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2000 AD => General => Topic started by: Robin Low on 08 September, 2017, 05:00:27 PM

Title: Missing speech bubble in America II
Post by: Robin Low on 08 September, 2017, 05:00:27 PM
This was something that was bugging me for a few years, but because the comics were in the attic and then the books in storage following a house move it was a while before I was able to check. I was pretty certain that a fairly important bit of dialogue was missing from America II Fading of the Light in the Rebellion edition that collects all three America stories (I don't know about other editions), and it turned out I was right. I did mention it to another member of the forum a few years ago, so if this is already generally known I missed the discussion.

Assuming folks are not aware, it's a bit in part three (#22 Megazine 22 Oct 1996). It's the penultimate panel of page 6 where Dredd is laying into Boyce for failing to prevent the assault on Beeny:

"NOBODY DESERVES THAT NOBODY DESERVES JUDGES LIKE YOU. AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED YOU'RE AS GUILTY AS THE PERPETRATORS."

To my mind this is an important bit of dialogue regarding Dredd's idea of what a Judge should be as well as his sense of what is right and what is wrong. It's kind of annoying it's missing in the collected edition.

I'm curious about the circumstances that led to a single speech bubble vanished from a panel.

Regards,

Robin
Title: Re: Missing speech bubble in America II
Post by: Frank on 08 September, 2017, 08:09:13 PM
Quote from: Robin Low on 08 September, 2017, 05:00:27 PM
I'm curious about the circumstances that led to a single speech bubble vanished from a panel.

The balloons throughout the Hachette edition are different to the original Megazine run*, but Annie Parkhouse's text is exactly the same.**

If I had to guess, I'd say some part of readying the old art files for reprinting*** involved some poor bastard lassoing the original published text, whacking it on top of the digital art, and drawing new balloons around it. It would be easy to miss the odd balloon, I suppose.

Be interesting to hear from someone involved.


* shorter tails, different weight of line, and they cover slightly less of the art.

**  right down to the irregular height of crossbars on Hs and the length of dashes.

*** Maybe retrieving the files from old CDs in redundant formats, maybe just adjusting the line weight so it was legible despite the smaller page size
Title: Re: Missing speech bubble in America II
Post by: Robin Low on 08 September, 2017, 08:21:30 PM
I'd quite like to see it fixed, if possible

I gave a copy of the first America story to a friend of mine, and he felt it was a bit one sided. The thing I liked about the second one is that it redressed the balance in an honest way - the Judge system is brutal and unforgiving, but it applies the same standards to its own as it does to the citizens. The missing dialogue makes it very clear where Dredd stands, perhaps even more clearly than the revised "Where do I stand?" speech in the next episode.

Regards,

Robin
Title: Re: Missing speech bubble in America II
Post by: Jim_Campbell on 08 September, 2017, 08:52:53 PM
Quote from: Frank on 08 September, 2017, 08:09:13 PM

If I had to guess, I'd say some part of readying the old art files for reprinting*** involved some poor bastard lassoing the original published text, whacking it on top of the digital art, and drawing new balloons around it. It would be easy to miss the odd balloon, I suppose.

I'm not saying that isn't what happened, but I'm struggling to think of a production workflow where that would be a remotely sensible process.
Title: Re: Missing speech bubble in America II
Post by: Jim_Campbell on 08 September, 2017, 09:04:22 PM
(Note to above: I am fairly constantly amazed by the brain-fuckingly inefficient production workflows I encounter on a regular basis. See: the publisher for whom I output a press-ready PDF of their entire book from InDesign, which they then convert to TIFFs of each page, re-import into InDesign, and then output... a press-ready PDF.)
Title: Re: Missing speech bubble in America II
Post by: Frank on 08 September, 2017, 09:49:26 PM

Yeah, makes no sense to me either.

And obviously I agree with Robin. Removing that line shifts Dredd's concern from the welfare of the victim to the poor practise of a coworker.


Title: Re: Missing speech bubble in America II
Post by: Richard on 08 September, 2017, 11:53:35 PM
In the Judge Hershey solo story A Game of Dolls there was clearly a speech bubble missing from the last panel of the last episode (Meg 2.30). Always wondered what they were saying.
Title: Re: Missing speech bubble in America II
Post by: The Adventurer on 08 September, 2017, 11:56:46 PM
Since these problems seem to be with last pages of chapters, maybe in the process of removing the 'Next Prog/Meg' caption at the end of the page was some how linked to the missing balloons in a layer snafu?
Title: Re: Missing speech bubble in America II
Post by: Frank on 09 September, 2017, 12:11:04 AM
Quote from: The Adventurer on 08 September, 2017, 11:56:46 PM
... these problems seem to be with last pages of chapters ...

