Came across a Titan Charley's war omnibus on the internet. Seems like a tpb.
I quite like the panels I've seen from the book. Especially the one where Charley has a bag and says "it's me mate sir".
From what I understand it collects the first 3 volumes, and some of the 4th. What I'm wondering is if there's any word on wether they'll continue to publish more of them (should probably be 2 more then), but if they aren't, could it then stand on it's own?
In whatever form you get it just get it. Its quite simply the very best of comics. It really is
http://forums.2000ad.com/index.php?topic=40387.msg890800#msg890800 (http://forums.2000ad.com/index.php?topic=40387.msg890800#msg890800)
That said to answer your specifics. As far as I know this is the only Omnibus they released so you'd need to pick up the individual volumes after this AND YOU WILL. You will lavish in the delights (well horrors) this most brilliant of children's stories offer and smoother yourself in the joy of the rest while berating every moment of your life prior to knowing this wonder.
BUY IT!
Quote from: Colin YNWA on 21 August, 2017, 10:27:41 PM
In whatever form you get it just get it. Its quite simply the very best of comics. It really is.
Colin, as usual, is absolutely spot-on here.
Possibly Pat mills' greatest work, IMHO.
And Joe Colquhoun's art.... the word 'sublime' just doesn't do it justice.
Buy it. Buy it all.
Quote from: Apestrife on 21 August, 2017, 09:29:55 PM
I quite like the panels I've seen from the book. Especially the one where Charley has a bag and says "it's me mate sir".
Every time I see that scene, I think: "...This was in a kids' comic, when comics really were for kids. Fucking hell".
And then I want to fight anyone who questions Pat's right to write whatever the hell he wants for the Prog.
I read the series of hardbacks a year or so ago for the first time and have to say its one of the best things i ever read..stunning art and writing. Not sure about other formats but the titan hardcovers are excellent. I believe fobidden planet have or had a sale of these very recently..
Colin, quite considering it actually! Especially since it seems there'll only be one omnibus.
Tordel, I love how powerful yet simple it is. While I'm not a fan of everything he writes, the stuff I like of his (Serial killer most recent) I REALLY LIKE! Are there more moments like that one throughout the book?
Mute, yes I saw those. From there the idea sprung into my head actually.
I just read that Pat left the comic. Did he still end it on a fitting note of sorts? The story in the tenth book, where Charley goes to Russia.
Wouldn't mind if it did :)
Yes, there's a definite end to the story.
The Russia 1918-1919 (White's vs Red's) story-line is quite good.
[spoiler]Continues on with domestic life post Great War, then Charley's entry to WWII (Dunkirk story-line).[/spoiler]
But it's wrapped up abruptly due to Joe Colquhoun's (R.I.P.) real life health issues.
Could have continued for years, but Battle was dying the slow death also.
I imagine Charley makes it home and such. That the story Pat was involved in writing didn't end abruptly?
Went close to buying all then of Forbidden planet, but the shipping became too expensive. But I'v ordered the omnibus. Can't wait to read it :)
Old skool Squaxx here, I rely on the rusty data-banks and rarely Google/Wiki. :D
I believe Joe and Pat (hallowed be thy Creators name) were with the series from start to finish.
Some people are sensitive to "SPOILERS" so I'll use the "black censorship". FAIR WARNING !!!!!!!!!.
[spoiler]Charley was born in 1900, he was age 16 at the Somme.
Returned to Blighty after the fun and games of the Allies involvement in the Russian Revolution (1920 ?).
His Son (Wilfred ? after Charley's brother ?) is born shortly after his return, Charley let's him know of the horrors of WW1.
1939 or 1940, with the rise of Fascism in Europe, Charley's Son joins up.
Aged 40+ and seeking to find his Son, Charley lies about his age (again!) and joins up.
The search for his Son, conflict with a comrade (familiar ?), a nasty Panzer Commander foe and the retreat to Dunkirk.
The "abrupt end" was when they get back to Blighty, Charley has had enough of war (retires) and thats the conclusion.[/spoiler]
I can remember a 8-10 week period in the early 1980's when Charley went missing from Battle weekly.
They began re-printing the series from the beginning and explained Joe was a very sick man.
The time of the Messines Ridge/Clay-kickers story-line ?.
Joe's health got better, he did return and continued with Charley for a few more years.
I may be wrong, but I always thought the "abrupt ending" was really due to Joe's ill health.
Rather than continue with a new artist, IPC/Fleetway opted to finish there and wrapped it up.
Unfortunately Joe passed away a few years later.
By that time, Battle had virtually become Junk-Mail for the Action Force toys.
Maybe Mr. Mills might be able to shed some light on it ?
I don't do social media and cant attend U.K. conventions due to distance issues :).
Quote from: lincnashOZ on 24 August, 2017, 09:08:16 PM
Old skool Squaxx here, I rely on the rusty data-banks and rarely Google/Wiki. :D
I believe Joe and Pat (hallowed be thy Creators name) were with the series from start to finish
Pat left the strip when the publisher refused to allow him an allowance for research. Joe carried on drawing another writer's scripts, but script quality failed to meet the standard set by Mills.
