2000 AD Online Forum

2000 AD => Announcements => Topic started by: Molch-R on 10 December, 2014, 03:30:20 PM

Title: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Molch-R on 10 December, 2014, 03:30:20 PM
(http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w380/2000ADimages/MEGACOLLECTIONAD_zps0f90f727.jpg)

Attention citizens! Prepare yourselves for the definitive collection of the ultimate Lawman of the Future – Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection is launching on 21st January!

Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection is a fortnightly collection of classic stories from the UK's biggest comic character, brought to you by Hachette Partworks and 2000 AD.

You can subscribe online now and get subscriber-only exclusive free gifts at www.judgedreddcollection.com make sure you check out the six specially commissioned artworks only available to subscribers.

Issue one will be available at all good newsagents in the UK and Ireland from on 21st January.

The series begins with Judge Dredd: America by John Wagner and Colin MacNeil, which is regularly cited as the greatest Judge Dredd story of all time.

This is the definitive collection of Judge Dredd and his world, packaged in beautifully produced hardback editions whose spines, once assembled, form a special brand new image that will bring the law to any fan's bookshelves.

With stories that have never before been reprinted, the Mega Collection will give a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the development of classic characters, scenes and storylines with:
-   specially commissioned feature content exploring Dredd's world
-   interviews with the creators
-   previously unseen sketches and designs

The Mega Collection will feature the most famous Judge Dredd stories such as The Cursed Earth, The Apocalypse War, and Necropolis alongside newer series such as Origins and Day of Chaos, plus incredible stories and insane characters from the world beyond the walls of Mega-City One.

Created by John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra, for 38 years Judge Dredd has been the mainstay of the legendary weekly comic 2000 AD. Policing the vast megalopolis of Mega-City One that stretches down the east coast of America in the 22nd Century, Judge Dredd wields the powers of judge, jury, and executioner. The Judges rule the city with an iron fist in a satire on the excesses of state power which goes from police procedural to action strip to polemic to sprawling epics in the blink of an eye.

The series has produced some of the biggest British and Irish talent in comics– including Mark Millar, Grant Morrison, Garth Ennis, Chris Weston, Jock, Frazer Irving, and Brian Bolland. Their imaginative and groundbreaking stories are represented in this glorious new collection, some of them reprinted for the first time.

Whether you're an old school fan looking to relive the classic stories or someone who's looking to explore the world of Mega-City One, grab Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection from newsagents from January or subscribe online now!


FAQs

How many issues are there in the collection?

There are 80 issues in the collection.

How often is the collection published?
The collection will be published every fortnight.

What day will issues be available in the shops?
Issues are available on a Wednesday, every fortnight.

I can't find any issues in the shops – what should I do?
You can ask your newsagent to place a regular order for you so you can pick up your issues from them, or alternatively you can subscribe and receive issues straight to your door. If you start your subscription from issues 1-4 you'll also receive free gifts.

Where is my nearest stockist?
You should be able to pick up your copy from all good newsagents. Alternatively, you can subscribe online and have your issues delivered to your door.

How much does each issue cost?
Issue 1 comes at the special price of £1.99 (€3.99). Premium subscribers pay £2.99 (€4.99).
Issue 2 comes at a special price of £6.99 (€9.99). Premium subscribers pay £7.99 (€10.99).
Issue 3 onwards is priced at £9.99 per issue (€14.99). Premium subscribers £10.99 per issue (€15.99).

How can I get issues if I live outside the UK or Republic of Ireland?
We are sorry, but at the moment we cannot send issues outside the UK and R.O.I. due to licensing restrictions.

How do I subscribe?
You can subscribe in one of 3 ways; online, by telephone on 0844 412 9974, or by post by filling in a subscription form which can be found in issues 1, 2 and 3 of the collection.

How long will it take for my delivery to arrive?
Please allow 28 days from your order confirmation for your issues to be delivered.

What payment methods are available?
Direct Debit, Switch, Maestro, Visa, Delta, Mastercard or via invoice.

When will payments for my subscription be taken?
Payments are only taken once your order has been dispatched. Payments are taken every 4 weeks, and the date will depend upon when you take out your subscription.

Have you received my subscription request - I have not had confirmation?
If you have subscribed online, you will receive a confirmation email within 24 hours of placing your order. If you do not receive this email, please contact our Customer Service Team since there may have been a problem receiving your order, or an error with the email address used on your order form. If you subscribe via post or phone, you will receive a confirmation welcome letter within seven days of us receiving your request to subscribe. This contains your order reference number and details of your subscription. If you haven't received a welcome letter after 10 days, then please contact our Customer Service Team by one of the methods below. If you email the team, please include your name in the subject line.

When will I receive my free gifts?
Subscribers starting with issue 1, you will receive your FREE issue and FREE Replica Judge Dredd® Badge with your second delivery. If you subscribed online you will also receive your FREE Takeaway Mug.
You will receive your FREE Judge Dredd® Tin Coasters with your third delivery.
You will receive your FREE Judge Dredd® Metal Bookends with your fifth delivery.

Subscribers starting with issues 2, 3, or 4, you will receive your FREE issues and FREE Replica Judge Dredd® Badge with your first delivery. If you subscribed online you will also receive your FREE Takeaway Mug.
You will receive your FREE Judge Dredd® Tin Coasters with your second delivery.
You will receive your FREE Judge Dredd® Metal Bookends with your fourth delivery.

Premium subscribers will receive the first limited edition print with issue 10, after which you will receive a print every 14 issues.

Please note, some gifts may be dispatched separately from the issues.

How do I cancel my subscription?
You can cancel at any time giving 28 days' notice - please contact our Customer Service Team via telephone, post or email. If you contact the team by writing, please include your name and subscription reference.

Can I get the free subscription gifts without subscribing?
No, sorry, but if you'd like to subscribe please go to the website. Please note that gifts are part of a special offer only available to people who start their subscription with issues 1, 2, 3 or 4.

How do I return an issue?
If you are not satisfied with a dispatch, you have the right to return it within 14 (fourteen) days from the day you received it. To exercise this right, simply inform us of your decision by email, telephone, or by sending us the withdrawal form [link: http://www.hachettepartworks.com/media/13676/return-form.pdf] available here. You may send us back the dispatch, at your own cost, without giving any reason and without any penalty. Of course, you will not have to pay for this dispatch. As soon as we have registered the return of the dispatch, your debt will be cancelled. The dispatch must be returned, sealed, with the invoice, where applicable, to the following address:

Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection
PO Box 77
Jarrow
NE32 3YH

Please include your subscription number with your parcel. A parcel kept more than 14 calendar days means acceptance and the invoice should be paid promptly.

Are the issues available digitally?
We're sorry, but issues will not be available digitally.

I have already seen issues of this – is this collection different?
As part of our research we tested the first four issues in selected locations in the UK. The 80-volume collection is now launching nationally from issue 1 with a brand new, specially commissioned spine cover.

I subscribed to the test. Do I have to buy issues 1-4 again?
As a test subscriber, you will receive issue 1-4 completely free. You will receive an email to inform you of this and the next steps. If you did not provide an email address when subscribing you will receive a letter by post. If you have not received this by Saturday 20th December 2015, please contact our customer service team via any of the methods below. If you email the team, please include your name and subscription reference in the subject line.

I bought test issues through a retailer. Do I have to buy the issue(s) again?
No, if you email us at judgedredd@jacklinservice.com we will ensure that any issues you purchased are replaced with national issues.

How can I get back issues?
You can order back issues via the Hachette Partwork shop [link: http://www.hachettepartworks.com/shop], or alternatively you can contact our Customer Service Team using one of the methods below. Please note that it can take up to 28 days to deliver your back issues from receiving your request.

I have the wrong issue(s). What should I do?
We will replace all of your issues with the correct issues. In order for us to arrange a replacement, please contact our Customer Service Team by one of the methods below. If you email the team, please include your name and subscription reference in the subject line.

My issue(s) arrived damaged. What should I do?
We will replace any damaged issues. Please contact our Customer Service Team by one of the methods below. If you email the team, please include your name and subscription reference in the subject line.

Why can't I get through on the telephone number given?
We have lots of lines and staff dedicated to helping you, but they can be busy at peak times so please keep trying. Alternatively, please email our Customer Services Team on judgedredd@jacklinservice.com
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Steve Green on 10 December, 2014, 03:44:28 PM
Great!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jim_Campbell on 10 December, 2014, 03:49:02 PM
(http://procrasti-nation.eu/wp-content/uploads/Shut-up-and-take-my-money.jpg)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: COMMANDO FORCES on 10 December, 2014, 03:52:19 PM
And as if by magic, they appeared :D
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Eamonn Clarke on 10 December, 2014, 03:54:10 PM
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-30402725
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Zenith 666 on 10 December, 2014, 04:01:32 PM
These look gorgeous absolutely gorgeous.those spines better line up Molch-R or they'll be he'll to pay  :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Colin YNWA on 10 December, 2014, 04:16:16 PM
So those of you who've had these before (and I'm sure this has already been discussed so my apologies) what size are the volumes? Are they old Prog sized or smaller?

So very tempted but I own all this stuff... still so very tempted...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Bolt-01 on 10 December, 2014, 04:21:50 PM
Even if I don't sub I'll be making sure I get copies of America- I know some lapsed Squaxx that would be very happy to see these.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: oshii on 10 December, 2014, 04:22:20 PM
I'm sure they'll be lovely but I can't justify the storage space and the really quite hefty cost for stuff that I've in most instances already got at least twice.

They do look nice though.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richard on 10 December, 2014, 04:31:10 PM
These look brilliant. I would totally subscribe if I didn't already have so many of them in old editions that I pretty much need to move house to make room for them. But I might get one as a gift.

At least everyone who moaned about spines in this forum can finally feel like they've been listened to! Now you just need to get a shelf that's wide enough for 80 books.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: James Stacey on 10 December, 2014, 04:32:42 PM
(http://i1.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/241/796/cac.png)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Buttonman on 10 December, 2014, 10:53:17 PM
Nice of them to give the trial copies free - it does mean no new volumes until February at the earliest - still some Christmas presents sorted!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: radiator on 11 December, 2014, 12:14:55 AM
It's bugging me - what's the volume right in the middle? The one numbered 55 that says "The HEA..."?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Banners on 11 December, 2014, 12:17:56 AM
Heavy Metal Dredd?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: radiator on 11 December, 2014, 02:02:51 AM
Don't think so. The cover is making me think of The Corps.

Ron Smith and Jim Murray makes me think of Father Earth and the Holocaust 12 spin-off series.

'The Heavies' maybe? Themed collection about special squads like The Corps and H12?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Zenith 666 on 11 December, 2014, 02:10:30 AM
Yeah definitely looks like the corps.The corps and holocaust squad aren't really heavyweight dreddworld stories maelstrom was a far better space judge story.Ron smith story about a different judge squad got me stumped.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Spaceghost on 11 December, 2014, 08:15:00 AM
I won't be subrcribing as, like many others here, I already have most of the stuff I want from Dredd's long history. I will be picking up issue one, and possibly issue two, then I'll see if any of the others takes my fancy when I see them in the shops.

Fans like us who already have all this stuff are obviously not the main target audience for this (apart from Mr. Burdis of course) but I shared the link on Facebook when the test issue came out, and one of my comic reading friends, who has inexplicably never read any Dredd but has been looking for a way in, has immediately subscribed, and another friend has started getting it for her son.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 11 December, 2014, 08:19:56 AM
Quote from: Spaceghost on 11 December, 2014, 08:15:00 AM..and one of my comic reading friends, who has inexplicably never read any Dredd but has been looking for a way in, has immediately subscribed, and another friend has started getting it for her son.

It takes the decision making out of the equation: no 'there's over 2200 of these comics, where should I start?', or 'which one of these 12 editions of Judge Death should I get?', just sign up and let the nice men send you what you need.  I can see the attraction.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 11 December, 2014, 08:24:58 AM
Quote from: radiator on 11 December, 2014, 02:02:51 AM
Don't think so. The cover is making me think of The Corps.

Ron Smith and Jim Murray makes me think of Father Earth and the Holocaust 12 spin-off series.

'The Heavies' maybe? Themed collection about special squads like The Corps and H12?

That makes sense to me, maybe 'The Heavy Squads', or somesuch.  I'm sure you're right that Ron is there for 'Father Earth'.  Be nice to have that one in a shiny edition, actually.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jim_Campbell on 11 December, 2014, 09:39:18 AM
I look forward to seeing effusive apologies offered by those who declared this product doomed/stillborn/DOA based on their in-depth grasp of publishing logistics and marketing.

Cheers

Jim
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 11 December, 2014, 10:55:37 AM
Quote from: Jim_Campbell on 11 December, 2014, 09:39:18 AMI look forward to seeing effusive apologies offered by those who declared this product doomed/stillborn/DOA based on their in-depth grasp of publishing logistics and marketing.
Presumably along with the retractions about how Rebellion and/or Hachette were "ripping people off", not least because of the spine art changing for the new run (for which replacements will be given entirely for free)?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: James Stacey on 11 December, 2014, 11:30:14 AM
boom!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 11 December, 2014, 12:16:00 PM
FFS. I know comics aren't exactly considered to be at the high end of media, but people do actually have to be able to read, in order to take in comics, right? Or do these people just look at the pictures and ignore EVERYTHING they've been told about what's happening?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: shaolin_monkey on 11 December, 2014, 12:24:56 PM
Quote from: TordelBack on 11 December, 2014, 08:19:56 AM
Quote from: Spaceghost on 11 December, 2014, 08:15:00 AM..and one of my comic reading friends, who has inexplicably never read any Dredd but has been looking for a way in, has immediately subscribed, and another friend has started getting it for her son.

It takes the decision making out of the equation: no 'there's over 2200 of these comics, where should I start?', or 'which one of these 12 editions of Judge Death should I get?', just sign up and let the nice men send you what you need.  I can see the attraction.

Exactly this - a friend of mine, never been into Dredd before, linked the BBC article to me, with the note that he is extremely tempted to subscribe, even having never even read 2000AD before. 

It's a great idea, which may even be working!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: strontium71 on 11 December, 2014, 12:29:00 PM
Is it considered sad to have the subscription and also a shop bought copy - just for the card backer , which I presume it'll have? I know it's expensive but that's the way of collecting.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mardroid on 11 December, 2014, 02:51:06 PM
My local Comic Book Guy, has little experience with Dredd but he liked the film. I believe he's also been getting the IDW comics and he was interested in delving further into Dredd's world. (Or should that be 'worlds'?) So I introduced him to this collection and he subscribed.

This happened relatively late and last I heard he had received nothing. I think he will be delighted to receive this news.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Pete Wells on 11 December, 2014, 05:36:55 PM
Yeah, I passed on 1,2 & 3 to a friend who reads the odd Batman GN and he's hooked. This is a great way to get new folk on board.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Steve Green on 11 December, 2014, 08:10:41 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 11 December, 2014, 12:16:00 PM
FFS. I know comics aren't exactly considered to be at the high end of media, but people do actually have to be able to read, in order to take in comics, right? Or do these people just look at the pictures and ignore EVERYTHING they've been told about what's happening?

Hachette's letter announcing the end of the trial wasn't exactly setting people up to be positive though.

(https://scontent-b-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/1383174_10201912873742317_1580066668808420038_n.jpg?oh=189c4627a394726e34199cc02b3c77eb&oe=54F61DBF)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Spikes on 11 December, 2014, 09:50:18 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 11 December, 2014, 10:55:37 AM
Quote from: Jim_Campbell on 11 December, 2014, 09:39:18 AMI look forward to seeing effusive apologies offered by those who declared this product doomed/stillborn/DOA based on their in-depth grasp of publishing logistics and marketing.
Presumably along with the retractions about how Rebellion and/or Hachette were "ripping people off", not least because of the spine art changing for the new run (for which replacements will be given entirely for free)?

Just for asking; Are these two posts referring to people on this forum, or elsewhere?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Robes on 11 December, 2014, 10:15:40 PM
These look great, as someone who lapsed from buying 2000ad at around '94 and has recently to delved into the digital graphic novel archive, I think this is an easy way to build up a nice collection of tangible books.  I'll be subscribing for sure, even though I have some of the stories in digital format already.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Toni Scandella on 11 December, 2014, 10:20:17 PM
I might have accidentally subscribed.  I couldn't not.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jim_Campbell on 11 December, 2014, 10:25:37 PM
Quote from: Spikes on 11 December, 2014, 09:50:18 PM
Just for asking; Are these two posts referring to people on this forum, or elsewhere?

Yup.

Jim
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: dweezil2 on 11 December, 2014, 10:37:46 PM
Excuse me if I'm being dumb, but I suscribed to the test run, does that effectively mean that my sub has reset and I have to re-subscribe from issue 5 or does it just carry on from where it left off and I have to do nothing?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Bat King on 11 December, 2014, 11:30:08 PM
Quote from: dweezil2 on 11 December, 2014, 10:37:46 PM
Excuse me if I'm being dumb, but I suscribed to the test run, does that effectively mean that my sub has reset and I have to re-subscribe from issue 5 or does it just carry on from where it left off and I have to do nothing?

Quote from: Molch-R on 10 December, 2014, 03:30:20 PM
I subscribed to the test. Do I have to buy issues 1-4 again?
As a test subscriber, you will receive issue 1-4 completely free. You will receive an email to inform you of this and the next steps. If you did not provide an email address when subscribing you will receive a letter by post. If you have not received this by Saturday 20th December 2015, please contact our customer service team via any of the methods below. If you email the team, please include your name and subscription reference in the subject line.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: dweezil2 on 11 December, 2014, 11:56:12 PM
Cheers Bat King! :)
I didn't really explain myself adequately, specifically it was about upgrading to the premium subscription to receive the prints, in the email I was sent it says about upgrading to this premium service from issue 5.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Eamonn Clarke on 12 December, 2014, 08:52:04 AM
Are apologies required? Seems to me as if a lot of people (myself included) were confused by the test marketing project and by the conflicting messages we were receiving from Hachette itself.

I understand that a lot of this had to be kept under wraps while figures were analysed, and that in a sense we on the forum were not really the test audience. Hachette presumably knew we would be buying, it was its wider crossover appeal they were trying to gauge.

As most of us were not privy to all this information as the soft launch happened I think we can be forgiven for acting in a confused manner particularly when there was the spectre of paying for something that we might not actually receive.

Now the carefully conceived plan has be revealed in its greater glory then we can all lean back, wipe our brows and say phew. Well done to Hachette and Rebellion and roll on my first delivery.

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Spikes on 12 December, 2014, 09:17:31 AM
Quote from: eamonn1961 on 12 December, 2014, 08:52:04 AM
Are apologies required?

No. Not by anyone on this forum in regards to this matter.
The other thread is still up, and people can re-read it should they wish....


But yes, looking forward to this collection. Every inch of it looks most superb.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 12 December, 2014, 11:16:18 AM
People being confused and a bit irritated is one thing (although it's notable no-one 'left waiting' for books was actually charged any money), but there have been outright accusations in various places of ripping off readers/early subscribers, along with complaints that clearly no-one knew what they were doing, despite this being a publishing test-run. I'm glad it's turned out nicely, but there are still people being jerks over on Facebook, and they're still somehow finding things to complain about. (Just about the only grumble that has any justification is that this set of titles is currently UK-only, but that's the nature of licensing. All of the other moans just strike me as petty and ignorant.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: ManParrish on 12 December, 2014, 04:47:09 PM
I emailed them 2 days ago regards a couple of things not clear on their site - not had a reply yet so hope not a sign of how they operate!  :-\
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 14 December, 2014, 04:54:23 PM
I'm so glad this series is going ahead. The three books received were of such a high quality and perfect for a lapsed fan like myself. I'm interested if the Prints have enticed many people. Without seeing them the extra £80 pounds seems steep for 6 pieces of art unseen. I wonder how many people are tempted or is it just the completists?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 14 December, 2014, 05:55:18 PM
I thought the same about the prints. Interesting at based on the survey they were testing the water about making 11 quid the default price for every book. Maybe this is a cunning way to get more income from some people by giving them some very limited prints in return.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mardroid on 14 December, 2014, 05:57:10 PM
I saw the £1.00 extra (per order) and thought, "hmm. Not bad."

But when you put it like that...

I hadn't decided by the way.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Rook on 15 December, 2014, 07:30:26 PM
First post in a long time!

I've subscribed to this; or at least I think I have. I've had no confirmation email, which is slightly concerning (although perhaps they're having a lot of demand, but even then I'd expect something automatic). I'm really excited to see what these books are like, though. I was originally collecting the Case Files but I think these are a much better option for me.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 15 December, 2014, 09:25:50 PM
Are you a premium subscriber?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Rook on 15 December, 2014, 10:32:51 PM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 15 December, 2014, 09:25:50 PM
Are you a premium subscriber?

Me? No.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 16 December, 2014, 03:44:36 PM
I'd love to see some of these volumes just have art from one artist. I don't mean splitting up mega-epics but I'd love to see the 'stand-alone' stories of Steve Dillon, Brett Ewins, Brendan McCarthy, Jock, etc collected. It would nicely differentiate them from the casefiles and encourage double-dipping.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moldovangerbil on 16 December, 2014, 05:26:00 PM
If anyone wants to know a bit more about the premium service, I had this reply to an email I sent them:

Please be advised that for the premium subscription there is an additional £1 charge monthly and you will get the first print with issues 10 & 11 and afterwards with every 14 issues. You can opt out of it when you wish,all you need to do is inform us.


Cheers
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 16 December, 2014, 07:40:05 PM
If you get a wonderful a3 photo quality image rolled in a tube this would be great. If it's a folded piece of a4 it wouldn't be so cool. I think the first issue of the test run came with a folded image of the recent Bolland megazine cover of Dredd allies & foes. It was good but not worth £14 -  if it's an indicator of quality.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: ManParrish on 19 December, 2014, 08:01:45 PM
I have taken out the subscription, however after opening an account it does not let me link a subscription to it...it simply takes me back to the "create an account" page again! Has anyone had any success with this (or not)? Did email them days ago but as yet no reply
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moly on 22 December, 2014, 11:24:27 AM
Anyone have any idea which stories will be included ?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: COMMANDO FORCES on 22 December, 2014, 07:11:50 PM
If anyone has any problems, there is a facebook page so you could ask direct questions there. This is obviously if emails and phone calls haven't worked!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Bat King on 23 December, 2014, 01:40:45 PM
Quote from: moly on 22 December, 2014, 11:24:27 AM
Anyone have any idea which stories will be included ?

Despite what has been publicised... no. Speculation would hit several correct guesses though.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jim_Campbell on 23 December, 2014, 01:48:53 PM
Quote from: moly on 22 December, 2014, 11:24:27 AM
Anyone have any idea which stories will be included ?

Vol 1: The Essential Mark Millar

Vol 2: Sonny Steelgrave's Greatest Hits

Vol 3: EXCLUSIVE! Never-before-published Michael Fleisher Dredd epic
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Steve Green on 23 December, 2014, 02:22:36 PM
Quote from: moly on 22 December, 2014, 11:24:27 AM
Anyone have any idea which stories will be included ?

According to their fb page, the first 4 confirmed are

America
Mechanismo
The Apocalypse War
Origins

Everything else is just going to be guesses from the covers shown...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 02 January, 2015, 02:57:39 PM
Quote from: Jim_Campbell on 23 December, 2014, 01:48:53 PM
Quote from: moly on 22 December, 2014, 11:24:27 AM
Anyone have any idea which stories will be included ?

Vol 1: The Essential Mark Millar

Vol 2: Sonny Steelgrave's Greatest Hits

Vol 3: EXCLUSIVE! Never-before-published Michael Fleisher Dredd epic


Now that I would pay money to see! :o

Vol 4:  Dredd visits Chronos Carnival.

TBH I've been in two minds with this.  Like a lot of others the thought of duplicating material already owned doesn't make a lot of sense but then the extras / concept gallery looks interesting.  The reviews from those who tried the test subscription has inspired a bit of confidence as well so I'm taking the plunge!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: dweezil2 on 02 January, 2015, 04:31:39 PM
There's an article and advertisement in this months SFX magazine regarding the collection, so it looks like they're giving it a good push!   :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Grey M@a on 02 January, 2015, 04:53:34 PM
Does anyone know if this will go digital? Just having a mass clear out today as the space in the house has now ran out but would still be interested in this if it goes digital.

No way I could make space for 80 volumes xD Struggling to find space for progs and megs :(
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Bat King on 02 January, 2015, 05:09:56 PM
I don't think Hachete do digital at all.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Grey M@a on 02 January, 2015, 07:27:48 PM
Thanks for the heads up, will keep an eye out just in case :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 04 January, 2015, 06:26:05 PM
Stupid question, I may have ran straight over the details somewhere, but when do these start coming out?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Steve Green on 04 January, 2015, 06:30:21 PM
http://www.2000adonline.com/news/12-12-2014/judgedreddthemegacollection/ (http://www.2000adonline.com/news/12-12-2014/judgedreddthemegacollection/)

21st of January
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Bat King on 05 January, 2015, 10:13:47 AM
I want to see TV adverts for this!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 05 January, 2015, 06:15:14 PM
Quote from: Steve Green on 04 January, 2015, 06:30:21 PM
http://www.2000adonline.com/news/12-12-2014/judgedreddthemegacollection/ (http://www.2000adonline.com/news/12-12-2014/judgedreddthemegacollection/)

21st of January

Thanks, don't know how I missed that.  Mind I had an email today confirming that as well.  First issue then, and every four weeks. Nice way to end the month!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: chiefy2shoes on 05 January, 2015, 08:36:55 PM
I'm guessing the page size is similar to that of US sized comics rather than the larger prog. Does the resizing of material look okay? (for those that have tried the test batch)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Pete Wells on 05 January, 2015, 11:21:38 PM
I re-subscribed to this today (it's a long story...) and my subscriber number went from 00018 to well into the 700's. I know that isn't a very scientific study but it seems to be doing well if they've got around about that many subbers at £20 a month...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: COMMANDO FORCES on 05 January, 2015, 11:23:12 PM
Tell us your long story :D
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: BPP on 14 January, 2015, 01:30:07 AM
Next week. 2000ads FB page has been doing a countdown.

Weirdly I (subscriber to the initial run) got a zero invoice from them today that read as if it was to be included with the actual volumes. Different to the 'thank you for your old subscription, it is being transferred to the new volumes automatically' one of a few weeks back.

Long may they keep charging me nothing.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: BPP on 14 January, 2015, 03:08:14 AM
Quote from: chiefy2shoes on 05 January, 2015, 08:36:55 PM
I'm guessing the page size is similar to that of US sized comics rather than the larger prog. Does the resizing of material look okay? (for those that have tried the test batch)

Wider than US comics. The test run was about 1cm shorter than a Rebellion TPB, same width (it looks slightly wider and only about 0.5 cm shorter because it has a slightly oversized hard back cover. Absolutely no resizing issues.

These really are stunning quality reproductions. The cover styling is great, the quality of the book first rate. The 'additional material' is a bit over-sold:

issue 1 has 2 page text / picture article on the background of Wagner writing the story (nothing new), 2 pages of MacNeil character sketches (solid gold) ,1 large cover reproduction and 4 1/4 page cover reproductions. It also has the drawn-by-MacNeil short 'Firepower' from Prog 736 which seems pretty incongruous. TBH a couple of more MacNeil sketches or full sized covers would have been more apt.

Issue 2 has 5 full page covers and a 1 page bio on Colin MacNeil

Issue 3 has 9 full sized covers (including a Bolland wrap-around) and a one page article by Molcher on the story's context.

So tbh the only real exclusive stuff so far is 2 pages of sketches in vol. 1

However that really doesn't matter when you see how nice these hardback editions are.the only thing I hope they modify is the lack of full colour spreads in the pre-colour Dredd. It's clear from the paper, printing and colour covers in the same book it isn't a cost decision dictating that (or a cost-to-print decision, maybe pre-printing reproduction work would be needed).

When you see Vol 1 in the shops you'll jump on. These are, even at 9.99, incredible value.



Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Rook on 14 January, 2015, 09:34:26 PM
That's a great description - I'm even more excited for this now. It seems they've begun to arrive, so hopefully mine will come this week.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: amines2058 on 14 January, 2015, 11:58:51 PM
Do we know yet which high street retailers, supermarkets etc will be carrying these?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: BPP on 15 January, 2015, 12:56:49 AM
Quote from: amines2058 on 14 January, 2015, 11:58:51 PM
Do we know yet which high street retailers, supermarkets etc will be carrying these?

Bit of coordination on the board will be good, I'll certainly update where and when I find em (although I'm buying multiple of #1 & #2 as gifts as its a unique opportunity to Spread The Word.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: amines2058 on 15 January, 2015, 06:32:00 AM
Good call BPP I am sure that the usual suspects such as FP and WH Smiths wil lcarry pluis mybe some local newsagents, and probably ASDA who always seem to have these large Hachette 3000 part collections on the shelf. (I should know I got the initial issues of the Star Trek Space ships collection from there!)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 15 January, 2015, 11:19:05 AM
It'll be interesting to see if there's any correlation or not with places that actually carry 2000 AD. None of our local supermarkets do (despite the nearby Tesco being the size of a small town), but even our smallish WHSmith has 2000 AD on the shelves every week.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: BPP on 15 January, 2015, 11:33:04 AM
FP won't have it (unless, as some intend, they go through a few creative hoops) as its not for LCS. Given those may have a back stock of Rebellion TPBs you can see the logic.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Molch-R on 15 January, 2015, 11:34:43 AM
Quote from: BPP on 15 January, 2015, 11:33:04 AM
FP won't have it (unless, as some intend, they go through a few creative hoops) as its not for LCS. Given those may have a back stock of Rebellion TPBs you can see the logic.

Forbidden Planet will be carrying it, as will selected comic book stores across the UK and Ireland.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: BPP on 15 January, 2015, 11:39:49 AM
Quote from: Molch-R on 15 January, 2015, 11:34:43 AM
Quote from: BPP on 15 January, 2015, 11:33:04 AM
FP won't have it (unless, as some intend, they go through a few creative hoops) as its not for LCS. Given those may have a back stock of Rebellion TPBs you can see the logic.

Forbidden Planet will be carrying it, as will selected comic book stores across the UK and Ireland.

Oh right. Mine is lying then. But no actual surprise as they've lied to me loads of times.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Molch-R on 15 January, 2015, 11:41:50 AM
It depends on the manager (hence why we're not shouting about it) and does require them to figuratively jump through some hoops. Which is your local store?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: J.Smith on 15 January, 2015, 12:14:06 PM
Quote from: Molch-R on 15 January, 2015, 11:34:43 AM
Quote from: BPP on 15 January, 2015, 11:33:04 AM
FP won't have it (unless, as some intend, they go through a few creative hoops) as its not for LCS. Given those may have a back stock of Rebellion TPBs you can see the logic.

Forbidden Planet will be carrying it, as will selected comic book stores across the UK and Ireland.

Yeah, I saw this yesterday. Very good stuff and hopefully it means more people will even simply stumble across it by chance. But if FP are selling it, doesn't that mean people outside the UK and Ireland will be able to get copies after all? Was it just subscriptions through Hachette that were restricted to us?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Molch-R on 15 January, 2015, 12:21:10 PM
Quote from: J.Smith on 15 January, 2015, 12:14:06 PM
Yeah, I saw this yesterday. Very good stuff and hopefully it means more people will even simply stumble across it by chance. But if FP are selling it, doesn't that mean people outside the UK and Ireland will be able to get copies after all? Was it just subscriptions through Hachette that were restricted to us?

No, Diamond are not carrying it - comic book stores are ordering it through a UK magazine distributor - so it will still not be available outside the UK and Ireland.

Edit: Though there is nothing to stop someone mail ordering copies through a comic book store just the same as they can ask a relative, friend, associate or internet stranger to order it for them and mail it on.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: J.Smith on 15 January, 2015, 12:54:47 PM
Ah, thanks for clearing that up. One day it hopefully will be then.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 15 January, 2015, 02:59:52 PM
Surely this is the perfect opportunity for a business savvy youth to set up his own US distribution company sending copies to people in the US!

My first edition arrived today and it is really nice!


Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: ManParrish on 15 January, 2015, 04:23:26 PM
Pleasant surprise to find mine when I got home...did not expect it for another couple of weeks. Very please I subscribed  :D
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mangamax on 15 January, 2015, 04:26:29 PM
Got mine too. Right, no telly tonight then  :D
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Zenith 666 on 15 January, 2015, 04:38:15 PM
There's no telly for you because I want to see your finished Judge Fear.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Rook on 16 January, 2015, 02:37:28 PM
Got mine today - it's a beautiful book, so much nicer than the old trade I originally read "America" and "The Fading of the Light" in years ago.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dandontdare on 16 January, 2015, 03:39:22 PM
I'm not interested in subscribing because I've already got all of them in other formats, but I may cherry-pick the odd volume or two from FP, including this first one - don't suppose there's an index of future volumes anywhere?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mangamax on 16 January, 2015, 04:20:10 PM
Ha! Zenith, promise i'm only reading it while paint dries on bits of Fear  :D

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v63/Mangamax/SDC102862bv_zps624279b5.jpg)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: ManParrish on 16 January, 2015, 07:41:56 PM
Does anyone know the order in which the gifts come? I cannot find the original
Email and the website does not appear to clarify?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Ghost MacRoth on 16 January, 2015, 08:06:52 PM
Badge, cup, coasters, free issue, bookends.  Never mentioned the poster they sent with #1!  Looking forward to the next already.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Zenith 666 on 16 January, 2015, 08:08:01 PM
mangamax fear looks great.ive got the Dredd 70mm but terrified to go near him with a brush.Especially after seeing some of the paint jobs online.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mangamax on 16 January, 2015, 09:01:28 PM
Know what you mean - i've got the Dredd one and, while i'll have a go at the stars 'n stripes belt buckle, i'm chickening out of the lightning flashes on the visor  :o
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Pete Wells on 17 January, 2015, 01:40:39 PM
First of the subbers prints have been released, Flinty goodness!

(http://s23.postimg.org/83yuq5ndn/image.jpg)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Bat King on 19 January, 2015, 08:10:07 PM
OK Comics are certainly getting a stock.

And Subs numbers are now over 900 from what I can make out...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 19 January, 2015, 08:39:12 PM
So for those who subscribed to this, is the response manual rather than automated? (I subscribed this evening, because what the hell, but several hours later, I have no kind of confirmation, which is a bit odd for this kind of thing.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Ghost MacRoth on 19 January, 2015, 08:45:05 PM
I got email confirmation.  Don't recall if it was instant....but it was the same day.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: JOE SOAP on 19 January, 2015, 09:05:40 PM



It's got a TV trailer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61EYeuGvbBc&spfreload=10).



Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 20 January, 2015, 11:11:02 AM
Quote from: Ghost MacRoth on 19 January, 2015, 08:45:05 PM
I got email confirmation.  Don't recall if it was instant....but it was the same day.
Arrived this morning. #989. Amusingly boilerplate text, given that it says I'll get my first issue before tomorrow! :D
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Ghost MacRoth on 20 January, 2015, 12:25:24 PM
You'll not be disappointed, it's wonderfully put together.  As I've said elsewhere, I'm not usually one to bother with re-prints, but I'm happily making an exception for this set.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 20 January, 2015, 12:43:58 PM
I'm going to give it a go. Not sure for how long, but a few deliveries at least. (The series coincides with a mag I regularly contributed to abruptly shutting down, so I'm getting a touch paranoid about income right now.)

But the books do look like they'll be very nice, and so I wanted to at least give them a try. (I also have a ton of stuff to offload, so that could maybe subsidise this series in the long run!)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Albion on 21 January, 2015, 09:55:33 AM
There were five copies of this in my local newsagent this morning so I bought three of them and gave two to a couple of workmates who like comics.

I wasn't planning on subscribing to this as I have the stories already of course and I still subscribe to the Marvel partwork and I'm sure I can't afford both. But.............now I have it my hands its soooo good! I knew the quality would be good as the Marvel books have been great too.

I get the Marvel books as until now I had very little Marvel in my collection and they have been great. They have moved on to a lot of older Marvel stories now, that I'm not quite so keen on.
Oh what to do?!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Buttonman on 21 January, 2015, 10:01:07 AM
It's a ponderer - whether to buy them all up to share and potentially deny a casual browser the chance to buy or potentially leave them on the shelf. Think Albion's balance is about right - out to check Tescos.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: amines2058 on 21 January, 2015, 11:07:02 AM
Is there any chance that people can report where they are seeing this being sold for the benefit of others on here? Obviously local newsagent may not be so useful, but if for example Tesco or Asda were selling, then at least it will be easier for the masses to locate. I am going to be out hunting for this tonight after work.
Thank you!  :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 21 January, 2015, 11:26:37 AM
I went and had a look in Smiths - no sign of it :(
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Buttonman on 21 January, 2015, 12:31:49 PM
I had a tour of Paisley - none in Tesco, Morrisons or WH Smiths. Hopefully just delayed by the weather. They did however have piles of partworks including the Falcon, a 3D globe, 3D printer, gem stones and , rather creepily - dead bugs - Crane-flies this week!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mangamax on 21 January, 2015, 01:16:56 PM
Not in our Smiths, but was in the front window of our teeny, tiny newsagents  :-*
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: James Stacey on 21 January, 2015, 04:37:05 PM
Plenty in Smiths in Cardiff. I bought 2 and left them on colleagues desks
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IronGraham on 21 January, 2015, 05:54:27 PM
got issue one now subscribed the craftsmanship on it is superb
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: SmallBlueThing on 21 January, 2015, 06:13:35 PM
Hastings whs has received 25 copies,  and had sold ten or so when I was in there at midday.  In fact I was in a queue in which I and two others were clutching the prog and they were armed with the Mega Collection  as well.  I'd not had that experience since the early eighties!

Interestingly,  I was told they got 30 "build a Millennium Falcon' #1s but now only get seven.  The "Do Some Knitting" partwork,  out this week,  swamped the shop with 250 copies! 

My local newsie had two Mega Collections out on sale.

SBT
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dandontdare on 21 January, 2015, 06:16:33 PM
Tales of Snotty Forbidden Planet Staff #345:
Picked up the Howard the Duck volume of the Marvel/Hachette partwork yesterday. At the counter I asked if they had the first volume of the Judge Dredd partwork from the same publisher, to which I got a sneer and the condescending explanation that this was unlikely because Marvel don't publish Judge Dredd. I patiently explained what I meant by 'publisher' at which the tack changed and said they "hadn't been offered that" as if it were beneath them.

Seriously, is the attitude part of the training with that chain?

So I bough it in Smiths.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Goosegash on 21 January, 2015, 06:19:17 PM
Didn't see any sign of this in WH Smiths Luton today. They also seem to've stopped carrying the weekly as well(although the Megazine was still there).  :'(
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 21 January, 2015, 06:30:25 PM
I'm still collecting Discovery - not seen it in the shops for ages . . .
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Zenith 666 on 21 January, 2015, 06:44:55 PM
Picked up mine today and a couple for a few mates.The quality is just fantastic.I was sold before I picked up first copy.Whos idea was this was it Rebellion or Hachette.Stellar work on from both sides.looking forward to reading this after football later.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: dweezil2 on 21 January, 2015, 06:51:50 PM
Nice to see it in WHSmiths Ashford, KENT today, when picking up my Meg and 2000AD!   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 21 January, 2015, 07:29:47 PM
Plenty in the Tallaght Easons, for those of a SW Dublin bent.

And what a production it is. I was wondering what I might be doing with yet another reprint of America, but this is a terrific upgrade.  I'll certainly get the next two, and see where we go from there. I could definitely use an Origins collection in this format but another Shamballa would depend on whether the extras are as good as in this first one, and the price tag is going to be impossible to justify for more than an occasional dip.  Luckily I'm not fussed by the subscriber freebies.

One very minor gripe, I thought the poster was going to be the next nice Dredd-contemplates-the-city on the outside, instead of the recent Bolland Meg cover. It's nice, but I had reserved a spot for the cityscape over my desk!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 21 January, 2015, 08:03:56 PM
Quote from: TordelBack on 21 January, 2015, 07:29:47 PM
another Shamballa


No more Shamballa, please! :'(
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: JOE SOAP on 21 January, 2015, 08:39:18 PM
List of stockists (https://www.facebook.com/judgedreddcollection/photos/a.1523545327903270.1073741828.1517847991806337/1541013996156403/?type=1&theater):


Independent

WHS High Street

Martin McColl Group

Co-Op Group

One Stop Group

Eason & Son Group

WHS Travel

Morrisons

Tesco Ireland


Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 21 January, 2015, 08:47:56 PM
Cor, Tesco Ireland is a bit of a coup. Never seen Tharg's verdant visage in there before.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: JOE SOAP on 21 January, 2015, 08:55:06 PM



Aiming for the Pyjama Girl demographic.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Echidna on 21 January, 2015, 09:24:03 PM
My nearest WH Smiths had only two copies left by the time I got there. I was delighted to discover my local Co-op has it too - if it hasn't sold out by the weekend I'll grab a copy for a friend, mainly because I want them to keep stocking it!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Grey M@a on 21 January, 2015, 10:17:03 PM
Picked a copy up at WHSmiths this evening in Newcastle, they had 5 left right by the tills just before they shut this evening if that helps anyone.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Zenith 666 on 21 January, 2015, 10:45:07 PM
What's wrong with shamballa.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: oshii on 21 January, 2015, 10:46:07 PM
Half the pages were still stuck together in my copy, but that's just one of those things

Very nicely designed though, but I just haven't got the space on my shelves or in my wallet to get the lot.  Suspect I might pick up the odd one here or there though.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Judge Nutmeg on 21 January, 2015, 11:19:26 PM
first book superb, nice run of back up stories. I'd be happy if it was purely Dredd stories but oh well. Glad I did'nt collect the complete case files now.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 21 January, 2015, 11:52:39 PM
Quote from: Zenith 666 on 21 January, 2015, 10:45:07 PM
What's wrong with shamballa.
To my mind, nothing. I thought it was a well-written, nicely illustrated and mature take on the character, but without some of the fairly heavy-handed stuff Grant would later add (Judge Goon, and the Christianity arc).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: BPP on 22 January, 2015, 12:08:06 AM
Quote from: Zenith 666 on 21 January, 2015, 10:45:07 PM
What's wrong with shamballa.

I assume 'nothiing' but that it's been reprinted many times now - some folk will have bought the individual trade or it then a few years later picked it up as part of the PSI FILES 02.

No luck finding it near me today
Sainsburys Armagh - 0
McNearnies Newsagents - 0
Tescos Portadown - 0
Tescos Craigavon - 0
ASDA Portadown - 0

I take it 'Tescos - Ireland' is ROI because the Craigavon store is their largest and has as big a magazine section as exists in the north thesedays.

On the upside I've now a nice collection of Nat. Geographic Rocks, some 'Insects and Spiders' and am learning to Sew in handy weekly installments!




Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Zenith 666 on 22 January, 2015, 12:08:55 AM
Nicely illustrated?you mean beautifully illustrated by Ranson.it also had that Dredd world map I couldn't stop looking at.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Bat King on 22 January, 2015, 12:20:58 AM
I got 4 on Wednesday morning from OK Comics in Leeds. Then gave three to colleagues at work (two bought them via me, the other was a gift from me)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: shaolin_monkey on 22 January, 2015, 07:53:45 AM
Quote from: James Stacey on 21 January, 2015, 04:37:05 PM
Plenty in Smiths in Cardiff. I bought 2 and left them on colleagues desks

I'd better get down there fast!!!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 22 January, 2015, 08:36:45 AM
Quote from: Zenith 666 on 22 January, 2015, 12:08:55 AM
Nicely illustrated?you mean beautifully illustrated by Ranson.it also had that Dredd world map I couldn't stop looking at.

Nothing but good things to say about Shamballa, but I already have 3 formats! So my interest would depend on what else there is in the back that the Psi Files don't offer.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: shaolin_monkey on 22 January, 2015, 10:28:19 AM
Well, that's six issues one's bought from Smiths in Cardiff, and five of them dispensed to comic-loving colleagues in work. 

That'll do, Pig.  That'll do.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 22 January, 2015, 10:43:08 AM
Quote from: BPP on 22 January, 2015, 12:08:06 AM
Quote from: Zenith 666 on 21 January, 2015, 10:45:07 PM
What's wrong with shamballa.

I assume 'nothiing' but that it's been reprinted many times now - some folk will have bought the individual trade or it then a few years later picked it up as part of the PSI FILES 02.


The comic
the complete 2000AD
the  original trade
the psi files
. .. the story is ok as a stand alone tale, but when taken in context of the Anderson journey it is another 'world destroying event with religion and mysticism' story where Anderson saves the world just by being in the right place at the right time. And no one even cares or thanks her.

When you think about it, she has saved the world a lot more than Dredd has and no one even realises!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 22 January, 2015, 01:20:01 PM
The missus responded favourably to Vol 1, having not read Tooth in many years, she liked the idea of a themed collection that in theory at least would contain all she needed by way of context - so that approach would seem to have some traction with the lay reader. She also couldn't believe that the whole book was the work of the same artist, so hats off to Colin for never sitting still.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Buttonman on 22 January, 2015, 01:48:52 PM
None in the massive Tesco in Silverburn but I found some on small independent newsagents - still available at Shalamar on Ladyburn Street and the newsagent on the junction of Penilee Road and Glasgow Road.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: briantm on 22 January, 2015, 02:49:40 PM
Picked this up today. Hell of a book to get for two quid. Probably won't get any beyond the introductory offer. This is obviously something they've considered but I do wonder how much of a loss they will be taking on the first issue.

I really like the cover designs. Minimalist with nice font choices. Unfortunately the read isn't very red on my book. It has a slightly wan tone to it; almost pinky. A tiny complaint that only the pedantic among us will even notice.

Looking forward to rereading these stories. Colin rocks  :D
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: shaolin_monkey on 22 January, 2015, 02:50:43 PM
I just opened mine and had a flip through. The quality is truly astounding!! Even if this had been priced at a tenner from the outset it would have been totally worth it - and then some!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 22 January, 2015, 02:52:23 PM
Quote from: briantm on 22 January, 2015, 02:49:40 PM
Probably won't get any beyond the introductory offer.


Why?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: briantm on 22 January, 2015, 02:59:40 PM
Quote from: Skullmo on 22 January, 2015, 02:52:23 PM
Quote from: briantm on 22 January, 2015, 02:49:40 PM
Probably won't get any beyond the introductory offer.


Why?

Because I'm broke  :'( and have some of the stories in other formats.

Btw... for people checkin in about where it's available... I looked in a few places around Swansea yesterday but couldn't find it.

Got it in the market newsagents today and I would guess WH Smiths have it in now too.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: briantm on 22 January, 2015, 03:02:36 PM
Quote from: briantm on 22 January, 2015, 02:49:40 PM
I really like the cover designs. Minimalist with nice font choices. Unfortunately the spot red isn't very red on my book. It has a slightly wan tone to it; almost pinky. A tiny complaint that only the pedantic among us will even notice.
(*spelling mistake fixeroo)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: COMMANDO FORCES on 22 January, 2015, 05:12:02 PM
Looks like I'll be doing two extra subscriptions for fellow fans beyond these shores :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Spikes on 22 January, 2015, 05:21:14 PM
And after much umming and ahhing I bought my copy of the first issue today.
Everything looks quite lovely, though ive not had chance to open her up, as yet.

(http://i.imgur.com/AOzb0yg.jpg)

And I found £2.00 about five minutes after buying it, so this one has cost me nowt.


Now, I only need to find in the gutter, the remaining £798.00 needed to complete the collection....
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 22 January, 2015, 05:43:03 PM
You only need to find £1 each day for the next 3 years or so, and you can have the weekends off.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 22 January, 2015, 05:44:30 PM
That £2 was mine and you know it.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Grugz on 22 January, 2015, 06:46:58 PM
none in Tesco Leyland though they did have the prog (in the kiddies section ) and the magazine so its off to preston or chorley tomoz probably
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: SIP on 22 January, 2015, 09:38:28 PM
Picked up the first issue. It's a very nice book indeed.  I'm impressed!  Can't afford to subscribe but will certainly be picking a few up along the way.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: amines2058 on 22 January, 2015, 09:48:49 PM
Mission accomplished. Two copies purchased one for me and one for my boy from my local one stop shop (which I did not know existed until I found out they were selling this! ) :-[
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 23 January, 2015, 12:07:37 PM
Really looking forward to seeing the volumes about Dredd's extended universe - I'm hoping the old wally squad stories (Brett Ewins?) will be thematically packaged with dirty franks tales. I'm wondering if the Dredd / batman / aliens stuff is unlikely to be reprinted for copyright reasons - and the Dredd movie world stuff just doesn't fit in.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Goosegash on 23 January, 2015, 01:45:07 PM
Quote from: Goosegash on 21 January, 2015, 06:19:17 PM
Didn't see any sign of this in WH Smiths Luton today. They also seem to've stopped carrying the weekly as well(although the Megazine was still there).  :'(

I can now report the weekly is back and the Mega Collection is in stock. Phew!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 23 January, 2015, 03:34:35 PM
S'worth reflecting on the decision to lead with America in Volume 1.  Okay, you and I know that it's a classic storyline, but it could so easily have been Judge Death, or The Cursed Earth, or any other endlessly reprinted Bolland-led nostalgia fest for 40-somethings. I'd have been hard-pressed to even find the few quid for Vol 1 if that had been the case (I may have bought America four times now, but at least it's not an even dozen...). 

It think it speaks well of the involvement of Matt, Molcher and the gang that they are putting 'modern' Dredd (in the very real sense that the term applies to a 25 year old story) forward as the entry point, rather than depending on the usual 'I copied that for art class when I was 10' goodwill that 2000AD may have traded on in days gone by.

There are also some useful points of similarity between the story and Dredd 3D, such as Dredd and Beeny's partnership in 'Cadet', which will be familiar to the interested fan of the movie, right down the door-blowing drug-bust scene in both. 

It's a job well done, chaps.

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 23 January, 2015, 03:39:48 PM
Totally agree - and I'm glad to see Origins is coming too!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Colin YNWA on 23 January, 2015, 04:04:11 PM
Quote from: TordelBack on 23 January, 2015, 03:34:35 PM
... very real sense that the term applies to a 25 year old story...

Please don't ever, ever say America is 25 years old again please. JUST STOP IT NOW!


Christ I feel so old...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 23 January, 2015, 04:28:20 PM
Quote from: Colin_YNWA on 23 January, 2015, 04:04:11 PM
Quote from: TordelBack on 23 January, 2015, 03:34:35 PM
... very real sense that the term applies to a 25 year old story...

Please don't ever, ever say America is 25 years old again please. JUST STOP IT NOW!


Christ I feel so old...

Yeah I did some counting on my fingers to make sure I had that right.  A quick glance at my decaying features in the supposedly non-reflective screen confirmed my arithmetic. 
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: maryanddavid on 23 January, 2015, 04:54:35 PM
Picked it up today (2 actually one for my brother who is an occasional Squaxx) along with 2KAD and the Meg. I have not opened it yet, but it looks great. The shop had it on display in the middle of their front window, beans on one side and corn flakes on the other, looked great!  Its one of these old fashioned grocery shops that you don't see often now, busy spot though it has everything!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: COMMANDO FORCES on 23 January, 2015, 05:19:18 PM
Just saw the advert on the telly, rather than the net. Anyone else caught it on the telly yet?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 23 January, 2015, 05:22:09 PM
Quote from: COMMANDO FORCES on 23 January, 2015, 05:19:18 PM
Just saw the advert on the telly, rather than the net. Anyone else caught it on the telly yet?

Did you take the week off just to watch every ad break waiting for it?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Spikes on 23 January, 2015, 06:00:32 PM
Do you really need to ask?  ;)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Zenith 666 on 23 January, 2015, 06:20:15 PM
I've been waiting to see the advert but no sign of it.then it turns up in the ads between a movie I recorded.seems to be going out after 6pm.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: COMMANDO FORCES on 23 January, 2015, 06:49:47 PM
Just on again in the ITN News break :D
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: BPP on 23 January, 2015, 07:39:09 PM
Quote from: COMMANDO FORCES on 23 January, 2015, 06:49:47 PM
Just on again in the ITN News break :D

I think your wife is doing an ad break supercuts just to keep you happy.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 23 January, 2015, 07:42:44 PM
Quote from: Zenith 666 on 23 January, 2015, 06:20:15 PM
I've been waiting to see the advert but no sign of it.then it turns up in the ads between a movie I recorded.seems to be going out after 6pm.

I saw it Wednesday about 10.30 in the morning.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: shaolin_monkey on 23 January, 2015, 08:03:11 PM
I saw it on the telly. It's so great to see your favourite character make an appearance on the box, eh?

A few work colleagues saw it on telly too, which they proudly announced to me shortly before I bought them an issue one each as a reward for keeping me updated with such Zarjaz news.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Echidna on 23 January, 2015, 09:13:43 PM
It was on in the middle of The Big Bang Theory on E4 on Tuesday night. It's not often I fast-forward through a show and just watch the ads, but I had a hunch...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mardroid on 23 January, 2015, 10:53:44 PM
I've seen it twice on the Lifetime channel this evening.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: M.I.K. on 23 January, 2015, 11:13:49 PM
It's popping up on numerous channels at various times of day. I think it's safe to say that it's already the most televisually advertised 2000 AD related publication ever.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tiplodocus on 24 January, 2015, 09:28:55 AM
Picked number one up from the local newsagent and am very impressed. Will recommend it to others. (I will stick with Case Files though as I can't afford to double up plus I like things in order.).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Proudhuff on 24 January, 2015, 11:39:35 AM
FP i n Edinbra unsue if when getting it.Is it a comic or a collectible different suppliers see? Meanwhile no sign in local shops andsupermarkets :o
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Bat King on 24 January, 2015, 12:46:59 PM
Where I have seen it in Leeds:
OK Comics
WHS
Post OPffice in Yeadon

Good possibility:
Newsagent in Bus Station, they get most of this kind of thing for first 4 or 5 issues.

I've been told Morrisons are stocking it but not been in any to check yet.

I'll go on a wander after 16:00 (working OT at the moment) and check more places in Leeds.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 24 January, 2015, 03:29:13 PM
Two in Fleet's Martins. (No idea about WHSmith.) Well, one now, because I bought one, even thought I subbed. I figure I'll send one on to a US comics-loving friend.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Grugz on 24 January, 2015, 06:57:02 PM
got mine today in preston!  nice stuff indeed!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Timothy on 24 January, 2015, 07:16:48 PM
Quote from: Bat King on 24 January, 2015, 12:46:59 PM
Where I have seen it in Leeds:
OK Comics
WHS
Post OPffice in Yeadon

Good possibility:
Newsagent in Bus Station, they get most of this kind of thing for first 4 or 5 issues.

I've been told Morrisons are stocking it but not been in any to check yet.

I'll go on a wander after 16:00 (working OT at the moment) and check more places in Leeds.

Pollards at Moortown corner had it on Wednesday.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Colin Zeal on 24 January, 2015, 09:17:11 PM
Picked up a copy in local newsagents in Stamford hill in London. Nothing in the morrisons across the road from there though.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Fungus on 24 January, 2015, 10:49:24 PM
Quote from: Buttonman on 21 January, 2015, 12:31:49 PM
I had a tour of Paisley - none in Tesco, Morrisons or WH Smiths. Hopefully just delayed by the weather. They did however have piles of partworks including the Falcon, a 3D globe, 3D printer, gem stones and , rather creepily - dead bugs - Crane-flies this week!

Paisley's main/only W H Smith's did carry it, lots on display. But NOT with the other partworks, daftly in a large display of its own at the door. Not the wisest approach, I nearly missed it.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Magnetica on 25 January, 2015, 07:16:01 PM
I could n't find it in the WH Smith's I normally buy my Prog and Meg in (Ealing Broadway tube station).

Then looked for at in WH Smith's in Elephant and Castle and London Bridge stations, and a Co-Op and another WHS in Southwark , all with no joy. Was surprised about E&C as they usually have loads of Progs and Megs and a fair selection of other comics (mainly Marvel / DC) but not London Bridge or the other WHS & Co-op as they don't even carry the Prog.

I then ordered nos 1 and 2 directly by phoning the number on the Mega Collection Web site - which was great - no postage and packing.

On my way home on Friday I then checked out the main WH Smiths in Ealing Broadway and couldn't see it where they have the Prog and the Meg and was about to leave when I saw they had it on a separate display on the side. (Which makes me wonder if I just missed it at Elephant and Castle). I then bought it anyway despite having ordered it - I did getting the backing board that way. Think I will give the spare copy to my brother in an attempt to get him back in the fold.

I think I will get my wife to read America. She doesn't like comics or anything si-fi really at all but America is just so good...

I don't think I will buy it regularly as I have every Meg and every Prog from 127 onwards anyway and only buy a really small set of reprints (e.g. I am getting Zenith and the daily Dredd, got the Mek Files hardback for the colour spreads I missed). I will though buy the Pit and Tour of Duty (assuming they cover those).


Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Bat King on 25 January, 2015, 07:56:30 PM
It wouldn't be with the Prog & Meg as it is a Partwork and WHS have a separate are for those.

My walk around Leeds still showed only OK Comics & WHS as stocking them. I saw no sign in Travelling Man or Forbidden Planet. Nothing in Morrisons despite someone telling me they 'might' have it.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Satanist on 26 January, 2015, 01:16:12 PM
I finally got it in a wee newsagent outside Glasgow Central.

Tried 2 WHS, FP and a few other newsies. It is luverley and Im gonna get my local shop (for local people) to order it in.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 26 January, 2015, 04:18:25 PM
The Mega collection replied regarding the spreads and the banned cursed earth episodes -


"I'm afraid that they will still be in black and white and the cursed earth stories you mentioned won't be reprinted in this series.

Hope this helps!"

:'(
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 26 January, 2015, 07:00:02 PM
On a similar note when asked if the Dredd / batman / alien crossovers could be included...
   
Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection   26 January 16:06
Hi Rob,

I'm afraid these crossovers won't be in this collection.

Thank you.

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 26 January, 2015, 08:14:20 PM
No surprises there—that'd be a licensing nightmare. It'll be interesting to see whether the Aliens one makes it into the Case Files.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Proudhuff on 28 January, 2015, 02:17:20 PM
Anyone spotted this in Edinbra yet?

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 28 January, 2015, 02:43:36 PM
Found it at the Smiths in Waterloo - they have loads of them.

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Bat King on 29 January, 2015, 12:32:53 AM
Interest in this has been very high on my Blog.

The first article I wrote about it, 11th December 2014, it has reached 8th in my ALL time most read articles. It has knocked my Spoilers review of Judge Minty down a slot. NOTHING from 2014 is above it. I(n gact the 'newest' article above it is from June 2013.

That's a HUGE jump for a pretty recent article. Things creep up towards that top 10.

Oh and it is 5th on my Clicks OUT of my Blog. Clicks out are rarer obviously so less of a surprise actually.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: J.Smith on 29 January, 2015, 12:35:49 AM
Quote from: Bat King on 29 January, 2015, 12:32:53 AM
Interest in this has been very high on my Blog, et cetera.

Yeah, I've been glad to see that on the few threads I visit regularly on Comic Book Resources's forums there's people asking after it. Fingers crossed that its success will continue past the first few cheap volumes and can launch internationally!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Bat King on 29 January, 2015, 10:28:46 AM
I have previewed Mechanismo. http://judgetutorsemple.wordpress.com/2015/01/28/judge-dredd-mega-collection-issue-2-4th-february-2015-includes-preview-pages/

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: 303 on 29 January, 2015, 06:19:51 PM
I bought a copy of the first one in Spire News, Chesterfield this week, and I'm impressed, a good solid hardback nice glossy pages.

I'll be buying Mechismo next week, but after that I'll be selective as I'm midway through the Complete Case files. I'll certainly be keeping my eye out for the spin-off Dreddworld stories like Lowlife.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Proudhuff on 30 January, 2015, 12:38:35 PM
Quote from: Proudhuff on 28 January, 2015, 02:17:20 PM
Anyone spotted this in Edinbra yet?

if anyone's cares or is still looking: FP can't get their heads round supplying this, however the nice chap there suggested RS McColls in Nicholson sq and the nice camp chap in there delivered the goods with a cheery Enjoy! Carrying it around town was a bit like having one of those 'End is Nigh' boards: the odd smirk or a knowing nod from passersby while the rest looked slightly embarrassed on my behalf.

So for our Jock readers RS McColls can supply!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Magnetica on 30 January, 2015, 05:47:27 PM
Quote from: Skullmo on 28 January, 2015, 02:43:36 PM
Found it at the Smiths in Waterloo - they have loads of them.

Wow - I can't even find the Prog or Meg there. They also didn't seem to have the Summer or Winter Specials, so surprised at that - but that's great. I would buy it there if they stocked it (not that I am going buy it regularly).

Out of interest which Smith's was it? (There are at least two).

Whilst I am at it - you said you have confirmation that the centre spread in the Cursed Earth will be in black and white - that is disappointing as I would buy it if it was in colour. I ask because some one else posted photo of a questionnaire asking what stories they would buy and it said "Cursed Earth in B&W and colour.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 30 January, 2015, 06:06:25 PM
Was interested to note that Easons in Blanchardstown had sold out of Part 1, something that few other partworks could claim, and unusually only had a single Prog left on the shelf on Thursday (reduced to none after my visit).  Interesting times!
Title: Re: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: James Stacey on 30 January, 2015, 10:47:17 PM
I mailed Hachette to see if they had a list of upcomings ( the marvel one was sent out on request shortly after the start of the series ) but they say they have no list of what's upcoming. Might be tricky for them to print it if that's the case :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 30 January, 2015, 10:56:20 PM
Please don't post the list - where's the fun in that? I want a surprise each fortnight. Can anyone who subscribed to the Marvel series explain when we'll receive the books? Is it the same time as the shops or later? And they arrive in pairs?
Title: Re: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 31 January, 2015, 07:44:31 AM
Quote from: James Stacey on 30 January, 2015, 10:47:17 PM
...but they say they have no list of what's upcoming.

And yet previews of Mechanismo show it labelled as Vol 24.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: user2000 on 31 January, 2015, 08:27:44 AM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 30 January, 2015, 10:56:20 PM
Please don't post the list - where's the fun in that? I want a surprise each fortnight. Can anyone who subscribed to the Marvel series explain when we'll receive the books? Is it the same time as the shops or later? And they arrive in pairs?

When I was taking the Marvel collection (up to the original 60th volume only  ::) ) then you got two at a time, but you had to wait until the second volume had been released before you got them.

In other words you will sort of be a fortnight behind every month, if that makes sense.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 31 January, 2015, 10:56:38 AM
Thanks - that's great.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Echidna on 31 January, 2015, 12:44:35 PM
Quote from: Magnetica on 30 January, 2015, 05:47:27 PM
Whilst I am at it - you said you have confirmation that the centre spread in the Cursed Earth will be in black and white - that is disappointing as I would buy it if it was in colour. I ask because some one else posted photo of a questionnaire asking what stories they would buy and it said "Cursed Earth in B&W and colour.

I think you mean this (http://forums.2000adonline.com/index.php/topic,41090.msg852879.html#msg852879)... I'd be disappointed too; without colour spreads The Cursed Earth and Apocalypse War wouldn't have much to recommend them over the Case Files editions. Then again, the spreads in the Case Files lose a lot of information in the gutter, so I'll be interested to see if the Mega Collection is better in that respect.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Spikes on 31 January, 2015, 02:28:13 PM
Personally speaking, I wouldn't mind if they had a list, and could supply it. If only to confirm my suspicion that the ones im really looking forward to getting, will be out towards the end of the run...

I'm not that fussed about having the DPS's in colour, for - say, the Cursed Earth, or Apocalypse War. Sure, we've all bought and re-bought them a bunch of times, so it would be nice, but its not a deal breaker for me.
Hopefully, they'll have some decent 'extra's' included to make them different enough from previous editions.

And talking about extra's - I suspect the Day of Chaos issue (Which I hope is ALL in one volume, and features ONLY the MacNeil drawn direct prequel - alongside the main story, AND includes the DoC episode written by Michael Carroll...) may include pencil pages by Leigh Gallagher?

Leigh was good enough to send me scans of the pencils for some pages I bought from him, and something looking very similar to these appears to be on the website for the Dredd collection under the 'extra content' section.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Frank on 31 January, 2015, 03:00:52 PM
Quote from: Spikes on 31 January, 2015, 02:28:13 PM
I suspect the Day of Chaos issue (Which I hope is ALL in one volume, and features ONLY the MacNeil drawn direct prequel - alongside the main story, AND includes the DoC episode written by Michael Carroll...) may include pencil pages by Leigh Gallagher?

Pye Parr told Michael Carroll (https://www.facebook.com/michael.owen.carroll/posts/10152716955442685?pnref=story) that his Day Of Chaos aftermath story, Debris (art by PJ Holden) is in volume 6. Make of that what you will.


Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Magnetica on 31 January, 2015, 04:01:16 PM
Thanks Echidna I did mean that.

For me the colour centre spreads for the Cursed Earth is a deal breaker - shock horror I don't have the Progs it was in, but I do have the Titan reprints from way back. They are great and from memory don't suffer from the same difficulty in reading the bits in the middle of the centre spread as case files do. But they are in black and white.

So if the Cursed Earth was done with colour centre spreads I would buy it just for that, just like I got the Mek Files Volume 1 just for the handful of colour spreads I missed in the Progs even though I have the b/w Titan voume already.

If it is black and white I will pass. Don't really understand what the difficulty in re-producing them is, 
but then again I am not in publishing.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Spikes on 31 January, 2015, 04:18:41 PM
Quote from: Butch on 31 January, 2015, 03:00:52 PM
Quote from: Spikes on 31 January, 2015, 02:28:13 PM
I suspect the Day of Chaos issue (Which I hope is ALL in one volume, and features ONLY the MacNeil drawn direct prequel - alongside the main story, AND includes the DoC episode written by Michael Carroll...) may include pencil pages by Leigh Gallagher?

Pye Parr told Michael Carroll (https://www.facebook.com/michael.owen.carroll/posts/10152716955442685?pnref=story) that his Day Of Chaos aftermath story, Debris (art by PJ Holden) is in volume 6. Make of that what you will.

Volume 6 will either deal with the aftermath of the DoC - get those Meg tales I havent read in there Hatchette!, or it'll be a collection of tales that have randomly included celebrity named block's in them over the years...?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: ZenArcade on 31 January, 2015, 09:12:46 PM
Coming in on this from a low knowlege base. We met up in Belfast today and Judge Russell brought along vol 1. It is a delight to behold. I particularly loved the addition of one of my fav Dredd stories 'Firepower'.
I can see the attraction for people cursorarly picking up vol 1 in a newsagents. I wish the developers all of the very best. I just hope the £10 per fortnight isn't just a wee bit too much. Z
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richard on 31 January, 2015, 10:17:03 PM
The colour centre spreads from the 1970s and early 80s are not worth reprinting in colour to be honest. I don't know what the fuss is about. The colour didn't get good until after prog 500.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Frank on 31 January, 2015, 10:27:33 PM

(http://i.imgur.com/UtBlYSl.jpg?1)


Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: user2000 on 31 January, 2015, 10:28:39 PM
Quote from: Richard on 31 January, 2015, 10:17:03 PM
The colour centre spreads from the 1970s and early 80s are not worth reprinting in colour to be honest. I don't know what the fuss is about. The colour didn't get good until after prog 500.

The point for me is just the fact that they WERE presented in colour originally.  Much nicer reading the ABC Warriors collection with the original centre spreads presented in colour, just looks, and feels, much nicer.

Should be done with this so called "mega" collection.

Exactly my point Butch, just as I was typing!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: user2000 on 31 January, 2015, 10:31:45 PM
Quote from: Butch on 31 January, 2015, 10:27:33 PM

(http://i.imgur.com/UtBlYSl.jpg?1)

Just looked at that spread in the case files and it looks rubbish in comparison to the original.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: ZenArcade on 31 January, 2015, 10:38:40 PM
I bought the first 5 Strontium Dog S D Agency files years ago and they were pish compared to the old Titan single release. There were no colour inserts in the first 4 files and the McNeil end to file 5 was the only colour. When I contrast that with what I saw today, it is day and night. Z
That is a fantastic colour spread Butch btw.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Magnetica on 31 January, 2015, 11:54:48 PM
Quote from: user2000 on 31 January, 2015, 10:28:39 PM


The point for me is just the fact that they WERE presented in colour originally.  Much nicer reading the ABC Warriors collection with the original centre spreads presented in colour, just looks, and feels, much nicer.

Should be done with this so called "mega" collection.


Yes absolutely. That's why I want them. If you haven't seen them in colour you have n't seen them. Doesn't matter if later printing was better. Indeed you could say the paper was worse prior to Prog 500, but really that doesn't matter.

Oh and thanks for putting that shot up sauchie.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: BPP on 01 February, 2015, 12:56:16 AM
Quote from: Spikes on 31 January, 2015, 04:18:41 PM
Quote from: Butch on 31 January, 2015, 03:00:52 PM
Quote from: Spikes on 31 January, 2015, 02:28:13 PM
I suspect the Day of Chaos issue (Which I hope is ALL in one volume, and features ONLY the MacNeil drawn direct prequel - alongside the main story, AND includes the DoC episode written by Michael Carroll...) may include pencil pages by Leigh Gallagher?

Pye Parr told Michael Carroll (https://www.facebook.com/michael.owen.carroll/posts/10152716955442685?pnref=story) that his Day Of Chaos aftermath story, Debris (art by PJ Holden) is in volume 6. Make of that what you will.

Is debris the one where the man travels up a city block in a gravity chute with massive man crushing boulders and doesn't get a scratch?

Volume 6 will either deal with the aftermath of the DoC - get those Meg tales I havent read in there Hatchette!, or it'll be a collection of tales that have randomly included celebrity named block's in them over the years...?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: BPP on 01 February, 2015, 01:00:39 AM
Quote from: Richard on 31 January, 2015, 10:17:03 PM
The colour centre spreads from the 1970s and early 80s are not worth reprinting in colour to be honest. I don't know what the fuss is about. The colour didn't get good until after prog 500.

Mental.

Seriously. Oz colour spreads where some of the best ever -Dillons Chopper over the ocean, McCarthy's birdmen, Will Simpsons 'finale' at Uluruh... Amazing stuff.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 01 February, 2015, 10:08:34 AM
Quote from: BPP on 01 February, 2015, 12:56:16 AM
Is debris the one where the man travels up a city block in a gravity chute with massive man crushing boulders and doesn't get a scratch?

Nope, it's the one where the man is badly injured, ends up in hospital, and then in rehab, as addressed in a subsequent 2-part story.

Also, Richard, you should have gone to Specsavers.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Steve Green on 01 February, 2015, 11:21:00 AM
The colour spread thing - I wonder what the options are for reproducing it?

Do the films exist for centre spreads with the overlays, like Steve Cook has for some covers?

Would people rather see them as they appeared, with iffy alignment?

Or would a perfect representation of how they could have looked be the preferred option?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Spikes on 01 February, 2015, 01:08:30 PM
Gotta be iffy alignment. Iffy alignment for the win!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: ZenArcade on 01 February, 2015, 01:36:26 PM
Do a demonstration of both and then decide. Z
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Magnetica on 01 February, 2015, 05:12:27 PM
I'm all for having them as close to the originals as possible. I don't want them artificially"improved".

I have some early Dredd's in original Prog form and collected editions where they have changed the colours to something else and to me that makes no sense. I (personal opinion) have zero interest in colours that aren't as per the original Progs.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Steve Green on 01 February, 2015, 05:56:54 PM
The argument there being what was the original intention?

Take this cover by Cam - you can see the colour from the blue of the uniform loosely overlaps the black ink.

(http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/2000AD463.jpg)


Would the original intention have been to have had more solid blacks, given the option and possibly better stock?

Since any new versions would not be on the same stock, I'm not sure whether a purist 'this is how it looked', where you're already compromising the feel of the paper is better or worse than something struck from the original separations (if available)

You're already seeing through the page on this to the inside cover - should that be reproduced as well?

I'm just curious what people prefer, and why.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richard on 01 February, 2015, 06:31:07 PM
QuoteMental. Seriously. Oz colour spreads where some of the best ever...

Er, Oz was in progs 545 to 570, which is chronologically and mathematically AFTER prog 500.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 01 February, 2015, 06:34:29 PM
Well my immediate reaction to that is 'sweet cheeses, that Cam Kennedy draws like some magnificent god'.  My second reaction is 'whatever looks best'. As Steve says, the CFs are no longer printed on stapled bog-paper anyway, so they can never be a replica of the aesthetics of the original comic as produced.  That being the case, make the content as close to the original intention as possible.  As long as they leave the Next Progs, Logos, Titles and Thargnotes in I'm happy.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jim_Campbell on 01 February, 2015, 06:39:44 PM
Quote from: TordelBack on 01 February, 2015, 06:34:29 PM
Well my immediate reaction to that is 'sweet cheeses, that Cam Kennedy draws like some magnificent god'.

Kennedy just ruled Dredd during this period — I was more excited to open the prog and find Cam on Dredd in that 400s/500s stint than I was to see a Bolland Dredd back in the 100s/200s.

Cheers

Jim
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 01 February, 2015, 06:47:07 PM
The depth of his work on low-key stuff like The Falucci Tape and Sunday Night Fever is spectacular, but the one I keep coming back to is The Warlord. How he can make something as totally daft as 12ft-tall Samurai and their borderline-racist wily oriental mystic boss so absolutely real and quite terrifying is still beyond me. 
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richard on 01 February, 2015, 06:47:45 PM
Cam Kennedy hasn't drawn Dredd since 2006. It would be nice to have him back again.

And Bolland too -- and not just a cover, but a strip.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Steve Green on 01 February, 2015, 06:55:46 PM
Cam's eyesight unfortunately makes him unable to return to the prog.

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/comics/news/a403660/judge-dredd-artist-reveals-failing-eyesight.html#~p34eB7wx50L9wt (http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/comics/news/a403660/judge-dredd-artist-reveals-failing-eyesight.html#~p34eB7wx50L9wt)

His contribution to the strip is immense.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richard on 01 February, 2015, 06:57:58 PM
That's a damn shame. Poor guy.

On the other subject, Dash Decent found this the other day:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Judge-Dredd-Casefiles-John-Wagner/dp/1781083320

A 10th anniversary reprint of Case Files 1 with colour centre spreads.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Steve Green on 01 February, 2015, 07:09:18 PM
Cool - I look forward to seeing that.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: BPP on 01 February, 2015, 08:41:31 PM
Quote from: Richard on 01 February, 2015, 06:31:07 PM
QuoteMental. Seriously. Oz colour spreads where some of the best ever...

Er, Oz was in progs 545 to 570, which is chronologically and mathematically AFTER prog 500.

OZ was 2 pages colour, 4 pages B&W, meaning, a la The Casefiles, it will be reprinted in greyscale-colour. It was only an illustrative example of the many good colour spreads before Dredd turned all colour.

Sorry to disabuse you of your snark.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richard on 01 February, 2015, 09:34:55 PM
I don't understand what you are trying to say.

QuoteOZ was 2 pages colour, 4 pages B&W...

Yes, I know. I was talking about colour centre spreads (and so was everyone else).

Quoteit will be reprinted in greyscale-colour.

Will it? The whole debate was about whether they will/should be reprinted in the original colour.

QuoteIt was only an illustrative example of the many good colour spreads before Dredd turned all colour.

Yes and I agree with you that Oz was coloured in well, which is why I used prog 500 as a cut-off point.

QuoteSorry to disabuse you of your snark.

It's the Internet. The whole reason Tim Berners-Lee invented it in the first place was to facilitate sarcasm.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Legendary Shark on 01 February, 2015, 09:50:07 PM
I love this place.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: ZenArcade on 01 February, 2015, 09:50:48 PM
Just seen the advert on ITV4. Looks good. The Kennedy colour spread is fine. If there is an issue with quality, just colour enhance whilst maintaining the integrity. They surley can't be mutually exclusive. Z
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: BPP on 01 February, 2015, 09:52:00 PM
Quote from: Richard on 01 February, 2015, 09:34:55 PM

Quoteit will be reprinted in greyscale-colour.

Will it? The whole debate was about whether they will/should be reprinted in the original colour.


According to multiple correspondence cited on this forum, yes it will.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: SuperSurfer on 01 February, 2015, 10:23:28 PM
I picked up issue 1 last week, unwrapped it today and read about two thirds. What a damn good book.

TBH I wasn't sure if I was going to buy it due to a problem common amongst us quadragenarians: space. But the price did the trick. Good tactics.   

Having just bought the prog and the Meg I did a u-turn back into the thrill merchants in Crouch End, London to look for it. Was craftily hidden under the bottom shelf. I wouldn't have seen it if I wasn't looking for it. Not good Mr Thrill Merchant.

WHSmiths seem to be displaying it very prominently. I noticed last week there was one left in the Kings Cross station branch. Nicely positioned in view as soon as one walks in. Had a stand all to itself in WHSmiths Enfield Town.

I showed issue 1 to my brother who as a result bought it. That's a result as he hasn't bought an issue of 2000AD since the 80s.

I do prefer colour spreads. But I can't see how any of the original colour spreads can be printed as nature intended. What would the aim be?
• To print them as they appeared on original newsprint?
• To print them to look like the original artwork ie the colour separations that Steve Cook holds?
(I see Steve G just asked more or less the same).
Surely the originals were painted using more vivid colours with the expectation that they would be dulled by the paper stock (as was the case with US comics).
• Or should original separations be scanned then adjusted to match printed copies. No doubt there won't be enough originals around and consistency would be important.

Not easy. Anyway, having said all that the end result in the recent ABC Warriors book was fab.

I will buy issue 2 as the start of Mechanismo was published during my wilderness years and I am way behind with Case Files, then I'll take it from there.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Magnetica on 01 February, 2015, 10:44:20 PM
Quote from: ZenArcade on 01 February, 2015, 09:50:48 PM
Just seen the advert on ITV4. Looks good.

I saw the ad at half time during the Chelsea - Liverpool league cup semi-final on Sky Sports last week, which was most unexpected. Indeed one could argue that was the most exciting part of the whole match. :lol:
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Silent_Bomber on 02 February, 2015, 01:13:34 PM
Took a while to find it in my local W.H.Smith, not with the comics, not with the part-works either, it was on the back of a stand in the corner of the shop facing the wall, considered moving it somewhere more prominent myself

My local newsagent also has it, top shelf next to the porn lol

In regards to the colour pages, the one I will be really disappointment about being in B&W will be Oz.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IronGraham on 02 February, 2015, 03:05:15 PM
Just got my sub copies and they are lovely bits of design and craftsmanship
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: NSFTM on 02 February, 2015, 03:30:33 PM
Got the.next.2 in the post along with the badge, my lass opened it , she says the badge looks a bit cheap... Books are excellent through
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: user2000 on 02 February, 2015, 03:51:27 PM
Quote from: NSFTM on 02 February, 2015, 03:30:33 PM
Got the.next.2 in the post along with the badge, my lass opened it , she says the badge looks a bit cheap... Books are excellent through

Cool, I hope this means that they are sending the second volume out in advance instead of making you wait until it was released in the shops before getting two at a time as they did with my Marvel collection!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Keef Monkey on 02 February, 2015, 04:14:01 PM
Wound up buying this, told myself I wouldn't because I had the stories elsewhere but it looked so glorious on the shelf that I had to have it immediately.

It's a very nice package, love the way the stories have been collected together thematically (having Cadet bundled with America and Fading of The Light is awesome) and it's a great quality book. I won't be subscribing (although I'm very tempted, but space is an issue), it's a fantastic series for someone who doesn't own this stuff and is maybe just getting into Dredd though.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 02 February, 2015, 04:14:11 PM
Quote from: user2000 on 02 February, 2015, 03:51:27 PM
Quote from: NSFTM on 02 February, 2015, 03:30:33 PM
Got the.next.2 in the post along with the badge, my lass opened it , she says the badge looks a bit cheap... Books are excellent through

Cool, I hope this means that they are sending the second volume out in advance instead of making you wait until it was released in the shops before getting two at a time as they did with my Marvel collection!

Lots of people on my Twitter timeline posting pictures of the volumes and badge (and coffee holder if you subbed online).

Badge looks ok in the pics.

It does appear that subbers will be one book in advance of the newsagents, which is good.

Hope to get mine in the post tomorrow.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 02 February, 2015, 04:48:42 PM
I suspect it might also depend when you subscribed. People here are talking about getting issues two and three; I got issue one this morning, and I know others are still waiting for issue one.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 02 February, 2015, 05:19:18 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 02 February, 2015, 04:48:42 PM
I suspect it might also depend when you subscribed. People here are talking about getting issues two and three; I got issue one this morning, and I know others are still waiting for issue one.

Subbed when it was still in it's trial format but there are people on my timeline on Twitter who bought the first issue from a newsie and subbed 11 days ago that got issues 2 & 3.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: ZenArcade on 02 February, 2015, 05:25:03 PM
Seems to be plenty of interest in this. 2 guys at work whom l thought had zero interest in comics have ordered. Z
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Molch-R on 02 February, 2015, 05:40:05 PM
It's worth noting that to keep P&P free for the whole collection, lots of orders are sent out in batches - so it's not like ordering from Amazon or subscribing to the Prog.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 02 February, 2015, 05:42:51 PM
Quote from: ZenArcade on 02 February, 2015, 05:25:03 PM
Seems to be plenty of interest in this. 2 guys at work whom l thought had zero interest in comics have ordered.

"For feck's sake Arcade, we've ordered the bloody thing, okay? Now leave us alone and shut the hell up about it".
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: ZenArcade on 02 February, 2015, 05:48:16 PM
Now are you definitely sure?? If you're not I'll post again! Z
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Fungus on 02 February, 2015, 05:53:35 PM
Read 'America' and 'Fading of the Light' last night and was blown away by them. Had only read 'America' before and - sacrilege I know - my only previous read was back at original publication. I enjoyed it then but it has affected me more now... I must be a soppy old scrote (or it seems less fanciful given the way the world has gone recently).

Most of this volume I don't have, so a required purchase. Believe the Hype  :)
Now plan a re-read of Mechanismo and The Apocalypse War shortly, seems apt somehow. For shame I doubt these have been read more than once. Long overdue. I know, I know...

Oh, and Craddock's colours are fine?!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 02 February, 2015, 06:04:07 PM
Quote from: ZenArcade on 02 February, 2015, 05:48:16 PM
Now are you definitely sure?? If you're not I'll post again! Z

I'd post it again. Just to be sure.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jim_Campbell on 02 February, 2015, 06:07:34 PM
Quote from: Fungus on 02 February, 2015, 05:53:35 PM
Oh, and Craddock's colours are fine?!

It was noted a few pages back that the colours appear to have been tweaked to make 'em a little less hard on the eyes.

Edit: No, it wasn't, and it doesn't seem to be on the other thread about the collection, either. I must be losing the plot.

Cheers

Jim
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 02 February, 2015, 06:18:27 PM
Quote from: ZenArcade on 02 February, 2015, 05:48:16 PM
Now are you definitely sure?? If you're not I'll post again! Z

Just to be clear, I was making a weak joke about the likely motivations of your work colleagues - not your posting in this thread set aside for that very purpose! 
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: ZenArcade on 02 February, 2015, 06:27:06 PM
The strange thing is it wasn't my incessant nagging (though I am quite good at single minded pestering). I really only cottoned on to this at the weekend at our discussion group....they actually did it of their own bat. Before I got to them, curses. Z
So anyway....now Tordel are you sure you're sure you've ordered it.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 02 February, 2015, 06:54:28 PM
I don't suppose anyone grabbed an extra copy of this? I can't find it anywhere near me!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: esoteric ed on 02 February, 2015, 07:00:21 PM
Nice to come home to today  :)

Ed
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Legendary Shark on 02 February, 2015, 07:02:34 PM
Any newsagent should be able to order one for you - it's how I got mine.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Silent_Bomber on 03 February, 2015, 12:45:13 AM
What's the quality of the reprint like in comparison to this one? -

(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc1/jesusarnold/amer.png~original)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Zenith 666 on 03 February, 2015, 12:48:03 AM
It's absolutely fantastic.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Silent_Bomber on 03 February, 2015, 01:14:26 AM
Quote from: Zenith 666 on 03 February, 2015, 12:48:03 AM
It's absolutely fantastic.

I was mainly wondering because I found an older Devlin Waugh trade from 1993 in a book shop the other day and I really like the size of the thing (I'm taking it for granted the America trade I posted is of similar dimensions?).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 03 February, 2015, 02:05:32 AM
Quote from: Silent_Bomber on 03 February, 2015, 12:45:13 AM
What's the quality of the reprint like in comparison to this one? -

(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc1/jesusarnold/amer.png~original)


The Mega Collection is a lovely book but the painted work is represented far better in the earlier reprint. It is larger and a greater subtlety of colour is present.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: James Stacey on 03 February, 2015, 09:19:27 AM
Quote from: Jim_Campbell on 02 February, 2015, 06:07:34 PM
Edit: No, it wasn't, and it doesn't seem to be on the other thread about the collection, either. I must be losing the plot.

Cheers

Jim
I've seen it mentioned by someone on facebook so maybe it was there.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 03 February, 2015, 09:37:29 AM
Quote from: Skullmo on 05 July, 1974, 10:48:33 PMThe Mega Collection is a lovely book but the painted work is represented far better in the earlier reprint. It is larger and a greater subtlety of colour is present.

True enough. The matt finish means the painted art is fractionally duller, and somewhat smaller than in the most recent Rebellion edition. I won't be binning my earlier version quite yet, but the Hachette volume completely trumps it in terms of content, with the essential 'America 3.5' that is Judgement Call, and three more great MacNeil stories including Wagner's deft Vienna retcon. Also, lovely cover design and the reassuringly annual-like comfort of hard covers.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Third Estate Ned on 03 February, 2015, 12:16:56 PM
A family member bought me a copy of the first book that I can pick up when I go back to the UK so I thought I'd spread the word and give my Rebellion paperback copy of America to a guy at work who I thought might be into it. What does he do? He listens patiently to my explanation of JD, thanks me sincerely and then ROLLS THE BOOK INTO A TUBE AS IF IT WAS A MAGAZINE FOR READING ON THE BOG.

But he seemed grateful so I couldn't say anything. Now my run of black and red JD spines is poorer and for no good reason.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Daveycandlish on 03 February, 2015, 02:14:09 PM
Beat him over the head with the tube he has made for disrespecting the book!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 03 February, 2015, 02:40:14 PM
Some people don't deserve good things!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Zenith 666 on 03 February, 2015, 03:28:13 PM
People who don't buy comics have no respect for them.i don't lend anything anymore because they return them tatty dogeared messes.i wouldn't even like to estimate what my collections cost me.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 03 February, 2015, 03:38:41 PM
I leant my copy of Origins to my best friend, it came back torn and stained. And I don't even think they had bothered to read it as they could not discuss it in any depth.


My best friend is a dog.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Third Estate Ned on 03 February, 2015, 03:58:12 PM
There's your reason to buy it again in hardback. And mine, let's see him roll that up.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: James Stacey on 03 February, 2015, 04:02:53 PM
I remember lending a gn to a friend who within 3 minutes of me handing it to him had put it on the floor then managed to roll his computer chair over it so it was jammed underneath. Good times.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 03 February, 2015, 04:07:41 PM
I once gave a book to a friend who instantly just swallowed it up!

He was a black hole.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Colin YNWA on 03 February, 2015, 04:14:18 PM
Quote from: Zenith 666 on 03 February, 2015, 03:28:13 PM
i wouldn't even like to estimate what my collections cost me.
Christ yeah this I agree with so much. We* must all live in denial and not once, for one moment think about how much we spend on comics as it might make us feel ill and realise we don't need to be mortgaged to the hilt if only we'd developed a cheaper hobby!

* When I type 'we' I of course me I alas!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Zenith 666 on 03 February, 2015, 04:41:36 PM
You could have that argument to everything including smoking or drinking in the end you have to spend it on something and comics don't cause illness or shortness of breath.Though I do admit to sniffing my copy America way to much. :D
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Silent_Bomber on 03 February, 2015, 04:43:34 PM
Quote from: Skullmo on 03 February, 2015, 02:05:32 AM

The Mega Collection is a lovely book but the painted work is represented far better in the earlier reprint. It is larger and a greater subtlety of colour is present.

Thanks for the info

I was kinda' hoping for an excuse to go and buy the £1.99 one, but if this is the case I'll probably pick up the older one off Amazon. I like the cover much better (looks like a wraparound?) and I don't actually like "Fading of the Light" tbh, I also own the other stories already and space is becoming a problem for me these days.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IronGraham on 03 February, 2015, 05:46:33 PM
After Origins do we know what is coming out?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 03 February, 2015, 06:06:29 PM
Quote from: Silent_Bomber on 03 February, 2015, 04:43:34 PM
Quote from: Skullmo on 03 February, 2015, 02:05:32 AM

The Mega Collection is a lovely book but the painted work is represented far better in the earlier reprint. It is larger and a greater subtlety of colour is present.

Thanks for the info

I was kinda' hoping for an excuse to go and buy the £1.99 one, but if this is the case I'll probably pick up the older one off Amazon. I like the cover much better (looks like a wraparound?) and I don't actually like "Fading of the Light" tbh, I also own the other stories already and space is becoming a problem for me these days.

Burn him. Burn him now.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 03 February, 2015, 06:07:01 PM
Quote from: IronGraham on 03 February, 2015, 05:46:33 PM
After Origins do we know what is coming out?

More hardback Dredds I imagine.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Frank on 03 February, 2015, 06:35:17 PM

It was this play on the limits of tolerance that impressed me when I first read Wagner's supple, terse story. But now what strikes me most is the story's attack on the way men treat women. America is the most attractive, assertive character in the story and yet she is used by almost every man she comes in contact with. She is beaten up by Judges on a democracy march while pregnant only for the judges to then end the pregnancy because of the foetus's "genetic abnormality". And she is ultimately betrayed by her best friend Benny who then takes the betrayal to another lurid sci-fi level, effectively stealing America's identity.

Wagner continues exploring questions of female agency in a number of subsequent stories gathered in this Hachette edition. And so what we have here is - you might argue - a feminist text. It just comes with big guns.

http://www.heraldscotland.com/arts-ents/books-poetry/graphic-content-a-sense-of-dredd-on-rereading-wagner-and-macneil-s-america.1422871513 (http://www.heraldscotland.com/arts-ents/books-poetry/graphic-content-a-sense-of-dredd-on-rereading-wagner-and-macneil-s-america.1422871513)



Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Teivion on 04 February, 2015, 09:12:15 AM
For my sins I actually never knew they did follow ups to America, so having them in the Volume was a surprise to me and  very welcome one - if anything I seemed to enjoy America more reading the follow ups because it gave the story a nice grounding.
Although the original chapter of America was a nice piece on its own I probably didnt read as much in to it as I could have done, taking it at face value as a nice story out of the traitional context of a Judges saga.
The comments Butch posted above are very valid ( we'll pass over the rape scene...) but I felt the additional storylines give the female characters all their power back, and you can almost see that in the way Dredd behaves as he admits his respect to Bennys' daughter.

I am seriously excited to get the next volumes...

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 04 February, 2015, 10:52:30 AM
Disappointed that issue 2 is in the shops now and my sub copies of 2 & 3 have yet to materialise  :(

Got a cold and a chest infection and was hoping to curl up under a warm duvet and read these today.

Ah well, I'm a big boy. I can wait they bloody well better turn up tomorrow or I'll throw a proper hissy fit
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Molch-R on 04 February, 2015, 10:55:12 AM
Quote from: Mattofthespurs on 04 February, 2015, 10:52:30 AM
Disappointed that issue 2 is in the shops now and my sub copies of 2 & 3 have yet to materialise  :(

Got a cold and a chest infection and was hoping to curl up under a warm duvet and read these today.

Ah well, I'm a big boy. I can wait they bloody well better turn up tomorrow or I'll throw a proper hissy fit

Just to clarify, in order to keep P&P free orders are sent out in big batches from Hachette's warehouse - it's not like the Prog where it has a specific date that all orders go out on so there may be the occasion where books are in shops before you receive yours. However, you'll be getting them two at a time and, as the subscriptions level evens out, they should become more regular.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Silent_Bomber on 04 February, 2015, 11:01:04 AM
Quote from: Teivion on 04 February, 2015, 09:12:15 AM
I seemed to enjoy America more reading the follow ups because it gave the story a nice grounding.

I feel the opposite to be honest, I feel like America was focused, grounded, and concise, it knew what it was trying to say and did it well. Fading of the Light was confused and all over the place.

Making Beeny a Judge was a very good call though.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 04 February, 2015, 11:25:02 AM
Quote from: Molch-R on 04 February, 2015, 10:55:12 AM
Quote from: Mattofthespurs on 04 February, 2015, 10:52:30 AM
Disappointed that issue 2 is in the shops now and my sub copies of 2 & 3 have yet to materialise  :(

Got a cold and a chest infection and was hoping to curl up under a warm duvet and read these today.

Ah well, I'm a big boy. I can wait they bloody well better turn up tomorrow or I'll throw a proper hissy fit

Just to clarify, in order to keep P&P free orders are sent out in big batches from Hachette's warehouse - it's not like the Prog where it has a specific date that all orders go out on so there may be the occasion where books are in shops before you receive yours. However, you'll be getting them two at a time and, as the subscriptions level evens out, they should become more regular.

Yeah, no worries. The Marvel ones were always 2 weeks behind the shops.

Just eager to get my grubby mitts on them  :D
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 04 February, 2015, 12:18:32 PM
Quote from: Butch on 03 February, 2015, 06:35:17 PM

It was this play on the limits of tolerance that impressed me when I first read Wagner's supple, terse story. But now what strikes me most is the story's attack on the way men treat women. America is the most attractive, assertive character in the story and yet she is used by almost every man she comes in contact with. She is beaten up by Judges on a democracy march while pregnant only for the judges to then end the pregnancy because of the foetus's "genetic abnormality". And she is ultimately betrayed by her best friend Benny who then takes the betrayal to another lurid sci-fi level, effectively stealing America's identity.

Wagner continues exploring questions of female agency in a number of subsequent stories gathered in this Hachette edition. And so what we have here is - you might argue - a feminist text. It just comes with big guns.

http://www.heraldscotland.com/arts-ents/books-poetry/graphic-content-a-sense-of-dredd-on-rereading-wagner-and-macneil-s-america.1422871513 (http://www.heraldscotland.com/arts-ents/books-poetry/graphic-content-a-sense-of-dredd-on-rereading-wagner-and-macneil-s-america.1422871513)


Strangely, reading it this time I really disliked America and felt that she was exploiting Bennett to get what she wanted/further the aims of her terrorist organisation. The back-story of her pregnancy I took with caution as she was an unreliable source of information, I felt like it could have been just to get Bennett on side.

We also have to remember it is told from the point of view as Bennett, and he puts his own spin on the events. Bennett is clearly obsessed with America and is looking for justification for both his and her actions.

The story originally ran in an age where the UK was generally free from the threat of acts of terrorism, and I think the current state of things has probably changed my view of her.

It's a wonderful story!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: I, Cosh on 04 February, 2015, 12:41:22 PM
Quote from: Skullmo on 04 February, 2015, 12:18:32 PMThe story originally ran in an age where the UK was generally free from the threat of acts of terrorism, and I think the current state of things has probably changed my view of her.
Wow!  Bearing in mind that the first issue of the Meg is cover dated 01/10/90, do you really think so? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_bombings_during_the_Northern_Ireland_Troubles_and_peace_process)

I would agree that it's the mark of a decent story that it rewards rereading and supports different interpretations but hasn't the satirical point of the Democracy/Total War movement always been the reframing of something which we take for granted as an underground, terrorist movement?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 04 February, 2015, 12:46:05 PM
Quote from: The Cosh on 04 February, 2015, 12:41:22 PM
Quote from: Skullmo on 04 February, 2015, 12:18:32 PMThe story originally ran in an age where the UK was generally free from the threat of acts of terrorism, and I think the current state of things has probably changed my view of her.
Wow!  Bearing in mind that the first issue of the Meg is cover dated 01/10/90, do you really think so? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_bombings_during_the_Northern_Ireland_Troubles_and_peace_process)

I would agree that it's the mark of a decent story that it rewards rereading and supports different interpretations but hasn't the satirical point of the Democracy/Total War movement always been the reframing of something which we take for granted as an underground, terrorist movement?

Oops - maybe I meant when originally read it - which would have been about 94.

I can't believe it was in 1990!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Silent_Bomber on 04 February, 2015, 01:05:13 PM
Quote from: Skullmo on 04 February, 2015, 12:18:32 PM
felt that she was exploiting Bennett to get what she wanted/further the aims of her terrorist organisation.
I didn't dislike Ami, but I also felt she was manipulating Bennett, and after her friends had shot him too!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 04 February, 2015, 01:37:25 PM
I'm not sure there's much doubt that Ami is manipulating and using Benny, but at the same time I don't doubt that she's telling the truth.  I've always felt lthat Judge Beeny having a compulsorily-aborted mutant half-sibling is an important point, given what happened when Dredd discovered his mutant relatives.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: ZenArcade on 04 February, 2015, 01:39:38 PM
It always troubled me as to whether the unborn child was in fact a mutant at all. Z
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Legendary Shark on 04 February, 2015, 02:36:25 PM
Maybe taken away to be speed-incubated into a cadet. Beeny might not be the first judge of the Jara line...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 04 February, 2015, 04:36:43 PM
Ooh, what if the mutation was psychic ability, and the abducted Psi Judge Jara is already on the streets!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Legendary Shark on 04 February, 2015, 05:27:17 PM
I can see it now; Judge Jara discovers her/his true heritage... civil war in the Justice Department... Judge Dredd v Judge America...
.
I'll get me 'elmet.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 04 February, 2015, 05:43:27 PM
It'd be more your line to start pitching Zarjaz a script, Sharky.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Legendary Shark on 04 February, 2015, 05:52:00 PM
They don't take Mega-Epics :-(
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 04 February, 2015, 05:55:53 PM
Take a leaf from the half-page Apocalypse War in the Daily Dredds!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Legendary Shark on 04 February, 2015, 06:05:39 PM
Hmmm...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: oshii on 05 February, 2015, 10:13:23 AM
On a different note, my copy of Mechanismo says its no 24 on the spine.  That's confused me a bit.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richmond Clements on 05 February, 2015, 10:18:57 AM
Quote from: oshii on 05 February, 2015, 10:13:23 AM
On a different note, my copy of Mechanismo says its no 24 on the spine.  That's confused me a bit.

Listen to the latest 2000AD Thrillcast and all is explained...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Satanist on 05 February, 2015, 11:36:05 AM
Quote from: oshii on 05 February, 2015, 10:13:23 AM
On a different note, my copy of Mechanismo says its no 24 on the spine.  That's confused me a bit.

Hachete publish collections out of order so you don't just buy the first 5. It's to piss off the obsessives.

GOTTA CATCH EM ALL!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Albion on 05 February, 2015, 11:53:17 AM
Another odd thing they do with the Marvel ones is send me a letter to tell me they are being delivered soon. Seems very unnecessary to me. (This may be because I have them delivered to my work, the letter goes to my home). Are they doing this for the Dredd books?

I opened the most recent one to find a letter saying that payment hadn't been made for three months and they would stop sending them if they arent contacted. I was shocked at this but then noticed the letter was for someone else in West Sussex and my delivery confirmation letter was behind it!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 05 February, 2015, 01:50:43 PM
Quote from: Satanist on 05 February, 2015, 11:36:05 AM
Quote from: oshii on 05 February, 2015, 10:13:23 AM
On a different note, my copy of Mechanismo says its no 24 on the spine.  That's confused me a bit.

Hachete publish collections out of order so you don't just buy the first 5. It's to piss off the obsessives.

GOTTA CATCH EM ALL!

Funnily enough it works the opposite way on me - if they were in order I'd be tempted to get the odd one I wasn't mad about just to keep the numbers consecutive and watch the spine pic grow. As they are basically random numbers, I'm free to cherry pick and undermine the profitability of the venture.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 05 February, 2015, 01:54:30 PM
Quote from: TordelBack on 05 February, 2015, 01:50:43 PM
Quote from: Satanist on 05 February, 2015, 11:36:05 AM
Hachete publish collections out of order so you don't just buy the first 5. It's to piss off the obsessives.

GOTTA CATCH EM ALL!

Funnily enough it works the opposite way on me - if they were in order I'd be tempted to get the odd one I wasn't mad about just to keep the numbers consecutive and watch the spine pic grow. As they are basically random numbers, I'm free to cherry pick and undermine the profitability of the venture.

Yep. They're going to be random, ill-matching spines whatever I do so no reason not to cherry-pick.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 05 February, 2015, 02:10:07 PM
Although that depends on whether you'll be able to easily access them. Around here, most partworks vanish from newsagents after the first five-to-ten or so.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Fungus on 05 February, 2015, 02:21:36 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 05 February, 2015, 02:10:07 PM
Although that depends on whether you'll be able to easily access them. Around here, most partworks vanish from newsagents after the first five-to-ten or so.

Around these parts, no Mega-Collection visible after part 1 (and huge piles of part 1 - WH Smith have moved that display to a less bonkers spot, learned their lesson perhaps).

Which is fine, I'll get the Walter The Wobot volume online...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: COMMANDO FORCES on 05 February, 2015, 03:51:50 PM
Just confirmed another subscription and the number has jumped a lot higher than I expected, because it couldn't just be added to my subscription ::)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Spikes on 05 February, 2015, 04:35:44 PM
And the 2nd (or 24th) book now bought. Only another 78 to go - gulp.....

Again, a quick flick through reveals a nice looking book. Though the extra's are quite slight. Consisting of a 'cover's gallery' and a one page interview with Colin.


Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 05 February, 2015, 04:43:35 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 05 February, 2015, 02:10:07 PM
Although that depends on whether you'll be able to easily access them. Around here, most partworks vanish from newsagents after the first five-to-ten or so.

Ah. Yeah, true. But I simply can't afford to subscribe. Suppose I'll be cherry-picking from E*ay in a few years time.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Taryn Tailz on 05 February, 2015, 04:44:07 PM
It makes sense to release them in a more random order. If they were released in numerical order then, by the looks of the spines, we would have had about five Dark Judges books in a row.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: BPP on 05 February, 2015, 04:57:02 PM
i could be wrong but I think I read you could buy back issues from Hachette themselves.

I also saw that FP online offered issue 1 so likely they will have subsequent if you act quick enough at the time.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 05 February, 2015, 05:18:59 PM
Quote from: BPP on 05 February, 2015, 04:57:02 PM
i could be wrong but I think I read you could buy back issues from Hachette themselves.

I also saw that FP online offered issue 1 so likely they will have subsequent if you act quick enough at the time.

If you check out the back issues available from Hachette for their Marvel series you'll see that many issues are not available.

They are for a certain amount of time and then it's eBay/second hand market for you!

Be warned!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 05 February, 2015, 05:46:35 PM
Quote from: Mattofthespurs on 05 February, 2015, 05:18:59 PM
Quote from: BPP on 05 February, 2015, 04:57:02 PM
i could be wrong but I think I read you could buy back issues from Hachette themselves.

If you check out the back issues available from Hachette for their Marvel series you'll see that many issues are not available.

Yeah, looking into it a bit it seems simplicity itself to just buy the relevant back issues from the Hachette website - the only trick being to get the ones you want before they're out of stock!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moly on 05 February, 2015, 06:43:41 PM
Still waiting for mine to be delivered
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: ZenArcade on 05 February, 2015, 06:53:08 PM
Whilst I sympathise with people who will get jerked around by 'logistical' supply issues; this enterprise is a great thing in that it is about the propaganda fide. I hope Rebellion make a profit (this idea alone deserves credit) but purely as a side effect of the dissemination of the sheer creativity hardwired into this comic. Z
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Legendary Shark on 05 February, 2015, 07:53:43 PM
I hope they don't get to Issue 68 and then announce it was always supposed to be part of a wider, 160 part series. Don't do that, Tharg, just... don't.
.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richmond Clements on 05 February, 2015, 07:56:15 PM
You all realise that this isn't actually published by Rebellion, right?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: ZenArcade on 05 February, 2015, 08:00:02 PM
We do, it seems more handy than Hatchet. Z
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Zenith 666 on 05 February, 2015, 08:01:46 PM
Pretty sure the Spine design will limit it to 80 issues.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: ZenArcade on 05 February, 2015, 08:09:33 PM
I'm not too sure, they square pegged Strontium Dog; Rogue Trooper; ABC Warriors/Nemises/Robusters and even Shitester Dexter into Dredd world over the years. Who knows how long the compilation pic could be. Z
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Legendary Shark on 05 February, 2015, 08:13:11 PM
Indeed. And although I don't want them to pull that trick again, I kinda' do. Just don't sneak it up on us, is all.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Albion on 05 February, 2015, 10:03:09 PM
Quote from: Zenith 666 on 05 February, 2015, 08:01:46 PM
Pretty sure the Spine design will limit it to 80 issues.

That's what we thought about the Marvel books.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 05 February, 2015, 10:22:19 PM
Am I right in thinking that 80 volumes is about a metre of shelf space, oh Marvel collection nerds and lbrarians? That's a lot more than the average bookcase shelf. Prepare your bespoke shelving solutions squaxx!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Zenith 666 on 05 February, 2015, 10:34:32 PM
The comic porn threads going to get much bigger.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: NapalmKev on 06 February, 2015, 09:10:27 PM
I've just Subscribed to the Collection (Exclusive Prints, etc).

I've not yet read "America", so I'm really looking forward to it!

Cheers
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 06 February, 2015, 09:21:01 PM
I've been thinking about what might be in the 'Mad City' books of the collection, and I really hope an Otto Sump volume is planned. As far as I know there's never been one, and his final story, Citizen Sump, has never even been reprinted! Pad it out with a load of 'ugly' stories and you've got a little gem of a volume that offers something different to what already exists - as well as a classic life-and-death Mega City fable.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Silent_Bomber on 06 February, 2015, 10:43:38 PM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 06 February, 2015, 09:21:01 PM
I've been thinking about what might be in the 'Mad City' books of the collection

I was originally thinking it might be an Oola Blint collection, mainly just because her first appearance was in a story called "Mad City", but I guess with a title like that the collection could be pretty much anything.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 06 February, 2015, 10:55:31 PM
I'm assuming it'll be 'crazy citizen' stories - The 'It Pays to be Mental' guy, Branch Moronians, Fatties, Uglies, Simps, etc.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Taryn Tailz on 06 February, 2015, 11:52:27 PM
It would be nice to know what's coming up after #4 "Origins".
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Zenith 666 on 07 February, 2015, 12:00:33 AM
Shamballa,The Heavy Squads? Or Mandroid.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 07 February, 2015, 09:05:25 AM
Got my online subscribers takeaway mug in the post today.

Must say I'm quite impressed with it. From the picture I assumed it was going to be some sort of cardboard or plastic jobby but it's a quite heavy pottery one.

At least I know I will be getting the next two issues and the badge by Wednesday (ish) of next week.

Gives me something to look forward to  :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Judge Olde on 07 February, 2015, 10:20:16 AM
I got the (sturdy) mug (flimsy lid) but as already said many other places, no other issue as yet - issue 2 was the main reason I took out my sub  :D

I'd like to know for sure what's lined up for the next few books - Mandroid I know will be along at some point ...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Daveycandlish on 07 February, 2015, 10:25:13 AM
I got a red card off the postie this morning while I was out. Curses! I guess it was my mug and books!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: BPP on 07 February, 2015, 10:53:42 AM
Mandroid and Origins were mocked up covers for the soft launch so no reason to think they are actually in bound. Dredd only has so many mega epics and sequal stories so I'd imagine they are going to be spread out after an initial burst to generate subscribers.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Zenith 666 on 07 February, 2015, 10:57:45 AM
Aww I was really looking forward to Mandroid.origins is book four though some previews online were sent the first four books.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: BPP on 07 February, 2015, 12:21:08 PM
Quote from: Zenith 666 on 07 February, 2015, 10:57:45 AM
Aww I was really looking forward to Mandroid.origins is book four though some previews online were sent the first four books.

Only speculating like, maybe Mandroid is book 5 but from a publishers point of view your defo front-loading a lot of major tales.

Am hoping we're kept in the dark as to what is coming.. 
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Steve Green on 07 February, 2015, 12:46:16 PM
They talk about a few upcoming titles in the thrillcast.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Magnetica on 07 February, 2015, 01:04:48 PM
Quote from: BPP on 07 February, 2015, 12:21:08 PM

Only speculating like, maybe Mandroid is book 5 but from a publishers point of view your defo front-loading a lot of major tales.

Am hoping we're kept in the dark as to what is coming..

I wouldn't worry too much about front loading. As far as I am concerned there is a huge amount of fantastic material to keep releasing an absolute classic every (other) issue.

Personally I would be interested in:

The Day the Law Died
The Judge Child
Necropolis
The Pit
Tour of Duty
The Mega Rackets
Luna 1
Trifecta

and that's just off the top of my head.

In fact if they did release these, I might just reconsider my decision to only buy the odd one or two. (It's as much storage as cost).

In fact for the casual purchaser who is cherry picking which ones to buy, it is pretty much essential to know what the next issue contains - given that I am inclined to buy them directly from Hachette rather than rely on availability in the shops, which where I live and work seems to be a little hit and miss and want to make sure I get my order in before they sell out any given issue.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 07 February, 2015, 02:18:30 PM
Quote from: BPP on 07 February, 2015, 12:21:08 PM
Only speculating like, maybe Mandroid is book 5 but from a publishers point of view your defo front-loading a lot of major tales.

Hmm. Not sure about that. I wouldn't say Mandroid, Shamballa or The Heavy Squad (presumably Holocaust 12/The Corps) are particularly major stories. You've still got all the mega-epics, all the Dark Judge stories, Low Life, Lenny Zero, Devlin Waugh, Chopper, PJ Maybe, the Bloodline stuff...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: COMMANDO FORCES on 07 February, 2015, 02:20:41 PM
Perfect start to my birthday, the mug arrived and as stated previously, quite a sturdy item. No books but that's no big deal really!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: ZenArcade on 07 February, 2015, 02:32:57 PM
Happy birthday dude....keep up the good work on the cosplay front. Z
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mardroid on 07 February, 2015, 02:41:27 PM
Quote from: Mattofthespurs on 07 February, 2015, 09:05:25 AM
Got my online subscribers takeaway mug in the post today.

Must say I'm quite impressed with it. From the picture I assumed it was going to be some sort of cardboard or plastic jobby but it's a quite heavy pottery one.

Me too, and my assessment matches yours. A solid thing. It's being christened right now in a coffee shop I speak. Or type if you prefer. If using your thumbs on a phone counts as typing.

I'm still awaiting issues 2 and 3. Okay I already have the test subscription versions... but I'm worried I missed a red card somewhere....(Probably not. Sure they're on the way.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 07 February, 2015, 02:54:35 PM
Dispatch is in blocks, to keep postage down. I only have issue one so far, so you're not alone.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Boo on 07 February, 2015, 03:11:21 PM
I really really hope that PJ Maybe's in the collection somewhere, I know there are new PJ stories which I don't have in the GN and he's one of my favourite characters.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 07 February, 2015, 04:05:40 PM
Quote from: Boo on 07 February, 2015, 03:11:21 PM
I really really hope that PJ Maybe's in the collection somewhere, I know there are new PJ stories which I don't have in the GN and he's one of my favourite characters.

Oh yeah! Got to be on the cards. We need a PJ book that goes up to the end of The Gingerbread Man.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: ZenArcade on 07 February, 2015, 05:11:12 PM
With that Liam Sharp art work, it's gotta be high up the list. Z
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 07 February, 2015, 07:13:18 PM
I've put mug/cup on eBay - hope it finds a more appreciative owner! I'm committed to finding space for these 80 volumes - I'lol keep the bookends but not the rest
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 08 February, 2015, 12:48:11 AM
A bit disappointed that 4 posts have passed and no one has pointed out that they have not yet received their issue 1/2/3 etc.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Boo on 08 February, 2015, 10:16:22 AM
Quote from: Skullmo on 08 February, 2015, 12:48:11 AM
A bit disappointed that 4 posts have passed and no one has pointed out that they have not yet received their issue 1/2/3 etc.

Why? I mean I haven't received mine yet, but I only subscribed a week ago and it's very clear that it can take up to a month for them to arrive.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 08 February, 2015, 10:28:06 AM
Oh internet you tricksy medium you, will you ever learn to reliably communicate sarcasm?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Boo on 08 February, 2015, 10:41:05 AM
Quote from: Professor Cardigan on 08 February, 2015, 10:28:06 AM
Oh internet you tricksy medium you, will you ever learn to reliably communicate sarcasm?

Ha! In my defence, I'm only on my first cuppa...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 08 February, 2015, 10:57:08 AM
Don't venture on to the Facebook channel. That's packed full of the most entitled cry-babies I've seen in a long time. So many people cancelling subs left, right and centre because they didn't get their book at the same time as some other people or before it hit the stores. Never mind that it's been pointed out books are mailed in pairs (and so you'll be ahead with odd numbers but not even ones); never mind that partworks almost always work this way; never mind that you're getting chunky hardback books mailed to you for free. Oh, and apparently when someone pastes in the same response to 50 people moaning about the same thing, they are a "robot". I despair.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 08 February, 2015, 12:07:01 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 08 February, 2015, 10:57:08 AM
That's packed full of the most entitled cry-babies I've seen in a long time.

(http://cdn.meme.am/instances/250x250/56289100.jpg)

You have to wonder what's happened to people that so many of us think that way.  It's the same whinefest with eBay sales, regardless of what you put in your description or follow-up communication, there's always someone who files a complaint because they haven't received their €2 item in their log cabin in the Poconos 24 hours after the auction ends.

You're getting cool stuff that most of us could hardly ever have imagined existing a decade ago delivered to your door for feck all.  Have a little patience with the miracle!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Bat King on 08 February, 2015, 01:43:26 PM
Entitlement is one of the worst aspects of Fandom...

I am dying to get my hands on the Apocalypse WAr book, cup n badge. But I hold that in...

And no, having preview Pdfs doesn't ease my pain. I haven't even opened the Origins Pdf yet... Not sure I can cope with reading that THEN waiting for a delivery... (but obviously I'll do it, I'll do a Preview of it n everything).

I think there are legs in an article about Fan Entitlement issues.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: ZenArcade on 08 February, 2015, 01:46:55 PM
These instances pointed out on the thread are symptoms of that hateful, but widespread modern malaise: the inability to defer gratification. Z
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 08 February, 2015, 02:08:41 PM
Mmmm.  Ive thrown in my lot with two kickstarters: the Mongoose Dredd miniatures one, which has been dribbling miniature goodness through my letterbox every couple of months for two years now (most recently: a brace of Assassinators and judges with a Stub Gun and a Lazooka!), and the second Reaper Bones outing, which by my count is now 5 months beyond its target date and I haven't got so much as a used sprue so far.  The online whining is deafening.  But I love it. What a treat for the joy of tat-acquisition to be teased out in this fashion!  It's been so long now since I spent the money that I can't even remember how much it was, and yet still the presents come!  Obviously if it was a transplant organ or an unpaid invoice I was waiting on I'd be spitting nails, but for childish indulgences it just prolongs the experience.

Woe to those who don't appreciate the extended foreplay of missed delivery dates: punctuality and deadlines are for work, not pleasure!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 08 February, 2015, 05:20:56 PM
Aaand I've just laid hands on Vol 24.  Corr it ain't half gorgeous - MacNeil in particular is on fire, giving Mechanismo a huge solid presence on his bright spacious pages, but Doherty's art is also some of his very best, great storytelling with a muted shadowy palette.  Manuel Benet's turn at the wheel does stand out somewhat, but  you know it's really not half bad - just very markedly different.  The sudden shift from Benet to the soothing familiar ground of Blythe-coloured Robinson in the backup tale S.A.M.s only serves to emphasise this contrast. Still to dive into teh MacNeil interview, but Matt's intro shows he has a complete understanding of and appreciation for the material he is shepherding.     

And oh boy, what a fantastic cover.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 08 February, 2015, 05:45:48 PM
Im looking forward to seeing it this week.

Or next...I'm not bothered...  ;)

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: strangelysaucy on 08 February, 2015, 06:15:50 PM
Quote from: Bat King on 08 February, 2015, 01:43:26 PM
Entitlement is one of the worst aspects of Fandom...

I think there are legs in an article about Fan Entitlement issues.

I think there's probably a 50,000 page paper by now! some really odd people out there who go mental if they can't have what they 'deserve' from a franchise/company/artist etc...
There's also the phenomenon of the some fans becoming experts on how to run a business and commerce that quite tickles me.

Oh and I'm loving every aspect of these gorgeous books so far!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: hippynumber1 on 08 February, 2015, 06:43:01 PM
I won't be subscribing to this but would like to cherry pick the odd volume from time to time. Any ideas if Hatchette (sp?) will be giving people this option? If not, any ideas where I might be able to pick up the odd copy?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Spikes on 08 February, 2015, 06:55:30 PM
If I understand correctly, then Hatchette will be offering a certain number of each issue (for a limited period, it seems) to be bought direct from their site.

And aren't Forbidden Planet selling this collection? If so, then their site, and shops should have copies for the cherry pickers amongst us.

And eBay, of course peeps on there are hoping to make a wee profit - http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/Comics-/63/i.html?_from=R40&LH_ItemCondition=3&_nkw=dredd+mega+collection
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 08 February, 2015, 07:11:10 PM
Aye, all Hachette's partworks eventually have back issues available via their shop (http://www.hachettepartworks.com/shop/) (but certain books will sell ot faster than others).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Magnetica on 08 February, 2015, 07:24:27 PM
Now I can't speak for Hachette or anything so can in no way guarantee this will always happen, but my experience was...I just phoned the number from the website, said I just wanted the first two issues, the person  I spoke to checked they had them in stock and I ordered them. And they turned up last week no problem.

I was very happy with that and plan to do it that way again.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: ZenArcade on 08 February, 2015, 07:29:10 PM
Mechanismo with MacNeill and Doherty was a joy to behold. Z :D
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tiplodocus on 08 February, 2015, 07:56:05 PM
I succumbed when I saw it was a measly 6.99.

I may even subscribe just to get 3 and 4. And then probably forget to cancel my subscription. I wonder if Mrs Tips would notice...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: BPP on 08 February, 2015, 08:55:17 PM
All those people shouting they are going to cancel their subscriptions.... meh, doubt they ever had a subscription in the first place.

It's a lot easier to shout about something online than it is do actually do something (like take out a subscription in the first place or cancel it in anger)

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: JOE SOAP on 08 February, 2015, 10:38:01 PM
Quote from: Professor Cardigan on 08 February, 2015, 02:08:41 PM
Mmmm.  Ive thrown in my lot with two kickstarters: the Mongoose Dredd miniatures one, which has been dribbling miniature goodness through my letterbox every couple of months for two years now (most recently: a brace of Assassinators and judges with a Stub Gun and a Lazooka!), and the second Reaper Bones outing, which by my count is now 5 months beyond its target date and I haven't got so much as a used sprue so far.  The online whining is deafening.  But I love it.


Pfffft. I waited nearly 5 years for the fruit of one favoured kickstarter to arrive at my doorstep.






Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 09 February, 2015, 09:28:37 AM
Had the dreaded red card of disappointed from the postman whilst I was doing my morning ablutions

Luckily I'm one of the first that he delivers to and has to walk back past my house so I caught him  :)

Got the takeaway mug on Saturday and so I go issue 2 and 3 today as well as the Dredd badge.

Books look beautiful (and no dinged corners which is a bonus) and the Dredd badge is lovely and shiny.

Looking forward to reading these later today  :D
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 09 February, 2015, 09:36:30 AM
In my enthusiasm I spoke too soon.

The clasp on the badge is completely mangled and is about to snap off. I have no way of using this at all  :(

I have emailed the CS department at Hachette and hope they can provide me with a replacement.



Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mike Carroll on 09 February, 2015, 10:23:47 AM
Yay! Got my mug thingy! No sign of the badge or the next two books yet, but the box in which the mug came was marked "This is Parcel #1 of 2" so I guess they're on the way.

-- Mike
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 09 February, 2015, 10:41:56 AM
There is a chip in my mug .  .  . life is literally over  :'(
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: James Stacey on 09 February, 2015, 10:46:22 AM
My copies of 2 and 3 arrived but no freebies. Off to facebook to vent my anger about some stuff I don't really need not arriving when I want. That's the way it works, right ?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Colin YNWA on 09 February, 2015, 10:47:27 AM
Quote from: Skullmo on 09 February, 2015, 10:41:56 AM
There is a chip in my mug .  .  . life is literally over  :'(

Just put some salad cream on it I'm sure it will taste fine...

...oh right, I see...

...Sorry.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: strangelysaucy on 09 February, 2015, 10:55:18 AM
Quote from: James Stacey on 09 February, 2015, 10:46:22 AM
My copies of 2 and 3 arrived but no freebies. Off to facebook to vent my anger about some stuff I don't really need not arriving when I want. That's the way it works, right ?

HOW DARE THEY!!!!!!!?????
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IronGraham on 09 February, 2015, 11:00:28 AM
Who here has subcribed to get the exclusive art prints (me  :D )
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 09 February, 2015, 11:43:33 AM
Quote from: strangelysaucy on 09 February, 2015, 10:55:18 AM
Quote from: James Stacey on 09 February, 2015, 10:46:22 AM
My copies of 2 and 3 arrived but no freebies. Off to facebook to vent my anger about some stuff I don't really need not arriving when I want. That's the way it works, right ?

HOW DARE THEY!!!!!!!?????

Cancel the subscription you do not have! That's my advice.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: NapalmKev on 09 February, 2015, 12:08:16 PM
Quote from: IronGraham on 09 February, 2015, 11:00:28 AM
Who here has subcribed to get the exclusive art prints (me  :D )

Yep, me too!

I recieved a Confirmation Email today.

Cheers
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: hippynumber1 on 09 February, 2015, 01:21:59 PM
Quote from: Colin_YNWA on 09 February, 2015, 10:47:27 AM
Quote from: Skullmo on 09 February, 2015, 10:41:56 AM
There is a chip in my mug .  .  . life is literally over  :'(

Just put some salad cream on it I'm sure it will taste fine...

...oh right, I see...

...Sorry.

Salad cream? On a chip? You disgust me!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: GrudgeJohnDeed on 09 February, 2015, 01:52:31 PM
Quote from: IronGraham on 09 February, 2015, 11:00:28 AM
Who here has subcribed to get the exclusive art prints (me  :D )

me too!

Although disaster struck, got issue 2 and 3 today and theres a bit of damage. issue 2 has a crushed corner and issue 3 has quite deep scratches in the cover. the badge was in there too, and the pin on it is bent out of shape so im guessing that it was pressing into the cover of issue 3

they could definitely use a bit of bubble wrap for these, all things considered
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Ghost MacRoth on 09 February, 2015, 01:57:43 PM
Got mine too, thought I was unluck to have a ding on the top corner, but it sounds rather like I got off lucky!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: strangelysaucy on 09 February, 2015, 02:00:49 PM
Quote from: Skullmo on 09 February, 2015, 11:43:33 AM
Quote from: strangelysaucy on 09 February, 2015, 10:55:18 AM
Quote from: James Stacey on 09 February, 2015, 10:46:22 AM
My copies of 2 and 3 arrived but no freebies. Off to facebook to vent my anger about some stuff I don't really need not arriving when I want. That's the way it works, right ?

HOW DARE THEY!!!!!!!?????

Cancel the subscription you do not have! That's my advice.

I immediately subscribed when I heard there was a problem with subscribers so I could cancel it immediately in disgust.

I also emailed them with a photo of me looking disgusted to prove how disgusted I was.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 09 February, 2015, 02:11:05 PM
Quote from: strangelysaucy on 09 February, 2015, 02:00:49 PM
Quote from: Skullmo on 09 February, 2015, 11:43:33 AM
Quote from: strangelysaucy on 09 February, 2015, 10:55:18 AM
Quote from: James Stacey on 09 February, 2015, 10:46:22 AM
My copies of 2 and 3 arrived but no freebies. Off to facebook to vent my anger about some stuff I don't really need not arriving when I want. That's the way it works, right ?

HOW DARE THEY!!!!!!!?????

Cancel the subscription you do not have! That's my advice.

I immediately subscribed when I heard there was a problem with subscribers so I could cancel it immediately in disgust.

I also emailed them with a photo of me looking disgusted to prove how disgusted I was.


Have you considered writing to your MP?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Legendary Shark on 09 February, 2015, 02:43:16 PM
Or the lead singer of Echo and the Bunnymen, perhaps?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: user2000 on 09 February, 2015, 04:09:17 PM
Got mine too (rolled eyes from the missus when I paraded around with my badge on  :D ).

Dunted (I mean that, being a Jock) corners in my Mechanismo, regularly had this with the Marvel collection to varying degrees, Hachette just replace them without a quibble, or any thought to improving their packaging so you can all look forward to having this issue with this collection as well it seems.

Me though, I'm definitely cancelling and just going to dip in when I fancy one.  The no colour centre spreads is a deal breaker for me - I have all this stuff at least four times over already - especially galling when at the end of the Apocalypse War book the additional blurb is opened with a reprint of part of the first spread, and it's in colour!    ::)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Proudhuff on 09 February, 2015, 07:58:01 PM
That nice Mr Mcneil has signed my copy of the first one and a wee two line Dredd sketch.will have to stalk the big W (again!) To complete the set.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Buttonman on 09 February, 2015, 08:31:14 PM
I got the mug on Saturday (no chips) and books 2 and 3 today with the badge. Book is good order but I did think it was strange to have the badge rattling about in the box - they could have bubble wrapped it and stuck it in the mug but they may come from different places. In short : not cancelling.

Also got a £0.00 invoice, which was nice.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 09 February, 2015, 08:39:00 PM
Next two books turned up today along with the badge.  All safe and sound which is nice.

Only had a brief glance.  Mechanism is one of the few that I don't have as  a GN which is nice but like many others Apocalypse I now have in multiple editions.  Interesting comparing the different editions. 
(http://img_1381.jpg)
Mega collection(R) compared to IDW(L)
(http://img_1382.jpg)
Mega collection(R) compared to Titan(L)
As has been mentioned above the lack of colour spreads is a disappointment, particularly considering the amount of colour already there.
Title: Re: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: glassstanley on 09 February, 2015, 10:10:12 PM
There's a grey scale centre spread in the Apocalypse War, which is even more frustrating!

Also noticed some gutter loss in the centre spreads. Hope this is something they're going to try and improve...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: COMMANDO FORCES on 09 February, 2015, 10:18:20 PM
Woke up this afternoon for Caz to bring me the parcel in bed, now there's service for you. The postman said that he didn't know where parcel one of two was, so Caz reminded him that he delivered that the other day.

Once I realised what was inside I quickly grabbed the hot line to the President of the free world and asked him to stop the nuclear strike on Hachette's HQ. Ee by gum, they were lucky buggers, I can tell you that :lol:
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: FoldsFive on 09 February, 2015, 10:26:02 PM
Mine all arrived today; Badge - which was a much better quality than expected, Mug - ceramic, again, more than I expected.  Both books look great - I still can't get over how good those B&W covers are.  And pleasantly surprised to see that The Apocalypse War included Block Mania as well.  Very, very happy.  I hope the run lasts to the end.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: shaolin_monkey on 09 February, 2015, 10:42:37 PM
Mine hasn't arrived, so I thought I'd get on here and tell you all that.  Plus I wanted to be the third PR Judge in a row to post an update about it.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mardroid on 10 February, 2015, 12:08:32 AM
I rarely get post on Mondays, so I came home hopeful, but not exactly expectant. The parcel certainly wasn't in the usual places, so I assumed I could expect it tomorrow.

I went upstairs to do something... and there in the doorway of my bedroom was a parcel. Now it's not the first time I approached the door of my bedroom since getting back from work today, but it's the first time I found the parcel there! Pretty sure a member of the household must have put it ther in the time in between.

Maybe they picked it up thinking it was for them before looking closer at the address. I don't know.

Anyway, inside were issues 2 and 3 (Mechanismo and Apocalypse War, respectively), and the badge.

As far as books are concerned I now have all duplicates with different spines! I don't usually like to keep two versions of the same book but as the first experiemental volumes lot turned out to be freebies, I guess they're worth keeping as collector's items.

And the badge is pretty good quality. Quite a solid thing. Looking close I can see some tarnishing and some minor scratching, so I agree it could have been packed correctly, but it's a lovely item just the same. I won't be sending for a replacement.

Maybe I'm being a divvy-boy, but the pin seems to be too thin to unhook. I'm wondering if the pin is MEANT to be bent out of true to get it out of the hole, but that would be too fiddly, surely? Particularly when pinning it to a garment...

Maybe it's better to leave it and tie some thread throught the pin if I want to wear it, or use the hole in the corner if I ever go into cosplay mode.*


*I suspect I'd end up getting a badge with my name on it or a psi badge if I took that route though. The idea of being a judge of my own character** appeals more than playing Dredd specifically. Whether I'd ever have the guts to do that is something else though.... But I'm glad to have this. It's a lovely item.

** No pun intended.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: mckee74 on 10 February, 2015, 10:35:17 PM
So I subscribed. Can't wait to read these stories again as it's been a very, very long time.

So yeah, I have my mug (agree, very surprised on the actual cup but rather gutted about the lid) but not a single issue yet. The anticipation is killing me...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 11 February, 2015, 09:58:46 AM
Mine arrived yesterday - both were damaged though.  :'(
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 11 February, 2015, 11:12:15 AM
The books look great but the packaging needs to be stronger. I feel really feel bad complaining about this stuff.  I'm really liking the end papers. I upgraded to premium which made hachette forget I get the first 4 free and so they've billed me. These are details - I couldn't be happier with the design & contents. Well done Rebellion!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 11 February, 2015, 11:54:43 AM
Quote from: Skullmo on 11 February, 2015, 09:58:46 AM
Mine arrived yesterday - both were damaged though.  :'(

And they have sorted it out hopefully! :-)

Yes, they are great books. The packaging needs some support or bubbles!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dandontdare on 11 February, 2015, 12:00:25 PM
How does the badge compare to the Planet replicas small badge? Is it metal with a brooch-pin? Sturdy or flimsy?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 11 February, 2015, 12:03:43 PM
Quote from: Skullmo on 11 February, 2015, 11:54:43 AM
Quote from: Skullmo on 11 February, 2015, 09:58:46 AM
Mine arrived yesterday - both were damaged though.  :'(

And they have sorted it out hopefully! :-)

Yes, they are great books. The packaging needs some support or bubbles!

Ive got a replacement badge on the way.
I've had to contact them a couple of times now and both times I have had responses to my emails within 24 hours.

All good so far.

The books are gorgeous.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 11 February, 2015, 12:05:08 PM
Quote from: Dandontdare on 11 February, 2015, 12:00:25 PM
How does the badge compare to the Planet replicas small badge? Is it metal with a brooch-pin? Sturdy or flimsy?

I haven't seen the Planet Replica badge but this one has a very sturdy main body with a brooch pin on the back, which is a tad flimsy. It is metal and shiny.

I'm pretty impressed with it.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dandontdare on 11 February, 2015, 12:19:27 PM
Quote from: Mattofthespurs on 11 February, 2015, 12:05:08 PM
Quote from: Dandontdare on 11 February, 2015, 12:00:25 PM
How does the badge compare to the Planet replicas small badge? Is it metal with a brooch-pin? Sturdy or flimsy?

I haven't seen the Planet Replica badge but this one has a very sturdy main body with a brooch pin on the back, which is a tad flimsy. It is metal and shiny.

I'm pretty impressed with it.

Thanks - sounds very similar. PR did a shiny version and a limited-run matt version, which I bought.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 11 February, 2015, 12:24:50 PM
Loved the badge - thought it would be plastic crap but it was great. Really looking forward to catching up on Dredd's world over the next 4 years..
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Andy Smart on 11 February, 2015, 06:23:42 PM
Just arrived home to find my package. Obviously someone at the Post Office ignored the words "Fragile- Please Handle with Care" written in small print on the label. The box had a big score down it and Apocalypse War has had a considerable chunk taken out of it. I'll be onto Hachette now to sort it.

Quite pleased with the badge, a nice bit of tin.

And for those still wondering, issue 5 is Shamballa. It said in a leaflet.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: ZenArcade on 11 February, 2015, 06:30:54 PM
Postal service seems to be a major issue here. That is utterly unacceptable. Z
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Andy Smart on 11 February, 2015, 06:34:01 PM
Quote from: ZenArcade on 11 February, 2015, 06:30:54 PM
Postal service seems to be a major issue here. That is utterly unacceptable. Z

Privatisation for you. Would never have happened before (Would probably have happened before).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: ZenArcade on 11 February, 2015, 06:37:30 PM
I suppose the follow on is what can Hachette do to minimise the requests for reissues.....bubble wrap; more ear markings on the parcels? Z
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Andy Smart on 11 February, 2015, 06:59:20 PM
Quote from: ZenArcade on 11 February, 2015, 06:37:30 PM
I suppose the follow on is what can Hachette do to minimise the requests for reissues.....bubble wrap; more ear markings on the parcels? Z

Though it's actually a UK company, Jacklin Enterprises, who handle logistics.

Seeing how people are complaining about damaged books, it must be very expensive to replace them all. Also leaves fewer copies for back issue sales. Bit of bubble wrap can't cost all that much.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: ZenArcade on 11 February, 2015, 07:17:35 PM
Don't know what the cost to benefit figures are but it would seem prudent to preclude as much as possible replacing damaged units. Z
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Legendary Shark on 11 February, 2015, 07:37:39 PM
I get mine from my local Thrill Merchant; of all the Marvel Ultimates there have been only three or four with very minor dings in them and the rest have been perfect. If one arrived badly damaged they'd request a replacement without even asking me. No red cards, no books abandoned in next door's garden, no faffing about on the 'phone. No free gifts but then I've nowhere to put precious tat anyway.
.
Support your local Thrill Merchant - they need your custom and they do a damned fine job! Most even deliver, so you can tell your local paper boy/girl where to stick it if you're not in. Go on - you know it makes sense!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: ZenArcade on 11 February, 2015, 07:50:48 PM
Shark as ever you are a catalyst for my nascent motivations. I am going to my local shop tomorrow to get a subscription to the prog and meg. Z
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Legendary Shark on 11 February, 2015, 07:55:13 PM
Good man! Support your local economy and get thrilled-up at the same time - it's win/win!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Albion on 11 February, 2015, 08:18:30 PM
I'm surprised, and sorry, to see so many comments about damaged books.

I've been getting the Marvel books from the start and have never had any real problems with them getting damaged, maybe our postman at work is just very good at his job.

All the Marvel books, except one which was in a cardboard envelope like Amazon use, were delivered in a kind of wraparound cardboard box. Is this the case with the Dredd's?

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Daveycandlish on 11 February, 2015, 08:20:01 PM
My books arrived in perfect nick. My mug, however, turned up in seven pieces. I can't see that holding much coffee.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: ZenArcade on 11 February, 2015, 08:22:27 PM
Oh no not the corps....that hardly merited the attribute of a story. Mind you the artwork was top line. Z
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: ZenArcade on 11 February, 2015, 08:23:41 PM
Davey: glue, fortitude and love. Z
Title: Re: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: James Stacey on 11 February, 2015, 09:00:49 PM
I've not once had so much as a dinged corner in the around 80? Books I've had from the marvel set but then I have it delivered to work so it's always handed to someone not dropped through a door.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 12 February, 2015, 02:31:11 PM
Luck of the draw, I guess. I've had damage to books from almost every retailer. Only Amazon is very consistent in low damage, with FPI being reasonably good. Everyone else I've tried has at best sent books that have been a bit dinged.

On this sub, my first one came in a thickish card envelope, and it appears undamaged. Still waiting for #2 and #3.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 12 February, 2015, 07:41:58 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 12 February, 2015, 02:31:11 PM
Luck of the draw, I guess. I've had damage to books from almost every retailer. Only Amazon is very consistent in low damage, with FPI being reasonably good. Everyone else I've tried has at best sent books that have been a bit dinged.


I love FP for their books.  Comes in a box three times too big and enough packing peanuts to stun a dozen Bolt's.  On the other hand a book I got off Amazon recently came in a thin plastic wrapping.  Amazingly it was in decent shape.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: DaveGYNWA on 12 February, 2015, 09:07:05 PM
Quote from: Tjm86 on 12 February, 2015, 07:41:58 PM
....and enough packing peanuts to stun a dozen Bolt's.

:lol:
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Anzati on 13 February, 2015, 01:43:25 PM
I'm really liking the collection so far...I wasn't going to subscribe as I'm collecting the case files and picking up any other relevent graphic novels that fit between as we encounter them...but they are such pretty books, so I cracked.

However, the one thing that I would realy like is a list of all 80 planned titles so that I have a better idea as to what this series will cover...this is mainly to fule speculation and excitement, but will also help me understand what other books I'll need to pick up to fill in gaps :) However Hachette's support people don't seem to understand the request :( I don't even care about the order that each volume is being released (I won't be using this to cherry pick; I want the full set)...

Has anyone else tried to request a list like this?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: James Stacey on 13 February, 2015, 01:48:37 PM
Yep. I think I mentioned it up thread a bit. They say they don't have the list which is hard to believe. Although listening to the thrill-cast, all the production work is being done at Rebellion so it might be true, they don't know what's coming till Rebellion send them the files for the next issues. They are just publishing, advertising and managing subs. If so we need to ask the mighty Molch-R or Robo-Keef if they will let on.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Bat King on 13 February, 2015, 01:55:28 PM
There is going to be lots of good stuff & plenty of great stuff. What's more the amount of amazing stuff will make putting up with the average stuff more than bareable.

Contents rundown sorted! Molch-R can quote me on that if he wants.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Anzati on 13 February, 2015, 02:00:25 PM
Yep there must be a list somewhere, otherwise releasing Vol 24 as issue 2 is a bit of a risk...If the final collection is ordered by chaos, it might just break me  :lol:

I was looking for something a bit more specific than 'stuff', but less specific that a full rundown of contents  :lol:
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Bat King on 13 February, 2015, 04:16:41 PM
The thing is having a list doesn't fuel speculation. A list ends it. So it is probably better business not to give a full list now.

More likely is a few future details being dripped out from those in the know.

If I get a press release with details you can be assured I for one will be updating my site and letting folk know. I'm sure others on here will do too. Probably Molch-R will do that too.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: BPP on 13 February, 2015, 05:06:55 PM
I'm all for us not knowing at all. Indeed I might start avoiding this thread. So few surprises out there in the modern PR-led comics industry.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 13 February, 2015, 05:28:08 PM
Got America and Mechanismo as of now. And I'm really satisfied with the books. Quality books in every way. Quite evident, since how careful my friends have been having a look in them. Something I don't see often.

I'm likely to stick around, getting all of them.

Btw. Any ideas on the back up tales in the Apocalypse war and Origins volumes?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Bat King on 13 February, 2015, 06:09:43 PM
It is Front Up strip is Apocalypse War - Block Mania - my preview - http://judgetutorsemple.wordpress.com/2015/02/11/judge-dredd-mega-collection-issue-3-18th-february-2015-includes-preview-pages/

Origins has [spoiler](text) An Intro from Matt Smith, Story So Far, (strips) The Connections. Origins. The Spirit of Christmas (Colin MaxNeil editing these???) (text) Article by Michael Molcher (art) Covers Gallery & Sketches by Carlos Ezquerra [/spoiler]. I'm not doing a preview till Wednesday next week at the earliest.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: shaolin_monkey on 14 February, 2015, 01:02:57 PM
Mine turned up today. Absolutely gorgeous. They're like a Dredd fan's wet dream.

(http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x32/scowling_monkey/DD45CE68-8998-416E-924E-FF3F3F8E2AC6_zpsyx8qmk2s.jpg) (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/scowling_monkey/media/DD45CE68-8998-416E-924E-FF3F3F8E2AC6_zpsyx8qmk2s.jpg.html)

Minor annoyance - the pin holder on the back of the badge was bent. I was able to gingerly bend it back into place though, so all good.

I've finished Mechanismo already. I'd read the Colin McNeil stuff before, but everything else was new to me (this must have been during the phase where the girlfriend at that time banned comics as too childish. Jeez, the things you put up with to get your end away, eh?). Pete Doherty's work was a real eye-opener. Stunning!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Anzati on 14 February, 2015, 01:33:58 PM
My first delivey arrived a few minutes ago...earlier than I expected too, since I started my subscription with issue 3.

Oh, hang on...seems the package contains issues 2 and 3 :(

Also no sign of the badge...

The invoice clearly says under Transaction Details:

'Judge Dredd The Mega Collection 03'
'Judge Dredd The Mega Collection 04, Badge, Takeaway Mug'

Oh well, phone call before I start work on Monday morning I guess. Still they arrived in good condition, which was where my main concerns were.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 15 February, 2015, 09:18:49 AM
Going basic nerd here: how does Apocalypse War look on the MegaCollection paper/size?  How well are the centre spreads handled compared to the Casefiles (my current reading cop of same). You see where I'm going with this.

Also: wouldn't it have been cool if they could squeezed Pirates of the Black Atlantic in there?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Eamonn Clarke on 15 February, 2015, 10:07:03 AM
There are some issues with the Apocalypse War book, similar to other collections. My review details them:

http://eamonn1961.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/the-mega-collection-issues-2-and-3.html
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Steve Green on 15 February, 2015, 10:16:27 AM
That 'unfinished pencils' thing is similar to the flashback device used in the previous episode.

Since those pages wouldn't be colour, it's a shorthand for black and white - so intentional, anc nothing to do with the plates or the repro.

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jim_Campbell on 15 February, 2015, 10:19:42 AM
Quote from: eamonn1961 on 15 February, 2015, 10:07:03 AM
There are some issues with the Apocalypse War book, similar to other collections.

Umm... that 'washed out' Carlos page is supposed to look like that. Carlos deliberately chose not to fill in the blacks during flashback sequences to differentiate them from the current scenes, an effect almost entirely destroyed by IDW's colourists. D'israeli even blogged about copying the effect (http://disraeli-demon.blogspot.co.uk/2011/10/lowlife-deal-part-eight-my-hand-nearly.html) in one of his Low Life process posts.

Cheers

Jim

Edit: Curses! Beaten to the punch by Steve.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 15 February, 2015, 10:31:46 AM
Thanks Eamonn, Steve and Jim.  Does anyone else with volume in hand feel that the centrespread gutter issue is more serious than in the casefiles? I suppose that I`m mainly wondering whether the new volume is a worthwhile upgrade to the casefiles just for the stonking cover and hardback stylings.  If the art looks no better on what is better paper I`d guess I might pass on this one.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: NapalmKev on 15 February, 2015, 11:00:33 AM
Received issues 2 and 3 yesterday for the price of £2.99, but no sign of issue 1. Not bad service IMO, I only subscibed last Saturday. Some minor marks on the cover of Mechanismo but nothing to get overly upset about.

Cheers
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Eamonn Clarke on 15 February, 2015, 11:16:52 AM
I stand corrected. The perils of not having the original progs to hand.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: shaolin_monkey on 15 February, 2015, 12:52:29 PM
It's interesting how they've numbered the spines. Clearly an incentive to get ALL issues, if you want them to line up nicely on your bookshelf.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Ghost MacRoth on 15 February, 2015, 12:54:42 PM
Yep, and likely why the ya re being issued non sequentially.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 15 February, 2015, 03:52:25 PM
I don't have an 80 book long shelf!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Anzati on 15 February, 2015, 08:47:28 PM
Quote from: NapalmKev on 15 February, 2015, 11:00:33 AM
Received issues 2 and 3 yesterday for the price of £2.99, but no sign of issue 1. Not bad service IMO, I only subscibed last Saturday. Some minor marks on the cover of Mechanismo but nothing to get overly upset about.

Cheers

I subscribed in the same week as you...sounds like for that week's subscriptions they are ending out issues 2 and 3 no matter what the invoice says  :lol:
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Bat King on 15 February, 2015, 09:01:28 PM
But I still haven't got issues 2&3 and I subscribed 18th of January...

Oh well, they'll arrive when they get here.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 15 February, 2015, 09:19:34 PM
Similar here: subbed on the 20th.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Bat King on 16 February, 2015, 12:34:22 AM
I just managed to register my subscription on www.hachettepartworks.com. I have tried several times before to register and up to now I got a response that read something like 'You have entered a valid subscription number but this product is not yet available'

It shows dispatch date of 14th Feb for my Part 2 & 3 and the gifts.

Happy punter, hopefully I'll get 4 & 5 just a little earlier next month.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 16 February, 2015, 01:33:23 PM
Yep—same here. Nice to have the confirmation online.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 16 February, 2015, 02:55:03 PM
Same here.
I asked for another badge as mine was damaged and they kindly agreed to send me one.

Just logged on and it looks like they are sending me another mug too.

Which is nice of them.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: COMMANDO FORCES on 16 February, 2015, 03:28:20 PM
My second subscription has started properly now for the fan in the Netherlands, as his parcel arrived today. I presume that they are getting on top of the demand now :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Anzati on 16 February, 2015, 04:40:34 PM
So can you guys see exactly which issues have been sent, when viewing the transactions in the site? Mine appeared as in the attached picture...just wondered if it was because I'm using a phone to view...

Also, for those of you who have ordered replacements for damaged/missing items, how long did it take for them to appear in the transactions list?

Thanks :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Pete Wells on 16 February, 2015, 05:39:47 PM
5 and 6 have been revealed and sound great!

Details here: http://www.judgedreddcollection.com/judge-dredd-the-mega-collection-issues-5-6-exclusive-reveal/?utm_source=Blog%20Post&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Yomego (http://www.judgedreddcollection.com/judge-dredd-the-mega-collection-issues-5-6-exclusive-reveal/?utm_source=Blog%20Post&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Yomego)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Anzati on 16 February, 2015, 06:30:58 PM
Very much looking forwards to 4, 5 and 6 as I don't think I've read anything from them :) Well I may have read a bit from 5 but not any full stories :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: shaolin_monkey on 16 February, 2015, 06:49:28 PM
I missed the news about 4 - what's in it?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Steve Green on 16 February, 2015, 06:53:27 PM
Origins isn't it?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 16 February, 2015, 06:59:27 PM
The talk on this thread has really got me confused - is the Shamballa book worth getting or not? How bad can the story be?! I've not read much Anderson stuff so this would all be new to me, but it's got to be worth it for the artwork alone, surely...?

As to the Mandroid book... well, I'm glad the're padding it out with extra stuff of course and it'd be churlish to complain about that, but I remember finding that Atlantis story really dull and forgettable.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: I, Cosh on 16 February, 2015, 07:03:51 PM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 16 February, 2015, 06:59:27 PM
The talk on this thread has really got me confused - is the Shamballa book worth getting or not? How bad can the story be?! I've not read much Anderson stuff so this would all be new to me, but it's got to be worth it for the artwork alone, surely...?
Eh? Shamballa is fantastic.

The decision to include R*Volution and not Something Wicked is a bit weird though.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Steve Green on 16 February, 2015, 07:04:43 PM
Shamballa is a great story - I just think it's one (like the Apocalypse War) that people may already have bought several times already.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 16 February, 2015, 07:12:31 PM
Quote from: The Cosh on 16 February, 2015, 07:03:51 PM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 16 February, 2015, 06:59:27 PM
The talk on this thread has really got me confused - is the Shamballa book worth getting or not? How bad can the story be?! I've not read much Anderson stuff so this would all be new to me, but it's got to be worth it for the artwork alone, surely...?
Eh? Shamballa is fantastic.

Well I thought it was an acknowledged classic until this thread, which distinctly gave the opposite impression!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 16 February, 2015, 08:40:25 PM
Quote from: Steve Green on 16 February, 2015, 07:04:43 PM
Shamballa is a great story - I just think it's one (like the Apocalypse War) that people may already have bought several times already.

Yeah, that's the thing - I have bought it 3 times now, that's how much I like it. But 4?  Well, seeing as I've never read a chunk of the backup material, but can visualise all the lovely art, maybe!

That Mandroid volume will definitely be mine, however.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: ZenArcade on 16 February, 2015, 08:42:13 PM
As I've said before Shambala and Satan are utter classics. Z
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: mimikeke on 16 February, 2015, 10:21:37 PM
Quote from: Steve Green on 16 February, 2015, 07:04:43 PM
Shamballa is a great story - I just think it's one (like the Apocalypse War) that people may already have bought several times already.

Hey, if anyone wants to gift someone one of these several copies...and maybe pay the exorbitant shipping to the states...

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B4hNiApCYAAcQSr.jpg:large)

:D :D :D :D
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: I, Cosh on 16 February, 2015, 11:50:57 PM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 16 February, 2015, 07:12:31 PM
Quote from: The Cosh on 16 February, 2015, 07:03:51 PM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 16 February, 2015, 06:59:27 PM
The talk on this thread has really got me confused - is the Shamballa book worth getting or not? How bad can the story be?! I've not read much Anderson stuff so this would all be new to me, but it's got to be worth it for the artwork alone, surely...?
Eh? Shamballa is fantastic.
Well I thought it was an acknowledged classic until this thread, which distinctly gave the opposite impression!
There's some strange people around.

If you really haven't read any early Anderson (and, given your Dredd timelines I'm astounded) then you'd be much better served reading Psi Files 1 first. It's not essential continuity or anything but there's a general drift towards it. Shamballa actually fits in just before the last story in that first volume but they, sensibly, decided to save it for the first all-colour volume.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 17 February, 2015, 12:05:09 AM
Quote from: The Cosh on 16 February, 2015, 11:50:57 PM
If you really haven't read any early Anderson (and, given your Dredd timelines I'm astounded)...

Genuinely not! I've read most Anderson stories from R*evolution/Half Life onwards but nothing earlier, apart from her Dredd appearences. Always intended to pick up the Psi Files but never got around to it.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 17 February, 2015, 06:46:25 PM
What if they'd make an Anderson/Orlock book? Hour of the wolf, Triad, Childhoods end and Postcards from the edge (the Orlock pages.). A good idea? Any ideas how many pages would that be?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IronGraham on 17 February, 2015, 09:13:27 PM
Hope we get the low life story not yet reprinted
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: COMMANDO FORCES on 18 February, 2015, 11:42:16 AM
There are at least 23 copies of the latest issue in my local Smith's and I only bought the extra one this time.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Magnetica on 18 February, 2015, 05:19:07 PM
I popped into a local Newsagent today to see if they had it...they didn't and the shop keeper asked me what I was looking for. I told him, but it meant nothing to him. He then asked me to write it down, which I did, so may be he will start ordering it. You never know.

I then checked out one of the two Co-Ops on the same street, and low and behold they did have it - it was on the bottom shelf lying down...very difficult to see. In fact I am amazed I spotted it. They had a number of copies of America, Mechanismo and the The Apocalypse War. Now I said I would pick and choose and found it very difficult to resist buying the Apocalypse War. I even went back in later to get some bread after a day out with the kids and was still thinking about getting it.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 18 February, 2015, 05:32:39 PM
Quote from: Magnetica on 18 February, 2015, 05:19:07 PM
I popped into a local Newsagent today to see if they had it...they didn't and the shop keeper asked me what I was looking for. I told him, but it meant nothing to him. He then asked me to write it down, which I did, so may be he will start ordering it. You never know.

I then checked out one of the two Co-Ops on the same street, and low and behold they did have it - it was on the bottom shelf lying down...very difficult to see. In fact I am amazed I spotted it. They had a number of copies of America, Mechanismo and the The Apocalypse War. Now I said I would pick and choose and found it very difficult to resist buying the Apocalypse War. I even went back in later to get some bread after a day out with the kids and was still thinking about getting it.

Don't resist it! You are only hurting yourself!  :lol:
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Bat King on 18 February, 2015, 05:51:33 PM
OK Comics have restocked issue 1 & 2 (one per customer)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Legendary Shark on 18 February, 2015, 06:32:47 PM
Got my Apocalypse War (along with the Marvel UGNC Warlock Part One) from the newsagents today. Both in perfect condition and came with a smile and a chat with the lovely Mrs Newsagent. (Don't be put off if your local hasn't heard of it - there are so many books and mags and comics and partworks out there they can't know them all - they will find it for you.)
.
I wish they'd re-coloured the Apocalypse War - at least one Marvel UGNC (Tales of Asgard) was re-coloured and looked splendid. Maybe we should crowd fund Chris Blythe or somebody to have a go at some old one-part classics as Tharg/Hachette/Rebellion seem too tight to treat us, relying on us buying the same old thing yet again (which we are glad to do, apparently). Maybe the Return of Rico or something. Having paid for the colouring ourselves we could then donate the results to Tharg so we can, er, buy them again!
Title: Re: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: radiator on 18 February, 2015, 06:39:51 PM
A fully coloured Apocalypse War oversized hardback is available from IDW. It's great.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Bat King on 18 February, 2015, 06:42:44 PM
Everyone could get their crayons out. I used to colour Axa in my Dad's Sun. He was quite amused when he found out.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Eamonn Clarke on 18 February, 2015, 07:38:07 PM
http://2000ad.wordpress.com/2014/10/21/review-idws-the-apocalypse-war-reprint/
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Legendary Shark on 18 February, 2015, 07:44:14 PM
There's a colour version and I've just bought yet another black and white version?
.
I am very disappointed about that. Very disappointed indeed.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Fungus on 18 February, 2015, 08:18:03 PM
Reading The Apocalyse War currently in the Complete Judge Dredd. On bog paper. As nature intended. With inky fingers. Very probably only for the second time  :o  It is wonderful.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 18 February, 2015, 11:45:48 PM
Quote from: The Legendary Shark on 18 February, 2015, 07:44:14 PM
There's a colour version and I've just bought yet another black and white version?
.
I am very disappointed about that. Very disappointed indeed.
Well, the IDW version isn't the original. It's a pity Hachette couldn't have got colour films/scans for the spreads, but I absolutely would not have wanted IDW's recolour in this series.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 19 February, 2015, 12:33:49 AM
I can't help feeling that IDW would have a right to be miffed if even a partially-coloured Apocalypse War hardback volume was released so soon after their own effort.  For all that I would have offered some non-essential organ in exchange for such a thing.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: JOE SOAP on 19 February, 2015, 12:36:09 AM
Quote from: Professor Cardigan on 19 February, 2015, 12:33:49 AM
I can't help feeling that IDW would have a right to be miffed if even a partially-coloured Apocalypse War hardback volume was released so soon after their own effort.

Which is partly why I assume Hachette don't have license in the US, yet.

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: radiator on 19 February, 2015, 01:55:11 AM
QuoteWell, the IDW version isn't the original

He specifically asked about a 're-coloured' version, as in full colour, not just centre spreads.

The IDW colouring certainly isn't perfect or definitive, but it makes an old story feel fresh on a reread.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 19 February, 2015, 09:51:03 AM
Quote from: radiator on 19 February, 2015, 01:55:11 AM
QuoteWell, the IDW version isn't the original
He specifically asked about a 're-coloured' version, as in full colour, not just centre spreads.
Yes, but feeling aggrieved because a historical collection doesn't include recoloured art seems a bit odd, even if a coloured collection is out there. Might as well complain about anything that got a US Eagle comics run...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Legendary Shark on 19 February, 2015, 10:12:01 AM
It just seems like a wasted opportunity. This collection would appear to be a flagship product, hopefully attracting new readers as well as satisfying long-term fans such as myself. A coloured Apocalypse War might have been a great treat for both target audiences and I'm disappointed it didn't happen.
.
Don't get me wrong, Carlos's artwork is magnificent throughout and definitely more than good enough as-is but a coloured version would put the cherry on top for me. Would have made the book something very special indeed instead of the same old thing with a new cover.
.
I wouldn't expect every old b&w story to be coloured but just a couple of the Greats, like AW, would really set this collection off. In my opinion. It feels like a wasted opportunity.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 19 February, 2015, 10:34:31 AM
Quote from: The Legendary Shark on 19 February, 2015, 10:12:01 AMA coloured Apocalypse War might have been a great treat for both target audiences and I'm disappointed it didn't happen

There already are two fully recoloured versions of the Apocalypse War out there - the second one released as a hardback in the past year or so, and reasonably priced on Amazon (when compared to a single volume of the Mega Collection at least). I'd class these as essentially new works, and the MegaCollection is aimed at reprint of the originals. I don't think Rebellion/Hachette can be criticised for that.

Personally I'd have loved to see the Mega Collection in general include ALL the original colour pages, it would have ensured me taking out a sub that I really can't afford. However, there are obviously budget issues in creating new files rather than using the existing Rebellion ones (I imagine the existing digital archives of the Casefiles, TPB and Floppies crew is what makes the project feasible at all), and maybe just as significantly it would reduce Rebellion's market for future Deluxe printings, a la the Casefiles Vol 1 hardback - as many have predicted, as digital availability really takes hold it's physical books as high quality artefacts that are becoming the key to the print market. This may be the last call for  'cheap' reprint.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Steve Green on 19 February, 2015, 10:52:56 AM
Yep,

I've already considered exchanging my existing TPBs for digital because of space and convenience, and reserving physical for a select few collections.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Legendary Shark on 19 February, 2015, 11:11:27 AM
Sharks are never satisfied.
.
I assume the "missing" episodes of The Cursed Earth won't be re-printed either due to those old trademark issues. Even though it's satire and even after this French cartoon/freedom of expression thing. It's okay to satirise a Holy Prophet but not the Jolly Green Giant? What a world.
.
That said, I'm a Dredd fan and will continue to get these books for as long as I can.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 19 February, 2015, 11:17:52 AM
Hachette has already confirmed those episodes will not be reprinted. Even thought current legislation surrounding satire would make something like that much more defensible in court, that doesn't trump previous legal agreements, which transfer with IP ownership. Rebellion remains bound by the agreement made all those years ago, unless it chooses to fight—which would be extremely expensive.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Legendary Shark on 19 February, 2015, 11:39:45 AM
I don't know all the legal ins and outs of it but there must be a way. A grass roots Squaxx/comic fan letter-writing campaign to the companies involved, asking them to relent, might be an option (worked for Star Trek). Getting the episodes re-drawn with altered characters might be another. Publish and be damned a risky third. A fourth option might be a deal; a percentage of profits from that particular book going to a charity of the IP holders' choice. Even (choke) a quid-pro-quo allowing so many uses of Dredd in ads - Eat your sweetcorn, creeps! Check your tread-depth - it's the Law, meathead! (Preferably, and probably, not.)
.
Anyway. Back to reality. *sigh*
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 19 February, 2015, 11:52:10 AM
Quote from: The Legendary Shark on 19 February, 2015, 11:11:27 AM
It's okay to satirise a Holy Prophet but not the Jolly Green Giant? What a world.

Oh that's a good one!  Prepare to see me trot that out in future discussions of The Cursed Earth over the years, probably convinced that I came up it with myself on the spot.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 19 February, 2015, 12:16:07 PM
Quote from: The Legendary Shark on 18 February, 2015, 06:32:47 PM
...Tharg/Hachette/Rebellion seem too tight to treat us...

Apart from the lovingly designed hardback edition itself, you mean? Apart from the newly commisoned cover artwork on Mechanismo and future books? Apart from the many little rarely/never-reprinted extra episodes crammed into the back of every other book so far to add value? Apart from the new intros and afterwords? Apart from the free subscriber's gifts? Apart from the thrillcast? Apart from the fact this collection exists at all?

Yeah, so bloody tight.

Quote from: The Legendary Shark on 18 February, 2015, 06:32:47 PM...relying on us buying the same old thing yet again (which we are glad to do, apparently)...

This collection is pitched at lapsed/new Dredd readers. It isn't Rebellion's fault that this is the Nth copy of Apocalypse War you've bought and you're starting to pine for additional value to justify the purchase.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 19 February, 2015, 12:25:03 PM
Also, 200+ page hardbacks for a tenner? That alone punts this collection well clear of anything else in pure value terms.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Legendary Shark on 19 February, 2015, 12:36:32 PM
Everything you say is correct, which is why I said I hate Dredd, Hachette, Rebellion and Tharg and would never buy another edition of this egregious collection ever again.
.
I don't think it's wrong of me to want more, whether it's currently realistic or not. I'm reading the AW right now, again, and thoroughly enjoying it, again. If it was in colour, I'd be reading it with an erection, but it isn't so I'm not.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 19 February, 2015, 12:38:51 PM
Quote from: The Legendary Shark on 19 February, 2015, 12:36:32 PM
Everything you say is correct, which is why I said I hate Dredd, Hachette, Rebellion and Tharg and would never buy another edition of this egregious collection ever again.

::)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 19 February, 2015, 12:40:08 PM
Quote from: The Legendary Shark on 19 February, 2015, 12:36:32 PM
If it was in colour, I'd be reading it with an erection, but it isn't so I'm not.

You haven't got to the tunnel-boring scene yet, I deduce.

BTW, has anyone ever seen TLS and TS in the same room together?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Legendary Shark on 19 February, 2015, 12:52:46 PM
Quiet, Lois - or I'll blow your on-line cover...
.
(Settle down at the back...)
.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Fungus on 19 February, 2015, 01:24:23 PM
Quote from: Professor Cardigan on 19 February, 2015, 12:40:08 PM
BTW, has anyone ever seen TLS and TS in the same room together?

Nicely done.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: BPP on 19 February, 2015, 07:20:08 PM
FP have voll 5 & 6 for preorder at 8.99.

No idea on the P&P.

Lovely cover to Mandroid.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: ZenArcade on 19 February, 2015, 08:24:14 PM
We'll petri dish cells from both of them and come up with a Thryll Shark or The Legendry Seeker or what the heck, one of each....the forum would be some crack then. Z
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Legendary Shark on 19 February, 2015, 08:35:02 PM
There's a horror film in there somewhere.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: NapalmKev on 20 February, 2015, 08:03:15 AM
I registered online and although I got an account working (initially) I did not receive a confirmation email. The issue is further compounded by the fact I was Drunk and I cannot remember my password (Twat).

I've emailed Hachette but as yet have had no reply. Has anyone else had a similar issue? (Apart from the Drunkenness)

Cheers
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jim_Campbell on 20 February, 2015, 08:08:12 AM
Quote from: NapalmKev on 20 February, 2015, 08:03:15 AM
my password (Twat).

You need more letters and numbers in that password — you'll be hacked in no time.

Cheers

Jim
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: NapalmKev on 20 February, 2015, 08:17:37 AM
Quote from: Jim_Campbell on 20 February, 2015, 08:08:12 AM
Quote from: NapalmKev on 20 February, 2015, 08:03:15 AM
my password (Twat).

You need more letters and numbers in that password — you'll be hacked in no time.

Cheers

Jim

I probably should've used "Twat" as a password (or some variation thereof). In the words of the mighty 'Yoda' - Alcohol and Internet do not a good mix, make.

Cheers
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Anzati on 20 February, 2015, 08:18:08 AM
I find that the account is quite often unavailable, but if I try again later then it'll be fine. But I also have a problem with the transaction description field not being long enough to actually show me what issues have been dispatched. More of a concern is that when I queried this with support I was asked for my account login details. Naturally I declined to give them my password and this was the reply that I got:

Hi Luke,

Please note that in order for us to offer you the correct assistance pertaining to your query, your password is required as that will enable us to identify the error.

Kind regards,

Bongi

I'm fairly certain that a two minute database query would give them all the information the would need on a field length issue...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Grey M@a on 20 February, 2015, 09:49:15 AM
With a house that is at bursting point and no more space for books, the plan as to go digital only this year if possible and I promised myself I wouldn't start yet another collection.

I am weak  ::) I picked up isue 3 last night from WHSmiths, got it with me for lunch time reading.

No idea where I am going to put all these books though..... I think I can see myself keeping up with these, might subscribe eventually.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 20 February, 2015, 01:34:09 PM
Really pleased that Hachette sent a new copy of Apocalypse War after it arrived dented. If all it takes to replace a book is a phone call I'm in for all 80 books.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: J.Smith on 20 February, 2015, 02:00:28 PM
Quote from: BPP on 19 February, 2015, 07:20:08 PM
FP have voll 5 & 6 for preorder at 8.99.

No idea on the P&P.

Lovely cover to Mandroid.

And more volumes (up to no. 20) besides at the same price, albeit without their covers or series names. I checked what their P&P cost is for those two volumes and it's £4.00, which makes it only £2 dearer than subscribing to the series where you pay £10 per volume and have them delivered to you for free. Not a bad alternative then if you need one, especially as every order I've made through FP has always arrived in perfect condition.

And yeah, that Mandroid cover is brilliant. Thought they might go with that one cover of Nate with Dredd looming over him in the background (I believe used on the same Prog that the story started...?) but Kev Walker's pissed off Dredd with his teeth gritted together looks better in the black and white actually. Gonna be fun to see what they do for covers for the rest of the series going forward. That Mandroid cover, for example, is from a panel late in the first story, and America's is taken from a splash page in the first episode of Tour of Duty.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 20 February, 2015, 02:22:52 PM
How are people doing with February 14 dispatches of 2 & 3? (Nothing here yet. Fingers crossed for tomorrow.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Bat King on 20 February, 2015, 11:10:26 PM
Ditto Mr Prime.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: COMMANDO FORCES on 21 February, 2015, 01:10:06 AM
I sent a lovely box containing the first three off to the Netherlands this week. Helping our European friends get their thrill-power!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Legendary Shark on 21 February, 2015, 07:32:55 AM
Good man! Careful, though - you might get a KTT like Emperor and then disappear... ;-)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 21 February, 2015, 08:33:18 AM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 20 February, 2015, 02:22:52 PM
How are people doing with February 14 dispatches of 2 & 3? (Nothing here yet. Fingers crossed for tomorrow.)

My package of the 14th arrived this morning. A replacement badge and mug.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mike Carroll on 21 February, 2015, 08:43:20 AM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 20 February, 2015, 02:22:52 PM
How are people doing with February 14 dispatches of 2 & 3? (Nothing here yet. Fingers crossed for tomorrow.)

Still no sign of 2 & 3 here... Though I did get the travel mug thingy on February 9th.

--  Mike
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 21 February, 2015, 11:12:56 AM
The second set arrived here today. Two books and a badge in one card pack, and the mug and another badge (for some reason) in the other. Both badges are damaged (bent/smashed-up pins), and both books have noticeable crushing in the corners, due to being sent in a card sleeve that doesn't appear up for the job. I don't really give a crap about the badges, but if this is how the books are all going to be sent, I'm going to be mulling over whether to continue.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 21 February, 2015, 11:46:03 AM
Sold my badge on eBay for £15 - and hachette quickly replaced the damaged book. A good deal I think!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Bat King on 21 February, 2015, 12:25:03 PM
Mine arrived today. Also two badges but one in great condition while one has a slightly iffy ( but now functioning pin). Books both in good nick.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 21 February, 2015, 02:41:43 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 21 February, 2015, 11:12:56 AM
The second set arrived here today. Two books and a badge in one card pack, and the mug and another badge (for some reason) in the other.

Looks like Hachette have realised that they may have made a mistake in regards to putting the badge in with the books and have started to put them in with the mugs instead.

Which is probably why I got a second mug and a badge when I only requested a replacement badge.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 21 February, 2015, 03:38:03 PM
Well, they put one in with my book too (creating a massive dent in it and breaking the badge), along with the one in the mug (also broken).

To those who've been contacting Hachette, by the way, which channel have you been using?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 21 February, 2015, 03:41:06 PM
I downloaded the Facebook messenger app. Replies took 4 days. But this approach worked.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Bat King on 21 February, 2015, 03:50:03 PM
Four days isn't good. But it also isn't terrible. If getting answers works that way that's good.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 21 February, 2015, 03:51:36 PM
If you just need a replacement issue ring up with your sub number - but be patient - much getting cut off and confusion.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 21 February, 2015, 04:03:19 PM
I'm in no hurry—I just don't want to be yelling into the wind. Ideally, I like to keep things in writing too—the phone's not a great communications medium when things need sorting. I'll try Facebook first and then email.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 22 February, 2015, 06:56:56 AM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 21 February, 2015, 03:38:03 PM
Well, they put one in with my book too (creating a massive dent in it and breaking the badge), along with the one in the mug (also broken).

To those who've been contacting Hachette, by the way, which channel have you been using?

I emailed their customer services and got a response (twice) in 24 hours.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: strangelysaucy on 22 February, 2015, 09:36:06 AM
Quote from: Mattofthespurs on 22 February, 2015, 06:56:56 AM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 21 February, 2015, 03:38:03 PM
Well, they put one in with my book too (creating a massive dent in it and breaking the badge), along with the one in the mug (also broken).

To those who've been contacting Hachette, by the way, which channel have you been using?

I emailed their customer services and got a response (twice) in 24 hours.

Likewise - reply within 24 hours and replacement badge within a week.
Can't complain at all :D
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 22 February, 2015, 04:11:01 PM
While I had decided to make like Mega-City 2 and sit out the Apocalypse War (I own 4 versions already), my doting wife picked up a miss-priced copy anyway.  It's another very nice book, lovely crisp repro, and the colour cover gallery is most welcome: surprising how a 30 year-old story still engages on every page, with McMahon's and Dillon's episodes in particular looking like they could have been drawn yesterday.

Some of the captions  referencing 'Judge Caligula' betray the origins of the film as being the Titan volumes, which explains the absence of the colour spreads: obviously this is what Rebellion has to hand, the spreads may not exist in any useable form outside of a sustained hunt through collectorland, which for STG£10 seems unreasonable to expect. 

However, one thing emerged from this morning's reading: Tharg, if you're listening, I WILL buy a SIXTH copy of this story if you track down those centrespreads.  Promise.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 22 February, 2015, 07:03:40 PM
Since it seems some stories are getting spread out, "Blood and duty" (from Brothers of the blood.) showing up in America and "The Spirit of Christmas" (from Tour of Duty bk1) showing up in the end of Origins partwork book.

Any ideas if that'll for example means that Spirit of christmas won't show up in the first ToD book? Even if it isn't, I still think the flow of the story would be intact. Dredd's inspection of the camps is more than enough to make sense out of things without Dredd's threat of resignation being present. And the story is still in Origins, making it behind the scenes of sorts.

"Blood and duty" and "The spirit of Christmas" makes for really good stories to end both of the said books. Makes Dredd feel more complex. Not only is he having doubts about the system, but there's also regrets on Vienna.

I'd quite like if the Brothers of the blood material would be spread out. Blood and duty really fit the America book IMO, and I think it'd be really cool if "Brothers of the Blood" found it's way in the back of Total War together with "Caught in the Act" . Wouldn't mind if "The satanist" got omitted either, I think "Brothers of the blood" alone does a much better job with Vienna's place in the Dredd family.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 22 February, 2015, 07:39:13 PM
A question here.  I notice that Shamballa is a forthcoming book.  I have a very thin Anderson graphic novel entitled Shamballa, are you telling me that that is the only story I will get in that book, or are there other stories related to that that I will get?  The Shamballa book I have is a large format, but very slim one.  Same with Tale of A Dead man which had A Letter to Judge Dredd and Krakens assesment.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 22 February, 2015, 07:42:21 PM
Quote from: Jade Falcon on 22 February, 2015, 07:39:13 PM
A question here.  I notice that Shamballa is a forthcoming book.  I have a very thin Anderson graphic novel entitled Shamballa, are you telling me that that is the only story I will get in that book, or are there other stories related to that that I will get?

No, there's about six colour Grant/Ranson stories in the book, including Shamballa and Satan.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Bat King on 22 February, 2015, 07:51:33 PM
All the books in this series are the same thikness so there are almost always supporting stories. They'll be picked to go along with the main story but could be from any period between 1977 and now regarding original publication.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 22 February, 2015, 07:52:51 PM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 22 February, 2015, 07:42:21 PM
No, there's about six colour Grant/Ranson stories in the book, including Shamballa and Satan.

Ah, good to know, many thanks.  I would be kinda put off if that had been the case, but considering what they've done with America I didn't think they would.  Of the three books released so far, I had only read Apocalypse War.  I stopped reading 2000AD regularly when Rogue Trooper got messed up by a cliffhanger in the aftermath of the whole Nort and Souther command staff getting assasinated.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Legendary Shark on 22 February, 2015, 08:01:30 PM
(Welcome, Jade.) I know I was disappointed that AW hasn't been coloured but these really are scrotnig books. Haven't read Shamballa or Satan for yonks - really looking forward to that. Looking forward to Origins, too. Hope I can stay the course.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: SuperSurfer on 23 February, 2015, 12:16:17 AM
I'm not going to be able to resist this series.

I picked up issue 3 (36!) today. Even though I read The Apocalypse War in Case Files 5 not that long ago, I am itching to tuck into this, as I caught up with listening to the Thrill Casts this weekend.

Pye-Parr mentioned in the Thrill Cast that the fine minimalist cover designs of the Mega Collection were influenced by a French hardback Batman collection (as suggested by Hachette). I guess it could be these beauties: http://myabsolutecollection.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/batman-dark-knight-returns-annee-un.html

And do check out the rest of that fine blog – 2000AD collections are also featured.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mike Carroll on 23 February, 2015, 11:54:02 AM
Now I can relax! Books 2 & 3 have arrived - two whole weeks after the mug! - along with the badge (which, in my biased opinion, isn't as good as the Termight Replicas badge. Both books are a little damaged at the corners, but otherwise not too bad. Not so bad that I'll be requesting replacements.

Had a quick flip through and the contents look pretty nice indeed.

-- Mike
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 23 February, 2015, 05:17:58 PM
I did resist the temptations of the case files as there are, especially in the early years a lot of throwaway stories.  Some have aged better than others, and I would prefer a highlights.  It's true the price is good as recently I was looking at a Star Wars graphic novel in WH Smiths, far thinner and in softcover, and it was around the 13 quid mark.  So a larger hardcover is a good price.  When you think that new novels nowadays are about £8 rrp assuming a supermarket or whatever isn't running them cheaper, they really are good value.  The quality of the paper too is nice.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 23 February, 2015, 06:20:14 PM
On responses from Hachette, I heard back first-thing from someone who wanted my address. I replied and have been informed replacements for damaged items will be on the way as soon as possible.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mike Carroll on 23 February, 2015, 06:46:22 PM
Just had a thought... Aren't we supposed to get coasters with our second delivery? (I had a flick back through the pages here - until I got bored - but no one's mentioned them!)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: COMMANDO FORCES on 23 February, 2015, 08:56:51 PM
Didn't you get yours?




I would hazard a guess that we shall get these on the third delivery (for some). Perhaps they expected the second delivery to be after people bought the first one in the shops and the first delivery was book two and three, with the badge and mug! This moves the timetable of deliveries back, or forward :-X
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Anzati on 23 February, 2015, 10:51:43 PM
Yeah, the site didn't make the gifts delivery very clear and does seem to assume that people are subscribing from issue 2 onwards. The small print on the subscribe page clears it up a bit:

For subscribers starting with issue 1, your first delivery will be issue 1 packaged by itself.

With your second delivery you will receive two issues (one FREE), and your FREE Replica Judge Dredd® Badge, and your FREE Takeaway Mug.

For people starting with issues 2, 3, or 4 you will receive two issues (one FREE), with the above gifts with your first delivery. Please note, these will be packaged in two batches.

With your second delivery, you will receive your FREE Judge Dredd® Tin Coasters (for people starting from issue 1, this will be delivered with your third delivery).

With your fourth delivery, you will receive your FREE Judge Dredd® Metal Bookends (for people starting from issue 1, this will be delivered with your fifth delivery.

Edit: It's also in the FAQ a few threads below :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mike Carroll on 23 February, 2015, 11:17:32 PM
Ah, thanks, Anzati! (I blame my lack of knowledge on my ancient laptop which can't seem to stay on-line for more than a couple of minutes at a time: I did try to visit the Mega Collection site, but it kept losing the connection.)

-- Mike
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: COMMANDO FORCES on 24 February, 2015, 04:18:26 PM
Johnny Vegas has got his

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B-ny9MpXIAAuLBY.jpg:large)

QuoteIs there a problem here citizen? Had my #JudgeDreddMegaCollection goodies awaiting my return home, cheers @2000AD
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: COMMANDO FORCES on 24 February, 2015, 04:50:17 PM
In the back of my mind I've been thinking that I'd seen the red on the black and white image type of style before and in the world of Dredd. I finally remembered to have a look while sat at the computer and I was correct, as IDW did some of these with their special editions.

(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/c7/8b/be/c78bbe91e04f67430e67fd52b89eb655.jpg)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BG4AcdGCcAE8it4.jpg)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jamie1000013 on 25 February, 2015, 08:28:08 AM
Quote from: COMMANDO FORCES on 24 February, 2015, 04:50:17 PM
In the back of my mind I've been thinking that I'd seen the red on the black and white image type of style before and in the world of Dredd. I finally remembered to have a look while sat at the computer and I was correct, as IDW did some of these with their special editions.

(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/c7/8b/be/c78bbe91e04f67430e67fd52b89eb655.jpg)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BG4AcdGCcAE8it4.jpg)

Is that handsigned by Carlos Esquerra or is it a digital sig?

Love the fact that they had a Russian Michael Parkinson in Apocalypse, his name was hilarious. First time reading this and block mania and it was really good. Can't wait for the next 2 and the thrillcasts!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 25 February, 2015, 10:25:17 AM
Those pages are from the IDW special edition, not only are the images hand signed but they are hand drawn! You got a piece of original art with the book.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Anzati on 25 February, 2015, 07:09:19 PM
My replacement issue 4 arrived today (exactly one week after it appeared on my account, so that seems to be the timescale for delivery). So far I'm quite happy with the customer service...although I've still not got by badge...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 26 February, 2015, 12:12:09 PM
I got two packages this morning: a replacement Apocalypse War, and a new badge (which I didn't ask for—I'd merely said mine were busted). The book was encased in bubble wrap, itself inside a bubble-wrap envelope. It arrived in perfect condition. If only that was the default mailing format (although I imagine it's more time-consuming and expensive than the card sleeve).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 26 February, 2015, 12:16:46 PM
I got refunded for the wrong payment taken & apocalypse war replaced. I have faith in hachette sorting out the problems. Seems like they just need to improve the packaging.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 26 February, 2015, 12:23:38 PM
To be fair to them, they're not alone. I ordered some books from WHSmith and they arrived in a state. Book Depository too. FPI's not been bad, and Amazon's usually reliable, but it's a crapshoot when you're using card alone. (Mrs G ordered something from Wordery recently, so that'll be my next experiment.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Teivion on 26 February, 2015, 12:25:21 PM
Has everyone had their part 2/3's yet ?

Have not had mine and dont want to chase if they're still shipping.....
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: NapalmKev on 26 February, 2015, 01:16:29 PM
Quote from: Teivion on 26 February, 2015, 12:25:21 PM
Has everyone had their part 2/3's yet ?

Have not had mine and dont want to chase if they're still shipping.....

I've got 2 and 3, but still no America. No free gifts either.

Cheers
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 26 February, 2015, 01:34:20 PM
Got first 3, badge & mug. Plus replacement for 3.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Anzati on 26 February, 2015, 02:13:27 PM
Quote from: Teivion on 26 February, 2015, 12:25:21 PM
Has everyone had their part 2/3's yet ?

Have not had mine and dont want to chase if they're still shipping.....

Have you checked your account online? there seems to be a pattern with deliverys arriving 7 days after they appear on your account. If the dates on your account show longer than 7 days or if nothing is showing on your account, then I'd give them a call (even though they say to allow 14-28 days for delivery).

I only started my subscription from issue 3 on 5th Feb, but my first delivery was issues 2 and 3 on 14th Feb, and I've since had issue 2 replaced with issue 4...I've had the mug, but no badge yet. However customer services have been very helpful when I've contacted them, both through facebook and phone.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 26 February, 2015, 02:17:04 PM
Yeah, I'd echo that. Despite people bitching like crazy on Facebook, I can't say anything negative about Hachette's customer service so far. Fast response via Facebook, and my replacement within the same working week. They've also stated several times on Facebook that they're looking into improving shipping times, although the mob's still not happy, because NOW NOW WANT NOW ENTITLED FACE

Good grief, Facebook is depressing sometimes.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Teivion on 26 February, 2015, 02:49:42 PM
My subscription was a 'work related gift' shall we say, so I'll drop my contacts a line ....

I left Facebook during December as its normally a depressing, moany place with too many egos and cat videos screaming for attention.
I just drop in now and then now, just to see what calamity the internet is facing ;-)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IronGraham on 26 February, 2015, 06:20:22 PM
anyone got the next batch after apocalypse war?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Anzati on 26 February, 2015, 09:41:11 PM
I'm not expecting my next batch until 7th March at the earliest...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Pete Wells on 26 February, 2015, 10:58:15 PM
Quote from: Teivion on 26 February, 2015, 12:25:21 PM
Has everyone had their part 2/3's yet ?

Have not had mine and dont want to chase if they're still shipping.....

Still not got my 2&3 or the gift either Teivion.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 27 February, 2015, 12:11:42 PM
Ive received 2 &3 plus mugs and badges (2 of each!).
My issues of 4 & 5 have yet to be sent but some people on my Twitter timeline have received theirs today with their coasters.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IronGraham on 27 February, 2015, 01:19:34 PM
They are very nice coaster except the plain judge dredd one looks blurry
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Arkwright99 on 27 February, 2015, 03:49:40 PM
Quote from: Mattofthespurs on 27 February, 2015, 12:11:42 PMMy issues of 4 & 5 have yet to be sent but some people on my Twitter timeline have received theirs today with their coasters.
I received issues 4 & 5, plus badge and mug (intact), in the post this morning. Which is about three weeks earlier than I was expecting to get them.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 27 February, 2015, 04:06:33 PM
We're these your first subscription issues?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Arkwright99 on 27 February, 2015, 04:20:50 PM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 27 February, 2015, 04:06:33 PM
We're these your first subscription issues?
Yes; started my sub with #4.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 27 February, 2015, 04:37:47 PM
I think that makes you first in the queue for 4&5 as the rest of us only get one delivery per month. Does shamballa have any extras?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IronGraham on 27 February, 2015, 05:14:07 PM
It has a hefty article written by Molcher
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Arkwright99 on 27 February, 2015, 05:16:46 PM
The extras are a gallery (3 covers) and a 5-page essay by Michael Molcher. Matt Smith also reveals the title of Mega Collection Volume 8 in his introduction [spoiler]'The Possessed'[/spoiler] along with the creative teams involved in the stories [spoiler]John Wagner & Alan Grant, Brett Ewins, Cliff Robinson & Barry Kitson[/spoiler] so we can probably guess the contents of that issue.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 27 February, 2015, 05:28:20 PM
Thanks for that. Is Shamballa number 10 or 9 on the spine then? I'm glad there's text by Molcher. I think these pieces and the podcast help to see these works in context and with fresh eyes.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IronGraham on 27 February, 2015, 05:30:39 PM
it's number 10
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 27 February, 2015, 05:35:12 PM
Cheers - guess we can look forward to 4 or more Anderson volumes.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 28 February, 2015, 08:28:20 AM
Quote from: demos99 on 27 February, 2015, 05:16:46 PM
The extras are a gallery (3 covers) and a 5-page essay by Michael Molcher. Matt Smith also reveals the title of Mega Collection Volume 8 in his introduction [spoiler]'The Possessed'[/spoiler] along with the creative teams involved in the stories [spoiler]John Wagner & Alan Grant, Brett Ewins, Cliff Robinson & Barry Kitson[/spoiler] so we can probably guess the contents of that issue.

It'll be this book? http://www.2000adonline.com/books/judge_anderson_anderson_psi_division.php [spoiler]Four Dark Judges/Revenge, The Possessed, Hour of the Wolf...[/spoiler] and what more?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: ZenArcade on 28 February, 2015, 09:54:00 AM
Any ideas on how well this is doing? It is spreading thrill power around my workplace that's for sure. Z
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Judge Olde on 28 February, 2015, 10:12:06 AM
I'm not sure how long I will stick with this, books are lovely, spine numbers are in no particular order. 1 was great, certainly as easy as just picking it up in the shops. 2 & 3 along with the badge turned up, but was too big to be posted & so had to go & pick up from post office. 3 was damaged (perhaps by the shrink wrap), I emailed customer service & asked what the next 3 books are going to be, to which they replied 4, 5 & 6 - helpful I thought  :lol: Now seen they're Anderson & then Origins (not sure how many copies I'll need of this) & looking forward to Mandroid.

Anyone know what's due to come along after those?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 28 February, 2015, 10:32:39 AM
Quote from: Judge Olde on 28 February, 2015, 10:12:06 AM3 was damaged
As was mine. I mentioned this to Hachette and had a pristine replacement four days later.

As for upcoming books, I've thought about this and I don't really want a full list. I like not really knowing what's coming, and I can't imagine Matt Smith's going to push any crap on us (Volume 22: Sonny Steelgrave's Greatest Hits!).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: ZenArcade on 28 February, 2015, 10:35:58 AM
Vol 13: the Mark Millar Mega Mix. Z :(
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Pete Wells on 28 February, 2015, 03:56:01 PM
Cup, badge, coaters, and numbers 4 & 5 all arrived today, while the long wait for 2 & 3 continue!

They are things of beauty though!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 28 February, 2015, 05:05:39 PM
Quote from: ZenArcade on 28 February, 2015, 10:35:58 AM
Vol 13: the Mark Millar Mega Mix. Z :(

Vol 69: The Sex Issue Remastered
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Legendary Shark on 28 February, 2015, 05:23:09 PM
Volume IV: Styx and Stones, (The Alpha Addendum Collection).
.
Volume C: Robo-Hunter - Part 1, (The Twoothy Attachment Collection).
.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 28 February, 2015, 07:57:24 PM
Thargs given enough info to keep me excited - I think a definitive list might take away the surprise and speculation. I'd pay extra to receive the books individually fortnightly.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 28 February, 2015, 08:32:50 PM
Quote from: demos99 on 27 February, 2015, 05:16:46 PM
The extras are a gallery (3 covers) and a 5-page essay by Michael Molcher.

