day.) Does the Strontium Dog (or indeed Dredd) universe need magic? It's an interesting question - psychic powers, sure, but flat-out sorcery? Is The Moses Incident the only good use of it? (Because The Final Solution isn't particularly good - not really - and Johnny's later magical resurrection is more of a necessary evil.)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 17 April, 2019, 05:10:08 AM
Yep - sorcery/mysticism is usually a huge issue for me, but I think it works here because it only really works to serve the pressure put on Johnny Alpha. It's not really about Moses's resurrection, but about what Alpha is prepared to do to atone.
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Greg M. on 17 April, 2019, 05:33:35 PM
You're right - it works because it doesn't solve the problem (or indeed even create the original problem.)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Leigh S on 17 April, 2019, 06:54:59 PM
The Moses Incident is qite possibly my favourite Stront tale of all
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Dandontdare on 17 April, 2019, 08:41:22 PM
It is certainly a classic, although post-spacespinner2000 I will never be able to forget the potential note "Gone to see space wizard. IOU one dead kid"
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 22 April, 2019, 07:45:56 AM
(https://thrillshots.files.wordpress.com/2018/09/f692b3de-4ea2-44eb-aed0-c8b09d89cd03-e1537878513836.jpg)

"A fun read that draws on a lot of familiar influences to create something pretty unique."

Rogue Trooper: Volume One is up on the blog.

https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/04/22/clone-war-rogue-trooper-volume-1/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/04/22/clone-war-rogue-trooper-volume-1/)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 29 April, 2019, 03:50:45 AM
(https://thrillshots.files.wordpress.com/2019/04/a573d6b0-1f61-4dfa-9665-e47cb9baf4c9-e1555882523266.jpg?w=332&h=1&crop=1)

We step back in time a bit to take a look at the weird Venn diagram of talking animals, fantasy quests and manly 1980s action heroes in Meltdown Man - up on the blog now!

https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/04/29/animal-rescue-meltdown-man/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/04/29/animal-rescue-meltdown-man/)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 06 May, 2019, 08:08:59 AM
(https://thrillshots.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/screen-shot-2019-01-12-at-4.04.11-pm.png?w=338&h=1&crop=1)

Time to pull out the Space Trucking Dictionary and attempt to translate Ace Trucking Co.: Volume One.

https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/05/06/tucker-truckin-ace-trucking-co-volume-one/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/05/06/tucker-truckin-ace-trucking-co-volume-one/)

Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Greg M. on 06 May, 2019, 08:27:00 AM
I love Ace Garp - I think the 'get rich quick' schemer is a very under-utilised archetype in 2000AD. 'Hell's Pocket' is presumably absent due to being drawn by Ian Gibson - he's obviously a great artist, but I don't feel the series works with anyone other than Belardinelli in the jockbox. As for Ace's scarf - it's alive, all right. In fact, its status leads eventually to a rather touching pay-off.
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 06 May, 2019, 11:19:39 AM
Quote from: Greg M. on 06 May, 2019, 08:27:00 AM
I love Ace Garp - I think the 'get rich quick' schemer is a very under-utilised archetype in 2000AD. 'Hell's Pocket' is presumably absent due to being drawn by Ian Gibson - he's obviously a great artist, but I don't feel the series works with anyone other than Belardinelli in the jockbox. As for Ace's scarf - it's alive, all right. In fact, its status leads eventually to a rather touching pay-off.

He's definitely a stand-out character at this point in time for 2000 AD. Now I'm in suspense about the scarf!
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: broodblik on 06 May, 2019, 02:04:27 PM
Ace Garp only works with Belardinelli
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 13 May, 2019, 07:27:45 AM
(https://thrillshots.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/ff3ceec0-8060-4661-9dd6-2f0e52429873-e1534325790463.jpg?w=390&h=1&crop=1)

It's a biggie. Thrillshots reaches "The Apocalypse War".

https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/05/13/the-apocalypse-war/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/05/13/the-apocalypse-war/)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 20 May, 2019, 04:54:28 AM
(https://thrillshots.files.wordpress.com/2019/05/31bfa576-3c8b-4087-a8aa-eeaf1861b6d8-1-e1558135024127.jpg?w=335&h=1&crop=1)

Yup, it's time for another round of robot-detective shenanigans with Sam Slade, Hoagey and Stogie in Robo-Hunter: Volume Two.

https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/05/20/the-song-remains-insane-robo-hunter-volume-two/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/05/20/the-song-remains-insane-robo-hunter-volume-two/)

Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 27 May, 2019, 05:46:02 AM
(https://thrillshots.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/9fe96aba-2441-40c9-8332-2b53fb802c5d-e1534543348512.jpg?w=390&h=1&crop=1)

Satire is pushed to - and possibly past - the limit in this week's collection: Fast Food.

https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/05/27/fast-food/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/05/27/fast-food/)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 27 May, 2019, 10:08:34 AM
With over 20 reviews now up, I've created a few Index pages to keep track of the posts.

By Publication Date: https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/index-by-publication-date/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/index-by-publication-date/)
By Mega Collection: https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/index-by-mega-collection/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/index-by-mega-collection/)
By Ultimate Collection: https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/index-by-ultimate-collection/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/index-by-ultimate-collection/)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 03 June, 2019, 04:47:16 AM
(https://thrillshots.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/72ce995d-5ddd-4fbf-9ec3-68fd7312cd0f-e1534648610587.jpg?w=334&h=1&crop=1)

If there could only be one artist-focused Dredd Volume in the Ultimate Collection, it was always going to be Carlos Ezquerra.

Return of the King is your Thrillshot for this week: https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/06/03/return-of-the-king/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/06/03/return-of-the-king/)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 10 June, 2019, 04:51:17 AM
(https://thrillshots.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/screen-shot-2019-02-09-at-12.41.20-pm.png?w=341&h=1&crop=1)

"It's still a mad, mad, mad nu world."

It's September 1982, and Rogue Trooper: Volume Two is up on the blog.

https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/06/10/shell-shocked-rogue-trooper-volume-2/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/06/10/shell-shocked-rogue-trooper-volume-2/)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 17 June, 2019, 09:25:57 AM
(https://thrillshots.files.wordpress.com/2019/05/d1e6db81-e604-4ce9-8dc2-630e6a5c6f40-1-e1557660787562.jpg?w=329&h=1&crop=1)

It's May 1983. Recite five of the nine sacred equations and, like, chill out man, and check out D.R. & Quinch / Skizz, now up on the Thrillshots blog.

https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/06/17/alien-antics-d-r-quinch-skizz/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/06/17/alien-antics-d-r-quinch-skizz/)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: broodblik on 17 June, 2019, 09:40:19 AM
One of my favorite humor strips D.R. & Quinch. Thanks for the review, enjoyed it.
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 17 June, 2019, 11:15:20 AM
Thanks broodblik!
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 24 June, 2019, 09:07:20 AM
(https://thrillshots.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/1e20d47a-86d1-4e6c-aad4-dde0ba722838-e1535170564541.jpg?w=390&h=1&crop=1)

It's June 1983. It's Judge Dredd vs. Hammer Horror as we look at Famous Monsters, now up on the Thrillshots blog.

https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/06/24/famous-monsters/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/06/24/famous-monsters/)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 30 June, 2019, 08:25:27 AM
So throughout the journey through the Mega and Ultimate Collections, I'll be adding in a couple of extra books/collections that seem worth covering. It's a bit easier to work out what to add to Dredd as the Mega Collection is over so we know what they didn't include. I've already covered Nobody Apes the Law (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/03/25/extra-thrillshot-meet-the-primate-perps-nobody-apes-the-law/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/03/25/extra-thrillshot-meet-the-primate-perps-nobody-apes-the-law/)), and I'll also cover:


Is there anything I else I should consider covering from the Dreddverse?

