Title: 2000ad newbie needs advice
Post by: Yoda on 24 January, 2003, 07:25:00 AM
Post by: Yoda on 24 January, 2003, 07:25:00 AM
I'm ashamed to admit that despite being 33 and a comic reader for as long as I can remember, last week was the first time I bought 2000AD. Don't ask why I waited so long 'cos I have no excuse. Anyway, I loved it and can't believe what I've been missing. So here's where you experts come in. I have a lot of catching up to do, starting with Dredd. What books should I go get first? All recommendations greatly appreciated.
Oh, and if anyone's interested in a new readers opinions - I thought Dredd was great, Caballistics promising (though not too keen on the art), Slaine was boring (just not my thing), Nikolai Dante was very good and (dare I say this having read other opinions for fear of alienating myself with my first post?) I really liked Sinister Dexter. Obviously these are all first impressions but I'm quite set in my ways when it comes to comics and it's rare for me to be this impressed with a new (to me) comic.
Oh, and if anyone's interested in a new readers opinions - I thought Dredd was great, Caballistics promising (though not too keen on the art), Slaine was boring (just not my thing), Nikolai Dante was very good and (dare I say this having read other opinions for fear of alienating myself with my first post?) I really liked Sinister Dexter. Obviously these are all first impressions but I'm quite set in my ways when it comes to comics and it's rare for me to be this impressed with a new (to me) comic.
Title: Re: 2000ad newbie needs advice...
Post by: petemaskreplica on 24 January, 2003, 07:50:03 AM
Post by: petemaskreplica on 24 January, 2003, 07:50:03 AM
to the board welcome, master.
hmm.. old Dredds to get? well, there's a ton of 'em, but you can't go far wrong for starters with Cursed Earth, Day the Law Died (soon to come out in deluxe hardback, I believe), the first couple of Judge Death Stories...
just go for Wagner written stories, avoid any Garth Ennis/ Grant Morrison compilations and you won't go far wrong.
And you like SinDex, eh? well, nobody's perfect. We won't hold it against you... well, not much, anyway ;)
hmm.. old Dredds to get? well, there's a ton of 'em, but you can't go far wrong for starters with Cursed Earth, Day the Law Died (soon to come out in deluxe hardback, I believe), the first couple of Judge Death Stories...
just go for Wagner written stories, avoid any Garth Ennis/ Grant Morrison compilations and you won't go far wrong.
And you like SinDex, eh? well, nobody's perfect. We won't hold it against you... well, not much, anyway ;)
Title: Re: 2000ad newbie needs advice...
Post by: esoteric ed on 24 January, 2003, 07:54:15 AM
Post by: esoteric ed on 24 January, 2003, 07:54:15 AM
Hi there and welcome to 2000ad in 2003, well that's a tough one to answer, I'd recommend trawling this site and catching up with details of many of the characters who have swollen the mighty organ over the years.
IMHO you can't really go wrong with Dredd, Rogue Trooper, Strontium Dog, but it's all a matter of taste.
It really is a tough call to recommend past stories to others, I'm a moderator on a non related US forum and had someone ask me where to start reading and collecting Dredd, I could only suggest UK COMPLETE JUDGE DREDD publication, there's been many new reader starting blocks but much can be lost on new readers, but don't let me put you off, 2000AD is the dogs, perhaps try ebay and start collecting some reprint material, but watch for that thrill power overload, even after 20 plus years it can be overwhelming.
If I could recommend some Dredd material, try and track down The Apocalypse War saga and America, true classics, the rest is history, as is everything after the last we do, unless it's something we're looking forward to.
Ed
(37, long time fan, infrequent contributer)
IMHO you can't really go wrong with Dredd, Rogue Trooper, Strontium Dog, but it's all a matter of taste.
It really is a tough call to recommend past stories to others, I'm a moderator on a non related US forum and had someone ask me where to start reading and collecting Dredd, I could only suggest UK COMPLETE JUDGE DREDD publication, there's been many new reader starting blocks but much can be lost on new readers, but don't let me put you off, 2000AD is the dogs, perhaps try ebay and start collecting some reprint material, but watch for that thrill power overload, even after 20 plus years it can be overwhelming.
If I could recommend some Dredd material, try and track down The Apocalypse War saga and America, true classics, the rest is history, as is everything after the last we do, unless it's something we're looking forward to.
Ed
(37, long time fan, infrequent contributer)
Title: Re: 2000ad newbie needs advice......
Post by: Tommo on 24 January, 2003, 07:56:52 AM
Post by: Tommo on 24 January, 2003, 07:56:52 AM
For Dredd I'd advise starting with something like The Apocalypse War, the various Judge Death stories and anything but the movie.