You know, I'm glad to hear that.  I really felt that so far they've missed a trick with the commentary, particularly on Apocalypse War.  That story was so much a product of its time, as so many others have been.  Some of the Titan introductions did an excellent job of putting it in that context.  If there is a more in depth discussion of the issues that the storyline is addressing as well as artistic issues (many of which have been covered over the years in the meg) then it would make for a far more impressive collection I would say.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 28 February, 2015, 09:13:45 PM
Quote from: Judge Olde on 28 February, 2015, 10:12:06 AM
I emailed customer service & asked what the next 3 books are going to be, to which they replied 4, 5 & 6


Genius!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 01 March, 2015, 11:42:21 AM
I think the podcast for apocalypse war did an amazing job of putting the story in context. Really hope they continue.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 01 March, 2015, 01:31:33 PM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 01 March, 2015, 11:42:21 AM
I think the podcast for apocalypse war did an amazing job of putting the story in context.

Damn good listen too - Carlos is a genuine smoothie. I know what people mean when they look for new text pieces, but there are going to be 80 of these things so plenty of words by the time we're done, and I'd be all for jamming in as many comics pages to make for satisfying books. No offense to Mike and Matt, but I want comics where at all possible.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Proudhuff on 01 March, 2015, 07:05:51 PM
So no more mentions of Paul Gadd  Block?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 02 March, 2015, 07:00:42 PM
I wonder if current stories could be included in the mega collection. In three years time perhaps Dark Justice could be re-released by Hachette. Did the similar Marvel Collection print anything recent?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 02 March, 2015, 09:46:36 PM
Call me naive, but I suspect Rebellion would like to see consumers of the Mega Collection spend additional dosh on a shiny full-price Dark Justice hardback.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Molch-R on 02 March, 2015, 10:54:02 PM
Quote from: Tordelback on 01 March, 2015, 01:31:33 PM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 01 March, 2015, 11:42:21 AM
I think the podcast for apocalypse war did an amazing job of putting the story in context.

Damn good listen too - Carlos is a genuine smoothie. I know what people mean when they look for new text pieces, but there are going to be 80 of these things so plenty of words by the time we're done, and I'd be all for jamming in as many comics pages to make for satisfying books. No offense to Mike and Matt, but I want comics where at all possible.

None taken - it's all determined by how much comics we can fit into each book. Some books will have a page of feature content, others will have several. We're also trying to keep the content fresh, mixing interviews with contextual background.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: BPP on 03 March, 2015, 01:18:07 AM
Quote from: Tordelback on 02 March, 2015, 09:46:36 PM
Call me naive, but I suspect Rebellion would like to see consumers of the Mega Collection spend additional dosh on a shiny full-price Dark Justice hardback.

true.

but how sexy would a Titan volume be....


Hummmmmm....Titan.....
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jamie1000013 on 03 March, 2015, 06:21:42 AM
Do you think we'll get 4 and 5 today so we get Origins before the shops do? I'm very doubtful but would love it if that was the case. When I was getting the Marvel ultimate collection I didn't really care when they come but with this it gives me something to really look forward to each month, especially because I am quite new to 2000ad and the megazine (started at 1900).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 03 March, 2015, 10:34:01 AM
On the additional material, I rather like it. Given the option of a semi-random five-pager or five pages of context about what's in the book, I'd happily take the latter. To me, the context is one of the things that will make this series special (the other being the format). One thing I would like to see though (and if Rebellion or Hachette don't do this, I'll do it myself)—some kind of really nice index card you can slot into book one, once the series is done, so you can actually find the book you want. (I'm pretty sure my brain's not going to go "36 = Apocalypse War" a few years down the road.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 03 March, 2015, 11:03:04 AM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 03 March, 2015, 10:34:01 AM
(I'm pretty sure my brain's not going to go "36 = Apocalypse War" a few years down the road.)

We should work on some clever bingo-style mnemonic in the meantime.

"Number One, Bodyswap Fun!"
"At Thirty-Six, in a Nuclear Fix!"
"A-2-and-a-4, Mad Robot Law!'
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Fungus on 03 March, 2015, 01:09:37 PM
Quote from: Jamie1000013 on 03 March, 2015, 06:21:42 AM
Do you think we'll get 4 and 5 today so we get Origins before the shops do?

Yesterday (Monday) my W H Smith had a pile of the softcover 'Origins' newly placed with the progs.
14.99 you say?! Hm... no sale!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 03 March, 2015, 01:18:29 PM
I thought it was £9.99?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 03 March, 2015, 02:30:48 PM
The Origins trade (http://shop.2000adonline.com/products/judge_dredd_origins) is 16 quid RRP. The Origins partworks book is a tenner.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 04 March, 2015, 03:04:00 PM
Another glorious book in Issue 4, really making me wish I could subscribe since I seem to be buying all the bloody things anyway (maybe hardbacks are the disease, and Brit Cit Brute is the cure!).  Walker's art on The Connection is gobsmacking, and in collected form it reads less like a shaggy dog story and more like an essential tension-builder. Lots of nice sketches from Carlos in the back - such furious energy!

I had wondered about the sense of including The Spirit of Christmas, since I think if takes away from the ambiguity of the ending and perhaps forms a better link for the start a Tour of Duty book. However, having seen it in place the rightness is apparent, if only to cement Colin's place as chronicler of the big beats.

Oh, and because it continues to amuse me and only me:

Forty-five - Fargo's alive!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Echidna on 04 March, 2015, 06:41:45 PM
Quote from: Tordelback on 04 March, 2015, 03:04:00 PM
Forty-five - Fargo's alive!

I can't not read that in the voice of Brian Blessed.

Number ten: Tibetan Zen!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Spikes on 04 March, 2015, 07:16:48 PM
Four down.....

(http://i.imgur.com/ToJQx7X.jpg)

And as someone who ummed and ahhed about going for these, im glad I did. They are indeed handsome looking books.

I didn't really look around for these when the launch happened. I simply found a shop that stocked the first one, and have continued to shop there ever since.
Today however, they had only the one copy, and I had to hunt that down. Hidden as it was amongst the rest of the magazines. When in the past it was in clear view, and they had 3, or 4 copies.

Is it typical for these collections to become less 'visible' after a while. I guess if they are selling then the shop keep on getting them in. And of course I can always place an order to guarantee my copy.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 04 March, 2015, 08:12:44 PM
Looks like the ratio of decent folk to dolts on Facebook is increasing, too, which is good to see. Fewer people whining about not getting their copy before it hits the stores; more people patiently explaining how partworks are usually distributed, or just saying they're happy.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Colin Zeal on 05 March, 2015, 08:11:12 AM
Picked up my copy from wh smith yesterday. I had so much trouble in finding it I was about ready to give up when I saw someone else at the till with a copy. It's another lovely edition.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Colin YNWA on 05 March, 2015, 08:21:17 AM
Quote from: Colin Zeal on 05 March, 2015, 08:11:12 AM
...I had so much trouble in finding it I was about ready to give up when I saw someone else at the till with a copy...

You make it sound like you wrestled it off them - now that's dedication!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 05 March, 2015, 08:40:32 AM
Received my copies of 4 & 5 this morning along with the coasters.

These really are beautiful books and this is going to be a stunning series once it's complete.

Very happy with the books and the gifts.

Glad I subscribed.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Colin Zeal on 05 March, 2015, 09:44:36 AM
Quote from: Colin_YNWA on 05 March, 2015, 08:21:17 AM
Quote from: Colin Zeal on 05 March, 2015, 08:11:12 AM
...I had so much trouble in finding it I was about ready to give up when I saw someone else at the till with a copy...


You make it sound like you wrestled it off them - now that's dedication!

Sadly not. He got out of the shop before I could ask him where he'd found it, so I still had another few minutes wandering round the shop before I found it with the newspapers. Why it wasn't with the comics or the section with the Origins and Fourth Faction trades is beyond me.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IronGraham on 05 March, 2015, 11:06:19 AM
Quote from: Tordelback on 04 March, 2015, 03:04:00 PM
Forty-five - Fargo's alive!

that got a chuckle out of me  :lol:
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Proudhuff on 05 March, 2015, 12:28:07 PM
Hivemind Q: Whats  the content of this origins vs the TPB like?

For our Cal-Hab readers: all RS McColls branches I checked have carried these... just staying.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Fungus on 05 March, 2015, 01:48:08 PM
Quote from: Proudhuff on 05 March, 2015, 12:28:07 PM
Hivemind Q: Whats  the content of this origins vs the TPB like?

For our Cal-Hab readers: all RS McColls branches I checked have carried these... just staying.

Content-wise I noted the olde trade states 192 pgs so I presumed much the same content. Wondered the same...

Ta on RS McColl. I fear after the launch kerfuffle I won't see more books in WH Smith (locally). As a tart who will pick up books here and there, looked forward to Origins so bought direct from Hachette this morning. Beats eBay.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: dweezil2 on 05 March, 2015, 01:55:19 PM
How do subscribers who subscribed to the test run go about updating their subscription to the premium service, securing the art prints?

Many thanks.

Dweezil.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 05 March, 2015, 01:57:26 PM
Just ring up - they'll adds pound to each issue. Or send an email & wait 4 days.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: dweezil2 on 05 March, 2015, 01:58:50 PM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 05 March, 2015, 01:57:26 PM
Just ring up - they'll adds pound to each issue. Or send an email & wait 4 days.


Many thanks dude!   ;)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: sheridan on 05 March, 2015, 02:05:14 PM
Quote from: Colin Zeal on 05 March, 2015, 09:44:36 AM
I still had another few minutes wandering round the shop before I found it with the newspapers. Why it wasn't with the comics or the section with the Origins and Fourth Faction trades is beyond me.
Have you seen what passes for comics these days?  You wouldn't want it with all the plastic-bagged plastic-toy collections (Phoenix excepted, though I gather the only supermarket you'll see that in is Waitrose).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Proudhuff on 05 March, 2015, 02:12:07 PM
Quote from: Fungus on 05 March, 2015, 01:48:08 PM
Quote from: Proudhuff on 05 March, 2015, 12:28:07 PM
Hivemind Q: Whats  the content of this origins vs the TPB like?

For our Cal-Hab readers: all RS McColls branches I checked have carried these... just staying.

Content-wise I noted the olde trade states 192 pgs so I presumed much the same content. Wondered the same...

Ta on RS McColl. I fear after the launch kerfuffle I won't see more books in WH Smith (locally). As a tart who will pick up books here and there, looked forward to Origins so bought direct from Hachette this morning. Beats eBay.

Hi Fungus, thought so, just wondering if there was any additional text/art pages, gonna buy this anyway, today possibly, so will let you know ...
Loving this series nice heavy weight hard back, artwork treated with respect and some thought put into the spines... I'm here for the long run now, I'm hooked.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 05 March, 2015, 02:26:18 PM
Can't remember what's in the trade, but in the MegaCollection you get a half page intro from Tharg, The Connection, Origins, The Spirit of Christmas, a page of context from Mike, two pages of cover gallery and two pages of layout sketches from Carlos.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Spikes on 05 March, 2015, 04:41:14 PM
The trade contains a covers and a sketchbook gallery as well. Though the images used in the sketchbook are not the same for the two releases
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 05 March, 2015, 04:50:21 PM
Incidentally, I recently managed to grab the first 60 Marvel books and some extras on eBay for about £200. Comparisons with the Dredd collection are interesting. The Dredd books feel more substantial than the majority of the Marvel ones. The design is a whole lot better too. But most of all, the curation feels more coherent through the books so far released. It'll be really interesting to see the entire Dredd run, assuming it lasts the course.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 05 March, 2015, 04:52:04 PM
Quote from: Spikes on 05 March, 2015, 04:41:14 PM
The trade contains a covers and a sketchbook gallery as well. Though the images used in the sketchbook are not the same for the two releases

Cheers! Turns out I was underselling the Hachette book - there are actually 6 pages of sketches and 4 pages of covers.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: COMMANDO FORCES on 05 March, 2015, 05:47:02 PM
Huzzah, the neighbour took in my parcels today. All Dredd and one was book 4 and 5 plus the coasters (Books 10 and 45 really) :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 05 March, 2015, 06:34:09 PM
Quote from: COMMANDO FORCES on 05 March, 2015, 05:47:02 PM
Huzzah, the neighbour took in my parcels today. All Dredd and one was book 4 and 5 plus the coasters (Books 10 and 45 really) :thumbsup:

Ditto ... nicely sized package waiting.  Had a flick and read the article in the Shambala volume.  As these are all stories I've not read in a while this is one to savour at the weekend.  I was impressed with the article though.  The meg has done a lot over the years about the methods of various artists and a handful of writers (could be wrong there though) so it was nice to have a focus on the evolution of the character.  Coasters are a nice little gizzit.  Kudos for the little container they came in.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: COMMANDO FORCES on 05 March, 2015, 07:02:48 PM
I only managed a quick look inside before work but did notice 6 pages of sketches/layouts in Origins and a hefty article by Mike in Shambala. Will read that in bed tomorrow morning!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jamie1000013 on 05 March, 2015, 10:17:49 PM
I received my 4 & 5 today as well which was awesome. The shops had it a day earlier!!! Just kidding I have been busy  reading the Cable and deadpool omnibus and now I really want to read Origins. I find it hard reading two collections at the same time because I don't get invested in the story as much with another story lingering in the back of my mind. I really want to listen to the podcast as well but fear spoilers.

I'll have to rush through the omnibus with 36 issues left  :'(
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 05 March, 2015, 11:10:14 PM
Loved Molcher's text piece for Anderson. Good work, sir!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mardroid on 06 March, 2015, 12:03:43 AM
My parcel of 4 and 5 was waiting for me when I got home.

The box seems oversized, even taking intop account it contains coasters too, and there's not padding to protect the items....

.. yet they arrived undamaged. Which was nice. I haven't opened the volumes yet (although I own Origins already in paperback format, and  that before. Incidentally Origins was just finishing up when I first started reading 2000 AD.) but they look smashing. The art on the coasters is particularly lovely.

I also got a letter which spoke to me like this wasa my first order. I guess it's a general letter that goes out to everyone.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 06 March, 2015, 02:17:13 PM
i'm amazed by the design of these things. The front & rear covers, plus end papers feel like a high end book collection. Very impressed.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Molch-R on 06 March, 2015, 02:27:47 PM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 05 March, 2015, 11:10:14 PM
Loved Molcher's text piece for Anderson. Good work, sir!

That's really nice of you, thanks!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Buttonman on 06 March, 2015, 04:50:44 PM
Got my 4 and 5 today - lovely stuff.

I'm sure one on my 'Dredd' coasters has in fact a Carlos image of Kraken on it! Outraged!

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Judge Brian on 06 March, 2015, 05:33:12 PM
So, if these are sold at news agents & book stores as periodicals, what happens to the unsold copies? Could the unsold copies be offered to other countries, such as the US?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Molch-R on 06 March, 2015, 05:34:26 PM
Quote from: Judge Brian on 06 March, 2015, 05:33:12 PM
So, if these are sold at news agents & book stores as periodicals, what happens to the unsold copies? Could the unsold copies be offered to other countries, such as the US?

No, the collection isn't sold outside the UK and Ireland for licensing reasons. Unsold copies are, I believe, returned to Hachette.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Judge Brian on 06 March, 2015, 05:35:34 PM
Quote from: Molch-R on 06 March, 2015, 05:34:26 PM
Quote from: Judge Brian on 06 March, 2015, 05:33:12 PM
So, if these are sold at news agents & book stores as periodicals, what happens to the unsold copies? Could the unsold copies be offered to other countries, such as the US?

No, the collection isn't sold outside the UK and Ireland for licensing reasons. Unsold copies are, I believe, returned to Hachette.

Drok!


Love your thrillcast BTW.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moly on 06 March, 2015, 07:15:03 PM
The better half picked up a parcel from the post office and they had my issue 4 and 5 plus tea coasters very happy shame the postie didn't leave a card
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 06 March, 2015, 07:21:54 PM
I assume from the prices on the back of the books they are for sale in NZ AUS & South Africa?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: J.Smith on 06 March, 2015, 11:25:20 PM
Yep, got the latest two volumes myself. The contents of Origins is nothing new to me, excepting the short articles and lovely gallery of Ezquerra's sketches; but the fifth book is all new to me and I couldn't resist leafing through page by page. Earlier this year I read Buttonman and considered Arthur Ranson's artwork absolutely incredible in that series but going through these pages simply left me speechless. Please someone tell me these aren't the only Anderson stories illustrated by him and that we've more to come in the future.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: JOE SOAP on 07 March, 2015, 02:06:48 AM
Quote from: J.Smith on 06 March, 2015, 11:25:20 PM
Please someone tell me these aren't the only Anderson stories illustrated by him


Anderson: Psi Division (with Alan Grant):

"Triad" (in 2000 AD #635-644, 1989)
"Shamballa" (in 2000 AD #700-711, 1990)
"Reasons to Be Cheerful" (in Judge Dredd Megazine vol. 2 #10, 1992)
"The Witch?" (in Judge Dredd Megazine vol. 2 #14, 1992)
"Jesus Syndrome" (in Judge Dredd Megazine vol.2 #22-24, 1993)
"Satan" (in Judge Dredd Megazine vol. 3 #1-7, 1995)
"The Protest" (in Judge Dredd Megazine vol. 3 #14, 1996)
"R*Evolution" (in 2000 AD #1263-1272, 2001)
"Half-Life" (in Judge Dredd Megazine #214-217, 2004)
"WMD " (in Judge Dredd Megazine #221-226, 2004)
"Lock-in " (in Judge Dredd Megazine #227-230, 2005)
"City Of Dead" (in Judge Dredd Megazine #231-236, 2005)
"Lucid" (in Judge Dredd Megazine #238-241, 2005)




http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Ranson
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Darren Stephens on 07 March, 2015, 09:16:08 AM
I have the first four books. Loved them all so far. I'd never read the Apocalypse War and only an episode or three of Origins, so my thrill buffers have been blasted over the last few weeks!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 07 March, 2015, 09:20:50 AM
Just read Origins for the first time - Wow! Just the scope of it all.  Love the tying in to Curse Earth stories & Judda amongst others...
SPOILER ALERT

When we first see Dredd & Rico as clones they are 2 of 6. Do the others reappear in Dreddlore or did I miss them dying?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richard on 07 March, 2015, 01:24:43 PM
I don't think it said that the other 4 were necessarily Fargo clones.

Only one of them is named - McVey - and he is not in any other story.

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moldovangerbil on 07 March, 2015, 02:24:27 PM
Did anyone who signed up for the trial run get a bill for both issues 4 and 5 with the delivery?  I did, but I'm sure I had an email from Hachette confirming that the first 4 would be free.  Does anyone else remember getting this?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 07 March, 2015, 02:58:21 PM
Similar problem - I upgraded to premium then got charged for issue 3, which was refunded. Don't stress - put it in an email with your subscriber and they'll credit your account. It will take s couple of weeks and they'll keep asking for your original subscriber number (even though it's the same.) Be patient - it will get sorted!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moldovangerbil on 07 March, 2015, 04:07:29 PM
Oh aye, I'm stressed.  Just curious to see if anyone had come across the same issue.  I figured it's the sort of thing that's easily sorted.  In the meantime, everything I've had has been absolutely beautiful so if it costs me an extra tenner I'll live with it!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moldovangerbil on 07 March, 2015, 04:08:19 PM
NOT stressed.  I'm not stressed.

Although I am stressed now about not writing NOT stressed in my original reply....
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Spikes on 07 March, 2015, 05:53:37 PM
Not sure where to place these, but as the latest Hachette release is Origins , I thought it would be nice to share these on here (taken from the Art of Carlos Ezquerra page, for those not on facebook)

The real origin of Dredd...

(http://i.imgur.com/uwZbz2w.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/DSIXUcs.jpg)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: ManParrish on 07 March, 2015, 09:24:53 PM
Does anyone know what 6 and 7 will be?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Fungus on 07 March, 2015, 09:27:36 PM
Quote from: ManParrish on 07 March, 2015, 09:24:53 PM
Does anyone know what 6 and 7 will be?
6 is Mandroid.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 07 March, 2015, 10:32:25 PM
Any bets for what's next? Classic B&W dredd? Cursed Earth?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: ManParrish on 07 March, 2015, 10:42:50 PM
Looking forward to reading Cursed Earth again...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 08 March, 2015, 07:13:15 PM
Okay, four books in and so far I'm impressed.  I've only ever read one before (Apocalypse War), though I have a feeling I read a least a small part of the America arc before.

I have a few questions though.  Will we ever get the full Judda story?  All I've ever read is the thin Tale of a Dead Man with Krakens assesment and the Juves letter to Judge Dredd, and Necropolis.  I see there's a hint of Judd in Origins but do we get the full story?

I see the next book is Shamballa, again, all I've had of that was the very thin graphic novel and I've been told that this is going to have Satan and other storylines in the next book.

Really, I'm happy at the books so far, they represent good value.  If you consider it's easily a fiver for a magazine now, or if you buy one of these themed specials from places like Smiths on Aircraft, trains or whatever, they can easily be eight or nine quid for a softcover that might be at best just over a 100 pages.  In contrast, £9.99 for a hardback is damned good value.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: ZenArcade on 08 March, 2015, 07:17:42 PM
The Judda story was done in depth in Oz the Dredd story from 1987 prog 545 onwards. Z
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Spikes on 08 March, 2015, 07:47:13 PM
Quote from: Jade Falcon on 08 March, 2015, 07:13:15 PM
All I've ever read is the thin Tale of a Dead Man with Krakens assesment and the Juves letter to Judge Dredd, and Necropolis.  I see there's a hint of Judd in Origins but do we get the full story?

I was thinking today what the Necropolis book will contain? (Has this tale been earmarked for inclusion? Though I cant see a reason as to why it shouldn't be).

Be nice to have all the Dead Man tales included. Be a nice book that, if so.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 08 March, 2015, 08:04:44 PM
I really hope the dead man gets in - plus Return of the King - a great finish to Necropolis
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Spikes on 08 March, 2015, 08:38:40 PM
Oh yes, good call on Return of the King.

But just looking at the page counts over on Barney, it'll realistically have to be 2 books. But a nice complete Dead Man collection, followed by Necropolis - plus those stories that followed in its immediate aftermath, would be very nice indeed.

I always kinda struggled a bit with Necropolis, and have been meaning to give it a re-read/reappraisal for some time, and this will be the perfect opportunity to do so
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 08 March, 2015, 08:47:07 PM
Aye, not a hope of a single package.  Necropolis on its own is 162 pages, with Countdown to Necropolis 196 in total .  The Dead Man is 81, but makes little sense including that without Tale of the Dead Man at 54 and Letter to Judge Dredd at 6, bringing it to another 140: so over 340 pages with title page and covers gallery.

Return of the King would add another 18 pages.  And that's leaving out the equally relevant immediate follow-up Nightmares at 30 pages. 

I suspect that we're looking at a separate Bloodline/Shooting Match/Dead Man/Tale of the Dead Man book, maybe with a few other great 'doubts' episodes like Question of Judgement/Case for Treatment, John Cassavettes is Dead etc.  I'd like a slice of that action.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 08 March, 2015, 09:04:18 PM
I loved the build up to Necropolis & Aftermath stories as much if not more than the main event. I hope as much of this period of Dredd makes it into the Mega Collection.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Spikes on 08 March, 2015, 09:23:50 PM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 08 March, 2015, 09:04:18 PM
I loved the build up to Necropolis & Aftermath stories as much if not more than the main event.

Same here, robert. I think for me it was Wagner and Ridgway's The Dead Man that blew my socks off, and anything after that just seemed pale by comparison.


Quote from: Tordelback on 08 March, 2015, 08:47:07 PM
I suspect that we're looking at a separate Bloodline/Shooting Match/Dead Man/Tale of the Dead Man book, maybe with a few other great 'doubts' episodes like Question of Judgement/Case for Treatment, John Cassavettes is Dead etc.  I'd like a slice of that action.

Yes. Put me down for a slice of that, as well Mr T.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 09 March, 2015, 04:11:33 PM
Hachette have confirmed Inferno as being included. Here's hoping for Purgatory as well. I know there's not always love for these stories but I love the artwork and the change of pace.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 09 March, 2015, 04:19:44 PM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 09 March, 2015, 04:11:33 PM
Hachette have confirmed Inferno as being included. Here's hoping for Purgatory as well. I know there's not always love for these stories but I love the artwork and the change of pace.
Ugh. That's the first wobble, I think; Inferno is an objectively terrible story. Purgatory is, if anything, even worse, crapping over years of Dredd. For a curated collection, it's a very strange inclusion, unless names (Morrison/Miller) trump quality. It won't stop me subscribing, but I hope whatever else shows up that month isn't similarly awful and that the vast majority of the collection doesn't plumb such depths.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Fungus on 09 March, 2015, 04:23:44 PM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 09 March, 2015, 04:11:33 PM
Hachette have confirmed Inferno as being included. Here's hoping for Purgatory as well. I know there's not always love for these stories but I love the artwork and the change of pace.

I have no idea what the general opinion on these is, alls I know is that I'm reading them for the first time and they are godawful. Pap, if you will. Written by writers who weren't interested (in UK comics). Like Judgment Day before them. Waste of Carlos, I say.

Hachette could skip the 90's and save the completists out there a few Groats  :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Proudhuff on 09 March, 2015, 04:30:06 PM
Should we talk about the spines here or on the spines thread?  :-*y
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mike Carroll on 09 March, 2015, 04:32:53 PM
Issues 4 and 5 arrived today... Not in great condition, but a little better than the last two. This time, they were packaged with the coasters in a very large box that they would have rattled around in had the box not been severely squashed.

-- Mike
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: COMMANDO FORCES on 09 March, 2015, 04:36:34 PM
Yeah, the box was ludicrous in size. It had a massive FRAGILE pasted all over and when it was handed over to me, with a rattle, I wondered what was inside. When I opened it and saw the contents, well, I had to laugh. Who on earth is packing this stuff!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Fungus on 09 March, 2015, 05:01:48 PM
I did see a photo of the first 4 books together somewhere, neatly arranged. Except that for one volume the cover was clearly buckled (maybe dropped due to excessive Thrill-Power). Surely not promotional material  ;)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 09 March, 2015, 05:03:24 PM
Quote from: COMMANDO FORCES on 09 March, 2015, 04:36:34 PM
Yeah, the box was ludicrous in size. It had a massive FRAGILE pasted all over and when it was handed over to me, with a rattle, I wondered what was inside. When I opened it and saw the contents, well, I had to laugh. Who on earth is packing this stuff!

People on £2.30 an hour who really couldn't give a fuck about your books that would cost them a days wages to buy, is my guess.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 09 March, 2015, 05:33:05 PM
The books are quickly replaced by Hachette so I've stopped worrying about the condition. As for the inclusion of maybe less than stellar material - I think that often in Dredd there have been a variety of genre's & levels of storytelling. I love the current trend for police procedural, but I prefer it interrupted by sensitive Kleggs. Purgatory & inferno had a  "grind-house" intensity albeit helped by solid art which elevated them above the Mechanismo repetitious sequels. The strength of this series (& longevity of Dredd) is variety - here's to all the glorious miss-steps & curious cul-de-sacs of Megacity One.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Frank on 09 March, 2015, 05:36:00 PM
Quote from: Fungus on 09 March, 2015, 04:23:44 PM
Written by writers who weren't interested (in UK comics). Like Judgment Day before them

Morrison and Millar clearly wear their underpants over their tights, but Garth Ennis is a 2000ad fanboy (http://forums.2000adonline.com/index.php?topic=25992.0) *. That's why much of his Dredd work feels like karaoke, rather than the distinctive voice of something like Preacher. Once Ennis got to the point in his career when he could write whatever he wanted, he set about creating a small outpost of 1970s British boys' comics in the pages of Bloody Mary, Just A Pilgrim, and Adventures In The Rifle Brigade.

Inferno suffers from almost the same problem as Ennis's Dredd efforts. It's just Wagner & Grant's Greatest Hits, although in Morrison's case that's because he's regurgitating the Titan trades Tharg sent him to read out of laziness, rather than because he's awed at following in Wagner's footsteps. You would have thought a writer who trumpets his originality would have impress his own genius upon Inferno, but he was going bald and doing a lot of drugs at the time.

Inferno is entirely without merit in its own right and adds nothing to the development of the Dredd epic, but I actually really enjoyed the gleeful, preposterous, operatic sadism of Purgatory at the time - even if I acknowledge every point made about how it makes no sense whatsoever. Carlos's artwork is peerless though; he deserves every penny that's coming his way from these reprints, and I'll be buying the book just for the last flourish of his gorgeous coloured ink style.


* The kind of fanboy who thinks the comic ceased publication when he hit puberty, but we all went through that phase
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Greg M. on 09 March, 2015, 05:52:07 PM
Quote from: Butch on 09 March, 2015, 05:36:00 PM

Inferno is entirely without merit in its own right and adds nothing to the development of the Dredd epic, but I actually really enjoyed the gleeful, preposterous, operatic sadism of Purgatory at the time - even if I acknowledge every point made about how it makes no sense whatsoever.

I find myself in agreement with this. It's odd – Purgatory is undoubtedly complete rubbish but it's got something about it. I definitely prefer it to Inferno –  Inferno features a particularly stupid incarnation of Judge Dredd doing stupid things for stupid reasons, but Purgatory focuses on a bunch of awful people doing awful things for fairly clear reasons, so that wins. Plus, I have a weird soft spot for the 'Never trust a hippy' callback.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 09 March, 2015, 06:11:58 PM
What's the max page count on the books? Seems like there's a set number of max. pages?

Would be cool if some of the stories would get a p.1 and p.2. For example The pit could get be a two parter, with the second part including Beyond the call of duty and Scorpion dance.

Also, could Chopper's solo progs fill/fit a book? Unamerican G, Midnight surfer, Soul of fire and Song of the surfer?

Hope Oz ends with Bloodline (perhaps also Cadet Giant as a back up story, who needs to be in there somewhere.) and then getting followed by two Necropolis books.  Book one Letter from a democrat, Revolution, Letter to Judge Dredd, Tales of the Dead man and the first parts of Necropolis, with book two finishing things and adding The Theatre of Death, Nightmares, The Devil You Know and Twilight's Last Gleaming.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: ZenArcade on 09 March, 2015, 06:16:45 PM
I'm struggling with the prospect of Inferno being placed in this run. Z
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 09 March, 2015, 06:20:30 PM
Relax. Chill. And be happy with what comes. It's Dredd. There is not really, really shit Dredd in my opinion.

I don't want to know what's next.

I just want to get it and enjoy.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 09 March, 2015, 06:36:57 PM
Quote from: Mattofthespurs on 09 March, 2015, 06:20:30 PM
It's Dredd. There is not really, really shit Dredd in my opinion.

Then I see your Inferno and raise you Heavy Metal Dredd and IDW's Dark Judge pokemon.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: ZenArcade on 09 March, 2015, 06:40:06 PM
I'll stake a crusade. Z
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richard on 09 March, 2015, 08:25:02 PM
Inferno was a crap story, but it is a showcase of Ezquerra's best art.

The best thing they could do is white out all the speech balloons and let us write in our own dialogue. Bet every reader could write a better story of their own!

I agree with the comments about Purgatory: it's not very good, but it is still fun.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 09 March, 2015, 08:48:07 PM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 09 March, 2015, 06:36:57 PM
Quote from: Mattofthespurs on 09 March, 2015, 06:20:30 PM
It's Dredd. There is not really, really shit Dredd in my opinion.

Then I see your Inferno and raise you Heavy Metal Dredd and IDW's Dark Judge pokemon.

I'll take those and raise you and Marvel comic you like.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 09 March, 2015, 08:58:54 PM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 09 March, 2015, 05:33:05 PMThe strength of this series (& longevity of Dredd) is variety - here's to all the glorious miss-steps & curious cul-de-sacs of Megacity One.
Part of the strength of Dredd, I agree, is the variety. But I don't want to celebrate mis-steps and garbage in a curated collection of hardback books that's going to cost about 800 quid over its run. (I imagine the absolute dross of Heavy Metal Dredd will also show up at some point, but at least a few of those have some knowing black humour from Wagner.)

For me, the Case Files are about everything and the kitchen sink, and the stinky goop down the plughole. This series is supposed to be the best content. Inferno is barely any better than 'Sonny Steelgrave' Dredd. Purgatory is just horrible in every sense of the word.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: I, Cosh on 09 March, 2015, 09:00:17 PM
Quote from: ZenArcade on 09 March, 2015, 06:40:06 PM
I'll stake a crusade. Z
I quite like both Crusades. The Dredd one is easily the best of Me & Gwant's longer efforts on the character.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: aceface11 on 09 March, 2015, 10:01:22 PM
Quote from: The Cosh on 09 March, 2015, 09:00:17 PM
Quote from: ZenArcade on 09 March, 2015, 06:40:06 PM
I'll stake a crusade. Z
I quite like both Crusades. The Dredd one is easily the best of Me & Gwant's longer efforts on the character.

There were two Crusades? I have a soft spot for the first(?) one, around prog 921 I think it was. My first prog! Previously my dad had bought me an American floppy that included Robo Hunter, followed by a Meg (The Tenth Planet/Wilderlands)... I still remember the cover strap 'meet the Inquisitor this prog!

Matt
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 09 March, 2015, 10:48:23 PM
I really had a change of heart re-reading the Arthur Ranson collection. The text pages made me consider the introspective nature of stories. All I wanted was the sassy glamorous action heroine of the Brett Ewins era. I appreciate now the risks taken with her - and the need to have a counterpoint to joe. I still prefer the character we saw in earlier stories. I'm trusting Matt Smith & Molcher to choose well for both connoisseurs & thrill junkies with this series. Perhaps even if a well written intro can't persuade fans that much derided stories are really diamonds, this series can explain what was being tried at the time and the lessons learned. Whilst showcasing amazing art!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: James Stacey on 10 March, 2015, 12:35:39 PM
some of the Marvel partworks had part one and two. I'm sure the same will apply here
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Albion on 10 March, 2015, 12:46:40 PM
Quote from: James Stacey on 10 March, 2015, 12:35:39 PM
some of the Marvel partworks had part one and two. I'm sure the same will apply here

Indeed they do. There is a three book story coming too.
I have book one of a Nick Fury collection waiting for book two so I can read them together. Annoyingly book two isn't due until August. :-(
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 10 March, 2015, 12:54:32 PM
Day of chaos must be spread over a few books...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Anzati on 10 March, 2015, 01:28:51 PM
Oh...so they doubt even release stories split over two volumes in order? Very slightly disappointing as I wanted to read each story as it came out...oh well. I do hope that we get an index for this at the end...hell is be willing to pay for an detailed index volume that listed the stories/original Prog numbers for each volume...but I'm probably VERY much in the minority there  :lol:
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 10 March, 2015, 01:30:55 PM
Hachette got back confirming Purgatory & Inferno.... I'll get my coat.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Anzati on 10 March, 2015, 01:35:31 PM
I've never read Inferno, but actually quite enjoyed Purgatory...so I'm looking forwards to this  :lol:
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 10 March, 2015, 01:48:10 PM
Probably shouldn't say this, since Inferno is utter pants, but I'd quite fancy that book for the art alone. There must be a fair amount of other stuff in there - maybe Devil You Know and Twilight's Last Gleaming? But please, please, p!ease, not the Judge Janus stuff.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richmond Clements on 10 March, 2015, 01:59:36 PM
QuoteBut please, please, p!ease, not the Judge Janus stuff.

Like, totally.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Anzati on 10 March, 2015, 02:11:05 PM
Quote from: Tordelback on 10 March, 2015, 01:48:10 PM
Probably shouldn't say this, since Inferno is utter pants...

That just makes me want to read it more...still I'll be getting it when I get round to Case files 19...but do I want it twice...hope the book has some interesting contextual extras :)

Quote from: Tordelback on 10 March, 2015, 01:48:10 PM
But please, please, p!ease, not the Judge Janus stuff.

I did find the recent Janus reprints very hard going  :lol:
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 10 March, 2015, 02:33:59 PM
Quote from: Anzati on 10 March, 2015, 02:11:05 PMThat just makes me want to read it more...
I imagine the only way to get through it in one piece is to take it as an extremist parody of Dredd, in much the same way the Heavy Metal stuff was. Although Morrison for the most part lacks Wagner's ability to write black humour, and doesn't get Dredd or his world (or, possibly, just doesn't care). Inferno is lazy, illogical, dull and hackneyed. The art is quite good, but the writing is atrocious. It's not even curiosity-piquing—it's just plain bad.

I swear, if it hadn't been for John Smith, I'd have quit 2000 AD during that era, because even Dredd had become a joke. (Garth Ennis's run was also frequently poor, although he at least hit a few good notes.)

Quotehope the book has some interesting contextual extras
I'd certainly be interested in the justification for its inclusion, although I imagine it's "because it was written by Grant Morrison".
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: hippynumber1 on 10 March, 2015, 02:47:30 PM
Quote from: Anzati on 10 March, 2015, 02:11:05 PM
Quote from: Tordelback on 10 March, 2015, 01:48:10 PM
Probably shouldn't say this, since Inferno is utter pants...

That just makes me want to read it more...still I'll be getting it when I get round to Case files 19...but do I want it twice...hope the book has some interesting contextual extras :)

Quote from: Tordelback on 10 March, 2015, 01:48:10 PM
But please, please, p!ease, not the Judge Janus stuff.

I did find the recent Janus reprints very hard going  :lol:

Beautiful art though...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 10 March, 2015, 06:59:33 PM
Was this an alternative cover for Shamballa? I prefer the one they went with even if there's no red in the design.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Molch-R on 10 March, 2015, 07:08:04 PM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 10 March, 2015, 06:59:33 PM
Was this an alternative cover for Shamballa?

It was. The design was changed after the backing card for the previous issue had gone to print.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 10 March, 2015, 10:03:16 PM
If ever you want to sell prints of these beautiful graphic covers I won't try and stop you...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: rogue69 on 10 March, 2015, 10:46:44 PM
My local W H Smiths has stopped stocking this on their shelves, but has put copies of the Origins TPB on promotion next to 2000AD
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 12 March, 2015, 01:31:44 AM
Quote from: hippynumber1 on 10 March, 2015, 02:47:30 PM
Quote from: Anzati on 10 March, 2015, 02:11:05 PM
Quote from: Tordelback on 10 March, 2015, 01:48:10 PM
Probably shouldn't say this, since Inferno is utter pants...

That just makes me want to read it more...still I'll be getting it when I get round to Case files 19...but do I want it twice...hope the book has some interesting contextual extras :)

Quote from: Tordelback on 10 March, 2015, 01:48:10 PM
But please, please, p!ease, not the Judge Janus stuff.

I did find the recent Janus reprints very hard going  :lol:

Beautiful art though...

Seconded!

Same with Frankenstein Division.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 12 March, 2015, 11:34:55 AM
Quote from: rogue69 on 10 March, 2015, 10:46:44 PM
My local W H Smiths has stopped stocking this on their shelves, but has put copies of the Origins TPB on promotion next to 2000AD
Hmm. Bit underhand, that.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Bat King on 12 March, 2015, 12:09:40 PM
WHS. Nuff said (they aren't true believers let alone squaxx.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 12 March, 2015, 12:19:10 PM
Don't knock the only shop selling 2000ad in Reading! For those of us without comic shops they are a lifeline...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 12 March, 2015, 01:28:08 PM
The only shop? Blimey. Even in relatively tiny Fleet, at least two places stock the Prog. Then again, Reading's been without a comic shop for a good long while now, hasn't it?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 12 March, 2015, 05:30:00 PM
It did have the rudest comic shop ever - gone now! I'm glad WHSmiths stocks all the cd & marvel reprints plus 2000ad - without it my town would be more of a cultural desert.
Title: Re: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: James Stacey on 12 March, 2015, 06:04:51 PM
Ruder than the average Forbidden Planet :o
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Geoff on 12 March, 2015, 09:15:14 PM
When are my 4 & 5 going to arrive!?

And my wooden surfaces are getting ruined without those coasters!

I know the deliveries are staged for reasons of cost, but I wish Hachette would give it's subscribers some idea of which tranche they are in and therefore an idea of when to expect their deliveries.

I don't mind waiting, it's just the uncertainty I can't handle  :o
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 12 March, 2015, 09:34:20 PM
Surely 4 weeks from your last delivery?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Fungus on 12 March, 2015, 09:35:48 PM
Quote from: Geoff on 12 March, 2015, 09:15:14 PM
When are my 4 & 5 going to arrive!?

And my wooden surfaces are getting ruined without those coasters!

I know the deliveries are staged for reasons of cost, but I wish Hachette would give it's subscribers some idea of which tranche they are in and therefore an idea of when to expect their deliveries.

I don't mind waiting, it's just the uncertainty I can't handle  :o

You read the 12000-word small print Ts & Cs as you clicked [Place Order] against this subscription I assume?   ;)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Geoff on 12 March, 2015, 10:03:55 PM
Can't remember when the last delivery came, alas...I'll have to make a note next time it comes.

Pesky T&Cs, sure they've got everything covered!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Anzati on 12 March, 2015, 11:08:58 PM
If you log into their website, you should be able to work it out. So far each of my deliveries has arrived 7 days after it has appeared on my account and the second batch appeared on my account exactly one calendar month after the first one did. The details on the site say that although the issues are in shops fortnightly, subscribers will only get one delivery per calendar month, so that you never get charged twice in the same month.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Bat King on 13 March, 2015, 04:31:52 AM
WHS suck & blow simultaneously.

I used to like them. They didn't do a big mean thing to me they just got rubbish at everything. Oh, apart from when they his 2000ad completely by putting it behind the 'Customer Service' desk that wasn't staffed at lunch time; idiots.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Magnetica on 13 March, 2015, 07:00:00 AM
Well its the only shop near me that sells both 2000AD and the Megazine, so they are ok in my book. Virtually no newsagents I know get either other than the odd copy.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Geoff on 13 March, 2015, 07:55:38 AM
Good thinking Anzati I'll check that out, cheers!
Title: Re: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IronGraham on 13 March, 2015, 10:52:15 AM
Quote from: James Stacey on 12 March, 2015, 06:04:51 PM
Ruder than the average Forbidden Planet :o


of the forbidden planets I've been to the staff have been nice and helpful
Title: Re: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mike Carroll on 13 March, 2015, 02:22:31 PM
Quote from: IronGraham on 13 March, 2015, 10:52:15 AM
Quote from: James Stacey on 12 March, 2015, 06:04:51 PM
Ruder than the average Forbidden Planet :o

of the forbidden planets I've been to the staff have been nice and helpful

Same here - never had a single cause for complaint about Forbidden Planet stores! In every FP I've visited I've always found the staff to be very friendly, helpful and knowledgeable!

-- Mike
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Steve Green on 13 March, 2015, 03:05:19 PM
Ditto.

I've only experienced the London store through it's various incarnations, but it's always been fine.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: BPP on 13 March, 2015, 05:08:42 PM
Mine has one decent guy and seven who hate comics.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Fungus on 13 March, 2015, 05:17:12 PM
Quote from: BPP on 13 March, 2015, 05:08:42 PM
Mine has one decent guy and seven who hate comics.

You can't argue with stats (hm, not true...).

To paraphrase that line about holiday destinations, FP is decent enough to pop into but I'd hate to work there.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 13 March, 2015, 06:14:54 PM
Yeah, there's one fairly distracted relatively new guy in FP Dublin, but everyone else there has been lovely and helpful. It lacks the chatty intimacy of Sub City or Big Bang, but that's just a question of scale really.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Judge Olde on 14 March, 2015, 12:02:28 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 12 March, 2015, 11:34:55 AM
Quote from: rogue69 on 10 March, 2015, 10:46:44 PM
My local W H Smiths has stopped stocking this on their shelves, but has put copies of the Origins TPB on promotion next to 2000AD
Hmm. Bit underhand, that.

I was talking to WHS staff, was told that this is standard for them. If you ask them to get it for you, they keep it in a folder for you. But they don't keep copies on the shelves.

Same for million part model series they do, build the Falcon etc.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 14 March, 2015, 01:11:37 PM
To clarify, I don't think it underhand that they are no longer selling the artwork; I think it underhand they are facing an Origins paperback next to 2000 AD, when they know full well people will potentially confuse it with the Origins artwork and purchase it in error.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Anzati on 14 March, 2015, 02:18:52 PM
Quote from: Judge Olde on 14 March, 2015, 12:02:28 PM
...If you ask them to get it for you, they keep it in a folder for you. But they don't keep copies on the shelves.

I asked them about that...however I think that the £30 deposit is a tad excessive :(
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 14 March, 2015, 02:53:35 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 14 March, 2015, 01:11:37 PM
To clarify, I don't think it underhand that they are no longer selling the artwork; I think it underhand they are facing an Origins paperback next to 2000 AD, when they know full well people will potentially confuse it with the Origins artwork and purchase it in error.

What artwork? I am so confused
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Fungus on 14 March, 2015, 04:07:11 PM
I think... he means partwork.
Also... deposit?!
Also... 'promotion'. Maybe wrongly, I consider that as discounted. Origins trades still placed with the prog in my WHS are full price, else I may have picked it up (an essential trade for lapsed Earthlets like me yet to read it).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Anzati on 14 March, 2015, 04:56:07 PM
Quote from: Fungus on 14 March, 2015, 04:07:11 PM
Also... deposit

After buying the first two issues from WH Smiths I asked them if they could hold them for me as this isn't something that they're likely to keep on the shelf for too long. I didn't want to subscribe online as I was concerned about damage in the post (the same reason I don't subscribe to the Prog and Meg and still pick them up from WHS). I was told that I'd have to pay a deposit equal to the price of three issues, which would be returned upon completion of the collection or if I have one months notice before cancelling the order. I explained that it thought the deposit was too high and was told that they couldn't hold the issues for me then. Do I subscribed online, where is don't need to pay a deposit and get some cool free gifts, but risk the hassle of having to order replacements every month...

I like to support the highstreet where I can, but sillyness like that puts me off.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 14 March, 2015, 05:11:22 PM
Screw the high street if they are going to treat you like that.
Support Hachette and 2000 AD and bag yourself some nice free goodies.

And everything bar the badge has turned up in perfect condition. And the badge they replaced within a week.

No brainer in my opinion.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 14 March, 2015, 06:27:38 PM
I'm not sure it is just silliness - they have to order the numbers of books presumably weeks in advance, and if we don't pick them up they're stuck with the extra copies- weeks after their shelf date.  I agree £30 is a steep deposit, maybe £20 would be more reasonable, but I can certainly see the point of their getting cash up front - especially when the whole partwork model is based on subscriptions, which exist as a viable and cost-effective alternative.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 14 March, 2015, 07:41:28 PM
If you want to support comics, subscribe. The publishers get the most money that way. Alternatively, indie comic stores or decent chains. The high street can take a running jump for the most part.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 14 March, 2015, 07:46:35 PM
Subscribe, hachette replace damaged issues - seems like a no-brainer! Plus Brian Bolland showed his print art at LSCC
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Anzati on 14 March, 2015, 10:18:44 PM
Oh I did subscribe weeks ago...WH Smiths had their chance. And yeah, so far my fears of damage have been for nought :) Expecting my second delivery any day now...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 15 March, 2015, 12:33:17 AM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 14 March, 2015, 07:41:28 PM
If you want to support comics, subscribe. The publishers get the most money that way. Alternatively, indie comic stores or decent chains. The high street can take a running jump for the most part.

The publishers get the most money PER CUSTOMER that way. But where do new customers come from if books are only available by subscription or from odd little shops that only existing customers visit? [Appreciates that he has said this same thing 100 times before and everyone is bored reading it]
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: maryanddavid on 15 March, 2015, 01:02:13 AM
QuoteBut where do new customers come from if books are only available by subscription or from odd little shops that only existing customers visit?
This. Comics need to be on the newsagents shelves. I am not talking of The Mega Collection, but the weekly and the meg. Marvel and DC pulled from newsstands,  interesting piece here, and read the comments on Archie comics. http://www.comicsbeat.com/who-killed-the-newsstand-comics-market/ (http://www.comicsbeat.com/who-killed-the-newsstand-comics-market/)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Fungus on 15 March, 2015, 08:01:42 AM
Concur. I will continue to make the (enjoyable!) walk into WHS every Wednesday to pick up my progs/megs for as long as possible and feel sure they need this exposure to tempt new readers. This is how I got back on board back in 2012, FFS!

Some chin-stroking types might think social media and digital comics negate the High St here of course. Sheesh, it's complicated. But it's not all Twitter/FB/Thrill-Mail/Thrill-Casts, you know.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: SmallBlueThing on 15 March, 2015, 10:28:18 AM
WHS always do this.  It's why I would never even consider having a regular order with them for anything.

If subbing isn't for you,  simply place an order at your nearest local newsagent.  I don't know why more people don't do this- it doesn't matter if they currently stock it or not,  any newsagent that carries UK magazines can get any UK magazine simply by ordering it.  If they say they can't,  they are lying and can't be arsed to keep your custom.  I've never been charged any kind of deposit for any magazine or comic in 40 years of using local newsagents.  Currently I have the prog,  the meg and the beano on order from mine and pick them up on Wednesdays.

SBT
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jim_Campbell on 15 March, 2015, 10:32:17 AM
Quote from: Fungus on 15 March, 2015, 08:01:42 AM
Sheesh, it's complicated. But it's not all Twitter/FB/Thrill-Mail/Thrill-Casts, you know.

WHAT?!

My world is in ruins...

Cheers

Jim
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 15 March, 2015, 04:16:56 PM
Quote from: Tordelback on 15 March, 2015, 12:33:17 AMThe publishers get the most money PER CUSTOMER that way. But where do new customers come from if books are only available by subscription or from odd little shops that only existing customers visit? [Appreciates that he has said this same thing 100 times before and everyone is bored reading it]
Given that one mag I wrote for was essentially killed due to demands from Tesco and others have had similar issues, I don't know what the solution is. And while I get where you're coming from, in a straight fight for survival, niche publications need your money, and subbing is an obvious recommendation to make on a board probably read regularly by maybe one per cent of 2000 AD's readership.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 15 March, 2015, 06:31:00 PM
Edited to say: I'm talking out of my nethers. Please ignore.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Colin Zeal on 15 March, 2015, 10:02:33 PM
I don't subscribe to prog/meg/hachette for various reasons that include my monthly finances and preference for buying the copy myself. I tried to get the prog ordered to the newsagents next to my office recently. For some reason that didn't make sense then and doesn't now they weren't able to do it.

It does make me nostalgic for the days when I got into comics as a kid. I had to visit the shop every day to get the paper for my parents. As a reward I was allowed to choose a comic for myself. Back then there was a huge range of titles to choose from and this was great. Where do today's kids get that same amount of exposure?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: ZenArcade on 15 March, 2015, 10:05:35 PM
Their bedroom and the net alas. Z
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 16 March, 2015, 10:23:07 AM
Lew Stringer's written about this a lot, as have others. The lack of titles beyond ones aimed at kids and adults is quite curious, to the point the medium itself is relatively unknown to some. I recall reading someone who mentioned Jason Kingsley talking to a teen about comics, and the lad saying that the concept seemed cool, but it had apparently passed him by. Crazy when I think of how I was surrounded by piles of the things as a kid, despite also growing up an in age of videogaming (albeit of the 8-bit variety; no internet then, of course).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jim_Campbell on 16 March, 2015, 10:47:57 AM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 16 March, 2015, 10:23:07 AM
Lew Stringer's written about this a lot, as have others. The lack of titles beyond ones aimed at kids and adults is quite curious, to the point the medium itself is relatively unknown to some.

I keep banging on about this... comics for the ten-and-under market are remarkably healthy and I don't believe that kids get to eleven and simply won't read comics. The fact is, there are no comics for them to read and so they get out of the habit, and so, for them, comics remain associated with childhood/childish reading matter.

Comics targeting the 11-16 bracket would provide the essential bridge to the 'mature' market, and is the reason why so many of us involved in STRIP wanted the magazine to succeed in spite of the combination of incompetence and dodginess of its Bosnian publisher.

I'm still convinced that something pitched between classic-era 2000AD and Warrior on the UK high street could sell enough copies to be viable.

Cheers

Jim
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 16 March, 2015, 11:20:47 AM
I imagine that the problem of this 'bridge' period is that is also the age where less restricted internet access becomes a reality. I supervise my 8 year-old's internet use obsessively, but with his interest in classic games on the Nintendo store and homemade Lego movies even now I'm aware that sometimes I forget that I've left his 3DS WiFi unlocked. The other week I heard him accidentally chant the password as I typed it in, presumably learned by glimpses over my shoulder.  By the time he's in secondary school I've little doubt he'll be able to circumvent any restriction I impose (we've already had 'all my friends have phones', a lie that becomes more plausible daily).

Which is as it should be, I suppose, but where do comics have a hope of fitting when faced with something even more compelling than Horace Goes Skiing?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 16 March, 2015, 11:35:04 AM
Maybe I'm kidding myself and will discover otherwise with mini-G, but I'm unconvinced the internet or modern games are the problem when it comes to comics. Kids still read. Kids love books. Kids love good comics. I imagine part of the issue is the death-spiral of print continually pushing up prices for the same amount of content, making comics look comparatively poor value, combined with, as Jim noted, the lack of content geared towards the pre-adult audience. (By comparison, teen literature is a big thing of late, and there's increasing choice there.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richmond Clements on 16 March, 2015, 12:06:18 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 16 March, 2015, 11:35:04 AM
Maybe I'm kidding myself and will discover otherwise with mini-G, but I'm unconvinced the internet or modern games are the problem when it comes to comics. Kids still read. Kids love books. Kids love good comics. I imagine part of the issue is the death-spiral of print continually pushing up prices for the same amount of content, making comics look comparatively poor value, combined with, as Jim noted, the lack of content geared towards the pre-adult audience. (By comparison, teen literature is a big thing of late, and there's increasing choice there.)

As I heard Pat Mills point out once - Japanese and French children have the internet and games consoles, too, and they read a sneck-load of comics.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 16 March, 2015, 12:44:48 PM
These are all very good points. I still can't help but compare my bringing that week's 2000AD on camping holidays and reading it again and again and again to the point that I can date most childhood holidays by reference to Barney, with my son's experience of a mountain of games and videos on his DS so that as long as he stays out of the leaks and gets first dibs on the car charger he could be anywhere. The quantity and quality of electronic entertainment available has to act to reduce the importance of comics in kids' lives.

That said [segue], I hope to use the Mega Collection to fight the tide.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Colin YNWA on 16 March, 2015, 01:43:40 PM
Quote from: Richmond Clements on 16 March, 2015, 12:06:18 PM
As I heard Pat Mills point out once - Japanese and French children have the internet and games consoles, too, and they read a sneck-load of comics.

Completely this. I too have long supported the idea that a comic aimed at a younger age akin to 2000ad between say Prog 250 and 600 (pulled out my ass and completely open to debate) but essentially all ages would go down a treat.

I guess the biggest problem and difference between that and the Japanese and French market is they have a shed load of choice. There's comics touching all genera and for all interests. Oh that and comics are read far more commonly by adults and so there is no stigma, though I do think that's diminishing here.

One great 'bridging' comic (to borrow Jim's term will not get us there, but it would certainly be a start.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 16 March, 2015, 02:33:37 PM
I think the stigma still exists, but the audience just happens to be growing a little as well. There's a real disconnect in general, with people who'll happily flock towards the latest Marvel blockbuster, but look at you funny if you say you read comics.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: shaolin_monkey on 16 March, 2015, 02:44:28 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 16 March, 2015, 02:33:37 PM
I think the stigma still exists, but the audience just happens to be growing a little as well. There's a real disconnect in general, with people who'll happily flock towards the latest Marvel blockbuster, but look at you funny if you say you read comics.

Ha!  Funny you should say that - I was in the pool a few months back, and a guy covered in Marvel tats approached me to comment on mine (I have a large Monkey King on my back).  I politely enthused about his Spidey and Thor etc, and commented if I were to get any more tats my next would probably be a Judge Dredd one.  He actually snorted in derision!  Arsewipe. 

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Colin YNWA on 16 March, 2015, 03:34:45 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 16 March, 2015, 02:33:37 PM
I think the stigma still exists, but the audience just happens to be growing a little as well. There's a real disconnect in general, with people who'll happily flock towards the latest Marvel blockbuster, but look at you funny if you say you read comics.

Maybe I'm being overly optimistic? I certainly don't get the same looks I used to when I wipe mine out in public. Though the fact I'm a lot more confident than I used to be may mean I don't seem them, or worry about them the way the me in my teens and early 20s would have.

I see more people reading comics publicly and certainly when you look around the College I work at the students seem by and large happy to engage - if they are interested with no stigma.

I reckon real progress has been made?

But I should stop dragging this off topic!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Leigh S on 16 March, 2015, 04:08:44 PM

Japan and France have a wider culture of everyone, particularly adults, reading comics, wich I think plays into that - if you see adults reading them, and there is that level of infiltration to the general culture, then of course the kids of all ages will read and find something to read.

Quote from: Colin_YNWA on 16 March, 2015, 01:43:40 PM
Quote from: Richmond Clements on 16 March, 2015, 12:06:18 PM
As I heard Pat Mills point out once - Japanese and French children have the internet and games consoles, too, and they read a sneck-load of comics.

Completely this. I too have long supported the idea that a comic aimed at a younger age akin to 2000ad between say Prog 250 and 600 (pulled out my ass and completely open to debate) but essentially all ages would go down a treat.

I guess the biggest problem and difference between that and the Japanese and French market is they have a shed load of choice. There's comics touching all genera and for all interests. Oh that and comics are read far more commonly by adults and so there is no stigma, though I do think that's diminishing here.

One great 'bridging' comic (to borrow Jim's term will not get us there, but it would certainly be a start.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 16 March, 2015, 04:12:01 PM
Quote from: shaolin_monkey on 16 March, 2015, 02:44:28 PMI was in the pool a few months back, and a guy covered in Marvel tats approached me to comment on mine (I have a large Monkey King on my back).  I politely enthused about his Spidey and Thor etc, and commented if I were to get any more tats my next would probably be a Judge Dredd one.  He actually snorted in derision!  Arsewipe.

It starts well, but you're going to have to work on that ending before you pitch it to the porn studios.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 16 March, 2015, 07:46:09 PM
Quote from: Colin Zeal on 15 March, 2015, 10:02:33 PM
It does make me nostalgic for the days when I got into comics as a kid. I had to visit the shop every day to get the paper for my parents. As a reward I was allowed to choose a comic for myself. Back then there was a huge range of titles to choose from and this was great. Where do today's kids get that same amount of exposure?

I know what you mean.  I remember being able to traipse round the different newsagents in Gloucester who all seemed to stock different comics from different publishers.  Was complete pot luck as to what you would find at times but all seemed to have a shelve full of semi current Marvel / DC / tooth / best of tooth.  First time I went to Nostalgia and Comics in Birmingham I almost had a breakdown! (this was back in the days before FP took it over mind).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Satanist on 17 March, 2015, 06:03:59 PM
Quote from: Tordelback on 16 March, 2015, 04:12:01 PM
Quote from: shaolin_monkey on 16 March, 2015, 02:44:28 PMI was in the pool a few months back, and a guy covered in Marvel tats approached me to comment on mine (I have a large Monkey King on my back).  I politely enthused about his Spidey and Thor etc, and commented if I were to get any more tats my next would probably be a Judge Dredd one.  He actually snorted in derision!  Arsewipe.

It starts well, but you're going to have to work on that ending before you pitch it to the porn studios.

...then his towel fell off revealing his Punisher  :lol:
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Eamonn Clarke on 17 March, 2015, 06:06:44 PM
Or even his Man-Thing?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jim_Campbell on 17 March, 2015, 06:22:52 PM
Quote from: eamonn1961 on 17 March, 2015, 06:06:44 PM
Or even his Man-Thing?

Ain't no Man-Thing like a Giant-Sized Man-Thing...

(http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20070411195857/marveldatabase/images/2/22/Giant-Size_Man-Thing_Vol_1_3.jpg)

Cheers!

Jim
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 17 March, 2015, 06:51:04 PM
I have a giant sized Man Thing.

And it were green.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 17 March, 2015, 07:23:09 PM
Aaadh! Man-thing - always in the 25p boxes with my favourite title "Night Thrasher". Mind you you get funny looks reading "iron fist"
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Enigmatic Dr X on 17 March, 2015, 09:06:51 PM
I regret not subbing to this. Think you can get a sub and back issues?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 17 March, 2015, 09:21:53 PM
They were signing people up at the weekend at the London con. Best to start with issue 1 - you'll just be a bit behind as they only post out 2 issues once s month. I was very impressed with the free badge.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Fungus on 17 March, 2015, 10:44:04 PM
Agreed. Just order the past books if you need the full run.
I've ordered one direct already, it arrived promptly, with no documentation, and as if it had been knocked about a bit. All of which I expected as a reader of this thread  :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: iutley on 18 March, 2015, 09:53:13 AM
Quick question for Molch-R if he's reading - I've just noticed that the original test area editions didn't just have a different spine image but different volume numbers as well. I was just wondering how the numbering was decided? Is it Rebellion who decide which order the books will ultimately go in or is it Hachette? Just curious really...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Molch-R on 18 March, 2015, 10:12:14 AM
Quote from: iutley on 18 March, 2015, 09:53:13 AM
Quick question for Molch-R if he's reading - I've just noticed that the original test area editions didn't just have a different spine image but different volume numbers as well. I was just wondering how the numbering was decided? Is it Rebellion who decide which order the books will ultimately go in or is it Hachette? Just curious really...

Matt decided on the order, but that list was tinkered with since the tests were arranged so that's why they're different.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Spikes on 18 March, 2015, 04:38:01 PM
Couldn't find book 5 today.  :(
Will try again tomorrow..
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Zenith 666 on 18 March, 2015, 05:42:42 PM
That's terrible Spikes because I got it and it's absolutely stunning :D
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 18 March, 2015, 10:45:04 PM
Quote from: Spikes on 18 March, 2015, 04:38:01 PM
Couldn't find book 5 today.  :(
Will try again tomorrow..


Just subscribe
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: iutley on 19 March, 2015, 09:57:38 AM
Quote from: Molch-R on 18 March, 2015, 10:12:14 AM
Matt decided on the order, but that list was tinkered with since the tests were arranged so that's why they're different.

Cool, thanks for that. Interesting to see how these things work
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Spikes on 19 March, 2015, 10:50:16 AM
Quote from: Skullmo on 18 March, 2015, 10:45:04 PM
Quote from: Spikes on 18 March, 2015, 04:38:01 PM
Couldn't find book 5 today.  :(
Will try again tomorrow..


Just subscribe

I would but i'm not keen on recieving damaged books.
No luck today either. One last port of call to go to later on, so fingers crossed...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 19 March, 2015, 11:30:12 AM
Quote from: Spikes on 19 March, 2015, 10:50:16 AM
Quote from: Skullmo on 18 March, 2015, 10:45:04 PM
Quote from: Spikes on 18 March, 2015, 04:38:01 PM
Couldn't find book 5 today.  :(
Will try again tomorrow..


Just subscribe



I would but i'm not keen on recieving damaged books.
No luck today either. One last port of call to go to later on, so fingers crossed...


They replace any damaged ones
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Spikes on 19 March, 2015, 11:44:28 AM
That's ok then.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 19 March, 2015, 12:10:20 PM
The packaging thing is really odd. The books come in card sleeves and tend to get banged about. My Apocalypse War was beyond what I considered acceptable. The replacement arrived really quickly, wrapped in bubble wrap. Bizarre they don't do that for all of them. Presumably the number of replacements costs less than upgrading the packaging for everyone.

(Mind you, still no 4+5 here. Sigh.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 19 March, 2015, 12:18:48 PM
All 5 of mine have arrived in perfect condition.
The badge was damaged but I got a replacement, sent with another mug in the mug box, pretty quickly.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Satanist on 19 March, 2015, 01:36:01 PM
None in FP today but found it in a newsies. Lookin forward to this one as its all new to me.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 19 March, 2015, 02:03:41 PM
yeah - the badge in the packaging wrecked my apoc and mechanismo - origins had a small ding in it but i didn't bother complaining. And America Shamblla was perfect.

Not sure if anyone has seen this yet - I just spotted it https://forbiddenplanet.com/136989-2000ad-judge-dredd-graphic-novel-collection-volume-6-mandroid/
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: J.Smith on 19 March, 2015, 02:22:57 PM
Quote from: Skullmo on 19 March, 2015, 02:03:41 PM
Not sure if anyone has seen this yet - I just spotted it https://forbiddenplanet.com/136989-2000ad-judge-dredd-graphic-novel-collection-volume-6-mandroid/

Someone pointed out that FP had that listed upcoming volumes previously, yeah. Might've been me actually, since I do know that I thought Mandroid's cover, taken from the first story, was the best so far. Gotta love Kev Walker's pissed off Dredd.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Judge Nutmeg on 19 March, 2015, 09:04:04 PM
the only downside with white covers is my mucky paw marks  :lol:
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Anzati on 21 March, 2015, 11:36:06 AM
Issues 5 and 6 turned up today (with the free coasters), can't wait to read these and I've not read either Snmballa or Mandroid before and I do love both Arthur Ranson's and Carl Critchlow's work :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 21 March, 2015, 11:56:22 AM
My replacement copy of Shamballa came today - I can't really fault Hachette when they replace scratched books so easily. Any idea what's after Mandroid?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 21 March, 2015, 01:24:37 PM
It looks like my account's now finally rumbled back into action again, with 4+5 and the coasters today prepped for shipping. It is a bit weird people are now digging into Mandroid though, when plenty of people haven't got issue 4. One issue behind, sure, but three? Ah well.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Anzati on 21 March, 2015, 01:42:53 PM
Yeah, seems that Hachette got into some sort of mess with the initial orders that they haven't quite gotten out of. They seem to have gotten a month behind with those who subscribed from issues 1 or 2. I guess that's an artefact of the monthly delivery, but fortnightly release...

Is 4 and 5 your third delivery? 5 and 6 was my second delivery and I'm expecting my third delivery of issues 7 and 8 to appear on my account around the 7th April.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 21 March, 2015, 03:33:58 PM
Yep. I ordered from #1. My dates so far:

Jan 20: Subscribed from issue one
Jan 27: Issue 1 dispatch
Feb 14: Issue 2+3 dispatch (2.5 weeks)
Mar 21: Issue 4+5 dispatch (5 weeks)

On the assumption this is a fortnightly collection, it's odd to see 2.5-week gaps per book here. If the sub doesn't rebalance, there'd be no books at all in June. (I assume the next dispatch will be closer to April 18.)

I guess given the manner in which these are mailed in blocks combined with Hachette's "never charge anyone twice in one month" mantra, the people who subbed from issue one AND late in the month may end up with this odd lateness.

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Spikes on 23 March, 2015, 04:22:10 PM
And I finally tracked down a copy of book 5. I knew I would,  ;)
But to save any future hassle, I've set up a standing order with my local newsagent.

As with the previous four books, this is one nice looking collection.

I've got the stories already, but I honestly cant remember the last time I read them, so looking forward to re-visiting these.

(Just a slight shame the cover doesn't contain a flash of red, like the others...)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 23 March, 2015, 09:06:16 PM
...but the back cover is stunning!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Super Mario on 24 March, 2015, 09:26:43 AM
I'm stupid, can someone explain the endings to Shamballa and Satan for me?!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Zenith 666 on 24 March, 2015, 10:59:27 AM
Anderson lives.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 24 March, 2015, 11:11:17 AM
As I understand it, the Rand Corporation, in conjunction with the Saucer People, and under the supervision of the Reverse Vampires, turn out to be no worse than Justice Dept itself. Or am I thinking of another Anderson story?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 24 March, 2015, 04:33:58 PM
Quote from: Super Mario on 24 March, 2015, 09:26:43 AM
I'm stupid, can someone explain the endings to Shamballa and Satan for me?!

The ending is that Anderson saves the world for destruction and no one notices as she is just that crazy PSI.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mardroid on 24 March, 2015, 10:12:22 PM
Quote from: Super Mario on 24 March, 2015, 09:26:43 AM
I'm stupid, can someone explain the endings to Shamballa and Satan for me?!


The way I understand it, [spoiler]when she read his mind earlier she found that he actually felt guilty for his deeds although I suspect he suppressed it. The idea being that no living sentient being could do that amount of evil and not get a pang of conscience. I think she put a psychic suggestion in his rocky head that expanded that guilt.

Not too sure why that would physically destroy him. Possibly it's because evil had become so central to his being over millions of years to challenge it completely undid him. The devil* the very progenitor of evil feeling guilty? He just couldn't take it.

The resolution smacked a bit of something from a new Doctor Who tale, and [/spoiler] I'm not sure of it but I quite liked the story. And the art was amazing....

*At least [spoiler]he believes he is the devil.[/spoiler]
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Proudhuff on 25 March, 2015, 11:57:10 AM
Not spotted the latest in any Edinbra shops...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Anzati on 25 March, 2015, 02:24:23 PM
Anyone think that this series is likely to be extended similar to how the Marvel one has?

I've just been looking at the numbering for the Marvel series and noticed that they extended the spine image and began numbering issues with 'Classic XXXIV' etc. I don't collect the Marvel series, but was the spine image extended to the right or left?

The other day someone on the Mega Collection Facebook page pointed out that the spine image that we have been shown comes to a definitive end on the right (Vol. 80), but on the left (Vol. 1) the image is cut off in a similar way to the volumes between. This struck me as a little odd, but I'd assumed that if the series was to be extended there would be a new spine image...guess I was wrong and now I'm curious.

I'm sure it'll be a very long time before we have any indication of plans like this, but I wondered what everyone else's thoughts on this were. What do you think it will be (other classic 2000AD characters is my guess)? Do you think that this is a good idea or bad (I like the idea of a parallel series, but not sure I like being forced into it in the same way that the Marvel lot have)?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 25 March, 2015, 02:32:38 PM
I would argue that you are not forced into it as long as you have free will
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Anzati on 25 March, 2015, 02:38:07 PM
OK we'll call it 'given an ultimatum' then; collect this new extension for an extra £600 or fail to complete the collection you signed up for and have already spent over £500 on :P
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 25 March, 2015, 02:46:33 PM
Quote from: Skullmo on 25 March, 2015, 02:32:38 PM
I would argue that you are not forced into it as long as you have free will

Truly thou art a loving god.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: J.Smith on 25 March, 2015, 03:22:15 PM
It's too early to tell if that'll be the case surely, because we don't know how much of Dredd's world this will manage to cover in its eighty volumes.

A shorter collection of other 2000AD strips is a possibility if this keeps up I guess, sure, but wouldn't that have to be completely separate? Unlike the Marvel series, which isn't focused on a particular character or era as far as I can tell, they couldn't very well expand this collection out of the blue with non-Dredd-world material when it's clearly called The Judge Dredd Mega Collection, you know? Maybe they could wiggle around that by explaining that this theoretical book of 2000AD material that suddenly lands on our doorsteps is a free starter in their new line if we were interested but the answer to that, if you're not interested, is to return it and make it clear you only want the Dredd series.

So I'll just second what Skullmo said: it's completely up to you if you want to continue or not should such a thing happen. Since this launched I've only heard good things about Hachette's customer service, so I can't see them screwing people around by forcing a second collection upon them like an old thread about the Marvel expansion I read once seemed to imply.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 25 March, 2015, 05:09:32 PM
I wonder does the unfinished left hand side of the spine image allow for a Vol 0 Index?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Anzati on 25 March, 2015, 05:11:49 PM
Quote from: Tordelback on 25 March, 2015, 05:09:32 PM
I wonder does the unfinished left hand side of the spine image allow for a Vol 0 Index?

Now that's something that I'd be VERY happy about...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 25 March, 2015, 06:18:48 PM
Quote from: Anzati on 25 March, 2015, 05:11:49 PM
Quote from: Tordelback on 25 March, 2015, 05:09:32 PM
I wonder does the unfinished left hand side of the spine image allow for a Vol 0 Index?

Now that's something that I'd be VERY happy about...

Of course this assumes that they only use integers.  If we include the set of complex numbers as well then we could have images extending above and below the current ones.  I would have thought that they would avoid rational and irrational numbers on the ground that it would be tricky to fit images in between those that we already have.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Albion on 25 March, 2015, 08:49:32 PM
Quote from: Anzati on 25 March, 2015, 02:24:23 PM
I've just been looking at the numbering for the Marvel series and noticed that they extended the spine image and began numbering issues with 'Classic XXXIV' etc. I don't collect the Marvel series, but was the spine image extended to the right or left?

It was extended to the right.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 26 March, 2015, 12:31:48 PM
The spine probably does not finish in case they come to the last book and the spine doesn't fit they can just tag a bit on
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Anzati on 26 March, 2015, 03:18:28 PM
The JD collection image appears to have an end at vol. 80, so the extra to fit doesn't work there. Its to the left of vo. 1 that it appears to be cut off.

Looks like the Marvel collection was extended to the right and left after the series was extended from 60 sequentially numbered volumes to 120. 20 volumes to the right for 80 volumes and 40 volumes to the left using roman numerals for the classics. After the extension the marvel spine image appears to have two definite ends.

The Dredd collection was extended from 60 volumes to 80 after the trial and that side does seem to have a definite end on the right, but the left is still cut off. If the series continues to be popular I do think that this indicates where there are plans to extend the series, possibly to 120 volumes like the Marvel one. I'm just very curious as to what this extension would include :)

I've added a little comparison picture of the released spine images below :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 26 March, 2015, 03:29:56 PM
More importantly is anyone missing? Is max there?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Albion on 26 March, 2015, 04:24:18 PM
Oops. I was wrong about the Marvel collection then. Knew I should have checked the leaflet they sent when the collection was expanded. Doh!  :-[
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Anzati on 26 March, 2015, 08:54:35 PM
The silly thing is...the more I think about it, the more excited I am about the possibility of extension...can't really afford it as it is...but I'm sure I'd enjoy an extra 40 volumes :)

I haven't bithered trying to identify everyone in the image yet...checking who is missing is a good idea :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 27 March, 2015, 11:03:02 AM
Well, my 4+5 just squeaked in at the end of March. The books in themselves look good, but again one of them is damaged, due to Hachette deciding to send them (and some coasters I'd entirely forgotten about) in a box that was far too big. I know Hachette will replace my dinged Shamballa, but it seems so wasteful.

Pic and gripe here (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153210201873126&set=o.1517847991806337&type=1&theater) if anyone wants to see the absurd box.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 27 March, 2015, 11:06:50 AM
Hopefully once the free gifts have stopped the books will have less wiggle room in smaller boxes.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 27 March, 2015, 12:01:55 PM
The crazy thing is, my last replacement arrived in perfect condition, because it had a bit of bubble wrap around it. Ah well.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 27 March, 2015, 03:22:35 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 27 March, 2015, 11:03:02 AM
Well, my 4+5 just squeaked in at the end of March. The books in themselves look good, but again one of them is damaged, due to Hachette deciding to send them (and some coasters I'd entirely forgotten about) in a box that was far too big. I know Hachette will replace my dinged Shamballa, but it seems so wasteful.

Pic and gripe here (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153210201873126&set=o.1517847991806337&type=1&theater) if anyone wants to see the absurd box.

My books were sent in the same type of box and thankfully arrived with no damage at all.

Perhaps the postie plays football with yours.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 27 March, 2015, 03:59:59 PM
It's just luck of the draw, but that's the problem with ineffective packaging. Mind you, last time the damage wasn't the postie's fault, but Hachette's for shoving a badge into a box that wasn't big enough for it and the two books, hence Apocalypse War getting a gouge down its back.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Spikes on 27 March, 2015, 04:15:10 PM
And this is exactly why I didn't sign up.
I know peeps have had theirs delivered OK, but a good few haven't. Maybe the packaging will improve, as others have speculated, once the free gifts are out of the equation..

But for me, I've now set-up a standing order from the local newsagent (who stock the prog as well), so two birds with one stone.
Sorted.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 27 March, 2015, 04:26:22 PM
I'm increasingly tempted to do the same, although we lack any indies in town now, and so I don't know how amenable the chains would be to doing something like this.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Fungus on 27 March, 2015, 04:50:34 PM
Not a subscriber, but ordered Origins direct from Hachette. Fairly snug packaging, but no bubble-wrap for me and bumps to the cover. Wouldn't buy a book off the shelf in that condition. If I was buying everything I'd talk to my newsagent (and not the self-service scanning abomination that W H Smith have now installed :) ). Damaged goods shouldn't be luck of the draw... (helpfully sending replacements is not the point).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: mckee74 on 27 March, 2015, 11:22:09 PM
Yep, very silly packaging. A few scratches but I think I'll live with it.

Has to be said, the cover art on Issue Five is just stunning.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Colin Zeal on 28 March, 2015, 01:48:17 AM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 27 March, 2015, 04:26:22 PM
I'm increasingly tempted to do the same, although we lack any indies in town now, and so I don't know how amenable the chains would be to doing something like this.

I guess newsagents are different to comic shops in this respect because my local comic can't order this for me. The owner says he can order anything else I want apart from this. He thinks it's down to wh smith having the exclusive rights to sell it but he isn't sure if that's why. The wh smith I was buying it in no longer stocks copies so what am I meant to do apart from make a trip to forbidden planet to buy it?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Zenith 666 on 28 March, 2015, 01:56:39 AM
You'll just have to move Colin.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: SmallBlueThing on 28 March, 2015, 07:36:43 AM
My local newsie has one on order for someone. I seriously hope it's not the same guy who had a standing order for the Marvel Figurine Collection and who then didn't pick them up for months, meaning every time I went to buy milk I had to explain that no,  it's not me and yes,  I've already had mine.  Sigh.

SBT 
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: BPP on 28 March, 2015, 11:50:45 AM
Quote from: SmallBlueThing on 28 March, 2015, 07:36:43 AM
My local newsie has one on order for someone. I seriously hope it's not the same guy who had a standing order for the Marvel Figurine Collection and who then didn't pick them up for months, meaning every time I went to buy milk I had to explain that no,  it's not me and yes,  I've already had mine.  Sigh.

SBT

We could have a whip round and get you a Tshirt with that printed up, save some time.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Judge Nutmeg on 28 March, 2015, 01:55:59 PM
Any idea what stories the heavy mob will include?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 28 March, 2015, 08:49:36 PM
Quote from: Colin Zeal on 28 March, 2015, 01:48:17 AMHe thinks it's down to wh smith having the exclusive rights to sell it but he isn't sure if that's why.
Unlikely, given that I got issue one from a Martin's.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Colin Zeal on 30 March, 2015, 01:08:04 AM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 28 March, 2015, 08:49:36 PM
Quote from: Colin Zeal on 28 March, 2015, 01:48:17 AMHe thinks it's down to wh smith having the exclusive rights to sell it but he isn't sure if that's why.
Unlikely, given that I got issue one from a Martin's.

Well whatever the reason, my local comic shop can't order it for me. It's a bloody nuisance but fortunately I can go to fp to get it. Most people won't have that option.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 30 March, 2015, 07:43:24 AM
That problem is inherent in the partwork format - direct subscription is the intention. If there was a conventional market for fortnightly 200 page hardbacks on the newsagent's shelves or LCS, I'm sure Rebellion would have jumped at it before now (26 HB GNs a year isn't exactly normal output). The pricepoint and initial investment costs must all be based on long-running subs direct from Hachette. It's a pain, but I suspect difficulties with alternative distribution are inevitable.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 30 March, 2015, 09:19:16 AM
Given that WHSmith take, what, about half the cover price, it's not difficult to see how these companies want to heavily skew towards direct sales via subscription. (This also probably accounts for the packaging being so simple. For everyone who moans about a dinged book, dozens more just won't care. It's probably cheaper to replace a handful of books every month than 'upgrade' everything.)

Still, it's a pity that the series will within the next month or two probably fade from view in the majority of outlets, its survival then entirely reliant on the subs pool. Here's hoping it's big enough for the series to get through all 60 books.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Spikes on 30 March, 2015, 02:57:38 PM
I see over on their facebook page it states that the Cursed Earth is going to be book 8.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 30 March, 2015, 02:59:42 PM
Always amazed to see double volumes of the marvel partworks in WHSmith Paddington - I've picked up a few because of this. Hope Dredd can stay in stores
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 30 March, 2015, 04:14:28 PM
Quote from: Spikes on 30 March, 2015, 02:57:38 PM
I see over on their facebook page it states that the Cursed Earth is going to be book 8.

It will contain the banned episodes!




Psyche!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Anzati on 30 March, 2015, 04:18:35 PM
Quote from: Judge Nutmeg on 28 March, 2015, 01:55:59 PM
Any idea what stories the heavy mob will include?

According to the blog post it'll be:

Holocaust 12 (54 pages)
Brit-Cit Brute (39 pages)
Wynter (9 pages)
Father Earth (24 pages)
Debris (30 pages)
Warzone (48 pages)

I'm guessing that's everything as it comes to 204 pages :)

Quote from: Skullmo on 30 March, 2015, 04:14:28 PM
Quote from: Spikes on 30 March, 2015, 02:57:38 PM
I see over on their facebook page it states that the Cursed Earth is going to be book 8.

It will contain the banned episodes!




Psyche!

...and the colour pages...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Fungus on 30 March, 2015, 04:28:03 PM
No need to buy The Cursed Earth for a fourth time (or the Dredd annual reprint backup), but...

more interested in The Heavy Mob. Not familiar with these (from memory), apart from Father Earth.
Is it worth picking this up?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 30 March, 2015, 04:48:21 PM
Volume 8 - Fodder's fate.

Running Debris without Payback is an odd choice  - to my mind those two extra episodes give that story its proper weight, not to mention more of the Corps. Better use of paper than Wynter too (despite the nice art). Be interesting to read Warzone again, a useful companion piece to Mandroid.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 30 March, 2015, 04:57:17 PM
I am curious now how many pages would calhab justice have in full? Enough for one of these?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 30 March, 2015, 05:06:12 PM
Surely Calhab justice would have gone well with Brit Cit Brute!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Judge Nutmeg on 30 March, 2015, 08:02:50 PM
Quote from: Anzati on 30 March, 2015, 04:18:35 PM
Quote from: Judge Nutmeg on 28 March, 2015, 01:55:59 PM
Any idea what stories the heavy mob will include?

According to the blog post it'll be:

Holocaust 12 (54 pages)
Brit-Cit Brute (39 pages)
Wynter (9 pages)
Father Earth (24 pages)
Debris (30 pages)
Warzone (48 pages)

I'm guessing that's everything as it comes to 204 pages :)

Quote from: Skullmo on 30 March, 2015, 04:14:28 PM
Quote from: Spikes on 30 March, 2015, 02:57:38 PM
I see over on their facebook page it states that the Cursed Earth is going to be book 8.

It will contain the banned episodes!




Psyche!

...and the colour pages...


cheers
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: JOE SOAP on 30 March, 2015, 08:07:53 PM
Quote from: Skullmo on 30 March, 2015, 04:14:28 PM
Quote from: Spikes on 30 March, 2015, 02:57:38 PM
I see over on their facebook page it states that the Cursed Earth is going to be book 8.

It will contain the banned episodes!


"We're afraid that Burger Wars & Soul Food won't be reprinted in this collection."


https://www.facebook.com/judgedreddcollection
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 30 March, 2015, 08:23:35 PM
Hence, I imagine, the "Psyche!" addition to that post...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 31 March, 2015, 01:21:09 AM
There will also be no colour pages!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 31 March, 2015, 09:10:26 PM
Has anyone received issues 6 & 7? No deliveries scheduled for me yet!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 01 April, 2015, 08:19:50 AM
Nope, not yet. Mine was scheduled so that it coincides with the second of every issue, if that makes sense.
So Mandroid came out this week so I'm expecting a delivery to be scheduled for the start of next week meaning I'll receive 6 & 7 as issue 7 hits the shops.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moldovangerbil on 01 April, 2015, 08:23:40 AM
My deliveries so far have shown up on the hachette website on the last day of each month and then turned up about a week later, but looking just now there's no entry for issues 6 and 7 on there yet.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Zenith 666 on 01 April, 2015, 12:49:29 PM
No mega collection today.has anyone managed to pick one up or have Hachette abandoned high st. Already.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Anzati on 01 April, 2015, 01:14:21 PM
I saw several copies of Mandroid in the Huntingdon WH Smiths when I picked up the Prog this morning.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 01 April, 2015, 01:47:38 PM
Good grief, my replacement arrived quickly this time. Sent my address via Facebook yesterday, and it showed up this morning. Again, the packaging was better than the original delivery's. Anyway, I think I'll stop griping about the boxes now, given how good Hachette is about replacing books.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 01 April, 2015, 07:01:12 PM
Good to see Mandroid in Paddington WHSmiths - I had to fight not to buy it and wait for my subscription. Hope they continue living in the wild
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 01 April, 2015, 08:53:32 PM
Arrived home to my copies of Mandroid and the Heavies tonight - both gorgeous books and really well packed this time! :D :D :D

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 01 April, 2015, 09:01:08 PM
Skillmo - out of interest when does your Hachette account say yours were posted? Did you get the bookends? Cheers!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 01 April, 2015, 09:02:35 PM
Apologies for renaming you... I've got fat fingers
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 01 April, 2015, 09:10:45 PM
A tidbit from Facebook:

"You're looking for the story Emerald Isle, published in Progs 727-732, or you can find it in Judge Dredd Case Files 15, or wait for Vol 56 of the Mega Collection and it will be featured there too!"
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 01 April, 2015, 09:23:55 PM
Fifty-six: Shifty Micks.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 02 April, 2015, 02:30:39 AM
Quote from: Skullmo on 01 April, 2015, 08:53:32 PM
Arrived home to my copies of Mandroid and the Heavies tonight - both gorgeous books and really well packed this time! :D :D :D


Mwa ha ha April Fools!

Nothing really came  :'(
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 02 April, 2015, 08:28:31 AM
I thought Emerald Isle material being reprinted was the April Fool! You got me Skullmo! Really enjoyed the podcast - great to hear Kev Walker
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: COMMANDO FORCES on 02 April, 2015, 06:07:47 PM
Popped into Smiths yesterday and noticed that there were only 5 copies of the latest issue in the area where they've been stacked.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 02 April, 2015, 08:10:23 PM
Cracked and bought Mandroid in WHSmiths - I'll have to cancel my subscription. Book looks great & has s great intro & piece on vigilantes. Great art, cover & end papers!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Super Mario on 03 April, 2015, 12:08:32 PM
I've never read Mandroid before, it's well depressing.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 03 April, 2015, 02:10:30 PM
The first Mandroid is really impressive - very much in the tone of the movie. Love it
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 04 April, 2015, 01:48:14 PM
Wow, haven't read Mandroid since it ran, it really is a breathtakingly bleak story, with some marvellous reflections from a Dredd who stuffs this one up big time. In light of recent stories, it's interesting to see the comment about the role/lack of Block Judges too.

Walker's art here is truly incredible, and I found the transition through Coleby to Critchlow rather neatly done, in large part due to some skilful colouring.  Stylistically i don't think Carl was the right choice for the final parts (he hadn't quite reached his current heights or maybe there's just a bit too much Lobster Random in there, I don't know), but there's no denying the quality of the work. 

Bad Mother is a one-note strip that I could do without reading again, even though it's Cam, and I haven't got round to Escape from Atlantis yet - there's really a hell of a lot in these things for your groat! 

Molcher's article on vigilantes in Dredd is a substantial piece and generally excellent - lots of stuff I'd forgotten or missed, and well illustrated.  Well worth its pages.

And as ever the cover and production are beautiful.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Judge Nutmeg on 04 April, 2015, 06:25:25 PM
Mandroid is a great story, was'nt too keen on the sequel think it would have been better with slaughterhouse back as a lone vigilante although it has a great closing line about the changing nature of Dredd.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Magnetica on 06 April, 2015, 07:37:37 PM
Do we know what's up next after Mandroid?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 06 April, 2015, 07:43:18 PM
According to Hachette, [spoiler]The Heavy Mob, a compilation of 'special forces' stories, and The Cursed Earth[/spoiler].
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 06 April, 2015, 09:39:33 PM
As revealed a couple of pages back. Book 7:

Holocaust 12 (54 pages)
Brit-Cit Brute (39 pages)
Wynter (9 pages)
Father Earth (24 pages)
Debris (30 pages)
Warzone (48 pages)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 06 April, 2015, 10:42:02 PM
Never read ANY of the stories in Mandroid before and I must admit to really enjoying it, in a depressing way.  You really feel for Slaughterhouse in a lot of this book because he really is a victim of circumstamces.  q
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mardroid on 07 April, 2015, 06:16:08 PM
I've read the second Mandroid story,  but the first it's before my time. I'm rather looking forward to it.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 07 April, 2015, 06:25:08 PM
I loved Bad Mother. Great Cam Kennedy art and a premise which could have been throwaway but was used to great effect. Amazing to see a classic artist still providing the thrills. Really impressed with the choice of stories so far & the mix of classic & less familiar material. I've cancelled my subscription just because I can't wait to get these books from WHSmiths.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Spikes on 07 April, 2015, 10:58:44 PM
I see we now have our first consecutively numbered books, and the first glimpse of spines matching up, with Mechanismo (book 24), and Mandroid (book 25).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 08 April, 2015, 08:30:11 AM
Volumes 6 & 7 have now been sent to me today.
Hopefully I'll get them within the week and they should contain the bookends.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moldovangerbil on 08 April, 2015, 10:11:38 AM
Definitely getting the bookends with 6 & 7?  I've been told they're going out with 8 & 9 and they don't show up on my account on hachette's site.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 08 April, 2015, 11:46:16 AM
Same here, registering as posted.  Usually takes best part of week but with luck will be able to enjoy over the weekend before getting back into the long slog.  The bookends are not listed as dispatched for me either.  Not that I'm overly worried on that score.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 08 April, 2015, 11:57:53 AM
Curiously, my account has two "judge dredd the mega collectio" listed for April 8—a mere 2.5 weeks after the last dispatch date (vs. five after the one before that). Woo and, indeed, hoo!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 08 April, 2015, 04:22:12 PM
Quote from: moldovangerbil on 08 April, 2015, 10:11:38 AM
Definitely getting the bookends with 6 & 7?  I've been told they're going out with 8 & 9 and they don't show up on my account on hachette's site.

Just assumed.

I'm probably wrong.

I am most days.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Anzati on 08 April, 2015, 04:41:30 PM
As I understand it the bookends were down as 4th delivery not including issue 1, so if you got the coasters with your last delivey, then there will be no free gifts with this one as the coasters count as 2nd delivery for free gift purposes.

Unusually my account updated today showing that only one issue has been dispatched (which I expect to be issue 7), instead of the usual two issues per month. I wonder if this is to bring me back inline with other subscribers who received issues 4 and 5 for their last delivery...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jamie1000013 on 12 April, 2015, 01:14:05 PM
What's Mandroid like? I think my favourite so far has been Origins. Story was great and I love how it all linked together, past and present. It also gave me a lot of background info since I am generally a new reader since prog 1900. Looking forward to stories about Dredd's clone brother, cursed earth stories (Angel gang mostly), and just some wacky stories.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 14 April, 2015, 09:49:32 PM
Mandroid was my favourite so far - grim & compelling. Origins may be far more satisfying for a long term reader but I wasn't always aware of the dots from the past being joined. Carlos art is solid on Origins but maybe not as inventive as Necropolis or textured as the Apocalypse war. I went into Mandroid expecting nothing but a rip-off terminator story and was blown away.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jamie1000013 on 14 April, 2015, 10:09:31 PM

Any subs got Mandriod and Heavy mob yet? Still haven't got mine and really looking forward to getting them. What is Heavy Mob like for those who have it?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Grey M@a on 14 April, 2015, 10:27:05 PM
Subbed about 2 - 3 weeks ago but still waiting on issue 6, bought issue 1 - 5 from WHSmiths. Nothing showing on account but states wait 28 days for delivery.

Looking forward to issue 6 when it lands
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Kudos on 14 April, 2015, 11:26:36 PM
Quote from: Jamie1000013 on 14 April, 2015, 10:09:31 PM

Any subs got Mandriod and Heavy mob yet? Still haven't got mine and really looking forward to getting them. What is Heavy Mob like for those who have it?

I wasn't impressed... http://www.sidekickcast.com/judge-dredd-mega-collection-7-the-heavy-mob/
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 15 April, 2015, 01:47:41 AM
Quote from: Kudos on 14 April, 2015, 11:26:36 PM
Quote from: Jamie1000013 on 14 April, 2015, 10:09:31 PM

Any subs got Mandriod and Heavy mob yet? Still haven't got mine and really looking forward to getting them. What is Heavy Mob like for those who have it?

I wasn't impressed... http://www.sidekickcast.com/judge-dredd-mega-collection-7-the-heavy-mob/

I like that review!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 15 April, 2015, 10:19:56 AM
Maybe we overestimate the amount of quality material that really exists for books of this size, but it is a pity mediocre content isn't being used as filler but as the basis for much of a volume. I hope one iffy volume doesn't impact on subs or people buying issue-to-issue.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Fungus on 15 April, 2015, 10:50:09 AM
Sometimes it pays not to be a completist  :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: SIP on 15 April, 2015, 10:56:21 AM
The heavy mob  book is the first book of the run that I'm not going to buy.  I share the sentiments that is an odd choice of stories to showcase, especially at this point in the run.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 15 April, 2015, 12:32:53 PM
Heavy mob is one of the books that I am MOST interested in getting. As I don't have the stories collected elsewhere and although I know that they are not the best written ones there is some lovely art
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Zenith 666 on 15 April, 2015, 12:46:09 PM
The Corps and Maelstrom(has It ever been reprinted)would surely have made better stories and Debris is an odd choice as alone it doesn't work for a new reader.Still I loved Wynter(why did this not return) and it's got some great art.Brit-cit Brute is still awful not to be disrespectful but Morrison and Percival have done superior work father earth is great.really looking forward to Cursed Earth.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 15 April, 2015, 01:50:59 PM
Quote from: Zenith 666 on 15 April, 2015, 12:46:09 PM
The Corps and Maelstrom(has It ever been reprinted)would surely have made better stories

The Corps and Maelstrom have been reprinted together in an extreme edition. This can be found using the obligate symbiotic monster Google.


Fear not though, as they will also be reprinted in an upcoming edition of the Mega Collection as it says here http://www.sidekickcast.com/judge-dredd-mega-collection-7-the-heavy-mob/ ''When we saw this issue's title we expected to see The Corp, Insurrection or Maelstrom as those stories give a better glimpse at the Space Corp than anything presented here, but the introduction in this book says these stories will be presented at a later date'' and seemingly also in the very book you mention
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 15 April, 2015, 01:52:03 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 15 April, 2015, 10:19:56 AM
Maybe we overestimate the amount of quality material that really exists for books of this size

I reckon they have run out of stories
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 16 April, 2015, 04:59:55 AM
Can't please everyone I suppose I enjoyed this book it was a nice collection
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 16 April, 2015, 10:26:12 AM
This was a very strange collection of stories - the start to Debris was abrupt & k have no idea who Dolman is from this collection. Nice cover but much of the art made me think back to TOXIC! The bolland stuff was a nice surprise but overall this was disappointing. Great endpapers, cover, intro & interview. This is the first wobble of an issue in an otherwise stellar series. I guess I'd rather see more regular stuff first - very happy to see cursed earth next fortnight. I'll be scanning in the missing pages and getting the Pritt stick out!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Buttonman on 16 April, 2015, 10:38:02 AM
Not got mine yet!

In 80 volumes there will be the odd clunker - got to spread them around or no one will buy when the good stuff is finished!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 16 April, 2015, 10:39:46 AM
The obvious response there is perhaps there should have been fewer volumes.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Grugz on 16 April, 2015, 02:24:22 PM
got "heavy mob" read it, wasn't my cup o' joe,selling it ...any offers pm me before I stick it on ebay.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 16 April, 2015, 04:35:57 PM
Reading "Warzone" was particularly mind boggling - it's not obvious for pages that we're not on earth. The lush forrest did seem strange for the Cursed Earth. Since there was no planet fall sequence I was left confused. Was there any explanation in the original megazine issues or did this "forgotten war" exist in other stories - or am I guilty of being dim?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Silent_Bomber on 16 April, 2015, 09:32:57 PM
Quote from: Skullmo on 15 April, 2015, 01:52:03 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 15 April, 2015, 10:19:56 AM
Maybe we overestimate the amount of quality material that really exists for books of this size

I reckon they have run out of stories

I was going to attempt to prove this wrong but I only managed to list 50 odd :(

I'm still fairly optimistic 80 could be done though.


Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 17 April, 2015, 08:50:20 AM
Issues 6 & 7 have just arrived from Hachette, 8 days after they first appeared as posted on my subs page.

Both in perfect condition.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 17 April, 2015, 10:45:44 AM
Quote from: Silent_Bomber on 16 April, 2015, 09:32:57 PM
Quote from: Skullmo on 15 April, 2015, 01:52:03 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 15 April, 2015, 10:19:56 AM
Maybe we overestimate the amount of quality material that really exists for books of this size

I reckon they have run out of stories

I was going to attempt to prove this wrong but I only managed to list 50 odd :(

I'm still fairly optimistic 80 could be done though.

I was being facetious.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Super Mario on 17 April, 2015, 12:13:52 PM
I liked the first Holocaust 12 story and the second was okay even though the Holocaust Squad barely featured. But I found Langly's art very hard to make out, all blurry and over-saturated, although I enjoyed some of his designs. It was interesting to see an example of his early work.

I didn't think Brit Cit Brute would be as bad as folk were making out, but the first story proved me wrong. A bizarre choice for the collection I think.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Spikes on 17 April, 2015, 06:06:30 PM
Just picked up my copy from the newsagent, and a quick flick through reveals at least half of this looks to be of interest. Some poor repro on the older stories though, which is maybe understandable.

As others have said, maybe better stories could have been included - though im not a Meg reader, so im pretty unfamiliar with what's out there.

Im sure there will be some duds in this collection (And 80 books, now that I think of it - again, is a lot to fill, though im sure there's enough quality material to fill the bulk of them...)

Next fortnight's offering though, is an undisputed classic, so well and truly back on course.
Title: Re: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: glassstanley on 17 April, 2015, 07:01:50 PM
The Bolland pages of Father Earth are very poorly reproduced, especially the one with the droids commenting on the election. Letraset dot patterns have been printed as solid blacks, losing all of the robot design. Would be worth Rebellion rescanning the Titan collection for their archive to prevent this happening in future. There's no real reason for such poor reproduction of those episodes.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IronGraham on 17 April, 2015, 07:16:09 PM
The cover for the heavy mob collection who is this by? I think it's Cliff Robinson but feel I am dead wrong
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Steve Green on 17 April, 2015, 07:47:49 PM
Dylan Teague I think.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IronGraham on 17 April, 2015, 09:27:26 PM
Thought I was wrong thanks Steve
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Geoff on 17 April, 2015, 11:55:37 PM
Been away for work and have returned home to find 2 books of Dredd stories I don't think I've ever read! (Excluding Father Earth of course). A first for me and the mega collection.

Just finished the first Mandroid story - dark and disturbing but brilliant.
Title: Re: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 18 April, 2015, 09:31:56 AM
Quote from: glassstanley on 17 April, 2015, 07:01:50 PM
The Bolland pages of Father Earth are very poorly reproduced, especially the one with the droids commenting on the election. Letraset dot patterns have been printed as solid blacks, losing all of the robot design. Would be worth Rebellion rescanning the Titan collection for their archive to prevent this happening in future. There's no real reason for such poor reproduction of those episodes.

I thought exactly the same.  This is the old Titan from 1983(left) vs Machete (right).  Considering that this is probably the highlight of a particularly poor volume this is a particular disappointment.  There were similar, though not quite so extreme, issues with the Apocalypse War volume in places (the Dillon pages in particular).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 18 April, 2015, 10:07:53 AM
My god I thought the use of black was extreme. Doesn't bode well for judge death
Title: Re: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Pete Wells on 18 April, 2015, 11:04:10 AM
Quote from: Tjm86 on 18 April, 2015, 09:31:56 AM
This is the old Titan from 1983(left) vs Machete (right).

Ha ha! Real Freudian slip there!
Title: Re: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: glassstanley on 18 April, 2015, 11:53:40 AM
Have just checked Case Files 3 and Father Earth is the same in there. Judge Death is fine, though, which suggests that it will be OK for the Mega Collection. Still a shame that it's Bolland's work that's affected.
Title: Re: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: glassstanley on 18 April, 2015, 11:58:06 AM
On a more positive note, the Heavy Mob is probably my favourite of the releases so far! Nice to see some of these lesser strips in print again. Finally made the effort to read Wynter carefully and I now wish we'd seen more of the character. An interesting contrast to Cursed Earth Coburn.

Looking forward to reading the comments when Vol 68 is released - Sleeze 'n' Ryder!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Fungus on 18 April, 2015, 12:35:13 PM
Nothing beats the old Titans  :)
Title: Re: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 18 April, 2015, 06:38:23 PM
Quote from: glassstanley on 18 April, 2015, 11:58:06 AM
On a more positive note, the Heavy Mob is probably my favourite of the releases so far! Nice to see some of these lesser strips in print again.

I really enjoyed it too.

Pah! On these naysayers.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Judge Nutmeg on 18 April, 2015, 07:51:13 PM
an odd mix but i still enjoyed it , David Milgate's art was great, can anyone reccomend any plastic covers as my copies keep getting grubby.
Title: Re: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: glassstanley on 19 April, 2015, 12:01:19 AM
Just wash your hands more often :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 19 April, 2015, 11:28:18 AM
Figures there'll be one 1 (probably 10) or so books that won't be to one's liking. Especially with the Millar and Morrison "Dredd" stuff coming up.

Any ideas what books 9-10 will be?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 19 April, 2015, 04:27:28 PM
I just read Anderson Shamballa. While not my fav. read, there are some good stuff between the pages. Simply one of those mega collection books I probably won't read again as often as -... say Origins, Tour of Duty or Day of chaos- others, but I enjoyed it.

I very much enjoyed Michael Molcher's reasoning on why the stories resonates with him. Both in the end blurb and podcast. Fascinating that the Dredd verse can serve as a vessel for spirituality.  I'm quite hoping we'll get to see another another book with Arthur Ranson's Judge Anderson in the Mega collection!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mardroid on 20 April, 2015, 12:04:23 PM
This was the first time I read the first installment of Mandroid. (The first was before my time but The caught the second.)

I enjoyed them both. I think I enjoyed the second more in this format in one long read than i did in the individual issues. I've found a lot of the more modern stories seem to be served better by the collections than the individual issues, although that might be due to my faulty memory. I find myself struggling from week to week remembering what happened... but often feel too lazy to go back and read the previous chapters.

I can see how the paragraph recap of older stories washelpful for that reason although conversely annoying in collections...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Fungus on 20 April, 2015, 01:48:28 PM
Quote from: Apestrife on 19 April, 2015, 04:27:28 PM
I just read Anderson Shamballa. 
there are some good stuff between the pages

You like the binding?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Grey M@a on 21 April, 2015, 09:56:47 PM
For those who subbed to this, I got my first delivery with issue 6 and 7 but no freebies, were these a sign up perk if you joined at the start?

Just wondering if I should be expecting them or if they have gone walkies in HRH postal system!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moldovangerbil on 22 April, 2015, 08:07:52 AM
I believe the next freebie (the bookends) should be with the next delivery (8&9)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Grey M@a on 22 April, 2015, 09:34:57 AM
I picked up Issues 1 - 5 from WHSmith then subbed and just got issue 6 and 7 so this is my first delivery.

I assume it might be the next issue that comes out where the badge and cup are sent? 3rd delivery costers! and then probably issue 11/12 for the bookends for myself as I subbed late?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 22 April, 2015, 09:44:05 AM
Quote from: Grey M@a on 22 April, 2015, 09:34:57 AM
I picked up Issues 1 - 5 from WHSmith then subbed and just got issue 6 and 7 so this is my first delivery.

I assume it might be the next issue that comes out where the badge and cup are sent? 3rd delivery costers! and then probably issue 11/12 for the bookends for myself as I subbed late?

Bad news I'm afraid. As it says on the Hachette website, "Subscriptions gifts are reserved for customers starting with issue 1, 2, 3 or 4".
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Grey M@a on 22 April, 2015, 11:21:55 AM
Ah, no worries then, looks like I missed out. Not a problem, means less clutter in the house xD

Wonder if I could contact them and buy the book ends, not fussed with the rest tbh.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 22 April, 2015, 12:20:30 PM
Their customer services lot are pretty good, so it's worth a shot. If not, I'll bet someone here would probably be happy to offload theirs.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Grey M@a on 22 April, 2015, 12:35:13 PM
Just dropped them an email to see if they can do anything :)

Got issue 6 and 7 together, 7 had a slight ding in the cover but nothing major, was in a sturdy box too so looks like it was abused via the postal system.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IronGraham on 22 April, 2015, 12:51:28 PM
I just broke my mug  :'(
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Grey M@a on 22 April, 2015, 02:38:55 PM
Speedy response from their customer support, they can't sell the items separately or offer them.

So if anyone is interested on moving on the book ends if any subs get them, please drop me a line as I would be interested.

Thanks
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moldovangerbil on 22 April, 2015, 02:51:33 PM
Worth keeping your eye on ebay (depending on what you want to pay for them).  I've seen the other free gifts on there lately.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Grey M@a on 22 April, 2015, 02:55:06 PM
Thanks for the heads up, I am assuming some of the items are inflated heavily?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 22 April, 2015, 03:05:45 PM
Quote from: Grey M@a on 22 April, 2015, 02:55:06 PM
Thanks for the heads up, I am assuming some of the items are inflated heavily?

I managed to get the free balloon on Ebay, and that was.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moldovangerbil on 22 April, 2015, 03:15:20 PM
Tenner for the coasters. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.X2000ad+coasters.TRS0&_nkw=2000ad+coasters&_sacat=0

Tenner for the mug and coasters.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Judge-Dredd-Mega-Collection-Tall-Mug-and-Coasters-Set-New-/221750461873?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item33a15b85b1

Badge looks to be more popular.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_odkw=judge+dredd+mug&_from=R40|R40|R40|R40&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.Xjudge+dredd+badge.TRS0&_nkw=judge+dredd+badge&_sacat=0
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Grey M@a on 22 April, 2015, 03:20:40 PM
Quote from: Skullmo on 22 April, 2015, 03:05:45 PM
Quote from: Grey M@a on 22 April, 2015, 02:55:06 PM
Thanks for the heads up, I am assuming some of the items are inflated heavily?

I managed to get the free balloon on Ebay, and that was.

Ba-dum ish.....

Will see if there are any bargains to be had.

Just seen those myself Moldovangerbil :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moldovangerbil on 22 April, 2015, 03:27:46 PM
Cool.  Good luck if you bid!  I've no idea why the badge seems to be more expensive.  It's not bad as these things go, but the others are generally nicer items (apart from the weird rubber top on the mug).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Boo on 25 April, 2015, 10:01:07 AM
I reviewed The Cursed Earth over here. Really loved it: http://www.sidekickcast.com/judge-dredd-mega-collection-8-the-cursed-earth/
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Andy Smart on 25 April, 2015, 01:42:17 PM
Quote from: Boo on 25 April, 2015, 10:01:07 AM
I reviewed The Cursed Earth over here. Really loved it: http://www.sidekickcast.com/judge-dredd-mega-collection-8-the-cursed-earth/

I like the cover choice.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 26 April, 2015, 03:53:05 PM
Quote from: Boo on 25 April, 2015, 10:01:07 AM
I reviewed The Cursed Earth over here. Really loved it: http://www.sidekickcast.com/judge-dredd-mega-collection-8-the-cursed-earth/

Great/funny review! Loved it. Can't wait till I get my copy. Cover is brilliant!

Cursed earth is one of my absolute fav. epics! It's brilliant throughout. And to think that Garland was considering including Satanus in a (based upon Cursed earth/Origins) Dredd sequel!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: shaolin_monkey on 26 April, 2015, 07:44:47 PM
Behind the times (as usual), I just finished Mandroid.  Damn, it was great to re-read that in one collection!  This is has to be my favourite of the collections so far.  As usual, quality of the reprints (spine, cover, colour etc) was exemplary.

To think I was debating getting this series.  £20 a month well bloody spent, if you ask me!!!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: iutley on 28 April, 2015, 12:27:13 PM
In case anyone missed my seperate post on this I've put my Test Area Editions of America, Mechanismo & Apocalypse War from last year up on ebay. Have a look here if interested:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/iutley73/m.html?_ipg=50&_sop=12&_rdc=1 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/iutley73/m.html?_ipg=50&_sop=12&_rdc=1)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Bolt-01 on 28 April, 2015, 02:10:00 PM
I'm sorry if I've missed it in one of the other posts here, but I'd quite like to get a copy of the Mandroid book and the Hachette site is only really giving me the option to sub. Is there a simple way for me to get this volume?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Grey M@a on 28 April, 2015, 02:15:42 PM
Quote from: Bolt-01 on 28 April, 2015, 02:10:00 PM
I'm sorry if I've missed it in one of the other posts here, but I'd quite like to get a copy of the Mandroid book and the Hachette site is only really giving me the option to sub. Is there a simple way for me to get this volume?

This any good for you?

http://www.hachettepartworks.com/products/9372-judge-dredd-the-mega-collection.aspx

Seems to list the back issues, strangely enough it lists all the way to issue 20 xD
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 28 April, 2015, 02:24:27 PM
Quote from: Grey M@a on 28 April, 2015, 02:15:42 PM
Seems to list the back issues, strangely enough it lists all the way to issue 20 xD

I think you'll find it lists all 80...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Bolt-01 on 28 April, 2015, 02:29:22 PM
Grey M@a- Massive thanks- Exactly what I wanted.

Now- Mandroid was book six, right?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Grey M@a on 28 April, 2015, 02:30:02 PM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 28 April, 2015, 02:24:27 PM
Quote from: Grey M@a on 28 April, 2015, 02:15:42 PM
Seems to list the back issues, strangely enough it lists all the way to issue 20 xD

I think you'll find it lists all 80...

Does indeed, FF at work was only showing 20, Chrome showing the list of 80, either way, that is the back issues order form I think Bolt was looking for  :D
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Grey M@a on 28 April, 2015, 02:30:35 PM
Quote from: Bolt-01 on 28 April, 2015, 02:29:22 PM
Grey M@a- Massive thanks- Exactly what I wanted.

Now- Mandroid was book six, right?

Aye, book 6 :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Bolt-01 on 28 April, 2015, 02:36:15 PM
Sweet- ordered.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 28 April, 2015, 04:50:35 PM
Quote from: Bolt-01 on 28 April, 2015, 02:36:15 PM
Sweet- ordered.

Do the charge p&p on top of the 9.99?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Fungus on 28 April, 2015, 04:56:31 PM
Hachette bumped 50p P&P onto the 9.99 when I ordered a book. Decent service.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 28 April, 2015, 08:44:34 PM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 28 April, 2015, 02:24:27 PM
Quote from: Grey M@a on 28 April, 2015, 02:15:42 PM
Seems to list the back issues, strangely enough it lists all the way to issue 20 xD

I think you'll find it lists all 80...

Only as issue numbers, not with details / view options  :(

Only first 8 are 'in stock'.

:-\
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Bat King on 29 April, 2015, 12:15:03 AM
Quote from: Fungus on 28 April, 2015, 04:56:31 PM
Hachette bumped 50p P&P onto the 9.99 when I ordered a book. Decent service.

Cool. I'll mention that NEXT preview I do. Just done Issue 9 Swimming in Blood (https://judgetutorsemple.wordpress.com/2015/04/29/judge-dredd-mega-collection-issue-9-13th-april-2015-includes-preview-pages/)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Fungus on 29 April, 2015, 01:02:40 AM
Nice work BK, first confirmation of volume 9 I've seen. Tharg & Hachette keeping the future volumes pretty secret which I'm all for.

The early Megs are available so I don't see any reason to pick this one up. John Smith is a strange fish. I have clear memories of loving New Statesmen (Crisis) and Swimming In Blood (and probably Cinnabar too) but then it got tricky. His purplish prose elsewhere left me cold on the current 'slog. Latterly I skipped the text and scanned the pictures only. An interesting and curious writer.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Bat King on 29 April, 2015, 09:20:30 AM
Yeah I have the pdf for 10 already but won't preview it yet... It isn't good to go too early, though there is no embargo. Vwe are asked to avoid spoilers.

I hate spoilers so it is easy for me to oblige. When I say there are alerts in my articles I assume many readers wonder where as I seem to be a bit more spoiler-sensitive.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 29 April, 2015, 09:32:29 AM
Has anyone seen a copy of Cursed Earth in the wild yet. I looked in Paddington station whsmiths but nothing!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 29 April, 2015, 11:11:20 AM
Interesting order with the Devlin book—I guess not trampling over the recent trade is a smart idea. (Still odd to see it so early in the schedule though.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Anzati on 29 April, 2015, 02:45:10 PM
Is this one in the same order as the previous Swimming in Blood (not the most recent) trade or something different again?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 29 April, 2015, 03:16:02 PM
I found the Mega Collection Issue 8: The Cursed Earth finally in WHSmiths, hidden by the till. The Bolland stuff looks crisp and the entire quality of the book from design to the choice of backup strip is amazing. The John Higgins backup annual story "Last of the Bad guys" is a great thematic companion to the main thrill. Of course I'd like to see the missing copyright infringing chapters but their omission is neatly addressed in the intro with a couple of illustrations. One day we'll see a complete Cursed Earth saga book with the centre-spreads in colour and the 4 pinups from the titan books included but this is great for now. This series is looking strong after last fortnight's wobble & with Devlin Waugh next month it's just getting better!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Zenith 666 on 29 April, 2015, 05:39:33 PM
Swimming in Blood oh yes fantastic.Now if we could only get some new adventures with devlin please it's been eight goddamn years.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IronGraham on 29 April, 2015, 06:01:06 PM
I know this is a bit behind just wondering what happened to Simon Coleby that he couldn't finish the second Mandroid story and the equally talented Carl Critchlow had to the take over art duties?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richmond Clements on 29 April, 2015, 06:26:08 PM
Quote from: IronGraham on 29 April, 2015, 06:01:06 PM
I know this is a bit behind just wondering what happened to Simon Coleby that he couldn't finish the second Mandroid story and the equally talented Carl Critchlow had to the take over art duties?

I think Simon got the Authority gig right around this time...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 29 April, 2015, 06:54:10 PM
Nice grouping of waugh stories and that could potentially leave two more books with sirius rising and a chunk of uncollected waugh stuff as well as the stuff in the original trade not here
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IronGraham on 30 April, 2015, 10:33:06 AM
Thanks Richard
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 30 April, 2015, 10:50:15 AM
Anyone know when the next art print will be announced?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Grey M@a on 01 May, 2015, 12:36:13 PM
Just had Issue 6 and 7 delivered together last weekend, is issue 8 with subs now? Just wondering if the delivery is held back with me getting my other issues a week or so ago.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 01 May, 2015, 12:36:39 PM
Was put off the prints when I realised they were the same size as the books and cost £14 each.  Seems a bit pricey - although the artists are stellar. Loved that Bolland's using a rejected Eagle comic cover  design as his inspiration - Fattie & Dredd. On a different note I realise Shimura is coming up after Devlin Waugh. Is it likely to have more material than the existing trade?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 01 May, 2015, 06:16:04 PM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 01 May, 2015, 12:36:39 PM
Was put off the prints when I realised they were the same size as the books and cost £14 each.  Seems a bit pricey -

True, but it also includes 'a mount'.  Be interesting to see what it looks like.  The bookplate print for Underbelly was the same size as the book on card stock.  If the first one doesn't look too impressive in real life then I can see a downgrade coming.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: BPP on 04 May, 2015, 12:20:19 PM
I'd rather some more Dredd, especially all the Megazine Dredd that hasn't been plundered, than 'Rebellions existing GN line' which this is rapidly turning into.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Spikes on 04 May, 2015, 12:49:37 PM
Yeah, As a non Meg buyer, id love to see more stuff from that publication in the Mega collection. I guess with this being a run of 80 books, then there's the chance , at least, that we'll see more of that.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: BPP on 04 May, 2015, 01:28:21 PM
Quote from: Spikes on 04 May, 2015, 12:49:37 PM
Yeah, As a non Meg buyer, id love to see more stuff from that publication in the Mega collection. I guess with this being a run of 80 books, then there's the chance , at least, that we'll see more of that.

80 books will soon fill up if they are sticking largely to existing reprint material. Ancillary characters seem destined to be getting 15-20 by themselves, epics another 15-20, existing collections (like mandroid, Satans Island, total war) another 10-15. There is a wealth of great Dredd from the last 15 years that they shouldn't be frit of using for these without fear of impact on future reprint value. Devon Waugh and Shimura are grand but they are out in existing GN and can hardly be considered core Dredd. A Dirty Frank collection would be good as it is spread across three disparate books (lowlife 1&2, trifecta) or uncollected, Insurrection great because the decision to publish 1&2 when a finale was announced a bit weird but another Shimura.... Meh.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 04 May, 2015, 04:13:14 PM
Quote from: Spikes on 04 May, 2015, 12:49:37 PM
Yeah, As a non Meg buyer, id love to see more stuff from that publication in the Mega collection. I guess with this being a run of 80 books, then there's the chance , at least, that we'll see more of that.

Book of complete Koburn please!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Silent_Bomber on 04 May, 2015, 05:11:01 PM
Quote from: BPP on 04 May, 2015, 01:28:21 PM
Quote from: Spikes on 04 May, 2015, 12:49:37 PM
Yeah, As a non Meg buyer, id love to see more stuff from that publication in the Mega collection. I guess with this being a run of 80 books, then there's the chance , at least, that we'll see more of that.

80 books will soon fill up if they are sticking largely to existing reprint material. Ancillary characters seem destined to be getting 15-20 by themselves, epics another 15-20, existing collections (like mandroid, Satans Island, total war) another 10-15.

A very large number of the existing trades will need a lot of padding to come near the ~200 odd page requirement. Satan's Island and The Chief Judges Man are barely over 100 pages long. City of the Damned, Young Death, Song of the Surfer etc are like 80 odd pages IIRC, some others are closer to 60 pages.

I'd say the existing trades generally are ~135 pages more often than not, so most of them may have to have 50 odd pages of shorter stories added to them to make up the required page count. As such Hachette may eat through the existing trades a lot faster than you'd think.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Link Prime on 04 May, 2015, 07:13:30 PM
Quote from: Skullmo on 04 May, 2015, 04:13:14 PM
Quote from: Spikes on 04 May, 2015, 12:49:37 PM
Yeah, As a non Meg buyer, id love to see more stuff from that publication in the Mega collection. I guess with this being a run of 80 books, then there's the chance , at least, that we'll see more of that.

Book of complete Koburn please!

The Komplete Koburn must happen.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 04 May, 2015, 07:31:46 PM
Koburn's on the spine image, so it's a cert that he'll get a book to himself - padded out with a few other Carlos stores, no doubt.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 05 May, 2015, 10:19:28 AM
I hope they do not include that Garth Ennis story in the chopper book.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 05 May, 2015, 10:43:50 AM
You have to take the rough with the smooth...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Colin Zeal on 05 May, 2015, 11:30:00 AM
Ennis is likely to get a book of his own, isn't he? Probably Helter Skelter and the page difference made up with his run on Dredd.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 05 May, 2015, 11:39:20 AM
I think the Irish stories have already been confirmed. I loved some of the Ennis stuff - the Humters club. Never read Heltef Skelter although I've seen the Halo Jones page
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 05 May, 2015, 12:36:48 PM
Quote from: Colin Zeal on 05 May, 2015, 11:30:00 AM
Ennis is likely to get a book of his own, isn't he? Probably Helter Skelter and the page difference made up with his run on Dredd.

I'd like to read helter skelter
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 05 May, 2015, 12:58:14 PM
Get out your glue & scissors and you too could make a COMPLETE Judge Dredd Cursed Earth with the missing stories...

http://youtu.be/USFJjtsDj64
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 05 May, 2015, 01:52:34 PM
These books would have been so much nicer with the colour spreads - really missed a trick there.

I can only hope that the deluxe case files that is coming out is using new scans of the art, rather than the scans that have been used in the case files and the mega collection
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 05 May, 2015, 02:28:54 PM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 05 May, 2015, 12:58:14 PM
Get out your glue & scissors and you too could make a COMPLETE Judge Dredd Cursed Earth with the missing stories...
How on earth did you get those extra pages to stay in place?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 05 May, 2015, 02:31:53 PM
Copydex on spine - there's gutter loss but I'm pleased. Surprised these pages haven't been redrawn or disguised at some stage. Still if Zenith & Dan Dare can be reprinted any things possible.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Albion on 05 May, 2015, 03:04:06 PM
Nice work.
When the Case Files came out I printed the missing stuff and I keep them in an envelope on the bookshelf with the books.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jock Savage on 05 May, 2015, 04:57:18 PM
Quote from: Skullmo on 05 May, 2015, 12:36:48 PM
Quote from: Colin Zeal on 05 May, 2015, 11:30:00 AM
Ennis is likely to get a book of his own, isn't he? Probably Helter Skelter and the page difference made up with his run on Dredd.

I'd like to read helter skelter

Imagine a boot stamping on a human face - forever.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 05 May, 2015, 08:23:26 PM
Ennis is guarranteed at least 2 helter skelter and judgement day and the irish stuffs confirmed right so thats 3....and presumably goodnight kiss will be reprinted too
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Silent_Bomber on 05 May, 2015, 09:58:58 PM
Quote from: The monarch on 05 May, 2015, 08:23:26 PM
Ennis is guaranteed at least 2 helter skelter and judgement day and the Irish stuffs confirmed right so that's 3....and presumably goodnight kiss will be reprinted too

I quite like Monkey On My Back. I would prefer it over the aforementioned.

Though I'm not sure what it would go with and its less than 50 pages long I think.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: BPP on 05 May, 2015, 10:13:20 PM
Goodnight Kiss is terrible. Key period bad Dredd.

For the sake of (the thesedays tremendously talented) Garth Ennis and the 'new readers' 2000AD wants to get from this exercise it is precisely the type of stuff to avoid. Mind you The first half of The Heavy Mob volume was exactly that over the top, not-funny, maschismo tosh that drove so many away from the comic so its clearly not verboten.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Silent_Bomber on 06 May, 2015, 10:38:27 AM
I don't mind Marshal/Goodnight Kiss, it has distinctive artwork, good fight scenes, Dredd eating Vultures whilst nailed to a cross!, and IMO the scene with the ghosts is reasonable too, I find it generally inoffensive.

I really don't like Helter Skelter at all though. Judgement Day is a little better but only because it has Johnny Alpha and an army of Zombies in it and at least comes across as grandiose (as opposed to just feeling like bad fan-fiction).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 06 May, 2015, 11:12:09 AM
Is the Marshall the story with amazing Sean Phillips painted art? Generally I don't mind a simple story with great art or vice versa.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 06 May, 2015, 12:56:14 PM
I hope Miller gets a collection!  ::)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 06 May, 2015, 12:58:13 PM
Frank Miller? They can use his Megazine Cover!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IronGraham on 06 May, 2015, 05:07:00 PM
Quote from: Skullmo on 06 May, 2015, 12:56:14 PM
I hope Miller gets a collection!  :rolleyes:


:'(
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 06 May, 2015, 06:51:25 PM
It would be the smallest collection
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 06 May, 2015, 07:48:31 PM
It should be a sheet of paper, folded in half, with the word "sorry" written on it. But we've already heard we're getting garbage like Inferno in amongst otherwise largely good stuff, so Miller's in the mix regardless.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 06 May, 2015, 08:18:58 PM
While I'm in no way a fan of Inferno, least the art is really good. Ezquerra really shined in it.

One story I really hope the mega collection skips is The satanist. I much much much rather read Brothers of the Blood and Total War (that totally should have BotB as a back up story) to get an idea how Vienna felt early on.

Also everything Chopper after Song of the surfer.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 07 May, 2015, 11:29:30 AM
Yeah, Ezquerra's painted art in the 1990s was brilliant, it is a shame the stories were not classics.

If Inferno is combined with Purgatory that would be good!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 07 May, 2015, 12:15:19 PM
Inferno & Purgatory are confirmed - I assume together.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: shaolin_monkey on 07 May, 2015, 01:30:07 PM
Can I make a suggestion for a future issue please?

With thanks to Barry Renshaw for the art:

(http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x32/scowling_monkey/927C73DC-E637-4CEC-B8CA-024F6DC834AD_zpsihuwmzr6.jpg) (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/scowling_monkey/media/927C73DC-E637-4CEC-B8CA-024F6DC834AD_zpsihuwmzr6.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 07 May, 2015, 01:32:09 PM
Judge Pal needs a shave, there!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: shaolin_monkey on 07 May, 2015, 10:31:21 PM
Have you been reading Dredd's comportment again?!

Here's a better pic with a credit for Barry and Annie's name proofread!

(http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x32/scowling_monkey/53EC7E2F-42B8-4D0D-9587-B4374B568E72_zps9dmhmcor.jpg) (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/scowling_monkey/media/53EC7E2F-42B8-4D0D-9587-B4374B568E72_zps9dmhmcor.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 08 May, 2015, 08:54:11 AM
Can anyone guess what's in the first Devlin Waugh book? Will they skip anything to get to the 200 pages?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Zenith 666 on 08 May, 2015, 11:26:08 AM
Waugh Collection includes Swimming in blood,brief encounter,Red Tide and bite fight.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 08 May, 2015, 04:28:37 PM
Does that miss out "fetish" then where Siku gives Dredd a crazy chin?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 08 May, 2015, 05:08:36 PM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 08 May, 2015, 04:28:37 PM
Does that miss out "fetish" then where Siku gives Dredd a crazy chin?

Chronologically speaking, it misses out Chasing Herod, Reign of Frogs, Sirius Rising, and Mouthful of Dust!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 08 May, 2015, 05:10:34 PM
Are they missing out these to favour painted art - or just to print the best material?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 08 May, 2015, 05:16:01 PM
Bit of both, maybe? The stories they've chosen are all fully painted, so that's possibly the key, and having Red Tide and Swimming in Blood in the same book makes a certain kind of sense.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Bat King on 08 May, 2015, 10:08:52 PM
Here's my Preview of the Devlin Waugh volume (https://judgetutorsemple.wordpress.com/2015/04/29/judge-dredd-mega-collection-issue-9-13th-april-2015-includes-preview-pages/).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 08 May, 2015, 10:10:56 PM
This volume looks great - thanks for that
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 09 May, 2015, 08:48:01 AM
Pleasant surprise to receive The Cursed Earth & Swimming in Blood volumes this morning. I wasn't expecting them for at least another week.

The Swimming in Blood cover is different from the PDF review that Bat King reviewed. I also received the final subscribers gift of the book ends.

The Swimming in Blood cover that I got is shown on the advert on the back of next weeks 2000 AD.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 09 May, 2015, 11:56:26 AM
What does the cover look like?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 10 May, 2015, 03:55:51 PM
Just read the Heavy Mob - oh dear!


Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: dancornwell on 10 May, 2015, 04:51:38 PM
Anyone received the premium sub prints yet?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: kingzud on 10 May, 2015, 06:00:51 PM
First the partworks Marvel collections. Then the partworks Dredd Mega collection. Now just found this from Eaglemoss...

This Eaglemoss collection has been running in Germany since the start of the year. Just found this webpage advertising for UK subscriptions.....

https://www.eaglemoss.com/en-gb/comic-heroes/dc-comic-books/

However, it does not appear to be on eaglemoss main site...

https://www.eaglemoss.com/en-gb/

Anyone else aware of it. Wondering if this is a test release, to be rolled out in the UK nationally if there is enough interest.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 10 May, 2015, 06:20:22 PM
Quote from: dancornwell on 10 May, 2015, 04:51:38 PM
Anyone received the premium sub prints yet?

First one with issue 10 according to the Hachete site, so should be next month.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 10 May, 2015, 09:25:04 PM
Saw the eaglemoss dc heroes collection - interestingly the spines are labelled which makes cherry picking more likely. The page count must be 130 ish if Hush is split over 2 books. Makes Dredd look a bargain.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 10 May, 2015, 10:34:38 PM
It's not classy but it is funny. Devlin Waugh sizes up Dredd's stick!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: dancornwell on 10 May, 2015, 11:05:23 PM
Quote from: Tjm86 on 10 May, 2015, 06:20:22 PM
Quote from: dancornwell on 10 May, 2015, 04:51:38 PM
Anyone received the premium sub prints yet?

First one with issue 10 according to the Hachete site, so should be next month.

Oh good'o. And looking forward to those 2 new ones. It's a great collection
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: glassstanley on 11 May, 2015, 07:37:03 PM
Hmm. Trying to work out how the Mega-Epic numbering section works.
32- The Cursed Earth (confirmed)
33- The Day The Law Died
34- The Judge Child
35- ?
36- The Apocalypse War (confirmed)

Any guesses?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: I, Cosh on 11 May, 2015, 07:44:44 PM
The Mega Rackets
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 11 May, 2015, 09:57:48 PM
Judge Death? Luna-1?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mardroid on 11 May, 2015, 10:16:17 PM
I found the latest 2 collections, with book-ends, waiting when I got home.

I've read the Cursed Earth before as part of the Case Files, and I believe I've read some Devlin Waugh, but I'm not sure how far I got. Be interested to see what's in these collections...

Just read The Heavy Mob. My verdict:

Holocaust 12 stuff: Lovely art in the first story. The second was rather muddly looking. The stories... so so. I don't dislike any of the stuff in this collection but this wasn't entirely my cup of tea.

Brit-Cit Brute: Rather amusing in places.

Wynter: Hmm. Undecided. Found it a bit difficult to work out what was going on.

Father Earth: I've read this before elswhere. Yes, it's pretty good. I do find the older narration style a bit to get used to but the story was good.

Debris: This was relatively recent wasn't it? It's very welcome though. Actually one of my favourite stories in this collection. l love PJ Holden's art style.

Warzone. Wow. They left the best 'til last. I found some of the action scenes a bit hard to follow (but this was not the only story in this collection where that's the case. I'm pretty rubbish at following action stuff in comics...) but that was very enjoyable and touching. First time reading it to. I guess it was in the Meg either before my time, or in the time period between buying it. (I've stuck with the Prog since I first subscribed, but with the Meg I've come and gone. ) So good.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 11 May, 2015, 10:54:03 PM
My sub arrived, with the bookends. The first set in great condition, and so naturally I dropped the damn things on the floor while trying to make room on the desk. Some kind of cosmic joke, clearly.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: radiator on 11 May, 2015, 11:16:14 PM
I know there's no strict definition, but I always felt that a story had to run for 25/26 episodes to really qualify as a 'Mega Epic'.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 11 May, 2015, 11:21:13 PM
Yes you're probably right. Can any Devlin Waugh fans help me? Is there enough material for a second Waugh book in this collection - I remember there being art by Gaydos & Yeowell but would it work as a Esperanto volume? I was never sure how popular this material was having only read odd bits.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: radiator on 11 May, 2015, 11:30:12 PM
Not sure there's a big enough Esperanto-speaking audience to make it viable.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: I, Cosh on 12 May, 2015, 12:10:12 AM
We speak Esperanto in the office every morning. Unfortunately, the extent of our prowess is "hot drink?"
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 12 May, 2015, 08:05:03 AM
Sorry "seperate" not "Esperanto" volumes! Is the Yeowell stuff good fun?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Bat King on 12 May, 2015, 08:39:51 AM
The Esperanto Volume is in the Stainless Steel Rat Steelbook Editions only I think.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: I, Cosh on 12 May, 2015, 09:02:56 AM
Quote from: Bat King on 12 May, 2015, 08:39:51 AM
The Esperanto Volume is in the Stainless Steel Rat Steelbook Editions only I think.
Arf!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 12 May, 2015, 10:58:14 AM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 12 May, 2015, 08:05:03 AM
Sorry "seperate" not "Esperanto" volumes! Is the Yeowell stuff good fun?
If you mean the whole Chasing Herod/Reign of Frogs/Sirius Rising thing, very much no. It was certainly good and read well in a single volume, but it's relentlessly grim.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 12 May, 2015, 01:31:05 PM
Thanks - I'll track them down if they don't get reprinted.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 13 May, 2015, 12:14:30 PM
Best Endpapers Ever?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 13 May, 2015, 10:14:33 PM
Is the "Fingers off the triggers, sphincters unclenched" line included in the Devlin Waugh one?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mardroid on 13 May, 2015, 10:25:39 PM
Heh, yes. I read that line just recently in fact (working my way through the volume today. Okay, I broke off to read this week's prog...

Pretty good, by the way, but kinda nasty in places. (That's not a criticism.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 13 May, 2015, 10:26:34 PM
Yes - it's a great volume. My only gripe would be that the Jock original art for Red Tide wasn't included. But instead there's a great Matt Smith intro & recent Sean Phillips 4 page interview. in the first episode there's a caption box "continues in page 26" - which oddly made me happy. I'm guessing this is from the original  megazine. AND DEVLIN IS ON THE SPINE! It's genius! Plus the promise of 2 more Devlin volumes
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 15 May, 2015, 11:06:11 AM
Quote from: Mardroid on 13 May, 2015, 10:25:39 PM
Heh, yes. I read that line just recently in fact (working my way through the volume today. Okay, I broke off to read this week's prog...

Pretty good, by the way, but kinda nasty in places. (That's not a criticism.)

Thanks. Can't wait to read it. Nasty sounds nice  :D

Btw. Anyone who gathered what volumes we'll see?

Here's the ones I'v found.

Vol. 1 America
Vol. 8 Judge Anderson The possessed (according to v.10)
Vol. 10 Anderson Shamballa
Vol. 24 Mechanismo
Vol. 25 Mandroid
Vol. 32 Cursed earth
Vol. 36 Bloc Mania/Apocalypse War
Vol. 45 Origins
Vol. 55 The heavy mob
Vol. 56 Insurrection (according to 55)
vol. 76 The corps & Maelstorm (acc. 55)

Additional:
Koburn
3 Devlin Waugh books (including the recent one)
Shimura (according to flickering myths)

Any more?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: glassstanley on 15 May, 2015, 01:17:06 PM
I think we can guess at:
33: The Day the Law Died
34: The Judge Child
35: Mega-Rackets ?
37: City of the Damned
38: Oz
39: Necropolis
40: Judgement Day
41: Inferno
42: Wilderlands
43: The Pit
44: Doomsday
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 15 May, 2015, 05:07:58 PM
Quote from: glassstanley on 15 May, 2015, 01:17:06 PM
44: Doomsday

In the first or second thrillcast Cyber-Matt mentioned the Doomsday books (plural) - and when you start adding in all the Bad Frendz/Worst of Frendz/Scorpion Dance stuff that makes a lot of sense. Tour of Duty and Day of Chaos will presumably also get two books apiece.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Bat King on 15 May, 2015, 06:32:36 PM
Seems likely. They'll probably be separated as Issues but sit next to each other in Part order.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skank on 15 May, 2015, 10:08:56 PM
I asked on the Mega Collection FB page a while back weather or not if The Black Widow would be released and apparently its going to be put out with Vol. 74 so i can only assume it means it'll come with either the other two Nosferatu stories or some Heavy Metal Dredd.

More recently i asked if Cal-Hab Justice would be released and whilst they said it would, i got no exact book number.

Also im not sure but didn't they say that the Inspectere would be collected?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 16 May, 2015, 12:55:02 AM
I must admit that the Heavy Mob wasn't my favourite books.  I haven't reread the Cursed Earth as I had read it not that long ago, but its good to have.

Devlin Waugh....I'm not really sure how to take this guy.  The stories, and indeed the character is interesting but some of the artwork is a bit patchy.  I'm not sure how to describe it, it's as if there was a certain style at some times.  For example, the artwork in the Star Wars:Dark Empire book was for me a style I wasn't keen on.  It might have just been a style of the time.  I prefer some artwork styles over others.  It won't dissuade me from continuing my subscription though.  So far I've only had a few books with stories I've read.  Cursed Earth, Apocalypse War/Block Mania, the Shamballa story in Shamballa and Father Earth in Heavy Mob.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Spikes on 16 May, 2015, 09:29:53 AM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 15 May, 2015, 05:07:58 PM
Day of Chaos will presumably also get two books apiece.

Would dearly love to see the DoC collected into a single volume.
And with the Michael Carroll 'Downtime' episode re-instated.

In terms of page count, its the longest Dredd epic, but if Block Mania/Apocalypse War can fit into a single release...



Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Judge Nutmeg on 16 May, 2015, 09:45:21 AM
sleeze and rider going to appear in one volume so possible even Harke and Burr could make an appearence. obviously mean machine, Judge Death, missionairy man, pj maybe will get their own volumes. I'd like to see fatties ,Otto Sump, Walter the wobot, Mrs Gunderson get their own books
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skank on 16 May, 2015, 10:38:02 AM
The wikipedia page says Judge Child is coming out after Shimura.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 16 May, 2015, 10:43:23 AM
If Judge Child is 163 pages (thanks Barney) what else could be packaged up with this issue?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skank on 16 May, 2015, 10:45:20 AM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 16 May, 2015, 10:43:23 AM
If Judge Child is 163 pages (thanks Barney) what else could be packaged up with this issue?

Maybe the first Fink story?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Spikes on 16 May, 2015, 12:13:30 PM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 16 May, 2015, 10:43:23 AM
If Judge Child is 163 pages (thanks Barney) what else could be packaged up with this issue?

To complete the tale, City of the Damned (93 pages) and not forgetting 'In the year 2120' (24 pages) from prog 1077.

That would be about 280 pages in total. Too much of a stretch for one book?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 16 May, 2015, 01:39:11 PM
Quote from: Spikes on 16 May, 2015, 12:13:30 PM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 16 May, 2015, 10:43:23 AM
If Judge Child is 163 pages (thanks Barney) what else could be packaged up with this issue?

To complete the tale, City of the Damned (93 pages) and not forgetting 'In the year 2120' (24 pages) from prog 1077.

That would be about 280 pages in total. Too much of a stretch for one book?

I'd have thought the Zombie Dredd tale would have been packaged with COTD.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 16 May, 2015, 02:30:57 PM
I think I asked about darkside but there were no plans to reprint it
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 16 May, 2015, 05:29:20 PM
and yet they put out the Heavy Mob.  Shame. 
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 16 May, 2015, 05:48:51 PM
Darkside's due for a reprint fairly soon in any case - Case Files 26, no?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 16 May, 2015, 07:40:01 PM
Isn't destinys angels part of the judge child cycle as well?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 16 May, 2015, 07:51:14 PM
Quote from: The monarch on 16 May, 2015, 07:40:01 PM
Isn't destinys angels part of the judge child cycle as well?

IIRC it was the follow up to Judge Child with Chrysler setting Fink and Mean on Dredd.  Ezquerra on art duties.  One of the post Apocalypse War stories.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 17 May, 2015, 10:09:37 PM
Quote from: Spikes on 16 May, 2015, 09:29:53 AM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 15 May, 2015, 05:07:58 PM
Day of Chaos will presumably also get two books apiece.

Would dearly love to see the DoC collected into a single volume.
And with the Michael Carroll 'Downtime' episode re-instated.

In terms of page count, its the longest Dredd epic, but if Block Mania/Apocalypse War can fit into a single release...


. . . You already know it's going to be in 2 books!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 17 May, 2015, 10:10:41 PM
I hope they print all the Blood of Satanus stories in one book - I'll buy that one!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Hawkmumbler on 18 May, 2015, 12:12:12 AM
Now I wasn't gonna get any of these, a complete collection of ALL the Koburn stories however....
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skank on 18 May, 2015, 12:37:24 AM
Quote from: Skullmo on 17 May, 2015, 10:10:41 PM
I hope they print all the Blood of Satanus stories in one book - I'll buy that one!
Question, do most people hate BOS III, because i really liked that story but i never see it mentioned anyware other than one or two negative reviews.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 18 May, 2015, 11:13:32 AM
Quote from: Skank on 18 May, 2015, 12:37:24 AM
Quote from: Skullmo on 17 May, 2015, 10:10:41 PM
I hope they print all the Blood of Satanus stories in one book - I'll buy that one!
Question, do most people hate BOS III, because i really liked that story but i never see it mentioned anyware other than one or two negative reviews.

It certainly divided people. It was written by Pat Mills (whose writing divides fans) and drawn by John Hicklenton (whose art really divides fans) so not unexpectedly it has its hatas. I love it, and I would love to see a better print of the art - apparently it is huge and the original printing did not do the linework justice.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Spikes on 18 May, 2015, 11:34:40 AM
Quote from: Skullmo on 17 May, 2015, 10:09:37 PM
Quote from: Spikes on 16 May, 2015, 09:29:53 AM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 15 May, 2015, 05:07:58 PM
Day of Chaos will presumably also get two books apiece.

Would dearly love to see the DoC collected into a single volume.
And with the Michael Carroll 'Downtime' episode re-instated.

In terms of page count, its the longest Dredd epic, but if Block Mania/Apocalypse War can fit into a single release...


. . . You already know it's going to be in 2 books!


Do I?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 18 May, 2015, 12:32:06 PM
Quote from: Spikes on 18 May, 2015, 11:34:40 AM
Quote from: Skullmo on 17 May, 2015, 10:09:37 PM
Quote from: Spikes on 16 May, 2015, 09:29:53 AM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 15 May, 2015, 05:07:58 PM
Day of Chaos will presumably also get two books apiece.

Would dearly love to see the DoC collected into a single volume.
And with the Michael Carroll 'Downtime' episode re-instated.

In terms of page count, its the longest Dredd epic, but if Block Mania/Apocalypse War can fit into a single release...


. . . You already know it's going to be in 2 books!


Do I?


Remember . . . . the discussion about the covers? In the pub??
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 18 May, 2015, 12:38:14 PM
With this collection is there any link between the spine image and the contents? Devlin seems to line up but not Anderson. I'm guessing we'd need a very thin Fatty image for this plan to work.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Bat King on 18 May, 2015, 05:50:17 PM
I think that it is mere coincidence with Devlin Waugh lining up. But we'll see...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 21 May, 2015, 09:19:07 PM
I read in your blog about the next one. I find it kinda odd they are starting with the second story rather than the first
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skank on 21 May, 2015, 10:44:46 PM
Quote from: The monarch on 21 May, 2015, 09:19:07 PM
I read in your blog about the next one. I find it kinda odd they are starting with the second story rather than the first

Im guessing this is so they can put Our man in Hondo out along with the first Shimura stuff to begin the Hondo City stuff.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Super Mario on 22 May, 2015, 10:12:00 AM
Swimming in Blood has a weird ending. The big showdown gets interrupted then it just stops.

Love the character though. The meeting with Dredd was hysterical.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Third Estate Ned on 22 May, 2015, 11:36:39 AM
Quote from: Super Mario on 22 May, 2015, 10:12:00 AM
Love the character though. The meeting with Dredd was hysterical.

Ah, I'm glad you said that. I knew I had once read a Devlin Waugh story where he meets Dredd and I wasn't sure whether it would be in this collection. I look forward to seeing it again, if it's the one where he has trouble at customs.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Super Mario on 22 May, 2015, 04:35:10 PM
That's the one!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Spikes on 22 May, 2015, 09:59:27 PM
Quote from: Skullmo on 18 May, 2015, 12:32:06 PM
Quote from: Spikes on 18 May, 2015, 11:34:40 AM
Quote from: Skullmo on 17 May, 2015, 10:09:37 PM
Quote from: Spikes on 16 May, 2015, 09:29:53 AM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 15 May, 2015, 05:07:58 PM
Day of Chaos will presumably also get two books apiece.

Would dearly love to see the DoC collected into a single volume.
And with the Michael Carroll 'Downtime' episode re-instated.

In terms of page count, its the longest Dredd epic, but if Block Mania/Apocalypse War can fit into a single release...


. . . You already know it's going to be in 2 books!


Do I?


Remember . . . . the discussion about the covers? In the pub??

Yes, I remember that. Didn't realise it was for two books, though.
Hope that means it's not a straight reprinting of the existing trades. Keen to read the Dead Zone tale from the Meg. Be nice to have that included.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Bat King on 23 May, 2015, 03:58:42 AM
Quote from: Skank on 21 May, 2015, 10:44:46 PM
Quote from: The monarch on 21 May, 2015, 09:19:07 PM
I read in your blog about the next one. I find it kinda odd they are starting with the second story rather than the first

Im guessing this is so they can put Our man in Hondo out along with the first Shimura stuff to begin the Hondo City stuff.

Yes it was an interesting choice...

I'm not sure how well Our Man From Hondo will sit with the Shimura stuff. But yes it could be in there.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skank on 23 May, 2015, 04:51:21 PM
Quote from: Bat King on 23 May, 2015, 03:58:42 AM
Quote from: Skank on 21 May, 2015, 10:44:46 PM
Quote from: The monarch on 21 May, 2015, 09:19:07 PM
I read in your blog about the next one. I find it kinda odd they are starting with the second story rather than the first

Im guessing this is so they can put Our man in Hondo out along with the first Shimura stuff to begin the Hondo City stuff.

Yes it was an interesting choice...

I'm not sure how well Our Man From Hondo will sit with the Shimura stuff. But yes it could be in there.

I seem to remember Sadu getting a brief mention at some point in the first story so it may make some continuity sense at least. 
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: SuperSurfer on 25 May, 2015, 11:13:07 PM
Massive backlog of graphic novels and a few floppies to catch up on. Today I finished reading Shamballa. Really blown away by it. For me, the stories in this volume get progressively better and better. Amazed by the twists and turns in R*volution. I actually forgot or didn't realise just how good an artist Ranson is. Not a case of which is the best, but so far I enjoyed this book in the series the most.

I am seeing the Mega Collection less and less in newsagents. I think the usual routine is that these kinds of collections disappear from the shelves of the big newsagent chains. If that is the case and if comics shops don't stock it, I will certainly subscribe.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skank on 27 May, 2015, 02:15:03 PM
I asked on the facebook page and apparently the next book is Day of Chaos: Fourth Faction
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 27 May, 2015, 04:59:35 PM
That's great news! Wonder what else will be in to make up the page count?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Spikes on 27 May, 2015, 05:25:51 PM
Quote from: Skank on 27 May, 2015, 02:15:03 PM
I asked on the facebook page and apparently the next book is Day of Chaos: Fourth Faction

Nice one! Looking forward to seeing the DoC come out in the Mega collection. If it's 2 books, and that would seem to be the case, then I guess there wouldn't be a long gap before they released the 2nd?  So, Endgame to follow directly after Fourth Faction?

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skank on 27 May, 2015, 05:28:02 PM
I imagine its just gonna be the first half of Day of Chaos, starting with Nadia and probably ending sometime around the point P.J Maybe comes into play.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 27 May, 2015, 08:47:53 PM
Picked up Shimura today - very nice! No idea why they did not start with book 1 though
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Magnetica on 27 May, 2015, 10:34:05 PM
Quote from: SuperSurfer on 25 May, 2015, 11:13:07 PM
I am seeing the Mega Collection less and less in newsagents. I think the usual routine is that these kinds of collections disappear from the shelves of the big newsagent chains. If that is the case and if comics shops don't stock it, I will certainly subscribe.

Yes I have noticed that too. I was wondering how well it is selling generally - hopefully well enough to continue to the end?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 28 May, 2015, 03:08:09 AM
Apparently its gonna be in a hondo city justice collection down the line
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 28 May, 2015, 12:41:27 PM
I liked Shimura but it's very heavy going in places. When the Simon Fraser art kicks in the book finds a new gear. I've always loved Duke Mighten's work - especially his Accident Man from the Toxic days. I wish he'd found a strip more suited to his style - I think his work was always distinctive & very imaginative. I really feel he has the individuality of a Kevin O'Neill - love his gaming designs now. Colin MacNeil's b&w stuff is stunning but I often found bits of the story confusing. I think the series would benefit from more Dredd of at least Dredd every other issue.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Boo on 28 May, 2015, 07:57:04 PM
Here's my review: http://www.sidekickcast.com/judge-dredd-mega-collection-10-shimura/

TLDR as a relative noob and one who hasn't come across any Shimura stories before, this one was a bit of a struggle for me...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 28 May, 2015, 09:25:11 PM
"For me, this is the most disappointing entry in the Judge Dredd Mega Collection so far, which is perhaps a mark of how high the bar 2000AD has set itself is."

But!! The Heavy Mob!!


I thought Shimura was confusing, but I think that Robbie Morrison's first few stories are rather confusing. He becomes excellent later.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Boo on 28 May, 2015, 09:45:41 PM
Quote from: Skullmo on 28 May, 2015, 09:25:11 PM
"For me, this is the most disappointing entry in the Judge Dredd Mega Collection so far, which is perhaps a mark of how high the bar 2000AD has set itself is."

But!! The Heavy Mob!!

Ha! Yeah, point taken - I said for me Shimura's the most disappointing as I didn't have to review The Heavy Mob, me and Kudos have taken turns reviewing the Mega Collection and he got that one ;)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Super Mario on 29 May, 2015, 09:33:17 AM
Outcast was insanely dense. It worked fine for me as an introduction story though, it contained all the information needed.

I actually quite liked it, but it was tough going. I had to re-read the last section just to work out if [spoiler]the chief judge had been killed or not[/spoiler].
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: bartosznowicki on 29 May, 2015, 12:05:49 PM
Hi Guys,

I've ordered subscription almost a month ago, but still didn't received first issue, so I have a question about 'the Cursed Earth' published in the collection.

Does it include the missing thrills from Complete Case Files vol. 1? Or not?

Does anybody know what was the copyright problem that caused their lack at the first place?

Cheers

B
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 29 May, 2015, 12:09:15 PM

http://britishcomics.wikia.com/wiki/The_Cursed_Earth
Basically use of copyright characters
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: bartosznowicki on 29 May, 2015, 12:31:51 PM
Thanks Robert.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 29 May, 2015, 01:04:37 PM
Quote from: Boo on 28 May, 2015, 07:57:04 PM
...as a relative noob and one who hasn't come across any Shimura stories before, this one was a bit of a struggle for me...

I don't think that's a sympton of your being a newbie as much as a sympton of Shimura!

I first encountered the character in the DC/Rebellion trade - it was basically all these stories, minus the last few (which hadn't yet been written) but included Shimura's first story. And trust me, that first story doesn't make nearly as much difference as you'd assume it might. I still felt pretty lost. Too many of his stories read as though they've got pages missing!

I much prefer Robbie's Inaba stories - the storytelling's a lot clearer and she's a much more interesting character.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 29 May, 2015, 01:10:56 PM
Trudging through the Case Files, a lot of Megazine stuff at the time had a weird kind of assumptive storytelling going on. You got the feeling the writer knew in their head what the story was, but it never fully translated to the page. Shimura's an odd one at this stage of the collection, and especially if it's not starting at the beginning. I think this will be a great collection when complete, but do wonder with some of what we've already seen if it should have stuck with a more focussed 60-book collection than expanding out to 80.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 29 May, 2015, 01:34:11 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 29 May, 2015, 01:10:56 PM
Trudging through the Case Files, a lot of Megazine stuff at the time had a weird kind of assumptive storytelling going on. You got the feeling the writer knew in their head what the story was, but it never fully translated to the page.

Asusmptive storytelling is a good way of putting it. It's as though they're trying so hard to eschew the style of 'older', unfashionable comics (it being the 1990s and the era of the grim n' gritty graphic novel) that they've thrown the baby out with the bathwater. Very few thought bubbles, captions, narrative boxes - wherever possible they're trying to show, rather than tell, but combine that with some, er, less than clear artwork and it makes for a really confusing reading expierience.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jim_Campbell on 29 May, 2015, 01:37:23 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 29 May, 2015, 01:10:56 PM
Trudging through the Case Files, a lot of Megazine stuff at the time had a weird kind of assumptive storytelling going on. You got the feeling the writer knew in their head what the story was, but it never fully translated to the page.

I'll be honest: whilst I'm generally appreciative of David Bishop's tenure as editor on the Meg, he could over-prune scripts he felt were too wordy. (Remember that this was an age when you never saw your script again until your comps arrived.) I can offer one specific example:

In the second Inspectre story, where we introduce the location for the rest of the series as being the reconstruction site of East-Meg One, there's a bloody great column going up into the sky. What is it? Part of the construction? A chimney? Who knows — it's never explained. And there it is, in every exterior shot for the next eight episodes.

It's a space elevator. The new city is being constructed in modular sections in orbit and will be lowered into place down the space elevator. We explained all that in dialogue over that opening shot, which is a horizontal half page specifically requested in the script to accommodate the dialogue. Charlie Gillespie obligingly drew us a nice, expansive shot and David cut the entire explanation. Was it important to the story?* No, but we'd have asked for the scripted the location to look different if we'd known David was going to nix the exposition.

As it is, it's just this baffling, huge, column/pillar thing.

Cheers

Jim

*It would have been very relevant to the main story arc of the second series, though.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: BPP on 29 May, 2015, 03:10:21 PM
Quote from: Jim_Campbell on 29 May, 2015, 01:37:23 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 29 May, 2015, 01:10:56 PM
Trudging through the Case Files, a lot of Megazine stuff at the time had a weird kind of assumptive storytelling going on. You got the feeling the writer knew in their head what the story was, but it never fully translated to the page.

I'll be honest: whilst I'm generally appreciative of David Bishop's tenure as editor on the Meg, he could over-prune scripts he felt were too wordy. (Remember that this was an age when you never saw your script again until your comps arrived.) I can offer one specific example:

In the second Inspectre story, where we introduce the location for the rest of the series as being the reconstruction site of East-Meg One, there's a bloody great column going up into the sky. What is it? Part of the construction? A chimney? Who knows — it's never explained. And there it is, in every exterior shot for the next eight episodes.

It's a space elevator. The new city is being constructed in modular sections in orbit and will be lowered into place down the space elevator. We explained all that in dialogue over that opening shot, which is a horizontal half page specifically requested in the script to accommodate the dialogue. Charlie Gillespie obligingly drew us a nice, expansive shot and David cut the entire explanation. Was it important to the story?* No, but we'd have asked for the scripted the location to look different if we'd known David was going to nix the exposition.

As it is, it's just this baffling, huge, column/pillar thing.

Cheers

Jim

*It would have been very relevant to the main story arc of the second series, though.

Maybe he thought 'why would you lift raw materials and components into space just to construct and then lower them down again'
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jim_Campbell on 29 May, 2015, 03:15:33 PM
Quote from: BPP on 29 May, 2015, 03:10:21 PM
Maybe he thought 'why would you lift raw materials and components into space just to construct and then lower them down again'

They were being constructed in space, largely with offworld/asteroid belt mined materials that were being delivered to Earth anyway. The solution was —ostensibly— easier than transporting an entire city's worth of materials from East Meg Two to the site of East Meg One across an irradiated wasteland.

Also: it was in the story from the proposal stage. If David didn't like it, he had plenty of opportunity to nix before the frickin' pages were painted.

My point wasn't to protest about the unfairness of this specific decision, but to offer one illustration of how "assumptive storytelling" might not be the result of the authors' intent.

Cheers

Jim
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 29 May, 2015, 03:17:12 PM
Wow - that is crazy.

I never knew editors did that.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Bolt-01 on 29 May, 2015, 04:51:19 PM
Heh, you wouldn't 'believe' some of the stomm we do here at Zarjaz...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Steve Green on 29 May, 2015, 05:31:14 PM
I thought you were looking a bit green lately...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Fluffy Clemmy on 31 May, 2015, 09:23:46 PM
As suspected the Mega Collection is starting to disappear from Newsagents. My local had a copy on top of their ice cream fridge (?!) every Wednesday. Went to pick up Shimura this week no were to be seen
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Spikes on 01 June, 2015, 04:06:43 PM
Place a standing order would be my advice, that's what I had to do, when they started to become thin on the ground.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Bat King on 01 June, 2015, 05:31:28 PM
Yup. Standing orders become required on most part works. I so have one news agent in Leeds that often continues to get a couple of issues but as it is in the bus/coach station I wouldn't even rely on that.

I may cancel my sub & order it through OK comics so I know exactly when they will arrive. Yet despite getting them after they are in shops the service is good so I dunno...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Fluffy Clemmy on 01 June, 2015, 06:33:29 PM
May decide to sub. How are people finding Hachette? I subbed to the Marvel GN Collection. They were ok until I cancelled my sub then they were a nightmare to deal with.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 01 June, 2015, 06:50:04 PM
I found them ok - I had 2 books replaced quickly & cancelled my sub within a couple of days. I found email worked pretty well. I only cancelled because I prefer buying the books individually. I'll re-sub if WHSmiths stops getting the MegaCollection in. I sold all the dented books on eBay so it worked out well
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 01 June, 2015, 07:07:29 PM
any news on what is following from Shimura?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 01 June, 2015, 07:09:24 PM
Oops, sorry, just found it - Fourth Faction.  Nice.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 01 June, 2015, 08:32:57 PM
It seems quite bonkers to jump into very modern dredd - thought we'd get some judge death or chopper first
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 01 June, 2015, 09:07:33 PM
I actually thought judge child was next it was a surprise for it to be doc so soon
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: COMMANDO FORCES on 02 June, 2015, 03:04:20 PM
The next four books will be....

10. 'Shimura'
11. 'Day of Chaos: The Fourth Faction'
12. 'Democracy Now!'
13. 'Hondo-City Justice'
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Timothy on 02 June, 2015, 04:36:52 PM
Where has the Judge Child Quest slipped to?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 02 June, 2015, 04:59:11 PM
Maybe b&w stuff puts off the average punter?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 02 June, 2015, 06:20:25 PM
I wonder what stories Democracy now will include. Pretty sure Better the devil you know and Twillight's last gleaming will find it's way into the collection. Hopefully also Letter from a democrat and Revolution. But it'd still be quite short on pages even then?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skank on 02 June, 2015, 06:54:19 PM
Quote from: Timothyjacobs on 02 June, 2015, 04:36:52 PM
Where has the Judge Child Quest slipped to?

i imagine they're holding it back, they already put out two of the early epics, so they probably want to space the others out a bit.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 02 June, 2015, 08:02:47 PM
Quote from: Fluffy Clemmy on 01 June, 2015, 06:33:29 PM
May decide to sub. How are people finding Hachette? I subbed to the Marvel GN Collection. They were ok until I cancelled my sub then they were a nightmare to deal with.
For this series, I've found some of the packaging pretty poor (notably those books sent with free gifts), but Hachette has replaced those issues that I deemed in unacceptable condition, with said replacements showing up within a week. My preferred method of contact has been Facebook. I think the longest it's taken to get a reply from them is under two days, which I'm more than happy with.

Naturally, my last two books showed up in perfect condition, and then I dropped them on the floor, thereby dinging one of them. Some kind of weird book karma? I dunno. (And, no, I didn't ask for a replacement for those!)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 02 June, 2015, 08:09:25 PM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 02 June, 2015, 04:59:11 PM
Maybe b&w stuff puts off the average punter?

Could also be that the colour stuff has generally been of a better standard than the B&W stuff.  Cursed Earth wasn't as bad as some of those put out so far but the Father Earth stuff was shocking.  Perhaps the source material is easier to work with for the more recent stuff?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Zenith 666 on 02 June, 2015, 10:44:53 PM
I'm loving these and a full collection going to be incredible.Reading through The heavy mob last night I was shocked at Clint langleys art for holocaust squad and that Robbie Morrison the creator of Nikolai Dante and writer of the incredible Enceladus was responsible for Brit-brute.its definitely the weakest book so far but one from ten is an incredible hit rate.Most looking forward to OZ and Judgement day.... Yes that's judgement day I loved it.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 02 June, 2015, 10:50:06 PM
Quote from: Zenith 666 on 02 June, 2015, 10:44:53 PM
I'm loving these and a full collection going to be incredible.Reading through The heavy mob last night I was shocked at Clint langleys art for holocaust squad and that Robbie Morrison the creator of Nikolai Dante and writer of the incredible Enceladus was responsible for Brit-brute.its definitely the weakest book so far but one from ten is an incredible hit rate.Most looking forward to OZ and Judgement day.... Yes that's judgement day I loved it.

To find out some of the reason why Holocaust was not Clint's best work you will need to listen to the upcoming Inky Fingers interview with Clint Langley - starting next month ;)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Spikes on 03 June, 2015, 04:27:08 PM
Quote from: COMMANDO FORCES on 02 June, 2015, 03:04:20 PM
The next four books will be....

10. 'Shimura'
11. 'Day of Chaos: The Fourth Faction'
12. 'Democracy Now!'
13. 'Hondo-City Justice'


I'd have thought that the 2nd DoC book would have been out sooner, but a 7 week wait - at the earliest, for folks to see the conclusion?

Looking forward to the Democracy Now! Book, though.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 03 June, 2015, 04:35:29 PM
I wonder if the cover images shown are final? Seems odd not to use Frank Quitely on Hondo. I much prefer the covers with a stylised main image. I'm guessing some colour art really doesn't lend itself to this treatment. A strong line-up of books - this series is looking good!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Albion on 03 June, 2015, 07:32:05 PM
Quote from: Spikes on 03 June, 2015, 04:27:08 PM
I'd have thought that the 2nd DoC book would have been out sooner, but a 7 week wait - at the earliest, for folks to see the conclusion?

They did the same with the two part Marvel books. There was a long wait between them.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 03 June, 2015, 07:52:33 PM
Quote from: Spikes on 03 June, 2015, 04:27:08 PM
Quote from: COMMANDO FORCES on 02 June, 2015, 03:04:20 PM
The next four books will be....

10. 'Shimura'
11. 'Day of Chaos: The Fourth Faction'
12. 'Democracy Now!'
13. 'Hondo-City Justice'


I'd have thought that the 2nd DoC book would have been out sooner, but a 7 week wait - at the earliest, for folks to see the conclusion?


I'm sure you will survive - I can tell you what happens if you like?  :P
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Timothy on 03 June, 2015, 10:37:27 PM
It'll be more than 7 weeks. Apparently Endgame will be issue 18!!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Spikes on 03 June, 2015, 10:42:04 PM
Yes, I was just going to post that - saw it stated over on the Mega Collection Facebook page.
Dang, that's some wait..
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Spikes on 03 June, 2015, 11:16:48 PM
Quote from: Skullmo on 03 June, 2015, 07:52:33 PMI can tell you what happens if you like?  :P

Some one has already spoiled it for me,  :(

So, the very last page is drawn by Carlos, and it shows Dredd throwing his helmet off in disgust, revealing his face for the very first time, as he screams "Damn you, Kazan stand-in! Damn you to hell!"

With 'To be continued in... DARK JUSTICE!' at the very bottom.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moldovangerbil on 04 June, 2015, 09:20:57 AM
Anyone else on here a premium subscriber to this?  I've just noticed that my account has been updated and the first premium poster will be sent with my next delivery.  Unfortunately, it looks like they're expecting to charge me 5 quid for it, which makes no sense as the premium subscription is already £1 more per issue to pay for this.  Anyone else noticed this?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 04 June, 2015, 10:32:59 AM
Quote from: Spikes on 03 June, 2015, 11:16:48 PM
Quote from: Skullmo on 03 June, 2015, 07:52:33 PMI can tell you what happens if you like?  :P

Some one has already spoiled it for me,  :(

So, the very last page is drawn by Carlos, and it shows Dredd throwing his helmet off in disgust, revealing his face for the very first time, as he screams "Damn you, Kazan stand-in! Damn you to hell!"

With 'To be continued in... DARK JUSTICE!' at the very bottom.

Spoilers man! Spoilers!!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Anzati on 04 June, 2015, 11:00:02 AM
Quote from: moldovangerbil on 04 June, 2015, 09:20:57 AM
Anyone else on here a premium subscriber to this?  I've just noticed that my account has been updated and the first premium poster will be sent with my next delivery.  Unfortunately, it looks like they're expecting to charge me 5 quid for it, which makes no sense as the premium subscription is already £1 more per issue to pay for this.  Anyone else noticed this?

What issue number did you start your subscription at? I believe that if you didn't start from issue 1 you have to pay the extra £1 for each issue that you hadn't bought through the subscription...I'm sure that's what it says in the smallprint...

Edit: From the terms and conditions on the megacollection site:

Premium subscriptions:
•There are 6 limited edition prints to collect. Each print is 10" x 8" in size and comes with a mount.
•If you opt for a premium subscription, you will receive your first limited edition print with issue 10, after which you will receive a print every 14 issues.
If you start your premium subscription in the middle of a run of 14 issues, you can receive the print for this run by making up the difference in price of those issues for which you only paid a standard subscription amount.
•Standard subscriptions can be cancelled at any time.
•A premium subscription can be cancelled at any time and you will receive a refund of £1 per issue (for issues which you have paid for) past the issue which was dispatched with the last premium subscription gift.
•For full terms and conditions click here.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moldovangerbil on 04 June, 2015, 11:03:48 AM
I started with issue 1 although they didn't actually sort out my premium subscription until issue 6, so what you say makes sense.  I must have missed that bit in the smallprint!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Anzati on 04 June, 2015, 11:08:42 AM
On the up side, if you ever cancel your premium subscription then you get a refund of £1 per issue since the last print was dispatched...I wonder how that will work when they ineveitbly extend ther series to 120 issues, more prints or the premium £1 stops...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moldovangerbil on 04 June, 2015, 11:28:54 AM
Mind you I got the first 4 issues for free (as I signed up during the trial run) so really they should only be charging me £1 not £5.  Can I be bothered to wrestle with their frankly terrible customer services department to point that out?  I think I might just save myself the aggro and suck it up.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 04 June, 2015, 02:55:08 PM
I've found their Facebook lot very good. Mind you, weren't the costs of the trial run the same as the new ones? If so, you under the terms would effectively 'owe' the same amount anyway, right?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 04 June, 2015, 03:54:21 PM
Customer service has been fab
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 04 June, 2015, 04:48:18 PM
Quote from: moldovangerbil on 04 June, 2015, 09:20:57 AM
Anyone else on here a premium subscriber to this?  I've just noticed that my account has been updated and the first premium poster will be sent with my next delivery.  Unfortunately, it looks like they're expecting to charge me 5 quid for it, which makes no sense as the premium subscription is already £1 more per issue to pay for this.  Anyone else noticed this?

I've just checked mine.  It is listed as £0.00.  I've subscribed since issue 1 so have paid up front.  Looks like your late start point is the reason so the next one should already be covered.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 08 June, 2015, 11:00:25 PM
I finally finished Shimura.  I've not been reading as much lately, plus I've had a massive Mass Effect fan fic that was well written to finish as well as the two Mass Effect Library editions.

Shimura was......odd.  The character himself seems fairly well written, but the art style seems mixed, depending on the particular story.  Like someone else said, it sometimes feels as if half the story has been cut and you're coming into it in the middle.  Not my favourite volume so far, but I probably will reread at some point as I've read books, not enjoyed them and it's just been the mood I'm in at that time.

Since we're getting stories in the Dredd universe, but with no, or little Dredd present (Shimura and Devlin Waugh being the prime examples), does this mean we'll maybe get Helltreckers as a book or part of a book?  I must admit to being one of the few that seemed to like that story but it has dated somewhat.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Timothy on 10 June, 2015, 02:47:31 PM
Interesting split of the Day of Chaos books. Hot Night in 95 has been dropped, and The Assassination List from part 2 added. Will this leave space for a couple of aftermath stories in part 2. I can't say that Hot Night is a huge loss. It's a nice enough story but not essential to the bigger story.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Spikes on 10 June, 2015, 08:43:08 PM
Quote from: Timothyjacobs on 10 June, 2015, 02:47:31 PM
Interesting split of the Day of Chaos books. Hot Night in 95 has been dropped, and The Assassination List from part 2 added. Will this leave space for a couple of aftermath stories in part 2. I can't say that Hot Night is a huge loss. It's a nice enough story but not essential to the bigger story.

Looking forward to picking this up tomorrow. The DoC, is like the Cursed Earth, or the Apocalypse War for me. I imagine I'll end up buying it every time it get's released..

And kinda glad that it's not a straight reprinting of the fairly recent trades. Is the Skinning Room still present?
TBH, I'd not miss either (not that there's owt wrong with those two tales. Far from it), but nice to have something different. I suspect Mr Carroll's 'Downtime' episode hasn't been included this time round?
So yes, be interesting to see how they fill out book 2...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 10 June, 2015, 08:58:48 PM
This book is stunning - great Ben Willsher endpapers & a striking cover. I'm not knowledgeable about previous reprints of this but the stories run like so... The Skinning Room, The Further Dastardly Deeds..., Nadia,  The Fourth Faction,  Elusive, The Assassination List & 4 page Ben Willsher interview & Matt Smith intro. This is s fabulous book at a bargain price. A mild gripe is that many new readers won't know PJ Maybe but it's a great sequel of sorts to the ApocalypseWar. It's good to get some stellar Dredd after a couple of more distant issues.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Spikes on 10 June, 2015, 09:07:11 PM
Yeah, the Skinning Room story was included in the first DoC trade. Shame 'Downtime' isn't included. I suspect the Case files will feature it, as part of the DoC, when that one rolls around..
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 10 June, 2015, 09:13:50 PM
I'm looking forward to this one. Mine were supposedly dispatched on June 3, so here soon, with a little luck.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 10 June, 2015, 09:18:18 PM
Has the packaging improved from Hachette & have any prints been sent?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 10 June, 2015, 09:34:26 PM
Maybe Downtime will be saved for a different volume about the Academy? Seems odd otherwise
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 10 June, 2015, 09:40:21 PM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 10 June, 2015, 08:58:48 PM
A mild gripe is that many new readers won't know PJ Maybe but it's a great sequel of sorts to the Apocalypse War.

Aye, I can understand their wanting to get this stellar story out as soon as possible (if nothing else it's a great advert for the modern prog for those lapsed readers that may have been tempted to pick up the Mega Collection), but it seems a bit of mis-step not to have released a PJ book first.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 10 June, 2015, 09:48:46 PM
It'd be even stranger if we don't get any Judge Death before book 2 of Chaos turns up! Much as I've enjoyed Devlin & Shimura this stuff is why I signed up for the collection. Oddly this week's prog stood out as one of the best I'd ever read - Absalom, a strong Dredd & a new Thrill plus great art on Slaine. I really hope the prog sales are up. I was worried that the Purchase of these hachette books would make me ignore the prog but I find myself buying it plus the Meg. Tharg's powers are strong
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Zenith 666 on 11 June, 2015, 01:35:27 AM
The smell of print from my issue is glorious.smells like I'm 9 again and I'm making trip to my local newsagent to buy my prog and it's fresh off the press.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Fluffy Clemmy on 11 June, 2015, 08:32:59 AM
Mine were despatched on the 3rd June too. Can anyway advise how long delivery usually is from posting?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moldovangerbil on 11 June, 2015, 08:35:49 AM
Quote from: Fluffy Clemmy on 11 June, 2015, 08:32:59 AM
Mine were despatched on the 3rd June too. Can anyway advise how long delivery usually is from posting?

I've found it's usually about a week to 9 days.  If you've not had them by early next week it's probably worth getting in touch with them.  Incidentally, I'm not sure if the date they appear on the Hachette site is necessarily the same as when they're dispatched.  I get the impression they usually send them out after this date.  (My account says 3rd June too btw).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Anzati on 11 June, 2015, 10:26:50 AM
Quote from: moldovangerbil on 11 June, 2015, 08:35:49 AM
Quote from: Fluffy Clemmy on 11 June, 2015, 08:32:59 AM
Mine were despatched on the 3rd June too. Can anyway advise how long delivery usually is from posting?

I've found it's usually about a week to 9 days.  If you've not had them by early next week it's probably worth getting in touch with them.  Incidentally, I'm not sure if the date they appear on the Hachette site is necessarily the same as when they're dispatched.  I get the impression they usually send them out after this date.  (My account says 3rd June too btw).

I'll second this, I'm expecting mine by the weekend as they often seem to turn up on a Saturday, that's the latest I'd expect.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Timothy on 11 June, 2015, 12:20:11 PM
Quote from: Spikes on 10 June, 2015, 08:43:08 PM
Quote from: Timothyjacobs on 10 June, 2015, 02:47:31 PM
Interesting split of the Day of Chaos books. Hot Night in 95 has been dropped, and The Assassination List from part 2 added. Will this leave space for a couple of aftermath stories in part 2. I can't say that Hot Night is a huge loss. It's a nice enough story but not essential to the bigger story.

Looking forward to picking this up tomorrow. The DoC, is like the Cursed Earth, or the Apocalypse War for me. I imagine I'll end up buying it every time it get's released..

And kinda glad that it's not a straight reprinting of the fairly recent trades. Is the Skinning Room still present?
TBH, I'd not miss either (not that there's owt wrong with those two tales. Far from it), but nice to have something different. I suspect Mr Carroll's 'Downtime' episode hasn't been included this time round?
So yes, be interesting to see how they fill out book 2...

Although the Skinning Room might not be essential to the story I still love it, both for Wilsher's art and for the superb interview with the sniper judge. He's such a great character. Forgive my ignorance, but has he appeared in any other stories?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 11 June, 2015, 02:21:08 PM
Quote from: Timothyjacobs on 11 June, 2015, 12:20:11 PM
Although the Skinning Room might not be essential to the story I still love it, both for Wilsher's art and for the superb interview with the sniper judge. He's such a great character. Forgive my ignorance, but has he appeared in any other stories?

I think Alec Worley picked up that plot thread in Megaine 342 (with Willsher again).

The Skinning Room and Hot Night in 95 help bridge the gap between Tour of Duty and DoC for anyone reading Dredd primarily through the trades, what wth Sinfield's fate, Dredd on the council, Hershey's return to the city and a brief chance to see the Francisco administration in action before it all went tits up!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 11 June, 2015, 05:50:11 PM
Quote from: Anzati on 11 June, 2015, 10:26:50 AM
Quote from: moldovangerbil on 11 June, 2015, 08:35:49 AM
Quote from: Fluffy Clemmy on 11 June, 2015, 08:32:59 AM
Mine were despatched on the 3rd June too. Can anyway advise how long delivery usually is from posting?

I've found it's usually about a week to 9 days.  If you've not had them by early next week it's probably worth getting in touch with them.  Incidentally, I'm not sure if the date they appear on the Hachette site is necessarily the same as when they're dispatched.  I get the impression they usually send them out after this date.  (My account says 3rd June too btw).

Ditto but mine normally turn up mid week so I reckon next Tuesday / wednesday.  ho hum!

I'll second this, I'm expecting mine by the weekend as they often seem to turn up on a Saturday, that's the latest I'd expect.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Magnetica on 11 June, 2015, 07:35:28 PM
Quote from: Spikes on 10 June, 2015, 09:07:11 PM
Shame 'Downtime' isn't included.

Remind me - what was Downtime about?

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Spikes on 11 June, 2015, 07:40:58 PM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 11 June, 2015, 02:21:08 PM
The Skinning Room and Hot Night in 95 help bridge the gap between Tour of Duty and DoC for anyone reading Dredd primarily through the trades, what with Sinfield's fate, Dredd on the council, Hershey's return to the city and a brief chance to see the Francisco administration in action before it all went tits up!

^ This is all true. I sometimes forget that I was once a trade waiter, and found these 'bridging' stories helpful.
From a purely selfish view point, and as I have these stories already, I could afford to miss them on this release. Though they are both grand tales.

But a cracking release is this, and I picked it up - and the prog - on the way to work this morning.
And a quality cover. Taken from the original art, as the background is different from when it was a cover for the Prog.

I believe a helpful forumite supplied the scan that was used for this.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Spikes on 11 June, 2015, 07:59:01 PM
Quote from: Magnetica on 11 June, 2015, 07:35:28 PM
Quote from: Spikes on 10 June, 2015, 09:07:11 PM
Shame 'Downtime' isn't included.

Remind me - what was Downtime about?


The basic gist of it, is that Dredd - whilst on light duties after the Nadia attack, goes to the Academy of Law to give a talk to those families looking to put their children into the Judge system.
Dredd ends up arresting some of the parents, and scaring the living daylights out of most of the children.

A pretty good one-off really.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Magnetica on 11 June, 2015, 08:10:02 PM
Thanks.

Don't think that is in the 4th Faction TPB either.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 11 June, 2015, 09:26:03 PM
Perhaps Hotnight of 95 will be included in Tour of duty, similarly how The Spirit of Christmas founds it's way into the end of Origins.

Btw. How many pages are Assassination list?  I'm hoping it made it into 4th F in order to fit Dark Justice into JD DoC: Endgame. Would make for a nice fit. Finishing up on Logan's arm, PJ Maybe and the appearance of the dark J:s.

Also. Wouldn't surprise me if Tea for two will show up in the Brothers of the blood book.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 11 June, 2015, 10:31:49 PM
Think dark justice was ruled out of mega collection! Assassination list has 38 pages
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 12 June, 2015, 08:49:42 AM
Quote from: Anzati on 11 June, 2015, 10:26:50 AM
Quote from: moldovangerbil on 11 June, 2015, 08:35:49 AM
Quote from: Fluffy Clemmy on 11 June, 2015, 08:32:59 AM
Mine were despatched on the 3rd June too. Can anyway advise how long delivery usually is from posting?

I've found it's usually about a week to 9 days.  If you've not had them by early next week it's probably worth getting in touch with them.  Incidentally, I'm not sure if the date they appear on the Hachette site is necessarily the same as when they're dispatched.  I get the impression they usually send them out after this date.  (My account says 3rd June too btw).

I'll second this, I'm expecting mine by the weekend as they often seem to turn up on a Saturday, that's the latest I'd expect.

According to my account details at Hachette mine were sent on the 3rd of June and I have received them this morning.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Super Mario on 12 June, 2015, 11:57:47 AM
Finished Shimura. A bit tough going due to some of the stories being hard to follow, but a good collection all round. I particularly liked the story with the freaky Dragon Lord guy.

That Dredd's a bit of a bigot eh?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Fluffy Clemmy on 12 June, 2015, 12:33:45 PM
Quote from: Mattofthespurs on 12 June, 2015, 08:49:42 AM
Quote from: Anzati on 11 June, 2015, 10:26:50 AM
Quote from: moldovangerbil on 11 June, 2015, 08:35:49 AM
Quote from: Fluffy Clemmy on 11 June, 2015, 08:32:59 AM
Mine were despatched on the 3rd June too. Can anyway advise how long delivery usually is from posting?

I've found it's usually about a week to 9 days.  If you've not had them by early next week it's probably worth getting in touch with them.  Incidentally, I'm not sure if the date they appear on the Hachette site is necessarily the same as when they're dispatched.  I get the impression they usually send them out after this date.  (My account says 3rd June too btw).

Thanks for letting me know  :)

I'll second this, I'm expecting mine by the weekend as they often seem to turn up on a Saturday, that's the latest I'd expect.

According to my account details at Hachette mine were sent on the 3rd of June and I have received them this morning.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moldovangerbil on 12 June, 2015, 01:20:22 PM
I've just received issues 10 and 11 as well.  Unfortunately, 11 was damaged so I've had to phone them and ask for a replacement.  Has anyone else had to do this?  If so, how quickly do they send out replacements?  The lady I spoke to said 14-28 days which seems a bit long.

Thanks
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 12 June, 2015, 01:26:49 PM
Yes a couple of times - usually a week.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 12 June, 2015, 02:12:33 PM
I've had two replacements so far. Both arrived 'same week' for me (i.e. I asked for something on Monday and it showed up before Friday). 14–28 days just gives them some leeway, I guess.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moldovangerbil on 12 June, 2015, 02:47:45 PM
Thanks both for the info.  I thought it sounded too long just to get another book sent out.  Incidentally, does the replacement show up on your hachette account details before they send it out?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: ManParrish on 12 June, 2015, 10:26:27 PM
Anyone know the issues from 12 onwards? Really hoping from some more classic Dredd from the 80-90s, Judge Child, Angel Gang etc
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 12 June, 2015, 10:34:08 PM
Quote from: ManParrish on 12 June, 2015, 10:26:27 PM
Anyone know the issues from 12 onwards? Really hoping from some more classic Dredd from the 80-90s, Judge Child, Angel Gang etc

12 is Democracy Now, 13 Hondo-City Justice... and 19 Day of Chaos II.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 13 June, 2015, 10:58:13 AM
Today is going to be a very pleasant day once all the work is out of the way.  Tooth, magazine, next two mega collection volumes and ...

First print.  I think like a lot of us I was a bit apprehensive about this but looking at the first one, I'm going to stick with it for the long haul.  Nicely packaged, border already in place for framing, ...  Only downside is the similarity with the Urban Warfare bookplate.

For me, this has to be the best gizzit of the collection.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 13 June, 2015, 05:33:13 PM
Loving Day of Chaos, especially PJ Maybe. I've been a lapsed reader for 19 years so it's great to catch up on what I've missed. Hoping for a Dark Judges volume soon.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Anzati on 15 June, 2015, 11:21:30 AM
I got my 10 and 11 today, did anyone else notice the improved packaging? Thicker corrugated card this time, which is great (although it meand the packages don't fit through my letter box now :lol:). Looks like they are paying attention to the complaints of damaged books/torn packaging :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moldovangerbil on 15 June, 2015, 11:54:43 AM
Quote from: Anzati on 15 June, 2015, 11:21:30 AM
I got my 10 and 11 today, did anyone else notice the improved packaging?

Errr.....no - my copy of 11 was damaged.  Hopefully, this improvement is something they're going to put in place for all deliveries in future though rather than it just being the luck of the draw based on what they happen to have lying around.

The cynic in me wonders if they've just done the maths and decided it's cheaper to replace a certain number of books each month rather than using more expensive packaging for everyone.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 15 June, 2015, 12:15:14 PM
I noticed no change in packaging here. Both books were shrink-wrapped and placed in a thinnish card sleeve that was taped tight. As ever, the package on the way to be got bashed on a corner, leading to some corner crushing on one book, but not to the point I'll ask for a replacement. (I've had worse from Amazon and others.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mardroid on 15 June, 2015, 01:26:52 PM
The packaging was better in that it wrapped all the way around. Last time there was a gap, although it was taped over to be fair.

I've been pretty lucky with the contents though. I think there has been slight creasing to the corner near the spine but nothing I could be bothered returning.


Is this the kind of damage others are referring to, or something much more extensive?

I'm really enjoying Shimura.  I've read most of these stories before but I seem to have forgotten a lot of the stuff in them so it's almost like a fresh read. 

I totally get people's complaints concerning working out what's going on though.  It's particularly confusing in the first (and I think second) storie where you jump between Shimura and Inaba's perspectives within the same page sometimes. There's particularly a bit where one of the bad guys appears to be killed (originally I thought by Shimura, but then it appears to be an Inaba panel) and I can't quite work out how it happened.

I do enjoy the Japanese region of Dredd's world. I quite like the Hondo City strip starring Inaba as main character in the Megazine too, although I think they overdo [spoiler]the big monsters[/spoiler].
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 15 June, 2015, 01:39:00 PM
Quote from: Mardroid on 15 June, 2015, 01:26:52 PMI've been pretty lucky with the contents though. I think there has been slight creasing to the corner near the spine but nothing I could be bothered returning. Is this the kind of damage others are referring to, or something much more extensive?
Pretty much, yeah, but it depends on the level of crushing as to whether I'll put up with it. One book was smashed on the spine and two corners, and that got a replacement. One also had a gouge all the way down the back, due to being shipped with a badge in the box. Otherwise, the odd ding is to be expected with stuff that's gone through the post.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mardroid on 15 June, 2015, 01:46:12 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 15 June, 2015, 01:39:00 PM
Pretty much, yeah, but it depends on the level of crushing as to whether I'll put up with it. One book was smashed on the spine and two corners, and that got a replacement. One also had a gouge all the way down the back, due to being shipped with a badge in the box.

Yeah that level of damage should not be put up with.

Arguably no level of damage should really be put up with... but for minor creasing I just can't be bothered, even though I understand they don't require you to return it. Which is VERY good of them, to be fair.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 15 June, 2015, 02:11:24 PM
I've never had a problem with Amazon as there over-sized packaging usually protects the corners. I reckon a third of the Hachette books have been damaged in the post. I'd insist on getting any dented books replaced just to encourage better packaging in future.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Timothy on 24 June, 2015, 07:52:44 AM
Democracy Now has some interesting choices in it. Great that the very recent Mega City Confidential is included, but it would have been nice to see A Question of Judgement in there. Not strictly about democracy, but for me it's the start of Dredd's concerns about the system. And if I were being hyper critical there are some issues with text placement on the centre spreads being obscured by the fold. All in all though, another good book.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 24 June, 2015, 06:11:12 PM
Quote from: Timothyjacobs on 24 June, 2015, 07:52:44 AM
Democracy Now has some interesting choices in it. Great that the very recent Mega City Confidential is included, but it would have been nice to see A Question of Judgement in there. Not strictly about democracy, but for me it's the start of Dredd's concerns about the system. And if I were being hyper critical there are some issues with text placement on the centre spreads being obscured by the fold. All in all though, another good book.

Can't wait to read Mega City Confidential again!

What more stories are in it?

Also, are the colour pages in Revolution in colour this time around?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Timothy on 24 June, 2015, 06:23:29 PM
Quote from: Apestrife on 24 June, 2015, 06:11:12 PM
Quote from: Timothyjacobs on 24 June, 2015, 07:52:44 AM
Democracy Now has some interesting choices in it. Great that the very recent Mega City Confidential is included, but it would have been nice to see A Question of Judgement in there. Not strictly about democracy, but for me it's the start of Dredd's concerns about the system. And if I were being hyper critical there are some issues with text placement on the centre spreads being obscured by the fold. All in all though, another good book.

Can't wait to read Mega City Confidential again!

What more stories are in it?