I'm going to wait until we know for sure what ends up being collected with the 2000 AD Ultimate Collection, but happy to take suggestions for additions there as well! I have both deluxe Volumes of Dan Dare and Ro-busters already, so they'll definitely be on the list.
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 01 July, 2019, 06:29:29 AM
(https://thrillshots.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/screen-shot-2019-01-20-at-9.55.28-am.png?w=340&h=1&crop=1)

It's August 1983. I defy anyone not to love a story that features floating ships powered by blood-soaked magic stones battling each other in the sky. Sláine: Volume One is now up on the Thrillshots blog.

https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/07/01/the-axeman-cometh-slaine-volume-one/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/07/01/the-axeman-cometh-slaine-volume-one/)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 08 July, 2019, 08:04:51 AM
(https://thrillshots.files.wordpress.com/2019/07/cfdedda7-5ea4-44d4-ba58-36832c3a23fb-e1562569383449.jpg?w=336&h=1&crop=1)

It's January 1984. Johnny and Wulf are on the run as we look at Strontium Dog: Volume Three.

https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/07/08/dog-eat-dog-strontium-dog-volume-three/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/07/08/dog-eat-dog-strontium-dog-volume-three/)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 15 July, 2019, 09:34:29 AM
(https://thrillshots.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/bfe6aa9d-5d9b-4620-bc87-5de8f54d27b2-e1535170548104.jpg?w=390&h=1&crop=1)

It's March 1984. Dredd tackles ghosts, poltergeists and serial killers as we take a look at Horror Stories.

https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/07/15/horror-stories/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/07/15/horror-stories/)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 22 July, 2019, 08:22:16 AM
(https://thrillshots.files.wordpress.com/2019/03/screen-shot-2019-03-11-at-6.25.02-pm.png?w=343&h=1&crop=1)

It's March 1984. An alien race called the Cythrons. Holes drilled in time. Ancient humanity's encounters with the aliens. All that and more as we look at Sláine: Volume Two on the Thrillshots blog.

https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/07/22/a-race-against-time-slaine-volume-two/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/07/22/a-race-against-time-slaine-volume-two/)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: sintec on 25 July, 2019, 04:03:20 PM
Quote from: Vernoona on 22 July, 2019, 08:22:16 AM
in this collected form it does make for some confusion as you struggle to keep up with all the new elements.

For me, the Cythron elements are the weakest part of the story, and feel almost artificially grafted on to everything else.

Seems like you had a similar reaction to Time Killer as me (see my rants in the Ultimate Collection thread on the Announcements if you can be bothered to hunt for them). I felt like he'd run out of ideas for good Slaine plots but didn't want to roll up a new character so hammered them all in here with a crowbar.

Gonna try a slower re-read at some point in the future and see if that works better.  But so far (not got vol 5 yet) this was the weakest Slaine story for me.
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: TordelBack on 25 July, 2019, 04:53:15 PM
Great read Vernoona, thanks!  I could happily live without having ever heard of the Cythrons, Leysers or El-Worlds, but it's not entirely fair to say that all the SF elements dumped on us in Time Killer were unprecedented - as I never seem to tire of harping on about, time-travel and its connection to the Drunes is right there on the very first page of Slaine, and it's also far from alien from Celtic myth. The Ever-living Ones of Dinas Emrys are referenced several times in the early part of the strip, the technological harnessing of Earth-power and Atlantis gets a nod too.   

Mills definitely takes us away very abruptly from what we've learnt to love about the series, the dream-time wanderings of a properly European Conan drawn with a deep sense of landscape and cultural context by Bellardinelli and McMahon, and places us in the larger vaguely Moorcockian world that surrounds and supports it.  I hated it all passionately at the time, right up to Slaine's Professor Hulk moment in the arena, when it starts to get interesting - but I've come round to the idea that this cross-time antediluvian techno-fantasy is as much a part of modern myths of the imagined past as anything else in the strip, and was in any event always hidden in the background. The shift in Slaine's consciousness (however temporary!), and ours, was an essential stage in his story. 

Keep up the reviews, they're great.
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: JayzusB.Christ on 26 July, 2019, 02:19:25 PM
They are indeed hugely enjoyable reviews.  In more mature rereading I kind of agree that the sci fi thing feels a wee bit sudden and strays somewhat from what I really like about the strip, but at the time I was a kid and I loved it.  Aliens, laser guns; sorry, leyser guns; and violence.  Just what the doctor ordered.

That said, one of my earliest memories is of the first episode ever; in particular my dad telling my brother and me how to pronounce Sláine  (but let's not go there) and my brother gleefully recreating the 'Eat it all up!' scene.

Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Greg M. on 26 July, 2019, 02:46:28 PM
Quote from: JayzusB.Christ on 26 July, 2019, 02:19:25 PM
Aliens, laser guns; sorry, leyser guns; and violence.  Just what the doctor ordered.

Yeah - you often see people complaining about the leysers or talking about Time Killer as a low point, and fair enough, but I think it's an enormously enjoyable science-fantasy conceit and, frankly, I reckon it gives the series a real lift. It's a heretical opinion, but this is where Slaine really starts for me. Time Killer itself is still a bit long - I prefer Tomb of Terror - but it's a riotously mental collision of loopy Mills-ian ideas.
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: broodblik on 26 July, 2019, 02:47:06 PM
I agree with that the reviews are enjoyable. My first encounter with Slaine was "Time Killer". I still have fond memories of this story and I will rate this along-side "The Horned God" as my all time favorite Slaine tales.
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Dandontdare on 26 July, 2019, 10:34:08 PM
Vernoona absolutely nails my opinion of Timekiller:
QuoteA prologue page throws more information at the reader than entire previous stories. An alien race called the Cythrons. Holes drilled in time. Ancient humanity's encounters with the aliens. The next few pages give us Diluvials. Leyser guns. All in the first episode.

As someone who'd always been into SF but, at that time, was also getting into Tolkein, Moorcock and D&D, Slaine had been a real highlight -sword & sorcery through the unique lens of 2000ad - but I didn't recognise this weird scifi hybrid (I shuddered with disdain at "ley-ser" when I was a child, and it still repels me, despite my usual love of puns), though to be fair Mills then steered the storyline round magnificently with tomb of teror and slaine the king.

Nowadays I'm afraid I just regard Slaine as a frame to hang some truly beautiful pictures on - Pat hasn't had anything interesting to say with the character for some time, but my god, Clint Langley and Simon Davis have given us some absolutely jaw-dropping images over Pat's thin storylines
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Frank on 26 July, 2019, 11:09:46 PM
Quote from: Dandontdare on 26 July, 2019, 10:34:08 PM
Nowadays I'm afraid I just regard Slaine as a frame to hang some truly beautiful pictures on - Pat hasn't had anything interesting to say with the character for some time, but my god, Clint Langley and Simon Davis have given us some absolutely jaw-dropping images over Pat's thin storylines

Longest-running 2000ad Series

Judge Dredd
ABC Warriors
Slaine
Judge Anderson
Indigo Prime
Devlin Waugh
Durham Red
Sinister Dexter


I'll concede that Pat Mills Slaine isn't as good as John Wagner Dredd, but everything else on that list? Seems like much of a muchness to me, but opinions are opiniony.

