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Not sure if this would be big enough but the one on Barney is bigger (I have no qualification to say its better.

http://www.2000ad.org/functions/cover.php?choice=473&Comic=2000ad

There are a number of threads about this story, or that discuss it, but none for a few years and not one that take Tour of Duty as a whole, rather for example the two trades have individual threads, so indulge me please.

I've just finished a re-read of the epic as part of my re-read of all the Wagner Dredd's since 950. That means I've read The Pit, Doomsday and Total War recently and so feel safe in saying 'Tour of Duty' is my favourite long form Dredd story with only one possible exception, that being The Cursed Earth. I was very tempted to go back and re-read that right now to see which 'wins' but I'd rather keep my momentum and get to the end of 'Day of Choas' (which I don't think will compete, though strongly suspect I'll enjoy the first 2/3s of more than I did when reading it as it first came out). Also it'll be very difficult comparing the two as they are different beasts...

... or are they.

See that's the reason I felt there was even a vague need to waste the time of anyone daft enough to read this. There are a lot of surface level similarities between Cursed Earth and The Day the Law Died, the epic that followed straight on from it and Tour of Duty. I've no doubt smarter people than me have picked up on this, but I've not seen comment on it, so it may well be wiser people than me have dismissed it as merely superficial, but it got me thinking and I thought it was worth airing, even if only to get shot down.

So what am seeing. Well the common ground comes in the similar board plot points and to a degree the structure. Firstly Dredd is sent into the Cursed Earth, to deal with a plague. In the older epic an external threat far away, in the more recent a metaphorical one, the mutants which has crashed into the city (I of course refer to the mutant 'plague' based on its perception by the Mega City One citizens not in its 'reality). Dredd is therefore cast into the Cursed Earth and deals with its rich and varied life, in short Episodic stories, much like the original story.

Upon his return he being 'cast out' from the Justice Department is forced to deal with a corrupted justice department under the leadership of a villainous Chief Judge, one whom has risen to power by usurping the rightful holders place, while keeping the entire department behind them... well almost. In what is a much more singular narrative Dredd, without the resources of the Department, almost impotent, must use what he can scrape together to see this tyrant overthrown and ultimately its down to the actions of a perp (was Fergie actually a Perp in DtLD? I know he was a vagrant but can't remember if was actually ever said to be guilty of owt?) to take down the villain of the piece.

I mean in very board terms its all there right. Surely deliberately so... or was it subconsciously so... or am I just reading too much into things? John Wagner, unlike say Pat Mills isn't one to return to old stories, though you could argue he has with Strontium Dog, so it seems odd, but on re-read Tour of Duty read like a re-working of the previous two epics (one of which of course he didn't write in the main) for modern times. I can even see subtler things working in the two stories (or sets of). The SJS so vilified in DtLD seemed redeemed somewhat at the end of ToD as they march on mass to arrest Sinfield. Possibly a reflection by Wagner, who has often played them as the cads of the piece, that controls on law enforcement are indeed required and a damned good thing. Again reading too much into stuff?

Has this been discussed to death elsewhere and I've missed it? Am I just reading to much into superficial similarities and thus finding other things jumping out of that which aren't there (I have a history of this you want to hear my reading of Grant Morrison's Final Crisis!) or, unlikely as this sounds to me even as I type, is this worthy of discussion?

Well I should be careful without knowing specifics BUT what the heck.

Is the service free?

Do Croydon libraries face the same challenges as the vast majority of public libraries out there?

Whatever rather than coming here to vent you're personal anger at their service you're time and energy might be better spent finding out what you can do to help and support them. To find who to speak to in the council so that they get the help they need to turn things around.

I'm yet to meet a librarian whose main focus isn't helping the people their service is aimed at, normally for shockingly little reward - I have of course met many who aren't good at it, but the desire will be there.

As I say I need to be careful without knowing the specifics of the service, but in general terms all this will be true.

Support you local library service or you will lose it.

Oh and petulant moan since I'm whinging a bit this week and to kick some life into the thread. Surely when it's said that 7 of the 9 Chief Judges Dredd has served under had great admiration for his abilities it should have been 8. Sinfeld admired Dredd's abilities very much, hence turning to him to investigate the attempted murder on his life. Dredd's politics he hated, but Joe's abilities he had the utmost respect for?

Can't remember Cal's perspective on Dredd as an enemy, its an age since I read The Day The Law died.

I know, I know not a show stopper but it made me stop and think when I was reading the Prog this week, mainly cos I read that passage from 'Tour of Duty' just a couple of evenings ago.

Well see that magnificent, simply magnificent beast on the cover, that glorious king of beasts, well apparently he can be subdued by a [spoiler]good old tickle under his chin [/spoiler] and hence in one piece of nonsense Flesh has its single worst episode I can remember. I've long loved this strip, but really, come on.