Also, are the colour pages in Revolution in colour this time around?
There's Letter from a Democrat, Revolution (with colour spreads but with text issues), The Devil You Know, Twilight's Last Gleaming, Politics, Raider, Sabs, Direct Action and John Cassavetes is Dead (which is strangely placed at the end). And the cover image is a good one too.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 24 June, 2015, 06:51:48 PM
Quote from: Timothyjacobs on 24 June, 2015, 06:23:29 PM
There's Letter from a Democrat, Revolution (with colour spreads but with text issues), The Devil You Know, Twilight's Last Gleaming, Politics, Raider, Sabs, Direct Action and John Cassavetes is Dead (which is strangely placed at the end). And the cover image is a good one too.

Thanks a bunch!

Also Mega City Confidential?

The placement of John Cassavetes is Dead sounds a bit like Father Earth in the middle of Heavy mob.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Timothy on 24 June, 2015, 06:56:37 PM
Yes, also Mega City Confidential. Right at the end.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 24 June, 2015, 07:19:36 PM
Quote from: Timothyjacobs on 24 June, 2015, 06:56:37 PM
Yes, also Mega City Confidential. Right at the end.

Splendid, just splendid.

Sounds like a bang on book to read together with America (inclusion of Judgement call was brilliant) and Total war.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 25 June, 2015, 08:23:38 AM
With the announcement on the Facebook page that there isn't going to be an Index volume, I'm toying with the idea of getting a bit OCD and compiling an index for this thing. Would that be of use/interest to anyone?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 25 June, 2015, 08:38:46 AM
Yes!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tombo on 25 June, 2015, 10:02:54 AM
Way ahead of you.  In fact I've done two, one simply lists the volumes and when I bought them the other is the more detailed one attached.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 25 June, 2015, 03:44:41 PM
Great Endpapers fro Democracy Now!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Anzati on 25 June, 2015, 05:55:45 PM
Well that's a surpise; my Hachette account is now saying that another two books were dispatched on the 20th, just 17 days after the last batch was despatched. Guess they're trying to catch up after earlier delays...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 25 June, 2015, 06:47:01 PM
Quote from: Apestrife on 24 June, 2015, 06:51:48 PM

The placement of John Cassavetes is Dead sounds a bit like Father Earth in the middle of Heavy mob.

Father Earth was the first outing of the Holocaust Squad (IIRC), hence it's inclusion.  Probably the fact that it was from the early days compared to the more Meg heavy later stories is why it appears so peculiar (<rant>plus the lousy reproduction </rant>).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 25 June, 2015, 07:34:35 PM
Quote from: Tjm86 on 25 June, 2015, 06:47:01 PM
Quote from: Apestrife on 24 June, 2015, 06:51:48 PM

The placement of John Cassavetes is Dead sounds a bit like Father Earth in the middle of Heavy mob.

Father Earth was the first outing of the Holocaust Squad (IIRC), hence it's inclusion.  Probably the fact that it was from the early days compared to the more Meg heavy later stories is why it appears so peculiar (<rant>plus the lousy reproduction </rant>).

Make no mistake, I dig Father earth. But I still find it a bit strange that it's in the middle of the book. Placed just before a post-DOC Dredd story.

IMO it would'v worked better if it was the first story of the book, or in the end of the book as a bonus story-ish inclusion. Would'v given it a bit more focus.

Btw. Really hope Dave the orangutang finds his way into some collection at some point. Shame he didn't show up in Democracy now  :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 25 June, 2015, 07:36:32 PM
I'm hoping for a crazy animals book. Surely judge T. rex needs a reprint
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 25 June, 2015, 08:01:29 PM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 25 June, 2015, 07:36:32 PM
I'm hoping for a crazy animals book. Surely judge T. rex needs a reprint

That is an awesome idea for a mega collection book! Should also The Guinea Pig That Changed The Law and The black plague  :D!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: sheridan on 26 June, 2015, 12:38:14 AM
Quote from: Apestrife on 25 June, 2015, 08:01:29 PM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 25 June, 2015, 07:36:32 PM
I'm hoping for a crazy animals book. Surely judge T. rex needs a reprint

That is an awesome idea for a mega collection book! Should also The Guinea Pig That Changed The Law and The black plague  :D !
One of my favourite Dredd panels (featuring an un-named character).

(http://41.media.tumblr.com/28c3e85336a7d68f6a8aca3865efc10c/tumblr_nkm3nnqPlL1qf427ko2_1280.jpg)

We also need to visit Charles Darwin Block, and have Bob & Carol & Ted & Ringo rampaging through MC1.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moldovangerbil on 26 June, 2015, 02:25:01 PM
Second premium subscriber's print has been revealed:

https://www.facebook.com/judgedreddcollection/photos/a.1523545327903270.1073741828.1517847991806337/1607065912884544/?type=1&theater

Looks lovely, but quite green.  Some sort of weird MC1 pollution?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: sheridan on 27 June, 2015, 01:26:21 AM
My version of an index (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1O0nNVuCiPHuenaoM1cjvgPr_DvhE_d3rjvxDmu7AiQg/edit?usp=sharing).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: sheridan on 27 June, 2015, 01:31:07 AM
Quote from: sheridan on 27 June, 2015, 01:26:21 AM
My version of an index (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1O0nNVuCiPHuenaoM1cjvgPr_DvhE_d3rjvxDmu7AiQg/edit?usp=sharing).
p.s. work in progress (apart from it being about an ongoing publication).  Main thing I need to add is the original progs and megs of the stories.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dandontdare on 27 June, 2015, 01:34:50 AM
That "spine number " discrepancy is a fucker - do you think this is a cynical ploy to play on geeks' OCD tendencies? If you've bought 10 issues, your spine count is up to 61!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: sheridan on 27 June, 2015, 01:53:45 AM
Quote from: Dandontdare on 27 June, 2015, 01:34:50 AM
That "spine number " discrepancy is a fucker - do you think this is a cynical ploy to play on geeks' OCD tendencies? If you've bought 10 issues, your spine count is up to 61!
And how long did it take to go from 01 (America) to 02 (Democracy Now)?  And as they're thematically similar, what's the guess on what 03 will be?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: sheridan on 27 June, 2015, 02:07:14 AM

p.p.s. you can't edit the spreadsheet, but you can comment if you have suggestions (or to point out inevitable mistakes).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Timothy on 27 June, 2015, 03:16:30 AM
Quote from: sheridan on 27 June, 2015, 01:53:45 AM
Quote from: Dandontdare on 27 June, 2015, 01:34:50 AM
That "spine number " discrepancy is a fucker - do you think this is a cynical ploy to play on geeks' OCD tendencies? If you've bought 10 issues, your spine count is up to 61!
And how long did it take to go from 01 (America) to 02 (Democracy Now)?  And as they're thematically similar, what's the guess on what 03 will be?
It says in the intro to 2 that 3 will be Total War.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: SmallBlueThing on 29 June, 2015, 11:32:24 AM
My 12 and 13 have just arrived, and as usual they look splendid.  I can't honestly say I'm up to date, as the last one I read was Mandroid,  but I'm passing them on to the eldest and he seems to be enjoying them hugely. 
The shelf they eventually sit on once he's read them is beginning to look great too.  Though as usual with these things,  I'm going to have to add little spine stickers so I know what's actually in them.
Do we know what's next?

SBT
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mardroid on 29 June, 2015, 03:04:43 PM
Mine arrives too. Wasn't expecting Hondo City Justice so soon after.Shimura but its welcome. (I'm sure it was mentioned on this thread and on the schedules but I haven't read it all. Please bear with me.)

I'm looking forward to the other as well. (I have forgotten the name.) I believe these Democracy storylines featured in the prog before I started getting the prog.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mardroid on 29 June, 2015, 03:06:51 PM
I just noticed my redundant use of the word 'prog' after I had hit the 'post' button.

Silly me.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 29 June, 2015, 06:29:19 PM
Missed the postie whilst out walking the mutt.
Saturday will have to do.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 30 June, 2015, 06:08:03 PM
Origins 45, Day of Chaos 49. Any ideas what epics could be in between those besides two Tour of duty books?

Got Democracy now and Day of chaos today. Brilliant books. Love how the bigger story/picture is growing with each book.

"Democracy now" has quite a thematic feel to it. Fits well in between the more personal America and balls to the wall awesome Total War.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jamie1000013 on 02 July, 2015, 08:08:20 PM
So far my top 3 are:

1.Origins
2.Day of Chaos (Hopefully there is a lot more of PJ Maybe love his character, want to see his mayor days)
3.Tie between Mandriod and Cursed Earth

I just had a question since I now have Shimora and Hondo city Justice which reading order would be best or doesn't it matter? Think Maybe HCJ first that Shimora but my OCD has had me reading them in release order so fa :-P.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 02 July, 2015, 09:34:07 PM
Quote from: Jamie1000013 on 02 July, 2015, 08:08:20 PM
2.Day of Chaos (Hopefully there is a lot more of PJ Maybe love his character, want to see his mayor days)

That's the real shame of releasing DoC before a PJ book (and then Tour of Duty). PJ's arguably become the best (certainly the most charismatic) of all Dredd's foes and new fans deserve to follow his tale in all its glory gory!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 04 July, 2015, 04:38:24 PM
Read Democracy now -the second time since I got it- today. Dredd killing a kid in Direct action, that (outside kids among the half a bill. people in the retaliation strike on Sov cit. 1) happened before or since?

I was a bit unsure about it's place in the book, but this time around I think Raider fits the book quite well. While not the best Dredd story I've read, or very democracy heavy, it shows a judge with doubts mirroring Joe's before the referendum: doubts Joe comments as "you think too much." (basically key to what he tells himself in the end of Twillight's last gleaming.).

And there's also the art -by Burns- connection. Similar thing with Kennedy's Slabs and Direct action, which I also hope/think could -outside the stuff on surveillance and Total war- serve as a springboard for Chopper volume . Perhaps the fifth MC book is a Chopper one :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: James Stacey on 08 July, 2015, 10:08:08 AM
14 - Psi-Judge Anderson: The Possessed
15 - Alien Nations
16 - Doomsday for Dredd
17 - Oz
18 - Day of Chaos: Endgame
19 - Total War
20 - The Simping Detective
21 - The Dead Man
22 - Target: Judge Dredd
23 - Devlin-Waugh: Chasing Herod
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 08 July, 2015, 10:46:03 AM
Great line-up! Alien Nations? Any ideas?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 08 July, 2015, 11:16:01 AM
Thanks for posting the list! Really looking forward to Oz, DoC:Endgame, Total War, Simping Detective and Dead man.

Any ideas on what Alien Nations and Target: Judge Dredd could be about?

Target-book. Assassins after Dredd? The nip cit bathsuit assassin? Alien nations, Dredd and Anderson in space stuff?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 08 July, 2015, 09:40:25 PM
What is in the hodo city book - apart from the first Quitely Shimura tales? Is it a good one?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 08 July, 2015, 10:23:00 PM
Hondo City Justice contains...
Our Man in Hondo - progs 608-611
Shimura - Meg 2.37-2.39
Babes with Big Bazookas - Meg 3.21
Executioner - Meg 224-226
Deus X - Meg 228-230
Hondo City Justice - Meg 300-303
Project Behemouth - Meg 324-326
Revenge of the 47 Ronin - Meg 332-334
Plus interview with Robbie Morrison & intro by Matt Smith
Some really strong art from Quitely, Andy Clarke, Neil Googe & Mike Collins/Cliff Robinson. Lots of big fun stuff!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 09 July, 2015, 01:07:28 AM
Cheers  -i might give that one a go if I can find it in the shops - it wasnt in my local smiths :'(
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Anzati on 09 July, 2015, 10:41:55 AM
I found the choice of stories split between the Hondo City justice and Shimura books to be rather odd...and quite confusing as someone who had never read them before. I had to go through both books and note down the issue numbers of each story so that I could make sense of some things.

To me it would have made much more sense to have had the early Shimura stories and those relating to Taoka (did I spell that right?) in the Shimura book and the Shimura stories featuring young Junko (again, not sure if I spelt that right) in the HCJ book...would have made for a much better narrative flow with the two books running more smoothly in parallel with each other rather than chopping and changing.

Still taken together they made for two bloody fantastic books...now I just need to track down the two Inaba stories that were not included...presumably due to space and lack of relevance to the main plot threads?

I'm assuming that Warriors may well find a place in a future Dredd volume of the collection. But I'm not sure where else Big Lix and Flying Kicks fit's in. Could anyone give us a summary of those two stories, please?

Also I may well be wrong in this, but is the young Junko who was under Shimura's care for a few stories the same Cadet Junko who eventually turns up in Hondo City Justice?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 09 July, 2015, 01:43:49 PM
The Dead Man, think there'll be any extras in that one besides The dead man? Being that it's only 80 or so pages.

I'm thinking the following stories:
-Letter to Judge Dredd (intro to tales of...)
-Tale of the Dead Man (continuing Dead man)
-Nightmares (finishing up on Yassa Povey. Also tying into Democracy.)
-Young Giant (Back up story. A little intro to Necropolis with Dredd saying he won't be around forever. Fitting considering the book itself)

That would add 100 or so pages right?

Essentially making Necropolis Esquerra's show (how many pages that'd be?), and serve as an intro to it.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 09 July, 2015, 02:13:07 PM
According to Barney, the meat of Necropolis is 162 pages. That leaves plenty for the build-up.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 09 July, 2015, 02:35:39 PM
I'd rather have the great Steve Dillon strip Nightmares after - continuing the story of Yassa Povey.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 09 July, 2015, 02:39:01 PM
Or Return of the King - I love an undead chief judge returning! And great Ezquerra art!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 09 July, 2015, 02:58:10 PM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 09 July, 2015, 02:35:39 PM
I'd rather have the great Steve Dillon strip Nightmares after - continuing the story of Yassa Povey.

Yes, it makes most sense to stick the leads-ins and build-up into (what would otherwise be) a very slim Dead Man book, then bulk up Necropolis with some of the aftermath tales.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 09 July, 2015, 03:59:30 PM
I remember "Return of the king" as classic Enni's mean-Dredd, but it could probably do well as a fitting finish to Necropolis.

This is how I think I'd put it together.

The dead man:
The dead man (perhaps still taking one or two readers by surprise)
Letter to Judge Dredd & Tale of the Dead Man
Nightmares
Judge Minty (back up. This one really ought to be included.)
A Chief Judge resigns (back up. Puts McGruder in the cursed earth, introduces Silver)

Necropolis:
By Lethal Injection (one hell of a starter)
Rights of Succession
Dear Annie
Necropolis
Return of the King (back up)
Young Giant (back up. Further cementing it as an Ezquerra gig/volume)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 09 July, 2015, 05:01:39 PM
It's always a conundrum - do you want a volume which reads well or a run by the same artist with odd narrative jumps!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Steve Green on 10 July, 2015, 12:56:14 PM
Hachette have just announced distribution for Australia...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 10 July, 2015, 06:47:51 PM
Looks like my three book idea for devlin could be accurate i wonder how many missionary man will get
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 10 July, 2015, 11:10:39 PM
Just realised that Kev Walker's great starscan of Dredd on a Hondo law master has been incuded with the interview. The attention to detail on this series is great!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 11 July, 2015, 10:47:12 AM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 09 July, 2015, 05:01:39 PM
It's always a conundrum - do you want a volume which reads well or a run by the same artist with odd narrative jumps!

Well I wouldn't mind something like America (basically a Colin McNeil-fest) with Necropolis, but with focus on Ezquerra. Similarly I'd like Dead man done like Democracy now, with a short main story followed by thematic stories from different Dredd eras. As for OZ, I wouldn't mind Bloodline and Shooting Match as back ups. I like a mix of books, some being big pieces (for example Day of Chaos) while others being several smaller pieces (For example Heavy mob) :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 11 July, 2015, 11:14:53 AM
I think they should be collected based on story.


Otherwise we could have a McMahon book containing half the Cursed Earth and Judge child and then charles darwin block
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 11 July, 2015, 11:48:36 AM
just to be clear, ii foremost want to read story centric and thematic books. not art collections.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: ManParrish on 12 July, 2015, 12:32:29 PM
Hope so more classic Dredd is on the horizon
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moldovangerbil on 13 July, 2015, 09:22:00 AM
I've just noticed that the next 2 issues have been added to my Hachette account, so they'll probably turn up early next week.  Seems like hardly any time since the last 2 were sent out!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Anzati on 13 July, 2015, 02:50:49 PM
Yeah, my next two have appeared on the account too...and only 3 weeks after the last lot were sent. Looks like they're stepping up the rate of delivery...that's 6 issues in 5.5 weeks now.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moldovangerbil on 13 July, 2015, 02:56:43 PM
I guess as it's fortnightly they need to run with 13 deliveries each year rather than 12.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: BPP on 13 July, 2015, 06:21:20 PM
People on FB were constantly giving grief about books being in the shops before they were with subscribers so I guess the sped it up a touch to get ahead of the curve.

Man, people will complain about anything.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Anzati on 13 July, 2015, 06:39:02 PM
I suspect that they're trying to get all subscribers in sync with each other too. A couple of months ago I only received one book in that months delivery. This put in sync package wise with a friend of mine (he subscribed with issue 1, but I subscribed with issue 3, and I ended up always being one book ahead of him), but not with dispach dates. Where his were sent out towards the end of the month, mine we're always sent out at the beginning of the month...but for the last two deliveries we've both had them dispatched at the same time.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 14 July, 2015, 09:40:48 AM
They were also keen to not change people twice in one month, figuring that was annoy. I was one of the 'late' subs. So I wrote to them on Facebook and asked whether my sub could be moved, and said I didn't care about being charged twice. My next package was among the first ones sent.

Frankly, I think the Facebook complaints are from a bunch of entitled whiners. Hachette's customer service seems pretty good when you actually bother to contact them (although curiously best via Facebook). I've had three replace books and a subs shift, all of which happened with essentially no fuss.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Anzati on 14 July, 2015, 11:06:00 AM
So far I've been very happy with their customer service via, facebook, e-mail and phone. The only thing that I wasn't happy with was when they decided that screen captures showing a field length issue on the website were not good enough and they asked for my account password so that they could look at it. That one was via facebook.

The facebook whinging does seem to have quitened down quite a bit recently :) I'm looking forwards to my next issues arriving...hopefully on Saturday :)
Title: Re: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: W. R. Logan on 14 July, 2015, 12:02:53 PM
I can't fault their customer services for replying however I've asked the same question twice.
I've managed to buy about half the books from my local newsagents and sent a list of what I had and asked what is missed so I could fill the gaps and then subscribe.
Both times I've been told that they're glad I'm buying the books and that they'll be 80 in the series.
So I've still no idea what issues I've missed or what the next one is to subscribe from.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Steve Green on 14 July, 2015, 12:23:49 PM
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judge_Dredd:_The_Mega_Collection (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judge_Dredd:_The_Mega_Collection)

I think 13 is the latest.
Title: Re: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: W. R. Logan on 14 July, 2015, 05:02:04 PM
Cheers Steve.
Obviously the issue numbers don't correspond with the volume numbers and to buy off their site you need the volume number.
Now can look at filling gaps and subscribing.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Steve Green on 14 July, 2015, 06:56:42 PM
The wikipedia entry has issue and volume numbers though? Assuming they're all correct.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 20 July, 2015, 10:32:17 AM
#14 and #15 just arrived here, surprisingly early. The Anderson book looks to collect the black and white stories. Repro appears mostly good, apart from some blown levels on parts of Hour of the Wolf.

Alien Nations includes: Raptaur; Raptaur Returns; Skar; The Alien Way; Howler; Prey; He Came From Outer Space; Alien Town's Burning; An Alien's Guide to Mega-City One (text reformatted from original).

That to my mind is a pretty strong collection, and at a glance the repro here is pretty good, with Raptaur looking especially vibrant. Lots of variety in the art as well, which works well in these more varied collections. (And I don't care what anyone else says, Howler is excellent.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Hawkmumbler on 20 July, 2015, 10:34:36 AM
Wait, people dislike Howler? What fresh madness is this? I thought it was a pretty much universaly loved story. I adore it.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Pete Wells on 20 July, 2015, 10:39:31 AM
That Alien Nations book sounds great! Some smashing choices in there!

Sadly, I'm going to have to give Hachette a grumpy phonecall today. The only books I got this month were 2&3 (finally) and these been no sign of Democracy Now or Gondo City Justice and I'm gagging to read Mega-City Confidential again.

It's such a shame, it's a great series (in the main) that, for me, is being spoilt by inconstant service.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Molch-R on 20 July, 2015, 10:45:35 AM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 20 July, 2015, 10:32:17 AM
An Alien's Guide to Mega-City One (text reformatted from original).

What original?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 20 July, 2015, 11:02:24 AM
Quote from: Molch-R on 20 July, 2015, 10:45:35 AMWhat original?
Arg. Is that new? My apologies. I remember something very similar to that from the classic 2000 AD years. I thought it was reformatted reprint.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 20 July, 2015, 11:05:17 AM
Quote from: Hawkmonger on 20 July, 2015, 10:34:36 AMWait, people dislike Howler? What fresh madness is this? I thought it was a pretty much universaly loved story. I adore it.
I think the phrase is 'divisive'. At the time, people moaned about the art, and plenty complained about the script too. I thought it was great—full of energy. Then again, I'm one of those people of the opinion McMahon can essentially do no wrong.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Molch-R on 20 July, 2015, 11:05:36 AM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 20 July, 2015, 11:02:24 AM
Arg. Is that new? My apologies. I remember something very similar to that from the classic 2000 AD years. I thought it was reformatted reprint.

It is - seem to recall it was Matt and Pye's idea :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Link Prime on 20 July, 2015, 11:11:51 AM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 20 July, 2015, 10:32:17 AM

Alien Nations includes: Raptaur; Raptaur Returns; Skar; The Alien Way; Howler; Prey; He Came From Outer Space; Alien Town's Burning; An Alien's Guide to Mega-City One


Sounds like a brilliant collection of stories, definitely on my cherry-picking list.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: 13school on 20 July, 2015, 11:59:18 AM
Is it old news that this is being released in Australia? Just saw an ad for it on television here - off to search the newsagents tomorrow...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 20 July, 2015, 01:19:44 PM
Quote from: Link Prime on 20 July, 2015, 11:11:51 AM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 20 July, 2015, 10:32:17 AM

Alien Nations includes: Raptaur; Raptaur Returns; Skar; The Alien Way; Howler; Prey; He Came From Outer Space; Alien Town's Burning; An Alien's Guide to Mega-City One


Sounds like a brilliant collection of stories, definitely on my cherry-picking list.

Hmmmm.I've only just reconciled myself to owning three copies of Raptaur, and started to appreciate it as the fun story it is, but this does look like a nice selection.  Another vote for Howler as an absolutely essential Dredd story - just brilliant in every way.

I've been shamelessly cherry-picking the Mega Collection and have been delighted with every volume I've bought. Now the books I've skipped are starting to taunt me.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 20 July, 2015, 01:33:16 PM
I really hope that there will be a Blood of Satanus collection containing all 3 series!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 20 July, 2015, 02:15:29 PM
Heh, throw in Satanus Unchained! and a Mills-proof bunker and you're on!  Am I imagining it or was BoS1 the lead story in Best of 2000AD Issue 1?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 20 July, 2015, 02:38:59 PM
Quote from: TotalHack on 20 July, 2015, 01:19:44 PMI've been shamelessly cherry-picking the Mega Collection and have been delighted with every volume I've bought. Now the books I've skipped are starting to taunt me.
I think aside from being slightly narked at having just bought Swimming in Blood before it showed up in this collection, the only book I've been actively disappointed by was Heavy Squad, which was full of stuff that let's say isn't exactly the pinnacle of Dredd. For the money, they're fantastic value on the whole. (And they show up the Marvel collection's books as being rather skinny little things, for the most part.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: BPP on 20 July, 2015, 09:30:52 PM
I absolutely bloody loathed Raptur, it all just seemed a terrible slow boring take on Venom with, well art that's not my cup of tea. The number of times I've now bought it is vaguely distressing. Would much rather have seen MeatMonger in its place.

Felt this bundle was a bit sub-par for the 'long time' reader - the Anderson stuff we've likely all got 3-4 times (prog, Best of, Anderson trade, PSI files) and like I said.... Raptur... ugh.

Still, loving the books. Production quality is top notch and that Cam Kennedy panel blown up was lush.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 21 July, 2015, 07:48:55 AM
Cool, the alien book seems like itll be allnew for me!

Anderson, what are the stories in that one? Levithans farewell?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 21 July, 2015, 11:02:46 AM
The Possessed
Hour of the Wolf
Contact
Beyond the Void
Helios

Three covers
Two text pieces (Molcher on Brett Ewins, and interviewing David Roach)

So with the exception of The Haunting and the Dark Judges story that'll clearly be in another volume, that's all pre-Triad Anderson, I think.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Timothy on 21 July, 2015, 01:30:46 PM
Aren't Helios and Triad two parts of the same story? Or am I misremembering things?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 21 July, 2015, 07:40:35 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 21 July, 2015, 11:02:46 AM
The Possessed
Hour of the Wolf
Contact
Beyond the Void
Helios

Three covers
Two text pieces (Molcher on Brett Ewins, and interviewing David Roach)

So with the exception of The Haunting and the Dark Judges story that'll clearly be in another volume, that's all pre-Triad Anderson, I think.

Thanks!  I remember The Possessed and Hour of the Wolf being quite good!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: glassstanley on 22 July, 2015, 09:30:49 AM
Happy with both volumes. Would have been nice to have had the Dredd strip that linked to Helios included. Nice to see the covers reproduced in colour in the Anderson gallery. Shame about the missing picture of Judge Death on the b& w cover.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Timothy on 22 July, 2015, 11:05:12 AM
Quote from: glassstanley on 22 July, 2015, 09:30:49 AM
Happy with both volumes. Would have been nice to have had the Dredd strip that linked to Helios included. Nice to see the covers reproduced in colour in the Anderson gallery. Shame about the missing picture of Judge Death on the b& w cover.

That's what I misremembered! Helios links to The Brainstem Man, not Triad.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 22 July, 2015, 11:18:11 AM
Great cover on the Anderson volume & excellent interview with David Roach & feature on Brett Ewins. The repro is pretty bad - but probably same as psi-files. The detail in Roach's stuff is amazing but looks "eaten away" by the resizing. I'm guessing there's another volume to follow with more of Roach. Initially I was disappointed by the lack of the Brain Stem Man and Death's inclusion seemed jarring without any other dark judge stories. Amazing value though for a 200 page hardback & I'm glad it's still available in WHSmiths
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Radbacker on 22 July, 2015, 11:45:39 AM
oooh, this is just starting to filter into Oz so I grabbed the first one today (America), only $7.99 for the first one regular price $19.99, great value as Rebellion GN's a ridiculously pricey downunder (I paid anywhere from $39 - $69 for the few Case Files I got but found just a bit too pricey for stuff I already had).
NIce production and great to have in Hardcover too, question to those who have been getting this for a while, do they hold up to multiple reads or do they suffer from page loss like most hard covers?

CU Radbacker
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 22 July, 2015, 04:16:13 PM
Robert: I'm not sure it's resizing that's the issue. It looks more like scan/levels work to me—overdoing the levels to get rid of grime, but also eating into the details. The hardback ABC Warriors volume also has this problem in the Black Hole arc.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 22 July, 2015, 05:43:28 PM
Repro problems on b&w stories that have amazing Titan versions seems very odd.  I'm guessing we'll continue to see dodgy versions of the b&w stuff. It's a small price to pay.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Arkwright99 on 22 July, 2015, 06:30:33 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 22 July, 2015, 04:16:13 PM
Robert: I'm not sure it's resizing that's the issue. It looks more like scan/levels work to me—overdoing the levels to get rid of grime, but also eating into the details. The hardback ABC Warriors volume also has this problem in the Black Hole arc.
Doesn't Rebellion have access to the original films taken from the original artwork* or are they providing Hachette with scans from old progs? Comparing the repro of "The Possession" with the original progs it's (all too) obvious that there's considerable 'bleeding' of Ewins' finer line work which, for me, spoils an otherwise excellent strip. Conversely, as Robert points out, both Barry Kitson and David Roach's art suffers from 'over-exposure' in some panels so there doesn't seem to be a great deal of consistency. Which is not to belittle the effort that goes into the repro work - it feels a bit ungracious to complain about such things for lavish £10 hardback editions - but it's the same sense of disappointment I get from the excision of 'next prog' blurbs in the Zenith hardbacks.

As for the Alien Nations volume, is it me or does 'Raptaur Returns' feel like its missing a second act or something? 'Cos otherwise that's some unresolved cliffhanger it ends on.

*Unless I'm mistaken about how the original artwork was/is reproduced in 2000AD, that is.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Molch-R on 22 July, 2015, 06:39:55 PM
Quote from: demos99 on 22 July, 2015, 06:30:33 PM
Doesn't Rebellion have access to the original films taken from the original artwork

As we've mentioned before, the films of older Progs were really not looked after at IPC/Fleetway and large chunks of them are very damaged or plain missing. KAT-Scan does the very best with what we have access to.

Bear in mind that the old Titan volumes were undoubtedly taken from this film before it was lost/damaged, so it's not fair to compare the two of them. And no, Titan do not have copies of the films; we checked.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 22 July, 2015, 07:58:59 PM
Quote from: Molch-R on 22 July, 2015, 06:39:55 PMAs we've mentioned before, the films of older Progs were really not looked after at IPC/Fleetway and large chunks of them are very damaged or plain missing. KAT-Scan does the very best with what we have access to.
The one I'd be most interested in finding out what happened to is Swimming in Blood. The first edition (from long ago, before KAT-Scan's time, was woeful—a hideous mess of moiré. The new edition, though, was very good indeed, and so whatever clean-up was done on that was seriously impressive, given the nature of the original art.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: glassstanley on 22 July, 2015, 11:26:15 PM
Quote from: Molch-R on 22 July, 2015, 06:39:55 PM
Quote from: demos99 on 22 July, 2015, 06:30:33 PM
Doesn't Rebellion have access to the original films taken from the original artwork

As we've mentioned before, the films of older Progs were really not looked after at IPC/Fleetway and large chunks of them are very damaged or plain missing. KAT-Scan does the very best with what we have access to.

Bear in mind that the old Titan volumes were undoubtedly taken from this film before it was lost/damaged, so it's not fair to compare the two of them. And no, Titan do not have copies of the films; we checked.

Wouldn't scans of the Titan volumes produce better results?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 23 July, 2015, 12:57:58 AM
Just read the Anderson book from cover to cover and thoroughly enjoyed it. I really can't be objective about these stories - I must have them in 4 different formats over the years. I really appreciate the text pieces and recoloured covers. retouching heavily letra-toned art must be a git especially when there's different greys and spatter on top.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jim_Campbell on 23 July, 2015, 08:37:28 AM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 23 July, 2015, 12:57:58 AM
retouching heavily letra-toned art must be a git especially when there's different greys and spatter on top.

There were some panels in the 'restored' Hook Jaw for STRIP, where I actually re-drew individual dots by hand...

Cheers

Jim
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 23 July, 2015, 10:16:38 AM
Quote from: glassstanley on 22 July, 2015, 11:26:15 PM
Quote from: Molch-R on 22 July, 2015, 06:39:55 PM
Quote from: demos99 on 22 July, 2015, 06:30:33 PM
Doesn't Rebellion have access to the original films taken from the original artwork

As we've mentioned before, the films of older Progs were really not looked after at IPC/Fleetway and large chunks of them are very damaged or plain missing. KAT-Scan does the very best with what we have access to.

Bear in mind that the old Titan volumes were undoubtedly taken from this film before it was lost/damaged, so it's not fair to compare the two of them. And no, Titan do not have copies of the films; we checked.

Wouldn't scans of the Titan volumes produce better results?

Yes
Title: Re: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: W. R. Logan on 26 July, 2015, 02:25:24 PM
As the person who did the Archive sort out ready for the DC trades before Rebellion took control, I can say that some of the films were in an awful state.
From picking them up in the dumped pile they were in, to sorting out and building the archive from scratch I'm amazed that some of the reproduction is as good as it is.
The Nerve Centre and Kat should be congratulated on how they've turned those films into the products we see today.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Krakajac on 27 July, 2015, 07:43:16 AM
As others in the Land of Oz have mentioned...

I was up at 5:00am today, blearily eating my cereal in front of the TV before going to work...and the Mega Collection advertisement popped up.  That woke me up!  First time in all the years I've collected Tooth that a related commercial has aired on Australian TV.

I'll try and hit some local newsagents to see if I can snag a copy of 'AMERICA'.  $7.99AUD isn't a bad deal.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: 13school on 27 July, 2015, 07:52:28 AM
I found a copy in the first (Australian) newsagent I went into, and by all accounts (ok, I asked a couple of friends in Melbourne to look around) it's pretty much everywhere. Here's hoping that it keeps appearing on shelves - I can't justify grabbing every issue but there's a lot coming up I wouldn't mind getting ahold of.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 27 July, 2015, 11:34:45 AM
I'm hoping expansion to new territories can be seen as a good sign. There's only really been one duff book so far, by my estimation, and the others have all been good to great.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Anzati on 27 July, 2015, 01:51:53 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 27 July, 2015, 11:34:45 AM
I'm hoping expansion to new territories can be seen as a good sign. There's only really been one duff book so far, by my estimation, and the others have all been good to great.

...and even that one duff book (I'm making an assumption here, that our opinions align)  was an interesting read for me, as I hadn't read the stories before :) I certainly see the expansion as a good thing :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Krakajac on 28 July, 2015, 11:39:27 AM
Queensland, Australia - walked into my small, country newsagent - and found Volume 1 staring at me, which was a nice surprise.  Like many, I can't justify collecting the whole set - but if I can snag AMERICA, MECHANISMO and perhaps APOCALYPSE WAR, I'll be a happy chap.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 28 July, 2015, 12:36:10 PM
...and Oz?     I'll get my coat.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dash Decent on 01 August, 2015, 01:09:36 AM
When I die, they're going to go through my things and think I had Alzheimer's.

"Another copy of this?  Didn't he remember he bought it three times already??"

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dash Decent on 01 August, 2015, 02:27:16 AM
Okay, my gorgeous wife has snagged volume one for me from the local newsagent.

It looks very nice.  I was interested to see it was a little shorter but a little wider than the Case Files/Rebellion trades.  That bodes well for material from the old UK comic size progs.  How does the Apocalypse War edition look with these dimensions?  Is there less white space and less reduction than in the Case Files?  I imagine there are comments about it somewhere in this thread but I couldn't find them even after trawling through umpteen pages.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 01 August, 2015, 02:04:27 PM
Judge for yourself:

(http://reverttosaved.com/junk/awar.jpg)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dash Decent on 02 August, 2015, 02:23:03 AM
Thanks IP.  The amount of white space around the borders looks pretty similar to the Case Files.  The black stands out more, though I imagine the paper makes a big difference in that regard.

Having stared at the photo for a minute or so, my main thought was how great an artist Carlos Ezquerra is.  (That's not a new revelation, just something I often think looking at his artwork.)

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: klute on 04 August, 2015, 03:45:42 PM
Been out of the loop for a while can these be bought separate or is there a chance of them being put into the online store?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 04 August, 2015, 03:57:17 PM
Quote from: klute on 04 August, 2015, 03:45:42 PM
Been out of the loop for a while can these be bought separate or is there a chance of them being put into the online store?

You can buy the issues individually here: http://www.hachettepartworks.com/products/9372-judge-dredd-the-mega-collection.aspx
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: COMMANDO FORCES on 04 August, 2015, 03:59:29 PM
That's pretty good of them and good business sense.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: klute on 04 August, 2015, 04:00:49 PM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 04 August, 2015, 03:57:17 PM
Quote from: klute on 04 August, 2015, 03:45:42 PM
Been out of the loop for a while can these be bought separate or is there a chance of them being put into the online store?

You can buy the issues individually here: http://www.hachettepartworks.com/products/9372-judge-dredd-the-mega-collection.aspx

Thanks Jimbo
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 04 August, 2015, 04:33:59 PM
Anyone know if Helltreckers will be in volume?  I know its in the Dredd universe, though not a Dredd story itself.  I know it's a bit dated but...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 04 August, 2015, 04:54:26 PM
On individual issues, don't hang about too long if the Marvel collection's anything to go by.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Hawkmumbler on 07 August, 2015, 04:17:46 PM
Bundle Helltrekkers in with Satanus Unchained and I MIGHT actualy buy one of the Mega Collections...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 07 August, 2015, 04:21:33 PM
I finally saw some of these again in the wild: Waterloo's WHSmith had a bunch of them, alongside 2000 AD and trades of America and Heavy Metal Dredd.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Fungus on 07 August, 2015, 05:29:42 PM
Think I've seen every volume - including Alien Nations - in my local WH Smith, when I pop in on prog day. Always good to see Tharg's wares out in public where they belong.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 07 August, 2015, 07:50:44 PM
That cannot be the same ashley wood who did those awful metal gear comics...if it is what happened? His arts beautiful in skar
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 07 August, 2015, 11:20:38 PM
Okay, I did enjoy this collection.  I'm not 100% sure if I've read Rapteur, but it seems vaguely familiar.  Both stories in that arc were nice.  Art was suitably moody and the story was pretty good.

Skar, a really good story, lovely moody art, but the story was one that could have done with being a little longer.

The Alien Way.  This I believe was one of Dredd's earlier stories.  Of course the presence of Griffin as Chief Judge shows that.  A fun little story, if a bit of a throwaway one.

Howler.  Oh dear, where do I start.  The story is.....okay.  The art however, in my opinion is horrendous.  Honestly I feel the artist was on a cocktail of some very mind altering drugs and I just hated the art.  I do in general like more realistic representations of character, liking artists like Bolland, Don Lawrences Trigan Empire, even Bellardinelli who is a little more stylised.  This though just seemed like chaos.

Prey.  If there is one fault I could find with this story, its that again it's one that seems a little short.  The nurse having an instance crush on Dredd I thought was going to be something that might be pursued (and would therefore have got her in trouble of course).  This story is really something nice and is set in an era I haven't read much of.  Top marks here

Alien Wedding.  This story had one little fault for me and thats the artists representation of Dredd's facial features, but overall another fun and slightly silly story.  I liked this.

Alien Towns Burning.  A pretty bog standard strip in terms of how original the story is, but good nonetheless.  I'm not 100% sure if I've seen this one before, but overall decent.

To sum it up, this was a really nice collection with the exception of Howler which, sorry, is one I'm just not keen on at all.  Perhaps if there had been a different artist I might have felt differently.  I might be the sole dissenting voice on that.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: SIP on 07 August, 2015, 11:23:31 PM
Ouch.....get ready for the "Howler" defense........




Ps. It's awesome.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 07 August, 2015, 11:59:08 PM
Well as I say, the story was okay, but I just really hate the art style.  If there had been a different style I think I would have enjoyed the story a lot more.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 08 August, 2015, 09:45:02 AM
QuoteHowler.  Oh dear, where do I start.  The story is.....okay.  The art however, in my opinion is horrendous

Oh my dear boy. Treasure this comment, for it will be a source of much mirth to you in a few years time, when the scales fall from your eyes.

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: CrazyFoxMachine on 08 August, 2015, 10:06:33 AM
Oooh man I used to HATE modern McMahon art when I were a lad. I was like "he used to be so cool man - now it's all blocky and abstract and rubbish" - people used to bang on about how wrong I was and I despised them for it. It was my opinion, why wasn't I allowed it? Just because he's a legend doesn't mean I should like it.

However - any dislike of highly stylised art comes from a fundamental misunderstanding of what it's trying to do. I genuinely, GENUINELY thought that McMahon had got like that because he was lazy. Can you believe that?!

It was this cover that changed my mind:

(https://tuggingyourcoat.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/angel_gang_01.jpg)

I spent hours staring at that, hours. The sharpness of it. How bloody clever it all is - how precise and effortless it all appears. Going back there's a genius to those shapes, once you realising he's boiling everything down. I will agree going from Block Mania to The Howler to now is a jarring transition but wade through his blog (WHILST WE STILL HAVE IT :O) http://tuggingyourcoat.com/ and take a gander at the process that man goes through to come out with his stuff. It's utterly unique.

But then again - art is subjective and I ain't forcing anyone to like anything they shouldn't. Embrace why you don't though - question it rather than dismissing it and you'll learn a lot!

Alternatively:

ALL HAIL McMAHON. JOIN US.

(http://www.techartgeek.com/images/2014/04/bodysnatchers.gif)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Fungus on 08 August, 2015, 10:59:55 AM
The most fascinating of all 2000AD artists. Hopefully the blog can't end? *

Howler is one I've never "read", it's in the pile of unread Megazines awaiting a spare year or two. But I've skimmed it and it never fails to raise a smile. Main thing I've taken from these comments is that it's a good story too ?  :)

* Shouldn't we bother Mick through his blog in an effort to dissuade him? His posts are always commented upon, but you'd expect floods of praise. He's Mick McMahon !
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 08 August, 2015, 12:03:08 PM
QuoteI have decided to close this blog. It will be deleted around the middle of September.
Thanks for looking, it's been fun.

Mick
NOOOOOO. As for Howler, I thought it was a bit hmmm at the time, in my younger days. Now, though, the script comes across as absurdist in the manner Dredd often does so well, and the art has so much energy, dynamism and movement to it. It's great.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Spikes on 08 August, 2015, 12:04:00 PM
Another cracking little book. And a nice collection of stories. But no Trapper Hag?  :(

Especially nice to reacquaint myself with the Ian Gibson drawn tale. Surely this was his best period on Dredd? Certainly that's my feelings. And not too bad repro for a black and white tale - which does seem to be this collections Achilles heel at times.

And of course; Howler.
I'll not pretend that I didn't scratch my head a little, when I first read it. But looking at it in 2015, every panel looks to be somebody having a great deal of fun (and it is a fun tale), whilst at the same time being an absolute genius.
Each to there own, of course...


And it is a real shame that Mick is choosing to close down his blog, but he obviously has his reasons and we have to respect that.
Many have stopped by to leave comments wishing him the best for what he'll be doing in the future, along with thanking him for starting such a wonderful blog in the first place.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Fungus on 08 August, 2015, 01:56:10 PM
Quote from: Spikes on 08 August, 2015, 12:04:00 PM
And it is a real shame that Mick is choosing to close down his blog, but he obviously has his reasons and we have to respect that.
Many have stopped by to leave comments wishing him the best for what he'll be doing in the future, along with thanking him for starting such a wonderful blog in the first place.

Yep, completely. My comment about commenting further was a bit silly, strike that.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: M.I.K. on 08 August, 2015, 04:11:06 PM
I think I must be one of the few folk who really liked the art on Howler the first time I read it, even though I was very familiar with McMahon's previous style.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dash Decent on 09 August, 2015, 04:48:43 AM
I've managed to keep up with the Rebellion trades for Dredd and related titles so I'm really umming and ahhing over whether to go for these.  Having them in hardback is an attractive proposition, as is the idea of themed collections (e.g. Democracy Now) but a lot of these seem to duplicate trades that are already out there - America, Mandroid, Shamballa, Mechanismo, Dead Man, Day of Chaos, Devlin Waugh, etc.

What do other Squaxx see as the pros and cons of this collection?  I've seen some negative comments about the quality of reproduction, but also other comments about material being touched up and corrected.  Apart from the extras are there any other improvements in these over, say, the Case Files?  E.g. colour spreads printed in colour here vs black & white in the Case Files.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 09 August, 2015, 07:23:59 AM
Outside the fact that I'm reading Dredd in HC, I like that each book can feel like a new layer or puzzle piece to the character.

They'v also retooled some of the books a bit. Some having thematic extras, while others having stories that -for at least- makes for a new ending. For example Origins ending with "The Spirit of Christmas" (taken from Tour of duty) and America with Judgement Call (from MEG300).

I also like the texts that comes with the books. Everything from introductions, longer write ups on characters  to interviews with creators.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Frank on 09 August, 2015, 10:46:41 AM
Quote from: CrazyFoxMachine on 08 August, 2015, 10:06:33 AM
... there's a genius to those shapes, once you realising he's boiling everything down. I will agree going from Block Mania, to The Howler, to now is a jarring transition ...

Well put, Owen. Being introduced to McMahon with *Howler* is probably a bit like beginning Breaking Bad at Season 2, episode 12. Following the development of McMahon's style over the last 38 years allows you to understand what he's constantly striving to achieve (in different and always completely original ways):


(http://i.imgur.com/FDqHY5s.png?1)(http://i.imgur.com/yEbvrDv.jpg?3)(http://i.imgur.com/PcYVH03.jpg?2)
(http://i.imgur.com/D8Nna4p.jpg?1)(http://i.imgur.com/Zws0dO0.jpg?2)(http://i.imgur.com/w6fjixO.png?1)
(http://i.imgur.com/XjDm7O2.jpg?2)(http://i.imgur.com/yg5MZTu.jpg?2)(http://i.imgur.com/duiBOr5.png?2)
(http://i.imgur.com/jbwcAs8.jpg?1)(http://i.imgur.com/AkTx6oK.jpg?1)(http://i.imgur.com/isd5YXV.jpg?1)


Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 09 August, 2015, 11:14:11 AM
Quote from: Dash Decent on 09 August, 2015, 04:48:43 AMWhat do other Squaxx see as the pros and cons of this collection?
The format is a big pro. These are beautifully produced volumes, equal to the best I have elsewhere. For the most part, Matt's also done a great job in providing themed and/or logical volumes of content. At 80 volumes, it'll also be pretty exhaustive (if not actually comprehensive) by the end.

Cons: there are occasions where DPSs aren't catered for (which has also happened in some trades), and some of the volumes could do with more context. A good example is Democracy Now, where you see Dredd leading the brutal takedown of the marchers, but then seemingly doing an about-face out of nowhere when the vote happens. That would have been a great place for a few paragraphs of introductory copy about what happened in-between.

QuoteApart from the extras are there any other improvements in these over, say, the Case Files?  E.g. colour spreads printed in colour here vs black & white in the Case Files.
No. The paper quality is better when it comes to the thick case files (and also the first Anderson volume), although the repro is seemingly from the same files. So colour spreads are in greyscale. Some stories also have the common problem of losing some of the detail in the art. That said, I've 'paused' collecting Dredd and Anderson volumes now, purely because I like these volumes a lot more. I hope the series runs the course, and if it does, I can't see me picking up the Case Files from this point on.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 09 August, 2015, 10:48:20 PM
I'd been a lapsed reader for 19 years and had sold all my old progs etc., so when this came along i um'ed and ah'ed for a couple of days and thought, well, a couple of quid for America in hardback, what's to lose? I loved it and haven't looked back. It's brilliant to re-read all the old stories and catch up with what I've missed in a really high-quality format. For me personally, I don't notice the reproduction quality as long as the stories are good and I can tell what's going on.

Standouts for me so far: Origins, Mandroid and Day of Chaos. I can't seem to get into the Shimura/Hondo City stories but some of the artwork is fantastic. The Alien Nations collection hangs together much better than the Heavy Mob one. Maybe if Father Earth had appeared first in that volume it would have given it some context?

Plus they look great on the shelf. The only problem is finding enough space :-)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 10 August, 2015, 05:26:18 PM
I didn't mind both Shimura and Hondo City.  I had never read either collections stories before, though I preferred Hondo City.

Howler is NOT my introduction to McMahon's art.  I was reading 2000AD in the days of Cursed Earth and stopped round about the time of latter Slaine.  It was before McGruder took the long walk anyway.  It's just the art style was too chaotic for my liking though the story was..amusing.

It's just I have preferences.  Another example was the Dark Horse Star Wars Dark Empire.  I wasn't a fan of the two or three colour palette look that seemed to be a common thing at that time, though certain piecs themselves weren't bad.

Anyone know what the next book is?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 10 August, 2015, 05:48:00 PM
Quote from: Jade Falcon on 10 August, 2015, 05:26:18 PM
Howler is NOT my introduction to McMahon's art.  I was reading 2000AD in the days of Cursed Earth and stopped round about the time of latter Slaine.  It was before McGruder took the long walk anyway.  It's just the art style was too chaotic for my liking though the story was..amusing.

It's brilliant. It arguably works better in the Case Files, within the context of the era - just as the strip began to pull itself free of the Morrisson/Millar tripe. It's as though Wagner is saying 'I can do dumb action too, but my dumb is good.'*


*I think I missapropriated that from someone on the forum - Greg M, maybe?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 10 August, 2015, 08:23:38 PM
Quote from: Jade Falcon on 10 August, 2015, 05:26:18 PMAnyone know what the next book is?
According to Hachette (https://www.facebook.com/judgedreddcollection/posts/1611307249127077), the next volume is [spoiler]Doomsday for Dredd, although I've no idea if this incorporates Doomsday for Mega City One as well[/spoiler].

Subsequent volumes:

[spoiler]
17/v31: Oz
18/v50: Day of Chaos: Endgame
19/v03: Total War
20/v21: The Simping Detective
21/v04: The Dead Man (which I'd assume will include some of Dredd's 'doubts' arc)
22/v30: Target: Judge Dredd (attempts to assassinate Dredd)
23/v15: Devlin Waugh: Chasing Herod

The thread adds that "Oz will contain the colour spreads in the centre", and confirms volumes on: Judge Death/Dark Judges (v06); PJ Maybe (v28); Mean Machine (including Three Amigos); Judgment Day (bleurgh); Necropolis; some stories with Ron Smith art; Fetish; Insurrection; City of the Damned.[/spoiler]
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 10 August, 2015, 08:48:15 PM
Well thats where trapper hags going if theres an entire volume about attempts on dredds life
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 11 August, 2015, 07:32:01 AM
Considering that there was a sequel to Trapper Hag (Siku on art duty IIRC) and there are still a large number of Dredd alien encounters tales out there (Kiss of the Spider Woman for instance) I wonder if there might be a second alien encounters volume out there.  After all can the collection really be called 'mega' without 'The Starborn Thing' or the recent hairy satire?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 13 August, 2015, 10:41:58 AM
Oz and Doomsday for Dredd just showed up here. Oz has colour spreads, NOT black and white! Also includes covers and a BMC interview. Doomsday for Dredd is specifically listed as a companion volume to Doomsday for Mega City One, and so it's surprising the latter isn't scheduled for a while (it'd be volume 24 at the earliest). It includes Beyond the Call of Duty, Return of the Assassin, The Trial, War Games, a handful of covers, and a text piece on villains.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 13 August, 2015, 11:09:27 AM
Got my Oz and Doomsday today as well  :D
Title: Re: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: glassstanley on 13 August, 2015, 02:19:06 PM
The colour spreads in Oz look wonderful - thank you to whoever made it happen.
Title: Re: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Link Prime on 13 August, 2015, 03:29:41 PM
Quote from: glassstanley on 13 August, 2015, 02:19:06 PM
The colour spreads in Oz look wonderful - thank you to whoever made it happen.

I really have to get this one.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Zanti Misfit on 13 August, 2015, 03:55:20 PM
"Budgie?
We don' need no steenkin' budgie!"

In colour -wow! - can't wait! :D
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 13 August, 2015, 04:17:38 PM
It looks great (although—NITPICK ALERT—one of these days, I hope someone realises the first two pages of part three are the wrong way round).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 13 August, 2015, 05:22:51 PM
can you post the offending pages?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Proudhuff on 13 August, 2015, 06:25:54 PM
I was just going to get the Dredd ones of this series, lucky that looks like most of them, might have to get the others just to complete the spine picture ...
Title: Re: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: radiator on 13 August, 2015, 06:45:15 PM
I'm not collecting this series, but I will definitely buy an Oz collection with the colour spreads. Amazing!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 13 August, 2015, 06:53:38 PM
Yeah, for this one I'll waive my 'don't buy if I already have in the Case Files' rule.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: radiator on 13 August, 2015, 07:06:53 PM
Now I just have to find a way of getting a copy to America...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: glassstanley on 13 August, 2015, 07:28:28 PM
Only question i have is ... why is Oz vol 31? Doesn't it count as a mega-epic? or are they just numbered randomly?
Title: Re: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 13 August, 2015, 07:33:30 PM
Quote from: Link Prime on 13 August, 2015, 03:29:41 PM
Quote from: glassstanley on 13 August, 2015, 02:19:06 PM
The colour spreads in Oz look wonderful - thank you to whoever made it happen.

I really have to get this one.

Yup.  Unmissable, I reckon.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 13 August, 2015, 07:41:50 PM
Quote from: glassstanley on 13 August, 2015, 07:28:28 PM
Only question i have is ... why is Oz vol 31? Doesn't it count as a mega-epic? or are they just numbered randomly?

Maybe Oz is presented in sequence with other Chopper or Dredd Abroad stories?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 14 August, 2015, 10:51:45 AM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 13 August, 2015, 05:22:51 PM
can you post the offending pages?
(http://reverttosaved.com/junk/oz.jpg)

As far as I'm aware, this error has been in every version of Oz, so it's not new to this print. Also, while some of the 'blank' fill-in pages are the Dredd visor, early on in the book has a couple of pin-ups instead, which are nice to have included.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: BPP on 17 August, 2015, 01:39:54 PM
Oz, in colour.

Best book yet.

Oz is one of the finest Dredd tales and some of the colour, especially McCarthy, Simpson and Dillon's dolphin, is just beyond zarjaz.

Thanks for putting this into colour, I'm glad we were listend to after the first few books neglected the colour spreads.

(maybe a sign the CF are bring prep'd for special edition reissues?)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 17 August, 2015, 04:10:51 PM
wow - in any order those pages look amazing!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 17 August, 2015, 08:07:12 PM
The repro on the colour pages is very good, especially when you consider the age of the comics in question. It's a very nice collection, too, although it's a bit weird from a numbering perspective that the Chopper volume appears to be #29. It'll be interesting to see how everything hangs together once all the books are on the shelves.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IronGraham on 18 August, 2015, 12:28:32 PM
I think the reason these were in colour is to do with what they had in stock in terms of the films, they were always intended to be in colour (why volume 11 has some such murky repro), unlike the Apocalypse war which was black and white with colour added later for the comic centre spread. I'm more then likely wrong and some lovely gents will point this out for me.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: bedlamvr on 18 August, 2015, 01:05:41 PM
I have just finished Oz - a story I do not remember I think I started reading a little after that, I do wonder if they are going to put some more context around the story particularly, Unamerican Graffitti,  the Midnight Surfer and the Song of the Surfer.

I think I had read somewhere that the song of the Surfer is likely to be included somewhere so I am kind of expecting another Chopper volume at some point along the line.

I am also assuming there will be at least one more Anderson book given the ones we have right now are volume 8 and 10.

I know people keep talking about lack of context but I think this is where 2000AD differs from a lot of comic books, the characters change and evolve - Matt Smith eluded to this at the begging of Doomsday for Dredd it was and common for characters to be introduced months before a major story line and gets interwoven with other stories so it is very difficult to grasp what is included and not in a specific arc and what can be trimmed and what are necessities.

Still the only clunker in this series so far has been the heavy mob issue...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dash Decent on 18 August, 2015, 01:36:50 PM
Quote from: BPP on 17 August, 2015, 01:39:54 PM
Thanks for putting this into colour, I'm glad we were listend to after the first few books neglected the colour spreads.

(maybe a sign the CF are bring prep'd for special edition reissues?)

It's quite possible.  They need to keep selling the reprints and to do that they have to come up with different ways to tempt repeat purchases.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 18 August, 2015, 03:51:48 PM
Quote from: IronGraham on 18 August, 2015, 12:28:32 PM
I think the reason these were in colour is to do with what they had in stock in terms of the films, they were always intended to be in colour (why volume 11 has some such murky repro), unlike the Apocalypse war which was black and white with colour added later for the comic centre spread.

Yep, as with the Trapper Hag page below, the early colour spreads had colour done seperately from the inks on a sheet of acetate, usually by a different colouritst (I think Tom Frame used to do a lot of these?) If you know a reprint is going to be black and white, just re-scan without the colour acetate. By the time of Oz a lot of the artists were producing full-colour painted spreads, with no seperate linework available.

(http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a113/Darkjimbo2/Dredd-Hag2_zpsxxx0zyrn.jpg~original) (http://s10.photobucket.com/user/Darkjimbo2/media/Dredd-Hag2_zpsxxx0zyrn.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 18 August, 2015, 04:03:12 PM
Quote from: Dash Decent on 18 August, 2015, 01:36:50 PM
Quote from: BPP on 17 August, 2015, 01:39:54 PM
Thanks for putting this into colour, I'm glad we were listend to after the first few books neglected the colour spreads.

(maybe a sign the CF are bring prep'd for special edition reissues?)

It's quite possible.  They need to keep selling the reprints and to do that they have to come up with different ways to tempt repeat purchases.

I would snap up a colour CF11 so frickin' fast. Not only (but mainly) for Oz, but the colour spreads for other litle stories like Pit Rat and The Raggedy Man, which are almost impenetrable as is. Plus I'd love it to be as slim as CF12+.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jim_Campbell on 18 August, 2015, 04:39:33 PM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 18 August, 2015, 03:51:48 PM
Yep, as with the Trapper Hag page below, the early colour spreads had colour done seperately from the inks on a sheet of acetate, usually by a different colouritst (I think Tom Frame used to do a lot of these?)

Frame did. I believe he did the majority of the colouring from the newsprint days. Difficult to believe in this digital age that the colour guide would then go off to a 'separator' whose job it was to interpret each of those colours to a limited CMY palette and create the colour plates that would print over the black.

I'm fascinated but utterly baffled as to why there is cyan lettering on the colour overlay, unless the acetate itself has physically picked up a blue tint from the ink in Frame's markers while the sheet has been in contact with the art...

Cheers

Jim
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 18 August, 2015, 05:53:39 PM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 18 August, 2015, 03:51:48 PM
Quote from: IronGraham on 18 August, 2015, 12:28:32 PM
I think the reason these were in colour is to do with what they had in stock in terms of the films, they were always intended to be in colour (why volume 11 has some such murky repro), unlike the Apocalypse war which was black and white with colour added later for the comic centre spread.

Yep, as with the Trapper Hag page below, the early colour spreads had colour done seperately from the inks on a sheet of acetate, usually by a different colouritst (I think Tom Frame used to do a lot of these?) If you know a reprint is going to be black and white, just re-scan without the colour acetate. By the time of Oz a lot of the artists were producing full-colour painted spreads, with no seperate linework available.

30something years reading this comic, and I never knew that. Always assumed colours went straight onto the art, and was somehow 'toned out' for B&W reprint in what I now realise would be a process unknown to science.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 18 August, 2015, 06:43:38 PM
any extra story in oz?

looks awesome. cant wait to read it :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Zanti Misfit on 18 August, 2015, 07:24:31 PM
Quote from: Apestrife on 18 August, 2015, 06:43:38 PM
any extra story in oz?

looks awesome. cant wait to read it :)

Good question.
My old Titan reprint of Oz includes the follow-up tale 'Hitman'. Can someone tell me if this is included in the Mega Collection Oz?
(Yes, I am greedy....)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: DarkDaysBish-OP on 18 August, 2015, 07:35:32 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 22 July, 2015, 07:58:59 PM
Quote from: Molch-R on 22 July, 2015, 06:39:55 PMAs we've mentioned before, the films of older Progs were really not looked after at IPC/Fleetway and large chunks of them are very damaged or plain missing. KAT-Scan does the very best with what we have access to.
The one I'd be most interested in finding out what happened to is Swimming in Blood. The first edition (from long ago, before KAT-Scan's time, was woeful—a hideous mess of moiré. The new edition, though, was very good indeed, and so whatever clean-up was done on that was seriously impressive, given the nature of the original art.

Some of the problems with Swimming in Blood stem from the repro processes used at the time. The size of the original artwork created some challenges, as did the fact that some pages had layers of collage art. Sean's originals looked amazing, but we struggled to get good scans because the depth of field was too fine to capture all the levels of the art with an even focus. Those problems were disguised by the hyper-absorbent bogroll paper the Meg was being printed on at the time, but became apparent when seen on nice glossy paper from the Mandarin edition onwards.

Sorry!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 18 August, 2015, 08:03:23 PM
Bish-OP: The Hamlyn collection isn't too bad, and although the art was quite dark in the Meg, it looked fine to me. It was that first Rebellion collection that was terrible, presumably a result of scanning and not cleaning up well. The latest version (and, I assume, the Mega Collection one) look good again.

Apestrike: nope—it's just Oz. My guess is the hitman story will be in the volume about assassination attempts on Dredd.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: glassstanley on 18 August, 2015, 08:39:29 PM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 18 August, 2015, 04:03:12 PM
Quote from: Dash Decent on 18 August, 2015, 01:36:50 PM
Quote from: BPP on 17 August, 2015, 01:39:54 PM
Thanks for putting this into colour, I'm glad we were listend to after the first few books neglected the colour spreads.

(maybe a sign the CF are bring prep'd for special edition reissues?)

It's quite possible.  They need to keep selling the reprints and to do that they have to come up with different ways to tempt repeat purchases.

I would snap up a colour CF11 so frickin' fast. Not only (but mainly) for Oz, but the colour spreads for other litle stories like Pit Rat and The Raggedy Man, which are almost impenetrable as is. Plus I'd love it to be as slim as CF12+.

Put me down for a colour CF11 as well. The second centre-spread of Fairly Hyperman is sorely lacking without the colour.

Though there are still a few b&w strips that could be revisited as well (Father Earth...)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: James Stacey on 19 August, 2015, 11:48:21 AM
Quote from: Jim_Campbell on 18 August, 2015, 04:39:33 PM

I'm fascinated but utterly baffled as to why there is cyan lettering on the colour overlay, unless the acetate itself has physically picked up a blue tint from the ink in Frame's markers while the sheet has been in contact with the art...

Cheers

Jim
He's painted over a cyan lined repro hasn't he ? you can see similar faint markings bottom right where there are movement lines around Dredds helmet (oo er)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Big_Dave on 19 August, 2015, 05:03:06 PM
Quote from: James Stacey on 19 August, 2015, 11:48:21 AM
He's painted over a cyan lined repro hasn't he ?

Yes

Teh top image is an acetate copy if the b/w line art (including speech bubbles)

The middle image is a copy of the b/w line art printed faintly (in blue line) on board which has been painted with poster color

Teh bottom image shows the top (acetate) image placed over the middle (poster color on board) image
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 19 August, 2015, 07:49:13 PM
Wait wait wait oz is no 3? I thought total wars supposed to be no 3?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 19 August, 2015, 07:50:19 PM
And its 31...read that wrong xd
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: shaolin_monkey on 20 August, 2015, 07:54:59 AM
I'm about halfway through Doomsday for Dredd, and really enjoying it.  So far it's all stuff I missed as a result of my decade long 200AD hiatus.  While I've read The Pit since, I still had no idea what happened to DeMarco afterwards, and this is filling in the gaps a bit.

However, the stories does hop from 'DeMarco is a Sector Chief' to 'DeMarco has been kicked off the force' without explanation as to the latter.  It's a bit jarring.  I guess her story of how she failed Justice Dept will pop up in another book, but I couldn't help thinking it would have been nice to see her arc collected in one volume.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 20 August, 2015, 08:02:59 AM
I was amazed by the Beyond The Call Of Duty story in this volume. Stunning! I'm really hoping DeMarco's change of careers is covered in another volume. I'm guessing there are other stories before she leaves being a judge? On a seperate note I loved Simon Davis on Dredd.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 20 August, 2015, 09:51:00 AM
Quote from: shaolin_monkey on 20 August, 2015, 07:54:59 AMHowever, the stories does hop from 'DeMarco is a Sector Chief' to 'DeMarco has been kicked off the force' without explanation as to the latter.  It's a bit jarring.  I guess her story of how she failed Justice Dept will pop up in another book, but I couldn't help thinking it would have been nice to see her arc collected in one volume.
There's a lot of this in the MC, and it's the collection's one failing for me. We could have done with more context in-between stories occasionally, which could have referred to other volumes. Democracy Now jolts in a similar fashion.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jim_Campbell on 20 August, 2015, 10:32:52 AM
Quote from: James Stacey on 19 August, 2015, 11:48:21 AM
He's painted over a cyan lined repro hasn't he ? you can see similar faint markings bottom right where there are movement lines around Dredds helmet (oo er)

So you can! Thanks for spotting that.

Cheers

Jim
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Robes on 20 August, 2015, 09:53:20 PM
Having not read The Pit is it worth me waiting before reading Doomsday for Dredd?  Presumably The Pit will come out at some point?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: I, Cosh on 20 August, 2015, 10:04:24 PM
Quote from: Robes on 20 August, 2015, 09:53:20 PM
Having not read The Pit is it worth me waiting before reading Doomsday for Dredd?  Presumably The Pit will come out at some point?
Probably not. It introduces a few of the characters but a lot of the build up happens in bits and pieces along the way: Bad Frendz, Scorpion Dance, Beyond the Call of Duty, the one-off introducing the new Lawgiver, etc.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 20 August, 2015, 10:21:22 PM
Personally, I'd be tempted to hang on until Doomsday for Mega-City One is in your mitts. The two books work really nicely read together. Odd that the gap between the two is going to be months.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Colin YNWA on 21 August, 2015, 06:51:22 AM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 20 August, 2015, 10:21:22 PM
Personally, I'd be tempted to hang on until Doomsday for Mega-City One is in your mitts. The two books work really nicely read together. Odd that the gap between the two is going to be months.

Yeah defo this. I waited (until I'd got a copy of the trade of the Meg issues) when I caught up and it was well worth it.

A very underestimated epic in my book.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 21 August, 2015, 07:24:06 AM
This is a tough decision for me - Doomsday (specifically previews of Kennedy and Wilson's art) was what brought me back to 2000AD from the Cursed Earth, but this means that my knowledge of the preceding period is spotty. So while the first volume looks as gorgeous as ever, I think I'll hold on for the Casefiles version and get the full publication context.

Cover is great, mind!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 21 August, 2015, 08:53:17 AM
Yeah - I think these slow burner Wagner stories work better in the context of the case files - having said that I am sure they are a blast for new readers.

You have to get both!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Satanist on 21 August, 2015, 11:04:40 AM
I've never read the Doomsday stories so was quite looking forward to reading them this weekend but now feel I might be missing out without having the other one. To wait or not to wait, hmm.

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Hawkmumbler on 21 August, 2015, 11:08:29 AM
Once upon a time my local library (before it was closed down) owned both of the Doomsday trades. Reading them side by side was bloody good fun and an interesting idea for a crossover (did it have any effect on the much latter and much more unique Trifecta?).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 21 August, 2015, 07:03:47 PM
Quote from: Skullmo on 21 August, 2015, 08:53:17 AM
Yeah - I think these slow burner Wagner stories work better in the context of the case files - having said that I am sure they are a blast for new readers.

You have to get both!

I've read none of this period before and it's fascinating (knowing that Doomsday looms on the horizon) seeing the pieces slowly begin to come together. It's interesting that as early as Case Files 23 we're getting introduced to the major players!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Big_Dave on 21 August, 2015, 07:28:14 PM
Teh build up works better than the pay off so Id wait until you can read it all in 1 go

Could have done with MORE build up - teh epic would be better without the [spoiler]Orlok/trial[/spoiler] stuff stopping teh action and distracting from the main story

Orlok stuff would work better as build up story or as Megzine part of teh story - popular character, would have convinced more people to buy the Megzine than Demarco detective
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: radiator on 21 August, 2015, 08:57:25 PM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 21 August, 2015, 07:03:47 PM
Quote from: Skullmo on 21 August, 2015, 08:53:17 AM
Yeah - I think these slow burner Wagner stories work better in the context of the case files - having said that I am sure they are a blast for new readers.

You have to get both!

I've read none of this period before and it's fascinating (knowing that Doomsday looms on the horizon) seeing the pieces slowly begin to come together. It's interesting that as early as Case Files 23 we're getting introduced to the major players!

Yeah, there's a fascinating throughline in all of what I like to call the 'Volt era' - beginning in the aftermath of McGruder and 'Wilderlands' and encompassing everything from 'Statue of Judgement' and 'The Cal Files' (in which we're introduced to Edgar and the PSU), through 'Bad Frendz', 'The Pit', 'The Hunting Party', 'Beyond the Call of Duty', 'The Scorpion Dance', and numerous shorter stories in between (even apparently unrelated shorts like 'Mad City' 'The Decision' and 'Angel of Mercy' adding ingredients to the greater whole), all neatly culminating in the huge 'Doomsday Scenario' epic and the follow-up tale 'The Cal Legacy', where table-setting is begun for what I consider to be the next era of Dredd.

The consensus seems to be that Doomsday is one of the least popular epics - and admittedly (like Necropolis before it) the build-up is way more interesting than the endgame, and it arguably suffers a little from being awkwardly split between prog and Meg - but show me an era where Wagner was as focused and prolific, where it really feels like one continuous serial that is building towards something big - and where the strip has or a stronger, more grounded supporting cast. There's also the added bonus in that it also includes what is  as close as we're ever likely to get to a [spoiler]love interest[/spoiler] for Dredd, which is very well-played I think.

I bloody love it! Favourite era of Dredd hands down. Massively underrated imo.

Could be wrong, but I think I'm right in saying that readership for 2000ad and the Meg was probably at its lowest ebb during this time (the dark, post-Stallone, pre-Rebellion years, and it also ran during what is undoubtedly the Megazine's most controversial period) so there's this whole wonderful era of Dredd that many will be reading for the first time via the Case Files. Large swathes of it has rarely - if ever - been reprinted until now.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 21 August, 2015, 09:09:10 PM
Reading the stories I missed I feel a bit guilty about turning my back on 2000ad. In the era of Vertigo, when all the "cool" writers went on to "adult" stuff, Dredd seemed so unfashionable. Post Crisis (the UK one) 2000ad seemed safe and stuck repeating past glories. I realise now there was so much quality & good work there. It's great now to catch up on The Pit & the Demarco stuff, plus Nikolai Dante - which is easily the equal of any other "classic" thrill. Anyway I'm back & loving the prog, Meg & especially the MegaCollection
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 21 August, 2015, 09:39:33 PM
Quote from: radiator on 21 August, 2015, 08:57:25 PM
...but show me an era where Wagner was as focused and prolific, where it really feels like one continuous serial that is building towards something big - and where the strip has or a stronger, more grounded supporting cast. There's also the added bonus in that it also includes what is  as close as we're ever likely to get to a [spoiler]love interest[/spoiler] for Dredd, which is very well-played I think.

I bloody love it! Favourite era of Dredd hands down. Massively underrated imo.

I'm loving the intro of the supporting cast - not just among the judges, but a recurring roster of citizen characters who really make the city feel like a living place. Bishop Snodgrass, Mrs Gunderson, Frank and Chuck of the Quite Nice Bar, Rubella Ffish and (on the horizon) Oola and Homer Blint. It's something I really think's lacking from the strip currently - where are their equivalents?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dandontdare on 21 August, 2015, 10:14:42 PM
I agree with those guys above. Doomsday is underrated, I certainly remember being utterly gripped at the time, and the prog/meg split worked much better than it did with Wilderlands.

Wilderlands wasn't great at the time because if you didn't buy both titles there were huge jumps and gaps in the story, but it works much better collected. On the other hand, Doomsday juggled the threads very well at the time, but in retrospect, as Big Dave  says, the trial episodes seem to unnaturally drag the pace.

When I bore people about 2000ad, I often bang on about the unique skill of telling a self-contained story in 5 pages every week, whilst still creating a narrative that goes on for years (or decades). For this reason, I hope Tharg will always go for what's best for that weekly dose of thrill power, rather than what's going to work in the trades. I don't like stories that feel like they're graphic novels that have just been sliced into five page sections.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: radiator on 21 August, 2015, 10:22:37 PM
QuoteI'm loving the intro of the supporting cast - not just among the judges, but a recurring roster of citizen characters who really make the city feel like a living place. Bishop Snodgrass, Mrs Gunderson, Frank and Chuck of the Quite Nice Bar, Rubella Ffish and (on the horizon) Oola and Homer Blint. It's something I really think's lacking from the strip currently - where are their equivalents?

Ha, yeah. There's also the two guys - the fatty and his coach (whose names escape me - Ernie?) from 'Fast Food', who go on to show up in 'The Bazooka' and 'Sin City'.

I also really like that Dredd has a little posse of fellow judges that crop up very frequently in the few years following The Pit (though I wish Wagner had done more with some of them), and I love Edgar - she a great foil for Dredd, and a 'villain' that he isn't equipped to fight - he can't throw her in a cube, or just shoot her! Roffman is another great little supporting judge character, that goes without saying.

That period of the Megazine is really interesting - Wagner had 15 pages to work, so we get the closest thing we've ever had to a monthly US comic book- format Dredd episodes written by Wagner. Lots of gems in that run.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: radiator on 21 August, 2015, 10:28:30 PM
QuoteWhen I bore people about 2000ad, I often bang on about the unique skill of telling a self-contained story in 5 pages every week, whilst still creating a narrative that goes on for years (or decades). For this reason, I hope Tharg will always go for what's best for that weekly dose of thrill power, rather than what's going to work in the trades. I don't like stories that feel like they're graphic novels that have just been sliced into five page sections.

Yeah, that's a good point. And it's hard to really put your finger on, but there's really nothing quite like following one of these big epics week to week over the course of six months or so. Reading them for the first time all in one go is never quite the same is it?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Big_Dave on 21 August, 2015, 10:30:11 PM
Quote from: radiator on 21 August, 2015, 08:57:25 PM
there's a fascinating throughline in all of what I like to call the 'Volt era' - beginning in the aftermath of McGruder and 'Wilderlands' and encompassing everything from 'Statue of Judgement' and 'The Cal Files' (in which we're introduced to Edgar and the PSU), through 'Bad Frendz', 'The Pit', 'The Hunting Party', 'Beyond the Call of Duty', 'The Scorpion Dance', and numerous shorter stories in between (even apparently unrelated shorts like 'Mad City' 'The Decision' and 'Angel of Mercy' adding ingredients to the greater whole), all neatly culminating in the huge 'Doomsday Scenario' epic and the follow-up tale 'The Cal Legacy'

Fun stories - inconstent art. Awkward era - new artists story telling not quite there, older artistd getting used to demand of comp7ter color/painted art
Jumble of different styles & media makes connected stories feel seperete - worst on Doomsday. Lots of artists interrupt flow of story week to weak

People forget how important art is to story tellling
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: radiator on 21 August, 2015, 10:53:55 PM
QuotePeople forget how important art is to story tellling

Whereas I think people get way too hung up on it.

I grew up reading 2000ad, man. Switching artists mid-story doesn't bother me in the slightest. It's all part of the fun.  :lol: I'll grant that veering between Si Davis, Neil Googe, Mick McMahon, Cam Kennedy et al early on in Doomsday might be a little jarring for some, but the real meat of the story is (IIRC) drawn by guys like Steve Tappin, Andrew Currie, Charlie Adlard, Colin Wilson and Mike Collins - whose styles aren't a million miles apart IMO - certainly not enough to break the flow of the story.

I'd also argue that the really dodgy period for art was the early to mid nineties. Most of the dead weight artists were long gone by '95.

If there's a problem with the art in this particular era I'm talking about, it's that poxy early computer colouring. I can't defend that. By the time Chris Blythe shows up it's pretty much fine. His ealry stuff is a little rough and filter-tastic, but it's infinitely preferable to certain others, whose colouring almost ruins otherwise classic stories.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Big_Dave on 21 August, 2015, 11:14:32 PM
Quote from: radiator on 21 August, 2015, 10:53:55 PM
Switching artists mid-story doesn't bother me in the slightest. It's all part of the fun

Yeah - like I say my problem was inexperienced artists iron8ng out kinks in there story telling & technique - as well as experienced atrists struggling with computr color and painting strips on a weakly schedule

Lots of differnet artists not as big problem as different MEDIA. Computer color, paint, flat inks - hodge podge. Lots different artists not problem on City Of The Danmed - b/w format and experienced atrists
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: radiator on 21 August, 2015, 11:31:55 PM
Quote from: Big_Dave on 21 August, 2015, 11:14:32 PM
Quote from: radiator on 21 August, 2015, 10:53:55 PM
Switching artists mid-story doesn't bother me in the slightest. It's all part of the fun

Yeah - like I say my problem was inexperienced artists iron8ng out kinks in there story telling & technique - as well as experienced atrists struggling with computr color and painting strips on a weakly schedule

Lots of differnet artists not as big problem as different MEDIA. Computer color, paint, flat inks - hodge podge. Lots different artists not problem on City Of The Danmed - b/w format and experienced atrists

I just don't agree.

I don't have a problem with the difference in media (Isn't pretty much all of Doomsday computer-coloured linework anyway?) and I would hesitate to call any of the artists involved inexperienced (with a couple of exceptions who only draw a handful of episodes between them). To my mind the only thing that sticks out like a sore thumb is Simon Davis' weird scratchy pen and ink work on 'The Trial', but even that I kind of enjoy on its own merits.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Big_Dave on 22 August, 2015, 12:00:12 AM
Quote from: radiator on 21 August, 2015, 11:31:55 PM
I don't have a problem with the difference in media (Isn't pretty much all of Doomsday computer-coloured linework anyway?)

Sorry for confusion - talking about the Volt era (described above). New artists finding what works for them & experienced atrists getting used to new media
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: radiator on 22 August, 2015, 12:50:59 AM
Fair enough.

As I say, for me the super patchy era for art was the early to mid nineties. Not naming any names, but you get a lot of very inexperienced artists cropping up around that time that (imo) wouldn't stand a chance in hell of getting published nowadays. You also have the problem of lots of young artists trying - often disastrously - to emulate Bisley, and also old pros - so good at black and white linework - struggling to produce full-colour work.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: DarkDaysBish-OP on 22 August, 2015, 07:30:44 AM
Quote from: radiator on 21 August, 2015, 08:57:25 PM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 21 August, 2015, 07:03:47 PM
Quote from: Skullmo on 21 August, 2015, 08:53:17 AM
Yeah - I think these slow burner Wagner stories work better in the context of the case files - having said that I am sure they are a blast for new readers.

You have to get both!

I've read none of this period before and it's fascinating (knowing that Doomsday looms on the horizon) seeing the pieces slowly begin to come together. It's interesting that as early as Case Files 23 we're getting introduced to the major players!

Could be wrong, but I think I'm right in saying that readership for 2000ad and the Meg was probably at its lowest ebb during this time (the dark, post-Stallone, pre-Rebellion years, and it also ran during what is undoubtedly the Megazine's most controversial period) so there's this whole wonderful era of Dredd that many will be reading for the first time via the Case Files. Large swathes of it has rarely - if ever - been reprinted until now.

You are wrong about the readership for 2k and the Meg being at their lowest ebb during this time.

But I totally it's great that some people are rediscovering some cracking Dredds from this era now.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Proudhuff on 22 August, 2015, 12:19:36 PM
Quote from: DarkDaysBish-OP on 22 August, 2015, 07:30:44 AM
Quote from: radiator on 21 August, 2015, 08:57:25 PM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 21 August, 2015, 07:03:47 PM
Quote from: Skullmo on 21 August, 2015, 08:53:17 AM
Yeah - I think these slow burner Wagner stories work better in the context of the case files - having said that I am sure they are a blast for new readers.

You have to get both!

I've read none of this period before and it's fascinating (knowing that Doomsday looms on the horizon) seeing the pieces slowly begin to come together. It's interesting that as early as Case Files 23 we're getting introduced to the major players!

Could be wrong, but I think I'm right in saying that readership for 2000ad and the Meg was probably at its lowest ebb during this time (the dark, post-Stallone, pre-Rebellion years, and it also ran during what is undoubtedly the Megazine's most controversial period) so there's this whole wonderful era of Dredd that many will be reading for the first time via the Case Files. Large swathes of it has rarely - if ever - been reprinted until now.

You are wrong about the readership for 2k and the Meg being at their lowest ebb during this time.

But I totally it's great that some people are rediscovering some cracking Dredds from this era now.

Please show workings.
;)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richard on 22 August, 2015, 05:34:23 PM
QuoteHowever, the stories does hop from 'DeMarco is a Sector Chief' to 'DeMarco has been kicked off the force' without explanation as to the latter.  It's a bit jarring.

That happened in The Scorpion Dance, which was a direct sequel to Beyond the Call of Duty. Seems a bit odd to reprint one without the other. This is why I stick to the Case Files.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 22 August, 2015, 08:42:41 PM
Beyond the call of duty as an intro to Doomsday for Dredd is a surprising choice. It's been a while since I read it, will be an interesting read.

Perhaps then The Scorpion Dance will show up in Doomsday for MC1.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 26 August, 2015, 09:33:37 AM
For me Beyond the call of duty was the best thing about Doomsday, but the rest held up quite well. Better than I remember. Looking forward to reading the MC1 book.

The alien book was also cool. I quite like these thematic collections. Raptaur was the high light, fun origin to Jack Point's "pet" :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 26 August, 2015, 02:14:16 PM
Quote from: radiator on 21 August, 2015, 08:57:25 PM

Could be wrong, but I think I'm right in saying that readership for 2000ad and the Meg was probably at its lowest ebb during this time (the dark, post-Stallone, pre-Rebellion years, and it also ran during what is undoubtedly the Megazine's most controversial period) so there's this whole wonderful era of Dredd that many will be reading for the first time via the Case Files. Large swathes of it has rarely - if ever - been reprinted until now.

This was the period that saw my return to tooth after an absence of a few years.  I had picked at a few bits but nothing had really stood out.  Didn't bother much with the megazine at the time.  Not sure why.  Perhaps the odd times that I had really hadn't impressed.  I'd always felt like with so much potential in the Dreddverse it was wasting the opportunity with dross.  Even now with a meg-slog they are hard work.

I would heartily agree though that this period was the start of the return to grace.  Great artwork, cracking writing, interesting new characters and stories.  The move to Rebellion massively ratcheted up the quality but it was growing for a while beforehand.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: radiator on 26 August, 2015, 05:50:35 PM
Doomsday is a tricky one to collect due to the sheer number of related stories and the constant overlap/recapping of story between the prog and Meg segments. The old Hamlyn books made a good stab at it - 'Blind Justice' was a John Burns-heavy book that collected, among other things, all of PSU/Edgar's appearances - Statue of Judgement, The Cal Files and Sleaze. The Scorpion Dance had it's own book that collected that story and Beyond the Call of Duty, then two complementary volumes collected the Doomsday arc, one was material from 2000ad, the other being mostly Megazine stuff, essentially splitting the story in half rather than trying to organise it chronologically.

Pretty good books, but not 100% definitive as they did imo skip over several fairly crucial stories, including (IIRC) Bad Frendz (first appearance of Vitus Dance and the Mega City Frendz/Nero Narcos), Worst of Frendz, Gun Play, The Contract and The Cal Legacy. There were also several follow-up stories (Incident at Rowdy Yates, Lobsang Rampage, Short Circuit etc etc), though I wouldn't consider them essential to the main plot.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tombo on 26 August, 2015, 11:38:40 PM
Quote from: radiator on 26 August, 2015, 05:50:35 PM
Pretty good books, but not 100% definitive as they did imo skip over several fairly crucial stories, including (IIRC) Bad Frendz (first appearance of Vitus Dance and the Mega City Frendz/Nero Narcos), Worst of Frendz, Gun Play, The Contract and The Cal Legacy. There were also several follow-up stories (Incident at Rowdy Yates, Lobsang Rampage, Short Circuit etc etc), though I wouldn't consider them essential to the main plot.

"The Pit" is in Volume 40 so perhaps Vol.41 will include all of the other Frendz/Edgars stories, or at least the most relevant ones.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 27 August, 2015, 09:02:00 AM
Given the complexity of the task (how do you deal with stories that fork into/inform many others? E.g. the Vienna stuff, Blood Cadets, Total War, all important parts of each other's stories), TMC really has been very well handled.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 27 August, 2015, 11:58:40 AM
Quote from: radiator on 26 August, 2015, 05:50:35 PM
Doomsday is a tricky one to collect due to the sheer number of related stories and the constant overlap/recapping of story between the prog and Meg segments. The old Hamlyn books made a good stab at it - 'Blind Justice' was a John Burns-heavy book that collected, among other things, all of PSU/Edgar's appearances - Statue of Judgement, The Cal Files and Sleaze. The Scorpion Dance had it's own book that collected that story and Beyond the Call of Duty, then two complementary volumes collected the Doomsday arc, one was material from 2000ad, the other being mostly Megazine stuff, essentially splitting the story in half rather than trying to organise it chronologically.

Pretty good books, but not 100% definitive as they did imo skip over several fairly crucial stories, including (IIRC) Bad Frendz (first appearance of Vitus Dance and the Mega City Frendz/Nero Narcos), Worst of Frendz, Gun Play, The Contract and The Cal Legacy. There were also several follow-up stories (Incident at Rowdy Yates, Lobsang Rampage, Short Circuit etc etc), though I wouldn't consider them essential to the main plot.

I've heard about a Hoover-story that contradicts Origins. In what ways? Is it an essential one?

Quote from: TotalHack on 27 August, 2015, 09:02:00 AM
Given the complexity of the task (how do you deal with stories that fork into/inform many others? E.g. the Vienna stuff, Blood Cadets, Total War, all important parts of each other's stories), TMC really has been very well handled.

Fully agree. Feels like a punk-ish puzzle of sorts.

The Smith and Molcher intros and outros of each book is of great help also, tying it together. Michael's views on Anderson made me appreciate her solo stuff by Grant alot more than I did before!

I'm especially interested in how America, Democracy now, Total War and The dead man (and if there'll be another of those. Brothers of the blood perhaps?) plays and ties into each other with clones, doubts and long con reformation.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 27 August, 2015, 12:29:27 PM
I'd love to see an index volume form part of this series. Not listing the entire contents (as the DC Graphic Novel Collection has done) has added a lot more fun and speculation - but I don't know how anyone could find a story without flipping through all the covers. Great series - really liking the text pieces & extras!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 27 August, 2015, 11:06:13 PM
I thoroughly enjoyed this volume though I did enjoy the Orlok sections more than the Narcos bits.  It did seem a bit of a leap between the time DeMarco was sector chief to when she was suddenly a civvie.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: radiator on 28 August, 2015, 12:06:42 AM
QuoteI've heard about a Hoover-story that contradicts Origins. In what ways? Is it an essential one?

The Cal Files revolves around Dredd tracking down a data disc (how quaint) that contains confidential files, including a 'secret that could bring down Justice Department'. This turns out to be [spoiler]an insinuation that Chief Judge Fargo had an affair with a woman, and Dredd considers the possibility that a) Fargo was a massive hypocrite and Justice Department was founded on a  lie, and that b) Dredd himself is the natural son of Fargo, and not his clone. At the end of the story, the woman Fargo was photographed fraternising with turns out to have actually been his half sister (?), not his lover, the trumped-up 'evidence' of the affair collected by Edgar for the purposes of blackmail, and the files are destroyed[/spoiler].

This doesn't really marry up with the 'revelation' in Origins that [spoiler]Fargo conducted an affair with his secretary/deputy(?), and that this has always been an open secret within Justice Department - which totally was founded on a lie - and everyone is totally fine with it, including Dredd[/spoiler].

There's been arguments on this forum as to whether this is or isn't a plot hole/continuity error. My personal opinion is that it is a continuity booboo, and that most likely John Wagner simply forgot the earlier story. He doesn't strike me as someone who gets too hung up on continuity stuff. I think there's a quote somewhere where he says that you just need to 'accept that there will be mistakes and get over it', and I agree.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 28 August, 2015, 07:36:44 AM
It's a favourite topic of Sc*j*'s, but the simple in-universe explanation is that Dredd has accepted a single romantic lapse (he more-or-less says so in Origins 'never had the benefit of the Academy'), and he accepts much the same from [spoiler]DeMarco in The Pit[/spoiler]), but evidence that Fargo actually just couldn't[spoiler] keep it in his Emphatically Yesses, lied about it, fathered children and never told Joe and Rico their true, errr, origins[/spoiler] is a different matter (see DeMarco's handling of Maggio in Beyond the Call of Duty). So I really don't see it as inconsistent.

But yeah, my guess is that in baseline reality John didn't worry about it too much.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Colin YNWA on 28 August, 2015, 08:07:30 AM
Yeah its worth remembering that there are 11 years (about) between The Cal Files and Origins and if there's one thing long term readers of Dredd should accept, he's not the immovable object the short view of Dredd can paint him as. Over those 11 years and the subsequent 10 years, I'm sure more contradictions could be found, and you'd hope so to, as he's changed.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Rio De Fideldo on 28 August, 2015, 11:48:34 AM
That Oz colour work is great. Are there any other books in the Mega Collection which print the original colour spreads in colour ? I was disappointed that the Apocalypse War one didn't.

Does anyone know if you can buy individual books from Hachete or is Ebay/Amazon the way to go?

With the benefit of a Post Origins reading re the Cal Files I'm assuming we can say that Cal didn't know about the open secret re Fargo which was why he thought he could use it to blackmail/destroy.

I really get a brain freeze when it comes to the Cal Files/Origins but I'm like with with Ben Kenobi in Star Wars and then watching it post the Prequels.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Colin YNWA on 28 August, 2015, 11:53:31 AM
Quote from: Richard T Field on 28 August, 2015, 11:48:34 AM

With the benefit of a Post Origins reading re the Cal Files I'm assuming we can say that Cal didn't know about the open secret re Fargo which was why he thought he could use it to blackmail/destroy.


Or maybe she did, couldn't evidence that so fabricated the evidence for an equal crime believing doing so was justified if not specifically true.

Don't know if that theory would stand up to close reading as I've read neither for a while, but its a possibility?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 28 August, 2015, 01:23:03 PM
Quote from: Richard T Field on 28 August, 2015, 11:48:34 AMAre there any other books in the Mega Collection which print the original colour spreads in colour ?
Not that I recall far. Then again, there wouldn't be too many items anyway yet.

QuoteDoes anyone know if you can buy individual books from Hachete or is Ebay/Amazon the way to go?
Get them direct. (http://www.hachettepartworks.com/products/9372-judge-dredd-the-mega-collection.aspx) Although you probably shouldn't wait too long.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: radiator on 28 August, 2015, 04:53:17 PM
QuoteGet them direct.

Unless you live in America. Gah! Needs me that Oz book!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Rio De Fideldo on 29 August, 2015, 12:36:11 AM
Thanks for the link Indigo. Just ordered my copy of Oz. Cannot wait.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Echidna on 29 August, 2015, 12:44:22 AM
Quote from: Richard T Field on 29 August, 2015, 12:36:11 AM
Just ordered my copy of Oz.

If my local WHS doesn't have it on Wednesday I'm going to do the same... How much do they charge for postage?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dash Decent on 29 August, 2015, 04:35:48 AM
My first lot of books were waiting for me when I got home last night.  The books look good but I am not impressed by the way Bissett, the local distributors, have sent them out.  The books came in an unpadded plastic satchel type envelope.  The ceramic coffee cup is smashed and the pin on the back of the badge is bent and crushed.  One of the books has a bumped corner.  I understand they normally send out magazines rather than hardbacks but surely if you're selling something as a collection you should understand that your customers want them in a collectible condition.

They also included (and charged for) volume 1 even though I set the subscription up to start from volume 2.  I'd noticed this earlier and had asked about it.  They told me just to take out what I wanted from the parcel when it arrived, reseal it and mark it "Return to Sender" to send it back!  Talk about well dodgy.  Leaving aside the number they did on my gifts, the Post Office has done their job delivering the parcel, but Bissett want a freebie on the return cost!  They should be able to supply a Return Paid (i.e. free post) address for returns.

I'll see how they address the damaged gifts issue.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 29 August, 2015, 08:33:22 AM
Over in the UK the books were quickly replaced no questions asked. Sorry for all the nonsense but the collection really has been worth sticking with!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 29 August, 2015, 11:03:47 AM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 29 August, 2015, 08:33:22 AM
Over in the UK the books were quickly replaced no questions asked. Sorry for all the nonsense but the collection really has been worth sticking with!

As were the gifts. My badge was damaged (the pin bent to buggery) and they replaced that within a week and sent me another much to boot (although I think they did that just so they could send the badge in the same box as the mug).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dash Decent on 29 August, 2015, 01:07:03 PM
Thanks guys.  It turns out my brother has a subscription with them to some Marvel chess set collection and he's had to write to them repeatedly to get broken pieces replaced.  It's all clearly down to the lack of protective packaging but they don't seem interested in doing anything about it.

I'm sure I'll get it sorted out but I just wanted to sound off.  I was looking forward to getting the books and this took the shine off it this time round.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richard on 29 August, 2015, 03:44:20 PM
Re the Origins / Cal Files continuity debate on the previous page of this thread: I don't see it as a contradiction.

1. There's a difference between a one night stand during a moment of weakness and carrying out an illicit affair over months or years.

2. In The Cal Files it says "Fargo used his offices to procure the woman preferment and other benefits." So it's not just sex but also corruption.

3. Fargo was alleged to have got the woman pregnant with twins and then covered up the affair by dishonestly pretending they were clones.

That last one is hard to reconcile with the date of Fargo's death given in Origins, 10 years before Joe and Rico Dredd would have had to have been born. That's the only discrepancy.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: petesbeats on 02 September, 2015, 02:12:48 PM
Just orderd OZ direct from Hatchett as my local WHSmiths have stopped stocking these which is a massive pain.  Only £10.49 inc del though
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: radiator on 02 September, 2015, 05:59:42 PM
Yay! Snagged a copy of Oz off eBay for a very reasonable price.

While I'm not collecting the Mega Collection I would definitely buy more individual issues if they have the colour centre spreads included.

Which of the early epics haven't been collected yet? Judge Child? The Day the Law Died?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 02 September, 2015, 06:44:23 PM
Neither of those you mention have appeared yet, we've had The Cursed Earth and Apocalypse War, both fully black & white. Next earlier story is The Dead Man in issue 21, can't wait to read that again, John Ridgway's art is brilliantly atmospheric.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Magnetica on 02 September, 2015, 08:13:52 PM
Went into Smith's at Waterloo station today to see if they had Oz. Normally they have a few MCs to go with the plentiful supply of Progs but it was no where to be seen. I'm hoping its a temporary blip.

Also my local Co-Op seems to have given up on it a good couple of months ago.

Has anyone else noticed shops that are no longer stocking it?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 02 September, 2015, 08:18:27 PM
These partworks never stay in the shops for the full 80+ issues.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Fungus on 02 September, 2015, 10:50:40 PM
First time my local W H Smith hasn't stocked it. I may be buying the hell out of it at FP tomorrow. Shame they're always sealed (although I see why they do that).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Proudhuff on 04 September, 2015, 05:19:21 PM
Quote from: Fungus on 02 September, 2015, 10:50:40 PM
First time my local W H Smith hasn't stocked it. I may be buying the hell out of it at FP tomorrow. Shame they're always sealed (although I see why they do that).

PF in Edinbra don't stock it, however the RSMcColl in St James Centre does, they also carry a healthy supply of the Prog and Megazine, which is nice.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 05 September, 2015, 08:26:59 PM
Okay, my thoughts, brief as they are.

First time I'd read any of this stuff.  I'd read the previous chopper stories wayyyyyy back, but Oz and the Judda story?  Never.  The only Judda style story I'd read was the Kraken assesment in Tale of a Dead Man and bits in Necropolis. 

I liked the book overall.  Nice little 'easter egg' with the Paul Hogan caves.  I'm mixed on the division between the Judda storyline and the Chopper, thinking there were certain elements of the Judda that could have been increased and cut some of the more filler aspects of the Chopper storyline.

Don't get me wrong, its a damned good book.  I sat down and read it all in one sitting, and that was without undue rushing of it.  The mutant aerial creatures in the Mexican area (can't remember its name off hand) were funny, and the art style of those reminded me a little of some of the more chaotic Yutjee (sp?) creatures that Bellardinelli created in Meltdown Man.

Overall, very happy with this.  What's next?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 05 September, 2015, 09:08:26 PM
Next issue is [spoiler]Day of Chaos: Endgame[/spoiler], and then [spoiler]Total War[/spoiler].
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jamie1000013 on 06 September, 2015, 03:28:07 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 05 September, 2015, 09:08:26 PM
Next issue is [spoiler]Day of Chaos: Endgame[/spoiler], and then [spoiler]Total War[/spoiler].

That's awesome was looking forward to the next part of Day of chaos.

Just out of interest what was the dispute about the ending of Oz about between Wagner and Grant? Just finished and it was awesome, one of the best so far so just wandering what the alternative ending would have been.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richard on 06 September, 2015, 03:51:10 PM
Grant wanted Dredd to shoot Chopper in the back.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 06 September, 2015, 04:14:03 PM
Which would have been rubbish, because that's what Dredd usually does. The hesitation, the respect, the difficulty of the decision, the conclusion denied... That was the better ending.

On the other hand, killing off Chop at '12 was entirely fitting. It's a good job no other writer interfered with that ending...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 08 September, 2015, 02:16:03 AM
One point during choppers flight he was shot at by an unseen person was this supposed to be that hitman from the post oz story of the same name?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 08 September, 2015, 11:53:49 AM
Quote from: The monarch on 08 September, 2015, 02:16:03 AM
One point during choppers flight he was shot at by an unseen person was this supposed to be that hitman from the post oz story of the same name?

In a city of 400 million people, most of them unhinged, gun-toting lunatics... it's unlikely that Jacobi just happened to be sat on the roof of his block that night, on the offchance that Chopper passed overhead. Factor in that the city sky is full of sky-surfers, bat-gliders and flying cars, and how would the shooter even know who he was firing at anyway?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 08 September, 2015, 09:17:49 PM
Just got the Oz issue - Wow! The colours look great and I love the intro & interview. I'm wondering how they'll combine the previous chopper stories - I guess with the later ones. It shows how 2000ad goes into your brain when I can remember the missing caption after the painted Steve Dillon dolphin double page. Lovely cover but the endpapers were a bit dull. Maybe there just wasn't a better landscape image. All in all this book is a steal - thanks to all involved.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 12 September, 2015, 06:55:28 PM
 it was further on when chopper was flying over a jungle that chopper was shot at by an unknown shooter we never see the shooter
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 12 September, 2015, 07:59:03 PM
Ah, right- faulty memory circuits! It's probably even more unlikely that it was Jacobi, though.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Anzati on 14 September, 2015, 12:15:19 PM
Issues 18 and 19 just arrived...gutted heavily bashed in the post and mashed corners of the books. This is the first time that I've felt I need to ask for replacements :( Also, unless I just got dodgy books, the quality of the printing (particularly on  the title pages, credits and recap pages) has taken a bit of a nose dive...misaligned plates, fuzzy text, dull reds, white specks showing through the black...really hope I just got a couple of iffy issues and the replacements will be at the usual standard.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 14 September, 2015, 03:41:26 PM
Great timing to get total war just before their re-appearance in the Meg. Truely tharg is mighty.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jim_Campbell on 14 September, 2015, 04:03:15 PM
Quote from: Anzati on 14 September, 2015, 12:15:19 PM
really hope I just got a couple of iffy issues and the replacements will be at the usual standard.

Contact them. The consensus seems to be that they're very good about replacing damaged books. Mention the printing thing, too — you may well have duff copies.

Cheers

Jim
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 14 September, 2015, 05:15:11 PM
I've had three or four books replaced so far. All done through Facebook. Never had a problem. All replacement books arrived within a week—and with better packaging.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Echidna on 14 September, 2015, 07:54:57 PM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 14 September, 2015, 03:41:26 PM
Great timing to get total war just before their re-appearance in the Meg. Truely tharg is mighty.

The Heavy Mob was well-timed too, right before the Holocaust Squad made an appearance in the Meg (IIRC). I didn't actually get the book but the talk about it (and preview in the preceding Megazine) was useful as a primer (for this Dredd noob, at least).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 14 September, 2015, 08:42:51 PM
cant wait to get my hands on doc endgame and total wat! btw, what stories are in the books? really curious which story/stories that ends DoC!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 15 September, 2015, 10:21:28 AM
Mine just arrived. Total War print job seems largely fine here, bar four pages that have speech balloons with slightly blurry (but still readable) text. As of the contents:

Total War: Terror; Total War; After The Bombs; Visiting Hour; The Searchers; Horror in Emergency Camp 4; three covers; Henry Flint interview.

Day of Chaos: Engame: Eve of Destruction; Tea for Two; Wot I Did...; Chaos Day; The Days After; Wasteland; five covers; 'Living in the ruins' four-page text feature.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Rio De Fideldo on 15 September, 2015, 03:00:37 PM
What are Hachete like for returns/replacements. Just collected mine from the post office today. Box was immaculate. Copy inside had dents in cover. Several pages inside creased. Couple of pages torn. Assume therefore all damaged before being posted.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 15 September, 2015, 03:50:24 PM
I've had several books replaced, for various reasons, mostly severe denting from postage, and in one case a pronounced gouge from books being shipped in the same box as the badge gift. In all cases, I went through Facebook and had a response within a day or two; after that point, a new book was shipped and arrived within a week. In all cases, the replacements have been in excellent condition.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Rio De Fideldo on 15 September, 2015, 04:19:16 PM
Silly question. What Facebook page did you write to?

Also did you need to send the damaged book back to them?

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 15 September, 2015, 04:27:23 PM
This one: https://www.facebook.com/judgedreddcollection?ref=br_rs

In my case, they didn't want damaged books returned. They did in one case ask to see a photo of the damage, for their records.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Anzati on 16 September, 2015, 02:25:43 PM
Yeah can't fault their response through Facebook; I had confirmation that replacement books were being sent out within 24 hours of messaging them. I sent them pictures of the damage with my initial message, just to make sure that they could see the damage.

They haven't asked for the damaged books to be returned. They did ask for me to return a book the one time that they sent an incorrect one by mistake, but in that case they gave me a freepost address to send it to.

Glad to hear that the print quality issue isn't across the board and that was probably just a further bit of bad luck :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 16 September, 2015, 02:39:52 PM
Having read some more Total War, more pages are affected than I thought, but it's hard to tell at what stage of the process things went wrong. Nothing is unreadable anyway, and, oddly, it's only speech balloon text that appears to be affected (and even then not always across an entire page).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 16 September, 2015, 05:43:20 PM
Day of Chaos - wow. That's all I can say. Wow.

On the subject of print quality, the Story So Far page is impossible to read but I'm not too worried about that.

The concluding piece by Molch-R mentions Trifecta, does anyone know if this will be in a forthcoming volume?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 16 September, 2015, 06:46:49 PM
Thrilled to see that Endgame has my favourite image of Dredd this century on the cover. Still amazed how a picture of a guy whose unknown face is obscured by a helmet, a respirator and a shadow, and whose body is covered in armour, weaponry and fascist regalia, can so clearly scream utter despair. That, sprogs and squaxxes, is yer actual Art.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Fungus on 17 September, 2015, 01:46:36 AM
Quote from: Tordelback on 16 September, 2015, 06:46:49 PM
Thrilled to see that Endgame has my favourite image of Dredd this century on the cover. Still amazed how a picture of a guy whose unknown face is obscured by a helmet, a respirator and a shadow, and whose body is covered in armour, weaponry and fascist regalia, can so clearly scream utter despair. That, sprogs and squaxxes, is yer actual Art.

Quite. Just missed this in the prog but catching up with DoC in trade, this page had more power than any other I could recall. And not purely due to the added momentum that you get in trade format. I'd place it above that generally accepted 'greatest Dredd panel' - you know the one.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Proudhuff on 17 September, 2015, 12:27:05 PM
and Endgame smells loverly!!  :-[
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Link Prime on 18 September, 2015, 10:33:45 AM
Quote from: Tordelback on 16 September, 2015, 06:46:49 PM
Thrilled to see that Endgame has my favourite image of Dredd this century on the cover. Still amazed how a picture of a guy whose unknown face is obscured by a helmet, a respirator and a shadow, and whose body is covered in armour, weaponry and fascist regalia, can so clearly scream utter despair. That, sprogs and squaxxes, is yer actual Art.

Totally agree.

I forget which one of you lucky bastids have the original art for this page. Spikes I think?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: shaolin_monkey on 18 September, 2015, 01:44:57 PM
Quote from: Tordelback on 16 September, 2015, 06:46:49 PM
Thrilled to see that Endgame has my favourite image of Dredd this century on the cover. Still amazed how a picture of a guy whose unknown face is obscured by a helmet, a respirator and a shadow, and whose body is covered in armour, weaponry and fascist regalia, can so clearly scream utter despair. That, sprogs and squaxxes, is yer actual Art.

I agree re the actual art, but I think it's a major spoiler for anyone coming to it for the first time.  That page in the story had so much impact when first printed because it is so unexpected - seeing it on the cover beforehand is a kind of heads-up that shit is going to get too difficult for Dredd to deal with.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Rio De Fideldo on 18 September, 2015, 03:29:45 PM
Although it was very powerful Day of Chaos was such a destructive story for the Meg I can't say I've properly enjoyed any Dredd stories since. Its felt like everything has been dark and serious for too long. Not asking for a funny ha ha story just something that's a bit of an adventure and a romp. Anyone else feel like this?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 18 September, 2015, 03:36:23 PM
The sensitive klegg story reminded me that it's nice to have fun in the Dredd world sometimes...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Rio De Fideldo on 18 September, 2015, 04:20:52 PM
Oops forgot about that story. I enjoyed that.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Fungus on 18 September, 2015, 04:26:30 PM
Sylvia Plath had its moments.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: shaolin_monkey on 18 September, 2015, 04:35:06 PM
There was the giant tapeworm one too, that was a laugh, and written by this fellow here:

https://2000ad.wordpress.com/2014/05/09/michael-carrolls-giant-worm/
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Frank on 18 September, 2015, 05:22:25 PM

Dark Justice, Block Judge, and Breaking Bub were lightweight action adventures and, despite deploying the overused HUGE THREAT TO THE CITY trope, Carroll and Marshall's Cascade was a silly story about Mega-Judges From Space challenging Dredd to a punch-up.

Alec Worley and Leigh Gallagher's End Of The Road, prog 1911 (10th December 2014), features Dredd's bike being destroyed by a dozing OAP in a motorised wheelchair; Dredd fines the couple whose car he lands on for not displaying a valid tax disk. The punchline is the grinning skull of a suicidal pensioner dissolving in acid, which is funnier than any episode of The Vicar Of Dibley


(http://i.imgur.com/QIwSEWf.png?2)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: bedlamvr on 18 September, 2015, 09:32:29 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 16 September, 2015, 05:43:20 PM
Day of Chaos - wow. That's all I can say. Wow.

On the subject of print quality, the Story So Far page is impossible to read but I'm not too worried about that.

The concluding piece by Molch-R mentions Trifecta, does anyone know if this will be in a forthcoming volume?

Trifecta is (as per Facebook page) issue 24, judgement day 25, then low life; paranoia (?) issue 26
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: bedlamvr on 18 September, 2015, 09:32:59 PM
Sorry double post
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: sheridan on 18 September, 2015, 10:10:46 PM
Quote from: bedlamvr on 18 September, 2015, 09:32:29 PM
Trifecta is (as per Facebook page) issue 24, judgement day 25, then low life; paranoia (?) issue 26

MAC is your friend.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 19 September, 2015, 06:12:21 AM
I wonder if the judgement day book will include top dogs as an extra
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Spikes on 19 September, 2015, 11:29:56 AM
Quote from: Link Prime on 18 September, 2015, 10:33:45 AM
Quote from: Tordelback on 16 September, 2015, 06:46:49 PM
Thrilled to see that Endgame has my favourite image of Dredd this century on the cover. Still amazed how a picture of a guy whose unknown face is obscured by a helmet, a respirator and a shadow, and whose body is covered in armour, weaponry and fascist regalia, can so clearly scream utter despair. That, sprogs and squaxxes, is yer actual Art.

Totally agree.

I forget which one of you lucky bastids have the original art for this page. Spikes I think?

A knockout image from a knockout story. For my money, Dredd doesn't get much better than the Day of Chaos. A true modern classic.
I can still recall the goosebumps I got seeing that page in the prog. One of those pages that stops you in your tracks, for sure.

Owning the original art, I was able to supply Pye with a fresh high resolution scan of the Dredd figure. I believe fellow forumite Simeon Brewer was able to do something similar for the Fourth Faction book.
The DoC was the tale that got me buying the prog again every week, so to have been able to help out - even in a small way, means quite a bit to me.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 19 September, 2015, 06:23:42 PM
It's also Dredd's mood at the end, basically that in his mind, the City he knows is dying.  There's not just the deaths from Day of Chaos itself, it's going to be the disease from corpses still to be gathered, the opportunistic crooks and any factions that take advantage of their situation.

Above it all is the continuing butthurt from East Meg 1 survivors and descendants over the Apocalypse War.  If they hadn't started it, then they wouldn't have got hit with nukes in response.  What did they expect?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 19 September, 2015, 11:19:02 PM
Thanks for the notification on Trifecta. My years in the wilderness mean I've never read it before, just plenty about it on here and elsewhere, so the surprise element is gone, but looking forward to reading it and hopefully understanding some of the rug-pulling from the original publication. Thoughts to follow.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 20 September, 2015, 10:01:38 AM
Just to report that my own copy of Endgame seems free of dodgy printing - the 'Story so far...' page is maybe a tiny bit blurry but everything else is as utterly horrific as before. What really strikes me is the insane density of this story, given its length. It just never stops cramming in panels, new and recurring characters (such as -scratch head, look thoughtful - PD-314!) and little horror vignettes, and even when we pause for a splash page it's bursting at the seams with ghastly detail and frequently crucial narration.  The use of Beeny in particular is inspired, seeing this complex competent person who we've known from a toddler struggle on through mounting loss, fatigue and despair is, well, overwhelming.  Astounding body of work, the equal of anything in the strip's history.

Oh, and when do we get Bagwell back on Dredd - he's magnificent, even in such august company.

Wastelands works a treat as an epilogue too, almost a pity it didn't follow straight away in the original progs (no disrespect intended to the stories that did - after all we got Judge Maitland and Sue Perkins Block out of those!).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 20 September, 2015, 12:05:22 PM
Endgame seems fine here, too. It's Total War that's a bit of a mess. I suspect it's a botched print run, judging by people posting pics on Facebook. Whether it affects the entire run is another matter, but I've asked Hachette to let me know, and I'll report back.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 20 September, 2015, 08:25:22 PM
I've got to say one panel that got to me, really got to me, was the one where the Judges, Dredd among them IIRC, found what they thought were two survivors.  Two young children who I assume are brother and sister huddled in a corner and the next shows them in the full throes of the illness, snarling..
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 20 September, 2015, 10:01:55 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 20 September, 2015, 12:05:22 PM
Endgame seems fine here, too. It's Total War that's a bit of a mess.

D'oh! Got my megadeath scenarios mixed up.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 20 September, 2015, 10:05:48 PM
I have never read total war and so would like that book - are they planning to reprint it? Is it all the issues that are badly printed?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 21 September, 2015, 08:41:44 AM
Total War is the next issue to be released in the UK, due on 30th September.

Hopefully the printing issues were just a glitch on the last run. Personally I've been satisfied with the print quality so far.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 21 September, 2015, 11:44:43 AM
Quote from: Skullmo on 20 September, 2015, 10:05:48 PM
I have never read total war and so would like that book - are they planning to reprint it? Is it all the issues that are badly printed?

The tpb saw a reprint last year, and it seems there's still copies left on amazon.

Has some of the stuff I've read in Judge Dredd with the "After the Bombs" ep. Terror is also quite brutal. Love the book.

Hope the mega collection print is okay. Was hoping to see Caught in the Act collected, but perhaps/hopefully in another volume. Cool to see Visiting hour (Blood trails in the Brothers of the blood book perhaps?) collected, and I haven't read to the other two. Looking forward to it :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 21 September, 2015, 11:58:52 AM
This is the problem with it:

(http://reverttosaved.com/tmp/total-war-2.jpg)

I can't recall how many pages this sort of thing happens on—probably about a dozen or so. The text is still readable (although on a couple of pages, only just), but it's noticeably iffy. Curiously, it on some pages only affects a small portion rather than the entire thing. I've no idea if the original files or the print run are to blame. As noted, I've asked Hachette for feedback and will report back if I get a reply.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Fungus on 21 September, 2015, 01:29:54 PM
Thanks for the future updates on this in advance. Not read Total War and it's on my cherry-picking list. Wonky printing would be a deal-breaker.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: James Stacey on 21 September, 2015, 01:37:56 PM
My copy of Total war has the text noticeably thicker on some pages than others but nothing as bad as that, and the page you show is fine. Odd
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 21 September, 2015, 02:04:09 PM
Quote from: Apestrife on 21 September, 2015, 11:44:43 AM
Has some of the stuff I've read in Judge Dredd with the "After the Bombs" ep. Terror is also quite brutal. Love the book.

"stuff" was supposed to say "worst stuff". After the bombs is really brutal. Not for the faint hearted!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 21 September, 2015, 02:32:24 PM
Quote from: James Stacey on 21 September, 2015, 01:37:56 PM
My copy of Total war has the text noticeably thicker on some pages than others but nothing as bad as that, and the page you show is fine. Odd
That means it's definitely some kind of print-run issue, then, and not the source files. Hachette just replied to me with "We are looking into the problem".
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dash Decent on 21 September, 2015, 03:41:13 PM
It looks like the kind of thing you should be looking at through 3D glasses.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: dweezil2 on 21 September, 2015, 04:38:32 PM
Quote from: Dash Decent on 21 September, 2015, 03:41:13 PM
It looks like the kind of thing you should be looking at through 3D glasses.

That's an idea for Prog 2000 or maybe a hologram cover, the likes of which DC are so fond of producing!  ;)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 22 September, 2015, 02:46:47 PM
On Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152947917556685&set=o.1517847991806337&type=1&comment_id=10152955419896685&offset=0&total_comments=3):

QuoteHey guys, It doesn't look like there is a problem with the source material so we are looking into whether or not something has gone wrong in the printing process. It has not affected the whole run though, so if you haven't provided us with your address and the issues affected via PM, do so and we will send out replacements! Thanks!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Spikes on 22 September, 2015, 04:12:15 PM
Yes, a print run problem would have been my thought. I have two copies of Endgame, and the 'story so far' page is perfect on one, and hard to make out on the other.
So fingers crossed for when Total War lands in the shops...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 22 September, 2015, 10:45:36 PM
I'll guess the Batman crossovers like Judgement in Gotham etc won't be part of this due to the whole copyright and licensing issues there would be.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Anzati on 23 September, 2015, 02:32:46 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 22 September, 2015, 02:46:47 PM
On Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152947917556685&set=o.1517847991806337&type=1&comment_id=10152955419896685&offset=0&total_comments=3):

QuoteHey guys, It doesn't look like there is a problem with the source material so we are looking into whether or not something has gone wrong in the printing process. It has not affected the whole run though, so if you haven't provided us with your address and the issues affected via PM, do so and we will send out replacements! Thanks!

I wonder if this is why the my replacement issues have not shown up on my account yet or been delivered...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 24 September, 2015, 09:12:13 PM
Just finished OZ. Much I liked reading it in the case file book, as a stand alone book with colourspreads it really shined.

Love the weird mix of Dredd going against Chopper (who's introduction is perfectly handled. No need to have read the old stories to follow this one) and then teleportating clone extremists judges. Not to the mention the giant mexican mutant chickens and also showing Chopper's influence on people. I also liked having covers between the eps. Not only did I like the looks of them, but they also helped separate the two story lines.

Only down side of the book was some of the spreads. Some text boxes disappeared in the center of them. Just as with Democracy now. While I could make out most of what they said, I still wish they could've been a bit better. But all and all, I really liked it.

My aim is to read both DoC books tomorrow, followed by Dark Justice :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 25 September, 2015, 07:17:50 PM
So what's the next book?  Sorry for keeping asking but it would be nice to know what to expect next.  I'm liking that I'm getting a lot of stuff I haven't read before.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 25 September, 2015, 07:37:08 PM
Quote from: Jade Falcon on 25 September, 2015, 07:17:50 PM
So what's the next book?  Sorry for keeping asking but it would be nice to know what to expect next.  I'm liking that I'm getting a lot of stuff I haven't read before.

Back on page 84 of the thread: http://forums.2000adonline.com/index.php/topic,41506.msg887162.html#msg887162
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Anzati on 26 September, 2015, 11:22:07 AM
Well my replacements for the damaged issues arrived today. Just had a flick through Total War and the print quality is much better than the first one that I received.Every page is readable, although one page still suffers from fuzzy double exposed text and a few other the text is quite thick...nothing that will stop me enjoying this one though :)

Hope they've got to the bottom of the problem and that future volumes won't be hit by this though...

The next two volumes will be interesting as we hit the first point where I think I'll have read every story in both volumes before, so far I've been lucky and at least one volume each month has had a large chunk that was new to me.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 26 September, 2015, 11:34:00 AM
Good to hear replacements are on the way. (I've not had one yet.) And since every other book's been OK, I suspect this was a one-off cock-up in the print run. These things happen.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 28 September, 2015, 10:22:34 AM
I finished reading Day of Chaos: The Fourth Faction & Endgame (the JDMC-books. Intro text to endgame was a bit blurry, otherwise OK) and Dark Justice the other day.

A bit hard finding the words for it, but for me the story is sort of a massive culmination of everything. Everything blows up in the faces of the judges and the MC1 citizens. Blows the lid sky high, and lets it all crash down to absolute hell.

And while Day of Chaos -for me- IS the IT with the city brutally dying, I think Dark Justice serves as a nice little dessert to the disaster. Rich people escaping the city by going on a space cruise, that happens to have the dark judges aboard.

I cannot wait till I get to read America, Origins, Tour of duty and Day of Chaos in one go in the mega collection format :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: ManParrish on 28 September, 2015, 02:47:32 PM
Does anyone know if more classic stories are on the way...not sure there has been even one Ron Smith yet?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 28 September, 2015, 03:34:44 PM
... Does classic mean b&w? I get the feeling the colour stuff is being prioritised. Although we've just had Oz & Cursed Earth. I'm loving these books & glad we're not just getting the Bolland stuff I've got 3 copies of already. I'm guessing Judge Child & Otto Sump are dead certs. I think they are doing a good job for lapsed readers showing the links from The Apocalypse War to Day of Chaos.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: ManParrish on 28 September, 2015, 04:00:49 PM
Yes I guess so, would like to see the Angel gang and certainly the two you mention. Seem to recall a story where humans were being used as food, little like Soylent Green?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Satanist on 28 September, 2015, 05:34:14 PM
If there's a Ron Smith issue then I look forward to re-reading Graveyard Shift.

Also just read both Chaos Day books and it really reads better than it did week to week. You get a real sense of urgency and how quickly its all gone tits up that I didn't get from the prog.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 28 September, 2015, 05:56:51 PM
Quote from: ManParrish on 28 September, 2015, 04:00:49 PM
Yes I guess so, would like to see the Angel gang and certainly the two you mention. Seem to recall a story where humans were being used as food, little like Soylent Green?

Wasn't that a Siku drawn strip?  Something to do with the creature from the Post Apocalypse War Thing tale where Dredd ended up impregnated.  Dredd managed to avoid being hypnotised because of his bionic eyes and paired up with a bite fighter.  Part of the plot was to do with a new teleport system that was being tried out and being hijacked.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 28 September, 2015, 06:02:44 PM
...that sounds like a feverish dream. Can't wait to read it!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: ManParrish on 28 September, 2015, 06:04:02 PM
Not sure I remember that much detail. Was an 80/90s story. Also a story with a large green octopus-type of creature !? Was there a story where Dredd was undercover as a large guy, again can't remember much details
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 28 September, 2015, 06:10:33 PM
Quote from: Tjm86 on 28 September, 2015, 05:56:51 PM
Quote from: ManParrish on 28 September, 2015, 04:00:49 PM
Yes I guess so, would like to see the Angel gang and certainly the two you mention. Seem to recall a story where humans were being used as food, little like Soylent Green?

Wasn't that a Siku drawn strip?  Something to do with the creature from the Post Apocalypse War Thing tale where Dredd ended up impregnated.  Dredd managed to avoid being hypnotised because of his bionic eyes and paired up with a bite fighter.  Part of the plot was to do with a new teleport system that was being tried out and being hijacked.

That was John Smith's Meatmongers from 2003. Great stuff, wish Smith would do more Dredd actually. He really 'gets' it.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moly on 28 September, 2015, 07:16:07 PM
Anyone else had two payments taken in September ?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 28 September, 2015, 07:31:02 PM
I've had two payments taken twice so far. Once was by request (to rebalance the collection so I was getting issues sooner), and the second was in a month where one was taken right at the start and another at the end (Jul 1 and 22). Since the collection is fortnightly, there will always come a point when people get charged twice in one month. (If you got charged twice on the same day, however, that's obviously an admin error.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moly on 28 September, 2015, 07:53:07 PM
It was collected at the start and end of the month will keep my eye on it although It is fortnightly and you only get one delivery a month so should only be one payment a month
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 28 September, 2015, 07:59:55 PM
I suspect it's more like every four weeks, otherwise by the end the subscribers would be months behind.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 28 September, 2015, 09:40:24 PM
Block Mania and Father Earth both have episodes by Ron. And there's The Day the Law Died, Judge Child and City of the Dawned to come. I'm hoping Nosferatu will appear but would that have been included in Alien Nations?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Grugz on 29 September, 2015, 11:50:26 PM
haven't seen these in smiths for a while now,have they gone to only selling them sub? I remember seeing the marvel ones in forbidden planet but haven't been able to get to Manchester for over a year now through health problems which I plan to resolve whilst things are (slightly) improving/not getting worse.
  I aslo mean to raid that smelly book/junk shop (exchange?) on the way to picadilly haven't had a good root in smelly boxes of comics in ages!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 30 September, 2015, 09:38:57 AM
I saw one of these about a month ago in one of the Waterloo WHSmith stores. But locally (north Hampshire) they've not been sold anywhere mainstream beyond the first half-dozen issues.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 30 September, 2015, 09:47:48 AM
Glad to buy Total War this morning in WHSmiths at Paddington. There's a couple of pages where the type looks heavy in the speech bubbles but nothing serious. Great interview with Henry Flint. This series just gets better!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 30 September, 2015, 02:23:47 PM
Looking forward to this one. Cherry picking is getting harder and harder.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: radiator on 30 September, 2015, 05:15:26 PM
Hope the eventual City of the Damned collection has the colour spreads. Instant purchase if so!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 30 September, 2015, 06:23:19 PM
Quote from: radiator on 30 September, 2015, 05:15:26 PM
Hope the eventual City of the Damned collection has the colour spreads. Instant purchase if so!

wouldn't bank on it based on their current track record.  :|
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 30 September, 2015, 07:51:45 PM
The OZ colour pages looked great, but I'd rather the unpainted stuff stayed b&w. The old colouring wouldn't look great unless it was completely redone.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Magnetica on 30 September, 2015, 11:10:39 PM
Quote from: Grugz on 29 September, 2015, 11:50:26 PM
haven't seen these in smiths for a while now,have they gone to only selling them sub? I remember seeing the marvel ones in forbidden planet but haven't been able to get to Manchester for over a year now through health problems which I plan to resolve whilst things are (slightly) improving/not getting worse.
  I aslo mean to raid that smelly book/junk shop (exchange?) on the way to picadilly haven't had a good root in smelly boxes of comics in ages!

Would be disappointed if they are only selling to subscribers, but I am a bit surprised to hear that. I phoned them up the other day and ordered some issues with out subscribing and they were happy to sell them to me.

Also Forbidden Planet stocks them and has them for order on their website, so it should still be possible to get them without subscribing. I hope so anyway  :)

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 01 October, 2015, 02:34:02 AM
They have them at the Waterloo Smiths
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 01 October, 2015, 09:13:43 AM
Quote from: Magnetica on 30 September, 2015, 11:10:39 PMWould be disappointed if they are only selling to subscribers, but I am a bit surprised to hear that. I phoned them up the other day and ordered some issues with out subscribing and they were happy to sell them to me.
I think people are speaking in shorthand. Essentially, only a tiny number of mainstream outlets carries these books now. A few newsagents and some specialists also do. Beyond that, you must subscribe or buy single issues direct.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 01 October, 2015, 10:41:27 AM
Most of Eason's locations are still plugging away with this in RoI, as are the O'Connell St newsstands and FP takes a mountain of them (including a large number of pull orders, apparently).  That's pretty good, given the space pressure from newer partworks like Dr. Who.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tombo on 01 October, 2015, 02:43:12 PM
They haven't been on the shelves of the Middlesbrough WH Smiths for at least a month now, I get mine put in a drawer for collection.  I did see a small stack of them on a shelf in the stock room of FP though so other people may be ordering it in through them.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Proudhuff on 01 October, 2015, 04:42:40 PM
Picked mine up at RsMcColl in St James Centre as per usual, all looking (and smelling) Good!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 02 October, 2015, 09:20:16 AM
Reading Total War at the moment (my book seems fine so far, some pages with heavier-than-usual-text is all) - bloody hell that's still an incredibly gripping tale.  McNeill's art on Terror is a perfect segue from America, and may just be my favourite work of his painted period - some of the colour compositions and Dredd faces in particular are just spectacular.  And that's to say nothing about Flint's three big nuke splash pages, which remain some of the most amazing images from the strip's history.  And I'm only halfway through!

Quick query: is Terror Logan's first appearance? 

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: James Stacey on 02 October, 2015, 09:26:33 AM
I still think Total War is the best Dredd has ever been. Everything about it is fantastic.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 02 October, 2015, 09:59:52 AM
Loved this book - the follow up stories are great. Does Nimrod appear in other stories?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: terryo on 03 October, 2015, 05:51:42 AM
Any Aussies on the thread? Got Mandroid and Cursed Earth in the post last week. Read C.E. for the first time... what a ripper! I knew I'd love the Bolland art but was surprised at how much I enjoyed Mike McMahon's work... gorgeously messy as opposed to Bolland's precise linework. $20 well spent! Started Mandroid last night and it is amazing too. I have so much to look forward to!

So I'm hoping for the bookends soon... any Aussies got them yet?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dash Decent on 05 October, 2015, 08:30:40 AM
Haven't seen the bookends yet but Shamballa was the last one I received, with coasters and replacement mug & badge.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 05 October, 2015, 11:22:28 AM
I'm wondering if the UK support team has changed. A much longer process to get a replacement this time, and I've noticed support people are signing their messages on Facebook now. (First response was on Sep 21. I've been told a replacement will ship within two weeks.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Radbacker on 05 October, 2015, 01:01:33 PM
bit spotty at my newsies here in the West of OZ but I picked up Mandroid the other day.  These first ones have been picked perfectly, they're all pretty spectacular stories and some of the finest examples of Dredd material around.  It was good to finally read Block Mania/The Apocalypse War in its whole form, I've got most of it in back issues I've picked up here and there but don't have Block Mania and am missing several parts.  Its a ripper of a big bang story with some pretty decent set pieces.  It's also great to have stuff like Origins, America and Mandroid in nice big hard cover books too.  I just wish my local was a bit more regular with them I know I've missed a couple.

CU Radbacker
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 05 October, 2015, 01:14:13 PM
As I was lovingly shelving my Total War volume I was struck by what an incredible run the first three (numerically) books are.  America-Democracy-Total War, with such an interesting spread of supporting stories - I think the eternal question of what to give a prospective new reader may well be answered.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: SuperSurfer on 05 October, 2015, 11:15:50 PM
I thought this had disappeared from WHSmiths and wondered if it had been ousted by the Hachette DC series but I spotted Total War in a branch nearish to me on Saturday, hidden away next to a counter.

Much as I love the series I can't read them quickly enough. I have eight which are still shrink wrapped and one I have only read a few pages of. Think I need to fill-in my collection with about five volumes.

I jotted down a list of missing ones on Sunday as was in town. Popped into FP but forgot the darned list.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: terryo on 06 October, 2015, 08:47:02 AM
Quote from: Dash Decent on 05 October, 2015, 08:30:40 AM
Haven't seen the bookends yet but Shamballa was the last one I received, with coasters and replacement mug & badge.

Shamballa? Weird. I got the next two volumes over a fortnight ago. You might need to send Bissette an email.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 06 October, 2015, 10:14:32 PM
To the Aussies supporting the Mega Collection - please try and get past The Heavy Mob issue - it's all been pretty great except that one! And some issues have really been superb, especially Oz
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 06 October, 2015, 11:10:22 PM
Another book I hadn't read before, and what a book.  Really, who would want to live in Mega-City One.  If you only total the disasters it's suffered in the books published in this collection alone.

No wonder they want the Judges to be more emotionless when I'm surprised more haven't blown their brains out, though I understand that PSI Judges are more vulnerable that way.

Anyway...

Any info on if we'll get any of the following.

Helltreckers.  I know, not a Dredd book, but in the universe as was Devlin Waugh and Shimura/Hondo City.
Judgement/Vendetta whatever on Gotham.  I'm not sure if copyright issues would allow it.
Young Death.  I seem to have this idea that this storyline has a bit of a mixed view about it, but I've read and enjoyed it.  I imagine if it does appear it will be in the inevitable two parter Necropolis.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Magnetica on 06 October, 2015, 11:40:27 PM
Personally I loved Young Death. A classic in my view.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 07 October, 2015, 07:44:47 AM
Young Death has been confirmed. No crossovers
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 07 October, 2015, 11:56:33 AM
Read total war for the first time - it was great. Annoyingly my copy had the fuzzy bubbles and creased pages ;'(

I wasnt a fan of young death - but im glad its included.

Helltrekkers Id love to see - never read it
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 07 October, 2015, 12:05:09 PM
Quote from: Skullmo on 07 October, 2015, 11:56:33 AM
Read total war for the first time - it was great. Annoyingly my copy had the fuzzy bubbles and creased pages ;'(
Get a replacement from Hachette. They've confirmed the entire print-run was not affected.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Arkwright99 on 09 October, 2015, 09:25:43 AM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 07 October, 2015, 12:05:09 PMGet a replacement from Hachette. They've confirmed the entire print-run was not affected.
I received my Total War replacement from Hachette yesterday; unfortunately, it's just as badly affected as the first one they sent out, something I suspected because it was shrinkwrapped and so unlikely to have been checked for errors before shipping. :(
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 09 October, 2015, 10:03:59 AM
Ah—not good. Bit of a lottery, then. Odd they're not checking them, but then I imagine some people would moan they were already open before shipping.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IronGraham on 10 October, 2015, 10:07:23 AM
Just got my copy of issue 20 and 21 so quarter way through already
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 10 October, 2015, 10:13:47 AM
So what's in The Dead Man then? Pretty please!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 10 October, 2015, 10:30:49 AM
Seconded! Hopefully more John Ridgway goodness!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Hawkmumbler on 10 October, 2015, 10:31:16 AM
Quote from: Tordelback on 10 October, 2015, 10:13:47 AM
So what's in The Dead Man then? Pretty please!
Mostly flesh scrapings and maggots I should imagine.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IronGraham on 10 October, 2015, 10:36:08 AM
The deadman includes the deadman naturally, bloodlines, the shooting match, tale of the deadman and nightmares. So basically a necropolis prelude.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 10 October, 2015, 10:39:48 AM
Is nightmares set after Necropolis? I'm thinking of the Steve Dillon story? With Yassa Povey.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IronGraham on 10 October, 2015, 10:43:17 AM
Yeah that one is
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: COMMANDO FORCES on 11 October, 2015, 02:45:18 AM
The Simping Detective has the following inside.

Gumshoe
Crystal Blue
Innocence A Broad
Playing Futsie
Fifteen
Petty Crimes
No Body, No How

The we get DeMarco P.I.

Ways To Die
Deep Blue Death
The Fierce And The Furious
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Fungus on 11 October, 2015, 02:58:43 AM
Hm. Simping Detective was going to be cherry-picked as a volume but DeMarco in recent times hasn't been so great and we're talking pre-Trifecta so now unsure about this one... Is Simping Detective a good call?
By contrast, any Low Life volume(s) feel essential purchases. Among the best of the collection. Can't wait.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 11 October, 2015, 12:51:19 PM
Thats all of simping except for obviously the trifecta story right?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 11 October, 2015, 05:03:12 PM
Quote from: Fungus on 11 October, 2015, 02:58:43 AM
Hm. Simping Detective was going to be cherry-picked as a volume but DeMarco in recent times hasn't been so great and we're talking pre-Trifecta so now unsure about this one... Is Simping Detective a good call?

I think it's a really clever move. Demarco is a major supporting character in SD, so it makes perfect sense to have her first three solo stories in the same book (although they'd probably work better read first).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Silent_Bomber on 11 October, 2015, 05:21:48 PM
Quote from: IronGraham on 10 October, 2015, 10:36:08 AM
The deadman includes the deadman naturally, bloodlines, the shooting match, tale of the deadman and nightmares.
Damn, guess I won't be getting the Necropolis book either then :(
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 11 October, 2015, 05:27:43 PM
I admire the cherry pickers amongst you. When the toothless gaps in your collections spines stare down at you, you don't blink. How do you do it?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 11 October, 2015, 06:34:45 PM
Hmmmm, as I have all the Dead Man contents in a fairly neat Casefiles/Dead Man grouping on the shelf, that's probably a skip for me. But Simping Detective, which I only have in the Meg pile somewhere, is way too tasty a prospect. And even if De Marco PI never lived up the character's early promise, it does have the much-missed Travis Perkins. Never could resist an urbane gorilla.

Thanks for the info, IronGraham and CF.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 12 October, 2015, 09:12:30 AM
So, Letter to Judge Dredd isn't in The Dead man? Perhaps in Necropolis then, and I'm guessing "The Theatre of Death" and "Return of the King" in the end of it.

While it's different from how I read Necropolis (which was CF14), I quite like what they're up to. Mixing it up a bit by making Deadman both a companion book to Necropolis as well as a democracy book.

I also like the inclusion of DeMarco (I haven't read those outside the post DOC stuff) in Simping Detective, helping bridge her appearance in Trifecta. I'm curious about her pet/friend-gorilla that's sacked in Triftecta's "Jokers to the Right" :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Arkwright99 on 12 October, 2015, 01:10:26 PM
Quote from: Apestrife on 12 October, 2015, 09:12:30 AM
So, Letter to Judge Dredd isn't in The Dead man? Perhaps in Necropolis then, and I'm guessing "The Theatre of Death" and "Return of the King" in the end of it.
Admittedly I've only flicked through The Dead Man volume so far (decided to read SD first) but I'm fairly sure I did see 'Letter to Judge Dredd' in it.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 12 October, 2015, 01:21:17 PM
Quote from: Apestrife on 12 October, 2015, 09:12:30 AM
I also like the inclusion of DeMarco (I haven't read those outside the post DOC stuff) in Simping Detective, helping bridge her appearance in Trifecta. I'm curious about her pet/friend-gorilla that's sacked in Triftecta's "Jokers to the Right" :)

As Tord says, Travis Perkins is what saves the Demarco stories from being utterly forgettable. He's a superb character, and the third story 'Fierce and the Furious' is his real moment to shine.

The real shame is that Spurrier seemed vaugely contemptuos of the character; when it came to Demarco appearing in Simping Detective, Travis has a purely (and, I think, non-speaking) background role and Jack Point makes repeated arched insults regarding him, before he's rather casually offed in Trifecta.  :'(
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 12 October, 2015, 06:26:02 PM
Quote from: demos99 on 12 October, 2015, 01:10:26 PM
Admittedly I've only flicked through The Dead Man volume so far (decided to read SD first) but I'm fairly sure I did see 'Letter to Judge Dredd' in it.

If so, perhaps then Necropolis will be a Carlos Ezquerra book, similar to America being a McNeil one. Then I'm betting Return of the king ends Necropolis with Young Giant as a backup story.

Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 12 October, 2015, 01:21:17 PM
As Tord says, Travis Perkins is what saves the Demarco stories from being utterly forgettable. He's a superb character, and the third story 'Fierce and the Furious' is his real moment to shine.

The real shame is that Spurrier seemed vaugely contemptuos of the character; when it came to Demarco appearing in Simping Detective, Travis has a purely (and, I think, non-speaking) background role and Jack Point makes repeated arched insults regarding him, before he's rather casually offed in Trifecta.  :'(

Perhaps why I didn't remember him much from Simping Detective, if he had a non speaking roll. When you mention it I vaguely remembering some gorilla standing guard when DeMarco is dancing -near- nude.

Either way. Jack Point is a real charmer :) "Women... --Can't live with em, can't get em lobotomized."
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: COMMANDO FORCES on 12 October, 2015, 07:08:27 PM
Just checked The Dead Man

And just so there's no confusion, these are the stories included:-

The Dead Man
Bloodline
The Shooting Match
A Letter To Judge Dredd
Tale Of The Dead Man
Nightmares

7 covers and a 4 page interview of John Ridgway, by Michael Molcher (1 of those pages is a just a page of art)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 13 October, 2015, 07:33:27 AM
Is that the running order CF?  Doesn't The Dead Man segue straight into Tale of.., complete with a linking page of colour art? Hmmmm, was that colour on the last page of The Dead Man by Will Simpson? If so, interesting link into his Bloodline art, potentially recasting all the earlier Kraken stuff as an extended flashback as Dredd reflects on just how he ended up half-cooked in the Cursed Earth.

Nightmares makes sense since it continues Yassa's story (although it doesn't really conclude until Death Aid) but it is a rather large spoiler for those who haven't read Necropolis.

Anyone read this yet? Does it work?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 13 October, 2015, 10:22:56 AM
Quote from: Tordelback on 13 October, 2015, 07:33:27 AMNightmares makes sense since it continues Yassa's story (although it doesn't really conclude until Death Aid) but it is a rather large spoiler for those who haven't read Necropolis.
This again highlights the two biggest flaws in this series:

1. They can be spoiler-heavy. Some of the intros seem to make the assumption you're already familiar with the material. Day of Chaos is a good example. I hope entirely new readers are training themselves to ignore Matt's editorials and then to back and read them at the end.

2. There are some problems with stories that are out of context or that jump between very different points in Dredd history. I can't help but feel some issues would have hugely benefitted from recap pages rather than just titles and Prog numbers. The democracy book suffered from this, with seeming about-turns happening during a single page-turn. Anderson's Shamballa had a big jump, too. And in Dead Man, you go from the bit right before Necropolis happening to a story that happened afterwards. I really like Nightmares — I thought it was a smart move to follow-up on Povey. But it feels odd here. (Perhaps it had no other place to be. Hard to know without seeing the entire schedule.)

None of this is enough to make me wobble with the collection, natch. It's just looking at the books, you wonder if in hindsight they should have done a little more to help new readers through fairly complex continuity.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: COMMANDO FORCES on 13 October, 2015, 02:15:38 PM
Quote from: Tordelback on 13 October, 2015, 07:33:27 AM
Is that the running order CF?

It is indeed.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 13 October, 2015, 03:20:04 PM
Quote from: COMMANDO FORCES on 13 October, 2015, 02:15:38 PM
Quote from: Tordelback on 13 October, 2015, 07:33:27 AM
Is that the running order CF?

It is indeed.

Cheers, John.

I'm not sure there's any way around the series containing numerous massive spoilers ([spoiler]Dredd survives - even when he's quite clearly been killed![/spoiler]), unless it was to present material chronologically, either in release or volume order, but that largely exists already as the Casefiles. And even going down that route you'd be left with the problem of slotting in the non-Dredd strips (e.g. Chopper, DeMarco) without spoiling the 'main continuity' of which they are a part.  Better to ignore the problem and concentrate on thematically satisfying volumes.

However, I do agree with IP: perhaps a paragraph linking each story or placing it in time, or a more specific discussion of context in Matt's intros, might make things easier for the new reader. Then again, maybe piecing it all together yourself (with the help of the intros and essays) is part of the fun of a part work.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 13 October, 2015, 06:00:35 PM
I agree with that last part: some detective work on bridging some of the gaps with (so far) unprinted stories and trying to guess whether they'll appear is half the fun.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 13 October, 2015, 09:32:58 PM
An index at the end of the series would be great
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 13 October, 2015, 09:37:29 PM
I love the mystery about future volumes. I was quite excited about the similar DC comics collection until I realised all the volume titles were listed (and they weren't including their classic stories). It's odd to enjoy being kept in the dark - and my knowledge of 2000ad isn't good enough to guess what might be in Target Dredd etc. This series has been fantastic so far despite repro problems and printing glitches.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 13 October, 2015, 09:55:53 PM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 13 October, 2015, 09:37:29 PMmy knowledge of 2000ad isn't good enough to guess what might be in Target Dredd
"Judge Joe Dredd is hurled back in time and lands in 1980s Minnesota. Out of range of Justice Dept, being very old, and without any hope of returning home, he finally manages to get a job at a large discount retailer."
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 13 October, 2015, 10:35:38 PM
Did I imagine a story where Dredd comes to our time. Was it ok - I read the odd issue but maybe it was a feverish dream. It seems a bit Star Trek
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: I, Cosh on 13 October, 2015, 10:54:39 PM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 13 October, 2015, 10:35:38 PM
Did I imagine a story where Dredd comes to our time. Was it ok - I read the odd issue but maybe it was a feverish dream. It seems a bit Star Trek
The Exterminator.

You didn't imagine it. It wasn't completely awful but it certainly wasn't a high point of the last 38 years.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 13 October, 2015, 11:17:41 PM
Um-hmm, it was supposedly a repurposed script Wagner had intended for a DH Terminator comic. And I think it shows. But it still isn't by any means an actual stinker, just a bit... Odd.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Hawkmumbler on 13 October, 2015, 11:23:41 PM
Herm. Not read that one, which case file can it be found within?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Greg M. on 14 October, 2015, 09:38:28 AM
Quote from: Hawkmonger on 13 October, 2015, 11:23:41 PM
Herm. Not read that one, which case file can it be found within?

CF22. When I was reading it on a weekly basis, I really didn't like The Exterminator - it works better in one go. Still not great, but more manageable.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Fungus on 14 October, 2015, 02:24:57 PM
Quote from: COMMANDO FORCES on 11 October, 2015, 02:45:18 AM
The Simping Detective has the following inside.

Gumshoe
Crystal Blue
Innocence A Broad
Playing Futsie
Fifteen
Petty Crimes
No Body, No How

The we get DeMarco P.I.

Ways To Die
Deep Blue Death
The Fierce And The Furious

Good, I'd be surprised if Jokers To The Right featured, as per the ALWAYS reliable Wikipedia... that would have suggested duplication in the MC itself - in Trifecta. Can't have that.

Quote from: Wikipedia
Crystal Blue, Innocence: A Broad, Dorks of War, Playing Futsie, Fifteen, Petty Crimes, No Body, No How and Jokers to the Right
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 14 October, 2015, 03:02:49 PM
I really hope Trifecta comes with The Heart Is A Lonely Klegg Hunter (perhaps Scavengers also). Would love that. Especially if Trifecta will act like a last chapter to the epics of the collection as whole, making for a very nice send off. Klegg all happy like  :D
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Hawkmumbler on 14 October, 2015, 04:43:21 PM
Heck, has it been a year since we last saw Sensative Klegg? Bring him back, I say!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: sheridan on 14 October, 2015, 09:15:07 PM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 13 October, 2015, 09:37:29 PM
I love the mystery about future volumes. I was quite excited about the similar DC comics collection until I realised all the volume titles were listed (and they weren't including their classic stories). It's odd to enjoy being kept in the dark - and my knowledge of 2000ad isn't good enough to guess what might be in Target Dredd etc.
My guess is that one story we'll see is the Ron Smith one where the Mega-City mobsters are getting fed up of Dredd foiling their schemes and try to variously kill him, get him to ride the wrong way up a one-way street and (again) kill him in new and bigger ways. 
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: sheridan on 14 October, 2015, 09:16:29 PM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 13 October, 2015, 10:35:38 PM
Did I imagine a story where Dredd comes to our time. Was it ok - I read the odd issue but maybe it was a feverish dream. It seems a bit Star Trek
I don't remember the Exterminator.  There was the one where he followed Death to Eastbourne and lots of eldsters had heart attacks (induced either by Sidney or more naturally).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Steve Green on 14 October, 2015, 10:20:59 PM
There's a virus encountered on the first commercial spaceflight to Mars - it has been dormant and crops up in Dredd's present day - he is sent back to kill and dispose of the infected (innocent) passengers in New York of the present(ish) day.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: BPP on 15 October, 2015, 12:08:02 AM
Quote from: Apestrife on 14 October, 2015, 03:02:49 PM
I really hope Trifecta comes with The Heart Is A Lonely Klegg Hunter (perhaps Scavengers also). Would love that. Especially if Trifecta will act like a last chapter to the epics of the collection as whole, making for a very nice send off. Klegg all happy like  :D

Titan has to be the last epic. Runs well over 20 issue and has the whole Rob Williams verse of characters running around. Plus it's all Flint, all the time.

Probably my favourite Dredd story of the last 20 years.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 16 October, 2015, 10:28:10 PM
Loved the Simping Detective - dense, atmospheric & very funny. The art is simply stunning, easily up there with the best 2000ad stuff ever. In comparison the DeMarco stuff is a bit anaemic - it's fine but never catches fire. I'd never thought of the comparison with Alias/Jessica Jones before. Great endpapers, cover, interview etc. These volumes continue to impress. Glad there's news of a Wally Squad issue - hopefully some Brett Ewins greatness. Looking forward to Deadman!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Spikes on 17 October, 2015, 12:11:21 PM
As someone who missed a lot of these Meg tales, this current book is a right boon. A great read, all told.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 18 October, 2015, 01:06:43 PM
Just finished the Simping Detective. This was all new to me and I thought Jack Point was a brilliant creation, excellent work by all including the late great Tom Frame. Enjoyed the DeMarco stories too, particularly the character of Travis Perkins. The Pit is coming up, hopefully The Scorpion Dance is too for more of DeMarco's story arc.

So a quarter of the way through the collection, and it's been pretty bang on so far. I've found it's showcased really well the variety of stories, characters and artwork that have contributed to Dredd's world over the years. I think the general consensus is that the one volume that didn't really work is The Heavy Mob - maybe, as I said somewhere earlier on this thread, if Father Earth had appeared first in that issue it might have given it a bit more context. The other volumes with common themes, Democracy Now and Alien Nations, both worked really well. Especially Howler, genius.

Can't wait for Trifecta now....
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 18 October, 2015, 02:56:39 PM
I never really got on with the Simping Detective first time round, but, for some reason, I've enjoyed it in this edition. And, yeah, on the whole this is a really good set. As I've already said, more context would be good. (I'm not really of the opinion the reader should be piecing together timelines and continuity. It's also largely already put my wife off of reading the series.) But bar the odd questionable entry, these have been great books; and for the money, they're something of a bargain.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Toni Scandella on 21 October, 2015, 12:06:38 AM
i found the Simping Detective section just as much hard work as ever in this volume.  Something about the way Jack's monologues read with the Mega City speak... all that drokkbot stuff, just makes it hard work to read, but worth it when it makes sense.  The Demarco section I liked better, and I really could not be bothered with that first time round.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 22 October, 2015, 11:42:22 AM
Simping Detective forces you to slow down as a reader and do a lot of work. Maybe more comics should push the reader a bit. It could have a been a "sin city" piss take but is actually fantastic.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jamie1000013 on 26 October, 2015, 02:40:00 PM
Hopefully they will have PJ when he was mayor would love to read that arc. I cant wait for the Pitt as well.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 26 October, 2015, 04:52:50 PM
Mixed opinions about the Simping Detective. The story was a bit of an unusual style as was the art, but considering the film noire influence that's not surprising.

The Demarco stories IEnjoyed, and having an Apetown was fun. The first time I remember hearing about an Apetown was the. Post apocalypse was fast eek and don't uggie storyline where it was alluded to.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dash Decent on 27 October, 2015, 01:00:00 AM
For the subscribing Aussies - which volumes are you up to?

I've just received "Mandroid" and "The Heavy Mob".  My brother got them a month ago (though with "Cursed Earth" substituted for "The Heavy Mob" due to a stock issue).  If I'm behind everyone else I'll write to the distributors; if my brother is ahead I won't worry - but I think from comments last time I behind.

And - anyone received their bookends yet?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: terryo on 27 October, 2015, 06:33:23 AM
Dash, I got Heavy Mob, Devlin Waugh and the bookends yesterday.

Got Cursed Earth and Mandroid last month. It was a good month!

I have nine in total now.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 27 October, 2015, 09:29:57 AM
Did anyone else here (and in the UK) request a replacement Total War but not get one? First time since subscribing that I've been unhappy with the service. (Previous replacements have arrived in a week; this time, it's been three weeks and nothing.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Arkwright99 on 27 October, 2015, 10:34:38 AM
I received my second Total War replacement this morning. Just packed in a Jiffy envelope so the spine incurred a small ding when the postman dropped it through my letterbox but the double-printed text fault in the actual strips is much improved on the previous editions.

When I contacted Hachette the second time to complain that the first replacement they'd sent was no better than my original they did say that they didn't have any more in the office and were waiting for a new batch which they would check before posting out. This morning's replacement wasn't shrink-wrapped which suggests that they are checking this time around.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dash Decent on 27 October, 2015, 10:48:34 AM
Quote from: terryo on 27 October, 2015, 06:33:23 AM
Dash, I got Heavy Mob, Devlin Waugh and the bookends yesterday.

Got Cursed Earth and Mandroid last month. It was a good month!

I have nine in total now.

Cheers terryo.  Looks like I'm behind for some reason, though it means I missed the distribution problem with "The Heavy Mob".

I agree, Cursed Earth and Mandroid are/will be great.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 27 October, 2015, 12:59:38 PM
Just found a copy of "The Dead Man" in WHSmiths. This is perfect. Great intro & Ridgway interview, cracking end papers. Best book yet?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 27 October, 2015, 02:26:26 PM
I liked it a lot, although the jump to the follow-up story was quite a jolt and oddly placed.

I just finally read Swimming in Blood. That's one of the few so far that's totally worked jumping ahead. Also makes me rather wish we'd seen more from the character. Eight years since the last strip, according to Barney.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 27 October, 2015, 05:14:21 PM
I'd love to see more Devlin, perhaps John Smith has tired of him? I guess vampires don't do over-exposure!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 27 October, 2015, 07:04:03 PM
Devil's a great character. I did enjoy Brief Encounter when he winds Dredd up no end. Looking forward to Chasing Herod, yet another completely new one for me.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 27 October, 2015, 11:01:56 PM
Chasing Herod reads really well in collected form, but it's a very different beast from the other strips, in terms of tone. Much darker.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 29 October, 2015, 02:46:46 AM
Got the dead man today and read it all in one sitting. The initial dead man story the artwork was very dark and you might almost think there was some slightly off reproduction, but instead I think that's the intended mood, in much the same way as some Rogue Trooper or Savage stories were.

Haven't read a lot of it before. I had read letter to Judge Dredd and the Kraken assessment. I thought we'd get the final 'test' for Kraken so to speak here, but no, it's a big jump ahead. Am I to assume that part will be in Necropolis?

One big glaring criticism, this book seemed too short. Just kidding as it had me gripped, it seemed no time before I was finished.

Still have to laugh at the Star Wars film reference in, I think, Letter to Judge Dredd
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 29 October, 2015, 09:45:38 AM
Following up from earlier, I got a second replacement, which arrived within only a few days. Not checked yet to see whether the print's any better, although the cover looks like it's been kicked about the place, sadly. (Previous replacements have come through in card—this one was just in a businessy bubble-wrap envelope.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Anzati on 29 October, 2015, 09:48:06 AM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 27 October, 2015, 09:29:57 AM
Did anyone else here (and in the UK) request a replacement Total War but not get one? First time since subscribing that I've been unhappy with the service. (Previous replacements have arrived in a week; this time, it's been three weeks and nothing.)

HHHmmmmm I got an extra set...although one set had the wrong name on...which I didn't notice until after I had opened the box...very odd; I'm now wondering if somehow they managed to send your set to me.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 29 October, 2015, 10:57:30 AM
I only got one extra book, not two, and unless you had one with 'Grannell' on, it wasn't mine!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 29 October, 2015, 08:57:53 PM
Looking ahead to the next issue, Target: Dredd, it seems clear that it'll include:

The Fists of Stan Lee/Return of Deathfist
Hitman
Enter Jonni Kiss/Goodnight Kiss

John Burns is also credited on the cover. Does this mean it'll also include all of The Chief Judge's Man sequence? Any thoughts?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 29 October, 2015, 11:13:43 PM
Anyone got any idea if Krakens final 'test' by Odell and Silver will make it's way into the Necropolis volumes?

Also, I don't know if there's anyone here in the know.  Why was there such a drastic change in art style in the Kraken assessment story.  The first part was muted colours, and right after what happened to Morph the art style changes somewhat, colours are more vibrant.

I know this isn't a fault in this edition as my old thin graphic novel with this story and letter to Judge Dredd had the same thing in it/
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 29 October, 2015, 11:23:09 PM
Quote from: Jade Falcon on 29 October, 2015, 11:13:43 PM
Why was there such a drastic change in art style in the Kraken assessment story.  The first part was muted colours, and right after what happened to Morph the art style changes somewhat, colours are more vibrant.

Didn't the artist change from Will Simpson to Jeff Anderson...?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 30 October, 2015, 02:52:46 AM
What I should have asked maybe was why the artist change, especially two very different styles.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 30 October, 2015, 05:17:06 AM
Just the usual curse of the artist-consuming ravening maw of weekly Dredd, I imagine.  But you're right, it is/was a particularly jarring change.  Nothing wrong with Anderson's work (his detailed colours in particular are gorgeous, some of the best in the Prog to that point), but Simpson's smoky, blurry, garish, claustrophobic city and slouching snarling Dredd are such a perfect fit for the story that it's a real shock when Anderson suddenly turns the lights on.
Title: Re: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: W. R. Logan on 30 October, 2015, 02:13:02 PM
During the Kraken assessment were the two pages printed in the wrong order 'Tale Of The Dead Man' graphic novel corrected?
Title: Re: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 30 October, 2015, 09:50:37 PM
Quote from: W. R. Logan on 30 October, 2015, 02:13:02 PM
During the Kraken assessment were the two pages printed in the wrong order 'Tale Of The Dead Man' graphic novel corrected?

which 2 pages?
Title: Re: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: W. R. Logan on 31 October, 2015, 05:51:04 AM
Off the top of my head it's around where Kraken is dealing with the barman who has chained the exit shut.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 01 November, 2015, 06:31:48 PM
Since there was a lot of Judge Dredd that I haven't read, and this is becoming apparent in these books, was Tale of the Dead Man the first appearance of the Sisters of Death?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Andy Smart on 01 November, 2015, 06:39:48 PM
Quote from: Jade Falcon on 01 November, 2015, 06:31:48 PM
Since there was a lot of Judge Dredd that I haven't read, and this is becoming apparent in these books, was Tale of the Dead Man the first appearance of the Sisters of Death?

It was. They get more backstory in Young Death.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 01 November, 2015, 07:34:19 PM
Was it already confirmed before deadmans intro that necropolis is vol 5?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Andy Smart on 01 November, 2015, 07:56:49 PM
Quote from: The monarch on 01 November, 2015, 07:34:19 PM
Was it already confirmed before deadmans intro that necropolis is vol 5?

Not explicitly but I suppose it was inevitable when they announced Judgement Day as being the volume after Apocalypse War. By the same logic, I think City of the Damned will be 35 making a 2-book Judge Child saga.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 03 November, 2015, 12:19:11 AM
Will we get the Kraken 'final test' in Necropolis do you think?  I've never seen that bit, only a panel from the old Judge Dredd A-Z Encyclopedia.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 03 November, 2015, 04:29:46 PM
I remember there was quite a long countdown to necropolis. Perhaps it was in there? Was it Esquerra art?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 03 November, 2015, 05:00:40 PM
Do you mean the shooting match ?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 03 November, 2015, 10:34:56 PM
[spoiler]I'm not sure what it was exactly, storywise, but the piece of art I'm talking about had Kraken injecting himself with what I assume was poison to 'euthanise' him for failing Dredd's assessment.  It turned out that Silver thought that since he was going to do it he would make a good replacement for Dredd.[/spoiler]

I was trying not to have spoilers.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: JOE SOAP on 03 November, 2015, 10:49:16 PM
By Lethal Injection 2 episodes (Progs 669 to 670)

http://www.2000ad.org/?zone=prog&page=profiles&choice=669


(http://www.2000ad.org/covers/2000ad/hires/669.jpg)

Title: Re: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: W. R. Logan on 04 November, 2015, 12:08:53 AM
One of the best two part Dredds ever.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 04 November, 2015, 05:44:09 AM
For me the interesting thing about Kraken[spoiler] is that his 'Fargo flaw' may have been that he was too much like Dredd - he wanted to be a MC-1 judge so badly that he was willing to die to prove himself, but this also meant that he couldn't risk the potential weakness his 'voices' represented being exposed[/spoiler].  I'm not sure the arrogance he displays is any different from early Dredd.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 04 November, 2015, 02:41:03 PM
That cover is the very panel I'm talking about. Thanks.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: I, Cosh on 04 November, 2015, 04:42:34 PM
Quote from: Tordelback on 04 November, 2015, 05:44:09 AM
I'm not sure the arrogance he displays is any different from early Dredd.
Different source though, in't it? Joe is just actually, demonstrably better than all the rest while [spoiler]Kraken has been raised/created to believe he is but is ultimately proven by his own actions not to be when it really counts[/spoiler].

Spoilers cos everyone else is.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Frank on 04 November, 2015, 05:20:02 PM

You're a hard man to impress, Cosh. Harder than Dredd was on the kid:


(http://i.imgur.com/mqFJvnn.png?1)


You're less forgiving than JUDGE DREDD. Maybe Dredd cut his clone some slack because he experiences the same nocturnal visits from a father figure that turned Kraken, planting the seed that Justice Department is rotten and needs to be brought down:


(http://i.imgur.com/vUglfwI.png?1)


Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Arkwright99 on 06 November, 2015, 05:14:51 PM
Issues 22 & 23 (vols 30 & 15) arrived today.  :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: COMMANDO FORCES on 06 November, 2015, 05:19:47 PM
Mine arrived and I didn't think that the covers worked well, unlike the previous lot.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 06 November, 2015, 06:02:14 PM
So, if you please, which stories are in Target JD? Thanks.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Arkwright99 on 06 November, 2015, 06:11:31 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 06 November, 2015, 06:02:14 PM
So, if you please, which stories are in Target JD? Thanks.
Masked in case people don't want to know in advance: [spoiler]Fists of Stan Lee, Return of Death Fist, The Art of Geomancy, Fight!, Enter Jonni Kiss, Goodnight Kiss, The Brainstem Man, The Man Who Broke the Law, Hitman and Missing[/spoiler]
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 06 November, 2015, 06:54:03 PM
Brilliant, thank you.

Anyone get any guesses for issues after 26? I'm going to predict an Armitage volume soon, and possibly another Anderson. And The Day the Law Died.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richard on 06 November, 2015, 08:41:54 PM
QuoteDuring the Kraken assessment were the two pages printed in the wrong order 'Tale Of The Dead Man' graphic novel corrected?

They were correct in Case Files 14.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 07 November, 2015, 11:20:44 AM
Quote from: COMMANDO FORCES on 06 November, 2015, 05:19:47 PM
Mine arrived and I didn't think that the covers worked well, unlike the previous lot.

I agree.
I also note with (mild) interest that the back cover of today's Prog features a variation on the cover of 'Target: Judge Dredd', which I prefer.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Geoff on 09 November, 2015, 07:10:20 PM
Quote from: COMMANDO FORCES on 06 November, 2015, 05:19:47 PM
Mine arrived and I didn't think that the covers worked well, unlike the previous lot.

Certainly agree in relation to the Devlin Waugh volume. Not read any of the stories before and it all looks intriguing with some great art.

The cover is credited to Colin Wilson, is that the fantastic Colin Wilson of Rogue Trooper and JD the mega rackets from back in the day? If it is, his style's certainly changed a bit.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 09 November, 2015, 08:42:50 PM
Same guy, yeah.

I'm most of the way through Target now. Interesting to see how different the Enns a Dredd was from Wagner's, when they're one after another in a volume like this. Still, mostly a good book, despite some rough repro on the Kitson b+w pages.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IronGraham on 10 November, 2015, 04:03:18 PM
Ennis's Dredd felt a lot like he's trying to do Wagner just not as well he was still much better then Millar and Morrisons (shudders)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 10 November, 2015, 04:39:10 PM
The dog vultures but was especially stupid. Either that or dog vultures are especially stupid. I dunno. But, yeah, Ennis Dredd is often at least quite readable. I'm really not looking forward to entire volumes of this collection being filled with Morrison and Miller dreck. (Here's hoping there aren't too many beyond the dross of Inferno.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 10 November, 2015, 05:52:00 PM
I think Purgatory/Inferno was their only long-form story so probably just that. I had however forgotten that Grice appeared in Nightmares before I re-read it last week.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: I, Cosh on 10 November, 2015, 06:21:19 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 10 November, 2015, 05:52:00 PM
I think Purgatory/Inferno was their only long-form story so probably just that. I had however forgotten that Grice appeared in Nightmares before I re-read it last week.
Crusade.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 10 November, 2015, 08:03:19 PM
Oh yes, forgot about that. Devlin's the only character who should have emerged from the future Vatican.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IronGraham on 11 November, 2015, 10:00:24 AM
Don't know if I can read Inferno again Ezquerra is the man but even he couldn't help Inferno that story just made me angry at comic for the first time
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Greg M. on 11 November, 2015, 10:04:22 AM
Quote from: IronGraham on 11 November, 2015, 10:00:24 AM
Ezquerra is the man but even he couldn't help Inferno

What's funny is that although he knows everyone else hates the story, Carlos has said he loved doing Inferno - and ironically, it's some of his best art.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: NapalmKev on 11 November, 2015, 11:49:56 AM
I liked 'Inferno' so I guess I'm in the minority. To further lower my credibility, I don't hold 'America' in high regard as most people. It's a good story but certainly not the best, IMO.

Cheers
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 11 November, 2015, 03:18:53 PM
I think Crusade's been confirmed as being in the collection, sadly. As for Inferno, it has a certain brainless quality to it, but it felt close in nature to the OTT Heavy Metal Dredd that I also didn't care for than the smarter stuff Wagner penned. Plus Morrison clearly didn't give a crap about anything to do with the strip's history. But, yeah, decent art, for the most part, which'll be a saving grace. (Plus, hopefully it'll be twinned with something good when the subs parcel arrives.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 11 November, 2015, 10:13:39 PM
Finally found a copy of Target:Judge Dredd. A great mix of stories - I didn't realise how often Stan lee had returned and lovely to see early Ben Willsher. The Garth Ennis stuff seemed dragged out for what seemed a very straight forward story. The Mark Millar one here seemed "off" but at least a break from watching Dredd beat up perps fuelled by rage. I think this series has so far been pretty much perfect for lapsed readers like myself - something old, something new...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 12 November, 2015, 04:48:23 PM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 11 November, 2015, 10:13:39 PM
I didn't realise how often Stan lee had returned...

He came back again for a Shimura story.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 14 November, 2015, 06:02:47 AM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 11 November, 2015, 03:18:53 PM
I think Crusade's been confirmed as being in the collection, sadly.

Seriously?  Why?  I mean, is this a story that has any redeeming features?  Austin's art is okay but goes nowhere towards redeeming a part of Dredd history that should be expunged from memory.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dash Decent on 14 November, 2015, 06:19:54 AM
Quote from: Tjm86 on 14 November, 2015, 06:02:47 AM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 11 November, 2015, 03:18:53 PM
I think Crusade's been confirmed as being in the collection, sadly.

Seriously?  Why?

Because they have to fill up 80 volumes?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 14 November, 2015, 09:58:43 AM
With the best part of forty years worth of Dredd it is not going to be difficult to fill 80 volumes.  In fact the challenge is going to be deciding which of the best is going to be left out.  Sorry but I find it difficult to justify the inclusion of what is generally considered dross in a 'mega collection' that is supposed to showcase the best.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 14 November, 2015, 02:32:40 PM
Enjoyed Target JD for the most part, although the Jonni Kiss stuff felt flat and drawn out script-wise. Stan Lee will always have a place in Dredd history for besting the lawman, Hitman was a great follow-up to Oz and Missing was quality all the way. Given recent comments, I liked the Millar story more than I thought I would, with the moon projection making me laugh out loud. Maybe he's best taken in small doses.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 14 November, 2015, 03:07:56 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 14 November, 2015, 02:32:40 PM
Maybe he's best taken in small doses.

Homeopathic doses, maybe a 200C dillution.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 18 November, 2015, 09:20:04 AM
Read Dead man and Target JD yesterday.

Dead man worked better than I thought it would. While "skipping" Necropolis, I think Nightmares bridges over it nicely, leaving it as it's own story. Leaving the dead man book to focus on Dredd's guilt, which he then copes with by letting the people to decide for him (which he probably knew would work in the judges' favor).
Also by not revealing much on what happened to Kraken, I think it'll make Necropolis quite effective in that sense. Besides some gutter loss swallowing some captions, I think Dead man was brilliant in every way.

Target JD was quite fun. A bunch of stories that also needs a home. "Stan Lee" still made me chuckle, Hitman to. Really liked the breakdown of the times Dredd got beat in the end of the book. Btw, if "nip" was a problem in Our man in Hondo, then perhaps "slant" is in this book. A judge calling Stan Lee a slant in art of geomancy felt a bit off.

Regardless, can't wait till next month and Trifecta :) Really hope it'll include the heart is s lonely Klegg hunter.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 21 November, 2015, 08:56:48 AM
Full details of titles, volume and issue numbers of volumes 1-25 have been added to the Facebook and Wikipedia pages. Speculationabounds.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 21 November, 2015, 11:33:44 AM
Quote from: Tjm86 on 14 November, 2015, 09:58:43 AMWith the best part of forty years worth of Dredd it is not going to be difficult to fill 80 volumes.  In fact the challenge is going to be deciding which of the best is going to be left out.  Sorry but I find it difficult to justify the inclusion of what is generally considered dross in a 'mega collection' that is supposed to showcase the best.
Careful. Comments like that and you'll get some weirdo stalker repeatedly emailing you out of the blue, to the point you have to block them at the server level.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 21 November, 2015, 11:41:38 AM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 21 November, 2015, 11:33:44 AM

Careful. Comments like that and you'll get some weirdo stalker repeatedly emailing you out of the blue, to the point you have to block them at the server level.

Sounds like you've been having fun recently then!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: dweezil2 on 21 November, 2015, 01:41:10 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 21 November, 2015, 11:33:44 AM
Quote from: Tjm86 on 14 November, 2015, 09:58:43 AMWith the best part of forty years worth of Dredd it is not going to be difficult to fill 80 volumes.  In fact the challenge is going to be deciding which of the best is going to be left out.  Sorry but I find it difficult to justify the inclusion of what is generally considered dross in a 'mega collection' that is supposed to showcase the best.
Careful. Comments like that and you'll get some weirdo stalker repeatedly emailing you out of the blue, to the point you have to block them at the server level.


I really miss my stalker on the IMDb Dredd page!

I felt we shared a special connection-apart from all that, kill yourself, the world would be a better place..etc!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Hawkmumbler on 21 November, 2015, 07:57:21 PM
I see Sc*j* has reared his ugly head again...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: ZenArcade on 21 November, 2015, 08:04:45 PM
Do tell? Z
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Judge Nutmeg on 21 November, 2015, 09:46:13 PM
Good selection of stories in Target, but I felt in the article about beatings Dredd has had over the years surely the Howler should have been mentioned, he rammed Dredd's head down the bog.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: bedlamvr on 24 November, 2015, 08:03:02 AM
I think if this list is legitimate

https://www.facebook.com/judgedreddcollection/photos/p.1652688321655636/1652688321655636/

It kind of highlights how the mega-collection differs from the case files. While the case files give all the depth of the stories around a period the mega collection shines the light on the supporting cast showing just how deep Dredds world is.

Also
I was expecting at least one more Anderson book but apparently there are 3 more planned and another based on the PSI division.... which is interesting

It is just a matter non on how convincing I can be to the wife to justify the cost of the case files AND the mega collection
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 26 November, 2015, 12:58:50 PM
Still hoping for at least two missionary man books and a calhab justice one
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 26 November, 2015, 02:22:24 PM
Given that the list is from the Mega Collection moderator, I can't imagine it isn't legitimate. On Psi-div, there've been notes elsewhere that the 'stars' collection is non-Anderson tales. I don't know how that will pan out, but I hope it's not just full of the second-rate crap that spent time lurking in the Meg while Anderson was on a kind of hiatus. (Janus is already confirmed, like, rilly.) On the whole, that list looks pretty good though.

As for the Mega Collection versus the Case Files, I agree that the split is clearly one between the wider world and the world of the Progs and Megs. I do wonder if the Case Files were started today if things might be different. I recall at the time, the run was originally planned to be shorter, and there were discussions about whether or not the Meg would be included. Would the current team include the 'Restricted Files' stories in the main run? America? That said, you'd still not get only tangentially related content in the mix, such as Anderson, Shimura, and so on. Also, it's sometimes interesting seeing how things play out in an immediate sense, rather than waiting several books to see what happens (and, in the case of the late teens Case Files, wading through a lot of terrible material).

From a personal point of view, the Mega Collection has made me pause somewhat and reflect on other collections. I see no sense in grabbing another Devlin Waugh book if I'll have the same stories (albeit in a different order) in the Mega Collection. The same also goes for things like Trifecta, and I'm also considering offloading some older trades that are now straight duplicates. Still, I can't imagine the Mega Collection will impact on the standard trades in any obvious way, not least now they're not visible at the consumer level. (As in, as with most partworks, you already need to know about them to find them, for the most part.)

On the whole, I'm pretty happy with these books, though. Iffy packaging, some context issues, and the odd spot of duff repro aside, these are really nicely put together collections.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 26 November, 2015, 05:27:23 PM
Loving Chasing Herod, even though I was slightly dreading it. The classy art by Steve Yeowell keeps the large cast grounded. He's perfectly suited to occult horror. John Smith keeps the humour going among the magical/technological macguffins. Devlin, much like Zenith, is best in an ensemble cast to bicker with. This series is amazing - loving the intro's. John Smith really should have got a long-term Hellblazer gig - I can't pass a laundrette without remembering his one-off issue. I'm wondering if the Gaydos Devlin will get collected - is there enough remaining Waugh stuff to fill another volume?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 26 November, 2015, 05:37:30 PM
Judging by Barney, uncollected Waugh includes:

Fetish - 85 pages (confirmed as vol. 16)
Mouthful of dust - 20
Vile Bodies - 12
All Hell - 50

That's 167 pages of strip, and so it'd need to have something else there to flesh it out a bit.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: I, Cosh on 26 November, 2015, 05:42:30 PM
There's also Songs of Innocence. Maybe Strange & Darke to fill it out?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 26 November, 2015, 06:16:46 PM
Maybe if that Smith fella would write some more really, really quickly...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 26 November, 2015, 07:47:04 PM
Quote from: The Cosh on 26 November, 2015, 05:42:30 PM
There's also Songs of Innocence. Maybe Strange & Darke to fill it out?

Do you mean Innocence And Experience?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 27 November, 2015, 11:52:33 AM
Quote from: The monarch on 26 November, 2015, 12:58:50 PM
Still hoping for at least two missionary man books and a calhab justice one

The whole of missionary man would be nice

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: I, Cosh on 27 November, 2015, 12:13:25 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 26 November, 2015, 07:47:04 PM
Quote from: The Cosh on 26 November, 2015, 05:42:30 PM
There's also Songs of Innocence. Maybe Strange & Darke to fill it out?
Do you mean Innocence And Experience?
Probably. I knew it was some sort of William Blake reference.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 27 November, 2015, 12:16:34 PM
That's already been reprinted—it's the last strip in the Chasing Herod volume, ending on a cliffhanger that presumably John Smith will follow up in 2027. Maybe.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: I, Cosh on 27 November, 2015, 01:39:04 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 27 November, 2015, 12:16:34 PM
That's already been reprinted—it's the last strip in the Chasing Herod volume, ending on a cliffhanger that presumably John Smith will follow up in 2027. Maybe.
Ah, sorry. I don't get these so just assumed it was the same chronological reprinting as other volumes.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: BPP on 27 November, 2015, 02:54:54 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 27 November, 2015, 12:16:34 PM
That's already been reprinted—it's the last strip in the Chasing Herod volume, ending on a cliffhanger that presumably John Smith will follow up in 2027. Maybe.

I really loved the Peter Doherty art in that, remember it from when it was in the Meg. Incredible shame it hasn't been followed up on as Smith and Doherty seem a perfect team. Herod was great, so many good characters ripped apart in the mayhem.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 27 November, 2015, 03:22:51 PM
I've worn a groove in my keyboard typing this, but Innocence and Experience was as good a Smith story as there has ever been (and that's saying something) and it's a real shame he hasn't gone back to finish it. Still, as Indigo Prime (the strip not the boarder) shows, it ain't over 'til Almaranda sings.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 29 November, 2015, 12:03:35 AM
To be honest I wasn't overly keen on this book.  I don't know, I want to like the Waugh books but it just fails to catch my interest.  Perhaps it might depend on the mood I'm in when reading it.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 02 December, 2015, 09:22:12 AM
I loved Chasing Herod. No-one else writes like John Smith, every character and reference is another story in itself. Great art too from Messrs Yeowell and Doherty.

Does Mr Smith's recent return to the Prog mean we expect more Devlin's soon? We can but hope.

And the ultimate trivial question, is this the first issue not to feature Dredd at all?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 03 December, 2015, 07:14:45 PM
I felt the last story in the book, while decent, seemed to drag in places.  As I say, maybe if I reread it I might feel different.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 05 December, 2015, 09:08:53 AM
Now that's what you call a Saturday delivery!
Prog 1960 plus Trifecta and Judgement Day from the Mega Collection.
Sadly they will have to wait until tomorrow as I'm due to leave for West Bromich Albion away in about an hour.
Still, plenty to read on Sunday  :D
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 05 December, 2015, 11:16:21 AM
Quote from: Mattofthespurs on 05 December, 2015, 09:08:53 AM
Now that's what you call a Saturday delivery!
Prog 1960 plus Trifecta and Judgement Day from the Mega Collection.
Sadly they will have to wait until tomorrow as I'm due to leave for West Bromich Albion away in about an hour.
Still, plenty to read on Sunday  :D

Lucky you :)

Btw, any extra stories in the Trifecta collection?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 05 December, 2015, 11:32:34 AM
Haven't a clue, I'm afraid. The last time I saw it it was sitting on my bookshelf unopened.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moly on 05 December, 2015, 12:19:54 PM
Just had a quick look through trifecta doesn't look like any additional stories
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 05 December, 2015, 12:33:12 PM
Trifecta: [spoiler]The Family Man; Bullet to King Four; Jokers to the Right/Saudade/The Cold Deck; Trifecta; covers; three-page interview[/spoiler]

Judgement Day: [spoiler]Top Dogs; Judgement Day; The Kinda Dead Man; covers; Garth Ennis interview[/spoiler]
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 05 December, 2015, 01:23:46 PM
Dagnabbit, I was going to skip Trifecta... But I've never read The Family Man (a Meg strip, I presume?), and I do love Al's Dredd. So this means I really have to go back and get the Simping Detective volume too. Curses!  Ah well, at least I can pass on the fully Casefiled Judgement Day. This collection is proving more and more attractive every time.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Hawkmumbler on 05 December, 2015, 01:27:54 PM
Yeah, Family Man was a meg story and was Bachmans first appearance. It's a cracking tale.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 05 December, 2015, 05:18:36 PM
Thanks!

Was hoping for the [spoiler]sensitive klegg story that came after Trifecta[/spoiler], still nice having [spoiler]Family man[/spoiler] :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 05 December, 2015, 06:18:16 PM
Second print with this.  They've done a better job of the mounting compared to the first.  Nice Mcneil pic.

Pleasant surprise as the wife had clearly picked it up, put it on the side and then failed to mention that it was there (possibly thinking it was one of the kids' Crimbo pressies).

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Ghost MacRoth on 05 December, 2015, 06:41:11 PM
Really enjoyed reading Judgement day again, forgot how good it was. 
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 05 December, 2015, 11:45:37 PM
The interview's an odd one. First, you finish the book and have the author stating it was terrible. Secondly, it really feels like Ennis hasn't noticed 2000 AD's resurgence under Matt Smith in the slightest.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 06 December, 2015, 04:26:53 AM
thank god they included top dogs in the judgement day collection
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 06 December, 2015, 02:14:17 PM
In terms of curation, this is one of the best books there's been. Good to see Top Dogs get another airing, too. I've always been fond of that. (I recall arguing hard with the then-trades editor to get that in Final Solution, to bulk it out a bit. It always felt like a pity it was lurking away in some half-forgotten annual rather than getting out there.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Hawkmumbler on 06 December, 2015, 05:51:50 PM
To my knowledge (and a quick look at the book shelf confirms this) this is Top Dogs third reprint in recent years after Search and Destroy Files 5 and Restricted Files 3. It is a good little tale as well, better than the average time travel Dredd story.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 07 December, 2015, 10:43:50 AM
It had a duple of others, nearer to its original airing: 1993's slightly odd Hamlyn collection (Top Dog/Garbage Disposal/Art of Geomancy), and the 1999 best of 2k special. But then it was 2008 before it showed up again (and, I think, fleshed out The Final Solution nicely).

Regardless, it was good to see it in the Mega Collection, and it adds some useful context for the meeting in Judgement Day.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: glassstanley on 07 December, 2015, 02:39:45 PM
I agree, this is nice little volume. One day, though, it would be nice to see Top Dogs with its original first page. It was originally presented as a double spread, with the left hand side hosting the contents page. Nice tiny piece of lost MacNeil there.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 11 December, 2015, 04:28:38 PM
Just finished reading Trifecta - the new opening story was a great tie-in. I think this is the high point of recent Dredd - even in comparison to the awesome Day of Chaos. I'm assuming the elusive Judge Smiley hasn't been seen since?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Hawkmumbler on 11 December, 2015, 04:44:05 PM
Popped up a few time's but otherwise no. Hope he does make an extended return at some point though...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 11 December, 2015, 09:57:08 PM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 11 December, 2015, 04:28:38 PM
Just finished reading Trifecta - the new opening story was a great tie-in. I think this is the high point of recent Dredd - even in comparison to the awesome Day of Chaos. I'm assuming the elusive Judge Smiley hasn't been seen since?

The next Low Life story is going to be about Smiley.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Spikes on 12 December, 2015, 05:48:24 PM
Just picked this up this today, and glad it's the Trifecta. This had been overdue a re-read.

Nice to have The Family Man story (Bachmann's first appearance, I believe?) as I'd not read this before, so a very welcome addition.
And a veritable feast of glorious art on show by everyone involved. Not wishing to single anyone out, but Henry Flint is on particular fine form indeed, for this tale.

A lovely book, and a great example of the Mega Collection delivering the goods.

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 15 December, 2015, 08:30:12 AM
Trifecta is a triumph, I don't think John Wagner could have handed the baton for the next (unannounced) mega-epic to a better bunch. Highlights for me were the Dredd/Hershey interplay, Judge Smiley's machinations, and the magnificent creation that is Dirty Frank. Bravo to all involved.

Looking forward to reading Judgement Day again, which will have a completely different feel to it, but I think part of the beauty of this collection is its sheer variety.

All we need now are some clues as to what's coming up after issue 26....
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Swerty on 15 December, 2015, 10:52:27 AM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 15 December, 2015, 08:30:12 AM

All we need now are some clues as to what's coming up after issue 26....

Another bulk announcement would be nice...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: bedlamvr on 15 December, 2015, 10:58:15 PM
I think Trifecta is the most film like mega epic I have ever read.

As a book it is a little difficult to follow as a collection as the deliberate native styles to the story don't flow easily and the characters are all very strong and have clear back stories and traits it felt a little like each character was diluted in the process (e.g Jack Point and Dirty Frank seem like support characters in a Dredd story that never really gets going) . I think it is a shame i never read it in the form it was originally intended and I think I will try and go back and re-read it at some point because it wasn't terrible, but like a cake where you add all off your favourite ingredients and the result is a nice cake that is somehow a little less than the sum of its parts..

I think it is interesting however the other book this month ALSO involved a cross over with a 2000AD favourite into Dredds world and for the time was some what risky and ground breaking in the fact it crossed from 2000AD to the Megazine with its story telling. I did  read this but I was a poor teenager at the time and I kind of missed the Megazine bits. The core story still remained but reading the story as a collection it is hard to see how anyone thought the Megazine bits were superfluous. It added some grit to what was quite a  light and fluffy mass extinction storyline.

Good books but I do wonder what is coming next month...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 16 December, 2015, 12:27:22 AM
Personally I found the non Dredd centred parts of Trifecta a bit of a slog at times.  The stories were interesting enough, but to me a bit awkward in places.  Bear in mind 'my' era of Dredd was the Judge Child quest, Apocalypse War, City of the Damned era, later getting some stories like Krakens assesment from a bargain book shop.  Bachmann really seemed like an interesting character and a total bitch.

It's interesting to see Hershey, as I remember her as a newcomer in Judge Child, now she's Dredd's superior if not his senior.  Personally I think he thinks he can influence her partially because she's one of the closest he has to a friend and their history, but at the same time he knows when not to cross the line.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: James Stacey on 16 December, 2015, 09:19:01 AM
Quote from: Jade Falcon on 16 December, 2015, 12:27:22 AM
It's interesting to see Hershey, as I remember her as a newcomer in Judge Child, now she's Dredd's superior if not his senior.  Personally I think he thinks he can influence her partially because she's one of the closest he has to a friend and their history, but at the same time he knows when not to cross the line.
Hershey and Dredds relationship is a great one and always makes for good drama when conflict arises. Hershey has grown up as a judge in the world where Dredd is the law and clearly has a huge amount of respect for him and really struggles on occasion, now she is his superior to separate his opinions from what she sees as for the good of the city or what the city demands. Great stuff.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 16 December, 2015, 02:02:47 PM
Also Hershey and Dredd must be some of the increasingly smaller pool of Judges who remember the city before seeming wave after wave of disasters has hit it.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Legendary Shark on 16 December, 2015, 06:20:27 PM
Quote from: Jade Falcon on 16 December, 2015, 02:02:47 PM
Also Hershey and Dredd must be some of the increasingly smaller pool of Judges who remember the city before seeming wave after wave of disasters has hit it.
.
It seems to me that Judge Dredd began with MC1 at the height of its powers. In many ways, Judge Dredd might easily be subtitled The Decline and Fall of Mega City One.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 17 December, 2015, 09:13:12 PM
Very true.  There can't be many veteran street judges left anymore.  As I understand it there were a fair few agreed with Grice, there's natural fatality, etc.  I read that Anderson isn't really a PSI Judge now due to her being able to unable to take life extending meds because that would screw with her PSI powers.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Hawkmumbler on 17 December, 2015, 10:00:15 PM
Cass is still and active duty PSI judge but how long for is a question Grant has been dancing around for decades now.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 18 December, 2015, 07:53:04 AM
Quote from: Hawkmonger on 17 December, 2015, 10:00:15 PM
Cass is still and active duty PSI judge but how long for is a question Grant has been dancing around for decades now.

I don't think Alan grant is the writer of Anderson anymore.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 18 December, 2015, 06:42:47 PM
Next up is Judgement Day.  I've heard mixed reviews over this, but I must admit that I'm looking forward to reading this.  It seems to be a big clean up/annihilation of large parts of the Dredd universe from what I've heard.

Does this pre date Necropolis, or post?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 18 December, 2015, 07:59:26 PM
Judgement Day takes place about 18 months after Necropolis.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 23 December, 2015, 12:57:02 PM
Great to see Judgement Day including the 1991 Annual story Top Dogs (Wagner/MacNeil) plus the Kinda Dead Man (Ennis/Williams). There's a typically apologetic but fun interview with Garth Ennis, and a selection of covers reprinted. The cover's nice - but not an iconic image. Fabulous Ezquerra end-papers of Dredd riding over a zombie. This series continues to be great - and it's such a bonus to have the warts & all backup material.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Timothy on 23 December, 2015, 03:12:44 PM
Judgement day was fun. I know it's in no way subtle or nuanced, but there is fun to be had with the introduction of Johnny Alpha, and there is some cracking dialogue. Good to see Dean Ormston's art too. A distinctive style that manages to be dark but not muddy.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richard on 24 December, 2015, 12:45:51 PM
QuoteI don't think Alan grant is the writer of Anderson anymore.
Yes he is.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 24 December, 2015, 01:15:15 PM
Quote from: Richard on 24 December, 2015, 12:45:51 PM
QuoteI don't think Alan grant is the writer of Anderson anymore.
Yes he is.

Oh no he's not .....




(In the spirit of Christmas)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Legendary Shark on 24 December, 2015, 03:18:00 PM
He's behind you...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 24 December, 2015, 06:54:24 PM
Quote from: The Legendary Shark on 24 December, 2015, 03:18:00 PM
He's behind you...

OOOOHHHHHH no he's not!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 24 December, 2015, 09:04:22 PM
The cover of LOW LIFE: PARANOIA

(http://www.judgedreddcollection.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/cover-issue-26.jpg)

I really like the cover. I imagine, with Rufus Dayglo on the cover, that the collection will end with "War Without Bloodshed". Fitting story.

Any ideas/word on what collections are next?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 25 December, 2015, 01:53:23 AM
We don't know whats after lowlife yet (i think) but we do know whats coming after that

Vol 56 'Beyond Mega-City One' (out 3rd Feb in the UK/IRE), which sees the lawman travel to the Dreddworld versions of Ireland (in 'Emerald Isle' by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon) and Egypt (in 'Book of the Dead' by Grant Morrison, Mark Millar and Dermot Power), tries to topple a South American tyrant (in 'Regime Change' by Gordon Rennie and Inaki Miranda), rescue prisoners of war from a Siberian camp (in 'Gulag' by Gordon Rennie and Charlie Adlard), and we meet Brit-Cit Judges for the first time (in 'Atlantis' by John Wagner, Alan Grant and Brendan McCarthy).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 25 December, 2015, 12:25:25 PM
I remember reading and not being overly impressed with Book of the Dead, but the others are new to me.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 25 December, 2015, 12:50:07 PM
Pretty good stories...