Slaine should have finished years ago, but then so should all the others.

Like all good-hearted people, I think the premise and tech upgrade of Time Killer are ridiculous but that the strip itself is more fun than zorbing with Jameela Jamil.


Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Leigh S on 27 July, 2019, 12:01:28 AM
Coount me in for having my Time Killed!  It's a bit of an abrupt change, could maybe have done with a tale to set up the transition, but the ideas are pure Mills magic and make Slaine more than the sum of its Celtic Conan parts
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Dandontdare on 27 July, 2019, 01:19:57 AM
Damn you Frank!

I was composing a witty, cogent comeback about how most of those strips are irrelevant to the argument, but now all I can think about is zorbing with Jameela Jamil
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: broodblik on 27 July, 2019, 04:55:23 AM
Quote from: Dandontdare on 26 July, 2019, 10:34:08 PM
Nowadays I'm afraid I just regard Slaine as a frame to hang some truly beautiful pictures on - Pat hasn't had anything interesting to say with the character for some time, but my god, Clint Langley and Simon Davis have given us some absolutely jaw-dropping images over Pat's thin storylines

Unfortunately so true. It almost feels like Pat is just recycling the same story does not matter the character(s). I am looking forward to the upcoming Defoe and hopefully the new Slaine story that is in the wings are something different and new.
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 27 July, 2019, 10:35:38 PM
Thanks for all the feedback everyone! As a relative newbie to 2000 AD every time I post I'm worried I've missed something / not got the context of something. It seems like Time Killer was a big swerve even at the time though!

Pat Mills will obviously feature a lot in the blog, and I find him an absolutely fascinating writer. Even if I dislike the structural move with the story here, as has been pointed out it's still so much bonkers fun that it's impossible not to enjoy the ride anyway!
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 27 July, 2019, 10:43:20 PM
Quote from: TordelBack on 25 July, 2019, 04:53:15 PM
Great read Vernoona, thanks!  I could happily live without having ever heard of the Cythrons, Leysers or El-Worlds, but it's not entirely fair to say that all the SF elements dumped on us in Time Killer were unprecedented - as I never seem to tire of harping on about, time-travel and its connection to the Drunes is right there on the very first page of Slaine, and it's also far from alien from Celtic myth. The Ever-living Ones of Dinas Emrys are referenced several times in the early part of the strip, the technological harnessing of Earth-power and Atlantis gets a nod too.   


Thanks for that information TordelBack - it's all definitely seeded as you say. The Celtic background throughout the strip is fascinating!
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Funt Solo on 28 July, 2019, 08:57:02 AM
Quote from: Vernoona on 17 June, 2019, 09:25:57 AM

It's May 1983. Recite five of the nine sacred equations and, like, chill out man, and check out D.R. & Quinch / Skizz, now up on the Thrillshots blog.

https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/06/17/alien-antics-d-r-quinch-skizz/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/06/17/alien-antics-d-r-quinch-skizz/)

Perhaps obvious, but Skizz is also influenced by Alan Bleasdale's show Boys from the Blackstuff: in particular Cornelius seems based on Yosser Hughes (played by Bernard Hill, now famous as King Theoden).
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 29 July, 2019, 12:19:19 AM
Quote from: Funt Solo on 28 July, 2019, 08:57:02 AM
Quote from: Vernoona on 17 June, 2019, 09:25:57 AM

It's May 1983. Recite five of the nine sacred equations and, like, chill out man, and check out D.R. & Quinch / Skizz, now up on the Thrillshots blog.

https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/06/17/alien-antics-d-r-quinch-skizz/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/06/17/alien-antics-d-r-quinch-skizz/)

Perhaps obvious, but Skizz is also influenced by Alan Bleasdale's show Boys from the Blackstuff: in particular Cornelius seems based on Yosser Hughes (played by Bernard Hill, now famous as King Theoden).

Thanks Funt Solo! The background material in the Volume mentions that connection - I'll have to add Boys from the Blackstuff to my "must watch eventually" list!
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 29 July, 2019, 08:58:37 AM
(https://thrillshots.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/screen-shot-2019-01-26-at-2.49.39-pm.png?w=343&h=1&crop=1)

It's July 1984. A young woman is about to head out on a shopping trip, and change sci-fi stories forever. The Ballad of Halo Jones is now up on the Thrillshots blog.

https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/07/29/journey-into-the-unknown-the-ballad-of-halo-jones/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/07/29/journey-into-the-unknown-the-ballad-of-halo-jones/)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Lorenzo on 29 July, 2019, 09:10:04 AM
Quote from: Funt Solo on 28 July, 2019, 08:57:02 AMPerhaps obvious, but Skizz is also influenced by Alan Bleasdale's show Boys from the Blackstuff: in particular Cornelius seems based on Yosser Hughes (played by Bernard Hill, now famous as King Theoden).

Yosser also makes a one off appearance in Leviathan!:

(https://i.imgur.com/q1gGmT5.png)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: IndigoPrime on 29 July, 2019, 10:40:41 AM
The thread pointing out that early Sláine was far more batshit is interesting. The King was arguably the turning point, when the strip headed into a more grounded take on those old legends. As for the more recent stuff, bar one hideous scene that Mills said wasn't his idea anyway, I did like Books of Invasions. It wasn't bonkers, but it did feel (alone with The Wanderer) like a return to form.

The Brutania Chronicles: A Simple Killing, though, was the really big surprise for me. Refreshing new art. Oddball ideas. A sense of unexplainable weirdness and mystery that echoed Mignola. But then it all went to crap in the subsequent books that too often felt like a scene was stretched across multiple Progs, combined with a Scooby Doo-style loop on repeat.
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 05 August, 2019, 09:12:02 AM
(https://thrillshots.files.wordpress.com/2018/10/4e9bc2f0-6fa6-43c5-ae99-de3371313ef4-e1538795508239.jpg?w=390&h=1&crop=1)

It's August 1984. No-one writes a blog about this collection lessen I tells them they can! Mean Machine is up on the Thrillshots blog.

https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/08/05/buttin-man-mean-machine/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/08/05/buttin-man-mean-machine/)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: davidbishop on 05 August, 2019, 01:37:05 PM
IIRC, the Mean Streets tale was from a Dredd Mega-Special themed around alternate versions of characters - think Elseworlds, What If?, Unbound, that kind of thing. Hence the random strangeness!
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 05 August, 2019, 01:53:50 PM
Quote from: davidbishop on 05 August, 2019, 01:37:05 PM
IIRC, the Mean Streets tale was from a Dredd Mega-Special themed around alternate versions of characters - think Elseworlds, What If?, Unbound, that kind of thing. Hence the random strangeness!

Ah, that makes sense - thanks Mr Bishop! The artwork on that one is beautiful.
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 05 August, 2019, 02:02:28 PM
Huh! I always assumed that when people mentioned 'Mean Streets' they meant a certain episode of Mean's solo adventures that I read in the Megazine in the early 2000's. Turns out that was actually 'Butt Me Deadly' - a completely different Mean-as-a-noir-gumshoe-with-no-explanation strip...!  :lol:

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fQBRLn-kIpg/WWcx0Us94_I/AAAAAAAAHPo/ss6Xeqf0a2kIzMmu83SshaSotm2NHXUfgCHMYCw/s1600/RCO016.JPG)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: IndigoPrime on 05 August, 2019, 03:06:18 PM
I could've done without both of these collections, TBH. #26 was a rough ride, and even the classic Dredd tale (Dredd Angel) isn't one of the best. Then Fallen Angels was a pretty awful way to round out the original run. Angelic is pretty good, albeit a short reboot. The rest varied between being just about readable and abject tosh (did anyone really need a run of Harke & Burr in hardback?)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: sintec on 05 August, 2019, 04:43:46 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 05 August, 2019, 03:06:18 PM
Then Fallen Angels was a pretty awful way to round out the original run. Angelic is pretty good, albeit a short reboot. The rest varied between being just about readable and abject tosh (did anyone really need a run of Harke & Burr in hardback?)