The dialogue missing from the Hachette reprint of Fading Of The Light originally appeared on page 6 of 8 (Meg 3.22).


Title: Re: Missing speech bubble in America II
Post by: sheridan on 09 September, 2017, 11:29:27 AM
Quote from: Richard on 08 September, 2017, 11:53:35 PM
In the Judge Hershey solo story A Game of Dolls there was clearly a speech bubble missing from the last panel of the last episode (Meg 2.30). Always wondered what they were saying.
Damnit, have it, but not easily accessible...
Title: Re: Missing speech bubble in America II
Post by: Steve Green on 09 September, 2017, 11:44:35 AM
There's your free gift for the Christmas issue - a pack of rubdown speech balloons.


It does make me wonder if there's anything in the way Rebellion issues digital editions that allows for updates.

(Thinking more along the lines of reinstating colour spreads when the scans become available)

Would be a way to extend the revenue stream for digital at least.
Title: Re: Missing speech bubble in America II
Post by: Robin Low on 09 September, 2017, 12:57:15 PM
Quote from: Frank on 08 September, 2017, 09:49:26 PMRemoving that line shifts Dredd's concern from the welfare of the victim to the poor practise of a coworker.

Putting it that way makes it even more important - it's not just about the equality of the system, it's about the kind of man Dredd is.

For me, Dredd is at his very best when his basic human decency shows through. Don't get me wrong, I love his relentlessness and his sheer fucking bastard toughness, but I'm moved by his clumsy gesture of kindness when he offers Beeny his father's teeth back.

Regards,

Robin
Title: Re: Missing speech bubble in America II
Post by: matty_ae on 09 September, 2017, 06:17:56 PM
Hey in the Eagle comic reprint of the Dark Judges, they put in an extra speech bubble when Anderson grabds Dredd waist, so at least things even out.

I cant find a scan. I'm sure someone else can.
Title: Re: Missing speech bubble in America II
Post by: Dandontdare on 09 September, 2017, 06:44:50 PM
I love that panel (if it's the one I'm thinking of, not seen the eagle reprint) - Dredd's hand is hovering just over Anderson's arse and he's looking over his shoulder at it as if wondering "reckon I could get away with it?"
Title: Re: Missing speech bubble in America II
Post by: matty_ae on 10 September, 2017, 09:08:55 AM
I think its the other way. Dredd is mortified at having to put his hand round Anderson.
You get the sense he's so conditioned against contact its really out of his comfort zone but practically they have to be 'one' to enter the shield.
Title: Re: Missing speech bubble in America II
Post by: matty_ae on 10 September, 2017, 11:28:00 AM
Here it is!
Title: Re: Missing speech bubble in America II
Post by: Dandontdare on 10 September, 2017, 11:37:29 AM
haha, I never knew they did that - clearly someone in editorial thought it wise to clarify that Dredd was NOT considering copping a feel! But I like to think Bolland intended a bit of mischievous doubt.
Title: Re: Missing speech bubble in America II
Post by: Swerty on 10 September, 2017, 11:42:49 AM
I think the above works better without the addition dialogue.
Title: Re: Missing speech bubble in America II
Post by: The Monarch on 10 September, 2017, 12:01:58 PM
considering ipc/fleetways version of preservation (which seems to rival the bbcs in the 60s from what i heard) its a small miracle we can read old thrills at all these days
Title: Re: Missing speech bubble in America II
Post by: sheridan on 12 September, 2017, 07:19:29 PM
Quote from: Steve Green on 09 September, 2017, 11:44:35 AM
There's your free gift for the Christmas issue - a pack of rubdown speech balloons.


I had some of those a long time ago, though they were for E.T. not 2000AD :-(


"Be good"
"Ouch!"
"I'll be right here"
and
"Phone home" (of course)



(http://cerealoffers.com/Cereal_Partners/Shreddies/1980s/1980-85/ET_Glow_in_the_Dark_Action_Tra/1982-Shreddies-ET-Transfers.jpg)