Well...except for book of the dead which is millar dredd trope central
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Spikes on 25 December, 2015, 01:07:26 PM
Quote from: Apestrife on 24 December, 2015, 09:04:22 PM
The cover of LOW LIFE: PARANOIA

(http://www.judgedreddcollection.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/cover-issue-26.jpg)

I really like the cover. I imagine, with Rufus Dayglo on the cover, that the collection will end with "War Without Bloodshed". Fitting story.


Nice one. Quite keen to read these Low Life stories.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Zenith 666 on 25 December, 2015, 02:30:08 PM
No matter what anyone thinks of the writing in book of the dead Dermot Powers work is gorgeous.I still believe his work on Slaine Treasures of Britain is up with the best ever to grace the pages of 2000Ad.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richard on 25 December, 2015, 08:33:57 PM
Yeah, whatever happened to him? He was good.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Zenith 666 on 26 December, 2015, 09:20:08 AM
Dermot power became a concept artist working on games and films like Star Wars and Harry potter.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 26 December, 2015, 02:14:09 PM
Judgement Day will never be as regarded as the other mega-epics, but it's a fun read, notwithstanding all the destruction. Despite some stupid names, the interplay between the international Judges is good, and it's great to see Carlos drawing his two most iconic co-creations in the same story.

Interesting to read Garth Ennis' self-deprecating comments and also his praise of City of the Damned, which is a favourite of mine, although it's a while to wait before it'll appear in this series. I remember having the Titan book of it back in the day, regrettably long gone.

Pending an announcement in the next week, will subscribers be the first to know what issue 27 is, is it due to land with 26 early January?

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Judge Nutmeg on 26 December, 2015, 09:59:29 PM
dont know why judgement day always get berated it's a lot of fun, book of the dead is fun as well a lot better than some off the guff from that period of Dredd stories.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 26 December, 2015, 10:23:04 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 26 December, 2015, 02:14:09 PM
Judgement Day will never be as regarded as the other mega-epics, but it's a fun read, notwithstanding all the destruction. Despite some stupid names, the interplay between the international Judges is good, and it's great to see Carlos drawing his two most iconic co-creations in the same story.

What names in particular, apart from Judge Tractorfaktori?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: O Lucky Stevie! on 27 December, 2015, 01:55:16 AM
Has anybody here in Oz find volume 02: Democracy Now! in their newsagents this week? None of the three in the Adelaide cbd which Stevie checked saw copies.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richard on 27 December, 2015, 11:36:36 AM
Judge Riboflavin, Judge Bruce
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Timothy on 27 December, 2015, 11:45:12 AM
Judge Brylkreem. Although Bruce was a Wagner creation from Oz, so don't blame Ennis for that.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 27 December, 2015, 12:03:25 PM
Although not a Judge, Dennis Mennis.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: NapalmKev on 27 December, 2015, 12:11:44 PM
All the names mentioned above are better than " Judge De'ath".

Cheers
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 30 December, 2015, 02:43:32 AM
Quote from: Richard on 24 December, 2015, 12:45:51 PM
QuoteI don't think Alan grant is the writer of Anderson anymore.
Yes he is.

I thought Emma Beeby had replaced him as the writer of Anderson?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mardroid on 30 December, 2015, 04:12:32 AM
Quote from: Skullmo on 30 December, 2015, 02:43:32 AM
Quote from: Richard on 24 December, 2015, 12:45:51 PM
QuoteI don't think Alan grant is the writer of Anderson anymore.
Yes he is.

I thought Emma Beeby had replaced him as the writer of Anderson?

I think she wrote a couple of Anderson stories for the prog (was it the young Anderson tales?) but Alan Grant continued to write the present day* Anderson in the Meg.

*Okay not PRESENT present. I mean the equivalent year currently being covered in the main  Dredd-world strips.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Steve Green on 30 December, 2015, 10:43:40 AM
Alan wrote the Cadet Anderson stories, which had a recurring villain also present in the present-day ones.

Emma wrote the last Anderson story set in the Cursed Earth, and Matt wrote the IDW Year One mini-series.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Magnetica on 04 January, 2016, 09:57:44 PM
I have been reading the Simping Detective volume over Christmas. It is really great and I think one of the best series to ever appear in the Meg. They read very well together as a whole.

It is just a shame they missed out Dorks of War from Meg 227. I don't really remember that one at all, but the whole point of buying the Mega Collection is so I don't have to dig out my old Progs or Megs, which are not filed in any sort of sensible way, more just random piles.  :(

I guess that was done to get the correct page count with the Demarco stuff.

Funny thing about the Demarco stuff - when it was recently reprinted in the floppies, I couldn't bothered to re-read it, but having paid a tenner for it and having had my appetite whetted for it by both the Simping Detective stories and the Doomsday for Dredd volume, I was more than happy to read it this time.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: I, Cosh on 05 January, 2016, 10:13:08 AM
Dorks of War was a text story rather than a strip, which might explain its exclusion.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: sjarcher73 on 05 January, 2016, 11:40:24 AM
Are the allegedly 'complete' Case Files from #2 onwards going to be rereleased in hardback format? To me there's a pressing need: completeness.  The Fink part 4, (prog 196) is missing a page, and the centrespreads for The Apocalypse War, part 4, (prog 248) and Shanty Town, part 4 (prog 303) are edited in Case Files #4 to #6 respectively.  Alas this is what happens when you rely upon Titan reprints etc. for your artwork, however much sterling work they did those many years ago. I well remember their edited Steve Dillon centrespread for City of the Damned, part 12 (prog 404); grumble grouse gripe...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Steve Green on 05 January, 2016, 12:05:38 PM
Nothing has been announced.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: sjarcher73 on 05 January, 2016, 03:19:29 PM
What's with the removal of the 'next prog' boxes from the original artwork?  Seems reminiscent of the bizarre Tipp-Exing that went on with reprints circa 1990 (yes, I'm that old!).  While we're not at the stage of the absolute nadir - the erasure of Judge Death's spirit leaving his body (prog 427's cover), reprinted in the 'Best of 2000AD Monthly' in 1990 – I've a slight worry about this. These removals make reprints of, say, Ro-Busters seem like swings and roundabouts; we get Ian Kennedy's full-colour artwork, and yet the 'next prog' boxes are falling victim to the bacon slicer!
Title: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: glassstanley on 05 January, 2016, 06:15:57 PM
I agree with this. It's not as if by removing you feel you're reading a seamless graphic novel. Worst offender is the first part of Deadlock's intro story in Mek-Files 1 as you lose a chunk of his face. It's a shame that the Zenith ones were removed, as they were all song titles. Even the older material with its easily removable 'NEXT PROG +++ THRILL POWER OVERLOAD' captions has had various frames trimmed to make sure a page ends on a straight line.

And someone , presumably, was paid to replace all of the 'Judge Dredd' logos in the 10th anniversary Case Files 1. Not the best use of money...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Magnetica on 05 January, 2016, 06:41:39 PM
Thanks Cosh - I hadn't realised that it was a text story, so no real loss IMO.

I also agree re losing the next Prog boxes - don't see the point and I would rather see them retained.

I also noticed an amount of cropping of the art working going on in the Mek-Files which I don't understand. I have also noticed it in the Mega Collection - where sometimes a thin line off the side of the art work has been shaved off. It doesn't actually make much difference, but when you compare with the original Progs you can see it happening.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mardroid on 05 January, 2016, 07:42:16 PM
i used to have a subscription to these, but i stopped arround issue 15 when I had some financial difficulties, with the idea of picking them up again later.

I see I can order back issues easily enough online, but then of course there is the extra cost of delivery. I considered renewing my subscription again (as I believe the price is all in) but I prefer to not be too bound on a monthly basis I guess. I.e. I plan to collect them all, but when I wish to.

I popped into my local comic shop yesterday hoping their might be some back issues available there. Unfortunately not. The very helpful chap there said he would investigate ordering them in though. If they can that would be great. He could put them aside for me and I'd be paying just the usual price £9.99, as and when I wish to. (They're quite happy to leave stuff in your box which you can collect when you're financially able.) And if it brings the collection to the attention of other customers (assuming they don't just order in one copy of each for me) all well and good.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 05 January, 2016, 08:58:06 PM
To the people complaining about repro/removed elements: as far as I'm aware, reprint at Rebellion works on the basis of the best available source. In a lot of cases for pre-digital strips, the art's no longer available. The originals are long gone and the films are too damaged to be usable. That leaves the option of scanning the comics (which is often not viable, due to the nature of the original printing, moire, and so on), scanning from a collected edition (typically better), or in some cases using films from later editions.

In a perfect world, there would be a complete, pristine set of prints of every single thing 2000 AD ever printed. The reality is, we get what we get, which has usually involved a significant amount of unseen clean-up and attention.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: O Lucky Stevie! on 06 January, 2016, 01:36:11 AM
In a perfect world Stevie would have picked up his delayed Democracy Now! volume from  his Down Under newsagent on the weekend.

Which he did.

Bliss.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: sjarcher73 on 06 January, 2016, 11:17:59 AM
I believe Titan had to keep to a specified page count for their 'Chronicles of Judge Dredd' way back when, hence the shortening of City of the Damned, Dredd Angel part 7, etc.  I understand perfectly that Rebellion have to make use of the best sources that are available; my point is completeness, and if the only immaculate source of, say, The Fink you have comes from the 'Best of 2000ad Monthly' and that source is missing a page, then (to me at least) you stick the original prog on the printer/photocopier etc.  I don't doubt that a lot of the material from the Restricted (Dredd) Files was handled in this way.  The loss of the 'prog boxes' is significant because, as has been pointed out, it results in the loss of artwork and tries to confer seamlessness upon (a given story) that never existed.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 06 January, 2016, 11:28:20 AM
You can have it perfect, or you can have it now.

I agree entirely about retaining the Next Progs, and episode titles and recap boxes for that matter, and plugging gaps with inferior sources where necessary, but I am also in awe of Rebellion's reprint programme.  26(+4) Dredd Casefiles alone!  Literally all of Strontium Dog, Slaine, Zenith, Ro-Busters/ABCs and Nemesis! Deluxe hardbacks sprinkled about! Did you ever think you'd see the day?

I'd rather they continue to get what they can out there in the best format feasible, and worry abot the 'archival' editions later. After all if you want to see the originals they're not hard to come by.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 06 January, 2016, 11:55:48 AM
Quote from: sjarcher73 on 06 January, 2016, 11:17:59 AMif the only immaculate source of, say, The Fink you have comes from the 'Best of 2000ad Monthly' and that source is missing a page, then (to me at least) you stick the original prog on the printer/photocopier etc.
At which point you get horrible repro and people start moaning about that instead. In other words, they'd damned if they do, damned if they don't.

Quote from: Tordelback on 06 January, 2016, 11:28:20 AMI agree entirely about retaining the Next Progs, and episode titles and recap boxes for that matter,
So how do you feel about more modern fare? Would the Brass Sun trade, for example, have benefitted from a bloody great logo every six or so pages, and loads of 'next prog' bits sprinkled about? I'd say it depends on the era, how much 'damage' is caused by any removal, and the availability of art along with associated costs.

QuoteI am also in awe of Rebellion's reprint programme.  26(+4) Dredd Casefiles alone!  Literally all of Strontium Dog, Slaine, Zenith, Ro-Busters/ABCs and Nemesis! Deluxe hardbacks sprinkled about! Did you ever think you'd see the day?
Exactly. I remember that DC/Rebellion deal, the promise and then the weird choices that were made. When that all fell through, Rebellion could have said sod it. Instead, it doubled down and kickstarted a massive range of books that feels like it's arrived from a much larger publisher. And there's also been a substantial amount of response to feedback, regarding contents in the actual books, through to the format and nature of what is released.

So I agree with this entirely:

QuoteI'd rather they continue to get what they can out there in the best format feasible, and worry abot the 'archival' editions later. After all if you want to see the originals they're not hard to come by.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Max Headroom on 06 January, 2016, 12:18:09 PM
Would the repro really be that bad from original comics (considering the advances of modern technology)? I think I would prefer that to actually missing a page of the story which is not good at all.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 06 January, 2016, 12:28:07 PM
Quote from: Max Headroom on 06 January, 2016, 12:18:09 PMWould the repro really be that bad from original comics (considering the advances of modern technology)? I think I would prefer that to actually missing a page of the story which is not good at all.
Modern technology can't easily deal with relatively low-quality prints on to crappy paper. Bear in mind that even relatively 'easy' repro — strong black and white line-art — from more modern editions of a story can suffer. (Black Hole in the Mek Files, for example.) With colour and much worse source material, this becomes a much bigger problem. For a single page, it's perhaps not a huge deal, but too many additions and a reprint project likely no longer becomes viable.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 06 January, 2016, 03:39:24 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 06 January, 2016, 11:55:48 AM
Quote from: Tordelback on 06 January, 2016, 11:28:20 AMI agree entirely about retaining the Next Progs, and episode titles and recap boxes for that matter,
So how do you feel about more modern fare? Would the Brass Sun trade, for example, have benefitted from a bloody great logo every six or so pages, and loads of 'next prog' bits sprinkled about? I'd say it depends on the era, how much 'damage' is caused by any removal, and the availability of art along with associated costs.

Yup, all those are factors, as is the author's intention. I know we've been over this a dozen times before, but the important thing is that it isn't inherently better to remove the evidence of the original publication. It does (for example) T B Grover no favours to pretend they wrote Dredd epics as continuous graphic novels, rather than 26 brilliantly crafted episodes, but equally Mills' current Slaine works perfectly as a single long chapter. Zenith definitely loses something without its Next Progs; Nicolai Dante needs its historical guff, but its Next Progs add nothing. It all depends.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: glassstanley on 06 January, 2016, 04:18:32 PM
I don't think the repro problem is always to do with source material. The worst offender for me is the page from Father Earth where the two robots are sitting watching the Election broadcasts. All of the Letratone has been replaced with blocks of black, losing all of Bolland's detail. I can't find a single reprint prior to Rebellion's that has this error - it seems to have been introduced during the Case Files reproduction.

There seems to be an issue with contrast/brightness levels in general. The recent Dan Dare volume has lost detail in Belardinelli's artwork compared to the original printing, for example, some of the star systems are significantly reduced on the opening splash. 

With regard to the removal of the Next Prog boxes, the 'Brass Sun' isn't a fair comparison. This was designed with reprints in mind. The Next Prog boxes on older stories have been removed, but the story title & summary captions have been left intact (as this was how comic strips were presented back in the day). Removing the Next Prog just results in edited artwork, rather than improving the flow of the story.


Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: SuperSurfer on 06 January, 2016, 05:34:16 PM
Looking at original artwork like this:

(http://cdn.comicartfans.com/Images/Category_13461/subcat_160739/KkgUdsty_1510141615111.jpg)

and this:

(http://www.2000ad.org/artwork/fatherearth6.jpg)

...there isn't that much hope for the Letratone effects to survive intact if scanned from a printed publication such as on old Titan volume, let alone an aged, faded, printed prog.

I would be surprised if 2000AD chose to black in murky areas for the Case Files.

They might have had a better result using scans such as the top one I post here from Comic Art Fans but I don't know what the legal implications of that would be.

But I guess it's all about balancing quality and resources to make publications economically viable.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: SuperSurfer on 06 January, 2016, 05:51:25 PM
Don't know what happened to the top image (it disappears when I log out) but here is a link:
http://www.comicartfans.com/gallerypiece.asp?piece=1169800
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 06 January, 2016, 06:34:16 PM
Just seen on the official site that issue 27 is Cursed Earth Koburn. Yet another new one on me so looking forward to that.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 06 January, 2016, 06:54:32 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 06 January, 2016, 06:34:16 PM
Just seen on the official site that issue 27 is Cursed Earth Koburn. Yet another new one on me so looking forward to that.

Ezquerra art and a riff on Major Easy. What's not to like!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 06 January, 2016, 07:56:54 PM
Cool! Haven't read Koburn. I love the cursed earth. Looking forward to reading it!

Really hope Tour of duty is down the line. Wouldn't mind the main story in two volumes, with one extra sporting ToD-era Dredd not written by Wagner (from what I understand, there was quite a couple of those.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 06 January, 2016, 08:26:55 PM
Yeah, the ideal presentation for ToD in this collection would include the non-Wagner stories, which are genuinely good and actually sell the idea of Dredd's exile as a significant change in the strip. C'mon, there's 80 volumes to fill, be a shame to overlook so much good stuff!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Link Prime on 07 January, 2016, 01:05:48 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 06 January, 2016, 06:34:16 PM
Just seen on the official site that issue 27 is Cursed Earth Koburn. Yet another new one on me so looking forward to that.

First cherry-pick of 2016 sorted.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 07 January, 2016, 02:19:46 PM
Curious back-up strip for Koburn: El Maldito. It's entirely appropriate, but surprisingly recent. Good to see that this collection won't necessarily back down from relevant content just because it's relatively new.

And a quick flick through of Paranoia suggests this is going to be one of the best monthly two-book sets to date. Lovely stuff.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Buttonman on 07 January, 2016, 07:27:41 PM
I'm loving this series - so professionally put together with lovely books that smell so good when opened. Excellent content too and it's great they can chuck in new stuff if it fits the theme like the recent El Madito in the Koburn volume.

Downside is we are only 28/80 books and my self space is running out fast!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 07 January, 2016, 08:27:04 PM
So what's in LowLife: Paranoia? Does it have the Hondo-City story (which I haven't read)?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Max Headroom on 07 January, 2016, 08:38:29 PM
Please could someone also detail a list of all the stories featured in the Cursed Earth Koburn volume. This could actually be the first in the series that I pick up, as it does not look likely the character will ever get a trade paperback of his own from Rebellion.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 07 January, 2016, 08:49:18 PM
From a flick through:

PARANOIA
Paranoia
Heavy Duty
Rock and a Hard Place
He's Making a List
Con Artist
Baby Talk
War Without Bloodshed

KOBURN
Sturm und Dang
Kuss Hard
Burial Party
The Assizes
Malachi
Going After Billy Zane
El Maldito
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Max Headroom on 07 January, 2016, 09:25:14 PM
Thanks Indigo. Is Koburn ever likely to re-appear in new stories; or is he a character consigned to 2000ad-history? (I think Gordon Rennie said once that he would not be writing any more stories about him, although this could have been about 'Missionary Man' instead). Anyway, I always liked the character and hope that one day there will be further adventures.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 07 January, 2016, 09:48:12 PM
Thanks, Indigo! So that's about  the first 180 pages, leaving 150 or so (Creation, Hostile Takeover and The Deal) to go prior to Saudade/ Trifecta and Titan/Enceladus, appearing elsewhere. Does that make sense?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 08 January, 2016, 07:01:52 AM
Perhaps vol 2 also include jive turkey and the recent
"The Really Big Christmas Sleep?

If I remember correctly, Jive turkey is an yule ep. in which Nixon first dissapeared, which would gel well with Big christmas sleep, also a yule ep. as well as a story where Frank gives Nixon a thought.

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 08 January, 2016, 08:43:34 AM
What volume number is Koburn? Thanks.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 08 January, 2016, 09:38:04 AM
67.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: James Stacey on 08 January, 2016, 10:18:13 AM
My delivery just arrived and the Koburn book has been thoroughly badgered in transit :( First time I've had to ask for a replacement in almost 120 books
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 08 January, 2016, 10:26:54 AM
Urgh. Oddly — and surprisingly — I think this is the first time I've ever had two books in pristine condition. Luck of the draw, it seems.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 08 January, 2016, 12:54:12 PM
Quote from: Apestrife on 08 January, 2016, 07:01:52 AM
Perhaps vol 2 also include jive turkey and the recent
"The Really Big Christmas Sleep?

If I remember correctly, Jive turkey is an yule ep. in which Nixon first dissapeared, which would gel well with Big christmas sleep, also a yule ep. as well as a story where Frank gives Nixon a thought.

Brilliant Apestrife, knew there was more out there.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 08 January, 2016, 02:17:17 PM
According to Barney, we still have:

Creation / 40
Jive Turkey / 8
Hostile Takeover / 51
The Deal / 60
The Really Big Christmas Sleep / 6

So that's 165 pages or so. If that's not enough to fill a volume, it could always be backed by the original Lenny Zero Run (46 pages), although that might come in another volume along with Zero's 7 (48 pages).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 09 January, 2016, 05:12:32 PM
If I remember correctly, I think Lenny Zero's appearing in the separate Wally Squad volume (18), which will also include the original Brett Ewins story from prog 390 or so.

Enjoyed Low Life, both the noir and comedy elements. And any story which features the Geddy Lee amphitheatre wins in my book.

We're a third of the way through the collection, give or take, and it's proving to be a fantastic grouping of stories with a huge amount of talent involved over the years. Great value for hardback graphic novels too, making it money well spent in my opinion.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Spikes on 09 January, 2016, 06:30:24 PM
Was hoping to dive into Lowlife today, but I must have messed up the dates due to the xmas period, and my newsagent had Judgement Day waiting for me.
So it appears ill be a issue behind everyone else now, unless I can sort this somehow...
Title: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: glassstanley on 09 January, 2016, 07:24:50 PM

Quote from: Max Headroom on 07 January, 2016, 08:38:29 PM
Please could someone also detail a list of all the stories featured in the Cursed Earth Koburn volume. This could actually be the first in the series that I pick up, as it does not look likely the character will ever get a trade paperback of his own from Rebellion.

All bar the most recent story were collected by Rebellion in the Carlos Ezquerra Collection TP (not the IDW ONE).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: rogue69 on 09 January, 2016, 07:35:12 PM
I was looking on the Hachette site & noticed if you go to the back issues & scroll down to the bottom of the list you can pick up the Henry Flint print for free, all you pay for is the postage

It is listed as issue 501PREM POSTER1 REPLY
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Ghost MacRoth on 09 January, 2016, 08:32:42 PM
Nice one Rogue!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Hawkmumbler on 09 January, 2016, 09:16:45 PM
Yyyyyoooinks! Thanks!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 10 January, 2016, 10:03:07 AM
Quote from: rogue69 on 09 January, 2016, 07:35:12 PM
I was looking on the Hachette site & noticed if you go to the back issues & scroll down to the bottom of the list you can pick up the Henry Flint print for free, all you pay for is the postage

It is listed as issue 501PREM POSTER1 REPLY

If that is the case then it kind of shafts anyone who has gone with the premium subscription. Guess there weren't that many took that option up.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: NapalmKev on 10 January, 2016, 10:22:22 AM
Quote from: Tjm86 on 10 January, 2016, 10:03:07 AM
Quote from: rogue69 on 09 January, 2016, 07:35:12 PM
I was looking on the Hachette site & noticed if you go to the back issues & scroll down to the bottom of the list you can pick up the Henry Flint print for free, all you pay for is the postage

It is listed as issue 501PREM POSTER1 REPLY

If that is the case then it kind of shafts anyone who has gone with the premium subscription. Guess there weren't that many took that option up.

I subscribed to the premium edition. While I don't begrudge people going for the free poster (you'd be mad not to) I feel 'Hachette' have been a trifle naughty with their promotional blurb; stipulating that without the premium sub you wouldn't be able to get them.

Cheers






Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 10 January, 2016, 12:42:38 PM
Or that entry could be a database error, which feels more likely to me. It'll be interesting to see whether any of the post orders are fulfilled.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 10 January, 2016, 04:29:08 PM
Yeah, I don't blame anyone for wanting to take advantage of a special offer. Not impressed with their treatment of their customers though.  As IndigoPrime says, it could be a listing error.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: sjarcher73 on 11 January, 2016, 10:19:55 AM
Quote from: Tordelback on 06 January, 2016, 11:28:20 AM
You can have it perfect, or you can have it now.

It's a case of having to have it now (if one wants it at all) for lack of anything else, apart from buying back progs; lack of funds prevents me from that let alone binning the incomplete Vols #4 to #6.  From the last The Last Invader (progs 298 – 299) is also edited in that certain 'sound effects' from the centrespreads have been Tipp-Exed.  You infer this is acceptable; it's not.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 11 January, 2016, 10:41:25 AM
Quote from: sjarcher73 on 11 January, 2016, 10:19:55 AM
  You infer this is acceptable; it's not.

Grand, let's leave everything uncollected or vanishingly rare like it was for about 20 years while Keith trawls around eBay for the original art for every page, and then painstakingly restores each panel to the exact state it appeared in the Prog, somehow making the binding and repro work exactly the same as it did on 8 stapled sheets of bogpaper.  Then print the whole thing with full colour (but only the original colour) spreads in hardback. Assuming Rebellion isn't bankrupt by Vol 3, I'd anticipate getting your £100 Deluxe printing of The Last Invader sometime around 2030.

I don't want to sound like a hectoring prick, not least because I share your frustration on occasion, but the word you seem to be missing is COMPROMISE. Take a look at Dave Sim's (a man not known for compromises) work on Cerebus - he got that stuff out in big cheap collections regular as clockwork (essentially inventing the bulk-reprint model in the process), dropped episodes to make the binding work, filled gaps with floppies, cringed as repro swallowed Gerhard's hatching... But he got it out there. Now he's embarked on a project of gathering the original art and re-shooting it all for as-near-perfect archival and digital Editions as he can manage, largely supported by Kickstarters.  But here's the thing: if that material wasn't already out there in good-enough versions, the fanbase that supports this endeavour wouldn't exist.  It has to be the same for Rebellion - get it out there .the best way you you can,, build on the support it generates, use that to go further.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 11 January, 2016, 11:41:21 AM
Good Point! These hachette books are extraordinarily good value - at least half the going rate for a 200 page hardback with extra material. I'm pleasantly surprised by the addition of the interviews & intro's. The odd bit of duff repro (even if it was Bolland) is s very small price to pay...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 11 January, 2016, 02:55:18 PM
Some of the repro is frankly apalling. I have just taken the step to just not buy those volumes. I made the mistake of buying Mek Files volume 1 where the Bisley and SMS pages were dreadful and was utterly disappointed. It would take time and money, but would not be the hardest thing in the world to re-scan the artwork from, for example, a Titan book, but what does it matter if 'fans' will buy it regardless.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 11 January, 2016, 03:02:06 PM
I agree that I'd expect a much better quality of reprint in the Mek Files. The Titan volumes do look great - especially the roach/Anderson & hicklenton/nemesis. I understand your dismay when something as important as bisley SMS abc warriors stuff is subpar.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Proudhuff on 11 January, 2016, 04:04:48 PM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 11 January, 2016, 11:41:21 AM
Good Point! These hachette books are extraordinarily good value - at least half the going rate for a 200 page hardback with extra material. I'm pleasantly surprised by the addition of the interviews & intro's. The odd bit of duff repro (even if it was Bolland) is s very small price to pay...

^^^These are great value, think what you get in FP for a tenner? two, possibly three American big two comics crammed with adverts and not much else. Someone else can do the page could on this, but I've yet to have a duff print with hachette so I'm a happy bunny.   
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 11 January, 2016, 04:32:03 PM
One duff print so far (Total War), which was replaced without much fuss. Hachette's customer service has, on the whole, been very good so far.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 11 January, 2016, 07:13:46 PM
Just had an email from Hachette (bloody autocorrect keeps trying to put in Machete!) saying the print listing was a mistake and it's not the premium print.  Interesting to find out what the error was.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: sjarcher73 on 11 January, 2016, 07:33:05 PM
Haven't a clue who Sims is and I don't care. You assume I want everything in pristine condition; I don't. The colour situation (Dan Dare, Ro-Busters) is only presently acceptable so far as it goes because of the 'next prog' boxes absurdity.  I think it's not unreasonable to expect completeness (can see I'm going to have to keep repeating that word) because I don't expect to pay money for something that's incomplete.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 11 January, 2016, 09:21:53 PM
As is your right.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 12 January, 2016, 08:46:38 AM
Quote from: Magnetica on 11 January, 2016, 09:46:51 PM
I think we probably need a separate thread on the reproduction issues. I think there are a few different things being discussed here which are wider than the Mega Collection.

I agree, there are some valid points being made but it covers a wider range of publications than the Mega Collection.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 12 January, 2016, 10:41:38 AM
Magnetica posted a long piece about repro issues, which I feel is a good start for a discussion on that topic. I've therefore split that post into a new thread:

Reproduction issues and discussion in trades (http://forums.2000adonline.com/index.php?topic=42927.0)

Please continue all general talk about repro there. Of course, if something very specific comes up in the Mega Collection that needs an alert for other users (as per the Total War problem), then post that here.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: sjarcher73 on 12 January, 2016, 11:13:08 AM
I don't care what you do or however you break up this discussion into whatever threads. If I've discussed overlapping issues so what.  I've basically been told to like what's been published or lump it.  I'd mention the terrible versions of "A Question of Judgement", "Error of Judgement" and "A Case for Treatment" that have come out in vol #8 and how mightily hacked off I am and how ripped off I feel but what'd be the point?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: James Stacey on 12 January, 2016, 11:53:53 AM
Have you contacted Rebellion directly with your points. RoboKeef does frequent these boards occasionally but mostly we are just fans like you so probably can't give you the direct responses you appear to be looking for, just our opinions.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 12 January, 2016, 03:31:24 PM
I really enjoyed low-life Paranoia. The art is an embarrassment of riches:  Rufus Day-glo's stuff here has a painty texture and great lighting, Coleby brings out the humour & darkness of Dirty Frank, and Henry Flint is on fire. I love that these stories - like the best Dreddworld, embrace comedy & pathos in equal measure...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: I, Cosh on 12 January, 2016, 03:41:17 PM
Quote from: sjarcher73 on 12 January, 2016, 11:13:08 AM
I don't care what you do or however you break up this discussion into whatever threads. If I've discussed overlapping issues so what.  I've basically been told to like what's been published or lump it.  I'd mention the terrible versions of "A Question of Judgement", "Error of Judgement" and "A Case for Treatment" that have come out in vol #8 and how mightily hacked off I am and how ripped off I feel but what'd be the point?
Well, you seem to enjoy whining like a petulant child so I'm sure you'd get something out of it. Alternatively, you could scweam and scweam and scweam until you're sick and maybe they'll rush out a special edition for you.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 12 January, 2016, 03:44:24 PM
C'mon—back to Mega Collection discussion, please.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 12 January, 2016, 10:13:15 PM
Paranoia was okay, but really, I haven't been in a great frame of mind recently.  My mother died on the 2nd of January and I got a few other books through the post and haven't read them like the Dragon Age world book and the Dan Dare Haynes book.

It's possible if I reread it I'll enjoy it more if I'm in the right frame of mind.  I remember hating Terry Pratchetts Small Gods the first time I read it and loving it on a reread, so.....
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 12 January, 2016, 10:38:16 PM
Really sorry for your loss, JF. I'd imagine many things have lost their appeal, for now at least. 
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Legendary Shark on 13 January, 2016, 04:52:57 AM
My condolences, JF.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 13 January, 2016, 08:02:28 AM
Jade, I hope family & friends can help you through the loss of your mother. All the best.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Robo-K33F on 13 January, 2016, 09:35:27 AM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 05 January, 2016, 08:58:06 PM
To the people complaining about repro/removed elements: as far as I'm aware, reprint at Rebellion works on the basis of the best available source. In a lot of cases for pre-digital strips, the art's no longer available. The originals are long gone and the films are too damaged to be usable. That leaves the option of scanning the comics (which is often not viable, due to the nature of the original printing, moire, and so on), scanning from a collected edition (typically better), or in some cases using films from later editions.

In a perfect world, there would be a complete, pristine set of prints of every single thing 2000 AD ever printed. The reality is, we get what we get, which has usually involved a significant amount of unseen clean-up and attention.

Spot on IP.

Funnily enough I have been approached by several readers who hate it when the next prog boxes are included. They feel it upsets the flow of the story in a trade. Swings and roundabouts innit...

Knowing what goes into getting some of the older stories ready for publication, I believe that Kat-Scan is the real unsung hero of the 2000 AD team.

My only gripe is when we have to greyscale colour pages because of (mainly) financial constraints. I understand why it has to be done though and it does mean I get to release material that otherwise would probably never see publication again.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Max Headroom on 16 January, 2016, 06:59:58 PM
Can someone who owns the 'Cursed Earth Koburn' edition confirm for me that the story 'Going After Billy Zane' is definitely included as there seems to be some doubt. The Mega Collection wikipedia page does not list it as being in the collection. Thanks.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 16 January, 2016, 07:52:19 PM
Quote from: Max Headroom on 16 January, 2016, 06:59:58 PMCan someone who owns the 'Cursed Earth Koburn' edition confirm for me that the story 'Going After Billy Zane' is definitely included

Yep (http://forums.2000adonline.com/index.php?topic=41506.msg902895#msg902895).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 17 January, 2016, 11:24:38 AM
The Wikipedia page is listing issue 29 as Satan's Island but no reference to an official announcement. Anyone know any more about that?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 19 January, 2016, 05:59:12 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 17 January, 2016, 11:24:38 AM
The Wikipedia page is listing issue 29 as Satan's Island but no reference to an official announcement. Anyone know any more about that?

Official confirmation on the Facebook page that Satan's Island is indeed issue 29, volume 44.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 19 January, 2016, 07:34:16 PM
So I finally finished reading Heavy Mob last night. What a strange collection of strips. It sort of feels like it's infiltrated the rest of the books, and even the fairly recent Wagner Dredd in the mix was somehow off and not that good. I'm very glad it's an outlier (so far)! Still, a third of the way through now, and I certainly don't regret subscribing after buying issue one in the local Martins.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 19 January, 2016, 08:04:03 PM
Finished reading Judgement day just now. Top dogs was good fun. As for Judgement day, perhaps not my favorite epic. Just felt like a bunch of zombies getting punched and gunned. Would probably been better if smaller as well as shorter. Perhaps 3 eps with the necropolice massgrave instead of a zombie planet rising.

But I hadn't read it before and the art was quite good so it was alright I guess. McGruder sporting a minigun declaring to a zombie horde "Eat hot drokkin lead you worthless bags of vomit!" was also a new experience for me  :D
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 20 January, 2016, 07:14:08 AM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 19 January, 2016, 07:34:16 PM
So I finally finished reading Heavy Mob last night. What a strange collection of strips. It sort of feels like it's infiltrated the rest of the books, and even the fairly recent Wagner Dredd in the mix was somehow off and not that good. I'm very glad it's an outlier (so far)! Still, a third of the way through now, and I certainly don't regret subscribing after buying issue one in the local Martins.

I agree, The Heavy Mob seems disjointed compared with the other themed volumes such as Target JD and Alien Nations. Great collection otherwise though.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 20 January, 2016, 10:07:44 AM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 20 January, 2016, 07:14:08 AMI agree, The Heavy Mob seems disjointed compared with the other themed volumes such as Target JD and Alien Nations. Great collection otherwise though.
For me, it wasn't the disjointed nature—although there was that. It was a more that the stories were on the whole, for me, very poor. It was a grind to get through the thing, like some of the more recent Case Files volumes.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dash Decent on 20 January, 2016, 11:42:55 AM
Are you collecting both IndigoPrime?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 20 January, 2016, 11:51:29 AM
Not any more. Right now, I've paused pretty much all Dredd-related trade purchases (CFs at, I think, 21), until I know what will be in the Mega Collection. There doesn't seem much point in having both on my shelves, and for the most part I've been happy with the Mega Collection in terms of strip choice, repro and the quality of the actual books.

I already have too much stuff here, and although my wife isn't so much tolerant as quite enthusiastic about my collection, there are limits. (Our spare room's currently full of Rebellion/Marvel trades and 2000 AD comics I need to offload (http://forums.2000adonline.com/index.php?topic=42688.0).)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 20 January, 2016, 12:42:30 PM
Just started reading Cursed Earth Koburn for the first time - great stuff. I was hoping the MegaCollection would show me some gems I'd missed and this is definitely one.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Spikes on 21 January, 2016, 04:23:53 PM
Same here Robert.

Just picked up the latest two issues (Lowlife and C.E Koburn), and a quick glance through they look to be absolutely crackers.
I've read some Koburn and Lowlife strips before, but not a huge amount really, so it's great to have these books.
Been keen as mustard to read some Lowlife since the Titan strip started in Dredd. And great to see the quite recent El Maldito being reprinted in the Koburn collection.

Nice to have decent books for the older more familiar Dredd-verse tales, but when they are presenting stuff Ive not read before like this, then the Mega Collection is an essential purchase.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 21 January, 2016, 04:47:31 PM
I think originally hachette has said about a tthird of the books would contain material from the casefiles. I remember thinking that didn't seem like much Dredd - but I've been pleasantly surprised. I don't I realised just how many pages of art the likes of Esquerra & MacNeil had done. Oddly buying the MegaCollection has made me buy the prog & Meg again.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Geoff on 21 January, 2016, 06:13:51 PM
Just finished the Koburn volume myself, having never read any before. Thoroughly enjoyed it. That great combination of action and humour that Ezquerra's art compliments so well. It's nice re-reading the classics but just great discovering quality Dredd gems like this for the first time. Loved Koburn's car - shame they blew it up!

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 21 January, 2016, 07:34:41 PM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 21 January, 2016, 04:47:31 PMI think originally hachette has said about a tthird of the books would contain material from the casefiles. I remember thinking that didn't seem like much Dredd
Although it's worth being mindful that these are, what, 200+ page books? So even a third of the series would be the equivalent of about 20 Case Files books. That's a lot of Dredd.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mardroid on 23 January, 2016, 12:09:29 PM
Look what came in the mail today! I'll show you the nicely boaeded envelope first as I like this image too:

(http://rs406.pbsrc.com/albums/pp149/cmardle/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20160123_112247.jpg?w=480&h=480&fit=clip)

And here is the Henry Flint print itself.  Not the best photo, granted.

(http://rs406.pbsrc.com/albums/pp149/cmardle/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20160123_112147.jpg?w=480&h=480&fit=clip)

Very nice. And free? I think there must have been a mistake placing it on the hatchette partworks website. Thanks for the heads up by the way.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 23 January, 2016, 01:28:05 PM
Fair play to them for honouring the order. They're under no obligation to.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 23 January, 2016, 03:01:24 PM
True, just a kick in the nadgers for premium subscribers.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: rogue69 on 23 January, 2016, 03:07:22 PM
Got my print today as well along with 3 of the Marvel books they had offered free as they were apparently replacements for poor quality original releases

so it might be worth looking through all there other collections to see if there is any other items going free

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mardroid on 24 January, 2016, 12:01:28 AM
Quote from: Tjm86 on 23 January, 2016, 03:01:24 PM
True, just a kick in the nadgers for premium subscribers.

I can understand that. If they do the same with all the other prints (if it wasn't a mistake, and surely it must have been as they wouldn't intentionally just give this kind of thing away free to everyone) that would truly be out of order.

As there were a few, ( I forget how many) hopefully it will still be worthwhile for the premium subscribers.

Feeling just slightly guilty for ordering it now...  :lol:
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 24 January, 2016, 12:11:34 PM
It's very obviously a cock-up. Quite why it's still available to buy is another matter. (The replacements are a bit different. I don't feel OK about ordering them myself, because it feels too much like taking advantage of a company that's happily and rapidly sent me replacements for dinged books, without needing anything returned to them.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: James Stacey on 25 January, 2016, 10:02:27 AM
Whats the deal with replacement books btw. I've had my replacement Koburn through but they havent said anything about returning the bashed issue. Is it safe to pass onto a colleague to spread the love ?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: jacob g on 25 January, 2016, 10:05:38 AM
Quote from: James Stacey on 25 January, 2016, 10:02:27 AM
Whats the deal with replacement books btw. I've had my replacement Koburn through but they havent said anything about returning the bashed issue. Is it safe to pass onto a colleague to spread the love ?

I don't know how it works with Hachette UK but in Poland they never asked about damaged copies (Marvel Collection I mean, we don't have Mega Collection ofcourse). They just accept request, send new copy and that's all.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 25 January, 2016, 10:25:05 AM
I asked a couple of times about returning books, but they didn't want them back. At most, they once asked for a photo of the book, simply so they could see the damage that had been caused. (This was when they were being shipped with the badge gifts, with everything getting crushed together. I think they were quite surprised how badly that went.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 25 January, 2016, 02:03:14 PM
Enjoyed Cursed Earth Koburn, although I'm in agreement with Gordon Rennie that the earlier funnier stories are better than the later darker ones. Would be happy to see a return and some point though.

Also really liked El Maldito, not being a Megazine reader I'd missed this last year. If it is Mr Rennie's final Dredd he's going out on a high.

Next is Beyond Mega City One. Some new to me, others I haven't read for years. Intrigued.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jamie1000013 on 27 January, 2016, 07:44:45 PM
Really, really loved Cursed Earth Koburn. Rennie is a genius, reading this collection I was like "WOW he wrote that as well!". It's sort of like hearing a song on the radio and then searching the band and then finding out you like all of their songs. El Maldito was my favourite Meg story of last year and didn't know he write that as well.

I Love all the cursed earth focused stuff and every story was really intriguing, Malach being my favourite in this book.

Having ordered the Ultimate Marvel subscription I can honestly say this collection beats it in terms of quality hands down.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 28 January, 2016, 10:01:55 AM
Funnily enough, I'm reading through the Marvel collection now, of which I got the first 60 books off of eBay. I'm reading in volume order rather than dispatch, and although I'm enjoying it, it's a bit of a trudge. I'd forgotten how irritating and wordy old-school Marvel was. Secret Wars is all rather: "Hello! My name is X,. I will now introduce every character I can see around me, because TOYS. We will then unnecessarily chat throughout the entire comic, including fight scenes." Old Dredd might lack sophistication compared to more recent fare, but it at the time was leagues ahead of Marvel.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moly on 30 January, 2016, 12:01:59 PM
Just had 28 and 29 delivered beyond mega city one and satans Island, beyond mega city one includes book of the dead
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 30 January, 2016, 01:18:10 PM
Beyond Mega-City One
Atlantis
Emerald Isle
Book of the Dead
Gulag
Regime Change
/ Covers
/ 'Culture Shock' essay by Mike Molcher

Not a bad selection at all, although Book of the Dead's a bit of a dud from a script standpoint, and Regime Change has some odd art at times (HUGE MOUTHS!). There's disappointment for me, though, in the omission of 'Crazy Barry, Little Mo' and its sequel, 'Banana City', which has some exceptional Will Simpson art. These would have been great twinned with Regime Change, and I hope they shows up elsewhere in the collection.

Satan's Island
Sin City
Case for the Defence
Reprisal
Jumped
Lawcon
/ Covers
/ 'A short history of the violent pastimes of Mega-City One', by Mike Molcher.

A really solid collection here, building on 2005's Satan's Island trade. Art-wise, it's very strong throughout. If you always hankered after the Satan's Island collection but hadn't got around to buying, this hardback offers serious value.
The Trial of Orlock
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jamie1000013 on 30 January, 2016, 02:56:06 PM
Still eagerly awaiting The Pit, Judge Cal stuff, and really surprised no Judge Death stuff has been released yet, although it has appeared a little bit here and there.

Just hope the sales hold up so we get a complete collection, I'm scared if orders drop off they will stop printing midway through.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 30 January, 2016, 03:16:45 PM
I guess crazy barry will be in the 'Judges Gone Bad' collection along with Bad Manners
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 04 February, 2016, 01:14:35 AM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 28 January, 2016, 10:01:55 AM
Funnily enough, I'm reading through the Marvel collection now, of which I got the first 60 books off of eBay. I'm reading in volume order rather than dispatch, and although I'm enjoying it, it's a bit of a trudge. I'd forgotten how irritating and wordy old-school Marvel was. Secret Wars is all rather: "Hello! My name is X,. I will now introduce every character I can see around me, because TOYS. We will then unnecessarily chat throughout the entire comic, including fight scenes." Old Dredd might lack sophistication compared to more recent fare, but it at the time was leagues ahead of Marvel.

I remember X-Men was the worst with Cyclops.  The slightest thing and you got an explanation about his "Ruby quartz lenses/glasses".
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 04 February, 2016, 11:26:29 PM
The official site, in the Next issue section, is currently showing the cover of Judge Death Lives, which must be an error as the accompanying text describes Satan's Island which is issue 29. Artists credited on the cover of JDL are Brian Bolland, Brett Ewins, Ron Smith and Greg Staples, so, in the interests of speculation, my guesses are that the contents of this volume will be:

Judge Death
Judge Death Lives
Revenge/Four Dark Judges
Theatre of Death
Dead Reckoning
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Satanist on 05 February, 2016, 10:33:31 AM
Always wanted to read Book of the Dead to so if its as bad as all say, The next few books seem to be really strong though.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Zenith 666 on 05 February, 2016, 03:37:11 PM
I loved book of the dead when it was first published and even if you don't like the story the art by Dermot Power's gorgeous.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 05 February, 2016, 04:38:32 PM
I loved the "beyond mega-city one" - gulag & Regime Change were new to me & in parts genuinely shocking. Book of the Dead is silly fun. All in all a great mix of stories & art with a perfect cover.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 05 February, 2016, 04:46:46 PM
As for speculation of the contents of the Judge Death Lives book...
Judge Death - 15 pages
Judge Death Lives - 32 pages
Revenge/Four Dark Judges - 62 pages
Theatre of Death - 12 pages
Dead Reckoning - 42 pages
so according to Barney that's about 163 pages - is there room for anything else?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 05 February, 2016, 05:00:11 PM
What book will the irving death stories appear? Ill get that one
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Spikes on 07 February, 2016, 11:08:56 AM
Picked up my copy of Beyond Mega-City One yesterday, and a quick flick through reveals a decent enough book all told. Most of these Ive read before (Book of the Dead, and Emerald Isle was never really faves of mine, but we'll see what a re-read does....)
But quite keen to finally be able to read Gulag. Cracking art by the Adlard droid.

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Satanist on 08 February, 2016, 11:04:49 AM
Quote from: Zenith 666 on 05 February, 2016, 03:37:11 PM
I loved book of the dead when it was first published and even if you don't like the story the art by Dermot Power's gorgeous.

Read it at the weekend and the story is utter mince but the art is nice. Judges dressed as and named after Pharaohs. Wow.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 08 February, 2016, 11:33:02 AM
It might not be so awful if we hadn't already done the Pharonic thing way back in The Judge Child. As frequently noted, Book of the Dead is engraved in my memory like a cartouche that is made up of beautiful pictures, but actually reads 'Judge Dredd 1977-1993', and stands as the point at which I sealed the tomb and walked away.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 08 February, 2016, 02:07:13 PM
This (http://gruddammit.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/10-reasons-why-judge-dredd-book-of-dead.html) sums up the risible Book of the Dead neatly. Also interesting to see Molcher laying into these strips in the outro essay. Emerald Isle holds up nicely, though—one of the best Ennis Dredds; and it's a pity all the groundwork Rennie was laying for something more or less got lost when he quit Dredd. (What's with the mouths in Regime Change, though? And SUPER GIANT DREDD?)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 08 February, 2016, 02:45:40 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 08 February, 2016, 02:07:13 PM
This (http://gruddammit.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/10-reasons-why-judge-dredd-book-of-dead.html) sums up the risible Book of the Dead neatly. Also interesting to see Molcher laying into these strips in the outro essay. Emerald Isle holds up nicely, though—one of the best Ennis Dredds; and it's a pity all the groundwork Rennie was laying for something more or less got lost when he quit Dredd. (What's with the mouths in Regime Change, though? And SUPER GIANT DREDD?)

I love that that is the one and only (brilliant) entry on a blog entitled 'Gruddamnit!'. The curse of the Mummy? You decide.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Satanist on 08 February, 2016, 03:11:17 PM
Ha that's made the read worthwhile. You know out of all the stupid in that story I think it was the chains that upset me the most which I think means I spent more time thinking about it than they did scripting it.

I also LOLLED while reading at the conveyor belt fight.

Ach well at least I've still got Atlantis and the others to re-read.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 08 February, 2016, 03:58:47 PM
Quote from: Satanist on 08 February, 2016, 03:11:17 PM
Ha that's made the read worthwhile. You know out of all the stupid in that story I think it was the chains that upset me the most which I think means I spent more time thinking about it than they did scripting it.

In all fairness, Wagner did the exact same scene in The Day the Law Died, complete with Dredd going 'Yaaaaah!'
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 08 February, 2016, 04:53:13 PM
Perfect time to link to my review of book of the dead http://gruddammit.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/10-reasons-why-judge-dredd-book-of-dead.html


Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 08 February, 2016, 04:55:52 PM
That'll be the one I linked to above! (Not that I mind more links to it. Frankly, every reference online to Book of the Dead should probably link to that review.)

Also, 'ancient Judda'? Just another example, I suppose, of Morrison and Millar not giving a crap about continuity. 40-odd years isn't exactly ancient.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 08 February, 2016, 04:57:19 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 08 February, 2016, 04:55:52 PM
That'll be the one I linked to above! (Not that I mind more links to it. Frankly, every reference online to Book of the Dead should probably link to that review.)

Ohh yeah! I missed that. Fame at last!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 08 February, 2016, 04:57:51 PM
RRRAAAA!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 08 February, 2016, 05:00:01 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 08 February, 2016, 04:57:51 PM
RRRAAAA!

:lol:

I did have some others I was going to write - I will get to them some day!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 08 February, 2016, 06:34:25 PM
Didn't know that was you, Skullmo!  Excellent stuff, you should do more.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 08 February, 2016, 07:04:52 PM
Quote from: Tordelback on 08 February, 2016, 06:34:25 PM
Didn't know that was you, Skullmo!  Excellent stuff, you should do more.

Cheers. I was going to do one on Disaster 1990, that's one of my favourites!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 11 February, 2016, 07:29:30 AM
Beyond MC1 is a mostly good collection. Atlantis is a solid opener with some great designs from Brendan McCarthy, Emerald Isle stays just the right side of farcical, and Gulag & Regime Change have some great world-building ideas from Gordon Rennie, with Dredd at his intransigent best.

Then there's the elephant in the room. I tried to view it with fresh eyes, but despite Dermot Power doing his best with the art, Book of the Dead needs to be expunged from Dredd history as an example of how not to do a multi-part story. The plot is non-existent, the mummy-thing is a very poor cousin to Death and co., and my opinion is that it needn't have appeared in this collection at all. We don't have to have Crusade as well do we?

Rant over. Looking forward to Satan's Island.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: NapalmKev on 11 February, 2016, 09:06:30 AM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 11 February, 2016, 07:29:30 AM

We don't have to have Crusade as well do we?



Yes, we do! Hard as it is to imagine but some people actually like it.

The artwork is stunning, IMO.

Cheers
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 11 February, 2016, 10:56:52 AM
Given the page count of the entire collection, I suspect we will be getting a fair amount of crap, but there's only been one book so far that I found a trudge to get through, and that was Heavy Mob. I'm hoping the crap will be surrounded for the most part by decent stuff, as in Beyond Mega-City One. (No idea how that'll work the the third-rate Anderson Janus, like, stories, like, y'know. ARGH.)

(By contrast, I'm now a quarter of the way into my Marvel hardbacks set and have found precisely two books that I'd reread—the Simonson Thor and Marvels. I suspect I'm just not cut out for Marvel. Either that or this collection gets way better very soon. I expect I'll be dumping the lot on eBay though.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Link Prime on 11 February, 2016, 10:59:32 AM
Quote from: NapalmKev on 11 February, 2016, 09:06:30 AM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 11 February, 2016, 07:29:30 AM

We don't have to have Crusade as well do we?



Yes, we do! Hard as it is to imagine but some people actually like it.

The artwork is stunning, IMO.

Cheers

Yeah, I don't mind Crusade at all to be honest.

I've always been sorry that we didn't see much more of Mick Austin after this period.
Loved his style of art.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Hawkmumbler on 11 February, 2016, 11:06:47 AM
Their are far worse stories from the period than Crusade. Look at Frankenstein Division. Lush art soiled by one of the most incompetant scripts imaginable.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 11 February, 2016, 11:49:18 AM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 11 February, 2016, 10:56:52 AM
Given the page count of the entire collection, I suspect we will be getting a fair amount of crap, but there's only been one book so far that I found a trudge to get through, and that was Heavy Mob. I'm hoping the crap will be surrounded for the most part by decent stuff, as in Beyond Mega-City One. (No idea how that'll work the the third-rate Anderson Janus, like, stories, like, y'know. ARGH.)

(By contrast, I'm now a quarter of the way into my Marvel hardbacks set and have found precisely two books that I'd reread—the Simonson Thor and Marvels. I suspect I'm just not cut out for Marvel. Either that or this collection gets way better very soon. I expect I'll be dumping the lot on eBay though.)

Single Green Female was good
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 11 February, 2016, 01:27:18 PM
That's #35, and I'm still some way off. Just finished the two Avengers: Forever books, which I had high hopes for after Marvels (same writer), but had to force myself to finish.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 12 February, 2016, 08:11:40 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 08 February, 2016, 02:07:13 PM
This (http://gruddammit.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/10-reasons-why-judge-dredd-book-of-dead.html) sums up the risible Book of the Dead neatly. Also interesting to see Molcher laying into these strips in the outro essay. Emerald Isle holds up nicely, though—one of the best Ennis Dredds; and it's a pity all the groundwork Rennie was laying for something more or less got lost when he quit Dredd. (What's with the mouths in Regime Change, though? And SUPER GIANT DREDD?)

I thought some of the mouths were odd as well, but the last time I commented negatively on art was Howler, and that wasn't received well. :)

Nonetheless, I haven't read Koburn yet.  All this with my Mum dying means that I hadn't read this or the Beyond Mega City book.  I read the latter first as it's earlier in the collection numerically.  Atlantis I had read before, Emerald Isle was downright silly and stupid, but that is the intention after all with Eire being a giant theme park. :)

Book of the Dead, never my favourite story, but some nice artwork.

Gulag was a story I hadn't read before, with its only fault being that it could have been a bit longer.  Great art, great tension.

Regime Change, apart from some of the strange facial artwork, including the stereotypical latino moustaches was excellent.  I'm surely not the only one who noticed nods to the likes of the Argentina Junta with 'the disappeared', people being thrown out of H-Wagons, as well as a jab at American foreign policy.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 16 February, 2016, 06:50:41 PM
The cover of volume 30, Klegg Hai!, is now on the official site. Cover credits are Robbie Morrison, Garth Ennis, Rob Williams, John Wagner, Colin MacNeil, Chris Weston, Carl Critchlow and Steve Dillon.

So, throwing the speculation hat into the ring, any guesses for stories in this volume?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 16 February, 2016, 08:06:40 PM
Looks like Hachette's re-running the Marvel partwork (https://www.hachettepartworks.com/marvel-ultimate-graphic-novels-collection-2016). So that must have done OK.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 17 February, 2016, 10:27:04 AM
Really liked the Satan's Island book. The john smith story about the hand in the case was fun - and a very different feeling Dredd story. Lawcon didn't grab me. I'm assuming the law lords feature in other stories which aren't being collected. I'm liking the upcoming Klegg cover - I didn't realise there were enough stories for a volume - my knowledge is limited to Cal & our recent sensitive friend. I'd love to know what's likely to be on there.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: BPP on 17 February, 2016, 04:06:14 PM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 17 February, 2016, 10:27:04 AM
Really liked the Satan's Island book. The john smith story about the hand in the case was fun - and a very different feeling Dredd story. Lawcon didn't grab me. I'm assuming the law lords feature in other stories which aren't being collected. I'm liking the upcoming Klegg cover - I didn't realise there were enough stories for a volume - my knowledge is limited to Cal & our recent sensitive friend. I'd love to know what's likely to be on there.

The law lords are easily the worst thing in the Dredd Universe. Well, now we've dropped the general cliche'd approach to 'foreign' judges.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 17 February, 2016, 04:31:17 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 16 February, 2016, 06:50:41 PM

So, throwing the speculation hat into the ring, any guesses for stories in this volume?

The Dillon one has got me seriously scratching my head.  I don't ever recall him doing a Klegg story (not the same as saying he didn't mind).  I wonder if this will be Trapper Hag by dint of them both being Alien Mercenaries?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Arkwright99 on 17 February, 2016, 05:14:30 PM
Quote from: Tjm86 on 17 February, 2016, 04:31:17 PMThe Dillon one has got me seriously scratching my head.  I don't ever recall him doing a Klegg story (not the same as saying he didn't mind).
It's almost certainly a long shot but there's some mutant alligators in the Dillon drawn "Alabammy Blimps" serial; they look a bit like Kleggs, if you screw your eyes up and squint really hard.  ;)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 17 February, 2016, 08:37:59 PM
Quote from: demos99 on 17 February, 2016, 05:14:30 PM
if you screw your eyes up and squint really hard.  ;)

I tried that, it just looks like a really blurry seal of the president.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 17 February, 2016, 09:05:12 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 16 February, 2016, 06:50:41 PM
The cover of volume 30, Klegg Hai!, is now on the official site. Cover credits are Robbie Morrison, Garth Ennis, Rob Williams, John Wagner, Colin MacNeil, Chris Weston, Carl Critchlow and Steve Dillon.

So, throwing the speculation hat into the ring, any guesses for stories in this volume?

Ennis, MacNeil and Morrison will be The Corp and Maelstrom; Williams, Weston and Critchlow will be the two post-Trifecta Sensitive Klegg stories; Wagner could be Night of the Blood Beast; Dillon has me stumped, though. I 'd be surprised if the Edgington/Collins Klegg one-off from Megazine 201 was not also in there.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 17 February, 2016, 09:14:54 PM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 17 February, 2016, 09:05:12 PM
Dillon has me stumped, though.

Aha, no he doesn't! I'll be the Hunter's Club, of course!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Timothy on 17 February, 2016, 09:39:09 PM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 17 February, 2016, 09:14:54 PM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 17 February, 2016, 09:05:12 PM
Dillon has me stumped, though.

Aha, no he doesn't! I'll be the Hunter's Club, of course!

Surely that shouldn't have an apostrophe.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 17 February, 2016, 09:49:58 PM
I'm fighting with Sensitive Klegg Block on this one!

(http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a113/Darkjimbo2/04ef7fb3-34e8-48f1-9957-8db7e3f689a6_zpso2hyunam.jpg~original) (http://s10.photobucket.com/user/Darkjimbo2/media/04ef7fb3-34e8-48f1-9957-8db7e3f689a6_zpso2hyunam.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Timothy on 17 February, 2016, 10:19:17 PM
Of course the uber-pedant, such as Kleggy himself, would put the apostrophe at the end. Hunters' Club being a club for more than one hunter.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 18 February, 2016, 07:12:32 AM
Quote from: Timothyjacobs on 17 February, 2016, 09:39:09 PM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 17 February, 2016, 09:14:54 PM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 17 February, 2016, 09:05:12 PM
Dillon has me stumped, though.

Aha, no he doesn't! I'll be the Hunter's Club, of course!

Surely that shouldn't have an apostrophe.

Plus, 'it'll' if we're going with outright pedantry (unless you are announcing membership?)

- hmmm.  Lot's of death, the classic "Nah, he wasn't all covered in blood" line, but a Klegg?  Up on the wall possibly which would win the award for most tenuous link to a title (after Nicky Morgan as Minister for Education and Jeremy Hunt as Minister for Health).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 18 February, 2016, 06:59:04 PM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 05 February, 2016, 04:46:46 PM
As for speculation of the contents of the Judge Death Lives book...
Judge Death - 15 pages
Judge Death Lives - 32 pages
Revenge/Four Dark Judges - 62 pages
Theatre of Death - 12 pages
Dead Reckoning - 42 pages
so according to Barney that's about 163 pages - is there room for anything else?

The Facebook page has a preview which also lists Ian Gibson featuring in this volume, which probably indicates Ron Reagan Aftermath.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 25 February, 2016, 07:00:50 PM
Read the Satans Island book, decent mix of stories, especially the Orlok ones.  I was always stumped by the hypocrisy of the East Meggers when you see what they did to Mega City One between Nikita Kramm, Block Mania and the Apocalypse War.

Is it possible there's a parallel to the people that protest about Dresden?  When you think in the cities that were flattened by the German forces, either through aerial bombing or artillery bombardment?  Or am I reading too much into it?

It was pretty obvious mind you that any idea of a 'fair' trial for Orlok was a forlorn hope.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Hawkmumbler on 25 February, 2016, 07:09:06 PM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 17 February, 2016, 09:14:54 PM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 17 February, 2016, 09:05:12 PM
Dillon has me stumped, though.

Aha, no he doesn't! I'll be the Hunter's Club, of course!
Wasn't that Weston?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 25 February, 2016, 07:32:14 PM
Dillon did the first Hunters Club story back in the mid eighties IIRC when he was doing quite a bit of Dredd.  I think Ron Smith did a couple of parts as well.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 26 February, 2016, 09:17:54 PM
Finished reading Satan's Island. Enjoyed Sin City, some great ideas and almost a dry run for Day of Chaos. I found Orlok's execution a bit anticlimactic, but loved Jumped - a perfect mix of humour and tension. Lawcon I can take or leave.

Bring on the Kleggs.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 27 February, 2016, 01:29:17 AM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 26 February, 2016, 09:17:54 PM
Finished reading Satan's Island. Enjoyed Sin City, some great ideas and almost a dry run for Day of Chaos. I found Orlok's execution a bit anticlimactic, but loved Jumped - a perfect mix of humour and tension. Lawcon I can take or leave.

Bring on the Kleggs.

Thanks for the spoiler!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jamie1000013 on 27 February, 2016, 08:55:28 AM
I was thinking I could make a thread where it lists every Prog and Meg each book contains in order. For a generally new reader like myself I would like to know in which order each event took place. Would it be alright if I did that?

Just got me thinking that I would like to know the span of Progs and Megs covered in this collection is all.

Was gunna set it out like this:

Prog 1 - 25 (Necropolis Issue 31)
Prog 40-52 (Klegg HAl Issue 30)

Just an Example and not at all accurate lol, don't have the books near me ATM.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 27 February, 2016, 01:14:15 PM
Quote from: Jamie1000013 on 27 February, 2016, 08:55:28 AM
I was thinking I could make a thread where it lists every Prog and Meg each book contains in order. For a generally new reader like myself I would like to know in which order each event took place. Would it be alright if I did that?
By all means go for it. I suspect people would be happy when the collection ends to have some kind of usable index. That said, perhaps a thread here could be run in tandem with a publicly editable Google Sheet or something? A bunch of people I know use that system on a magazine we all contribute to, and it works well. It also means you can reorder the list by volume, story title or Prog.

Also: NEW BOOKS. Annoyingly for me, this month's appear to have been used as footballs prior to delivery, but there you go.

Klegg Hai! appears to be a bit of a grab bag for some space war stuff, Klegg one-offs, and Trapper Hag, on the basis that you can "never have too many stories featuring eight-foot-tall angry extra-terrestrials". Stories covered are:

Maelstrom (Meg 2.73–2.80)
The Corps (Progs 918–923)
The Kleggs (Meg 201)
Meatmonger (Progs 1365–1370)
Love Hurts (Prog 1388)
Scavengers (Progs 1842–1844)
The Heart is a Lonely Klegg Hunter (Progs 1888–1889) < YAY!
Trapper Hag (Progs 305–307) < Interestingly, includes colour centre spreads.
Revenge of Trapper Hag (Progs 1165–1166)
Two covers
Sketch work from Chris Halls
'Encyclopedia Galactica' on aliens Dredd has faced

Necropolis, unsurprisingly, is a much more straightforward collection:

By Lethal Injection (Progs 669–670)
Rights of Succession (Prog 671)
Dear Annie (Progs 672–673)
Necropolis (Progs 674–699)
Four covers
Four-page essay by Molcher called 'Return of the King'

I've not read through either yet, but the repro on these books looks very good on a flick-through.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: sheridan on 27 February, 2016, 11:49:47 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 27 February, 2016, 01:14:15 PM
By all means go for it. I suspect people would be happy when the collection ends to have some kind of usable index. That said, perhaps a thread here could be run in tandem with a publicly editable Google Sheet or something? A bunch of people I know use that system on a magazine we all contribute to, and it works well. It also means you can reorder the list by volume, story title or Prog.
I started doing something similar, but haven't kept it up, so I've changed the sharing options for the Google Sheet (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1O0nNVuCiPHuenaoM1cjvgPr_DvhE_d3rjvxDmu7AiQg/edit?usp=sharing) I started.

Also, this from the (unofficial) 2000AD wiki (http://2000ad.wikia.com/wiki/Judge_Dredd:_The_Mega_Collection).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richard on 28 February, 2016, 09:07:38 PM
If you look on the Judge Dredd article on Wikipedia, there are complete indices of stories in the meg and the prog.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Geoff on 28 February, 2016, 10:45:24 PM
I do hope they'll be producing a comprehensive index for those of us who stay the course and get them all.

On a different tack from the above, it would be nice if they included some of the more memorable covers that relate to the stories in the mega collection volumes..
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Buttonman on 29 February, 2016, 07:07:40 PM
Strange no 'Night of the Blood Beast' which is the first post Cal Klegg reappearance of the Kleggs - disappointed, not least as I have the last page of that Gary Leach loveliness on my wall!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 29 February, 2016, 07:09:42 PM
Quote from: Buttonman on 29 February, 2016, 07:07:40 PM
Strange no 'Night of the Blood Beast' which is the first post Cal Klegg reappearance of the Kleggs - disappointed, not least as I have the last page of that Gary Leach loveliness on my wall!

I was surprised by this too, and not just because it's some of my favourite Dredd art of that period. Maybe it's in the DtLD volume?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richard on 29 February, 2016, 10:26:27 PM
The art might be okay but the story was mediocre. Dredd finds a Klegg; kills it. The end. Not worth including.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Buttonman on 29 February, 2016, 10:53:41 PM
I disagree! Urk was a nice slow witted Klegg who wasn't evil but that's no defense against breaking the law. The last page (which I have) also has the Spirit, Alex Trench, Digby and other comic heroes - albeit as fancy dress party attendees.

(http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c118/button71/IMG_0551.jpg)

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 01 March, 2016, 12:07:57 AM
is that the original?

Lovely
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Magnetica on 01 March, 2016, 10:48:24 PM
Quote from: Geoff on 28 February, 2016, 10:45:24 PM
On a different tack from the above, it would be nice if they included some of the more memorable covers that relate to the stories in the mega collection volumes..

I thought they already did that. I have bought approx half the issues so far and they  (IIRC) have all had a covers gallery at the back. As I understand it the page count is fixed, so depending on the length of the story there will be a variable number of pages for the creator interview / feature related to the story plus a covers gallery. Origins for example even had character design sketches.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Buttonman on 02 March, 2016, 12:58:24 AM
Quote from: Skullmo on 01 March, 2016, 12:07:57 AM
is that the original?

Lovely

Yeah it is - got it at a Glasgow Comic Con for £25 probably 20 years ago. Was introudced to Gary Leach when I was getting an autograph from Steve Dillon and I said 'Oh I have one of yours on my wall' - when I old him which page he look a bit wistful and said that was ages ago.

Page is lovely - all the cross hatching there to see along with Tipp-ex marks and the pasted on speech bubbles, next Prog box and credit card box. Also like that the is a Dredd head shot as well as a half and full figure.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 02 March, 2016, 01:27:55 AM
Quote from: Buttonman on 02 March, 2016, 12:58:24 AM
Quote from: Skullmo on 01 March, 2016, 12:07:57 AM
is that the original?

Lovely

Yeah it is - got it at a Glasgow Comic Con for £25 probably 20 years ago. Was introudced to Gary Leach when I was getting an autograph from Steve Dillon and I said 'Oh I have one of yours on my wall' - when I old him which page he look a bit wistful and said that was ages ago.

Page is lovely - all the cross hatching there to see along with Tipp-ex marks and the pasted on speech bubbles, next Prog box and credit card box. Also like that the is a Dredd head shot as well as a half and full figure.

Love Leach's art. I'll give you £30 if you ever want to part with it!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 02 March, 2016, 12:12:15 PM
Quote from: Magnetica on 01 March, 2016, 10:48:24 PMAs I understand it the page count is fixed
I recall there's a range, but it's a far smaller 'window' than you had in the first/current Marvel artwork, where the books vary wildly in page count. Judging from the Dredd ones, the tendency has been to get as much strip in there as possible, too. So rather than a load of covers, you'll get an extra six-pager if a suitable one's available. I think it's worked very nicely so far. I just wish the packaging was a little better.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Spikes on 03 March, 2016, 06:35:52 PM
Just received the latest two issues (onto the reading pile they must go, for now..) but nice to see the later Trapper Hag story included. Never read this, so once again these books are turning out to be a bit of a boon.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: sheridan on 05 March, 2016, 09:04:40 AM
Quote from: Buttonman on 29 February, 2016, 10:53:41 PM
I disagree! Urk was a nice slow witted Klegg who wasn't evil but that's no defense against breaking the law.
I'd never thought about it before, but it does mean that Urk is a kind of precursor to Sensitive, in that he's not just a one-dimensional meat-hungry alien mercenary.

Shame there's no sign of the appearance of Kleggs in Ace Trucking Co :-)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 06 March, 2016, 11:59:43 AM
I found Klegg Hai! to be a bit of a mixed bag. I couldn't get into Maelstrom or The Corps, and while John Smith's version of Dredd's world is usually a pleasure to visit, Meatmonger seemed to run out of steam a bit for me. There's fun to be had with The Kleggs, Love Hurts and THIALKH, and I hadn't read the original Trapper Hag story in a long long time.

Overall, one of the less satisfying issues, in my opinion.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Eamonn Clarke on 06 March, 2016, 12:12:07 PM
Bragging time. The cover to the Necropolis edition is from an A3 sized commission that Carlos did for me a year ago.

(http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r182/Caliban_photos/cover-issue-31_zps6w3sbg8h.jpg)

(http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r182/Caliban_photos/carlos2_zps5c8dc807.jpg)

Carlos contacted me to say that they were looking for a piece of black and white art to use on the cover and could they use my commission and I was happy to say yes.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: dweezil2 on 06 March, 2016, 12:51:10 PM
Awesome news eamonn and what a fantastic cover it makes too!   :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 06 March, 2016, 12:51:59 PM
Great Necropolis cover! Can't wait to see it in the wild.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 06 March, 2016, 01:31:44 PM
I felt the same about Klegg Hai! Too many weak stories, not least The Corps, which was every bit as dreadful as I remembered. Maelstrom was better but messy from a storytelling standpoint. Trapper Hag was good, as were the Sensitive Klegg strips. Some nice Siku art ('Dreed' aside), but overall a bit hmm. Not Heavy Mob bad at least.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 07 March, 2016, 06:10:52 PM
Issue 32 has been announced as The Pit. Excellent news.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 07 March, 2016, 08:12:19 PM
It'll be great to read the Pit again. Where do these announcements come from?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moly on 07 March, 2016, 08:34:53 PM
After the pit its judge death lives followed by anderson Childhoods End
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 07 March, 2016, 08:37:55 PM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 07 March, 2016, 08:12:19 PM
It'll be great to read the Pit again. Where do these announcements come from?
Their Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/judgedreddcollection/) drip-feeds this kind of stuff.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 07 March, 2016, 10:25:41 PM
Thanks - I found the older stuff in the Klegg volume hard going. It seemed to be more of a "spot the Klegg" hunt with some stories being almost Klegg-free. Sensitive Klegg however is genius.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Geoff on 07 March, 2016, 10:47:51 PM
Chris Weston's art on the two part Sensitive Klegg story is just ridiculously good!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 08 March, 2016, 06:27:14 AM
Quote from: moly on 07 March, 2016, 08:34:53 PM
After the pit its judge death lives followed by anderson Childhoods End

I have found the order of the dark Judges stories a bit peculiar.  Having Death Lives as the last of the volumes rather than the first? 

Also been thinking about what else might be in the Childhood's End volume as the story isn't that long to my recollection.  IIRC there was a series of stories in the Meg with Anderson wandering, having rejected MC1 at the end of CE.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 08 March, 2016, 09:27:04 AM
Quote from: Tjm86 on 08 March, 2016, 06:27:14 AM
Quote from: moly on 07 March, 2016, 08:34:53 PM
After the pit its judge death lives followed by anderson Childhoods End

I have found the order of the dark Judges stories a bit peculiar.  Having Death Lives as the last of the volumes rather than the first? 

Also been thinking about what else might be in the Childhood's End volume as the story isn't that long to my recollection.  IIRC there was a series of stories in the Meg with Anderson wandering, having rejected MC1 at the end of CE.

There's also Young Death to come, issue 40-something I think.

I'm guessing that the next Anderson volume will also include the Postcards from the Edge series which followed Childhood's End, the Facebook announcement seems to indicate that.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 08 March, 2016, 08:02:49 PM
Postcards From The Edge - that's the stuff I was thinking of.  Wasn't that the first reboot of the meg?  Long time since I've read those.  There we go.  Always better when it isn't quite so fresh (Okay, I'll give El Maldito an 'exception' there).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 09 March, 2016, 10:26:31 AM
I'm happy seeing some recent stuff. It gives the collection some range, and it'll be a couple of years yet before the thing's done anyway.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 17 March, 2016, 10:50:08 AM
Great to see Necropolis out at WHSmiths. Lovely Carlos Ezquerra endpapers. I'm guessing this is one of the bigger books - the whole of Necropolis, plus countdown for a tenner!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 17 March, 2016, 07:09:20 PM
Loved re-reading Necropolis, but I gorged on it and now can't wait for The Pit. Great article by Molch-R too.

Interesting to hear John Wagner remark on the Thrill-cast how the story he likes the most out of this arc is The Dead Man - I can see why, building atmosphere and portent around an unknown character until the big reveal.

A thought occurred to me while reading - who's drawn the most pages of Dredd? Carlos? Ron Smith? Henry Flint? Any ideas?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 17 March, 2016, 09:06:18 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 17 March, 2016, 07:09:20 PM
A thought occurred to me while reading - who's drawn the most pages of Dredd? Carlos? Ron Smith? Henry Flint? Any ideas?

Somewhere on his magnificent blog, I think AlexF worked it out - http://forums.2000adonline.com/index.php?topic=41943.0;topicseen
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 17 March, 2016, 09:09:18 PM
Aha! Here you go, I found the entry - http://heroesof2000ad.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/interlude-dreddcount-part-2_29.html
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 17 March, 2016, 09:37:25 PM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 17 March, 2016, 09:09:18 PM
Aha! Here you go, I found the entry - http://heroesof2000ad.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/interlude-dreddcount-part-2_29.html

Wow, thanks for that, what a great, and exhaustive, list. I didn't figure on Ian Gibson featuring as high, but I think I always associated him more with Halo Jones and Robo-Hunter more than Dredd. But he did draw a lot of the early stuff. Erroneous on my part.

Looking forward to The Taxidermist volume.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 17 March, 2016, 09:40:15 PM
What I love about our fandom is that, when you ask questions like that, you know that someone somewhere has probably already answered it - just a case of finding where!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 18 March, 2016, 07:05:37 PM
Absolutely, it's great - and another question coming up!

The Facebook page has announced issue 35 as Missionary Man: Goin' South. Artists credited on the cover include Ron Smith, but I'm not aware of any MM stories drawn by Ron. Any ideas?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 18 March, 2016, 07:55:28 PM
I may be wrong but i don't think smith ever did mm...so maybe another cursed earth story?

Nice to see the chunk of mm i never got to read
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: GordonR on 18 March, 2016, 09:02:58 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 18 March, 2016, 07:05:37 PM
Absolutely, it's great - and another question coming up!

The Facebook page has announced issue 35 as Missionary Man: Goin' South. Artists credited on the cover include Ron Smith, but I'm not aware of any MM stories drawn by Ron. Any ideas?

Ron Smith never did any MM stories, and (unless the old memory circuits are severely failing these days) I never worked with him on anything else, so your guess is as good as mine what he's doing in there.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: COMMANDO FORCES on 18 March, 2016, 10:10:11 PM
They sometimes place stories at the end that have vague connections to the overall arc of the book, just for the page count! I presume it could be something like that.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Hawkmumbler on 18 March, 2016, 10:12:02 PM
Black Plague maybe?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 18 March, 2016, 10:41:01 PM
The Hotdog Run, I'd guess.  Has Gila Munja, Cursed Earth desperados etc. for thematic overlap. Think it's only three episodes, so a fairly easy fit.  It's also a good 'un.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: GordonR on 18 March, 2016, 10:48:03 PM
There's a LOT of MM stories that have never been reprinted - and how glad am I that the Frank Quitely early ones aren't receiving yet another outing, and other better stories are being given a chance instead.  There's no great need I can see to pad the book out with other stories.

(And, if Black Plague/Hotdog Run is being included, then why isn't John Wagner credited on the cover?)

Mysteries within mysteries, this one.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Hawkmumbler on 18 March, 2016, 10:49:45 PM
Black Plague was a stab in the dark because I couldn't find the cover in question for love nor money, so made an assumption off of Ron Smith being listed.

But indeed, very peculiar.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 19 March, 2016, 06:42:14 AM
Not all the creators are always listed on the covers, for example last issue Klegg Hai! As John Wagner has had plenty of cover credits to date and Ron Smith hasn't, that could explain things?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Zanti Misfit on 19 March, 2016, 07:14:56 PM
Late to the party, I know, but just bought the Necropolis book.  Stunning! I remember how exciting it was to read this in weekly instalments back in 1990, and now its great to see it all collected in an attractive hardback edition. Necropolis is amongst my most re-read Dredd epics, but flipping heck, I just realized I have the whole story 4 times.(The original Progs, the Megazine reprints, The Complete Case Files 14, and now the Mega Collection version). My wife says this is obsessive behaviour (and other comments too, like 'money to burn') so I'll have to donate that particular Case Files to a local charity shop.  Anyone else suffering from multiple version overdose?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Geoff on 19 March, 2016, 07:31:44 PM
Now that I think about it, I must have half a dozen versions of the Apocalypse War..

Progs, original separate vol Titan reprints, the all in one vol reprint, Best of 2000ad monthly, Eagle reprints, luxury black hard cover Titan reprint, the case files, the mega collection and the IDW complete ezquerra.

That's 9 in fact - bloody hell, that's a bit demented...

But I'm probably not alone... (am I?, am I..?  :))
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Zanti Misfit on 19 March, 2016, 07:58:38 PM
Yikes, I forgot The Titan reprints - got boxes full of those in the loft, not to mention The Complete Judge Dredd monthly reprints ( '92 - 97?) and the 80's Eagle American monthlies and, and......

Anyway, thanks Geoff, maybe my wife's right, but...I don't care.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 19 March, 2016, 09:32:11 PM
Quote from: Geoff on 19 March, 2016, 07:31:44 PM
Now that I think about it, I must have half a dozen versions of the Apocalypse War..

Progs, original separate vol Titan reprints, the all in one vol reprint, Best of 2000ad monthly, Eagle reprints, luxury black hard cover Titan reprint, the case files, the mega collection and the IDW complete ezquerra.

That's 9 in fact - bloody hell, that's a bit demented...

But I'm probably not alone... (am I?, am I..?  :))

I'd buy an Apex Edition!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 20 March, 2016, 10:46:15 AM
Quote from: Skullmo on 19 March, 2016, 09:32:11 PM

I'd buy an Apex Edition!

An Apex edition of Apocalypse War?  Hell yes!!!!!!!!!! 

Shame it is unlikely to happen since the artwork is now scattered to the four winds.   :(
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Spikes on 20 March, 2016, 10:56:41 AM
Apex edition, eh?
Here's the very 1st page. I believe another forumite has the 2nd. Let's see if we can do this....  ;)


(http://i.imgur.com/V9TxAgP.jpg)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Geoff on 20 March, 2016, 06:48:22 PM
I've got p2 covered (would post it up if I could) - Apex edition here we come!

Right, who's got page 3...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 20 March, 2016, 09:17:16 PM
Quote from: Geoff on 20 March, 2016, 06:48:22 PM
I've got p2 covered (would post it up if I could) - Apex edition here we come!

Right, who's got page 3...

I used to have a whole stack of Page 3s but my mum threw them out.

28 years old I was.

Etc.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Geoff on 20 March, 2016, 10:23:09 PM
Good man Skullmo!  :D
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dash Decent on 21 March, 2016, 11:52:12 AM
Talk about complete mammary loss!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 21 March, 2016, 06:25:51 PM
You really do need to try and keep abreast of things!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moly on 26 March, 2016, 10:30:06 AM
Just had judge death lives and the pit delivered so that's my weekend sorted
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 26 March, 2016, 01:01:11 PM
Quote from: moly on 26 March, 2016, 10:30:06 AM
Just had judge death lives and the pit delivered so that's my weekend sorted

Hope you don't mind, but which stories are included in Death lives?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 26 March, 2016, 01:46:27 PM
Contents: 

Judge Death (P149-151)
Judge Death Lives (P224-228)
Four Dark Judges (P416-427)
Theatre of Death (P700-701)
Dead Reckoning (P1000-1006)
Tea With Mrs Gunderson (Meg 2.15)

Selection of covers and pin ups plus Bolland's concept Sketches.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 26 March, 2016, 03:41:12 PM
Thanks. Can't wait to read dead reckoning :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Magnetica on 30 March, 2016, 08:07:00 PM
So does anyone have a list of what stories appear in The Pit Mega Collection Edition?

I ask as I bought The Pit TPB in the recent half price sale and was wondering if I need to "double dip" and get the Mega Collection version. Presumably it is Progs 970 to 999 (?).

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tombo on 30 March, 2016, 08:48:17 PM
Yep, it's identical to the normal trade (The Pit, True Grot, Unjudicial Liaisons, Last Rites, Declaration of War and Bongo War) plus a covers gallery.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 31 March, 2016, 06:31:30 PM
Does anyone know whether this collection will include Titan/Enceladus?  Thinking of buying the TPB but won't if it'll be one of the volumes in the collection.

Thanks
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 31 March, 2016, 06:49:54 PM
There's been no announcement to suggest it will be included, although a number of volumes remain unknown.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Fungus on 01 April, 2016, 01:40:40 AM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 31 March, 2016, 06:31:30 PM
Does anyone know whether this collection will include Titan/Enceladus?  Thinking of buying the TPB but won't if it'll be one of the volumes in the collection.

This Mega Collection thing is a bitch, isn't it?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 01 April, 2016, 02:34:11 AM
No it's not, it's a thing of absolute beauty. After 19+ years in the wilderness I couldn't have asked for anything better.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Molch-R on 01 April, 2016, 10:10:11 AM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 31 March, 2016, 06:31:30 PM
Does anyone know whether this collection will include Titan/Enceladus?  Thinking of buying the TPB but won't if it'll be one of the volumes in the collection.

Titan and its sequels won't be in the Mega Collection.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: I, Cosh on 01 April, 2016, 11:05:46 AM
Quote from: Molch-R on 01 April, 2016, 10:10:11 AM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 31 March, 2016, 06:31:30 PM
Does anyone know whether this collection will include Titan/Enceladus?  Thinking of buying the TPB but won't if it'll be one of the volumes in the collection.
Titan and its sequels won't be in the Mega Collection.
That's exactly what someone whose job involves encouraging people to buy Rebellion GNs would say...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Molch-R on 01 April, 2016, 11:08:05 AM
Quote from: The Cosh on 01 April, 2016, 11:05:46 AM
That's exactly what someone whose job involves encouraging people to buy Rebellion GNs would say...

That's a good point.

Correction: there will be no Judge Dredd stories in the Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection. You should all buy a complete set of the Case Files immediately.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Hawkmumbler on 01 April, 2016, 01:50:41 PM
Quote from: Molch-R on 01 April, 2016, 11:08:05 AM
Quote from: The Cosh on 01 April, 2016, 11:05:46 AM
That's exactly what someone whose job involves encouraging people to buy Rebellion GNs would say...

That's a good point.

Correction: there will be no Judge Dredd stories in the Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection. You should all buy a complete set of the Case Files immediately.
But they don't have the complete Cursed Earth...,or Kenny Who?...or America (the list of moans and grioes goes on and on).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 02 April, 2016, 06:12:59 PM
The Facebook page has announced issue 36, out 25th May in the UK, as The Life and Crimes of PJ Maybe. A really strong run of issues going on here.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 03 April, 2016, 12:10:57 PM
The Pit started as I tuned out for my wilderness years, for reasons lost in the mists of time. It's a great series of stories, and as Matt Smith says in the intro, ushering in modern-day Dredd. Personally, and this isn't to detract from the other artists, I think I'd have enjoyed it even more if Carlos had drawn the whole thing - he captures the gritty atmosphere from the off. It's all great stuff though.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 04 April, 2016, 01:50:21 PM
Anyone seen anything of the next Subscriber print?  It should be due in the next month or two shouldn't it?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 04 April, 2016, 03:31:24 PM
Quote from: Tjm86 on 04 April, 2016, 01:50:21 PM
Anyone seen anything of the next Subscriber print?  It should be due in the next month or two shouldn't it?

I hope so - I've been waiting months for this one to be revealed.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: BLAZINOAH on 04 April, 2016, 05:07:11 PM
Will any of the DC and Dark Horse crossovers be included in the Collection?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: DarkDaysBish-OP on 04 April, 2016, 05:09:14 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 03 April, 2016, 12:10:57 PM
The Pit started as I tuned out for my wilderness years, for reasons lost in the mists of time. It's a great series of stories, and as Matt Smith says in the intro, ushering in modern-day Dredd. Personally, and this isn't to detract from the other artists, I think I'd have enjoyed it even more if Carlos had drawn the whole thing - he captures the gritty atmosphere from the off. It's all great stuff though.

It would have done wonders for my stress levels if Carlos could've drawn the whole thing! But some stand-up work by Lee & Alex helped keep The Pit in the prog for 30 weeks non-stop.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Gus W on 04 April, 2016, 06:51:16 PM
Quote from: BLAZINOAH on 04 April, 2016, 05:07:11 PM
Will any of the DC and Dark Horse crossovers be included in the Collection?

I believe not
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 04 April, 2016, 08:38:55 PM
Quote from: BLAZINOAH on 04 April, 2016, 05:07:11 PM
Will any of the DC and Dark Horse crossovers be included in the Collection?

They'v said on the fb page that neither Dredd v Aliens, Batman will show up in the collection.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 04 April, 2016, 09:05:26 PM
I'm not really sure what to think of that.  Some of the crossovers were okay in comics, but I think it was getting to a stage with some that it was the flimsiest excuse.  Since some of the Dredd universe books aren't actually Dredd (Hondo City, Devlin Waugh etc), I've been wondering if we'll get Helltreckers as part of a collection.

Finally finished the Pit and thoroughly enjoyed it.  Always good to see more (so to speak) of DeMarco, she's an interesting character.  I get the feeling Dredd is willing to give her a little slack, but just a little.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 06 April, 2016, 11:57:34 AM
Finally cracked and had to subscribe to the MegaCollection - The WHSmiths on my commute were no longer stocking the books. I was pleased to find my subscriber number in the mid seven thousands. I hope this indicates healthy enough sales. I really enjoyed The Pit - I wish Demarco could be reinstated as a judge - they certainly need the numbers - I don't find her P.I. Stories as interesting as those of a maverick Judge.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 08 April, 2016, 09:18:32 PM
So what is the next book, is it PJ Maybe or the Judge Death one? 
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moldovangerbil on 08 April, 2016, 09:49:10 PM
It should be Judge Death Lives based on the last 2 I received.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 08 April, 2016, 11:06:30 PM
what stories are in the pj book?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 08 April, 2016, 11:16:16 PM
I would assume the contents of the pj maybe trade and the uncollected ones leading up to his appearance in day of chaos?

Thats a guess though
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: terryo on 10 April, 2016, 10:09:57 AM
In Australia we are about 6 months behind. I know that the DEATH LIVES book is coming, but I'm also tempted to get the IDW Dark Judges hardcover (containing about 2/3 of the same content... all of the Bolland and Ewins stories). The coloured Bolland pages that I've seen online look beautiful. Anyone see both books? Any comparisons or advice?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: dweezil2 on 10 April, 2016, 10:52:46 AM
Quote from: terryo on 10 April, 2016, 10:09:57 AM
In Australia we are about 6 months behind. I know that the DEATH LIVES book is coming, but I'm also tempted to get the IDW Dark Judges hardcover (containing about 2/3 of the same content... all of the Bolland and Ewins stories). The coloured Bolland pages that I've seen online look beautiful. Anyone see both books? Any comparisons or advice?

Not received my Judge Death Lives Mega Collection volume yet, but I can confirm that the IDW coloured collection is a fine tome!

It's missing that beautiful Dark Justice strip obviously.

Go for both maybe?  ;)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: terryo on 10 April, 2016, 12:58:32 PM
Go for both maybe?  ;)
[/quote]

Thanks mate. Eh... I shouldn't do both... but it's Bolland... SO PRETTY...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jamie1000013 on 10 April, 2016, 04:22:57 PM
Something I've always wondered do the Lawmasters have sirens? I'm guessing not but during The Pitt book where someone gets melted in a van, you see WOOOOOOOaw as the bike starts up but not sure if it is a siren noise.

Not really getting into Klegg HAI! bit of a chore to read at the start and kind of confusing to read Maelstrom.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Steve Green on 10 April, 2016, 05:22:48 PM
They do.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: WhizzBang on 10 April, 2016, 08:41:42 PM
Quote from: terryo on 10 April, 2016, 12:58:32 PM
Quote
Go for both maybe?  ;)

Thanks mate. Eh... I shouldn't do both... but it's Bolland... SO PRETTY...

I only have the IDW colour Judge Death book, not the Mega collection one, so I can not compare. However, I was a bit underwhelmed by the IDW book and would prefer to see it as it was originally published, I really like the IDW colour edition of Block Mania/Apocolypse War and feel it is the best edition of these stories but the Judge Death book did not have quite the same impact.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: terryo on 11 April, 2016, 12:44:23 PM
Quote from: WhizzBang on 10 April, 2016, 08:41:42 PM
Quote from: terryo on 10 April, 2016, 12:58:32 PM
Quote
Go for both maybe?  ;)

Thanks mate. Eh... I shouldn't do both... but it's Bolland... SO PRETTY...

I only have the IDW colour Judge Death book, not the Mega collection one, so I can not compare. However, I was a bit underwhelmed by the IDW book and would prefer to see it as it was originally published, I really like the IDW colour edition of Block Mania/Apocolypse War and feel it is the best edition of these stories but the Judge Death book did not have quite the same impact.

Cheers mate. What disappointed you? The colouring job?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 11 April, 2016, 12:50:09 PM
I enjoyed the colouring on the Bolland, less so on Brett Ewins & others. The new colouring did make me see the artwork in new light & pick out details I'd never noticed. I'd love to see Bolland re-colour his stuff a-la-Killing Joke - just to see his take on it.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: WhizzBang on 11 April, 2016, 10:22:03 PM
Quote from: terryo on 11 April, 2016, 12:44:23 PM
Cheers mate. What disappointed you? The colouring job?

It is hard to my finger on an actual reason. The colouring is okay but it doesn't enhance the book as much as the Block Wars/Apocolyse War one did, which seemed like a real treat. The 'gaze into the fist of Dredd!' panel is probably more striking in the original bold black and white version than the soft colouring used in IDW.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 16 April, 2016, 02:16:47 PM
Great collection of stories in Judge Death Lives, showcasing both the horror and humour detailed in Molch-R's article. Although the article focusses on Death specifically, I'll chuck my penneth in to add that Fear, Fire and Mortis' appearance in Day of Chaos felt to me like pantomime villains against the darker backdrop of the main event.

Interesting to compare Greg Staples' art on Dead Reckoning with Dark Justice - vive la difference, as Death says. DR reminded me of John Hicklenton's work at times, which prompted a thought - if Hicklenton had drawn Death, what terrible wonders would we have seen? RIP.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Zenith 666 on 17 April, 2016, 11:34:21 AM
Hicklenton drawing Death is one terrifying thought (has it really been 6 years already.RIP)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 20 April, 2016, 07:16:26 AM
The Facebook page has posted the cover for issue 37, Doomsday for Mega-City One. Credited are John Wagner, Carlos Ezquerra. Colin Wilson, John Burns, Andrew Currie, Mike Collins. Steve Tappin and Cam Kennedy. I guess then that the stories will be:

Bad Frendz
Worst of Frendz
The Scorpion Dance
The Contract
The Narcos Connection
Doomsday
Volt Face
The Cal Legacy

Any thoughts?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 20 April, 2016, 10:41:47 AM
I wouldn't expect Worst of Friends or Cal Legacy. The other stories add up to 219 pages which is very much at the upper end for the Hachette books. All the others must be included based on the artists listed although Volt Face is not guaranteed (but a Doomsday collecting would be bonkers without it).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 20 April, 2016, 10:43:13 AM
Collection not collecting; bloody predictive text in my first post!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 24 April, 2016, 10:20:39 AM
Hoped these would turn up yesterday; maybe tomorrow. Intrigued to know what Ron Smith stories are in the Missionary Man volume, prime suspects must be Black Plague, Hotdog Run or Shanty Town.
Happy to see any of these and despite agreeing with Gordon about some excellent Missionary Man stories that won't get reprinted now I can't help but be disappointed by how few 'classic era' stories have been included in the collection so far given we are nearing the halfway mark.
Where are The Graveyard Shift, Uncle Ump, Judge Minty, Pirates of the Black Atlantic etc etc. Tonnes of fabulous Bolland, McMahon, Smith, Kennedy etc that I would consider essential for any Judge Dredd collection. Based on volumes already announced I'm struggling to see how they will be included.
Maybe Tharg will do a few more special edition case files to cover these years!


Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Steve Green on 24 April, 2016, 12:41:01 PM
I think there's a preference for colour where possible - obviously there are major stories like Judge Death, Apocalpyse War which you couldn't really omit, or they don't really fit a particular theme.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 24 April, 2016, 06:41:04 PM
Theres several volumes announced which seems prime to cover a lot of older tales. Heck theres one confirmed just for the old luna 1 tales

Plus pretty sure missionary mans confirmed for 3 volumes that would cover it all
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 24 April, 2016, 06:57:05 PM
Where did you hear about a third Missionary Man volume? Personally I'd be chuffed for the Frank Quitely volume to include the Simon Davis episodes which dovetail into Goin' South and perhaps a themed volume including Helltrekkers and Missionary Man, The Promised Land which I would love to see again.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 24 April, 2016, 07:19:27 PM
Mm was originally confirmed as vol 64 (that would cover the most well reprinted mm stuff plus as you guessed likely the pre goin south stuff not reprinted) issue 65 is goin south as we know. Issue 67 is cursed earth koburn that pretty much confirms a third mm book in between them. It would be silly not reprinting the last few stories after doing the rest
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 24 April, 2016, 08:28:30 PM
A third volume would be brilliant - my suggestion of Helltrekkers and Promised Land would also fit. I do not expect Missionary Man to be reprinted in its entirety sadly with the apparent desire to include a proportion of Dredd in most volumes.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Amstor Computer on 25 April, 2016, 10:28:35 AM
Quote from: Trent on 24 April, 2016, 10:20:39 AM
Hoped these would turn up yesterday; maybe tomorrow. Intrigued to know what Ron Smith stories are in the Missionary Man volume, prime suspects must be Black Plague, Hotdog Run or Shanty Town.

...and you'd be right on all three counts. Those three stories form the final third of the book.

Running order:

Mardi Gras (inc. prologue)
Goin' South
Apocrypha
Mark of the Beast
True Grit
Lonesome Dave
The Black Plague
The Hotdog Run
Shanty Town

Plus cover gallery (233, 1031, 1093 and 1118) and a brief interview with Gordon Rennie (not one I recognise from elsewhere, so new for the collection?)

re: Collecting more classic material. I wonder if part of the idea behind this project was to try and pull in new readers as much as it is serving existing readers. If so, showcasing tales more representative of the current state of Dredd/Dreddworld (in terms of storylines, themes and creators) makes more sense, so there may be more focus on that, with the mega-epics and significant Dreddworld stories taking up another big chunk, leaving less room for the earlier, shorter classics.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 25 April, 2016, 10:40:05 AM
The Marvel collection (at least pre-expansion) was very much along those lines, and so it's not a huge surprise to see the Dredd collection doing much the same. That all said, there have been classic episodes and series dotted about, and more are confirmed for later on (such as Judge Child and City of the Damned).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Amstor Computer on 25 April, 2016, 11:02:17 AM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 25 April, 2016, 10:40:05 AM
The Marvel collection (at least pre-expansion) was very much along those lines, and so it's not a huge surprise to see the Dredd collection doing much the same. That all said, there have been classic episodes and series dotted about, and more are confirmed for later on (such as Judge Child and City of the Damned).

Yeah, my impression of Matt Smith's approach to the Mega Collection is that he's tried to cover the "required reading" - the various mega epics, including recent event stories like Trifecta - hit on some rarely-seen classics and the key stories for Dreddworld characters like Waugh, Anderson, MM et al, and introduced as much recent material as possible to bring people up to speed with the near-current state of Dredd in the prog. Although I suspect that a large number of Mega Collection subs are existing readers, if it manages to pull in at least some new readers (or regain lapsed readers) by taking that approach it will be worth it.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 25 April, 2016, 11:04:31 AM
Excellent news re Goin'South Ron Smith stories. I agree with what people are saying re new/colour stories but there were some absolute gems outside the epics that I would love to have in the final collection. That said, give me a Judge Child with colour centrespreads and I'll let it lie. We know they can do it if they want (Trapper Hag).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 25 April, 2016, 12:12:56 PM
Plenty of stories have also been dotted about in the themed collections as well. Plus we're only halfway through anyway, so lots of issues still to go.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 25 April, 2016, 12:40:43 PM
Yuppers seems to have played out as suspected 66 will be the promised land and place of the dead and 64s the stuff well reprinted  as well as the not reprinted mm stuff

What else is in childhoods end aside from the obvious?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 25 April, 2016, 12:56:23 PM
Slight misdirection in the volumes as Goin' South is actually vol 66 but happily the introduction confirms 64 and 65 will be Missionary Man based so it looks like we're getting the bulk of the stories reprinted for the first time.
Interesting to read Gordon's interview at the back of the volume where he appears to slate Alex Ronald for his work on Mardi Gras etc. I remember his scratchy art being divisive at the time but personally I love it and think it compliments Simon Davis' very different style. I always thought Alex's work on Missionary Man gave an indication of what the Pit might have looked like without the neon colouring.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Amstor Computer on 25 April, 2016, 01:06:51 PM
Quote from: The monarch on 25 April, 2016, 12:40:43 PMWhat else is in childhoods end aside from the obvious?

Running order is:

Reasons to be Cheerful
The Witch? Report
Childhood's End
Voyage of the Seeker
Postcards from the Edge
Postcard to Myself

Cover Gallery (Meg 2.14, 2.51 and 2.73)
Growing Pains (text piece on Anderson's "adolescence" as Grant developed the character from "Engram" through "Childhood's End" and "Postcards..." to Anderson's return to the big Meg)

I'd forgotten quite how much I had disliked Steve Sampson's art (play spot-the-Loaded-pinup at home, folks!) but it was lovely to revisit Kev Walker's run on Anderson, and Tony Luke's episodes of "Postcards..." are interesting - not entirely to my taste, but unique and phantasmagoric, and it's a shame Luke didn't live to see them get another outing.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: teckno viking on 25 April, 2016, 01:55:24 PM
You think a series of the One off Judge stories maybe done?

Raggedy Man & Death of a Legend (McGruder) for instance?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 25 April, 2016, 02:08:46 PM
These might be tucked at the back of 64 or 65. Lots of Cursed Earth stories that could be included eg Damned Ranger, The Fear that made Milwaukee Famous etc but I'd rather see more Missionary Man and a separate Dredd in the Cursed Earth volume. Part of the fun of the collection is guessing what's coming and trying to flesh out some of the clues we have been given.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 25 April, 2016, 02:36:09 PM
Quote from: The Amstor Computer on 25 April, 2016, 01:06:51 PMit was lovely to revisit Kev Walker's run on Anderson
His general grasp of figure work and anatomy was still questionable at that point, but I liked how he made Anderson look like a fit, tough cop, rather than a skinny pin-up. (It's always odd how male Judges are usually 'built', but female ones are waif-like. That doesn't seem viable in Mega-City One. Mind you, I still find it odd in the Prog how most Judge crowd scenes are usually 100% blokes.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: GordonR on 25 April, 2016, 02:37:53 PM
True Grit's rubbish, a fact for which I heartily apologise - taken from the 1994 Dredd Yearbook, which was full of dross unfit for the prog or Megazine, and which killed off the yearbook tradition.

True Grit does include Dredd, which I guess is why it's included here.  But it's still rubbish, and I had hoped never to see it again.

Quote from: The Amstor Computer on 25 April, 2016, 10:28:35 AM
Quote from: Trent on 24 April, 2016, 10:20:39 AM
Hoped these would turn up yesterday; maybe tomorrow. Intrigued to know what Ron Smith stories are in the Missionary Man volume, prime suspects must be Black Plague, Hotdog Run or Shanty Town.

...and you'd be right on all three counts. Those three stories form the final third of the book.

Running order:

Mardi Gras (inc. prologue)
Goin' South
Apocrypha
Mark of the Beast
True Grit
Lonesome Dave
The Black Plague
The Hotdog Run
Shanty Town

Plus cover gallery (233, 1031, 1093 and 1118) and a brief interview with Gordon Rennie (not one I recognise from elsewhere, so new for the collection?)

re: Collecting more classic material. I wonder if part of the idea behind this project was to try and pull in new readers as much as it is serving existing readers. If so, showcasing tales more representative of the current state of Dredd/Dreddworld (in terms of storylines, themes and creators) makes more sense, so there may be more focus on that, with the mega-epics and significant Dreddworld stories taking up another big chunk, leaving less room for the earlier, shorter classics.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Amstor Computer on 25 April, 2016, 02:54:47 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 25 April, 2016, 02:36:09 PMHis general grasp of figure work and anatomy was still questionable at that point, but I liked how he made Anderson look like a fit, tough cop, rather than a skinny pin-up. (It's always odd how male Judges are usually 'built', but female ones are waif-like. That doesn't seem viable in Mega-City One. Mind you, I still find it odd in the Prog how most Judge crowd scenes are usually 100% blokes.)

There are a few wonky panels, and Anderson's face is occasionally rather lumpen, but it's still very enjoyable, and it's reproduced very well here. And, yeah, she does look more "tough female cop" here than elsewhere in the same collection (*cough*Sampson*cough*) which is good - more Murphy than model, if you will.

Quote from: GordonR on 25 April, 2016, 02:37:53 PM
True Grit's rubbish, a fact for which I heartily apologise - taken from the 1994 Dredd Yearbook, which was full of dross unfit for the prog or Megazine, and which killed off the yearbook tradition.

True Grit does include Dredd, which I guess is why it's included here.  But it's still rubbish, and I had hoped never to see it again.

It probably doesn't help that the art was... questionable (Cain seems to have some kind of weird microcephalic thing going on), but the other tales hold up better (from this reader's perspective, at least!) and have far better art (Redondo, early Flint and Davis, and I even have a soft spot for Alex Ronald's stint). It's nice to see it collected from a completionist POV, though I suspect that's cold comfort!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: GordonR on 25 April, 2016, 03:17:49 PM
QuoteIt probably doesn't help that the art was... questionable (Cain seems to have some kind of weird microcephalic thing going on), but the other tales hold up better (from this reader's perspective, at least!) and have far better art (Redondo, early Flint and Davis, and I even have a soft spot for Alex Ronald's stint). It's nice to see it collected from a completionist POV, though I suspect that's cold comfort!

The artist was....Robero Corona?  Something like that?  He had come from Deadline, iirc, but I don't think I ever saw his work again.

It was just one of those dreary stories where Dredd meets one of the Megazine world judge characters, and - predictably - they don't get on, with a lot of snarling at each other etc, and the dumb young Megazine writer wanting to make sure their precious character gets to go toe to toe with Dredd as some kind of even match or equal.

You saw a lot of that in those days, any time any of us actually got to include Dredd in our work.



Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Amstor Computer on 25 April, 2016, 03:44:16 PM
Quote from: GordonR on 25 April, 2016, 03:17:49 PMThe artist was....Robero Corona?  Something like that?  He had come from Deadline, iirc, but I don't think I ever saw his work again.

Yeah, Roberto Corona. I think he did a fair bit of work for Sonic the Comic after that, and possibly some stuff for DC and a webcomic of his own. The few bits of his work I can find online from Sonic look better, so his work on "True Grit" is perhaps just another case of the editorial team being pushed to find new artists to fill up the prog, Meg, yearbook etc. and picking someone who just wasn't quite ready (there seemed to be a lot of that at the time).

QuoteIt was just one of those dreary stories where Dredd meets one of the Megazine world judge characters, and - predictably - they don't get on, with a lot of snarling at each other etc, and the dumb young Megazine writer wanting to make sure their precious character gets to go toe to toe with Dredd as some kind of even match or equal.

You saw a lot of that in those days, any time any of us actually got to include Dredd in our work.

See: Judgement Day, that Devlin Waugh MC-1 customs short and their odd couple adventure through Dreddworld Africa etc. To be fair, it's probably the instinctual thing to do in that situation - hell, film had been doing much the same for decades with the various Universal Monsters match-ups through to stuff like Godzilla vs King Kong, and comics had been doing it for yonks too - and it seems like trying to get a really good story out of that "what if X met Y?" setup is pretty tough, never mind trying to do it in a 15-page short for a yearbook. Even some of the more feted recent Dredd team-ups/meet-ups struggle, IMO - a one panel/one episode gag doesn't necessarily work as well over multiple episodes.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Link Prime on 26 April, 2016, 10:04:37 AM
Quote from: The Amstor Computer on 25 April, 2016, 01:06:51 PM
Quote from: The monarch on 25 April, 2016, 12:40:43 PMWhat else is in childhoods end aside from the obvious?

Running order is:

Reasons to be Cheerful
The Witch? Report
Childhood's End
Voyage of the Seeker
Postcards from the Edge
Postcard to Myself

Cover Gallery (Meg 2.14, 2.51 and 2.73)
Growing Pains (text piece on Anderson's "adolescence" as Grant developed the character from "Engram" through "Childhood's End" and "Postcards..." to Anderson's return to the big Meg)

I'd forgotten quite how much I had disliked Steve Sampson's art (play spot-the-Loaded-pinup at home, folks!) but it was lovely to revisit Kev Walker's run on Anderson, and Tony Luke's episodes of "Postcards..." are interesting - not entirely to my taste, but unique and phantasmagoric, and it's a shame Luke didn't live to see them get another outing.

I've only been tempted by the irresistible Necropolis and Koburn collections so far this year, but I think that's another dead cert for a cherry pick.
That run of Anderson stories was perhaps the last time I truly enjoyed the character.
Some fantastic artwork to boot.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 26 April, 2016, 10:29:37 AM
The only thing I find a pity with the Anderson books is that the flow of her journey's been split. One of the finest Anderson moments for me is actually one of Dredd's, when he [spoiler]apologies at the end of Satan for, essentially, being a massive shit to Anderson when she returned, saying their perceived friendship was his tolerance for her defective personality. "I was wrong. I apologise." One of Grant's best. The impact isn't so strong when the strips are read out of order[/spoiler].

In a more general sense, it's interesting how these books are building up into a broadly coherent collection of Dreddworld. Odd to see so many black and white strips at the back of the Missionary Man stuff though. (Hey, those are great strips and all, but they feel a bit "How do we fill the rest of this book?" Mind you, that beats the Marvel collection, which didn't bother, resulting in some weirdly skinny volumes.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 26 April, 2016, 10:48:52 AM
Kids these days, if it's not in colour they're not interested. 😉
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 26 April, 2016, 11:54:11 AM
Ha! Well, I'mm all for black and white, and also classic strips. They just feel tacked on in this particular book. (Also, I'm so going to have to make myself an index on Lulu or something when this is all done, just to be able to find everything.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 26 April, 2016, 12:08:12 PM
I just read the Rennie interview in the back of the MM book. Amusingly brutal throughout, as have many of these interviews been. It's quite the contrast from the Marvel books, which would have you believe that every single strip within was the BEST THING EVER. Refreshing, but probably a bit weird for a newcomer. ("Hey, that book you just bought and read? Shit, isn't it?")
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 29 April, 2016, 01:40:10 AM
Quite enjoyed this book.  I'd read Childhood's End before, but only the once.  It's a decent enough story if a bit uneven in it's pacing, but I've read a lot worse.  From what I can see it's a definite turning point for Anderson and it is nice to see a different side to Orlok rather than the pantomime villain style that too often happens with bad guys.

So what is the next book.  Also, there is a story where Orlok returns to MC-1 in search of Anderson, does anyone know what that is called and if it will be in any of these books as I only ever managed to read part of it.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: teckno viking on 29 April, 2016, 06:45:44 AM
Jade, you mean the Orlok return and seeks Anderson as he readies for DOOMSDAY on DREDD?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 29 April, 2016, 09:48:36 AM
The next volume is Missionary Man: Goin' South. The first part of the Doomsday arc has appeared in volume 42 with the rest to follow soon.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Colin YNWA on 29 April, 2016, 07:55:05 PM
Out of interest does anybody know the content of that one 'Goin' South' love me some Missionary Man but thing I'm missing some of the later Meg stuff?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 29 April, 2016, 08:35:13 PM
Amstor posted it on the previous page.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 29 April, 2016, 08:53:48 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 26 April, 2016, 12:08:12 PM
I just read the Rennie interview in the back of the MM book. Amusingly brutal throughout, as have many of these interviews been. It's quite the contrast from the Marvel books, which would have you believe that every single strip within was the BEST THING EVER. Refreshing, but probably a bit weird for a newcomer. ("Hey, that book you just bought and read? Shit, isn't it?")

A hardback collection of 'You're Next, Punk' from the Meg's true golden age would go down nicely, although at about 20 pages total you'd probably have to commission some new rants...

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Colin YNWA on 29 April, 2016, 09:18:14 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 29 April, 2016, 08:35:13 PM
Amstor posted it on the previous page.

What and you actually expect me to look for myself. Can't you copy and paste it for me... God alright I'll go and look myself then... storms off huffing and puffing

THANKS!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 29 April, 2016, 11:20:58 PM
Quote from: Colin_YNWA on 29 April, 2016, 09:18:14 PMCan't you copy and paste it for me
it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 01 May, 2016, 09:46:26 PM
Childhood's End has a variety of artwork across the board, but I think it works for the stories and ideas Grant wanted to explore at the time. The only one I couldn't get on with was Xuasus, it seemed a bit muddied to me, but whether that was in the reproduction I don't know.

The Facebook page has posted some forthcoming issue info:

The Taxidermist will be in Issue 43.
The first Armitage book will be Issue 56
Fast Food will feature in Issue 61.

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 01 May, 2016, 10:23:05 PM
So far the collection has had a good number of stories I haven't read before which is always good.  I've asked before, but does anyone know if Helltreckers will be in the collection as it's part of the 'universe'?

I imagine as well that we might get the Captain Skank story, although I'm not sure how well it's regarded.  I've only ever read it the once.  In addition I imagine we'll get The Judge Child and at least some other Angel Gang stories?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 01 May, 2016, 10:31:14 PM
Judge Child has already been confirmed as #69.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: O Lucky Stevie! on 02 May, 2016, 02:45:53 AM
(https://rogermooresmovienation.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/williams.jpg)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 02 May, 2016, 08:24:45 AM
Personally I would have to say that Captain Skank is an important story as part of the build up to the Apocalypse War.  The same with Battle of the Black Atlantic.  A Sov Block volume would certainly make sense, particularly from a historical perspective.  Those stories were very much of their time and reflect some of the major themes and concerns of the time.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richard on 02 May, 2016, 09:15:54 AM
Helltrekkers was awful. It even made Tharg's own list of the worst stories to appear in the prog (in a SF special). It's a mega collection, not a complete collection of everything ever printed.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 02 May, 2016, 10:53:53 AM
Quote from: Tjm86 on 02 May, 2016, 08:24:45 AM
Personally I would have to say that Captain Skank is an important story as part of the build up to the Apocalypse War.  The same with Battle of the Black Atlantic.  A Sov Block volume would certainly make sense, particularly from a historical perspective.  Those stories were very much of their time and reflect some of the major themes and concerns of the time.

They'd go well with the Luna-1stuff.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 02 May, 2016, 12:37:02 PM
The Luna 1 stuff crossed my mind but I thought that was being covered in another volume chronicling Dresd's Lunar Marshall Tour (amongst other things).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Michael Knight on 07 May, 2016, 02:33:06 AM
Hi ya folks!

Now we this this far into the mega collection what does everyone think of the chances of a 2000ad based part work coming to fruition?  :) 
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 07 May, 2016, 08:52:46 AM
Quote from: Michael Knight on 07 May, 2016, 02:33:06 AM
Hi ya folks!

Now we this this far into the mega collection what does everyone think of the chances of a 2000ad based part work coming to fruition?  :)

That would be awesome, there's such a wealth of non-Dredd material to go at. Where I'd find the shelf space for such a thing is another question entirely  :)

So what would be on everyone's wish list for inclusion? My starting list would be:

Belardinelli/McMahon Slaine
Strontium Dog: Portrait of a Mutant & Rage
Halo Jones
Bad Company
Killing Time

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 07 May, 2016, 11:09:41 AM
I'm not sure if a 2000ad General partworks would work. There are so many epic multi-part stories, would nemesis or zenith appear in its entirety or have to be truncated? I'd love to see which stories made the cut and what back up stories would be included. I just feel unlike the mega collection & to a lesser degree marvel, a 2000ad collection would lack any coherence. Of course I'd buy it in a flash!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 07 May, 2016, 02:55:06 PM
I'd be amazed if 2000 AD in and of itself had the clout for such a collection. But you could I think very easily do a, say, 60-book collection with nothing but bloody amazing stories that also happen to work well as standalone volumes (something that was more of an issue with the Marvel one).

Quote from: robert_ellis on 07 May, 2016, 11:09:41 AMwould nemesis or zenith appear in its entirety or have to be truncated?
I suppose it depends on how much of a story is deemed relevant to the collection and people's enjoyment. For example, you could conceivably run a couple of Sláine volumes and get a lot out of that. Nemesis—the first four books would be two 'partwork' volumes. If the entire run was included, it'd need four or five. Something like Nikolai Dante would be tougher, I imagine, since it reads as one long epic. Fun to think about though!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moly on 07 May, 2016, 03:43:39 PM
God  no my book cases couldn't take it, mind you could always get a new book case
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 08 May, 2016, 01:22:56 AM
Quote from: Tjm86 on 02 May, 2016, 12:37:02 PM
The Luna 1 stuff crossed my mind but I thought that was being covered in another volume chronicling Dresd's Lunar Marshall Tour (amongst other things).

Of course one possibility is an 'Intro to East Meg' style book, where you have both the Luna-1 stories, Captain Skank and any other early bits to tie them together.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 08 May, 2016, 06:49:20 AM
That would certainly make sense.  Although having Gulag printed in a recent volume I think that one has been missed.  I think the page count on the Luna 1 stories is enough in itself.  I can't see them printing the same story twice.  Maybe just referencing.  Mind you, I may have my wires crossed and be thinking of one of Rebellion's B format GN's here. 
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 08 May, 2016, 04:23:04 PM
The thing is the luna 1 stories are getting a book to itself
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Legendary Shark on 08 May, 2016, 05:04:11 PM
Quote from: The Legendary Shark on 05 February, 2015, 07:53:43 PM

I hope they don't get to Issue 68 and then announce it was always supposed to be part of a wider, 160 part series. Don't do that, Tharg, just... don't.
.


Quote from: The Legendary Shark on 05 February, 2015, 08:13:11 PM

And although I don't want them to pull that trick again, I kinda' do. Just don't sneak it up on us, is all.

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Michael Knight on 11 May, 2016, 06:10:58 PM
Hiya folks,

What's the verdict on the missionary man volume! Haven't had time to pick up a copy today yet but eager to being big fan of this character. Just wondered if anyone subscribing has read through this yet? :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 11 May, 2016, 08:03:06 PM
My second favourite volume after Cursed Earth Koburn, but then I have a soft spot a mile wide for Cursed Earth 'Western' stories. Thrilled that we are getting 2 more volumes which will give us most of the stories.
Despite Rennie's comments Alex Ronald's art is among my favourite in 2000AD, looking forward to lots of Simon Davis, Dean Ormston and Colin MacNeil (ok and Frank Quitely for the nth time for completeness).
In short, if you like the Western feel to a Dreddverse story it won't disappoint although earlier stories were more obviously of that genre.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Michael Knight on 11 May, 2016, 08:33:47 PM
Cheers Trent really looking forward to hopefully picking this up tomorrow. Like you I too a big fan of the 'Western' influenced Dredd stories!  :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 14 May, 2016, 10:19:41 PM
Missionary Man...what to say.  The character seems interesting but at the same time I feel like I've missed certain things.  This might be because there are still two preceding volumes to come out.  I had read the Hotdog Run story before and it's still decent, and also enjoyed the shanty town story, though the Strato-V looked like a different design than the ones from the Apocalypse War.

I've mentioned Helltreckers before and it seems to be considered pretty poor, but what does anyone think if there had been a darker, more modern version of the story written with less silly moments.  For instance in the original story, I would imagine the convoy leader would vet who he would allow with him, so those hillbilly type bad family wouldn't be there.

Back to Missionary Man, the thing that jarred with me was how much of a bunch of douchebags Texas City seemed to have become.  My only real prior experience with them was mentions in Angel Gang storylines and the Apocalypse War where you had the stereotypical Chief Judge with a stetson.  Here, the Texas City Judges overall seem to be pretty corrupt.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richard on 14 May, 2016, 10:50:52 PM
I liked that the Texan judges were very different to the MC1 judges, instead of just being the same people on funny hats.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Michael Knight on 14 May, 2016, 11:52:58 PM
so Helltrekkers Is included in this volume?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 15 May, 2016, 06:27:13 AM
Quote from: Jade Falcon on 14 May, 2016, 10:19:41 PM
Missionary Man...what to say.  The character seems interesting but at the same time I feel like I've missed certain things.  This might be because there are still two preceding volumes to come out.

I flicked through and read the text pieces and parts of the Redondo one.  Then I decided, for the first time in the series, to wait until I had the two preceding volumes and read them in order.

I guess the thing we need to remember with HellTreckers is that it is very much of it's time.  Although tooth was growing up, it was still aimed primarily at kids and written with that in mind.  Granted the calibre of story telling was much more mature and you very rarely saw so many cliches thrown together in one story.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Spikes on 15 May, 2016, 12:56:29 PM
Just re-reading Necropolis - thanks to the Mega Collection. And it's a tale I've been keen to re-visit.

Didn't much care for this tale at the time (well, not exactly at the time - I had to wait a wee while before I did get to read it..), but so far so good. And King Carlos' art is just stunning.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 15 May, 2016, 03:48:17 PM
Helltrekkers is not in this volume its all mm aside from a few older dredd cursed earth tales
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 15 May, 2016, 05:44:07 PM
Interesting to read the third volume of Missionary Man first. Despite Mr Rennie's comments I think Alex Ronald's art brings atmosphere to the stories, reminding me of Arthur Ranson at times. It'll be interesting to compare the corrupt Texas City here with the story currently developing in the Prog.

Nice to see some Jesus Redondo work here, a solid rather than flashy artist, and too often unsung for his work on Nemesis.

True Grit is fun, Cain and Dredd playing off each other well.

Lonesome Dave is pretty throwaway, but John Burns' take on Dredd is always good.

And some Ron Smith classics to round off the volume, which a lot of people have been asking for. Hoping the collection will include more of these, such as The Graveyard Shift, Bob & Carol & Ted & Ringo, and the original Nosferatu story - the Total War volume has already included the sequel.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Max Headroom on 15 May, 2016, 05:48:44 PM
I understand there are going to be three 'Missionary Man' volumes in total. Does anyone know whether this will include all his stories?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 15 May, 2016, 05:50:24 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 15 May, 2016, 05:44:07 PM
And some Ron Smith classics to round off the volume, which a lot of people have been asking for. Hoping the collection will include more of these, such as... the original Nosferatu story - the Total War volume has already included the sequel.

The Total War follow-up is actually the sequel to the Megazine Nosferatu story by Wagner and Hicklenton - they're both about the same creature. The Nosferatu in the Ron Smith story doesn't make it out alive!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 15 May, 2016, 09:08:40 PM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 15 May, 2016, 05:50:24 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 15 May, 2016, 05:44:07 PM
And some Ron Smith classics to round off the volume, which a lot of people have been asking for. Hoping the collection will include more of these, such as... the original Nosferatu story - the Total War volume has already included the sequel.

The Total War follow-up is actually the sequel to the Megazine Nosferatu story by Wagner and Hicklenton - they're both about the same creature. The Nosferatu in the Ron Smith story doesn't make it out alive!

Ah, ok. Hopefully they'll reprint the Hicklenton story too.

The Facebook page has posted the cover for issue 38, the second Low Life volume. Credited are Rob Williams, D'Israeli, Henry Flint and Smudge. Presume this will collect all the remaining LL stories, but Henry Flint's have already appeared. Any ideas?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 15 May, 2016, 10:39:01 PM
Yeah, I was wondering the same re Henry. Looked at Barney but nothing jumped out. That said, the remaining Low Life stories are only 160 odd pages so there might be a bonus Dredd story. Anyone got any better ideas?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 15 May, 2016, 11:06:25 PM
I would assume all of mm will get a showing. This volume alone covers his entire time in 2000ad apart from a mega epic length story. Other than that all thats left to reprint is whats already been reprinted a few unreprinted stories leading into this book and the last ever mm story
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 15 May, 2016, 11:53:41 PM
Don't think we'll get everything re Missionary Man. I reckon there's a furter 394 pages left which would be at the upper end of page counts for 2 volumes. As demonstrated in Goin' South they are happy to mix in some Dredd. I could see a mixture in the other two volumes with some Cursed Earth Dredd stories included (eg Damned Ranger, Relentless). As long as we get Bad Moon Rising, The Simon Davis megazine tales and Promised Land then I'll be happy.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 16 May, 2016, 10:11:01 AM
There's very little variation in the page counts of these books (unlike the Marvel series). 200-page books are about the norm, aren't they? On that basis, I'd imagine we'll get the bulk of the series if it's spanning three books.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Michael Knight on 18 May, 2016, 07:52:00 PM
Just picked up missionary man volume and im impressed. Just would love to see all Missionary man stories collected in glorious hardback! I'm glad I have stuck with this collection as I think its great value for money and much better than the marvel/dc graphic novel collection. However I far one would happily see the mega collection continued beyond the proposed 80 volumes. I know that been a criticism of the marvel series but with Dredd at least I know it wouldn't be taking up unnecessary shelving storage space.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 18 May, 2016, 08:03:47 PM
I think the problem with the Marvel series was the way in which it was handled and the content. The add-ons were all 'classic' series, which proved divisive in a serious predominantly about relatively new material. Also, it just happened at one point, which rather pissed people off.

With Dredd, it's hard to tell. Frankly, I think 80 volumes is probably pushing it in terms of quality. I'd hate to see another 40 volumes if a lot of it would be filler.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: teckno viking on 18 May, 2016, 08:25:59 PM
Thing Is some epic Stand Alone one/two prog stories and do we know if they plan to touch them?

Death of a Legend & Raggity Man for instant.  I know DEADMAN has been covered but surely a volume of other Judges, life on the streets, Rookie, Long walk could easily be done.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 18 May, 2016, 09:04:02 PM
This is my angle; the 80 volumes are filling up fast when you look at what has already been confirmed leaving a wealth of the shorter Prog and Meg Dredd stories not included. Everyone will differ on their views of what they like included (I've never liked Armitage which is 2 volumes) but scouring Barney only 50 to 60% of Dreddverse material will be ultimately included so I could see another 20 volumes of high quality output being easily achievable. I like the themed volumes such as Target: Judge Dredd and think you could happily pull together a run of these volumes.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Michael Knight on 18 May, 2016, 09:07:23 PM
That's what im hoping for too! I really pinching myself still that we have got a Dredd partwork! It funny as got mates buying this who never into 200ad or meg. Would really love to this collection expanded into different countries as think it really pick up new fans!  :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 19 May, 2016, 10:38:11 AM
Quote from: Trent on 18 May, 2016, 09:04:02 PMThis is my angle; the 80 volumes are filling up fast when you look at what has already been confirmed leaving a wealth of the shorter Prog and Meg Dredd stories not included.
But that doesn't necessarily mean they won't be collected, either in themed books or as filler in other volumes. For example, the third Missionary Man includes a bunch of Cursed Earth stories.

I suppose my thinking with this is it's already 80 volumes, so 20 more than the original Marvel run — and many of the books are bigger, too. So this is a pretty substantial run. In addition, there's a lot of crap in the Dreddverse, some of which will undoubtedly make it into the collection (well, some already has — the Heavy Mob book being the most risible); if someone wants to be exhaustive, the case files are perhaps a better purchase.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Anzati on 19 May, 2016, 11:06:07 AM
I still maintain that an extension for the Mega Collection is planned and has been from the start in the same way that the Marvel set was. Just look at the spine image; on the right volume 80 has an end to the line up with no character having any parts cut off. However look at the left with volume 1 and the image is clearly cut. This image was commissioned specifically for the collection, so it just doesn't make sense for the lack of balance (the position of Dredd walking the line is also a consideration, but I haven't yet counted this to see).

This collection seems to follow the same pattern as the Marvel collection in that it starts as a 60 volume set and later gets expanded by 20 volumes on each end that complete the spine image. The Mega Collection was already expanded by 20 volumes on the right from 60 to 80 between the test release and the full release. I fully expect another 20 volumes to be announced sometime around issue 60...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 19 May, 2016, 11:22:12 AM
Not sure about the logic re the spine image but I would love another 20 volumes. Sure there is a lot of dross but those announced have some merit (usually the artwork - Inferno) and there will be much we will be missing. For those who like the completeness aspect I agree re the Case Files but I might not have another 15 years to get the best recent stuff. Also, what about the Dreddverse stories as we will be short of chunks of characters (Armitage would fill 3 volumes if you add in the Treasure Steel stories for example and clearly a good proportion of Anderson stories will be missing) although some will be best left alone (Deathwatch anyone?).
I don't want a complete Dreddverse collection but still maintain that 80 volumes, while beyond anything I had ever dreamt of, is not enough to include all the good stuff.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Anzati on 19 May, 2016, 11:29:30 AM
That seems to have been the logic for the Marvel series... I posted a comparison image at the bottom of page 51 of this tread a while ago ;)

I've just taken another look and adding another 20 volumes to the left of the collection would indeed put Dredd right in the centre of the image instead of being 20 volumes to the left of centre as he stands at the moment...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Legendary Shark on 19 May, 2016, 12:00:37 PM
My point was to please not do it like Marvel did - around Volume 62, don't just plonk the SD Addendum, Vol 17, into the mix with no prior warning. That was a cynical trick. If there are going to be more (and I hope there are), at least let us finish the first set before cracking on with something else.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 19 May, 2016, 03:10:13 PM
We're due to move 'up North' shortly and having got the Colin MacNeil print for the cost of postage thought a framed set of the prints would suit my new den. Having messaged Hachette twice without response To see what I need to do to upgrade my subscription I am now torn between phoning them or just letting it go out of sheer irritation. Do these companies not want my money?
Obviously I realise the whole 'accidental' inclusion of the print for free was a ruse to tempt people to upgrade but I was genuinely surprised at the quality of the finished article.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 19 May, 2016, 03:16:40 PM
Okay Anzati, I'll bite. Assuming 20 more volumes to extend the picture to the left what Dreddverse characters would be added to the image? Based on the current picture let's assume 10 more.
Giant
Griffin
Sisters of Death
Kazan

Over to the board for a bit of fun.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: COMMANDO FORCES on 19 May, 2016, 03:31:35 PM
Will these books be numbered minus one , minus two, etc...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moldovangerbil on 19 May, 2016, 03:46:39 PM
Quote from: Trent on 19 May, 2016, 03:10:13 PM
Having messaged Hachette twice without response To see what I need to do to upgrade my subscription I am now torn between phoning them or just letting it go out of sheer irritation.

I've had far better results phoning them than emailing them although it does seem to depend a little bit on who you speak to.  They messed up my upgrade originally as well, but it got sorted in the end so it's worth persevering.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: James Stacey on 19 May, 2016, 03:57:22 PM
Quote from: COMMANDO FORCES on 19 May, 2016, 03:31:35 PM
Will these books be numbered minus one , minus two, etc...
The marvel ones just used roman numerals and the 'classics' tag. Just think of the lovely 'the creep', 'pan African judges', 'cal hab justice' and those minimalist Hershey stories (where she got shot _every_ week) they could give a second outing too. In all seriousness though there have been some cracking stories since the collection started, and others they wouldn't have included at the time due to the possible closeness to planned trades.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 19 May, 2016, 04:56:00 PM
Despite being in no rush to see them again, I wonder if the Pan African Judges stories will be included with Fetish. Unfortunately given the location, artist and combined page count it looks feasible.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 20 May, 2016, 01:05:16 AM
Preeeeety sure cal hab justice was confirmed for this series
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Michael Knight on 20 May, 2016, 09:42:59 AM
Cal Hab is definitely in this collection!  :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 20 May, 2016, 09:44:05 AM
Yup, vol 57. No offence to those involved but it never grabbed ne and I even dumped the floppy when it turned up. Are they worth revisiting (non-Jocks only need reply) 😉
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Anzati on 20 May, 2016, 02:17:51 PM
Quote from: Trent on 19 May, 2016, 03:16:40 PM
Okay Anzati, I'll bite. Assuming 20 more volumes to extend the picture to the left what Dreddverse characters would be added to the image? Based on the current picture let's assume 10 more.
Giant
Griffin
Sisters of Death
Kazan

Over to the board for a bit of fun.

I hadn't thought that much about it :P

Mrs. Gunderson
Call-Me-Kenneth
Maria
Max Normal
Tweak
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 20 May, 2016, 05:06:35 PM
All good,
Spikes Harvey Rotten
Armon Gill
Joyce
Vienna

(Banzai Battallion as an extra)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 21 May, 2016, 03:05:10 AM
I personally thought once they ditched the comedy scots angle and got serious calhab was a pretty good series in a pretty shit time in the meg
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: GordonR on 21 May, 2016, 05:58:08 AM
Quote from: Trent on 20 May, 2016, 09:44:05 AM
Yup, vol 57. No offence to those involved but it never grabbed ne and I even dumped the floppy when it turned up. Are they worth revisiting (non-Jocks only need reply) 😉

It started as lightweight comedy jocks in kilts stuff and ended on a weird and disjointed lurch into Vertigo Comics type psycho-horror, but Calhab Justice never seemed like a series comfortable in its own skin.

[spoiler]That every other subsequent Dredd story using Calhab ignored the fact this series destroyed Calhab as a location tells its own story.[/spoiler]
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 21 May, 2016, 07:00:05 AM
That was always my take on it Gordon, I tried to keep with it on its initial run but it never really felt part of the Dreddverse Sadly this is something I would also apply to the otherwise redoubtable Dave Stone for Brit-Cit in Armitage; the revision currently underway by Mike Carroll is another Prog slap to it. Too many stereotypes and cliches to make it English rather than a genuine future society a la MC1 where the quirks and national traits arise naturally. I have always thought it a strength in Strontium Dog that you have to remind yourself Johnny is English.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: GordonR on 21 May, 2016, 07:13:19 AM
I thought Armitage worked well as a conscious move away from the foreign Mega-Cities = Judges in national stereotype outfits stuff that there was far too much of in those days.  (Judges in kilts. FFS...)

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 21 May, 2016, 07:41:50 AM
Fair enough, I take your point to a degree although the Brit Cit uniforms (which are excellent) were set back in Atlantis and all the inbred Royal nonsense was lazy and old hat in my view. That said, there were aspects I did like (including Sean's art obviously)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 21 May, 2016, 09:04:30 AM
Exactly Gordon kilts...yeesh
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 21 May, 2016, 09:05:12 AM
Armitage never quite seems to fully deliver on its huge potential, but after the more tenuously-linked Devlin it's my favourite Dreddworld strip. Stone gave BritCit a distinct identity to go along with McCarthy's magnificent designs, and while hampered a bit by the fact that TB Grover's  MC-1 is already largely a parody of Britain, he exaggerates all sorts of English tropes in a fun way. I don't really see Carroll's version as doing anything but adding to that fun.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mardroid on 21 May, 2016, 02:55:00 PM
Quote from: The monarch on 21 May, 2016, 09:04:30 AM
Exactly Gordon kilts...yeesh

They worked against the enemy in Carry on up the Khyber.

Okay, maybe that's not a good argument for that uniform.

:lol:
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: I, Cosh on 21 May, 2016, 06:10:33 PM
Quote from: GordonR on 21 May, 2016, 05:58:08 AM
Quote from: Trent on 20 May, 2016, 09:44:05 AM
Yup, vol 57. No offence to those involved but it never grabbed ne and I even dumped the floppy when it turned up. Are they worth revisiting (non-Jocks only need reply) 😉
It started as lightweight comedy jocks in kilts stuff and ended on a weird and disjointed lurch into Vertigo Comics type psycho-horror, but Calhab Justice never seemed like a series comfortable in its own skin.
I'm not going to try and claim it as some forgotten classic but, when I finally read Cal Hab Justice a couple of years ago, the thing that struck me about it was that it wasn't a one note thing like, say, Shimura. At first, they'd tried to imitate the range of tones you get in Dredd. At the very least, there was a comedy one, a political one and an introspective character one before it went all Akira.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Michael Knight on 21 May, 2016, 07:01:48 PM
I cant wait for Cal-Hab justice volume!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 21 May, 2016, 07:52:53 PM
That's the beauty of 2000AD, it's a broad church - room for all views and preferences
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Michael Knight on 21 May, 2016, 09:25:39 PM
never a truer word said.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 22 May, 2016, 02:37:44 AM
Despite enjoying the strip, if you really wanted OTT national stereotypes look at Harlem Heroes and some segments of the old Bill Savage story, the original Invasion.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dash Decent on 22 May, 2016, 03:10:47 AM
Quote from: Trent on 21 May, 2016, 07:41:50 AM
Fair enough, I take your point to a degree although the Brit Cit uniforms (which are excellent)

I hate the overly-tall helmets.  I know it's meant to tie back to modern-day bobbies police (pith) helmets, but I think it just looks awful.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 22 May, 2016, 09:42:54 AM
Quote from: Dash Decent on 22 May, 2016, 03:10:47 AM
Quote from: Trent on 21 May, 2016, 07:41:50 AM
Fair enough, I take your point to a degree although the Brit Cit uniforms (which are excellent)

I hate the overly-tall helmets.  I know it's meant to tie back to modern-day bobbies police (pith) helmets, but I think it just looks awful.

What's up with some of them having blue stars on their chins?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion threa
Post by: Trent on 22 May, 2016, 09:59:33 AM
I think you just have to go with some elements of the designs, they are all ridiculous in truth; in any vaguely realistic future all countries uniforms would be generic and virtually identical as is happening with police uniforms now. I think they are part of the fun (apart from the kilts obviously).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Steve Green on 22 May, 2016, 10:03:03 AM
Something from Brendan I guess - not sure if it would have come from John. Although I seem to remember them being called a beauty patch in one strip.

Maybe it was a shorthand for Brit Cit being more relaxed than the sticklers in MC-1.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mardroid on 22 May, 2016, 10:08:01 AM
I would think a star was more likely to be an American affectation than British though.

Even the Megacity judges have them on their badges and belt buckles. Depending on the artist, of course.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 22 May, 2016, 10:16:26 AM
I spotted them in Doomsday. Thought perhaps it was to make it easier to tell MC1 and Brit cit judges apart when not wearing helmets.

Fun detail nonetheless.

Read Necropolis the other day. To no surprise, I really like it. Thought it felt a bit more focused as well with it only being Wagner and Ezquerra. Will be reading Dead man today, and then on backwards till the heart of it all, America :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: GordonR on 22 May, 2016, 12:52:50 PM
Quote from: Jade Falcon on 22 May, 2016, 02:37:44 AM
Despite enjoying the strip, if you really wanted OTT national stereotypes look at Harlem Heroes and some segments of the old Bill Savage story, the original Invasion.

Gypsy Jake, the swarthy-skinned, untrustworthy, cowardly, sell-out-the-Resistance-at-the-first-flash-of a-bit-of-Volg-gold traitor?  Nope.  Nothing dodgy going on there.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: JayzusB.Christ on 22 May, 2016, 01:05:50 PM
Quote from: GordonR on 21 May, 2016, 07:13:19 AM
I thought Armitage worked well as a conscious move away from the foreign Mega-Cities = Judges in national stereotype outfits stuff that there was far too much of in those days.  (Judges in kilts. FFS...)

Me too. In fact I loved Dave Stone's take on Brit Cit; it had a very, very detailed and well-thought out culture of its own.  Crime was tackled very differently there from MC1 methods of brute force:  The criminals were an intrinsic part of the system and had to be dealt with with the careful use of politics and diplomacy.  Even the division of the city into its differing zones was planned methodically by Stone; as were the differing strata of social classes and their respective dialects.  I only ever read one of those Virgin Dredd novels - can't remember the name but it was a Dredd / Armitage crossover and I was highly impressed. (The Crimelords having helped build Brit Cit and [spoiler]embedding bombs in the city's foundations as insurance[/spoiler] was a stroke of genius.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richard on 22 May, 2016, 06:26:05 PM
That was Deathmasques, Stone's first and best JD novel.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: teckno viking on 22 May, 2016, 09:55:30 PM
Currently reading this novel and enjoying it :D
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: teckno viking on 22 May, 2016, 10:15:02 PM
With that, what about a MC full of Armitage?? Plus any Brit Cit saga's NOT covered yet?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 23 May, 2016, 06:24:42 AM
Armitage is getting two volumes
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: teckno viking on 23 May, 2016, 11:47:42 AM
Excellent news :D
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 24 May, 2016, 10:54:13 PM
Anyone received PJ and Doomsday yet? Expected them on Monday based on past performance and was very surprised when they didn't turn up today either; Maybe tomorrow (see what I did there).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moldovangerbil on 25 May, 2016, 07:55:52 AM
Nowt here either.  Also hoping for today!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 25 May, 2016, 08:32:43 AM
Gotta be honest, I don't keep track of the books. It's a nice surprise when they turn up although the last 10 volumes still have their shrink wrap on them.
Title: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Arkwright99 on 25 May, 2016, 09:11:33 AM
Mine have arrived today. (My wife opened them thinking they were something else.)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 25 May, 2016, 09:41:43 AM
Cool, hopefully that means they'll turn up. Does the PJ volume have the Peter Dherty and Ben Oliver stories; I'm suspecting not based on front cover credits and page count but it would be a shame as they are important in showing PJ's escape to South America. One of the minor prices we pay for the set format of the collection I guess.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 25 May, 2016, 10:01:10 AM
Yep, as if just by mentioning their name, mine have just arrived too.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 25 May, 2016, 10:47:00 AM
The PJ volume is a wonderful thing, goes all the way to the Christmas episode: a must-have.  Picked it up with the Prog this morn and have already snuck off for two surreptitious reads.  Does appear to have one ghastly unforgiveable omission (shakes fist at sky, "MOLCHERRRR!"), probably because it's already bursting at the seams.  Anyone care to guess what's missing...?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thre
Post by: Trent on 25 May, 2016, 10:56:19 AM
Based on the cover credits either one of Liam Sharp's early tales or Wot I did during Necropolis
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Molch-R on 25 May, 2016, 11:07:28 AM
Quote from: Tordelback on 25 May, 2016, 10:47:00 AM
Does appear to have one ghastly unforgiveable omission (shakes fist at sky, "MOLCHERRRR!")

Please direct any complaints about the book's contents to the editor of the series, Matt Smith ;)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 25 May, 2016, 11:15:41 AM
I'm presuming that anything post Emphatically Evil will be in the Tour of Duty volumes which as far as I can tell have not been mentioned anywhere as part of the collection. Unthinkable they won't be and I'm hpoing for 3 volumes (46  to 48) so it includes the later PJ story and some of the non-Wagner material omitted from the Rebellion trades.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 25 May, 2016, 12:58:31 PM
Wow, just received PJ and Doomsday - the two biggest volumes yet including every story I could hope for. I seriously expected some omissions from both due to page count but they clock in around 250 pages each.
PJ has everything up to the Christmas story - I give up, I can't see any omissions
Doomsday includes
Bad Frendz,
Worst of Frendz
Gun Play (yay!)
Scorpion Dance
The Contract
The Narcos Connection
Doomsday
Volt Face
The two Doomsday volumes give a comprehensive collection of the storyline, all we need is an Edgar volume to follow that story thread to its conclusion (I'm expecting we will get this with the Armon Gill stories).
The books might be smaller than the old Titan trades but contain everything you would want to see.
Incidentally, extras in PJ are covers and an interview with Liam Sharp while Doomsday has covers and an interview with someone by the name of David Bishop about how he approached Doomsday given the pagecount and crossover nature.
Wonderful stuff!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 25 May, 2016, 01:06:14 PM
Oh and Tour of Duty confirmed for 3 volumes (46 to 48) in the PJ introduction. Love it when I'm right ...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: DarkDaysBish-OP on 25 May, 2016, 01:28:06 PM
Quote from: Trent on 25 May, 2016, 12:58:31 PM
Wow, just received PJ and Doomsday - the two biggest volumes yet including every story I could hope for. I seriously expected some omissions from both due to page count but they clock in around 250 pages each.
PJ has everything up to the Christmas story - I give up, I can't see any omissions
Doomsday includes
Bad Frendz,
Worst of Frendz
Gun Play (yay!)
Scorpion Dance
The Contract
The Narcos Connection
Doomsday
Volt Face
The two Doomsday volumes give a comprehensive collection of the storyline, all we need is an Edgar volume to follow that story thread to its conclusion (I'm expecting we will get this with the Armon Gill stories).
The books might be smaller than the old Titan trades but contain everything you would want to see.
Incidentally, extras in PJ are covers and an interview with Liam Sharp while Doomsday has covers and an interview with someone by the name of David Bishop about how he approached Doomsday given the pagecount and crossover nature.
Wonderful stuff!

FFS not him again.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 25 May, 2016, 01:56:34 PM
Ohh over 200 pages theres hope for preacher cain yet
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dash Decent on 25 May, 2016, 02:37:52 PM
Quote from: Tordelback on 25 May, 2016, 10:47:00 AM
The PJ volume [...]  Does appear to have one ghastly unforgiveable omission (shakes fist at sky, "MOLCHERRRR!"), probably because it's already bursting at the seams.  Anyone care to guess what's missing...?

A free Inga for every reader?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Southstreeter on 25 May, 2016, 04:39:54 PM
I live in hope of one day clapping eyes on this thing called the Mega Collection. Not seen any anywhere ever, otherwise I might have bought the odd volume. Don't want to subscribe as I have it all already. (I'm in the wilds of CalHab.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jim_Campbell on 25 May, 2016, 04:48:47 PM
Quote from: Southstreeter on 25 May, 2016, 04:39:54 PM
I live in hope of one day clapping eyes on this thing called the Mega Collection. Not seen any anywhere ever, otherwise I might have bought the odd volume. Don't want to subscribe as I have it all already. (I'm in the wilds of CalHab.)

It's noted fairly early in this thread that part-works like these only stay on sale in the high street outlets for as long as it takes to hook enough subscribers to make the line viable. Sending hardbacks out to WH Smith on a sale-or-return basis is probably a loss-making proposition. The idea (I understand) is that they take a beating on the money at the front end of the run and mop it up in the long tail of printing more or less exactly the number of copies they need to meet the subs.

Cheers

Jim
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: COMMANDO FORCES on 25 May, 2016, 04:51:46 PM
I know that this will be no help to you in the wilds of Cal-Hab Southstreeter but London Forbidden Planet has a massive stock on display. I'm sure that would be the equivalent in their Scottish branches. Whenever you are in those areas, make a beeline and see what's in there.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 25 May, 2016, 05:49:48 PM
Plus you can buy individual back issues online. (https://www.hachettepartworks.com/judge-dredd-the-mega-collection)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: COMMANDO FORCES on 25 May, 2016, 05:50:50 PM
There you go :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Southstreeter on 25 May, 2016, 06:14:54 PM
Thanks, folks. I'll try and get to Edinburgh FP next time I'm in town.
Indigo Prime, couldn't get that link to work, and when I tried to track it down via the megacollection site it led to a non-existent page...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 25 May, 2016, 06:17:16 PM
I have collected the Prog since 1978, the Meg since it started, have all the Casefiles, Dredd trades and many Titan volumes but am blown away by the Mega Collection. It is easily the best thematically linked compilation of Dredd stories (take the two just released) and also captures many uncollected Dreddverse tales (Missionary Man, complete Carlos Koburn) etc. For a tenner a pop they are a bargain and then some. I still get the Prog but love getting stories collated like Total War or linked stories like PJ or Stan Lee. So, even though I too have it all already and my wife swore me off any more partworks this was an instant subscription.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 25 May, 2016, 06:21:44 PM
Quote from: Trent on 25 May, 2016, 12:58:31 PM
PJ has everything up to the Christmas story - I give up, I can't see any omissions
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l7xDi7Nk1Bs/TqPIsncd5WI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/YQmDPdGCnNg/s1600/632seemtofitok.jpg)

I am of course being facetious.  The PJ collection is magnificent, and the Doomsday one looks to be as good.  The news that Tour of Duty is going to be three volumes is also fantastic. As has often been remarked, what really sells Dredd's exile is the sheer number of stories set during his time in the townships. I hope 600odd- pages gives us room for a  good selection!

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 25 May, 2016, 06:27:03 PM
I was gonna say that!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 25 May, 2016, 06:30:26 PM
Ah yes, forgotten that gem. They are lovely books, really feels like a definitive version of the stories, although I an obviously getting the uncensored Cursed Earth and anything else that looks pretty or has an extra piece of card for another fiver.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Fungus on 25 May, 2016, 06:34:16 PM
Don't know about Edinburgh's FP but in Glasgow there is always a good display of MC volumes. It's where I cherry pick my own favourites.

Looks like a purple patch coming up too, with PJ, Doomsday, and the Tour of Duty stuff down the line that was always going to be picked up finally and the MC sounds like the time.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: GordonR on 25 May, 2016, 07:29:15 PM
Quote from: Southstreeter on 25 May, 2016, 06:14:54 PM
Thanks, folks. I'll try and get to Edinburgh FP next time I'm in town.
Indigo Prime, couldn't get that link to work, and when I tried to track it down via the megacollection site it led to a non-existent page...

The Scottish branches of FP - and the ones in Ireland, NY and even a few places in England are a completely different company from the rest of the chain.  (Don't ask.  It's long and complicated...)

Just because FP London has lots in still stock is no guarantee the Scottish one's will - different company, different stock-ordering policies.  Your best bet is probably ordering online.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moly on 25 May, 2016, 07:34:39 PM
Looking at wiki page that's about 70 issues announced
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 25 May, 2016, 07:42:34 PM
Quote from: Southstreeter on 25 May, 2016, 06:14:54 PM
Indigo Prime, couldn't get that link to work, and when I tried to track it down via the megacollection site it led to a non-existent page...
Ah, yes, but you weren't factoring in me being a colossal edit and apparently forgetting how the forum software works. It's fixed now. Or just click here (https://www.hachettepartworks.com/judge-dredd-the-mega-collection).

Quote from: Trent on 25 May, 2016, 06:17:16 PMFor a tenner a pop they are a bargain and then some.
Mm. That's what gets me about these books. They compare very favourably to volumes that usually cost 5–10 quid more.

Incidentally, on back issues, it'd be interesting to know how you'd cherry pick from that's there. Right now, I can only think of a couple of volumes that were broadly iffy (Heavy Mob; Klegg Hai!), and a couple I wasn't fussed about (Shimura; Alien Nations). All the rest have for me ranged from good to pretty bloody excellent.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: I, Cosh on 25 May, 2016, 11:07:46 PM
Quote from: Southstreeter on 25 May, 2016, 06:14:54 PM
Thanks, folks. I'll try and get to Edinburgh FP next time I'm in town.
Indigo Prime, couldn't get that link to work, and when I tried to track it down via the megacollection site it led to a non-existent page...
Edinburgh FP is usually pretty shite for this sort of thing, but Glasgow has the majority of volumes readily available.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 26 May, 2016, 12:40:19 PM
I think I must be going mad but I thought one of PJ's murders had a woman encased in pink jelly. Does anyone know what story this happened in? Driving me nuts.
Cheers
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: teckno viking on 26 May, 2016, 12:42:57 PM
He does indeed kill a woman like that.

  It's the woman who was writing the biography on PJ Maybe if memory serves.
A boy was using the biography to try and replicate PJ Maybe (who now is Mayor).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 26 May, 2016, 12:58:33 PM
Quote from: teckno viking on 26 May, 2016, 12:42:57 PM
He does indeed kill a woman like that.

  It's the woman who was writing the biography on PJ Maybe if memory serves.
A boy was using the biography to try and replicate PJ Maybe (who now is Mayor).

That'd be Emphatically Evil Progs 1569-1575. Basically the next story after the Christmas one that closes out the volume. Probably could fit into the first Tour of Duty volume.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 26 May, 2016, 01:55:55 PM
Ah yes, thanks. I have no doubt it will be included.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 26 May, 2016, 04:08:45 PM
The cover of Inferno revealed on the FB page

https://www.facebook.com/judgedreddcollection/photos/a.1523545327903270.1073741828.1517847991806337/1719907734933694/?type=3&theater
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 26 May, 2016, 04:20:32 PM
Miller on the cover, so that assumes Purgatory's in there too. At least all that garbage is in one book. I hope the other one that month can take away from the stench.

EDIT: Ah, the other book's 'Lowlife: Hostile Takeover', which is very much at the other end of the quality scale.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Southstreeter on 26 May, 2016, 06:22:38 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 25 May, 2016, 07:42:34 PM
Quote from: Southstreeter on 25 May, 2016, 06:14:54 PM
Indigo Prime, couldn't get that link to work, and when I tried to track it down via the megacollection site it led to a non-existent page...
Ah, yes, but you weren't factoring in me being a colossal edit and apparently forgetting how the forum software works. It's fixed now. Or just click here (https://www.hachettepartworks.com/judge-dredd-the-mega-collection).

Thanks! Will have a look.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 26 May, 2016, 06:22:44 PM
Purgatory and Inferno have wonderful Carlos art. Complete nonsense that aside of course but I've always found them readable purely due to the art. As you say though, it might be handy getting dross Dredd in a single volume given the other stories (50 plus pages) look to be Garth Ennis/ Carlos productions (Death Aid, Return of the King, Taking of Sector 123 and/or Christmas with Attitude). Let me know if I've missed any.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 26 May, 2016, 10:03:15 PM
Opinions are clearly divided on Inferno. I don't have good memories of it, but am kind of looking forward to reading it again, for Carlos' art if nothing else.

So, and in the light of recent stories  what are the best Dredd tales not written by Wagner, Grant or Mills?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 26 May, 2016, 10:24:36 PM
Guilty pleasures include the Jonni Kiss/Marshals stories (shame the Marshals was not included in Target:Judge Dredd volume, lovely Sean Phillips art), Raider, Darkside (apart from Alan Craddock's 'contribution'), Gordon's substantial run built up beautifully but I believe he had other fish to fry so it never really got to pay off, Served Cold I really enjoyed, Monkey on my Back was good Ennis, recently Trifecta and Titan and The Cop was fun.
Quite a few but the real gems were by the man himself.
Any other suggestions or disagreements?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 26 May, 2016, 10:27:18 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 26 May, 2016, 10:03:15 PM
Opinions are clearly divided on Inferno. I don't have good memories of it, but am kind of looking forward to reading it again, for Carlos' art if nothing else.

So, and in the light of recent stories  what are the best Dredd tales not written by Wagner, Grant or Mills?

Almost everything by Ewing, an awful lot of Rob Williams' stuff and a good half of Ennis, for a start.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 26 May, 2016, 10:54:02 PM
Special mention should be made of Ewing's bleak Christmas Dredds, classics all.

Rennie has a lot of really good tales to catch up on:, the Planet Gary stories, the House of Pain/Vigilante stuff, Judgement (the Ian Gibson Origins interlude),  Bato Loco, Regime Change and Gulag, the Couch Potatoes, the Tour of Duty one with the dragon, It Came From Bea Arthur Block... (although I realise a fair few of these have been in the MC already).

Most of Mike Carroll's short stories are good (e.g. Caterpillars), and latterly his intertwining post-Chaos tales have become very satisfying.

Robbie Morrison has done some good stuff, such as Blindside and Hard Day's Night, and Si Spurrier has had a few good 'uns as well.

All in all we've been blessed with a great crop of writers over the last 15 years.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: I, Cosh on 27 May, 2016, 12:05:54 AM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 26 May, 2016, 10:27:18 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 26 May, 2016, 10:03:15 PM
Opinions are clearly divided on Inferno. I don't have good memories of it, but am kind of looking forward to reading it again, for Carlos' art if nothing else.
So, and in the light of recent stories  what are the best Dredd tales not written by Wagner, Grant or Mills?
Almost everything by Ewing, an awful lot of Rob Williams' stuff and a good half of Ennis, for a start.
And Rennie has contributed a pile of cracking Dredd stories.

NB opinions are not divided on Inferno.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 27 May, 2016, 12:10:49 AM
I haven't finished the PJ Maybe volume yet, but so far cracking stuff.  I haven't read a single story here before.

Frightening thought, if Maybe had grown up on Death's world and was even a school classmate would we have five Dark Judges?  :lol:
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 27 May, 2016, 06:45:56 AM
I still like a lot of gordon rennies dredd stuff
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 27 May, 2016, 08:03:30 AM
Quote from: Jade Falcon on 27 May, 2016, 12:10:49 AM

Frightening thought, if Maybe had grown up on Death's world and was even a school classmate would we have five Dark Judges?  :lol:

More likely just the one.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: teckno viking on 28 May, 2016, 10:32:20 AM
Just a thought on the Mega Collection.

How about a Technical read out issue, A companion Tech Read Out issue to the Mega Collection or at least A4/A3 carded series of JUSTICE DEPT hardware, Uniforms, weapons etc?

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 28 May, 2016, 01:53:33 PM
I always find the idea of tech drawings of Dredd's world fascinating but flawed. I love that Willsher draws the bike differently to chris Weston. Or that McCarthy's Dredd had a triangular helmet. And that the lawgiver changed completely with Bisley. I think one of the strengths of 2000ad is to allow mutation in Dredd's design. I'd love to see a through the ages info-graphic of Dredd's world.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 28 May, 2016, 04:27:45 PM
Just curious but anyone seen anything on the next subscriber print?  The next one should be due with the next set if I've it worked out correctly.  Isn't it supposed to be Bolland?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Michael Knight on 28 May, 2016, 04:53:40 PM
I would like an index more than anything! I absolutely love the collection but this seems a bit shortsighted in the planning of how the collection will sit on shelves surely?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 28 May, 2016, 05:10:32 PM
Just read "the life and crimes of pj maybe". This is truly the Crown Jewels of Dredd in one massive volume. Having only ever read the Liam sharp & Anthony Williams stuff I was amazed by the amount of PJ stories. The quality never falters either. It's always great to find a substantial Carlos Ezquerra story you've never seen before. The chris Weston stuff is top notch although I found the 3D bsckgrounds a bit jarring. This actually feels like the thickest volume yet. I'd felt a bit disappointed by the Missionary man volume but this is just perfect.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 28 May, 2016, 06:00:46 PM
I think the Doomsday book is a few pages thicker but thrilled that both are so comprehensive. The PJ stories are quintessential Wagner Dredd, absolute gems that really show Marvel and DC how to do a recurring villain. The real time element adds hugely to Dredd if you invest in the characters.
Can't say I was disappointed by Missionary Man, wild west Cursed Earth stories never previously reprinted and 3 classic Ron Smith tales. Lovely stuff - only True Grit missed the mark for me.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 28 May, 2016, 06:12:08 PM
I really loved the Ron Smith stuff - crazy, vital & dynamic. I've never read Missionary man before - maybe reading earlier stories will  endear me to him. Except for the Henry Flint stuff  the art felt flat & lifeless. I love Alex Ronald's current stuff so I had high hopes for this. Still really loving this collection and hope it gets extended.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 28 May, 2016, 06:28:41 PM
Alex Ronald (or Roland as he is creditted in the Judge Dredd sketchbook) certainly divides opinion. I can see why people, Mr Rennie included, take issue with it but personally it was one of my favourite styles of the time and the washed out colouring really worked for me. Moody and atmospheric, suitable fot the Western angle and with more going on than first meets the eye. Clearly a very talented artist as his recent work demonstrates to all. I remember feeling frustrated at the neon colouring of his art in The Pit but loved the underlying penwork.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 28 May, 2016, 07:08:02 PM
I love Vampire Vixens & Alex Ronald's odd prog & Meg covers are outstanding. I'd love to see him on the Dark Judges or some horror in the prog. It's great that the MegaCollection gets you to re-evaluate art you might have enjoyed when you were much younger. The Liam Sharp stuff is even better than I remember and Ron Smith (much like Benardinelli) is so distinctive that the younger me just hated it. It now seems like crazy genius. I'd still like to see an index so I could flit between volumes and have a clue as to what's where!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 28 May, 2016, 07:22:47 PM
Yes, an index would be handy - volume 120 ideally!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Colin YNWA on 28 May, 2016, 07:31:32 PM
Quote from: Trent on 28 May, 2016, 06:28:41 PM
Alex Ronald (or Roland as he is creditted in the Judge Dredd sketchbook) certainly divides opinion. I can see why people, Mr Rennie included, take issue with it but personally it was one of my favourite styles of the time and the washed out colouring really worked for me. Moody and atmospheric, suitable fot the Western angle and with more going on than first meets the eye. Clearly a very talented artist as his recent work demonstrates to all. I remember feeling frustrated at the neon colouring of his art in The Pit but loved the underlying penwork.

Yeah adore Alex Ronald's work from this period. I know he and many others prefer his current work. He told me once the work he does now is as close as he's ever got to the way he's always wanted his images to look. However good it is, I still adore and prefer his pen and ink work and for me this reached his peak during this Missionary Man work. Quite brilliant work.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 29 May, 2016, 12:08:30 PM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 28 May, 2016, 07:08:02 PMI'd still like to see an index so I could flit between volumes and have a clue as to what's where!
I can't imagine we'll get one. But we could always make one—'crowdsource' the contents, have some people make it look pretty, and make it an on-demand print through something like Lulu.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Legendary Shark on 29 May, 2016, 12:14:28 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 29 May, 2016, 12:08:30 PM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 28 May, 2016, 07:08:02 PMI'd still like to see an index so I could flit between volumes and have a clue as to what's where!
I can't imagine we'll get one. But we could always make one—'crowdsource' the contents, have some people make it look pretty, and make it an on-demand print through something like Lulu.

Excellent idea.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 29 May, 2016, 12:19:06 PM
Maybe an app is a better idea. I love the Barney database. I guess if I'm in a mood for a particular artist or character I'd love to know which volume to flick through. I'm guessing the Klegg spine artwork could be continued for a zero volume.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richard on 29 May, 2016, 12:50:25 PM
The simplest solution would be to put an index at the back of volume 80.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 29 May, 2016, 12:54:18 PM
Enough of this common sense - I demand to be charged for a extra volume that doesn't line up with the others!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 29 May, 2016, 04:59:32 PM
The publisher's already said it won't be releasing an index. A shared Google Doc would be a place to start for everyone here who's interested. People could then add the info. And if some people at some point want to extract it and fling it at an actual book, why not?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Legendary Shark on 29 May, 2016, 06:12:26 PM
Indeed, and that book can be either physical or digital. And as it's the information that's important, anyone who knows how to make an app can use it for that purpose as well. Win, win, win...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 29 May, 2016, 08:41:04 PM
A shared doc sounds good i would certainly help
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 30 May, 2016, 01:43:59 PM
I think the PJ Maybe volume is my favourite issue so far, and that's against some serious competition. His gleeful schemes against Dredd as straight man are a joy to read. Top quality all the way.

At the risk of having too much of a good thing, here's hoping we get the first volume of Tour of Duty soon for more monsterus mashinashuns. Issue 40 perhaps?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 30 May, 2016, 10:50:39 PM
Reading PJ Maybe and seeing his craft & story develop over time made me think about other Dredd foes. I'm not that well read on Chopper but I was fascinated that he began as a scrawler before the Supersurf competitions. If only he'd continued to find new ways to antagonise Dredd rather than just repeat his surfing skills. Did he ever combine scrawling & surfing, or branch out.  Apologies if I've missed major character developments - I look forward to seeing Chop in the MegaCollection beyond Oz.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 30 May, 2016, 11:26:29 PM
I often thought something similar about Chopper. I think the problem was that had his story finished with Song of the Surfer he would have had a perfect arc but the perpetuation became somewhat repetitive and hollow. As you say, maybe if he'd done something other than skysurfing.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: teckno viking on 30 May, 2016, 11:58:34 PM
He did he was also a SCRAWLER ;)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: BPP on 31 May, 2016, 03:01:54 PM
Chopper should get into branding and marketing. Nothing would antognise Dredd more than having to enforce Chopper's Copyright.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 31 May, 2016, 03:24:02 PM
I'd love to see Chopper conscripted into training a team of Surfing judges. Post DOC the budget for new lawn asters must be stretched! Do Oz judges surf?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richard on 31 May, 2016, 03:32:41 PM
Chopper's dead.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 31 May, 2016, 03:36:14 PM
So was Dredd!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 31 May, 2016, 11:58:45 PM
I thoroughly enjoyed the PJ Maybe book.  I hadn't read any of these stories before which helped.  I never got annoyed with him.

A danger with a recurring villain in media is they become tiresome.  Examples include the Borg in Star Trek.  The first time we saw them they seemed a proper threat, then in Best of Both Worlds, IMHO they reached their nadir.  If a villain is overused they often become tiresome, or become little more than a joke.

I never got that sense with PJ, though I was waiting on him bumping off his Banana City pet judge as he seemed the type that wouldn't leave loose ends behind.  His relationship with Inga was.....interesting and strange.  You can see this person that's essentially lonely in a way, and in Inga he seems to have someone who understands him and she's developed into a decent character in her own right, not just a sidekick.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Michael Knight on 01 June, 2016, 12:10:02 AM
couldnt agree with you more Jade. Pj Maybes latest adventures if anything have been my favourites. I tool hate seeing villains overused in standard fiction fare aka Star Trek next gen perfect example.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: teckno viking on 02 June, 2016, 11:35:27 AM
Had Not realised how many Maybe stories I had missed.

Remember when he first appeared and as Mayor. So many in-between missed stories lol 
Been a Drokkin Jarjaz Read.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 02 June, 2016, 12:59:56 PM
Other than the first two stories, which are brilliant, I don't think PJ really hits his stride until Six - or perhaps more accurately until Inga shows up.  The earllier stuff spends too much time dragging him in and out of the cubes - there was really no need for the MockChoc interlude, we could have moved straight from his first escape to Don Pedro Juan Montez without losing much. That's not to say it's not all enjoyable, but the later stuff is streets ahead.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thre
Post by: Trent on 02 June, 2016, 01:10:51 PM
Wagner's use but not over use of PJ has been masterful, exemplified by the recent Serial Serial in which he doesn't even appear. One of my reasons for hoping for an extension is to get recent stories like this (and presumably its follow up- when Tharg?) included in the Collection.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Silent_Bomber on 03 June, 2016, 02:35:08 PM
I just got the PJ Maybe book, really disappointing (;_;)

Are all these Mega Collections so dodgy in quality? what's up with the contrast and paneling?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 03 June, 2016, 02:40:35 PM
If you have repro issues contact Hachette, apparently they've been very good at replacing defective books. From your question it sounds like you don't have any other books: quality (including PJ) has been excellent with only occasional aberrations.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Fungus on 03 June, 2016, 02:40:47 PM
Quote from: Silent_Bomber on 03 June, 2016, 02:35:08 PM
I just got the PJ Maybe book, really disappointing (;_;)

Are all these Mega Collections so dodgy in quality? what's up with the contrast and paneling?

No idea what that emoticon is trying to convey... (if it's 'disappointment' then... is it needed?) Anyway...

This is the first negative comment I've heard on the PJ book. Small chance you have a dodgy printing? They do happen.


Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Rately on 03 June, 2016, 03:19:32 PM
Thoroughly enjoyed the PJ Collection. Had US reprints of the early PJ's in my teenage years, now sadly lost after a house move or three .

Great to have them back, and to read the further adventures as i'd never read the Necropolis stuff, or the later Don Pedro adventures. Still not fully finished, and on a visit to the Belfast FP today i managed to pick up Mega Collection volumes 26 and 27 for £4.99 each, along with this weeks Prog. Bargain!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 03 June, 2016, 03:54:36 PM
The repro in the PJ book seemed fine to me. Bar some iffy scanning in a few issues, Total War's the only issue I know that had widespread problems (and even my replacement wasn't great).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Michael Knight on 03 June, 2016, 04:45:11 PM
Just picked up my copy from my thrill merchant and the repro is all fine and dandy thank god. I have had a prob with couple of issues but a quick phone call to hachette got these replaced free of charge. The obly prob ive had is their phone line? Where on earth are they based? I take it South Africa from the accents but the phone line quality is ridiculous. That in mind have to say the staff were very polite  :)   
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Silent_Bomber on 03 June, 2016, 07:12:39 PM
Quote from: Fungus on 03 June, 2016, 02:40:47 PM
Quote from: Silent_Bomber on 03 June, 2016, 02:35:08 PM
I just got the PJ Maybe book, really disappointing (;_;)

Are all these Mega Collections so dodgy in quality? what's up with the contrast and paneling?

No idea what that emoticon is trying to convey... (if it's 'disappointment' then... is it needed?) Anyway...

This is the first negative comment I've heard on the PJ book. Small chance you have a dodgy printing? They do happen.

There are a lot of alterations in the art, its possible that my copy may be a dodgy printing too though, and maybe that is magnifying the otherwise hard to notice art changes (which seem mainly to affect only the first half of the book).

The book has panels that have been shifted around, it has glare effects added to many of the metallic surfaces, it has some sound effects that have been replaced, some sections of the art are cut off, and it has some large coloured circles added to some of the backgrounds.

Actually in "What I did during the summer holidayz" part 3 there is a picture of PJ standing in front of a new red circle, and you can still see a very slight silhouette of white around his head from where he has been cut out of the original background.

Bear in mind I'm a little bit neurotic and obsessive :lol:

Here's a page from my book -

(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc1/jesusarnold/hfhtf.jpg~original) (http://s216.photobucket.com/user/jesusarnold/media/hfhtf.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 03 June, 2016, 07:59:45 PM
While Case Files 12 used the original prog art films for those episodes, the Hachette book has used the remastered pages that Liam Sharp did for the 2006 Rebellion release of 'The [then] Complete PJ Maybe'. Relevant excerpt taken from his huuuuuuge afterword -

For this edition I've had the luxury of being able to remaster most of my colour pages digitally. I hope you enjoy the tweaks. I can't change the flaws in the drawings - there's only so much you can do! - but the blacks are blacker and the colours, sharper. There are a few additional elements of photoshop trickery and generally it's closer to how I intended they should look like at the time.

Liam Sharp, July 2006
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Silent_Bomber on 03 June, 2016, 09:07:41 PM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 03 June, 2016, 07:59:45 PM
While Case Files 12 used the original prog art films for those episodes, the Hachette book has used the remastered pages that Liam Sharp did for the 2006 Rebellion release of 'The [then] Complete PJ Maybe'. Relevant excerpt taken from his huuuuuuge afterword -

For this edition I've had the luxury of being able to remaster most of my colour pages digitally. I hope you enjoy the tweaks. I can't change the flaws in the drawings - there's only so much you can do! - but the blacks are blacker and the colours, sharper. There are a few additional elements of photoshop trickery and generally it's closer to how I intended they should look like at the time.

Liam Sharp, July 2006

Ah, so he essentially did a George Lucas, thanks for the info.

Were the characters beetroot coloured in The Complete PJ Maybe too or is that a printing error?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jamie1000013 on 04 June, 2016, 01:10:46 PM
Can't believe this PJ Maybe book had Liam Sharp on art, looking forward to his WonderWoman next wednesday! Can't believe how influential 2000ad is when you look at all of their past and current talent.

Really enjoying the book so far and this collection overall.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Rately on 04 June, 2016, 04:13:07 PM
Quote from: Jamie1000013 on 04 June, 2016, 01:10:46 PM
Can't believe this PJ Maybe book had Liam Sharp on art, looking forward to his WonderWoman next wednesday! Can't believe how influential 2000ad is when you look at all of their past and current talent.

Really enjoying the book so far and this collection overall.

Don't pick up individual issues of comics anymore, besides 2000AD, but I'd be tempted to pick up Wonder Woman purely for the Liam Sharp art and Frank Cho covers. Looks to be an absolutely beautiful book.

Finally finished the PJ Maybe Mega Collection, and reading the interview with Liam Sharp afterwards it just astonishes me that he produced such incredible work when he was 18.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Geoff on 06 June, 2016, 11:54:18 PM
Really enjoyed the PJ Maybe collection and agree with others that Liam Sharp's art is fantastic.  Could Tharg tempt him back, for a guest spot on Dredd..?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Taryn Tailz on 07 June, 2016, 08:45:36 PM
Do we know when the first Armitage volume will be released, or have Hachette just announced that it's forthcoming?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tombo on 07 June, 2016, 08:52:56 PM
I believe it will be Issue 56, which means it'll be released some time in... March 2017 (I think)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 08 June, 2016, 12:40:50 PM
Just noticed that Low Life Paranoia is up as the next issue on the Mega Collection website. Given we have 165 pages of unprinted Dirty Frank left and Henry Flint is included on the cover, does anyone have any idea what additional material might be included?
I've had a trawl through Barney but nothing jumped out at me (JD Megson, Flood's Thirteen, Turkey Shoot)?
Already got these in the Henry Flint Collection but always happy to have more Flint in the Collection but none seem to have a link to Low Life/ Wally Squad.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Taryn Tailz on 08 June, 2016, 03:43:04 PM
Quote from: Tombo on 07 June, 2016, 08:52:56 PM
I believe it will be Issue 56, which means it'll be released some time in... March 2017 (I think)

Thank you. :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Michael Knight on 08 June, 2016, 11:43:15 PM
any of you folks know if 'Insurrection' will be featuring in the Mega collection? Would dearly love hardback editions of this fantastic series. My absolute fave dredd spinoff in years!  :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 09 June, 2016, 10:43:12 AM
The intro to The Heavy Mob confirmed Insurrection as vol 54, although no shipping date is known as yet. This Wiki page (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judge_Dredd:_The_Mega_Collection) neatly outlines most of what's known about upcoming issues.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Michael Knight on 09 June, 2016, 01:31:08 PM
Cheers Indigo Prime! Really hope we get all three stories in that. Love love that story!  :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 09 June, 2016, 02:39:23 PM
Judging from Barney, Insurrection comes in at 195 pages. That should fit nicely in one of these hardbacks.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Michael Knight on 09 June, 2016, 04:11:18 PM
Great stuff cant wait!  :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 09 June, 2016, 06:19:30 PM
The Facebook page has announced a forthcoming issue, I'm guessing it'll be 40 as 38, 39 and 41-43 are known. Horror Stories, the cover is from The Haunting of Sector House 9. Credited are (deep breath): John Wagner, Alan Grant, Gordon Rennie, John Smith, Brett Edwinstowe, Ian Gibson, Dave Taylor, Mick McMahon, John Burns, Andrew Currie, Xuasus and Steve Dilton.

I remember a Megazine story by Smith and Xuasus, The Jigsaw Murders, and going to guess at Cry of the Werewolf too. Any other guesses?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Michael Knight on 09 June, 2016, 06:25:01 PM
'Cry of the werewolf' remember that story from when I used to hunt old Judge Dredd graphic novels in local library after school to catch all the tales my Uncle told me about! Thats the one in the undercity right?  :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Steve Green on 09 June, 2016, 06:33:59 PM
If we're going spooky...

Necrophage? Rennie/Burns - the title sounds like a fit, but I can't remember the story.

I would say Descent, another story with Karyn in it, (think it's the one [spoiler]where she ends up a vampire creature[/spoiler] but Boo's not on the list.

Gibson strip is probably the one where the woman who invoices for invoicing is haunted "Hagatha Smeld?"

Or possibly the Judgement interlude (Rennie/Gibson)

McMahon - Fear that made Milwaukee Famous? Possibly the Vampire Effect, although that's more space alien than horror.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 09 June, 2016, 06:43:22 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 09 June, 2016, 06:19:30 PM
The Facebook page has announced a forthcoming issue, I'm guessing it'll be 40 as 38, 39 and 41-43 are known. Horror Stories, the cover is from The Haunting of Sector House 9. Credited are (deep breath): John Wagner, Alan Grant, Gordon Rennie, John Smith, Brett Edwinstowe, Ian Gibson, Dave Taylor, Mick McMahon, John Burns, Andrew Currie, Xuasus and Steve Dilton.

I remember a Megazine story by Smith and Xuasus, The Jigsaw Murders, and going to guess at Cry of the Werewolf too. Any other guesses?

Edwinstowe? Damn predictive text. Apologies to all fans of the late great Brett Ewins.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tombo on 09 June, 2016, 07:30:43 PM
Quote from: Steve Green on 09 June, 2016, 06:33:59 PM
Necrophage? Rennie/Burns - the title sounds like a fit, but I can't remember the story.

Post Necropolis story with cannibal cults supporting ghouls who used to be their relatives, one guy was stealing bits from Resyk.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 09 June, 2016, 11:18:18 PM
Ian Gibson - Tomb of the Judges?
Really hope that The Fear the Made Milwaukee Famous is included- one of my favourites and imho McMahon at his finest (loved his style at the time)
Definitely Jigsaw Murders and likely Cry of the Werewolf and Haunting of Sector House 5.
Necrophage looks likely
Any ideas re Andrew Currie and Dave Taylor stories?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dash Decent on 10 June, 2016, 12:39:33 PM
Quote from: Michael Knight on 09 June, 2016, 06:25:01 PM
'Cry of the werewolf' remember that story from when I used to hunt old Judge Dredd graphic novels in local library after school to catch all the tales my Uncle told me about! Thats the one in the undercity right?  :)

That's the one!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dash Decent on 10 June, 2016, 12:40:14 PM
Quote from: Trent on 09 June, 2016, 11:18:18 PM
Really hope that The Fear the Made Milwaukee Famous is included- one of my favourites and imho McMahon at his finest (loved his style at the time)

I always liked the pun on "The beer that made Milwaukee famous" too!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Fungus on 10 June, 2016, 01:06:42 PM
Quote from: Dash Decent on 10 June, 2016, 12:40:14 PM
Quote from: Trent on 09 June, 2016, 11:18:18 PM
Really hope that The Fear the Made Milwaukee Famous is included- one of my favourites and imho McMahon at his finest (loved his style at the time)

I always liked the pun on "The beer that made Milwaukee famous" too!

I like the pun but only since the penny dropped about a year ago  :-[
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 10 June, 2016, 02:14:19 PM
Shame it looks like Out of the Undercity isn't included with the further adventures of Prager.
Love these themed volumes, wish we had more than is likely to be included in the Collection.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Michael Knight on 10 June, 2016, 05:59:52 PM
Just picked up 'doomsday for mega city one' and just had a flick through on way home from work. Im excited to read this volume as was not a regular reader of the meg at this time so havnt read any of this! Great weekend ahead!  :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Michael Knight on 10 June, 2016, 06:00:16 PM
ps. Loving some of the covers in gallery  :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Swerty on 10 June, 2016, 08:11:17 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 09 June, 2016, 06:19:30 PM
The Facebook page has announced a forthcoming issue, I'm guessing it'll be 40 as 38, 39 and 41-43 are known. Horror Stories, the cover is from The Haunting of Sector House 9. Credited are (deep breath): John Wagner, Alan Grant, Gordon Rennie, John Smith, Brett Edwinstowe, Ian Gibson, Dave Taylor, Mick McMahon, John Burns, Andrew Currie, Xuasus and Steve Dilton.

I remember a Megazine story by Smith and Xuasus, The Jigsaw Murders, and going to guess at Cry of the Werewolf too. Any other guesses?

What are issues 41-43?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 10 June, 2016, 09:59:24 PM
41 The Day the Law Died (inc Helter Skelter)
42 Anderson Half Life
43 The Taxidermist
According to the Wiki page (I think the info is correct)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dandontdare on 11 June, 2016, 12:12:24 AM
Quote from: Trent on 10 June, 2016, 09:59:24 PM
41 The Day the Law Died (inc Helter Skelter)

That's like serving a sirloin steak with a side order of bogies
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Fungus on 11 June, 2016, 12:55:28 AM
Quote from: Dandontdare on 11 June, 2016, 12:12:24 AM
Quote from: Trent on 10 June, 2016, 09:59:24 PM
41 The Day the Law Died (inc Helter Skelter)

That's like serving a sirloin steak with a side order of bogies

:lol:

This is the kind of comment that convinces me plugging my Wilderness Years gap with Case Files just ain't worth it!

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 11 June, 2016, 04:15:28 AM
Presumably a hand picked bogey by Matt Smith for inclusion 😉
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 11 June, 2016, 10:11:40 AM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 09 June, 2016, 06:19:30 PM
Brett Edwinstowe,  and Steve Dilton.



Who?   ::)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: dweezil2 on 11 June, 2016, 11:23:57 AM
Quote from: Dandontdare on 11 June, 2016, 12:12:24 AM
Quote from: Trent on 10 June, 2016, 09:59:24 PM
41 The Day the Law Died (inc Helter Skelter)

That's like serving a sirloin steak with a side order of bogies

Nice art though!  :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richard on 11 June, 2016, 05:22:27 PM
Helter Skelter was good!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 11 June, 2016, 06:38:20 PM
Quote from: Richard on 11 June, 2016, 05:22:27 PM
Helter Skelter was good!

In an alternate dimension...?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Hawkmumbler on 11 June, 2016, 07:51:03 PM
Quote from: Richard on 11 June, 2016, 05:22:27 PM
Helter Skelter was good!
Fan wanky and pretty redundant, with a heavy handed religious overtone, but two phenomenal artists save it and make it a guilty pleasure of mine.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Big_Dave on 11 June, 2016, 08:32:07 PM
Quote from: Hawkmumbler on 11 June, 2016, 07:51:03 PM
Quote from: Richard on 11 June, 2016, 05:22:27 PM
Helter Skelter was good!
Fan wanky and pretty redundant, with a heavy handed religious overtone, but two phenomenal artists save it and make it a guilty pleasure of mine.

wasnt a story
it was an excuse
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 12 June, 2016, 09:03:02 AM
Quote from: Tjm86 on 11 June, 2016, 10:11:40 AM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 09 June, 2016, 06:19:30 PM
Brett Edwinstowe,  and Steve Dilton.



Who?   ::)

A phrase springs to mind that starts with More haste.....

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 12 June, 2016, 09:38:29 AM
... disappointed girlfriend?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 12 June, 2016, 11:07:39 PM
How very dare you. Mrs Snazz is never disappointed. Unless it takes me longer than usual to finish a volume of the MC, speaking of which.....

Just finished Doomsday for MC-1. It must have been difficult to juggle the story across the two titles, keeping them discrete yet linked.

Dredd's relationship with DeMarco is fascinating, probably because it's different to his relationship with anyone else, and it's interesting to compare it with, say, him and Vienna, which he always seems to struggle with.

A great line-up of artists and stories. One question - did Narcos appear in any stories before Bad Frendz?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Judge Brian on 14 June, 2016, 06:23:40 PM
I bought my first volume through ebay, seeing how they're not for sale here in the U.S. I was really impressed with everything about it. I have since bought 20 more of them from ebay, they should be arriving soon.

I am addicted to the format. I'll have to start selling off the dozens of trades I already have because 17 of the 20 are similar volumes that I already own.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 14 June, 2016, 08:20:23 PM
I tried the same approach Brian but have struggled to part with any trades that even have a single tale that is not included in the Collection volume. Luckily the size of most volumes is greater than most pre-existing trades so it is rarely an issue as they generally have even more content.
Love this series, look forward to the next two due in the next week and still hope for an extension as much because I just don't want it to end as much as for the content itself!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: djbawbag on 14 June, 2016, 10:35:37 PM
Can someone suggest the best Doomsday reading order?

Some of us haven't read this stuff before, and the scheduling is a bit mental.
The first volume came out nine months (!) ago and had obvious gaps in the storyline.
The second volume starts with a prologue to the main story!
Daft.









Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dash Decent on 15 June, 2016, 09:23:18 AM
Quote from: Tjm86 on 12 June, 2016, 09:38:29 AM
... disappointed girlfriend?

Ye olde "Their honeymoon was fast and furious.  He was fast and she was furious."
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moldovangerbil on 15 June, 2016, 10:08:27 AM
I was expecting that the next 2 volumes should come with the 3rd premium poster, but looking at my hachette account it looks like I'll be getting something called 'OutOfStock Letter'.  Sounds exciting!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 15 June, 2016, 06:54:11 PM
I'm wondering if they've screwed up on this and haven't got the demand they were hoping for.  Considering they were trying to shift the last one free with just postage.  No preview of the poster either.  Bolland is supposedly the next one.  I reckon that letter is about downgrading subscription.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Davgardo on 16 June, 2016, 01:29:30 PM
Quote from: djbawbag on 14 June, 2016, 10:35:37 PM
Can someone suggest the best Doomsday reading order?

Some of us haven't read this stuff before, and the scheduling is a bit mental.
The first volume came out nine months (!) ago and had obvious gaps in the storyline.
The second volume starts with a prologue to the main story!
Daft.

I'll have a bash:

DforMC1 Bad Frendz
DforD Beyond the Call of Duty
DforMC1 Worst of Frendz, Scorpion Dance, Gunplay, Contract, Narcos Connection pt 1-2
DforD Return of the Assassin pt 1-2
DforMC1 Narcos Connection pt 3
DforD Return of the Assassin pt 3-6
DforMC1 Narcos Connection pt 4
DforD Return of the Assassin pt 7, The Trial, Trial of Strength
DforMC1 Doomsday pt 1
DforD War Games pt 1-2
DforMC1 Doomsday pt 2
DforD War Games pt 3-7
DforMC1 Doomsday pt 3
DforD Endgame pt 1-4
DforMC1 Doomsday pt 4
DforD Endgame pt 5
DforMC1 Volt Face

Chopping and changing from one volume to the other may not be to everyone's taste, but this is roughly the release order (I think!)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Southstreeter on 16 June, 2016, 04:29:44 PM
Let's hope the Case Files put it in some sort of logical order!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Steve Green on 16 June, 2016, 05:03:05 PM
Heh, who knew you were getting a choose your own adventure?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 16 June, 2016, 11:55:23 PM
wow. For a first post Davgardo, that's pretty awesome. Welcome aboard.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Davgardo on 17 June, 2016, 08:37:22 AM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 16 June, 2016, 11:55:23 PM
wow. For a first post Davgardo, that's pretty awesome. Welcome aboard.

Thanks very much! I've been dipping in and out of this thread for a while, searching for updates on this, frankly stunning, collection (as I don't 'do' Facebook). As I'd already done a running order on a spreadsheet (yes, I'm that sad) and as someone requested it I thought it time I took the plunge!

Personal favourites so far: Trifecta, Mandroid and the recent PJ Maybe collection.
I've only really been disappointed by The Heavy Mob and Klegg Hai: I don't think anyone really needed reprints of Brit Cit Brute or The Corps. Did they?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 17 June, 2016, 10:48:25 AM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 16 June, 2016, 11:55:23 PM
wow. For a first post Davgardo, that's pretty awesome. Welcome aboard.

Seconded!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Link Prime on 17 June, 2016, 11:14:35 AM
Quote from: Tordelback on 17 June, 2016, 10:48:25 AM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 16 June, 2016, 11:55:23 PM
wow. For a first post Davgardo, that's pretty awesome. Welcome aboard.

Seconded!

He's in.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 17 June, 2016, 03:18:33 PM
Davgardo covered it rather well although, for practical purposes I would go as he indicates but then read DFD stories up to Trial of Strength, then the Meg story The Connection followed by either Wargames/Endgame or Doomsday and rounded off with Volt Face.
To round it all off (as far as the Mega Collection is concerned) then read Satan's Island for the continuation of the Orlok plotline.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Judge Brian on 18 June, 2016, 04:10:41 PM
Quote from: Trent on 14 June, 2016, 08:20:23 PM
I tried the same approach Brian but have struggled to part with any trades that even have a single tale that is not included in the Collection volume. Luckily the size of most volumes is greater than most pre-existing trades so it is rarely an issue as they generally have even more content.
Love this series, look forward to the next two due in the next week and still hope for an extension as much because I just don't want it to end as much as for the content itself!

I looked through my Endgame volumes & the hardcover is missing a bit in the front, but has extra in the back (Bow-chicka-bow-wow)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 20 June, 2016, 06:15:10 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 15 May, 2016, 09:08:40 PM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 15 May, 2016, 05:50:24 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 15 May, 2016, 05:44:07 PM
And some Ron Smith classics to round off the volume, which a lot of people have been asking for. Hoping the collection will include more of these, such as... the original Nosferatu story - the Total War volume has already included the sequel.

The Total War follow-up is actually the sequel to the Megazine Nosferatu story by Wagner and Hicklenton - they're both about the same creature. The Nosferatu in the Ron Smith story doesn't make it out alive!

Ah, ok. Hopefully they'll reprint the Hicklenton story too.

The Facebook page has posted the cover for issue 38, the second Low Life volume. Credited are Rob Williams, D'Israeli, Henry Flint and Smudge. Presume this will collect all the remaining LL stories, but Henry Flint's have already appeared. Any ideas?

The Henry Flint story in the second Low Life volume is the Titan episodes of the Titan/Enceladus arc - which means I'll have acquired those episodes twice within a week, the GN of that arc having just landed! Bought that as I didn't think any of Titan/Enceladus was going to appear in the MC.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 20 June, 2016, 09:35:44 PM
Didn't expect Titan to show up, and especially not this close to the tpb!