I hadn't looked at the original release order of these before having acquired my copies via ebay; wow those last half dozen books on the pre-extension Mega Collection run really were a rough ride.  With the exception of Chopper I could have lived without the majority of that.  Stars Of Psi-Division was utter tosh (it's a contender for the worst book in the run imo) and most of Weird Science was pretty forgettable. Mega City Underworld and Armitage are better but were hardly essential reading.  A rough 3 months.
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: IndigoPrime on 05 August, 2019, 05:23:11 PM
I was thinking in terms of the tail end of the volumes rather than the release order. Then again, the suggestion was the Dredd run was initially 60, and later expended to 80, and then 90. But, yeah, even in release order, those final ten books were quite the mix, in terms of quality.
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 05 August, 2019, 10:13:54 PM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 05 August, 2019, 02:02:28 PM
Huh! I always assumed that when people mentioned 'Mean Streets' they meant a certain episode of Mean's solo adventures that I read in the Megazine in the early 2000's. Turns out that was actually 'Butt Me Deadly' - a completely different Mean-as-a-noir-gumshoe-with-no-explanation strip...!  :lol:

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fQBRLn-kIpg/WWcx0Us94_I/AAAAAAAAHPo/ss6Xeqf0a2kIzMmu83SshaSotm2NHXUfgCHMYCw/s1600/RCO016.JPG)

"Butt Me Deadly" is such a great title!
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 05 August, 2019, 10:17:21 PM
Quote from: sintec on 05 August, 2019, 04:43:46 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 05 August, 2019, 03:06:18 PM
Then Fallen Angels was a pretty awful way to round out the original run. Angelic is pretty good, albeit a short reboot. The rest varied between being just about readable and abject tosh (did anyone really need a run of Harke & Burr in hardback?)

I hadn't looked at the original release order of these before having acquired my copies via ebay; wow those last half dozen books on the pre-extension Mega Collection run really were a rough ride.  With the exception of Chopper I could have lived without the majority of that.  Stars Of Psi-Division was utter tosh (it's a contender for the worst book in the run imo) and most of Weird Science was pretty forgettable. Mega City Underworld and Armitage are better but were hardly essential reading.  A rough 3 months.

There's definitely some 'filler', shall we say, material in some blocks of the Collection. I've got about 30 of the 90 I've never read so I'm looking forward to tackling them. My general experience has been that even in Volumes I haven't liked overall there's been a gem hiding in there somewhere.

Yeah, Stars of Psi-Division... I read that last year. I'm already wondering if I can just write the review from memory rather than having to re-read the whole thing! Mind you, even there, I have an abiding love for Adrian Salmon's art so it's not a total loss!
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: TordelBack on 06 August, 2019, 08:07:18 AM
That's some sweet scribbling on that alt.Mean page of-which-I-have-no-memory!  Looks like early Goddard and Teague? 
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 06 August, 2019, 08:32:26 AM
Quote from: TordelBack on 06 August, 2019, 08:07:18 AM
That's some sweet scribbling on that alt.Mean page of-which-I-have-no-memory!  Looks like early Goddard and Teague?

Goddard pencils and Lee Townsend inks, apparently, although I'd have guessed Teague, too.
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 12 August, 2019, 11:19:29 AM
(https://thrillshots.files.wordpress.com/2018/10/fb6f2f83-1614-4f35-b836-5c7c723ecd69-e1538889131954.jpg?w=390&h=1&crop=1)

It's October 1984, and time for three wildly different takes on the Cursed Earth in Cursed Earth Carnage.

https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/08/12/the-wild-wild-west-cursed-earth-carnage/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/08/12/the-wild-wild-west-cursed-earth-carnage/)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 19 August, 2019, 04:47:23 AM
(https://thrillshots.files.wordpress.com/2019/08/ace.png?w=353&h=1&crop=1)

Don't gnaw the claw, good buddy! It's August 1982, and the crew of the Speedo Ghost are back for their second - and final - set of adventures in Ace Trucking Co.: Volume Two.

https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/08/19/aces-high-ace-trucking-co-volume-two/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/08/19/aces-high-ace-trucking-co-volume-two/)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: sheridan on 25 August, 2019, 10:52:06 AM
Quote from: davidbishop on 05 August, 2019, 01:37:05 PM
IIRC, the Mean Streets tale was from a Dredd Mega-Special themed around alternate versions of characters - think Elseworlds, What If?, Unbound, that kind of thing. Hence the random strangeness!


The Alternity Special?
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: sheridan on 25 August, 2019, 11:18:27 AM
Quote from: sintec on 25 July, 2019, 04:03:20 PM
Seems like you had a similar reaction to Time Killer as me (see my rants in the Ultimate Collection thread on the Announcements if you can be bothered to hunt for them). I felt like he'd run out of ideas for good Slaine plots but didn't want to roll up a new character so hammered them all in here with a crowbar.


The thing is, he clearly hadn't run out of ideas for Sláine as there were all those loose threads that would be continued in Sláine the King and resolved in The Horned God - some of which were begun on the very first page of the first episode in Prog 330.  I think a more accurate explanation for the Cythron diversion could be that Uncle Pat has a tendency to put whatever the latest theories he's been reading about into his current stories.  If Finn had been around a few years earlier then perhaps we'd have had different Sláine stories in between Dragonheist and The Gates of Anwwn (or whatever it's called).  And if Diceman hadn't existed then the Cauldron of Blood may have been introduced in an entirely different way.
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 26 August, 2019, 08:13:59 AM
(https://thrillshots.files.wordpress.com/2018/10/ccac871a-929f-4073-a528-26ca1bc39bcb-e1540697168815.jpg?w=334&h=1&crop=1)

It's October 1984. Things get personal for Nemesis and Torquemada as we take a look at Nemesis the Warlock: Volume Two.

https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/08/26/rule-britannia-nemesis-the-warlock-volume-two/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/08/26/rule-britannia-nemesis-the-warlock-volume-two/)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 26 August, 2019, 08:15:00 AM
Quote from: sheridan on 25 August, 2019, 11:18:27 AM

The thing is, he clearly hadn't run out of ideas for Sláine as there were all those loose threads that would be continued in Sláine the King and resolved in The Horned God - some of which were begun on the very first page of the first episode in Prog 330.  I think a more accurate explanation for the Cythron diversion could be that Uncle Pat has a tendency to put whatever the latest theories he's been reading about into his current stories.  If Finn had been around a few years earlier then perhaps we'd have had different Sláine stories in between Dragonheist and The Gates of Anwwn (or whatever it's called).  And if Diceman hadn't existed then the Cauldron of Blood may have been introduced in an entirely different way.