The backstory to Nikolai Dante can be found on simonfraser.net (site of the usual Dante artist).
Caballistics Inc is brand new, so there's nothing to read up there.
The backstory to Nikolai Dante can be found on simonfraser.net (site of the usual Dante artist).
Caballistics Inc is brand new, so there's nothing to read up there.
Title: Re: 2000ad newbie needs advice.......
Post by: Devons Daddy on 24 January, 2003, 01:07:09 PM
Post by: Devons Daddy on 24 January, 2003, 01:07:09 PM
welcome .
its great here. enjoy it with us.
its great here. enjoy it with us.
Title: Re: 2000ad newbie needs advice...
Post by: Capt.Zeep on 24 January, 2003, 01:51:49 PM
Post by: Capt.Zeep on 24 January, 2003, 01:51:49 PM
Welcome to the ways of thrill power, oh diminutive Jedi master.
What the flippin heck other comix have you been reading so long then? (Genuine question?)
What the flippin heck other comix have you been reading so long then? (Genuine question?)
Title: Re: 2000ad newbie needs advice......
Post by: The Enigmatic Dr X on 24 January, 2003, 02:50:09 PM
Post by: The Enigmatic Dr X on 24 January, 2003, 02:50:09 PM
Morrison and Dredd don't go together.
Morrison's Zenith is fab, though. Especially the first series and the third (Phases I and III).
("You didn't just drop him, did you?" Heh! Still gives me a laff).
Morrison's Zenith is fab, though. Especially the first series and the third (Phases I and III).
("You didn't just drop him, did you?" Heh! Still gives me a laff).
Title: Re: 2000ad newbie needs advice.......
Post by: The Enigmatic Dr X on 24 January, 2003, 02:55:12 PM
Post by: The Enigmatic Dr X on 24 January, 2003, 02:55:12 PM
Oh, yeah. Avoid Soul Sisters. It's the Wayne Biggins of 2000ad.
Title: Re: 2000ad newbie needs advice...
Post by: W. R. Logan on 24 January, 2003, 03:21:37 PM
Post by: W. R. Logan on 24 January, 2003, 03:21:37 PM
look for any graphic novels written by John Wagner, art by Mike McMahon or Brian Bolland. The recent Titan Hardback collections are a good place to look for classic Dredd.
La Placa Rifa,
W. R. Logan.
La Placa Rifa,
W. R. Logan.
Link: New Titan Releases
Title: Re: 2000ad newbie needs advice...
Post by: Tex Hex on 24 January, 2003, 03:26:50 PM
Post by: Tex Hex on 24 January, 2003, 03:26:50 PM
Wow. Loads of new faces recently! (Or am I here too infrequently..?) Hurrah! Good taste has prevailed Yoda!
Title: Re: 2000ad newbie needs advice......
Post by: Slippery PD on 24 January, 2003, 03:43:30 PM
Post by: Slippery PD on 24 January, 2003, 03:43:30 PM
Welcome Green Master,
Firstly, pick up the Megazne, theres some reprint element to it and is as good, if not better than 2000ad (IMHO better)
Dredd:
The Pit, Aocolypse War, Necropolis and the Cursed Earth are probably essential reading.
Nikolai Dante is being collected from the start this year, so you can start here.
Id also suggest: Strontium Dog, Portrait of a Mutant, Rage, Outlaw and Bitch; ABC Warriors, Nemesis the Warlock, Bad Company and Zenith. All are classic thrills.
Yer Padawan Slippo
Firstly, pick up the Megazne, theres some reprint element to it and is as good, if not better than 2000ad (IMHO better)
Dredd:
The Pit, Aocolypse War, Necropolis and the Cursed Earth are probably essential reading.
Nikolai Dante is being collected from the start this year, so you can start here.
Id also suggest: Strontium Dog, Portrait of a Mutant, Rage, Outlaw and Bitch; ABC Warriors, Nemesis the Warlock, Bad Company and Zenith. All are classic thrills.
Yer Padawan Slippo
Title: Re: 2000ad newbie needs advice......
Post by: Oddboy on 24 January, 2003, 03:49:57 PM
Post by: Oddboy on 24 January, 2003, 03:49:57 PM
Get "The Ballad of Halo Jones" GN - it's worth it.
Scooping up old "The Complete Judge Dredd-The Law In Order" comics is probably the best way to go, although they were discontinued before Dredd went full-colour. The problem is, with 26 years of Dredd there's WAY too much material to get a quick answer.