It'll probably leave out the rest of it. Makes for a nice ending to Nixon's story. I wonder if it'll include the christmas story as well, the one where Frank wonders what became of Nixon post DOC. Wouldn't mind that :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 22 June, 2016, 01:01:27 PM
Has anyone seen these yet? I moved to Lancashire on Monday and am not sure if my mail redirect will cover it. Expected them today at the latest based on past experience.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: COMMANDO FORCES on 22 June, 2016, 01:24:47 PM
The latest two have just been delivered to the Cellar.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 22 June, 2016, 07:53:39 PM
Quote from: Apestrife on 20 June, 2016, 09:35:44 PM
Didn't expect Titan to show up, and especially not this close to the tpb!

It'll probably leave out the rest of it. Makes for a nice ending to Nixon's story. I wonder if it'll include the christmas story as well, the one where Frank wonders what became of Nixon post DOC. Wouldn't mind that :)

The stories in the volume are:

Creation
Jive Turkey
Hostile Takeover
The Deal
Titan

Jive Turkey is the pre-DOC Christmas story, still a lot of fun.

Anything of note in Inferno, other than the title story and Purgatory?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Steve Green on 22 June, 2016, 07:57:39 PM
Read somewhere it includes Frankenstein Division and Death Aid.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 22 June, 2016, 08:13:03 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 22 June, 2016, 07:53:39 PM
Quote from: Apestrife on 20 June, 2016, 09:35:44 PM
Didn't expect Titan to show up, and especially not this close to the tpb!

It'll probably leave out the rest of it. Makes for a nice ending to Nixon's story. I wonder if it'll include the christmas story as well, the one where Frank wonders what became of Nixon post DOC. Wouldn't mind that :)

The stories in the volume are:

Creation
Jive Turkey
Hostile Takeover
The Deal
Titan

Jive Turkey is the pre-DOC Christmas story, still a lot of fun.

Anything of note in Inferno, other than the title story and Purgatory?

It's a great one. Perhaps "The Really Big Christmas Sleep" could show up elsewhere with the rest of Titan? Some post DOC-book or in the "Dark Side of the Moon" one?

Regardless. Really looking forward being able to read both MC1 undercover books followed by Trifecta :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 22 June, 2016, 08:21:14 PM
Quote from: Apestrife on 22 June, 2016, 08:13:03 PM
Perhaps "The Really Big Christmas Sleep" could show up elsewhere with the rest of Titan? Some post DOC-book or in the "Dark Side of the Moon" one?

That's a weird one, though - a prologue to a story that hasn't happened yet...!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 22 June, 2016, 09:09:37 PM
Quote from: Steve Green on 22 June, 2016, 07:57:39 PM
Read somewhere it includes Frankenstein Division and Death Aid.

I'm not a fan of either story, but somehow -if they're collected together- this makes them better. Today's big writers, who back in the day was writing grim Dredd.

Really hope Molcher get's to interview both Millar as well Morrison about their Dredd stint. Either in the book or on the 2000ad podcast. Somehow/time.

Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 22 June, 2016, 08:21:14 PM
Quote from: Apestrife on 22 June, 2016, 08:13:03 PM
Perhaps "The Really Big Christmas Sleep" could show up elsewhere with the rest of Titan? Some post DOC-book or in the "Dark Side of the Moon" one?

That's a weird one, though - a prologue to a story that hasn't happened yet...!

Been a while since I read it, but didn't it center around Frank thinking of what became of Nixon and then mentioning the cold as well a bit of snowing?

In my mind it'd fit quite nicely into things. Frank alone again and snow (which was his stick in Trifecta right?)

In a way, I think somewhat think Titan does a good job ending things (if it does, in the mega collection). Dredd and Nixon reaches a full circle and Nixon get's a snow send off similar to the beginnings of Frank in Trifecta (where he lost his eye when almost freezing to death, if I remember things correctly).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 22 June, 2016, 11:56:30 PM
Quote from: Apestrife on 22 June, 2016, 08:13:03 PM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 22 June, 2016, 08:21:14 PM
Quote from: Apestrife on 22 June, 2016, 08:13:03 PM
Perhaps "The Really Big Christmas Sleep" could show up elsewhere with the rest of Titan? Some post DOC-book or in the "Dark Side of the Moon" one?

That's a weird one, though - a prologue to a story that hasn't happened yet...!

Been a while since I read it, but didn't it center around Frank thinking of what became of Nixon and then mentioning the cold as well a bit of snowing?

It's a story that sets up the return of Judge Smiley and his black-ops Judges - so a bit of a Trifecta epilogue in many ways.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Timothy on 23 June, 2016, 08:22:18 AM
Yet it also tied in - the city getting colder and whatnot - with the Enceladus arc. My one disappointment with Titan/Enceladus as a whole is that this thread was left hanging. Still, it means there's more good stuff to come.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Davgardo on 24 June, 2016, 09:04:45 AM
Re: The Inferno Volume

I had great fun re-reading these stories. Sure Frankenstein Division is ridiculous, of course Purgatory/Inferno misjudges what we expect from Dredd the strip and Dredd the character: excess violence with little wit or soul. But you know what? Now we can view this period from afar I kind of like that Dredd went through, and perhaps more importantly, came through it. A sort of teenage acid trip. Characterization and plot are often all over the place but it's always a bare knuckle ride that never takes its foot off the accelerator (to mix my metaphors). And Ezquerra's art shines on every page, every panel: probably my favourite period of his.
And let's not forget Death Aid: one of Garth Ennis' best scripts (and one of his first, if memory serves).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 24 June, 2016, 10:40:25 AM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 22 June, 2016, 11:56:30 PM
It's a story that sets up the return of Judge Smiley and his black-ops Judges - so a bit of a Trifecta epilogue in many ways.

Re read it now (haven't since it was first released). You're quite right. Awesome Little story.

Quote from: Timothyjacobs on 23 June, 2016, 08:22:18 AM
Yet it also tied in - the city getting colder and whatnot - with the Enceladus arc. My one disappointment with Titan/Enceladus as a whole is that this thread was left hanging. Still, it means there's more good stuff to come.

I share that sentiment.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 24 June, 2016, 07:03:04 PM
Arrived! Little odd only having the opening of Titan but it does fit the volume. Inferno is beautifully drawn nonsense (more Schwarzeneggar than Stallone Dredd) but my only concern is the subject of the article re corrupt judges etc. I hope this doesn't mean we won't be getting a Judges Gone Bad themed volume which seemed a natural themed collection to me comprising the very stories mentioned.
Along with Chief Judges Man with the other Edgar stories this was one I was holding out for.
If not, then maybe in the extension (one can hope).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 24 June, 2016, 09:31:25 PM
I'm hoping for a Judges Gone Bad collection too - sure I read there would be one somewhere. My favourite is Crazy Barry, Little Mo and its sequel Banana City, hope those are included.

The Second Low Life volume is great, brilliant stories and art, and Dirty Frank is a sublime creation - more please.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 25 June, 2016, 11:19:57 AM
The Facebook page has the cover up for the Day the Law Died with a blurb describing Necropolis.  Then the tag line "What are you expecting".  Cue lots of sarcy comments.

Considering the track record on B & W to date I'm not massively optimistic.  The exception being the more recent stuff.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Judge Brian on 26 June, 2016, 07:56:57 PM
I've found a way to get all but 5 volumes so far. They're all drokkin perfect.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 26 June, 2016, 09:44:40 PM
Really looking forward to the next two already; my first prog was 85 so The Day the Law Died was my first Dredd tale. Obviously written for younger audiences than current Dredd but for my money it has some of the best artwork ever to appear in the Prog and contains more ideas and craziness than a dozen modern tales. Genius British comics at their very best.
Horror stories is exactly the sort of volume I would like to see an extension load of. Classic Dredd from the entire history of the Prog with a thematic link. It is volumes like this that distinguishes the Mega Collection from the Casefiles and even most Rebellion trades which tend to cover epics or discrete story arcs many of which have been efectively reprinted in this collection.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Spikes on 28 June, 2016, 11:07:00 AM
Yes, I'll echo the sentiment that its rather odd indeed that this latest book doesn't include the whole of the Titan storyline. Would have been perfect if it had. But still, not read the bulk of this before, and a flick through reveals cracking art. Onto the reading pile it goes, but its jumped the queue and is up next.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 30 June, 2016, 10:55:17 PM
Finally got round to reading this.  The Frank stories are a bit....odd.  I don't dislike them, it's just their tone is a bit unusual compared to Dredd.  Once you settle down and read a few pages its fine.  I liked the Hondo story and Franks contacts, though it seems a shame that those characters went down so easy.

The Titan story I enjoyed, but now that I know it's only a part of one I'm happier as it seemed to leave things hanging.  The one little thing that puzzled me was Aimee Nixons speech to the convicts after the charges were set and it pans to a shot of these guys (and I assume girls), most of which didn't seem to have the modifications that inmates get when sent to Titan.

Is there a story where the SJS Judge is shown?  I'd like to know his story a bit more.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 30 June, 2016, 11:36:47 PM
Quote from: Jade Falcon on 30 June, 2016, 10:55:17 PM
Is there a story where the SJS Judge is shown?  I'd like to know his story a bit more.

He appeared in two previous stories before Titan, both of which are collected in the Fallout collection. Obviously he returned in the two Titan sequels as well.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Davgardo on 01 July, 2016, 01:48:02 PM
Quote from: Jade Falcon on 30 June, 2016, 10:55:17 PM
The one little thing that puzzled me was Aimee Nixons speech to the convicts after the charges were set and it pans to a shot of these guys (and I assume girls), most of which didn't seem to have the modifications that inmates get when sent to Titan.


I didn't get that either. And also, because I'm fick, could someone explain the opening page of the Hostile Takeover story?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 02 July, 2016, 01:18:52 AM
One story that seems to have been all but forgotten is Dead Ringer a mini epic from the Megazine. I hope it makes its way into the Mega Collection - anyone got any ideas?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 02 July, 2016, 03:30:01 AM
It might end up in the judge child one which going by recent hints (angel gang members are in 26 27 34 and 35) may be judge child, fink and dead ringer

Destinys angels and dredd angel may be one itself

The other two is a confirmed mean machine issue and an angel gang book (maybe collects the megazine angel gang stuff?)

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 02 July, 2016, 01:11:22 PM
I think Judge Child and The Fink would be one volume. Mean Machine volume would be Three Amigos and likely Travels with muh Shrink and or Son of Mean.
City of the Damned should include Destiny's Angels and In the Year 2120.
That leaves stories like Dredd Angel, Before they wuz Dead, the Ratfink tales and the many shorter Mean stories.
Not sure where Dead Ringers would fit but it would be nice to see it again.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 02 July, 2016, 04:15:53 PM
Quote from: Davgardo on 01 July, 2016, 01:48:02 PM
Quote from: Jade Falcon on 30 June, 2016, 10:55:17 PM
The one little thing that puzzled me was Aimee Nixons speech to the convicts after the charges were set and it pans to a shot of these guys (and I assume girls), most of which didn't seem to have the modifications that inmates get when sent to Titan.


I didn't get that either. And also, because I'm fick, could someone explain the opening page of the Hostile Takeover story?

Hostile Takeover, I figure it's Nixon getting into discussions with the hondo gangsters. Which apperantly didn't go to well, consider that they cut her arm off.

Regarding Titan. I figure those inmates had yet been fitted with implants. Since it seems like the SJS sent a bunch to Titan, and -as I read it- the revolt seem to have started right after Nixon got her nose cut off.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Davgardo on 03 July, 2016, 09:10:27 AM
Quote from: Apestrife on 02 July, 2016, 04:15:53 PM
Quote from: Davgardo on 01 July, 2016, 01:48:02 PM
Quote from: Jade Falcon on 30 June, 2016, 10:55:17 PM
The one little thing that puzzled me was Aimee Nixons speech to the convicts after the charges were set and it pans to a shot of these guys (and I assume girls), most of which didn't seem to have the modifications that inmates get when sent to Titan.


I didn't get that either. And also, because I'm fick, could someone explain the opening page of the Hostile Takeover story?

Hostile Takeover, I figure it's Nixon getting into discussions with the hondo gangsters. Which apperantly didn't go to well, consider that they cut her arm off.

Regarding Titan. I figure those inmates had yet been fitted with implants. Since it seems like the SJS sent a bunch to Titan, and -as I read it- the revolt seem to have started right after Nixon got her nose cut off.

It was more Aimee's appearance: it's nothing like her, and also the guy says she is 'beautiful', which, in traditional terms at least, she definitely isn't (apart from on this page). The only way we know it's her is the guy calls her 'Nixon'
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 03 July, 2016, 10:49:05 AM
Quote from: Davgardo on 03 July, 2016, 09:10:27 AM
Quote from: Apestrife on 02 July, 2016, 04:15:53 PM
Quote from: Davgardo on 01 July, 2016, 01:48:02 PM
Quote from: Jade Falcon on 30 June, 2016, 10:55:17 PM
The one little thing that puzzled me was Aimee Nixons speech to the convicts after the charges were set and it pans to a shot of these guys (and I assume girls), most of which didn't seem to have the modifications that inmates get when sent to Titan.


I didn't get that either. And also, because I'm fick, could someone explain the opening page of the Hostile Takeover story?

Hostile Takeover, I figure it's Nixon getting into discussions with the hondo gangsters. Which apperantly didn't go to well, consider that they cut her arm off.

Regarding Titan. I figure those inmates had yet been fitted with implants. Since it seems like the SJS sent a bunch to Titan, and -as I read it- the revolt seem to have started right after Nixon got her nose cut off.

It was more Aimee's appearance: it's nothing like her, and also the guy says she is 'beautiful', which, in traditional terms at least, she definitely isn't (apart from on this page). The only way we know it's her is the guy calls her 'Nixon'

I figure they dolled her up a bit before meeting the Hondo-boss. In order to look more traditional, respectable. If it was Frank I figure he'd get a shower, shave, haircut as well as some fancy hondo garb.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: COMMANDO FORCES on 03 July, 2016, 07:16:00 PM
My money for the next two has been taken from my account, so they're on their way :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 03 July, 2016, 07:34:35 PM
Where are you based, I don't expect the next 2 until around Monday the 18th (about a fortnight) along with most folks?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: COMMANDO FORCES on 03 July, 2016, 08:10:03 PM
I'm in the Cellar  ;)

I'm sure we'll all get them the same time but when I see the money taken from my account, I expect them the day after :lol:

After all, these are not produced by 3A  :D
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 03 July, 2016, 08:39:54 PM
I get my money taken after I get the books. Last ones received 22nd June, payment taken 26th. If they are taking your money in advance you must be a 'special' customer.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: bedlamvr on 04 July, 2016, 01:14:24 PM
I think what is interesting in the collection is the illustration  of just how cyclical the whole judge Dredd world is an how the writers keep going back to the well, although this is not a criticism, more of an observation and generally later stories learn from previous failings. (As the characters in the 2000 AD world seem to learn (in some instances from their mistakes)

For example in the two issues this month (hostile takeover and Inferno) Inferno seemed to have a good idea (penal colony full of ex judges  taken over by the inmates) but the pacing was odd in the beginning - it was never clear if you were supposed to feel sorry for the Judges sentenced to serve on Titan, Also what was their motivation to head back to MC1 and follow Grice - surely most of them would have splintered off and run and then the attempt to maintain the high melodreama throughout the main story kind of made it a farce... and to be honest i kind of stopped paying attention part way through. (and was the reason I stopped reading 2000AD in the first place).


But then you have hostile take over - a totally different take. And although it really doesn't explain Amie Nixon or the other how Thora or Mortal decided to step over the line it managed to tell the story through Dirty Frank of the fine line between Law and Crime and how loosing everything can push someone from the brink of sanity to the other side and loosing sight of what drives them Judges can so easily pass the point of no return.

Then in Titan - I think it was interesting if flawed . It still suffered from the confusing pacing and is more of the Dredd getting to the end of his days which is mirrored by the slow and inevitable decay in Mega City 1 which just seems to be unable to get  back up after the crippling events of chaos day.

But at the end of the day there are only so many stories that can be told. 
   
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: DarkDaysBish-OP on 04 July, 2016, 02:44:25 PM
It's why The Pit stands out among a lot of mega-epics, different structure, different approach to Dredd.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 04 July, 2016, 05:39:14 PM
Quote from: bedlamvr on 04 July, 2016, 01:14:24 PM

For example ... Inferno seemed to have a good idea (penal colony full of ex judges  taken over by the inmates) but the pacing was odd in the beginning - it was never clear if you were supposed to feel sorry for the Judges sentenced to serve on Titan, Also what was their motivation to head back to MC1 and follow Grice - surely most of them would have splintered off and run and then the attempt to maintain the high melodreama throughout the main story kind of made it a farce... and to be honest i kind of stopped paying attention part way through. (and was the reason I stopped reading 2000AD in the first place).

Let's face it, Millar at the time was using it as a stepping stone to craft his skills and really didn't give that much of a damn.  He let his worst tendencies spew out and is probably partially responsible for a lot of the drifting readership of the time.  Inferno is probably the second best example of his dross (the first being what he did to Robohunter) although I am willing to concede that there is worse out there.  What possessed them to include it in the collection is a mystery to me.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 04 July, 2016, 05:48:36 PM
Lovely painted Carlos artwork.
That said, the fact that other stories won't be included so we could have Purgatory/Inferno and Brit Cit Brute will annoy the hell out of me when we finish if we end up not having stories like Darkside or The Graveyard Shift in the Collection.
For all that Matt has got right in recent years I cannot see how he could justify such omissions at the expense of stories that he slates in the introductions to the books themselves. It's not like there isn't enough quality material even if some is in (say it quietly) black and white.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: dweezil2 on 04 July, 2016, 06:48:36 PM
Quote from: Tjm86 on 04 July, 2016, 05:39:14 PM
Quote from: bedlamvr on 04 July, 2016, 01:14:24 PM

For example ... Inferno seemed to have a good idea (penal colony full of ex judges  taken over by the inmates) but the pacing was odd in the beginning - it was never clear if you were supposed to feel sorry for the Judges sentenced to serve on Titan, Also what was their motivation to head back to MC1 and follow Grice - surely most of them would have splintered off and run and then the attempt to maintain the high melodreama throughout the main story kind of made it a farce... and to be honest i kind of stopped paying attention part way through. (and was the reason I stopped reading 2000AD in the first place).

Let's face it, Millar at the time was using it as a stepping stone to craft his skills and really didn't give that much of a damn.  He let his worst tendencies spew out and is probably partially responsible for a lot of the drifting readership of the time.  Inferno is probably the second best example of his dross (the first being what he did to Robohunter) although I am willing to concede that there is worse out there.  What possessed them to include it in the collection is a mystery to me.

I'd argue it's worth it to see that gorgeous Ezquerra art back in print-arguably, again, some of the best he's ever done.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 04 July, 2016, 08:32:03 PM
That is its only redeeming feature.  Otherwise it falls in the same category as Blackadder's King And Country ("Soft, strong and thoroughly absorbent!")
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 05 July, 2016, 10:00:58 PM
vol 80 is luna 1 based I would be genuinly shocked if darkside isn't in that volume

and a dredd collection without graveyard shift is just madness
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 05 July, 2016, 10:11:46 PM
I thought I read somewhere that Darkside was not included.
Agree re Graveyard Shift - stone cold classic.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Michael Knight on 05 July, 2016, 10:42:15 PM
The graveyard shift was one of the first reprints i ever bought after discovering 2000ad. I think it was in an issue of 'The Complete Judge Dredd'. Surely this needs a reprint in glorious hardback  :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 06 July, 2016, 05:24:54 PM
I think I was surprised to find Darkside not included in the MegaCollection - it seems an obvious sequel to City of the Damned. Mind you if Unamerican Graffitti can be excluded, anything can happen!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 06 July, 2016, 06:08:19 PM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 06 July, 2016, 05:24:54 PM
I think I was surprised to find Darkside not included in the MegaCollection - it seems an obvious sequel to City of the Damned. Mind you if Unamerican Graffitti can be excluded, anything can happen!

They said that Unamerican graffitti will be exluded  :o!?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 06 July, 2016, 06:41:22 PM
(From Facebook)
Hi Stephen,

Thank you for waiting so patiently for our reply on this.

Unfortunately, the Chopper collection doesn't include UnAmerican
Graffiti.

We really appreciate all your contribution to the community so far Stephen. You've been very helpful and insightful. A drokking true fan!

Thank you!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 06 July, 2016, 06:54:32 PM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 06 July, 2016, 06:41:22 PM
(From Facebook)
Hi Stephen,

Thank you for waiting so patiently for our reply on this.

Unfortunately, the Chopper collection doesn't include UnAmerican
Graffiti.

We really appreciate all your contribution to the community so far Stephen. You've been very helpful and insightful. A drokking true fan!

Thank you!

That's really unfortunate.

A while ago I asked about stories included beyond Song of the surfer, and they said The big meg was included.

Idk. I much rather have Un american graffiti, Midnight surfer, Sould on fire and Song of the surfer.

Could/should we try to sway them regarding it? I'd love for such collection of stories to exist.

Seems like they're trying to keep out as much old material as possible? Especially black and white stuff. I'v read that robot wars wouldn't be included either. IMO a must if there'll ever be a Walter the wobot collection >:(
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 06 July, 2016, 06:58:54 PM
I could pass on a Walter collection but excluding Unamerican Graffiti (Ron Smith conspiracy) in favour of later far inferior colour Chopper is nuts.
Some very strange decisions in a generally stunning collection.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Legendary Shark on 06 July, 2016, 07:19:20 PM
Will probably appear in The Judge Dredd Mega Classics Collection - vol XII.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 06 July, 2016, 07:22:58 PM
They confirmed more post Song of the surfer Chopper than the big meg?

Idk. UnAmerican graffiti pretty much is essential to Chopper? The sort of household he grew up in, and opted to escape.

Those I suggested (UnAmerican Graffiti up to Song of the surfer) would be too short? I count to 150 pages for such collection. Plus perhaps the story with Dredd in bandages in a sick bed giving his thoughts on not having shot Chopper. And the one with Jug Mckenzie -I think- where Dredd hits his head and lands in the land of Oz (correct me if I'm wrong having read such Dredd story)

Really wish Oz was split in two, with the Chopper stuff included.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 06 July, 2016, 07:50:54 PM
Hitman was included in Target: Judge Dredd. Not sure what stories they are including to get to 170 to 200 strip pages. Ironically, you could fill two volumes almost perfectly with the remaining Chopper material.
That said, I have found everything post Song of the Surfer pointless and repetitive. Perhaps I had already mourned him and moved on.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 06 July, 2016, 08:04:56 PM
Quote from: Trent on 06 July, 2016, 07:50:54 PM
Hitman was included in Target: Judge Dredd. Not sure what stories they are including to get to 170 to 200 strip pages. Ironically, you could fill two volumes almost perfectly with the remaining Chopper material.
That said, I have found everything post Song of the Surfer pointless and repetitive. Perhaps I had already mourned him and moved on.

I really hope they'll only include the Big beg story. From what I remember of the Surf's up collection, it and the funeral story where the only good stories beyond Song of the surfer (which in my head canon is the last Chopper story.)

Regardless. I sent them a pm asking for it -un american graffiti- to be included. Perhaps if more did the same?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 06 July, 2016, 08:19:33 PM
I've written about it in the Visitors Posts. Feel free to comment. I'm guessing they want to minimise material from the casefiles? Anyway it's only 14 pages. Perhaps Tharg can be swayed!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 06 July, 2016, 08:24:35 PM
As others have said, it may be elsewhere in the collection.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 06 July, 2016, 08:40:32 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 06 July, 2016, 08:24:35 PM
As others have said, it may be elsewhere in the collection.

I hadn't thought of that. I'd love to hear Matt Smith's thinking behind his selections - Desert Island Dredd style!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 06 July, 2016, 09:02:55 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 06 July, 2016, 08:24:35 PM
As others have said, it may be elsewhere in the collection.

In the light of such, wasn't there some talks about a MC1-citizens collection?

Fingers crossed it's included one way or another.

Oh, and also. Portrait of a Politician. Gotta have that one as well :D
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 06 July, 2016, 09:07:21 PM
Otto Sump?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 06 July, 2016, 09:53:16 PM
There is a clear common thread to these posts. Rebellion need to publish a deluxe hardback (with colour centrespreads) of Ron Smith's stories from the era of classic Dredd.
Get to it Molcher and co!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Fungus on 06 July, 2016, 10:58:11 PM
The Shakespeare family are a favourite feature of Dredd's (first, if you insist) Golden Era. While we're talking themes, a collection on the Meg's crazy citizenry sounds like a nice package. Unamerican Graffiti, Citizen Snork, a Ron Smith-heavy vilume or two would work perfectly.

PS. Gareth Bale's chin would do nicely for any Dredd telly series.

Edit: or, what Trent said, I suppose.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 07 July, 2016, 08:42:58 AM
The Stupid Gun, Bob & Carol & Ted & Ringo, The Graveyard Shift....so many classic Ron stories. Good to see some included in the recent Missionary Man volume. More please.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 07 July, 2016, 05:08:54 PM
Got a PM from the MC on FB regarding UnAmerican Graffiti. Says they're thinking of including it in a later book.

Fingers crossed :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moly on 07 July, 2016, 06:35:37 PM
in book 81  :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 07 July, 2016, 06:59:27 PM
Let's cut to the chance and ask Patrick Goddard & Dylan Teague if there's more spine artwork!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 07 July, 2016, 07:19:44 PM
Purgatory reads like an unmade Arnie/Sly 80s action film, rejected for being too over the top. Inferno turns it down a bit but Grice is still a pantomime villain. Best to view as a Big Mac and fries compared to the majority of the rest of the collection's multi-course gourmet banquet and move on.

Looking forward to Horror Stories, full contents as yet unknown....
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 07 July, 2016, 08:34:30 PM
I enjoyed this book funnily enough.  I know it's not held in high regard here, and I agree that Grice is a bit of a pantomime villain.  Nothing much was ever said about the ultimate fate of DuGaulle, even the old A-Z Judge Dredd book just says she was left behind by Grice and his crew.  I suppose she was killed in the explosion.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Colin YNWA on 07 July, 2016, 09:14:33 PM
Quote from: Jade Falcon on 07 July, 2016, 08:34:30 PM
I enjoyed this book funnily enough.  I know it's not held in high regard here, and I agree that Grice is a bit of a pantomime villain. 

Which to me is one of its worse crimes, and it has many, but when he was first in Dredd he was a great character.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Rately on 08 July, 2016, 03:51:30 PM
Quote from: Colin_YNWA on 07 July, 2016, 09:14:33 PM
Quote from: Jade Falcon on 07 July, 2016, 08:34:30 PM
I enjoyed this book funnily enough.  I know it's not held in high regard here, and I agree that Grice is a bit of a pantomime villain. 

Which to me is one of its worse crimes, and it has many, but when he was first in Dredd he was a great character.

If i recall correctly, when Grice first appeared in a few stories he was more than a match for Dredd. The referendum stories were some of the first Dredd i followed chronologically, and in light of the layers to the character, it was a bit disappointing to see how he was later portrayed.

His death, especially.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Hawkmumbler on 08 July, 2016, 03:52:59 PM
Grice's death is a note worthy 'Not-Dredd' moment. A classic example of a writer not getting what the character stands for.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Rately on 08 July, 2016, 03:55:51 PM
Quote from: Hawkmumbler on 08 July, 2016, 03:52:59 PM
Grice's death is a note worthy 'Not-Dredd' moment. A classic example of a writer not getting what the character stands for.

Awful, awful stuff.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Greg M. on 08 July, 2016, 05:43:26 PM
For all that I loathe 'Inferno' (and I do - despite the smashing artwork, I think it's the worst Dredd story ever) I do kinda enjoy Grice's death scene - memorably nasty and unpleasantly witty.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Davgardo on 10 July, 2016, 09:46:55 AM
Apologies for being off topic but I'm a new member and I don't seem to be able to post anywhere other than this thread! A bit odd - any tips? Thanks, Dave.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: NapalmKev on 10 July, 2016, 12:04:34 PM
Quote from: Greg M. on 08 July, 2016, 05:43:26 PM
I think it's the worst Dredd story ever...

I liked Inferno. It may not be outstanding quality but it certainly isn't Shit either. If we're going down the worst story route I'll throw the 'Judge Planet' storyline into the fray. Absolute nonsense, in my opinion.

Cheers
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richard on 10 July, 2016, 02:32:30 PM
Grice's death was great. But I agree that that version of the character was totally different to the original depicted in Wagner's stories.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 10 July, 2016, 03:04:44 PM
TBH it's not really Grice's characterisation that bothers me - I can accept that he's an authoritarian judge who has been brutalised by Titan, completely lost his marbles and gone seeking revenge.  It's an OTT transformation (and I doubt the boys thought about it for as long as it took to type this aside), but in a sense he's not the same character, he's what that man has become. It's the rest of the Purgatory/Inferno crew I don't get. Who are these people? How were these redneck lardasses, slack-jawed morons and hippies ever MC-1  judges in the first place? 
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Steve Green on 10 July, 2016, 03:31:06 PM
Dirty Frank.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: dweezil2 on 10 July, 2016, 04:18:35 PM
Quote from: Tordelback on 10 July, 2016, 03:04:44 PM
TBH it's not really Grice's characterisation that bothers me - I can accept that he's an authoritarian judge who has been brutalised by Titan, completely lost his marbles and gone seeking revenge.  It's an OTT transformation (and I doubt the boys thought about it for as long as it took to type this aside), but in a sense he's not the same character, he's what that man has become. It's the rest of the Purgatory/Inferno crew I don't get. Who are these people? How were these redneck lardasses, slack-jawed morons and hippies ever MC-1  judges in the first place?

I would of been pretty dull if the inmates had been your usual unimpeachable, by the book, judges-they were on Titan for a reason.

Agreed, the Purgatory/Inferno storyline never much aimed beyond thst of an over the top Hollywood action movie in its approach.
Taken in these terms though, there's a lot of fun to be had.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Colin YNWA on 10 July, 2016, 04:52:09 PM
Quote from: Tordelback on 10 July, 2016, 03:04:44 PM
TBH it's not really Grice's characterisation that bothers me - I can accept that he's an authoritarian judge who has been brutalised by Titan, completely lost his marbles and gone seeking revenge.  It's an OTT transformation (and I doubt the boys thought about it for as long as it took to type this aside), but in a sense he's not the same character, he's what that man has become.

While the logic and sense of character change is perfectly valid and one I've settled with myself it alas doesn't change the fact that

Grice (pre Purgatory): Great well rounded character who makes an interesting protagonist.

Grice (Purgatory and Inferno): Poor ranting cliched nutter character.

So while it can easily be explained its still a real shame he's gone from good character to bad.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Judge Nutmeg on 10 July, 2016, 05:01:23 PM
William's Titan deals with the same themes but does it much more successfully
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 10 July, 2016, 06:16:48 PM
Royal Mail helpfully left my package behind a bin while I was away. Soaked through and covered in bugs. *fume*

It'll be interesting to see if they compensate. (They'd bloody well better.) So my review is: too many bugs and too wet.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Legendary Shark on 10 July, 2016, 06:37:53 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 10 July, 2016, 06:16:48 PM

too many bugs and too wet.


Sounds like Hillary Clinton.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 10 July, 2016, 09:49:43 PM
Quote from: Steve Green on 10 July, 2016, 03:31:06 PM
Dirty Frank.

Touche!  Maybe we only ever saw the Wally Squad wing?

@Dweezil: sure, the inmates should be bad, bitter, violent and probably crazy, but other than the Steve Green loophole, how do you get to be an obese redneck on Titan if you didn't start out that way?

FWIW I prefer Purgatoty to Inferno because of all the OTT characters and uniforms. Inferno's biggest sin is that it's boring and repetitive.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Steve Green on 11 July, 2016, 08:12:29 AM
Judge Tex
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: dweezil2 on 11 July, 2016, 11:47:03 AM
Quote from: Tordelback on 10 July, 2016, 09:49:43 PM
Quote from: Steve Green on 10 July, 2016, 03:31:06 PM
Dirty Frank.

Touche!  Maybe we only ever saw the Wally Squad wing?

@Dweezil: sure, the inmates should be bad, bitter, violent and probably crazy, but other than the Steve Green loophole, how do you get to be an obese redneck on Titan if you didn't start out that way?

FWIW I prefer Purgatoty to Inferno because of all the OTT characters and uniforms. Inferno's biggest sin is that it's boring and repetitive.

I reckon someone's been smuggling in Umpty Candy with their bog roll supplies!  :lol:
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 11 July, 2016, 12:14:02 PM
Quote from: Steve Green on 11 July, 2016, 08:12:29 AM
Judge Tex

That's one shitty foreign exchange programme!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 11 July, 2016, 03:59:03 PM
My Mike McMahon print turned up, lovely thing, wish it was bigger. Don't know why McDonalds got upset, as it's quite clearly MacDonalds who were being lampooned.
Just need my copy of the book to turn up now; probably in a Southern postal sorting office having fallen foul of my postal redirect (although the poster made it).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 11 July, 2016, 05:29:46 PM
Bah, idiot. Meant to post this in Cursed Earth thread.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: James Stacey on 12 July, 2016, 08:55:31 AM
Quote from: Trent on 11 July, 2016, 03:59:03 PM
My Mike McMahon print turned up, lovely thing, wish it was bigger. Don't know why McDonalds got upset, as it's quite clearly MacDonalds who were being lampooned.
Just need my copy of the book to turn up now; probably in a Southern postal sorting office having fallen foul of my postal redirect (although the poster made it).
I don't think MacDonalds were upset. Green Giant were. They just removed them all from circulation to be safe. Unless I mis-remember.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Anzati on 13 July, 2016, 12:43:58 PM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 07 July, 2016, 06:59:27 PM
Let's cut to the chance and ask Patrick Goddard & Dylan Teague if there's more spine artwork!

Good idea; I'm sure there is ;)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 13 July, 2016, 04:05:41 PM
Quote from: James Stacey on 12 July, 2016, 08:55:31 AM

I don't think MacDonalds were upset. Green Giant were. They just removed them all from circulation to be safe. Unless I mis-remember.

TPO has Green Giant making the complaint and IPC lawyers making the decision not to reprint again.  (p47)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 13 July, 2016, 11:26:29 PM
So what's the next book then?  So far I've been lucky in getting a lot of stuff I've either not read before, or don't have in any form or haven't read for a long time.  I can't remember when I stopped reading 2000AD but it was after the last of the old style Rogue Trooper stories where it was left on a cliffhanger after the screwed up peace treaty.

Dredd wise, the last stories I remember were during McGruders tenure as Chief Judge the first time.  And it was when the vast majority of the strip bar the centre spread was still black and white.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 13 July, 2016, 11:38:03 PM
If that's the case the next 2 books will be a mixed blessing.
Horror Stories is a mixture of thematically linked stories some of which you may have seen.
Then up is The Day the Law Died which I would guess you have read. It's bundled with mini epic Helter Skelter (12 parts) which is well drawn drivel that reads like fan fiction.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 14 July, 2016, 05:23:31 AM
So the day the law died does not have necropolis in it? ;)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Hawkmumbler on 14 July, 2016, 10:26:12 AM
Quote from: Trent on 13 July, 2016, 11:38:03 PM
If that's the case the next 2 books will be a mixed blessing.
Horror Stories is a mixture of thematically linked stories some of which you may have seen.
Then up is The Day the Law Died which I would guess you have read. It's bundled with mini epic Helter Skelter (12 parts) which is well drawn drivel that reads like fan fiction.
A somewhat logical if not entirely brilliant decision. Like you i'm no fan of Helter Skelter beyond the art (superb!) and seeing as i'm shamelessly in love with The Day the Law Died it seem's a real downer after one of the defining epics of early Dredd.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: bedlamvr on 15 July, 2016, 01:50:07 PM
Not quite as much as a downer as the Galen stories at the end of the Simping Detective book. - well probably. But like then i guess the two stories are pretty much related  (kinda) .

Given the epics that have been and gone in the collection though, the only one I can see that remain include tour of duty, Luna 1 Wilderlands and the Judge Child. ( althoguht there are some related stories like the city of the dammed and of course In the Year 2120 .

I am a little concerned we are promised 3 volumes of Armatidge - I thought he was an interesting but kind of limited character when i fisrt saw him in the meagzine . - Se seem to have more supporting cast and anthologies to come which seems a little disappointing...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 15 July, 2016, 10:11:27 PM
I thought there were 2 Armitage volumes coming - has something else been indicated?
I get the impression that only a portion of the Luna1 stories will be included so not really presented as an epic.
I suspect Vol 41 will feature The Hunting Party but otherwise all epics have been accounted for.
I do agree that there are more volumes focussing on ancilliarycharacters than I would like but I am willing to accept Armitage, Heavy Mob, Shimura etc in order to get complete Low Life, Koburn and 3 volumes of Missionary Man. So horses for courses I guess.
I still hope for an extension when I think about how much top notch Dredd material will be excluded. Maybe a continuation of the deluxe Case Files is in order.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: BPP on 15 July, 2016, 10:41:30 PM
Quote from: Trent on 15 July, 2016, 10:11:27 PM
I thought there were 2 Armitage volumes coming - has something else been indicated?
I get the impression that only a portion of the Luna1 stories will be included so not really presented as an epic.
I suspect Vol 41 will feature The Hunting Party but otherwise all epics have been accounted for.
I do agree that there are more volumes focussing on ancilliarycharacters than I would like but I am willing to accept Armitage, Heavy Mob, Shimura etc in order to get complete Low Life, Koburn and 3 volumes of Missionary Man. So horses for courses I guess.
I still hope for an extension when I think about how much top notch Dredd material will be excluded. Maybe a continuation of the deluxe Case Files is in order.

I've zero complaints about the collection but what is clear is that what we are getting is material that has already been processed for 2000ADs own GN line (with the odd exception). There is a mass of fantastic Dredd material from the last 15 years that falls between the casefiles and what has come out in GN. Its a shame lots of this will be lost to the series but from a cost point of view its easy to see and to understand what is going on. So on those grounds I'd be against any extension and once my volumes are done I'm oot regardless of any extensions.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 16 July, 2016, 08:30:40 AM
Volumes 33 and 77 have just arrived.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 16 July, 2016, 09:30:42 AM
I am curious whats in vol 77

But yeah i think theres a decent mix of unreprinted stuff so far i am genuinly happy to have the missionary man collection despite its baffling vol number

Luna 1 has its own collection in vol 80
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: rogue69 on 16 July, 2016, 11:12:05 AM
 just got it today vol 77 Horror Stories contains the stories The Haunting of sector house 9 by Alan Grant & John Wagner art by Brett Ewins progs 359-363, judgement from progs 1523-1528 by Gordon Rennie & Ian Gibson, Roadstory progs 1582-1586 by Gordon Rennie & Dave Taylor The Fear That Made Milwaukee Famous! by John Wagner & Mick McMahon,  judge Dredd Annual 1981, The Vampire effect by John Wagner & Mick McMahon Judge Dredd Annual1982 & a few other stories
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Davgardo on 16 July, 2016, 05:53:11 PM
Quote from: rogue69 on 16 July, 2016, 11:12:05 AM
just got it today vol 77 Horror Stories contains the stories The Haunting of sector house 9 by Alan Grant & John Wagner art by Brett Ewins progs 359-363, judgement from progs 1523-1528 by Gordon Rennie & Ian Gibson, Roadstory progs 1582-1586 by Gordon Rennie & Dave Taylor The Fear That Made Milwaukee Famous! by John Wagner & Mick McMahon,  judge Dredd Annual 1981, The Vampire effect by John Wagner & Mick McMahon Judge Dredd Annual1982 & a few other stories

McMahon really hit a high standard with that annual art, can't wait to see those stories again. It would be nice to see more annual and sci fi special stories.

I really hope they include Bury My Knee at Wounded Heart, The Falucci Tape and The Exterminator at some point. The first one especially. Although, if a Chopper collection can omit Unamerican Graffiti, I guess anything's possible.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 16 July, 2016, 06:16:26 PM
Mine turned up today which was a bit of a surprise.  Normally they show up mid week.

Had a flick through the Horror Stories volume and I have to say I'm really disappointed with the reproduction quality on Sector House 9.  The same problem as with Father Earth; detail washed out in a mass of black in some places.  Then the colour spreads are B&W whereas they are colour for Beating Heart.  Day The Law Died doesn't seem to suffer from the same problems, in fact it seems on a par with the old Titan books.  This is my only bugbear with this series, the consistency.  Otherwise they are great.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dandontdare on 16 July, 2016, 07:29:11 PM
Quotewell drawn drivel that reads like fan fiction.

Best description of helterskelter ever.

I've not been buying this collection as I've got virtually all the progs but I'm impressed with the curation - that haunting one is an excellent selection of spooky stories.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IronGraham on 16 July, 2016, 08:01:31 PM
has anyone noticed the blurb on the back of the day the law died is Necroplisis'
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 16 July, 2016, 11:39:34 PM
Oops. The same happened on their FB feed. A pity that wasn't just a posting error then.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Anzati on 17 July, 2016, 12:58:38 AM
I was just nipping on here to ask about the fuck up on The Day the Law Died blurb too...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 17 July, 2016, 11:05:00 PM
Sounds like a good mix of stories in Horror Stories. Chuffed Milwaukee is in there, probably my favourite McMahon art. Already have it in the original Annual (my treasured signed copy), Restricted files etc but glad to have it as part of the Collection. Interesting contrast with the art used in Vampire Effect. Still terrific but very different. Mike's evolution as an artist is fascinating. Prefer his earlier work to say Howler or Doomsday but all is majestic. I see Henry Flint on a similar journey with his art reducing in lines but increasing in quality over the years.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Satanist on 19 July, 2016, 10:03:30 AM
Just read Frankenstein Division for first time at the weekend. WOW! That is an impressive level if shit  :lol:
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 19 July, 2016, 10:48:53 AM
I'm catching up on the last two sets of books. Started re-reading Purgatory/Inferno. Urgh. It's like Dredd fan-fiction written by an angry and sexist 15-year-old.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 19 July, 2016, 11:23:13 AM
I loved Death Aid - although I'd like to have seen it partnered with previous hunter's clubs material. Purgatory & Inferno are dumb, fun & saved by stellar art. They are never dull - a bit like all-star Batman & Robin!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 19 July, 2016, 11:40:27 AM
Yeah, it's a pity Hunter's Club stuff was separated out. I suppose there wasn't enough material for a standalone volume. As for P/I, they're certainly dumb.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 19 July, 2016, 11:43:33 AM
I'd really wanted more off the b&w stories included in this series but after seeing some of the reprint quality maybe its best skipped. Did "Haunting of Sector House 9" look this bad in the casefiles? The more modern stuff looked great & I dont want to moan about an otherwise stellar series. The text pieces have been outstanding - and quite bold!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 19 July, 2016, 11:46:34 AM
Mm. Some of the b/w repro is terrible. A great pity to see so much detail eradicated, and so many solid blacks that weren't there in the original art. All of the post-digital stuff is excellent, and some of the earlier colour stuff isn't too bad either (with low amounts of moire).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 20 July, 2016, 11:05:39 AM
I don't understand the b&w repro issue, has it been explained?
The Casefiles can be ropey at times and some of the Complete Bolland Dredd was shamefully from the same source (given the prestige marketing of the book) but the old Titan volumes were superb so decent source material was out there.
It is a definite blight on a wonderful collection, I have bemoaned the lack of classic Dredd a few times but maybe if the likes of Haunting of Sector House 5 is what they have to work with then that might explain the situation.
Such a shame, I adore some of these older tales and still hope to see them done justice in the future.
The use, or not, of colour spreads is another oddity (Trapper Hag and Beating Heart but not Judge Dredd Lives or Apocalypse War) and often another missed opportunity to differentiate the Mega Collection from other material out there which must surely be owned by much of the target market.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Davgardo on 20 July, 2016, 11:25:49 AM
It is a very puzzling situation regarding SOME of the B&W reprint quality and it'd be nice if someone in the know could come on here and explain the situation. I mean, in one collection we have absolutely awful reprint of Brett Ewins' art with no colour centrespreads and then Steve Dillon art of a similar vintage is much better and HAS colour centrespreads. And the release of The Day the Law Died which is 6/7 years older is likewise of excellent quality.

It's a shame that such an excellent collection is blighted by this problem. To be honest, The Haunting of Sector House 9 (and episode 1 in particular) is that bad it shouldn't have been reprinted.

Is it purely down to the fact there's no better source material, or they can't be bothered finding the best available. I mean, I've got a few Titan volumes in my loft they can have if they want.  :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 20 July, 2016, 09:54:10 PM
I'm no expert on these matters but the old bog paper 2000ad's scan a lot worse than the better paper that began around 500. I think we've got used to an amazing level of repro - in the past any old crap would do. I think there aren't great copies of many old Dredd's. Of course the Titan volumes could (and I'm guessing will) be scanned in at some point but the cost would break the (amazing) 250 pages for £10 in a hardcover including postage. Printing from old crappy files next to pin sharp digital files is cruel. I'm interested if the files are identical to the casefiles ones. Nothing's perfect but I'm loving this series even if the repro is variable.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Davgardo on 21 July, 2016, 08:59:25 AM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 20 July, 2016, 09:54:10 PM
I'm no expert on these matters but the old bog paper 2000ad's scan a lot worse than the better paper that began around 500. I think we've got used to an amazing level of repro - in the past any old crap would do. I think there aren't great copies of many old Dredd's. Of course the Titan volumes could (and I'm guessing will) be scanned in at some point but the cost would break the (amazing) 250 pages for £10 in a hardcover including postage. Printing from old crappy files next to pin sharp digital files is cruel. I'm interested if the files are identical to the casefiles ones. Nothing's perfect but I'm loving this series even if the repro is variable.

I get that - it's the consistency that's confusing: compare The Day the Law Died stuff to Haunting of Sector House 9 in Horror Stories.

I have to say 'in the past any old crap would do' isn't exactly accurate. The reproductions in the 1980's were exceptional: why stuff could look so good reprinted then (e.g.The Return of Rico in Judge Dredd 2) and so appalling ever since is my main query.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 21 July, 2016, 12:08:17 PM
My guess is it's whatever's currently on file. The Mega Collection is clearly primarily composed of existing material to keep costs down. Hell, even the packaging showcases that this is a low-cost thing, otherwise we'd actually get some bubblewrap to protect the corners and spines of the bloody books.

It's also hard to know what's in the Nerve Centre already, what's viable in terms of repro, and how much time can go into each page. For low-profit items, is the system primarily automated? How much is it tweaked? You could give me a scan of old B&W 2000 AD art and I could spend hours cleaning it up and making it perfect. Or I could run it through a Photoshop action to remove the bulk of the grime and darken the blacks. One of those leads to a business going bankrupt, and so I imagine there's been a mix of automaton and manual fixes, rather than painstakingly solely using the latter option. (Stuff like the Black Hole art suggests this might be the case elsewhere in terms of 'old comic repro', albeit with more balance towards tweaks, looking much like what I ended up with when trying to largely automate something similar myself with Photoshop.)

Fortunately, the bulk of the collection holds up well. And while it'll be an expensive set overall, the individual books are ludicrously cheap, given what you get. On that basis, I'm fine with the odd bit of iffy repro — although I do wish the packaging situation had been addressed long ago.

As for the actual strips, I trudged my way through Inferno two nights ago. Purgatory was every bit as awful as I remembered, with essentially no redeeming features, bar the art. Inferno, though, does have its moments. It's frequently ludicrous and seems to think Mega City One is about the size of Basingstoke, but there's the basis for a decent Dredd yarn there. Ultimately, it kind of comes across as a bit lazy more than anything. The Frankenstein Division, though? Urgh. And it's still highly amusing to see Matt Smith's on-the-nose intros, which have a refreshingly frank and honest feel compared to the cheerleader dross that accompanied pretty much every volume in the Marvel collection.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 21 July, 2016, 08:55:17 PM
The Facebook page has posted the cover of issue 43, The Art of Taxidermy. Cover is by Steve Dillon from Prog 507. Credited are Wagner, Grant, Rob Williams, Ian Gibson, Cam Kennedy, Trevor Hairsine and John Higgins. So it will feature the three Sardini stories and - what else?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 21 July, 2016, 09:39:37 PM
 More Mega-Olympics stuff? (Staring, Sex, Lunar etc.) And maybe some nice Cam citizen-foucused things (Sunday Night Fever, Flip Marlowe etc.) As for Higgins and Hairsine, no idea.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 21 July, 2016, 09:47:35 PM
Wagner, Grant, Kennedy, Hairsine and Gibson cover the Sardini stories totalling 124 pages which leaves say 50 to 70 pages of additional material which includes Williams and Higgins plus any of the aforementioned.
Looked over Barney but nothing jumped out at me. Any thoughts anyone?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dash Decent on 22 July, 2016, 07:49:55 AM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 21 July, 2016, 08:55:17 PM
issue 43, The Art of Taxidermy

Now, wouldn't it be great to have that name on the spine showing in your bookcase rather than the rectangular Dredd jigsaw?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 22 July, 2016, 09:59:05 AM
The spine design is one of the few aspects I don't like about the collection. Nothing again nst the artists or the image but it all feels a bit childish and does the quality of the material a disservice. I would much prefer Casefiles style spines with the title on them.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 22 July, 2016, 10:44:37 AM
They do this with all of their partworks, though; it's clearly designed to make you buy them all, so the spine art isn't incomplete. It's piss-poor from a usability perspective though.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: terryworld on 22 July, 2016, 11:21:09 AM
i'm cherry picking. not buying anything that isn't a "proper" JD book (ie: i've skipped devlin waugh, low-life, etc, and have no intention of buying armitage or any hondo-city stuff).
my daughter is asking "but won't you go crazy when the spines don't line up?!"
nope.
i worked out fairly early on in the run that around a quarter of the books would be "dredd universe" and not actually DREDD. quick maths made me realize; 20 books @ $20 a pop = $400 of stuff i don't want.
i'll have to live with the incomplete spine pic :)
having said that though......
i did make a trip into Radelaide town today to pick up cursed earth koburn - what can i say? it's Ezquerra and there's a lot of Dredd in there.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 22 July, 2016, 11:57:06 AM
I was close to buy one book now and then. Classics like Cursed Earth, Apocalypse war, OZ, couple side books such as PJ Maybe, Chopper and Low Life and the modern Dredd epics Origin up to Day of chaos.

But what the hell. Two hardcovers each month are to hard to resist. I'm even happy with the "clunkers".
I'll probably line up my fav. ones later on, with the rest shelved elsewhere.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 22 July, 2016, 01:28:30 PM
terryworld: out of curiosity, have you read any of the non-Dredd stuff? Of the volumes so far released, Anderson, Swimming in Blood, Simping Detective, and Low Life are all excellent.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 22 July, 2016, 01:29:52 PM
Apestrife: Oddly, owning the Marvel collection prompted me to plump for the Dredd one, due to the production values more than anything. Despite some iffy picks in the Dredd set, it feels more consistent to me than the Marvel one, which was very variable. Although perhaps Marvel fans would argue otherwise.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: terryworld on 22 July, 2016, 01:41:06 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 22 July, 2016, 01:28:30 PM
terryworld: out of curiosity, have you read any of the non-Dredd stuff? Of the volumes so far released, Anderson, Swimming in Blood, Simping Detective, and Low Life are all excellent.

hey IP,

i'm buying all the anderson stuff, that's "real" dredd, in my opinion :)
i read most of the other dreddworld stuff as it came out in the meg; devlin, armitage, hondo etc.
wasn't my cup of tea.
i was tempted to get low life, but i bought the titan trade instead.
(best mega-epic in the last few years)
so, i'm just being very particular with which issues of the mega collection i get.
as i'm getting them here in Oz, i know which ones are coming out months ahead of time, and i have to say i'm looking forward to the next few months for me; atlantis, sin-city, kleggs, pit, death, anderson, necropolis, pj, doomsday and cal.
i might get struck by thrill-power overload.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Davgardo on 22 July, 2016, 02:04:33 PM
Quote from: Trent on 21 July, 2016, 09:47:35 PM
Wagner, Grant, Kennedy, Hairsine and Gibson cover the Sardini stories totalling 124 pages which leaves say 50 to 70 pages of additional material which includes Williams and Higgins plus any of the aforementioned.
Looked over Barney but nothing jumped out at me. Any thoughts anyone?

Rob Williams and John Higgins did a 3 part story called Meet Darren Dead a few years ago - maybe it's that. That'd only take us up to 20 episodes however, which is slight for this collection. Maybe there'll be a couple of random Cam Kennedy or Ian Gibson drawn stories included.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Davgardo on 22 July, 2016, 02:10:04 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 21 July, 2016, 12:08:17 PM
Fortunately, the bulk of the collection holds up well. And while it'll be an expensive set overall, the individual books are ludicrously cheap, given what you get. On that basis, I'm fine with the odd bit of iffy repro.


I agree completely. The Day the Law Died plus Helter Skelter in Hardback £9.99: Judge Caligula Books 1 & 2 paperbacks 35-ish years ago cost a combined £7.00. The set is fantastic value for money.
In fact when the Judge Child is released (with plus maybe The Fink included): it will be cheaper to buy this in 2016/17 than it was to buy in 1984 (3 paperbacks @ £3.50 a pop). 
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 22 July, 2016, 04:02:21 PM
On Helter Skelter, I re-read that last night, expecting to very much dislike it. I certainly wasn't keen at the time, and I recall Carlos having some issues with his house or something during the art run (hence presumably the jarring Flint fill-ins). And yet I actually rather enjoyed it. Sure, shoe-horning all those other 2000 AD characters feels a touch unnecessary and illogical, and the bad guys are idiots (although Dredd points this out nicely), but it all hangs together quite well in a single read, and feels at home in a book that also includes the madcap The Day The Law Died. Good essay at the end of the volume, too.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 22 July, 2016, 04:51:47 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 22 July, 2016, 01:29:52 PM
Apestrife: Oddly, owning the Marvel collection prompted me to plump for the Dredd one, due to the production values more than anything. Despite some iffy picks in the Dredd set, it feels more consistent to me than the Marvel one, which was very variable. Although perhaps Marvel fans would argue otherwise.

I think the intros, interviews and such can be of great help when "accepting" some of the books. Giving the collection a "documented feel".

One thing I like is that some of the fat consists of similarly themed stories as well as work by the same writer, artist. For example America collecting additional Macneil-stories. A bit like a bonus track on a good album. Fun to hear, and if needed easy to skip.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion t
Post by: Trent on 22 July, 2016, 06:06:43 PM
Terry, if you like 'proper Dredd' not sure the Klegg volume is ideal. Much is taken up with Maelstrom and The Corps which are very much non-essential Dreddverse tales but I concede the back up stories are good with Lonely Klegghunter and Trapper Hag just about justifying the book on their owm.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 22 July, 2016, 07:44:15 PM
Heavy Mob is also very skippable in that sense.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: terryworld on 23 July, 2016, 02:07:11 AM
Trent, as you say, Trapper Hag. Wagner & Grant scripting with Steve Dillon drawing? I'm in for 20 bucks for that!
One that's coming up that i'm unsure of is Missionary Man. No real interest in the character, but.... Black Plague, Hotdog Run and Shantytown? That's a purchase (although I think I've already got those stories in The Complete JD).
Already grabbed The Heavy Mob when it came out, was excited for Father Earth but, as has been previously pointed out, the repro was very poor. I'm another confused punter who wonders why rebellion can't take scans from the old Titan reprints. That's the thing with these books though; there isn't a SINGLE volume that i look at and think "That's not worth 20 bucks". They're great value for money with the hardcover format and high page count. It was only when i looked at the series as a WHOLE and realised about a quarter of it is non-Dredd that I decided to start skipping issues as i didn't want to spend ~$400 on stuff i have no need for, other than consistency with the spines. Am considering printing my own spines anyway as i think i'd rather shelve the books in a chronological order.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Davgardo on 23 July, 2016, 03:09:08 PM
Quote from: terryworld on 23 July, 2016, 02:07:11 AM
Trent, as you say, Trapper Hag. Wagner & Grant scripting with Steve Dillon drawing? I'm in for 20 bucks for that!
One that's coming up that i'm unsure of is Missionary Man. No real interest in the character, but.... Black Plague, Hotdog Run and Shantytown? That's a purchase (although I think I've already got those stories in The Complete JD

I was very pleasantly surprised by Missionary Man and with those 3 classic Ron Smith strips it makes an excellent volume. And, while we're on the subject, the repro on those 3 strips is brilliant, especially The Black Plague as Ron put a hell of a lot of detail in that one.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 23 July, 2016, 08:27:24 PM
I would have to say that Goin' South is my favourite volume so far, loved the main strip and some of Ron Smith's finest work beautifully reproduced. Fabulous for a tenner.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 23 July, 2016, 09:42:03 PM
The newsagent at Smiths said "Aren't these quite expensive".  However I pointed out to her that a Star Wars graphic novel "Mara Jade:The Emperors Hand" which I have and is (at most half the thickness of one of the Dredd collection), was marked at £12.99 and it was one I've had for a fair few years and it was a softcover.

Incidentally, has anyone else read that graphic novel?  The artwork is by Ezquerra, and one of the Imperial Officers in it, Captain Strok from certain angles has a Dredd look about him, in the jawline at least.

(http://lparchive.org/Star-Wars-Shadows-of-the-Empire/Update%2013/7-mj_hand_-_07.jpg)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 24 July, 2016, 11:35:02 AM
Horror Stories is a good compilation of old and new. Agreed that it's a shame about the repro on THOSH9, as Brett Ewins' Anderson stories look pin-sharp in this collection. Hopefully The Wally Squad will fare better. Good to see some annual & special stories included, with some pithy wit alongside the horror. And The Jigsaw Murders is vintage Smith. Overall, a themed collection that works well.

At the halfway point, a few thoughts on the collection so far. Please add yours, or more.....

Favourite cover: Beyond Mega-City One
Favourite endpapers: Oz
Favourite volume: The Life & Crimes of PJ Maybe
Favourite epic/arc: Day of Chaos
Favourite standalone story: Missing
Favourite non-Dredd issue: Devlin Waugh, Chasing Herod
Favourite non-Dredd story: Anderson, Shamballa
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Davgardo on 24 July, 2016, 02:09:37 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 24 July, 2016, 11:35:02 AM

Favourite cover: Beyond Mega-City One
Favourite endpapers: Oz
Favourite volume: The Life & Crimes of PJ Maybe
Favourite epic/arc: Day of Chaos
Favourite standalone story: Missing
Favourite non-Dredd issue: Devlin Waugh, Chasing Herod
Favourite non-Dredd story: Anderson, Shamballa

Cover: Doomsday for Dredd
Endpapers: Devlin Waugh Swimming in Blood
Volume: Trifecta
Epic: Dead Man/Necropolis
Standalone: Sin City
Non Dredd Issue: Low Life Hostile Takeover
Non Dredd Story: Shamballa
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jamie1000013 on 26 July, 2016, 05:31:58 PM
Wow never knew how underrated Gordon Rennie was until reading a story and being like wow that was amazing and checking the writer and it is always either Wagner or Rennie.

Roadstop and Judgement were both excellent stories in the newest Horror Stories book, as was the whole of Judge Coburn, definite rereads in the future.

Cover: Simping Detective
Endpapers: NA
Volume: Oz
Epic: Dead Man/Necropolis
Standalone: Road Stop
Non Dredd Issue: Simping Detective
Non Dredd Story: Judge Coburn collection
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 26 July, 2016, 05:48:40 PM
Cover: America
Volume: PJ Maybe
Epic: Chaos Day
Non-Dredd: If Trifecta doesn't count, Low Life: Paranoia

So far, of 40 issues, I've only been unhappy with a fw (notably The Heavy Mob and Klegg Hai!). The strike-rate's been remarkably high, so I hope that continues. (Oddly, it appears my local WHS is still getting the Marvel Mightiest Heroes partworks in, of all things. No sign of Dredd or even Doctor Who, though.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 26 July, 2016, 10:05:48 PM
I've also noticed Smiths with the Mightiest Heroes one, and some of the Star Wars Helmets and Dr Who partworks.  I'm wondering sometimes if it's people who have reserved them but failed to come back for them.

Finished this book.  Pretty happy with it, the only story I've read before is Haunting of Sector House 9 and I can see what people mean about the reproduction issues.

Artwork for the stories varied, but was in general pretty good.  I enjoyed all the stories, and can't say that any of them were bad.

So what's up next?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Timothy on 26 July, 2016, 10:11:35 PM
Necropolis, by the looks of the blurb.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 26 July, 2016, 10:41:34 PM
Hmm, that is one I have read.  Decent story, but I prefer it when I get something I haven't read before.  I guess it will be just Necropolis.  No Young Death or any other 'aftermath' stories.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 26 July, 2016, 10:51:22 PM
Issue 41 is The Day the Law Died, which erroneously has the Necropolis synopsis on its rear cover. It's supported by Helter Skelter. Next month is Half Life (Anderson) and The Art of Taxidermy.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 26 July, 2016, 11:09:38 PM
Helter Skelter doesn't ring any bells, I've read the Day the Law Died but will be happy enough to get it.  I assume we'll be getting the Judge Child at some point?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 27 July, 2016, 12:09:27 AM
Judge Child is reportedly coming in about a year's time.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: sheridan on 27 July, 2016, 01:23:42 AM
Quote from: Jade Falcon on 26 July, 2016, 11:09:38 PM
Helter Skelter doesn't ring any bells,
If only I could say the same :-(
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 27 July, 2016, 10:49:59 AM
I actually enjoyed re-reading it in this book. It seemed fine in the context of the collection, and held together reasonably well. It would certainly a lot more solid than Inferno.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 27 July, 2016, 03:20:19 PM
Young death is coming in about a month or two it'll likely have my name is death and the cursed earth death story with it
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 27 July, 2016, 03:29:40 PM
Probably have to get that one myself! I love the Irving Death stuff, and while I'm not mad about the story in Young Death, I do love Doherty's art. Plus Tales of Deadworld has me on an unexpected Dark Judges kick, that may even cause me to get the Half Life volume too. At my age.  Long and Kendall have a lot to answer for.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 27 July, 2016, 07:31:55 PM
Just looked through INFERNO. Fair to say it's to Dredd what All star Batman and Robin is to Batman? Mental to say the least. And for what it's worth, quite entertaining. "Eat saw pigface!" haha.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Rately on 28 July, 2016, 03:06:57 PM
Quote from: Tordelback on 27 July, 2016, 03:29:40 PM
Probably have to get that one myself! I love the Irving Death stuff, and while I'm not mad about the story in Young Death, I do love Doherty's art. Plus Tales of Deadworld has me on an unexpected Dark Judges kick, that may even cause me to get the Half Life volume too. At my age.  Long and Kendall have a lot to answer for.

I've been looking to get Young Death in some form for a few years now, even during my break from reading comics, i was always on the lookout for it.

Well, i've no excuse now, and looking forward to seeing some Doherty art. Shame he doesn't produce a lot, but his stuff is always worth the wait.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Judge Brian on 28 July, 2016, 07:13:12 PM
Any idea what's in issue 44 & beyond?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 28 July, 2016, 07:58:21 PM
The Wiki page reveals what's known so far (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judge_Dredd:_The_Mega_Collection).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: James Stacey on 01 August, 2016, 10:24:17 AM
I was expecting the last issue of the Marvel partwork this month and instead get 2 issues, and the news its been extended from a run of 120 to 150. Wonder if Pat and Dyl are working on a Dredd spine picture extension?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 01 August, 2016, 10:27:15 AM
Quote from: James Stacey on 01 August, 2016, 10:24:17 AMI was expecting the last issue of the Marvel partwork this month and instead get 2 issues, and the news its been extended from a run of 120 to 150.
Good grief. That one's never going to end, is it?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 01 August, 2016, 11:54:44 AM
Ha, I don't think there is even 150 volumes of Dredd verse material in total. Close maybe.
I still maintain that an extra 20 volumes would ensure we got everything worth having although whatever they do it is clear that the bulk of the one part Dredd tales from the Prog and Meg will never go further than the Casefiles. Shame, as even though truth be told there is as much dross as gold in those short stories there are many gems we will miss out on.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: James Stacey on 01 August, 2016, 01:06:45 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 01 August, 2016, 10:27:15 AM
Quote from: James Stacey on 01 August, 2016, 10:24:17 AMI was expecting the last issue of the Marvel partwork this month and instead get 2 issues, and the news its been extended from a run of 120 to 150.
Good grief. That one's never going to end, is it?
Yet again I'm tempted to jump off but probably wont. Suckered me good
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 01 August, 2016, 01:54:22 PM
With Dredd, I'll just be happy when #80 lands. It's such an unlikely collection anyway, given that everything else in this space (outside of crafts) is either wildly popular shows like Doctor Who, or big-two. If it continues beyond, I'd happily continue paying for the books though.

As for Marvel, I ended up selling my set. That nixed all temptation to continue! (I kept Howard the Duck, and that was it.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 01 August, 2016, 06:13:15 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 01 August, 2016, 01:54:22 PM
With Dredd, I'll just be happy when #80 lands.

Shit! I thought it was up to 60. Still. It's Dredd. I'll allow it  ;)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 01 August, 2016, 09:15:12 PM
You...thought oit ended at 60 when the latest volume we have so far is 77? :lol:
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richard on 01 August, 2016, 11:06:25 PM
The series had better include Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 02 August, 2016, 08:09:13 AM
Quote from: The monarch on 01 August, 2016, 09:15:12 PM
You...thought oit ended at 60 when the latest volume we have so far is 77? :lol:

:-[

I've only actually read 3 volumes so far and haven't paid too much attention to the spines.
Mea culpa.
Still more Dredd goodness is fine with me  :D
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dash Decent on 03 August, 2016, 01:15:53 PM
Quote from: Richard on 01 August, 2016, 11:06:25 PM
The series had better include Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee.

Or even the other way around, even!

(A completely understandable error of course!)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Judge Smudge on 03 August, 2016, 08:26:45 PM
I asked the guys at my local comic book store in Leeds...OK Comics...they reckoned 80 volumes would probably be about the limit, unless they decided to spread out from Dreddverse and start doing Rogue Trooper, Strontium Dog et al and other 2000ad favourites
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 03 August, 2016, 08:49:50 PM
They'd be mad to stray from Dredd and related stories in this series. As much as I'd like a set of 2000 AD hardbacks. (That said, how would you even do that? Nikolai Dante hardbacks would be wonderful, say, but it'd be pointless without the entire run.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 03 August, 2016, 09:09:57 PM
Agree, Dreddverse has more mileage in it than 80 volumes but a 'Best of 2000AD' (Nikolai Dante hardback, Flesh Book 2 with colour centre spreads, Journey to Hell with colour centre spreads etc) while the stuff of dreams for users of this forum would be totally impractical unless they miss the last 15 to 20 years which has seen far more serialised stories which need to be collected in their entirety.
Admittedly much of this is from Mr Mills who started the process with Nemesis all those years ago.
Oh, and it would likely be a sales stinker sadly, only Dredd seems to hit anything like mainstream.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Judge Smudge on 03 August, 2016, 09:16:08 PM
Yeah your right, can you image how many volumes  nearly 40 years of creative activity would fill if they decided to do as much as was possible in hardback. If they did what collections would people most like to see in hardback?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 03 August, 2016, 10:19:40 PM
Quote from: Judge Brian on 28 July, 2016, 07:13:12 PM
Any idea what's in issue 44 & beyond?

The Facebook page has posted the cover of issue 44, Dark Side of the Moon. Cover is by Brian Bolland, from (I think) an Eagle comics reprint cover. Credited: John Smith, Rob Williams, John Wagner, Gordon Rennie, Paul Marshall, Peter Doherty, Laurence Campbell, Brian Bolland & Ian Gibson.

So contents will include some (all?) of the early prog Dredd Luna-1 stories, and the Smith-penned reappearance of the zombie counterpart from City of the Damned. And the rest, any guesses?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: dweezil2 on 03 August, 2016, 10:43:43 PM
Breathing Space is a fair bet.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 03 August, 2016, 11:09:11 PM
Huh. That was originally down as #80. Looks like those forward lists aren't so accurate then.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 04 August, 2016, 12:18:27 AM
The trouble with a 'Best of 2000AD' is that popular characters are all subjective.  Dredd is unquestionably the iconic 2000AD character even if there are stories you don't like.

However, the rest...

Some people will like or dislike Strontium Dog, Flesh, Ace Trucking Co, Halo Jones, Rogue Trooper, The VCs, Bill Savage and so on.

The main advantage though of a best of 2000AD is that some of the graphic novel collections only seem to have a short shelf life.  I know a guy who is after Savage:Taking Liberties and The Guv'nor, and they are bloody expensive.  I only today got a Harlem Heroes/Inferno collection through.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: sheridan on 04 August, 2016, 01:10:44 AM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 03 August, 2016, 10:19:40 PM
The Facebook page has posted the cover of issue 44, Dark Side of the Moon. Cover is by Brian Bolland, from (I think) an Eagle comics reprint cover.
Just had a quick look, and yes, it's from the cover of Eagle Comics' Judge Dredd No 2 (the Luna City War with the umpire).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 04 August, 2016, 01:40:13 AM
Told you dark side would make the cut
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 04 August, 2016, 01:42:15 AM
Oh and darkside of the moons vol 80 not issue 80 if i recall
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 04 August, 2016, 10:21:53 AM
I love how this collection keeps moving (hopefully in some minor way due to the bleatings on this thread) with Darkside now included after being officially told we weren't getting it (hope for Unamerican Graffitti yet).
I expected Breathing Space in Vol 80 but can anyone think of any good Luna One stories we won't get based on the credits?
I ask because, wanting my cake to eat as well, I thought Darkside might have been bundled with City of the Damned and In The Year 2120, although the page count was pushing it if they add in the three Question of Judgement stories that vaguely led into it. Not essential to the story but more Ron Smith and we need the definitive 'tight boots' story in any collection worth its salt.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 04 August, 2016, 10:37:47 AM
My recollection — possibly wrong — was that the Facebook lot confirmed Unamerican Graffitti isn't in the Chopper collection, but that doesn't mean it isn't elsewhere. (It'll be interesting to see what is in that collection. The bloody awful Supersurf 13 could be cut entirely to free up 48 pages, for example, and Midnight Surfer's 43.)

As for the collection in general, I just finished a re-read of the first Low Life, followed by the latest book. It's a really good read. Oddly, though, I almost wish Titan wasn't in there, given that I'm wobbling whether to buy the collection, given that I now already have a chunk of it in the Mega Collection.

Nice end essay by Mike Molcher, too. He seems to really be getting into the meat of these stories and what it means to live in this future nightmare. It's a big difference from the EVERYTHING IS AWESOME cheerleading in every single one of the Marvel books. Top stuff.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion
Post by: Trent on 04 August, 2016, 01:16:31 PM
Not bothered what's included in the Chopper volume after his definittive final tale (Song of the Surfer). Everything after that was a poor rehash which risked tainting the original. Chopper clearly died and they should have let it stand.
Indigo, I would heartily recommend Titan, all the relevant Flint tales together in a lovely volume.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 04 August, 2016, 01:35:29 PM
Don't get me wrong—I like the stories. It's just having spent ten quid on a chunk of it, I'm not thrilled about the prospect of buying it for a third time in such quick succession.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 04 August, 2016, 02:13:28 PM
Go on, you know you want to. Titan is less than a third of the volume after all.😉
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 04 August, 2016, 03:02:33 PM
I bought it a third time  :lol:

I am a sucker for collections of good stuff
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 04 August, 2016, 03:05:37 PM
Oh and i totally forgot

Our lord and master the Molch-r droid straight up confirmed in the new episode of the abc that yeppers all of calhab justice is gonna be in its issue
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 04 August, 2016, 03:24:19 PM
Trying to work out whats in Dark Side of the Moon and realised that Darkside might not be included after all.
Breathing Space, a chunk of the Bolland and Gibson Lunar tales covers 100 to 150 pages and the credit for Gordon Rennie spare.
Tried to work out what it might be because if we assume Breathing, Darkside and a smattering of early LunaOne tales we only have room for a short tale which I couldn't see with the artists listed. Then I suddenly thought that Killer Elite might be the one. Works for the page count instead of Darkside and explains the Paul Marshall.
Mixed feelings, having only just got Darkside in the Casefiles and I enjoyed Killer Elite.
Sound plausible?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 04 August, 2016, 03:43:15 PM
Except that then leaves John Smith, so now I'm really confused.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 04 August, 2016, 05:45:41 PM
Dude darksides gotta be in it...its not unusual for a book to be a wee bit longer besides the book is called DARKSIDE of the moon
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 04 August, 2016, 06:15:34 PM
I know, I know your Highness (or are you named after the airline) but logic isn't everything (Unamerican Graffitti not being in the Chopper volume, The Marshals not being in Target Judge Dredd with Goodnight Kiss) but I agree it does look highly likely.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Legendary Shark on 04 August, 2016, 07:08:04 PM
The blurb on the back of my Issue 41 (Volume 33) reads as follows:
THE DAY THE LAW DIED.

CITY OF THE DEAD

With Dredd having taken the Long Walk into the Cursed Earth, Justice Department needs a replacement, a judge to wear the badge that has become a symbol for so many in the metropolis. That weight of responsibility falls upon Kraken, a clone of the Fargo bloodline, about whom Dredd has had his doubts. As it turns out, these concerns are not unwarranted, for a supernatural evil is about call [sic] across the dimensions and influence Kraken into initiating one of the darkest events in Mega-City One's history...
A stunning epic from Judge Dredd creators John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra that sees a ghastly shroud cast over the entire city and a body count in the millions as the terrifying Sisters of Death shape their macabre masterpiece!
Not about Judge Cal, then? Or are Reigellian Hotshots on their way to Hachette?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 04 August, 2016, 07:17:25 PM
I'm named after the venture bros villian you do have a point mind you in the oddness of some decisions  i do think it was mentioned theres a few more cursed earth books to come (we are def getting sleeze and ruder and i would be shocked harke and burr aren't part of the collection too since i believe almost everything megazine is in this series)

Also was genuinly amused at the blurb screw up
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 04 August, 2016, 07:18:10 PM
It's the Necropolis blurb. I suspect soneone's doing these by saving a file and then working on the next. It's a good lesson to always work from templates.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 04 August, 2016, 11:32:41 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 04 August, 2016, 07:18:10 PM
It's the Necropolis blurb. I suspect soneone's doing these by saving a file and then working on the next. It's a good lesson to always work from templates.

Testify. A painfully learned lesson in my own practice.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moldovangerbil on 05 August, 2016, 08:16:56 AM
And also a prime example of the value of having someone else sense checking your work.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: BPP on 05 August, 2016, 10:12:54 PM
Cal hab Justice?

Again?


Lordy.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 07 August, 2016, 05:17:40 PM
The Day the Law Died is Wagner fully finding his feet with Dredd on the first epic he wrote solo, with a who's who line-up of classic Dredd artists. Brilliant stuff.

Helter Skelter I thought was a bit muddled, but I like the idea of the Fiends of the Eastern Front still on the loose somewhere in MC-1.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 07 August, 2016, 05:25:58 PM
Quote from: BPP on 05 August, 2016, 10:12:54 PM
Cal hab Justice?
Again?
Lordy.
Mm. I'm not sure this one really deserves another outing, but there you go. Still, at least it's better then much of the dreck that stank up the Heavy Squad volume.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 07 August, 2016, 07:17:40 PM
Quote from: BPP on 05 August, 2016, 10:12:54 PM
Cal hab Justice?

Again?


Lordy.

Will this be the who of cal hab?

Did it all get reprinyed in the floppies?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richard on 07 August, 2016, 09:39:50 PM
Igor Goldkind wrote two good stories for the solo Judge Hershey stories. Those deserve to be in the Mega Collection. A Game of Dolls and The Harlequin's Dance.

(The last panel of the last episode of Dolls looks like there's a speech bubble missing, so they'd need to sort that out.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 08 August, 2016, 12:59:05 AM
Not all of its been reprinted
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 08 August, 2016, 12:01:49 PM
Hope to get the next two within the next week. Questions are what is in the Taxidermist volume other than Sardini and Darren Dead (leaves 20 to 40 pages short on normal count) and will Half Life include Lucid which pushes the page count but should be in there and felt a bit odd stopping short of it in Psi Files 4?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Buttonman on 11 August, 2016, 02:43:33 PM
The Taxidermist and Half Life books came today. Half life is a treat of Ranson filled loveliness. Stories included are Half Life, WMD and  City of Dead. There is also a covers and pin up gallery and a Molcher feature. Taxidermist has Original, Return, Revenge and then a few randoms on a zombie theme such as Zombies, Harry Sheemer Mon Amour, Meet Darren Dead, Darren Dead : Eats Shoots and Kills , Night of the Rad Beast, Bob Zombie and covers along with another Molcher piece.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 11 August, 2016, 03:37:39 PM
I should probably check behind the bins for the next few days, then, since that's where Royal Mail here keeps leaving the things. Good to know the books are a decent set this month.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 11 August, 2016, 05:21:29 PM
Wierd taxidermist has random zombie themed stories in it....surely this volume would be perfect for olmpic/sport themed tales
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 11 August, 2016, 06:28:31 PM
I thought the same on the Darren Dead story.  Wasn't blown away first time round.  Reading the intro I can see why, the focus in the volume is the Mega City Way of Death and post death.  That's the way it was sold anyway.  What I don't get is how they did the colour centre spreads for Sardini but not for night of the Rad Beast.  Still repro was better than on last month's Sector House.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 12 August, 2016, 07:51:34 AM
I've just received volumes 42 & 43  but not received "the day the law died" - it's just been skipped over. I'm guessing this is due to the misprinted back cover. Is anyone else in the same boat?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 12 August, 2016, 08:48:31 AM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 12 August, 2016, 07:51:34 AM
I've just received volumes 42 & 43  but not received "the day the law died" - it's just been skipped over. I'm guessing this is due to the misprinted back cover. Is anyone else in the same boat?

No,
I received 42 & 43 yesterday but I got The Day The Law Died in my previous package.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 12 August, 2016, 09:55:53 AM
Yep: last month was Day the Law Died (#41/vol 33) and Horror Stories (#40/vol 77).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 12 August, 2016, 12:41:50 PM
Thanks - I'll get Hachette to sort it out. I started reading the Anderson story HalfLife - this is great. I really want to re-read boyhood of a Superfiend to see how it matches!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 13 August, 2016, 12:54:13 PM
Just received my latest batch. Just to clarify for those yet to get it, Half Life does include all the stories in the arc including Lucid which is lovely. A beautiful book and tribute to Arthur Ranson for under a tenner! Also it saves me getting Psi Files 5 as I struggle a little with Boo Cook's art and while Dave Taylors was great the story wasn't.
Art of Taxidermy is a nice volume. The Sardini stories are classic Tooth fare but I agree that the supporting stories might have been more interesting had they gone the sports/pastimes route than death etc. Still we might get one yet to include Citizen Snork and some suitable Simp stories, and again the book is stunning value for money.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 13 August, 2016, 12:57:54 PM
Out of curiosity, what condition are people's books arriving in of late? I'm now pretty much resigned to one or more corner or spine being crunched. (Taxidermist looks like someone's purposefully dropped it on a corner.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 14 August, 2016, 07:57:27 AM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 13 August, 2016, 12:57:54 PM
Out of curiosity, what condition are people's books arriving in of late? I'm now pretty much resigned to one or more corner or spine being crunched. (Taxidermist looks like someone's purposefully dropped it on a corner.)

Mine have all be in excellent condition. I find the box very snug with no chance of the volumes moving around and my postman always knocks and hands it to me so no chance of it meeting my kitchen floor with a bump.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richard on 14 August, 2016, 05:15:25 PM
Does Psi Files 5 include the Michael Dowling story?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 14 August, 2016, 06:20:16 PM
Don't believe it does. Best Anderson tale for a while.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 16 August, 2016, 08:07:08 AM
Just read 'The Art of Taxidermy' and was blown away. I remembered the original story in all its gruesome glory. I didn't realise there was a sequel of such magnitude. Ian Gibson is always great but it's the writing I was blown away by. Again I feel bad for ignoring the prog & Meg for so long. Forgive me Tharg. Really great text pieces again.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moldovangerbil on 16 August, 2016, 08:47:47 AM
Any premium subscribers had their 3rd print yet?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: dweezil2 on 16 August, 2016, 09:11:54 AM
Quote from: moldovangerbil on 16 August, 2016, 08:47:47 AM
Any premium subscribers had their 3rd print yet?

I received my print with volumes 40 and 41 yesterday.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: NapalmKev on 16 August, 2016, 11:32:41 AM
Quote from: dweezil2 on 16 August, 2016, 09:11:54 AM
Quote from: moldovangerbil on 16 August, 2016, 08:47:47 AM
Any premium subscribers had their 3rd print yet?

I received my print with volumes 40 and 41 yesterday.

Same here. Was waiting for me when I got home.

Cheers
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 17 August, 2016, 03:43:11 AM
Return of the taxidermist is one of the highlights of the megs early years i absolutely adore that story
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 18 August, 2016, 12:57:40 AM
The Facebook page has posted the cover of Dark Side of the Moon, again, but the associated blurb is about Tour of Duty. So I think this means that issue 45 will be the first of the three ToD volumes. Following that:

46: Young Death
47: ?
48 or 49: Wilderlands
50: Fetish
51: Anderson - Engram
52: Banzai Battalion
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 18 August, 2016, 11:51:07 AM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 18 August, 2016, 12:57:40 AM
The Facebook page has posted the cover of Dark Side of the Moon, again, but the associated blurb is about Tour of Duty. So I think this means that issue 45 will be the first of the three ToD volumes.
I really hope someone hasn't messed up the back cover on a second volume. (That being what happened last time they mixed up a cover and synopsis.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 18 August, 2016, 04:52:49 PM
How I'v been looking forward to reading this volume, and to think there are 2 additional ToD books as well!

I'm really curious to see how they'll handle the story. Any ideas based the cover? Will the first volume end with Dredd just leaving the city?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 18 August, 2016, 06:04:19 PM
Nah they just put the wrong cover up itd been fixed
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 18 August, 2016, 11:54:54 PM
Bit confused by Backlash if it is the first volume of three given the credits. The credits running up to Jon Haward implies the volume finishes on Lust in the Dust in prog 1673.
Assuming it includes the Colin MacNeil stories from Mutants in Mega City One, Emphatically Evil and Backlash before covering the stories from Under New Management I make the page count around 260 which is too high for the series.
So the questions are, what stories will be dropped and what is going to fill the other 2 volumes given many of the stories from the Rebellion Backlash volume are missing? I don't see enough material for 2 more volumes in subsequent stories.
That said, great to see the non Wagner stories getting an outing at last.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 19 August, 2016, 12:01:48 AM
Hate to say it but by putting Carl Critchlow first the inference is it starts from Backlash which means we miss the Mutant tales and essential PJ.
Seriously confused but I guess we'll find out in a few weeks.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 19 August, 2016, 02:36:29 AM
Nah the maybe stories are def in it. The pj maybe volume intro makes that clear the others not sure kinda hope so it is three volumes after all
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Davgardo on 19 August, 2016, 10:11:15 AM
Enjoyed the Anderson Half Life Volume, Ranson excelling throughout. I thought the Half-life story itself which starts of the volume was especially good,

I felt that, like many Grant solo scripts (Re*evolution being the worst culprit), Lock in and City of the Dead could have been more tightly plotted. There were several plot threads left hanging but my main gripe was with the Half Life Virus <SPOILER ALERT> There was no real explanation how the nano tech and the virus could on the one hand create eternal life but, on the other, turn folk into blood crazed zombies. Unless I'm missing something.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dash Decent on 19 August, 2016, 11:28:49 AM
Quote from: Davgardo on 19 August, 2016, 10:11:15 AM
the nano tech and the virus could on the one hand create eternal life but, on the other, turn folk into blood crazed zombies.

That sounds exactly like what happened with the pet regen in the "Dredd vs Death" game.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 19 August, 2016, 11:37:41 AM
Scouring Barney it is possible this is volume 2 of Tour with Talented Mayor Ambrose, MegaCity Justice and the Meg stories in Vol3 and the assorted Colin MacNeil mutant/PJ stories and the other stories from Rebellion's volume starting with Fifty Year Man making up the first volume.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 19 August, 2016, 05:42:05 PM
Quote from: Trent on 19 August, 2016, 11:37:41 AM
Scouring Barney it is possible this is volume 2 of Tour with Talented Mayor Ambrose, MegaCity Justice and the Meg stories in Vol3 and the assorted Colin MacNeil mutant/PJ stories and the other stories from Rebellion's volume starting with Fifty Year Man making up the first volume.

Makes sense, looking at the cover. Dredd and Rico. If I remember correctly, they teamed up somewhere in the middle of ToD.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 21 August, 2016, 02:06:15 PM
Quote from: Davgardo on 19 August, 2016, 10:11:15 AM
Enjoyed the Anderson Half Life Volume, Ranson excelling throughout. I thought the Half-life story itself which starts of the volume was especially good,

I felt that, like many Grant solo scripts (Re*evolution being the worst culprit), Lock in and City of the Dead could have been more tightly plotted. There were several plot threads left hanging but my main gripe was with the Half Life Virus <SPOILER ALERT> There was no real explanation how the nano tech and the virus could on the one hand create eternal life but, on the other, turn folk into blood crazed zombies. Unless I'm missing something.

Further spoiler alert: I think this was to do with Fauster's inability to control what he had created, but perhaps there could have been more emphasis of this.

Overall though, a great addition to the Anderson canon with some stunning images from Arthur Ranson.
The final volume of Anderson is Engram, which in addition to the title story will hopefully include Triad, and I would guess there'd also be room for some shorter stories, any votes/thoughts on likely/wished-for inclusions?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 23 August, 2016, 07:53:47 PM
I know it's not going to happen but I'd love a volume of the Boo Cook Anderson's - I know I could buy Psi Files 5 but I like this hardback format. Perhaps if the series gets extended its a possibility!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 28 August, 2016, 01:22:08 PM
Funny to think that with all the initial clamouring for Judge Death stories Young Death due to subbies in about 6 weeks all but completes his appearances for the collection (bar Three Amigos).
Recent developments such as Dark Justice, the new PJ tales, Every Empire Falls and Lawless do strengthen the case for an extension. I have the bookplate edition of Dark Justice and will pick up Rebellion trades for subsequent significant stories but would like to have the Mega Collection feel more comprehensive.
I suppose it is inevitable that a collection that takes over 3 years to publish will be partly out of date with latest stories by the time it is completed.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 28 August, 2016, 02:04:33 PM
I'd be open to an extension, although I imagine it depends on a number of factors, including subscriber retention and rights. That said, given how partworks can sometimes just stop dead, I'll be happy when I get the final two issues and the current 80-book run is done!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 28 August, 2016, 02:12:15 PM
I'm new to partworks - do many quit unexpectedly? I'd be gutted if I was left with a half completed spine - does this really happen? Have I missed an episode of Watchdod?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 28 August, 2016, 02:38:40 PM
I've subscribed to a number over the years and never had this happen. Nearest has been when they trial a partwork in an area and only release the first half dozen issues to test the water.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: iutley on 30 August, 2016, 12:48:24 PM
Quote from: Trent on 28 August, 2016, 02:38:40 PM
I've subscribed to a number over the years and never had this happen. Nearest has been when they trial a partwork in an area and only release the first half dozen issues to test the water.
The Mega Collection only made it to 4 issues here in the test area, then there was a 6 week break before the full national launch. The test editions were identical apart from different spine art.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Molch-R on 30 August, 2016, 12:55:36 PM
Quote from: iutley on 30 August, 2016, 12:48:24 PM
The Mega Collection only made it to 4 issues here in the test area, then there was a 6 week break before the full national launch. The test editions were identical apart from different spine art.

There were only four test issues planned, so it's not an indication of how well it did (very well, as it turns out).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: iutley on 30 August, 2016, 01:01:03 PM
Quote from: Molch-R on 30 August, 2016, 12:55:36 PM
Quote from: iutley on 30 August, 2016, 12:48:24 PM
The Mega Collection only made it to 4 issues here in the test area, then there was a 6 week break before the full national launch. The test editions were identical apart from different spine art.

There were only four test issues planned, so it's not an indication of how well it did (very well, as it turns out).
That's good to know Molch-R. I was so excited when I 1st spotted it in the newsagents I bought 2 copies and then nagged a lot of other people to buy it as well!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 30 August, 2016, 06:41:52 PM
Not sure if I'm unusual but the Mega Collection has turned me from a casual 2000ad reader to an avid fan. I'm even buying the Megazine & the uncensored cursed earth & Titan. I largely put it down to the text pieces in the collection which have helped fill in the blanks and contextualised the stories.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Molch-R on 30 August, 2016, 07:05:35 PM
Quote from: iutley on 30 August, 2016, 01:01:03 PM
That's good to know Molch-R. I was so excited when I 1st spotted it in the newsagents I bought 2 copies and then nagged a lot of other people to buy it as well!

Glad to hear it! We were forbidden from promoting, alerting fans, or even mentioning anything about it at the time, lest we influence the outcome of the tests, so it was a bit frustrating but it all turned out well in the end.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: dweezil2 on 30 August, 2016, 07:43:39 PM
Quote from: Molch-R on 30 August, 2016, 07:05:35 PM
Quote from: iutley on 30 August, 2016, 01:01:03 PM
That's good to know Molch-R. I was so excited when I 1st spotted it in the newsagents I bought 2 copies and then nagged a lot of other people to buy it as well!

Glad to hear it! We were forbidden from promoting, alerting fans, or even mentioning anything about it at the time, lest we influence the outcome of the tests, so it was a bit frustrating but it all turned out well in the end.

Molch-R I absolutely love the Mega Collection and I'm glad it's been such a success and the extra text and artist features only add to the exceptional value!

Just one thing, when the series has finished, any chance you could suggest to Tharg and Hachette a series of Judge Dredd figurines in the Eaglemoss Marvel, Game Of Thrones, Walking Dead vein?
Pretty please?!!  :D
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Steve Green on 30 August, 2016, 08:01:13 PM
I'm glad it's doing well - I still don't understand Hachette's rules on the test markets in the age of facebook, message boards and twitter which surely must skew results, but glad it's all working out.

I can imagine how frustrating it must have been for you.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 30 August, 2016, 08:20:24 PM
I suspect it's about "will this sell in general?" vs "will this sell if the main publication the material is from does its damnedest to advertise the thing to fans?" Even so, the viability must be tricky to measure, given the nature of social networking, as you say, Steve.

I've mentioned it before, but I agree about those text pieces. And some of the recent ones have gone far beyond context, being properly interesting think pieces based around the Dredd property. It's one thing to not just cheerlead (see: the Marvel collection), and another to 'merely' add context; it's something else entirely to spend the time and effort on some of the essays we're getting at the back of these books.

Bar the odd bit of iffy repro and a couple of duff volumes, my only niggle is the packaging. I'd have happily paid an extra quid per issue if Hachette had added some bloody bubble wrap. (Lots and lots of crushed corners and spines in my collection.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 30 August, 2016, 10:30:45 PM
The text pieces have really made my head hurt. Post America (and maybe Democracy) Dredd can't really be ever seen as Heroic, if indeed he ever could. So why am I reading the adventures of the most efficient fascist cop and his  violent antics. His relationship with Vienna, or sympathies with under performing Judges in the Pit are just fascinating. Even this week in 2000ad by being entirely predictable and slavish in his attention to the law he is inciting a serial killer and endangering the lives of hundreds of citizens. It shouldn't work as a narrative over 40 years. Thanks Molcher-R, you've made me think and purchase more!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 31 August, 2016, 01:16:25 AM
Despite pat mills early efforts dredds never been portrayed as a hero. Hes a hard bastard who cares about justice and little else barring occasional blips like the talking hamster
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 31 August, 2016, 08:21:20 AM
Only Walter would see him as a traditional hero. Yet I'd argue when he's up against the Dark Judges, he is a hero. its the judge system itself which is oppressive and corrupt. I guess Dredd is heroic in as much as he protects the citizens as best he can, and asks for no reward or recognition. If all the judges were as incorruptable as Joe MegaCity One would still be a nightmare of a place to live - perhaps even worse.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dash Decent on 01 September, 2016, 09:19:39 AM
I like Jonathan Clement's description of him as "grumpy Galahad".
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: sheridan on 01 September, 2016, 01:01:37 PM
Quote from: The monarch on 31 August, 2016, 01:16:25 AM
Despite pat mills early efforts dredds never been portrayed as a hero. Hes a hard bastard who cares about justice and little else barring occasional blips like the talking hamster
The cat talked, don't think the hamster ever did...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Michael Knight on 01 September, 2016, 07:36:54 PM
The Mega collection is Excellent value for money in my opinion. I actually have friends asking me questions about Dredd and 2000ad in general who never gave it much of a look in before. As for figurines collection? YES PLEASE!  :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 02 September, 2016, 01:07:59 AM
Young Death up on official Facebook page.
As expected, credits indicate Young Death and My Name is Death/Wilderness Years only.
Obviously opinions vary on Young Death for making Death too comical but the art is great and I enjoyed it when it first ran in the Meg.
My Name is Death confused me a little with the pitch black opening story in the Prog and horror art by Frazer rehabilitating Death sucessfully but the comedic tones returned in the Cursed Earth section to a degree as typified by the cover of Death thumbing a lift which for me undid much of the goid work. That said, I enjoyed the Wilderness Years and was pleased to see Death finally wise up to the maths regarding his effectiveness at carrying out global genocide.
To be fair a tenner is a fair price for either half of the volume (which were indeed sold seperately previously). Such a great collection.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 02 September, 2016, 01:33:51 AM
Judge Death's early appearances set an unrealistically high standard which later stories just can't live upto. Even Dark Justice which matches the quality of art & suspense feels slightly disappointing. The 3 Amigo's was a real low point, enjoyable in itself but ultimately laughing at Death. The one-off painted tales are the closest for me of reinvesting true horror in these creations - seeing Fire underwater or the dead fluid machinery had a strong lurid kick. Perhaps there's still life in these monsters. I think Anderson would actually have to die for any threat to feel real again.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Rately on 02 September, 2016, 11:15:43 AM
I've been picking the Mega Collection up, few at a time, on Ebay, but i'll definitely be purchasing the Young Death volume in shop. Haven't read the soty in years, but i loved Peter Doherty's art, and look forward to revisiting it.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Michael Knight on 02 September, 2016, 03:42:20 PM
anyone know when Banzai Battalion and Cal-Hab released? Cant wait to reread these!   :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 02 September, 2016, 05:10:08 PM
Calhabs unknown banzais issue 52 though

Also the guy in the facebook comments comparing young death to cry for justice needs a slap seriously ;p
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Michael Knight on 03 September, 2016, 02:00:26 AM
Cheers Monarch mate  :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 04 September, 2016, 12:35:24 PM
The highlight of The Art of Taxidermy was, for me, Return..., Wagner and Gibson both on top form. The back-up stories are an eclectic but fun collection, always interesting to see what gets put in these volumes. Hoping for some more early 80s stuff.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 07 September, 2016, 02:22:38 PM
I'm always intrigued by the story selection process for these books. I'm assuming "Dark Side of the Moon" contains John Smith's "Darkside" - the follow up to "City of the Damned". I'm guessing the story recaps previous events but I wonder if it would make more sense to read "Damned" first. I'd love to hear a Matt Smith interview about the series and his selections.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 07 September, 2016, 05:44:14 PM
I'm not sure about the 'immersive' reading experience of the selection order either.
Consider:
1) Missionary Man closing out the whole Undertaker etc story which presumably will also feature heavily in some of the volumes still to come.
2) Forthcoming Tour of Duty volume apparently being the middle of 3
Sure there are others which are a little odd and I think specific story arcs should be released sequentially but I guess that unless you are going to release everything in strict chronological order there will be anomolies.
The whole Judge Child and related tales covers a broad range of stories as you could include all the Mean Machine, Fink Angel and Ratfink stories so keeping to strict chronology would be rather restrictive.
Like many on the board I have read everything before so it doesn't really matter to me which order they arrive in but I can understand those less familiar with the material might get a little perplexed at times.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 07 September, 2016, 05:53:05 PM
Missionary Man left me very cold - i'll give it another chance when the other volumes come out. Appearances by Dollman & Vienna seemed similarly incongruent. I'm glad America introduced Beeny well. As a longtime reader are there any serious omissions in this collection.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 07 September, 2016, 09:14:38 PM
The Taxidermist volume is extraordinarily good. The original story is one of my all-time favourite Dredds, and I consider the Kennedy art to be some of the most accomplished pages ever to appear in the comic. Look at the panel where Sardini is adjusting the poses of Paxo and the Geek boys, just look at it: where does your brain get the information it needs to instantly and correctly interpret that image?  How does he make it work. I know, I'm a broken record on this subject, but it has fascinated me for years. The Olympics story builds on the concept brilliantly, and Gibson indulges his singular abilities in depicting a fantasy of the female form. And I never even knew that there was a third story! What a treat!

The other stories are an oddly satisfying mix, especially the gut-punch of Zombies,  and only Radbeast feels a little out of place, possibly from over-familiarity. Maybe this was the volume to run Bury my Knee... instead?

But all in all a staggeringly good slice of comics.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 08 September, 2016, 07:57:25 AM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 07 September, 2016, 05:53:05 PM
As a longtime reader are there any serious omissions in this collection.

I'm hoping Pirates of the Black Atlantic will be included, that's a pretty pivotal story in Dredd history.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jim_Campbell on 08 September, 2016, 08:47:20 AM
Quote from: Tordelback on 07 September, 2016, 09:14:38 PM
I consider the Kennedy art to be some of the most accomplished pages ever to appear in the comic.

You've mentioned this before, and I hadn't even noticed until you pointed it out: you can tell which figures are motionless statues and which are living people in a static image.

It's just amazing.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 08 September, 2016, 10:13:23 AM
Agree. It's great stuff. The book as a whole is very good, but it's that original series that clicks most with me in terms of art and script. Art-wise, I'm less of a fan of the Gibson stuff. His cheesecake approach to women always grated a bit, and when he went for watercolours, the energetic strength of his line seemed to disappear. I did like the Hairsine take though.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 08 September, 2016, 10:29:05 AM
Can't argue with any if the recent comments. Cam Kennedy is ine of the defining Dredd artists and I always had a rush of excitement on opening the prog and seeing his art.
His Rogue Trooper art was equally stunning and elevated rather pedestrian plots far beyond what they deserved.
One of the few artists that could elevate a poor script into essential Dredd.
La Placa Rifa!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 08 September, 2016, 05:46:28 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 08 September, 2016, 10:13:23 AM
I did like the Hairsine take though.

I never 'got' Hairsine during that period (and I'd never seen this story), or why people seemed to rate him so highly back then. As a full Damascene now, it was great to see a strip from that time with fresh eyes. Lovely stuff.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 08 September, 2016, 06:41:04 PM
I remember first appreciating Hairsine in Wilderlands where it was clear he (as did Flint) was channelling McMahon. No bad thing either.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Robes on 09 September, 2016, 07:33:39 AM
I hadn't read the Half-Life story and it's been one of the most enjoyable so far in the mega collection.

I agree with some of the comments regarding the running order, I've found it quite confusing as we are clearly getting all the stories out of sync with each other.  I would have preferred it another way and I find it a little bit of a cynical way to ensure that people keep buying to the end.

Still, it's great and I'm eagerly awaiting my next set!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 09 September, 2016, 09:48:19 AM
Quote from: Robes on 09 September, 2016, 07:33:39 AM
I would have preferred it another way and I find it a little bit of a cynical way to ensure that people keep buying to the end.

Valid point, but this is the nature of the part-work beast and I imagine even Tharg has to play the game to get Eaglemoss on board. And it could be argued that Rebellion already offer the great bulk of this material in strictly chronological order via the Casefiles, Psi-Files and other TPBs and magazine collections.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 09 September, 2016, 10:01:51 AM
With arc-based stuff (as in x-part stories rather than ongoing series like Anderson), it does seem deeply strange to give you the middle or end book first. The nature of the partwork is to keep you hooked, but that's achieved by giving you the first part and making you wait a year for the next instalment. I've just ended up temporarily shelving books until I've all the parts.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 09 September, 2016, 11:06:59 AM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 09 September, 2016, 10:01:51 AM
With arc-based stuff (as in x-part stories rather than ongoing series like Anderson), it does seem deeply strange to give you the middle or end book first. The nature of the partwork is to keep you hooked, but that's achieved by giving you the first part and making you wait a year for the next instalment. I've just ended up temporarily shelving books until I've all the parts.

All bar three are still in the wrappers on my shelf. I shall delve in once the series is completed. I only opened those three to see what they were like and they were the first three.

It's not like it's new stuff. I've read it all before, much of it more than once.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Cyber-Matt on 09 September, 2016, 01:30:43 PM
Quote from: Tordelback on 09 September, 2016, 09:48:19 AM
Quote from: Robes on 09 September, 2016, 07:33:39 AM
I would have preferred it another way and I find it a little bit of a cynical way to ensure that people keep buying to the end.

I imagine even Tharg has to play the game to get Eaglemoss on board.

Or Hachette, even.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 09 September, 2016, 01:59:55 PM
I'm so glad the collection hasn't been chronological or played too heavily on familiar, already collected material. No collection of 80 volumes would please everyone. A cynical collection would have half the page count, generic end-papers, glowing endorsements of each story and recycled book covers. I'm genuinely surprised at the care and attention this series has been put together with. I'd love to see the text pieces expanded on and published as a standalone read. i can get through the odd bit of duff repro when the overall standard of this series is this good.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 09 September, 2016, 02:08:17 PM
Well said Robert. The books are lovely things and superb value for money. The fact they have kept to roughly 200 pages of story per volume is amazing and often results in existing trades being combined (Young Death/My Name is Death, Insurrection) or extra tales beyond those previously collected (Tour of Duty, Cursed Earth Koburn).
It is our nature to nitpick but I was gobsmacked when this series launched never thinking our private world would support a general commercial venture.
Best thing from the House of Tharg for years, and that really is saying something with the effort Rebellion have been putting into offerings.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Arkwright99 on 09 September, 2016, 02:28:40 PM
I'll admit I thought carefully before deciding to take the plunge into subscribing to the Mega Collection (80 volumes at £10 a pop is the better part of £1k, after all) but I'm glad I did. As an alternate to the Case-Files, which I don't get, it can't be beat. Of course I wish the repro in some of the older strips was better than it is and a couple of the volumes won't get more than one reading but in the round this is MEGA collection and if it expands to 100 volumes (as we currently suspect/hope?) I won't be disappointed.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 09 September, 2016, 04:23:28 PM
Quote from: Cyber-Matt on 09 September, 2016, 01:30:43 PM
Quote from: Tordelback on 09 September, 2016, 09:48:19 AM
Quote from: Robes on 09 September, 2016, 07:33:39 AM
I would have preferred it another way and I find it a little bit of a cynical way to ensure that people keep buying to the end.

I imagine even Tharg has to play the game to get Eaglemoss on board.

Or Hachette, even.

Point.

My only regret WRT the MC is not subscribing. I've been cherry-picking since the start, but I can count the number of volumes I'm not fussed by on the fingers of one hand. I was expecting some good must-have issues, but mostly mediocre, when it's really been the other way around. I should have taken the plunge.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 09 September, 2016, 04:28:56 PM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 09 September, 2016, 01:59:55 PMA cynical collection would have half the page count, generic end-papers, glowing endorsements of each story and recycled book covers.
Again, it's interesting to see the difference between the 2000 AD and Marvel collections. The latter had sycophantic text throughout that was of zero interest to me, dull cover art, and wildly varying page counts. I can think of only two things that series did better than Dredd: the spines had character icons so you at least had a fighting chance of quickly accessing what you wanted (although, you know, titles would have been better), and it provided context pages if there was a big timeline leap mid-book (something a few of the Dreddworld collections — notably Anderson — could have done with). Beyond that, the Dredd books are superior in every way, to my mind.

Quote from: Arkwright99 on 09 September, 2016, 02:28:40 PM
I'll admit I thought carefully before deciding to take the plunge into subscribing to the Mega Collection (80 volumes at £10 a pop is the better part of £1k, after all) but I'm glad I did. As an alternate to the Case-Files, which I don't get, it can't be beat.
From a value perspective, it's hard to fault 10-quid hardbacks with 200-odd pages.

Quoteand if it expands to 100 volumes (as we currently suspect/hope?) I won't be disappointed.
It'll be interesting to see what happens. Some partworks are broadly finite by the nature of what's being covered. That Doctor Who one can't indefinitely continue without some serious conceptual gymnastics. But I see the Marvel one that blazed past its initial 60 books has now also left the 60-book extension in the dust. Wikipedia now lists 145 titles, and you imagine that could continue further.

With Dredd, there's of course less material, and I'd hope the series would stop before it starts barrel-scraping. But if the subscribers are still there, it could be a smart way for everyone — readers; Hachette; Rebellion — to 'win'.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 09 September, 2016, 04:32:33 PM
Quote from: Tordelback on 09 September, 2016, 04:23:28 PMI should have taken the plunge.
You can still sub, and the website provides alternate start issues (35 through 40, although I suspect you could ask Hachette for something else if you wanted). Plugging gaps should be easy enough either through Hachette or eBay. (Someone today has the first 37 books for sale for £239, which is quite the barg.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tony Angelino on 09 September, 2016, 07:17:47 PM
I subscribed and any of the issues I'm not keen on I will put on Ebay. I've kept about 50% of the issues so far as I prefer the earlier 'classic' stuff or the more recent Wagner stories.  I also wouldn't have room for the whole lot when the series is finished anyway.

I wonder if Rebellion plan on releasing any of their recent IPC purchases via this partwork method?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dash Decent on 10 September, 2016, 07:31:08 AM
Quote from: Cyber-Matt on 09 September, 2016, 01:30:43 PM
Quote from: Tordelback on 09 September, 2016, 09:48:19 AM

I imagine even Tharg has to play the game to get Eaglemoss on board.

Or Hachette, even.

Oh, I love that!  You do realise that from now on, every time I read a post by Cyber-Matt, I'm going to imagine you talk like Snagglepuss, right?

M Molcher: "Time to leave, boss.  It's finishing time!"
M Smith: "Exit, stage left even!"

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 10 September, 2016, 10:07:12 AM
I do believe that the cover is issue 44 (volume 80) is by far my favourite of the series thus far.
Beautiful stuff and issue 45 (volume 47) isn't so shabby either.
Got them both this morning.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 10 September, 2016, 11:22:45 AM
*opens box*
*looks at crushed corners and spines*
*sighs wearily at this happening yet again*
*wonders how much a bit of bubble wrap would have cost*
*looks forward to reading nonetheless*
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 10 September, 2016, 11:32:43 AM
Is it me, or is vol 80 especially chunky? Seems heftier than most.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 10 September, 2016, 11:33:43 AM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 10 September, 2016, 11:22:45 AM
*opens box*
*looks at crushed corners and spines*
*sighs wearily at this happening yet again*
*wonders how much a bit of bubble wrap would have cost*
*looks forward to reading nonetheless*

I'd beat up the postman. Mine have all be absolutely mint since I took his dog hostage
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 10 September, 2016, 11:50:30 AM
Is Darkside in volume 80?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 10 September, 2016, 12:10:24 PM
Quote from: Mattofthespurs on 10 September, 2016, 11:33:43 AMI'd beat up the postman. Mine have all be absolutely mint since I took his dog hostage
Our local depot is dreadful, but it also showcases that the packaging isn't fully fit for purpose. it's notable that replacements Ie ordered in the early days when the damage was more severe came in far better protection. (More recently, that wasn't the case, though – my replacement Total War looked like it had been used as a football.)

Quote from: abelardsnazz on 10 September, 2016, 11:50:30 AMIs Darkside in volume 80?
It's the first strip, curiously. (I say curiously on the basis that there's Bolland in this collection, and so I'm surprised it doesn't lead with that.)

The full contents are:

Darkside
Breathing Space
Land Race
The First Luna Olympics
Luna War
The Face-Change Crimes
The Oxygen Board
Full Earth Crimes
Global Psycho
Killer Elite
+ some covers and a four-page Molcher essay with an embedded RW interview.

I imagine collectors will be pleased to know the old Dredd strips seem to have good repro and colour spreads.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 10 September, 2016, 03:21:50 PM
Don't believe I've read Killer Elite. Is that the first Bachman story (or alternatively a games spinoff strip smuggled in by those Kingsleys)? Intriguelling.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 10 September, 2016, 05:13:44 PM
I think it's the GRennie story with Paul Marshall on art that saw the return of the 'Global Psycho' character (hence the inclusion of Global Psycho)!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 11 September, 2016, 12:20:14 AM
Given the work done for Casefiles Deluxe Vol1 there are decent copies of the Bolland tales readily accessible. Still pleased they used these and include the colour.
Please, please a deluxe Judge Child.
What's in Tour of Duty and is it the middle volume?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: sheridan on 11 September, 2016, 05:13:47 AM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 10 September, 2016, 12:10:24 PM
It's the first strip, curiously. (I say curiously on the basis that there's Bolland in this collection, and so I'm surprised it doesn't lead with that.)

The full contents are:

Darkside
Breathing Space
Land Race
The First Luna Olympics
Luna War
The Face-Change Crimes
The Oxygen Board
Full Earth Crimes
Global Psycho
Killer Elite
+ some covers and a four-page Molcher essay with an embedded RW interview.
I'm surprised that within each collection they're not in chronological order myself.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 11 September, 2016, 04:32:38 PM
Dark Side of the Moon might be one of my favourite volumes yet. It's a great use of this series thematic emphasis and blood looks great in low gravity. I guess any volume that reprints Bolland with the centre spreads in glorious colour is worth the cash.Breathing Space is a near miss of a masterpiece. I couldn't always follow what was going on but the atmosphere is fantastic - and any narrative confusion may be deliberate in a Jacob's Ladder way. Killer elite is a high concept, high bodycount action movie - the kind that succeeds without lapsing into parody. There's also a splash of Ian Gibson colour art on Global Psycho. Overall this is the kind of carefully selected eccentric mashup of stories from decades apart that I'd hoped for. Top marks.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Hawkmumbler on 12 September, 2016, 09:09:55 AM
Quote from: Tordelback on 10 September, 2016, 03:21:50 PM
Don't believe I've read Killer Elite. Is that the first Bachman story (or alternatively a games spinoff strip smuggled in by those Kingsleys)? Intriguelling.
First appearance of Bachman was in the meg story THE FAMILY MAN with E-wing Leigh Gallagher.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: GordonR on 12 September, 2016, 09:43:05 AM
Quote from: Hawkmumbler on 12 September, 2016, 09:09:55 AM
Quote from: Tordelback on 10 September, 2016, 03:21:50 PM
Don't believe I've read Killer Elite. Is that the first Bachman story (or alternatively a games spinoff strip smuggled in by those Kingsleys)? Intriguelling.
First appearance of Bachman was in the meg story THE FAMILY MAN with E-wing Leigh Gallagher.

I wrote Killer Elite.  No idea at all who or what Bachman is.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Hawkmumbler on 12 September, 2016, 09:59:06 AM
Quote from: GordonR on 12 September, 2016, 09:43:05 AM
Quote from: Hawkmumbler on 12 September, 2016, 09:09:55 AM
Quote from: Tordelback on 10 September, 2016, 03:21:50 PM
Don't believe I've read Killer Elite. Is that the first Bachman story (or alternatively a games spinoff strip smuggled in by those Kingsleys)? Intriguelling.
First appearance of Bachman was in the meg story THE FAMILY MAN with E-wing Leigh Gallagher.

I wrote Killer Elite.  No idea at all who or what Bachman is.
Ah ha! Appears we're at and odd crossroads, I was referring to Judge Bachmann (sic) as appeared in Trifecta and The Family Man before it, and assumed this was the character in question Tordels! My mistake! In contrast I don't believe i've read your Killer Elite story. :lol:
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 12 September, 2016, 10:39:52 AM
Quote from: Hawkmumbler on 12 September, 2016, 09:59:06 AM
Quote from: GordonR on 12 September, 2016, 09:43:05 AM
Quote from: Hawkmumbler on 12 September, 2016, 09:09:55 AM
Quote from: Tordelback on 10 September, 2016, 03:21:50 PM
Don't believe I've read Killer Elite. Is that the first Bachman story (or alternatively a games spinoff strip smuggled in by those Kingsleys)? Intriguelling.
First appearance of Bachman was in the meg story THE FAMILY MAN with E-wing Leigh Gallagher.

I wrote Killer Elite.  No idea at all who or what Bachman is.
Ah ha! Appears we're at and odd crossroads, I was referring to Judge Bachmann (sic) as appeared in Trifecta and The Family Man before it, and assumed this was the character in question Tordels! My mistake! In contrast I don't believe i've read your Killer Elite story. :lol:

Yeah, that's it alright: I knew there was a Bachman story I hadn't read, thought that might be it, what with  her squad of, errr, elite killers.  From one of my many Megazine lacunae, as is Family Man the story I was confusing it with, so I haven't read either.  Thanks for the clarification Gordon and Hawk.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Magnetica on 12 September, 2016, 11:03:12 AM
Family Man appears in the Trifecta Mega Collection issue - my favourite one so far.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Fungus on 12 September, 2016, 11:48:31 AM
Quote from: Magnetica on 12 September, 2016, 11:03:12 AM
Family Man appears in the Trifecta Mega Collection issue - my favourite one so far.

It's fantastic, read this volume last week. The Family Man was an unexpected bonus. Didn't plan on buying any Mega Collections where I have the story but Trifecta is a justifiable exception. There may be more  :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Hawkmumbler on 12 September, 2016, 11:51:25 AM
Quote from: Fungus on 12 September, 2016, 11:48:31 AM
Quote from: Magnetica on 12 September, 2016, 11:03:12 AM
Family Man appears in the Trifecta Mega Collection issue - my favourite one so far.

It's fantastic, read this volume last week. The Family Man was an unexpected bonus. Didn't plan on buying any Mega Collections where I have the story but Trifecta is a justifiable exception. There may be more  :)
Reading Trifecta weekly was one of the best reading experiences in comics, for me. That moments between weeks where you start to suspect a link, assuming it'll be followed up years later...only for Dredd to segway straight into Simp. Amazing, absolutely astonishing.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Magnetica on 12 September, 2016, 12:34:47 PM
Yeah nothing's beat that bit where the end of Dredd goes into Simping Detective - a real double take moment- and to then realise Low Life was connected as well all in the same Prog.

Just amazing and you're never going to get that in a collection but still highly recommended.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Echidna on 12 September, 2016, 01:00:23 PM
Quote from: Magnetica on 12 September, 2016, 12:34:47 PM
Just amazing and you're never going to get that in a collection but still highly recommended.

Trifecta was before my time, but I bought progs 1800-1812 off eBay, rather than the collected edition, because I wanted to read it as it was originally published. Even though the nature of the connection had already been spoiled for me, it was a terrific read. It's a hell of a good run of progs all round, with Brass Sun, Grey Area and ABC Warriors: Return to Earth in there too.

How is Trifecta presented in the Mega Collection and the Rebellion paperback? Are the episodes in chronological order?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Fungus on 12 September, 2016, 01:21:01 PM
Yup, I wondered that too. It's chronological. No breaks for the main section at all; title page tees up the 3 strips and they run into each other. Note they started in different weeks, some smart Excel work (Si Spurrier I think, from the intro) to plan it out. And how well it paid off.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 12 September, 2016, 10:43:18 PM
Getting back to the MegaCollection I'm halfway through Tour of Duty : Backlash and I'm very impressed. I'm guessing there's a book worth of material before this one when the mutants are let into MC1 and we see more of Dan Francisco?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 13 September, 2016, 08:26:47 AM
There are 3 Tour of Duty volumes so based on the numbering this is the middle volume.
Plenty of earlier mutant related tales to fill another volume but the question is what will go in volume 3 along with Talented Mayor Ambrose and MegaCity Justice? They cover 120 pages so either a batch of the Megazine Cursed Earth stories from the run or The Streets of Dan Francisco as an epilogue. Not certain which I'd prefer but I'm guessing they go with the former.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 13 September, 2016, 09:08:36 AM
Cheers for the info - it was odd to lead with book 2 - but a great read all the same!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 13 September, 2016, 06:46:58 PM
Quote from: Trent on 13 September, 2016, 08:26:47 AM
There are 3 Tour of Duty volumes so based on the numbering this is the middle volume.
Plenty of earlier mutant related tales to fill another volume but the question is what will go in volume 3 along with Talented Mayor Ambrose and MegaCity Justice? They cover 120 pages so either a batch of the Megazine Cursed Earth stories from the run or The Streets of Dan Francisco as an epilogue. Not certain which I'd prefer but I'm guessing they go with the former.

I'm thinking Hot night in 95. With the return of Hershey and people stoning one and another. Wasn't collected in the Mega Collection ed. of Day of Chaos 4th Faction.

Should add 30 or so pages?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 14 September, 2016, 04:25:55 PM
Any ideas on what the Greg Staples & Steve Dillon stories would be in the Cal-Hab justice volume?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 14 September, 2016, 04:51:23 PM
Looks like Calhab Justice is up with Young Death. Bit of a Dredd-lite bundle after this month.
Not a strip I ever liked so thin news for me but the credits are interesting. There are 183 pages of Calhab which, assuming they print it all (which the credits suggest is the case) would normally fill a volume but also credited are Garth Ennis, Steve Dillon and Greg Staples which makes me think Innocents Abroad but I don't know what for Dillon.
With the page count now rising to 207 one would suspect a short tale but I don't see anything that fits.
Any ideas? Emerald Isle is the obvious candidate but is both too long and has already been included in Beyond Mega City One.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 14 September, 2016, 04:53:23 PM
Aah got it! When Irish Pies are Smiling for the 1993 Yearbook.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 16 September, 2016, 08:29:11 AM
Yeah put irish judge stories in the scottish collection

There is that stupid story with the killer bagpipes...raider was it?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 16 September, 2016, 08:36:29 AM
I am correcting myself it was called the chieftain
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Timothy on 16 September, 2016, 09:36:50 AM
But that wasn't Dillon. I seem to remember Mick Austin was involved although that may have just been the cover.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 16 September, 2016, 09:48:46 AM
Maybe that story is being saved for the MegaCity Musical Murders book...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 16 September, 2016, 03:39:48 PM
Obviously appreciate that the additional stories I suggested are Irish based which to my mind fit better than anything else that fits the credits.
It would make more sense to have Kenny Who? tales but presumably page count prohibits this so he'll show up elsewhere if at all.
Irish and Scots fit under a joint Celtic theme.
The Chieftan was by Mick Austin - and shit.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 16 September, 2016, 03:52:45 PM
I think the selection of stories has been pretty great so far. I trust Kenny Who will get a proper outing!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 16 September, 2016, 05:44:57 PM
Fair enough trent you do have a good point and yeah i reread it on my break it was shig
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 18 September, 2016, 06:13:17 PM
DSoTM is a great thematic compilation, with horror, murder mystery, action and some scene-setting in the early stories for lasting effects still being felt. I'll echo the earlier post about not always being able to figure out what's going on in Breathing Space, however it's got bags of atmosphere (ha) which every great psychological drama needs.

Will the early Luna 1 stories here be the earliest in the collection, as I'm sure I've read that neither Judge Whitey nor The Robot Wars will be appearing?

Now that Darkside has been included, what will be the back-up stories in the City of the Damned volume? In the Year 2120 must be a shoe-in, but what else? Other stories by the same artists? Any Kim Raymond fans out there?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tony Angelino on 18 September, 2016, 06:44:03 PM
Pity the Robot Wars won't be appearing. I seem to remember Ron Turner drew some of those although I could be mistaken.

Also I had totally forgotten about Kim Raymond. The name is familiar but I just cant recall his art style at all.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 18 September, 2016, 06:45:34 PM
Re City of the Damned, I would expect Judge Child to be that story plus The Fink with City of the Damned leading off with Destiny's Angels and finishing with In The Year 2120. That would be a reasonable 2 volume collection of the Judge Child/Mutant saga.
Would love Dredd Angel somewhere (Mean Machine volume?) mainly for the art from Ron Smith but also for some significant plot setting re the Dredd clones.
Also, wonder if City of the Damned will have colour centre spreads. Based on the collection so far, must be touch and go for that.
Unfortunately I understand we have a significant wait to find out.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 18 September, 2016, 06:51:12 PM
Quote from: Tony Angelino on 18 September, 2016, 06:44:03 PM
Pity the Robot Wars won't be appearing. I seem to remember Ron Turner drew some of those although I could be mistaken.

He did the opening episode.  A page came up not that long back on ebay.   There is also some Gibson artwork, very reminiscent of his Verdus stuff.  I would have thought missing out Robot Wars was criminal considering that it was the very first Dredd 'epic' and also relates to the Nero Narcos stuff in Doomsday for Dredd (albeit parenthetically).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tony Angelino on 18 September, 2016, 07:11:40 PM
I have to admit I used to love Ian Gibson's very early work on Dredd. For example the story which introduced Vienna. Absolutely some of my favourite Dredd art. At some point it changed and his art style became more cartoony. The helmet shape in particular changed.

I would add a picture as an example but I cant seem to attach photos as yet.



Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 19 September, 2016, 07:40:19 AM
Yeah trent your right the judge childs stuffs near the end of the 80 volume run
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 19 September, 2016, 02:45:47 PM
I'm really pleased that all the Lenny Zero stuff is being collected in Undercover Brothers - including Zero's 7. I remember liking the Ben Willsher art.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: sheridan on 21 September, 2016, 01:32:24 AM
Quote from: Tony Angelino on 18 September, 2016, 06:44:03 PM
Also I had totally forgotten about Kim Raymond. The name is familiar but I just cant recall his art style at all.
Vaguely reminiscent of Ron Smith, Kim illustrated Gator, Bingo, the Interrogation and a few (all?) of the Rookie Judge Dekker stories - including the one about the Cyborg American Football team which is so badly affected by their contact with Dredd and Dekker that they unexpectedly lose the Superbowl - which (in another story, drawn by Smith) allowed Dave to beat the pundits and eventually become mayor.

Also responsible for one of my favourite pics of judges, lawmasters and the Mega-City all in one shot:
(http://i1050.photobucket.com/albums/s410/sauchieboy/2000AD373-Page16KimRaymondDekkermakingofajudge.jpg)

In other news - did somebody say that the moon stories are as early as we're going to go?  Where does that leave the Return of Rico?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tony Angelino on 21 September, 2016, 10:12:16 AM
Thanks for the post of Kim Raymond. I can remember him now as well as the Cadet Dekker stories.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 21 September, 2016, 10:55:43 AM
Quote from: sheridan on 21 September, 2016, 01:32:24 AMIn other news - did somebody say that the moon stories are as early as we're going to go?  Where does that leave the Return of Rico?
Is that just speculation or has Hachette actually confirmed any of this?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 21 September, 2016, 10:59:50 AM
Quote from: sheridan on 21 September, 2016, 01:32:24 AM
Quote from: Tony Angelino on 18 September, 2016, 06:44:03 PM
Also I had totally forgotten about Kim Raymond. The name is familiar but I just cant recall his art style at all.
Vaguely reminiscent of Ron Smith, Kim illustrated Gator, Bingo, the Interrogation and a few (all?) of the Rookie Judge Dekker stories - including the one about the Cyborg American Football team which is so badly affected by their contact with Dredd and Dekker that they unexpectedly lose the Superbowl - which (in another story, drawn by Smith) allowed Dave to beat the pundits and eventually become mayor.

Also responsible for one of my favourite pics of judges, lawmasters and the Mega-City all in one shot:

[Broken record]Without qualification Raymond is THE most underrated Dredd artist of all.  Maybe not the most technically accomplished artist when it came to anatomy and perspective, but such energy in the lines, a grumpy Dredd, huge crazy SF backgrounds and everything is always moving. Love that skedway image, love the stories, love all of it really.[/broken record]
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 21 September, 2016, 12:13:26 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 21 September, 2016, 10:55:43 AM
Quote from: sheridan on 21 September, 2016, 01:32:24 AMIn other news - did somebody say that the moon stories are as early as we're going to go?  Where does that leave the Return of Rico?
Is that just speculation or has Hachette actually confirmed any of this?

Not sure about Return of Rico but I'm sure I read on the Facebook page that Judge Whitey and Robot Wars wouldn't be included.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 21 September, 2016, 12:30:42 PM
I don't really care about Robot Wars, but it'd be a pity if the first published Dredd was omitted from the collection (along with its follow-up, where Dredd initially can't remember who Whitey is).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 21 September, 2016, 01:04:20 PM
I asked about the Whitey story - and they said no. I think they are favouring the colour material and don't want to replicate the Case Files too much.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: I, Cosh on 21 September, 2016, 02:33:14 PM
Quote from: _Krustabi_ on 21 September, 2016, 10:59:50 AM
[Broken record]Without qualification Raymond is THE most underrated Dredd artist of all.  Maybe not the most technically accomplished artist when it came to anatomy and perspective, but such energy in the lines, a grumpy Dredd, huge crazy SF backgrounds and everything is always moving. Love that skedway image, love the stories, love all of it really.[/broken record]
Mick Austin.

Oh, and it's good to have you back if only for a few fleeting moments.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 21 September, 2016, 05:07:25 PM
Quote from: Pete Swells on 21 September, 2016, 02:33:14 PM
Mick Austin.

A great artist to be sure, and Tharg surely did love his covers for a spell there, but a great Dredd artist?  I dunno - I would have thought his generally perceived star-rating was about right.

Quote from: Pete Swells on 21 September, 2016, 02:33:14 PM
Oh, and it's good to have you back if only for a few fleeting moments.

Ah, if only. But he is gone from us now.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion threa
Post by: Trent on 21 September, 2016, 05:29:23 PM
My perception of Dredd artists has changed over the years. When they were originally published I always saw the likes of Robin Smith, Kim Raymond, John Cooper, Barry Mitchell, Eric Bradbury, Ron Turner, Steve Pugh, Mike Dorey and Kevin Hopgood as functional artists doing a job and I never relished their contributions as I did Bolland, McMahon, Ezquerra, Belaridinelli, Davis, Dillon and Smith (Ron).
I always felt a thrill and that I was getting a treat when the latter group were in the Prog.
Now rereading some stories thirty to forty years later I can see the obvious talent of say John Cooper and others but many artists' work still smack of guys earning a living churning out comics rather than 'art'. Nothing wrong with that and all very talented guys but we all have our personal pedestals and probably that's how it should be.
Kim Raymond still doesn't do it for me - energetic sure but just a little too scratchy.
Expect to get flamed but as ever, could care less but enjoy the banter.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 21 September, 2016, 05:33:19 PM
Should have added Kennedy and Mc Carthy to my 'big tick' list
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Timothy on 21 September, 2016, 05:37:10 PM
I don't remember Bellardinelli on Dredd, but loved his other stuff. What Dredd stories did he do?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Steve Green on 21 September, 2016, 06:01:19 PM
Only one that I can think of.

Antique Car Heist - the infamous one where Dredd takes off his helmet and the perps recoil in horror.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 21 September, 2016, 06:13:01 PM
Quite right, my mental ramblings drifted onto 2000AD artists in general particularly Belardinelli, Davis (better on non-Dredd), Dorey (Mach Zero) and, most controversially Ezquerra who was a God on Strontium Dog but I didn't really like his Dredd once upon a time. I know, I know.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 21 September, 2016, 07:21:36 PM
I may be wrong but i think thats the only dredd he ever did he botched the face so bad they kept him away from the strip
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jim_Campbell on 21 September, 2016, 07:43:32 PM
Quote from: Trent on 21 September, 2016, 06:13:01 PM
Davis (better on non-Dredd)

Simon or Alan? Alan Davis only drew one Dredd, a warm-up for the aborted Alan Moore-penned Dredd/Batman crossover, Bat-Mugger. I thought Alan D's sole effort promised Cam Kennedy-level greatness, with a real sense of a solid, functioning city and believable (if mental) citizenry. Of all my wistful 2000AD 'what-ifs', a semi-regular stint of Alan Davis on Dredd is pretty near the top.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 21 September, 2016, 07:51:38 PM
Alan.
I just remember getting a buzz from Strontium Dog, Flesh Book 2, Harry Twenty and Rogue Trooper (Gibbons or Kennedy especially) as well as the definitive Dredd artists of the time (see Cursed Earth and Judge Child) that many artists failed to elicit at the time.
As I say I have reappraised some recognising my lack of appreciation but I suspect that most long term readers have similar feelings about artists you gave an inner whoop to when you opened the prog to see they were on duty.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Colin YNWA on 21 September, 2016, 09:38:10 PM
Quote from: Jim_Campbell on 21 September, 2016, 07:43:32 PM
.. Alan Davis only drew one Dredd, a warm-up for the aborted Alan Moore-penned Dredd/Batman crossover, Bat-Mugger. I thought Alan D's sole effort promised Cam Kennedy-level greatness, with a real sense of a solid, functioning city and believable (if mental) citizenry. Of all my wistful 2000AD 'what-ifs', a semi-regular stint of Alan Davis on Dredd is pretty near the top.

That's interesting. While I'm a big fan of Mr Davis (A) and would like to see him take on any number of 2000ad characters I always felt he wouldn't be a fit for Dredd and the one we have is a nice thing but didn't leave me hackering for more. For me his art is too smooth, polished and refined to give Dredd the edge I enjoy in the art that works best for the series. I get a similar thing when Rich Elson does the strip. Both are great artists but don't quite pull of Dredd or his world.

That's the joy of art I guess so subjective!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 21 September, 2016, 09:42:57 PM
I think you may be onto so ething Colin although Bolland is the obvious exception to the rule.
I would add Dave Gibbons to the list, stunning artist but just didn't feel right on Dredd (except maybe when codrawing with Bolland).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Colin YNWA on 21 September, 2016, 09:44:56 PM
Quote from: Trent on 21 September, 2016, 09:42:57 PM
...I would add Dave Gibbons to the list, stunning artist but just didn't feel right on Dredd...

Actually yeah that's another great example come to think of it. Don't get me wrong like what we have and glad we have it but never left me hackering for more.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Magnetica on 21 September, 2016, 10:46:01 PM
I'll add Simon Fraser to the list of artists you would think would be wrong for Dredd, but actually did a really good job.

His "Wot I did for Chrissmas" from Meg 266 is cracking. But then again it hardly features Dredd at all and is a great PJ Maybe story.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jim_Campbell on 21 September, 2016, 11:38:43 PM
Quote from: Colin YNWA on 21 September, 2016, 09:44:56 PM
Actually yeah that's another great example come to think of it. Don't get me wrong like what we have and glad we have it but never left me hackering for more.

Interestingly, Dave G said he didn't want to do more Dredd (I think he only did 'Mob Blitzers' and the illos for the 'Joe Egg' text story in an annual?) because he never felt like he got a handle on the character and always felt like he was only ever drawing Bolland's version. Perhaps those inking jobs he did over Bolland imprinted Brian's version of the character in his mind...?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 22 September, 2016, 08:28:41 AM
I thought it was always interesting to see when artists better known for other stories gave their take on Dredd. Kevin O'Neill, Bryan Talbot and Glenn Fabry spring to mind immediately. I loved O'Neill's take on Death in a one-page ad spoof - "Tombs - Fleshy menthol flavour".
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 22 September, 2016, 09:17:41 AM
Gibbons is a funny one for 'established properties'.  The Star Wars miniseries he did for Dark Horse, Vader's Quest, is his usual gorgeous work with great aliens and believable worlds, and a real stand-out in quality for the SW comics of that era, but the movie characters and much of the usual tech are just... wrong. Or rather, they look like Gibbons characters, rather than Luke Skywalker or Darth Vader, despite being faithful representations.  Contrast this with the way that Cam Kennedy's characters in Dark Empire, while far looser in terms of resemblance to the screen actors, are still very much the characters themselves, they just happen to be drawn by Cam.  I suspect Gibbons imposes too much of his own vision on to the execution of established settings for me to ever really be comfortable with something he hasn't been with since the start.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 22 September, 2016, 04:21:04 PM
Understand exactly what you mean re Gibbons but having never really liked comic versions of TV/films the early work he did on Doctor Who such as The Iron Legion raised those comics to something truly special that stands the test of time. Classic stuff.
Re established properties his run on Green Lantern was damned good.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Colin YNWA on 22 September, 2016, 09:16:39 PM
Quote from: Snivelling Earthquake on 22 September, 2016, 09:17:41 AM
Gibbons is a funny one for 'established properties'.  The Star Wars miniseries he did for Dark Horse, Vader's Quest, is his usual gorgeous work with great aliens and believable worlds, and a real stand-out in quality for the SW comics of that era, but the movie characters and much of the usual tech are just... wrong.

Absolutely this. There is something just so definitively Gibbons about his work I think, as you say. So with Dredd its not Dave Gibbons take on Dredd its Dredd Gibbons style... err if you see the distinction. Dave Gibbons is just so Dave Gibbons that he leaves his style stamped firmly and as you say on established characters it can be distracting. I think I prefer this work on properties he's created

Quote from: Trent on 22 September, 2016, 04:21:04 PM
Understand exactly what you mean re Gibbons but having never really liked comic versions of TV/films the early work he did on Doctor Who such as The Iron Legion raised those comics to something truly special that stands the test of time. Classic stuff.

And this is the exception that proves the rule. So of the best art I've ever seen in comics. Just so perfect. Possibly it works because of the glorious flexibility of Doctor Who as a format. Its able to absorb the Gibbonness of Gibbons and still feel right.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Michael Knight on 22 September, 2016, 09:19:37 PM
Called up Hachette today to get my 'the day the law dies' replaced with correct back cover.
Gor blimey where they based the 'Cursed Earth'. Phone line was ridiculous. I've had to call them to get 2 other issues replaced and same thing you can hardly hear word they say.
Chap i spoke to was very helpful and polite in spite of crazy connection.  :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 22 September, 2016, 09:24:33 PM
Stick to messenger - calling the phone line really is a pest!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 22 September, 2016, 09:39:30 PM
Quote from: Michael Knight on 22 September, 2016, 09:19:37 PMCalled up Hachette today to get my 'the day the law dies' replaced with correct back cover.
They have replacements for that issue?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 22 September, 2016, 09:40:19 PM
Not yet! I keep asking!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Michael Knight on 23 September, 2016, 04:41:43 AM
I was told today that they did and it take up to 14 days to get it in post. Now im presuming it gonna be same bleedin misprint???
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 23 September, 2016, 08:42:33 AM
I'll be amazed if they've done a second print run. I just hope they're more careful in future at checking the synopsis. (Top tip: ALWAYS work from templates with blindingly obvious default content to replace, not a previous completed document that looks finished at any given point.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jim_Campbell on 23 September, 2016, 12:00:00 PM
Quote from: Yortlebluzzgubbly was taken! on 22 September, 2016, 09:17:41 AM
Contrast this with the way that Cam Kennedy's characters in Dark Empire, while far looser in terms of resemblance to the screen actors, are still very much the characters themselves, they just happen to be drawn by Cam.

How's the prospect of Kev Walker on a Star Wars series grabbing you, [insert relevant username for Tordelback here]?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Michael Knight on 24 September, 2016, 06:48:09 PM
I would love to know how much replacing all these issues is costing them. I'm certainly glad i never subscribed based on some of what I've read on here regarding damaged books etc. My trusty Thrill merchant holds mine with TLC!  :) 
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 24 September, 2016, 09:13:57 PM
I imagine not that much. Early on, I was more overt about getting replacements, but I can't be arsed now, unless the problems are really big. Also, only one book was a proper screw-up (Total War) for a big number of people. (An incorrect back cover is one thing, but impossible to read text is another entirely.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Michael Knight on 25 September, 2016, 07:50:09 AM
you probably right mate. Have to say though from mates that get other part works they produce the 'mega collection' is not alone in receiving shoddy customer service lol. Kind of feel sorry for their employees that must get a lot of complaints.  :'( 
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 25 September, 2016, 02:29:25 PM
To be fair, I've found Hachette's customer service good on the whole. In the early days of the collection, it was extremely good. I'd ask for a replacement on Facebook and it would show up in a week. They didn't seem to care about returns either. Now, responses take longer and it appears they don't always understand the problem or even written English, and so I'm not sure where first-line support is based. (See elsewhere on the forum the response I got to a query about the Transformers partwork, which was almost performance art.)

Printing cock-ups happen, so that's not a Hachette thing. I don't really care about the messed up back cover, but Total War was a pity – and the replacement I got was not in great shape and still had issues. My overall problem remains, as I've banged on about, the packaging not being strong enough to stop damage before the books get to me. This again isn't something specific to Hachette, but I wish they'd padded the boxes a little. I'd have happily paid an extra quid a book for better packaging. (Although, as noted by others here, said issue appear relatively random and infrequent.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Michael Knight on 26 September, 2016, 07:47:07 PM
IndigoPrime Transformers part work? Who? What? Where?  :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 26 September, 2016, 08:17:46 PM
Quote from: Michael Knight on 26 September, 2016, 07:47:07 PM
IndigoPrime Transformers part work? Who? What? Where?  :)
The thread is here (http://forums.2000adonline.com/index.php?topic=43729.0).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Michael Knight on 26 September, 2016, 08:47:59 PM
Indigo Prime Cheers mate. This news has brightened up a horrible day for me  :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 28 September, 2016, 05:36:23 PM
Cover and credits for Wilderlands is up presumably as vol 48 so the delivery after next.
Credits are as expected and hopefully the volume will cover the story up to Voting Day. Adds up to 209 pages by my count so perfectly possible given sone recent volumes. I did wonder about some tales in the early days of the collection where art content seemed to hover around 180 pages unless there was substantial black and white content but recent books have pushed the content. Particularly pleased by volumes such as PJ which I fully expected to be missing stories purely due page count.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 28 September, 2016, 06:34:11 PM
Pete D on art should mean well get Death of a legend? Wonder if itll cover the meg episodes, or just the progs?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 29 September, 2016, 12:21:05 AM
Not necessarily, Doherty did the Tenth Planet prologue in the Meg which is sure to be included.
That said, it would be a real shame if Death of a Legend is not in the collection and this would seem the most logical place for it.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 01 October, 2016, 03:47:00 PM
On the official website the question keeps cropping up re an extension to the series which has always had a straight bat "nothing planned at this time"response.
Latest posting received the same answer but with a tantalising "but watch this space" coda which is the nearest we've had yet to suggest there may be life after volume 80 but how many and in what form remains unknown.
I've been using this collection as part of my motivation for keeping well longer so any extension is viewed as a potential life extension as well.
Bit dramatic but sounds like good news may be coming.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tony Angelino on 01 October, 2016, 05:24:16 PM
Its possible they could relaunch the series and reprint other 2000 AD stories or some of the classic IPC acquisitions.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 01 October, 2016, 05:43:13 PM
Indeed, there has been some discussion on the thread but the concensus seems to be that the breadth and relative obscurity of many stories/characters plus the heavily serialised nature of many strips which would make incomplete printing problematic, combine to make a similar collection of 2000AD stories unlikely.
They could do selected characters such as Strontium Dog, Rogue Trooper and ABC Warriors but I would have thought a further 20 volumes of Dredd-verse material would be easy enough to fill. The current collection will only cover 50 to 60% of potential material so much will remain as well as more recent stories (Dead Zone, the rest of Titan, Every Empire Falls arc, The Cop, Lawless, Storm Warning, Boo Cook and later Anderson, Angelic etc etc).
Bear in mind we have another 35 volumes left which is nearly another year and a half of yet to be printed material some of which could also then be included.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 01 October, 2016, 06:13:38 PM
Quote from: Trent on 29 September, 2016, 12:21:05 AM
Not necessarily, Doherty did the Tenth Planet prologue in the Meg which is sure to be included.
That said, it would be a real shame if Death of a Legend is not in the collection and this would seem the most logical place for it.

that or the rad desert shark book.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 01 October, 2016, 07:01:39 PM
Yes, The Hunting Party has not been announced as far as I know but there is a volume 41 sized hole that it would fit into perfectly.
I'd forgotten this was as much a sequel to Wilderlands as it is to The Pit.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 03 October, 2016, 10:59:09 PM
I've still to start Backlash, but I got round to the Luna 1 book.  To be honest I wasn't really looking forward to it.  Not because the stories are bad, but the classic ones are ones I've read and I prefer to read stuff new to me.  As it turns out, the only story I was familiar with was the classic 'Judge Marshal' stories, but I could see that was only a certain amount of them.  Other stories like Breathing Space were good, as well as the Pyscho storylines were enjoyable.

One thing that's puzzled me, I, like others, I'm sure had wondered if the Fast Food Wars would have been restored to Cursed Earth, but it wasn't.  I know there was the whole lawsuit side, but I thought that sort of thing was allowed when used as parody, or did they just decide back then it wasn't worth the bother for such a small segment?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tony Angelino on 03 October, 2016, 11:13:54 PM
Quote from: Jade Falcon on 03 October, 2016, 10:59:09 PM
One thing that's puzzled me, I, like others, I'm sure had wondered if the Fast Food Wars would have been restored to Cursed Earth, but it wasn't.  I know there was the whole lawsuit side, but I thought that sort of thing was allowed when used as parody, or did they just decide back then it wasn't worth the bother for such a small segment?

The Mega Collection edition of The Cursed Earth came out some months before the recent 'Cursed Earth Uncensored' hardback. The latter re-instated the Burger Wars stories as well as the ones with the Jolly Green Giant.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: BPP on 04 October, 2016, 12:18:23 AM
Rebellion ain't going to throw away all those bucks from the 'uncensored' version on a 3rd party release. And nor would we want them to... rather Rebellion get the money than Hachette.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 04 October, 2016, 12:37:19 AM
No, suspect the version we have from Hachette is it. Not a problem as there are already elements outside the collection such as Enceladus (although this week's tooth makes me hopeful for the extension volume in a year or two), Every Empire Falls, Dark Justice, PJ conclusion, most one offs or shorts from progs 1 to 500 etc.
Thrilled to have the collection and regard it as a magical bonus where we may not get all of Anderson's stories (again) but are due 3 volumes of Missionary Man which is something I suspect I expected less than only Grennie. Bliss.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 04 October, 2016, 07:29:19 AM
That Backlash volume is a corker. I know we've missed some of the Cursed Earth diversion episodes, and I doubt we'll return to them in the next volume, but it's great to see one of my favourite Tour of Duty stories, the Rennie/Robinson/Holden dragonslayer tale, get the hardback treatment. Strong contender for the best Dredd work from all three men, just love the whole thing. And interesting to see a possible descendant and antecedent of Felix Fortunatus finding his Sancho Panza feet alongside his prophecy-fuddled companion(s).

Also, Tour of Duty really is a terrific story.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 04 October, 2016, 09:41:13 AM
I thought the lack of the extra Cursed Earth stories was a serious flaw in the Rebellion trades. They underline Dredd's situation and only collecting the Wagner penned stories made it feel like his exile lasted 10 minutes.
I'm expecting some of the Megazine stories in the third volume as there are only 120 pages of Tour proggage left.
Alternatively Streets of Dan Francisco?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 04 October, 2016, 10:42:27 AM
Yeah, absolutely. I've said it on here before, but it's the side-stories that sell the whole idea of Dredd's situation being real and potentially permanent, an actual change to the status quo. It's almost a surprise when we get a 'Mega-City interlude', it all seems so distant and irrelevant. They're also fun tales in their own right, and remind us that the Cursed Earth isn't just any old radioactive desert, it's a radioactive desert full of crazy!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: teckno viking on 04 October, 2016, 04:20:41 PM
DROKK ME!!!

I Built my Mega Collection up by Buying someones collection then each issue that had me upto Date as of July.
I decided (feeling a Chump at present) to go Subscription as I have the first 40 issues and have a duplicate issue 40 and start there 30th July.

Still Nothing arrived so been on the phone as concerned. Apparently going out tomorrow but I am now going to be Always behind. As they do Not bring you Upto date with the Collection.
Yeah I know I Presumed LOL  I honestly thought they would send the girft, posters and Bundle of issues that would put me back on track.

On the topic of premium Posters, are they Actually £39 for the three or they taking the Drokking Stomm!

TBH I feel I should have carried on as I was doing as would be upto date even though I had to get issues sorted myself.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 04 October, 2016, 04:53:54 PM
Quote from: teckno viking on 04 October, 2016, 04:20:41 PMAs they do Not bring you Upto date with the Collection.
When this series first started, they had a weird staggered approach to subscriptions, which meant I got mine right at the end of the run. The issue, apparently, was that they could not take two payments in one month, which was required to 'rebalance' my delivery times. When I gave permission, my next set arrived under a couple of weeks after the previous one, to get everything properly in sync. (I did all this via Facebook, note. I've never actually spoken to anyone at Hatchette over the phone.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: teckno viking on 05 October, 2016, 10:20:15 AM
When you say Facebook I presume PM?

As for calling them, bad connections and Always an Indian voice. Very aware we have British Indian in this country but just seems odd Always Indian voices and so so connections.

Think I may try the FB route and get a clearer and easier to understand answer.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 05 October, 2016, 12:47:33 PM
Quote from: Trent on 04 October, 2016, 09:41:13 AM
I'm expecting some of the Megazine stories in the third volume as there are only 120 pages of Tour proggage left.
Alternatively Streets of Dan Francisco?

Hot night 95 should -since it's not in the DoC bk.1- add 30 or so pages.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 05 October, 2016, 02:34:14 PM
Quote from: teckno viking on 05 October, 2016, 10:20:15 AMWhen you say Facebook I presume PM?
Yes. I've contacted them via Facebook several times and although a few replies were in broken English, the vast majority were fine, and I always got what I asked for (in the end – not always immediately).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: COMMANDO FORCES on 07 October, 2016, 05:43:41 PM
The next two have arrived today.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 07 October, 2016, 06:25:39 PM
Quote from: COMMANDO FORCES on 07 October, 2016, 05:43:41 PM
The next two have arrived today.

Young Death? "A Night in Sylvia Plath" in that one :) ?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 07 October, 2016, 06:47:54 PM
Quote from: COMMANDO FORCES on 07 October, 2016, 05:43:41 PM
The next two have arrived today.

They have indeed. Looking forward to reading them in the year 2025 when I catch up.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: COMMANDO FORCES on 07 October, 2016, 06:49:47 PM
Not took the cellophane of them yet, busy with other Dredd related things  :lol:
Just know that 07 is Young Death and 57 is Calhab Justice.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 07 October, 2016, 08:32:16 PM
Quote from: Apestrife on 07 October, 2016, 06:25:39 PM
Quote from: COMMANDO FORCES on 07 October, 2016, 05:43:41 PM
The next two have arrived today.

Young Death? "A Night in Sylvia Plath" in that one :) ?

Just Boyhood of a superfiend and my name is death.

This is a pretty disappointing month with two sub par offerings.  Hey ho.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 08 October, 2016, 08:33:34 AM
Am i the only person who likes calhab justice?!?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 08 October, 2016, 11:33:33 AM
Quote from: Tjm86 on 07 October, 2016, 08:32:16 PM
Just Boyhood of a superfiend and my name is death.

This is a pretty disappointing month with two sub par offerings.  Hey ho.

No Gunderson and Walter? Perhaps saved up for the inevitable Walter the wobot volume then.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moly on 08 October, 2016, 12:29:39 PM
As their is some speculation about the run being extended when do hatchet normally announce additional issues, as Rhein Facebook seem to be hinting this could be the case
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Michael Knight on 08 October, 2016, 11:34:12 PM
Monarch you not alone, I love Calhab Justice! Cant wait to pick this volume up from my thrill merchant. Seems there be some stories i havnt read in here as my knowledge is only from the recent meg reprint.
I really do wish we saw more of the different World Judges, especially those of the Emerald Isle and Cal Hab especially when so may readers hail from there. Just see the letters pages in 2000ad and the Meg.  :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: dweezil2 on 09 October, 2016, 12:49:42 AM
Quick question!

Has the Lawmaster schematic appeared as supplementary material in the collection yet, and if so, which volume?

Cheers!  :) 
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 09 October, 2016, 01:50:18 AM
Not seen the Lawmaster schematic so far, the supplementary material is usually a covers gallery and an article or interview. There have been a few sketches, my favourite being Bolland's ideas for the Dark Judges. But no Lawmaster as yet.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: dweezil2 on 09 October, 2016, 09:40:47 AM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 09 October, 2016, 01:50:18 AM
Not seen the Lawmaster schematic so far, the supplementary material is usually a covers gallery and an article or interview. There have been a few sketches, my favourite being Bolland's ideas for the Dark Judges. But no Lawmaster as yet.

Cheers dude!

It's on the Mega Collection home page, so may be just a promo image or possibly it'll be used in a future volume exploring Mega-City tech.

Thanks for the info!  :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 09 October, 2016, 06:42:55 PM
No worries.

Just finished Tour of Duty: Backlash, and a great volume it is too. Dredd delivering the law to the Cursed Earth while machinations are at play back in the city make for some great storytelling with some stunning art. Looking forward to the other two volumes of the story.

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 09 October, 2016, 09:13:40 PM
So is the death in the cursed earth part of vol 7 too?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 10 October, 2016, 11:05:09 AM
Death - The Wilderness Days is in there.  I really enjoyed Young Dearh - the casual sadism is really quite horrible. I loved the Doomlord link mentioned in the Intro. I wish Dark Justice could make it into this collection. Maybe it can if the series gets extended...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Davgardo on 11 October, 2016, 12:50:51 PM
I have always wanted to read Young Death and it hasn't disappointed: Wagner at the peak of his powers and Doherty hitting the ground running. A good volume overall (and yes it does contain My Name is Death AND The Wilderness Days).

Calhab Justice on the other hand......this has got to be the worst volume yet. Klegg Hai! and Heavy Mob, while not great, contained decent enough back up strips to make them worthwhile. Here though all we've got are very average Ennis efforts. John Ridgeway is, as always, brilliant but the scripts and the Lol artwork are poor fare. While I can understand the desire to produce as wide a range of strips as possible, it's a crying shame that we'll be missing out on great stories and art at the expense of this substandard set. The first volume I've regretted spending money on.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: James Stacey on 11 October, 2016, 01:00:37 PM
Yeah Calhab being included was an eyebrow raiser. It was pretty much the nadir of the meg in my eyes (except maybe The Creep) so to have it at the cost of some great earlier stories is odd.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 11 October, 2016, 01:40:13 PM
I was surprised by the mentions of "Kenny Who" without its inclusion in this volume. Has it been saved for a later book?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Davgardo on 11 October, 2016, 02:33:13 PM
They way the intro is worded I got the impression that the Kenny Who stuff won't be appearing - which is scandalous given what's on offer in this volume.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 11 October, 2016, 03:06:15 PM
When I took issue with Calhab in an earlier exchange Grennie stood up for it saying it was sctually decent and not to be thrown in with some of the other Judges of the World stories. Needless to say, I still strongly disagree and consider it substandard tosh.
We had better get an extension if we are missing Kenny Who and likely Otto Sump (from the official Friendface page). Calhab Justice but no Citizen Sump, not such a Mega Collection.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 11 October, 2016, 04:23:24 PM
Lack of Kenny Who? would be strange. It's a great tale. As for this month's selection, I'm not entirely looking forward to trudging through the dreck that is Calhab Justice (although it's at least a mite better than the dire stuff shoved into that Heavy Mob volume), but the Death stuff's at least OK. I finished the moon volume last night, and that was at least pretty good. Weirdly ordered, but good. (I really would have preferred it to be in chronological order of strips.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: GordonR on 11 October, 2016, 05:28:42 PM
Quote from: Trent on 11 October, 2016, 03:06:15 PM
When I took issue with Calhab in an earlier exchange Grennie stood up for it saying it was sctually decent and not to be thrown in with some of the other Judges of the World stories. Needless to say, I still strongly disagree and consider it substandard tosh.
We had better get an extension if we are missing Kenny Who and likely Otto Sump (from the official Friendface page). Calhab Justice but no Citizen Sump, not such a Mega Collection.

Did I, fuck!  I've akways thought it was terrible!  It starts off as lightweight comedy fluff - fart gags and Judges in kilts - and then later makes this horribly bisbegotten lurch into suddenly wanting to be something more serious and mature....while still being about Judges in kilts.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Davgardo on 11 October, 2016, 06:03:49 PM
It does seem an odd editorial decision to go with a virtually full volume of Calhab Justice. The first Ridgeway strip plus various connected Dredd stories would surely have been better.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 11 October, 2016, 06:25:02 PM
What's the news on the subscriber prints? I've only ever seen 2 of them. How many have been released?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 11 October, 2016, 06:30:09 PM
Bit aggressive.
Apologies for misremembering, I found the exchange and it was Armitage you gave the thumbs up to, another series I never found appealing but I can understand why it has its fans.
Thought anyone backing Calhab was a little odd.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: dweezil2 on 11 October, 2016, 06:33:37 PM
Quote from: Skullmo on 11 October, 2016, 06:25:02 PM
What's the news on the subscriber prints? I've only ever seen 2 of them. How many have been released?

I've had 3, Colin Macneil, Carl Critchlow and Henry Flint-give 'em a buzz!

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 11 October, 2016, 07:20:41 PM
I love John Ridgway - hellblazer & summer magic are 2 of my favourite ever comics. Calhab is dreadful - the Judge Designs are weak and there's no real feel of location. Ridgway's shading and facial expressions are great but I'd rather read Junker. I'm amazed this got reprinted - at least there's fun to be had in the few Garth Ennis written pages at the back
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 12 October, 2016, 12:51:18 PM
The Facebook page has announced issue 49, Into the Undercity, volume number unknown. Credited: Si Spencer, Pat Mills, Michael Carroll, Alan Grant, John Wagner, Vince Locke, Paul Davidson, Tiernan Trevallion, and John Burns.

So - speculation as to stories included? I have a horrible feeling this will include Creep, a story which I remember not enjoying at all at the time of original publication. Hmmm.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 12 October, 2016, 01:49:51 PM
Oh, good grief. Creep's already been confirmed way back, so that garbage will be in there. I get the aim of giving a wider chunk of Dredd a crack, and I can see the justification for throwaway rubbish like Inferno, but Creep? Bah.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 12 October, 2016, 01:57:44 PM
Pat Mills, Vince Locke and the Undercutting can only mean 'Birthday Boy', a story of which the best thing I can say is that I love both the sinners but HATE the sin.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Fungus on 12 October, 2016, 02:58:16 PM
Garbage, you say?! Sometimes the disdain for unread tales - like Creep - almost makes me want to extend cherry-picking to the worst of strips, out of curiosity. But only almost  :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 12 October, 2016, 08:37:05 PM
Love the idea of an Undercity volume but curious as to the contents.
Si Spencer certainly implies Creep even if Kevin Cullen isn't mentioned. I actually quite enjoyed it for trying something different with the horror vibe even if not entirely successfully.
Trevallion must mean Ratfink's Revenge which seems very odd if not in the same book as the original Wagner/Doherty Ratfink. As long as that is included somewhere so I can dump the floppy.
Davidson is presumably New Tricks assuming that was the Joyce etc in the undercity story and therein lies the recurring problem with the concept of the volume. There have been few undercity stories (far too few) and several link into other stories or arcs which make them feel strange in isolation.
Will see how it reads I guess but I worry stories may have been bundled better.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: SuperSurfer on 12 October, 2016, 09:55:24 PM
I liked The Creep.

I've got a lot of time for Kevin Cullen's pulpy art. An underrated artist in my opinion. Would've liked to have seen more from him.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: GordonR on 12 October, 2016, 10:07:47 PM
Yeah, I liked Kevin Cullen's work too.  He seems to have completely disappeared out of comics, which is a shame.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 13 October, 2016, 08:11:08 AM
I loved Kevin Cullen's hershey strip - he's like a pulpy David Lloyd -all  confident shadows and atmosphere. I really hope that story gets reprinted in this collection
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Colin YNWA on 13 October, 2016, 08:18:55 AM
Quote from: SuperSurfer on 12 October, 2016, 09:55:24 PM
I liked The Creep.

I've got a lot of time for Kevin Cullen's pulpy art. An underrated artist in my opinion. Would've liked to have seen more from him.

Yeah another voice to this call. Really liked his work and a shame we didn't see more of it. Story wasn't too bad either.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Rately on 13 October, 2016, 10:12:38 AM
Quote from: SuperSurfer on 12 October, 2016, 09:55:24 PM
I liked The Creep.

I've got a lot of time for Kevin Cullen's pulpy art. An underrated artist in my opinion. Would've liked to have seen more from him.

I remember his art really stood out among a lot of art at the time because it was so radically different.

Loved his stuff, and, as already said, wouldn't mind seeing future work from him in the Prog and Meg.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 13 October, 2016, 11:24:44 AM
Very impressed with the Young Death volume, very frank introduction and essay, good selection of covers, and three very different very strong stories.  I don't think I've read Young Death since it first ran, and was surprised at how much better it was than my memory: for a start we never do find out Sidney's second name (De'Ath is an alias he adopts, 'Judge Death' a nickname he embraces), so I've been unwittingly repeating a calumny for years.  Fraser's work on the other two stories is every bit as good as I remember, however - get that man back in harness soon Tharg!

And I didn't mind The Creep either, original visuals and quite far from the nadir of Meg stories.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dandontdare on 13 October, 2016, 04:31:20 PM
I liked the Creep too!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Frank on 13 October, 2016, 05:15:10 PM
.
I'm pretty sure Cullen has gone to ink Massimo. One of the original art crowd mentioned his passing after buying a page from his son - maybe Spikes, Skullmo, Ming or Greg M can confirm.

Creep wasn't for me, but it's definitely in the latest Hachette volume; Spencer mentions contributing to the extras on the latest Thrillcast (https://soundcloud.com/2000-ad).


Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Greg M. on 13 October, 2016, 05:24:44 PM
Quote from: Frank on 13 October, 2016, 05:15:10 PM
.
I'm pretty sure Cullen has gone to ink Massimo. One of the original art crowd mentioned his passing after buying a page from his son - maybe Spikes, Skullmo, Ming or Greg M can confirm.

There's a thread about Cullen here - there was speculation Cullen might have passed on, but Link Prime's last post in the thread seems to suggest otherwise:  http://forums.2000adonline.com/index.php?topic=8662 (http://forums.2000adonline.com/index.php?topic=8662)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Frank on 13 October, 2016, 06:09:01 PM

Cheers, Greg. Let's hope Cullen's just rendering Lara Croft's eyebrows or designing Daisy Ridley's Jedi gear, like everyone else Tharg hired in the nineties.


Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: O Lucky Stevie! on 14 October, 2016, 09:45:15 AM
Quote from: TordelBack on 13 October, 2016, 11:24:44 AM
Very impressed with the Young Death volume, very frank introduction and essay, good selection of covers, and three very different very strong stories. 


Stevie is quite looking forward to this, especially as Volume 33: Judge Death Lives hit the newsagents Down Under this week & ummm... filled this particular squaxx with inertia as soon as the book was liberated from its plastic cover.

Young Death on the other hand is the business; Wagner's script is grand guignol genius & Doherty well & truly hits the ground running at such a clap that it one would be excused for disbelieving that it is only his second professionally published work. The two Frazer Irving  Death strips aren't too shabby either.

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 14 October, 2016, 11:52:55 AM
Ok, getting miffed now. Postie's been and still no books. That's nearly a week after most have received theirs.
Pointless and frustrating phone call on Monday beckons.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 16 October, 2016, 01:31:58 PM
Young Death is a great addition to the collection with hugely atmospheric stories and art, and the balance of humour and horror is bang on.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: JaHawkDroid on 18 October, 2016, 09:51:18 PM
Picked up about 40 volumes of the Mega Collection from my LCS for ~£150 and been reading through them in order from 1. Read 1-7, and The Simping Detective. Is there any better order to read them in for someone new to Dredd, or should I keep pressing on in order (excluding the ones that haven't released, obviously).
Cheers
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 19 October, 2016, 09:06:00 AM
Quote from: JaHawkDroid on 18 October, 2016, 09:51:18 PM
Picked up about 40 volumes of the Mega Collection from my LCS for ~£150 and been reading through them in order from 1. Read 1-7, and The Simping Detective. Is there any better order to read them in for someone new to Dredd, or should I keep pressing on in order (excluding the ones that haven't released, obviously).
Cheers

First of all, welcome JaHawkDroid, hope you enjoy the world of Dredd.

What an interesting question. As the collection is arranged thematically, so far you'll have read all the Democracy and Dark Judges stories in the collection from various points in Dredd's history. Although these aren't in publication order, hopefully it won't diminish your enjoyment of them - I would say, for example, if it wasn't a problem to read Necropolis first then go back and read the first Judge Death story to fill in some of the gaps, then continue reading the volumes in order. It will give you an insight into how the various characters and story threads have developed through Dredd's history. With nearly 40 years' worth of material, there are some duds, but there's always another gem just around the corner. So my advice would be to keep going as you are. Be interested to read your thoughts as you go on.

Happy reading!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: dweezil2 on 19 October, 2016, 09:55:48 AM
Quote from: JaHawkDroid on 18 October, 2016, 09:51:18 PM
Picked up about 40 volumes of the Mega Collection from my LCS for ~£150 and been reading through them in order from 1. Read 1-7, and The Simping Detective. Is there any better order to read them in for someone new to Dredd, or should I keep pressing on in order (excluding the ones that haven't released, obviously).
Cheers

That's a serious amout of thrill-power you've obtained there, steady as you go!

But yeah, as abelardsnazz said, read as you go, it's all gravy and waiting for all the volumes to be released, so you can read in sequetial oreder could mean you'd be waiting years!

Don't delay, enjoy thrill-power today!

Let us know how you get on!  :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 19 October, 2016, 01:16:23 PM
Intriguing comment on the official friendface page in response to a question re Serial Serial and Ladykiller with the response "You'll need to wait and see 😉". Another hint that we might be getting an extension as surely these were not scheduled for the first 80 volumes?
Hopeful.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 19 October, 2016, 05:23:40 PM
So finks gonna be in vol 35 i guess that confirms it as being in the same volume as judge child

Also we now know whats coming up for the rest of this year!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: JaHawkDroid on 19 October, 2016, 09:43:31 PM
Continuing in spine order it is then; thanks for the advice!

Really enjoyed what I've read so far, with stand-outs being America, Democracy Now and Judge Death Lives - though Simping Detective was really quite fantastic as well. Everything has had something to enjoy in it though. Next up is my first full-on Anderson book, and I may skip ahead slightly to read Cursed Earth. I feel like the Epics may be worth reading at random intervals with the other stuff? If I were to do that, is there any particular epic that's better to start with? Sorry for all the questions!

Thrill-Power Overload? More like Thrill-Power Addiction.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: dweezil2 on 19 October, 2016, 09:46:57 PM
Quote from: JaHawkDroid on 19 October, 2016, 09:43:31 PM
Continuing in spine order it is then; thanks for the advice!

Really enjoyed what I've read so far, with stand-outs being America, Democracy Now and Judge Death Lives - though Simping Detective was really quite fantastic as well. Everything has had something to enjoy in it though. Next up is my first full-on Anderson book, and I may skip ahead slightly to read Cursed Earth. I feel like the Epics may be worth reading at random intervals with the other stuff? If I were to do that, is there any particular epic that's better to start with? Sorry for all the questions!

Thrill-Power Overload? More like Thrill-Power Addiction.

The Apocalypse War, one of the finest Dredd Mega-Epics!  :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 19 October, 2016, 09:52:43 PM
Based on what you've read, start with vol 31, Oz, which although out of sequence chronologically ties into Necropolis which you've presumably already read.
Then stick to volume order, it gives a nice view of how Dredd has changed as a strip over the years with more sophistication in the storytelling but generally less fun and inventiveness. I liked the art better in the old days too being brought up on the holy trinity of Bolland, McMahon and Smith. Only Flint, Walker and MacNeil really come close to hitting those notes these days to my mind.
Carlos endures in his brilliance but I have always preferred his Strontium Dog to Dredd.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: JaHawkDroid on 19 October, 2016, 09:58:04 PM
Cheers! May read one chronological, then one Mega Epic. Mix it up a bit.

Will update as I work my way through to being up to date with the collection ha  :lol:
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Klegg Bait on 20 October, 2016, 06:42:48 PM
I'm mainly interested in picking up volumes of this that have material that I can't get in the other available graphic novels/Case Files/etc.

Any hints at which ones I should be getting?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 20 October, 2016, 07:29:04 PM
Not too much really and often more dubious volumes. The Heavy Mob has Holocaust which, understandedly, has not been reprinted before.
Cursed Earth Koburn includes Going After Billy Zane and El Maldito
Beyond Mega City One includes a couple of more recent Dredds not reprinted elsewhere
Missionary Man has the 2000AD episodes not previously reprinted
Calhab Justice has the complete series.
There are other stories scattered throughout not available elsewhere (usually Dredd stories not yet covered by the Casefiles) but I think those are the most significant.
I'm sure others will pipe up if I have forgotten any rare gems not otherwise reprinted.
Truth is, it depends what you normally buy as many stories were in previous trades (The Return of the Taxidermist) or in Megazine floppies (Lawcon and Breathing Space) so the volumes with them in might appeal.
I suggest you scan the Wikipedia page which lists the contents of each volume.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 20 October, 2016, 08:05:45 PM
Hope there's a proper post Day of Chaos book somewhere down the line. Especially with later post doc stories nailing the tone much better than the early ones.

Wouldn't mind a Wagner-centric book. Bender, Block Judge, Serial serial, Terror rising and Ladykiller. And if a "expansion book", why not pretend they'll forgo the "no Dark justice in the collection" and put that in as well. Properly toping it off what began with/in Origins.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 20 October, 2016, 08:41:17 PM
Wow, I would love those stories collected together. Terrific choice.
Hope for something like this if we get that extension. Time will tell as given where we are in the collection it is unlikely anything official will be announced for a year or so. Never know, it could be sooner based on the hints they are already dropping.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Klegg Bait on 21 October, 2016, 03:29:44 AM
Thanks, Trent.  That's helpful.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 21 October, 2016, 07:19:43 PM
Quote from: Trent on 20 October, 2016, 08:41:17 PM
Wow, I would love those stories collected together. Terrific choice.
Hope for something like this if we get that extension. Time will tell as given where we are in the collection it is unlikely anything official will be announced for a year or so. Never know, it could be sooner based on the hints they are already dropping.

Wouldn't mind Bender followed by The man comes around either. Dredd showing some serious age, and not being on top of his game. Love that.

I wonder how many books they could expand it with. And what sort of books. I'm figuring Enceladus, Every empire falls and similar later day Dredd, plus classic b&w Dredd (Which seem to be largely overlooked in the current books). Especially with the FB comments about Un-American graffiti, hinting about further books :)

Regardless. I'm hoping they'll collect the recent Wagner stuff in way or another.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 26 October, 2016, 01:00:04 PM
The Facebook page has put up the cover of issue 50, Fetish, featuring Dredd and Devlin by Cliff Robinson. Credited are John Smith, Siku, Michael Gaydos, Colin MacNeil and Peter Doherty. This suggests this volume will collect all remaining Devlin stories that haven't appeared so far. But what will the Doherty story be, as Innocence and Experience has already appeared in Chasing Herod? 
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 26 October, 2016, 01:22:25 PM
Barney suggests a couple of Smith/Doherty Dredds as a possibility: Roadkill from Progs 856-858 and Old Wounds, a two-parter from Meg 287-288. Both about 20 pages. Can't think of any better thematic link involving Doherty?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 28 October, 2016, 05:04:49 AM
Didn't doherty do a devlin story?

A quick search says innocence and experience the last to date waugh strip 24 pages
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 28 October, 2016, 05:50:38 AM
Then i remember it was in the chasing herod book
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 28 October, 2016, 09:25:08 AM
Credits imply Fetish (85 pages), Mouthful of Dust (20), Vile Bodies (12), All Hell (50) which total 167 pages and likely a Smith/Doherty Dredd such as Roadkill (20) and/or Old Wounds (21).
Don't see Strange and Darke making the cut but maybe in the fabled extension which we have probably already filled with suggestions.
Not Devlin Waugh's greatest fan although I love Colin's painted art but good to see all his tales bar the text stories collected.
Only gripe is that the extras in the first volume didn't include the Jock version of the first part of Red Tide unlike the Rebellion trade. Missed opportunity for a genuinely juicy and presumably accessible bonus feature. With 3 Waugh trades there was enough room for it somewhere. Never know.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 28 October, 2016, 09:30:01 AM
Oh, and a gripe about Hachette.
Calhab and Young Death still not turned up. Called Hachette who bizarrely asked me if I wanted a refund and seemed surprised when I calmly but firmly stated that 45 issues into a collection I would rather have the actual books. These were apparently reissued (over a week ago) and now checking my online account my credit card payment has been reversed under the premise 'card number too long'. This is the same card they have used 22 times automatically in the past.
Gaahhh, another phone call beckons.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Michael Knight on 28 October, 2016, 04:27:52 PM
they really are a company that needs to get act together, I have many friends that have subscribed to other partworks of theirs that have had exactly the same problems. Glad i stuck with my newsagent instead.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 28 October, 2016, 05:07:43 PM
Just got off the phone with a sense of deja vu. Last person I spoke to apparently didn't reorder the books for me for some unknown reason but the one this time said she would.
We'll see.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moldovangerbil on 28 October, 2016, 08:40:04 PM
Talking to Hachette just feels like a constant uphill battle akin to talking to a creationist about evolution.

I'm battling to try to get them to remove a charge for a too long card number off my account as well.  They've at least acknowledged it as an error - I just need them to net it off so that their system doesn't charge me for it.  I live in hope.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 28 October, 2016, 09:21:03 PM
Use Facebook instead. First, you get everything in writing. Secondly, for whatever reason the Facebook people know what they are doing.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 29 October, 2016, 12:46:25 AM
Hmm, not sure I want to join Friendface just for that.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tony Angelino on 29 October, 2016, 10:05:19 AM
Just finished #43, the Taxidermy one. Even though the stories were mainly by Wagner and Grant this was not one of the better collections.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 30 October, 2016, 04:42:09 PM
Quote from: Trent on 28 October, 2016, 09:30:01 AM
Oh, and a gripe about Hachette.
Calhab and Young Death still not turned up. Called Hachette who bizarrely asked me if I wanted a refund and seemed surprised when I calmly but firmly stated that 45 issues into a collection I would rather have the actual books. These were apparently reissued (over a week ago) and now checking my online account my credit card payment has been reversed under the premise 'card number too long'. This is the same card they have used 22 times automatically in the past.
Gaahhh, another phone call beckons.

I had this letter for the Millenium Falcon model. Got an email apologising that it was incorrect.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 30 October, 2016, 06:24:26 PM
Well I read Calhab Justice and I can't say that I was overly impressed.  None of the stories really grabbed me that much and it's nothing to do with stereotypes or anything like that.  The artwork in places was okay, though I must say that the second appearance of Judge Buchan somewhat resembled some versions of a younger Judge Anderson.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 30 October, 2016, 09:56:06 PM
Quote from: Jade Falcon on 30 October, 2016, 06:24:26 PM
Well I read Calhab Justice and I can't say that I was overly impressed.  None of the stories really grabbed me that much and it's nothing to do with stereotypes or anything like that.  The artwork in places was okay, though I must say that the second appearance of Judge Buchan somewhat resembled some versions of a younger Judge Anderson.

I enjoyed most of the Calhab stories more than I was expecting to, which was a bonus. The final story False Dawn was a bit too much all over the place though.

The Judge Joyce stories that round out the volume are pretty throwaway, although the Steve Dillon one has extra poignancy due to his recent passing. RIP Steve.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 31 October, 2016, 09:37:02 AM
I finished trudging through Calhab last night. I didn't like it the first time round, and unlike the Death stuff, I can't say my opinion of it has changed any. Some of the art is OK, and the broad explanation for the stereotyping is quite smart, but other than that I thought it was fairly awful. The highlight was the interview, with the writer talking about the shortcomings (including the then very commonplace 'the reader will figure out what I meant', rather than, you know, actual coherence on the page). And while I'm happy paying for this on subscription, god knows what I'd have felt on paying ten quid for this volume as a one-off.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 03 November, 2016, 06:34:39 PM
The Hachette page is showing covers up to issue 53, as follows:
51: Anderson - Engram. Cover by David Roach (I think), credits Alan Grant, Arthur Ranson, Ian Gibson and Roach.
52: Banzai Battalion. Cover by?, credits John Wagner, Henry Flint, Cam Kennedy, Ian Gibson, Steve Dillon, Steve Roberts and Arthur Ranson.
53: Heavy Metal Dread. Cover by John Hicklenton, credits Wagner, Grant, John Smith,  Garth Ennis, Simon Bisley, Hicklenton, Dermatitis Power.
Contents therein?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 03 November, 2016, 06:50:41 PM
Damn predictive text, sorry Dermot. Also credited on HMD is Ron Smith.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 03 November, 2016, 08:55:32 PM
I'm up to Young Death now. Haven't read much of the upcoming ones beyond Wilderlands and some Anderson. Hoping they're good. Heavy metal Dredd seems to be a bit like the inferno volume, Dredd on steroids :P

Also. Mick Austin not being credited on Endgram could mean Leviathan's farewell isn't in it. Really hoping it's book 13 Stars of Psi-division at least.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 04 November, 2016, 03:12:24 AM
I am curious about ennis credit in hmd are they stuffing the muzac killer stuff into the book?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Klegg Bait on 04 November, 2016, 01:15:13 PM
I know I'm late to the party, but I picked up the Taxidermist and Koburn books and I like them.
The quality of the books is very good.
It's my first exposure to Koburn and I really enjoyed those stories.

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 07 November, 2016, 10:21:06 AM
Two vols dropped today:

- Wilderlands runs through to the end of The Candidates, and has an essay, Hail to the Chief, by Molcher.

- Into the Undercity leads with Creep, and then has A Very Creepy Christmas, Birthday Boy (Vince Locke art!), New Tricks, Ratfink's Revenge (presumably the Fink stuff will be elsewhere), First Blood, Master of Fear, Gator, four covers, and an interview with Si Spencer about Creep.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Steve Green on 07 November, 2016, 10:38:44 AM
There's quite a lot of undercity stuff - not sure if Cry of the Werewolf has been collected yet?

Tempest, the Vampire Effect, the Goblin King?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 07 November, 2016, 10:39:44 AM
Does wilderlands include mcgruders death?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 07 November, 2016, 10:43:11 AM
Postie's just been and no books yet. That's 4 books that I'm now waiting on including the two replacement ones.
Really not good and I know any calls will feel like talking into a vacuum.
The books are on my account as having been dispatched but today's offering was the irritating 'card number too long' apology letter instead.
Rather just have my fecking books.

Are all the Creep stories included?
Is Voting Day not in the Wilderlands volume then?

Death of a Legend should be in there - big miss.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 07 November, 2016, 10:54:23 AM
I've been assuming Cry of the Werewolf will be in the Famous Monsters volume.
Rather have Tempest than Creep but maybe in an extension along with other Dreddverse shortlived spinoffs like Marauder.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 07 November, 2016, 11:18:25 AM
Creep strips: Creep (2.41–44); Creep's Day Out (50); True Love (51–54); A Very Creepy Christmas (70). According to Barney, that's everything.

Death of a Legend is not included in Wilderlands.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 07 November, 2016, 11:35:06 AM
Cheers Indigo.
Voting Day?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 07 November, 2016, 01:54:01 PM
I don't recall that strip. The Candidates includes the result of the vote, if that helps.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 08 November, 2016, 01:17:34 PM
Wilderlands and Into the Undercity turned up.
Both very nice volumes, Creep is more fun (and unsettling) than I remembered.
Voting Day is included and I guess at 240 pages the volume was already pushing it without Death of a Legend. Hopefully it will be in another book.

Calhab Justice and Young Death are still MIA.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 08 November, 2016, 09:25:42 PM
Are both the meg and 2000ad episodes included in Wilderlands?

Hoping Death of a legend shows up in Hunting party then.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 08 November, 2016, 10:22:59 PM
Quote from: Apestrife on 08 November, 2016, 09:25:42 PM
Are both the meg and 2000ad episodes included in Wilderlands?
yes.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 09 November, 2016, 11:05:21 AM
Young Death and Calhab just turned up. Forgotten that Calhab featured Brit-Cit Brute, something clearly everyone has been waiting for to see his story resolved...........

Best thing about Calhab is that it features Missionary Man on the spine (and a few pages of Steve Dillon and Colin MacNeil). Never really a fan of John Ridgeway (I can appreciate the skill and all, but even so), Lol looks like an artist in development - way too busy and muddy and the whole Calhab thing is tosh.

Young Death is a welcome volume, nice to have Fraser's stint in a hardback (it really warranted a Dark Justice size book back in the day but nevermind).
Not read Young Death for a while, had a skim and brought back fond memories. Pete Doherty art varies from superb to fledgling which is both understandable and rather charming.

Fetish and the final Anderson volume (barring extension) up next. Both stories I know well so no great excitement apart from seeing what else is in Fetish. Obviously not included but I wonder if we will ever see Pan-African Judges again, even in a floppy.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: GordonR on 09 November, 2016, 12:29:55 PM
Quote from: Trent on 09 November, 2016, 11:05:21 AM
Young Death and Calhab just turned up. Forgotten that Calhab featured Brit-Cit Brute, something clearly everyone has been waiting for to see his story resolved...........

Hur. 

IIRC, Brit-Cit Brute was created editorially (and I think was inspired by the film Demolition Man) and then farmed out to promising new talent - in this case, it was Robbie Morrison left holding the short straw - to develop and write.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 10 November, 2016, 09:53:05 AM
The character was so well liked and thought of they killed him twice which is just sad

(Note: jonni kiss has newts badge in goodnight kiss implying kiss killed him)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jim_Campbell on 10 November, 2016, 10:53:36 AM
Quote from: GordonR on 09 November, 2016, 12:29:55 PM
IIRC, Brit-Cit Brute was created editorially (and I think was inspired by the film Demolition Man) and then farmed out to promising new talent

I heard that story slightly differently, in so far as the strip was called 'Demolition Man' for much of its early development, before the upcoming Stallone film forced a hasty name-change...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Link Prime on 10 November, 2016, 11:42:54 AM
Quote from: Jim_Campbell on 10 November, 2016, 10:53:36 AM
Quote from: GordonR on 09 November, 2016, 12:29:55 PM
IIRC, Brit-Cit Brute was created editorially (and I think was inspired by the film Demolition Man) and then farmed out to promising new talent

I heard that story slightly differently, in so far as the strip was called 'Demolition Man' for much of its early development, before the upcoming Stallone film forced a hasty name-change...

Now that you say it, I'm almost certain there was an early promo with the strip actually named as 'Demolition Man'.

I don't recall Jonni Kiss having Judge Newt's badge in his collection- cheers Monarch.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: GordonR on 10 November, 2016, 12:14:14 PM
Quote from: Jim_Campbell on 10 November, 2016, 10:53:36 AM
Quote from: GordonR on 09 November, 2016, 12:29:55 PM
IIRC, Brit-Cit Brute was created editorially (and I think was inspired by the film Demolition Man) and then farmed out to promising new talent

I heard that story slightly differently, in so far as the strip was called 'Demolition Man' for much of its early development, before the upcoming Stallone film forced a hasty name-change...

Yeah, that makes more sense.  I didn't think the timeline made sense for the strip to have appeared after the movie, and be derivative of it.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: JamesC on 10 November, 2016, 03:56:52 PM
Really pleased to see Wilderlands again.
I have a vague recollection that this story wasn't very well regarded but I think it's great fun and probably the best of the 'Mechanismo' stories. I think Carlos's computer colouring was pretty unpopular but I don't mind it at all (it's very much of its time though and not as good as the Necropolis marker-pen period).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tony Angelino on 10 November, 2016, 06:32:50 PM
Calhab Justice arrived today. I don't think I'll read it.

There should be enough Dredd stories that they don't need to include volumes like this. 
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 10 November, 2016, 06:57:21 PM
Completely agree Tony. I understand the desire to present the Dredd Universe but it is openly admitted there were many dubious strips along the way.
If we end up with 80 volumes including Calhab Justice, BritCit Brute and Darren Dead but excluding Kenny Who?, Otto Sump and Graveyard Shift then there has been a serious error of judgment in compiling the collection.
We can only hope that a 20 volume extension is forthcoming and deals with these lunacies.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 10 November, 2016, 07:33:54 PM
I really enjoyed Wilderlands and especially the continuation into voting. Carlos' computer stuff is sometimes bonkers but fun to see. Into the Undercity was a choppy ride and could've done with some of Steve Dillon's werewolves to up the quality. The Creep stuff was a guilty pleasure. The stories are thin but I love the atmosphere. Great to see the Creep meet some supernatural competition. Pat Mills' Dredd tale felt odd in concept. I can believe an immortal perp wouldn't have been experimented on heavily. It was great to see Trevallions art on the endpapers. All in all this was a pretty good month after the disappointment of Calhab. I'm glad the text articles are keeping up the quality and being frank about these stories initial reception.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 10 November, 2016, 07:44:58 PM
Quote from: Trent on 10 November, 2016, 06:57:21 PM
Completely agree Tony. I understand the desire to present the Dredd Universe but it is openly admitted there were many dubious strips along the way.
If we end up with 80 volumes including Calhab Justice, BritCit Brute and Darren Dead but excluding Kenny Who?, Otto Sump and Graveyard Shift then there has been a serious error of judgment in compiling the collection.
We can only hope that a 20 volume extension is forthcoming and deals with these lunacies.

Possible the idea of an extension is the reason why some stuff was left out. Lots of classic stuff they could include, as well as post DOC stories with the rest of Titan (with the recent follow up stuff), Every empire falls and so on.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: seanharry on 10 November, 2016, 10:40:27 PM
Quote from: Trent on 10 November, 2016, 06:57:21 PM
If we end up with 80 volumes including Calhab Justice, BritCit Brute and Darren Dead but excluding Kenny Who?, Otto Sump and Graveyard Shift then there has been a serious error of judgment in compiling the collection.

If they are omitting Graveyard Shift and Kenny Who? then that is two of the all time greatest Judge Dredd strips missing from the collection.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 10 November, 2016, 10:50:28 PM
Don't know about Graveyard Shift tbh but not mentioned yet and running out of places for it - perhaps a MegaCity Law volume including the Crime File stories 209-223. Drop in a few newer stories and voila.
Sure I saw specfic mention that Kenny Who? is not included despite a fond write up in the front of the Calhab volume as if to rub salt in the wound in multiple ways.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 10 November, 2016, 10:52:02 PM
i wonder if casefiles owners are buying this series or if it's two very different kinds of punters. if livd to know more of the selection process for this series. One duff volume & two patchy ones seems quite a good batting average out of 50 or so books so far. The omissions like Chopper's first appearance or Otto Sump seem curious. I just wonder if there was an edict that early b&w stuff has already been heavily reproduced, is of variable repro quality or is unfashionable. The colour stuff has largely reproduced well but b&w Bolland or Ewins has looked sub-par.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 11 November, 2016, 10:12:51 AM
I suspect it's more that people these days broadly expect colour. I know there are exceptions (Walking Dead, say), but they're relatively rare in typical comics (vs Manga). That said, I'd gladly have lobbed Graveyard Mix into the mix in place of some of the dreck we've ended up with.

Fortunately, duff volumes are very much in the minority, but it's a bit sad to look at Heavy Mob and Calhab and think "well, I'm definitely never going to read that tripe again" when that could have been 400 pages of actually good material. (And I'm not necessarily saying Calhab should have been omitted entirely, but a couple of the early tales would have been enough. We didn't need the entire bloody run, especially when we're apparently not getting the entire run of Chopper.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 11 November, 2016, 10:48:03 AM
I don't quite go along with the colour argument given the inclusion of Shimura, Maelstrom, Creep, Calhab, Anderson, Low Life, My Name is Death etc etc but the dodgy repro might have something to do with it as well as a possible feeling that some early Dredd is aimed at a younger simpler audience than latter tales, colour or otherwise.
Even so, some very odd decisions.
I love seeing the older tales and one lovely, unexpected treat this collection has given us is the colour centrespreads in many of the episodes such as Oz, Trapper Hag and most recently Gator. Seeing these stories represented better than in the Casefiles adds to the whole feeling of justifiying such wholesale double dipping (obviously more like quadruple or more in many cases). Just a shame this only seems to extend back to the mid-late 300s of Progs. Apocalype War and Judge Child given the Cursed Earth treatment would shut me up about any other failings.
The recent Gator reprint gives me hope for City of the Damned, Dredd Angel and Midnight Surfer with colour.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 11 November, 2016, 12:10:04 PM
I was genuinely surprised that the Dirty Frank stories appeared in the MegaCollection before seeing their official reprint in MegaCity undercover 3. I've been amazed by the inclusion of recent ish stuff like Titan and sensitive Klegg.  Maybe the editorial team really does have a soft spot for Calhab & BritCit Brute. I'd love there to be a thread for storyline suggestions to be included should the series get extended. It's fascinating as a returned reader to see what gems I've missed.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 11 November, 2016, 12:28:10 PM
Happy to kick off such a thread.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 11 November, 2016, 01:26:48 PM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 11 November, 2016, 12:10:04 PMI was genuinely surprised that the Dirty Frank stories appeared in the MegaCollection before seeing their official reprint in MegaCity undercover 3.
I thought the same, but then by now TMC is barely on standard sale anywhere, but Rebellion's trades pop up in even relatively small branches of Waterstones and the like. So: different markets, although there's probably some impact on sales. (I've not bought any Dredd trades since subscribing to TMC, but then I assume Rebellion's making money from the collection anyway.)

QuoteMaybe the editorial team really does have a soft spot for Calhab & BritCit Brute.
God knows. I suppose the quality of a lot of material is somewhat subjective, but that Calhab book was just really hard going for me, in much the same way as Heavy Mob, most of which reminded me of the worst periods in the Meg's history. Klegg Hai! didn't really do anything for me either, due to so much of it being Maelstrom and The Corps.

There have been wobbles elsewhere. Chunks of Shimura didn't work for me at all, and I think Inferno's bloody awful. But the former for me is justified by some of the material being strong (and it improving significantly over time, not least with the Inaba strips), and the latter is a brain-free Dredd epic with some great art.