Mills certainly displays a certain 'restlessness' with many of his series (ABC Warriors is an even better example of this). If he wants to make a change, he doesn't gradually build to it, but just makes it happen.
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: sintec on 27 August, 2019, 01:27:56 PM
Quote from: sheridan on 25 August, 2019, 11:18:27 AM
I think a more accurate explanation for the Cythron diversion could be that Uncle Pat has a tendency to put whatever the latest theories he's been reading about into his current stories.  If Finn had been around a few years earlier then perhaps we'd have had different Sláine stories in between Dragonheist and The Gates of Anwwn (or whatever it's called).  And if Diceman hadn't existed then the Cauldron of Blood may have been introduced in an entirely different way.

Yeah I think that's probably more accurate.
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 28 August, 2019, 05:19:02 PM
Quote from: Vernoona on 26 August, 2019, 08:15:00 AM
This story ends up featuring the ABC Warriors, the return of Mek-Quake from Ro-busters, a Mega-City One Judge and – inevitably – the return of the worst lizard of the them all, Satanus... These are all fun additions to the story, but there's a slight sense that Mills is losing control of the story a bit. "The Vengeance of Thoth" ends up feeling very much like a middle section, getting pieces into place before the next Book – Nemesis and Torquemada forced to be allied, the chase through the time wastes set up, and so on.

I'd never really thought about Book V that way, but you're absolutely right. It's all over the place! So many fun elements but no clear sense of where the overall story's heading. Torquemurder works much better by slowing things down a bit and having a much stronger focus.
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Greg M. on 28 August, 2019, 05:40:47 PM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 28 August, 2019, 05:19:02 PM
It's all over the place!

Pretty much exactly what makes it the (second) best book of Nemesis.
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 02 September, 2019, 08:23:11 AM
(https://thrillshots.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/screen-shot-2019-01-31-at-7.25.25-pm.png?w=401&h=1&crop=1)

It's November 1984. To pretend to be a regular citizen in Mega-City One, you have to be a little crazy. Walk on the wild side as Undercover Brothers goes up on the Thrillshots blog.

https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/09/02/cops-or-criminals-undercover-brothers/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/09/02/cops-or-criminals-undercover-brothers/)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 09 September, 2019, 06:47:19 AM
(https://thrillshots.files.wordpress.com/2018/12/1913ac9b-1348-4347-a21a-f2d511b1a20c-e1543726241268.jpg?w=390&h=1&crop=1)

It's June 1985. We take a deeper look at Marlon Shakespeare as Chopper goes onto the Thrillshots blog.

https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/09/09/surf-or-die-chopper/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/09/09/surf-or-die-chopper/)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 16 September, 2019, 04:21:04 AM
(https://thrillshots.files.wordpress.com/2019/07/7ca9aa55-b3b8-4e1e-9a9d-852cbe614097-1-e1563706158191.jpg?w=333&h=1&crop=1)

It's July 1985. Tragedy strikes close to home as we rejoin Johnny and Wulf for Strontium Dog: Volume Four.

https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/09/16/hammer-down-strontium-dog-volume-four/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/09/16/hammer-down-strontium-dog-volume-four/)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 23 September, 2019, 10:02:49 PM
(https://thrillshots.files.wordpress.com/2019/06/a0c5516e-518d-4ed6-b75b-f533aad75491-1-e1560668374285.jpg?w=333&h=1&crop=1)

It's December 1985. "Wet your blades!" Sláine's coming home as Sláine: Volume Three gets a going-over in the Thrillshots blog.

https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/09/23/king-country-slaine-volume-three/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/09/23/king-country-slaine-volume-three/)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 07 October, 2019, 02:34:48 AM
(https://thrillshots.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/ddc4252c-eb59-44b1-8cb1-0442b78de5fc-e1533527798101.jpg?w=390&h=1&crop=1)

It's March 1986... or is it? Political turmoil, democratic dramas and a problematic referendum. Are we sure it's not Democracy Now?.

https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/10/07/democracy-now/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/10/07/democracy-now/)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: TordelBack on 07 October, 2019, 10:39:40 AM
These are all good, but that last one in particular is a really great read, Vernoona - thanks!


One tiny observation: 'John Cassavetes is Dead' is by Grant - I only know this because it's my favourite Grant story! It's placement in this collection is odd - I think I'd have shoved it in between 'Revolution' and 'Better the Devil', swapped out 'Politics' for 'The Man Who Knew Too Much' and put it in there before 'Cassavettes': it'd give a better sense of the time passing between the stories. (I don't like anything about 'Politics', TBH - even Anderson's normally bouncy art seems flat and uninspired).
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: TordelBack on 07 October, 2019, 10:46:25 AM
"Its my favourite Grant...". Jovus H. Grud, I'm not even half awake today.
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 07 October, 2019, 11:34:40 AM
Thanks for spotting that error Tordel - you're right, and it's such a Grant story! Thanks as well for the kind words about the blog.

Yep, the story selection ordering of this collection is a bit odd. It's a real grab-bag!
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 14 October, 2019, 08:58:11 AM
(https://thrillshots.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/1fa20336-d198-4179-9af4-b8cbc37a11f4-1-e1570424669441.jpg?w=336&h=1&crop=1)

It's April 1983. We take a look at the end of Sam Slade! Then, the end of Slade again... then, again... It's Robo-Hunter: Volume Three.

https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/10/14/27-billion-ways-to-die-robo-hunter-volume-three/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/10/14/27-billion-ways-to-die-robo-hunter-volume-three/)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 21 October, 2019, 08:33:15 AM
(https://thrillshots.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/screen-shot-2019-02-17-at-10.07.46-am.png?w=397&h=1&crop=1)

It's May 1986. We're finally into Dredd spin-off territory with the first volume of Anderson stories - The Possessed.

https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/10/21/demons-of-the-mind-psi-judge-anderson-the-possessed/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/10/21/demons-of-the-mind-psi-judge-anderson-the-possessed/)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 28 October, 2019, 09:09:05 AM
(https://thrillshots.files.wordpress.com/2019/03/screen-shot-2019-03-03-at-10.32.15-am.png?w=401&h=1&crop=1)

It's June 1986. Bags of hush, lads, as we march Banzai Battalion into the Thrillshots blog.

https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/10/28/bug-hunt-banzai-battalion/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/10/28/bug-hunt-banzai-battalion/)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 04 November, 2019, 04:47:42 AM
(https://thrillshots.files.wordpress.com/2019/03/screen-shot-2019-04-01-at-11.13.37-am.png?w=342&h=1&crop=1)

It's July 1986. He's the next big thing on the trashzine scene - The Art of Kenny Who? is up on the Thrillshots blog.

https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/11/04/who-draws-wins-the-art-of-kenny-who/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/11/04/who-draws-wins-the-art-of-kenny-who/)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 11 November, 2019, 06:07:33 AM
(https://thrillshots.files.wordpress.com/2019/03/screen-shot-2019-04-01-at-11.11.45-am.png?w=394&h=1&crop=1)

It's August 1986. Does Judge Dredd work when he's the centre of attention? It's a series of stories where Dredd himself is in the crosshairs with Target: Judge Dredd.

https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/11/11/the-hits-keep-coming-target-judge-dredd/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/11/11/the-hits-keep-coming-target-judge-dredd/)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 18 November, 2019, 08:28:28 AM
(https://thrillshots.files.wordpress.com/2019/03/screen-shot-2019-04-01-at-11.08.10-am.png?w=400&h=1&crop=1)

It's August 1986. Time to take a look at Dredd's up-and-down history with sensitively and respectfully exploring other cultures with Beyond Mega-City One.

https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/11/18/law-sans-frontieres-beyond-mega-city-one/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/11/18/law-sans-frontieres-beyond-mega-city-one/)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 25 November, 2019, 04:47:57 AM
(https://thrillshots.files.wordpress.com/2019/07/c8812105-9ed3-42cc-80fc-d222c1a82cc6-1-e1562640867476.jpg?w=334&h=1&crop=1)

It's December 1986. War – what is it good for? Let's find out as we enlist in Bad Company: Volume One.

https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/11/25/goodbye-krool-world-bad-company-volume-one/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/11/25/goodbye-krool-world-bad-company-volume-one/)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Greg M. on 25 November, 2019, 07:08:29 AM
Not sure about your take on Sheeva - her power is blowing things up! I don't think the 'zoom' panels are designed as a time-saving feature, but a stylistic one: the whole of Bad Company was written and drawn before it ran. (I think Brett started drawing it in 1984, judging by some of the original art from the series I own.)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 25 November, 2019, 07:52:58 AM
Thanks for reading Greg - I appreciate the feedback! I think Sheeva is introduced well, but isn't used well in the second half of "The Bewilderness" in her own right. Is she back after this story? I'm interested to see if she's used differently after this!