Scooping up old "The Complete Judge Dredd-The Law In Order" comics is probably the best way to go, although they were discontinued before Dredd went full-colour. The problem is, with 26 years of Dredd there's WAY too much material to get a quick answer.
Title: Re: 2000ad newbie needs advice.......
Post by: JimBob on 24 January, 2003, 04:02:09 PM
Post by: JimBob on 24 January, 2003, 04:02:09 PM
Get The Pit,it's excellent. is fairly recent so it'll help identify sopme recurring characters, and is in mny opinion anyway the best of the epics, as theres no world threatening menace for a change.
Highly reccommended
Highly reccommended
Title: Re: 2000ad newbie needs advice.......
Post by: Tex Hex on 24 January, 2003, 04:11:03 PM
Post by: Tex Hex on 24 January, 2003, 04:11:03 PM
The problem with the Pit (and Ill be roasted for thinking it..) is the art. Even the mighty Ezquerra let himself down there. And Macniels art was woeful. In fact the only good art was Lee Sullivans. Of course this is merely my opinion....
The Dredd featuring Judge Death has the fantastic Punks Rule in it. Its so Judge Dredd itll knock your socks off. "The law will be obeyed, the law MUST be obayed!" Class.
Title: Re: 2000ad newbie needs advice.......
Post by: The Monarch on 24 January, 2003, 05:51:53 PM
Post by: The Monarch on 24 January, 2003, 05:51:53 PM
avoid anything by ennis like the plague oh and miller too you reallllllly do not want to read his robohunter
Title: Re: 2000ad newbie needs advice.......
Post by: gavinhanly on 24 January, 2003, 11:32:00 PM
Post by: gavinhanly on 24 January, 2003, 11:32:00 PM
And don't forget that any newbies might want to check out my site! As there's a synopsis of each story, each week for the last 3 months - and continuing, it should help anyone get up to speed - especially in the middle of a series.
OK - finished blatant advertising plug now...
Of the GNs, check out the Pit, The Day the Law Died, Necropolis (especially the big book if you can find it), Cursed Earth, Apocalypse War, America, Wilderlands and Judgement on Gotham.
OK - finished blatant advertising plug now...
Of the GNs, check out the Pit, The Day the Law Died, Necropolis (especially the big book if you can find it), Cursed Earth, Apocalypse War, America, Wilderlands and Judgement on Gotham.
Link: 2000AD Review
Title: Re: 2000ad newbie needs advice.......
Post by: Yoda on 24 January, 2003, 11:48:18 PM
Post by: Yoda on 24 January, 2003, 11:48:18 PM
I've already been to your site a few times Gavin and found it very helpful.
Thanks everyone for the welcome & the good advice. I'm looking forward to catching up on some reading. I've also just been reading about the new stories coming in the spring and every one of them sounds just my cup of tea. Looks like I'm in for the long haul.
Capt. Zeep - I've read loads over the years, some 'cos they were worth reading and some out of habit. I've recently dropped a load of titles so at the moment I'm still reading the following (some of which could be going soon too)-
Marvel: Black Panther, Daredevil, New X-Men, Amazing & Ultimate Spider-Man, Ultimates.
DC: 100 Bullets, Batgirl, Power Company, Flash.
Dark Horse: Star Wars Tales, Star Wars Republic. Image: Savage Dragon.
Thanks everyone for the welcome & the good advice. I'm looking forward to catching up on some reading. I've also just been reading about the new stories coming in the spring and every one of them sounds just my cup of tea. Looks like I'm in for the long haul.
Capt. Zeep - I've read loads over the years, some 'cos they were worth reading and some out of habit. I've recently dropped a load of titles so at the moment I'm still reading the following (some of which could be going soon too)-
Marvel: Black Panther, Daredevil, New X-Men, Amazing & Ultimate Spider-Man, Ultimates.
DC: 100 Bullets, Batgirl, Power Company, Flash.
Dark Horse: Star Wars Tales, Star Wars Republic. Image: Savage Dragon.
Title: Re: 2000ad newbie needs advice.......
Post by: judda fett on 25 January, 2003, 12:34:28 AM
Post by: judda fett on 25 January, 2003, 12:34:28 AM
Good to finally see someone else here that likes Star Wars. Classic Dredd to check out is The Apocalypse war, other good strips include Nemesis and ABC Warriors, also pick up Star Wars Empire- its tough!
Title: Re: 2000ad newbie needs advice.......
Post by: James on 25 January, 2003, 01:07:30 AM
Post by: James on 25 January, 2003, 01:07:30 AM
Just follow the instructions on the help section at the bottom of the page(next to the thrill-sucker)and click on the link to access the icon.
Of course you don't have to use it!
You're welcome in advance
James
Of course you don't have to use it!