Still, for me, that's three books from 48 that I'd sooner have replaced with something else. Not a bad strike rate. It'd be interesting to buy Matt Smith a few beers and get his insight into the selection process, although I suspect Matt might find said conversation less interesting himself!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 11 November, 2016, 07:47:47 PM
I...still like calhab justice  :'(
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 11 November, 2016, 07:53:53 PM
Quote from: The Monarch on 11 November, 2016, 07:47:47 PM
I...still like calhab justice  :'(
The exception that proves the rule, etc.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 11 November, 2016, 08:02:23 PM
Monarch - you are Jim Alexander and I claim my £5.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 12 November, 2016, 04:58:27 AM
I'm afraid not i'm just a random loon on the internet that likes calhab justice and canon fodder :lol:
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 12 November, 2016, 09:47:00 AM
I enjoyed Canon Fodder but mainly for the Weston art and the terrible puns. The story was a bit iffy.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 12 November, 2016, 11:54:18 AM
Yeah the first series story was crap but the second one by kek w was really good i wish there was more doubt there ever will thanks to millar
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 12 November, 2016, 02:04:24 PM
Really enjoyed Wilderlands, the creative team clearly having fun coming up with the various creatures of Hestia. And the political machinations back in the city an indication of things to come in later stories - was this the first time they'd appeared to such a degree?

What volume number is Into the Undercity? Thanks.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 12 November, 2016, 02:37:29 PM
Into the Undercity is volume 79.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 12 November, 2016, 02:58:10 PM
Quote from: Trent on 12 November, 2016, 02:37:29 PM
Into the Undercity is volume 79.

Thanks Trent
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Frank on 12 November, 2016, 03:19:53 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 12 November, 2016, 02:04:24 PM
Really enjoyed Wilderlands ... the political machinations back in the city an indication of things to come in later stories - was this the first time they'd appeared to such a degree?

There had been bickering within the Council Of Five, but the first hint I can remember of factions plotting within the Department was Grice's [1]  failed plot (http://i.imgur.com/pP3wzSB.png) to scupper the referendum after Necropolis (http://i.imgur.com/OM25VyJ.png) [2].

That was really the beginning of the type of story we collectively seem to agree has reached the end of its useful life, where interdepartmental rivalries become the focus of the stories, rather than the citizens.

There's still plenty mileage in The Pit angle of treating the supporting cast as cop characters from The Choirboys or The Shield, but maybe not so much in the invisible Ninja academies that have always been there.


[1] Non-'roided Grice. Non-cackinglingly insane Grice. Plausibly motivated Grice. Well written Grice.

[2] 'Nightmares' (702-706 (http://www.2000ad.org/?zone=prog&page=profiles&choice=702)), by John Wagner and Steve Dillon, and 'The Devil You Know', by John Wagner and Jeff Anderson (750 to 753 (http://www.2000ad.org/?zone=prog&page=profiles&choice=750))
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 12 November, 2016, 11:35:37 PM
Read Wilderlands.  I hadn't read any of this stuff before and thoroughly enjoyed it, though it's funny to see the prologue artists look of McGruder with goatee beard etc, in comparison with that seen through most of the Hestia based storyline where she looks like an alcoholic with her weird features.

The Mechamismo MkIIA's looked suitably menacing compared to earlier models.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 13 November, 2016, 02:33:12 AM
Quote from: Frank on 12 November, 2016, 03:19:53 PM
There had been bickering within the Council Of Five, but the first hint I can remember of factions plotting within the Department was Grice's [1]  failed plot (http://i.imgur.com/pP3wzSB.png) to scupper the referendum after Necropolis (http://i.imgur.com/OM25VyJ.png) [2].

Arguably this type of story goes right back to DtLD, and the flashback sections of Oz.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 13 November, 2016, 01:51:09 PM
I just started Into the Undercity, and I'll take back what I said about Creep. I'm not sure why it didn't click with me at the time, but it certainly has something about it. The colour tale was perhaps one too far, but the b+w one were suitably horrific and, well, creepy.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Frank on 13 November, 2016, 02:47:28 PM
Quote from: TordelBack on 13 November, 2016, 02:33:12 AM
Quote from: Frank on 12 November, 2016, 03:19:53 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 12 November, 2016, 02:04:24 PM
Really enjoyed Wilderlands ... the political machinations back in the city an indication of things to come in later stories - was this the first time they'd appeared to such a degree?

There had been bickering within the Council Of Five, but the first hint I can remember of factions plotting within the Department was Grice's [1]  failed plot (http://i.imgur.com/pP3wzSB.png) to scupper the referendum after Necropolis (http://i.imgur.com/OM25VyJ.png) [2].

Arguably this type of story goes right back to DtLD, and the flashback sections of Oz.

I thought about The Day The Law Died, but describing pickling as 'political machinations' seems a bit of a stretch*. Nice work on Judd though - that didn't occur to me at all.


* Cal seems straight out of the invisible Ninja academy
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 13 November, 2016, 03:51:17 PM
Quote from: Frank on 13 November, 2016, 02:47:28 PM
Cal seems straight out of the invisible Ninja academy...

I actually find Cal more believable than the many ninja judge departments, as a bloke who simply flipped his lid (in an admittedly big way) the moment he achieved absolute power. By contrast, Smiley, and Carroll's 'Section Zero' especially, require a silly amount of logic- and continuity-straining hoops to jump through to make them work.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Frank on 13 November, 2016, 05:20:38 PM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 13 November, 2016, 03:51:17 PM
Quote from: Frank on 13 November, 2016, 02:47:28 PM
Cal seems straight out of the invisible Ninja academy...

I actually find Cal more believable than the many ninja judge departments ... Smiley, and Carroll's 'Section Zero' especially, require a silly amount of logic- and continuity-straining hoops to jump through

That's very true, with the caveat that Williams is making Smiley's two decades of inaction slightly more credible by changing his motivation from that of night watchman to villain.

Sector Zero lost me when it revealed the sinister mastermind was The Badger.


Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Davgardo on 13 November, 2016, 05:48:24 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 13 November, 2016, 01:51:09 PM
I just started Into the Undercity, and I'll take back what I said about Creep. I'm not sure why it didn't click with me at the time, but it certainly has something about it. The colour tale was perhaps one too far, but the b+w one were suitably horrific and, well, creepy.

Pleasantly surprised by Creep too. Has a 1920's horror movie vibe. Shame the character never had a resolution.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 13 November, 2016, 07:44:22 PM
Quote from: Frank on 13 November, 2016, 02:47:28 PM
Quote from: TordelBack on 13 November, 2016, 02:33:12 AM
Quote from: Frank on 12 November, 2016, 03:19:53 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 12 November, 2016, 02:04:24 PM
Really enjoyed Wilderlands ... the political machinations back in the city an indication of things to come in later stories - was this the first time they'd appeared to such a degree?

There had been bickering within the Council Of Five, but the first hint I can remember of factions plotting within the Department was Grice's [1]  failed plot (http://i.imgur.com/pP3wzSB.png) to scupper the referendum after Necropolis (http://i.imgur.com/OM25VyJ.png) [2].

Arguably this type of story goes right back to DtLD, and the flashback sections of Oz.

I thought about The Day The Law Died, but describing pickling as 'political machinations' seems a bit of a stretch*. Nice work on Judd though - that didn't occur to me at all.


* Cal seems straight out of the invisible Ninja academy

If you think in it, other signs of disagreement within the Council followed soon after when Dredd decided not to bring back the Judge Child.  Interestingly enough it was McGruder who was one of the main dissenters over Griffin.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: I, Cosh on 14 November, 2016, 01:28:43 PM
Quote from: Frank on 13 November, 2016, 05:20:38 PM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 13 November, 2016, 03:51:17 PM
Quote from: Frank on 13 November, 2016, 02:47:28 PM
Cal seems straight out of the invisible Ninja academy...
I actually find Cal more believable than the many ninja judge departments ... Smiley, and Carroll's 'Section Zero' especially, require a silly amount of logic- and continuity-straining hoops to jump through
That's very true, with the caveat that Williams is making Smiley's two decades of inaction slightly more credible by changing his motivation from that of night watchman to villain.

Sector Zero lost me when it revealed the sinister mastermind was The Badger.
Too right. If you're going to name your villain after a Tour de France hero (http://inrng.com/medias/images/hinaultparisnice.jpg), why not The Cannibal (http://www.strawberrybicycle.com/gallery/albums/Vintage/roubaix_merckx_1970.jpg) or The Eagle of Toledo (http://www.ilpost.it/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/AP540728015.jpg)?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 14 November, 2016, 11:03:54 PM
Quote from: Frank on 13 November, 2016, 05:20:38 PM
That's very true, with the caveat that Williams is making Smiley's two decades of inaction slightly more credible by changing his motivation from that of night watchman to villain.

Reeeeally must try and catch up on this year's progs...!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Davgardo on 15 November, 2016, 11:28:48 AM
Finished Into the Undercity. After the disastrous Calhab volume I wasn't looking forward to this at all, but I was pleasantly surprised - some great stuff in there, and The Creep proved much better than I'd remembered both in story and artwork.
My only criticism concerns the running order - it's very odd going with Creep as the lead strip. Surely it would have been better to have used it later in the volume to break up some of the Dredd strips which can be a bit samey: perp escapes into the underworld/Judges follow.

Other than that, very pleased with it.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 15 November, 2016, 11:52:54 AM
I think in the Mighty One book by Steve MacManus he always said the prog story order was decided in a set way - best strip first and end with the second best. I think Creep was the most memorable strip of note in there but I thought ending on a generic Dredd vs Alligators was poor - although always nice to see a colour double spread. Real shame to miss out the Werewolf strip but I guess there' ll be a book of Vampires & supernatural beasties.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 15 November, 2016, 04:51:55 PM
there is a book coming called famous monsters
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Leigh S on 15 November, 2016, 05:33:22 PM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 13 November, 2016, 03:51:17 PM
Quote from: Frank on 13 November, 2016, 02:47:28 PM
Cal seems straight out of the invisible Ninja academy...

I actually find Cal more believable than the many ninja judge departments, as a bloke who simply flipped his lid (in an admittedly big way) the moment he achieved absolute power. By contrast, Smiley, and Carroll's 'Section Zero' especially, require a silly amount of logic- and continuity-straining hoops to jump through to make them work.

I have always been a  bit downhearted by any story that tries the "corruption in the heart of Justice Dept" angle - the first one I can recall was a Hershey story form the Meg, and I don't think any since have hit teh mark - as you say, there is a difference between a power struggle as to the direction of the Dept and multiple secretly funded "ninja" depts, which are on the whole vaguely ludicrous  -the Judges dont need a maximum deniability squad operating on their own turf - they do what they like to who they like!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: teckno viking on 15 November, 2016, 07:40:42 PM
Well taken a fair few weeks but Finally got it sorted (via FB page than phone call due to comments here) to catch up on BACK ORDERS :D

So 14 days or so will be getting a Nice package of 42 through to 48 to bring me upto date then subscription will then pick up from 49.

Honestly NO idea why it has been such a chew on to be able to get  back orders or maybe that was due to particular staff, No idea but Happy to see after one Up front payment for the back orders I am sorted :D

Now do the Back orders in the next 14 days get here before ThreeA Dredd release is the Next question LOL
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 18 November, 2016, 11:13:24 PM
My missing original Calhab and Young Death just turned up after 7 weeks in the postal wilderness.
Got the replacement ones a couple of weeks ago so these are surplus. Of course you could make a case for all copies of Calhab being surplus but I digress.
Not really set up or technologically savvy to pass them on to another squaxx and given they are mostly Black and white I thought I might use them as colouring books. Interested to see Frazers art in colour.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dandontdare on 19 November, 2016, 12:07:10 AM
Quote from: Leigh S on 15 November, 2016, 05:33:22 PM
I have always been a  bit downhearted by any story that tries the "corruption in the heart of Justice Dept" angle
^^ This 1000%
It's an easy story approach, but it's been done to death.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Davgardo on 20 November, 2016, 09:34:36 PM
Just finished Wilderlands and it's much as I remember: enjoyable without hitting the heights of the very best Dredd epics.
I have a problem with 2 things, 1 of which is Ezquerra's first dabblings with computer art. Frankly it's horrible. Not only is his painted tenth planet art streets ahead of it (just compare the 2 different versions of Hestia viewed from space) it's a jarring contrast with Hairsine's work. It's like they're drawing 2 completely different environments.
My other problem is with the vital chapter drawn by Mick Austin. I'm guessing that Mick had to step in at the Eleventh hour because of some issue Carlos must have been having. I don't honestly know, I've never read of a reason. But regardless, the art, and the script are just bizarre. It's like there's a missing chapter somewhere because there's absolutely zero flow from the previous chapter to this. After 2 months of slow build up and tension, suddenly there's a Mechanismo robot staring at us. Terrible. I thought the intro might cast some light on this but it didn't, just spent 500 words describing the plot. Ridiculous.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tony Angelino on 20 November, 2016, 09:44:40 PM
Wilderlands was okay, not great but miles ahead of some of the recent volumes (the Calhab one and even Young Death). I also wasn't keen on Carlos' colouring where everything seemed to be different shades of purple and red. The Hairsine pages were great.

I don't remember his art coming up in the Mega Collection before but as someone who jumped ship in the 90's I never really saw much of his Dredd. I did buy either the prog or the meg for a Dredd/Mean Machine Angel team-up that he drew but other than that he's one of the Dredd artists that I largely missed out on. Very like McMahon but still individual enough that its not a blatant copy.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 20 November, 2016, 09:48:32 PM
So whats the next books going to be?  Also, will we ever see the Dreams of Deadworld stories as I noticed them mentioned elsewhere online in relation to Dredd.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 20 November, 2016, 11:56:47 PM
Next books are Anderson- Engram and Fetish. Juding by the credits, Fetish will collect virtually all of the remaing Devlin Waugh stories plus some Smith/Doherty Dredd (Roadgames?).
It means for a very Dredd-lite month as I always considered Fetish more of a Devlin story than a Dredd one despite it being the main Dredd strip in the Meg snd Devlin not appearing until half way through.
Anderson should collect most of the remaining early stories with the odd gap - hey get the Psi files if you need everything.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 21 November, 2016, 07:53:00 AM
Quote from: Davgardo on 20 November, 2016, 09:34:36 PM...Ezquerra's first dabblings with computer art. Frankly it's horrible. Not only is his painted tenth planet art streets ahead of it (just compare the 2 different versions of Hestia viewed from space) it's a jarring contrast with Hairsine's work. It's like they're drawing 2 completely different environments.

While I can hardly argue with the points about Hairsine and Austin, I think the Great Ezquerriment has to be viewed with a retrospective sense of novelty and wonder: it was brave, it was bright, it was streets ahead of what most others were dong at he time. While I'll always prefer the genius of his purple-and-geeen period, it was amazing to see such a confident established artgod throw out what worked so well for him and leap into the technological deep end with such unrestrained results. You can see him pushing the limits of borrowed textures and vibrant colours, not just trying to do what he used to do only faster: a true artist.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: jabish on 21 November, 2016, 08:08:47 AM
I have a soft spot for Wilderlands but I always though there was a missing chapter. I remember reading it in the prog at the time and going hang on what have we missed here. And reading it in the collected form only reinforced that. Maybe someday we'll find out but it definitely feels like something got lost in the post. Glad I'm not the only one who thought that.

Quote from: Davgardo on 20 November, 2016, 09:34:36 PM
It's like there's a missing chapter somewhere because there's absolutely zero flow from the previous chapter to this. After 2 months of slow build up and tension, suddenly there's a Mechanismo robot staring at us.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 21 November, 2016, 08:34:20 AM
I also enjoyed Ezquerra's digital foray even if the results were highly variable. As Tordleback says it was fascinating to watch someone who didn't need to, try something different for artistic reasons.
That said, personally I think Carlos's art peaked in his black and white run on Strontium Dog in the prog. Truly world class comic art.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Cyber-Matt on 21 November, 2016, 01:25:52 PM
Quote from: Davgardo on 20 November, 2016, 09:34:36 PM
I thought the intro might cast some light on this but it didn't, just spent 500 words describing the plot. Ridiculous.

Because I was 21 when Wilderlands was published, and not long out of college. I have no idea why Mick had to step in to draw an episode - strangely, editorial didn't deign to keep me up to speed on the Nerve Centre's inner workings six years before I worked there. But I imagine Mick drew the script he was given.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 21 November, 2016, 01:47:28 PM
Surely you could just have asked Tharg, cyberMatt? I mean he was there at the time... unless there's something fishy about the way the Command Module operates.  :-\

I confess I also used to suspect that there was a missing episode in Wilderlands, but there really isn't room for one. Dredd hunts a mystery killer, it turns [spoiler]out to be a Mechanismo unit[/spoiler]. The only thing that falls flat is the moment of that reveal, which is still a mystery at the end of one episode, and then seems to be treated as a matter of common knowledge in the next. Obviously someone was supposed to convey the shock revelation in either the last panel or the first, but it wasn't clear which - then or now.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Davgardo on 21 November, 2016, 03:15:11 PM
Quote from: Cyber-Matt on 21 November, 2016, 01:25:52 PM
Quote from: Davgardo on 20 November, 2016, 09:34:36 PM
I thought the intro might cast some light on this but it didn't, just spent 500 words describing the plot. Ridiculous.

Because I was 21 when Wilderlands was published, and not long out of college. I have no idea why Mick had to step in to draw an episode - strangely, editorial didn't deign to keep me up to speed on the Nerve Centre's inner workings six years before I worked there. But I imagine Mick drew the script he was given.

Well, without wishing to state the bleeding obvious, you do (I would imagine) have a decent set of contacts and an email may have cleared it up. But I do appreciate the devastating sarcasm which has put me firmly in my place.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Frank on 21 November, 2016, 05:53:59 PM
Quote from: TordelBack on 21 November, 2016, 01:47:28 PM
Surely you could just have asked Tharg

Wilderlands was right before Tharg got kidnapped by the Men In Black. Blocking the memories of the 'probing' he endured must mean that period is a bit of a blur.

I'm not sure the editorial team of that time [1] would be able to tell us more than we can guess. The only reason an artist draws 1 episode of a 26 part Carlos Ezquerra series is because Carlos had a problem. [2]

Douglas Wolk's reflections on Wilderlands (http://dreddreviews.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/wilderlands.html) cite Mick Austin's complaints that Tharg used him for any last minute rush jobs, and a familiar voice explains how events are consistent between 911 & 912. There's no missing episode (http://dreddreviews.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/wilderlands.html?showComment=1336422977915#c8356919037306271925).

The reason it doesn't read well is (presumably) that Austin was working blind, without knowing how Ezquerra had choreographed the action and geography of the scene. Without knowing that, Austin was engaged in a sequential art variant of a game of Consequences (http://www.wikihow.com/Play-Consequences).


[1] Neither of whom seem to exchange Christmas cards with Tharg these days

[2] Henry Flint filled in for Ezquerra on Helter Skelter, when the latter's home collapsed. Carlos missed just one deadline on The Apocalypse War too - on that occasion, Tharg chose to reprint an old strip to let Carlos catch up, but the scheduling of Wilderlands to run between prog and Meg ruled that out.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 25 November, 2016, 08:48:56 AM
Finished reading Into the Undercity, I would say it's an entertaining rather than essential volume.

Despite my earlier misgivings, I enjoyed Creep more than I remember from first time round. Maybe I've developed a soft spot for indestructible sadists in my old age. Great interview with Si Spencer too.

A rare appearance for Pat Mills on Dredd, bringing an almost Slaine-esque element in. I loved Tiernen Trevallion's art on Ratfink too.

And there's an answer to that burning question, how do you see in the Undercity?

Overall a good read.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Judge Nutmeg on 26 November, 2016, 11:15:07 PM
I wouldn't mind the returN of the creep even if it just a one off strip for a face off with DREDD.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 27 November, 2016, 02:18:23 PM
Next volumes due in a week or so. Enjoyed Fetish so nice to see that in a decent format and I always welcome Colin MacNeil's painted art. With extra Pete Doherty it should be a good book.
Trying to work out what will be in Anderson assuming the cover includes all contributors (not always the case).
Remaining early stories by listed artists only amount to around 150 pages to the end of Engram. Assume Gibson tales from the annuals but we are still a little short imho.
Leviathan's Farewell would seem a very strange omission given the significance to the whole Grant Anderson arc.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 27 November, 2016, 06:14:00 PM
Quote from: Trent on 27 November, 2016, 02:18:23 PM
Leviathan's Farewell would seem a very strange omission given the significance to the whole Grant Anderson arc.

Hoping it's in the Stars of Psi-Division book. I'm not a big reader on Anderson, but that one is a good one.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 28 November, 2016, 10:43:54 AM
Wiki page is listing vol 54 as 'Cursed Earth Carnage' - anyone got any idea where this came from and possible contents?
Hoping for a non-Angel Gang volume with the likes of Relentless, The Starborn Thing, The Raggedy Man, The Marshal (please), Cincinnati, Big Deal at Drekk City (Cam Kennedy lovliness), Dead Ringer (might be wrong about the setting, it's been so long which is one of the reasons I want to see it again), Radlander, Damned Ranger, Tarantula and many otherswhich could form a sensational Cursed Earth collection.
Sadly, I suspect it will be more Angel Gang - nothing wrong with that but I would love a big fat book of other Cursed Earth tales.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Davgardo on 28 November, 2016, 03:14:13 PM
https://www.hachettepartworks.com/judge-dredd-the-mega-collection/cursed-earth-carnage

Doesn't look like the most exciting volume sent to print.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 28 November, 2016, 03:24:19 PM
Cheers Davgardo - slightly surprised that Helltrekkers is in the collection but ok.
Not what I was expecting at all, but we knew Sleeze n'Ryder was included so it isn't using up one of the unknown volume slots.
Still think a Dredd based Cursed Earth volume would fit the collection beautifully - maybe in the fabled extension huh?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 28 November, 2016, 03:37:10 PM
ooh sleeze and ryder and helltrekkers - ill get this volume 2 stories ive never read
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Fungus on 28 November, 2016, 04:27:57 PM
Must say when I read 'Cursed Earth' I thought 'Helltrekkers'. Really liked this at the the time but people always seem to have a downer on it. Maybe it's a turd. May cherry pick this, some skippable volumes recently...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: GordonR on 28 November, 2016, 04:44:54 PM
QuoteCiti-Def by Tony Lee

Oh dear God...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: DarkDaysBish-OP on 28 November, 2016, 04:48:37 PM
Sleaze 'n' Ryder is being reprinted?

Crivens.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 28 November, 2016, 05:02:55 PM
Ahh - I guess seeing as even the ex-editor and a creator (who you would expect to see promoting stuff ona  forum) are so down on it I think I wont bother buying it! Thanks for the warning!

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: GordonR on 28 November, 2016, 05:20:07 PM
I'd happily defend Sleaze'n'Ryder as an early and immature piece of work by two talents who would both go on to far bigger and better things.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 28 November, 2016, 05:29:51 PM
Never read citi-def either. Does that not even have that quality?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 28 November, 2016, 07:14:44 PM
No, CitiDef was very poor stuff. Never expected it to pop up again and once again shows the odd choices in the collection given how much proper Dredd is being excluded.
Sleeze n' Ryder is a curio from the early days of the Meg but not actually very good. Just because the creative team went onto better things does not justify its inclusion.
Helltrekkers has been reprinted but tbh would be a surprising exclusion as it set out much about the Cursed Earth and 'normal cits' in an important period in the development of Dredd's world. It is certainly badly flawed but deserves its place.
A disappointing volume to be sure but only because the collection is limited to 80 volumes so every crap choice is at the expense of something worthwhile.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: DarkDaysBish-OP on 28 November, 2016, 07:21:43 PM
Exactly! Where are Soul Sisters or The Straitjacket Fits?






:lol:
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 28 November, 2016, 08:04:00 PM
Helltrekkers: I don't have a problem with that, but I'm... not overly thrilled at the other choices. Still a good hit rate, but it's weird we're getting stuff I'd be not thrilled about being in a floppy, let alone paying ten quid for. Oh well.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dash Decent on 28 November, 2016, 08:39:12 PM
I'm actually pleased to see Helltrekkers collected in a hardback.

What was the name of the crab-baby again?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tony Angelino on 28 November, 2016, 08:45:09 PM
Helltrekkers might be okay, been years since I read it in the Prog. I do think I would like to read it again.

Personally I don't keep all the Mega Collections. If its full of stories that I like then I will keep them but if its Garth Ennis type stuff which I don't see as deserving a reprint, let alone a hardback reprint, then I put them up on a generic auction site.

Overall I've only kept about 50% of the volumes which isn't a great strike rate for this sort of series.

Two of the volumes I didn't even open, one being the Calhab one. Don't remember the other.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Timothy on 28 November, 2016, 08:45:23 PM
I would love to see The Straitjacket Fits reprinted, but I think it's a forlorn hope. Soul Sisters had some great art, but it never seemed to gel with the story. Both, while appearing in the Megazine, are insufficiently Dreddy for this collection.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: terryworld on 29 November, 2016, 01:28:36 AM
that's another one going on the "do not order" list at my thrill-merchants. while it's a pain being in Oz and getting these books 3 months after everyone back in Brit-Cit, it at least gives me the chance to save some money on what are - let's face it - really crap filler volumes. strike rate so far has been 1 in 4 books not worth it. it's a damn shame and a real missed opportunity for rebellion. it was the mega collection that got me back into toothy and the meg, which i now have a standing order for, and set me off on my hunt for back issues to get a full set. but imagine someone in the same boat as me, gave up on the prog years ago and picks up a mega collection book to see what they've been missing. if that person were to impulse buy something like this or calhab, i think it might put them off returning to tharg's mighty organ for life.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 29 November, 2016, 05:24:04 AM
... and  today's winner for the most poorly considered sentence goes to ...

I guess we have to remember that although Brit's and Aussies both speak 'english', there are certain subtle differences that can be a little amusing at times.   :D
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: O Lucky Stevie! on 29 November, 2016, 06:21:27 AM
Cultural context is king.

This is what the word "organ" immediately conjures for any 21st century Australian:


(http://66.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzjlbaZ7WC1qf21k9o1_1280.jpg)



Barry Morgan's World Of Organs (http://mrbarrymorgan.com/)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: terryworld on 29 November, 2016, 07:31:51 AM
Quote from: Tjm86 on 29 November, 2016, 05:24:04 AM
... and  today's winner for the most poorly considered sentence goes to ...

I guess we have to remember that although Brit's and Aussies both speak 'english', there are certain subtle differences that can be a little amusing at times.   :D

whilst i might reside in the Radback TJM, i'll have you know that i am a british citizen and subject born and bred thanks. and the mighty one's organ is nothing if not magnificent.

nice to see barry on here stevie. he's a bloody legend. (where were you at supanova last week champ, woulda had a pint with you?)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Davgardo on 29 November, 2016, 10:58:59 AM
Quote from: terryworld on 29 November, 2016, 01:28:36 AM
that's another one going on the "do not order" list at my thrill-merchants. while it's a pain being in Oz and getting these books 3 months after everyone back in Brit-Cit, it at least gives me the chance to save some money on what are - let's face it - really crap filler volumes. strike rate so far has been 1 in 4 books not worth it. it's a damn shame and a real missed opportunity for rebellion.

Calhab was the only volume that had literally nothing to recommend it and it's a pity that this release comes not too far behind. I'll save judgement on Helltrekkers as my memory is fuzzy - it's Wagner & Grant so it can't be terrible. Into the Undercity was much better than i was expecting so you never know.

It still bugs me that i paid £10 for that Calhab dross. The first Ridgeway strip backed up by various Kenny Who, Cam Kennedy Dredd Calhab stuff would've been great, so whoever gave the go ahead to that volume needs a severe ticking off!!  :D
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Legendary Shark on 29 November, 2016, 11:30:43 AM
I think that if the Mega Collection is designed to offer a representative sample of Dredd's world, both his fictional world and our world of period and quality, then it's important to include volumes like Cal Hab Justice. It might make for a few weak volumes but produces a deeper and more rounded collection.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Fungus on 29 November, 2016, 11:56:07 AM
Quote from: The Legendary Shark on 29 November, 2016, 11:30:43 AM
I think that if the Mega Collection is designed to offer a representative sample of Dredd's world, both his fictional world and our world of period and quality, then it's important to include volumes like Cal Hab Justice. It might make for a few weak volumes but produces a deeper and more rounded collection.

Agreed.
And 'mega' collection can mean big collection, with duds. Legally and morally, they're covered...
Buy them all if you're afflicted with completism  ::)

Quote from: Internet
mega
ˈmɛɡə/
informal
adjective
adjective: mega

    1.
    very large; huge.
    "he has signed a mega deal to make five movies"
    2.
    excellent.
    "it will be a mega film"
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 29 November, 2016, 12:04:53 PM
My take isn't so much that it's about being covered in terms of the description, but why someone felt the need to include a load of crap. I appreciate the honesty throughout these books – something very much missing from the Marvel one – but when you're paying ten quid for garbage like Calhab, you do wonder why something objectively better wasn't included instead (Calhab perhaps being included by way of a few episodes rather than the entire run).

Fortunately, we still only have a handful of volumes where the majority of content is dross, and there have been some nice surprises (Creep was far better than I recalled, and the moon volume was surprisingly good, if weirdly ordered), but I just hope there won't be too much more rubbish now we're past the half century.

Still Fetish/Engram's a good pairing next month. And then it's Banzai Battalion and Heavy Metal Dredd. (I recall finding the former lots of fun. Not a fan of the latter, but happy to read it again. Nice at at least, from what I recall.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Fungus on 29 November, 2016, 12:11:21 PM
I haven't picked up Calhab Justice. The intros and extra material have been refreshingly honest; how is Calhab introduced?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 30 November, 2016, 05:46:27 PM
Just got the 2000AD email with a link to Fink Legacy GN. It is safe to assume all these stories will be included in the Mega Collection but a particular point of interest caught my eye.
In the preview link the centrespread of The Fink is shown in colour. If the centrespreads for Fink and Destiny's Angels are in colour it makes it highly tempting but also raises the question as to whether we might still be treated to them in the Mega Collection (as well as for the Judge Child if that is the case) if they are presumably available in decent quality.
It is by adding this kind of extra value above the Case Files that they will maximise sales and encourage doubledippers.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: COMMANDO FORCES on 03 December, 2016, 09:27:31 AM
The next two books have arrived today. Just gonna read Fetish in bed, as you do!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 03 December, 2016, 10:28:27 AM
Yup, mine turned up too and lovely volumes they are.
Fetish completes Devlin (bar the text stories) and includes Old Wounds but not Roadkill. Excellent repro throughout based on a quick scan and an interview with Siku so rounds off the Devlin volumes perfectly.
Engram is equally excellent covering the expected stories (Triad, Engram, Screaming Skull, The Prophet) but also some Carlos in The Random Man and the Gibson Annual stories (Fistful of Denimite and The Mind of Edward Bottlebum).
Crucially, Leviathan's Farewell is included in between Triad and The Prophet. Not sure, but I assume this is the correct place chronologically, which, if the case gives the volume a nice little edge over the Psi-Files.
So that's it for Cass's solo tales for the collection (only skipped the Steve Sampson era so I think we can live with that) but leaves room for later tales if the collection gets extended.
Happy boy.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 03 December, 2016, 11:07:56 AM
Mine arrived too but I'm so far behind I doubt I'll get to these before the series ends (even if they do extend it). Still, nice to have them waiting for me  :D
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richard on 03 December, 2016, 01:20:56 PM
When 2000AD was 16 years old, the Sci-Fi Special for that year had a feature about the 16 worst stories ever to appear in the comic. Helltrekkers made the list.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Leigh S on 03 December, 2016, 01:35:23 PM
 loved Hell Trekkers and really did think that article was a jinx, given you could argue the next 16 stories to launch in the prog around that time could have made up as good a worst of list....
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 03 December, 2016, 04:50:15 PM
I am now curious what else made that list if Helltrekkers was on it
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 04 December, 2016, 12:03:36 AM
Oh, and the Fetish prologue confirmed that Strange and Darke will be included in Vol 17, which I think is the ine titled Weird Science. Good news.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dash Decent on 04 December, 2016, 01:22:59 AM
.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 04 December, 2016, 01:26:11 AM
Couldn't have put it better myself Dash.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dash Decent on 04 December, 2016, 04:47:52 AM
Thanks!  :lol:
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 04 December, 2016, 08:44:31 AM
Wondered if you were using Morse code with your dot, Dash (I'll get me coat).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Arkwright99 on 04 December, 2016, 07:38:58 PM
Quote from: Trent on 03 December, 2016, 10:28:27 AM
Crucially, Leviathan's Farewell is included in between Triad and The Prophet. Not sure, but I assume this is the correct place chronologically, which, if the case gives the volume a nice little edge over the Psi-Files.
It's disappointing, however, that not only has the colour double-page spread from 'Leviathan's Farewell' not been used in the volume[1] but the spread has been cut in two and - and I'd argue this is unforgivable - placed on a page turn so narratively the page (particularly panels 11 + 12) doesn't read logically any more.
(http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/p599/skullmo2000/180520138498_zps021c4aa9.jpg)
(Source: Skullmo, see https://forums.2000adonline.com/index.php?topic=28546.1485)

I presume if the Mega Collection pages have been taken from the Psi-Files volume then this has been discussed to death in the relevant review thread(?) but it's a very poor show imo, particularly given Matt Smith's description of 'LF' as "one of the most moving pieces that Grant has ever written".

[1] Considering that the full-colour 'The Random Man' strip appears later in the book.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 07 December, 2016, 07:28:35 PM
Wondering what's in Banzai Battalion other than the obvious.
Banzai gives us 118 pages.
Add Beyond the Wall from Steve Dillon at 10 pages and Everything in the Garden from Arthur Ranson at 6 pages and you still only have 134 pages, 50 or more pages short.
Anyone any thoughts?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Davgardo on 07 December, 2016, 08:59:25 PM
There was an Ennis/Dillon sequel to Beyond the Wall?

Anyway, good to see 2 good December releases, despite the Leviathon cock up mentioned upthread. I'm sure it was just an oversight as there's a great deal of care put into this collection even if the desire to include a wide selection of Dredd universe stories is a bit questionable. Yes, I'm STILL talking about you Calhab Justice!!!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Steve Green on 07 December, 2016, 09:10:42 PM
'A Magic Place'

Script Ennis

Art Dillon/Gina Hart on Pt 1, Simon Coleby/Gina Hart on 2 and 3

Letters Tom Frame

It's in Case files 17
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 07 December, 2016, 09:43:55 PM
That makes for a must-have volume for me. Beyond the Wall is one of my favourite Dredds, but it's currently orphaned in the Restricted Files (I think). Be great to have all the Fitz stories together at last.

Got Fetish today as a cherry-pick, another great volume, and creates a nifty Devlin spine image when slotted between its chums. Very pleased.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 10 December, 2016, 05:29:39 PM
Fetish is a cracking volume. I echo Matt Smith's call for more Devlin.

Fetish itself is deeply weird and wonderful, Siku's art suiting the script perfectly, which the interview goes into some depth about. And the interplay between Dredd and Devlin is a hoot.

A Mouthful of Dust I enjoyed the least out of this volume, possibly because it's in black and white and Devlin's stories are best suited to being in visceral colour. An intriguing addition to the canon though.

Vile Bodies is just as good a one-off as Brief Encounter, and as someone has posted previously, the more uninhibited events are rendered very tastefully by Colin MacNeil.

All Hell is just brilliant, great to see the Catechist return and the whole thing just brims with invention and wit.

Old Wounds is great gritty Dredd, with brilliant art from Peter Doherty. Get well soon Peter.

Overall, this will definitely appear in my top ten of the series.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: dweezil2 on 10 December, 2016, 05:37:40 PM
Really looking forward to reading Fetish again!

Would love to see Siku's sumptuous painted art back in the Prog again!  :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 11 December, 2016, 10:59:21 AM
Quote from: dweezil2 on 10 December, 2016, 05:37:40 PM
Really looking forward to reading Fetish again!

Would love to see Siku's sumptuous painted art back in the Prog again!  :)

I didn't care for Fetish at the time, and hadn't re-read it since, plus I was probably vocal in my dislike for Siku's art.

What a fool I was.

As abelardsnazz says, Fetish is deeply weird, and genuinely unsettling in places: it's a pretty great crossover, but a better Devlin than a Dredd. But Siku's art lifts the whole thing to another level: the glorious landscapes out-Bisley early Bisley Slaine, the double splash of the giant fetish head is terrifying. It's really different, and really impressive: how I, as an acknowledged Sienkiewicz fan, didn't get this the first time through I don't know: possibly the pacing just works better in collected form.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: dweezil2 on 11 December, 2016, 11:55:36 AM
Quote from: TordelBack on 11 December, 2016, 10:59:21 AM
Quote from: dweezil2 on 10 December, 2016, 05:37:40 PM
Really looking forward to reading Fetish again!

Would love to see Siku's sumptuous painted art back in the Prog again!  :)

I didn't care for Fetish at the time, and hadn't re-read it since, plus I was probably vocal in my dislike for Siku's art.

What a fool I was.

As abelardsnazz says, Fetish is deeply weird, and genuinely unsettling in places: it's a pretty great crossover, but a better Devlin than a Dredd. But Siku's art lifts the whole thing to another level: the glorious landscapes out-Bisley early Bisley Slaine, the double splash of the giant fetish head is terrifying. It's really different, and really impressive: how I, as an acknowledged Sienkiewicz fan, didn't get this the first time through I don't know: possibly the pacing just works better in collected form.

Glad you enjoyed it considerably more on your reassessment, TordelBack!  :) :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: DarkDaysBish-OP on 11 December, 2016, 10:43:38 PM
Quote from: TordelBack on 11 December, 2016, 10:59:21 AM
Quote from: dweezil2 on 10 December, 2016, 05:37:40 PM
Really looking forward to reading Fetish again!

Would love to see Siku's sumptuous painted art back in the Prog again!  :)

I didn't care for Fetish at the time, and hadn't re-read it since, plus I was probably vocal in my dislike for Siku's art.

What a fool I was.

As abelardsnazz says, Fetish is deeply weird, and genuinely unsettling in places: it's a pretty great crossover, but a better Devlin than a Dredd. But Siku's art lifts the whole thing to another level: the glorious landscapes out-Bisley early Bisley Slaine, the double splash of the giant fetish head is terrifying. It's really different, and really impressive: how I, as an acknowledged Sienkiewicz fan, didn't get this the first time through I don't know: possibly the pacing just works better in collected form.

It's heartening to see the likes of Fetish & Creep getting a reassessment, thanks to the Mega Collection!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 14 December, 2016, 01:38:58 PM
Anyone know if The Chief Judge's Man arc will appear in the collection? It would seem to fit best in a Rogue Judges volume, i seem to remember reading somewhere that would be one of the books? Or did I imagine it?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 17 December, 2016, 10:25:03 AM
Never ceases to fascinate me how a collection can change your impression of a story... All Hell ( in the Fetish volume) was one that I found shockingly dull in monthly installments, page after page of no less than 10 levels of hell and endless psy/tech:No™ babble, seemingly coasting on its status as a sequel to the superior Sirius Rising ultra-epic.  But read in one sitting over a leisurely breakfast... Wow.  It's a great read, a simple story with a nice bit of character depth, and a magnificently sustained visually spectacular setting. Reinforces my opinion that the Meg format can be very hard on the apparent pacing of longer stories, because this is a wee classic.

Looking at MacNeil's contributions to the MegaCollection, his body of work is absolutely staggering: he's the backbone of almost every issue that I've cherry-picked. The sheer volume of his painted art, the range of styles... How one artist could be so detailed, so prolific and still develop his art from page to page is amazing.  It's a real treat to have so much of his material in one place that you can get a sense of just how important his work is to the comic. And Insurrection yet to come!  Here's to you, Colin!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Steve Green on 17 December, 2016, 11:07:32 AM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 14 December, 2016, 01:38:58 PM
Anyone know if The Chief Judge's Man arc will appear in the collection? It would seem to fit best in a Rogue Judges volume, i seem to remember reading somewhere that would be one of the books? Or did I imagine it?

Vague recollection of a 'Judges gone bad' volume?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 17 December, 2016, 11:20:41 AM
Quote from: TordelBack on 17 December, 2016, 10:25:03 AMNever ceases to fascinate me how a collection can change your impression of a story...
Same with that entire chunk of Yeowell-illustrated Devlin for me. In the Prog, I found it a slog. Collected, it's a harrowing tale of horror that proves quite the page-turner.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 17 December, 2016, 11:48:23 AM
My other reaction to now having the three Devlin volumes (with Devlin on the spine, you clever beggars) is to DEMAND that Tharg seal the Smith-droid in his cubicle with nothing but re-runs of every Queens Christmas Message since 1952 on a continuous loop until he delivers the next part of Innocence & Experience for Peter Doherty to draw immediately upon his  recovery.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Rately on 17 December, 2016, 11:51:24 AM
Quote from: TordelBack on 17 December, 2016, 11:48:23 AM
My other reaction to now having the three Devlin volumes (with Devlin on the spine, you clever beggars) is to DEMAND that Tharg seal the Smith-droid in his cubicle with nothing but re-runs of every Queens Christmas Message since 1952 on a continuous loop until he delivers the next part of Innocence & Experience for Peter Doherty to draw immediately upon his  recovery.

Now that would be bloody wonderful.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 22 December, 2016, 03:48:15 AM
Just thinking about the next 2 books which should be due in a week and a half.
Neither are real classics (although Banzai certainly have their moments) but these are the first double pack that I envisage easily reading cover to cover.
Heavy Metal Dredd is heavily flawed but contains vibrant artwork from to artists allowed to cut loose and stories are short and sharp.
Yes, given I am going to still be laid up when they come this could be a good fun bundle.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: teckno viking on 22 December, 2016, 11:25:15 PM
Was reading the MC Necropolis issue and dawned on me this issue did not cover Silvers demise and toyed with story. Did that actually make it to the Mega Collection or not? If yes which issue?

Also I truly hope they cover the Death of McGruder, That Was actually a Hitting story. Considering all the fighting, Crap DREDD had to endure going up against her then to do what he did, Shows the respect we all imagine DREDD shows to those who wear and Work for Justice Dept to their Upmost.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 23 December, 2016, 05:16:00 AM
Techno, there have been two representations of Silver's demise, Return of the King by Ennis and Ezquerra which has not yet been included in the Mega Collection and Theatre of Death by Wagner and Smith included in vol 6 issue 33 Judge Death Lives.
Hope this helps
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: teckno viking on 23 December, 2016, 08:25:18 AM
Thanks Trent.  Ahh forgot two separate stories been a long time sinCe reading them originally.
Thanks for the Info and will check Vol6 Issue 33 :D 
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 29 December, 2016, 12:26:48 PM
Found some time to read Engram now the festivities have quietened down a bit. It's a great volume to round off the collected Anderson stories, marking the start of a more introspective Cassandra. There's great art from all concerned, and I particularly enjoyed Triad and Engram itself with some stunning work from Arthur Ranson and David Roach which match the stories' atmospheres perfectly. Quality all round.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jamie1000013 on 30 December, 2016, 12:57:53 PM
Did the PJ Maybe collection cover his time as mayor of Mega city 1? Can't remember if it did or not.

The amount of stories where I am like wow this story was really good and it has Rennie's name on it must be about 80-90% of the time I check. One of my favourite collection volumes was the Coburn one and he write most, if not all of it.

Didn't really care for the recent Calhab volume, it kind of lost me at points as to what was happening. The art and the scottish twang to the words didn't help. It was a stark contrast to Arthur Ranson's art on Engram which was beautiful.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: teckno viking on 30 December, 2016, 01:32:50 PM
Hoping my latest two arrive today as dispatched 24th Dec.

PJ Maybe was covered as Mayor too and tbh Only ever read him as the child Serial Killer. To be able to catch up with him and Everything he has been upto was Fantastic.
The Jelly Kill was the BEST!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 30 December, 2016, 02:02:36 PM
The PJ volume featured him being elected Mayor and one story while incumbent, Wot I Did For Chrissmas. He didn't appear in the Tour of Duty volume issued so far, so there'll be more of his mayoral exploits in the forthcoming ToD volumes, 46 and 48.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jamie1000013 on 30 December, 2016, 03:41:30 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 30 December, 2016, 02:02:36 PM
The PJ volume featured him being elected Mayor and one story while incumbent, Wot I Did For Chrissmas. He didn't appear in the Tour of Duty volume issued so far, so there'll be more of his mayoral exploits in the forthcoming ToD volumes, 46 and 48.

Thanks mate wasn't too sure, thanks for the info. It's annoying they leave a massive gap in the sequel volumes which means by the time they come out I have forgot what happened so have to reread it lol.


Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 30 December, 2016, 05:59:55 PM
Incidentally, anyone griping about the repro on this collection might want to take a look at issue one of the new Transformers run. Oh my. It's just... oh my. (Unless you like dreadful US art stripped of line art details and horribly blurry UK art, in which case, two quid well spent. No way in hell I'll be subscribing to that one.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Smith on 30 December, 2016, 06:57:42 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 30 December, 2016, 05:59:55 PM
Incidentally, anyone griping about the repro on this collection might want to take a look at issue one of the new Transformers run. Oh my. It's just... oh my. (Unless you like dreadful US art stripped of line art details and horribly blurry UK art, in which case, two quid well spent. No way in hell I'll be subscribing to that one.)
I dont mean to sidetrack anything,but which series exactly?There are several TF titles being relaunched these days.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 30 December, 2016, 08:40:43 PM
I'm referring to the Hachette TF partwork (http://www.transformerscollection.com). I'm sitting here with issue one, and my UK and US Titan reprints and wondering how a book that looks so nice on the outside can have such terribleness inside. (OK: a bit OTT, and many people might not even notice or case. But, well, yuck. If anyone wants a fuller take, I posted here (http://forums.2000adonline.com/index.php?topic=43729.msg941047#msg941047).)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Smith on 30 December, 2016, 08:50:34 PM
Sorry,I thought you meant the ongoing IDW titles.My bad.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jamie1000013 on 31 December, 2016, 06:46:01 PM
Speaking of Hachette partworks, I've had a lot more fun reading the Judge Dredd collection than the Marvel one they also did. I got bored midway through and cancelled the Marvel one. With this one I have never thought of cancelling it, it has the odd dud now and again but most of them have been gems which I never would have read and would reread in the future.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Fungus on 01 January, 2017, 01:24:22 AM
Quote from: Jamie1000013 on 31 December, 2016, 06:46:01 PM
Speaking of Hachette partworks, I've had a lot more fun reading the Judge Dredd collection than the Marvel one they also did..

Well, duh  ;)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 01 January, 2017, 10:51:00 AM
Quote from: Jamie1000013 on 31 December, 2016, 06:46:01 PM
Speaking of Hachette partworks, I've had a lot more fun reading the Judge Dredd collection than the Marvel one they also did. I got bored midway through and cancelled the Marvel one. With this one I have never thought of cancelling it, it has the odd dud now and again but most of them have been gems which I never would have read and would reread in the future.

Very different beasts in my opinion. Almost like comparing Dickens to Stephen King.
That said I'm enjoying the DC partwork more than the Marvel one but the Dredd one is my favourite of the three.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 01 January, 2017, 10:56:46 AM
Can just about get comparing Dredd to Stephen King but really not sure the Dickens analogy stands up for Marvel, DC or Dredd. Just saying.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 01 January, 2017, 12:09:50 PM
Quote from: Jamie1000013 on 31 December, 2016, 06:46:01 PMSpeaking of Hachette partworks, I've had a lot more fun reading the Judge Dredd collection than the Marvel one they also did. I got bored midway through and cancelled the Marvel one. With this one I have never thought of cancelling it, it has the odd dud now and again but most of them have been gems which I never would have read and would reread in the future.
I grabbed the first 60 of the Marvel run off of eBay, read them, then sold the set, rebuying only a few books in trade form. Bar the fairly haphazard choices in the Marvel run (which, let's face it, was more challenging than with Dredd, with far less material to choose from), I was less impressed by the supporting material by some margin. The sole thing the Marvel run did better was placing broken runs in context, so you didn't have weird jumps between strips. The Dredd volumes, such as Anderson's, could really have done with some lead-in pages.

Mind you, I suspect how much you enjoy these things also comes down to your love for the material. I like some Marvel stuff, but Dredd's really one of my first comic loves, from way back when I was a nipper. I only rarely read any Marvel as a kid – and even then, mostly Spider-Man – but 2000 AD and related comics were there every single week.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 01 January, 2017, 01:05:25 PM
Happy New Year all. Just been on the Hachette site and all issues of the MC are being advertised at a fiver each. A New Year sale? Worth checking out if you're wanting to pick up any back issues.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Frank on 01 January, 2017, 01:07:58 PM
Quote from: Trent on 01 January, 2017, 10:56:46 AM
not sure the Dickens analogy stands up for Marvel, DC or Dredd

Dickens wrote stories such as Hard Times and A Tale Of Two Cities in short instalments, which were published in weekly newsstand titles. Just like John Wagner (and Indiana Jones), Dickens made it up as he went along.

Dickens' first title, Household Words (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Household_Words), was merged into All The Year Round (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_the_Year_Round), with the title of the defunct publication continuing to appear on the cover of the continuing title. The final issue of Household Words was essentially an ad for the merger.

Dickens may have originated the phrase EXCITING NEWS FOR ALL READERS.


Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mardroid on 01 January, 2017, 02:30:42 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 01 January, 2017, 01:05:25 PM
Happy New Year all. Just been on the Hachette site and all issues of the MC are being advertised at a fiver each. A New Year sale? Worth checking out if you're wanting to pick up any back issues.

Wow! Thanks for the heads up! I've been meaning to complete my collection for a while. Not that I'm going to buy ALL the issues now (I'm only up to 15) as such a bulk buy would be expensive, but...

Have to spend £25 to get free delivery... so buy more books than intended to get the free delivery or...

Decisions decisions... :lol:
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mardroid on 01 January, 2017, 02:57:05 PM
... I played it safe and just bought 2.* But the £1.99 postage regardless of amount of books isn't that prohibitive.

Hopefully the sale will still be on when I start work.

*Necropolis and Judgement day in case you were interested. I was going to continue from where I left off (and I do hope to eventually get them all) but I figured if it's going to be a while before I get more (it might not be. There's a couple of work prospects coming up, but I wont hold my breath) I might as well get 2 books containing stories I have not read before. (I haven't read Oz, but I didn't find a Chopper story that appealing. Sorry, probably blasphemy here. I will get back to it.)

I understand Necropolis is quite a major epic, which so far I never have gotten round to. And I'll admit I got Judgement Day seeing it's a Dredd Alpha cross-over, which I also haven't read. (I understand Garth Ennis isn't well regarded on here in 2000AD, but I'll give it a shot.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Third Estate Ned on 01 January, 2017, 10:20:56 PM
I put £30 worth of goodies in my Hachette basket but at the checkout realised they only deliver to the UK and Ireland and I'm elsewhere :'(.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: jacob g on 01 January, 2017, 10:28:23 PM
Quote from: Third Estate Ned on 01 January, 2017, 10:20:56 PM
I put £30 worth of goodies in my Hachette basket but at the checkout realised they only deliver to the UK and Ireland and I'm elsewhere :'(.

From what I learned from local Hachette office the license deal forbid them to do so. I also wanted to get some issues through Hachette store (like Mandroid cuz I never bought regular Rebellion TPB) since the start of collection but sadly it's impossible.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: dweezil2 on 01 January, 2017, 10:33:00 PM
Quote from: Mardroid on 01 January, 2017, 02:57:05 PM
... I played it safe and just bought 2.* But the £1.99 postage regardless of amount of books isn't that prohibitive.

Hopefully the sale will still be on when I start work.

*Necropolis and Judgement day in case you were interested. I was going to continue from where I left off (and I do hope to eventually get them all) but I figured if it's going to be a while before I get more (it might not be. There's a couple of work prospects coming up, but I wont hold my breath) I might as well get 2 books containing stories I have not read before. (I haven't read Oz, but I didn't find a Chopper story that appealing. Sorry, probably blasphemy here. I will get back to it.)

I understand Necropolis is quite a major epic, which so far I never have gotten round to. And I'll admit I got Judgement Day seeing it's a Dredd Alpha cross-over, which I also haven't read. (I understand Garth Ennis isn't well regarded on here in 2000AD, but I'll give it a shot.)

Judgement Day is ok-the multitude of artists doesn't help.
But Necropolis is solid gold!  :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 02 January, 2017, 11:33:12 PM
Take it that no one has had the latest volumes yet?
Hopefully in the next couple of days.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 03 January, 2017, 06:49:05 AM
I'm intrigued to know what's included in the Banzai Battalion volume as I think the actual BB stories add up to about 120 pages.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 03 January, 2017, 08:19:07 AM
Quote from: Trent on 02 January, 2017, 11:33:12 PM
Take it that no one has had the latest volumes yet?
Hopefully in the next couple of days.

Not yet, but with the Christmas post I'm expecting quite a few things to be arriving soon.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 03 January, 2017, 08:20:10 AM
Yes, I mentioned this earlier.
Know the Heavy Metal stories quite well but not read Banzai for a little while but just as much looking forward to see what makes up the 60 to 80 pages of additional content in each of the volumes.
Given the nature of Heavy Metal Dredd the logical companions would be some of the Ennis/Millar era stories which were not dissimilarly OTT and Banzai looks to have Beyond the Wall and similar stories.
Should find out this week.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 03 January, 2017, 01:17:59 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 01 January, 2017, 01:05:25 PM
Happy New Year all. Just been on the Hachette site and all issues of the MC are being advertised at a fiver each. A New Year sale? Worth checking out if you're wanting to pick up any back issues.
For what it's worth, I just had confirmation from Hachette that this is indeed a temporary January sale. I'm told "prices will return to normal after this run". So if you want cheapo partwork volumes (be they Dredd, Marvel or otherwise), get them now.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Albion on 03 January, 2017, 06:10:32 PM
I'm trying to buy some of the Marvel ones (I used to subscribe and want a few more) but when I go to checkout I get an error.
Does the sale need a promo code?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 03 January, 2017, 07:13:37 PM
Quote from: Albion on 03 January, 2017, 06:10:32 PM
I'm trying to buy some of the Marvel ones (I used to subscribe and want a few more) but when I go to checkout I get an error.
Does the sale need a promo code?

Same here - I have messaged them
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: metalmarc on 03 January, 2017, 07:20:51 PM
Quote from: Albion on 03 January, 2017, 06:10:32 PM
I'm trying to buy some of the Marvel ones (I used to subscribe and want a few more) but when I go to checkout I get an error.
Does the sale need a promo code?

I had same problem had ten items in my basket, had to whittle it to 8 and i was allowed to check out then
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Albion on 03 January, 2017, 08:13:29 PM
Quote from: metalmarc on 03 January, 2017, 07:20:51 PM
I had same problem had ten items in my basket, had to whittle it to 8 and i was allowed to check out then

I only had five items. I'll try again tomorrow.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 04 January, 2017, 09:38:58 AM
I hope you all got your orders in, because the sale's done for Dredd. (Marvel and Who are still on sale, as are some of the magazine partworks.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: I, Cosh on 04 January, 2017, 10:05:13 AM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 04 January, 2017, 09:38:58 AM
I hope you all got your orders in, because the sale's done for Dredd. (Marvel and Who are still on sale, as are some of the magazine partworks.)
Balls
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 04 January, 2017, 06:26:43 PM
Banzai Battalion contains:

Beyond the Wall
A Magic Place
Banzai Battalion
No Man's Land
BB - The Fitz
BB - Save the Fitz
BB - Robot Wars
Everything in the Garden
A Walk in the Park
Down on Sausage Tree Farm

I also note that the Facebook page has changed from previewing issues to showing those now on sale, which means we don't yet know what issue 55 will be. My money's on it being The Hunting Party, as all other mega-epic issue numbers are known, and while next issue is Heavy Metal Dredd, it's not quite proper canon, and issues 54 and 56 are Dredd-lite, if he indeed appears at all. We shall see.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 05 January, 2017, 12:42:12 PM
I doubt its hunting party since tour of duty vol 1 is issue 58
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 05 January, 2017, 02:32:16 PM
Have any subscribers received their two volumes yet? I have an indication of them being sent on the 24th, but not had anything her so far.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: dweezil2 on 05 January, 2017, 04:13:50 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 05 January, 2017, 02:32:16 PM
Have any subscribers received their two volumes yet? I have an indication of them being sent on the 24th, but not had anything her so far.

Still waiting for Fetish and Engram, but never experienced problems before so guessing they're just a little late due to xmas post.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Anzati on 05 January, 2017, 05:14:47 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 05 January, 2017, 02:32:16 PM
Have any subscribers received their two volumes yet? I have an indication of them being sent on the 24th, but not had anything her so far.

My account is showing the same, but I've not received anything yet.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moly on 05 January, 2017, 06:14:37 PM
Still waiting for mine
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 05 January, 2017, 06:32:04 PM
What a godsend that sale was for a cherrypicker like me!

Just bought 7 200-page hardbacks for £35! My plan now is to ration them gradually out to myself... we'll see how far I get with that!  ;)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 06 January, 2017, 12:42:00 AM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 05 January, 2017, 06:32:04 PM
What a godsend that sale was for a cherrypicker like me!

Just bought 7 200-page hardbacks for £35! My plan now is to ration them gradually out to myself... we'll see how far I get with that!  ;)

So what were your seven Issues? Classics or previously missed curiosities? I'm intrigued!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 06 January, 2017, 01:07:09 AM
I got:

Devlin Waugh: Chasing Herod
Missionary Man: Goin' South
Low Life Hostile Takeover
The Art of Taxidermy
Young Death
Calhab Justice
Trifecta
Cursed Earth Carnage
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 06 January, 2017, 07:29:59 AM
Yer killin' me here chaps.  Held off until payday, now I gots nada. 

Well, except for the Banzai Battalion volume, which is proving to be a great read so far.  It does rather throw the young Garth Ennis to the slugs though - you start with one of TB Grover's neatest little one-part tearjerkers (and a personal fave), then you're straight into the Ennis follow-up, and while the latter is a pretty serviceable tale, the imposed contrast in the quality of the writing is brutal.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: levers on 06 January, 2017, 09:32:10 AM
Heads up, the Dredd sale is still on. Bought The Day the Law Died, along with Marvel's Howard the Duck last night. Dredd titles list as £9.99, but ring up as £5 each when added to the basket.

Been lucky enough to be able to get most of the Mega Collection on the High Street, but Day the Law Died was strangely absent.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 06 January, 2017, 09:44:29 AM
How odd.

In other news, my subs copies of Banzai and HM Dredd showed up today. New packaging – an Amazon-like box with buffers at the top and bottom. Didn't seem to make much odds, sadly, so Banzai has crushed corners. Nice to see Hicklenton on the cover of HM.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 06 January, 2017, 10:35:31 AM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 06 January, 2017, 09:44:29 AM
How odd.

In other news, my subs copies of Banzai and HM Dredd showed up today. New packaging – an Amazon-like box with buffers at the top and bottom. Didn't seem to make much odds, sadly, so Banzai has crushed corners. Nice to see Hicklenton on the cover of HM.

Mine just turned up in the same packaging too. However both of my volumes are in perfect shame.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: levers on 06 January, 2017, 10:36:53 AM
Would you say HM Dredd is worthy of a purchase, or one to skip?

I hear the art's not to everyone's taste!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 06 January, 2017, 10:42:02 AM
I think the art on HM Dredd is one of its selling points. The stories are 6 pages of violent mayhem generally although some are much better than others.
Much of the artwork is fully painted by the likes of Colin MacNeil and John Hicklenton so contrary to what you have heard I would be inclined to buy it because of the artwork.
Just be warned if you are a little squeamish some frames are extremely violent.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 06 January, 2017, 10:42:35 AM
Oh, and what is the additional content in HMD?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 06 January, 2017, 10:58:37 AM
Music-oriented stuff: Who Killed Pug Ugly?; Poor Johnny; The Weatherman; A Night at the Opera; Muzak Killer and its sequel. You also get seven covers and a 'top ten' of MC-1 pop songs, as compiled by Molch-R.

And I just noticed another copy/paste cock-up: Heavy Metal Dredd has "INTO THE UNDERCITY" emblazoned across its back cover. Seriously, design people, never copy/paste from your previous artwork – work from templates where the default content is very obviously to be replaced. (Also, perhaps check that the title on the front matches the one on the back before sending it to the editor.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Southstreeter on 06 January, 2017, 05:27:13 PM
I have to say, HMD is the one Dredd collection I own that I've never been tempted to reread. I only bought it because it was new (to me) material not featured in the prog. The Itchy and Scratchy style violence would be amusing in a one off, but it does begin to wear thin after a while. If I was selectively buying the Mega Collection I'd steer well clear of this one.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Geoff on 06 January, 2017, 08:38:45 PM
Got my two volumes - both in good shape.  That new packaging is certainly an improvement.

It says on the address label Parcel 2 of 2 though.  I assume the other is the next print, anyone got this yet?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: dweezil2 on 07 January, 2017, 12:22:17 PM
Recieved Engram and Fetish, along with a rather lovely Cliff Robinson print!

Looking forward to diving into both volumes!
I did just have time to read the Siku interview, which made for interesting reading-would be great to get him back in the Prog or Meg some day!   :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Buttonman on 07 January, 2017, 01:58:11 PM
I cancelled my sub with effect from the next delivery. I like the collection but I felt the £5 sale was a bit of a slap in the dish to the long term subbers who have already sent the best part of £500 their way. I will complete the set but by way of future sales or eBay buys. I already own all of the content elsewhere so there is no rush. I think they also miss a trick by keeping the subbers sweet by offering additional gifts. There is no benefit being a subber over picking them up at Forbidden Planet or the like. Fair enough you get free delivery but this is offset by the chance to check your books for corner bumps etc. which you can do in the shop.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 07 January, 2017, 02:36:39 PM
I don't need additional tat. The sale was a bit irksome (50% off is a lot), but, hey, these series only exist if demand is there. I still wish the packaging had been better but that's my only niggle.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 07 January, 2017, 02:39:57 PM
The thought had crossed my mind as well.  Also a bit worrying if they have enough back stock already.  Plus factor in the quality of some of the recent volumes.  More a case of some poor choice from the great range of stories in the prog and meg over the years.   :(
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 07 January, 2017, 03:48:29 PM
Be mindful the sale wasn't just a Dredd sale — it was everything.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 07 January, 2017, 04:57:24 PM
Quote from: Buttonman on 07 January, 2017, 01:58:11 PM
I cancelled my sub with effect from the next delivery. I like the collection but I felt the £5 sale was a bit of a slap in the dish to the long term subbers who have already sent the best part of £500 their way.

I get that it's annoying, but aren't ALL sales annoying if you already paid full price?  How did subbers feel about Tharg's 50p sale? I bought over a year's worth of the Meg for €7... Less than the shop price for a single issue.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moly on 07 January, 2017, 05:42:18 PM
I chased up hatchet who Spain the judge dredd wasn't meant to be on sale, so possibly a cock up there, I was a lot more peed off with the 2000ad 50p sale
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Buttonman on 07 January, 2017, 06:39:24 PM
Quote from: TordelBack on 07 January, 2017, 04:57:24 PM
Quote from: Buttonman on 07 January, 2017, 01:58:11 PM
I cancelled my sub with effect from the next delivery. I like the collection but I felt the £5 sale was a bit of a slap in the dish to the long term subbers who have already sent the best part of £500 their way.

I get that it's annoying, but aren't ALL sales annoying if you already paid full price?  How did subbers feel about Tharg's 50p sale? I bought over a year's worth of the Meg for €7... Less than the shop price for a single issue.

Fair comment Tordel but who wouldn't feel a mug waiting for two books that they had paid £20 for, that were on sale for half that before they'd even had sight of them? The first twenty or so to hook new readers would have been fair enough but for the whole range to be knocked out at half price just told me that I had been had (which I knew anyway - partworks never represent good value).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 07 January, 2017, 07:06:03 PM
You're absolutely right about the most recent ones being on offer being out of order - Tharg didn't do that.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 07 January, 2017, 07:29:14 PM
Quote from: Buttonman on 07 January, 2017, 06:39:24 PMpartworks never represent good value).
Ten quid for 250-page hardbacks seems pretty good value to me.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: JOE SOAP on 07 January, 2017, 08:16:29 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 07 January, 2017, 07:29:14 PM
Ten quid for 250-page hardbacks seems pretty good value to me.

Absolutely.



Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Buttonman on 07 January, 2017, 09:39:33 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 07 January, 2017, 07:29:14 PM
Quote from: Buttonman on 07 January, 2017, 06:39:24 PMpartworks never represent good value).
Ten quid for 250-page hardbacks seems pretty good value to me.

This is true and they are fairly priced at £9.99 each. However seeing as they return less than 50% of their cost price on eBay they can't be seen as a good investment. Not that that ever stopped us before!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Steve Green on 07 January, 2017, 10:12:12 PM
They need a letters page.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 08 January, 2017, 07:41:18 AM
It strikes me that comics as an 'investment' is pretty much done now, particularly with digital sales.  There have always been ebbs and flows in terms of values (remember New Mutants 86 ish at £20 odd back in the day? What about Ultimate Spiderman that spent a period at the £100 mark. Now worth peanuts).  How many complete tooth collections are there out there?  It's going to be long while before they start to be worth real money, never mind the investment cost.  How many of us have used the old 'it's worth ££££' to justify what we've spent?

To say that part works don't really represent good value is probably fairly accurate in these terms, particularly for such a niche collection anyway.  That said, if everyone ditches their subscriptions how likely is it to be completed?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Buttonman on 08 January, 2017, 08:44:43 AM
Quote from: Tjm86 on 08 January, 2017, 07:41:18 AM
  That said, if everyone ditches their subscriptions how likely is it to be completed?

That's a fair call but I don't think whether the project succeeds or fails should come down to the goodwill or potential guilt of the buyer - the producer needs to keep it's audience happy and not pull fast ones like sell off its stock at half price, mid run.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 08 January, 2017, 09:14:22 AM
Aye, bit of an own goal there.  Or perhaps as Moly suggests, a mistake on their part?  Then again if the Dr Who set was included and that hasn't been running as long then not so sure.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 08 January, 2017, 09:40:12 AM
Contrary replies anyway, since I was told it was a temporary sale and there was no indication the Dredd volumes were erroneously included.

As for investments, I'm struggling to think of any comic or trade I sold more more than I paid for it.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: levers on 08 January, 2017, 11:31:03 AM
If it's any consolation, Mega Collection sale appears to definitely be over now!

Would've been a bit much for Banzai Battalion to show up for a fiver!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 08 January, 2017, 12:41:40 PM
For me, the MC represents great value as it got me back into Tooth after many grexnix years and I'm catching up on a load of stuff I missed. Plus they look great on the shelf.

Banzai Battalion is a case in point - I had read Beyond the Wall and its sequel before, but none of the other stories, so had great fun doing so. All the BB art is great in capturing the humour and scale of the robots, I think Ian Gibson just edges it for me.

Down on Sausage Tree Farm initially seemed a bit throwaway, but is this story the start of Dredd's empathising with mutants leading to Origins, Tour of Duty etc?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 08 January, 2017, 01:39:48 PM
Quote from: levers on 08 January, 2017, 11:31:03 AMIf it's any consolation, Mega Collection sale appears to definitely be over now!
Yep. Even in the basket, the books are now back to full-price.

What's really insane is how they've put future issues in the sale. So you can buy March 29's Ms Marvel collection for five quid, two months before it'll be on sale for a tenner. Bonkers. (They should have restricted the sale to the first X% (whatever X might have been) of any given run.

Still, whatevs. I'm still happy with the Dredd books, grabbed seven Marvel ones I fancied reading (for £35), and for two quid got to see that I won't be spending hundreds on the TF run. Not too awful.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 08 January, 2017, 06:12:54 PM
Quote from: levers on 08 January, 2017, 11:31:03 AM
Would've been a bit much for Banzai Battalion to show up for a fiver!

Ahaha - I actually put off doing an order for a day because I was waiting for Banzai's release. As soon as the book was added to the site it went into the basket with the rest - bingo, five quid!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Buttonman on 08 January, 2017, 08:45:27 PM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 08 January, 2017, 06:12:54 PM
Quote from: levers on 08 January, 2017, 11:31:03 AM
Would've been a bit much for Banzai Battalion to show up for a fiver!

Ahaha - I actually put off doing an order for a day because I was waiting for Banzai's release. As soon as the book was added to the site it went into the basket with the rest - bingo, five quid!

I've just put my foot through my laptop - and I'm sending Hachette the bill!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 09 January, 2017, 08:38:59 AM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 08 January, 2017, 06:12:54 PMAhaha - I actually put off doing an order for a day because I was waiting for Banzai's release. As soon as the book was added to the site it went into the basket with the rest - bingo, five quid!
Again, that's daft, but less daft than the Marvel run (where you may as well have canned your sub, bought the next six months' worth of issues, and then restarted it, thereby saving yourself 30 quid).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 09 January, 2017, 04:16:18 PM
Books turned up today in perfect condition along with the prog.
A quick word for our postie who , aware of my current infirmities, caught my eye through the window and then came in and left my post on the armrest of my chair.
Service above and beyond!
As to the books themselves, one of my favourite deliveries. Sure, HMD is questionable in many, many ways but as someone largely confined to bed at the moment both books are perfect 'dippers' filled with Mega City lunacy akin to the Daily Star books (which reside in the loo). Tons of short, sharp tales with some awesome art - Cam Kennedy can do no wrong.
Very happy with my reading material for the next few days.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 09 January, 2017, 05:20:57 PM
Quote from: Buttonman on 08 January, 2017, 08:45:27 PM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 08 January, 2017, 06:12:54 PM

Ahaha - I actually put off doing an order for a day because I was waiting for Banzai's release. As soon as the book was added to the site it went into the basket with the rest - bingo, five quid!

I've just put my foot through my laptop - and I'm sending Hachette the bill!

Absolutely did not mean to gloat, BM - just really pleased for myself, as someone who couldn't really justify the cost of the Mega collection (reasonable as it is). The sale felt like a really generous xmas present! I've little doubt I would have been fairly miffed by it, as a subscriber.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Buttonman on 09 January, 2017, 06:58:55 PM
bang on! Good luck to you Jimbo no worries here - just flexing my inner Viz letter writer.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 10 January, 2017, 12:55:18 PM
I really enjoyed Banzai Battallion having never heard of it before. Much like Rok of the Reds it seems to hark back to more innocent times. I never thought a book on future gardening could be such fun. I think this & the taxidermist volume have been my favourites so far. Praise to Tharg for selecting tales so wisely - all is forgiven for the odd duff book. I guess every thrill is someone's favourite!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 10 January, 2017, 02:12:02 PM
Yep, this was a great volume. I'm really glad Matt Smith included the two garden stories prior to the BB stuff. The original in particular is great and the collection would have been poorer without it. And while Ennis wields only a sledgehammer, that at least sets things up for Wagner.

I also just noticed that there's a Molch-R piece in this book, too. (I didn't spot it before.) So that'll be a nice read this evening, I'm sure.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Davgardo on 13 January, 2017, 10:26:41 AM
Heavy Metal Dredd: I think just the Wagner/Grant/Bisley stuff would've sufficed as it's just a very monotonous read reading it all collected together.
Several themed volumes (Alien Nations springs to mind) have suffered from a lack of variety while a desire for completion (Calhab) has negated inclusion of much superior strips. Heavy Metal Dredd suffers from both.

On the plus side I've never seen The Weatherman reproduced as well as it has here. In particular the centrespread of pt 2 is great: I remember The Complete Judge Dredd reprint being horrible.

But overall, I wouldn't have bought this if I wasn't a subscriber. And oh great, here come Armitage and Helltrekkers. Seriously in need of a decent volume soon  :(
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Molch-R on 13 January, 2017, 10:35:52 AM
Quote from: Davgardo on 13 January, 2017, 10:26:41 AM
And oh great, here come Armitage and Helltrekkers. Seriously in need of a decent volume soon  :(

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat? You DON'T like watching Wagner and Grant torturing a group of innocent civilians to death over 28 episodes?!?!?

(http://i.giphy.com/K9mQqWMdYglW0.gif)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: maryanddavid on 13 January, 2017, 10:43:50 AM
I never got the lack of love for the Helltrekkers, love it!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 13 January, 2017, 11:25:49 AM
Armitage is an odd one. It primarily suffered from an art standpoint after the glorious first book, but I always enjoy reading that initial run and will be happy to have it in hardback. (I'm not sure I need all of Armitage, but oh well.) Helltrekkers... is fine. I imagine I'll at least enjoy reading that again more than the mid-90s bilge lurking in Heavy Mob.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 13 January, 2017, 01:46:44 PM
Helltrekkers is somewhat juvenile with so-so art but good fun in the same way as old Action or Battle strips.

Re Armitage I have to agree with Indigo. Sean Phillips art was superb and made the story work but later runs from the likes of Charlie Gillespie did not work for me at all.
Based on the info that we are getting 2 volumes of it some stories probably need to be excluded given the total pagecount.
Also depends on whether the volumes are pure Armitage or a diluted version with added Dredd a la Missionary Man.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mardroid on 13 January, 2017, 02:31:29 PM
The two books I ordered during the sale* arrived well packaged and in great condition. (As far as I can tell with the wrapper still on. If I open it and a bunch of loose pages spill out, I'll let you know, but they don't tend to do that.  :lol:)

* Or was it a mistake? According to someone who called Hatchette it was just that, but I'm not sure.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: GordonR on 13 January, 2017, 03:25:44 PM
Quote from: Trent on 13 January, 2017, 01:46:44 PM
Helltrekkers is somewhat juvenile with so-so art but good fun in the same way as old Action or Battle strips.

Re Armitage I have to agree with Indigo. Sean Phillips art was superb and made the story work but later runs from the likes of Charlie Gillespie did not work for me at all.
Based on the info that we are getting 2 volumes of it some stories probably need to be excluded given the total pagecount.
Also depends on whether the volumes are pure Armitage or a diluted version with added Dredd a la Missionary Man.

There's a bunch of perfectly good Charlie Adlard art in there too, after the Sean Phillips stuff.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 13 January, 2017, 03:38:09 PM
Yes there was, but at the time it still felt like a downgrade.
Charlie Adlard is one of those artists who was below the radar for me when his work appeared in the Prog and Meg but later reflection allowed me to appreciate his work on Dredd, Savage (much prefer his work on the early books compared with the more recent ones) and Dante to name a few.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 13 January, 2017, 04:20:05 PM
I remember reading the Sean Philips Armitage in a Megazine floppy and being blown away. I'm always amazed by people knocking this series when it's included all the epics. For those interested Hachette replaced my copy of the Day the Law Died with a fixed copy. How do folks find out what's up next - has Armitage been officially announced?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: COMMANDO FORCES on 13 January, 2017, 04:23:40 PM
I sent off a box of these to the Netherlands yesterday and it was a postman killing 22 KG. Now our fellow Dredd fan will have an enjoyable read before he comes over for the 40th :D
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 13 January, 2017, 04:26:12 PM
Quote from: Mardroid on 13 January, 2017, 02:31:29 PM* Or was it a mistake? According to someone who called Hatchette it was just that, but I'm not sure.
I think it was a mistake in the sense they shouldn't have done it, rather than an error in making the price changes live. Still, I grabbed some Marvel books, each for a quid more than most single comics cost these days, so I'm not grumbling.

Quote from: robert_ellis on 13 January, 2017, 04:20:05 PMFor those interested Hachette replaced my copy of the Day the Law Died with a fixed copy.
Is that the one that had the wrong back cover details?

The only fix i've asked for content-wise (rather than due to damage) was Total War. Sadly, the second one arrived like it had been used for a football, and I couldn't be arsed to ask for a third crack at that volume.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 13 January, 2017, 04:38:58 PM
Yes it the Judge Cal volume had the Necropolis blurb on the back. I really wish I could pay an extra £2 per delivery for better packaging. This series deserves better. I really hope all the text pieces get collected at some point - I'd never thought about the links from Battle to Bad Company.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 13 January, 2017, 08:41:00 PM
Quote from: Trent on 13 January, 2017, 03:38:09 PM
Yes there was, but at the time it still felt like a downgrade.
Charlie Adlard is one of those artists who was below the radar for me when his work appeared in the Prog and Meg but later reflection allowed me to appreciate his work on Dredd, Savage (much prefer his work on the early books compared with the more recent ones) and Dante to name a few.

Amen.  much as I like the current crop, Mr Adlard's work really revived the series.  Took the time and trouble to get a prog signed by him in Cardiff a few years back.  The blue cover with the volg helmet lying on the ground (can't remember which prog number off top of my head).  Always loved the way he made the volgs look like American infantry.  Bearing in mind this was the era of the occupation / balls up in Iraq.  His artwork really brought home Mills' appropriately targeted satire.  A couple of his pages are now part of my slowly growing tooth original artwork collection (pride of place belonging to an Ezquerra SSR piece).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 14 January, 2017, 10:21:25 AM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 13 January, 2017, 04:20:05 PM
I remember reading the Sean Philips Armitage in a Megazine floppy and being blown away. I'm always amazed by people knocking this series when it's included all the epics. For those interested Hachette replaced my copy of the Day the Law Died with a fixed copy. How do folks find out what's up next - has Armitage been officially announced?

Future issue info has been mostly pieced together from info given on the Facebook page I think. The Wikipedia page is comprehensive in listing everything known up to now. Still don't know what issue 55 will be though.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: BPP on 14 January, 2017, 02:16:19 PM
Always felt Sean Philips early 2000ad stuff was style over narrative... Part of the wave of 2000ad trying too hard to be Deadline. In comparison the Armitage stuff that's appeared over the last decade has been solidly good comics, especially the Dredd cameo one.

Helltrekers is top notch. Looking forward to its hardback collection.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Hawkmumbler on 14 January, 2017, 02:20:20 PM
I was under the impression Helltrekers was hated in these parts?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Steve Green on 14 January, 2017, 03:20:09 PM
I think that maybe because it ended up on a list of duff stories in the prog.

I'm not saying I love it, but I didn't hate it either.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: WhizzBang on 14 January, 2017, 06:11:23 PM
Quote from: Steve Green on 14 January, 2017, 03:20:09 PM
I think that maybe because it ended up on a list of duff stories in the prog.

I'm not saying I love it, but I didn't hate it either.

I don't know if it was intentional but it is precisely because of this that the Dead Man worked so well for me. The Dead Man seemed similar at first to Hell Trekkers in that it looked similar and was another Dreddless story set in the Cursed Earth.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 15 January, 2017, 03:28:26 PM
Further hints at an extension? On FB The Trip and Dead end got mentioned as Anderson books. I'm thinking Trip probably being something akin to "The Psychic Crime Files" (some later material) and Dead end collecting Cadet Anderson as well as Dead end.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 15 January, 2017, 05:17:58 PM
Good spot Apestrife, that hadn't registered with me. I was too busy tutting at the fact that the respondent for the collection apparently had no knowledge of the Cadet Anderson strips.
Interesting, as it is hard to see where they would fit in the current 80 volumes, so let us hope it is indeed alluding to an extension. There is so much quality material published by Rebellion since the Collection started (Dark Justice, Enceladus, Every Empire Falls, The Cop, Lawless, Angelic, further Anderson etc etc) that it seems a shame they won't be included.
The obvious problem is that with the quality of 2000AD output this is going to be a perennial problem unless the Collection continues ad infinitum which obviouly it can't.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Swerty on 15 January, 2017, 09:42:25 PM
Any news on the next few issues?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 16 January, 2017, 08:13:47 AM
Quote from: Swerty on 15 January, 2017, 09:42:25 PM
Any news on the next few issues?

Issue 53 is Heavy Metal Dredd
54 Cursed Earth Carnage
55 unknown
56 first of two Armitage volumes
57 unknown
58 Tour of Duty: Mega City Justice
59 unknown
60 Undercover Brothers - Wally Squad, Lenny Zero etc.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 16 January, 2017, 10:28:40 AM
This also suggests some changes have been made to the running order, judging by the Wikipedia article collecting bits of information about the future of the series. For example, that has Mega-City Justice as #71 (27 September).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Rio De Fideldo on 16 January, 2017, 12:14:32 PM
Apologies if this is a stupid question but when is Helltrekkers released? I can't see it on the wiki or on the forthcoming releases list above.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 16 January, 2017, 12:26:10 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 16 January, 2017, 10:28:40 AM
This also suggests some changes have been made to the running order, judging by the Wikipedia article collecting bits of information about the future of the series. For example, that has Mega-City Justice as #71 (27 September).

My error, issue 58 is Tour of Duty: Mutants in MC1, and issue 71 wraps up the ToD trilogy with Mega City Justice.

Quote from: Rio De Fideldo on 16 January, 2017, 12:14:32 PM
Apologies if this is a stupid question but when is Helltrekkers released? I can't see it on the wiki or on the forthcoming releases list above.

Helltrekkers is included in Cursed Earth Carnage, released on 1st February. I only have vague memories of this from first time round, so looking forward to reading it again given differing opinions being voiced on here.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 16 January, 2017, 11:23:30 PM
I wonder if armitage will include city of the dead and if it will fix that awful fuck up the original meg did which made an episode damn near incomprehensible to read. All the pages were in the wrong order it was insane
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Rio De Fideldo on 17 January, 2017, 11:09:31 AM
Just checked out the Cursed Earth Carnage cover which uses art which was initially used for the cover of Meg 280 by Anthony Williams for the strip Citi-Def. IMO its an odd choice.

I think something from Helltrekkers should have been used. For all its faults the strip was by Wagner and Grant and ran for 29 weeks in the comics first golden age. The strip with moody art from Ortiz and Lalia helped define the look of the Cursed Earth.

Citi-Def is a chiefly forgotten strip which ran for five episodes which Anthony Williams didn't even draw.

I'm assuming, therefore there was a problem with how the Helltrekker art looked when mocked up.

Unless I'm barking up the wrong tree!

I'd be interested to know the reasoning behind this design choice either way.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 17 January, 2017, 11:54:36 AM
See where your coming from Rio but I think it is quite a representative image (citizen rather than judge, big gun and dinosaur) of cursed earth staples.
Can't think of any Helltrekker images that would be as clear and effective as a cover design.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Hawkmumbler on 17 January, 2017, 11:58:34 AM
Ooohhh Helltrekkers had Ortiz on art? My interest just spiked considerably...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 17 January, 2017, 12:54:17 PM
I imagine there just wasn't a 'cover-ready' image from Helltrekkers (quality, size, design, etc).

God, Citi-Def was a bad strip. The art was nice and bold and colourful, but I'm not sure Tony Lee had ever done much more than skim-read a bit of Dredd.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Davgardo on 18 January, 2017, 09:06:16 AM
Quote from: Hawkmumbler on 17 January, 2017, 11:58:34 AM
Ooohhh Helltrekkers had Ortiz on art? My interest just spiked considerably...

Ortiz just drew the first episode I think.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 18 January, 2017, 10:49:45 AM
Lalia took over for the rest of the run.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 18 January, 2017, 12:38:30 PM
The Hachette page is now showing the cover of issue 55, The Chief Judge's Man. Cover is by Jock (I think) and credited are John Wagner, Will Simpson, Colin MacNeil, John Burns, and three more names I can't quite make out, think one is Colin Wilson.

By my reckoning all the Armon Gill stories will make up about half the page count, are there any related stories to complete the volume?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: I, Cosh on 18 January, 2017, 12:59:36 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 18 January, 2017, 12:38:30 PM
By my reckoning all the Armon Gill stories will make up about half the page count, are there any related stories to complete the volume?
Chief Judge's Man is connected to the Edgar storyline if they haven't been included yet?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Bolt-01 on 18 January, 2017, 01:30:17 PM
Yes, this is one I've been waiting for.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 18 January, 2017, 08:17:08 PM
Aye, Armon Gill lasted for 97 pages so we have half the book left.
As I have said bedore, this is one of the great strengths of the Mega Collection while the Rebellion trades are issued with just the core stories we get double bang for your buck with these books sometimes.
Haven't seen the cover yet to ponder what else might be included.
On the plus side we only have under 2 weeks before the next book should arrive given the late despatch of the last pair.
Cursed Earth Carnage - mixed feelings
Chief Judges Man plus - good stuff
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 18 January, 2017, 09:15:50 PM
Found the image and I reckon the other names are Colin Wilson, Wayne Reynolds and Paul Marshall.
I think this pretty much confirms that we will be getting the Judge Manners stories but not sure re Colin Wilson; Cal Legacy, Short Circuit?
Needs to be under the theme of justice department dodginess or bad judges.
Hope this isn't all we get re Judges gone bad, there are lots of classic Dredd stories based on this theme, easily enough for another volume.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 19 January, 2017, 02:46:08 AM
Having thought about it, hope for The Cal Files, Cal Legacy and Sleaze to round out the book. Page count around 211 so doable.
They can toss in Statue of Judgement if they want.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 19 January, 2017, 11:47:33 PM
With the people talking about an extension, I've noticed the TV ads for the Star Trek Graphic Novel collection where it says on screen something along the lines of "Provisionally 80", keeping their options open.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 20 January, 2017, 10:08:47 AM
It's interesting to see people responding to the TF one. Looks like a lot of people would have loved a partwork that covered only the Marvel run, but on hearing it's 80 books are: "I'm out."

I wonder at what point these things become profitable? Obviously, once a series is extended, it's already doing well enough for that to happen. But are these publishers relying on people to subscribe for 40 issues? 20? Are they profitable from issue one? I'd love to know the ins and outs of this (and therefore the feasibility of doing somewhat shorter runs).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dash Decent on 22 January, 2017, 02:28:53 AM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 20 January, 2017, 10:08:47 AM
I'd love to know the ins and outs of this (and therefore the feasibility of doing somewhat shorter runs).

I just knew you were hankering for that one volume Dash Decent Mega Collection hardback like me, IP!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 22 January, 2017, 02:48:02 PM
Heavy Metal Dredd doesn't include the most essential stories in the collection, but there's plenty of fun to be had. Interesting to note the variety in Simon Bisley's style, from some very detailed panels to seemingly quick episodes done on a wet afternoon. Contributions from Brendan McCarthy and the late John Hicklenton play to their strengths, and great to see some more Ron Smith stories - still hoping that Pirates of the Black Atlantic and The Graveyard Shift will feature in the series.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moly on 22 January, 2017, 03:42:06 PM
If they don't include pirates of the black Atlantic, sob story and the first chopper story it will be a bit of a piss take
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 25 January, 2017, 08:46:40 PM
Can't say I was overawed with Heavy Metal Dredd, though I did like the last couple of stories which if I'm guessing the era right would be poking fun at the Stock, Aitken, Waterman Hits Factory era, though it can also apply to the present "X" got Talent, X Factor and so on.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Link Prime on 26 January, 2017, 08:48:21 AM
Anyone have a full listing for the Heavy Metal Dredd volume?
I'm interested to know if both versions of 'Joe Dredd's Blues' are included.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 26 January, 2017, 12:18:50 PM
Quote from: Link Prime on 26 January, 2017, 08:48:21 AM
Anyone have a full listing for the Heavy Metal Dredd volume?
I'm interested to know if both versions of 'Joe Dredd's Blues' are included.

Listed against issue 53 here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judge_Dredd:_The_Mega_Collection

Neither Joe Dredd's Blues appears though.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 28 January, 2017, 10:19:16 AM
It was asked on the Facebook page whether Pirates of the Black Atlantic would be included, and the answer was negative. A real shame as it's such a pivotal story.

Taking solace that there's more Ron to come in The Judge Child, City of the Damned, and presumably the Mean Machine volume will include Dredd Angel.

By my reckoning there are still 6 unknown issues, so maybe there'll be some in those too.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: sheridan on 28 January, 2017, 10:37:08 AM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 28 January, 2017, 10:19:16 AM
It was asked on the Facebook page whether Pirates of the Black Atlantic would be included, and the answer was negative. A real shame as it's such a pivotal story.
And the cover of Prog 199 as well!
(http://www.2000ad.org/covers/2000ad/hires/199.jpg)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moly on 28 January, 2017, 10:40:44 AM
Not to have black Atlantic and sob story included would be a massive omission from the collection
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moly on 28 January, 2017, 10:44:26 AM
Just had cursed earth carnage and the chief judges man delivered
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moly on 28 January, 2017, 10:54:49 AM
Chief judges man has
Chief judge man
On the chief judges service
Revenge of the chief judges man
Psyco block
Bad manners
Flippers
Rotten manners

Cursed earth carnage has
The helltrekkers
Cit def field trip
Sleeze n Ryder
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 28 January, 2017, 11:09:44 AM
Mine just turned up too. Bit disappointed with Chief Judges Man extra stories when we could have had The Falucci Tapes or Death of a Judge etc. Never mind, as long as we get the other Edgar stories somewhere I'll be happy.
Note that Matt's intro states vol 53 is Brothers of the Blood - no surprise but nice to have it confirmed.

Cursed Earth Carnage is poor stuff. Helltrekkers is fun and lovely to see all the colour pages restored as well as the starscan showing all the cast list and which radwagon is which. Pleasingly complete and far better than the Meg reprint.
Other stories are drivel and not worth discussing further. Big shame.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 28 January, 2017, 12:30:29 PM
Quote from: Trent on 28 January, 2017, 11:09:44 AM
Mine just turned up too. Bit disappointed with Chief Judges Man extra stories when we could have had The Falucci Tapes or Death of a Judge etc.

Two unrelated solo stories from a completely different era of the comic, or a trilogy contemporary to the Chief Judge's Man stories and by one of the same artists to boot? I know which I think works better!

That's how you end up with the likes of the Heavy Mob/Klegg Hai...!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 28 January, 2017, 02:11:57 PM
To be fair, I am very happy to have the Manners trilogy but hoped that beyond that we might get some other 'judges gone bad' stories from an earlier era. Psycho Block doesn't do much for me other than Colin's art so that is where I would have swapped out the stories.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: seanharry on 29 January, 2017, 02:25:38 AM
They have included some real crap in this collection, yet they are omitting Pirates of the Black Atlantic?

WTF?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 29 January, 2017, 10:18:21 AM
Perhaps if the fabled extension went ahead they could do an Apocalypse War companion volume including stories that led to it as well as some of the (many) post war stories.
Probably too much classic Dredd for their tastes ironically.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 29 January, 2017, 10:28:30 AM
Quote from: seanharry on 29 January, 2017, 02:25:38 AM
They have included some real crap in this collection, yet they are omitting Pirates of the Black Atlantic?
My guess: colour content is being prioritised. Note that in some mixed volumes where it would have made sense to lead with older/b+w material for continuity's sense, they didn't.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Fungus on 29 January, 2017, 11:01:15 AM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 29 January, 2017, 10:28:30 AM
Quote from: seanharry on 29 January, 2017, 02:25:38 AM
They have included some real crap in this collection, yet they are omitting Pirates of the Black Atlantic?
My guess: colour content is being prioritised. Note that in some mixed volumes where it would have made sense to lead with older/b+w material for continuity's sense, they didn't.

It does feel that way.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Davgardo on 29 January, 2017, 01:20:34 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 29 January, 2017, 10:28:30 AM
Quote from: seanharry on 29 January, 2017, 02:25:38 AM
They have included some real crap in this collection, yet they are omitting Pirates of the Black Atlantic?
My guess: colour content is being prioritised. Note that in some mixed volumes where it would have made sense to lead with older/b+w material for continuity's sense, they didn't.

But then we've got virtually full volumes of b&w Helltrekkers and Calhab Justice so I don't think that argument stands up at all. A misguided editorial decision to include sub par Dredd Universe stuff above headline classic Dredd strips however.....
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 29 January, 2017, 06:06:31 PM
I'd rather have a first reprint of cal gab than another reprint of black Atlantic
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 29 January, 2017, 07:41:42 PM
Indeed - it's a matter of different strokes. As a former Titan and current Casefiles buyer my Mega Collection cherry picking has been for non-Dredd stuff or recent Dredds that the Casefiles won't reach for years (DoC for example). Important though Pirates of the Black Atlantic is, I already have it three or four times. So Devlin, Taxidermist and Banzai Battalion were much more welcome than essential stories like Apocalypse War or Cursed Earth.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 29 January, 2017, 07:57:43 PM
I really enjoyed Helltrekkers - it felt like reading something that could'be been in SCREAM! or New Eagle. I've always loved Ortiz' art on the 13th floor, so his episode was great. There's something about a high bodycount that works well in episodic storytelling. It had the gleeful violence of Zombo's first outing. I love the complicated multi layered storytelling we get now but I'm really not adverse to simpler stuff like this.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 30 January, 2017, 01:39:33 AM
I think Helltrekkers is a superb example of simpler times in comics, a rollicking ride with loads of action and clear linear plotting.

It wouldn't cut the mustard these days but still reads very well indeed.

Re Classic Dredd, I too have the casefiles and various Titan and Hamlyn volumes but I like the themed volumes and getting stories with colour spreads restored is brilliant. The Mega Collection Oz volume is easily the best representation of that story I own, so Pirates with colour DPS - yes please.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 30 January, 2017, 01:41:35 AM
I ordered some of the cut price books in the recent sale - 30 days later I'm still waiting for them to arrive and customer services don't seem to know what they are doing  :(
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: JaHawkDroid on 30 January, 2017, 09:39:56 AM
Okay, so maybe a dumb question - if I pick up the Mega Collection (as I have been doing in dribs and drabs over the last few months to get me up to date) what Anderson stories will I be missing? Just discovered the existence of the PSI files and wondering if it's worth getting those as well as the MC Anderson volumes, or if the MC Anderson volumes are pretty much all of it.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Link Prime on 30 January, 2017, 12:24:26 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 26 January, 2017, 12:18:50 PM
Quote from: Link Prime on 26 January, 2017, 08:48:21 AM
Anyone have a full listing for the Heavy Metal Dredd volume?
I'm interested to know if both versions of 'Joe Dredd's Blues' are included.

Listed against issue 53 here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judge_Dredd:_The_Mega_Collection

Neither Joe Dredd's Blues appears though.

Thanks- could be an interesting cherry-pick anyway.
Thumbs up to the editor for including 'The Return of Johnny Biker' too.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: EDazzling on 30 January, 2017, 12:26:43 PM
The stories in the 5 Psi-Files Volumes that aren't in the 5 Mega-Collection Anderson Volumes are:

Psi-Files Volume 1:
Feature Strips:

Four Dark Judges (This is of course in Mega Collection Volume 6: Judge Death Lives!)

Bonus Strip:
The Haunting

Psi-Files Volume  2:
Feature Strips:

Blythe Spirit

Bonus Strips:
Golem
A Soldier's Tale

Psi-Files Volume 3:
Feature Strips:

Something Wicked
Wonderwall
Crusade
Danse Macabre
Witch
The Great Debate
Lawless

Bonus Strips:
Dear Diary
Colin Wilson Block
Confessions of a She-Devil
Exorcise Duty

Psi-Files Volume 4:
Feature Strips:

Horror Story
Semper Vi

Bonus Strips:
The Most Dangerous Game
Baby Talk
George

Psi-Files Volume 5:
Feature Strips:

Big Robots
Wiierd
Biophyle
The House of Vyle
The Trip
Stone Voices

Bonus Strips:
What If...? Cassandra Anderson Hadn't Become A Judge
Horror Comes To Velma Dinkley
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: EDazzling on 30 January, 2017, 12:39:17 PM
Which I guess for context means that unless you're an absolute completist, then you can skip the first two, the third and fourth ones are about 50/50, and most of Volume five is not in the mega collection.

The Psi-Files are an easier reading experience with the stories printed in (mostly) the right order though, instead of jumping about in the middle there.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 30 January, 2017, 07:07:02 PM
Having really enjoyed Helltrekkers I saved the rest of 'Cursed Earth Carnage' for my commute. City-Def Field Trip is a strong idea but with very good, but mis-matched art. The cute animated style sits uneasily with the story of dinosaurs, zombies and deviantness. It's fine stuff from talented creators though. Sleeze N Ryder is shockingly bad however - it feels like a sub-Toxic rag mag. It's great to see that Garth Ennis and Nick Percival went into much better stuff. This was a new low for me. Great text piece by Molcher & great recolouring on some of Helltrekkers. I guess 3 duff volumes out of 50 or so is a good batting average - I'd still like to hear Matt smith's reasoning for his choices...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: JaHawkDroid on 30 January, 2017, 11:21:08 PM
Quote from: EDazzling on 30 January, 2017, 12:39:17 PM
Which I guess for context means that unless you're an absolute completist, then you can skip the first two, the third and fourth ones are about 50/50, and most of Volume five is not in the mega collection.

The Psi-Files are an easier reading experience with the stories printed in (mostly) the right order though, instead of jumping about in the middle there.

Thanks - I might pick up the Psi Files just for the sake of completion for Anderson. She's far and away my favourite character from what I've read of the Mega Collection so far (except for Jack Point)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: sheridan on 30 January, 2017, 11:49:38 PM
Quote from: Trent on 30 January, 2017, 01:39:33 AM
I think Helltrekkers is a superb example of simpler times in comics, a rollicking ride with loads of action and clear linear plotting.

It wouldn't cut the mustard these days but still reads very well indeed.

Personally I'd be happy to see a follow-up story letting us know how the settlers faired (and if Bish and Futura ever found Crustacia).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 31 January, 2017, 08:16:49 AM
Well if the story is any indication, 20 years on they'd all be dead - apart from the Chinese family maybe.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Davgardo on 31 January, 2017, 08:46:31 AM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 30 January, 2017, 07:07:02 PM
Having really enjoyed Helltrekkers I saved the rest of 'Cursed Earth Carnage' for my commute. City-Def Field Trip is a strong idea but with very good, but mis-matched art. The cute animated style sits uneasily with the story of dinosaurs, zombies and deviantness. It's fine stuff from talented creators though. Sleeze N Ryder is shockingly bad however - it feels like a sub-Toxic rag mag. It's great to see that Garth Ennis and Nick Percival went into much better stuff. This was a new low for me. Great text piece by Molcher & great recolouring on some of Helltrekkers. I guess 3 duff volumes out of 50 or so is a good batting average - I'd still like to hear Matt smith's reasoning for his choices...

Agree with the Sleeze n Ryder comments: the story hurt my soul and the art hurt my eyes. Why anyone would want to roll that bilge out again is beyond me. Anything would've been better, whether it had any tenuous connection to the volume theme or not.
Beyond that however, I found the other 2 strips an enjoyable read and, like you say, the repro on Helltrekkers was great. Personally, I wouldn't call it a duff volume: there's still only one deserving of that accolade.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 31 January, 2017, 09:28:01 AM
Chief Judges Man is a solid volume. I really can't get over just how good the Colin MacNeil painted art is. It's a shame the Will Simpson strip wasn't painted as I always enjoyed his atmospheric Mega City One. John Burn's stuff has great action & amazing faces - I'm guessing all this stuff is old news for collectors of the CaseFiles?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 31 January, 2017, 09:58:32 AM
Not in the casefiles, these stories won't be reached for quite a while yet.
I suspect quite a few boarders have the Rebellion trade of the Chief Judges Man and the Judge Manners stories were previously collected in a Megazine floppy.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: teckno viking on 01 February, 2017, 08:23:53 AM
Two arrived this week was "Cursed Earth Carnage" Which I enjoyed & "Heavy Metal Dredd" which bar the Johnny stories I did Not.  Came across more a dregs volume thrown together.

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 01 February, 2017, 01:35:45 PM
Och I'd love a HB collection of Helltrekkers, but Citi-Def and especially Sleaze'n'Ryder I can be doing without: think I'll save my €15.50 for Chief Judge's Man: not a storyline I rated at the time, but due for a re-appraisal.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 02 February, 2017, 02:03:18 AM
I may be angering the board gods....buuuut

Brit cit collection with straight jacket fits in it please?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: DarkDaysBish-OP on 02 February, 2017, 06:04:36 AM
Quote from: The Monarch on 02 February, 2017, 02:03:18 AM
I may be angering the board gods....buuuut

Brit cit collection with straight jacket fits in it please?

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: teckno viking on 02 February, 2017, 06:44:07 PM
As they never put "the Raggedy Man" in the CURSED EARTH CARNAGE column (think apt).
How about an Issue with LONG WALK Judges inc McGruders last ride out with Dredd?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Steve Green on 02 February, 2017, 07:13:18 PM
I'm not sure what else there is that hasn't already been collected to fill a long walk themed volume?

Judge Minty/The Long Walk?

Snakebite?

Hotdog run - OK, not long walk exactly - maybe a From Cadet to Long Walk theme...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: teckno viking on 02 February, 2017, 07:41:39 PM
Quote from: Steve Green on 02 February, 2017, 07:13:18 PM
I'm not sure what else there is that hasn't already been collected to fill a long walk themed volume?

Judge Minty/The Long Walk?

Snakebite?

Hotdog run - OK, not long walk exactly - maybe a From Cadet to Long Walk theme...

Oh yeah Hot Dog runs too.

So various Long Walk stories, Raggedy Man, Death of McGruder, Hot Dog Runs with Cadets, Undercity stories  " Justice Beyond and Below" issue?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 02 February, 2017, 11:13:50 PM
I think there is another Cursed Earth volume crying out.
What about Damned Ranger?
The idea of getting CitiDef and Sleeze n' Ryder but not some of these infinitely superior and similarly themed stories annoys me far more than I would ever have imagined when I started to collect this longed for partwork.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: BPP on 03 February, 2017, 02:55:38 AM
Ah, The Helltreckers... How I love thee.

In the modern era of comics everyone is so precious about characters and keeping them alive despite constant impending peril. Here's classic UK kids comics..... Everyone (or near everyone) dies. Just a question of how. HURRAH.

Despite all the great Dredd (and Dirty Frank) so far this story would be hard to shift from a top 10 of the series. It's just so brilliantly brutal.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 03 February, 2017, 12:56:09 PM
It certainly is on the Game of Thrones level of body count.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tony Angelino on 03 February, 2017, 04:50:42 PM
I just received my latest two issues in the post (Cursed Earth Carnage and Heavy Metal Dredd).

I had to cancel my subscription with these two.

Overall 'Heavy Metal Dredd' doesn't really appear to be worth reading (even though there are a few Ron Smith illustrated stories lost in amongst the rest) and 'Cursed Earth Carnage' only appears to be worth it for the Helltrekkers (which I remember reading as a kid but wouldn't have rated it as one of the classics).

There has been too much filler reprinted in the Mega Collection. I'll probably just order the odd issue now and again but if I had seen these two volumes sitting in a shop I wouldn't have picked them up.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 04 February, 2017, 04:48:28 PM
Tony, you got through Klegg Hai, Cal Hab & Heavy Mob, only to be defeated by Heavy Metal Dredd? You've hit the wall. Come on you can do it! Less than thirty volumes to go...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tony Angelino on 04 February, 2017, 04:56:05 PM
No I can't do it. It all started off so well too.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 04 February, 2017, 06:31:04 PM
Tony, I get the cherry picking view but even so, if anyone had dared to suggest that over half of all Dreddverse material published would be collected in a series of premium hardback books with volumes often twice the thickness of the equivalent trades I would never have believed it.
Marvel, DC, Doctor Who, Star Trek and Star Wars sure, but never Dredd.
A smattering of clearly substandard volumes is a very small price to pay even if the missed opportunities they represent are a damned shame.
I am too happy to have this collection in the first place to ever get too churlish.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tony Angelino on 04 February, 2017, 08:03:02 PM
I think there have been quite a few substandard volumes, not just the last couple. That's just my opinion but it is difficult to look at stories like Sleeze 'n Ryder and say this is worth me continuing to pay £20 a month for two hardbacks on subscription.   

Don't get me wrong there have been some fantastic collections but for me there have also been too many, dare I say it, 1990's reprints.

I think they should maybe have capped the Mega Collection at around 50-60 issues and left out a lot of the stories where fan opinion is very divided.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 04 February, 2017, 10:09:22 PM
I hear you Tony but personally I'll take what comes.
My beef is that certain key and iconic Dredd stories are not being included at the expense of some of the aforementioned dross.
Given we just about know every volume now (I think there are 3 I don't know about assuming The Hunting Party is included) I would welcome even a short extension to capture these omitted stories.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 05 February, 2017, 12:22:43 AM
I think the pricing is excellent when you compare these hardcovers to the slim reprints of Misty & Monster recently. I really do think Sleeze N Ryder was forgettable dross - it's frustrating when there's so much good early Dredd out there unreprinted. It was really odd on Facebook when Hachette referred to Anderson volumes like The Trip & Dead End which clearly must be additional to the 80 planned books. Only Patrick Goddard knows if there's more spine art!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moly on 05 February, 2017, 01:02:40 PM
Someone needs to ask Patrick Goddard next Saturday ;)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: JaHawkDroid on 07 February, 2017, 01:20:08 PM
Quote from: Molch-R on 01 April, 2016, 10:10:11 AM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 31 March, 2016, 06:31:30 PM
Does anyone know whether this collection will include Titan/Enceladus?  Thinking of buying the TPB but won't if it'll be one of the volumes in the collection.

Titan and its sequels won't be in the Mega Collection.

Titan is included in one of the Low Life volumes. Will Enceladus be included?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 07 February, 2017, 01:26:41 PM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 05 February, 2017, 12:22:43 AM
I think the pricing is excellent when you compare these hardcovers to the slim reprints of Misty & Monster recently. I really do think Sleeze N Ryder was forgettable dross - it's frustrating when there's so much good early Dredd out there unreprinted. It was really odd on Facebook when Hachette referred to Anderson volumes like The Trip & Dead End which clearly must be additional to the 80 planned books. Only Patrick Goddard knows if there's more spine art!

What good early unreprinted Dredd is there?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 07 February, 2017, 03:30:28 PM
Word is that Enceledus is not included. Titan was an unexpected bonus.

In terms of classic Dredd not yet included and either ruled out or not yet announced, where to start?
Graveyard Shift
Unamerican Graffitti
Pirates of the Black Atlantic
Sob Story
Early Bolland such as Punks Rule, Forever Crimes
Uncle Ump
Alone in a Crowd
Nosferatu
Death of a Politician
Death of a Legend
The Warlord
The Falucci Tape
Kenny Who? stories
Compulsory Purchase
Pinboing Wizard

Just the tip of the iceberg which is why some of us grumble over Sleeze n'Ryder when we could have these stories on high quality paper maybe even with colour centrespreads restored.


Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 07 February, 2017, 04:36:59 PM
These have all been reprinted before
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 07 February, 2017, 08:22:58 PM
Sorry Skullmo, assumed you meant not reprinted in the Mega Collection given the thread.

All early Dredd has of course been reprinted at some time and is currently in the Case Files and Restricted Files. Only the 4 Cursed Earth episodes had escaped until recently.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 08 February, 2017, 08:35:30 AM
Quote from: JaHawkDroid on 07 February, 2017, 01:20:08 PM
Quote from: Molch-R on 01 April, 2016, 10:10:11 AM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 31 March, 2016, 06:31:30 PM
Does anyone know whether this collection will include Titan/Enceladus?  Thinking of buying the TPB but won't if it'll be one of the volumes in the collection.

Titan and its sequels won't be in the Mega Collection.

Titan is included in one of the Low Life volumes. Will Enceladus be included?

I personally hope not as I bought the TPB then Titan appeared! However Enceladus would sit well in the collection if it's extended, along with Dark Justice.

I found Cursed Earth Carnage to be a mixed bag. Really enjoyed Helltrekkers, Wagner and Grant having fun in the sandpit outside the city, with no established characters to worry about. Citi-Def and Sleeze & Ryder then run with the same basic theme, but take it too over the top and end up falling flat. The best thing I can say about either is that I enjoyed some of the artwork.

And to those of you in attendance this weekend, have a fantastic time. I shall be there with you in spirit.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: opaque on 08 February, 2017, 09:26:41 AM
Quote from: Trent on 07 February, 2017, 08:22:58 PM
Sorry Skullmo, assumed you meant not reprinted in the Mega Collection given the thread.

All early Dredd has of course been reprinted at some time and is currently in the Case Files and Restricted Files. Only the 4 Cursed Earth episodes had escaped until recently.

It's the selling of it as the Mega Collection. So it needs to be mega even if that means something is being printed again, unless it should only be Mega Collection years x to y, that would work, just ignore the early years totally and leave that to other already published titles maybe.  I see these amazing quality books publishing subject groups in a different way. So the first 20 would be one character or stream, the next 20 would be someone else so collectible in smaller clumps or still as a whole. That way you could continue to bring out more and more ad infinitum. Also means you could bring out the newer materials that are currently in tpb into the hb's much later on when most people already have the original tpb but keep continuity of hb groups.

Maybe this is for the future as the quality of these hardbacks is really good. And in a good size for bookshelves!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 08 February, 2017, 04:18:24 PM
I think it needs to cater for new fans as well as old - I know that if it reprinted the stuff i already have I would not buy it. even though I know some of the stories were a bit pantsit is nicet o read them finally collected in a book rather than in the issues. There have been a few stories that when collected were much better than I remembered (Maelstrom for example).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 08 February, 2017, 09:11:36 PM
Truth is that virtually everything in the collection has been reprinted at some point bar a few later Dredd stories, Holocaust whatsit, Sleeze n Ryder, Citidef, final Koburn story, Missionary Man and a few others.
Very little for 55 volumes and even less to justify getting the collection in terms of quality.

Obviously what each individual holds in terms of reprint will vary from person to person but to many on these boards the collection is a repackaging of material they already have in nice hardback volumes, on better paper, in themed volumes with a few extras and sometimes with colour restored for the first time since the prog. More than enough to justify a tenner a pop.

Even books that are effectively reissues of existing trades have something to offer with generally a higher page count allowing for more back up stories connected either directly or thematically.

I have read pretty much everything before although some not for many years and look forward to each 4 weekly delivery with childlike enthusiasm.


Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: DarkDaysBish-OP on 08 February, 2017, 09:53:48 PM
Quote from: Skullmo on 08 February, 2017, 04:18:24 PM
I think it needs to cater for new fans as well as old - I know that if it reprinted the stuff i already have I would not buy it. even though I know some of the stories were a bit pantsit is nicet o read them finally collected in a book rather than in the issues. There have been a few stories that when collected were much better than I remembered (Maelstrom for example).

I love the fact people are rediscovering and/or appreciating material from the Meg that didn't get much attention at the time.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 08 February, 2017, 10:14:50 PM
This collection has been perfect for a lapsed reader like myself. Finding out your favourite characters carried on without you and often reached new heights has been a thrill. I love that nothing's really been forgotten - Max Normal could rub shoulders with Dirty Frank, PJ Maybe's murders have become more inventive and Kleggs can be sensitive. Only in Dredd's world could garden robots and taxidermy seem equally valid story ideas. Reading the board it's clear that tastes change just as the characters have. I guess this collection has to balance servicing the casefiles hardcore, the casual reader and even the odd newbie. Some choices have been bonkers, the order of volumes haphazard, but the design & written pieces have been outstanding. I'm buying the prog & megazine now understanding who Beeny, Dolman etc are. Nice one Thargs past & present.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 08 February, 2017, 11:09:21 PM
creep was certainly better than i remember it feel like a bit of an arse slagging it off for years
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 09 February, 2017, 04:38:28 AM
There has been quite few Dreddworld stories from the Meg that have never been reprinted - Creep, The Hershey stories (I really enjoyed those by Neal and Wigmore and wonder what they are like now), much of missionary man, Inspectre, sleeze and ryder, much of Armitage, Pan-African judges, Pandora, Cabal, Deathwatch, much of Harmony . . . The collection (and the Meg floppy) has done a good job of picking up on some of these and I hope it will do more.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 09 February, 2017, 10:01:08 AM
Really Skullmo?
Creep was good and I love Missionary Man with a passion but, art aside, there is very little else on that list that was any good.
It has been both a virtue and the curse of the collection simultaneously that it has brought back previously unpublished Megazine stories.
Inspectre we can't talk about (hi Jim)
The Hershey stories are best left to the memory
A good chunk of Armitage turned up in the floppies
Pan-African Judges was awful but I would be happy to see again for some early painted Siku art
Pandora, Cabal, Deathwatch - very happy to never see these again.
Harmony - good concept and setting, Hairsine art etc made it worth revisiting but it lost its way (see Lawless for how to do it right).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Bad City Blue on 09 February, 2017, 10:22:27 AM
Ya know it's each to his own... personally I hate Devlin Waugh and can't get through the books. This is mainly due to the fact John Smith writes them, and I have never been able to enjoy anything eh has written.

An unusual opinion, I know, but that's life!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Smith on 09 February, 2017, 10:58:19 AM
As somebody who went thru those Meg stories recently I can say collecting Sleeze 'n' Ryder and Inspectre and Brit Cit Brute is not a huge gain.On the other hand,Hershey stories were mostly okay.But thats just my tastes.
Btw,was Plagues of Necropolis collected in Mega Collection?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 09 February, 2017, 10:59:16 AM
There must have been so many factors involved in deciding the content and order of the Mega Collection that it's amazing it exists at all.

First and foremost, I imagine, was the cost of getting each page into the collection : for recent stories or those that have recently been reprinted additional costs have to have been minimal. For older or more obscure material, I imagine wrestling things into digital is both expensive and time-consuming. Minimising that had to be a priority.

Then there was the risk of producing a 'Dredd: All the Good Bits' collection that would effectively kill Casefiles and TPB sales. As it is, there are a lot of Dredd's essential/most fun stories in there, but as this discussion by no means all. New readers are still going to have to tackle the back catalogue to see the full story.

Conversely, the need to produce something that would be attractive to those who already have the Casefiles and TPBs: either unreprinted, obscure or upgraded (the colour spreads) or just collated and repackaged in a clever thematic way.

Then the aim of showcasing the wider Dreddverse to a new audience, to broaden awareness and demand for Rebellion's IP catalogue beyond Dredd, Dredd, Dredd and maybe Slaine. This I think it does most admirably.

And that's before we even get to considering:

- Widespread aversion to B&W
- using 'popular' creators as a draw.
- the idiosyncrasies and/or overexposure of some of the older material
- Page counts that work
- Coherent themes/styles
- Stories that don't rely too much on material that fell foul of the foregoing.
- Personal taste.

As inevitable compromises go, I think it's a pretty amazing achievement.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 09 February, 2017, 11:22:34 AM
Tordel, your argument is well thought throughand I have to say I agree with what you say.
That said, my natural greediness for more of those missing Dredd classics and enjoyment of the lovely hardback format still makes me wish for even a 10 book extension.

Just so long as it isn't Cabal, Deathwatch or Soul Sisters....
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 09 February, 2017, 01:30:40 PM
Quote from: Smith on 09 February, 2017, 10:58:19 AM
Btw,was Plagues of Necropolis collected in Mega Collection?

Plagues hasn't appeared as yet, but as all remaining content isn't yet known, I guess it still could appear in either the initial run of 80 or the much-discussed extension.

If there is an extension, when is this likely to be announced? Anyone got experience of this type of thing from the Marvel run?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 09 February, 2017, 01:45:11 PM
I'm reasonably sure Plagues was confirmed as being included in the Facebook feed. As for extensions, who knows? I recall the Marvel one just abruptly appearing towards the end of the initial 60-book run, entirely without warning. But that also was problematic in splitting the line between 'classic' and 'modern' material. In the end, I vaguely recall Hachette are to an agreement to honour 'modern only' subs, but then the line increased again a bunch of times. So it's gone from 60 to 120 to 140 and now to 150.

With Dredd, I'm not fussed either way, frankly. As long as we get all of the original 80 before it continues, I'll be happy. (I wouldn't be thrilled if we got 'gaps' in the original run while Hacette merrily sent over #92, #101, #294765724 and so on.) For the money, I'll happily continue subscribing. But from Rebellion's standpoint, it might not be a great thing to continue with the collection, given the relative lack of material compared to what Marvel can play around with. (6,000 pages a year is quite a lot for a company that's essentially run 40-80-odd pages of Dreddworld strip on average per month.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Frank on 09 February, 2017, 02:05:59 PM
Quote from: TordelBack on 09 February, 2017, 10:59:16 AM
... the need to produce something that would be attractive to those who already have the Casefiles and TPBs: either unreprinted, obscure or upgraded (the colour spreads) or just collated and repackaged in a clever thematic way.

It's also a kind of clever way of subsidising Tharg's archiving project.

Hachette have basically paid for the time and labour necessary to get stuff like Brit Cit Brute off a dusty compact disc and in the condition necessary to be used as floppies, to bulk out future trade paperbacks, and increase the number of strips Tharg can flog in digital form.

The restoration of some colour spreads is also building the skills and systems necessary to produce a version of Case Files 1-11 in the same format as the recent Cursed Earth Uncensored, if that's what Tharg has planned.


Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 09 February, 2017, 02:37:57 PM
Lots of interesting points.
Plagues was, of course, recently reprinted in a floppy so is available for Hachette should they wish. Not seen it mentioned as included. It would make a nice companion to Fall of Deadworld in the fabled extension.

I certainly hope the centrespread work is going to facilitate volumes 2 to 11 in deluxe format but Tharg has been very quiet on that front since case file 1 was reissued so I'm not too hopeful. At the very least we now have a lovely version of Oz. Toss in The Judge Child and City of the Damned and I'll be happy.
Obviously it would be terrific to someday get restored Apocalypse War, Judge Death Lives and many others but we have a few titbits to be going on with.

The point about the collection using material at 5 times the rate of new strip is interesting but we still have thousands of pages of unreprinted material left before we get close to it being an issue. Sure, the back catalogue is a fraction of Marvel's but 80 volumes will only cover somewhere between 50 and 60% of Dreddverse material so another 10 or 20 books is readily achievable.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 09 February, 2017, 04:01:41 PM
I suspect any extension will depend on all kinds of stars aligning:

- Rebellion and Hachette both wanting to continue
- Subscription rates still being high enough (given that they drop over time and you only rarely get new people signing up at this stage)
- Price rises not being prohibitive (not least given the kicking Sterling is getting right now)
- Sales of 2000 AD's own line of trades being broadly unaffected
- Enough material being readily available
- Material suggested for any extension not heavily clashing with new or planned Rebellion trades

Costs in particular could be a clincher. Right now, the sets sit nicely under a psychological spending barrier. A copper under 20 quid a month, or a penny under a tenner for a single issue. What about if the books were £11.99 a pop? Would people still go for an extension then?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Arkwright99 on 09 February, 2017, 05:10:13 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 09 February, 2017, 04:01:41 PMWhat about if the books were £11.99 a pop? Would people still go for an extension then?
For a set 20-volume expansion? Yes, I would happily pay £12 a volume, especially if it included some (or all) of the much requested material not being included in the base 80-volume set. And if it was more than twenty volumes? Yeah, I'd probably go along with that as well.  ::)

Thing is, of course, I'm not buying the Case Files and I don't usually buy the Dredd collected volumes either so for me the Mega Collection is working out really well given that I already have all the material in the original Progs and Megs. Well, bar the few duff stories that have been included which makes me think that when Molch-R used the phrase "definitive collection" I don't think it means what he thinks it means.  :lol:
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 09 February, 2017, 05:45:26 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 09 February, 2017, 04:01:41 PM
What about if the books were £11.99 a pop? Would people still go for an extension then?

I would continue purely because I am anal retentive and that it would kill me not to have a complete collection.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mardroid on 09 February, 2017, 05:49:36 PM
For volumes of this type £11.99 is still pretty good value, when you consider how much hardback collections usually are. Or hardback books in general, for that matter.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 09 February, 2017, 08:33:23 PM
I know the woman at WH Smith's said "Aren't these expensive", but basing it on comparing the size and content of one of the JD books to say, your typical Star Wars graphic novel reprint like Shattered Empire and the Star Wars one is more expensive.  Granted, Star Wars has got the hype just now, but still....

Helltrekkers, I still enjoyed and I'm surprised at the reception here, especially considering when I first asked on this forum about them being reprinted on their own, and later in this collection, the opinions seemed pretty poor.  The other two stories weren't as bad as feared, though Sleeze N' Ryder's art was a bit headache inducing.

I wonder what's next.  Guess I should check the facebook page.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 09 February, 2017, 08:39:54 PM
Quote from: Bad City Blue on 09 February, 2017, 10:22:27 AM
Ya know it's each to his own... personally I hate Devlin Waugh and can't get through the books. This is mainly due to the fact John Smith writes them, and I have never been able to enjoy anything eh has written.

An unusual opinion, I know, but that's life!

I'm not exactly a fan of Devlin Waugh myself, I was reading those books from a fresh perspective having never read them before.  It wasn't because he was a gay character, I just wasn't a fan.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tony Angelino on 09 February, 2017, 11:06:59 PM
I almost enjoyed the Devlin Waugh - Chasing Herod one with Steve Yeowell art but I ended up struggling with it. John Smith has his fans but I don't find his writing style or stories accessible.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richard on 10 February, 2017, 12:27:26 AM
The Hershey stories by Igor Goldkind were pretty good. Are they in this series?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: JaHawkDroid on 10 February, 2017, 12:30:22 AM
Quote from: Richard on 10 February, 2017, 12:27:26 AM
The Hershey stories by Igor Goldkind were pretty good. Are they in this series?

I don't think there's a Hershey volume...


I now kind of really wish there was a Hershey volume.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 14 February, 2017, 05:00:40 PM
Issue 57 now previewed on the Hachette site.
Volume is Armitage City of the Dead as already noted elsewhere.
Artists listed as: Doherty, Gillespie, Ridgeway, Cooper and Goddard so it is clearly the second and last volume of Armitage covering
City of the Dead - 69 pages ( Doherty and Gillespie)
Apostasy in the UK? - 14 pages (Ridgeway) and
Underground - 36 pages (Goddard)
which total 119 pages.
There are then 3 John Cooper stories which also total 119 pages so the likelihood is we'll get 2 out of 3 of these.

That leaves Armitage, Influential Circles and Flashback for the other Armitage book (168 pages) with possibly the 40 pages Steve Yeowell story.

Overall looks like we are getting all of Armitage up to date bar one of John Coopers later stories.
Still leaves a gap for the Treasure Steel and Steel/Hershey stories.
Possible we'll get Adlard's Steel Hershey story at 16 pages instead of Steve Yeowell as 184 pages sounds about right and keep consistency with the artists.

ANALysis over for now.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 14 February, 2017, 08:08:55 PM
Bizarre decision to go with the later Armitage stories first, especially at this stage of the collection. Gnh.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 15 February, 2017, 03:44:40 AM
I really, really hope that city of the dead mixup issue is fixed for the collection
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 15 February, 2017, 07:57:55 AM
Well they put out what is ostensibly the third Missionary Man volume first (although I hope - nay, demand - that Promised Land is included, possibly the best story he appeared in) and the second and third volumes of Tour of Duty are preceiding the first.
Don't really see the logic here although the books do work as standalone volumes the build up stories add resonance to them and the issue order simultaneously diminishes the earlier stories since we know how it all resolves.
Very odd indeed.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 15 February, 2017, 04:36:37 PM
weeeelll its third in the mega collection....but its technically the second of mm hell the run in that collection ends with mm being found by the mutants he ends up travelling with in the promised land story....its weird numbering
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 19 February, 2017, 02:10:16 PM
A solid collection of stories in The Chief Judge's Man, with the exception of Psycho Block - not sure that did much for me. Highlights of the volume were the Dredd-Edgar scenes, and contrasting Manners with Klee and Jackson - judges can go off the rails for reasons of love or hate.

There's only one drawback to stories being published out of order - having to read the whole collection again when it's complete ;-)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: sheridan on 19 February, 2017, 02:40:38 PM
Quote from: JaHawkDroid on 10 February, 2017, 12:30:22 AM
Quote from: Richard on 10 February, 2017, 12:27:26 AM
The Hershey stories by Igor Goldkind were pretty good. Are they in this series?

I don't think there's a Hershey volume...

I now kind of really wish there was a Hershey volume.

Considering she's the longest-serving Chief Judge (that has been depicted) that's kind of surprising.

Well, I think she's longest serving - her broken service and McGruder's broken service make it difficult to tell without actually doing research.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 19 February, 2017, 02:41:33 PM
Oddly enough I thought Psycho Block was the really strong part of this volume, with extraordinarily creepy Wilson art, even though I didn't remember it at all. I'll take all the strips  about the evils of privatisation that I can get.

TBH neither Chief Judge's Man nor the Mannerses do much for me as stories, although the array of artwork involved was more than worth the cover price (Burns in particular has never been better, more Simpson is always welcome and seriously, does Colin MacNeil ever sleep: it feels like he drew half of the pages in this whole collection, and each one is magnificent). The Edgar appearance seems to pass without anything interesting happening, and if it was building to something more then that never materialised either; and Gill's sorry tale is just a bit too similar to Nate Slaughterhouse's.

Better, although not exactly original either, is Wayne Reynold's Flippers, which has that precious The Pit feel which is later Wagner at his best, the lives of a whole Sector House of judges sketched out in a few lines.

And now the series stuff: the bloody Issue No sticker was stuck directly onto the cover of my book, rather than the cellophane. Removing it was no east task and the circle underneath is puckered and distinct. Gah! Get it sorted, Hachette.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 19 February, 2017, 03:07:58 PM
Finally read Sleeze and Ryder. I would love to know how that got commissioned if Bish-Op is lurking on here? It seems so awful I can't imagine how it got through the door!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: DarkDaysBish-OP on 19 February, 2017, 05:55:11 PM
I can offer no rational explanation for commissioning Sleaze 'n' Ryder beyond it seemed like fun at the script stage, and Nick Percival was an emerging artist who needed to get a series under his belt to progress. Considering some of the great work Nick has done since, it was worth the investment. Alas, the downside of learning your craft in public is your early, lesser work will sometimes resurface to embarrass you. That applies to editors as well as writers and artists!

Mea culpa.

davidbishop
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richard on 19 February, 2017, 06:30:37 PM
QuoteThe Edgar appearance seems to pass without anything interesting happening, and if it was building to something more then that never materialised either

It would have been good to have included The Edgar Case in that volume, but there you go.

I definitely think Nick Percival today is worth the price of Sleaze n Ryder 20 years ago. I'm just not sure why we're seeing it again. But at least that's not DB's fault...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 19 February, 2017, 11:23:30 PM
Chief Judges Man seemed a solid enough volume.

I don't know why I thought about it suddenly, what happens when (if) a Judge serves out their Titan stretch.  Are they ferried back and basically dumped on the street or put into mandatory Justice Department low level scrub work?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: DarkDaysBish-OP on 20 February, 2017, 06:31:04 AM
Quote from: Jade Falcon on 19 February, 2017, 11:23:30 PM
Chief Judges Man seemed a solid enough volume.

I don't know why I thought about it suddenly, what happens when (if) a Judge serves out their Titan stretch.  Are they ferried back and basically dumped on the street or put into mandatory Justice Department low level scrub work?

Isn't that what happens in the original Return of Rico?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: sheridan on 20 February, 2017, 12:58:16 PM
Quote from: DarkDaysBish-OP on 20 February, 2017, 06:31:04 AM
Quote from: Jade Falcon on 19 February, 2017, 11:23:30 PM
Chief Judges Man seemed a solid enough volume.

I don't know why I thought about it suddenly, what happens when (if) a Judge serves out their Titan stretch.  Are they ferried back and basically dumped on the street or put into mandatory Justice Department low level scrub work?

Isn't that what happens in the original Return of Rico?

Pretty sure something similar happens in a Daily Star weekend strip as well.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 20 February, 2017, 04:08:37 PM
Anyone who Dredd put away for 20 since we first met him in 2099 was still there to (presumably) either escape and/or be killed in 2115 during Purgatory/Inferno. Allowing some time to get the place up and running again, the first of the new crop of post-Inferno potential returnees would have been eligible for release in 2136, just in time for Nixon's revolt and the subsequent annihilation of most of the inmates. So reintegrating bent judges into society hasn't been much of an issue for some time...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 20 February, 2017, 04:08:48 PM
Quote from: DarkDaysBish-OP on 19 February, 2017, 05:55:11 PM
I can offer no rational explanation for commissioning Sleaze 'n' Ryder beyond it seemed like fun at the script stage, and Nick Percival was an emerging artist who needed to get a series under his belt to progress. Considering some of the great work Nick has done since, it was worth the investment. Alas, the downside of learning your craft in public is your early, lesser work will sometimes resurface to embarrass you. That applies to editors as well as writers and artists!

Mea culpa.

davidbishop

Thanks for the reply!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 20 February, 2017, 05:36:20 PM
TordelBack – Heh! I was thinking much the same about the timelines. Perhaps that might make judges think twice about being naughty – their likelihood of being horribly killed before their 20 years are up.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Legendary Shark on 20 February, 2017, 06:56:56 PM
I seem to recall (or maybe I dreamed it) that some cadets who wash out of the Academy are lobotomised to remove dangerous knowledge/abilities before being returned to the general citizenry. If so, it makes even more sense for a twenty stretch on Titan to be capped off with a bit of brain butchery. (Which might lead to A History of Violence, MC1 style.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 23 February, 2017, 08:33:03 PM
Just up on the Hachette site volume after Armitage is Mean Machine.

From what I can make out of the credits stories look like:
Dredd Angel (Ron Smith) 40 pages
Merry Tale of the Christmas Angel (Steve Dillon) 14 pages
Travels with muh Shrink (Richard Dolan) 36 pages
Son of Mean Machine (Carl Crithlow) 60 pages
The Three Amigos (Trevor Hairsine) 54 pages
Mean Streets (Jim Murray) 6 pages

Total pages: 210

Decent page count and a good line up.
Chuffed to get Dredd Angel. Is hoping for colour spreads too much?

In terms of the saga of Mean Machine, obviously Judge Child is elsewhere and Destiny's Angel will definitely be included too.
That leaves most of Grennie's run in the Meg but more significantly both Fifty Year Man and The Last Days of Mean Machine which chronicle the end of Mean. Important stories in the character's history and, at the moment both unlikely to appear. Shame.

That said, a good meaty volume with all key stories up to Gordon's run included.

Only minor complaint is it makes for quite a Dredd lite package with Armitage (bar about 100 pages).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 23 February, 2017, 08:42:47 PM
Quote from: Trent on 23 February, 2017, 08:33:03 PM
In terms of the saga of Mean Machine, obviously Judge Child is elsewhere and Destiny's Angel will definitely be included too.
That leaves most of Grennie's run in the Meg but more significantly both Fifty Year Man and The Last Days of Mean Machine which chronicle the end of Mean.

That said, a good meaty volume with all key stories up to Gordon's run included.

There are some little gems hidden in the Rennie run, but nothing essential - very much high-quality filler. At least one entire episode was a dream sequence, so it never even happened! I don't think there was an ending, either - one minute he's roaming the Cursed Earth, next time we see him he's back in pokey and about to get married.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 23 February, 2017, 09:02:12 PM
I'm positive 50 y. man will be in ToD, which IMO is a good send off to the character.

But I wouldn't mind The Last Days of Mean Machine. With an extension eminent, perhaps in a Day of Chaos aftermath book then.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tony Angelino on 23 February, 2017, 11:28:37 PM
I re-read The Three Amigos story from the Megazine in the last few days after finding them again in the roofspace. I loved it and it had great art from Trevor Hairsine whose style was very much a cross between McMahon and Ezquerra in my opinion. Great stuff and that looks like a volume of material that is largely worth reprinting.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 24 February, 2017, 12:49:20 PM
i'm expecting rennies run to be in the angel gang book. it would make sense there
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 24 February, 2017, 02:45:53 PM
Yes, I'm not quite sure what will be in that book, a bit of a hotchpotch I suspect.
We still have Judge Child/Fink volume and City of the Damned/Destiny's Angels/In the Year 2120 volume to come as well as a standalone Angel Gang book.
Presumably Awakening of Angels, Before they Wuz Dead, Ratfink, Ratfink's Revenge will all crop up which still leaves room for solo Mean stories by Rennie and Wagner and some of the Annual one offs.
Not sure of the split between books but with effectively 4 volumes dedicated to The Judge Child and Angel Gang most nearly everything should be able to be included somewhere.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Max Headroom on 25 February, 2017, 06:47:38 PM
Can anyone tell me which issues 'The Last Days of Mean Machine' appeared in? I thought I knew all his stories but this one escapes me.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Steve Green on 25 February, 2017, 06:56:22 PM
Here you go.

https://shop.2000ad.com/catalogue/MEG358P (https://shop.2000ad.com/catalogue/MEG358P)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Max Headroom on 25 February, 2017, 07:03:59 PM
Thanks Steve. It was probably that it was a 'Tales From the Black Museum' story that threw me! Am I alone in wishing there was a hardcover book dedicated to Mean Machine and featuring all his stories in one volume?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 27 February, 2017, 11:38:40 AM
Armitage and Mean Machine volumes turned up this morning.
My earlier prediction of Mean contents was correct. A lovely ample volume with the only disappointments being lack of colour spreads for Dredd Angel and Merry Tale of Christmas Angel and poor reproduction on the latter.
Armitage is a very thick volume as it does indeed include all the John Cooper stories bur otherwise is as I had expected. I thought the page count would be prohibitive but the book is an impressive 256 pages in total.

Both are worthy additions to the collection and though Dredd lite in content show how the set covers the whole of Dreddverse stories in a smart consistent package at a very reasonable price.
I love this series which is why I would relish another 10 or 20 book extension.
Great stuff.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 27 February, 2017, 09:26:51 PM
I'm wondering if they'll keep some early Dredd for the 2000ad partworks. I really hope we'll see an extension to this series too. It's been a great series - with still a year to go...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 28 February, 2017, 02:07:57 AM
sooo city of the dead is an episode still messed up or did they fix it?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dash Decent on 28 February, 2017, 06:52:54 AM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 27 February, 2017, 09:26:51 PM
I really hope we'll see an extension to this series too.
I wonder if the new Hatchette "2000AD" line is seen as a successor/replacement to the Dredd line, or just the opportunity to create another stream.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: JaHawkDroid on 28 February, 2017, 08:37:41 AM
Quote from: Dash Decent on 28 February, 2017, 06:52:54 AM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 27 February, 2017, 09:26:51 PM
I really hope we'll see an extension to this series too.
I wonder if the new Hatchette "2000AD" line is seen as a successor/replacement to the Dredd line, or just the opportunity to create another stream.

I hope it's a successor, that includes some Dredd stories not seen in Mega Collection. £20 a month is a reasonable expenditure that can be justified for most with a full-time job, irrespective of whether they are working minimum wage or higher. £40 a month becomes prohibitive and is likely to put some off.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: levers on 28 February, 2017, 09:09:09 AM
2000ad partwork? Must have missed this announcement?


Quote from: JaHawkDroid on 28 February, 2017, 08:37:41 AM
Quote from: Dash Decent on 28 February, 2017, 06:52:54 AM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 27 February, 2017, 09:26:51 PM
I really hope we'll see an extension to this series too.
I wonder if the new Hatchette "2000AD" line is seen as a successor/replacement to the Dredd line, or just the opportunity to create another stream.

I hope it's a successor, that includes some Dredd stories not seen in Mega Collection. £20 a month is a reasonable expenditure that can be justified for most with a full-time job, irrespective of whether they are working minimum wage or higher. £40 a month becomes prohibitive and is likely to put some off.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: JaHawkDroid on 28 February, 2017, 09:10:40 AM
Quote from: levers on 28 February, 2017, 09:09:09 AM
2000ad partwork? Must have missed this announcement?

http://forums.2000adonline.com/index.php?topic=44203.0 (http://forums.2000adonline.com/index.php?topic=44203.0)

Take a look  :D
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: levers on 28 February, 2017, 10:40:55 AM
Thanks!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 01 March, 2017, 02:05:33 PM
How did it never occur to me to look up this thread before. Sorry to lurk, hello all.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 01 March, 2017, 02:13:59 PM
Welcome Tomwe, I love this thread but get a little surprised how sparse comments are sometimes given the number of boarders who are buying it.
Could be a product of my having wayyy too much time on my hands of course.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: levers on 01 March, 2017, 10:52:45 PM
Arrgghh. No Armitage on the High Street today. My local tends to get one copy of the Mega collection in stock, but it occasionally goes awry! Or there's someone out there who got there before me!

I'm slightly fearful they'll stop stocking it as there are a few I've skipped, and they've still been on the shelves up to the next issue coming out.

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 02 March, 2017, 12:54:55 PM
Quote from: levers on 01 March, 2017, 10:52:45 PM
Arrgghh. No Armitage on the High Street today. My local tends to get one copy of the Mega collection in stock, but it occasionally goes awry! Or there's someone out there who got there before me!

I'm slightly fearful they'll stop stocking it as there are a few I've skipped, and they've still been on the shelves up to the next issue coming out.

I've got a regular order at my local Thrill-merchant, but I've used WH Smith as a back-up if issues haven't arrived. However I noticed a few issues ago that WHS don't have them on the shelves any more.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: levers on 02 March, 2017, 04:52:44 PM
To be honest I'm surprised my local Smith's has been stocking it for this long, when all other High Street sources dried up a long time ago. Still hope I guess, as Fetish suddenly appeared on the shelves two days before the next one was due! Otherwise, it's a major trip into town to hit Forbidden Planet, or failing that mail order.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 03 March, 2017, 03:43:42 AM
kinda surprised they still had it too tbh
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 03 March, 2017, 11:06:52 AM
It seems to pop up randomly here and there. WHSmith is quite random anyway, I find. Ours still sometimes has the Marvel books in, but I've only ever seen a single copy of one, on the partworks shelf.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 03 March, 2017, 11:12:18 AM
I'm hmmming and hawing about the Armitage volumes... I do like bits of it, but probably more in concept than execution, and if there are three books that's €45 in total. Do I like it that much?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 03 March, 2017, 11:49:27 AM
Tordel, word is that Armitage is two books, which should be able to accommodate virtually everything.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 03 March, 2017, 02:46:56 PM
Just two, eh?  That might put a different spin on things.  Cheers, Trent!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: EDazzling on 03 March, 2017, 04:39:09 PM
Yeah. According to Barney, the City of The Dead volume has 238 story pages, and the remaining Armitage stories come to 208 pages. Add the Hershey and steel story along with the Steel solo, which are 30 pages total, and we might end up with 2 exactly evenly sized books containing the whole thing. If Barney is correct!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 03 March, 2017, 06:02:37 PM
Quote from: EDazzling on 03 March, 2017, 04:39:09 PM
If Barney is correct!

How very dare you!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 05 March, 2017, 01:09:31 AM
city of the deads jumbled mess was fixed so kudos on hatchett and the repro boys for that
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: DarkDaysBish-OP on 05 March, 2017, 09:11:43 AM
I have a vague recollection that the jumbled Armitage pages were the first time in Megazine history that a strip had appeared with pages in the wrong order.

But I might be jumbling that in my head.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Magnetica on 05 March, 2017, 11:50:53 AM
Maybe in Meg history, but let's not forget Firekind in the Prog which managed to miss out an entire episode.

Think that was before your time as editor though.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Magnetica on 05 March, 2017, 11:59:28 AM
But to be fair it amazes me how they manage to get the Prog out week in, week out. Having read Steve MacManus's book and bits of Thrillpower Overload, you can see what an effort it is. So only 2? mistakes in 40 years is some effort.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 05 March, 2017, 12:35:38 PM
Quote from: Magnetica on 05 March, 2017, 11:50:53 AM
Maybe in Meg history, but let's not forget Firekind in the Prog which managed to miss out an entire episode.

Seem to remember there was another Prog story that had pages out of order too. Can't for the life of me recall which it was: possibly one of those ones where it was hard to care (Dry Run?) or just plain hard to tell (Revere?).

Pleased to hear City of the Dead has been fixed, good work people.  Now I'm really going to have to give in and get it...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 05 March, 2017, 12:53:09 PM
DOUBLE POST: Maybe I'm thinking of Dead Juve's Curve?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Frank on 05 March, 2017, 01:09:51 PM
Quote from: TordelBack on 05 March, 2017, 12:35:38 PM
Quote from: Magnetica on 05 March, 2017, 11:50:53 AM
Maybe in Meg history, but let's not forget Firekind in the Prog which managed to miss out an entire episode.

Seem to remember there was another Prog story that had pages out of order too. Can't for the life of me recall which it was: possibly one of those ones where it was hard to care (Dry Run?) or just plain hard to tell (Revere?).


During the change to colour, Tharg treated us to a few penny black-style rarities (673):


(http://i.imgur.com/ohBiIAc.png?1)

(http://i.imgur.com/5M5vywq.png?1)


Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Timothy on 05 March, 2017, 01:16:05 PM
One episode of Oz had the centre spread printed with the pages the wrong way round. This wasn't corrected in the Mega Collection.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 05 March, 2017, 01:52:37 PM
And the Corey snafu.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 05 March, 2017, 02:03:34 PM
Lord, what a showet! 😉
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Magnetica on 05 March, 2017, 02:36:16 PM
Quote from: Timothy on 05 March, 2017, 01:16:05 PM
One episode of Oz had the centre spread printed with the pages the wrong way round. This wasn't corrected in the Mega Collection.

Which chapter was that?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Frank on 05 March, 2017, 03:46:33 PM
Quote from: Magnetica on 05 March, 2017, 02:36:16 PM
Quote from: Timothy on 05 March, 2017, 01:16:05 PM
One episode of Oz had the centre spread printed with the pages the wrong way round. This wasn't corrected in the Mega Collection.

Which chapter was that?

Part 3 (http://i.imgur.com/xlJ0lbY.jpg) (547), by Will Simpson, Garry Leach, and Dave Elliott. If you buy a digital copy, it can be fixed at the (virtual) click of a button (http://i.imgur.com/DJKXJ0P.jpg).


Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 06 March, 2017, 04:48:20 PM
Wikipedia has Missionary Man, Bad Moon Rising as the next volume, along with Tour of Duty: Mutants in Mega City One.

Not sure where the info comes from, there is a brief mention of Missionary Man in April on the Facebook page but no detail.

Really hope we get a proper volume of Missionary Man say up to The Big Sleazy to cover many never before reprinted stories but my fear is that we will get the Quitely stories and a few others as per the existing trade with another batch of Dredd in the Cursed Earth stories as per the first MM book. Really hope I am wrong as MM deserves proper service and JD in the Cursed Earth should have its own book imho.

The book should give a clue as to what we might expect in the 'middle' MM book which really needs to have Promised Land in it.

Then next up is Undercover Brothers with Lenny Zero, Wally Squad and who knows what else? DeMarco? Any ideas?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 07 March, 2017, 09:05:23 PM
I'm guessing the two remaining Missionary Man volumes will include all the rest of the stories, as we've had/will be getting complete collections of Devlin Waugh, Shimura & Armitage.

On the subject of Armitage, I enjoyed City of the Dead, although it felt a bit odd reading these stories first, as some knowledge of the characters is assumed. Great to see some of John Cooper's work in the collection though, and there's a lovely tribute to him by Molch-R.

And possibly an obscure question, but I want to ask in an attempt to join the dots - is the female assassin who appears in The Mancunian Candidate and The Underground the same one who appeared in the Virgin novel Wetworks and a one-off story, whose name escapes me, that was drawn by Steve Sampson?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 08 March, 2017, 01:07:27 AM
Hope all of missionary man is collected - love that series
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Davgardo on 08 March, 2017, 09:16:08 AM
Enjoyed the Mean Machine release, my only criticism being that its very one note: 'Izzat so?'
Great, varied art with (mostly) decent repro.

It was nice to re-visit The Three Amigos: I'd forgotten that the recently resurrected Pa and Junior made an appearance. Surely the biggest authorial pratfall in John Wagner's career. I take it we just try and pretend that their return from the dead never happened?

I've not tackled the Armitage volume yet. My only memories of Armitage are very vague ones from the early Sean Phillips strips. Should I hang fire for the next volume of earlier stories or should I dive straight in?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 08 March, 2017, 10:02:21 AM
Personally, the Missionary Man book is my favourite volume so far.
Disagree entirely withGordon's assessment of Alex Ronald's art; I think it is atmospheric and works superbly as storty telling comic art.
The partial negative of having a chunk of Dredd att the back was offset by the fact that they were three stone cold Ron Smith classics which could only have been bettered with colour centrespreads for Shanty Town.
There are so many more great Dredd Cursed Earth stories that don't look like they will make the cut but I don't want them at the expense of Missionary Man.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 08 March, 2017, 12:04:10 PM
Just to add to the confusion the official Facebook page has just published the covers for Missionary Man- Treasure of the Sierra Murder and Tour of Duty-MegaCity Justice.
I believe these are the final books in the two trilogies, the second parts of which we are due to receive on the next delivery, unless they have changed their running order, so no idea when we will actually see these.

Tour of Duty credits indicate a good smattering of the Megazine stories that ran at the time and were not included in the Rebellion trades. Excellent news.

The Missionary Man credits and description are more confusing as the stories look to cover the Simon Davis Undertaker run which followed on from the Frank Quitely stories and some of the subsequent one offs.

Begs the question as to what else is going to be in Bad Moon Rising as the chronology is all over the place.
If they include Promised Land I could see the logic with Treasure of the Sierra Murder leading into Goin' South.

Looking forward to see what we get.

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: EDazzling on 08 March, 2017, 12:20:15 PM
Mega City Justice was originally planned to be out on September 27th, and the 13th September slot is currently empty, so it's possible they've teased September's books instead of April's Missionary Man and Tour of Duty books by mistake?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 08 March, 2017, 12:25:30 PM
You may be right. It does feel like a minor cock up when they should be previewing the next two books but any further glimpses and insights are always welcome.
Loving the MM cover by the way.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 08 March, 2017, 12:36:43 PM
Quote from: Davgardo on 08 March, 2017, 09:16:08 AM
I've not tackled the Armitage volume yet. My only memories of Armitage are very vague ones from the early Sean Phillips strips. Should I hang fire for the next volume of earlier stories or should I dive straight in?

I devour each issue as soon as I can after its release, however if you have more patience than me the Armitage stories may read better in order. What I am looking forward to is reading grouped stories in order when the collection is complete. Finding time to do that may be difficult however, given the hopeful full release of the 2000AD collection!

Quote from: Trent on 08 March, 2017, 12:25:30 PM
You may be right. It does feel like a minor cock up when they should be previewing the next two books but any further glimpses and insights are always welcome.
Loving the MM cover by the way.

Ditto. Is it John Ridgway?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 08 March, 2017, 02:22:13 PM
Yup. Not featured in the book I believe but a good image nonetheless.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richard on 09 March, 2017, 12:28:41 AM
Just checked prog 547, and the Oz pages were in that order originally. They're clearly not meant to be. So in fact there has never been a version of Oz with the pages in the right order. In 30 years.  :o
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tony Angelino on 09 March, 2017, 04:43:21 PM
Sounds like an idea for Rebellion's next hardback "Judge Dredd: Oz Reordered 30th Anniversary Edition".

Either that or do another Cursed Earth only with select pages in the wrong order.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 09 March, 2017, 05:00:15 PM
Meow.

If people didnt want it they wouldnt buy it
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tony Angelino on 09 March, 2017, 05:13:14 PM
I was only joking.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 09 March, 2017, 07:09:21 PM
Quote from: The Monarch on 05 March, 2017, 01:09:31 AM
city of the deads jumbled mess was fixed so kudos on hatchett and the repro boys for that

Alas, not entirely - Efil Drago San's intro is bungled, it appears about 4 pages after it should. Mildly annoying, but City of the Dead is such a good Grand Guignol romp that it doesn't really detract.  Probably the best thing about Judgement Day.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Leigh S on 09 March, 2017, 07:42:50 PM
Quote from: Frank on 05 March, 2017, 03:46:33 PM
Quote from: Magnetica on 05 March, 2017, 02:36:16 PM
Quote from: Timothy on 05 March, 2017, 01:16:05 PM
One episode of Oz had the centre spread printed with the pages the wrong way round. This wasn't corrected in the Mega Collection.

Which chapter was that?

Part 3 (http://i.imgur.com/xlJ0lbY.jpg) (547), by Will Simpson, Garry Leach, and Dave Elliott. If you buy a digital copy, it can be fixed at the (virtual) click of a button (http://i.imgur.com/DJKXJ0P.jpg).

Also wrong in the 80s Titan collection!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 11 March, 2017, 08:30:50 AM
that sucks it does read better than it did back in its first run though
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: JaHawkDroid on 11 March, 2017, 05:25:40 PM
So as I continue my journey through my (now thus far complete) mega collection, I have realised that the Low Life books are my favourite comics, probably ever. Can I get some recommendations for anything else that is the same sort of thing within the Mega Collection? Just tried to get into Heavy Metal Dredd, but I clearly am not in the mood for it right now, so would welcome something more Low Life-y.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Steve Green on 11 March, 2017, 05:38:33 PM
Trifecta is the obvious one, split between Al Ewing, Rob Williams (Lowlife writer) and Si Spurrier. Dirty Frank is a major character in this.

Would really need to read the Simping Detective first as well.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: JaHawkDroid on 11 March, 2017, 06:14:56 PM
Quote from: Steve Green on 11 March, 2017, 05:38:33 PM
Trifecta is the obvious one, split between Al Ewing, Rob Williams (Lowlife writer) and Si Spurrier. Dirty Frank is a major character in this.

Would really need to read the Simping Detective first as well.

Did those after finishing the Low Life stuff. Simping Detective is fantastic as well.

I think I just really really like the concept of Wally Judges.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 11 March, 2017, 06:41:41 PM
There is still the volume called Undercover Brothers to come (delivery after next) which has Lenny Zero and other Wally Squad stories.

Elsewhere in the collection, The Pit has strong elements of undercover judging and still to come are Independent Operators and Brothers of the Blood which might work for you.

Not too much elsewhere but the Meg has featured a few DeMarco stories not yet reprinted anywhere if you wanted to track them down (check Barney).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Smith on 12 March, 2017, 05:49:19 AM
I think some of it showed up in Meg supplements.In #343 and #344.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 12 March, 2017, 07:45:36 PM
i can see the demarco stories showing up in independant operators actually
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 12 March, 2017, 08:10:40 PM
I thought that the remaining DeMarco stories might be there too.
Tricky to judge which way they are going to go with volumes as 'Independent Operators' covers a broad spectrum.
We might have Tempest or Marauder in there or even the likes of BritCit Babes or Pussyfoot 5.
Find out in due course I guess.

Looking over Barney made me wonder if Harmony is going to make the cut as the complete run would fit a single volume perfectly. Don't particularly want it despite Hairsine and Murray art, but hell, if Calhab can qualify!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Klegg Bait on 14 March, 2017, 01:50:55 AM
Oooh.  Where can one find deMarco stories?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: levers on 16 March, 2017, 04:24:13 PM
Arrgghh! No MC in Forbidden Planet today. Apparently they've not had it in for a number of weeks. Am i going to have to order any remaining issues from Hachette direct?!!!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: levers on 16 March, 2017, 04:29:10 PM
Plenty of Calhab Justice and Cursed Earth Carnage left, although they appear to have finally shifted all copies of The Heavy Mob!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Neil C on 16 March, 2017, 05:42:30 PM
Quote from: levers on 16 March, 2017, 04:24:13 PM
Arrgghh! No MC in Forbidden Planet today. Apparently they've not had it in for a number of weeks. Am i going to have to order any remaining issues from Hachette direct?!!!
Not if you don't want to. Any decent newsagent will be able to place a order for you.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Anthony Garnon on 16 March, 2017, 09:24:00 PM
I work at Forbidden Planet. We still stock it in stores and online!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: levers on 17 March, 2017, 08:06:29 AM
Thanks! Which store? It was the London store that seemed to be having problems with supply.

Quote from: Anthony Garnon on 16 March, 2017, 09:24:00 PM
I work at Forbidden Planet. We still stock it in stores and online!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: levers on 17 March, 2017, 08:14:36 AM
Heads up! Hachette are indeed listing Mega City Justice as the next release!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 17 March, 2017, 09:34:52 AM
Quote from: levers on 17 March, 2017, 08:14:36 AM
Heads up! Hachette are indeed listing Mega City Justice as the next release!
So it's likely the next one will be a reversal on the Missionary Man book as well then!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Bad City Blue on 17 March, 2017, 09:50:34 AM
Wow... I just read Armitage: Day Of The Dead (the main story). What a load of cack. Confusing, meandering and boring. The art is pretty good but it reminds me why I and many others didn't really like 2000AD in the 90s
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 17 March, 2017, 10:10:49 AM
Quote from: Bad City Blue on 17 March, 2017, 09:50:34 AM
Wow... I just read Armitage: Day Of The Dead (the main story). What a load of cack. Confusing, meandering and boring. The art is pretty good but it reminds me why I and many others didn't really like 2000AD in the 90s

It wasn't in 2000AD!  And I thought (and still think) City of the Dead is one of the better uses of the Dreddworld idea. Can be a bit painful at timeswatching Gillespie learning his craft, but there are moments of greatness, and at least he goes all-out avoiding the brown murk. I actually have more of a problem with the middle stories in the volume, which don't seem to make a lot of sense.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 17 March, 2017, 10:58:30 AM
Quote from: TordelBack on 17 March, 2017, 10:10:49 AM
Quote from: Bad City Blue on 17 March, 2017, 09:50:34 AM
Wow... I just read Armitage: Day Of The Dead (the main story). What a load of cack. Confusing, meandering and boring. The art is pretty good but it reminds me why I and many others didn't really like 2000AD in the 90s

It wasn't in 2000AD!  And I thought (and still think) City of the Dead is one of the better uses of the Dreddworld idea. Can be a bit painful at timeswatching Gillespie learning his craft, but there are moments of greatness, and at least he goes all-out avoiding the brown murk. I actually have more of a problem with the middle stories in the volume, which don't seem to make a lot of sense.

Just about made it through the second major story in the book last night. Pretty dull stuff I'm afraid.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Bad City Blue on 17 March, 2017, 11:19:51 AM
Quote from: Tomwe on 17 March, 2017, 10:58:30 AM
Quote from: TordelBack on 17 March, 2017, 10:10:49 AM
Quote from: Bad City Blue on 17 March, 2017, 09:50:34 AM
Wow... I just read Armitage: Day Of The Dead (the main story). What a load of cack. Confusing, meandering and boring. The art is pretty good but it reminds me why I and many others didn't really like 2000AD in the 90s

It wasn't in 2000AD!  And I thought (and still think) City of the Dead is one of the better uses of the Dreddworld idea. Can be a bit painful at timeswatching Gillespie learning his craft, but there are moments of greatness, and at least he goes all-out avoiding the brown murk. I actually have more of a problem with the middle stories in the volume, which don't seem to make a lot of sense.

Just about made it through the second major story in the book last night. Pretty dull stuff I'm afraid.

I think that's the main thing - dull.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 17 March, 2017, 03:42:01 PM
 Armitage has always seemed much better in concept than in execution. I like the duality in both the main characters, I enjoy the amusing supporting cast, I like the civil war background to everything, I like the criminal underpinnings and class war of Brit Cit Justice Dept... but the actual stories and dialogue often leave me cold.

That said, I thought City of the Dead itself actually delivered, pulling together all sorts of threads, acknowledging Judgement Day to an extent that the Dredd strip never really does, and throwing in some truly crazy designs and classical allusions. And all done with bright, energetic and supremely colourful art.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Anthony Garnon on 17 March, 2017, 04:08:21 PM
Quote from: levers on 17 March, 2017, 08:06:29 AM
Thanks! Which store? It was the London store that seemed to be having problems with supply.

Quote from: Anthony Garnon on 16 March, 2017, 09:24:00 PM
I work at Forbidden Planet. We still stock it in stores and online!

Head office. The London store gets the books not on the Wednesday, but the Thursday. On some occasions it's the Friday. It's down to how Hachette distribute, and beyond FP control.

But 100% the books come in... I get them every time! I picked up Mean Machine there late last night.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: sheridan on 17 March, 2017, 11:45:41 PM
Quote from: Anthony Garnon on 16 March, 2017, 09:24:00 PM
I work at Forbidden Planet. We still stock it in stores and online!

Welcome to the forum!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Anthony Garnon on 18 March, 2017, 12:28:20 AM
Quote from: sheridan on 17 March, 2017, 11:45:41 PM
Quote from: Anthony Garnon on 16 March, 2017, 09:24:00 PM
I work at Forbidden Planet. We still stock it in stores and online!

Welcome to the forum!

Thank you!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 18 March, 2017, 04:31:13 PM
Great to see the cover of my first Prog (377) used for Mean Machine, and reading Dredd Angel again brought back many happy memories. The rest of the volume is great too, Mean's antics often making me laugh out loud. And an interesting comparison to Jack Point with Mean Streets.

It's not clear on the Wikipedia page where the source of stating the next Missionary Man issue is Bad Moon Rising came from, so I guess it will be Treasure of the Sierra Murder, meaning we'll be getting the stories in reverse order. Oh well.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 18 March, 2017, 09:53:48 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 18 March, 2017, 04:31:13 PM
It's 's not clear on the Wikipedia page where the source of stating the next Missionary Man issue is Bad Moon Rising came from, so I guess it will be Treasure of the Sierra Murder, meaning we'll be getting the stories in reverse order. Oh well.

There were <ref> posts on each of the listings until recently when someone decided they weren't needed anymore  ::)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 19 March, 2017, 05:01:18 AM
Yep, official site has Tour of Duty: Mega City Justice as the next book which strongly implies the next book will be Treasure of the Sierra Murder.
Quite why these two trilogies are being released in such a wierd order is beyond me, but 2 very strong books coming in a week or so nonetheless.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: JaHawkDroid on 19 March, 2017, 10:12:07 AM
The Tour of Duty release order has completely thrown me. I've had the first (second?) ToD book for months now, but not read it because the second (first?) volume isn't in the collection yet.

It's baffling to me.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 19 March, 2017, 04:47:45 PM
It's nuts, and I hope they don't do this for continuity heavy series in the 2000 AD partwork. (By all means split Armitage/Tour of Duty, but at least release the things in order.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 20 March, 2017, 09:32:23 PM
what threw me off is what should have been the second mm book being the third in spine order its strange
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 23 March, 2017, 07:34:10 PM
Latest books turned up today and are much as expected.

MegaCity Justice includes the Meg run of Cursed Earth stories that, while variable in quality, add a depth to the saga and Dredd's plight. Brilliant to have them included at last.
Would have been nice to have Relentless in there too for completeness, not to mention Colin Wilson's sublime art.

Treasure of the Sierra Murder is a similarly satisfying volume featuring unadulterated Missionary Man.
Most of the Meg run is here, bar  the Quitely stories and Marc Wigmore's Mortal Combat.
Presume the 'first' volume will have Quitely, Promised Land, Place of the Dead (192 pages) with question marks over Mortal Combat and Silence, but either way it looks like we will be getting virtually the entire run.
Not a series without some major dips in form but I have long hankered for a collection beyond those reprinted to death.
Very, very happy.

Backing articles are covers in both books, an article on mutants and an, all too brief, interview with Simon Davis whose formative work is featured heavily in the volume.

A great pair of books even if the release order is nuts.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tombo on 23 March, 2017, 10:59:11 PM
Quote from: The Monarch on 12 March, 2017, 07:45:36 PM
i can see the demarco stories showing up in independant operators actually

A couple of pages (and weeks late) but the Demarco stories were reprinted in the Simping Detective volume of the Mega Collection.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 25 March, 2017, 08:41:48 AM
not all of them
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tombo on 26 March, 2017, 02:17:04 AM
Quote from: The Monarch on 25 March, 2017, 08:41:48 AM
not all of them

Huh, so they weren't  :-[.  I'd completely forgotten about three entire stories (The Whisperer, Deja Vu, and Damocles).  I guess they could show up in "Independent Operators".
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 26 March, 2017, 08:41:11 AM
I always find it surprising how quiet this thread is, given the interest in the series.
Has no one received their books or just have nothing to say?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: JaHawkDroid on 26 March, 2017, 09:36:21 AM
Quote from: Trent on 26 March, 2017, 08:41:11 AM
I always find it surprising how quiet this thread is, given the interest in the series.
Has no one received their books or just have nothing to say?

I think at this point, there is a small flurry of regular activity when new books come out, then it dies down for a couple weeks until the next flurry. The issue is that we have discussed the contents of the collection to death, and know exactly what's coming up for the most part, so there's very little to discuss beyond opinions of the latest story, and that can turn into a shit-flinging contest very easily for more diversive books, or just a love-in for adored stories.

Just wait until the new Hachette series (hopefully) goes national. Then we'll be discussing the ins and outs of that series, and what could possibly be coming up.


That all said; here's an opinion on a book.
I finally read Wilderlands after much umming and ahhing over it, and was pleasantly surprised by the whole affair. I presume it works better collected than it did on release, but I enjoyed it.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 26 March, 2017, 09:50:06 AM
Of the remaining books we are pretty certain on the contents of about half of them so there is still plently of room for speculation.
Take Independent Operators or Weird Science. As far as I know that is all we have on those books so far.
Other than Lenny Zero and Wally Squad (112 pages combined) what is in the next book?
Add to that 3 or 4 volumes we don't even have titles for, only the vaguest idea based on where they fall in the collection and I would say there is plenty to talk about.
Far more than I would expect at this stage.

Apologies if this comes over as preachy or overly anal, had a rough chemo last time and have spent far too much time the past week in bed contemplating my navel.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 26 March, 2017, 01:35:34 PM
That'd be more than enough to make anyone cranky, Trent, but actually your question is perfectly reasonable.  For myself, I'm getting volumes as they surface in the newsagents, still cherry-picking, so I'm often coming to these a fortnight or month after you subbers. I do try to comment on each volume I get, but I'm only now working through the last stories in the Armitage volume, skipping the Mean Machine, and waiting on MC Justice. 

On that note, I'm pleased to have got the Armitage volume, and the stories definitely work better in collected form than I remember, but in the middle of the volume I suspect that's because the Parkhouse-drawn procedurals go on and on and on and it's easier to get through them in one chunk than it was in the original publication schedule.  Despite an obvious attempt to get back the Morse side of the inspiration I'm afraid the plots aren't really worth the page count.

On the MC Justice volume front, do we get the Christmas stories? 
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mute77 on 26 March, 2017, 02:29:55 PM
Could anyone tell me if the john ridgway missionary man story called "place of the dead" has been collected yet? Id love to re-read that one..
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Steve Green on 26 March, 2017, 02:52:02 PM
Quote from: Trent on 26 March, 2017, 09:50:06 AM
Of the remaining books we are pretty certain on the contents of about half of them so there is still plently of room for speculation.
Take Independent Operators or Weird Science. As far as I know that is all we have on those books so far.
Other than Lenny Zero and Wally Squad (112 pages combined) what is in the next book?
Add to that 3 or 4 volumes we don't even have titles for, only the vaguest idea based on where they fall in the collection and I would say there is plenty to talk about.
Far more than I would expect at this stage.

Apologies if this comes over as preachy or overly anal, had a rough chemo last time and have spent far too much time the past week in bed contemplating my navel.

I guess the Domino/Black Ops character might fall under Independent Operators.

Maybe Bato Loco or Marauder?

Possibly the Shirley Temple of Doom story?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Trent on 26 March, 2017, 03:17:10 PM
Shirley Temple of Doom would probably fit in The Hunting Party best to my mind.
Not sure what else, non-Dredd we might expect;
Marauder
Tempest
Pan-African Judges
Bato Loco
Harke and Burr
Harmony

There are several others that either had short runs or I simply can't bring myself to type.

I would MUCH prefer another 2 or 3 themed Dredd books as I think these work really well as a solid read and sets the collection apart from the Case Files and existing trades (mostly).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 26 March, 2017, 03:43:33 PM
Quote from: TordelBack on 26 March, 2017, 01:35:34 PM
the Parkhouse-drawn procedurals

Cooper-drawn, of course. Apologies.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tony Angelino on 27 March, 2017, 10:36:39 PM
Despite writing to Hachette, cancelling my subscription in a rage over a certain Garth Ennis strip a while ago, they are still sending me the two issues every month (they're still charging me as well).

I received my latest parcel today and I opened it in a fury only to find the Mean Machine volume. Not only Dredd Angel but the Three Amigos included as well. Great stuff. I think the reproduction on Three Amigos could have been better but overall can't complain.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jim_Campbell on 27 March, 2017, 10:41:11 PM
Quote from: Tony Angelino on 27 March, 2017, 10:36:39 PM
they are still sending me the two issues every month (they're still charging me as well).

Cancel the direct debit. They'll soon stop sending you books.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tony Angelino on 27 March, 2017, 10:44:55 PM
That would have been the best option. I'm going to have to check the upcoming volumes again now though as Mean Machine has put me back in the mood to keep getting them.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: JaHawkDroid on 27 March, 2017, 11:40:28 PM
Quote from: Tony Angelino on 27 March, 2017, 10:44:55 PM
That would have been the best option. I'm going to have to check the upcoming volumes again now though as Mean Machine has put me back in the mood to keep getting them.

If you've got the entire collection so far, I wouldn't be able to resist keeping it going just to have the full set. I'm a completionist though.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Davgardo on 29 March, 2017, 09:01:57 AM
Quote from: Tony Angelino on 27 March, 2017, 10:44:55 PM
That would have been the best option. I'm going to have to check the upcoming volumes again now though as Mean Machine has put me back in the mood to keep getting them.

Cursed Earth Carnage really tested my patience - forking out £10 for Helltrekkers? The Citi-Def art was completely soulless - and that's the worst thing I can say about any artwork. It can be poorly laid out, poorly drawn, badly inked, but soulless? it brought to mind that computer created artwork predicted in The Art of Kenny Who? all those years ago. And Sleeze n Ryder was just an insult.

So I completely get why you might have wavered. But the Mean volume was decent and this month's Tour of Duty and Missionary Man have put me back on board.

It's such a shame we've had the odd dodgy volume. I can understand poor stuff being commissioned in the first place, but reprinting the bad stuff (I think we can all agree that Sleeze, Calhab, Brit Cit Brute, Corps are bad) seems unforgiveable. 
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 29 March, 2017, 10:00:38 AM
I don't get it either. Did the collection jump from 60 to 80 books at some point? Perhaps that would explain it. Regardless, I do find perhaps a half-dozen volumes so far baffling in terms of the majority of included content. (Some others I dislike – such as Heavy Metal Dredd – but I at least get them. That bloody awful Heavy Mob collection, though? Just why?)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: BPP on 29 March, 2017, 11:13:10 AM
A single edition that put together the very best of the non-epics pre-Prog 500 stuff would have been nice. I know we all have it probably several times over but it would have been a good excuse for a perfect edition for the nostalgia market.

Maybe they'll do that as the Dredd element in the 2000ad collection.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: EDazzling on 29 March, 2017, 01:03:16 PM
Quote from: Tony Angelino on 27 March, 2017, 10:44:55 PM
(I think we can all agree that [...] Calhab [is] bad)

Nah, we can't, I thought it was bad *in places*, but it was just as often great, or at least ambitious, or at the very least interesting.

I'm new to Dredd. I only started with case files volume 15 months ago, and maybe that colours my perceptions, but the "bad" volumes full of weird, malformed, truncated, ugly, poorly considered, mutant curios that should by rights never have been published let alone reprinted? LOVE 'EM.

Do I prefer a huge slab of really good comics? Of course, but I genuinely especially look forward to the volumes of weird stuff, especially versus stuff already reprinted in the case files or in their own books.

Maybe it's bad business (but I have no access to sales number and most of you seem to still be here,) but if it is, it's a mistake I'm glad they made.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 30 March, 2017, 08:08:21 AM
I will never say a bad thing about calhab even if it wasn't as good as i remembered it its still fun....well until false dawn anyway
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 31 March, 2017, 11:27:00 PM
So I had the worst week at work that I've had in many years, have resolved to give my notice on Monday etc... but then got home, to my wonderful family. Then quickly escaped those jerks and plonked myself on Dad's  porcelain throne, and got stuck into re-reading Tour of Duty Part Deux...Or so I thought.

Turns out I've only read one of the Ewings (the Christmas one) and the others are probably the best non-Wagner Dredds I've ever read. In fact Sex, Vi and Vidslugs may be a new entry in my top ten Dredd tales, and features my favourite line of the past decade: "He's getting his hole, I tell you! His hoooooole!".

It's a good job I was on the bog at the time, cos i was wetting myself. Amazing one-parter, great characters, great ideas, great laughs and a major contribution to the weight of the storyline. 

Invitation to a Hanging was bloody good too, as were the Morrison and the Williams, neither of which I'd read before, as of course was the other Ewing, the deliriously bleak What's Another Year.

As has often been remarked, these side tales are what make ToD work so very well, and they more than justify this reprinting.

So thanks for cheering me the Drokk up, MegaCollection!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 01 April, 2017, 07:08:15 AM
Tordel, hard to hear. But also GREAT to hear. Can't wait till I get all 3 ToD books!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 02 April, 2017, 12:36:31 PM
Echoing Tordelback, ToD:MCJ is one of the best of the recent run of issues. Great stories in the opening Cursed Earth set, then the return to the city sees Wagner and the art team all at the top of their game.

By my reckoning there are five issues as yet unknown, volumes 58, 69-71 and 78, any guesses what they might be given their placings in the collection?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 02 April, 2017, 09:54:07 PM
Btw, does Mega City Justice end with Hot night in 95? The return of Barbara.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: EDazzling on 02 April, 2017, 10:15:52 PM
No. I hope it turns up somewhere in the Mega Collection, I don't want to buy a Day of Chaos: Fourth Faction paperback just for that one story.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 03 April, 2017, 05:48:17 AM
strange! imo shouldve been the ending to ToD. Oh well, i'm sure ill manage. looking forward to reading the whole tod, waiting till i get all 3.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 03 April, 2017, 10:20:27 AM
Hmmm, I've never read Hot Night, so didn't consider it being a missing part of ToD. As I understand it it's Hershey's (non-robotic) return to the Meg after Sinfield's arrest, so I can see the point - does it have more to do with that story than just tidying that loose end? As it is, she only shipped out midway through the Backlash volume, so having her back on the streets at the end of the second may seem a bit rapid. Similarly, has Streets of Dan Francisco been included in the MC yet? I can't recall if it was in the Origins volume - if not it could sit nicely in Mutants in MC-1.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dandontdare on 03 April, 2017, 10:51:45 AM
I just re-read the complete ToD in the trades - surprised I never noticed that it features both photon torpedoes and phasers, both of which jar slightly - there must be other cool weapon names they could come up with!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Legendary Shark on 03 April, 2017, 01:07:10 PM
Lawsers!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: James Stacey on 03 April, 2017, 01:33:38 PM
I was going to go with Photon Lawpedos :D
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Legendary Shark on 03 April, 2017, 01:48:08 PM
Hersheyonet - they don't like it up 'em.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 03 April, 2017, 05:39:20 PM
Quote from: TordelBack on 03 April, 2017, 10:20:27 AM
Hmmm, I've never read Hot Night, so didn't consider it being a missing part of ToD. As I understand it it's Hershey's (non-robotic) return to the Meg after Sinfield's arrest, so I can see the point - does it have more to do with that story than just tidying that loose end?

Here's the thing. I didn't remember it correctly. Somehow I remembered it as if Francisco resigned after Tour of duty. Been a while since I read either. Still waiting to be able to read Origins, ToD, DoC and Dark Justice in one sitting.

Reading it now, it makes sense why they felt they could omit it. ToD and DoC flows together better with skinning room and the Pj Mabe story, and Hershey's return becomes more power in DoC: Aftermath.

Regardless. It's a good story. The sort of Judge procedural I really like. Wouldn't mind it if it showed up in the mega collection or ultimate collection.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Timothy on 03 April, 2017, 09:34:39 PM
So whatever became of Judge March?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Swerty on 06 April, 2017, 11:50:16 PM
Issue 61 revealed "Fast food"
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Colin YNWA on 08 April, 2017, 02:04:59 PM
Hi I was wondering whether any of you lovely folks getting the Mega Collection could help me. Has anyone received issue 59 yet? Just seen the ad on the back if this weeks 2000ad and was wondering what specific content was in there?

This is the second Missionary Man collection isn't it? I have all the Megazine volume 2 stuff, I've also go the prog stuff but was wondering whether this volume gets to the stuff that appears after Missionary Man returned to the Prog? The creator list and the fact that it uses a John Ridgway image on the cover suggests it might? If so I'll defo be bagging this.

Thanks in advance.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: GordonR on 08 April, 2017, 02:38:33 PM
Mine just arrived.  Despite the John Ridgeway art on the cover, his story (I can't remember its name, but it was the last ever MM story) isn't in this book.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Steve Green on 08 April, 2017, 03:05:46 PM
Place of the Dead?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: GordonR on 08 April, 2017, 03:14:47 PM
Quote from: Steve Green on 08 April, 2017, 03:05:46 PM
Place of the Dead?

Sounds likely.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Colin YNWA on 08 April, 2017, 03:49:17 PM
Thanks folks - seemed optimistic to think it'd get to the end. What story does it get up to?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 09 April, 2017, 12:35:31 AM
wow that 1st mm books gonna be weird with the frank quitley stories in it and promised land and place of the dead in it too
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 09 April, 2017, 02:49:41 PM
So are the mm stories not complete in this collection?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 09 April, 2017, 06:44:00 PM
they are so far....just in a very very bizarre order.

the only things we're missing are the quitely stuff, the promised land, a couple of one offs and the final mm story

this book specifically has all the meg stories apart from the ones mentioned above
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: GordonR on 09 April, 2017, 07:09:18 PM
Looking at the roll call of artists for that MM book shows what happens to old artdroids--


Simon Davis - still going strong
Garry Marshall - works in animation
Henry Flint - still going strong
Sean Longcroft - no idea
Jon Beeston - works in animation
Jamie Grant - colours Frank Quitely''s work, owns a Glasgow art studio
Charlie Gillespie - games industry
Marc Wigmore - no idea
Christian Bravery - games industry
Trev Hairsine - working for the US publishers?

Draw comics, kids!  A bright future awaits!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Legendary Shark on 09 April, 2017, 07:19:15 PM
If I could draw comics, do you think I'd be faffing about gradually learning I can't write them, either?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Smith on 09 April, 2017, 07:55:17 PM
Quote from: GordonR on 09 April, 2017, 07:09:18 PM
Looking at the roll call of artists for that MM book shows what happens to old artdroids--


Simon Davis - still going strong
Garry Marshall - works in animation
Henry Flint - still going strong
Sean Longcroft - no idea
Jon Beeston - works in animation
Jamie Grant - colours Frank Quitely''s work, owns a Glasgow art studio
Charlie Gillespie - games industry
Marc Wigmore - no idea
Christian Bravery - games industry
Trev Hairsine - working for the US publishers?

Draw comics, kids!  A bright future awaits!
I notice a trend there.Everyone moved to gaming and animation.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: CalHab on 10 April, 2017, 01:17:14 PM
Quote from: Smith on 09 April, 2017, 07:55:17 PM
I notice a trend there.Everyone moved to gaming and animation where the money is.

Fixed that for you.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Smith on 10 April, 2017, 02:26:21 PM
Well,that goes without saying.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moly on 12 April, 2017, 06:39:41 PM
Anyone know when the next issues are due to be dispatched
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 13 April, 2017, 07:33:12 PM
Just finished up on Mean machine. Gosh, I feel lucky I didn't read those when I was little. My phobia of cyborgs would'v crushed me. His son getting the dial... Yuck...

But I enjoyed it! Constantly mental, I didn't even flinch when parts of mean headbutting the other mean through a page, or the angel family was revealed to have been brought back by fire worshippers. Good selection of stories. Dredd Angel made for a great opener, and 3 amigos for a suitable ending.

I was also set on seeing Dredd Angel in the Brothers of the blood collection, but what do you know.

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 13 April, 2017, 08:49:05 PM
well the intro explains the weirdness of the mm books.

apparently the new book is a showcase of sb davis art and presumably the non davis stories are there just to say all of mm is finally collected

still an odd way to collect them mind
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 14 April, 2017, 12:01:03 PM
Quote from: The Monarch on 13 April, 2017, 08:49:05 PM
well the intro explains the weirdness of the mm books.

apparently the new book is a showcase of sb davis art and presumably the non davis stories are there just to say all of mm is finally collected

still an odd way to collect them mind

Yes, and there's an interview with Simon as well. Atmosphere-wise, my favourite story in this volume was Night of the Hunter, but I'm going to have to read all the stories chronologically after all three volumes are issued.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Rio De Fideldo on 15 April, 2017, 10:52:06 PM
Quick question. Did anyone else's copy of Cursed Earth Carnage have duplicate pages of Citi-Def instead of the first pages of Sleeze and Ryder?

Not that bothered to read Sleeze an Ryder but preferred it to Citi-Def.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: EDazzling on 23 April, 2017, 07:03:49 PM
Fast food and undercover brothers have started pooping up with resellers, anybody here got them and want to spoil the contents list?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Neil C on 24 April, 2017, 01:10:53 PM
Quote from: EDazzling on 23 April, 2017, 07:03:49 PM
Fast food and undercover brothers have started pooping up with resellers, anybody here got them and want to spoil the contents list?
Pooping?  :o
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 24 April, 2017, 01:44:51 PM
Probably an apt description for Heavy Mob, but hopefully not these two.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: EDazzling on 24 April, 2017, 03:59:00 PM
Quote from: Neil C on 24 April, 2017, 01:10:53 PM
Pooping?  :o

don't kinkshame me and my ebay seller
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 26 April, 2017, 02:08:39 PM
The two big stories in undercover brothers (and i use big sparingly in one of them) is all of lenny zero and brit cit babes

also included is the first ever wally squad story. Driving desire, and the shirley temple of doom so pretty good book despite brit cit babes being in it
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: EDazzling on 26 April, 2017, 02:46:47 PM
Brit-Cit Babes... I really enjoy Steve Sampson's aesthetic, but I think that series was hamstrung by them making something fairly bland. With that title and his propensity for pin-up stylings it could have been quite a successful grand-guinol exploitation flick style thing

Fast Food is volume 71 and contains:
The League of Fatties;
Anatomy of a Crime;
Requiem for a Heavyweight;
The Eat of the Night;
Magnificent Obsession;
The Bazooka;
Fat Christmas;
Hot Night in 95; (!!!)
Fast Food;
Fat Fathers
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 26 April, 2017, 02:49:20 PM
I quite liked Brit-Cit Babes at the time. Not upset to see it get a reprint. Fast Food sounds pretty good, too.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Legendary Shark on 26 April, 2017, 03:15:14 PM
Just reading through Mega City Justice and proud to see my great, great grandjuve's graffiti tag on a pillar in The Talented Mayor Ambrose story. Thanks Colin! (I do so miss the Yap Shop.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moldovangerbil on 26 April, 2017, 04:59:01 PM
Anyone had Fast Food and Undercover Brothers yet?  My Hachette account shows them as being added on the 15th but still no sign of them.  Normally, the books get added to the account on a Saturday and they've turned up by a week on Monday, but no sign of them yet this month.

Ta
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: dweezil2 on 26 April, 2017, 05:22:07 PM
Quote from: moldovangerbil on 26 April, 2017, 04:59:01 PM
Anyone had Fast Food and Undercover Brothers yet?  My Hachette account shows them as being added on the 15th but still no sign of them.  Normally, the books get added to the account on a Saturday and they've turned up by a week on Monday, but no sign of them yet this month.

Ta

Still waiting on mine too.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 27 April, 2017, 06:53:38 AM
Nothing here either. Expected it to a little late what with the Bank Holidays.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 27 April, 2017, 09:51:28 AM
No books here either yet.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: levers on 27 April, 2017, 12:23:21 PM
Has Undercover Brothers reached Forbidden Planet yet?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 27 April, 2017, 12:29:12 PM
It wasn't in the Dublin branch today, or in Easons newsagents, unless I missed it.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: levers on 27 April, 2017, 03:32:36 PM
Thanks, my local Smith's that used to stock the MC had the latest Marvel issue on time. Seems strange that the MC's been held up!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 27 April, 2017, 06:52:22 PM
I got my copy from my local newsie....
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 28 April, 2017, 10:55:12 AM
Undercover Brothers and Fast Food have arrived this morning   :D
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Anthony Garnon on 28 April, 2017, 07:09:01 PM
Quote from: levers on 27 April, 2017, 12:23:21 PM
Has Undercover Brothers reached Forbidden Planet yet?

Yeah, it's in FP stores. Issue 59 never reached them mind, due to a distributor issue.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 28 April, 2017, 11:32:14 PM
What volume number is Fast Food? I'm placing a guess at 78....
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 28 April, 2017, 11:51:40 PM
Fast Food is 71 on the spine.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Davgardo on 29 April, 2017, 08:44:36 AM
Great couple of volumes and the colour spreads in Fast Food very welcome. It's always been odd when some centre spreads are in colour and others aren't, and when we get 2 releases where one has The League of Fatties, Requiem for a Heavyweight and Tony Tubbs in colour and the other has The Wally Squad in b&w it's particularly perplexing.

Minor niggle with the latter that I'm sure no-one else will give a toss about: Wally Squad's 3 episodes have all clearly been inked by Brendan McCarthy. Episode 1 is only credited to Brett Ewins and the error is then repeated in the new pre-story credits. Well, when I said minor niggle - VERY minor!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 29 April, 2017, 10:25:42 AM
I think it's always hard to know where Brett Ewins/McCarthy/Riot begin & end. Just wish we had more of their combined genius. Love the Undercover brothers book. Just seeing the names Ewins, Jock, Willsher & Sampson on the cover shows the strength & diversity of this series. That Patrick Goddard spine is starting to look good.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 02 May, 2017, 08:17:05 AM
I enjoyed Undercover Brothers in the main. The repro on The Wally Squad isn't brilliant, but I suppose it's down to whatever material is available to work with. The Lenny Zero stories are great, and good to see Max Normal pop up - does he feature on the spine image? Haven't spotted him yet. Brit-Cit Babes isn't bad, I just found it a bit dull, but Driving Desire and Shirley Temple of Doom round the volume off nicely.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 02 May, 2017, 10:01:21 AM
I got mine and delved into Fast Food first. It's a really fun book, with little that I didn't enjoy. The repro is mostly good, bar a few pages of B+W art that has lost detail (one DPS being particularly obvious in that regard). Hot Night in 95 seems oddly placed here, though, and I really don't understand Fast Food being positioned after the follow-up tale. Bit weird,

Only had a flick through Undercover Brothers so far and read the initial Wally Squad tale. I'm looking forward to this in the main.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 08 May, 2017, 02:09:34 PM
The Hachette page is now showing issue 62 - Tales from the Black Museum. Difficult to make out the creators without squinting though!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 08 May, 2017, 02:12:48 PM
That's exciting - I loved the Mean Machine one.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: EDazzling on 08 May, 2017, 02:52:47 PM
The entire Tales of The Black Museum page-count to date is a hair under 250 pages, it's unlikely this'll have *all* of them, right? What's the highest page count we've had so far?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 08 May, 2017, 09:20:15 PM
The PJ Maybe volume looks pretty chunky & has about 236 pages so I guess it's not impossible. More likely they'll ditch a couple of strips as they'd need room for  the credits pages. As long as the David Roach strip is in there! This is a really cool idea for a volume..
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 12 May, 2017, 08:53:31 AM
Issue 63 - 'Brothers of the Blood'  is up on the Hachette website. Great cover using the classic "He ain't heavy..." speech balloon!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: JamesC on 12 May, 2017, 11:17:28 AM
Quote from: EDazzling on 08 May, 2017, 02:52:47 PM
The entire Tales of The Black Museum page-count to date is a hair under 250 pages, it's unlikely this'll have *all* of them, right? What's the highest page count we've had so far?

Weren't some of them in the 'Horror Stories' volume though.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 12 May, 2017, 12:28:52 PM
Quote from: JamesC on 12 May, 2017, 11:17:28 AM
Quote from: EDazzling on 08 May, 2017, 02:52:47 PM
The entire Tales of The Black Museum page-count to date is a hair under 250 pages, it's unlikely this'll have *all* of them, right? What's the highest page count we've had so far?

Weren't some of them in the 'Horror Stories' volume though.

Looking up the contents of Horror Stories on Wikipedia: The Haunting of Sector House 9; Judgement; Road Stop; The Fear that Made Milwaukee Famous!; The Vampire Effect; Horror House; Christmas with the Blints; The Jigsaw Murders; The Beating Heart; don't think any of those fall under Tales...., but it looks like it'll be a great companion volume.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 13 May, 2017, 03:44:51 PM
Really enjoyed Fast Food, great stories and art, and some of the most biting (ha) satire to appear in the Dredd canon. Good that Hot Night in 95 has appeared in the collection too.

Now the next two issues are known and most of the 70s, it's the rest of the 60s that are still to be announced. Hard to believe we're into the home straight now, but hopefully the 2000ad collection will become a full run.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Neil C on 15 May, 2017, 06:19:20 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 13 May, 2017, 03:44:51 PM
Hard to believe we're into the home straight now
Hachette's Marvel Ultimate Graphic Novel Collection, originally slated for 60 issues, has just been extended yet again to 170.

If JDMC ends at 80, I'll eat my hat.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: dweezil2 on 15 May, 2017, 06:35:21 PM
Quote from: Neil C on 15 May, 2017, 06:19:20 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 13 May, 2017, 03:44:51 PM
Hard to believe we're into the home straight now
Hachette's Marvel Ultimate Graphic Novel Collection, originally slated for 60 issues, has just been extended yet again to 170.

If JDMC ends at 80, I'll eat my hat.

If they extend the run, I'll probably have to!!!!  :o
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moly on 15 May, 2017, 06:57:50 PM
170 issues where would you put them all
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: EDazzling on 15 May, 2017, 09:01:05 PM
How close to the end of the run do the Marvel books get before extensions happen?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: James Stacey on 16 May, 2017, 08:51:32 AM
They don't necessarily tell you. You just start getting numbered issues past what you agreed to in the first place to ensure you don't stop at the number they promised.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 16 May, 2017, 09:28:20 AM
With the Marvel run, was that the case? Didn't they supplement the line with the 'classics' numbering and after complaints give people an opt-out? Judging by the Wiki page, the entire initial 60-book run was done before they continued with volumes, with seemingly the exception of Venom. (This presumably explains why when I bought a complete run of 1–60 on eBay, it oddly came with Venom, #68.)