And thanks for the background info on the art - great to know! I feel bad for leaping to "getting this done quickly" rather than "artistic choice"!
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Greg M. on 25 November, 2019, 05:04:29 PM
For what it's worth, Bad Company I & II are my favourite comics of all time, so it's always interesting to see anyone writing about them. Yes, you'll see Sheeva in 'Bad Company II: The Krool Heart' - she certainly has a few pivotal moments therein. For my money, 'Krool Heart' is the best story 2000AD ever ran, and the perfect ending to the series. Be prepared though - what follows is highly variable, and a tad superfluous. There's a flashback one-off and a solo series focusing on one Company member - but after that, I'd stop reading. The next story exists for the best possible reason - giving Brett work when he needed it - but it's no-one's finest hour.
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 25 November, 2019, 09:26:46 PM
This was my first experience with Bad Company, and I was really impressed (hope that came across in the post). I'll be interested to see what's collected in Volume 2!
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 02 December, 2019, 07:58:34 AM
(https://thrillshots.files.wordpress.com/2019/11/31655d6c-b360-4422-b4a1-1791a912eae4-1-e1575153981100.jpg?w=333&h=1&crop=1)

It's August 1986. After clearing up some unfinished revenge, it's back to bounty-hunting with some new partners in Strontium Dog: Volume Five.

https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/12/02/red-reign-strontium-dog-volume-five/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/12/02/red-reign-strontium-dog-volume-five/)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Feikki on 07 December, 2019, 06:57:02 AM
Discalimer: Sorry, I haven't read most of the topics or posts on these forums, and I've checked few of the reviews on your blog.

Would you (or anyone) happen to have written a summary of the Dredd Mega Collection books that would be interesting to those of us who has bought all the Case files and other Rebellion's collections?
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 07 December, 2019, 07:42:19 AM
Hi Feikki - happy to help if I can! What kind of summary do you need? Which stories are in which collections?
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: sintec on 07 December, 2019, 08:21:51 AM
Quote from: Feikki on 07 December, 2019, 06:57:02 AM
Would you (or anyone) happen to have written a summary of the Dredd Mega Collection books that would be interesting to those of us who has bought all the Case files and other Rebellion's collections?

If you're after a list of what got included in the collection - wikipedia has one https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judge_Dredd:_The_Mega_Collection
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Feikki on 07 December, 2019, 08:04:03 PM
I'd be happy to get an information on volume by volume of the stories that hasn't been collected into TBPs lately.

Like: Buy vol. 63 Armitage; City of the Dead - the stories in that hasn't been collected by Rebellion.

No need to buy Chopper if you've got Case Files 9 and Chopper: surf's up.
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: sintec on 08 December, 2019, 03:45:08 PM
I have it all in spreadsheet form here
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1bxJ3aSc82OEkdvvIb2BA0CIlpqWuQWBjehOpvU1vZFw/edit#gid=815672887

Grab a copy and you can easily add a column for Collected In Trade - the hard part will be all the cross-referencing.
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 09 December, 2019, 09:55:28 AM
(https://thrillshots.files.wordpress.com/2019/04/screen-shot-2019-04-04-at-5.57.45-pm.png?w=401&h=1&crop=1)

It's January 1987. Life, death and all that stuff - it's The Art of Taxidermy.

https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/12/09/get-stuffed-the-art-of-taxidermy/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/12/09/get-stuffed-the-art-of-taxidermy/)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Feikki on 10 December, 2019, 06:08:23 PM
Quote from: sintec on 08 December, 2019, 03:45:08 PM
I have it all in spreadsheet form here
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1bxJ3aSc82OEkdvvIb2BA0CIlpqWuQWBjehOpvU1vZFw/edit#gid=815672887

Grab a copy and you can easily add a column for Collected In Trade - the hard part will be all the cross-referencing.
Thanks! I'll give it a try.
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Greg M. on 10 December, 2019, 08:00:19 PM
Quote from: Vernoona on 09 December, 2019, 09:55:28 AM

It's January 1987. Life, death and all that stuff - it's The Art of Taxidermy.

https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/12/09/get-stuffed-the-art-of-taxidermy/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/12/09/get-stuffed-the-art-of-taxidermy/)

For my money, Return of the Taxidermist ties with Swimming in Blood as best Dreddworld story the Megazine ever ran. Hell, it's knocking on the door of Song of the Surfer and The Dead Man, the near-untouchable giants of the broader Dreddworld genre. Some of the most exquisite art of Ian Gibson's career, and an absolute tour de force of inspired, hilarious lunacy from John Wagner - yet one that still retains an emotional core. Just about as good as it gets.
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 10 December, 2019, 09:28:51 PM
Quote from: sintec on 08 December, 2019, 03:45:08 PM
I have it all in spreadsheet form here
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1bxJ3aSc82OEkdvvIb2BA0CIlpqWuQWBjehOpvU1vZFw/edit#gid=815672887

Grab a copy and you can easily add a column for Collected In Trade - the hard part will be all the cross-referencing.

Love a spreadsheet - thanks for sharing sintec!

Feikki, for cross-referencing help, Douglas Wolk has two great lists of uncollected stories on his site under the posts Housekeeping #1 and Housekeeping #2. http://dreddreviews.blogspot.com/ (http://dreddreviews.blogspot.com/)

Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 10 December, 2019, 09:29:51 PM
Quote from: Greg M. on 10 December, 2019, 08:00:19 PM

For my money, Return of the Taxidermist ties with Swimming in Blood as best Dreddworld story the Megazine ever ran. Hell, it's knocking on the door of Song of the Surfer and The Dead Man, the near-untouchable giants of the broader Dreddworld genre. Some of the most exquisite art of Ian Gibson's career, and an absolute tour de force of inspired, hilarious lunacy from John Wagner - yet one that still retains an emotional core. Just about as good as it gets.

It's definitely some of the best character work I've seen so far.
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Feikki on 10 December, 2019, 09:47:55 PM
Quote from: Vernoona on 10 December, 2019, 09:28:51 PM
Feikki, for cross-referencing help, Douglas Wolk has two great lists of uncollected stories on his site under the posts Housekeeping #1 and Housekeeping #2. http://dreddreviews.blogspot.com/ (http://dreddreviews.blogspot.com/)
I've found the 2000AD shop very helpful so far.
https://shop.2000ad.com/series/judge-dredd
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: sintec on 10 December, 2019, 10:42:29 PM
Quote from: Vernoona on 10 December, 2019, 09:28:51 PM
Love a spreadsheet - thanks for sharing sintec!

