Return of Starscans?

[ming]

This prog's wraparound cover got me thinking about Starscans.  When was the last time we had one?  Looking into some of the starscans for past thills gives us a few openings for a revival... not a peep from such popular thrills as Nikolai Dante, Sinister Dexter, The Red Seas...  Can we have a couple?  Go on, Green Bonce, you know you want to...

Some favourites from t'olden days (check the full size covers for maximum thrill power):

Prog 173
http://www.2000adonline.com/covers/scans/mediumres/173.jpg>

Prog 196
http://www.2000adonline.com/covers/scans/mediumres/196.jpg>

Prog 583
http://www.2000adonline.com/covers/scans/mediumres/583.jpg>

Prog 591
http://www.2000adonline.com/covers/scans/mediumres/591.jpg>

Prog 608
http://www.2000adonline.com/covers/scans/mediumres/608.jpg>

[JOE SOAP]

Sexy Angelina.

[paulvonscott]

Sigh... they ARE great, and I do love those examples there.

But I'd rather they stayed in prog 2000 and we had one page strips more often in the prog.  More value for money read, less eye candy.

Then again, maybe in the meg... there is a financial justification in that they can be covers for GN's in many cases I guess.  Which seems to be how some of thr Prog 2000 pics have been used.

Nice thread Ming, cheers!

[Funt Solo]

Yes please.

[davidbishop]

What would you rather have - a nice page of art, or another page of story? Me, I'd vote for a page of story, but that's just me.

davidbishop

[JOE SOAP]

Another page of Dredd.

[The Amstor Computer]

Depends on the story ;-)

I wouldn't mind seeing things like Starscans back in the mix - along with fun stuff like Supercovers, one-page strips & Future Shocks, they're part of what made 2K a favourite. Surely there's room to drop one or two in across the course of a few months, perhaps utilising the rear cover? It's been quite regularly given over to full-spread covers, so it's not like a precedent hasn't been set with regards to sacrificing potential ad revenue...

[Pete Wells]

I'm with Ming on this one. If you go to the Starscans section of this site there's some absolutely AMAZING, quality stuff there which really did serve a valid, very positive purpose.

Some examples of this are the Bisley Joe Pinapples one which proudly states "He's heading your way in Prog 573." Cool! This generated much more excitement for upcoming stories than the squashed little 'coming soon' frame on the input page these days.

I liked how starscans gave some artists a chance to be a bit more experimental, abstract or humourous (602, 632, 868, 1070), a real oportunity to produce a quality image that perhaps wouldn't work as a cover but enhanced a stip or character no end. They're also a nice way to see artists working on characters they may not usually get a chance to paint - I'd like to see a Rufus Nikolai Dante starscan for example.

When I was younger I actively looked forward to starscans that were like a mini-series (things like Garry Leach's amazing Dark Judges series - I remember actually being excited for the Mortis one!), Cliff Robinson's Justice Dept series, Robin Smith's Creator Droids, Mick Austin's Quirky 'future' series and even Dillon's Harlem Heroes set.) To me, all of these add something to a story and/or the prog in gerneral.

I certainly wouldn't mind seeing the yawnsville letters page sacrifced every now and again for one some of the wonderful images in the starscans section (Ian Gibson's Anderson one (prog 596) is stunning.)

With the current slew of graphic novels, starscans can only serve as quality extras and would also give plenty of material for shop items like the 2000ad Postcards or cool posters.

I realise that money is tight for 2000ad but I'd love to see a Dredd Villains starscan series, an ABC warriors set, ads for Mega City Fads, an updated classic album covers series or strips from yesteryear set.

What (if anything) would you lot like?

Link: http://www.2000adonline.com/?zone=covers&page=scans" target="_blank">Starscans - Just look at 'em!

[Funt Solo]

We don' need no steenkeeng "othor page of storee", senor.

Starscans brought variety and excitement - this modern movement of Thargs not to include one of the cornerstone parts of the golden era 2000AD is just that - a movement.  All over my cornflakes.

[Funt Solo]

http://www.2000adonline.com/covers/scans/hires/522.jpg" />

[Dark Jimbo]

They remind me a bit of our art threads, tbh - although of course I'm not suggesting we poor proles are as talented as the actual droids. But it's just the way you never know what's coming, what characters are going to be picked, or what the artists are going to do with them. And like Pete said, they're far more fun and exciting then the 'coming soon' boxes on the input page.

[Mikey]

I think Star Scans have their place,but I would much rather have another strip page TBH.

How about the current droids do something like this for themselves/each other?

http://www.2000adonline.com/functions/cover.php?Comic=scans&choice=349">

[Mikey]

I'll try that again...http://www.2000adonline.com/functions/cover.php?Comic=scans&choice=349">

[Mikey]

Nuts!http://www.2000adonline.com/functions/cover.php?Comic=scans&choice=359">

[Mikey]

Double nuts!

What i'm referring to is the droid scans...