I'd hope if the Dredd series is profitable enough to continue past 80 books and Rebellion is happy about that, they'd provide a breakpoint at 80 books. If they don't, I think I'd cancel and cherry pick. (I suspect also that the decision on the 2000 AD book run might impact on whether the Dredd series continues. You're somewhat appealing to the same audience, after all.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 18 May, 2017, 11:26:15 PM
Well Fast Food was a decent enough volume, a little silly in places but that was the intention after all.  With that title I had wondered if we were going to have the story from Cursed Earth but was more or less resigned to the fact that we won't see that.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 19 May, 2017, 09:10:22 AM
It would have been inspired to sneak the Burger Wars stories into the back of Fast Food.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 20 May, 2017, 05:27:15 PM
Nice little surprise getting in today.  Next two volumes waiting.  Black Museum was never really my cup of tea but it will be interesting to see how it stands up on a re-read.  Brothers of the Blood on the other hand is one of those volumes that shows the strengths of the series.  The art team does help but it also includes some of the stronger non-epic writing to back it up.  The repro stands up well to boot, including on Return of Rico.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 20 May, 2017, 05:40:45 PM
Quote from: Tjm86 on 20 May, 2017, 05:27:15 PM
Nice little surprise getting in today.  Next two volumes waiting.  Black Museum was never really my cup of tea but it will be interesting to see how it stands up on a re-read.

Is the Rising Angel story included :) ? 

Quote from: Tjm86 on 20 May, 2017, 05:27:15 PMBrothers of the Blood on the other hand is one of those volumes that shows the strengths of the series.  The art team does help but it also includes some of the stronger non-epic writing to back it up.  The repro stands up well to boot, including on Return of Rico.

Hope you don't mind me asking. What stories are included in the volume :) ?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 20 May, 2017, 07:29:17 PM
Return of Rico
Blood Cadets
Sector House
Leaving Rowdy
The End of the Affair (oddly, despite this being in the original BOTB collection)
The Satanist
Brothers of the Blood
Class of '79
Night School
Fifty-Year Man
Six covers
Substantial Molcher essay
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 20 May, 2017, 07:50:28 PM
And Black Museum is:

The Wages of Crime
Headshots
Ruddler's Cuddlers
Burn
Message Inside Reads
Tastes Like Chicken
Feeders and Eaters
God or Gamblers
Shades of Grue
Apres Moy, la Deluge
Short Fuse
Build a Better Mousetrap
The Incredible Teatime Torture Show
Who Do The Voodoo That You Do?
Rat Runs
The Shadow Over James Block
Heart of Iron
Dead Man's Gum
Purgation
A Judge's First Duty
The Invisible Bullet
Slay It With Flowers
The Unfortunate Case Of High-Altitude Albert
Scouting for Bots
The Girl with the Gila Munja Tattoo
Four-page Molcher text feature
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richard on 20 May, 2017, 08:32:24 PM
Molcher, as I already have all of the stories in Brothers of the Blood and therefore won't be buying it, is there any chance that (after it's no longer on sale in shops) you could post that essay on the forum somewhere?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 21 May, 2017, 08:23:01 AM
Thank you IndigoPrime, really looking forward reading these. Some I haven't read (especially the black museum stories)

Quote from: IndigoPrime on 20 May, 2017, 07:29:17 PM
The End of the Affair (oddly, despite this being in the original BOTB collection)

Feels a bit out of place?

I wonder how The satanist reads without Blood and duty (which can be found in the America book).

Wonder if the Eastmeg Vienna abduction story (hinted at in the Total War book) and The forsaken (Said to show up in the collection, and one I really hoped would end Brothers of the blood) will show up elsewhere in the collection.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: sheridan on 21 May, 2017, 12:34:59 PM
Quote from: Richard on 20 May, 2017, 08:32:24 PM
Molcher, as I already have all of the stories in Brothers of the Blood and therefore won't be buying it, is there any chance that (after it's no longer on sale in shops) you could post that essay on the forum somewhere?

Don't most of the volumes have text features?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richard on 21 May, 2017, 01:09:08 PM
Probably they do, but I find the whole bloodline thing quite interesting.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 21 May, 2017, 02:54:59 PM
Quote from: Richard on 20 May, 2017, 08:32:24 PM
Molcher, as I already have all of the stories in Brothers of the Blood and therefore won't be buying it, is there any chance that (after it's no longer on sale in shops) you could post that essay on the forum somewhere?

Suspect that the inclusion of the text pieces and other oddments is intended to tempt a purchase out of those of us who already have the material (if not more than once) -  be rather against Tharg/Hachette's interests to be handing those bits out for free... but there's no harm asking!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richard on 21 May, 2017, 02:59:31 PM
Quote(after it's no longer on sale in shops)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 21 May, 2017, 03:14:11 PM
So you don't buy it while it's in the shops, in anticipation of getting it free later when it's not.  I don't see the difference for Hachette. 

But like I say, Tharg is an inscrutable being, given to fits of odd generosity, so you never know.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Legendary Shark on 21 May, 2017, 05:12:26 PM
Or wait until you can snaffle a second-hand copy off Ebay for five magic beans (plus p&p).

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richard on 21 May, 2017, 07:14:59 PM
If I don't get it free then I don't get it. I'm not going to buy a book full of stories I already have in order to get a few pages of text. But when it's no longer on sale then putting the text online doesn't hurt sales.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: jabish on 21 May, 2017, 07:43:49 PM
Maybe in a couple of years when the whole thing is done and dusted Rebellion might issue the essays as an ebook. I've cherry picked because I own so much of the material in other editions (and space is a consideration) but those books I have bought I've enjoyed the essays. Would like to read the others so an ebook collection would be great.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Legendary Shark on 21 May, 2017, 07:48:49 PM
Buy the book second hand, photocopy or remove the essay, re-sell, donate or throw away the book.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 21 May, 2017, 09:00:27 PM
Quote from: Apestrife on 21 May, 2017, 08:23:01 AMFeels a bit out of place?
It feels oddly out of place, not least in art style. Also, why not run all three strips in one book?

QuoteI wonder how The satanist reads without Blood and duty (which can be found in the America book).
That reads fine, because you get the recaps. A pity Blood & Dury isn't in BOTB though. Even so, is say it's one of the very strongest books in the collection so far.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 22 May, 2017, 06:42:19 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 21 May, 2017, 09:00:27 PM
It feels oddly out of place, not least in art style. Also, why not run all three strips in one book?

I'm having a similar feeling. Perhaps in a sex volume (presuming there'll be one) or something.

Quote from: IndigoPrime on 21 May, 2017, 09:00:27 PMThat reads fine, because you get the recaps. A pity Blood & Dury isn't in BOTB though. Even so, is say it's one of the very strongest books in the collection so far.

Regardless, I quite like how it ends with the 50 year man. Brilliant way of ending the book :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Molch-R on 22 May, 2017, 07:43:45 PM
Quote from: Richard on 20 May, 2017, 08:32:24 PM
Molcher, as I already have all of the stories in Brothers of the Blood and therefore won't be buying it, is there any chance that (after it's no longer on sale in shops) you could post that essay on the forum somewhere?

No chance of that, sorry.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richard on 22 May, 2017, 07:54:47 PM
Not to worry.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 22 May, 2017, 07:59:47 PM
Quote from: Apestrife on 22 May, 2017, 06:42:19 PMI'm having a similar feeling. Perhaps in a sex volume (presuming there'll be one) or something.
A 'love' volume could have been interesting, and also quite heartfelt with things like Bury My Knee.

QuoteRegardless, I quite like how it ends with the 50 year man. Brilliant way of ending the book :)
The ending's great. The book's great as a whole. I just wish they'd put Bloody and Duty in there.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richard on 22 May, 2017, 08:05:54 PM
America isn't a bad home for it though.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 23 May, 2017, 08:38:37 AM
Brothers of the blood was great. Seeing Mean Machine again in Fifty Year old man was great. The written end piece in Black Museum mentions the final mean machine story - which I remember enjoying in the meg. Is this likely to appear in another book? I'd love to see the Molcher text pieces expanded into a whole book. It's been a treat to see Dredd's world & origins through his eyes.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 23 May, 2017, 12:27:28 PM
Looking forward to reading these next two, TFTBM looks like a great bunch of stories.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 23 May, 2017, 01:20:51 PM
Quote from: Richard on 22 May, 2017, 08:05:54 PM
America isn't a bad home for it though.
It certainly fits there, but it's kind of tacked on as filler, broadly due to MacNeil being on art duties, rather than for any logical thematic reason.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Klegg Bait on 23 May, 2017, 02:59:32 PM
I've been having a hard time finding issue 59.  Being in the U.S., Hachette won't ship to me, so I have been collecting via ebay and Amazon.  Forbidden Planet is out of stock.  Are there any other reliable shops I could look at?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Eamonn Clarke on 23 May, 2017, 03:26:04 PM
Is that the Missionary Man issue?
I'll keep an eye out
Title: Re: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: glassstanley on 23 May, 2017, 06:16:03 PM
Quote from: Tjm86 on 20 May, 2017, 05:27:15 PM
The repro stands up well to boot, including on Return of Rico.

I agree that this volume is a good collection, but can't agree with this comment.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170523/73410fa1a0756262f8c29255490a4e8e.jpg)

The letratone throughout is a real mess. Sad thing is, a new scan would have been easy to source.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Klegg Bait on 23 May, 2017, 07:37:55 PM
Quote from: Eamonn Clarke on 23 May, 2017, 03:26:04 PM
Is that the Missionary Man issue?
I'll keep an eye out

Yes, Missionary Man.

Thank you!
Title: Re: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: SuperSurfer on 23 May, 2017, 07:41:07 PM
Quote from: glassstanley on 23 May, 2017, 06:16:03 PM
Quote from: Tjm86 on 20 May, 2017, 05:27:15 PM
The repro stands up well to boot, including on Return of Rico.
The letratone throughout is a real mess. Sad thing is, a new scan would have been easy to source.
Comparing that Mega Collection photo with Case Files 1, the quality seems the same. Even if a better scan exists or artwork exists to scan from was there the budget to do so? The Mega Collection is amazing value for money and I would say that is down to using existing repro files probably from from the Case Files. And where does one stop? Rescan everything?
Title: Re: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: glassstanley on 23 May, 2017, 08:06:56 PM
Quote from: SuperSurfer on 23 May, 2017, 07:41:07 PM
Quote from: glassstanley on 23 May, 2017, 06:16:03 PM
Quote from: Tjm86 on 20 May, 2017, 05:27:15 PM
The repro stands up well to boot, including on Return of Rico.
The letratone throughout is a real mess. Sad thing is, a new scan would have been easy to source.
Comparing that Mega Collection photo with Case Files 1, the quality seems the same. Even if a better scan exists or artwork exists to scan from was there the budget to do so? The Mega Collection is amazing value for money and I would say that is down to using existing repro files probably from from the Case Files. And where does one stop? Rescan everything?

I agree with the VFM comment. I just can't agree that the repro on those 6 pages stands up well. As you say, it's the same files as the Case Files. Is there a budget for it? It's 6 pages. A few minutes work.

Rescan everything? Only the worst offenders. There's a precedent - the Bolland Block Mania episode was replaced for a 2nd edition of Case Files 5. Though if I had to choose, I'd go for a new edition of the first Slaine volume. But that's off-topic for this thread.
Title: Re: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 23 May, 2017, 08:22:32 PM
Quote from: glassstanley on 23 May, 2017, 08:06:56 PM
I just can't agree that the repro on those 6 pages stands up well. As you say, it's the same files as the Case Files. Is there a budget for it? It's 6 pages. A few minutes work.

First of all - a few minute's work?!

Secondly - rescan from what, exactly? The original artwork is long gone fron the archives. Are you suggesting they scan pages from old progs?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Max Headroom on 23 May, 2017, 10:15:06 PM
Is it possible to scan from old Progs if they are in very good condition? Or does the paper quality make it too difficult?
I'd be interested to know.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: sheridan on 23 May, 2017, 10:31:21 PM
Slightly off-topic for this thread, but it does bring to mind something that was mentioned at the 40th by Jason Kingsley (or possibly RoboKeef?) about the treasury of British comics. 

As a large number of comics are now in the Rebellion archives (I forget numbers, but for some reason half a million pages comes to mind) and these all need to be scanned before their potential can be realised, Rebellion is actually developing AI to scan the pages (yes, editorial droids are going to bring the long-forgotten comic pages back in to circulation!)

Anyway - as technology progresses, I'm going to guess at some point in the future it may benefit Rebellion to rescan those early pages with the latest technology - from the progs or original artwork (though as we all now, IPC weren't the best caretakers of the artwork).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tony Angelino on 23 May, 2017, 10:45:20 PM
I would guess most of the reprints are scanned from the prog. For example in the Mega Collection would all the earlier, pre-digital stories not just be scans from the prog?

I know for some of the hardback collections like Zenith and The Cursed Earth they got original art but I cant see them doing that for all their reprints.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Pyroxian on 23 May, 2017, 11:38:18 PM
Rebellion have the original film from most of the earlier progs, so some will be repro'd from that
Title: Re: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: glassstanley on 24 May, 2017, 12:53:51 AM
I semm to have botched the quoting on my post below - sorry!

Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 23 May, 2017, 08:22:32 PM
Quote from: glassstanley on 23 May, 2017, 08:06:56 PM
I just can't agree that the repro on those 6 pages stands up well. As you say, it's the same files as the Case Files. Is there a budget for it? It's 6 pages. A few minutes work.

First of all - a few minute's work?!

Scanning - yes. I've scanned using a Ricoh photo-copier at 600 dpi. 6 pages - pushing 2 minutes.

Secondly - rescan from what, exactly? The original artwork is long gone fron the archives. Are you suggesting they scan pages from old progs?

I've rescanned from the Complete Judge Dredd & Titan to upgrade my digital Case Files (& Slaine). I've also re-scanned from the original progs - the Gibson Robot Wars has never had a good reprint for example.

I'm not going to upload a full page of copyright material, but here's a comparison of the retail Slaine (top) V my scan. Scanning the Belardinelli Slaine's took at top 20 minutes. Sizing, straightening & adjusting contrast them for my upgrade to the retail GN (which I bought) took an evening. That's for far more pages than Retrun of Rico.

(http://[url=http://s25.photobucket.com/user/simonsimmons/media/hel%20comparison.jpg.html%5D%5BIMG%5Dhttp://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c78/simonsimmons/hel%20comparison.jpg~original)[/URL][/img]
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c78/simonsimmons/hel%20comparison.jpg~original) (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/simonsimmons/media/hel%20comparison.jpg.html)

Edited by IP to fix quote
Title: Re: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 24 May, 2017, 10:16:52 AM
Quote from: glassstanley on 23 May, 2017, 08:06:56 PMI agree with the VFM comment. I just can't agree that the repro on those 6 pages stands up well. As you say, it's the same files as the Case Files. Is there a budget for it? It's 6 pages. A few minutes work.
Other people have kind of covered this, notably glassstanley, but it bears repeating that scanning for professional printing is a world away from just whacking a book under your consumer-level scanner and grabbing some JPEGs. First, where are you scanning from? If you have the original art, then that's certainly a lot more than a few minutes of work each, and it's likely if the art is old you're going to need to make all kinds of fixes for it to be suitable for printing.

If you're scanning from another printed format, you have different problems. Was the original scan good in the first place? What's the print quality (and physical quality) of the item? Will the print pattern cause moiré pattern effects (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moir%C3%A9_pattern) when you go to print the scan in a new volume?

We often see delicate patterning work vanish in reprint because of a combination of these factors. Line-work may be sacrificed in order to boost contrast. Elsewhere, moiré is a huge problem if left untreated (see the original Devlin Waugh volume in the very early days of the Rebellion trades for a particularly eye-gouging example) – and even if you spend a lot of time dealing with it, you may still have noticeable patterning (such as in the new Like Kirby book).

In short, 'scanning' is really a fine art – a tough, thankless task that can take a very long time to get right, and even then often leaves you with sub-optimal results. I'm not surprised Rebellion's looking at an AI solution, but even then you're going to need someone to comb through the results manually and make changes here and there. (I'm sure anyone who's tried a Photoshop actions set to improve scans and seen the results will know the job Rebellion has here.)

Quote from: Max HeadroomIs it possible to scan from old Progs if they are in very good condition? Or does the paper quality make it too difficult?
Possible: yes. Desirable? No. Older progs in particular have fairly awful print quality, and there's a tendency for content to 'bleed' through the pages, which then needs cleaning up (or you can ramp up the contrast to get rid of muted and light greys, but then run the risk of wrecking line-work and letraset backgrounds). This is undoubtedly one reason why quite a lot of reprint comes from scans of Titan trades, which had thicker paper. However, in some cases, it's like copying a tape recording of a tape recording. Each time, you're a step further from an original source.

Ultimately, without the original art, a lot of time, and a pile of money, you have little choice. (And with the Mega Collection volumes, they're clearly being done on a relative shoestring, and so there's probably not the budget to do too much extra in terms of scanning. Even the editing is on occasion a little skimmed over, such as the Corey strip's DPS not actually running over a DPS, rendering one of the most important moments in Anderson's history largely incomprehensible unless you flip back and forth like a loon.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Davgardo on 24 May, 2017, 10:38:40 AM
Well, I wasn't expecting good repro on The Return of Rico and I didn't get it. The time and place for that would've been the 10 year anniversary of Case Files 1: it should have been done for that release. For a 'prestige' collector release such as that and for such a key story it was a bit of a pee take tbh.

So I wasn't expecting it for the Mega Collection.

However, for those saying scanning is a fine art I don't doubt it. But the artwork is hard to get hold of? Scan 40 year old progs? Just stick my 1982 Titan Judge Dredd 2 under a photocopier and you'll get an infinitely better repro than the muddy rubbish that's been served up in various releases over the last 20 years.

It's not down to time or expense or will, it's down to: we can't be bothered, this'll do. Full stop.
Title: Re: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: sheridan on 24 May, 2017, 10:40:39 AM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 24 May, 2017, 10:16:52 AM
Even the editing is on occasion a little skimmed over, such as the Corey strip's DPS not actually running over a DPS, rendering one of the most important moments in Anderson's history largely incomprehensible unless you flip back and forth like a loon.)

Deposit Protection Scheme, Department of Public Safety, Diplomatic Protection Squad, Directorate of Professional Standards, Degrees Per Second?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: sheridan on 24 May, 2017, 10:42:47 AM
Quote from: Davgardo on 24 May, 2017, 10:38:40 AM
It's not down to time or expense or will, it's down to: we can't be bothered, this'll do. Full stop.

As Indigoprime says, repro is a thankless task - I don't know why she left, but I'm impressed Katscan stayed for so long.
Title: Re: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Davgardo on 24 May, 2017, 10:51:25 AM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 24 May, 2017, 10:16:52 AM
Quote from: glassstanley on 23 May, 2017, 08:06:56 PMOlder progs in particular have fairly awful print quality, and there's a tendency for content to 'bleed' through the pages, which then needs cleaning up (or you can ramp up the contrast to get rid of muted and light greys, but then run the risk of wrecking line-work and letraset backgrounds). This is undoubtedly one reason why quite a lot of reprint comes from scans of Titan trades, which had thicker paper. However, in some cases, it's like copying a tape recording of a tape recording. Each time, you're a step further from an original source.


Sorry I just don't get that.
The original Titan volumes were faultless - if you have those why is each release a tape recording of a tape recording, each time a step further from the original. If you keep a 1st generation copy (i.e. the Titans) you're always copying from a 1st generation copy. Surely?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 24 May, 2017, 10:54:11 AM
Quote from: Davgardo on 24 May, 2017, 10:38:40 AMHowever, for those saying scanning is a fine art I don't doubt it. But the artwork is hard to get hold of?
Original art has often been lost, sold, given away or damaged.

QuoteScan 40 year old progs?
See my points on moiré, bleed-through, damage and so on.

QuoteJust stick my 1982 Titan Judge Dredd 2 under a photocopier and you'll get an infinitely better repro than the muddy rubbish that's been served up in various releases over the last 20 years.
Again, moiré, clean-up, etc.

QuoteIt's not down to time or expense or will, it's down to: we can't be bothered, this'll do. Full stop.
It's in part down to practicality and also pragmatism. Rebellion isn't a charity, and so there needs to be a balancing act in terms of the quality of existing digitally stored artwork and the profitability of a product. That might grate, but if all these books suddenly become loss-making, the entire imprint is gone.

Arguably, there are occasions where repro should be replaced in the archives (much of which has been flagged up in the MC, given that it's more noticeable now these stories aren't being printed in those phone book volumes with crap paper), and there's only been one occasion I can think of where the retro has been bad enough that the book should arguably have been pulped. (That Devlin Waugh volume – although one of the Kingdom books also has awful printing, which is odd given that the series was digital.) Mostly, though, I think we get an acceptable trade-off in the books we get.
Title: Re: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 24 May, 2017, 10:57:00 AM
Quote from: Davgardo on 24 May, 2017, 10:51:25 AMThe original Titan volumes were faultless - if you have those why is each release a tape recording of a tape recording, each time a step further from the original. If you keep a 1st generation copy (i.e. the Titans) you're always copying from a 1st generation copy. Surely?
You're not copying from original art – you're copying from a printed volume, with specific dot pitch, issues of its own (regarding contrast and also direct edits to the pages), and so on. Beyond that, you're also reliant on the actual product itself being in good shape, without yellowed pages, and being a pristine print in and of itself (which is not guaranteed). Oh, and there's the bleed-through point I already mentioned.

IF Rebellion can source perfect books from that era, there's still work to be done from any scans, and you still run the risk of moiré and other problems. It's not as simple as slapping a book under a scanner and instantly improving your digital archive.

Note, I do agree some pages in the archive should be replaced; my responses here are to note this isn't as simple and straightforward as some people suppose.
Title: Re: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jim_Campbell on 24 May, 2017, 10:57:09 AM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 24 May, 2017, 10:16:52 AM
Ultimately, without the original art, a lot of time, and a pile of money, you have little choice.

I can't imagine scanning from the originals is actually desirable for any strip from the days when the lettering was physically applied to the page. The inks change colour dramatically and, in a lot of the examples I've seen, the actual adhesive paper the balloons were made from is practically transparent. In other cases, the lettering has become detached and is missing entirely. I've even seen pages where they've acquired balloons from other pages where they've been kept in a stack.

The only solution I can think of would be to scan the art from originals and then overlay the lettering from existing scans/files/films which would be horrifically time-consuming, given that you'd have to separate out the lettering from the art on the scans you want to use.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 24 May, 2017, 11:15:34 AM
Hmmm, could it be all the people describing the technical challenges and cost implications are correct, or could it be that Rebellion are just lazy and/or careless/don't have a Currys A4 scanner in their bedrooms? If only Rebellion had some sort of track record of outstanding quality and commercial sense to help us decide between these two equally valid opinions..
Title: Re: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: SuperSurfer on 24 May, 2017, 03:07:15 PM
Quote from: glassstanley on 23 May, 2017, 08:06:56 PM
Rescan everything? Only the worst offenders.
Yes, I meant rescan all the pages described as worst offenders. But how many of these are there? Eg those Bolland pages where areas of Letratone (that's Zip-a-Tone for anyone tuning in from the US) have filled in resulting in solid black areas in reprints.

As 2000AD was originally produced using different technology, different materials; a lack of clean, unfaded, undamaged original artwork means that reprints today will be a compromise in one way or another.

Rebellion might have plenty of films, but even that isn't ideal. Films originally existed as part of the process for making printing plates. Nowadays those films will have to be scanned and resized. So a reprint today, even if original Titan reprint films were used would not in my opinion even match the Titan reprint for quality. (A year or so ago I came across a Nemesis Titan volume in a charity shop and I regret not buying it. The detail was phenomenal.)

And just because there might have been the budget to use new scans for a Case Files volume, it doesn't follow that there is budget to do so for a Mega Collection volume.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: glassstanley on 24 May, 2017, 04:31:45 PM
Actually, I'd be interested in seeing where along the chain the quality of these files dropped so dramatically. The Bolland Dredds/Return of Rico were all reprinted fine by Titan & in The Complete Judge Dredd. I *think* the issues arose during the period when DC were working with Rebellion on the graphic novels. Looking back at Slaine - Ace Trucking/Meltdown Man & Mean Team are pretty much fine reproductions of Belardinelli art for the Rebellion reprints. The b&w Slaine's aren't. I *think* the initial volume of Warriors' Dawn was one of the DC volumes.

For me, Slaine is a much more interesting strip than any of the other Belardinelli's, so it's frustrating that these strips are the poorest in reproduction terms *. McMahon's work in Warrior's Dawn is also poorly reproduced. Warrior's Dawn (the strip, not the volume) has even had a caption replaced so poor was the image used (see if you can spot it!)

As so many people have said, there are sound commercial reasons why Rebellion aren't upgrading their digital archive. There are also many limitations on scanning from old comics/Best of  reprints/Titan GNs. However, if a muppet like me can make a better image than the one I've bought (several times over in some cases), then I'm a frustrated customer.

And there are *so* many wonderful Rebellion GNs out there that don't have this problem.

(Out of interest, does anyone have the IDW Bolland collection? Does that use the same files? I would certainly object to having paid for the special edition of that if it did)

* - For some reason, the digital version of Warrior's Dawn has been edited further than the Rebellion GN. The page with the first warp spasm has had all but one of the frames removed!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 24 May, 2017, 04:50:39 PM
Quote from: glassstanley on 24 May, 2017, 04:31:45 PM

(Out of interest, does anyone have the IDW Bolland collection? Does that use the same files? I would certainly object to having paid for the special edition of that if it did)


A quick squizz at the Father Earth pages shows that it has the same problem as the Mega Collection.  The Robots talking are just a black blur there too!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Amstor Computer on 24 May, 2017, 06:32:54 PM
Putting my tuppence in  :)

Having done this for years on an amateur basis for Hibernia, I'm hugely impressed by what Rebellion do under the twin pressures of cost & time.

My own workflow depends on where the scans come from. For scans of the comics I source myself, I tend to scan at huge resolutions, run a series of basic clean-up passes (for B&W art, this would tend to be a level adjustment, sharpening to clarify the linework, threshold adjustments etc.) and then resize down to a more reasonable resolution (this tends to change depending on how the previous project has gone, but I think the last one where I sourced myself I worked from 1200dpi scans and reduced to 600dpi). After that, I tend to do a manual clean-up of the reduced art - this can involve removing "scruff", bleedthrough, repairing damaged art/lettering by hand etc. - then output it as a finished file for print.

If my scans are good, the linework is strong (artists with light linework or densely-hatched shading etc. are a chore) and the original comics are clean and undamaged, I can get through pages reasonably quickly. If there are any problems, it slows right down, but in either case you're probably looking at a couple of hours a page doing it this way. It gives good results - maybe not the very best, but I hope as close to as possible - but it's not something I'd see as being viable for an operation like Rebellion who have to churn through huge amounts of material.

It would be possible to process quicker using a more aggressive level/threshold/etc. pass, but even with good scans you run the risk of filling in hatching, losing fine lines, and doing other damage this way. Move to colour scans - or greyscale stuff like House of Daemon - and it becomes even more complicated in some ways (moire is a bane, though tricks like scanning at high resolutions and reducing, or rotating the scans on the scanner, can mitigate some of that).

Rebellion's archive isn't faultless - there have been some really dreadful pages in the Mega Collection, which is a shame - but given that they might not have access to everything Titan et al did, and the amount of work involved in preparing pages scanned from printed comics and the fact that they have to make all this commercially viable so likely can't justify hours of clean-up per page, they get an awful lot right.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 24 May, 2017, 09:24:13 PM
Having just finished Cursed Earth Carnage, I must say I quite enjoyed Helltrekkers. Really liked the way it was drawn, as well as having some very fun moments involving rad dessert t rexes stomping people and desecrating graves in order to get a snack. A bit like Mad Max mixed with some old cowboy soap opera.

Skipped most of the second story, and hurried through Sleeze and Ryder. Mostly out of curiosity. Fun to look at the art, but perhaps not the strongest story. Not even president Arnold Schwarzenegger's brain in a jar akimbo machine guns could make up for it.

While the last half wasn't entirely to my liking, still liked the volume. I'm going to read up on some Missionary man soon to get a bit more cursed earth before the third last book of Tour of duty is released :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 24 May, 2017, 10:12:29 PM
Anyone else who has figured out any particular reading orders?

I made this one up today. Essentially my "Essential Dredd", divided as golden, silver and modern age (for lack of better ways of putting it).
Another read I'm planning is of course the MC1 undercover stuff, Simping detective and Trifecta.

Golden
Cursed Earth : Day the law died : Judge Child Quest : Mean Machine : Judge Death lives! :  Apocalypse war : City of the damned
--Essentially sets the stage, and while at it throwing in some villains and insane time travel stuff. I'm hoping Judge Child will include Destiny's Angels, and City of the damned A question of judgement.

Silver
OZ : Chopper : Necropolis : The dead man : Democracy Now! : Total War : America : Brothers of the blood
--Introduces politics while intertwining it with Dredd's clone story. Democracy now! has the small pieces, Total War is the big one and America has Dredd taking Ami in and then fittingly ending with a story on how Dredd chooses duty over Vienna. Their relationship is then explored in Brothers of the blood: Which very fittingly end with the 50 year man.

Modern
Origins : Life and times of PJ Maybe : Tour of duty Mutants in Mega-City One/Backlash/Mega-City Justice Justice : Day of Chaos The Fourth Faction/Endgame : Dark Justice (hoping the 2000ad collection's book comes with a bunch of additional Wagner Post DoC stories, or a MC collection of such stories.)
--Origins ending with The spirit of christmas I think sets the stages for introducing PJ Maybe and his climb to becoming a major, which then continues through the rest of ToD, DoC and DJ. 

I'm really hoping Block Judge, Terror Rising and/or Lady Killer ends up in the collection (or the 2000ad one), essentially making for a nice ending to my favorite line of Dredd stories: with Lady killer's "case closed" and Ami joining the big 5 :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Magnetica on 25 May, 2017, 12:15:13 AM
I have the IDW Bolland Edition.

Given I thought it was meant to be a prestige product, it is actually a big disappointment IMHO.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Steve Green on 25 May, 2017, 11:46:35 AM
It is not good.

That and the missing page from the Carlos edition from a collector's edition is not a good bar to set.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 25 May, 2017, 01:40:35 PM
Liking Apestrife's suggestions a lot. I'm planning on a re-read myself when the collection is complete and there are some great groupings of volumes there.

The Facebook page has put up the next two issues: The Hunting Party and Behind the Iron Curtain, the latter including Red Razors.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 25 May, 2017, 01:48:49 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 25 May, 2017, 01:40:35 PMRed Razors.
Urgh. Name recognition, there, I suppose, and I do remember thinking the first strip was just about OK on a re-read a while back. But I do hope that's not all of that strip, given that the last story was terrible.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 25 May, 2017, 07:39:05 PM
Read The chief judge's man book this morning. Liked it a lot more than I thought I would. Especially the title story. Had some fun twists. Wish the ending had a bit more kick to it, with DeKlerk's fate having already been revealed before the last page. Regardless, still a good story. Reminded me a bit of Mandroid :)

Quote from: abelardsnazz on 25 May, 2017, 01:40:35 PM
Liking Apestrife's suggestions a lot. I'm planning on a re-read myself when the collection is complete and there are some great groupings of volumes there.

The order popped up in my head after reading that the 50 year man was in the Brothers of the blood book, in which Mean Machine is cured. I also thought of it felt as a good follow up to the mega collection's America (with it's inclusion of blood and duty). Essentially making America Beeny a way for Joseph to make up for how he handled things with Vienna.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 25 May, 2017, 07:52:37 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 25 May, 2017, 01:48:49 PM
Urgh. Name recognition, there, I suppose, and I do remember thinking the first strip was just about OK on a re-read a while back. But I do hope that's not all of that strip, given that the last story was terrible.

Is it mad like Purgatory/Inferno?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 25 May, 2017, 07:54:29 PM
I prefer it to those tales, on the basis it's easy to ignore (bar one particularly dreadful cameo). It's also fairly odd at times, and vaguely amusing, but only in the same sense as Musak Killer. There's a talking horse though, and he's at least good value.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 25 May, 2017, 08:09:45 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 25 May, 2017, 07:54:29 PMI prefer it to those tales, on the basis it's easy to ignore (bar one particularly dreadful cameo).

Purgatory/Inferno are hard to ignore, due to Carlos' art. As for the story, I can't fit into my Dredd canon. A bit like Chopper showing up alive and well in earth wind fire. "Didn't happen either" ;)

Quote from: IndigoPrime on 25 May, 2017, 07:54:29 PMThere's a talking horse though, and he's at least good value.

Is the talking horse from the black plague :) ?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 25 May, 2017, 10:21:59 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 25 May, 2017, 01:40:35 PM... the latter including Red Razors.

I've been pretty bullish about the MC choices so far, but there is no excuse for reprinting Red Razors.  Well, maybe as the only chance to include some Dobbyn art, but even that is by no means his best work (just his only Dreddverse work). Tell me it is at least balanced by The Inspectre. 
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: sheridan on 26 May, 2017, 12:15:07 PM
Quote from: Apestrife on 25 May, 2017, 08:09:45 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 25 May, 2017, 07:54:29 PMThere's a talking horse though, and he's at least good value.

Is the talking horse from the black plague :) ?

Red Razors?  Different talking horse from Henry Ford (the one in the Black Plague, and the Daily Star strip The Cursed Earth).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jim_Campbell on 26 May, 2017, 12:22:39 PM
Quote from: TordelBack on 25 May, 2017, 10:21:59 PM
Tell me it is at least balanced by The Inspectre.

The years have not been kind to it. I'm in no hurry to see it reprinted, TBH.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Steve Green on 26 May, 2017, 12:33:02 PM
Quote from: sheridan on 26 May, 2017, 12:15:07 PM
Quote from: Apestrife on 25 May, 2017, 08:09:45 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 25 May, 2017, 07:54:29 PMThere's a talking horse though, and he's at least good value.

Is the talking horse from the black plague :) ?

Red Razors?  Different talking horse from Henry Ford (the one in the Black Plague, and the Daily Star strip The Cursed Earth).

Comrade Ed
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: GordonR on 26 May, 2017, 02:27:06 PM
Quote from: Jim_Campbell on 26 May, 2017, 12:22:39 PM
Quote from: TordelBack on 25 May, 2017, 10:21:59 PM
Tell me it is at least balanced by The Inspectre.

The years have not been kind to it. I'm in no hurry to see it reprinted, TBH.

Now you know how I feel about those bloody Frank Quitely Missionary Man stories.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Klegg Bait on 26 May, 2017, 02:43:37 PM
Red Razors was one of the first Dredd graphic novels I bought, in my early days of Dredd fandom (I.e., four years ago).

I don't think it is particularly good, but it fits in with some of the sillier stuff I've read in other Dredd strips. Insurrection was much worse, in my mind.  There's nothing particularly Dredd about it and the Warhammer roots of the team that worked on it shows through in a big way.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richard on 26 May, 2017, 03:05:14 PM
Insurrection made no sense. The SJS, who are only the judges' Internal Affairs people who just investigate corruption, for some reason have a massive armada of heavily armed spaceships? An armada that was never used when Mega-City One was fighting a huge, years-long war with some aliens, but which suddenly gets deployed against a small backwater MC1 colony when it mutinies because it was abandoned and left to fend for itself during said war. This small but plucky band of rebels then manage to defeat the massively superior SJS fleet, somehow.  :-\
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 26 May, 2017, 03:56:42 PM
Pete Doherty on Hunting party should mean Death of a legend is included right :) ??

Quote from: Richard on 26 May, 2017, 03:05:14 PM
Insurrection made no sense. The SJS, who are only the judges' Internal Affairs people who just investigate corruption, for some reason have a massive armada of heavily armed spaceships? An armada that was never used when Mega-City One was fighting a huge, years-long war with some aliens, but which suddenly gets deployed against a small backwater MC1 colony when it mutinies because it was abandoned and left to fend for itself during said war. This small but plucky band of rebels then manage to defeat the massively superior SJS fleet, somehow.  :-\

Insurrections place in the time line isnt set is it? Havent read the book, but ive figured it takes place further into the future.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richard on 26 May, 2017, 11:36:27 PM
No, we've seen characters from Insurrection in Lawless (I think).

Also they mentioned Chief Judge Hershey once, so it couldnt have been intended to be very far in the future (if at all ).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 26 May, 2017, 11:50:48 PM
Insurrection does indeed make no sense in terms of the main Dredd strip. Luckily it's a brilliant series with an even more brilliant spin-off, and so this minor detail doesn't matter.

If you want to rationalise it (and I wouldn't recommend it), Space Is Big: what seems like an enormous fleet is actually what you need to keep hundreds of colonies spread across the galaxy safe and in line: they don't show up elsewhere cos they are usually scattered across many parsecs. The SJS gets ths job because skullz r cool Justice Dept and its Marshals are the de facto governments of these worlds, and keeping Judges toeing the city line is very much their thing.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dash Decent on 27 May, 2017, 09:26:50 AM
Quote from: Richard on 26 May, 2017, 03:05:14 PM
This small but plucky band of rebels then manage to defeat the massively superior SJS fleet, somehow.

That's what small but plucky bands of rebels always do!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: sheridan on 28 May, 2017, 11:55:53 AM
Quote from: Richard on 26 May, 2017, 11:36:27 PM
No, we've seen characters from Insurrection in Lawless (I think).

Also they mentioned Chief Judge Hershey once, so it couldnt have been intended to be very far in the future (if at all ).

Maybe, maybe not - it could be that Hershey has a secret stookie stash and that she'll be CJ for a very long time (look at immortal rulers such as [spoiler]Queen Anne in Luther Arkwright: Heart of Empire[/spoiler], or the Emperor of the Imperium of Man.

A lot is said about how Anderson doesn't seem to be aging much, but not so much about Hershey, who was introduced a year later...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richard on 28 May, 2017, 01:25:52 PM
Tharg / Cyber-Matt should just tell all the artists that Anderson and Hershey are in their 50's now. They can still look hot, but they're MILFs now.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 28 May, 2017, 01:34:13 PM
I enjoyed some of the stories in Tales from the Black Museum more than others, but as they're one-offs the next one is never too far away. Some great art and links to other stories in the canon, and this is a good companion volume to Horror Stories.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: sheridan on 28 May, 2017, 03:03:50 PM
Quote from: Richard on 28 May, 2017, 01:25:52 PM
Tharg / Cyber-Matt should just tell all the artists that Anderson and Hershey are in their 50's now. They can still look hot, but they're MILFs now.
Motorcyclists I'd like to...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Legendary Shark on 28 May, 2017, 06:39:53 PM
JILFs, shirley?

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 11 June, 2017, 01:10:01 PM
I really enjoyed Brothers of the Blood, my only criticism is that the original Vienna story wasn't included to complete the Dredd family tree. Could that be a repro issue?

That aside, the volume is a great examination of the nature of Dredd and his relatives, well reflected in Michael Molcher's thoughtful and extensive article.

Looking forward to The Hunting Party, not so sure about Behind the Iron Curtain as I share the not-so-fond memories of Red Razors. Any clues as to what else might be included in that volume?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 11 June, 2017, 01:19:06 PM
Yeah, Brothers of the Blood is a really fantastic collection, but definitely could use that original Vienna story. The other minor wobble is The Satanist, which is less painful in one go, but a rare example of Wagner dropping the ball: two successive scenes of Dredd improbably breaking his chains? Numerous repetitions of 'what has Vienna got herself into?'. Plus it's at least a dozen pages too long. Can't help thinking that the alpacas must have had an attention-consuming ailment that month.

On the plus side, could Mrs Pasternak in the shower be Adlard's first printed zombie?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Skullmo on 11 June, 2017, 06:01:59 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 11 June, 2017, 01:10:01 PM
I really enjoyed Brothers of the Blood, my only criticism is that the original Vienna story wasn't included to complete the Dredd family tree. Could that be a repro issue?

That aside, the volume is a great examination of the nature of Dredd and his relatives, well reflected in Michael Molcher's thoughtful and extensive article.

Looking forward to The Hunting Party, not so sure about Behind the Iron Curtain as I share the not-so-fond memories of Red Razors. Any clues as to what else might be included in that volume?

Inspectre? Samizdat Squad?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: I, Cosh on 12 June, 2017, 12:53:31 PM
Quote from: Skullmo on 11 June, 2017, 06:01:59 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 11 June, 2017, 01:10:01 PM
Looking forward to The Hunting Party, not so sure about Behind the Iron Curtain as I share the not-so-fond memories of Red Razors. Any clues as to what else might be included in that volume?
Inspectre? Samizdat Squad?
Frankenstein Division!
The Last Invader? I guess he wasn't actually behind the Iron Curtain at the time.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 13 June, 2017, 12:19:38 PM
Quote from: I, Cosh on 12 June, 2017, 12:53:31 PM
Quote from: Skullmo on 11 June, 2017, 06:01:59 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 11 June, 2017, 01:10:01 PM
Looking forward to The Hunting Party, not so sure about Behind the Iron Curtain as I share the not-so-fond memories of Red Razors. Any clues as to what else might be included in that volume?
Inspectre? Samizdat Squad?
Frankenstein Division!
The Last Invader? I guess he wasn't actually behind the Iron Curtain at the time.

Frankenstein Division was included in the Inferno volume, although I can forgive anyone for forgetting that. Would be good to see The Last Invader though.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 13 June, 2017, 01:49:18 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 13 June, 2017, 12:19:38 PMFrankenstein Division was included in the Inferno volume, although I can forgive anyone for forgetting that.
Ha! I'd managed to block that from my mind. *demands mind bleach*
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 13 June, 2017, 04:12:40 PM
they....wouldn't include crusade.....would they?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 14 June, 2017, 12:18:27 PM
Quote from: The Monarch on 13 June, 2017, 04:12:40 PM
they....wouldn't include crusade.....would they?

Shush! shush! Nothing to see here....
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: EDazzling on 15 June, 2017, 05:40:10 PM
Issue 66 is on the website. Titled simply "Missionary Man"

Credits on Behind The Iron Curtain are Millar, Wyatt, Yeowell, Dobbyn, Holden & Marshall, so looking at Barney that gives us Red Razors and at least 2/3rds of Samizdat Squad.

EDIT: It'll be a fat one, but all 6 RR/SS stories should fit.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: EDazzling on 19 June, 2017, 10:24:15 AM
The Hunting Party:
The Pack
The Hunting Party
Lost in Americana
Fog on the Eerie
Dance of the Spider Queen
Camp Demento
Shark Country
Trail of the Man-Eaters
Ratfink

Beyond The Iron Curtain:
Red Razors
Red Razors: The Secret Origin of Comrade Ed
Red Razors: Doctor's Orders
Red Razors: The Hunt for Red Razors
Samizdat Squad: Black Flowers
Samizdat Squad: Red Skies
Samizdat Squad: Grey Zone
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 19 June, 2017, 10:49:30 AM
Hunting Party: hurrah! Red Razors a go go: hurroo. The first story's OK, but the rest is filed in my "didn't need to see this ever again, thanks" list. I can't remember a thing about Samizdat Squad, and so I hope that holds up.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Smith on 19 June, 2017, 11:05:41 AM
IIRC,its bland and uninteresting.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 19 June, 2017, 11:46:22 AM
The fact I can't remember a thing about it doesn't bode well, but I'm hoping it'll at least life that book a bit. (I really don't understand some of the choices made for the collection. It feels like a really solid 60- or 70-book collection suddenly had to stretch a bit, and the holes have been filled with filler and dross. Fortunately, the latter is a smallish amount.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 19 June, 2017, 12:35:33 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 19 June, 2017, 11:46:22 AM
The fact I can't remember a thing about it doesn't bode well, but I'm hoping it'll at least life that book a bit. (I really don't understand some of the choices made for the collection. It feels like a really solid 60- or 70-book collection suddenly had to stretch a bit, and the holes have been filled with filler and dross. Fortunately, the latter is a smallish amount.)

I know! Nobody gets to enjoy Kenny Who? - but someone's gone to the trouble to scan and prep Sleeze N Ryder for a reprint?!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Steve Green on 19 June, 2017, 03:12:00 PM
Rebellion have their own Kenny Who? collection.

I can't imagine they were going to publish an S+R collection any time soon, and allows them to fill out the collection without cannibalising their own collections further.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Timothy on 19 June, 2017, 03:13:18 PM
Speaking of cannibals - no Alabamy Blimps in the Hunting Party collection??
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 19 June, 2017, 03:27:03 PM
Quote from: Steve Green on 19 June, 2017, 03:12:00 PMRebellion have their own Kenny Who? collection.
Well, they have a Kenny Who? titled book, but it's basically a Cam Kennedy collection, and it's out of print. Omitting Kenny Who the strips entirely is the issue, really. As for cannibalisation, that ship sailed the second the Hachette artwork started.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 19 June, 2017, 03:31:33 PM
Quote from: Steve Green on 19 June, 2017, 03:12:00 PM
Rebellion have their own Kenny Who? collection.

Huh? They have a PJ Maybe book, too; a Brothers of the Blood book; a Trifecta book, Simping Detective, Fatties, not to mention the Mega-Epics. If that was an issue the partwork could never have happened!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 19 June, 2017, 03:33:18 PM
Scratch that, I think I misunderstood what you meant!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Steve Green on 19 June, 2017, 03:43:31 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 19 June, 2017, 03:27:03 PM
Quote from: Steve Green on 19 June, 2017, 03:12:00 PMRebellion have their own Kenny Who? collection.
Well, they have a Kenny Who? titled book, but it's basically a Cam Kennedy collection, and it's out of print. Omitting Kenny Who the strips entirely is the issue, really. As for cannibalisation, that ship sailed the second the Hachette artwork started.

Maybe a b/w vs colour thing then.

I haven't been keeping much of an eye on the Mega Collection, so don't know if one-offs from Mick like Monkey Business at Charles Darwin Block, Christmas comes to Des O Connor, Minty, Uncle Ump etc. have been collected either.

Strangely there are colour versions of at least some of these, in the old Fleetway editions, some I believe hand coloured by John Burns.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 19 June, 2017, 03:44:48 PM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 19 June, 2017, 12:35:33 PM
I know! Nobody gets to enjoy Kenny Who? - but someone's gone to the trouble to scan and prep Sleeze N Ryder for a reprint?!
I'm still hoping the omissions from the JDMC will be covered in the 2000AD Ultimate Collection. Like, a first year of Dredd or whatever. Robot Wars.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Smith on 19 June, 2017, 03:45:05 PM
On the other hand,Hunting Party is something of a favorite of mine,so that's cool.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 19 June, 2017, 11:52:10 PM
hmm its not quite complete red razors there was one more story after the big one
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richard on 20 June, 2017, 09:58:58 PM
That was Rite of Passage in prog 971.

But in my opinion, the less we see of Red Razors the better.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: EDazzling on 20 June, 2017, 11:13:40 PM
5 or 6 pages away from completion? That's a ballache.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 20 June, 2017, 11:18:33 PM
Normally, but... I have to agree with Richard on this one!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: James Stacey on 21 June, 2017, 08:44:45 AM
Quote from: EDazzling on 20 June, 2017, 11:13:40 PM
5 or 6 pages away from completion? That's a ballache.
Its a blessing
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 21 June, 2017, 09:11:43 AM
Is that the one with the horse?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Davgardo on 21 June, 2017, 09:18:45 AM
I enjoyed The Black Museum but it did get a bit samey: these strips are great as part of an anthology but one after the other? I think that a bit more imagination could have been put into these type of volumes: instead of a 'Complete...' why not just pick the best 15 strips and then throw in 10 or so classic Dredd strips that tie in loosely? That Alan Grant Noah's Ark story..... :o

For example, as much as I enjoyed the 'Fatties' volume, strip after strip of eating contests did wear me down. I felt that we could easily have omitted a couple of those and included, say, The Alabammy Blimps, which would've made for a much more readable book.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 21 June, 2017, 10:07:01 AM
I suppose the themes are part of the point. If you want variety, just buy the Case Files.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Davgardo on 21 June, 2017, 10:19:44 AM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 21 June, 2017, 10:07:01 AM
I suppose the themes are part of the point. If you want variety, just buy the Case Files.

Yes, well, obviously themed volumes are the point. I was pondering on how they could've injected some variety without losing that.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Steve Green on 21 June, 2017, 10:54:20 AM
Make every other one a foreign language version.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Fungus on 21 June, 2017, 05:31:34 PM
Don't read books start-to-finish. Buy a bookmark.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 21 June, 2017, 05:45:53 PM
The Facebook page has put up issue 67: Insurrection.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: EDazzling on 21 June, 2017, 08:31:43 PM
Excellent. I've been waiting for that one, I haven't read a 40K comic in years. Frank Quitely's my GOAT as well, so it's a top month.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 22 June, 2017, 12:13:09 AM
Has anyone got their issues yet?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moldovangerbil on 22 June, 2017, 07:32:03 AM
Not got mine yet either.  Over time, they seem to have got later and later in terms of the gap between the books hitting my account and actually being delivered.  I'm hoping they turn up today or tomorrow though.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 22 June, 2017, 07:53:03 AM
I got mine on Tuesday.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: walrus on 22 June, 2017, 08:59:16 AM
Mine arrived yesterday and I am usually a couple of days behind the first recipients on here
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Davgardo on 22 June, 2017, 09:33:47 AM
Just made a start on Red Razors and......I'm enjoying it!

I think time has been a kind healer: back in the mid 90's I believed that Millar and his ilk were the future. Now I can see stories like this and Purgatory, Frankenstein Division and Inferno as entertaining diversions. Shallow characterisation, naff Tarantino wannabe dialogue, cartoon violence: and do you know what? Knowing that it was just part of a very short lived 'era' I can enjoy it as a guilty pleasure. A bit like a Big Mac.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 22 June, 2017, 10:35:41 AM
Natch, mine arrived this morning. I do wish they'd been using this packaging from the beginning. The number of dinged corners has markedly decreased. As for the books, the Razors one is a giant. A pity its contents aren't better. (An Orlok tale or two might have helped.) I'm looking forward to reading The Hunting Party again though.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: levers on 22 June, 2017, 03:53:20 PM
Over on the Facebook page, a poster reports they've been told by Hachette there's going to be 90 books. Small extension perhaps?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 22 June, 2017, 04:31:32 PM
I guess if it was serious they would have posted it properly.  No sign of it.  That said, I'm not sure how I feel about the extension idea.  There have been a few missteps.  I think I would most likely cancel at the end of the original run and see how any extra issues pan out. 
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 22 June, 2017, 04:56:59 PM
If they do run past 80, I hope they provide a breakpoint. Get all the original 80 out and THEN continue. But really, I'd sooner they end as originally planned (well, originally in the sense of 80 – wasn't this set 60 in the earliest days?), and fire up the 2000 AD series as its 'replacement'.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moly on 22 June, 2017, 06:47:42 PM
Got mine delivered today really hope they don't go past 80
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moly on 22 June, 2017, 06:57:47 PM
The behind the iron curtain book is definitely a lot larger than normal
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Michael Knight on 22 June, 2017, 07:03:06 PM
Is there any more news regarding the planned 2000AD Graphic Novel collection? Would love to know how far in advance these series are greenlighted after test runs etc.
Title: Re: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Arkwright99 on 22 June, 2017, 08:30:16 PM
So, my latest Mega Collection package arrived today containing  vol 41 The Hunting Party and vol 41 The Hunting Party! Going to call Hachette tomorrow morning and get the correct second volume sent out. Unless anyone receives two copies of missing volume (whatever it is) and wants to do a swap? 😄


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Bolt-01 on 22 June, 2017, 09:48:31 PM
Arkwright- if you get a replacement 'Red Curtain'volume sent and want to find a good home for a copy of Hunting Party- PM me and I'll happily take it off your hands for postage plus...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: EDazzling on 23 June, 2017, 11:13:07 AM
Read the first Red Razors story last night. It was indeed quite bad, but I'd still much rather read Millar's youthful exuberance than his abhorrent "mature" cynicism.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: AlexF on 23 June, 2017, 11:20:25 AM
Apologies for interrupting the flow of this thread - just wondering if the two 'Tour of Duty' volumes in the mega Collection are exactly the same as the old Rebellion editions, or if they have extra / different contents? I am enojying the luxury of being able to choose which of two excellent trade collections to pick from to build up my own ideal Dredd library!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Arkwright99 on 23 June, 2017, 11:35:46 AM
Quote from: Bolt-01 on 22 June, 2017, 09:48:31 PM
Arkwright- if you get a replacement 'Red Curtain'volume sent and want to find a good home for a copy of Hunting Party- PM me and I'll happily take it off your hands for postage plus...
Hachette are going to send out the correct issue 65 but they also want me to send the duplicate issue 64 back them, I'm afraid. Sorry.  :(
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: levers on 23 June, 2017, 10:18:16 PM
Quote from: AlexF on 23 June, 2017, 11:20:25 AM
Apologies for interrupting the flow of this thread - just wondering if the two 'Tour of Duty' volumes in the mega Collection are exactly the same as the old Rebellion editions, or if they have extra / different contents? I am enojying the luxury of being able to choose which of two excellent trade collections to pick from to build up my own ideal Dredd library!

They're different. The Hachette volumes include more material from the Meg. There's also a third volume leading up to the events of the other two, still to come. Hachette as they are, not bothering to release stuff in order!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 23 June, 2017, 11:06:02 PM
Really enjoyed The Hunting Party, that great sandbox of the Cursed Earth yielding some great stories and art.

Any opinions on Samizdat Squad?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: AlexF on 24 June, 2017, 06:49:28 AM
Thanks, Levers! Sounds as if it's worth holding out for the Hachette triple-pack to get the ultimate Tour of Duty experience.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 26 June, 2017, 07:31:05 PM
Samizdat Squad is a bit uninspiring. After a cracking Bolland cover there's the Mark Millar Red Razors series. After an initial flurry of bonkers ideas helped by Steve Yeowell's solid art it all goes a bit wrong. Talking horses, Elvis worshipping & Scooby Doo can't build into a decent story. It commits the usual sin of throwing a (defrosted) Dredd into the mix. I didn't really get this series is set in the future - post current Dredd. Samizdat squad itself has great art & an unusual initial premise linked to the Apocalypse war. Maybe a bit of Orlok would have livened this volume up. It seems like a huge book - the spine is big. Looking forward to Missionary Man & Mad City.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: dweezil2 on 26 June, 2017, 07:51:01 PM
Just finished reading Brothers Of The Blood, what a cracking volume that was.
There's been a few duffers but it's been a great collection generally.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Bolt-01 on 27 June, 2017, 10:56:08 AM
Quote from: Arkwright99 on 23 June, 2017, 11:35:46 AM
Hachette are going to send out the correct issue 65 but they also want me to send the duplicate issue 64 back them, I'm afraid. Sorry.  :(

No worries at all. I'll just pick this one up from the webshop along the path...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: levers on 28 June, 2017, 07:20:03 PM
Is Mad City looking like it'll be an Oola Blint volume?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 28 June, 2017, 08:54:22 PM
Quote from: levers on 28 June, 2017, 07:20:03 PM
Is Mad City looking like it'll be an Oola Blint volume?

Makes sense that it would include her remaining stories, but might be more of a general 'Mad citizens' theme - Oola doesn't have all that large a page-count when you take away the Doomsday appearances and the last story. Otto Sump, the 'Mental Card' guy, classic comedy one-shots like Finger of Suspicion... That's what I'm expecting.

Could be a truly great volume depending on what's picked!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: levers on 29 June, 2017, 10:36:03 PM
Sounds like it might be one worth picking up if things go according to plan!

Just finished Brothers of The Blood. Best volume since the last Tour Of Duty book. Hadn't realised there was another clone in the shape of Dolman!

Wondering if we now have a full set of Vienna stories? Though can't recall if we've had her first outing yet?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 30 June, 2017, 04:55:29 PM
Quote from: levers on 29 June, 2017, 10:36:03 PM
Wondering if we now have a full set of Vienna stories? Though can't recall if we've had her first outing yet?

The original Vienna story hasn't appeared, it would be nice if it did to complete the set. Which may be possible as...

Official confirmation on the Facebook page that the collection has been extended to 90 issues. Does this mean the 2000AD collection won't be going ahead?

Speculation on the contents of the additional issues: all the Bloods of Satanus, Dark Justice, Enceladus, Lawless, more recent Anderson? Are there sufficient Black Atalantic stories to fill a volume? Any other ideas?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 30 June, 2017, 07:04:09 PM
Do you have a link to an official confirmation?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 30 June, 2017, 07:34:47 PM
There a reply to a post on the Facebook page.  Question was asked about comments made when ringing the call centre.  Response has come from the Mega Collection.

I'm in two minds on this.  Although there has been an uptick of late, some of the volumes have not been a great choice to showcase the best of the Dreddverse.  Maybe they will address some of the shortcomings / omissions.  If that is the case then it'll be worth it.  Otherwise I think I might cancel my subscription and pick up the volumes I want on eBay.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Fungus on 30 June, 2017, 07:57:15 PM
I thought the spine image was reliant on 80 books ?  ;)

Some multi-limbed mutie spreadeagled across a few more books would work. I guess. Or: the Jigsaw Man!

Anyway, just ordered 4 books direct, there has been an upswing so my cherry-picking has gained pace. Read Paranoia the other day, loved it.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 30 June, 2017, 08:23:13 PM
Ah, yes:
QuotePlease be advised that the series has been extended to a planned number of 90 issues however the titles have not yet been released. (https://www.facebook.com/judgedreddcollection/posts/1903003539957445)

Honestly, this is something that should really be communicated to subscribers, who plonked down money on the basis of a finite collection of 80 books.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 30 June, 2017, 09:12:02 PM
Yeaaaah! Great news! Kenny Who? obviously needs to be the first (new) book!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moly on 01 July, 2017, 07:40:04 AM
If it's 10 more books with good content I will stick with it there is still a lot they need to include, otto sump please
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 01 July, 2017, 08:15:41 AM
I'm interested in what they'll include. I'm hoping for some post doc books. One with Wagner's Dredd, one with William's and one (would probably need two?) with McCarrol's (up to the re-skin story after Every empire falls).

I've seen it mentioned on facebook that the 2000AD collection is a go. That there where some emails sent out. Anyone gotten such?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Michael Knight on 01 July, 2017, 04:29:59 PM
Personally im delighted about this! Thanks Tharg!!!!!!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: James Stacey on 03 July, 2017, 08:45:12 AM
If subs numbers have remained strong they will keep extending as long as its viable. I jumped off the marvel one after the 4th time it was extended ( I assume it's still going). The spine image goes off the end of the last book and it wont be too hard for Pat and Dyl to extend it. It does mean that later stories get a chance to be added.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 03 July, 2017, 09:48:10 AM
Aw, not really the news I was hoping for. After three years I'm more interested in jumping onto the 2000AD collection. If they start seeding 81-90 into the last months of 2017 I will cancel and buy the missing books direct I think.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: dweezil2 on 03 July, 2017, 02:05:06 PM
A nice new print for all those loyal subscribers would sweeten the deal, but I really hope it doesn't go beyond 100 volumes. Not only will my bank balance suffer, but surely all the really good material will be exhausted by then.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 03 July, 2017, 02:14:57 PM
Never mind the bank balance, I'm worried about the shelf space.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moly on 03 July, 2017, 06:41:11 PM
I don't mind it going to 90 if it's good stuff but if the 2000ad collection starts in July which has been mentioned then the cost will be to high to continue with both
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richard on 03 July, 2017, 08:45:17 PM
I'm sure there are more than 100 volumes of good material, but there's only so much space to keep it all.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 04 July, 2017, 03:09:59 AM
luckily i had already ordered a new bookshelf for the 2000ad ones so space isn't an issue....err for now
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Magnetica on 04 July, 2017, 09:38:09 AM
Not sure I uderstand how an extension is bad thing, so long as:

- they release all of the originally planned volumes first and the additional volumes are just that - additional

and

- they don't impact on the planned 2000AD collection (apart from material
planned for that turning up here instead
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 04 July, 2017, 11:21:00 AM
Quote from: Magnetica on 04 July, 2017, 09:38:09 AM
- they release all of the originally planned volumes first and the additional volumes are just that - additional

I heard tell of Marvel collection subscribers for whom the first they heard of the extension was getting the newer books before the original run was complete, so that could well happen here.

Quote from: Magnetica on 04 July, 2017, 09:38:09 AM
- they don't impact on the planned 2000AD collection (apart from material planned for that turning up here instead)

Would a 2000AD collection be considered adequate if it didn't include Dredd at all? I certainly wouldn't mind if they went that route myself but for the casual reader it might stand out?

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Magnetica on 04 July, 2017, 11:34:34 AM
Quote from: Tomwe on 04 July, 2017, 11:21:00 AM
Quote from: Magnetica on 04 July, 2017, 09:38:09 AM
- they release all of the originally planned volumes first and the additional volumes are just that - additional

I heard tell of Marvel collection subscribers for whom the first they heard of the extension was getting the newer books before the original run was complete, so that could well happen here.

Quote from: Magnetica on 04 July, 2017, 09:38:09 AM
- they don't impact on the planned 2000AD collection (apart from material planned for that turning up here instead)

Would a 2000AD collection be considered adequate if it didn't include Dredd at all? I certainly wouldn't mind if they went that route myself but for the casual reader it might stand out?

I guessit depends how aware the casual reader is of the Dredd Mega Collection. I wouldn't like to see the 2000AD collection repeat what is already in the Mega Collection, but then it will be left with slim pickings Dredd-wise. IMO it is better off concentrating on other stuff. Goodness knows there is plenty of truely excellent stuff without having to print any Dredd
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 04 July, 2017, 01:08:20 PM
Interesting to see the FB mods have now removed the post referring to a planned extension. I expect it will still happen, they just needed to contain the conversation. Over on the Transformers Collection page the mods have also been removing some less happy comments as well.

*Edit: the below link still seems to work, but the post has been hidden.

Quote from: IndigoPrime on 30 June, 2017, 08:23:13 PM
Ah, yes:
QuotePlease be advised that the series has been extended to a planned number of 90 issues however the titles have not yet been released. (https://www.facebook.com/judgedreddcollection/posts/1903003539957445)

Honestly, this is something that should really be communicated to subscribers, who plonked down money on the basis of a finite collection of 80 books.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 04 July, 2017, 02:17:35 PM
The Transformers one seems full of people not receiving issues for months on end, which is odd. Plus the reprint quality is abysmal for the old Marvel stuff. Not so much 'no expense spared' as 'no expense'.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richard on 04 July, 2017, 02:58:33 PM
QuoteWould a 2000AD collection be considered adequate if it didn't include Dredd at all?

No. Not everyone will buy both collections (money and shelf space), and it would be mental if a massive collection of 2000 AD stories didn't contain any stories featuring it's most famous and popular character. It doesn't have to be stories which have already appeared in the Dredd collection.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mardroid on 04 July, 2017, 03:39:04 PM
I guess if it came to it, they could include the more recent Dredd stories in the 2000ad collection. We're still getting good stuff in that regard, after all, and it would be a good advertisement to those who know longer get the prog, or even newcomers enticing them to the foundation comic, so to speak.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richard on 04 July, 2017, 04:37:12 PM
It doesn't have to be just the recent stuff. There are still plenty of very good old stories that aren't in the Dredd collection, e.g. the Graveyard Shift.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 04 July, 2017, 04:43:21 PM
Quote from: Richard on 04 July, 2017, 04:37:12 PM
There are still plenty of very good old stories that aren't in the Dredd collection, e.g. the Graveyard Shift.

...Yet. I bet it turns up in Mad City.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mardroid on 04 July, 2017, 05:38:35 PM
Yes, I was thinking about the fact the Mega Collection has been extended, so that may gobble up the rest of the classics.

In an ideal world there'll  be a mixture of both in the 2000ad collection even if it's just a couple of volumes and the rest is devoted to other characters, to save those who collect the Megacollection from double dipping, but we're not really the priority there.. which is fair enough.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 04 July, 2017, 09:20:09 PM
I'd love to see Kenny Who, Cook & Sampson's Anderson, Cullen's Hershey, Otto Sump, Block Judge, Enceladus, Dark Justice, Movie Dredd & Anderson, plus The Cop.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 05 July, 2017, 02:47:23 AM
Any idea what a 2000ad collection will have?  Lets face it there is a wide variance in styles even among stories we might like.  For instance we have material like Strontium Dog, Ace Trucking, Meltdown Man, Harlem Heroes/Inferno, even old stuff like Shako, Flesh and Invasion.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 05 July, 2017, 10:02:47 AM
Quote from: Jade Falcon on 05 July, 2017, 02:47:23 AM
For instance we have material like Strontium Dog, Ace Trucking, Meltdown Man, Harlem Heroes/Inferno, even old stuff like Shako, Flesh and Invasion.

Well apart from Stront that's all old stuff!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 05 July, 2017, 10:40:17 AM
It's official
http://2000ad.com/post/1974 (http://2000ad.com/post/1974)

More Dredd for your Cred! Due to high customer demand, the Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection series from Hachette Partworks is to be extended by an additional ten issues!

Already a hit with readers across the country, The Mega Collection has brought together some of the best stories from the four decades of the UK's most famous comic book character.

The ten-issue continuation will allow the collection to include more recent stories as well as classics readers have been clamouring to see reprinted in the deluxe hardcover series.

Every fortnight, subscribers have watched the books' spines form a fascinating rogues' gallery by artist Patrick Goddard and colourist Dylan Teague, showing classic characters from 40 years of Judge Dredd – and the continuation will add more creeps and crime-busters from the mean streets of Mega-City One!

Editor of 2000 AD and The Mega Collection, Matt Smith, said: "As The Mega Collection has been published over the past two years, the response has been brilliant and it's been great to see readers speculating about what stories will be included. It's thanks to the fans that this series has been such a success, so this gives us the chance to round up not just some of the most iconic stories in Dredd's history they've been calling for but also give newer fans the chance to savour some of the modern classics from the past decade."

And current subscribers need not worry – the continuation will automatically follow on with their existing subscription!

Subscribers should contact Hachette Partworks customer services on 0333 300 1510 or judgedredd@jacklinservice.com for information about their subscription.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 05 July, 2017, 11:59:06 AM
"the continuation will automatically follow on with their existing subscription"

It'd be great if someone from Rebellion would confirm this means all original 80 issues will definitely be fulfilled before the additional 10. (That's how this reads. And Rebellion's been rather stricter about reader-friendliness than Marvel to date anyway – notably with the test-run stuff. I'd hate, though, to see any of 81–90 show up before all the original 80 are dealt with, like what started happening with the Marvel run.)

Personally, while I'm not jumping up and down about the extension in and of itself, it's good to know that the series is popular enough to warrant it continuing. Hell, it's nice to know that it won't just abruptly stop (although that's quite rare in partwork land anyway.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: James Stacey on 05 July, 2017, 12:04:49 PM
Keep em coming Rebellion.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 05 July, 2017, 10:04:26 PM
Thanks to the MegaCollection I'm now buying the prog & Meg every issue. Now I get who Beeny, Dolman etc are I'm enjoying it so much more. Keep the books coming! I'm not so bothered about a 2000ad collection - I just don't see it feeling cohesive.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 06 July, 2017, 09:20:10 AM
I think I'd have liked the 2000 AD collection had the books been as chunky (in the test run, they were more like the slimmer Marvel volumes), and if there was a unicorn option of having complete series. I don't really want to 'replace' my full run of Nemesis or Dante with bits and pieces, for example.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 06 July, 2017, 10:28:37 AM
Nemesis & Nikolai Dante are the 2 series I'd like to buy in their entirety in a top end format. A complete collection of hardcovers like Zenith would be cool.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 06 July, 2017, 03:20:06 PM
I and others have had confirmation from the 2000 AD feed on Facebook that the additional books will only commence when the original run is complete. (I'm not going to stop my subscription, note, but it's good to know that you can, but mostly that we won't be waiting even longer for the likes of the final Tour of Duty book or something.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: matty_ae on 06 July, 2017, 04:22:36 PM
There isn't any official news yet on the 2000ad collection, right?

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 06 July, 2017, 05:36:10 PM
Nuffink.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 09 July, 2017, 04:11:55 PM
Behind the Iron Curtain is certainly a hefty volume, but quantity doesn't always mean quality, and unfortunately it's the case here. I didn't enjoy Red Razors at all, other than appreciating the artwork. Samizdat Squad fares a little better, with some interesting ideas of what might be found in the Soviet rad-wastes. However the interview with Arthur Wyatt and story notes indicate larger plans for the series than were realised, leaving me wondering what might have been. Not a volume I'll be rushing back to read again.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 09 July, 2017, 06:30:45 PM
Says on the wiki that Judge Child will be released in August. Can't see it on Hachette's webpage. Anyone who knows where that came from?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richard on 09 July, 2017, 06:36:20 PM
No, but sometimes that announce stuff on Facebook.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: dweezil2 on 09 July, 2017, 06:36:57 PM
Quote from: Apestrife on 09 July, 2017, 06:30:45 PM
Says on the wiki that Judge Child will be released in August. Can't see it on Hachette's webpage. Anyone who knows where that came from?

With colour spreads intact hopefully!
It makes all the difference!  ;)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richard on 09 July, 2017, 06:52:59 PM
They did it for Oz, so they should for Judge Child.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 09 July, 2017, 09:31:40 PM
Quote from: Apestrife on 09 July, 2017, 06:30:45 PM
Says on the wiki that Judge Child will be released in August. Can't see it on Hachette's webpage. Anyone who knows where that came from?
Way back in 2015 I asked on the FB page when we would be seeing Judge Child and City Of The Damned. August 2017 seemed a long way off then.

https://www.facebook.com/judgedreddcollection/posts/1644486652475803
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 09 July, 2017, 11:36:42 PM
I have to admit to not having the hate for Red Razors that some have, but at the same time I can't say that I'm particularly fond of it.  Samizdat Squad was substantially better in my opinion.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richard on 10 July, 2017, 05:03:12 PM
Is there a thread for the 2000AD collection? I can't see one.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Fungus on 10 July, 2017, 05:52:14 PM
Quote from: Richard on 10 July, 2017, 05:03:12 PM
Is there a thread for the 2000AD collection? I can't see one.

There's no collection!   :o
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 10 July, 2017, 08:49:22 PM
Quote from: Richard on 10 July, 2017, 05:03:12 PM
Is there a thread for the 2000AD collection? I can't see one.
Yes - if it ever happens.

http://forums.2000ad.com/index.php?topic=44203.0
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richard on 10 July, 2017, 11:36:32 PM
Thanks.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 16 July, 2017, 10:24:57 AM
Quote from: Tomwe on 09 July, 2017, 09:31:40 PM
Quote from: Apestrife on 09 July, 2017, 06:30:45 PM
Says on the wiki that Judge Child will be released in August. Can't see it on Hachette's webpage. Anyone who knows where that came from?
Way back in 2015 I asked on the FB page when we would be seeing Judge Child and City Of The Damned. August 2017 seemed a long way off then.

https://www.facebook.com/judgedreddcollection/posts/1644486652475803

Thanks. Fingers crossed it's out soon then :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 17 July, 2017, 10:32:36 AM
Two more books arrived today:

66 (vol 64): Missionary Man
Salvation at the Last Chance Saloon
A Town Called Intolerance
Bad Moon Rising
The Promised Land
Place of the Dead
covers
interview with Frank Quitely

I've not read the other Missionary Man books yet, but I'm assuming here we're in for another Anderson/Shimura-style flicking back and forth between several books to read things in chronological order. (This volume appears to the the series bookends.)

My copy also came with a free scratch across the back! *sigh*

67 (vol 54): Insurrection
Insurrection
Insurrection II
Insurrection III
covers
interview with Dan Abnett
two pages of sketches
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: EDazzling on 17 July, 2017, 11:04:47 AM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 17 July, 2017, 10:32:36 AM
flicking back and forth between several books to read things in chronological order

Correct!

I just put together this reading list for when I go thru them properly. (sourced from wikipedia and Barney, there might be some errors?)

Salvation at the Last Chance Saloon - Volume 1
A Town Called Intolerance - Volume 1
Legend of the Unholy Drinker - Volume 2
Bad Moon Rising - Volume 1
Season of the Witch - Volume 2
Sanctuary - Volume 2
Judge Dredd: True Grit - Volume 3
The Undertaker Cometh - Volume 2
Treasure of the Sierra Murder - Volume 2
Medicine Show - Volume 2
Nightriders - Volume 2
Mississippi Burning - Volume 2
Harke & Burr: Satanic Farces - N/A
Crusader - Volume 2
The Big Sleazy - Volume 2
Night of the Hunter - Volume 2
Mortal Combat - N/A
Juggernaut - Volume 2
The Shootist - Volume 2
Storm Warnings - Volume 2
Prologue - Volume 3
Mardi Gras - Volume 3
Goin' South - Volume 3
Apocrypha   - Volume 3
The Promised Land - Volume 1
Mark of the Beast - Volume 3
Silence - N/A
Place of the Dead - Volume 1

(With N/A meaning they skipped it, which is acceptable in the case of the Harke & Burr crossover I guess...)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: EDazzling on 17 July, 2017, 11:15:29 AM
Or, a much simpler reading list for those less mental:

Vol 1: Salvation at the Last Chance Saloon – A Town Called Intolerance
Vol 2: Legend of the Unholy Drinker
Vol 1: Bad Moon Rising
Vol 2 Season of the Witch – Sanctuary
Vol 3: Judge Dredd: True Grit
Vol 2: The Undertaker Cometh – END
Vol 3: Prologue – Apocrypha
Vol 1: The Promised Land
Vol 3: Mark of the Beast – END
Vol 1: Place of the Dead – END
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 17 July, 2017, 11:24:07 AM
Quote from: EDazzling on 17 July, 2017, 11:15:29 AM
Or, a much simpler reading list for those less mental:

Vol 1: Salvation at the Last Chance Saloon – A Town Called Intolerance
Vol 2: Legend of the Unholy Drinker
Vol 1: Bad Moon Rising
Vol 2 Season of the Witch – Sanctuary
Vol 3: Judge Dredd: True Grit
Vol 2: The Undertaker Cometh – END
Vol 3: Prologue – Apocrypha
Vol 1: The Promised Land
Vol 3: Mark of the Beast – END
Vol 1: Place of the Dead – END

(https://media.giphy.com/media/1M9fmo1WAFVK0/giphy.gif)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 17 July, 2017, 11:57:48 AM
Mm. This has been one of the (few) things I've disliked about the collection. I get the idea of running things in a thematic way, and perhaps page counts limited what could be done. But if you're basically reprinting everything, it's weird when stuff's so out of sequence. In Anderson, you miss a massive chunk of her narrative journey, and the impact of Dredd's response in Satan is hugely lessened when you don't know what led up to it. And Shimura is almost incomprehensible out of order. Oh well, I suppose there are the normal trades in many cases, or the original Progs and Megs knocking around. 
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: GordonR on 17 July, 2017, 12:27:46 PM
Quote from: EDazzling on 17 July, 2017, 11:04:47 AM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 17 July, 2017, 10:32:36 AM
flicking back and forth between several books to read things in chronological order

Correct!

I just put together this reading list for when I go thru them properly. (sourced from wikipedia and Barney, there might be some errors?)

Salvation at the Last Chance Saloon - Volume 1
A Town Called Intolerance - Volume 1
Legend of the Unholy Drinker - Volume 2
Bad Moon Rising - Volume 1
Season of the Witch - Volume 2
Sanctuary - Volume 2
Judge Dredd: True Grit - Volume 3
The Undertaker Cometh - Volume 2
Treasure of the Sierra Murder - Volume 2
Medicine Show - Volume 2
Nightriders - Volume 2
Mississippi Burning - Volume 2
Harke & Burr: Satanic Farces - N/A
Crusader - Volume 2
The Big Sleazy - Volume 2
Night of the Hunter - Volume 2
Mortal Combat - N/A
Juggernaut - Volume 2
The Shootist - Volume 2
Storm Warnings - Volume 2
Prologue - Volume 3
Mardi Gras - Volume 3
Goin' South - Volume 3
Apocrypha   - Volume 3
The Promised Land - Volume 1
Mark of the Beast - Volume 3
Silence - N/A
Place of the Dead - Volume 1

(With N/A meaning they skipped it, which is acceptable in the case of the Harke & Burr crossover I guess...)

Legend of the Unholy Drinker is in the wrong place.

Also, you should just skip Salvation At The Last Chance Saloon, A Town Called Intolerance and Bad Moon Rising, because they're all terrible and I'm heartily fed up of seeing them reprinted.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 17 July, 2017, 12:46:58 PM
So is the big scratch mark across my copy a desperate attempt by you to slice those pages out of every copy before it reached readers? (As for those episodes being in there, I can see how that must be frustrating as a writer; still, it'd be weird to omit them from what's an almost full run. And I'd sooner read those again than, say, Red sodding Razors.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: EDazzling on 17 July, 2017, 12:54:07 PM
Quote from: GordonR on 17 July, 2017, 12:27:46 PM
Legend of the Unholy Drinker is in the wrong place.

Also, you should just skip Salvation At The Last Chance Saloon, A Town Called Intolerance and Bad Moon Rising, because they're all terrible and I'm heartily fed up of seeing them reprinted.

Frank Quitely is my fav, so I can't do that I'm afraid. I might just look at the pictures, out of respect.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Bolt-01 on 17 July, 2017, 02:51:50 PM
Ooh, the insurrection volume is a complete collection! Nice one Tharg!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 17 July, 2017, 02:54:03 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 17 July, 2017, 11:57:48 AM
Mm. This has been one of the (few) things I've disliked about the collection. I get the idea of running things in a thematic way, and perhaps page counts limited what could be done. But if you're basically reprinting everything, it's weird when stuff's so out of sequence.

It's mental. I was really excited about having the whole of MM reprinted at last - but I'm hobestly not sure I'll bother with these volumes now.

As for Shimura - it's pretty incomprehensible even in the right order!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 17 July, 2017, 04:46:18 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 17 July, 2017, 10:32:36 AM
My copy also came with a free scratch across the back! *sigh*


My two arrived in perfect condition...As always :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 17 July, 2017, 05:08:14 PM
I really do appear to have the worst luck with this collection. Corner dings are now a lot rarer, with the new packaging, but it looks like someone's gone at Missionary Man with a compass needle. I blame Gordon.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 17 July, 2017, 05:29:57 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 17 July, 2017, 05:08:14 PM
I really do appear to have the worst luck with this collection. Corner dings are now a lot rarer, with the new packaging, but it looks like someone's gone at Missionary Man with a compass needle. I blame Gordon.

Ah the old 'limited edition Rennie bookplate edition', each bile-filled gouge in the spine a unique reflection of the growth of the writer's craft.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Robes on 17 July, 2017, 07:21:54 PM
As much as I've enjoyed this series, without a doubt the most disappointing thing has been receiving the individual series out of sequence with the stories even being out of sequence in the books.  It boggles my mind how a collectors edition can be so bizarrely put together.  I know the party line is that the stories can be read and enjoyed in the order they're sent out but they can be read and enjoyed about 1000% more if they are read in the right order.

I really hope they don't make the same mistake for the 2000ad series because it's an absolute head scratcher.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 17 July, 2017, 08:09:49 PM
Yep. I suspect it's a commercial decision. Sell subscribers part 2 of 3, and they'll stick it out to get 1 and 3. But it's also user-hostile. I don't mind waiting a year for the second part of something where I already have the first, but don't sell arcs out of order. It's just ridiculous with something like Tour of Duty.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 18 July, 2017, 12:24:55 PM
Just got my books today, I think Smith pleads his case for the Missionary Man stories in this volume well enough. Insurrection is new to me & I've been excited to read this since the beginning of the collection
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 18 July, 2017, 01:35:44 PM
I like Insurrection, although park it very much alongside Durham Red in 'alternate universe' territory. (Alternatively, MC-1 could presumably conceivably recall a tiny fraction of its space fleets and hold the entire world to ransom.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: James Stacey on 18 July, 2017, 01:42:06 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 18 July, 2017, 01:35:44 PM
I like Insurrection, although park it very much alongside Durham Red in 'alternate universe' territory. (Alternatively, MC-1 could presumably conceivably recall a tiny fraction of its space fleets and hold the entire world to ransom.)
'Lawless' too by extension ?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 18 July, 2017, 01:57:16 PM
Lawless sits more neatly into my personal view of the Dredd universe – some far-flung backwater that's more like a little settlement than Insurrection's gargantuan fleets. Although whether stories are entertaining beats continuity. I'm happy to see Insurrection in this collection more than, say, Inferno, Heavy Mob or that Klegg book.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: EDazzling on 18 July, 2017, 03:33:04 PM
Quote from: James Stacey on 18 July, 2017, 01:42:06 PM
'Lawless' too by extension ?

Oh, is Lawless an Insurrection spin-off? Got both this week so that solves the question of which to read first.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 18 July, 2017, 06:32:41 PM
Bit of a glut today.  Both turned up along with the prog and meg.  Reckon there has been a problem with staffing again at our local sorting office.  Another bonus, the latest print.  Carlos' turn; Dredd against Zombie Sovs.  Thinking about it, that would be something wouldn't it, a cross between Judgement Day and Apocalypse War?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 18 July, 2017, 07:42:28 PM
I wonder what print subscribers will get during the extra ten issues. After all, they're paying an extra quid an issue, right?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 19 July, 2017, 05:28:59 AM
Aye, that thought crossed my mind.  Or will they stick with the original 6 and revert the price?

I wonder if the last one will actually be a Bolland one or they will substitute.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 19 July, 2017, 02:43:33 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 18 July, 2017, 07:42:28 PM
I wonder what print subscribers will get during the extra ten issues. After all, they're paying an extra quid an issue, right?

The FB page have confirmed premium subbers will revert to regular price and there will not be further prints.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: dweezil2 on 19 July, 2017, 03:59:39 PM
Quote from: Tomwe on 19 July, 2017, 02:43:33 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 18 July, 2017, 07:42:28 PM
I wonder what print subscribers will get during the extra ten issues. After all, they're paying an extra quid an issue, right?

The FB page have confirmed premium subbers will revert to regular price and there will not be further prints.

That's good to know!  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Magnetica on 19 July, 2017, 04:29:13 PM
Quote from: EDazzling on 18 July, 2017, 03:33:04 PM
Quote from: James Stacey on 18 July, 2017, 01:42:06 PM
'Lawless' too by extension ?

Oh, is Lawless an Insurrection spin-off? Got both this week so that solves the question of which to read first.

Yes it is, but it was never positioned as such and knowing that [spoiler]equates to a bit of a spoiler[/spoiler]
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 20 July, 2017, 12:27:36 PM
The cover for the Judge Child volume is up on the Facebook page - it's the Bolland "Find the Judge Child or your city dies" image minus the text. Iconic stuff.

The line-up of creators for Mad City is quite extensive which suggests to me a series of one or two-parters which would suit the theme. Hopefully a few Ron Smith gems included.

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 20 July, 2017, 02:37:36 PM
Any hint about colour spreads for Judge Child? If so I'll be quintuple-dipping for this one. Titan's Judge Child Vol 2 was my very first Dredd collection, indeed the first time I even knew each things existed, and it remains one of my all-time fave: to have it with the colour centerspreads... glargle.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 20 July, 2017, 03:11:22 PM
I'd found the previous 2 Missionary Man volumes hard work having never read the original Frank Quitely stuff. I really like Promised Land but the reading order of the 3 volumes is completely weird. I know previous posters have listed the correct reading order. I assumed there was an effort to compile stories by artist (like the Arthur Ranson stuff in Anderson) but looking at the 3 books I can't work out any rationale for the running order. Is it a page count thing?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 20 July, 2017, 03:54:17 PM
it has to be, with the Quitely stuff having to go first, uninterrupted (sorry Garry Marshall!), that's 66pages. Maybe fitting The Promised Land's 90pages with any of the others was a trouble, except so much of Missionary Man is short stores.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 21 July, 2017, 09:42:35 AM
The running order is a bit odd, but having all three volumes now makes them easy to switch between without any trouble. Despite Gordon's misgivings, I enjoyed the early stories - yes the first two have virtually the same plot, but they establish the character well and the artwork is stunning. As Matt Smith's intro says, Promised Land is MM's version of The Cursed Earth, with tons of invention and great art. I've long been an admirer of John Ridgway's skill at building atmosphere, and Place of the Dead doesn't disappoint. A good trilogy of books with an order I can live with.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 21 July, 2017, 07:12:04 PM
Despite the odd running order I loved this volume. It's great to see a character get such a good send off with stellar Ridgway art to boot. A really good addition to this collection.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Michael Knight on 22 July, 2017, 09:40:05 PM
Absolutely loved the Missionary Man volumes. Is that all the MM stories included now?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 22 July, 2017, 10:48:06 PM
Quote from: Michael Knight on 22 July, 2017, 09:40:05 PM
Absolutely loved the Missionary Man volumes. Is that all the MM stories included now?

Three short stories still unaccounted for, including a Harke and Burr crossover.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Colin YNWA on 23 July, 2017, 01:01:36 PM
Quote from: Michael Knight on 22 July, 2017, 09:40:05 PM
Absolutely loved the Missionary Man volumes. Is that all the MM stories included now?

So this latest volume contains all the post 2000ad latter stories then? Specifically the John Ridgway finale?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Michael Knight on 23 July, 2017, 04:31:21 PM
Thanks for update. This really annoys me when they miss out few episodes. Are the missing stories worth trying to track down?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 23 July, 2017, 09:41:31 PM
I enjoyed this Missionary Man a lot more than the previous, but maybe rereading in proper order will help now.  Promised Land reminded me of a cross between Cursed Earth and Helltrekkers to be honest.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 24 July, 2017, 10:19:24 AM
With only 11 of the original 80 left to be announced on the Facebook page, I think there is only one book we don't know:
71- Tour Of Duty 1, 72- Independent Operators, 74- City Of The Damned, 75- Weird Science, 78- Stars of PSI Div, 79- Chopper.
Plus I believe we will get a Hark & Burr book mirroring Brit Cit Noir from Rebellion, one more Armitage, & Famous Monsters featuring John Hicklington. The gaps are vol 27 following Mean Machine, which will defo have Angel Gang content, and vol 70 which is clearly in the 'Mad City' anthology segment so could be anything.
I think the days of questions being answered with 'yes that's coming in volume x' on the Facebook page are over though.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 25 July, 2017, 03:14:37 PM
vol 27 was confirmed to be a angel gang volume a while back
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 27 July, 2017, 10:11:18 PM
I loved Insurrection having never read it before. I think I've said it so many time but Colin MacNeil has done so much amazing work for 2000ad. Hope Strange & Darke keep him busy or is it Defoe forever?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 28 July, 2017, 09:14:26 AM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 27 July, 2017, 10:11:18 PM
I loved Insurrection having never read it before. I think I've said it so many time but Colin MacNeil has done so much amazing work for 2000ad. Hope Strange & Darke keep him busy or is it Defoe forever?
couldn't agree with you more Robert. Just finished the book last night and was blown away. I love both his styles too so the shift at the end didn't bother me.
I liked Dafoe, but prefer him on Dredd.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: vark on 01 August, 2017, 02:44:30 PM
Hi everyone!
Didn't know if it has been already asks, but is there a place on the web (apart ebay) where it can be possible to purchase back issues to be sent abroad (I live in France)?
I am after issue #63, brothers of the blood, but can find it on ebay or amazon.uk.
Thanks in advance.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 05 August, 2017, 02:28:58 PM
Insurrection is thuddingly good space opera, with great stories, characters and art. Not much to add other than that I really enjoyed it.

With the extension of the MC, I did wonder whether the just-announced full 2000AD collection run would include much, if any, Dredd - apparently it will include some, with no overlap with the MC. I'd guess these will be stories where wider continuity doesn't matter too much, although the MC has by necessity included a number of these as well as the world-changing stuff.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 09 August, 2017, 08:11:45 AM
Just listened to the latest Thrill-cast and there's some revelations from Tharg on there as to what will be included in the MC extension - I won't put any spoilers to give people a chance to listen.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 09 August, 2017, 09:41:22 AM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 09 August, 2017, 08:11:45 AM
Just listened to the latest Thrill-cast and there's some revelations from Tharg on there as to what will be included in the MC extension - I won't put any spoilers to give people a chance to listen.

Edit: Couldn't find it at first. The pod cast with Matt Smith, and details on Scream and Misty.

Wasn't out on sound cloud, just itunes.
Title: Re: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: JaHawkDroid on 09 August, 2017, 09:43:13 AM
Quote from: Apestrife on 09 August, 2017, 09:41:22 AM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 09 August, 2017, 08:11:45 AM
Just listened to the latest Thrill-cast and there's some revelations from Tharg on there as to what will be included in the MC extension - I won't put any spoilers to give people a chance to listen.

The 40 Years of Thrill-power Festival: Editors Reunited panel thrill cast?
No there's a new one that's not on iTunes yet. Ultimate Collection and Halloween special interview with Tharg himself


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 09 August, 2017, 10:10:22 AM
Books hinted at in the thrill cast [spoiler]Dredd vs crime (graveyard shift perhaps?) and more (of the later day) Anderson. Lawless. I'm hoping for some post DoC books. Hoping Wagner, Williams and Carrol should get one or two each. [/spoiler]
Title: Re: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: JaHawkDroid on 09 August, 2017, 11:44:36 AM
Ooo Lawless? I was thinking of buying the paperback today. Will hold off in that case


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: CalHab on 09 August, 2017, 12:02:49 PM
Quote from: JaHawkDroid on 09 August, 2017, 11:44:36 AM
Ooo Lawless? I was thinking of buying the paperback today. Will hold off in that case

This is exactly what I don't understand about Rebellion's marketing tactics. Sure, go ahead and give Hachette Nemesis. Long term fans already own (multiple) copies. But why give away your prime new material which is still shifting trades? It's not as if someone who hasn't picked up a prog in ten years knows anything about Lawless.

Anyway, hopefully it's a success that leads to more subscriptions.
Title: Re: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: I, Cosh on 09 August, 2017, 12:15:53 PM
Quote from: CalHab on 09 August, 2017, 12:02:49 PM
Quote from: JaHawkDroid on 09 August, 2017, 11:44:36 AM
Ooo Lawless? I was thinking of buying the paperback today. Will hold off in that case
This is exactly what I don't understand about Rebellion's marketing tactics. Sure, go ahead and give Hachette Nemesis. Long term fans already own (multiple) copies. But why give away your prime new material which is still shifting trades? It's not as if someone who hasn't picked up a prog in ten years knows anything about Lawless.
It's almost as if it could be a good idea to try and let these people know that there are top quality strips running right now! Which they could be enjoying if they pick up the actual comics on a regular basis. Maybe even manage the schedule so that a Lawless volume drops through the letterbox just as the new story is starting in the Meg!
Title: Re: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Molch-R on 09 August, 2017, 12:33:36 PM
Quote from: CalHab on 09 August, 2017, 12:02:49 PM
But why give away your prime new material which is still shifting trades?

A point raised in this week's podcast - we've seen absolutely zero cannibalisation of sales. The Mega Collection has actually boosted sales of our comics and graphic novels.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: CalHab on 09 August, 2017, 12:35:38 PM
I'm glad to hear that. I'll have a listen to the podcast later.
Title: Re: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 09 August, 2017, 01:49:58 PM
Quote from: Molch-R on 09 August, 2017, 12:33:36 PMA point raised in this week's podcast - we've seen absolutely zero cannibalisation of sales. The Mega Collection has actually boosted sales of our comics and graphic novels.
That's good to hear, if a little surprising. But then I suppose the collectors here are a tiny minority. I know I've decided against buying Dredd trades until the MC is done, but then Rebellion's presumably making money from the partworks anyway, and I'm still subbing to the Meg and 2000 AD in print, and buying other trades (like the Luke Kirby hardback).

Frankly, anything that gets the word out is good. And if I'm being honest, although I suspected the Dredd partwork would do well enough in test to actually happen, I figured 2000 AD was a tougher sell. I'm glad to see that it's going to exist as well, even if I'm still on the fence myself. (Also: ARGH.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 09 August, 2017, 02:10:29 PM
It seems counter intuitive but I still buy the odd trade as well as the MegaCollection. It was great to re-read 'Every Empire Falls' knowing more about Armitage & Dollman. Sometimes it's odd that Titan & Judge Joyce stories have been 'doubled' up between the MegaCollection & recent-ish trades. Looking at the MegaCollection I could have done without Sleeze N Ryder & The Corps but overall it's astonishing how much good material there is. Especially at £10 for a 200+ page hardcover. Glad to hear there'll be more Anderson - maybe the Boo Cook stuff?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 09 August, 2017, 03:34:48 PM
I have been carefully cherry-picking Mega-Collection volumes and I am regularly stunned by looking at the run of material I have accumulated (so far).  It has definitely slowed my Casefiles buying, but casefiles are more than twice the price and as a result I wasn't getting more than 1 or maybe 2 at most a year (say €45 on average): my MegaCollection spend of maybe 10 volumes (€140!) a year dwarfs that. Plus I will eventually catch up with the Casefiles, especially with Doomsday on the horizon, so Tharg will get my cash anyway. 

As for other 2000AD trades I've probably never bought more than I have in the past few years, but I still reckon cherry-picking the new collection will outstrip that by some multiple: especially if Complete Dante is a real runner.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 09 August, 2017, 03:37:42 PM
Quote from: TordelBack on 09 August, 2017, 03:34:48 PM
I have been carefully cherry-picking Mega-Collection volumes and I am regularly stunned by looking at the run of material I have accumulated (so far).  It has definitely slowed my Casefiles buying, but casefiles are more than twice the price and as a result I wasn't getting more than 1 or maybe 2 at most a year (say €45 on average): my MegaCollection spend of maybe 10 volumes (€140!) a year dwarfs that.

It killed my case file purchases stone dead. I got as far as Judge Dredd 19 and 3 of the 4 Restricted files plus a bunch of Nemesis, Robo Hunter, Anderson etc but since the MC I haven't bought a single Tooth GN bar the Misty one and the Scream one.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 09 August, 2017, 03:43:24 PM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 09 August, 2017, 02:10:29 PMI could have done without Sleeze N Ryder
Oh, man. I didn't remember that at all, and finally read it last night. It's awful. It reads – and to some extent looks – like a teenager's idea of 2000 AD, as printed in a fanzine, not what you'd expect in the real thing. But of course quite a lot of the comic was like that back then. And people grumble about the comic now. *shudder*

Quote from: Mattofthespurs on 09 August, 2017, 03:37:42 PMIt killed my case file purchases stone dead.
Same here, to the point I'm offloading some of them. I think I stopped Dredd at 21, and Anderson at 3. I won't buy more now. But to coin an Apple idea, if there is any cannibalisation, have it be with your own product. When iPad sales slowed, it was mostly because people were buying the iPhone Plus. If phone book sales are hit (and, from what Molch-R said, that hasn't happened, and even people posting here suggest it's a drop in the ocean), it hardly affects Rebellion if those sales simply shift sideways.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Steve Green on 09 August, 2017, 04:06:08 PM
Yeah, pretty much stopped here as well - it's either HBs like Dan Dare, Cursed Earth etc. or replacing the larger runs with digital.

Will likely pick up the odd one, missed out on the final Abnett Durham Red, so would be good to have that in a single volume. I don't have the space for Dante though.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 09 August, 2017, 04:22:17 PM
Quote from: Steve Green on 09 August, 2017, 04:06:08 PMI don't have the space for Dante though.
I... don't understand that sentence. It just doesn't parse.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: James Stacey on 09 August, 2017, 04:24:02 PM
Quote from: Steve Green on 09 August, 2017, 04:06:08 PM
I'll make the space for Dante though.
FTFY
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moly on 09 August, 2017, 05:25:09 PM
listening to the pod cast it seems that the extension to 90 will be the last one
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 09 August, 2017, 05:27:10 PM
Quote from: moly on 09 August, 2017, 05:25:09 PM
listening to the pod cast it seems that the extension to 90 will be the last one

Thank goodness for that.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moly on 09 August, 2017, 05:36:07 PM
I think if the 2000ad collection is successful it could go one for a lot longer
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 09 August, 2017, 05:45:30 PM
Quote from: moly on 09 August, 2017, 05:36:07 PM
I think if the 2000ad collection is successful it could go one for a lot longer

A bit easier as well. Since a story doesn't need to be Dredd world to feature in it.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 09 August, 2017, 06:31:26 PM
Quote from: moly on 09 August, 2017, 05:36:07 PM
I think if the 2000ad collection is successful it could go one for a lot longer

I don't mind that, and would actually welcome it. At least it would not be competing for money in my wallet like these two will be.
Food is for wimps anyway and I could stand to lose some weight.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 09 August, 2017, 10:26:26 PM
I enjoyed Insurrection well enough, however to me though it felt like a damned good story it didn't feel like a Dredd story if that makes any sense.  The WH40k similarities seemed obvious at times.

Will we be having more Orlok stories?  There was one I can't remember the name of, it was where Orlok escaped (again) and came to MC-1 seeking out Anderson.  I have a funny feeling it was a post Childhood's End story.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 10 August, 2017, 07:34:05 AM
Quote from: Jade Falcon on 09 August, 2017, 10:26:26 PM
I enjoyed Insurrection well enough, however to me though it felt like a damned good story it didn't feel like a Dredd story if that makes any sense.  The WH40k similarities seemed obvious at times.

From what I've heard, I'll think of it as an elseworld story. A bit like Heavy metal Dredd, the inferno book and such. But in a better way. Like a legend.

Quote from: Jade Falcon on 09 August, 2017, 10:26:26 PMWill we be having more Orlok stories?  There was one I can't remember the name of, it was where Orlok escaped (again) and came to MC-1 seeking out Anderson.  I have a funny feeling it was a post Childhood's End story.

Those are in the two Doomsday books and Satan's island.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Michael Knight on 10 August, 2017, 04:35:53 PM
Has the extended spine art been revealed since announcement Dredd collection is being extended?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Klegg Bait on 10 August, 2017, 05:43:53 PM
Quote from: Michael Knight on 10 August, 2017, 04:35:53 PM
Has the extended spine art been revealed since announcement Dredd collection is being extended?

It'll form a hand holding money.   :lol:
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Michael Knight on 10 August, 2017, 06:05:26 PM
 :lol:
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 11 August, 2017, 07:26:39 PM
The spine art is a perfect continuation by Patrick Goddard. I'd say more but I don't want to get him in trouble.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Swerty on 11 August, 2017, 11:48:22 PM
Anyone got the new issues yet?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 12 August, 2017, 08:28:55 AM
Quote from: Swerty on 11 August, 2017, 11:48:22 PM
Anyone got the new issues yet?

No. Mine were sent on the 5th of August though.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: jabish on 13 August, 2017, 10:03:54 AM
Has anyone seen the Insurrection volume in any London shops? I've called into Forbidden Planet a few times over the last few weeks and no joy.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Anthony Garnon on 13 August, 2017, 09:51:29 PM
Quote from: jabish on 13 August, 2017, 10:03:54 AM
Has anyone seen the Insurrection volume in any London shops? I've called into Forbidden Planet a few times over the last few weeks and no joy.

They definitely had it as that's where I bought mine. Generally they sell out of most issues after a few days now. At a guess they're ordering less, or the demand is higher.

(Some issues do linger a wee while longer. Poor Missionary Man)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: EDazzling on 14 August, 2017, 09:38:00 AM
MAD CITY:

Mad City
Crossing Ken Dodd
Slow Crime Day
Caught In The Act
Bury My Knee At Wounded Heart
John Brown's Body
Street Fighting Man
Talkback
The Moby
Sunday Night Fever
Crazy R Raiders
Unamerican Graffiti
Alien Zoo
Borrowed Time
Finger of Suspicion
Lost in Cyberspace
Mega-City Rumble

THE JUDGE CHILD QUEST:

The Judge Child Quest (no colour spreads)
Dead Ringer
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 14 August, 2017, 10:00:43 AM
Mine arrived this morning.
Mad City & The Judge Child.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: dweezil2 on 14 August, 2017, 10:01:41 AM
No colour spreads on the Judge Child Quest makes me a sad man! :'(

Great collection of stories in Mad City though!  :thumbsup: :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 14 August, 2017, 10:33:00 AM
That really is an excellent set of strips in Mad City. Nice to see some classic annual stories in there (such as the superb John Brown's Body). For some reason, I thought Talkback had already featured. Perhaps all those DJ ones merge into one in my head.

Oh, and Unamerican Graffiti? I thought Hachette had confirmed that _wouldn't_ be in the series? Perhaps they just meant not in the Chopper book (which would presumably then begin with the MacNeil-illustrated post-Supersurf race against Jug).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Davgardo on 14 August, 2017, 02:21:23 PM
Shame about the Judge Child but after The Cursed Earth & Apocalypse War volumes I guess it's no big surprise. Maybe there'll be a deluxe Rebellion release at some point down the line.

Nice to see Un-American Graffiti & Bury My Knee at Wounded Heart. Looks like a good release - any colour spreads in there?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 14 August, 2017, 02:29:28 PM
One of my pet hates is editions of The Judge Child that don't include Block War...! I think you lose a lot without that epilogue.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: EDazzling on 14 August, 2017, 02:35:21 PM
Quote from: Davgardo on 14 August, 2017, 02:21:23 PM
Nice to see Un-American Graffiti & Bury My Knee at Wounded Heart. Looks like a good release - any colour spreads in there?

Didn't clock first time around, but I went back and checked (just for you) and the opening spread of Unamerican Graffiti is in colour.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Pete Wells on 14 August, 2017, 02:40:12 PM
Bah, my Insurrection and Missinary Man only arrived today!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Davgardo on 14 August, 2017, 03:11:37 PM
Quote from: EDazzling on 14 August, 2017, 02:35:21 PM
Quote from: Davgardo on 14 August, 2017, 02:21:23 PM
Nice to see Un-American Graffiti & Bury My Knee at Wounded Heart. Looks like a good release - any colour spreads in there?

Didn't clock first time around, but I went back and checked (just for you) and the opening spread of Unamerican Graffiti is in colour.

Aaah, thanks! Great news re- UG btw. Although, perplexing at the same time when The Judge Child hasn't. Can't believe Block War isn't included. Madness.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 14 August, 2017, 03:21:57 PM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 14 August, 2017, 02:29:28 PMOne of my pet hates is editions of The Judge Child that don't include Block War...! I think you lose a lot without that epilogue.
Yeah, that is a shame. One of my favourite classic Dredds. Perhaps it was a page-count thing.

Quote from: Pete Wells on 14 August, 2017, 02:40:12 PMBah, my Insurrection and Missinary Man only arrived today!
If you're a subscriber, ask Hachette to rebalance your sub.

Quote from: Davgardo on 14 August, 2017, 03:11:37 PMAaah, thanks! Great news re- UG btw. Although, perplexing at the same time when The Judge Child hasn't.
Depends what scans are on file, I suppose. At least Judge Child doesn't have greyscale murk, and from a flick-through the b+w linework is fairly good from a repro standpoint.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 14 August, 2017, 03:32:06 PM
Quote
Quote from: Pete Wells on 14 August, 2017, 02:40:12 PMBah, my Insurrection and Missinary Man only arrived today!
If you're a subscriber, ask Hachette to rebalance your sub.

Is that the correct terminology then? My Transformers sub feels 'unbalanced' since I seem to get the issues after they are promoted but I'm yet to encounter anyone who gets them sooner like the JDMC.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 14 August, 2017, 04:19:49 PM
Unless things have changed, the way things worked on the JDMC is subscribers were sent issues in 'waves'. This meant some people would get one set only days before others would get the next set. I suspect most don't care, but others might prefer to be among the first getting books. When I asked about this, I was told it was down to when I'd subscribed, leading to me being billed at a certain point, and that they have a policy of not billing twice during a cycle. With my written permission, they'd change that for one month. So they did. I got one set of books and then another under two weeks later.

(Some of this might also be down to with which issue number you start from, too. I started from #2, IIRC, not #1.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Davgardo on 15 August, 2017, 09:37:17 AM
VERY happy with the Mad City volume. Think it might be my favourite so far: Wagner, Grant, Ennis, Fabry, McMahon, Bolland, Cam Kennedy, Cliff Robinson, Ian Gibson, Ezquerra, Jock, Flint, Ron Smith my perfect release.

My one criticism of the Mega Collection has been the inclusion of sub standard Calhab, Red Razors and other Dredd world strips. I think this release shows we could have had say Mad City 2 and Mad City 3 rather than those: let's face it MOST Dredd shorts fit under that loose header! Maybe they'll turn up in the extension.

Anyway, congrats to everyone involved in this and fabulous to see the final McMahon strip from the JD Annual 1982: IMO that annual contained his finest ever Dredd artwork.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dash Decent on 15 August, 2017, 01:02:27 PM
Quote from: EDazzling on 14 August, 2017, 09:38:00 AM
MAD CITY:

Mad City
Crossing Ken Dodd
Slow Crime Day
Caught In The Act
Bury My Knee At Wounded Heart
John Brown's Body
Street Fighting Man
Talkback
The Moby
Sunday Night Fever
Crazy R Raiders
Unamerican Graffiti
Alien Zoo
Borrowed Time
Finger of Suspicion
Lost in Cyberspace
Mega-City Rumble

Lots of good stuff there, but it'll be great to have Bury my Knee and Finger of Suspicion in the same volume.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Davgardo on 15 August, 2017, 02:53:46 PM
Just a quick update on the Mad City Volume (for those interested):

Sunday Night Fever doesn't have colour spreads likewise Unamerican Graffiti pt 2.

The repro of the Judge Child Volume is excellent btw as is most of Mad City: the one exception being Bolland's Alien Zoo which is quite frankly awful.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Klegg Bait on 15 August, 2017, 03:22:56 PM
Does Mad City have any Dredd-world stories, or is it all stuff I will be able to catch in the Case Files?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Davgardo on 15 August, 2017, 03:33:00 PM
Quote from: Klegg Bait on 15 August, 2017, 03:22:56 PM
Does Mad City have any Dredd-world stories, or is it all stuff I will be able to catch in the Case Files?

Well, you might have a wait for some of the strips (Streetfighting Man 2007 and Borrowed Time 2009) but it's all stories that have or will be collected in the Case Files - except the annual stories from the Restricted Files of which there are 4.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Klegg Bait on 15 August, 2017, 03:47:42 PM
Thanks!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Magnetica on 15 August, 2017, 04:01:22 PM
The Judge Child without the colour centre spreads means I won't purchase it. It is my favourite Dredd Mega epic but I did re-read it recently in the Case Files (which I borrowed from the library).

If they brought out a hard back version with the colour centre spreads (like The Cursed Earth Uncensored) I would probably get that.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Davgardo on 15 August, 2017, 04:07:15 PM
Quote from: Magnetica on 15 August, 2017, 04:01:22 PM

If they brought out a hard back version with the colour centre spreads (like The Cursed Earth Uncensored) I would probably get that.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if that happens - with Block War added of course.

But it does look great though: that full face Bolland cover perfectly suits the colour scheme they're using.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 15 August, 2017, 04:13:21 PM
Can't wait to read Mad city  :)

I'm hoping Block War and Destiny's angels will get collected in City of the damned.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 15 August, 2017, 04:24:26 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 14 August, 2017, 10:33:00 AMOh, and Unamerican Graffiti? I thought Hachette had confirmed that _wouldn't_ be in the series? Perhaps they just meant not in the Chopper book (which would presumably then begin with the MacNeil-illustrated post-Supersurf race against Jug).

I thought it sounded as if it where omitted entirely at first, but after people kept asking for it the JDMC page hinted that it would show up in some form. Great to hear that it's in the collection :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moly on 15 August, 2017, 04:59:39 PM
Would be nice if the additional 10 volumes had more stuff like mad city, bit of otto sump and captain skank
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 15 August, 2017, 06:06:03 PM
Quote from: Magnetica on 15 August, 2017, 04:01:22 PM
The Judge Child without the colour centre spreads means I won't purchase it. It is my favourite Dredd Mega epic but I did re-read it recently in the Case Files (which I borrowed from the library).

The added draw here is Dead Ringer, which will not the best does have its moments, not least a roster of hot young art gods, and it doesn't outstay its welcome. Has it even been reprinted before?

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Swerty on 15 August, 2017, 11:56:16 PM
Quote from: Magnetica on 15 August, 2017, 04:01:22 PM
The Judge Child without the colour centre spreads means I won't purchase it. It is my favourite Dredd Mega epic but I did re-read it recently in the Case Files (which I borrowed from the library).

If they brought out a hard back version with the colour centre spreads (like The Cursed Earth Uncensored) I would probably get that.

I don't get it why release it without the Colour spreads?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Magnetica on 16 August, 2017, 09:30:34 AM
Quote from: TordelBack on 15 August, 2017, 06:06:03 PM
The added draw here is Dead Ringer, which while not the best does have its moments, not least a roster of hot young art gods, and it doesn't outstay its welcome. Has it even been reprinted before?

Ok you are going to have to remind me - what is that one about?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 16 August, 2017, 09:36:20 AM
Quote from: Swerty on 15 August, 2017, 11:56:16 PM
I don't get it why release it without the Colour spreads?
Presumably no-one has done repro/clean-up for this as yet, but b+w scans were already in the archive.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Steve Green on 16 August, 2017, 09:41:06 AM
Quote from: Magnetica on 16 August, 2017, 09:30:34 AM
Quote from: TordelBack on 15 August, 2017, 06:06:03 PM
The added draw here is Dead Ringer, which while not the best does have its moments, not least a roster of hot young art gods, and it doesn't outstay its welcome. Has it even been reprinted before?

Ok you are going to have to remind me - what is that one about?

Diplomat (I think) dies, and they're looking for someone to act as an imposter until a deal is struck - the person JD is looking for goes on the run thinking he's a suspect, ends up in the Cursed Earth and then off-planet with Dredd tracking him.

Includes Dredd on a planet where Umpty has a grip on the population.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: davidbishop on 16 August, 2017, 02:03:34 PM
DEAD RINGER is notable for being the only 7-part Dredd story with a different artist on every episode [albeit 10+ page episodes, specifically Duncan Fegredo (1), Jock (2), Wayne Reynolds (3), Simon Coleby (4), Anthony Williams (5), Ben Oliver (6) and Richard Elson (7). It was one of Andy Diggle's moves to reinvigorate the Megazine, alongside reviving Armitage after 5 years absence, and replacing hefty chunks of Preacher with own-brand strips like classic Strontium Dog.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 18 August, 2017, 12:20:41 PM
It all seems to have gone quiet on the next issue announcement front, anyone would have thought there's a 2000AD collection launching or something. Issue 71 is the final volume of Tour of Duty but any ideas on 70?

it's also been announced that Dark Justice will appear in the 2000AD collection rather than here, as part of 3 Dredd volumes in that run, none of those will overlap with the MC.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moly on 18 August, 2017, 03:02:31 PM
They must of heard you just revealed the world at law and mutants in mega city one, think that should be all the original 80 announced now
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Davgardo on 18 August, 2017, 03:09:30 PM
Quote from: moly on 18 August, 2017, 03:02:31 PM
They must of heard you just revealed the world at law and mutants in mega city one, think that should be all the original 80 announced now

And there was me thinking we'd escaped Pan African Judges. Not looking forward to that at all: one to file away with Calhab Justice and Beyond the Iron Curtain and just put up with the spine image having a few gaps.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 18 August, 2017, 03:19:10 PM
Quote from: moly on 18 August, 2017, 03:02:31 PM
They must of heard you just revealed the world at law and mutants in mega city one, think that should be all the original 80 announced now
just one more presumably 'themed' book, Volume 69, unaccounted for.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 18 August, 2017, 03:32:52 PM
QuoteFrom future Africa to the South American jungle, from a floating palace housing the Japanese royal family to a Brit-Cit PsiJudge trapped in 1586, these stories delve into the ever stranger and more obscure corners of the Dreddverse!
Not all Pan-Africa, at least. I'm looking forward to the Mutants book in that pairing though.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: EDazzling on 18 August, 2017, 03:34:57 PM
Pan-African Judges, Tiger Sun Dragon Moon, Any other guesses? I didn't like TSDM much at all when I read the meg floppy last year
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: oddballuk on 18 August, 2017, 03:47:12 PM
Quote from: EDazzling on 18 August, 2017, 03:34:57 PM
Pan-African Judges, Tiger Sun Dragon Moon, Any other guesses? I didn't like TSDM much at all when I read the meg floppy last year

From the cover credits I'm guessing Zancudo (Spurrier/Kennedy) and Cabal (Salmon) are also in this volume.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 18 August, 2017, 03:49:31 PM
Quote from: EDazzling on 18 August, 2017, 03:34:57 PM
Pan-African Judges, Tiger Sun Dragon Moon, Any other guesses? I didn't like TSDM much at all when I read the meg floppy last year

Bit of Barney digging: Si Spurrier & Cam Kennedy suggests "Zancudo"?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 18 August, 2017, 05:59:18 PM
it is all of pan african theres only two short series of it after all xd
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 18 August, 2017, 06:08:21 PM
seriously though two series of pan african, zancudo, tiger sun hidden moon and (oddly) deathwatch: Faust & Falsehood seem to be the contents
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: EDazzling on 18 August, 2017, 07:58:02 PM
200 pages, seems legit.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 20 August, 2017, 12:52:21 PM
I remember some impressive art by Siku in Pan-African Judges but not much else about it.

Mad City is pretty much Dredd 101, with a fantastic line-up of creators and stories, and it would also make a great introduction for anyone interested in Dredd but hadn't read it before. A cracking volume.

Volume 69 I think would be one that links the Cursed Earth back to the city - a Long Walk theme perhaps?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 20 August, 2017, 08:32:46 PM
I thought Mad City was fantastic. I'd really like more volumes of quick quirky Dredd mixing old & new. i really liked seeing all the annual stories in this volume. I think this series has really tested my patience in the early months with obscure, out-of-sequence stories but has really hit its stride lately.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 24 August, 2017, 10:17:16 AM
Patrick Goddard's posted his original pencil layouts for the spine art on his IG: https://www.instagram.com/p/BYA9M2SlUv1/?taken-by=paddyg74

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DH-93eKXYAAh0BP.jpg)

If that section beyond the Brit Cit judge is the extension who can you see? Are they just more characters that have been included already? Judge Child, Necromancer, Janus, Stan Lee, Cal Hab Judge. Who is wearing the top hat?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Steve Green on 24 August, 2017, 10:33:25 AM
Darren Dead?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Pete Wells on 24 August, 2017, 10:37:25 AM
Hey fellas, just wanted to say a massive thank you to those of you who have been keeping this thread going and also those who have been updating the Wikipedia page. Both have been extremely useful, you all deserve KTTs!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 24 August, 2017, 11:16:10 AM
Only two I can't quite make out - Owen Krysler, Murd the Oppressor, Judy Janus, Mrs Gunderson, (unknown), Stan Lee, (unknown), Cal Hab judge, Uggie Apelino, Darren Dead.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Steve Green on 24 August, 2017, 11:19:40 AM
Aren't they Phobia and Nausea?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moly on 24 August, 2017, 07:24:05 PM
Anyone know what the extended stuff will include
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 25 August, 2017, 12:54:38 AM
As far as the extension goes... Lawless & Anderson, but Dark Justice in the 2000ad Ultimate Collection.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 25 August, 2017, 02:15:52 AM
we also know theres gonna be a themed book based on dredd tackling normal crimes thats gonna include graveyard shift
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 30 August, 2017, 07:59:03 PM
Read insurrection the other night. My first time. Really liked it. Great space opera. Good action and some cool story telling. It's stories like this one that makes me love the Dredd universe.

While it's crawling with SJS:s space corps and ships, I didn't have a problem with it. Even if it's taking place during DoC. The scope fits the story, and I could also imagine it's [spoiler]Gallow's[/spoiler] retelling of the events. Not that far fetched to think that there'd be some exaggeration. A legend in the making.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Magnetica on 01 September, 2017, 11:03:19 AM
Quote from: Apestrife on 30 August, 2017, 07:59:03 PM
Read insurrection the other night. My first time. Really liked it. Great space opera. Good action and some cool story telling. It's stories like this one that makes me love the Dredd universe.

While it's crawling with SJS:s space corps and ships, I didn't have a problem with it. Even if it's taking place during DoC. The scope fits the story, and I could also imagine it's [spoiler]Gallow's[/spoiler] retelling of the events. Not that far fetched to think that there'd be some exaggeration. A legend in the making.

I am currently re-reading and it really is fantastic.

The opening episode is a masterclass in setting up the scenario, introducing the characters whilst moving things forward and not coming across as just exposition.

Have to say I am re-reading it with a new eye following [spoiler]Lawless[/spoiler]
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 02 September, 2017, 08:32:57 AM
Quote from: Magnetica on 01 September, 2017, 11:03:19 AM
Have to say I am re-reading it with a new eye following [spoiler]Lawless[/spoiler]

I only read the first two stories. Heard about the stories being connected. Can't wait to read it in the collection (as the book is part of the extension) :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 02 September, 2017, 04:09:16 PM
The Judge Child is classic old-school Dredd, with a definitive trio of artists, and Dead Ringer is a fun back-up story.

Can't say I'm looking forward to The World at Law as much, but there've only been a few duff volumes out of 80 - I know I'm in the minority, but I quite liked Calhab. Some of it will be new to me though so we'll see.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: lincnash on 02 September, 2017, 08:58:16 PM
The Judge Child Quest is absolute Gold for old skool Dredd  :).
Spoiler block for Squaxx not familiar with the story :-
[spoiler]Dredd shoots off Mean's fleshy arm.
Mean says "Blew off me arm, lucky it was only me real one" as he bandage's the stump.[/spoiler]
That's Academy Award stuff, right there !.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: lincnash on 02 September, 2017, 09:19:56 PM
I forgot to mention :-
Ron Smith, Mike McMahon and Brian Bolland.
The Holy Trinity  :D
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Michael Knight on 03 September, 2017, 08:22:56 PM
- I know I'm in the minority, but I quite liked Calhab. Some of it will be new to me though so we'll see.

I liked Cal-Hab too! Really hope we see more of Scottish, Irish and British Judges
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tombo on 08 September, 2017, 11:40:09 AM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 20 August, 2017, 12:52:21 PM
Volume 69 I think would be one that links the Cursed Earth back to the city - a Long Walk theme perhaps?

There's a few Cursed Earth/Mutie Incursion stories that haven't been reprinted yet including: Alabammy Blimps, Dog Soldiers (and the other ToD stories that seem to have been forgotten), Monkey on my Back, as well as Radlander and Damned Ranger.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Magnetica on 08 September, 2017, 07:14:58 PM
There is still a Tour of Duty volume to come.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tombo on 08 September, 2017, 09:06:48 PM
Quote from: Magnetica on 08 September, 2017, 07:14:58 PM
There is still a Tour of Duty volume to come.

True, but it will be covering the run up to Dredd's exile (Mutants in Mega-City One, The Facility, The Secret of Mutant Camp 5, the Edgar Case) rather than those stories from his actual tour.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moly on 10 September, 2017, 07:32:53 PM
Are the next two due for delivery this week
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 10 September, 2017, 09:34:50 PM
So what are the next few volumes after Cursed Earth which I thoroughly enjoyed.  I remember reading this in the original progs way back.

I STILL think that the Grunwalders body looks a bit like C-3PO, but I don't know if I'm alone there.

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: EDazzling on 11 September, 2017, 09:23:38 AM
The World At Law:
Pan-African Judges
Pan-African Judges: Fever of the Gods
Zancudo
Tiger Sun, Dragon Moon
Deathwatch: Faust & Falsehood

Mutants in Mega-City One:
The Streets of Dan Francisco
Mutants in Mega-City One
The Facility
The Secret of Mutant Camp 5
Emphatically Evil
...Regrets
The Edgar Case
Mutie Block
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 11 September, 2017, 09:40:25 AM
Quote from: moly on 10 September, 2017, 07:32:53 PM
Are the next two due for delivery this week

I got mine today.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 11 September, 2017, 01:13:33 PM
Mine just arrived. The World At Law looks like a 'back of the queue' book, but then I flicked through and had forgotten about the Parkhouse tale. And, in all honesty, I do hope another crack at Siku's PAJ makes me appreciate it a lot more than I did at the time (which wasn't the case with Judges In Kilts).

Mutants in Mega-City One. Oh my. I've been looking forward to this one for ages, and it's now sitting next to #47 and #48, which I've managed to avoid reading, to take the entire thing in one hit. And now, of course, I'm on evil deadlines of doom thanks to the bloody Apple event tomorrow. ARGH. Still, I'm sure it'll be great when I have the time.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 12 September, 2017, 11:45:51 AM
Thought I'd give the FB page a nudge about the extension's contents, but no new books confirmed.

They said that Every Empire Falls and Hershey are not titles in the extension though.

Going to stick with my guess that EEF is coming in the 2000AD collection instead.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: oddballuk on 14 September, 2017, 01:51:28 PM
Description and cover up at Hachette for issue 72 - Independent Operators.

Looks like Harmony takes up most of the volume with O'Rork from Jim Alexander too.


https://hachettepartworks.com/judge-dredd-the-mega-collection/independent-operators (https://hachettepartworks.com/judge-dredd-the-mega-collection/independent-operators)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 14 September, 2017, 04:40:58 PM
another of the ones i wanted in print
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 14 September, 2017, 09:56:13 PM
'The World at Law' is a slog. There's some exquisite art but can anyone say they enjoy these tales? Maybe I'm having a bad day! I've only ever given up on Calhab before. The thing is I hated 'Klegg Hai' but I've grown to like it. Should I persevere with this volume? This isn't meant to disrespect any of the talented creators involved, just the story selection.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 15 September, 2017, 05:42:26 PM
The FB says a post DoC book is planned. Really really hope it's heavy on Wagner :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 16 September, 2017, 12:03:48 AM
I can't say I was enthralled by The World at Law, the Pan African Judges first story was readable, the second less so.  Zancudo was just....chaotic, the next story wasn't too bad, but the Faust one was just just too silly.

Maybe if I read them again I will think again but I really don't think so.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 16 September, 2017, 01:40:07 AM
i like deathwatch as a silly blackadder with a judge in it but its hardly a classic

pan african was better than i remember despite that unfortunate van busen character in it and his horrid speech inflections
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: AlexF on 16 September, 2017, 11:58:56 AM
I'm astonished and delighted that what I'd always thought of as the weaker end of the Megazine Vols 2 and 3 has now been reprinted - is there anything beyond Soul Sisters & Straightjacket Fits that hasn't seen the inside of a shiny hardcover at this point?? I guess we 'need' a complete collection of Judge Hershey standalone tales, if that hasn't come through in the Mega Collection yet.

I'm almost tempted to get the World at Law collection if the repro is good. Pan African Judges is all over the place as a comic but Siku's art, especially on Book 2, was all kinds of gorgeous. And it couldn't be more of a contrast with Adrian Salmon's style - a bold choice to mix those two in one volume.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 16 September, 2017, 12:31:19 PM
Mutants in MegaCity Onr is stunning, truely the Crown Jewels of Dredd stories. It's almost as if they partner a weaker book with the best stuff. As we get to the final year or so of this series some of the story choices & order seem baffling. Have we seen Chopper before Oz? Have Banana City or Texas City Sting appeared?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 16 September, 2017, 12:53:30 PM
chopper is getting a book of his own hopefully that'll have midnight surfer in it....hopefully
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: davidbishop on 16 September, 2017, 01:26:11 PM
Quote from: AlexF on 16 September, 2017, 11:58:56 AM
I'm astonished and delighted that what I'd always thought of as the weaker end of the Megazine Vols 2 and 3 has now been reprinted - is there anything beyond Soul Sisters & Straightjacket Fits that hasn't seen the inside of a shiny hardcover at this point??

I'm not exactly holding my breath for The Soul Sisters or The Straitjacket Fits.

Has the Meg's Middenface story One Man an his Dug ever been reprinted?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 16 September, 2017, 09:03:38 PM
I don't think it ever has
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 17 September, 2017, 04:38:04 PM
What's with the balloons in the Mutants collection? Were those rectangles on the original Progs?

(http://reverttosaved.com/junk/dredd-balloons.jpg)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Arkady on 17 September, 2017, 07:20:31 PM
Quiz question: which issue of the Mega Collection first gave a Volume immediately before or after a previous Volume, numerically speaking?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Davgardo on 18 September, 2017, 09:42:34 AM
Grud that World at Law volume is awful. Pan African Judges made me feel ill reading it - I had to go straight to the Mutants in MC1 volume in the hope that reading something with properly written characters and plot could cure me. It did.

That's quite a few volumes now where they've reprinted stuff that is just very very poor: Calhab and Iron Curtain being irredeemably awful with bits of Klegg Hai, Heavy Mob and CE Carnage being likewise. Why reprint this stuff? It's dire, even the editorials concede they're not up to scratch! Is it a case of 'We're never gonna get another opportunity to foist Brit Cit Brute and Sleeze n Ryder on the poor saps' or 'We want to show the full span of the Dreddworld'? If it's the latter (which i assume is the one) it's misguided: sure if the quality is high (Simping Detective, Lowlife, Devlin, Anderson, CE Koburn) it's great but there has to be quality control, don't just throw it out there when it's rubbish. And as the brilliant Mad City volume showed there is just so much fabulous stuff out there that is being omitted!
I didn't enjoy reading Pan African Judges when it was first printed, I enjoyed it less this time and I'm certainly never ever going to read anything in this, Calhab or Iron Curtain ever again.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 18 September, 2017, 10:35:23 AM
Yep. I get that certain dross (Inferno) pretty much had to be included, but some of these fringe volumes are crap that I can't imagine Rebellion would have considered offering as standalone trades. Quite why we needed to see Brit Cit Brute, the entirety of Calhab, and so on, I don't know. Sure, there's the 'range' argument, but I'd have been happier with the collection if there was a greater level of quality control.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 18 September, 2017, 10:55:45 AM
I still think collating/editing this (estimated) 16,000-page collection must have been a truly mammoth task, and one that was largely successful, but I suspect that in addition to the "showcasing range" argument, some of the dodgier stuff got in there through points awarded for (a) colour; (b) digital availability; and just possibly (c) self-contained. I'd imagine the risk of 1,000 pages (5 volumes?) being crappy seemed a bit trivial in the concerns of the overall project.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 18 September, 2017, 11:03:44 AM
Perhaps. It also feels a bit like a tight, focussed collection that quite rapidly had to get bigger. At 60 books, this would (or at least could) have been almost entirely classic material – and that which wasn't classic would have at least been necessary.

I'm still happy overall. It's just a pity there are piles of poo dotted about the otherwise lovely woodland walk.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 18 September, 2017, 11:43:05 AM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 18 September, 2017, 11:03:44 AM
Perhaps. It also feels a bit like a tight, focussed collection that quite rapidly had to get bigger. At 60 books, this would (or at least could) have been almost entirely classic material...

That's a very good point. Looking at my cherry-picked shelf, there are long consecutive runs of volumes that are pure gold.  Vols 45-54 for example, is there a 2,000 page run of comics anywhere that is better than this?
While I don't own them, it looks like you could push that run back to Vol 39 (although not forward) and barely hit a single dud page (depending on your tolerance for Wilderlands). It's tempting to speculate to what extent the 'padding' was inserted between these blocks to get from 60 or 70 to 80 (and now 90).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Davgardo on 18 September, 2017, 01:37:19 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 18 September, 2017, 11:03:44 AM
Perhaps. It also feels a bit like a tight, focussed collection that quite rapidly had to get bigger. At 60 books, this would (or at least could) have been almost entirely classic material – and that which wasn't classic would have at least been necessary.

I'm still happy overall. It's just a pity there are piles of poo dotted about the otherwise lovely woodland walk.

You may have a point re: expansion. However, I would suggest that they didn't have to release rubbish as a result, which hopefully the extra 10 will demonstrate. For instance, we've had nothing of the main PSU/Edgar storyline yet which I see as absolutely vital.
This is all my subjective opinion of course but ploughing through turgid, badly written filler in the WaL volume has put me in a bad mood. Which you may have noticed!! 
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 18 September, 2017, 02:07:04 PM
I also didn't particularly enjoy The World at Law, I think the most positive things I can say about it are that there is some gorgeous art on Pan African Judges and Deathwatch made me chuckle a few times. Overall though it just felt like a filler volume in comparison to some of the belters that we've had. It's going into the bottom 5 issues of the collection for me.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 21 September, 2017, 12:40:03 PM
Famous Monsters announced as issue 73 on Facebook. Looks like that will replicate the content of the Rebellion Cry Of The Werewolf book plus extras.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jamie1000013 on 24 September, 2017, 10:22:16 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 11 September, 2017, 01:13:33 PM


Mutants in Mega-City One. Oh my. I've been looking forward to this one for ages, and it's now sitting next to #47 and #48, which I've managed to avoid reading, to take the entire thing in one hit.

Is Mutants of Mega city one the start of the three books then? (46, 47, 48) I wish I had known this before reading the other two first, they shipped them out of order which I haven't noticed them do before tbh.

Do you think they will release like a glossary of the sections of the books? I can't really remember if the spine art is meant to correspond with what's in the actual books or not lol. Would be nice to have a list with all the title names of each book matched with their issue number.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 24 September, 2017, 10:30:19 PM
The spine has nothing to do with the contents. It's the one big failing of this and the 2000 AD books (versus the Marvel ones, which at least show the characters on the spines). And, yes, the Tour of Duty arc was bafflingly released out of sequence.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jamie1000013 on 24 September, 2017, 10:56:56 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 24 September, 2017, 10:30:19 PM
The spine has nothing to do with the contents. It's the one big failing of this and the 2000 AD books (versus the Marvel ones, which at least show the characters on the spines). And, yes, the Tour of Duty arc was bafflingly released out of sequence.

Thanks for the info.

I was trying to look up what Hachette did when they finished a graphic novel collection. I was thinking they might give you a special gift on the last delivery like a poster/list of what each book contained. But then I see they still haven't finished a collection yet though, the Marvel collection they do is going on to like issue 170 haha. Glad I cancelled the Marvel one on like Issue 60.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Magnetica on 28 September, 2017, 12:32:31 PM
Having waited to even start reading the other Tour of Duty volumes, I went to buy the third one from the Forbidden Planet website this morning.

It was sold out already!!!!

Thankfully Hatchette still had stock.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: teckno viking on 29 September, 2017, 10:14:40 AM
With the likes of "Tour of Duty" for instant, another reason Hatchett need add an INDEX volume with Issue 90.

A quick n easy look at where whats what in the MEGA COLLECTION.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 29 September, 2017, 10:21:53 AM
Wow that Mutants in Mega City 1 volume is an absolute joy.  It was a long wait, but well worth it. 

Again I'm forced to reflect that Colin MacNeil is THE artist of this collection, and never moreso than here.  Such clarity, such solidity, such a believable world.  Perfect storytelling. I hope the exposure that his ubiquity (and diversity) in the Mega Collection has given him translates into an appropriate upgrading of his perceived status as one of the key droids in the history of Dredd (and his wider world). 
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Magnetica on 29 September, 2017, 12:49:35 PM
Yes for me there is no doubt that Colin MacNeil is right up there as true 2000AD legend.

His best stuff is just about as good as it gets. I know it is common for Bisley to be lauded for the Horned God but for me MacNeil's painted work (e.g America book 1 and Mechanimo book 1) is just as good.

The grey scale work on Insurrection books 1 and 2 is about as good black and white art as I have seen. I class it along side Bolland's Judge Death Lives and Fabry's Slaine The King as the best ever from the house of Tharg.

But, but....given how good his best is, I am always slightly disappointed when he merely does line work, whether it's the coloured stuff we have been getting on Dredd these last few years or the black and white stuff on Insurrection book 3.

But I know, I know...the painted  and grey scale stuff takes too long. So better to get far more of the line work style I guess.





Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jamie1000013 on 01 October, 2017, 12:35:26 PM
Quote from: Magnetica on 29 September, 2017, 12:49:35 PM
Yes for me there is no doubt that Colin MacNeil is right up there as true 2000AD legend.

His best stuff is just about as good as it gets. I know it is common for Bisley to be lauded for the Horned God but for me MacNeil's painted work (e.g America book 1 and Mechanimo book 1) is just as good.

The grey scale work on Insurrection books 1 and 2 is about as good black and white art as I have seen. I class it along side Bolland's Judge Death Lives and Fabry's Slaine The King as the best ever from the house of Tharg.

But, but....given how good his best is, I am always slightly disappointed when he merely does line work, whether it's the coloured stuff we have been getting on Dredd these last few years or the black and white stuff on Insurrection book 3.

But I know, I know...the painted  and grey scale stuff takes too long. So better to get far more of the line work style I guess.

Yeah his art is stunning but the stand out artist for me was Carlos. Seeing that Apocalypse war story for the first time was nuts the art was out of this world. That double splash page with the war in full swing was just mental must have took him ages with all that detail. Necropolis was insane as well, I think both of those stories without Carlos wouldn't be the same. Insurrection by Macneil is a close second though. Mike Mcmahon's cursed earth in a close third as well. This whole collection has had some stunning art.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 01 October, 2017, 05:03:16 PM
Mutants in Mega City One is a great volume, with incredibly significant stories in Dredd continuity and some great art, including the already highlighted Mr MacNeil.

I'll add my vote for an index volume, as although the Wikipedia page is useful it doesn't list prog numbers, year or creators. An answer has been given on the Facebook page in the negative, but hopefully if there are enough votes this decision can be changed.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Davgardo on 04 October, 2017, 02:49:46 PM
Anyone know what the 'Krysler's Mark' volume on the Wikipedia page might be?

As they're are extending this series by 10 volumes and presumably hoping that everyone stays on board, I hope that at some stage soon they're going to announce what the extended volumes might include.
More Mad City type Volumes please and no more scooping up the dregs from the Megazine: the forthcoming Independent Operators looks pretty uninspiring. Harmony Krieg and O'Rork for Drokk's sake?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 04 October, 2017, 03:08:20 PM
Quote from: Davgardo on 04 October, 2017, 02:49:46 PM
Anyone know what the 'Krysler's Mark' volume on the Wikipedia page might be?

As they're are extending this series by 10 volumes and presumably hoping that everyone stays on board, I hope that at some stage soon they're going to announce what the extended volumes might include.
More Mad City type Volumes please and no more scooping up the dregs from the Megazine: the forthcoming Independent Operators looks pretty uninspiring. Harmony Krieg and O'Rork for Drokk's sake?
That volume was always listed as "City of the Damned" until the Judge Child volume dropped and Matt Smith called it "Krysler's Mark" in his introduction.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 04 October, 2017, 06:30:03 PM
i think the name changed since its got all the other judge child stuff and fink in it as well
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 04 October, 2017, 07:11:48 PM
The announcement in prog 2051 that Angelic is Vol 27 (January) of the MegaCollection is good news. Is there enough for a full book?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 04 October, 2017, 07:15:30 PM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 04 October, 2017, 07:11:48 PM
The announcement in prog 2051 that Angelic is Vol 27 (January) of the MegaCollection is good news. Is there enough for a full book?

You could chuck in Spurrier's Angel Gang stuff, too...?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 04 October, 2017, 07:31:52 PM
Am I the only one that finds it amazing that a company wants to sell you something but wont tell you what it is?
Personally I find this an affront.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 04 October, 2017, 08:21:12 PM
Not really. These books are closer in nature to a magazine than a set of graphic novels, in the way they are marketed. When you take out a subscription to 2000 AD, you're not told what you'll be getting a year down the line. That said, I'm not sure what they'd have to lose by at least outlining a few of the upcoming strips, if not entire books.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dr Feeley Good on 08 October, 2017, 06:10:12 PM
Has Death of a Legend been reprinted yet ? Looked on the Wikipedia index and didn't notice it...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 08 October, 2017, 07:04:17 PM
Quote from: Dr Feeley Good on 08 October, 2017, 06:10:12 PM
Has Death of a Legend been reprinted yet ? Looked on the Wikipedia index and didn't notice it...

Haven't seen it. Was really hoping it'd show up in Wilderlands or The hunting party. Perhaps they could fit in some thematic volume. Strange if it was nowhere to be found. Great little story.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dr Feeley Good on 08 October, 2017, 08:33:14 PM
Thanks...will find it in a casefile.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Davgardo on 09 October, 2017, 08:17:42 AM
Cry of the Werewolf  colour spreads!! Looks a good volume this. Personally I'd have liked Starborn Thing but you can't have everything.

Harmony on the other hand.... I don't even think I'll attempt re-reading this. Or am I misremembering it and it's actually half decent?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 09 October, 2017, 11:18:06 AM
Issue 72: Independent Operators (#22)
Harmony: Blood and Snow; Homeward Bound; Transient 114; Genocide (with two episodes in dashing purple); Headcase; Hellgate; Killer Instinct; The Piratcal Legend of Anne Bonney;
O'Rork: Totem
Three covers + Molcher text piece, 'New Frontiers'
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 09 October, 2017, 11:20:54 AM
Issue 73: Famous Monsters (#74)
Cry of the Werewolf
Out of the Undercity
Dog Soldiers
Tarantula
Costa Del Blood
The Blob
Nosferatu
Black Widow
Eight covers + Molcher piece, 'Here Be Monsters'
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 09 October, 2017, 11:22:18 AM
I don't recall much about Harmony, but don't remember it being among the 'never darken my door' strips. That volume is basically Harmony though – not a mix of characters. The Dredd volume looks like it could rival Mad City in my affections. Cover-to-cover goodness.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 09 October, 2017, 11:56:25 AM
ah purple harmony thats what happns when you commission bw art when prepping a full color meg xd
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 09 October, 2017, 12:41:23 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 09 October, 2017, 11:20:54 AM
Issue 73: Famous Monsters (#74)
Cry of the Werewolf
Out of the Undercity
Dog Soldiers
Tarantula
Costa Del Blood
The Blob
Nosferatu
Black Widow
Eight covers + Molcher piece, 'Here Be Monsters'

Great news that Nosferatu and Black Widow are appearing after the later Nosferatu story appeared in Total War. And that there's some annual & special stories in there too - this is going to be a pretty definitive collection, a few duff volumes aside. An index is still needed though!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 09 October, 2017, 01:06:08 PM
Bit dissapointing that Independent Operators wasn't built mainly around Al Ewing's Tempest. Not really a favourite of mine, but, you know, it's Al Ewing!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Geoff on 10 October, 2017, 05:51:43 PM
I've not read any Harmony before, must have been released during my absence from the prog and meg.

Just from flicking through, I'm not getting a good feeling about it....is it worth a read?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 10 October, 2017, 07:22:53 PM
Is anyone's #73 a mess? Mind has very light blacks on some pages of the lead strip, on which you can faintly see panels from elsewhere on the page.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 12 October, 2017, 02:58:02 PM
(https://hachettepartworks.com/Content/Products/dfbd3f6a-2487-4dd4-9c54-97f6043b055e.jpg)

Krysler's Mark now listed on Hachette site.  (https://hachettepartworks.com/judge-dredd-the-mega-collection/kryslers-mark) What else will be in there beyond City of the Damned?

QuoteIn his quest for the Judge Child, Owen Krysler, the boy that was predicted to save Mega-City One from a great future catastrophe, Dredd saw evil in the youngster and left him to his fate on the planet Xanadu. But the psychically powerful Krysler wants revenge on the lawman – as do the surviving members of the Angel Gang...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 12 October, 2017, 03:07:30 PM
With Ezquerra, I'm guessing that this would be Destiny's Angels.  Jason Brashill?  'In the year 2120' from prog 1077.  Gibson had me scratching my head until I remembered he did one episode of City of the Damned.  IIRC the episode in which the mutant is attacked by Grunwalder's robot.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: I, Cosh on 12 October, 2017, 03:08:08 PM
Quote from: Tomwe on 12 October, 2017, 02:58:02 PM
Krysler's Mark now listed on Hachette site.  (https://hachettepartworks.com/judge-dredd-the-mega-collection/kryslers-mark) What else will be in there beyond City of the Damned?
Jason Brashill = In the Year 2120.
Carlos = Destiny's Angels?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 12 October, 2017, 04:13:41 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 10 October, 2017, 07:22:53 PM
Is anyone's #73 a mess? Mind has very light blacks on some pages of the lead strip, on which you can faintly see panels from elsewhere on the page.
^ Anyone on this? Would be handy to know. (I just sent a mega-gripe over to Hachette. It'll be interesting to see what response I get this time. At a minimum, I'm after three replacements, but I pointed out seven books I'm unhappy with.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 12 October, 2017, 05:24:44 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 12 October, 2017, 04:13:41 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 10 October, 2017, 07:22:53 PM
Is anyone's #73 a mess? Mind has very light blacks on some pages of the lead strip, on which you can faintly see panels from elsewhere on the page.
^ Anyone on this? Would be handy to know. (I just sent a mega-gripe over to Hachette. It'll be interesting to see what response I get this time. At a minimum, I'm after three replacements, but I pointed out seven books I'm unhappy with.)
Can't see any problems like you say in mine. The 'insert' pages could be blacker, have some slight variation in the black that could almost be some other art but not the strip pages.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 12 October, 2017, 05:47:35 PM
finks in the kryslers mark book too
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 13 October, 2017, 07:01:00 PM
'Independent Operators' was heavy going. Ugh! It's nice to see early Hairsine, Jim Murray has style & Sampson gets better as the story goes on. I'm amazed so much Harmony was commissioned - I just can't find anything interesting in the story.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: teckno viking on 14 October, 2017, 10:14:10 AM
'Mutants in MC1' was great to read those stories again. As first time i read them, enjoyed seeing again.

'Independant Operators', alas not a fan of that issue between art and stories just not resonating with me.

I cannot wait for the 'Krysler's Mark' & 'Famous Monsters' issues though.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 14 October, 2017, 01:45:12 PM
I thought Harmony started well but then got bogged down when the action moved to Uranium City and it never recovered. O'Rork I just found odd which is perhaps why it didn't continue. A ho-hum volume.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 15 October, 2017, 12:53:33 AM
Independent Operators, definitely not one on my favourite list.  Maybe I'll think different in a reread.  The trouble seemed to be that the stories were too, for lack of a better word, chaotic combined with the art style.

O'Rork, I just gave up on as I couldn't get into it at all.

Kreeler Conspiracy, this was all new stuff for me.  The story with Moon showed a darker side to the Mutant Struggle and how much of a total git he was. 
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: marko10174 on 17 October, 2017, 07:28:24 PM

Is Mutants in Mega city one "tour of duty"?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 17 October, 2017, 07:33:46 PM
Yes - first book of Tour of Duty
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: marko10174 on 17 October, 2017, 07:43:16 PM

I wonder why they don't release them in chronological order? they released the first book in tour of duty last. It's like the Anderson and Missionary man books, those stories are all over the place, to the point where I have to keep switching from book to book to read the stories chronologically.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 17 October, 2017, 07:48:10 PM
The order has been cynical and a major negative for this series. Not seeing Chopper before Oz, releasing the Doomsday volumes months apart, Armitage book 1 is yet to come out. It's bizarre...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 17 October, 2017, 10:45:10 PM
Once you have the books, ToD reads fine. Shimura and Anderson are a mess though (and I understand Missionary Man jumps back and forth too).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: marko10174 on 17 October, 2017, 11:09:09 PM

I picked up Shamballa first, not realising there was a massive spoiler in the first pages, so I stopped reading it. I've ordered all five Anderson JDMC books and had to refer to wiki to find the correct reading order for the stories. You literally have to keep switching from book to book to get the chronology right, which makes for a really frustrating reading experience.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: EDazzling on 18 October, 2017, 07:58:18 AM
The psi-files exist if you want a complete and chronological run of Anderson.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 18 October, 2017, 09:21:11 AM
I think the point remains though. The Anderson books in the MC are a bit of a mess. The gaps would work better if there had been synopses between the stories, like in the Marvel collections. It's not like they lacked the same – a few paragraphs of text could have been added to the title pages.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richard on 18 October, 2017, 09:29:59 AM
What was the spoiler in Shamballa?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 18 October, 2017, 11:18:26 AM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 12 October, 2017, 04:13:41 PM(I just sent a mega-gripe over to Hachette. It'll be interesting to see what response I get this time. At a minimum, I'm after three replacements, but I pointed out seven books I'm unhappy with.)
Two replacements offered, one for a the book with bad printing, and the other for a book where the pages weren't cut properly. I also noted two books with incorrect information on the rear (Heavy Metal Dredd and Into the Undercity), which were ignored entirely, two books with crushed corners (also ignored) and one that looks like it's been kicked around before sending (Total War – already a replacement, hence probably not being eligible for a second crack in their eyes, although I'm going to push for that one, I think).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Zenith 666 on 18 October, 2017, 11:24:24 AM
Does anyone know how to order back issues from Ireland as hacette only seem to offer issues in uk on their website.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Link Prime on 18 October, 2017, 11:52:18 AM
Quote from: Zenith 666 on 18 October, 2017, 11:24:24 AM
Does anyone know how to order back issues from Ireland as hacette only seem to offer issues in uk on their website.

I had the same issue a few months ago.
I just completed the order as normal then dropped them an email to confirm that the delivery address was ROI.
They replied that it was no problem, and the books were promptly shipped.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: I, Cosh on 18 October, 2017, 12:07:24 PM
Quote from: EDazzling on 18 October, 2017, 07:58:18 AM
The psi-files exist if you want a complete and chronological run of Anderson.
As long as you don't read the last story in the first volume before the first story in the second...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 18 October, 2017, 12:28:38 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 18 October, 2017, 11:18:26 AM
I also noted two books with incorrect information on the rear (Heavy Metal Dredd and Into the Undercity), which were ignored entirely.
I missed that error on Heavy Metal Dredd's rear. They reprinted The Day The Law Died for a similar error didn't they? Though it's been months since that book came out now. What's wrong with Undercity?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 18 October, 2017, 01:42:24 PM
No idea about The Day The Law Died. They ignored my query about where they'd offered reprints for that. As for Undercity, my copy has a number of pages in the lead strip with faded blacks where you can see 'ghosts' of other panels/dialogue balloons over the top of the printed bits. (Insurrection was even worse, with a load of pages that hadn't been cut properly, which needed separating.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richard on 18 October, 2017, 03:21:35 PM
QuoteAs long as you don't read the last story in the first volume before the first story in the second...
It doesn't matter if you do. They don't have to be read in order.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Fungus on 18 October, 2017, 04:11:15 PM
Has a ring to it.
'The Law. In no particular order'.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: I, Cosh on 18 October, 2017, 05:33:22 PM
Quote from: Richard on 18 October, 2017, 03:21:35 PM
QuoteAs long as you don't read the last story in the first volume before the first story in the second...
It doesn't matter if you do. They don't have to be read in order.
Sure and you can watch Memento backwards but I was replying pedantically to someone saying the Psi Files were printed in chronological order.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: EDazzling on 18 October, 2017, 07:11:37 PM
I realised that instantly and almost edited my post but incorrectly assumed nobody would care enough.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: I, Cosh on 18 October, 2017, 07:13:00 PM
Quote from: EDazzling on 18 October, 2017, 07:11:37 PM
I realised that instantly and almost edited my post but incorrectly assumed nobody would care enough.
Thank you!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Proudhuff on 18 October, 2017, 07:23:05 PM
Quote from: EDazzling on 18 October, 2017, 07:11:37 PM
I realised that instantly and almost edited my post but incorrectly assumed nobody would care enough.

They don't.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Fungus on 18 October, 2017, 10:48:07 PM
whatever
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 19 October, 2017, 09:07:35 PM
Tour of Duty on it's way now. Can't wait to read the whole ToD. Let a friend borrow my paper backs the other week, and I skimmed through them before letting him have them. Fantastic book that one.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Zenith 666 on 20 October, 2017, 07:35:58 PM
Quote from: Link Prime on 18 October, 2017, 11:52:18 AM
Quote from: Zenith 666 on 18 October, 2017, 11:24:24 AM
Does anyone know how to order back issues from Ireland as hacette only seem to offer issues in uk on their website.

I had the same issue a few months ago.
I just completed the order as normal then dropped them an email to confirm that the delivery address was ROI.
They replied that it was no problem, and the books were promptly shipped.
excellent thank you for the reply.£100 on the way to hacette tomorrow so.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 23 October, 2017, 08:28:27 AM
The Facebook page has put up the cover & info for Weird Science.

Blurb: "In the twenty-second century, psychic exploration and technological enhancements go hand in hand. From Mega-City One to Brit-Cit, from the ghost-haunted ruins of the Sov Block to the depths of outer space, psioperatives can investigate the worlds beyond – and battle the many threats that seek to break into our dimension..."

I'm not sure who the cover's of or by. Credits I can make out are John Smith, Kev Walker, Jim Campbell, Steve Yeowell, Colin MacNeil, Charles Gillespie, Andrew Clarke and Adrian Salmon.

I had it in my head that this volume would include stories like The Stupid Gun but it seems not. Any ideas?

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: I, Cosh on 23 October, 2017, 08:52:38 AM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 23 October, 2017, 08:28:27 AM
I'm not sure who the cover's of or by. Credits I can make out are John Smith, Kev Walker, Jim Campbell, Steve Yeowell, Colin MacNeil, Charles Gillespie, Andrew Clarke and Adrian Salmon.
Finally! That Inspectre reprint rolls around.

Smith & MacNeil could = Strange & Darke.
Pussyfoot 5 would be a stretch for Yeowell but I can't see any of his infrequent Dredds which would fit the bill.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 23 October, 2017, 09:22:02 AM
Covers of Pussyfoot 5.  I think that's Raynor's art.  Yeowell did some of the art on the series IIRC but not all of it.

<rant> Bigger question is 'why'?  It's a stretch to consider P5 Dreddworld, it didn't last that long and to be frank there was a reason for it.  I'm with aleardsnazz, stuff like the Stupid Gun makes a hell of a lot more sense.  As does the DNA man.  There's quite a bit that could be cheerfully used instead.  If filler like this is being churned out then why extend by 10 volumes? </rant>   :o
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Fungus on 23 October, 2017, 09:58:20 AM
'Why extend?' is rhetorical, right?!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 23 October, 2017, 10:43:18 AM
££££££££££££££££££££££££
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 23 October, 2017, 10:48:44 AM
If it's going to be 10 volumes of Dredd's great mistakes, aye!  Granted there have only been a couple of volumes that fit into this; Most of Cursed Earth Carnage, Calhab Justice, Independent operators, Inferno, but then no Robot Wars?  Captain Skank?  Kennedy's run of the mid 400's?

If this is just an exercise, as IndigoPrime suggests, in fleecing then it would be a shame.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 23 October, 2017, 11:19:51 AM
Quote from: Tjm86 on 23 October, 2017, 10:48:44 AM
no Robot Wars?

Still convinced the first volume of Dredd from the 2000 AD collection will be the first 200+ pages of Case Files 1, therefore including Robot Wars.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Fungus on 23 October, 2017, 11:38:54 AM
Quote from: Tjm86 on 23 October, 2017, 10:48:44 AM
If this is just an exercise, as IndigoPrime suggests, in fleecing then it would be a shame.
Kinda what I meant.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: James Stacey on 23 October, 2017, 01:37:08 PM
Quote from: Tjm86 on 23 October, 2017, 09:22:02 AM
<rant> Bigger question is 'why'?  It's a stretch to consider P5 Dreddworld, it didn't last that long and to be frank there was a reason for it.  I'm with aleardsnazz, stuff like the Stupid Gun makes a hell of a lot more sense.  As does the DNA man.  There's quite a bit that could be cheerfully used instead.  If filler like this is being churned out then why extend by 10 volumes? </rant>   :o
If the marvel extensions are anything to go by the extension will be mostly stuff released since the partwork series began.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 23 October, 2017, 07:32:21 PM
err p5s a devlin waugh spinoff so yeah its totally dreddworld related
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 23 October, 2017, 09:00:16 PM
If we're going with that logic then we can include Strontium Dog and Rogue Trooper too, can't we?  In fact, include Helter Skelter and that gives us the VC's, Dan Dare, Meltdown Man, ....

No?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: marko10174 on 23 October, 2017, 11:35:38 PM

Just out of curiosity, how much would they have to extent it by to get every Dredd story to date in the collection?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: EDazzling on 24 October, 2017, 08:53:04 AM
Figuring that it is a day's work and only an insane pertain would do it. Probably need another few hundred books?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 24 October, 2017, 09:12:13 AM
Crudest possible top-of-my head estimate puts Dredd (including America, Dead Man, annuals, specials etc. but excluding Heavy Metal Dredd, DC & IDW Dredd and Movie Dredd) at about 15,000 pages, based on the first 20 years of 350 pages a year plus 20 years of maybe 450 pages a year (800x20 minus 1,000 pages for errors in my figures = 15,000).  Divide that by maximum page count (250) and you get 60 fat volumes. 

It's tricky to guesstimate how much Dredd in the MC volumes so far, since some Dredd volumes have non-Dredd in them in, and other non-Dredd volumes have Dredd stories, but say 40?  And not all of those at the maximum page count either, so maybe 9,000 pages done, leaving 6,000 to do. 

So maybe another 25 volumes of pure Dredd (beyond Issue 75: Weird Science) would do the lot? 

Any advance from more numerate/database-enabled boarders?

EDIT: Just realised that the Megazine has been going a lot longer than I thought, plus forgot its fortnightly period, so my estimates are way too low.  But I leave the correction to others!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jim_Campbell on 24 October, 2017, 10:43:43 AM
Quote from: I, Cosh on 23 October, 2017, 08:52:38 AM
Finally! That Inspectre reprint rolls around.

Said nobody, ever. :-)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: paulbyrnewex on 24 October, 2017, 02:57:42 PM
I been lurker here for quite awhile but I read a few comments where people have been asking what has been printed and was hasn't been printed. A short time ago I started putting my own list together but I have around 20 volumes left to add but it gives a fair idea of what has and hasn't been published. Hopefully this link works though you might have to download it.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B3Q-8K3urqY7akRGbkE1dEFZU2s

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: I, Cosh on 24 October, 2017, 03:10:15 PM
Quote from: Jim_Campbell on 24 October, 2017, 10:43:43 AM
Quote from: I, Cosh on 23 October, 2017, 08:52:38 AM
Finally! That Inspectre reprint rolls around.
Said nobody, ever. :-)
Not true Jim. I have an ever-shrinking list of unread and never reprinted Thrills and I'm always happy to cross one off.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 24 October, 2017, 03:14:42 PM
Quote from: paulbyrnewex on 24 October, 2017, 02:57:42 PM
Hopefully this link works though you might have to download it.

Do you think that your first post being a link to a barely described file download is the most sensible idea?   :-\
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tombo on 24 October, 2017, 05:12:53 PM
Quote from: TordelBack on 24 October, 2017, 09:12:13 AM
It's tricky to guesstimate how much Dredd in the MC volumes so far, since some Dredd volumes have non-Dredd in them in, and other non-Dredd volumes have Dredd stories, but say 40?  And not all of those at the maximum page count either, so maybe 9,000 pages done, leaving 6,000 to do. 

To date the MC has 601 entries in my Index, 531 of which are stories the rest been "In Detail", Interrogations, and sketch books.  Dredd comprises bang on 300 of those (not including Heavy Metal Dredd or Fetish [which I consider a Devlin Waugh story]), so slightly more than half of the MC is actually Dredd.

Actual page count is another story which I'll pass on to someone else.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: O Lucky Stevie! on 25 October, 2017, 06:59:08 AM
Quote from: Tjm86 on 23 October, 2017, 09:22:02 AM
Covers of Pussyfoot 5.  I think that's Raynor's art.  Yeowell did some of the art on the series IIRC but not all of it.

Yay!!! The first first series was a solidly told tale with great Raynor art but still a bit Smith-By-Numbers.*

The second story that Yeowell drew, however, is the proverbial bee's knees: baroque, proper science fiction from somebody who knows his Alfred Bester from his James Tiptree, Jr. & Cordwainer Smith. Face-meltingly good stuff from one of the finest SFnal thinkers in Britain today.

Stevie, for one, was really disappointed that there was no follow up as the plot seemed to be embarking upon a right galactic odyssey; vistas that Smith boy has rarely (ahem) visited outside Firekind & Leatherjack..



*The tech guy is possessed by the spirit of Son of Sam? Consider another box ticked!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Magnetica on 27 October, 2017, 12:04:13 AM
Just reading Tour of Duty Backlash. I know it's been out for ages but I had to wait for Mutants in Mega City One.

Anyway I have just noticed some of the stories are printed out of order, compared to the original publication dates.

Does anyone know why that is?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: EDazzling on 27 October, 2017, 08:22:53 AM
It's so the other writer's "A Day in the Life of Exile Dredd" fill-ins fit neatly between Wagner opening that Status quo and him wrapping it up, IIRC.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Magnetica on 27 October, 2017, 09:34:58 AM
I can understand moving stories around between volumes to make the page count fit, but not really within a volume. The last few in Backlash seem to be in some sort of random order.

Not sure if I should ignore that and read them in publication order.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 27 October, 2017, 10:01:06 AM
Don't forget that the rather inportant ToD/mutants story 'Spirit of Christmas' appears at the end of the Origins book.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 27 October, 2017, 08:15:07 PM
Enjoyed Famous Monsters, Dredd tackling a variety of beasties with trademark stoicism. Good choice of stories from throughout the years. More volumes like this please.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 28 October, 2017, 11:09:18 PM
Famous Monsters was good.  A good few old time stories and my favourite one was with the train robbers (can't remember the story name) where the robber was sympathetic.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 06 November, 2017, 01:27:25 PM
Issue 75 up at Hachette (https://hachettepartworks.com/judge-dredd-the-mega-collection/weird-science)
QuoteIn the twenty-second century, psychic exploration and technological enhancements go hand in hand. From Mega-City One to Brit-Cit, from the ghost-haunted ruins of the Sov Block to the depths of outer space, psioperatives can investigate the worlds beyond – and battle the many threats that seek to break into our dimension... Take a journey into the strange with this head-spinning collection of stories from creators such as John Smith (Devlin Waugh), Kevin Walker (ABC Warriors), Steve Yeowell (Zenith), Colin MacNeil (America), and more!
(https://hachettepartworks.com/Content/Products/332eb3db-6fc0-4243-8ef9-f81ccd0e16a6.jpg)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 06 November, 2017, 02:04:14 PM
The World At Law had sat on my shelf, and I'd expected it to be another one in the "bleh" pile, but I actually rather liked this collection. I recall Pan African Judges kind of washed over me at the time, but in collected form I rather enjoyed it. There are some issues with narrative here and there, but it neatly tried to do something a bit different with Dredd's world, and the art was rather lovely on the whole.

Following that, Zancudo was amusing and silly, and Tiger Sun, Dragon Moon was Parkhouse doing Parkhouse. It ends on a cliffhanger of sorts, although is still neatly self-contained, and I'd have happily seen more. (Again, I feel this probably washed over me years back, but in collected form it zips along nicely.)

Deathwatch: Faust & Falsehood ended the book on a slice of, frankly, tosh, before Molch-R signed off the book with one of his most critical essays yet. Aside from Deathwatch, though, I was nicely surprised by this one. I doubt I'll return to it much, but it wasn't another Heavy Mob.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 06 November, 2017, 02:13:46 PM
Look't Campbell's name up there on the cover of that hardback, right between script:God John Smith and Crucible chum John Freeman.  That's got to melt some of the the black ice surrounding his gothic heart. 
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Klegg Bait on 07 November, 2017, 04:11:35 AM
I'm somewhat struggling with World at Law.
I really want to get it over with to check out Independent Operators, but it's a slog for me.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 07 November, 2017, 05:29:39 PM
FB Post (https://www.facebook.com/judgedreddcollection/photos/a.1523545327903270.1073741828.1517847991806337/1964288620495603/?type=3) suggests Robbie Morrison & Richard Elson's Marauder will headline one of the extension volumes. I've no idea how good this strip is - thoughts?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 07 November, 2017, 05:45:26 PM
Elson's artwork is a definite plus but storywise?  It was okay.  It got the floppy treatment a year or so ago.  Interesting to know what it will be folded in with.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richard on 07 November, 2017, 06:50:02 PM
I don't think Marauder is good enough to be in a series of essential, must-have Dreddworld stories.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 07 November, 2017, 10:13:33 PM
What is Marauder? 
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 07 November, 2017, 10:29:08 PM
Expelled Cadet Judge Falcone turns vigilante, has a cyber-suit that makes him look/move rather a lot like Spiderman.  Falcone originally appeared years previously as a kid in a story where a thuggish judge kills his mother, which makes for a nice bit of backstory. Pretty good Morrison stuff if memory serves, and Elson does his usually fantastic job on the colourful art

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jim_Campbell on 08 November, 2017, 09:00:20 AM
Quote from: TordelBack on 06 November, 2017, 02:13:46 PM
Look't Campbell's name up there on the cover of that hardback, right between script:God John Smith and Crucible chum John Freeman.  That's got to melt some of the the black ice surrounding his gothic heart.

TBH, it's so long ago now, it feels like someone else entirely. It's slightly surreal.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: James Stacey on 08 November, 2017, 03:57:14 PM
Quote from: Richard on 07 November, 2017, 06:50:02 PM
I don't think Marauder is good enough to be in a series of essential, must-have Dreddworld stories.
It is however much more worthy than some stuff that has already appeared in the series.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Bolt-01 on 08 November, 2017, 04:23:28 PM
Also it is a set of files that will be pretty much ready to use.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 08 November, 2017, 06:21:47 PM
For the record, Krysler's Mark contains:
The Fink with colour spreads
Destiny's Angels with colour spreads
City of the Damned without colour spreads or the Steve Dillon poster that followed the prologue (boo)
In the Year 2120
Covers
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Hudge_Jeeley on 08 November, 2017, 06:28:10 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 08 November, 2017, 06:21:47 PM
For the record, Krysler's Mark contains:
The Fink with colour spreads
Destiny's Angels with colour spreads
City of the Damned without colour spreads or the Steve Dillon poster that followed the prologue (boo)
In the Year 2120
Covers


Ah, nice. Waiting on Forbidden planet to send mine.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: EDazzling on 08 November, 2017, 06:39:00 PM
Huh. Weird that it didn't have the "Block War" Judge Child epilogue from prog 182, after the Judge Child volume didn't.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 08 November, 2017, 07:11:17 PM
I can understand the omission from Judge Child with page count issues.  Not sure it would have fit the narrative with Kryslers Mark considering that the focus is on the rest of his story but 'Block War' was more about Dredd fitting back into MC1 and evaluating his judgement.  Suppose they could do a volume on that topic but considering the Dead Man stuff has already been reprinted it might not fill a full volume.

Hopefully my subscription copy will turn up soon to see what this looks like.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richard on 08 November, 2017, 10:31:39 PM
I don't think Block War would have fit in Krysler's Mark, but it's basically episode 27 of The Judge Child. It belongs there.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 09 November, 2017, 06:51:48 AM
Kryslers Mark was enjoyable. The last story was a bit odd and was the only one I hadn't read before but a nice piece of nostalgia.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 09 November, 2017, 06:43:17 PM
Quote from: Jade Falcon on 09 November, 2017, 06:51:48 AM
Kryslers Mark was enjoyable. The last story was a bit odd and was the only one I hadn't read before but a nice piece of nostalgia.

Really enjoyed it. Classic stories, great art and a rogue's gallery of villains. What's not to like?

So what Angel Gang stories are left for issue 80?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Davgardo on 10 November, 2017, 08:51:28 AM
Quote from: Richard on 07 November, 2017, 06:50:02 PM
I don't think Marauder is good enough to be in a series of essential, must-have Dreddworld stories.

Can't work out whether you're being sarcastic or not....
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: marko10174 on 10 November, 2017, 06:57:04 PM

Anyone know what stars of psi division is about?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 10 November, 2017, 07:42:14 PM
Stars of Psi Div - Janus ,  Strange & Darke , Storm Warning maybe?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moly on 10 November, 2017, 07:59:34 PM
Strange and dark are in this months weird science
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: EDazzling on 10 November, 2017, 08:28:58 PM
The Complete Janus and Karyn would come to around 170 pages. Storm Warning takes takes that to 220-230ish, which is a good volume length.

Are there any other solo psi-judge stories? There could be some more psi-focused Dredd stories in there instead?

But Karyn, Janus and Storm Warning is my guess.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: EDazzling on 10 November, 2017, 08:36:07 PM
Next month's are on Facebook.

Armitage and "Mega-City Underworld". Credits on that would fit Bato Loco, Marauder and Tempest.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 11 November, 2017, 04:04:37 PM
One thing about Kryslers Mark, once it was mentioned was the mix of art styles was rather glaring.

Classic moments for me was Anderson's promotion, her thoughts on picking up the thoughts of those around her and Dredds comments on his new eyes.

I might be wrong but this looked like the time Joe started to have proper respect for Anderson rather than thinking of her as a bit of a pest.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Davgardo on 13 November, 2017, 09:38:30 AM
I wonder whether Ron Smith was ill at the time, coz it's really weird when Kim Raymond just pops up in his 'segments'. And it looks really rushed Kim Raymond too. I think if Ron had drawn those strips, which I'm guessing was the intention, it wouldnt be such a mish mash. Oz, suffers from the same issue of course.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 14 November, 2017, 08:46:53 PM
I really wish City of the Damned had been a Steve Dillon epic, I find the mishmash of artists (all great individually) very distracting. For years I loved the Titan book with the ghostly Sienkiewicz cover. 'Weird Science' is a good idea for a book. It's a bit of a John Smith-fest, with Strange & Darke - please Tharg can we have more of this? Colin MacNeils art has never been better coloured.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 16 November, 2017, 01:37:21 PM
Anyone know if the Daily Dredds are likely (or unlikely) to make an appearance in the JDMC?

Seems unlikely; I'm looking at that store 50% off sale but don't want to double dip so close together.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 16 November, 2017, 01:46:06 PM
Quote from: Tomwe on 16 November, 2017, 01:37:21 PM
Anyone know if the Daily Dredds are likely (or unlikely) to make an appearance in the JDMC?

Seems unlikely; I'm looking at that store 50% off sale but don't want to double dip so close together.
UPDATE:
Quote@tomwe The Daily strips won't be included in the Mega Collection, Earthlet.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Michael Knight on 16 November, 2017, 02:51:31 PM
Alright folks. Sorry if this has been answered already but is Missionary Man collected in its entirety in the 3 volumes of this collection? Thanks in advance 
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 16 November, 2017, 03:37:56 PM
i think its missing one or two one offs and the harke and burr crossover but other than that its as complete as its gonna likely get
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: EDazzling on 16 November, 2017, 06:09:27 PM
Here's the reading list I made when the third volume came out. The three missing stories highlighted.

Salvation at the Last Chance Saloon - Volume 1
A Town Called Intolerance - Volume 1
Bad Moon Rising - Volume 1
Legend of the Unholy Drinker - Volume 2
Season of the Witch - Volume 2
Sanctuary - Volume 2
Judge Dredd: True Grit - Volume 3
The Undertaker Cometh - Volume 2
Treasure of the Sierra Murder - Volume 2
Medicine Show - Volume 2
Nightriders - Volume 2
Mississippi Burning - Volume 2
Harke & Burr: Satanic Farces - N/A
Crusader - Volume 2
The Big Sleazy - Volume 2
Night of the Hunter - Volume 2
Mortal Combat - N/A
Juggernaut - Volume 2
The Shootist - Volume 2
Storm Warnings - Volume 2
Prologue - Volume 3
Mardi Gras - Volume 3
Goin' South - Volume 3
Apocrypha   - Volume 3
The Promised Land - Volume 1
Mark of the Beast - Volume 3
Silence - N/A
Place of the Dead - Volume 1
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Michael Knight on 16 November, 2017, 08:34:56 PM
Thanks guys! Seems crazy how the mega collection doesnt list them in chronological order in the volumes?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 16 November, 2017, 08:38:44 PM
It bounces around all over the shop sometimes. Anderson and Shimura do this too. It could really have done with some synopsis pages dotted about. I hope the 2000 AD books start doing that when there are big gaps.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Michael Knight on 16 November, 2017, 08:54:50 PM
I really hope so mate. I was kind of unaware the Volumes were like this. Bought them all but the volumes you just mentioned ive yet to read.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 24 November, 2017, 11:26:41 PM
Weird Science was a bit of a mixed bag.  The Pussyfoot 5 stories were.....different, but amusing.  Did they do any others with that team?

Inspector Strange.  Despite what I initially was fearing I really enjoyed.  If Strange had been a TV series I could almost imagine him sounding like Gene Hunt. :) 

The Inspectre stories were in my mind really nice.  It was a revelation that by the end Primakova was a semi sympathetic character.  Wondering if what had been done to her had twisted her so much.

Cabal.  Sorry, I tried to like this, but what I think worked against it for me was the art.  I just did not like the art style, perhaps if it had been different.  Alternatively a reread later on might also change my opinions.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 25 November, 2017, 11:35:58 AM
Inspector Strange is one of the great underused elements of Dredd's wider world, really adding something unique to Brit Cit.  Incredibly silly, but at the same time, unsettling.  While I'm hoping he'll escape the farming out of Smith's characters long enough for the great man himself to pick up the reins one day (unlikely on both counts, I fear), I would equally love to see a crossover with Storm Warning, the other supernatural going concern in that neck of the woods.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 25 November, 2017, 05:46:48 PM
You never see Inspector Jehrico Strange and Dark Judge Mortis together do you?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 25 November, 2017, 06:23:31 PM
And thereby hangs a (bony) tail.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Greg M. on 25 November, 2017, 06:45:54 PM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 25 November, 2017, 05:46:48 PM
You never see Inspector Jehrico Strange and Dark Judge Mortis together do you?

I can't think what you're implying - one's a horse and one's a sheep. They're less alike than virtually any pair of regular flesh-free humans. ;)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 25 November, 2017, 08:31:46 PM
Fair enough, but only a Welshman would reaaaally be able to tell the difference.   >:D
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 26 November, 2017, 05:31:44 PM
I enjoyed Weird Science, but shouldn't it have been spelt Pscience?

Two great different, but brilliant, spin-offs from Devlin Waugh, showcasing the range of weirdness John Smith brings to the table. Loved them both.

Quality stuff with the Inspectre - intriguing origin story, then his struggles against powers both supernatural and terrestrial were well told and drawn.

I liked the idea in Cabal of the presence of Exorcist judges being an invitation rather than a deterrent to demonic forces, however I think this would have worked better being developed further, as per John Freeman's comments.

Is the thinking that Stars of Psi Division will collect Janus, Karyn and Storm Warning? Should be an ideal companion volume to this one if so.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 26 November, 2017, 08:25:41 PM
I really did enjoy the Inspectre, especially having a story from the perspective of the Sov-Block.

Now I'm wondering.  There was an Orlok story I remember reading part of, I'm pretty sure its post Childhood's End, and it involved him returning to MC-1 for....reasons.  In other words I don't know.  He contacts Anderson in advance and she warns him to stay away.  Apologies but that's all I remember about it.  Does anyone know the story I'm referring to and whether it will be featured.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richard on 26 November, 2017, 08:52:21 PM
That sounds like Return of the Assassin, which is in Case Files 30.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 26 November, 2017, 09:54:20 PM
Thanks for that, any chance it'll turn up in the Mega Collection?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: EDazzling on 26 November, 2017, 10:06:34 PM
Already has! Doomsday for Dredd.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 26 November, 2017, 10:33:48 PM
Quote from: EDazzling on 26 November, 2017, 10:06:34 PM
Already has! Doomsday for Dredd.

Well don't I feel a bit...sheepish. :D

Thanks
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mardroid on 27 November, 2017, 06:20:07 AM
Coincidentally I was just about to order that as part of the 50% Hachette Partworks Black Friday sale.

Confusing thing is, the prices on the site, don't reflect their advertisement in my email inbox! I thought the discount might be applied in the payment stage, but apparently not.

I'll likely still get it (and other back -issues in the collection) at some point as £9.99 is still excellent value for a comic hardback collection. But those repetitive emails from Hachette were rather confusing. No discount code was mentioned either!

I messaged Hachette on facebook. Maybe I'll get a reply soon. Sale ends today however, but we'll see!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 27 November, 2017, 08:11:06 AM
Here is your answer, Mardroid:

Quote from: Tomwe on 20 November, 2017, 02:22:05 PM
They give and they taketh away:
QuoteDon't miss our Black Friday sale this weekend with up to 50% off selected products! From Marvel graphic novels to relaxing Art therapy, buy someone the perfect gift, or treat yourself this Black Friday weekend.

Visit www.hachettepartworks.com to bag yourself a bargain!
50% off all titles excluding 2000 AD: The Ultimate Collection, Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection and all licensed products published after 24 May 2017.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 27 November, 2017, 08:15:26 AM
Their free post code isn't working for me. (I wanted to order a Marvel book.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mardroid on 28 November, 2017, 01:30:32 PM
Ah, I missed the date! Silly me. Would have been a nice opportunity to pick up a couple of the Ultimate volumes then, but never mind.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 02 December, 2017, 06:37:00 AM
It was mentioned that in the extension an index would be wanted by some.  I think a 'reference' book similar to the Dredd encyclopedia would be useful. One thing in particular with the stories in the collection is a timeline showing how the various stories 'fit' in relation to each other. Especially as the books aren't by time but theme.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Michael Knight on 02 December, 2017, 01:38:20 PM
it absolutely beggars belief that after extending the collection they still cannot offer an index.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: EDazzling on 02 December, 2017, 02:35:33 PM
New volumes are as expected:

Mega City Underworld
All four Bato Loco stories
Both Tempest Stories
Marauder (doesn't include the "Origin Story" strip. Wonder if that will squeeze in somewhere in the extension if there's another "dirty judges" themed book?)

Armitage
All the remaining Armitage stories
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 03 December, 2017, 10:15:51 PM
Quote from: Michael Knight on 02 December, 2017, 01:38:20 PM
it absolutely beggars belief that after extending the collection they still cannot offer an index.

I think instead of just an index, if of course you mean just a story listing, you could have a book with the following.

Story Index
Timeline of notable events and stories tied to it.  (IE Block Mania/Apocalypse war), Necopolis etc.
A tech section.  Showing Judge uniform variants, Lawmasters, Lawgivers, Justice Departmant info, also tech info on the Sov-Block, Sino-Cit etc.
And so on.

It doesn't have to be as totally exact as the encyclopedia, but it's out of date anyway and is getting increasingly hard to find.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 04 December, 2017, 06:02:07 PM
I'd really like a book of artists/writers and a list of the stories/volumes so I could find stuff.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 06 December, 2017, 12:31:41 PM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 04 December, 2017, 06:02:07 PM
I'd really like a book of artists/writers and a list of the stories/volumes so I could find stuff.

I've made a start on a spreadsheet listing such a thing, however given there'll be 90 volumes and I've only catalogued 4 so far, it could take a while. Watch this space in about a year. I'm also including story page counts for the statistically minded among us - at present my money is on Colin MacNeil being highest, though Carlos could be a close second.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: oddballuk on 06 December, 2017, 06:06:16 PM
Info is up for Issue 78 Stars of Psi Division.

https://hachettepartworks.com/judge-dredd-the-mega-collection/stars-of-psi-division

So Karyn, Janus & Juliet November.

Always pleased to have more Arthur Ranson art in regards to Juliet November.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 06 December, 2017, 08:03:48 PM
Like, Janus, like, rlly, like, like, rlly, like?

*headdesk*
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 06 December, 2017, 08:08:38 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 06 December, 2017, 08:03:48 PM
Like, Janus, like, rlly, like, like, rlly, like?

*headdesk*

Not quite getting what the reference, if any, is here.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 06 December, 2017, 08:27:09 PM
Perhaps you've forgotten how Janus speaks.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 07 December, 2017, 01:21:01 AM
If she hasn't been in any of the Dredd ones so far, it's likely I never saw her before.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 07 December, 2017, 01:37:47 AM
shes in the inferno storyline
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 07 December, 2017, 11:09:41 AM
"Like wow. I mean, wholly!"

Also: Morrison/Millar doing Dreddworld. I just hope these are better than I recall. Johnson's art is at least nice.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Link Prime on 07 December, 2017, 11:25:37 AM
We can only pray Dan Abnett never gives us that long-mooted Billi Octavo / Judy Janus team-up.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 07 December, 2017, 12:13:53 PM
Don't tempt fate.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 07 December, 2017, 12:43:54 PM
Okay, Underworld was... interesting. Tempest really is a cocky nutter isn't he, and for my son's, Marauder was silly fun.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 07 December, 2017, 12:47:20 PM
The Hachette site is showing a number of back issues as sold out and others only having a few copies left, so be quick if you're wanting to order any from there.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 07 December, 2017, 01:44:58 PM
Insurrection already out of stock? Blimey. Glad I got my replacement in, then. That Weird Science is also already out of stock is surprising. Maybe at this point they're basically fulfilling subscriptions and a small amount of newsagent run, and that's it?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Magnetica on 07 December, 2017, 02:45:44 PM
Insurrection was out of stock on the FP website almost the minute it came out, so not sure how many they were supplied with. Thankfully Hachette did have some. But that was back in August. I have generally taken the view that if I want a volume I need to order it when it comes out and not wait.

There do seem though to be earlier volumes still available.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 07 December, 2017, 05:36:17 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 07 December, 2017, 01:44:58 PM
Maybe at this point they're basically fulfilling subscriptions and a small amount of newsagent run, and that's it?

Still waiting on the latest issues as a subscriber so not even that.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 08 December, 2017, 11:13:52 AM
Subscription copies are here.

Anyone else notice the end papers on these two? Methinks they have gotten mixed up.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 08 December, 2017, 12:00:26 PM
Received mine this morning too but they remain unopened along with about 30 other issues.
I'm miles behind in my reading.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 08 December, 2017, 01:20:25 PM
30? That makes me feel a bit better. I have about a dozen partworks in the queue. Well, 2000 AD ones. There are also a few Marvel ones, about 30 other trades, and something like 200 Marvel reprint volumes I bought on eBay last year.

I don't need to buy any new comics for several years, it seems.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 08 December, 2017, 01:52:24 PM
I'm 30 behind in the JD ones.
48 behind in Marvel, 48 in DC and have only read 2 of 24 Star Trek and 2 of the Dr Who out of 60.
My Wife keeps telling me I don't need any new ones too.
But who can resist a new comic part work!  :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 08 December, 2017, 03:30:50 PM
Ha! My wife, to be fair, is pretty geeky and insanely patient when it comes to this kind of stuff. Our telly room has four massive bookcases, packed full of trades, her books, and shiny discs. But the space for my stuff keeps on growing. The only thing I now have to do is "decide which comics you want to keep", once I'm done reading all the Marvel reprints. And that's fair enough, because I'm basically out of space.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 08 December, 2017, 05:09:17 PM
Finally showed up so there we go.  Tomwe's right.  They've messed up the end pages.  Armitage / Marauder in both.  Otherwise, can't see owt major wrong.  Down to the last three now then the extension (maybe).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: EDazzling on 08 December, 2017, 05:15:12 PM
I stated picking these up 18 months into the run and I never figured out why there's an odd number left?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: marko10174 on 08 December, 2017, 05:27:42 PM

Jesus, there's  lot out of stock. Will they get any more copies? or once they're gone, they're gone kinda deal? I hope they get more in as I am quite new to the mega collection and only have 27 books so far. I'd like to one day get them all, but if some of them become out of print collector's items it will be a nightmare.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 08 December, 2017, 07:05:57 PM
Quote from: marko10174 on 08 December, 2017, 05:27:42 PM

Jesus, there's  lot out of stock. Will they get any more copies? or once they're gone, they're gone kinda deal? I hope they get more in as I am quite new to the mega collection and only have 27 books so far. I'd like to one day get them all, but if some of them become out of print collector's items it will be a nightmare.

Early this year they had a 50% off January Sale and I made out like a bandit! Got so many of the books I had been meaning to pick up. They might do the same again in a month (but obviously that won't help you get the sold-out ones...)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: marko10174 on 08 December, 2017, 07:46:05 PM

I hope they do it again in January because I will go nuts. Why oh why didn't I buy Judge death lives and young death when I had the chance?! I'm sure I'll be able to pick them up on ebay at some point.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jamie1000013 on 09 December, 2017, 01:18:48 PM
So are they still doing the ten book extension to 90 books?

I really enjoyed the Judge child follow up recent book. I never knew how Dredd lost his eyes and now I know, pretty fun story.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 09 December, 2017, 03:21:34 PM
Yes, the series will be running to 90 books, assuming it's not extended a second time.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 09 December, 2017, 03:44:30 PM
Quote from: EDazzling on 08 December, 2017, 05:15:12 PM
I stated picking these up 18 months into the run and I never figured out why there's an odd number left?

First issue came on it's own (IIRC, it's been a while).  I guess it also has the advantage of allowing them to sneak in the extension before subscribers have a chance to cancel.  Guess that's why they've been playing it close to their chest on what is going to be in the extension volumes.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 09 December, 2017, 07:33:36 PM
Quote from: Tjm86 on 09 December, 2017, 03:44:30 PM
Quote from: EDazzling on 08 December, 2017, 05:15:12 PM
I stated picking these up 18 months into the run and I never figured out why there's an odd number left?

First issue came on it's own (IIRC, it's been a while).  I guess it also has the advantage of allowing them to sneak in the extension before subscribers have a chance to cancel.  Guess that's why they've been playing it close to their chest on what is going to be in the extension volumes.
I'm pretty sure they're willing to accept unopened returns of issue 81 in the event peeps want to bail. There's a freepost address you can just shove it back in the cardboard & return it.

Molcher made a comment on FB that its *not* going to be extended again. I'm sure he's in the loop enough to be able to take that seriously.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 11 December, 2017, 11:14:24 PM
Really enjoyed Mega City Underground. Bato Loco and Tempest were both great fun, and Marauder had some intriguing moral quandaries to ponder alongside some great action scenes. Stunning art throughout too.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moogie101 on 12 December, 2017, 11:42:17 AM
Don't follow too much of what gets posted on FB, has there been any hints or educated guesses as to what we can expect in 81-90?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 12 December, 2017, 12:46:15 PM
Quote from: moogie101 on 12 December, 2017, 11:42:17 AM
Don't follow too much of what gets posted on FB, has there been any hints or educated guesses as to what we can expect in 81-90?

There hasn't been much since the original announcements a few months ago that it would include more recent Anderson, Lawless and a street crime volume - suspect Crime Files will be in there?

Personally, I'm hoping for more classic Ron Smith stories such as Pirates of the Black Atlantic and the Graveyard Shift.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 12 December, 2017, 12:55:43 PM
Oh, and Otto Sump - he's on the original spine art image - surely he needs to appear?

Speaking of the spine art, are there two Choppers? In front of the Klegg and then next to Anderson?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 12 December, 2017, 01:01:24 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 12 December, 2017, 12:55:43 PM
Speaking of the spine art, are there two Choppers? In front of the Klegg and then next to Anderson?

Surely that's Spikes Harvey Rotten next to Anderson?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 13 December, 2017, 12:25:06 PM
Ah yes, that would make sense, thanks.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 13 December, 2017, 08:27:41 PM
Been rereading some of the collection and did The Day the Law Died. Solid enough old story but I'm wondering if I missed something. How come Citi Def never seemed to fight against Cal or was it because no matter how Batshit insane Cal was, he was to all intents and purposes, Cal was legally Chief Judge?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 13 December, 2017, 08:42:58 PM
I don't think anyone in the writer's chair had thought of CitiDef yet. We hadn't even seen a block-war at that point.  In-universe retcon, maybe they were established partly as a response to Cal? 
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Super Mario on 13 December, 2017, 09:25:29 PM
I've been picking up random issues and I got the weird science one a few weeks back.

The ending of strange and darke was a hillarious bit of rug pulling. I'm surprised we never got any follow up.

Pussyfoot 5 was a good bit more enjoyable than I expected it to be.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 13 December, 2017, 09:38:12 PM
Quote from: Super Mario on 13 December, 2017, 09:25:29 PMI'm surprised we never got any follow up.
It's by John Smith.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: oddballuk on 15 December, 2017, 03:20:57 PM
Next two books officially announced on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/judgedreddcollection/photos/a.1523545327903270.1073741828.1517847991806337/1980470982210700/?type=3&theater

I'd been waiting to see what would be included in the Chopper volume and it looks like it'll be skipping the Garth Ennis material but include the post-Ennis story The Big Meg by Wagner, Teague & Goddard.

So should be that, Midnight Surfer, Soul on Fire, Song of the Surfer, maybe Funeral in Mega City One from the poster prog?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 15 December, 2017, 04:56:56 PM
Cam Kennedy? YAASSSS. No Garth Ennis? Whatevs. (I didn't mind his story, but I don't care if it's cut.) But no Supersurf 13 is a VERY good decision.

Looking at the page count, the strips listed by oddballuk give us a page count of 201 or so. This means the Ennis strip would bump us over the 250-page maximum. On that basis, it's even better that Midnight Surfer is in the mix. Whether the Poster Prog shows up is another matter. Barney reckons that's only six pages, and it's something of a rarity, and so here's hoping.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 15 December, 2017, 08:00:15 PM
Is the cover art for the Chopper volume new? Can't remember seeing it before. I'm so looking forward to this volume :) !!!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tinmachine on 16 December, 2017, 12:31:33 AM
Looked at the contributors for Chopper. It appears Unamerican Graffiti isn't included? That really doesn't make sense seeing it introduces Chopper. Fun story and leads nicely into his next appearance.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: oddballuk on 16 December, 2017, 12:43:46 AM
Quote from: Apestrife on 15 December, 2017, 08:00:15 PM
Is the cover art for the Chopper volume new? Can't remember seeing it before. I'm so looking forward to this volume :) !!!

It was the cover to the Judge Dredd Poster Prog which had the Chopper story Funeral in Mega City One.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moogie101 on 16 December, 2017, 05:09:15 AM
Quote from: Tinmachine on 16 December, 2017, 12:31:33 AM
Looked at the contributors for Chopper. It appears Unamerican Graffiti isn't included? That really doesn't make sense seeing it introduces Chopper. Fun story and leads nicely into his next appearance.