Now worries - the Mega collection data was copied from another boarder (I'm afraid I can't remember who now).  I've been extending it as the Ultimate Collection continues.
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 16 December, 2019, 07:57:01 AM
(https://thrillshots.files.wordpress.com/2019/04/fa893767-9846-4300-a09b-a21d1814617f-1-e1556177549602.jpg?w=332&h=1&crop=1)

It's May 1987. It's time to get iniquitous with the infernal, and unseemly with the unearthly! Nemesis the Warlock: Volume Three is now up on the Thrillshots blog.

https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/12/16/past-lives-nemesis-the-warlock-volume-three/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/12/16/past-lives-nemesis-the-warlock-volume-three/)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 23 December, 2019, 02:09:24 AM
(https://thrillshots.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/capture.jpg?w=532&h=1&crop=1)

It's July 1987. Dredd takes on the superhero genre in an Extra Thrillshot: The Cape and Cowl Crimes.

https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/12/23/extra-thrillshot-heroes-dont-last-long-in-mega-city-one-the-cape-cowl-crimes/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/2019/12/23/extra-thrillshot-heroes-dont-last-long-in-mega-city-one-the-cape-cowl-crimes/)

Last post for the year, thanks to everyone who's enjoyed the reviews!
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 30 December, 2020, 01:51:21 AM
A long time since I've posted anything here! I've just been enjoying reading and writing, but given I've just passed the two-year and 100 reviews milestone I thought I'd quickly pop back in for an update.

I've reached the end of 1996 in this sort-of chronological march through the Hachette collections. For those of you stuck in yet another lockdown, there's a lot of 2000 AD reading there for you!

Hope you're all doing OK and best wishes from Australia.

https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: AlexF on 30 December, 2020, 08:08:22 AM
Ooh thanks for the reminder! I've moved computers and forgot to copy across my bookmarks - and I'd forgotten all about this wesbite - it's ace, and I've got loads of fun reading to catch up on.
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 30 December, 2020, 08:19:44 AM
Very kind of you to say Alex - thank you! I've loved the Dredd Epics Ranked blog by the way, I can't believe it's wrapped up already!
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 01 February, 2021, 02:57:36 AM
Thought I'd post a short monthly update of new posts, and a quick preview of the upcoming month.

New reviews up in January 2021 are:

Fetish (Mega Collection #16)
Nikolai Dante: Volume One (Ultimate Collection #72)
Sláine: Volume Six (Ultimate Collection #35)
Mad City (Mega Collection #70)

Current schedule for February 2021 is:

Predator vs Judge Dredd vs Aliens (this one's already up!)
World War Three Book 2: Back to Babylon
Durham Red: The Scarlet Cantos (Ultimate Collection #59)
Missionary Man: Goin' South (Mega Collection #66)

https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 24 February, 2021, 08:14:37 PM
February's nearly done, and four new posts up on the site! A very eclectic mix this month:

Predator vs Judge Dredd vs Aliens
World War Three Book 2: Back to Babylon
Durham Red: The Scarlet Cantos (Ultimate Collection #59)
Missionary Man: Goin' South (Mega Collection #66)

Current schedule for March is:

March 1: Sinister Dexter: Volume Two (Ultimate Collection #68)
March 8: Doomsday for Dredd (Mega Collection #42)
March 15: Doomsday for Mega-City One (Mega Collection #43)
March 22: Nikolai Dante: Volume Two (Ultimate Collection #73)
March 29: Sláine: Volume Seven (Ultimate Collection #36)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 01 April, 2021, 09:48:40 AM
Happy April everyone!

Five new posts up on the site for March. All available at https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/)

Sinister Dexter: Volume Two (Ultimate Collection #68)
Doomsday for Dredd (Mega Collection #42)
Doomsday for Mega-City One (Mega Collection #43)
Nikolai Dante: Volume Two (Ultimate Collection #73)
Sláine: Volume Seven (Ultimate Collection #36)

Current schedule for April is:

April 5: Strontium Dog: The Kreeler Conspiracy (Ultimate Collection #11)
April 12: Devlin Waugh: Chasing Herod (Mega Collection #15)
April 19: Sinister Dexter: Volume Three (Ultimate Collection #69)
April 26: Nikolai Dante: Volume Three (Ultimate Collection #74)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 03 April, 2021, 10:12:32 AM
Argh - just released I had an error in my spreadsheet! April's list actually looks like:

April 5: Devlin Waugh: Chasing Herod (Mega Collection #15)
April 12: Sinister Dexter: Volume Three (Ultimate Collection #69)
April 19: Nikolai Dante: Volume Three (Ultimate Collection #74)
April 26: Strontium Dog: The Kreeler Conspiracy (Ultimate Collection #11)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 03 April, 2021, 11:41:51 AM
Still loving these reviews. Keep it up!
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 03 April, 2021, 10:32:39 PM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 03 April, 2021, 11:41:51 AM
Still loving these reviews. Keep it up!

Thanks Dark Jimbo! It's really appreciated. I'm really challenging myself to see this project to the conclusion, despite the eye-watering extensions of The Ultimate Collection...
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 28 April, 2021, 10:56:59 PM
Another month nearly done! Hope you're all doing OK.

Four new posts up on the site for April, and excitingly (for me at least!) we're now up to the actual Space Year 2000! Reviews up at https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/).

Devlin Waugh: Chasing Herod (Mega Collection #15)
Sinister Dexter: Volume Three (Ultimate Collection #69)
Nikolai Dante: Volume Three (Ultimate Collection #74)
Strontium Dog: The Kreeler Conspiracy (Ultimate Collection #11)

Current schedule for May is:

May 3: Weird Science (Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection #17)
May 10: Strontium Dog: Traitor to His Kind (2000 AD: The Ultimate Collection #12)
May 17: Nikolai Dante: Volume Four (2000 AD: The Ultimate Collection #75)
May 24: The Chief Judge's Man (Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection #52)
May 31: Shakara: The Avenger (2000 AD: The Ultimate Collection #57)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 31 May, 2021, 04:09:01 AM
Nearly halfway through the year!

A big month in May with five new posts up, all now in the 21st Century for the Galaxy's Greatest Comic. All now available at https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/)

Weird Science (Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection #17)
Strontium Dog: Traitor to His Kind (2000 AD: The Ultimate Collection #12)
Nikolai Dante: Volume Four (2000 AD: The Ultimate Collection #75)
The Chief Judge's Man (Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection #52)
Shakara: The Avenger (2000 AD: The Ultimate Collection #57)

Current schedule for June is:

June 7: Satan's Island (Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection #44)
June 14: Sláine: Books of Invasions: Volume One (2000 AD: The Ultimate Collection #37)
June 21: Nikolai Dante: Volume Five (2000 AD: The Ultimate Collection #76)
June 28: Caballistics, Inc.: Volume One (2000 AD: The Ultimate Collection #70)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 29 June, 2021, 09:18:31 AM
We're continuing to party like it's the early 2000's over at the Thrillshots blog. Four new posts up on the site in June over at  https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/):

Satan's Island (Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection #44)
Sláine: Books of Invasions: Volume One (2000 AD: The Ultimate Collection #37)
Nikolai Dante: Volume Five (2000 AD: The Ultimate Collection #76)
Caballistics, Inc.: Volume One (2000 AD: The Ultimate Collection #70)

Current schedule for July is:

5 July: Mega-City Underworld (Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection #69)
12 July: Cursed Earth Koburn (Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection #67)
19 July: Psi-Judge Anderson: Half-Life (Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection #12)
26 July: Invasion! (2000 AD: The Ultimate Collection #62)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 07 July, 2021, 07:22:31 AM
With 127 reviews now up (where has that time gone??), thought I'd point people in the direction of the recently-updated Indexes on the site.