The 10 Titan volumes contain all of Mills' work. Mills involvement ends with the newspapers reporting Hitler's rise to power.
A well informed Squaxx has the answer. :)
Thanks glassstanley.
edit:- you motivated me to check the toilet paper issues :lol:
late in the series WRITER "S. GOODALL"
No disrespect or offense met glassstanley.
The 30 year old memory just kept playing on loop in my head so I had to admit defeat and check Wiki.
Everyone knows its 100% factual ::).
From Wiki:-
"However, in January 1985, Mills quit the strip before being able to complete the story (he intended the story to end in 1933, with Charley on the dole as Hitler is made Chancellor of Germany) due to a dispute over his research budget."
also:-
"In reality, the ending of Charley's War was down to the poor health of Joe Colquhoun, which had already caused the strip to be delayed several weeks. Out of respect for Joe, there was no question of getting another artist to take over production, and it was felt best to simply draw it to a close."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charley%27s_War#Publishing_history
Anyone who has not read Charley should really do themselves a favour.
None taken!
Mills has frequently gone on record with his version. Most recent seems to be on p18 of Be Pure...
got the omnibus in the fp sale. does anyone know the next book to get storywise (since i understand this is to be the only omnibus)? thanks.
Quote from: The Mind of Wolfie Smith on 02 September, 2017, 09:44:27 PM
got the omnibus in the fp sale. does anyone know the next book to get storywise (since i understand this is to be the only omnibus)? thanks.
Just read the thread, Apestrife got ya covered. He says at the start all of the first 3 volume and into the 4th. So sounds like you need to buy from volume 4 but will have some overlap.
I bought the omnibus after buying the 10 hardbacks. It's well worth picking up as it has new scans from original artwork which is an absolute treat. i wish the would do another.
Quote from: Bazooka Joe on 03 September, 2017, 01:48:40 PM
I bought the omnibus after buying the 10 hardbacks. It's well worth picking up as it has new scans from original artwork which is an absolute treat. i wish the would do another.
Thanks for that - I was wondering if they'd done new scans, as I think one of the early HCs had some very dodgy reproduction that I was a bit disappointed in and supposedly the later French editions have better scans.
Finished reading the omnibus today. Some really really good story telling. Splendidly written, fantastically drawn. Very character driven. Really like how easily it moved between everyday stuff and very intense warfare. The scene where the [spoiler]hun has them trapped, with one forced out every 30 seconds while Charley is digging himself out [/spoiler] was especially intense. And that wasn't the only time I felt really sorry for those involved in the war, and often on both sides.
I think the omnibus could'v ended a bit earlier, with the [spoiler]graveyard scene with the bit on the Somme wiping out Brittian's finest[/spoiler]. I wasn't always the fan the way it was told in either. With the weekly format. Could'v helped if I read it in shorter chunks I suppose.
Regardless. Very easy to recommend. I'm very much hoping this omnibus will be followed by another two.
Also. Any word on if Charley's war been considered for an adaption? Tv or silver screen.
Quote from: Apestrife on 09 September, 2017, 09:09:25 PM
Also. Any word on if Charley's war been considered for an adaption? Tv or silver screen.
Would it really work though. Part of Charley's War's genius is the juxtaposition between the boys own, short snappy action packed story telling and the hard bitten biting commentry. The fact that its a seventy's kids comic is the only thing that allows that to work. Any modern, or even latter day conversion to a filmed medium would have been or would be, so riddled with change and compromise to make 'it work for screen' as to remove the very unique things that make it work as a story.
Add to that one of the other key things that make it work so well, Joe Colquhoun's panels perfecting capturing so much horror and humanity, freezing the moments so exquistity for close examination, while keeping everything so energetic and kinetic provide another thing that make Charley's War being a comic mean it would only work as a comic.
That's not to say it couldn't be a good movie, but its couldn't work with the charm, intensity and
same horror of the comic as it stands. Any movie would merely serve as a lacklustre trailer for the 'real' thing.
Quote from: Colin YNWA on 09 September, 2017, 09:50:31 PM
Quote from: Apestrife on 09 September, 2017, 09:09:25 PM
Also. Any word on if Charley's war been considered for an adaption? Tv or silver screen.
Would it really work though. Part of Charley's War's genius is the juxtaposition between the boys own, short snappy action packed story telling and the hard bitten biting commentry. The fact that its a seventy's kids comic is the only thing that allows that to work. Any modern, or even latter day conversion to a filmed medium would have been or would be, so riddled with change and compromise to make 'it work for screen' as to remove the very unique things that make it work as a story.
Add to that one of the other key things that make it work so well, Joe Colquhoun's panels perfecting capturing so much horror and humanity, freezing the moments so exquistity for close examination, while keeping everything so energetic and kinetic provide another thing that make Charley's War being a comic mean it would only work as a comic.
That's not to say it couldn't be a good movie, but its couldn't work with the charm, intensity and same horror of the comic as it stands. Any movie would merely serve as a lacklustre trailer for the 'real' thing.
I fully agree. But I think Jean-Pierre Jeunet probably could'v done a good job. If he where attached to such a film.
I was just wondering, in a good way: since it's such a well told story :) Thought someone might would'v wanted a crack at it.