I can't remember which book but that story has already been included in a previous mega collection volume.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 16 December, 2017, 06:27:31 AM
its in a book called mad city

oh the cover is actually the cover of the poster prog
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tinmachine on 16 December, 2017, 10:04:43 PM
Quote from: moogie101 on 16 December, 2017, 05:09:15 AM
Quote from: Tinmachine on 16 December, 2017, 12:31:33 AM
Looked at the contributors for Chopper. It appears Unamerican Graffiti isn't included? That really doesn't make sense seeing it introduces Chopper. Fun story and leads nicely into his next appearance.

I can't remember which book but that story has already been included in a previous mega collection volume.

Cheers!

Just looked up the contents page on the Wiki and found it. A number of volumes behind in Oz. Mad City looks like a great collection of stories.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 18 December, 2017, 05:13:35 PM
PM:d JDMC fb on whether Block Judge, Terror rising and Lady killer would be included in the collection and they said there was no plans for that.

Makes me hope/think they'll end up in the 2000AD UC Dark Justice book.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: marko10174 on 18 December, 2017, 11:36:23 PM

I have a spare copy of Satan's island and Klegg hai! from the JD meg collection. If anyone needs these two books and wants to do a swap for spare copies they might have (or books they don't want) from the collection just send me a pm.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Bolt-01 on 19 December, 2017, 11:50:50 AM
Satan's Island is a stone Killer of a book.

If anyone out these hasn't read that- you are missing out.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richard on 20 December, 2017, 01:14:23 PM
I assume that the Armitage volume (77) contains the first series, Influential Circles, and the Flashback stories, but can anyone tell me if I'm right please?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 20 December, 2017, 01:27:54 PM
Yes: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judge_Dredd:_The_Mega_Collection
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richard on 20 December, 2017, 02:57:31 PM
Thank you.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: marko10174 on 21 December, 2017, 09:40:19 PM

Some of the out of print books from the Hatchett site are back in print on the site. I just picked up a copy of young death.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 23 December, 2017, 06:44:17 PM
Obscure question alert. Really enjoying the latest Armitage volume, but I'm certain I remember from the original Megazine printing a double page spread by Sean Phillips (I think) that followed on from the end of First Cut with the letter being written there along with one of the historic Jack the Ripper letters. If I've remembered correctly, this hasn't appeared in either volume. Could it have been from one of the one-off stories that hasn't been reprinted? Told you it was obscure.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 24 December, 2017, 03:13:58 PM
Enjoyed the first volume of Armitage, an intriguing vision of future Britain that's different enough to Dredd's domain to bring something fresh to the table. It was good to see him appear in Every Empire Falls, hoping for another appearance soon.

Still no news on the extension issues, presumably we'll see something in the New Year. Merry Christmas all.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 26 December, 2017, 07:57:05 PM
Armitage was a mixed bag in places.  Certainly not the worst one I've ever read but not totally great.  In terms of character attitude he reminds me of a Dreddverse Gene Hunt. :)

Some of the art in the Flashback stories seemed a little murky but I don't know if that was reproduction issues or how it was.  It wasn't too bad.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 31 December, 2017, 02:58:01 PM
So what's the next couple of volumes. We're nearing the end of the original planned run but we have an extension.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 31 December, 2017, 03:52:23 PM
Quote from: Jade Falcon on 31 December, 2017, 02:58:01 PM
So what's the next couple of volumes. We're nearing the end of the original planned run but we have an extension.

Issue 78 is Stars of Psi Division
79 Chopper
80 Angel Gang - I'm unsure which stories are yet to be collected, any ideas?

No news on any of the extension volumes yet beyond the tidbits put out on the Thrill-cast when it was announced: a street crime volume, most likely including Crime-Files, more recent Anderson, and Lawless.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: EDazzling on 31 December, 2017, 06:13:56 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 31 December, 2017, 03:52:23 PM
Issue 78 is Stars of Psi Division
79 Chopper
80 Angel Gang - I'm unsure which stories are yet to be collected, any ideas?

No news on any of the extension volumes yet beyond the tidbits put out on the Thrill-cast when it was announced: a street crime volume, most likely including Crime-Files, more recent Anderson, and Lawless.

I have it in my head, although I'm not sure where it came from, that Gordon Rennie and Lee Carter's Angelic will be in the Angel Gang volume? Apart from that I think your list is all we know about the extension.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moldovangerbil on 02 January, 2018, 01:19:11 PM
Are we expecting another free gift with the next 2 books (last print possibly)?  I've just had a look at my account and it's showing the following:

23 December 2017    OutOfStock Letter

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 02 January, 2018, 04:04:11 PM
It's about the right time for the final print.  I wonder if they did manage to get Bolland to do one like they originally said or they've had to substitute.  This letter might be simply to say that it's running late again.

Wonder as well if the quietude on the extension front is because they've bottled it and changed their minds in light of the mixed response to the announcement.  Have to wait and see.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 02 January, 2018, 04:47:00 PM
Quote from: Tjm86 on 02 January, 2018, 04:04:11 PM
Wonder as well if the quietude on the extension front is because they've bottled it and changed their minds in light of the mixed response to the announcement.  Have to wait and see.

Whilst I am in this for the long run I would not be disappointed if the powers that be decided to end it at 80.
It's been a lovely series but with the Batman partworks starting up along with the tooth one I will be happy to finish this one off.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 02 January, 2018, 06:44:02 PM
One thing that would be nice to get in the extension in my mind would be Pirates of the Black Atlantic, not essential, but it would have been nice.  Ideally they could have had that in the same volume as Block Mania and Apocalypse War but it was not to be.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 02 January, 2018, 08:37:16 PM
Last issue of the original 80! (https://hachettepartworks.com/judge-dredd-the-mega-collection/fallen-angels)
(https://hachettepartworks.com/Content/Products/030d3d21-6f72-465f-9d9c-8e6fa0925bbc.jpg)
QuoteFallen Angels
Issue 80

Released: 31/01/2018

The Angel Gang are one of the most feared bunch of murderin', plunderin' psychopaths to emerge from the Texas City rad-wastes. With the ruthless Pa Angel at their head, he and his brutal sons Link, Mean Machine, Junior and Fink are responsible for terrorising the local communities. But before Dredd encountered them, just how did they gain such a chilling reputation?
[\quote]
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 03 January, 2018, 12:01:36 AM
Great cover and credit list, so which stories does it suggest?

I was hoping for the extension, if only to include Pirates of the Black Atlantic and The Graveyard Shift, but at least I'll gain some shelf space....
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 03 January, 2018, 02:07:29 PM
That's an unusual image of Pa Angel. Granted we account for different art styles and we had the image of him younger in the intro story to Finish but it's an odd one. Is it meant to be Paid when younger but before the events of Judge Child.

He looks a bit like Clay from Son's of Anarchy.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 03 January, 2018, 03:22:43 PM
Quote from: Jade Falcon on 03 January, 2018, 02:07:29 PM
That's an unusual image of Pa Angel. Granted we account for different art styles and we had the image of him younger in the intro story to Finish but it's an odd one. Is it meant to be Paid when younger but before the events of Judge Child.

I think Angelic is a tale about the versions of the Angels from the Stallone film, as Junior is drawn to look like that character rather than the comic version.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jim_Campbell on 03 January, 2018, 03:46:29 PM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 03 January, 2018, 03:22:43 PM
I think Angelic is a tale about the versions of the Angels from the Stallone film

I'm pretty sure it's not.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 05 January, 2018, 12:39:02 AM
I found Stars of Psi Division to be a middling issue. The Karyn stories had some good ideas and great atmospheric art from Adrian Salmon. With Janus, Paul Johnson's art reminded me of John Burns at times. The main character is annoying though, and I was enjoying Faustus until the ending was completely fumbled. And with Juliet November, I guess there was only one way her story could have ended, although I liked how it got there in Phoenix Falling.

Going with Barney for Fallen Angels content, Angelic and Before they wuz Dead account for 66 pages, any ideas on the rest?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 05 January, 2018, 09:22:01 AM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 05 January, 2018, 12:39:02 AM
Going with Barney for Fallen Angels content, Angelic and Before they wuz Dead account for 66 pages, any ideas on the rest?

Angelic has appeared more than Barney (currently) says it has, so you can double its page count for a start. And after 'Before they Wuz dead' Spurrier and Roberts reunited for a solo Fink tale 'Pizen Impossible' for another 25 or so pages.

As for the rest... Marshall, Reynolds and Goddard almost certainly suggests Rennie's brief solo Mean Machine run from the Megazine. That's another 56 pages.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 05 January, 2018, 09:51:45 AM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 05 January, 2018, 12:39:02 AMI found Stars of Psi Division to be a middling issue.
I'm fully expecting another 'read and burn' (so to speak) with that one. Those stories mostly weren't much cop the first time round, and so I can't imagine they've aged well. (I've had a few surprises in this run – notably Creep – but for the most part, dreck remains dreck. And I could happily have done without Heavy Mob, Klegg Hai!, Calhab Justice, Cursed Earth Carnage, most of Mean Machine, and Behind the Iron Curtain, too. Still, in a series of 80 books, three stinkers and three very much mediocre books isn't too bad a hit rate – and it certainly betters what I got out of the equivalent number of books in the Marvel collection.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 05 January, 2018, 11:57:06 AM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 05 January, 2018, 09:22:01 AM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 05 January, 2018, 12:39:02 AM
Going with Barney for Fallen Angels content, Angelic and Before they wuz Dead account for 66 pages, any ideas on the rest?

Angelic has appeared more than Barney (currently) says it has, so you can double its page count for a start. And after 'Before they Wuz dead' Spurrier and Roberts reunited for a solo Fink tale 'Pizen Impossible' for another 25 or so pages.

As for the rest... Marshall, Reynolds and Goddard almost certainly suggests Rennie's brief solo Mean Machine run from the Megazine. That's another 56 pages.

Thanks, that about covers it, along with, at a guess, a couple of one-offs by Robin Smith and Dean Ormston.

Quote from: IndigoPrime on 05 January, 2018, 09:51:45 AM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 05 January, 2018, 12:39:02 AMI found Stars of Psi Division to be a middling issue.
I'm fully expecting another 'read and burn' (so to speak) with that one. Those stories mostly weren't much cop the first time round, and so I can't imagine they've aged well. (I've had a few surprises in this run – notably Creep – but for the most part, dreck remains dreck. And I could happily have done without Heavy Mob, Klegg Hai!, Calhab Justice, Cursed Earth Carnage, most of Mean Machine, and Behind the Iron Curtain, too. Still, in a series of 80 books, three stinkers and three very much mediocre books isn't too bad a hit rate – and it certainly betters what I got out of the equivalent number of books in the Marvel collection.)

Agreed on HM, CEC and BtIC. Independent Operators and The World At Law didn't do much for me either, but a couple of the stories in Klegg Hai elevated it for me. I have a soft spot for Calhab, and Mean Machine including Dredd Angel, Travels with muh Shrink and Son of Mean puts it well up in the top half for me.

Still no update on the extension - anyone in the know reading this?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 05 January, 2018, 02:20:06 PM
Quote from: Jade Falcon on 03 January, 2018, 02:07:29 PM
That's an unusual image of Pa Angel. Granted we account for different art styles and we had the image of him younger in the intro story to Finish but it's an odd one. Is it meant to be Paid when younger but before the events of Judge Child.

It's Lee Carters's take on the character from the last couple of years in the Meg.  IIRC it is a pre JCQ tale.  Mr Carter's art suits it perfectly.

Quote from: abelardsnazz on 05 January, 2018, 12:39:02 AM
I found Stars of Psi Division to be a middling issue.

My subscription copies turned up this morning and on a quick flick through, I'd go with that too.  Some of these tales are from the nether-days of the nineties.  Not quite the worst but ...  I suppose fleshing out the PSI division world is perhaps not the worst idea on the face of the planet and we've had worse.  I'd agree with IP that the choice has been more often than not on the side of quality.

The accompanying note about the final print has also included a bit of a sweetener to try and keep us premium subscribers interested; a Dave Kendall print to round it off.  Guess they really are going to go through with it then.  News about the final ten volumes would get me off the fence though.  Tempting as a Kendall print is and better value seeing as it is only 10 rather than 14 issues worth, it would be nice to have some idea of what they might involve.  A final Index / Dreddworld overview / thematic timeline volume would go a long way towards swaying me, even if a large chunk of it was reprinting some of the material from annuals and specials; the old Gibson sales guide, the Lawmaster diagram, the Cursed Earth map ...  If someone could tempt Mr Wagner / Grant into writing a new piece about how they've seen the evolution of the character over the years and even their thoughts on some of the newer writers' takes on Dredd then that would be a clincher.  I'd also like a unicorn if there are any going!   ;)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 05 January, 2018, 02:36:48 PM
Got the Dave Kendall letter too, but as I'm not a premium subscriber I guess a DM is in order to make sure I'm not gonna suddenly pay more.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Geoff on 05 January, 2018, 04:21:44 PM
Quote
A final Index / Dreddworld overview / thematic timeline volume would go a long way towards swaying me, even if a large chunk of it was reprinting some of the material from annuals and specials; the old Gibson sales guide, the Lawmaster diagram, the Cursed Earth map ...  If someone could tempt Mr Wagner / Grant into writing a new piece about how they've seen the evolution of the character over the years and even their thoughts on some of the newer writers' takes on Dredd then that would be a clincher.  I'd also like a unicorn if there are any going!   ;)

The other stuff would be fantastic (especially the unicorn!) but at the very least an index should be provided for the set. 

Fixed broken quote – IP
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Legendary Shark on 05 January, 2018, 07:15:10 PM
An index would probably be too expensive to compile, arrange, design and typeset. I guess one option would be to outsource the work to fan volunteers, then either prevail upon Hachette to publish it (enticing them with free content) or putting it on a Print on Demand site or into a printable pdf (eg.) file.

The first step would be to design a blank database asking for specific information. Volunteers would then download the database and be assigned specific volumes to analyse - ideally doubling or tripling up in order to highlight any discrepancies or mistakes.

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: EDazzling on 07 January, 2018, 03:12:48 PM
My Stars of Psi-Division hasn't arrived yet, but looking at the wiki, did it really skip Karyn: Concrete Sky and Janus: House of Sighs?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Geoff on 07 January, 2018, 04:52:40 PM
Quote from: The Legendary Shark on 05 January, 2018, 07:15:10 PM
An index would probably be too expensive to compile, arrange, design and typeset. I guess one option would be to outsource the work to fan volunteers, then either prevail upon Hachette to publish it (enticing them with free content) or putting it on a Print on Demand site or into a printable pdf (eg.) file.

The first step would be to design a blank database asking for specific information. Volunteers would then download the database and be assigned specific volumes to analyse - ideally doubling or tripling up in order to highlight any discrepancies or mistakes.

I suppose it might be expensive to design, typeset and publish etc but they must surely have the information/content for it already. They decided on which stories to put in the mega collection and which volumes they were going to put them in, so all the data is there already. It would be nice to have it in a smart little published volume but if they can't be bothered to do that, then just making the information available for us to print, as the Shark says, would help.   
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: oddballuk on 07 January, 2018, 05:40:57 PM
Quote from: EDazzling on 07 January, 2018, 03:12:48 PM
My Stars of Psi-Division hasn't arrived yet, but looking at the wiki, did it really skip Karyn: Concrete Sky and Janus: House of Sighs?

Nope, they're both in there.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: EDazzling on 07 January, 2018, 07:14:02 PM
Excellent, was worried I'd made a horrible mistake selling those Meg floppies and buying this for a second!

I just noticed Dean Ormston and Si Spencer on the Fallen Angels cover. Can't see anything related they've done, so are they putting some Harke & Burr in there to bulk it up? I wonder if it will be the stuff from the Meg Floppy, or maybe the Missionary Man crossover?

Hell, they might even put in the MM strips the collection already skipped. Make this an Angel Gang/Mean Machine/Cursed Earth Miscellany book.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 07 January, 2018, 07:47:26 PM
Quote from: EDazzling on 07 January, 2018, 07:14:02 PM
I just noticed Dean Ormston and Si Spencer on the Fallen Angels cover. Can't see anything related they've done, so are they putting some Harke & Burr in there to bulk it up? I wonder if it will be the stuff from the Meg Floppy, or maybe the Missionary Man crossover?

One of Rennie's Mean Machine tales had Harke and Burr exhibiting him in a Cursed Earth travelling carnival, so that idea makes a lot of sense!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 08 January, 2018, 07:25:31 PM
I really enjoyed the Chopper book although I wish Unamerican Graffitti had been included. I'd never read the Big Meg before and really liked it. The art pairing of Goddard & Teague is fantastic. Are the other stories mentioned in the intro worth tracking down? I'm guessing there wasn't enough material to fill another volume?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 08 January, 2018, 10:44:31 PM
The Ennis story (Earth, Wind and Fire) was on a hiding to nothing in following the Wagner/MacNeil stuff, but it isn't awful. Worth tracking down? Probably not. His one-episode Dead Man's Curve is so unmemorable that I can't recall a single thing about it, bar some snippets of Emond's odd artwork.

The McKenzie strip, Supersurf 13, is dire – total bollocks.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Link Prime on 08 January, 2018, 10:52:41 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 08 January, 2018, 10:44:31 PM
His one-episode Dead Man's Curve is so unmemorable that I can't recall a single thing about it, bar some snippets of Emond's odd artwork.

I loved the artwork (and cover) by Martin Emond for that one-off.

True story; Jug McKenzie inspired my teenage attempt at building a makeshift throne out of beer cans.
Didn't work.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 09 January, 2018, 12:03:26 AM
I finally got round to reading Stars of Psi Division, and lets say not my favourite volume.

Firstly, Karyn I don't mind as a character, but the art style in the first two stories really grates for me, it's just not something I like.  The Janus stories weren't bad but nowt spectacular and the pyrokinetic character is very much a one shot type, though I'm aware she was used in a few stories.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 09 January, 2018, 09:29:36 AM
Indigo Prime thanks for the advice. When something gets a terrible review I kind of want to read it! I loved Edmond's art on early Toxic Accident Man (if that's the same artist). The Karyn art was confusing in its stark graphic nature but showed hints of genius.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Davgardo on 09 January, 2018, 03:47:33 PM
From starting as such a great collection this is all turning a bit sour for me.

In the last 10 volumes, 5 have been, in my opinion, exercises in reprinting dross that otherwise would never again have seen the light of day: World at Law, Indie Operators, Weird Science, MC Underworld and Stars of PSI.
We STILL have no idea what the extension might include, while over at the 2000AD Ultimate Collection they've had a release that puts the JDM's recent releases to shame: an Ezquerra Collection featuring Fungus, Starborn Thing, Condo, Young Giant, Return of the King, The Time Machine and more.

I get the distinct impression the p*ss is being taken.


Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 09 January, 2018, 04:15:51 PM
Horses for courses, I suppose. While none of the five you list are among my favourites, I was pleasantly surprised on re-reading two (World At Law and Weird Science). That said, I'm not prioritising Stars of Psi-Div in my reading pile...

The collection does at times feel a bit stretched – like a 60-book list expanded to 80. I do wonder what the next ten books will include.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 09 January, 2018, 04:24:23 PM
I agree that the series has over-featured some average non-Dredd stuff. Hoping the last 10 are more Joe-centric. What's glaringly missing???
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 09 January, 2018, 04:29:01 PM
Incidentally, I got the premium subs letter, despite not being a premium subscriber. Seems like that erroneously went to everyone. I got confirmation on Facebook my subscription would not change.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: EDazzling on 09 January, 2018, 05:30:38 PM
eh, from my perspective the best volumes of the series are exactly the ones everyone hates. I've got the Case Files, and some other trades, so I'm much happier with a trashy volume of Meg-Dregs than a High Quality Dredd book that I already have 80-100% on my bookshelf.

(And thru the collection I've discovered that the "house-style" of the 90's Megazine is one I find pretty entertaining even when it's shit. (Which it largely is.))
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 09 January, 2018, 06:14:24 PM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 09 January, 2018, 04:24:23 PM
What's glaringly missing???

TBH that is part of the problem, there is nothing that you would point to and say, 'you MUST read this or you won't get Dredd'.  That said, there are some quality runs that could do with an outing.  Cam Kennedy almost took up residence during the 400's with some quality strips.  Sladek's appearance hasn't been given an outing yet has it?  Neither has the Warlord which has the additional quality of a) following up from Haunting of Sector House 9 and b) featuring McGruder's resignation. 

The recent Return of the King volume would have had me hanging on with my subscription but that is now sadly no longer an option.  I guess the Robot Wars would help give some context to Doomsday but it's not essential.  Perhaps an Oola Blint volume (or serial killers of MC1?)  How much of the Edgar material is left to publish?

I think I may well cancel my subscription and see whether anything worthwhile is published.  The silence is not particularly encouraging.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 09 January, 2018, 07:09:18 PM
Quote from: Tjm86 on 09 January, 2018, 06:14:24 PM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 09 January, 2018, 04:24:23 PM
What's glaringly missing???

TBH that is part of the problem, there is nothing that you would point to and say, 'you MUST read this or you won't get Dredd'.  That said, there are some quality runs that could do with an outing.

There's still no Otto Sump; still no Kenny Who? And to be honest, I'd happily buy Mad City II, III, IV and V!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jim_Campbell on 09 January, 2018, 07:12:04 PM
Quote from: Tjm86 on 09 January, 2018, 06:14:24 PM
Neither has the Warlord which has the additional quality of a)

...being just a little bit racist.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Davgardo on 10 January, 2018, 09:09:30 AM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 09 January, 2018, 04:24:23 PM
I agree that the series has over-featured some average non-Dredd stuff. Hoping the last 10 are more Joe-centric. What's glaringly missing???

The Cal Files/The Cal Legacy, Question of Judgement Trilogy, Robot Wars, Blood of Satanus, The Executioner, Pirates of the Black Atlantic, Graveyard Shift, Citizen Snork, The Warlord, The Falucci Tape, Alabammy Blimps, Justice One, The Exterminator. I mean, I could go on.

My knowledge of the last 10 years is very sketchy but I am sure there's a load of stuff that could be used.

I understand that people who collect the Case Files appreciate the reprinting of 90's Megazine stuff more than me. But it comes down to: is the quality sufficeint to justify a reprint? And IMO in 90% of the case it's not. I'd much rather have 5/6 Mad City type volumes collecting a load of one offs that I've read before than Harmony, Cal Hab and bloody Pan African Judges.

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: oddballuk on 10 January, 2018, 01:06:14 PM
(https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/26169613_1992938244297307_876979563595454270_n.png?oh=630a1dcd997531afcbc192774004f769&oe=5AF69DD6)

First volume of the extension revealed: Tales of Ordinary Madness.

Through the power of squinting I see it's an entirely Wagner/Grant volume with art by Ron Smith, Kev O'Neill, Brendan McCarthy, Ian Gibson, Chris Weston, Simon Davis Cliff Robinson and Colin Wilson!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 10 January, 2018, 01:09:25 PM
Finally got a reply on FB regarding that print letter they sent out, even to non-premium subbers. Was easy to assume all would be fine but wanted to be sure.
I also had a bit of a rant about the lack of forthcoming details on the extension, to which the mods replied the extension would include the Dark Judges. With Dark Justice being part of the 2000AD collection, I suppose that points to the Tales Of Deadworld. Any other DJ stories left out so far?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 10 January, 2018, 01:29:38 PM
Quote from: Jim_Campbell on 09 January, 2018, 07:12:04 PM
Quote from: Tjm86 on 09 January, 2018, 06:14:24 PM
Neither has the Warlord which has the additional quality of a)

...being just a little bit racist.

Bullet for you, Tojo!

Despite the context of equal-opportunities national/racial stereotyping widely practised in the prog of the time, depictions of the Japanese do seem to be a particular issue for 2000AD - and Wagner in particular.

Sadly exemplified here in one of my favourite stories of any era.  And "Aieee! Blakee Pentax!" can't be far off in the Ultimate Collection either.  Trying to view this stuff as cautionary tales, or indeed "teachable moments"..
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 10 January, 2018, 05:20:04 PM
Let's face it some of the stereotyping in general was a bit outdated. Scotland for example in Harlem Heroes, Savage etc. I've practically never heard anyone talk like "Bonnie Scotland" and we don't all go around dressed in tartan, but at the same time it's not offensive.  Mind, using Harlem Heroes as an example maybe isn't the best one when you see how they also represent Japanese, Russians, Germans etc. :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 10 January, 2018, 06:05:17 PM
Do we need to comment on the irony of the Scottish stereotyping in tooth over the years?  The nationality of the lead writers?

Aye, HH really did showcase British sensibilities towards foreign nationals (granted as did the Warlord and Robo Hunter).

Well, looking at that volume 81 and having invested in the bookplate Fall of Deadworld, I'm bowing out.  Some of the other suggestions from around here would have kept me in but I reckon I'll wait and see what ebay offers at some future point.  As someone pointed out quite early on, part works never offer a good return on investment.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jim_Campbell on 10 January, 2018, 06:52:13 PM
Quote from: Tjm86 on 10 January, 2018, 06:05:17 PM
Do we need to comment on the irony of the Scottish stereotyping in tooth over the years?  The nationality of the lead writers?

Yeah. I've considered all that as context for The Warlord, but then I asked myself if I'd be OK if a super-powerful adversary turned up from the Pan-African Conurb with a bone through his nose and Dredd called him Sambo... and I really wouldn't.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: GordonR on 10 January, 2018, 07:31:01 PM
Yeah, it's a really naff moment that even at the time struck a weird wrong note.

Why is a 22nd century cop using a derogatory racial term from the WW2 era?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 10 January, 2018, 09:35:20 PM
Robo Hunter I remember being around, but I never really read much of it, this The Warlord story though is one I'm pretty sure I never read before, any info?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 10 January, 2018, 10:41:46 PM
Quote from: Jade Falcon on 10 January, 2018, 09:35:20 PM
Robo Hunter I remember being around, but I never really read much of it, this The Warlord story though is one I'm pretty sure I never read before, any info?

It's great, apart from the aforementioned issue. [spoiler] Evil warlord from the Radlands of Ji summons the giant indestructible Seven Samurai and they go on one of the most exquisitely drawn rampages through the City in the strip's history, CJ McGruder takes the blame for mishandling the affair[/spoiler].  I won't spoil any more, but it's one of my favourites.  I just wish it wasn't so very badly off on the race side.  For the same issue, see also another Dredd strip I love, Our Man in Hondo.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: marko10174 on 10 January, 2018, 10:52:23 PM

I've only just recently read the warlord for the first time. I honestly don't remember seeing any stereo types or racist themes, then again I'm a bit obtuse to these kind of things. What is it about the story that could be perceived as being politically incorrect?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 10 January, 2018, 11:08:59 PM
This sums things up: https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=tojo
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: marko10174 on 10 January, 2018, 11:23:32 PM

That was an interesting read Indigo, I had never heard of the term "Tojo". I'm assuming the line in the warlord "bullet for you tojo" was spoken by Dredd? If so I can't help but find that quite comical. It's an old story, a product of it's time, but I do find something quite comical about Dredd being so politically incorrect. I do have a dry sense of humour though. I'd be curious to see how different Dredd would have turned out if Pat Mills had been at the helm, instead of Wagner.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 10 January, 2018, 11:24:09 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 10 January, 2018, 11:08:59 PM
This sums things up: https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=tojo

And it wasn't just hidden away in the strip - it was on the bloody cover too. A long time ago, to be sure,  but still 40 years after the War.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jim_Campbell on 10 January, 2018, 11:42:02 PM
Quote from: marko10174 on 10 January, 2018, 11:23:32 PM
I do find something quite comical about Dredd being so politically incorrect.

Again: substitute a powerful villain from the Pan African Conurb with a bone through his nose and have Dredd call him Sambo. Still comical?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: JOE SOAP on 11 January, 2018, 12:11:51 AM
Quote from: Jade Falcon on 10 January, 2018, 05:20:04 PM
Let's face it some of the stereotyping in general was a bit outdated.

Ireland was spot-on. I'm talking about Sláine.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: marko10174 on 11 January, 2018, 12:13:30 AM
Quote from: Jim_Campbell on 10 January, 2018, 11:42:02 PM
Quote from: marko10174 on 10 January, 2018, 11:23:32 PM
I do find something quite comical about Dredd being so politically incorrect.

Again: substitute a powerful villain from the Pan African Conurb with a bone through his nose and have Dredd call him Sambo. Still comical?

Did that actually occur in a Dredd strip?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: marko10174 on 11 January, 2018, 12:18:37 AM
Quote from: TordelBack on 10 January, 2018, 11:24:09 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 10 January, 2018, 11:08:59 PM
This sums things up: https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=tojo

And it wasn't just hidden away in the strip - it was on the bloody cover too. A long time ago, to be sure,  but still 40 years after the War.

I can't believe it featured on the front cover! it's hilarious due to lack of subtlety and how inappropriate it was, a real face palm moment. But it goes to show how far the strip has come.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 11 January, 2018, 06:43:15 AM
Quote from: marko10174 on 11 January, 2018, 12:18:37 AM
I can't believe it featured on the front cover! it's hilarious due to lack of subtlety and how inappropriate it was, a real face palm moment. But it goes to show how far the strip has come.

I think that's the best take on it, TBH.  How far we've all come. Or most of us, at least.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 11 January, 2018, 06:25:14 PM
I'd have thought Sambo was outdated, for lack of a better term, during the likes of Alf Garnett or Love Thy Neighbor, never mind Dredd.

Though saying that, look at some of the early Judge Giant dialogue where ever sentence was ended with 'baby'. :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 18 January, 2018, 11:06:36 PM
Some hugely iconic stories in Chopper. I'm not sure I was entirely convinced by The Big Meg, although it was perhaps all just for the adrenalin rush of surfing in his home town again while sticking it to the Judges. Great art by Messrs Goddard and Teague too.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 20 January, 2018, 08:28:08 PM
Finished reading Chopper, an okay book.  Not one of my favourites but Chopper has never been my favourite character.  Not a BAD book, but nothing special IMHO.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moogie101 on 23 January, 2018, 11:37:03 AM
A lot of books that were supposedly out of stock are now available again.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Swerty on 23 January, 2018, 01:00:23 PM
Maybe I've missed it but is there a better image of the extension spine artwork.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 23 January, 2018, 02:06:22 PM
Not that I've seen! I'm sure when the Marvel one extended they trumpeted the new spine as it featured new characters etc. Still baffled by the lack of information on the extension.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 23 January, 2018, 02:38:23 PM
Is this were we get a ten-volume Sonny Steelgrave's Greatest Hits?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: davidbishop on 23 January, 2018, 10:56:28 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 23 January, 2018, 02:38:23 PM
Is this were we get a ten-volume Sonny Steelgrave's Greatest Hits?

When they reach the bottom of the barrell, there shall be found The Soul Sisters.

At the other end of the quality spectrum, I'm bemused why Middenface: One Man an his Dug has never been reprinted!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 24 January, 2018, 01:00:42 AM
i am sad it never got reprinted that or young middenface i guess it just wasn't dredd enough
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 24 January, 2018, 10:02:26 AM
Quote from: davidbishop on 23 January, 2018, 10:56:28 PMWhen they reach the bottom of the barrell, there shall be found The Soul Sisters.
If Soul Sisters is the bottom of the barrel, Sonny Steelgrave Dredd is buried several miles underground.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 24 January, 2018, 08:18:36 PM
I'm afraid the Sonny Steelgrave and Soul Sisters references pass me by, though the latter sounds a bit like a Phobia and Nausea title.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Davgardo on 25 January, 2018, 01:03:20 PM
Quote from: Jade Falcon on 24 January, 2018, 08:18:36 PM
I'm afraid the Sonny Steelgrave and Soul Sisters references pass me by, though the latter sounds a bit like a Phobia and Nausea title.

Sonny Steelgrave was a pen name of Jon Tomlinson, i think. Wrote some mid 90's Dredds which while not particularly memorable were ok and certainly didn't plumb the depths of Mark Millar.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 25 January, 2018, 01:19:41 PM
Huh. Perhaps Bish-OP could chime in here, but I thought the Steelgrave Dredds were penned by Alan McKenzie, using one of his alleged several pen-names (including, according to rumour, Roxilla).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Greg M. on 25 January, 2018, 08:01:58 PM
It was both. Some of the Steelgraves are Tomlinson, some are McKenzie. I believe, for instance, they did alternating episodes on 'Sugar Beat'.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 25 January, 2018, 08:14:50 PM
Quote from: Greg M. on 25 January, 2018, 08:01:58 PM
It was both. Some of the Steelgraves are Tomlinson, some are McKenzie. I believe, for instance, they did alternating episodes on 'Sugar Beat'.

:o T. B. Grover they weren't.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Greg M. on 25 January, 2018, 08:28:28 PM
I'm pretty sure 'Enemy Below' (the flooded iso-cubes one - not a bad story, actually) is a Tomlinson and 'Manchu Candidate' is a McKenzie - they both certainly read that way. 'Cage of Knives' is credited in one of the collections as a McKenzie, but he says it wasn't him, so it must be Tomlinson.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 26 January, 2018, 10:19:08 AM
Fallen Angels and Ordinary Madness dropped today. Bit of a mixed bag in the former case, but I can't imagine – bar minor niggles – the latter will disappoint.

Fallen Angels: Angelic; Before They Wuz Dead; The Mean Machine: Goes to Town, The Mean Machine Gets Married, The Geek, Support Yore Local Bastich, and The Last Vidshow; Harke and Burr: Antique and Curious, Hamster Horror, Grief Encounter, Secret Origin, Satanic Farces; 3x covers; 3x Angelic sketchbook pages.

Tales of Ordinary Madness: 22nd Century Futsie; Loonie's Moon; Diary of a Mad Citizen; Lemming Syndrome; Love Story (greyscale intro and iffy repro, sadly); Love Story II; It Pays to Be Mental; It Still Pays to Be Mental; Still Mental After All These Years; The Law According to Dredd; Tomb of the Judges; The Dredd Syndrome; The Witness; Crazy Barry, Little Mo (YASSSS!); Banana City (ditto); The Hottie House Siege; Return to the Hottie House; It's Deja Vu All Over Again; 12(!) covers; Terminal Brainstorm two-page essay.

B+W repro is generally pretty good throughout – just the odd bit of lightness, which is most apparent on Love Story. Overall, another one of those volumes I suspect should go down very well.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 26 January, 2018, 10:26:11 AM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 26 January, 2018, 10:19:08 AM
Tales of Ordinary Madness: 22nd Century Futsie; Loonie's Moon; Diary of a Mad Citizen; Lemming Syndrome; Love Story (greyscale intro and iffy repro, sadly); Love Story II; It Pays to Be Mental; It Still Pays to Be Mental; Still Mental After All These Years; The Law According to Dredd; Tomb of the Judges; The Dredd Syndrome; The Witness; Crazy Barry, Little Mo (YASSSS!); Banana City (ditto); The Hottie House Siege; Return to the Hottie House; It's Deja Vu All Over Again; 12(!) covers; Terminal Brainstorm two-page essay.

Oh snap! It's Mad City II!! Get in!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 26 January, 2018, 11:03:24 AM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 26 January, 2018, 10:26:11 AM
Oh snap! It's Mad City II!! Get in!
Mazers! These books seem to have come around very quickly.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 26 January, 2018, 12:39:40 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 26 January, 2018, 10:19:08 AM
Fallen Angels and Ordinary Madness dropped today. Bit of a mixed bag in the former case, but I can't imagine – bar minor niggles – the latter will disappoint.

Fallen Angels: Angelic; Before They Wuz Dead; The Mean Machine: Goes to Town, The Mean Machine Gets Married, The Geek, Support Yore Local Bastich, and The Last Vidshow; Harke and Burr: Antique and Curious, Hamster Horror, Grief Encounter, Secret Origin, Satanic Farces; 3x covers; 3x Angelic sketchbook pages.

Tales of Ordinary Madness: 22nd Century Futsie; Loonie's Moon; Diary of a Mad Citizen; Lemming Syndrome; Love Story (greyscale intro and iffy repro, sadly); Love Story II; It Pays to Be Mental; It Still Pays to Be Mental; Still Mental After All These Years; The Law According to Dredd; Tomb of the Judges; The Dredd Syndrome; The Witness; Crazy Barry, Little Mo (YASSSS!); Banana City (ditto); The Hottie House Siege; Return to the Hottie House; It's Deja Vu All Over Again; 12(!) covers; Terminal Brainstorm two-page essay.

B+W repro is generally pretty good throughout – just the odd bit of lightness, which is most apparent on Love Story. Overall, another one of those volumes I suspect should go down very well.

Don't think I've read of the Fallen Angels volume before other than Harke & Burr, looking forward to diving in.

ToOM sounds great, some classic stuff in there. What volume number is it? Thanks.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 26 January, 2018, 12:44:55 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 26 January, 2018, 10:19:08 AM
Fallen Angels: Angelic; Before They Wuz Dead; The Mean Machine: Goes to Town, The Mean Machine Gets Married, The Geek, Support Yore Local Bastich, and The Last Vidshow; Harke and Burr: Antique and Curious, Hamster Horror, Grief Encounter, Secret Origin, Satanic Farces; 3x covers; 3x Angelic sketchbook pages.

Wait - Before they Wuz Dead but not Pizen Impossible?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moly on 26 January, 2018, 06:32:17 PM
Pizen impossible is included
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jamie1000013 on 26 January, 2018, 08:03:18 PM
So I just finished the recent Chopper volume and I am a little bit confused. Spoilers incoming





How did they bring him back? Was it a retcon?

Really enjoyed the volume though one of my favourites so far, bit weird how they have chopped and changed Choppers story with releasing Oz first. Also really enjoyed Underworld with the whole martial arts thing with Stan Lee and Tempest.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Big_Dave on 26 January, 2018, 08:39:20 PM
How did they bring him back? Was it a retcon?

does seem like writer wanted him dead

just said he recovered from injuries
somone wll always find excuse
to bring back popular charcters
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 26 January, 2018, 09:06:23 PM
Was it a dream, did he step out of the shower?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Greg M. on 26 January, 2018, 09:13:26 PM
I seem to recall that John Wagner said he thought of Chopper as dead, but left it ambiguous, just in case he wanted to bring him back. That said, to me, Chopper's death was the only way for that story to end - thematically and emotionally, it's one of the finest endings to a series 2000AD's ever had.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 26 January, 2018, 10:09:45 PM
Yup.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 28 January, 2018, 08:59:20 AM
Anyone else read through Tales of Ordinary Madness yet? If so, are some of the black and white pages obviously lighter than others? Looks like another print-run cock-up, albeit a minor one, or just bad luck on my part, in getting a run where the ink was running lower than it should have been.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 29 January, 2018, 08:41:04 AM
A couple of the b&w pages of Love Story looked a bit washed out. I was more surprised that there's no red on the cover image. Was that a mistake?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Michael Knight on 29 January, 2018, 08:28:28 PM
Hi Folks. Is the Hawke and Burr story featured the Missionary Man one?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: EDazzling on 29 January, 2018, 10:17:58 PM
All 5 Harke & Burr stories are in there, including the Missionary Man guest spot, yeah.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Michael Knight on 29 January, 2018, 11:29:32 PM
All 5 Harke & Burr stories are in there, including the Missionary Man guest spot, yeah.

This is fantastic news thanks for the info. Am i right in believing we have Missionary Man in its entirety now?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: EDazzling on 30 January, 2018, 08:36:18 AM
You are not correct, unfortunately! These 2 strips are still missing in action:

Mortal Combat 1 episode (Meg 3.27) 6 pages
Script: Gordon Rennie, Artist: Marc Wigmore

Silence 1 episode (Meg 3.77) 10 pages
Script: Gordon Rennie, Artist: Wayne Reynolds
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: oddballuk on 01 February, 2018, 02:00:59 PM
So Issue 82 will be Judge Anderson: The Trip.

There will be some nice Dave Taylor artwork in there!

https://hachettepartworks.com/judge-dredd-the-mega-collection/the-trip (https://hachettepartworks.com/judge-dredd-the-mega-collection/the-trip)

(https://hachettepartworks.com/Content/Products/e81d8e32-3f35-4c6e-95f3-0a23209c7ebd.jpg)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: oddballuk on 01 February, 2018, 02:07:17 PM
I'm going to guess the volume collects Big Robots, Wiierd, House of Vyle and The Trip?

I wouldn't be surprised if there is at least another Anderson volume to ome since there is more than enough still uncollected here.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Michael Knight on 01 February, 2018, 03:09:44 PM
You are not correct, unfortunately! These 2 strips are still missing in action:

Mortal Combat 1 episode (Meg 3.27) 6 pages
Script: Gordon Rennie, Artist: Marc Wigmore

Silence 1 episode (Meg 3.77) 10 pages
Script: Gordon Rennie, Artist: Wayne Reynolds

Surely the Mighty Tharg can correct this before the collection ends?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Spikes on 01 February, 2018, 06:17:18 PM
Quote from: oddballuk on 01 February, 2018, 02:00:59 PM
So Issue 82 will be Judge Anderson: The Trip.

There will be some nice Dave Taylor artwork in there!

https://hachettepartworks.com/judge-dredd-the-mega-collection/the-trip (https://hachettepartworks.com/judge-dredd-the-mega-collection/the-trip)

(https://hachettepartworks.com/Content/Products/e81d8e32-3f35-4c6e-95f3-0a23209c7ebd.jpg)

Dave Taylor artwork? I'm in!  :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 01 February, 2018, 07:11:00 PM
Wow! Great cover & I'm a big fan of Boo Cook's Anderson.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 01 February, 2018, 09:54:51 PM
Quote from: oddballuk on 01 February, 2018, 02:07:17 PM
I'm going to guess the volume collects Big Robots, Wiierd, House of Vyle and The Trip?

I wouldn't be surprised if there is at least another Anderson volume to ome since there is more than enough still uncollected here.

Hoping this is a second volume of Anderson in the extended run, as there's a whole load of Steve Sampson stories too.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 01 February, 2018, 10:58:22 PM
Matt Smith announced a book of recent Anderson stories on the Podcast last August. I'd like to see the Steve Sampson stuff - but maybe the Psi Files is my best bet. I'm interested if Lawless is an entire volume or we just get a taste like with Angelic.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 02 February, 2018, 12:06:58 PM
Will we get to see the extended spine image before it's on the shelves? There does seem to be a lack of fanfare about it all.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 02 February, 2018, 06:50:40 PM
Cool cover! I'm thinking there'll be an Anderson volume with some post doc and cadet stories which then ties into Dead End.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moogie101 on 02 February, 2018, 07:11:50 PM
So judging by "The Trip" cover with the usual hint of red does this mean 81 "Tales of ordinary Madness" cover being all B&W was an error?

Still amazed at how little info they have given for the extension.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 02 February, 2018, 07:53:09 PM
Almost certainly an oversight.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 03 February, 2018, 08:48:37 AM
While the Shamballa volume is also b/w, it was likely a stylistic choice.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 03 February, 2018, 08:04:30 PM
Well, I finally read through Fallen Angels, and can I say I'm of a mixed opinion.  Some of the artwork in the Fink angel storylines was a bit...crap to be honest, though that's maybe a stylistic choice.  The first story was enjoyable enough.  The biggest slump for me was Burrke and Harr though as I couldn't find anything worthwhile in these stories.  I could see the seed of a decent idea, but just didn't enjoy the stories.

I will however, give them a reread in the future as sometimes it depends on the mood you're in.  For example, the first time I read Pratchetts Small Gods I hated the book, on a reread I thoroughly enjoyed it, it might be a similiar situation.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 04 February, 2018, 04:46:15 PM
I really enjoyed Angelic as a different take on the ornery cusses, with fantastic atmospheric art from Lee Carter. The rest of the volume was fun if not essential, but a long way from the nadir of Red Razors.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: christy2002b on 04 February, 2018, 09:50:46 PM
Well as a final volume some of the Angel family material is alright if not exactly classic.  My problem is with the Hark and Burr material which is pretty dire stuff.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 05 February, 2018, 09:31:14 AM
Got done with Tales Of Ordinary Madness this weekend and LOVED IT! More please for the extension!

I really love the fact Wagner is able to revisit characters after extended periods since Dredd is real-time.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 15 February, 2018, 08:00:40 AM
A tenth of the extended spine image on volume 85 - think that's Janus, with a couple of other characters either side - one with long hair and a long coat? Any ideas?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 15 February, 2018, 09:23:53 AM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 15 February, 2018, 08:00:40 AM
A tenth of the extended spine image on volume 85 - think that's Janus, with a couple of other characters either side - one with long hair and a long coat? Any ideas?
Patrick Goddard shared his pencils for the spine a while back:
Quote from: Tomwe on 24 August, 2017, 10:17:16 AM
IG: https://www.instagram.com/p/BYA9M2SlUv1/?taken-by=paddyg74

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DH-93eKXYAAh0BP.jpg)

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 15 February, 2018, 06:04:28 PM
So that's Murd then. Who's the baldy kid next to Janus?

Over on Facebook, in answer to a question issue 83 is Served Cold, no other details. A revenge or snow themed volume? Or both?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moogie101 on 15 February, 2018, 06:15:29 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 15 February, 2018, 06:04:28 PM
So that's Murd then. Who's the baldy kid next to Janus?

Over on Facebook, in answer to a question issue 83 is Served Cold, no other details. A revenge or snow themed volume? Or both?

I am genuinely stunned by the lack of info about the extension, surely they should be trying to generate interest.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 15 February, 2018, 06:15:52 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 15 February, 2018, 06:04:28 PM
So that's Murd then. Who's the baldy kid next to Janus?

Owen Krysler, shirley?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 15 February, 2018, 06:23:21 PM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 15 February, 2018, 06:15:52 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 15 February, 2018, 06:04:28 PM
So that's Murd then. Who's the baldy kid next to Janus?

Owen Krysler, shirley?

But he's already appeared, in front of DeMarco.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: EDazzling on 15 February, 2018, 07:13:40 PM
Quote from: moogie101 on 15 February, 2018, 06:15:29 PM
I am genuinely stunned by the lack of info about the extension, surely they should be trying to generate interest.

Should they? It's more about getting 10x£9.99 more out of the people who've gotten this far than attracting new people, isn't it?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 15 February, 2018, 07:31:10 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 15 February, 2018, 06:23:21 PM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 15 February, 2018, 06:15:52 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 15 February, 2018, 06:04:28 PM
So that's Murd then. Who's the baldy kid next to Janus?

Owen Krysler, shirley?

But he's already appeared, in front of DeMarco.

Is it Creep then?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: oddballuk on 16 February, 2018, 12:33:12 PM
On facebook...

(https://scontent-amt2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/27858195_2011971432393988_1153629779755836299_n.png?oh=5c95a8e09ade99f72e843c1db32c8dc5&oe=5B185742)

ANDERSON: THE TRIP

Cassandra Anderson is Psi-Division's most gifted telepath, and one of its most experienced operatives. She's faced down the Dark Judges, prevented numerous catastrophes – but even as she approaches middle age she's still not prepared for the horrors the city can unleash. From giant city-block robots to demonic manifestations, mind-altering substances to virtual-reality killers, these cases will test her psychic abilities to the limit...

SERVED COLD

Deller's been waiting ten years to get his revenge... ten years on the notorious Mega-City prison complex Devil's Island, waiting for the right moment to make his break and escape. He wants payback on the criminal cohorts that double-crossed him after a bank heist, and nothing is going to stand in his way to get what he wants – not Mob outfit The Organisation, not the forces of Justice Department, and not Judge Dredd...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: I, Cosh on 16 February, 2018, 12:46:24 PM
Is that Served Cold volume pure Al Ewing? Will be an absolute belter.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: oddballuk on 16 February, 2018, 12:54:01 PM
Quote from: I, Cosh on 16 February, 2018, 12:46:24 PM
Is that Served Cold volume pure Al Ewing? Will be an absolute belter.

Looks like and agreed!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: EDazzling on 16 February, 2018, 01:04:17 PM
Oh my God, the idea is so beautiful.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 16 February, 2018, 02:56:07 PM
Quote from: I, Cosh on 16 February, 2018, 12:46:24 PM
Is that Served Cold volume pure Al Ewing? Will be an absolute belter.

Ooooh yeaaaah.  I'll be having some of that.  Recently re-read the whole Deller/Cop saga, and while the end may have felt wee a bit rushed, in aggregate it was a thing of beauty: a model for the way short strips can stand alone, but read even better together.  Add in his extraordinarily bleak seasonal comedies and that is something I want on my shelf.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Fungus on 16 February, 2018, 10:31:15 PM
The Al Ewing Collection ?-)
Hooray for the extension! Never doubted it...!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: dweezil2 on 16 February, 2018, 11:29:41 PM
Another thumbs up for the Ewing collection!  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 18 February, 2018, 12:37:07 PM
Some classic stories in ToOM, think I've read most of them before and it was great revisiting them. The Hottie House series brought numerous chuckles too. Great stuff.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 19 February, 2018, 10:40:59 AM
Glad to see a Ewing collection is on the way. Good choice. His Dredds were smart, fun, and great to read. (Unlike that rather poor Psi-div collection I just finished. Quite why all that stuff needed reprinting, I've no idea.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moly on 24 February, 2018, 11:19:42 AM
Had the latest two delivered today and yes it is all al Ewing issue, but not impressed with the spine when you have issue 80 and 81 next to each other
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 24 February, 2018, 12:16:39 PM
In what sense? Do they not line up?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moly on 24 February, 2018, 12:33:16 PM
Don't line up
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 24 February, 2018, 01:21:22 PM
Send them a message on Facebook, I guess.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 24 February, 2018, 01:31:15 PM
Intro to Served Cold confirms Robot Wars for vol 86, which kills my assumption that the first Dredd book of the 2000AD collection would featur that strip. Maybe it will be another mopping up book.

EDIT: Also, intro to The Trip conforms a second Anderson book for the extension titled Dead End.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 24 February, 2018, 01:49:45 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 24 February, 2018, 12:16:39 PM
In what sense? Do they not line up?

Here's the new books next to the original run. Goddard could probably have managed that dude's sword a little better, although the Brit Cit judge's hand does continue onto vol 81.

Whatever they did there would have been complaints. We've had volume 80 for 18months or so, if it had appeared to continue those ending at 80 would have been unhappy.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DWzg2aGWAAAHrii?format=jpg)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: EDazzling on 24 February, 2018, 02:59:52 PM
Served Cold Contents:

Served Cold; What the Hitler Saw; The Bean Counter; The Rich Cabaret; The Cop; Magic Bullets; The Americans; Cockroaches; Rehab; Doctor What?

The Trip... I haven't opened this, it'll probably get me a extra 60p on ebay still sealed. But I'd guess it's:
Big Robots; Wiierd; Biophyle; The House of Vyle; The Trip; Stone Voices

Is that correct?

Happy to hear there's a dead end volume coming, The most recent psi-files book stops at Stone Voices. I hope it's mostly new stuff.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 24 February, 2018, 06:20:13 PM
Served cold sounds awesome! Really long since I read the cop, and cockroaches is a classic!

Great to hear about Robot wars as well as Anderson Dead end! :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richard on 24 February, 2018, 06:37:04 PM
Cockroaches is one of my favourite Dredd one-offs ever.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 24 February, 2018, 07:09:28 PM
Pity they couldn't squeeze A Home for Aldous Mayou in there, that's one of the best Dredds of the past decade.

Thanks for the listing, Edazzler - I'll definitely be picking this up now!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: GaryUK on 24 February, 2018, 09:32:22 PM
Anybody like to have a stab at which Judge Dredd stories has not been collected yet from the first say 1000 issues of 2000 AD?  And would there be enough Judge Dredd material to go beyond 90 volumes and up to 100?  Enquiring mind would like to know....
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 24 February, 2018, 09:49:15 PM
aside from the case files?

Well, Cursed Earth has only been reprinted about 6 times, I think.  Apocalypse War is a mere 5 times. We've only had 3 tries of Day the Law Died and I think Dredd vs Death is only 4 times.

is there enough Dredd material to stretch to 100 volumes?  Weeelll yes.  That said, if you thought Inferno was bad, wait until you meet Crusade.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 24 February, 2018, 11:37:36 PM
Quote from: EDazzling on 24 February, 2018, 02:59:52 PM
Served Cold Contents:

Served Cold; What the Hitler Saw; The Bean Counter; The Rich Cabaret; The Cop; Magic Bullets; The Americans; Cockroaches; Rehab; Doctor What?

No 'Choose Your Own Xmas'?!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: GaryUK on 24 February, 2018, 11:53:11 PM
Quote from: Tjm86 on 24 February, 2018, 09:49:15 PM
aside from the case files?

Well, Cursed Earth has only been reprinted about 6 times, I think.  Apocalypse War is a mere 5 times. We've only had 3 tries of Day the Law Died and I think Dredd vs Death is only 4 times.

is there enough Dredd material to stretch to 100 volumes?  Weeelll yes.  That said, if you thought Inferno was bad, wait until you meet Crusade.

I guess I should be more specific... which Judge Dredd stories have not been collected in the Judge Dredd Mega Collection so far...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: EDazzling on 25 February, 2018, 09:45:09 AM
Here's a list of judge dredd strips from 2000AD:
http://www.2000ad.org/?zone=thrill&page=profiles&Comic=2000AD&choice=DREDD (http://www.2000ad.org/?zone=thrill&page=profiles&Comic=2000AD&choice=DREDD)

Here's a list of what's in the Mega Collection:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judge_Dredd:_The_Mega_Collection#List_of_books (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judge_Dredd:_The_Mega_Collection#List_of_books)

Have fun!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 25 February, 2018, 05:56:31 PM
So it looks like five issues remain to be confirmed, one of which should be Lawless. I'd be happy if the remainder were all Mad City/ Tales of Ordinary Madness style volumes.

Will the Robot Wars volume be a robot-themed issue? Be fun to have stories like Something Abnormal About Norman in there.

Quote from: Tjm86 on 24 February, 2018, 09:49:15 PM
That said, if you thought Inferno was bad, wait until you meet Crusade.

Hush, that monstrosity (apologies to Mick Austin) should be wiped from existence.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 25 February, 2018, 06:28:16 PM
That join between volumes 80 & 81 is appaling. I really hope they reprint Vol 80. The sword and cape being cut off is so amateur. I'd rather the characters overlapped less. I've been impressed by the contents announced but I'm cancelling if this is the product I'm left with.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 25 February, 2018, 06:39:32 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 25 February, 2018, 05:56:31 PMSo it looks like five issues remain to be confirmed, one of which should be Lawless.

Quote from: Tjm86 on 24 February, 2018, 09:49:15 PMThat said, if you thought Inferno was bad, wait until you meet Crusade.

They wouldn't... would they?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 25 February, 2018, 07:10:45 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 25 February, 2018, 06:39:32 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 25 February, 2018, 05:56:31 PMSo it looks like five issues remain to be confirmed, one of which should be Lawless.

Quote from: Tjm86 on 24 February, 2018, 09:49:15 PMThat said, if you thought Inferno was bad, wait until you meet Crusade.

They wouldn't... would they?

Stop it!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 25 February, 2018, 08:27:56 PM
Backed with Sugar Beat. For reasons.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 25 February, 2018, 08:29:54 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 25 February, 2018, 05:56:31 PM
So it looks like five issues remain to be confirmed, one of which should be Lawless. I'd be happy if the remainder were all Mad City/ Tales of Ordinary Madness style volumes.

Amen to that, brother!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 25 February, 2018, 09:38:43 PM
Again, I'm in the dark here, what is Crusade?

I still think they should print Pirates of the Black Atlantic and the whole Robot Rebellion.  Granted these are older stories, but so what.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jim_Campbell on 25 February, 2018, 10:42:17 PM
Quote from: Jade Falcon on 25 February, 2018, 09:38:43 PM
Again, I'm in the dark here, what is Crusade?

A brain-meltingly awful story by Morrison & Millar where a bunch of world judges have a big scrap in some Antarctic refinery place over who gets to find out what a scientist means when he says he's had a message from God. Nice Mick Austin art, which is literally the strip's only redeeming feature.

EDIT: It's not as bad as Book of the Dead, but it's a strong runner-up.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Klegg Bait on 25 February, 2018, 11:40:42 PM
As a collector of The Case Files, I love having Dreddverse stories to buy in these volumes.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 26 February, 2018, 04:55:55 AM
Quote from: Jade Falcon on 25 February, 2018, 09:38:43 PM
Again, I'm in the dark here, what is Crusade?

I still think they should print Pirates of the Black Atlantic and the whole Robot Rebellion.  Granted these are older stories, but so what.

Consider yourself very lucky.  Not often it is suggested that Tooth strips are avoided but this and Millar's Robo-Hunter stories (oh, and Fleischer's work) come under the heading of 'just don't'.

I would agree wholeheartedly with Pirates and Robot Rebellion.  Both are integral early stories, one that is part of the build up towards Apocalypse, the other to Doomsday.  As AbelardSnazz suggests, Something Abnormal about Norman should be in there somewhere.  In fact I would vote for a whole Cam Kennedy volume.  (an Ian Kennedy volume would be criminally short)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 27 February, 2018, 10:29:35 PM
Issues with the volume 80/81 spine image continuation have been answered on Facebook - a new version of volume 80 will be issued or packaged with issue 84 for current subscribers/store shoppers. Presumably this will include Murd on volume 80 behind the Brit-Cit judge.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 27 February, 2018, 10:36:23 PM
It's good they sorted out the spine. Praise to hachette for sorting this out so quickly. I still wish they'd sell us an index. I wonder if the series will be further extended or if future Dredd volumes will all end up in the 2000ad Ultimate Collection.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 27 February, 2018, 10:53:31 PM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 27 February, 2018, 10:36:23 PM
I still wish they'd sell us an index.

Hold that thought - I've compiled an index of all issues to date, of info on Volume,   Series, Story, Originally Published,   Writer, Artist & Page Count. I'll put it on here when the collection's complete.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 28 February, 2018, 09:42:48 AM
Fair play on the reprints. But good grief, this must be costing them a small fortune. It's amazing how a bit more effort in production and packaging could have dealt with almost all of the objective problems people have with this series (bar some iffy print runs, which are to some extent unavoidable).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 28 February, 2018, 09:47:54 AM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 27 February, 2018, 10:29:35 PM
Issues with the volume 80/81 spine image continuation have been answered on Facebook - a new version of volume 80 will be issued or packaged with issue 84 for current subscribers/store shoppers. Presumably this will include Murd on volume 80 behind the Brit-Cit judge.
Wow I did not expect that. Kudos to them. They always seem more fussed when it's a spine or other cover related error.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Arkady on 28 February, 2018, 10:25:37 AM
Prediction: The Ultimate Collection Vol 80 will not be issued until a decision has been made about an extension (it's currently billed to be issue 77, so that's perhaps a given).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 28 February, 2018, 12:20:13 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 28 February, 2018, 09:42:48 AM
Fair play on the reprints. But good grief, this must be costing them a small fortune. It's amazing how a bit more effort in production and packaging could have dealt with almost all of the objective problems people have with this series (bar some iffy print runs, which are to some extent unavoidable).

I wonder what the numbers are like for the Mega Collection reprint - I would assume less than the 2000AD one, as I haven't seen JD on shelves in any shops for a couple of years now, and some subscribers may have quit after 80 issues.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 28 February, 2018, 12:45:15 PM
Quote from: Arkady on 28 February, 2018, 10:25:37 AM
Prediction: The Ultimate Collection Vol 80 will not be issued until a decision has been made about an extension (it's currently billed to be issue 77, so that's perhaps a given).
extending that spine will be a whole different kettle of fish!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 28 February, 2018, 01:07:14 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 28 February, 2018, 12:20:13 PMI wonder what the numbers are like for the Mega Collection reprint - I would assume less than the 2000AD one, as I haven't seen JD on shelves in any shops for a couple of years now, and some subscribers may have quit after 80 issues.
I have absolutely no idea about the scale required for print viability these days. I've heard some truly staggering numbers regarding some print magazines (one title selling in the hundreds yet still being on newsstands for baffling reasons). Books based around subscriptions are a different kettle of monkeys, but even so I imagine these series always have drop-offs during the runs, and so at this point are probably catering to relatively small numbers. Regardless, any reprint is money that would otherwise have been profit. But as I said, almost all of the objective cock-ups in this line (spine errors; incorrect text; damaged issues due to shoddy packaging) were down to production screw-ups that were entirely avoidable.

That all said, this is the second time Hachette has – to my mind – not only done the right thing, but gone beyond what you'd expect (free newsstand editions bundled in). And although I know some people have been frustrated by the company, I've found them to be pretty good via Facebook, not least when you outline very specifically what you want.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 28 February, 2018, 01:16:11 PM
Issue 44, which is volume 80, is now showing as out of stock on the Hachette site - presumably if any more are put up for sale they'll be the new version of the spine.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Legendary Shark on 28 February, 2018, 02:49:05 PM
I wonder if they have cock-up insurance for hiccups like this?

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 28 February, 2018, 04:35:22 PM
Unlikely. The only things that they could conceivably get money back in is botched printing. For the most part, though, the issues are production errors – people copying and pasting stuff incorrectly (or not doing the pasting bit, in several cases).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Legendary Shark on 28 February, 2018, 04:54:13 PM
I think it's possible, even if unlikely, that some form of errors and omissions insurance is available for this kind of thing (possibly moreso in the U.S.A.). Imagine an error in spine printing led to people to sue for the full cost of the entire collection because the error "ruined" the collection or wasn't what was advertised. Insurance would rather pay out for the reprinting of one volume than a great many lawsuits. Unlikely, as you say, but in this litigious world I wouldn't be surprised if this was an insurance job.

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 01 March, 2018, 01:00:42 PM
Complete spine image - with further extension possibility? now on Facebook:

https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/28337049_2020359871555144_7800056979977625833_o.jpg?oh=d65de349b4113ac797072ca58a998288&oe=5B4A1C42
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: James Stacey on 01 March, 2018, 01:02:42 PM
That really looks like its going to 100 issues doesnt it
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: oddballuk on 01 March, 2018, 01:10:12 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 01 March, 2018, 01:00:42 PM
Complete spine image - with further extension possibility? now on Facebook:

https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/28337049_2020359871555144_7800056979977625833_o.jpg?oh=d65de349b4113ac797072ca58a998288&oe=5B4A1C42

Nice.

Quote from: James Stacey on 01 March, 2018, 01:02:42 PM
That really looks like its going to 100 issues doesnt it

Comparing it with Goddard's original art I'd say yes seeing as there's room for Judge Ed MacBrayne, Phobia and one of the Ape Gang?

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DH-93eKXYAAh0BP.jpg)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Molch-R on 01 March, 2018, 01:11:42 PM
Quote from: James Stacey on 01 March, 2018, 01:02:42 PM
That really looks like its going to 100 issues doesnt it

It's not. The series finishes with volume 90.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 01 March, 2018, 01:16:50 PM
Quote from: Molch-R on 01 March, 2018, 01:11:42 PM
Quote from: James Stacey on 01 March, 2018, 01:02:42 PM
That really looks like its going to 100 issues doesnt it

It's not. The series finishes with volume 90.
Thanks Michael!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: James Stacey on 01 March, 2018, 01:17:44 PM
Thanks Michael. I wasn't implying I was adverse to another extension mind  :D
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: oddballuk on 01 March, 2018, 01:24:19 PM
Quote from: James Stacey on 01 March, 2018, 01:17:44 PM
Thanks Michael. I wasn't implying I was adverse to another extension mind  :D

Same!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moly on 01 March, 2018, 08:00:42 PM
90 is enough for this set especially with the 2000ad collection
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 02 March, 2018, 09:46:55 AM
I suspect a Dredd set would soon start scraping the barrel. We've already had enough duff volumes, and I don't want to see more. Really, we could have knocked at least 10 out of what we already had and improved the collection, and so 90 and done is fine by me.

It'll be interesting to see what happens with the 2000 AD one. There, plenty of scope exists for a massive extension. The problem is, you do wonder whether Dredd has more clout in terms of sales than 2000 AD, and also if the overlap ended up causing people to not subscribe. Obviously, it's impossible to know, but I'd love to see another 10, 20 or 50 books in that line, especially if we can get some John Smith in the mix.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Amstor Computer on 02 March, 2018, 10:10:35 AM
Stopping at 90 is fine by me. To be honest, I'd have been happy to have the series conclude at issue 80 - and it would likely have meant I'd now be picking up the 2000AD partwork as well.

However, because they overlapped significantly and there was no way I could justify £40 a month on both I didn't bother with the 2000AD series. Once Dredd finally wraps up the Ultimate Collection will be so far along I won't be inclined to start hunting for back issues or starting a subscription. It's a shame, as the books look good and if the timing had been calculated better - the 2000AD series starting a month or so before the Dredd extension finished, perhaps - I'd have gone for it. I'd imagine there is a reasonably large crossover between Dredd subscribers and potential Ultimate Collection subscribers so I would be surprised if there weren't a good few Dredd subs who were in the same position.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 02 March, 2018, 10:29:27 AM
I guess people can always pick up the sub later on (and, chances are, would be able to grab older books from people selling them off on eBay, as always happens with partworks at a certain point). But, yeah, I do think the crossover here was a mistake.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Amstor Computer on 02 March, 2018, 11:32:45 AM
Yeah, there is a way to catch up if I was determined enough, but there are always competing demands on my time and money (and if I'm going to spend time scouring eBay it'll be for the handful of New Eagle issues I'm missing ;-) ) and anything that makes it tougher for me to get in will be an issue.

It's a pity, as having got used to setting aside £20 to commit to the Dredd partwork, I'd have been a relatively easy sell to smoothly transition to the Ultimate Collection but having a 5-10 month patch where my commitment would have to double (depending on whether I went for the extension on Dredd) was just too much of an obstacle. I don't know how critical it is to Hachette's business that they hit certain release windows, but if they had been able to delay the 2000AD partwork to March 2018 they'd have made the decision to skip it far tougher.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 02 March, 2018, 11:35:59 AM
It's still possible to begin a 2000 AD Collection sub from issue 1 via the website.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Amstor Computer on 02 March, 2018, 12:21:56 PM
Quote from: Tomwe on 02 March, 2018, 11:35:59 AM
It's still possible to begin a 2000 AD Collection sub from issue 1 via the website.

Really? I'd missed that entirely - does it kick in with two-per-month at the normal price and you just end up xx months behind everyone else, or do you get shunted into some kind of catchup scheme?

If it's the former, it makes switching to it when the Dredd extension ends a bit more attractive...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 02 March, 2018, 12:28:25 PM
You'd have to contact the publisher, but as far as I'm aware, it's subject to stock, and you just end up running X months behind.

If they have any sense, they'd actually advertise this when the Dredd collection ends, and offer three options:

- Sub from issue 1
- Sub from whatever issue they're at by that point
- Catch-up from X and sub (which, natch, would require a hefty initial payment)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 02 March, 2018, 12:30:49 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 02 March, 2018, 09:46:55 AM
I suspect a Dredd set would soon start scraping the barrel. We've already had enough duff volumes, and I don't want to see more. Really, we could have knocked at least 10 out of what we already had and improved the collection, and so 90 and done is fine by me.

Quote from: The Amstor Computer on 02 March, 2018, 11:32:45 AM
It's a pity, as having got used to setting aside £20 to commit to the Dredd partwork, I'd have been a relatively easy sell to smoothly transition to the Ultimate Collection but having a 5-10 month patch where my commitment would have to double (depending on whether I went for the extension on Dredd) was just too much of an obstacle. I don't know how critical it is to Hachette's business that they hit certain release windows, but if they had been able to delay the 2000AD partwork to March 2018 they'd have made the decision to skip it far tougher.

The extension volumes so far are top quality, and it would have been great to have these in the original run rather than the duff volumes, so it might have made things easier to stop at 80. I guess business & marketing decisions may outweigh what we as customers would ideally like. Red Razors will however remain on my shelf not to be read again, its function making up its part of the spine image.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 02 March, 2018, 01:35:45 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 02 March, 2018, 12:28:25 PM
You'd have to contact the publisher, but as far as I'm aware, it's subject to stock, and you just end up running X months behind.

If they have any sense, they'd actually advertise this when the Dredd collection ends, and offer three options:

- Sub from issue 1
- Sub from whatever issue they're at by that point
- Catch-up from X and sub (which, natch, would require a hefty initial payment)

yeah you'd be behind but thats not the end of the world. subscribing page here (https://hachettepartworks.com/hachettesubscriptions/SecureFormWithSummary/07211)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 02 March, 2018, 02:13:21 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 02 March, 2018, 12:30:49 PMThe extension volumes so far are top quality, and it would have been great to have these in the original run rather than the duff volumes, so it might have made things easier to stop at 80. I guess business & marketing decisions may outweigh what we as customers would ideally like. Red Razors will however remain on my shelf not to be read again, its function making up its part of the spine image.
Yep. I genuinely don't understand what the criteria was in selecting some of these volumes. By all means have a broad selection of Dredd's world, but you don't have to dedicate entire volumes to crap. It's rather weird to trudge through a shitty volume and at the end have an essay or interview saying how crap it was.

There are books where I'd say curiosities of dubious quality do somewhat work. The Day The Law Died including Helter Skelter is one such example. The latter's an oddball story and not much cop, but I was happy to see it in a volume that had quality content in it. But you could strike the likes of The Heavy Mob and Red Razors from the collection, and it'd arguably be an improvement. And that's a problem. To some extent, it feels like a 60-volume collection was suddenly 'stretched' to 80 at relatively short notice.

I'm still happy I subscribed, but it's a pity to sometimes be sitting there looking at a nicely produced book and thinking: "This could actually have been filled with decent content".
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 04 March, 2018, 01:41:10 AM
Really enjoyed the new Anderson volume. Great idea and stunning art from Dave Taylor on Big Robots, and fascinating to see the evolution of Boo Cook's style on the rest of the stories.

The intro says the next Anderson volume will be Dead End, but that won't fill it, hopefully we'll get the Steve Sampson stories too. And, if there's room, it would be great to see a few remaining annual/special stories. They aren't essential but I like how the collection has included a lot of these.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 04 March, 2018, 01:43:38 AM
The new Anderson one was quite a good volume.  Stories were unusual and the art style for the most part was nice.  Thoroughly enjoyable over all.  If only all the collection had been to this standard.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 04 March, 2018, 08:48:32 AM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 04 March, 2018, 01:41:10 AM
Really enjoyed the new Anderson volume. Great idea and stunning art from Dave Taylor on Big Robots, and fascinating to see the evolution of Boo Cook's style on the rest of the stories.

The intro says the next Anderson volume will be Dead End, but that won't fill it, hopefully we'll get the Steve Sampson stories too. And, if there's room, it would be great to see a few remaining annual/special stories. They aren't essential but I like how the collection has included a lot of these.

My guess is that Dead end will collect some of the cadet Anderson stuff. Remember some of it tying into Dead end.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 04 March, 2018, 11:33:31 AM
I know it won't happen but I'd be happy to see the Carl Critchlow IDw series included.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 05 March, 2018, 06:57:22 PM
So the final volume will be War on the Streets; with a creator line-up including Wagner, Grant, Bolland, Wilson, Ezquerra, Dillon, Gibson, Robinson, Ron Smith and Barry Mitchell it's gonna be an old-school classic!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 05 March, 2018, 08:23:02 PM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 05 March, 2018, 06:57:22 PM
So the final volume will be War on the Streets; with a creator line-up including Wagner, Grant, Bolland, Wilson, Ezquerra, Dillon, Gibson, Robinson, Ron Smith and Barry Mitchell it's gonna be an old-school classic!

Sounds awesome. Reveal from one of the books? Can't find it on the fb page or on the dredd mega collection website.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: davidbishop on 05 March, 2018, 10:30:51 PM
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10156762292942788&id=653207787&comment_id=10156762484722788&reply_comment_id=10156763032992788&notif_id=1520283618239446&notif_t=feed_comment_reply&ref=notif
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 06 March, 2018, 06:06:09 AM
Quote from: davidbishop on 05 March, 2018, 10:30:51 PM
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10156762292942788&id=653207787&comment_id=10156762484722788&reply_comment_id=10156763032992788&notif_id=1520283618239446&notif_t=feed_comment_reply&ref=notif

Link doesn't work for me. Facebook says it's unavailable. It's regarding the war on the streets volume?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 06 March, 2018, 08:53:11 AM
Yes. A little titbit from Tharg's human avatar Matt Smith as he writes the last Mega Collection intro.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 06 March, 2018, 01:42:38 PM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 06 March, 2018, 08:53:11 AM
Yes. A little titbit from Tharg's human avatar Matt Smith as he writes the last Mega Collection intro.

Thanks. Cant wait to read it :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: GaryUK on 06 March, 2018, 03:58:12 PM
Issue 84 is 'Blood of Emeralds'.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: oddballuk on 06 March, 2018, 04:04:19 PM
Quote from: GaryUK on 06 March, 2018, 03:58:12 PM
Issue 84 is 'Blood of Emeralds'.

Nice, looks like Every Empire Falls collected then.

(https://hachettepartworks.com/Content/Products/780cf1a8-d0b2-4149-a8c8-064268634e10.jpg)

QuoteIn the wake of the Day of Chaos, Mega-City One's resources are stretched to breaking point. So when raiders called the Grindstone Cowboys start attacking Cursed Earth farms, cutting off vital supplies, Dredd is dispatched to promptly deal with the perps. But there is more to the mutant outlaws than meets the eye – and the ramifications will threaten the very heart of Justice Department... Scripted by Michael Carroll (Jennifer Blood, DeMarco P.I.) and John Wagner (Button Man), and featuring the art of Colin MacNeil (America), Henry Flint (Shakara), Carlos Ezquerra (Strontium Dog), PJ Holden (Dept of Monsterology) and more, this explosive epic travels from the streets of MC-1 to Brit-Cit, from Murphyville to the Cursed Earth – and uncovers a conspiracy that rocks Dredd's world!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 06 March, 2018, 04:46:49 PM
Lovely cover. Haven't read it other than a couple eps.

Any ideas which Wagner story they'v included? Remember it being Carroll-solo.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 07 March, 2018, 06:18:55 PM
Facebook confirms 85 as "wogue wobots" featuring Robot Wars etc
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: oddballuk on 07 March, 2018, 08:35:35 PM
Quote from: Tomwe on 07 March, 2018, 06:18:55 PM
Facebook confirms 85 as "wogue wobots" featuring Robot Wars etc

Loving that title.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Fungus on 07 March, 2018, 10:19:33 PM
Gweat.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 08 March, 2018, 06:43:24 PM
So out of volumes 86-89, one will be Anderson dead end and one Lawless. Any ideas on the two last ones?

Btw. Beeny is in Every empire falls? [spoiler]Member of the council of five[/spoiler]? Makes me think Wagner's story in Blood of the emeralds will be Terror rising.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 08 March, 2018, 08:05:44 PM
I have no insider info but Otto Sump & Kenny Who seem glaring omissions.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: djbawbag on 14 March, 2018, 04:16:15 PM
https://twitter.com/PyeParr/status/973921361658875909?s=19
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 14 March, 2018, 07:32:51 PM
Great to see Mrs Gunderson join the cast of spine characters.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 15 March, 2018, 10:17:30 PM
I finished Served Cold last night. I think that's one of the best books in the entire collection. In fact, it would have been criminal had this been omitted had the collection only been 80 books, given the likes of Heavy Mob. The only bad thing about it is it makes me realise how much I miss Al Ewing on Dredd.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richard on 15 March, 2018, 11:14:56 PM
Al Ewing was brilliant and we should get him back at once.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 17 March, 2018, 08:40:20 AM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 15 March, 2018, 10:17:30 PM
I finished Served Cold last night. I think that's one of the best books in the entire collection. In fact, it would have been criminal had this been omitted had the collection only been 80 books, given the likes of Heavy Mob. The only bad thing about it is it makes me realise how much I miss Al Ewing on Dredd.

I'm getting more and more hyped about the book! :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 17 March, 2018, 09:14:40 PM
I finished "Served Cold", all in all a really good book, though there were a couple of the shorter stories that weren't great.  Mainly for me the very last one with that wacky art style just didn't sit well with me, although I realise it was meant to be a bit off beat.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 18 March, 2018, 09:02:55 AM
For me, Served Cold didn't put a tight boot wrong. From the twists and turns of the Deller arc to the humour and action balance of the shorter stories, I was impressed. This extension is shaping up pretty well.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 24 March, 2018, 09:57:32 AM
So my next set of Dredd books just arrived, before the 2000 AD ones. Erm. Anyway.

#84 is Blood of Emeralds. Fab blood-splattered badge cover, and a terse Dredd saying "What the hell's happened to my city?" on the intro page. Strips: Salvage; In Control; Caterpillars; Shotgun; Blood of Emeralds; Terror Rising; The Grindstone Cowboys; Dust to Dust; The Lion's Den; Reclamation; From the Ashes; a few covers; Michael Carroll interview.

Like the Ewing volume, this is essentially framed as a 'Michael Carroll' Dredd book; Wagner material is in there mostly for continuity reasons. It looks like it'll be a great read, and it's something of a doorstep – one of the biggest volumes in this series.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 24 March, 2018, 10:05:15 AM
#85 is Wogue Robots, with some very old Gibson art on the cover. Strips: Krong; Robot Wars (with broadly decent repro, although the Gibson episodes don't come out too well at times); The Neon Knights; Walter's Secret Job; Walter the Robot: Friend of Dredd (i.e.17 single pagers – the colour strips are in colour – and a handful of standard-length stories, such as Hyper Cop)' Shynthi-Caf Vindilu; The Sleeper (hurrah – Geoff Senior Dredd!); Giant (Meg 2.50–2.52); Night of the Fog; Meka-City; Something Abnormal About Norman; Monsteroso; Attack of the Sex-Crazed Love Dolls; five covers; 'Automated for the People' essay.

For once, running these out of chronological order makes sense, I think, spreading out the older material a bit. It looks like a fun collection, even if there's some iffy material here and there.

Again, I'm glad I didn't stop at 80. It increasingly looks like these 'extra' volumes are all going to be good at worst and essential at best.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 24 March, 2018, 11:56:37 AM
Sound like a great couple of volumes, glad Something Abnormal About Norman's appeared.

What volume number is Blood of Emeralds? Thanks.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 24 March, 2018, 12:13:47 PM
Blood of Emeralds is 83. Wogue Wobots is 86.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 24 March, 2018, 01:00:16 PM
Thanks
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 24 March, 2018, 10:12:32 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 24 March, 2018, 09:57:32 AM
So my next set of Dredd books just arrived, before the 2000 AD ones. Erm. Anyway.

#84 is Blood of Emeralds. Fab blood-splattered badge cover, and a terse Dredd saying "What the hell's happened to my city?" on the intro page. Strips: Salvage; In Control; Caterpillars; Shotgun; Blood of Emeralds; Terror Rising; The Grindstone Cowboys; Dust to Dust; The Lion's Den; Reclamation; From the Ashes; a few covers; Michael Carroll interview.

Thank you for sharing the list of stories. Lovely to hear that Terror rising is included! :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 25 March, 2018, 06:08:31 PM
Can't say I'm familiar off hand with any of those stories, but names don't always mean anything.  Are we talking about earlier or later era Dredd?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richard on 25 March, 2018, 06:49:07 PM
These are all recent.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Davgardo on 26 March, 2018, 10:57:15 AM
I am absolutely delighted with this extension - all of the extra issues have been an utter delight especially the Ewing and Carroll volumes. The thought that we might have got tripe like Calhab, Harmony and Red Razors at the expense of this material is a bit perplexing though. I'm all for giving as wide a range of Dreddworld strips as possible (Cursed Earth Koburn, Insurrection, Creep, Devlin Waugh, Missionary Man all fantastic, Helltrekkers, Armitage, Maelstrom and the Hondo stuff all good) but not at the expense of quality control, which is what happened.

Very happy now though and The World at Law is now a dim and distant memory.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 26 March, 2018, 05:56:38 PM
Quote from: Davgardo on 26 March, 2018, 10:57:15 AM
I am absolutely delighted with this extension - all of the extra issues have been an utter delight especially the Ewing and Carroll volumes. The thought that we might have got tripe like Calhab, Harmony and Red Razors at the expense of this material is a bit perplexing though. I'm all for giving as wide a range of Dreddworld strips as possible (Cursed Earth Koburn, Insurrection, Creep, Devlin Waugh, Missionary Man all fantastic, Helltrekkers, Armitage, Maelstrom and the Hondo stuff all good) but not at the expense of quality control, which is what happened.

Very happy now though and The World at Law is now a dim and distant memory.

Agreed. Thought the majority of this extension should have been in the main 80 but glad I stuck with it.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 28 March, 2018, 02:12:58 PM
The intro to Blood of Emeralds says there'll be further Michael Carroll stories in volume 82. I had assumed that was going to be a further Anderson volume but maybe not.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: djbawbag on 28 March, 2018, 02:28:10 PM
In the newsagents, Blood of Emeralds comes packaged with another copy of Dark Side of the Moon.
Was there a printing issue with that one?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: oddballuk on 28 March, 2018, 02:35:33 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 28 March, 2018, 02:12:58 PM
The intro to Blood of Emeralds says there'll be further Michael Carroll stories in volume 82. I had assumed that was going to be a further Anderson volume but maybe not.

Perhaps a non-Anderson story that's thematically similar to fill out the page count?

The Traumatown Dredd story with Nick Pervical maybe?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: oddballuk on 28 March, 2018, 02:36:53 PM
Quote from: djbawbag on 28 March, 2018, 02:28:10 PM
In the newsagents, Blood of Emeralds comes packaged with another copy of Dark Side of the Moon.
Was there a printing issue with that one?

Not originally but because of the extension to 90 volumes, the spine image no longer lines up.

I'm sure subscribers get their replacement copy with next month's delivery.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 28 March, 2018, 02:43:27 PM
DJBawbag,
The Dark Side of the Moon volume is 80 on the spine, it's been re-issued to join to book 81 the first 'extension' issue. Those stopping at 80 could use the original print run.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 28 March, 2018, 06:36:06 PM
Quote from: oddballuk on 28 March, 2018, 02:35:33 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 28 March, 2018, 02:12:58 PM
The intro to Blood of Emeralds says there'll be further Michael Carroll stories in volume 82. I had assumed that was going to be a further Anderson volume but maybe not.

Perhaps a non-Anderson story that's thematically similar to fill out the page count?

The Traumatown Dredd story with Nick Pervical maybe?

The stories listed are Debris, Wolves and The Forsaken - but Debris has already appeared in volume 55. Hmmmm.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 28 March, 2018, 09:11:55 PM
I had an argument with my newsagent who said there was no way I could be getting two books for the price of one.  They also didn't get that the spine numbers and the issue numbers arent the same thing.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 28 March, 2018, 09:37:52 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 28 March, 2018, 06:36:06 PMThe stories listed are Debris, Wolves and The Forsaken - but Debris has already appeared in volume 55. Hmmmm.

Perhaps it's Payback, rather than Debris. The one where Dolman beats up judges from the corps. Fits the bill.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 31 March, 2018, 02:43:14 PM
Blood of Emeralds is another cracking volume, stories and art are top notch. Could be up there as one of the best issues for me.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 04 April, 2018, 10:58:17 AM
Next two: (https://www.facebook.com/judgedreddcollection/photos/a.1523545327903270.1073741828.1517847991806337/2037651083159356/?type=3)
(https://scontent.fbrs1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/29597475_2037651083159356_4610409756197551585_n.png?_nc_cat=0&oh=a0ba780c3248727ff20846f080e1a2ad&oe=5B6CD2EF)
QuoteDAY OF CHAOS: AFTERMATH

Mega-City One has been left reeling from the Day of Chaos, a co-ordinated viral attack by Sov terrorists that killed an estimated 350 million citizens. A catastrophe of this size finds Justice Department's resources stretched beyond breaking point as criminality runs rife amongst the rubble. Can Dredd and his fellow Judges take back control after the metropolis's darkest hour?

LAWLESS

Badrock is a frontier mining community on the colony world of 43 Rega, a mudball planet in a neglected corner of the galaxy. But it was here, five years ago, that the combined forces of Mega-City One stopped the Zhind invasion. Now, the remnants of the war lie rusting out in the badlands, and for the town to survive it needs help from the Big Meg – help such as colonial marshals to keep some semblance of order in this lawless place. Badrock is forever on the verge of tipping over into outright chaos, and Marshal Metta Lawson is the woman charged with bringing it under control...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 04 April, 2018, 12:30:58 PM
Cool. Think that more or less wraps things up, as we already know the last issue will be War on the Streets, there's another Anderson volume, and I'm sure I read somewhere that Enceladus would be appearing.

Not sure that'll leave any room/theme for The Graveyard Shift (unless that's in WotS?) and Pirates of the Black Atlantic, so hoping for these in the 2000AD collection.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: davidbishop on 04 April, 2018, 03:14:22 PM
I'm shocked - shocked, I tell you! - to learn The Soul Sisters will not be part of the Judge Dredd Mega-Collection. Obviously the series is being held over for a 2000AD Ultimate Collection extension volume, appearing alongside Canon Fodder...  :lol:
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 04 April, 2018, 05:14:53 PM
i swear to god i must be the only person in the world who likes canon fodder
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 04 April, 2018, 06:27:58 PM
Quote from: The Monarch on 04 April, 2018, 05:14:53 PM
i swear to god i must be the only person in the world who likes canon fodder

I liked Canon Fodder please don't tell anyone. I have no respect around here as it is
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 04 April, 2018, 07:19:33 PM
In the 2018 World Cup Panini sticker album you can have a sticker of yourself made up - with room in the sticker book for it. Surely when you make it to the finish line of a Hachette series they could offer a personalised book - volume 91- you choose! Junker! Maniac 5! Armoured Gideon! You decide!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: davidbishop on 04 April, 2018, 08:01:24 PM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 04 April, 2018, 07:19:33 PM
In the 2018 World Cup Panini sticker album you can have a sticker of yourself made up - with room in the sticker book for it. Surely when you make it to the finish line of a Hachette series they could offer a personalised book - volume 91- you choose! Junker! Maniac 5! Armoured Gideon! You decide!

The Soul Sisters! Dead Man Walking! The Straitjacket Fits! All the classics...  ;)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 04 April, 2018, 08:49:28 PM
I remember little about Soul Sisters, but it can't be any worse than the crud in that Heavy Mob volume.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 04 April, 2018, 08:57:38 PM
i really want a straightjacket fits pamphlet too :lol:
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: dweezil2 on 04 April, 2018, 09:09:05 PM
Quote from: davidbishop on 04 April, 2018, 03:14:22 PM
I'm shocked - shocked, I tell you! - to learn The Soul Sisters will not be part of the Judge Dredd Mega-Collection. Obviously the series is being held over for a 2000AD Ultimate Collection extension volume, appearing alongside Canon Fodder...  :lol:

Regardless of the artistic merits of Cannon Fodder, you can't dispute that it's a wholly (holy) successful play on words!!!  :lol:
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Klegg Bait on 05 April, 2018, 03:01:17 AM
I only collect some volumes of these, but I'm feeling a bit sad that we are nearing the end.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 05 April, 2018, 06:42:05 AM
Just subscribe to the marvel series if you don't like things finishing!
The extra ten volumes had been strong. I hope the reprinted Vol 80 does happen soon!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 05 April, 2018, 08:06:01 AM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 04 April, 2018, 07:19:33 PM
In the 2018 World Cup Panini sticker album you can have a sticker of yourself made up - with room in the sticker book for it.

I've done that for the last 3 sticker books. First one was of my Son. The next two of my dog...wearing my glasses...in a football shirt  :-[
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 05 April, 2018, 12:22:36 PM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 05 April, 2018, 06:42:05 AM
I hope the reprinted Vol 80 does happen soon!

The reprinted volume 80 came with my copy of Blood of Emeralds, with Murd's cloak present and correct next to the Brit-Cit judge.

Quote from: robert_ellis on 04 April, 2018, 07:19:33 PM
In the 2018 World Cup Panini sticker album you can have a sticker of yourself made up - with room in the sticker book for it. Surely when you make it to the finish line of a Hachette series they could offer a personalised book - volume 91- you choose! Junker! Maniac 5! Armoured Gideon! You decide!

I liked Armoured Gideon. Have i got rose-tinted glasses on?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 05 April, 2018, 01:35:07 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 05 April, 2018, 12:22:36 PM
The reprinted volume 80 came with my copy of Blood of Emeralds, with Murd's cloak present and correct next to the Brit-Cit judge.
Oh really? I'd better get chasing that one then!
Quote
I liked Armoured Gideon. Have i got rose-tinted glasses on?
I remember enjoying that series. Might not have had an end...?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: BPP on 05 April, 2018, 02:10:32 PM
Quote from: Tomwe on 05 April, 2018, 01:35:07 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 05 April, 2018, 12:22:36 PM
The reprinted volume 80 came with my copy of Blood of Emeralds, with Murd's cloak present and correct next to the Brit-Cit judge.
Oh really? I'd better get chasing that one then!

Let us know what they say as I got emeralds and rouge robots but not a reprinted dark side of the moon.

Why reprint 80? Surely 81 is the 'problem' spine wise.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 05 April, 2018, 03:31:15 PM
Quote from: BPP on 05 April, 2018, 02:10:32 PM
Let us know what they say as I got emeralds and rouge robots but not a reprinted dark side of the moon.

Why reprint 80? Surely 81 is the 'problem' spine wise.
Yup, got a reply:
QuoteWe have sent you a replacement of issue 44 volume 80 allow 7-14 working days for delivery. Its a new reprinted copy version.
Not sure why it wasn't sent automatically but then this is Hachette after all.
Volume 80 now has "Murd's cloak present and correct next to the Brit-Cit judge" as mentioned by Rob Ellis.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 05 April, 2018, 05:27:14 PM
With Blood of the emeralds being a Carroll book and Served Cold Ewing, I'm hoping there'll be one of William's as well. Wouldn't mind a best of the rest up till the recent Fit for use, plus the latest Mechanismo by Wagner. Would leave things in an interesting note :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 05 April, 2018, 08:42:24 PM
Blood of Emeralds was a cracking read, even the short stories were a nice batch.  For instance, the one with the jumper, I wasn't expecting that in the last panels, thinking it was just going to be another normal (if such a thing exists) occurrence in MC-1.

Nice to get more on Texas City, their Chief Judge really did seem like someone you wanted to punch in the face from day one.  Is it me, or did Psi Judge Lewis bear a resemblance to some artists renditions of a younger Anderson?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 12 April, 2018, 04:45:04 PM
Facebook revealed the title for the last remaining volume in the comments. Book 88: Crazy town. Hope it's a collection like Mad city and Tales of Ordinary Madness :)

Looks like the final set of books are:

86: Day of Chaos: Aftermath
87: Lawless
88: Crazy town
89: Psi-Judge Anderson: Dead End
90: War on The Streets

I think this is a nice line up  :D
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 12 April, 2018, 04:59:42 PM
come on ooor kenny.....
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 12 April, 2018, 05:12:05 PM
Who?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 12 April, 2018, 10:30:52 PM
Quote from: Apestrife on 12 April, 2018, 04:45:04 PM
Facebook revealed the title for the last remaining volume in the comments. Book 88: Crazy town. Hope it's a collection like Mad city and Tales of Ordinary Madness :)

Looks like the final set of books are:

86: Day of Chaos: Aftermath
87: Lawless
88: Crazy town
89: Psi-Judge Anderson: Dead End
90: War on The Streets

I think this is a nice line up  :D

Unfortunately no indications that there will be any Black Atlantic.....

Did anyone else get some shoddy reproduction on the Wogue Wobots stories.  I haven't read all the book yet but I found some of the reproduction on Robot Wars and the Walter stories a bit suspect.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Davgardo on 13 April, 2018, 08:30:05 AM
Weren't we told The Mega Rackets would form part of this collection? If so, at 15 episodes that's take up a good chunk of this Crazytown volume.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 13 April, 2018, 08:42:19 AM
pretty sure mega rackets is in war on the streets
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 13 April, 2018, 01:18:13 PM
Quote from: Jade Falcon on 12 April, 2018, 10:30:52 PMDid anyone else get some shoddy reproduction on the Wogue Wobots stories.
The Gibson episodes don't fare well, that's for sure.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 13 April, 2018, 04:44:29 PM
They've really struggled at times with the repro on the early stories at times.  It's a shame really.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 13 April, 2018, 09:43:48 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 13 April, 2018, 01:18:13 PM
Quote from: Jade Falcon on 12 April, 2018, 10:30:52 PMDid anyone else get some shoddy reproduction on the Wogue Wobots stories.
The Gibson episodes don't fare well, that's for sure.

That might have been the episodes I was thinking of.  Not all the book suffered from poor reproduction, but some parts did.  The sex crazed robots story was totally and utterly silly, but in a fun way.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 18 April, 2018, 09:07:27 PM
Just finished reading Blood of emeralds. Really liked it! The chapter with [spoiler]the death of Dredd[/spoiler] was handled really well I think. Especially when put after Wagner's Terror rising. The set up with further reform (Beeny's designs on council of five) as well as Barbara's dealings with Tex cit gave it an interesting feel, even if I knew things would continue.

The inclusion of both Joyce, Armitage and Coburn worked really well too I think, even if I'm fairly new to their characters. I only think the reclamation chapter relied a bit too much on my prior knowledge of what makes some of the characters great.

What I liked the most was that the story had an impact on the mc1 cits. Interesting to see such thing after Day of chaos. Some interesting points made [spoiler]for example people perhaps being too starved to resist the judges[/spoiler]. After the city was razed in DoC, this is probably the story for me which made the most of the new playfield.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 19 April, 2018, 01:47:21 PM
thinking about it today i realise how every empire falls -to me- feels different than most "mc1 coups".

i think its much thanks to alot thanks to it giving things a bit of civ perspective rather than just the usual Dredd vs someone opposing the status quo (which also can be good fun)

wouldnt mind more epics having more of that :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 20 April, 2018, 07:36:46 PM
I quite enjoyed Wogue Wobots, glad Robot Wars has made it into the collection, although I'm not sure the Walter solo stories were an essential inclusion. I think Giant was my favourite story in this book.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 20 April, 2018, 09:10:44 PM
The solo Walter stories were particularly weak, but agreed on the Giant story.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 23 April, 2018, 09:06:16 AM
Having read those Walter stories again, they were a bit of a trudge. I'd have been happy with a couple as a taster rather than all of the things, but there you go. Great to see the Geoff Senior Dredd get an airing though – one of my favourite artists, and someone who I really wish had done more 2000 AD. (Imagine his kinetic artwork on ABC Warriors.)

Two more books just arrived today as well.

86/vol. 82: Day of Chaos Aftermath: Debris; Innocent; Payback; Asleep; Sealed; Save Him; Wolves; Cypher; Suicide The Forsaken; Skulls; Bender; Ferals; six covers; "The Ripple Effect" text feature.

87/vol. 90: Lawless: Welcome to Badrock; Between Badrock & A Hard Place; Of Munce and Men; Long Range War; four covers; DPS sketchbook; "Way Out West" single-page text feature.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jim_Campbell on 23 April, 2018, 09:51:33 AM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 23 April, 2018, 09:06:16 AM
87/vol. 90: Lawless: Welcome to Badrock; Between Badrock & A Hard Place; Of Munce and Men; Long Range War; four covers; DPS sketchbook; "Way Out West" single-page text feature.

Might have to grab that one...!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 23 April, 2018, 10:17:24 AM
Quote from: Jim_Campbell on 23 April, 2018, 09:51:33 AM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 23 April, 2018, 09:06:16 AM
87/vol. 90: Lawless: Welcome to Badrock; Between Badrock & A Hard Place; Of Munce and Men; Long Range War; four covers; DPS sketchbook; "Way Out West" single-page text feature.

Might have to grab that one...!
As a non-Meg reader I was really keen for this strip to be part of the collection, and with only the most recent story excluded too! Come on postie!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Davgardo on 23 April, 2018, 11:21:04 AM
Hmmmm. So we've now got Debris twice (see Heavy Mob)????? Someone taking their eye of the ball?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 23 April, 2018, 11:41:19 AM
Looks like it. How strange.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Steve Green on 23 April, 2018, 12:42:07 PM
Presumably the extension wasn't a cert at the time it was decided to include it in the Heavy Mob, and it would have been strange to omit it for the Aftermath stories.

Maybe just the least worst option in a collection that size.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 23 April, 2018, 01:18:20 PM
Well there's no need to ever pick up what is probably the worst book in the collection again!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 23 April, 2018, 01:56:41 PM
See, if they'd listened and included an index volume this would have never happened.

Some folks just never listen, do they?


<sigh>
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 23 April, 2018, 02:31:52 PM
Quote from: Tomwe on 23 April, 2018, 01:18:20 PM
Well there's no need to ever pick up what is probably the worst book in the collection again!
I will happily admit that thought crossed my mind, too.

As for an index, I wonder whether we could POD one, although I imagine it'd be quite the sod to produce.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 23 April, 2018, 04:42:33 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 23 April, 2018, 09:06:16 AM
87/vol. 90: Lawless: Welcome to Badrock; Between Badrock & A Hard Place; Of Munce and Men; Long Range War; four covers; DPS sketchbook; "Way Out West" single-page text feature.

Haven't read "Long Range War". Ok as an "ending"? Or will the book feel abrupt, or like ending on too much of a cliffhanger? I'm just curious.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 23 April, 2018, 06:17:51 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 23 April, 2018, 02:31:52 PM
Quote from: Tomwe on 23 April, 2018, 01:18:20 PM
Well there's no need to ever pick up what is probably the worst book in the collection again!
I will happily admit that thought crossed my mind, too.

As for an index, I wonder whether we could POD one, although I imagine it'd be quite the sod to produce.

I've compiled an index of all the issues to date, I'll put it on here when the collection's complete.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: paulbyrnewex on 23 April, 2018, 09:12:10 PM
I had a word document of all Dredd stories. I started highlighting what was in the mega collection in red and in what volume. I have a few volumes left to add college work has taken priority the last while but once the mega collection is finished I'll be able to see whats missing and what is available elsewhere as a trade or complete case file.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: ManParrish on 23 April, 2018, 11:19:27 PM
Does anyone know if the final 3 volumes will be sent together or as 2 books, then 1?
Thanks
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 24 April, 2018, 07:46:55 AM
When I jumped off at volume 80 they sent the last volume on its own.  Possibly they might do the same.  On the same note, I'm still waiting for the 6th print.  Might have to look at chasing that down.  Having said that, I haven't seen anyone talking about it anywhere.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 24 April, 2018, 07:43:27 PM
Just finished Young Death. Hadn't read Young Death, Name is Death and wilderness days in years and didn't remember much outside the basics. Had some doubts about Death being a funny man, but I think it really worked. Especially in the last two drawn by Frazer Irving. Fantastic art and a story which out-fallouts Fallout. I somewhat wish Death would'v stayed on a weird murder odyssey through the cursed earth. While I thought the set up for the ending was epic, it didn't deliver for me. Would'v worked better without all the exposition about limbo and how his plans were ruined. But overall, I really enjoyed the story :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 26 April, 2018, 12:58:34 PM
So we're nearly at the end and I'm already thinking about a re-read  :) . Any thoughts on what might be in Crazy Town? Hoping for at least of couple of Otto Sump stories as he does feature on the spine image, and some other Ron Smith classics in keeping with the title - Citizen Snork, Portrait of a Politician, The Stupid Gun, Bob & Carol & Ted & Ringo, etc.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 26 April, 2018, 07:31:57 PM
Kenny Who? I'd love to have seen Enceladus but that seems unlikely. Can't believe I'm actually at the end of a Hachette series. It's a fabled thing like the end of the rainbow!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 26 April, 2018, 08:46:53 PM
The Lawless volume is shaping up to be one of my favourites. Winslade's artwork is sublime.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Davgardo on 27 April, 2018, 10:47:21 AM
I think some of the volumes in the extension are some of my favourites: Served Cold, Blood of Emeralds and Lawless. It shows up some of the earlier volumes for what they were: substandard filler.

Personally, I think it shows that there is scope to extend the collection to 100 volumes (which would be a satisfying number) without any drop in quality. There's enough great stuff still out there so I think it's a pity it's stopping at 90 - for example it looks like we probably won't get stuff like The Cal Files, The Exterminator, Midnite's Children, The Falucci Tape, The Graveyard Shift or several 21st Century strips that are fab: Block Judge, Lady Killer, Enceladus, Fall of Deadworld.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 27 April, 2018, 11:44:41 AM
I suspect people would go nuts if – after multiple promises from Hachette and Rebellion – the series added another ten books. We'd be in Marvel territory. But, yes, the quality of the seven books so far in this extra set has been high. Only Wogue Robots didn't really hit home for me, but that would still be among the average quality-wise from the series. Tales of Ordinary Madness, Served Cold, Blood of Emeralds, Aftermath and Lawless are among the very best in the entire run. Looking forward to the final three...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: paulbyrnewex on 27 April, 2018, 01:11:24 PM
Plenty of people went nuts with the endless Marvel extensions but that didn't stop them from adding more and more extensions. I would be happy if the collection stopped at 90 but with the incomplete spine image on 90 and after seeing the sketch for the complete image in the 200 AD sketch book I wouldn't mind 10 more issues but with the repeat publication of Debris I would be concerned that future volumes would have more repeat duplication's.

Looking at the facts a complete graphic novel collection partwork has yet to finish its run but looks like Dredd might be the first. 
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 27 April, 2018, 01:47:19 PM
For what it's worth, I'd be happy with another ten books, but with the caveats that:

- The line 100% totally stops at 100 volumes
- There is no further duplication of existing content unless it's absolutely necessary for context
- What's included is almost entirely objectively high-quality material (i.e. no filler)

I suspect it's done and dusted though. Still, perhaps if the 2000 AD collection does well enough, that could extend, and that could include some Dredd here and there. (Mind you, that one feels kind of finite, too. It will have mined all the really big strips entirely, meaning the extension will be lesser-known fare. Would that be enough? Hard to tell.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Davgardo on 27 April, 2018, 02:46:04 PM
Quote from: paulbyrnewex on 27 April, 2018, 01:11:24 PM
I would be happy if the collection stopped at 90 but with the incomplete spine image on 90 and after seeing the sketch for the complete image in the 200 AD sketch book I wouldn't mind 10 more issues but with the repeat publication of Debris I would be concerned that future volumes would have more repeat duplication's.

Looking at the facts a complete graphic novel collection partwork has yet to finish its run but looks like Dredd might be the first.

The incomplete spine image did get me thinking, but I guess we'd have heard by now if there were any plans for a further extension.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Magnetica on 27 April, 2018, 03:10:07 PM
I didn't realise stories where getting printed twice in the Mega Collection. That's a bit mad isn't it? But from the sounds of these last few posts it was only Debris and was done for context in the later book which presumably was planned when it appeared earlier.

Out of interest, which volume did it appear in before?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moldovangerbil on 27 April, 2018, 03:13:11 PM
Another extension would hack me off.  Yes, there's probably some good stuff they could add but it'd just feel a bit too much like they were milking us to me.  Plus - storage space!!!!

Obviously, if they were to extend it, I'd buy it though.  :-[
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: James Stacey on 27 April, 2018, 03:42:46 PM
The best way to do it if they chose, is do it honestly. Let the current collection be complete at 90 then offer people to continue their sub for the following 10 if they so choose. The tactic of starting the continuation volumes before the current run is complete is the thing I think hacks people off. I can't belive the marvel one is still ongoing (up to 200) :o
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 27 April, 2018, 04:54:30 PM
Quote from: Magnetica on 27 April, 2018, 03:10:07 PMOut of interest, which volume did it appear in before?
The otherwise mostly execrable Heavy Mob.

Quote from: James Stacey on 27 April, 2018, 03:42:46 PM
The best way to do it if they chose, is do it honestly. Let the current collection be complete at 90 then offer people to continue their sub for the following 10 if they so choose. The tactic of starting the continuation volumes before the current run is complete is the thing I think hacks people off.
To be fair, they didn't do that with Dredd. We got the initial 80 before they started on 81–90. Marvel did that weird thing with the 'classics' volumes, and made a big mess that annoyed a lot of people.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Magnetica on 27 April, 2018, 05:20:18 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 27 April, 2018, 04:54:30 PM
Quote from: Magnetica on 27 April, 2018, 03:10:07 PMOut of interest, which volume did it appear in before?
The otherwise mostly execrable Heavy Mob.

That volume has Father Earth in it, which is a nailed on classic (dodgy retro of Bolland's art notwithstanding).

Guess that's what you mean by "most".
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 27 April, 2018, 07:04:37 PM
Im pretty certain itll end on 90 actually. Theyv said so, and will need material to the 2000ad collection.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 27 April, 2018, 07:06:54 PM
Quote from: Magnetica on 27 April, 2018, 05:20:18 PMGuess that's what you mean by "most".
Well, quite. The Dredd strips in that volume were fine, even though the repro of Father Earth was fairly poor. But Holocaust 12, Brit-Cit Brute and Wynter were entirely forgettable filler. Well, that's not entirely true: they weren't forgettable, because they were so awful. No-one needed to see that rubbish again.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 29 April, 2018, 06:24:14 PM
I enjoyed Day of Chaos Aftermath, fascinating to see a variety of writers' take on Dredd and the city following Wagner's game-changer. Debris fits much better in context here than in The Heavy Mob, as when I read that I hadn't read Day of Chaos so hadn't much of a clue what was going on. Another top extension volume.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomontherun94 on 30 April, 2018, 11:57:42 AM
Hey all, long time lurker here, first time poster. I'm behind on my sub, had to take a break from it for a year due to reasons so I'm still around only issue 65-66.

Thing is though about 5 issues are out of stock on Hachette's site and won't be sent to me. Last delivery skipped 66 and 67 straight to 68. Tried contacting them but they just said the books will be sent out when they're back in stock. I doubt they ever will be though, especially this late in series life cycle.

Managed to grab 2 of the books on ebay and FP but the other 3 either go for crazy money or are just plain impossible to find. Has there ever been a situation like this where the books have been out of stock but later reprinted?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 30 April, 2018, 12:06:28 PM
I suspect your best bet will be eBay and Facebook's Craigslist equivalent on mobile (which currently has a lot of people selling off Dredd).

As for 67, if you mean Insurrection and still need that, I have a slightly damaged copy that was subsequently replaced (one page got 'stuck' during printing, now has a fold across it, and would require careful trimming). However, if you want that as a 'just in case', I'm happy to send it to you for postage only.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomontherun94 on 30 April, 2018, 12:43:49 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 30 April, 2018, 12:06:28 PM
I suspect your best bet will be eBay and Facebook's Craigslist equivalent on mobile (which currently has a lot of people selling off Dredd).

As for 67, if you mean Insurrection and still need that, I have a slightly damaged copy that was subsequently replaced (one page got 'stuck' during printing, now has a fold across it, and would require careful trimming). However, if you want that as a 'just in case', I'm happy to send it to you for postage only.
That would be fantastic, thank you so much. If you PM me your PayPal, I'll send you my details. Once again, thank you
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: oddballuk on 30 April, 2018, 01:17:24 PM
Hachette has the listing up for Issue 88 - Crazy Town

(https://hachettepartworks.com/Content/Products/e097d4fa-ee77-4713-babc-9ff3727cdda6.jpg)

Quoten a future metropolis where unemployment is near total, and boredom and despair leads to rampant criminality, many of its citizens struggle with the sheer pointlessness of their existences. To that end, entrepreneurs like the canny Otto Sump are constantly coming up with new gimmicks and crazes to capture both their customers' imaginations and their wallets. Whether it's the ugly boom or the lifestyle choice that is simping, the people of the Big Meg will do anything to escape their humdrum lives...

https://hachettepartworks.com/judge-dredd-the-mega-collection/crazy-town (https://hachettepartworks.com/judge-dredd-the-mega-collection/crazy-town)

Nice to Otto Sump there.

No Cam Kennedy though. I had hoped Kenny Who might make it into this volume.

Also, Pye Parr had commented on the facebook page a while back that Enceladus would make it into the extension but no Rob Williams or Henry Flint on the cover credits for this issue or Issue 90 - War on the Streets which would only leave issue 89 which I'd previously thought to be another Anderson volume including Dead End?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 30 April, 2018, 02:44:23 PM
I finished Lawless this morning and am now gagging to read more. But the price of the Megazine is quite significant when compared to these books, it'll cost me around £36 to buy the back issues needed for Breaking Badrock.

With Rebellion trade 2 out in July, is that book due to include Long-Range War (which I just read) and Breaking Badrock?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 30 April, 2018, 05:29:19 PM
Amazon reckons the page count's 128, and so it seems likely it'd be those two stories.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 30 April, 2018, 06:34:43 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 30 April, 2018, 05:29:19 PM
Amazon reckons the page count's 128, and so it seems likely it'd be those two stories.

Amazon uses 128 page count as a standard. It might be right. It's just as easily wrong. I recently bought 2 Marvel omnibuses that were well over 1000 pages that were listed as 128 pages.

Trust them at your peril.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 30 April, 2018, 08:21:11 PM
Quote from: oddballuk on 30 April, 2018, 01:17:24 PM
Hachette has the listing up for Issue 88 - Crazy Town

(https://hachettepartworks.com/Content/Products/e097d4fa-ee77-4713-babc-9ff3727cdda6.jpg)

Quoten a future metropolis where unemployment is near total, and boredom and despair leads to rampant criminality, many of its citizens struggle with the sheer pointlessness of their existences. To that end, entrepreneurs like the canny Otto Sump are constantly coming up with new gimmicks and crazes to capture both their customers' imaginations and their wallets. Whether it's the ugly boom or the lifestyle choice that is simping, the people of the Big Meg will do anything to escape their humdrum lives...

https://hachettepartworks.com/judge-dredd-the-mega-collection/crazy-town (https://hachettepartworks.com/judge-dredd-the-mega-collection/crazy-town)

Nice to Otto Sump there.

No Cam Kennedy though. I had hoped Kenny Who might make it into this volume.

Also, Pye Parr had commented on the facebook page a while back that Enceladus would make it into the extension but no Rob Williams or Henry Flint on the cover credits for this issue or Issue 90 - War on the Streets which would only leave issue 89 which I'd previously thought to be another Anderson volume including Dead End?

Yay, Otto! I was hoping for Enceladus too, but I think the only slim possibility now is the final Anderson volume. Either way, the last two Dredd-centric volumes look as if they'll round off the collection with some classics.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 30 April, 2018, 09:58:16 PM
Crazy town looks great. Thanks for sharing! :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 30 April, 2018, 10:08:40 PM
Okay, finished Aftermath last night, and that was a damned satisfying volume.  To put it nicely, Mega City One really is up the crapper and I get the distinct feeling that it's never going to be the same.  If anything the population will continue to fall as the judicial system is undermanned, and the citi-def that at one time would have been an auxiliary force is more likely to turn on the Judges.

Then you've got opportunists from abroad with scores to settle, whether it's Banana City, the Sov Block or whatever.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: oddballuk on 02 May, 2018, 12:53:04 PM
So the Facebook has announced the next two volumes officially now.

Crazy Town that we've seen and the other volume is the Judge Anderson: Dead End volume previously mentioned.

Perhaps Enceladus will make it's way into one of the Ultimate Collection Dredd books.

(https://scontent-amt2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/31603757_2051189728472158_9221205917343678464_n.png?_nc_cat=0&_nc_eui2=v1%3AAeHxmyWun_kX5fMhBndd2gaPueNhCYfxb2ScftpSzomnByqFsAtTEXr6yhpfEelyg71gQYPAbm7DaTFiKwRoQLezy_WrfcYSFZ2H9ywHinfbYw&oh=5c650fe01560a2521d33d3648e08f573&oe=5B51495D)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 02 May, 2018, 12:55:15 PM
Is there any indication what's in War on the Streets?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: oddballuk on 02 May, 2018, 12:58:05 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 02 May, 2018, 12:55:15 PM
Is there any indication what's in War on the Streets?

This is the cover Pye Parr posted on Twitter a while back.  He'd declared it now gone to print.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DYQPoyUW0AI4iSC.jpg)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jim_Campbell on 02 May, 2018, 01:17:20 PM
Quote from: oddballuk on 02 May, 2018, 12:58:05 PM
This is the cover Pye Parr posted on Twitter a while back.  He'd declared it now gone to print.

Ah, that fine artist CARLOS E2QUEAAA... :-)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 02 May, 2018, 05:08:21 PM
Good news everyone! Judge Dredd: The Art Of Kenny Who is going into the 2000AD Collection! (https://forbiddenplanet.com/230855-2000ad-ultimate-collection-issue-22-judge-dredd-the-art-of-kenny-who/)

(https://dyn0.media.forbiddenplanet.com/products/744c70bc27e1846cf56eabe7b1a6ffafd16148db.jpg.size-600_maxheight-600_square-true.jpg)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: oddballuk on 02 May, 2018, 09:53:38 PM
Quote from: Tomwe on 02 May, 2018, 05:08:21 PM
Good news everyone! Judge Dredd: The Art Of Kenny Who is going into the 2000AD Collection! (https://forbiddenplanet.com/230855-2000ad-ultimate-collection-issue-22-judge-dredd-the-art-of-kenny-who/)

(https://dyn0.media.forbiddenplanet.com/products/744c70bc27e1846cf56eabe7b1a6ffafd16148db.jpg.size-600_maxheight-600_square-true.jpg)

Excellent news!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Magnetica on 02 May, 2018, 10:01:12 PM
Quote from: Jade Falcon on 30 April, 2018, 10:08:40 PM
Okay, finished Aftermath last night, and that was a damned satisfying volume.  To put it nicely, Mega City One really is up the crapper and I get the distinct feeling that it's never going to be the same.  If anything the population will continue to fall as the judicial system is undermanned, and the citi-def that at one time would have been an auxiliary force is more likely to turn on the Judges.

Then you've got opportunists from abroad with scores to settle, whether it's Banana City, the Sov Block or whatever.

If you read the Dredd synopsis in the Nerve Centre you will see the population figure has slowly been creeping up. And apart from stories like those in Aftermath, Day of Chaos has been largely ignored really.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 03 May, 2018, 09:07:39 AM
100 million now. That's... some rapid repopulation.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: AlexF on 03 May, 2018, 10:02:16 AM
Gotta imagine infant mortality in MC1 is functionally zero. Plus, with cloning technology and repopulating Cursed Earth mutants, you could bring the numbers up pretty fast if you need to.
Made up science is awesome!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jim_Campbell on 03 May, 2018, 10:14:23 AM
Quote from: AlexF on 03 May, 2018, 10:02:16 AM
Gotta imagine infant mortality in MC1 is functionally zero.

Plus a high upper boundary on 'natural causes' mortality, with ages of 100+ being commonplace.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 03 May, 2018, 03:43:46 PM
Quote from: AlexF on 03 May, 2018, 10:02:16 AMGotta imagine infant mortality in MC1 is functionally zero.
Although the population remained broadly static during huge chucks of the run regardless. I suppose you could argue the city's changing certain aspects of how it functions (no more offing people when they hit a certain age; judges being more likely to incarcerate than shoot to kill).

My take is they perhaps feel they cut things back too much. That initial 50 million was a bit: WHAT? When you've a place with the population of England in a city several times England's size, MC1 would be very odd indeed.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Monarch on 03 May, 2018, 03:47:42 PM
thank god kenny who made it into the ultimate collection
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Arkady on 03 May, 2018, 04:02:04 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 03 May, 2018, 03:43:46 PM
Quote from: AlexF on 03 May, 2018, 10:02:16 AMGotta imagine infant mortality in MC1 is functionally zero.
Although the population remained broadly static during huge chucks of the run regardless. I suppose you could argue the city's changing certain aspects of how it functions (no more offing people when they hit a certain age; judges being more likely to incarcerate than shoot to kill).

My take is they perhaps feel they cut things back too much. That initial 50 million was a bit: WHAT? When you've a place with the population of England in a city several times England's size, MC1 would be very odd indeed.

A few things don't make much sense. Only 4/10 of the judges were killed, but 7/8ths of the populace were killed. So there should be a much higher judge:citizen ratio than before, but that's never been reflected. Day of Chaos should also have freed up vast amounts of housing stock, even allowing for physical damage. They could have done some interesting things with that - the end of overcrowding, demolition of substandard blocks to raise living conditions and so on. And with the city mostly automated, a massive population die-off should mean that they have a vast production surplus; instead the city has been depicted as starving and short of resources - when the post-Chaos context is referred to at all. 

Some of this could be put down to the judges being good on security but crap at administration, but that would be an interesting story in itself. As much as I've loved some of the post-Chaos stories, I can't help but feel that there's been a massive missed opportunity.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Grumpy Andrew on 04 May, 2018, 01:30:51 PM
It's almost as if no real planning went into anything post DOC.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 04 May, 2018, 02:38:36 PM
Quote from: Grumpy Andrew on 04 May, 2018, 01:30:51 PM
It's almost as if no real planning went into anything post DOC.

See this is what I love about Dredd, how it so effectively satirises current political trends.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 04 May, 2018, 05:18:24 PM
I really love Trifecta and Every empire falls, but there's been a couple of "group trying to take the city from the judges" stories which I wish could'v had a bit more to go on than the usual 2-3 eps and then getting shut down by the judges.

Some threat which is given some time and grows into something the judges then pervert. Like they did with the democracy movement. Doesn't even need to be a direct threat.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Arkady on 04 May, 2018, 05:29:10 PM
I'd like to see some actual contemporary issues being satirised. Cosmopolitanism vs nationalism. Perpetual growth vs environmentalism. Failed economic models vs new thinking. There's so much they could do, and post-Day of Chaos gives them lots of space to do it. They do have their eye on the ball with the Trump stuff though.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 05 May, 2018, 05:33:32 PM
Maybe Enceladus will be in the third Dredd volume of the Ultimate Collection with Dark Justice.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 10 May, 2018, 12:26:22 AM
Right, Ive picked up, but still to read Lawless.

Are we sure that Issue 90 is the last one, because the spine Image makes it look otherwise.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 10 May, 2018, 12:39:59 AM
Yep, it's done at 90. And Lawless is superb.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Arkady on 13 May, 2018, 06:28:33 PM
Quote from: Jade Falcon on 10 May, 2018, 12:26:22 AM

Are we sure that Issue 90 is the last one, because the spine Image makes it look otherwise.

The sketchbook that was sent to Ultimate Collection subscribers shows the full sketch of the extension art, which was evidently designed so that the full image would accomodate 100 issues. I wonder what the shortlist was for the absent final ten.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Leigh S on 13 May, 2018, 06:38:07 PM
Quote from: Apestrife on 04 May, 2018, 05:18:24 PM
I really love Trifecta and Every empire falls, but there's been a couple of "group trying to take the city from the judges" stories which I wish could'v had a bit more to go on than the usual 2-3 eps and then getting shut down by the judges.

Some threat which is given some time and grows into something the judges then pervert. Like they did with the democracy movement. Doesn't even need to be a direct threat.

I felt they missed a trick by ending "Every Empire" so neatly- having MC1 uncover teh invasion by stealth early enough t stop it, but not having the power to retaliate would ahve been a much more powerful ending, leaving Texas City as a looming threat on the doorstep
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 13 May, 2018, 07:38:05 PM
Quote from: Leigh S on 13 May, 2018, 06:38:07 PM
Quote from: Apestrife on 04 May, 2018, 05:18:24 PM
I really love Trifecta and Every empire falls, but there's been a couple of "group trying to take the city from the judges" stories which I wish could'v had a bit more to go on than the usual 2-3 eps and then getting shut down by the judges.

Some threat which is given some time and grows into something the judges then pervert. Like they did with the democracy movement. Doesn't even need to be a direct threat.

I felt they missed a trick by ending "Every Empire" so neatly- having MC1 uncover teh invasion by stealth early enough t stop it, but not having the power to retaliate would ahve been a much more powerful ending, leaving Texas City as a looming threat on the doorstep

While I enjoyed it's action movie rout ([spoiler]teleporting a baddie alá KABOOM[/spoiler]), that would'v been really cool. Would follow the tune of DoC and Dark Justice in a "good" way  :)

Also adding to the talk Barb and Joe has [spoiler]about the MC1 cits probably being too starved to ignite anything. [/spoiler].

When to think of it. [spoiler]Feeding MC1 cits. What if that had consequences
for tex cits? Could'v also been a grim and interesting thing to hint at.[/spoiler]
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 14 May, 2018, 10:55:37 PM
Read Lawless, and I must admit that I was a bit unsure at the beginning.  It quickly became a very appealing storyline.  A tiny niggle was the "So said X character" bit.  It just became, I don't know, not irritating, but redundant.

Artwork was beautiful, nicely detailed.  I'm only disappointed we won't be getting any more in the collection.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 15 May, 2018, 12:29:26 PM
Quote from: Arkady on 13 May, 2018, 06:28:33 PM
Quote from: Jade Falcon on 10 May, 2018, 12:26:22 AM

Are we sure that Issue 90 is the last one, because the spine Image makes it look otherwise.

The sketchbook that was sent to Ultimate Collection subscribers shows the full sketch of the extension art, which was evidently designed so that the full image would accomodate 100 issues. I wonder what the shortlist was for the absent final ten.

Intriguing question, given the quality of material we're seeing in the extension.

If the Tooth collection hadn't happened, would the three Dredd volumes from that have been included here? Maybe other volumes of one artist - Ron Smith, Ian Gibson?

I know we don't know the contents of the final Anderson volume, but are there enough stories to fill another?

Possible others:
Dead Zone
Serial Serial
Hershey solo stories
DeMarco solo stories by Michael Carroll
Enceladus
Error/Question of Judgement
Blood Trails
Blood of Satanus

All academic of course, but fun to speculate.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Arkady on 15 May, 2018, 02:18:01 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 15 May, 2018, 12:29:26 PM
Quote from: Arkady on 13 May, 2018, 06:28:33 PM
Quote from: Jade Falcon on 10 May, 2018, 12:26:22 AM

Are we sure that Issue 90 is the last one, because the spine Image makes it look otherwise.

The sketchbook that was sent to Ultimate Collection subscribers shows the full sketch of the extension art, which was evidently designed so that the full image would accomodate 100 issues. I wonder what the shortlist was for the absent final ten.

Intriguing question, given the quality of material we're seeing in the extension.

If the Tooth collection hadn't happened, would the three Dredd volumes from that have been included here? Maybe other volumes of one artist - Ron Smith, Ian Gibson?

I know we don't know the contents of the final Anderson volume, but are there enough stories to fill another?

Possible others:
Dead Zone
Serial Serial
Hershey solo stories
DeMarco solo stories by Michael Carroll
Enceladus
Error/Question of Judgement
Blood Trails
Blood of Satanus

All academic of course, but fun to speculate.

Book of the Dead!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 15 May, 2018, 03:55:53 PM
That's already in the collection, depressingly. It's a chunk of Beyond Mega-City One (vol. 56).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Arkady on 15 May, 2018, 04:00:27 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 15 May, 2018, 03:55:53 PM
That's already in the collection, depressingly. It's a chunk of Beyond Mega-City One (vol. 56).

Ha, no way. It was my first Dredd story, and the art is awesome, so I'm more forgiving than most.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 15 May, 2018, 07:19:34 PM
I'd love to have seen the Cullen Hershey collected & it's really annoying that return of the king & Kenny Who are in the Ultimate Collection. Overall it's been a great series.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 16 May, 2018, 06:59:33 AM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 15 May, 2018, 07:19:34 PM
I'd love to have seen the Cullen Hershey collected & it's really annoying that return of the king & Kenny Who are in the Ultimate Collection. Overall it's been a great series.

Least the wait wasnt that long. Hope Dark justice follows suit. Really curious about that one.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Super Mario on 17 May, 2018, 08:51:57 PM
DoC Fallout was really good. But Bender, Paris and MC2 all seemed to be setting things up that have never really paid off.

But those post DoC when taken together sell the post disaster vibe a lot better than I remember them doing at the time.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 18 May, 2018, 12:07:55 AM
This is true. There were a lot of stories dealing with the short-medium term aftermath of DoC, more I suspect than any previous epic, even Apocalypse War. Despite this, I feel very few have really addressed what it might mean to a city to lose such a massive majority of its inhabitants in a matter of days.

MC-2 is the most interesting take since Supersurf 13, and I really want(ed) to see Bender develop further: great character.  Paris I can take or leave.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 18 May, 2018, 12:57:34 PM
Lawless is brilliant, great characters and story, with incredibly detailed art from Phil Winslade. A cracking volume to round off the collection with.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 18 May, 2018, 03:31:17 PM
War on the streets will collect the following:

[spoiler]Block War
The Body Sharks
The Perp Runners
The Umpty Baggers
The Blitz Agencies
The Psycos
The Numbers Racket
The Stookie Glanders
Mob Wars
The Executioner
The Graveyard Shift
Rumble in the Jungle
The Wreckers
West Side Rumble
A Day at the Block Wars[/spoiler]

I dont recognise all of them. But sounds promising! Love Graveyard shift.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Steve Green on 18 May, 2018, 04:48:08 PM
All solid stuff there.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 18 May, 2018, 06:33:49 PM
Graveyard shift, excellent news.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jim_Campbell on 18 May, 2018, 06:38:21 PM
Quote from: Apestrife on 18 May, 2018, 03:31:17 PM
I dont recognise all of them. But sounds promising! Love Graveyard shift.

That, right there, is a rock solid slab of premium Dredd.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: TordelBack on 18 May, 2018, 07:51:08 PM
The actual Best of Dredd under hardcover. WANT.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 19 May, 2018, 12:13:16 PM
Penultimate 2 arrived this morning.
Just one to go.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 19 May, 2018, 12:50:19 PM
Same here, along with the elusive covers volume for the UC.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moogie101 on 19 May, 2018, 02:57:40 PM
Quote from: Apestrife on 18 May, 2018, 03:31:17 PM
War on the streets will collect the following:

[spoiler]Block War
The Body Sharks
The Perp Runners
The Umpty Baggers
The Blitz Agencies
The Psycos
The Numbers Racket
The Stookie Glanders
Mob Wars
The Executioner
The Graveyard Shift
Rumble in the Jungle
The Wreckers
West Side Rumble
A Day at the Block Wars[/spoiler]

I dont recognise all of them. But sounds promising! Love Graveyard shift.

That is an amazing collection, the last ten have been great
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 19 May, 2018, 03:32:31 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 19 May, 2018, 12:50:19 PM
Same here, along with the elusive covers volume for the UC.

Me too, under separate cover, as they forgot to include it with my UC volumes. Pretty quick though. Only complained on Monday. A rare thumbs up for Hachette.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: djbawbag on 19 May, 2018, 04:16:12 PM
Has the first Uncle Ump story appeared anywhere in the collection?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 19 May, 2018, 09:34:13 PM
My only complaint recently has been that there will be no more Lawless in this collection.  I thoroughly enjoyed that, it was completely and totally different.  The artwork initially seemed a little 'busy', but once you got used to it, it was gorgeous and highly detailed.

The amount of work that went into it was really something.  Often in my posts I'll comment on the artwork and it might be a secondary thing to some people but good artwork to me really is one of the primary things that makes a story.  It's why I enjoy old stories like Trigan Empire or the original Dan Dare.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 19 May, 2018, 10:08:21 PM
Quote from: djbawbag on 19 May, 2018, 04:16:12 PM
Has the first Uncle Ump story appeared anywhere in the collection?

Not so far, unless it's in Crazy Town - any subscribers care to enlighten?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Magnetica on 20 May, 2018, 07:50:44 AM
I hadn't been planning on getting anymore Mega Collection volumes, but I'm going to have to get War on the Streets. There are some all time classics there.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: paulbyrnewex on 20 May, 2018, 10:59:24 AM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 19 May, 2018, 10:08:21 PM
Quote from: djbawbag on 19 May, 2018, 04:16:12 PM
Has the first Uncle Ump story appeared anywhere in the collection?

Not so far, unless it's in Crazy Town - any subscribers care to enlighten?

Uncle Ump's Umpty Candy (Prog 145) is in 88 Crazy Town
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: djbawbag on 20 May, 2018, 11:54:08 AM
Otto Sump and Uncle Ump! Sounds like another nice collection.
Have you got the full contents?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 20 May, 2018, 12:53:47 PM
QuoteIssue 88/Volume 84
Crazy Town

131-132 Sob Story
136 Palais de Boing
145 Uncle Ump's Umpty Candy
148 Alien Seeds
183 The Aggro Dome
186-188 Otto Sump's Ugly Clinic
280 Gunge
290 Blobs
356-358 Citizen Snork
413 Spugbug
436 Get Smart
447 The Ugly Mug Ball
480 Russell's Inflatable Muscles
527 Simp
574 Simp About the House
1070 Bum Rap
1119-1120 Simp City
1267 Couch Potatoes
1634 Born to Zoosh
1635-1636 The Performer
1726-1729 Persistent Vegetative State
4.12-4.13 Citizen Sump
Annual 1985 Arms Buying Almanac
Courtesy of Pinwig on the Transformers fan forum Transmasters (http://tmukhub.proboards.com/thread/4599/2000-ad?page=64)
Also:
QuoteIssue 89/ Volume 89
Psi Judge Anderson: Dead End

1102-1103 Psi-Judge Anderson - Lawless
2011 Cadet Anderson - Big Girls Don't Cry
1734-1739 Cadet Anderson - Teenage Kyx
1780-1785 Cadet Anderson - Algol
1833-1839 Cadet Anderson - One in Ten

332 Psi-Judge Anderson - The Pits
343-349 Psi-Judge Anderson - Dead End
359-360 Psi-Judge Anderson - Mutineers[\quote]
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 20 May, 2018, 03:28:39 PM
Cool, some classic stories in the last two Dredd volumes. The Anderson stuff is all new to me so looking forward to that too.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 20 May, 2018, 06:06:34 PM
As with the war on the streets volume, I dont remember/recognize all of it, but the eps I do —Damn if I dont look forward to Crazy town :D

For the collection as whole. Only stories -for me- missing is the dave the orangutang-ep, bloc judge and dark justice + last of Maybe. Really happy with it :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: EDazzling on 21 May, 2018, 09:56:24 AM
If anybody's looking for some gap fillers I've got a a full third of the collection up on eBay, ending soonish

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=&_ssn=silas_hand&_sop=1 (https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=&_ssn=silas_hand&_sop=1)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 24 May, 2018, 09:17:15 AM
Started reading the Otto Sump book - kills me that this stuff was not included in the original 80. It's pure gold.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 24 May, 2018, 12:28:52 PM
With the contents of the final Anderson volume, the collection looks to have compiled a comprehensive set of her stories up to the most recent ones, with the exception of a number drawn by Steve Sampson. Anyone know whether there are rights or continuity reasons for this?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jim_Campbell on 24 May, 2018, 01:02:05 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 24 May, 2018, 12:28:52 PM
Anyone know whether there are rights or continuity reasons for this?

Could it be because they're terrible?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Amstor Computer on 24 May, 2018, 02:04:59 PM
Quote from: Jim_Campbell on 24 May, 2018, 01:02:05 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 24 May, 2018, 12:28:52 PM
Anyone know whether there are rights or continuity reasons for this?

Could it be because they're terrible?


That, or the current owners of the Loaded photo library are worryingly litigious?  ;)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: James Stacey on 24 May, 2018, 03:18:03 PM
both are probably correct.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 24 May, 2018, 07:42:31 PM
There was one of the stories in my Crazy Town book seemed to be very heavy on the reproduction.  I can't remember which one off-hand, but did anyone else get that?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 27 May, 2018, 01:08:23 PM
Quote from: Jade Falcon on 24 May, 2018, 07:42:31 PM
There was one of the stories in my Crazy Town book seemed to be very heavy on the reproduction.  I can't remember which one off-hand, but did anyone else get that?

Spugbug in my copy was like that, I guess it depends on what there is available to work with. Bum Rap didn't hit the rhythm that I normally find with Dredd stories, but these two niggles aside, Crazy Town is a great read, some classic stories and some that were new to me, a standout being the couch potato idea. And great to see all of Otto Sump's arc throughout the volume, I may even have had a little sob of my own at the end. Bravo.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tombo on 28 May, 2018, 12:40:38 PM
The repo for Spugbug in the Case Files is terrible, you can hardly read the opening spread.  The version in the Mega Collection isn't the best but it's a lot better than the CF.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomontherun94 on 01 June, 2018, 03:59:34 PM
So now we're nearing the end of the collection, anyone planning a full re-read of every volume in book order? I'm trying to do a book a day, just finish Vol 5 Necropolis. Reading the series like this is kinda strange as the first 5 volumes bounce around from era to era.

Each individual volume works very well on its own but going from the referendum storyline,  jumping forward to the Total War bombings, then back to the Dead Man, post Necropolis and then onto Necropolis is a quite a ride.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomontherun94 on 01 June, 2018, 04:02:48 PM
Also, any recommendations for the Rebellion Dredd books to pick up that covers anything major TMC missed? Might grab Titan for the Enceladus chapters.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 02 June, 2018, 08:11:09 AM
Quote from: Tomontherun94 on 01 June, 2018, 03:59:34 PM
So now we're nearing the end of the collection, anyone planning a full re-read of every volume in book order?

All my volumes, bar 1, the first 1, are unopened.
I'm one of these odd people that won't start reading a collection until I have them all.
So not long to wait now and then I can gorge!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 02 June, 2018, 10:16:36 AM
Quote from: Tomontherun94 on 01 June, 2018, 03:59:34 PM
So now we're nearing the end of the collection, anyone planning a full re-read of every volume in book order? I'm trying to do a book a day, just finish Vol 5 Necropolis. Reading the series like this is kinda strange as the first 5 volumes bounce around from era to era.

Each individual volume works very well on its own but going from the referendum storyline,  jumping forward to the Total War bombings, then back to the Dead Man, post Necropolis and then onto Necropolis is a quite a ride.

Been rereading them for a while. On 31 Oz now. As you say, there's a fair bit of jumping around. Don't mind it, since I think some of the volumes work really well as such (even if at the expense of other volume). But I'm pretty sure after reading all them, I'll pick out the ones I like the most and rearrange the order of them into more of a read order of sorts. For me shelf space > cool looking spine image  :)

Quote from: Tomontherun94 on 01 June, 2018, 04:02:48 PM
Also, any recommendations for the Rebellion Dredd books to pick up that covers anything major TMC missed? Might grab Titan for the Enceladus chapters.

Titan is easy to recommend. Also Dark Justice and The fall of Deadworld.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: paulbyrnewex on 02 June, 2018, 02:57:03 PM
Due to various things I missed Issue 84 Blood of Emeralds in my local newsagents. Does anyone know if i purchase it from the Hachette shop will it come with the reprint issue aswell ? 
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 02 June, 2018, 06:56:42 PM
Quote from: Apestrife on 02 June, 2018, 10:16:36 AM
Quote

Titan is easy to recommend. Also Dark Justice and The fall of Deadworld.

It's worth bearing in mind that the latter two will be in the third and final volume of Dredd in the 2000ad collection in about a year's time.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Magnetica on 02 June, 2018, 10:17:52 PM
Quote from: Mattofthespurs on 02 June, 2018, 08:11:09 AM
Quote from: Tomontherun94 on 01 June, 2018, 03:59:34 PM
So now we're nearing the end of the collection, anyone planning a full re-read of every volume in book order?

All my volumes, bar 1, the first 1, are unopened.
I'm one of these odd people that won't start reading a collection until I have them all.
So not long to wait now and then I can gorge!

Are you going to read them in publication order or volume number order?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 03 June, 2018, 07:16:34 AM
Quote from: Magnetica on 02 June, 2018, 10:17:52 PM
Quote from: Mattofthespurs on 02 June, 2018, 08:11:09 AM
Quote from: Tomontherun94 on 01 June, 2018, 03:59:34 PM
So now we're nearing the end of the collection, anyone planning a full re-read of every volume in book order?

All my volumes, bar 1, the first 1, are unopened.
I'm one of these odd people that won't start reading a collection until I have them all.
So not long to wait now and then I can gorge!

Are you going to read them in publication order or volume number order?

Volume number order.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 03 June, 2018, 08:17:17 AM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 02 June, 2018, 06:56:42 PM
Quote from: Apestrife on 02 June, 2018, 10:16:36 AM
Quote

Titan is easy to recommend. Also Dark Justice and The fall of Deadworld.

It's worth bearing in mind that the latter two will be in the third and final volume of Dredd in the 2000ad collection in about a year's time.

Good that you mention it. I forgot.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 06 June, 2018, 06:40:33 PM
In the penultimate issue of the Dredd Mega Collection, obtained from my local Thrill-merchant today, there's a flyer for the Tooth collection saying there'll be a free copy of The Horned God with issue 90 of Dredd - clearly a ploy to ensnare new subscribers, but it looks like the subs department need to get their act together first.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 06 June, 2018, 06:51:03 PM
I can imagine people trying to subscribe and being told they can't.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Cosier on 06 June, 2018, 10:19:00 PM
I believe that it's possible to start a subscription at any time. You'll just be 20 issues behind people who subscribed at the beginning of the collection.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomontherun94 on 07 June, 2018, 12:21:49 AM
Quote from: Cosier on 06 June, 2018, 10:19:00 PM
I believe that it's possible to start a subscription at any time. You'll just be 20 issues behind people who subscribed at the beginning of the collection.
Yeah, I subscribed to Dredd about 30 issues behind, which did lead to problems getting hold of out of stock issues. Eventually cancelled the sub, got the issues I was missing and have just been getting the final few as they came out.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 07 June, 2018, 11:50:31 PM
Loved Anderson:Dead End, the arc throughout was great, with some stunning art. I didn't enjoy Mutineers as much, but maybe that's because when one writer has made such an indelible impact on a character it's a hard act to follow.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 08 June, 2018, 10:31:31 PM
I loved Dead End, but also wasn't fond of Mutineers.  Perhaps it was the jumping back and forth timewise, but otherwise a solid book.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 16 June, 2018, 10:22:16 AM
So the last volume has arrived (along with another copy of 2000 AD Ultimate Collection The Horned God which makes 4 copies I have now).

Nice to see it complete. I can now start reading  :D
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Anthony Garnon on 16 June, 2018, 10:49:10 AM
How are you feeling completing the run?

Personally I'll be more than a little sad next week when I pick vol 90 up!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 16 June, 2018, 01:16:58 PM
I'm glad it's done. The books were mostly good, although I could have done without perhaps ten of the run. Still in two minds about whether I should have carried on with the standard trades, but I much prefer HB over SB, and these were bargains for that. Still, would it have killed them to put story titles somewhere on the spine?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Richard on 16 June, 2018, 04:03:03 PM
Well the spine artwork forming one big picture was one of the selling points, and more text would mess that up.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 16 June, 2018, 07:53:17 PM
Maybe. But some kind of clever design work could have got us something. (Even more so on the 2000 AD collection – stick a little thumbnail at the top, like on the Marvel books.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 16 June, 2018, 08:03:57 PM
Delighted to have it. Glad it's done.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 16 June, 2018, 09:45:34 PM
Well done to everyone who made it to the finish. I've really enjoyed it especially the design, endpapers & text-pieces
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: glassstanley on 17 June, 2018, 12:28:07 AM
Nice to have some of the Dredd-World strips collected - especially Armitage.

Agree about the title's needed on the spines, especially as I'm likely to pass on some of the more reprinted books so the spine image won't work anyway.

Can't honestly say I've thought about the endpapers😀
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 17 June, 2018, 12:57:20 AM
In a way, sad to see it end, especially as the extension volumes were so strong, but equally, a bit less from my wallet.  I haven't been quite as enthused about some of the 2000AD collection, it's hit and miss, but then again so were some picks for Dredd.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Cookyman on 17 June, 2018, 10:33:59 AM
Mixed feelings about it ending but looks great in my bookcase.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 17 June, 2018, 06:00:58 PM
Still two books left. Looks great on the bookshelf. Going to miss it, getting two books each month  :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 17 June, 2018, 06:56:40 PM
I'm going to miss reading a fortnightly dose of Dreddworld stories, but looking forward to have a bit more time to read some other stuff. Going to give Dredd a bit of a rest after the final issue before planning a re-read.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 17 June, 2018, 07:23:22 PM
One partwork I would have liked to have seen, since we're seeing 2000AD, Dredd, and there's Star Trek, DC and Marvel ones out there as well as Batman was a Star Wars one.  I've only got a few graphic novels like The Emperors Hand and a few others, but I imagine that won't be happening.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 17 June, 2018, 09:18:54 PM
A Star Wars one has been selling for a couple of years in Spain and France.

We may yet see it.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tinmachine on 18 June, 2018, 01:51:38 PM
79 is due out this week. In two minds about continuing for issues 81 through 90.

Still waiting upon issues 73 and 75. They were skipped! Not sure if it was to encourage Australians to keep buying the series up to issue 90.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 18 June, 2018, 03:44:57 PM
81–90 was, on average, of a much higher quality than any other ten-book run in the collection.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Davgardo on 20 June, 2018, 11:23:43 AM
81-90 have been a delight and when the final volume dropped through the door I did feel a pang of sorrow that this was finishing. Personally. I'd have liked it to have finished at 100 - a much more satisfying number than 90.

My only criticism of the the collection is an old one but its worth repeating: the publication of Dreddverse strips whose quality was just not good enough and the extension has proven that it was at the expense of a huge body of work of a far higher quality.
Lowlife, Simping, Insurrection, Anderson, Devlin, Creep, Young Death, Lenny Zero, Hondo, Shimura, Missionary Man, Armitage, Koburn: yes all great, happy that they're there.
Harmony, Calhab, Red Razors, Pan African, Sleeze n Ryder, Heavy Metal, Brit Cit Brute: complete and utter drek. When the editorial is telling you its rubbish you do wonder about the logic behind reprinting it and you can't help regretting parting with £10 for it.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Fungus on 20 June, 2018, 12:23:51 PM
I haven't got any of the dodgier volumes because... why?!
Glad to hear the editorial content is honest, that would actually be interesting to read.
When you've a captive audience of subscribers, the logic isn't so surprising. In this case, it's not just Rebellion but presumably choices by committee.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 20 June, 2018, 02:56:37 PM
I thought the same. When the intro and interviews are both effectively saying something is crap, the reasoning for including it would need to be pretty watertight. You can fairly easily justify the likes of Inferno, on the basis it's an epic, Dredd, and Morrison. But Brit Cit Brute? Red Razors? All the crap in Heavy Mob?

Still, it's interesting to see Davgardo's list, in the sense that it showcases how opinions differ. Creep was a surprise – I hated it at the time, but rather enjoyed the re-read. But Missionary Man was so often a trudge, and Shimura was often incomprehensible. But I actually quite liked Pan Africa and some of Harmony. That said, I wouldn't have been upset had the collection ignored all of those.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 20 June, 2018, 10:30:18 PM
As promised, here's a link to my index for the whole collection, duff issues and all. There are bound to be some errors, feel free to correct, share and use as you see fit.

[url]https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1QLPkkRSGHDOnlci50ppBWWZk6P3Pg3JONmF0v_gD7Mo/edit?usp=sharing/[url]
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 20 June, 2018, 10:39:16 PM
Hmm, try again.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vSWNqdbJdCRkskQzjK4Aw8Gy5oISq1gFlW3Wc7DzVdhus6ZQ0GrTmTJunpmnkeEG6_YDdw7di03EsrU/pubhtml
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: dweezil2 on 20 June, 2018, 10:54:00 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 20 June, 2018, 10:39:16 PM
Hmm, try again.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vSWNqdbJdCRkskQzjK4Aw8Gy5oISq1gFlW3Wc7DzVdhus6ZQ0GrTmTJunpmnkeEG6_YDdw7di03EsrU/pubhtml


Very useful, cheers!  :) :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 21 June, 2018, 02:40:57 AM
Only read part way through War on the Streets and I'm not at all happy. Not with the stories which are great but the reproduction is lousy. Too dark and a lot of text is virtually unreadable. I wonder if it's possible to get a proper replacement from Hachette.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 21 June, 2018, 02:31:32 PM
I'm guessing it's the original scans that are bad, since all the more recent colour material looks fine.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 21 June, 2018, 11:16:33 PM
So you mean that's the only scans there are, or thats the only ones Hachette has access too?

If that's the case I'd rather a different books with good stories if we couldn't have got decent quality text.  One or two stories, acceptable, but not the vast majority of the book.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 22 June, 2018, 10:08:54 AM
Recently finished reading through all of them (sans Dead end and War on the streets), and all and all I'm quite pleased with the collection. Approximately 35 of the books being "not my favorite", 20 "Good!" and 35 "Fantastic/classic".

The last book I read (as of now) was Lawless. For some reason I managed to miss it in the MEG. Really liked it. Especially the art. While I'm not too sold on the "who is she really?" mystery, luckily it never felt like it became much of a focus of the story. I could safely focus on the bang bang, marshal Lawson stuff.

As for the collection as whole. I'm most pleased how the extension of Tour of duty and Day of chaos (with aftermath) turned out, especially in conjunction with Blood of the emeralds. Also really liked collections like Crazy town and Mad city. They're as funny as sad. Funny the extremes cits will go to escape the boredom, and said boredom being sad when you realize how hopeless alot of it is for people in mc1. I think collections like Fast food also managed to channel this. It's through hilarious tragedies like these MC1 comes to life for me :)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 25 June, 2018, 09:30:37 PM
So that was that. Really pleased that The Graveyard Shift made it into the collection, it's a stone-cold classic. And the rest of War on the Streets ain't too shabby either.

So if some of the lower quality stuff in the collection could have been ditched, what should have taken its place? For me, the following should have been included:

Blood of Satanus
Pirates of the Black Atlantic
Question/Error of Judgement/A Case for Treatment
In the Bath

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 25 June, 2018, 10:39:19 PM
Any chance Pirates of the Black Atlantic will be in the 2000AD collection?  Really, compared to some of the tripe that made it in, it's a crime it wasn't in, especially as a prequel to Block War and Apocalypse War.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 26 June, 2018, 08:20:13 AM
Quote from: Jade Falcon on 25 June, 2018, 10:39:19 PM
Any chance Pirates of the Black Atlantic will be in the 2000AD collection?  Really, compared to some of the tripe that made it in, it's a crime it wasn't in, especially as a prequel to Block War and Apocalypse War.

Don't think this is likely unless there's an extension, as the third and final Dredd-themed volume will contain Dark Justice and Dreams/Fall of Deadworld.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 26 June, 2018, 09:10:06 AM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 26 June, 2018, 08:20:13 AM
Quote from: Jade Falcon on 25 June, 2018, 10:39:19 PM
Any chance Pirates of the Black Atlantic will be in the 2000AD collection?  Really, compared to some of the tripe that made it in, it's a crime it wasn't in, especially as a prequel to Block War and Apocalypse War.

Don't think this is likely unless there's an extension, as the third and final Dredd-themed volume will contain Dark Justice and Dreams/Fall of Deadworld.

I wonder if there would be any value in a Ron Smith spotlight collection, along the lines of Kenny Who & Return Of The King. Have all his other signature works already appeared?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 26 June, 2018, 10:09:44 AM
Interesting question on the FB group as to whether currently out of stock books will ever be reprinted. A positive answer (https://www.facebook.com/judgedreddcollection/posts/2082829158641548?comment_id=2084764525114678&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R%22%7D) for anyone who fell off:
QuoteThe issues that are now showing as out of stock, will be available we are still waiting for new stock as soon as we have stock it will be advertised.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 26 June, 2018, 10:24:07 AM
Here's hoping for those that need them, but then this is a company that quite often makes promises and doesn't follow through, so I'd suggest taking that with a pinch of salt. (They do need to be careful with the 2000 AD collection though – it'd not going to go down well if people sub from issue 1 after the Dredd collection, only to be told a year down the line that issues are out of print.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 26 June, 2018, 10:37:56 AM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 26 June, 2018, 10:24:07 AM
Here's hoping for those that need them, but then this is a company that quite often makes promises and doesn't follow through, so I'd suggest taking that with a pinch of salt. (They do need to be careful with the 2000 AD collection though – it'd not going to go down well if people sub from issue 1 after the Dredd collection, only to be told a year down the line that issues are out of print.)
In that instance they just send the next books until they become available again don't they? Not the end of the world, although communicating reasons to subscribers tends not to happen.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 26 June, 2018, 11:05:17 AM
"until they become available again"

That's the problem – it depends whether they actually will become available. Perhaps I'm being too negative, but given that they can't even seem to shift basic subscription scheduling with the 2000 AD Collection, I don't put too much faith in them making good on reprinting old issues of various OOP books.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 26 June, 2018, 11:28:18 AM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 26 June, 2018, 11:05:17 AM
given that they can't even seem to shift basic subscription scheduling with the 2000 AD Collection
I may have finally broken them in this respect. Waiting to see what actually turns up next week, will post as I have more information...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tinmachine on 26 June, 2018, 11:42:05 AM
That is interesting news. I may just bite the bullet and buy them Ebay. Basically double the cost but I don't really want to run the risk of them not being reprinted. If the series is still being offered for subscription, I'd assume they'd be reprinted. But who knows?

Thinking of stopping at 80. I like what is to come, but pretty much have it all covered by the collections I have. So it'd be a double dip, that said some of the series was triple dipping, and in some cases (what is the word dipping 4 times?) the fourth (dipping) go around.

Really did enjoy the Judge Dredd Universe editions with material from the Mega Collection. Virtually had read none of it before and in that regard it was a treat. There was a lot of quality stories left out, but I guess that is the way of things in a collection like this.

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Robes on 26 June, 2018, 12:24:03 PM
Did everyone get a free copy of 2000ad ultimate collection issue 1?  Very nice, but I'm already subscribed!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 26 June, 2018, 12:28:42 PM
Yes, I got one. Still, it'll make a nice gift for a friend.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moogie101 on 26 June, 2018, 02:22:32 PM
Quote from: paulbyrnewex on 02 June, 2018, 02:57:03 PM
Due to various things I missed Issue 84 Blood of Emeralds in my local newsagents. Does anyone know if i purchase it from the Hachette shop will it come with the reprint issue aswell ?

No it doesn't. Just had a delivery of the last three books I was missing as never subscribed and 84 was one of them.

Shame the spines don't match up from 80-81 but can't justify spending a tenner to correct their ridiculous mistake.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 26 June, 2018, 03:14:46 PM
Frankly, plenty of the other spines in my collection don't match up anyway – number 5's (Necropolis) is very obviously misaligned.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomontherun94 on 27 June, 2018, 01:03:25 AM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 26 June, 2018, 10:24:07 AM
Here's hoping for those that need them, but then this is a company that quite often makes promises and doesn't follow through, so I'd suggest taking that with a pinch of salt. (They do need to be careful with the 2000 AD collection though – it'd not going to go down well if people sub from issue 1 after the Dredd collection, only to be told a year down the line that issues are out of print.)
They did get some books back in stock. Insurrection and Judge Child were out of stock for ages and were eventually delivered as part of my sub before I cancelled it. Idk what they'll do now though as the series is officially over.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: paulbyrnewex on 27 June, 2018, 11:33:30 AM
Quote from: moogie101 on 26 June, 2018, 02:22:32 PM
Quote from: paulbyrnewex on 02 June, 2018, 02:57:03 PM
Due to various things I missed Issue 84 Blood of Emeralds in my local newsagents. Does anyone know if i purchase it from the Hachette shop will it come with the reprint issue aswell ?

No it doesn't. Just had a delivery of the last three books I was missing as never subscribed and 84 was one of them.

Shame the spines don't match up from 80-81 but can't justify spending a tenner to correct their ridiculous mistake.

I asked on Facebook page and was told "When you place an order for 84 it will automatically be sent with a replacement of issue 44. if it happens that issue 44 is not included you can request a replacement of 44 using your order number."
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moogie101 on 27 June, 2018, 01:43:24 PM
Quote from: paulbyrnewex on 27 June, 2018, 11:33:30 AM
Quote from: moogie101 on 26 June, 2018, 02:22:32 PM
Quote from: paulbyrnewex on 02 June, 2018, 02:57:03 PM
Due to various things I missed Issue 84 Blood of Emeralds in my local newsagents. Does anyone know if i purchase it from the Hachette shop will it come with the reprint issue aswell ?

No it doesn't. Just had a delivery of the last three books I was missing as never subscribed and 84 was one of them.

Shame the spines don't match up from 80-81 but can't justify spending a tenner to correct their ridiculous mistake.

I asked on Facebook page and was told "When you place an order for 84 it will automatically be sent with a replacement of issue 44. if it happens that issue 44 is not included you can request a replacement of 44 using your order number."

Cheers, just sent an email off.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 27 June, 2018, 06:25:45 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 26 June, 2018, 03:14:46 PM
Frankly, plenty of the other spines in my collection don't match up anyway – number 5's (Necropolis) is very obviously misaligned.

I've put 30* of mine in a -sort of- chronological order (For example starting with Robot wars, Cursed earth, Day the law died, Judge Death, Judge Child, Apocalypse war, ending with DoC bks 1-3 and Blood of emeralds). Love to see the faces of friends who's existence hangs on things being in an absolute order muhaha :lol:


*need the shelf space.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: wedgeski on 28 June, 2018, 09:54:25 AM
If, say, I didn't yet have a collected _America_, is there any difference between the 2013 collected edition and the Mega Collection one (apart from the cover)..?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 28 June, 2018, 10:09:35 AM
Quote from: wedgeski on 28 June, 2018, 09:54:25 AM
If, say, I didn't yet have a collected _America_, is there any difference between the 2013 collected edition and the Mega Collection one (apart from the cover)..?

Yes, there's one extra story collected in the Mega Collection book.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 28 June, 2018, 04:22:00 PM
Quote from: wedgeski on 28 June, 2018, 09:54:25 AM
If, say, I didn't yet have a collected _America_, is there any difference between the 2013 collected edition and the Mega Collection one (apart from the cover)..?

It also collects Judgement Call (Beeny after ToD), Blood and Duty (Dredd meets his niece), Firepower (Dredd rams his lawmaster through a perp) and Snowstorm (Dredd vs the illegal trade of sugar).

Nice collection. Both Judgement call and Blood and duty adds a nice touch I think.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: wedgeski on 28 June, 2018, 04:24:56 PM
Thanks both. Seems clear which one to get.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: sheridan on 30 June, 2018, 12:15:50 AM
Quote from: Apestrife on 28 June, 2018, 04:22:00 PM
Quote from: wedgeski on 28 June, 2018, 09:54:25 AM
If, say, I didn't yet have a collected _America_, is there any difference between the 2013 collected edition and the Mega Collection one (apart from the cover)..?

It also collects Judgement Call (Beeny after ToD), Blood and Duty (Dredd meets his niece), Firepower (Dredd rams his lawmaster through a perp) and Snowstorm (Dredd vs the illegal trade of sugar).

Nice collection. Both Judgement call and Blood and duty adds a nice touch I think.

Is Firepower the Garth Ennis / Colin MacNeil one?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 30 June, 2018, 07:52:05 AM
Quote from: sheridan on 30 June, 2018, 12:15:50 AM
Quote from: Apestrife on 28 June, 2018, 04:22:00 PM
Quote from: wedgeski on 28 June, 2018, 09:54:25 AM
If, say, I didn't yet have a collected _America_, is there any difference between the 2013 collected edition and the Mega Collection one (apart from the cover)..?

It also collects Judgement Call (Beeny after ToD), Blood and Duty (Dredd meets his niece), Firepower (Dredd rams his lawmaster through a perp) and Snowstorm (Dredd vs the illegal trade of sugar).

Nice collection. Both Judgement call and Blood and duty adds a nice touch I think.

Is Firepower the Garth Ennis / Colin MacNeil one?

Yes, that's the one. I think it's one of few stories where Dredd can be seen smiling?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 04 July, 2018, 08:00:35 PM
Quote from: Jade Falcon on 21 June, 2018, 02:40:57 AM
Only read part way through War on the Streets and I'm not at all happy. Not with the stories which are great but the reproduction is lousy. Too dark and a lot of text is virtually unreadable. I wonder if it's possible to get a proper replacement from Hachette.


I just finished reading that one. Didn't remember the stories being this bad in the case files. At times I wondered if words were crossed out only to find that the text was there, only very smudgy. Bit of a shame. But overall I really liked the volume, outside repro issues.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 04 July, 2018, 10:39:23 PM
I liked the book, but I'm afraid I'm REALLY not happy about the repro issue.  Some of the text, especially the bolded stuff was damned near unreadable.  I'm considering contacting Hachette about this, it would be the first time I've ever brought it up, but I got my collection through Smith's subscription rather than directly.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Apestrife on 08 July, 2018, 08:22:00 PM
Quote from: Jade Falcon on 04 July, 2018, 10:39:23 PM
I liked the book, but I'm afraid I'm REALLY not happy about the repro issue.  Some of the text, especially the bolded stuff was damned near unreadable.  I'm considering contacting Hachette about this, it would be the first time I've ever brought it up, but I got my collection through Smith's subscription rather than directly.

Did you contact them about this?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: dweezil2 on 14 July, 2018, 02:25:21 PM
Anyone else still waiting for issue 90?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 14 July, 2018, 11:23:38 PM
Quote from: Apestrife on 08 July, 2018, 08:22:00 PM
Quote from: Jade Falcon on 04 July, 2018, 10:39:23 PM
I liked the book, but I'm afraid I'm REALLY not happy about the repro issue.  Some of the text, especially the bolded stuff was damned near unreadable.  I'm considering contacting Hachette about this, it would be the first time I've ever brought it up, but I got my collection through Smith's subscription rather than directly.

Did you contact them about this?

I have, some days ago, no response as yet.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 22 July, 2018, 11:19:19 PM
Still no reply from Hachette about the last of the Mega Collection and its reproduction issues.  Not good at all.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 23 July, 2018, 08:35:13 AM
How did you contact them?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 24 July, 2018, 12:01:33 AM
I contacted them on the Facebook page, but have since contacted them directly through the email link.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Max Headroom on 26 July, 2018, 07:43:52 PM
I'm a little late to the party and am cherry-picking various issues of the Mega Collection. One I am not sure about getting is 'The Apocalypse War' and wanted to ask anyone who owns this version how it compares in terms of repro to the Complete Case Files? Is it substantially better as I distinctly remember 'issues' with the Case Files printing?
Thank you in advance to anyone that can help.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 31 July, 2018, 03:40:15 PM
So that's the 24th of July I emailed them directly. I got an acknowledgement saying they aim to deal with enquiries within 48 hours. As of yet, no further contact.

This is most unsatisfactory. It's the only time I have contacted them and I'm starting to see what other people have been complaining about regarding their customer service, or lack thereof.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 15 August, 2018, 10:23:20 PM
Sorry for the double post and necro, but that's the 15th of August now, and still no reply.  There was an acknowlesdgement of the original mail but there's been no response.  This isn't exactly good customer service.  I think I will get back in contact.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dash Decent on 30 August, 2018, 05:21:36 AM
Hatchette have advised they've lined up a new Aussie distributor (the last one having gone under down under).  Hopefully we'll get our missing vol 73 or 75 or whatever it was soon...!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 30 August, 2018, 09:31:33 PM
And still no damned response, any advice anyone?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moogie101 on 30 August, 2018, 09:37:52 PM
Quote from: Jade Falcon on 30 August, 2018, 09:31:33 PM
And still no damned response, any advice anyone?

I'm in a similar position, keep getting promised they'll send me out a copy of the reprinted 44 so the spines match up but still nothing.

Love the books but the customer service is terrible
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dash Decent on 01 September, 2018, 03:19:43 AM
I wonder if they'll try and go on to offer the 2000AD collection in Australia or just drop it.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Max Headroom on 13 September, 2018, 11:43:20 AM
Please can someone post the phone number for Hachette  so that I can order some back issues directly from them? Thank you.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 13 September, 2018, 12:58:00 PM
Quote from: Max Headroom on 13 September, 2018, 11:43:20 AM
Please can someone post the phone number for Hachette  so that I can order some back issues directly from them? Thank you.
My original JDMC sub email says it's: 0333 300 1510 / ROI 0333 300 1511
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Bolt-01 on 13 September, 2018, 01:55:31 PM
MaxHeadroom- why not order the volumes from the Hachette webshop?

Hachette shop (https://hachettepartworks.com/judge-dredd-the-mega-collection)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 13 September, 2018, 03:51:35 PM
Never ring Hachette. Ever.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: dweezil2 on 13 September, 2018, 04:04:03 PM
Quote from: robert_ellis on 13 September, 2018, 03:51:35 PM
Never ring Hachette. Ever.

Just for balance, I must say that the person who dealt with my query, a duplicated book in an order, was very helpful and dealt with my issue successfully, with the correct volume being sent out very shortly.

Maybe I was one of the lucky ones?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 13 September, 2018, 04:17:47 PM
I've stuck to messenger after one terrible phone call. I've always had books & breakages replaced pretty simply. I can only imagine how many different series/books/figurines/build-your-own-R2D2 type questions these guys have to deal with.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 13 September, 2018, 06:27:24 PM
I've had several phones calls with them. The CS operator has always been excellent. The line and the accent...Not so much.

Eaglemoss have theirs based in the UK which helps. Their waiting times...Not so much.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: DonJohnson on 05 December, 2018, 06:49:38 PM
Does anyone have a recommended reading order for this collection? I have all 90 but dont know how to order my reading of them other than by volume or issue...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Eamonn Clarke on 05 December, 2018, 07:42:51 PM
Somebody on the Facebook group is above to launch an iOS app that lists all the stories and the progs/megs they came from. That might help.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 05 December, 2018, 10:19:23 PM
Quote from: Eamonn Clarke on 05 December, 2018, 07:42:51 PM
Somebody on the Facebook group is above to launch an iOS app that lists all the stories and the progs/megs they came from. That might help.
WHAT!?
I've not been back to that page in a while but wow!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: rs_jr on 06 December, 2018, 03:17:38 AM
Hey guys

which volumes include post doomsday stories that were not collected in trades?

thanks
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Eamonn Clarke on 12 December, 2018, 01:40:40 PM
(https://i.imgur.com/dIN2a4X.jpg)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 12 December, 2018, 01:49:31 PM
(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/65/1a/7a/651a7a999984e278083716964554b303.gif)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dash Decent on 18 December, 2018, 10:19:30 AM
I've just received volumes 85 & 86 and discovered that Hachette have charged me $41.98 for each volume instead of $19.99 each.

Any other Aussies who've recently received their books might want to double-check the invoice too.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: rs_jr on 28 December, 2018, 05:51:00 AM
any list showing which progs are included in each volume?

thanks
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 28 December, 2018, 10:35:26 AM
This might help you.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vSWNqdbJdCRkskQzjK4Aw8Gy5oISq1gFlW3Wc7DzVdhus6ZQ0GrTmTJunpmnkeEG6_YDdw7di03EsrU/pubhtml
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: rs_jr on 29 December, 2018, 06:23:18 AM
Thank you so much

This is exactly what i was looking for. I am trying to fill in the gap after the case files unto the most recent dredd trades.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: sintec on 05 January, 2019, 10:06:26 AM
Quote from: Eamonn Clarke on 05 December, 2018, 07:42:51 PM
Somebody on the Facebook group is above to launch an iOS app that lists all the stories and the progs/megs they came from. That might help.

Awesome - I was considering writing something much like this myself (although it would have ended up being an android thing rather than iOS because that's what I have).  Will drop him a messsage as I'm pretty sure I have most of the additional data he's asking for in a couple of csvs.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: sintec on 05 January, 2019, 10:25:50 AM
Which group is that from as I'm struggling to find the original post?

I've sent the guy a PM anyway and offered him some data and a hand doing an android version if he's interested.  We'll see where it goes
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 20 January, 2019, 10:49:31 PM
I've been rereading large parts of the Mega-Collection and the other day I reread the Day the Law Died. 

I noticed something a big strange.

Around the time of Block Mania/Apocalypse War I'm sure it was stated that the approximate population of Mega City One was 800 Million people as the city stretched down the entire Eastern Seaboard, basically from Canada to the Florida peninsula.  Once that is over, the cities population is basically halved, and well, post Day of Chaos, Necropolis etc we know just how bad the Big Meg is....

Anyway, my point is that Day the Lawed Died is just after Cursed Earth, pretty much the time when the city is at it's peak in terms of population.  However, the beginning says that the cities population is 100 Million.  Was there a rather....ahh, accelerated breeding program when I wasn't looking.  :D
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 21 January, 2019, 10:52:41 AM
Just a scripting cock-up. Something similar happens during the democracy arc, when Ennis starts getting the figures wrong. That said, as has been mentioned elsewhere (most beautifully by Michael Carroll on the Thrillcast), the population thing remains bonkers anyway. 800 million for a city of that size may have seemed a lot at the time, but the population density would have been minimal. And today's MC-1 – 130 million – would mostly be like a ghost town, given how packed into massive city blocks the citizens are.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: rs_jr on 22 January, 2019, 12:39:43 AM
pick up :

brothers of blood
chiefs judge man
total war
mandroid

that should bridge the gap from case files 32 upto origins,  right or is there any other volumes you guys recommend to bridge the dredd gaps?

Thanks
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 30 January, 2019, 03:25:13 PM
Well, I finally got a reply about my issues with War in the Streets and to say I'm ticked off is an understatement.

"We are very sorry that you are unhappy with Judge Dredd issue 90. We have looked into the matter and can confirm that there aren't any known problems with this issue and that we have reproduced the materials provided as best we can. We are unable to process refunds from trade customers, so in this instance we would advise you to return the issue to the retailer you purchased your copy from.



Kind regards,
Ruth
Hachette Customer Care Team Leader"

First off, I'm wondering if they're confusing Issue and volume number as the last numerically was Lawless which was fine. This is despite me continually emphasising to them that issue and volume were not the same so that story theme was a bit varied.

I still say if the reproduction they have on war on the streets is the absolute best they could get, there is plenty of other decent Dredd around.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: robert_ellis on 30 January, 2019, 05:17:33 PM
I'm confused. Wasn't War on the Streets the last volume to come out? It was the 90th book issued? I assumed the volume number is the spine number. I have no knowledge of how these books are made but I'd assume Rebellion select & send the files over. I agree that much of the b&w reprint was sub-par. I wish they'd scan from the 80s Titan volumes but at £10 for 200+ pages it's not viable. The series was great fun, I try not to let the repro get me down!
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 30 January, 2019, 09:46:23 PM
No, they do that to avoid blocks of stories being released in one go. It's so for instance that themed books like Anderson, Dark Judges, Day of Chaos, Devlin Waugh etc were spread out.

The same is true with the 2000ad collection, so you'll not get all Slaine or Rogue trooper or whatever, the collection varies. War on the streets was issue 90, the last one sold but the spine was 88. This shows up on the Wikipedia entry.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 31 January, 2019, 09:24:16 AM
Quote from: Jade Falcon on 30 January, 2019, 09:46:23 PM
No, they do that to avoid blocks of stories being released in one go. It's so for instance that themed books like Anderson, Dark Judges, Day of Chaos, Devlin Waugh etc were spread out.

The same is true with the 2000ad collection, so you'll not get all Slaine or Rogue trooper or whatever, the collection varies. War on the streets was issue 90, the last one sold but the spine was 88. This shows up on the Wikipedia entry.
"War On The Streets" was the last book to be issued, therefore it's issue 90. It is volume 88 (spine). They have it correct in their statement.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 31 January, 2019, 10:54:45 AM
Still, I wonder if someone, somewhere might be getting it confused as when I first phoned them they asked the book number and the person on the other end didn't seem to get the distinction between issue and volume. However this time I sent some pictures of the text. It really is noticeable that some of the art is a bit too 'black', and heavy handed.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 31 January, 2019, 11:16:18 AM
Perhaps post images here. It might just be shitty repro. That was rare in the collection, but there were several cases where the repro was terrible. However, there were also some misprinted/poorly printed pages. I had two volumes where random pages had greys instead of blacks, and Total War had some misalignment problems.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 31 January, 2019, 11:49:59 AM
I tried phoning them again and the phone operator had such a heavy accent it was impossible to make out what he was saying. Twice I heard the word replacement, and I tried pointing out that I had already had a replacement with the exact same problems.



Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 31 January, 2019, 12:14:02 PM
I'm on my phone right now and not sure how to post images on the board.

I tried phoning yet again using a landline and Jesus, what an ordeal. There's heavy distortion on the line and you can barely make out one word on ten. The woman on the other end said there was no problems, and I insisted there was as both my original book from Smith's and the replacement they sent had the exact same problems.

The thing that really does get me is in so many years of Dredd, if those stories don't have any better source material, and with the dross that's been released as well as the really good stuff, surely they could have done better. It makes it feel like a case of "last issue so we don't have to try too hard".
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Mattofthespurs on 31 January, 2019, 02:38:18 PM
Speaking to Hachette on the phone is a real trial.
I recently ordered some copies of Marvel's Mightiest Heroes and as the order was £50 I was entitled to next day dispatch and delivery in 3-5 days. Suffice to say after 2 weeks they had not arrived. Contacted the call centre and after 15 mins of to-ing and fro-ing got confirmation they would be here on Monday. Monday came and went and nothing doing so contacted them on Facebook. They re-ordered them for me within 24 hrs. They then came back and said because off delays at their warehouse I would not have them until next week...They turned up this morning, two days later.

Their FB CS is much better at getting things done but they just don't know how they do it!  :lol:
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 31 January, 2019, 03:25:57 PM
The trouble I find with the Facebook customer service is that now they generally just give you the phone number and email, both of which seem equally useless.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 31 January, 2019, 03:45:40 PM
I've not had issues on Facebook with replacements at least. They really need to rethink their expectations for delivery, though. When you're paying for expedited delivery and the books don't show up, that's not OK.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 31 January, 2019, 05:28:20 PM
Well maybe straight out replacement are ok, maybe it's different if other issues are brought up.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 02 February, 2019, 02:19:05 PM
Those goddamn morons.....

I got a delivery today.  Despite repeatedly emphasising the difference between issue and volume number I got issue 88/volume 84 Crazy Town sent through.

Are they totally brain dead there.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 05 February, 2019, 01:34:10 PM
Is there any way to get to someone with half a brain. I get a message saying to phone the company and ask to speak to the client relations or manufacturing team and some very rude woman says that they don't take calls. She then outright lies and says there is no problems with issue 90. I had sent an email with images and got the exact same generic email back.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 05 February, 2019, 02:26:41 PM
Which pages do you have a problem with? Let me know and I'll upload some shots from my copy, so you can at least compare and see if it's a problem with your copy, the repro, or the entire run.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Steve Green on 05 February, 2019, 02:41:12 PM
BTW there was apparently some sort of focus group/survey thing a couple of weeks back about doing a range of figures...

Not a subscriber so didn't get the e-mail.

Not sure it's a big enough market for that sort of thing, but interesting to see if it flies.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 05 February, 2019, 03:52:32 PM
Quote from: Steve Green on 05 February, 2019, 02:41:12 PM
Not sure it's a big enough market for that sort of thing, but interesting to see if it flies.

That's what the Wright Brothers' critics said ...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 06 February, 2019, 10:34:08 PM
Quote from: IndigoPrime on 05 February, 2019, 02:26:41 PM
Which pages do you have a problem with? Let me know and I'll upload some shots from my copy, so you can at least compare and see if it's a problem with your copy, the repro, or the entire run.

It seems that pretty much all of Block War is fine.

The main problems are....

Th Body Sharks page 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11

Perp Runners page 3, 6, 9, 10

Umpty Baggers page 4, 5

Psychos Page 9, 10, 11, 12

Numbers Racket 4
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: moogie101 on 20 April, 2019, 01:42:25 PM
Quote from: moogie101 on 27 June, 2018, 01:43:24 PM
Quote from: paulbyrnewex on 27 June, 2018, 11:33:30 AM
Quote from: moogie101 on 26 June, 2018, 02:22:32 PM
Quote from: paulbyrnewex on 02 June, 2018, 02:57:03 PM
Due to various things I missed Issue 84 Blood of Emeralds in my local newsagents. Does anyone know if i purchase it from the Hachette shop will it come with the reprint issue aswell ?

No it doesn't. Just had a delivery of the last three books I was missing as never subscribed and 84 was one of them.

Shame the spines don't match up from 80-81 but can't justify spending a tenner to correct their ridiculous mistake.

I asked on Facebook page and was told "When you place an order for 84 it will automatically be sent with a replacement of issue 44. if it happens that issue 44 is not included you can request a replacement of 44 using your order number."

Cheers, just sent an email off.

Getting on for nearly a year later (and multiple incorrect books that have been donated to charity shops) and I've finally received the corrected spine version
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: The Mind of Wolfie Smith on 11 June, 2019, 10:45:35 AM
well, having read all ninety volumes, i feel really cheated. within the approximately twenty thousand pages that the collection covers, they have not found space for the - *imho* - single greatest wagner dredd story. admittedly i'm biased, because they were my first progs, but 'battle of the black atlantic' from progs 128 & 129 (i think) had everything - a 59(D) cit swoop, drones, meg/eastmeg politics, an almost incapacitated dredd arresting an entire eastmeg ship, fascism, blistering ron smith art, the blackest wit, everything. i would recommend this story to anyone wanting a neat into to the world of dredd, but in twentyk pages it didn't make it in to this collection. shame. extreme shame (especially considering the dross that *has* made it in).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 11 June, 2019, 11:51:12 PM
I agree with the above, it deserved to be in it if nothing more as part of Apocalypse War.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 13 June, 2019, 07:30:27 PM
There were undoubtedly some classics missing from the collection, which several volumes could have been much better served by. I'm still planning a re-read, probably after the Tooth collection has finished, and will document my opinions on the ups and downs on here. Current plan is to read the original 80 in volume order, dipping into the extension as relevant/appropriate - Anderson, mega-epics etc. Waffle to follow down the line.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: bedlamvr on 08 December, 2019, 09:55:44 PM
Just a heads up - Hachette are discontinuing the Judge Dredd Mega Collection and removing it from their site in the next two weeks. Just in case anyone was still looking for those missing issues.

Thanks
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: rs_jr on 10 December, 2019, 03:57:22 AM
with this done.

Hopefully we get announcement if a new partwork or maybe to they tell us whats going on withe the asterix ultimate collection
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tomwe on 10 December, 2019, 10:02:06 AM
Quote from: rs_jr on 10 December, 2019, 03:57:22 AM
with this done.

Hopefully we get announcement if a new partwork or maybe to they tell us whats going on withe the asterix ultimate collection
I'd be happy to know about the Asterix series! There was no new GN series in January's previews, which is often when they launch a new one. But the second Warhammer weekly series is a go and can be preordered from Forbidden Planet.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: rs_jr on 10 December, 2019, 11:26:58 PM
i really hope the asterix subscription goes forward and does well enough to convince hachette bring over more french series, bluberry, the peso work, hermann work etc .......
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 15 December, 2019, 11:33:16 AM
Hachette warns that today is the final day it will make its Dredd collection books available for sale on its website:

https://hachettepartworks.com/judge-dredd-the-mega-collection

Note that if you missed out on the extension, all ten books are currently available. If you fancy cherry picking there are some great hardbacks lurking here, including: Mandroid (only one left); Swimming in Blood; The Pit; P.J. Maybe; Low Life Paranoia/Hostile Takoever/Trifecta; Inscurrection; Chopper. And from the extension: Served Cold (Al Ewing); Blood of Emeralds; Lawless.




  else, grab Served Cold (Al Ewing Dredd) and Blood of Emeralds. (I'm slightly surprised if they're EOLing the collection that they're not dropping the prices, but there you go.)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 13 August, 2020, 03:21:01 AM
Sorry for the necro, but I've been rereading a few of the books and noticed that the book "The Day the Law Died" had a printing error.  The back cover has a panel in line with the story but the description was that from Necropolis.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 13 August, 2020, 08:22:23 AM
There are a bunch of errors along those lines. Some books have the wrong end papers. Hachette, as I recall, replaced spine cock-ups and major printing errors within the books (Total War's run was pretty messy), but not those with incorrect descriptive text and end papers.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Hackenbush on 15 August, 2020, 11:12:21 PM
The ultimate collection has been a better value I think. Quite a few of the mega collection volumes are pretty slim in comparison. They still make the end paper stuff ups but I think the overall quality is higher.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: sintec on 16 August, 2020, 10:20:02 AM
In terms of pages of strip per volume the Mega Collection was actually far more consistent than the Ultimate Collection has been. The slimmest volumes we've had are all in the Ultimate Collection, Slaine Book of Scars being the slimmest by a large margin.

In terms of quality though I think the Ultimate Collection has been far more consistent. There were several volumes in the Mega Collection that were frankly dross.

(https://imgur.com/UzcGPnq.png)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Hackenbush on 16 August, 2020, 12:37:23 PM
Interesting!

My impressions of the mega collection must be tainted by the missed opportunities I see when I look over it.

Why skip Ennis and McCrea's chopper story, or Ennis and Martin Emonds one off?
Why skip the brilliant Mean machine one offs drawn by Mike McMahon / John Hicklenton?
Why skip the conclusion to several Ennis threads "The Marshall" with brilliant Sean Phillips art

And why not do a Hershey Volume? The Megazine hershey stories were pretty good. The Kevin Cullen art was fantastic.

Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: sintec on 16 August, 2020, 11:09:58 PM
And on the flip side of that question; why include Red Razors or Janus?
There were definitely some odd choices along the way in the Mega Collection.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Greg M. on 17 August, 2020, 07:09:14 AM
Quote from: sintec on 16 August, 2020, 11:09:58 PM
And on the flip side of that question; why include Red Razors or Janus?
Because they're written by one of the most commercially successful comic writers alive (two, in the case of Janus.) We know these partucular stories are pish, but the names Millar and Morrison sell.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: IndigoPrime on 17 August, 2020, 10:26:31 AM
I do wonder what people thought of those coming to it fresh. It would be really interesting to see the sales for such issues, especially if they're late on into the run. For 2000 AD, I'd have thought the smart move would be to seed the early issues (1–20) with 'famous' stuff, get people subbing, and then go for pure quality later. The Dredd collection was all over the place for its run, bar that last 10, which hit it out of the park. The 2000 AD one has for me been much more stable, even if I'd have happily skipped from Horned God to Books of Invasions. The extension, assuming it happens, looks superb, too. Lots of quality left to mine, there, and although I'm not keen on everything being released, it's almost all objectively high quality.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 21 August, 2020, 07:48:49 PM
Rereading these books and I noticed a nice bit of what I'm sure is not just a coincidence. An early Judge Death story, the one where Anderson is forced to go back to deadworld and let the dark judges regain access to the city. There is a panel where the Dark judges teleport into Dunc Renaldo subway.

Isn't it funny that this self same block was where Kit Agee was held in Necropolis.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: GoGilesGo on 31 August, 2020, 06:25:27 AM
Quote from: The Mind of Wolfie Smith on 11 June, 2019, 10:45:35 AM
well, having read all ninety volumes, i feel really cheated. within the approximately twenty thousand pages that the collection covers, they have not found space for the - *imho* - single greatest wagner dredd story. admittedly i'm biased, because they were my first progs, but 'battle of the black atlantic' from progs 128 & 129 (i think) had everything - a 59(D) cit swoop, drones, meg/eastmeg politics, an almost incapacitated dredd arresting an entire eastmeg ship, fascism, blistering ron smith art, the blackest wit, everything. i would recommend this story to anyone wanting a neat into to the world of dredd, but in twentyk pages it didn't make it in to this collection. shame. extreme shame (especially considering the dross that *has* made it in).

everything above, along with the superb 'MOTHERRRR'. One of the most surprising twists in a Dredd tale. Everyone on the ship, and almost every reader imagined Cap'n Skank to be deranged but....
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 06 October, 2020, 09:17:03 PM
I've been rereading the collection.  Just finished 82, Judge Anderson The Trip and I loved all those stories.  I was telling a friend about this book and how hard Anderson really finds it.  Some of these stories are really sombre.

Anyway, I went looking on Abebooks for this one....instead this was one of the search results.  Methinks someone is a bit ambitious, ESPECIALLY for this volume

https://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=30131502120&cm_sp=Searchmod-_-NullResults-_-BDP
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Nellgrove on 26 October, 2020, 02:28:51 PM
Is there anything essential dredd-wise that is not in included in the mega or ultimate collection?
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 26 October, 2020, 03:26:09 PM
In my view:

The pre-Block Mania & Apocalypse War stories Battle & Pirates of the Black Atlantic, as these lay a lot of ground for what's to come.

Dredd's doubt trilogy - Question & Error of Judgement, A Case for Treatment.

McGruder's first exit as Chief Judge.

Not all of the stories featuring Judge Edgar have appeared, and events in these have often been significant in the longer term.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Colin YNWA on 26 October, 2020, 03:38:34 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 26 October, 2020, 03:26:09 PM

Not all of the stories featuring Judge Edgar have appeared, and events in these have often been significant in the longer term.

That does raise the interesting question as to why there's never been a complete Judge Edgar collection. Those are some of my favourite Dredds and all have exceptional art. Not sure they'd exactly be high profile but in something like the Mega Collection seems a bit of a missed opportunity.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Jade Falcon on 27 October, 2020, 11:33:50 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 26 October, 2020, 03:26:09 PM
In my view:

McGruder's first exit as Chief Judge.

I admit that I might be wrong but I thought we did see McGruder's first exit as Chief Judge when she resigned as well as removing those members of the Council of Five who argued for retaining her.  Unless that wasn't the first time.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Dark Jimbo on 28 October, 2020, 08:16:33 AM
Quote from: Colin YNWA on 26 October, 2020, 03:38:34 PM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 26 October, 2020, 03:26:09 PM

Not all of the stories featuring Judge Edgar have appeared, and events in these have often been significant in the longer term.

That does raise the interesting question as to why there's never been a complete Judge Edgar collection.

A: There's too many stories for one volume.

B: There's too much of overlap with other threads/plots; Edgar's second story is a sort-of-sequel to The Pit, and her third is a direct sequel to Bad Frendz, part of the Doomsday build-up. You've then got the Chief Judge's Man trilogy, which is tailor-made for its own volume...
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 24 July, 2021, 10:31:59 AM
As promised/threatened some time ago, I'm soon going to embark on a re-read of the Mega Collection and post comments on here. I've grouped the volumes thematically as per the intention, adding the extension volumes as appropriate. My groupings are:

1-3 Democracy
4-7 Dark Judges
8-13, 81, 89 Anderson & Psi-Judges
14-17 Devlin Waugh & other mystics
18-22 Undercover
23-25 Robotics
26-30 Antagonists
31-51, 82, 83 Mega-Epics
52-53 Legacy
54-56, 90 Extra Curricular
57-68 Dredd's World
69-80, 84-88 Dredd & the City

I'll post comments after reading each grouping, breaking down the bigger groupings into smaller chunks. I reserve the right to skip stories or whole volumes if I'm not enjoying them, but will read at least one episode of everything.

Feel free to join in with the reading or just the comments. Commencing in a few days with Democracy.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: Tjm86 on 24 July, 2021, 11:55:23 AM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 24 July, 2021, 10:31:59 AM
As promised/threatened some time ago, I'm soon going to embark on a re-read of the Mega Collection and post comments on here. I've grouped the volumes thematically as per the intention, adding the extension volumes as appropriate. My groupings are:

... and I'm going to go with a shameless plug since these groupings mirror pretty much those that I've organised my ebay sales on.  So if you want to "Read along with Snazz" so to speak, head on over to the classifieds for the link.   ;)
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 05 August, 2021, 12:05:16 PM
Completed the first three books. What a cracking start to the collection. I'd previously thought Mad City would have been the best volume for a Dredd newbie to read, but in fact America was a great book to start the collection with - told from the point of view of citizens, up against the faceless might of Justice Department, with details of the world coming through during the story and in the two sequels. Also good for Vienna to be introduced here, given her role in Total War and Dredd attempting, or not, to balance family and duty. The Garth Ennis stories at the end of were a bit of filler, but always good to see Colin's work.

Democracy Now is about the use and abuse of power, and the desire to change things or indifference from the citizens. Although not democracy-related, I liked the noir-ish Raider.

Then the bombs - Colin and Henry outdo themselves, the conviction of the Judges that they're always in the right results of the tragedy of Nimrod, and the question of when resistance becomes terrorism is handled brilliantly. D'Israeli does a great job with Nosferatu too.

I've a couple of other things to read next, then onto Volumes 4-7, Dark Judges.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 26 August, 2021, 11:47:53 PM
Dark Judges quartet now read. Another set of brilliant stuff. The Dead Man is a stone-cold classic, I can't imagine anyone other than John Ridgway bringing the atmosphere, doom and oppression with such style, plus the design of the Sisters is truly terrifying. And the prequel/sequel stories, quality all the way.

With Necropolis itself, I'd forgotten how little Death and co. actually feature - Mortis has the most lines and appearances. I read Plagues of Necropolis after this - while not essential, it gives an idea what they were all up to. It established the Sisters though as a major supernatural threat.

And then to Death as the main character - clearly the two original stories will always be held up as classics, and Molch-R's articles highlight the balance between Death as a horror or comedy character. Frazer Irving's two stories return him definitely to the former, Anderson's first solo outing is great, and Young Death plants loads of seeds which will be revisited.

I'm going to split Anderson & other PSIs into 2, so will return here after the first 4 (8-11).
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: sintec on 27 August, 2021, 09:59:04 AM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 26 August, 2021, 11:47:53 PM
I read Plagues of Necropolis after this - while not essential, it gives an idea what they were all up to. It established the Sisters though as a major supernatural threat.

Was Plagues in the MC?
I don't recall reading it.
Title: Re: Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection discussion thread
Post by: abelardsnazz on 27 August, 2021, 10:05:16 AM
Quote from: sintec on 27 August, 2021, 09:59:04 AM
Quote from: abelardsnazz on 26 August, 2021, 11:47:53 PM
I read Plagues of Necropolis after this - while not essential, it gives an idea what they were all up to. It established the Sisters though as a major supernatural threat.

Was Plagues in the MC?
I don't recall reading it.

It wasn't, I got it in a recently acquired Meg floppy which I read while on topic.