This page has the posts in "chronological" order by the first story in each collection: https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/index-by-publication-date/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/index-by-publication-date/)

This lists the Dredd Mega Collection in Volume order: https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/index-by-mega-collection-2/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/index-by-mega-collection-2/)

This lists the 2000 AD Ultimate Collection in Volume order: https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/index-by-ultimate-collection/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/index-by-ultimate-collection/)

And a few extras are rounded up here: https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/index-extra-thrillshots/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/index-extra-thrillshots/)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 28 July, 2021, 09:50:48 AM
Another month nearly over, and four more reviews up on Thrillshots: https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/):

Mega-City Underworld (Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection #69)
Cursed Earth Koburn (Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection #67)
Psi-Judge Anderson: Half-Life (Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection #12)
Invasion! (2000 AD: The Ultimate Collection #62)

Current schedule for August is:

2 August: Low Life: Paranoia (Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection #19)
9 August: Total War (Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection #3)
16 August: The Simping Detective (Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection #21)
23 August: ABC Warriors: Volume Four (2000 AD: The Ultimate Collection #26)
30 August: Sláine: Books of Invasions: Volume Two (2000 AD: The Ultimate Collection #38)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: sintec on 28 July, 2021, 06:28:50 PM
Your Invasion review said you'd be following it up with Savage but your list here doesn't mention Savage at all?
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 29 July, 2021, 03:56:03 AM
Thanks sintec - error on my part! Updated list below:

2 August: Savage: Taking Liberties (2000 AD: The Ultimate Collection #63)
9 August: Low Life: Paranoia (Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection #19)
16 August: Total War (Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection #3)
23 August: The Simping Detective (Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection #21)
30 August: ABC Warriors: Volume Four (2000 AD: The Ultimate Collection #26)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 30 August, 2021, 04:23:14 AM
August was another bumper month for the blog, with five more reviews up on Thrillshots: https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/):

Savage: Taking Liberties (2000 AD: The Ultimate Collection #63)
Low Life: Paranoia (Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection #19)
Total War (Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection #3)
The Simping Detective (Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection #21)
ABC Warriors: Volume Four (2000 AD: The Ultimate Collection #26)

Current schedule for September is:

6 September: Sláine: Books of Invasions: Volume Two (2000 AD: The Ultimate Collection #38)
13 September: Caballistics, Inc.: Volume Two (2000 AD: The Ultimate Collection #71)
20 September: Mandroid (Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection #25)
27 September: Hewligan's Haircut (2000 AD: The Ultimate Collection #54)

The trip back in time to Hewligan's Haircut will make sense - probably.

Hope you're all doing well!
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 27 September, 2021, 10:02:01 AM
The last post for September is now up, which gives us the following new reviews on Thrillshots for this month:

Sláine: Books of Invasions: Volume Two (2000 AD: The Ultimate Collection #38)
Caballistics, Inc.: Volume Two (2000 AD: The Ultimate Collection #71)
Mandroid (Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection #25)
Hewligan's Haircut (2000 AD: The Ultimate Collection #54)

Current schedule for October is:

4 October: All-Star Future Shocks (2000 AD: The Ultimate Collection #56)
11 October: Tales from the Black Museum (Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection #78)
18 October: Origins (Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection #45)
25 October: Nikolai Dante: Volume Six (2000 AD: The Ultimate Collection #77)

It's pretty exciting to be reaching modern classics like Origins as I approach the end of a third year doing these weekly posts!

https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 28 October, 2021, 12:29:02 AM
October is nearly done, so a quick look at what's up on the site now, and what's coming up. This months, new posts up for:

All-Star Future Shocks (2000 AD: The Ultimate Collection #56)
Tales from the Black Museum (Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection #78)
Origins (Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection #45)
Nikolai Dante: Volume Six (2000 AD: The Ultimate Collection #77)

Current schedule for November is:

1 November: ABC Warriors: The Volgan War Volume One (2000 AD: The Ultimate Collection #27)
8 November: Stickleback (2000 AD: The Ultimate Collection #65)
15 November: Kingdom: Volume One (2000 AD: The Ultimate Collection #60)
22 November: Mutants in Mega-City One (Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection #46)
29 November: Psi-Judge Anderson: The Trip (Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection #81)

https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 30 November, 2021, 08:07:54 PM
Farewell November, and into December - I for one am looking forward to putting 2021 in the rear view mirror! New posts up for November were:

ABC Warriors: The Volgan War Volume One (2000 AD: The Ultimate Collection #27)
Stickleback (2000 AD: The Ultimate Collection #65)
Kingdom: Volume One (2000 AD: The Ultimate Collection #60)
Mutants in Mega-City One (Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection #46)
Psi-Judge Anderson: The Trip (Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection #81)

And December will see posts up for:

6 December: Nikolai Dante: Volume Seven (2000 AD: The Ultimate Collection #78)
13 December: ABC Warriors: The Volgan War Volume Two (2000 AD: The Ultimate Collection #28)
20 December: Ampney Crucis Investigates (2000 AD: The Ultimate Collection #66)
27 December: Insurrection (Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection #54)

https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 03 January, 2022, 08:37:10 PM
Happy New Year everyone! This month marks my fourth year on this project, and about half-way through 2022 I'll be done with the first phase - all of the Mega Collection, and the original 80 of The Ultimate Collection.

December wrapped up 2021 with:

Nikolai Dante: Volume Seven (2000 AD: The Ultimate Collection #78)
ABC Warriors: The Volgan War Volume Two (2000 AD: The Ultimate Collection #28) (150th review!)
Ampney Crucis Investigates (2000 AD: The Ultimate Collection #66)
Insurrection (Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection #54)

January will see the following posts go up:

3 January: Low Life: Hostile Takeover (Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection #20)
10 January: Tour of Duty: Backlash (Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection #47)
17 January: Zombo (2000 AD: The Ultimate Collection #55)
24 January: Shakara: Volume Two (2000 AD: The Ultimate Collection #58)
31 January: Nikolai Dante: Volume Eight (2000 AD: The Ultimate Collection #79)

https://thrillshots.wordpress.com (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 22 June, 2022, 01:19:38 AM
Quite a while since I updated this thread! Just a quick pop-in to say that all 90 Volumes of Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection now have posts up. Giving myself a quick pat on the back!

Lots and lots of rambling about Dredd and the Dreddverse can now be found all in one place here: https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/index-by-mega-collection-2/ (https://thrillshots.wordpress.com/index-by-mega-collection-2/)
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: AlexF on 22 June, 2022, 10:03:24 AM
Amazing achievement there! I confess I fell behind on reading but am loving ctaching up slowly. Sorry for leaving comments on year-old posts :)

The format of this blog makes me appreciate quite a bit more the choices Tharg made about what to put into the two Hachette collections - it really covers so much ground of 45 years of 2000AD and the Megazine.
Title: Re: 2000AD Thrillshots - Reviewing the Mega and Ultimate Collections
Post by: Vernoona on 22 June, 2022, 11:54:47 AM
Thanks Alex - and I've really appreciated the comments!

Looking back now I'm glad I did the blog this way. It's given me a bit of sense of the sweep of 2000 AD (and the Meg) over those 45 years.