You're welcome in advance
James
Link: Yoda icon
Title: Re: 2000ad newbie needs advice.......
Post by: James on 25 January, 2003, 01:10:16 AM
Post by: James on 25 January, 2003, 01:10:16 AM
I lost the first half of that message, it should go something like:
As a new member you're gonna need an icon, so I took the liberty of making you one...
As a new member you're gonna need an icon, so I took the liberty of making you one...
Link: http://www.geocities.com/jameskircough/index.html?1043091743192
Title: Re: 2000ad newbie needs advice.......
Post by: Capt.Zeep on 25 January, 2003, 01:57:22 AM
Post by: Capt.Zeep on 25 January, 2003, 01:57:22 AM
Nobody's mentioned the Judge Cal saga which was one of my very favourites at the time it came out (about 25 yrs ago!). Don't know if it's available as a GN tho'.
Must visit a comic shop (thin on the ground up here) and try some other titles meself -have got into the way of thinking 2k is the only comic around tho' I enjoy silly stuff like viz and ancient stuff like Freak Bros.
Must visit a comic shop (thin on the ground up here) and try some other titles meself -have got into the way of thinking 2k is the only comic around tho' I enjoy silly stuff like viz and ancient stuff like Freak Bros.
Title: Re: 2000ad newbie needs advice.......
Post by: W. R. Logan on 25 January, 2003, 02:20:34 AM
Post by: W. R. Logan on 25 January, 2003, 02:20:34 AM
>Nobody's mentioned the Judge Cal saga which was one of my very favourites at the time it came out (about 25 yrs ago!). Don't know if it's available as a GN tho'.
I said look out for the Titan Hardbacks which include:
Judge Dredd
http://www.2000adonline.com/index.php3?zone=reprint&page=gnprofiles&choice=dvdeath&Comic=
The Cursed Earth
http://www.2000adonline.com/index.php3?zone=reprint&page=gnprofiles&choice=cursed02
The Day The Law Died (Judge Cal)
http://www.2000adonline.com/index.php3?zone=reprint&page=gnprofiles&choice=daylawdied&Comic=
Slaine: The King.
http://www.2000adonline.com/index.php3?zone=reprint&page=gnprofiles&choice=slainek2
La Placa Rifa,
W. R. Logan.
I said look out for the Titan Hardbacks which include:
Judge Dredd
http://www.2000adonline.com/index.php3?zone=reprint&page=gnprofiles&choice=dvdeath&Comic=
The Cursed Earth
http://www.2000adonline.com/index.php3?zone=reprint&page=gnprofiles&choice=cursed02
The Day The Law Died (Judge Cal)
http://www.2000adonline.com/index.php3?zone=reprint&page=gnprofiles&choice=daylawdied&Comic=
Slaine: The King.
http://www.2000adonline.com/index.php3?zone=reprint&page=gnprofiles&choice=slainek2
La Placa Rifa,
W. R. Logan.
Title: Re: 2000ad newbie needs advice.......
Post by: Bart Oliver on 25 January, 2003, 03:51:16 AM
Post by: Bart Oliver on 25 January, 2003, 03:51:16 AM
I can't fault any of the advice so far- for me the three full colour McMahon strips in the 1982 Judge Dredd annual, reprinted in The Streets of MegaCity One graphic novel (I think) are some of the best old skool Dredd you can get your hands on. Alas I don't own either books anymore and would like to see these stories reissued somewhere, anywhere..
Title: Re: 2000ad newbie needs advice.......
Post by: DavidXBrunt on 25 January, 2003, 05:45:49 AM
Post by: DavidXBrunt on 25 January, 2003, 05:45:49 AM
You're the other reader of Power Company! I knew there was one out there.
Title: Re: 2000ad newbie needs advice.......
Post by: Yoda on 25 January, 2003, 05:58:27 AM
Post by: Yoda on 25 January, 2003, 05:58:27 AM
Great! Thanks James. My, you're a friendly bunch.
DavidXBrunt - yep, I'm guilty! I'm a sucker for Busiek's stuff. Having said that it needs to improve more if I'm going to stay with it, although there's rumours it's getting cancelled anyway.
DavidXBrunt - yep, I'm guilty! I'm a sucker for Busiek's stuff. Having said that it needs to improve more if I'm going to stay with it, although there's rumours it's getting cancelled anyway.
Title: Re: 2000ad newbie needs advice.......
Post by: DavidXBrunt on 25 January, 2003, 04:09:57 PM
Post by: DavidXBrunt on 25 January, 2003, 04:09:57 PM
Not surprised at the rumours. Stunned it's lasted this long though.