Elsewhere though Damnation Station continues to leave me utterly cold we're on okay form. Aquila has a steady episode and Dredd builds on the action, but alas not too much else this week. Even Brass Sun manages to disappoint, don't fear its still the standout thrill of the Prog, this week by a country mile, but they do a terrible, terrible thing. Why have they [spoiler]killed The Duke[/spoiler], WHYYYYY??? Damn you, damn your eyes Edginton.

These days okay form just isn't enough and after the high standards of last week this Prog is pretty disappointing. Shame, such a beautiful cover, guess I shouldn't be judging it on that though.

While not as good I certainly enjoyed the later stories too. The last story (was it) were Luke wonders into Hell has some simply glorious Steve Parkhouse art. Loved that one too.

Uh how have I missed this. Sounds very interesting, right up my street. Will defo get checked out.

...will you just look at that cover

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=preview&id=18425

How long to the cover of the year vote...

Yeah I was nervous about the current Jonah Hex storyline and all the more so after the first couple of parts when Booster appeared where pretty weak, in fact probably the weakest since the current run (and I'm talking back when Jimmy and Justin started). I've been won over as its gone on though, as its been handled in such delightful (well never the right word where Jonah is concerned!) fashion. Its back to being one of my favourite titles every month.

Do wonder if this is the status quo we'll have until the end of the series. They've had the simply fantastic 70 issue run of short westerns, they've tried embedding it in Gotham folklore and this seems to be the last stab at getting the book an audience, start of Nu52 aside, its never found in decent numbers.

Can't have any complaints as whatever happens DC have given this book an incredible run. Its rarely sold more than 20,000, often less than 15,000 and most books don't last 10 - 20 issues with those kind of numbers these days. With any luck we'll reach the 100 mark (of both titles) before DC finally pull the plug and I for one will be very, very happy to have those 100 plus (fingers crossed) comics. Its just frustrating when people complain about not giving good books a chance, as a good book, with a steady team will find an audience. Evidence alas says nonsense. A title that's been as strong as this, written by the same team since the start, with an array of arts that has been astonishingly strong, when it was sorts and then the same artist month in month out once its had a more ongoing storyline and its never found a big readership.There are so many times we see this happen.

Well it must be a sign of the rare health the art comp is in but not a one of my votes even placed... in anything!... either that or my rotten taste in art... no, no it must be the rude health of the art comp!

Well done to all who took part, congratulations to the winners and placers and hat doffed as ever to CFM.

I recently just got into reading the Judge Dredd stories (pretty much thanks to Dredd 3D) And I know that him and 2000AD have been around since the late 70's. And one question pops into mind. Has the Dredd-Verse ever done a DC Comics style reboot or is it more like Marvel. It only has the one continuity and yes all that cheesy/wacky old stuff DID happen but it doesn't get referenced much?

It's all one 'story' with no reboots and one which ages in real time too. So one year here is one year in Dredd's 'world' so a reboot of any kind is unlikely.

Cover, cover, cover, cover.... COVER!!!!

http://www.bleedingcool.com/2013/10/02/front-cover-art-to-this-years-biggest-selling-comic-revealed/

... actually not that keen. Its rendered fine, but I do think the layout and page design is quite weak. I feel dirty saying that, but its true. Won't stop me buying this in a heart beat, but ...

[Supersoaker]

If you're climbing the branches of Nirvana's rock family tree, you'll want to have a listen to The Raincoats too, Supersoaker. Kurt said (in the sleeve notes of Incesticide) that rediscovering a copy of their first record was the only thing which had given him any pleasure during that mental year when they went from being an indie band to having the jocks who used to beat them up in high school fighting in the front row of their arena shows.

KICK OUT THE JAMS MOTHERFUCKER

Their first album (the one linked to) is quite brilliant. I have to say the version linked to (the version I have) is enhanced with 'Fairy Tale in a Supermarket' a quite stunningly good song.

The Animal Man one was great! And improved my strength during the day I read it (yes I read it in a day)

Not surprised at all, in my top ten runs of all time (possibly top ten and sometimes number 1, depending on when you catch me!)

[the Animal Man omnibus]

I've got a Hellboy library edition, Drowntown, the Animal Man omnibus and the new Prophet trade sitting on my bookshelf unread currently.

Sorry catching up with this thread and this might have been covered further up, but just wanted to add the proliferation of Omnibuses (Omnibi what is the plural?) might be one of the factors in breaking me  (not the Animal Man one I have those in floppie and won't be letting them go again!). There's a load of old material coming out in this format that I'd like to get my hands. Typically if an omnibus is more than say 400-500 pages I find them cumbersome to read, which I don't enjoy. Digital versions of the same material just won't have that problem of course.