I've purchased about 35 2AD graphic novels this year, and it's safe to say I've enjoyed them all. I have particular favourites yes, but I've never regretted any of my purchases. So are there any strips that should be avoided like the plague?
Probably have been some duff stuff but they are unlikely to be available as trades.
One of the attempts to bring back Robo Hunter not written by Wagner/Grant springs to mind. I can't remember much about it or who wrote it but it didn't work, it probably looked worse than it was due to the great stuff that was done during the original run.
A lot of it is down to opinion of course. There are some people who don't rate Halo Jones at all, while others love it and see it as one of 2000ads finest moments. (I am in the former camp myself).
Its a can of worms ya opening cos its all so subjective.
So for example I really don't get on with Rogue Trooper but LOADS do. So for everyone who says avoid such and such someone will likely come along and say. But I love that...
except The Spacegirls. I don't think anyone liked that... I don't think.
Oh there have certainly been a few duds. I've been reading since 2004, and while nearly 80-90% of content has ranged from Acceptable to Zarjaz in quality. Usually your worst thrills are just forgettably dull (Synnamon) . But you get that real stinker once in a while (Stalag 666). Or a massively disappointing misfire (Age of the Wolf).
Because you're reading collected editions you're really not going to run into truly dreadful content. The cream of the crop get the Graphic Novel treatment most of the time after all.
Also personal taste matters. I personally don't rate Pat Mill's modern output as any good whatsoever. Others disagree. I personally rank Bec & Kawl highly. Others... do not.
Quote from: WhizzBang on 18 March, 2017, 04:28:20 PM
Probably have been some duff stuff but they are unlikely to be available as trades.
One of the attempts to bring back Robo Hunter not written by Wagner/Grant springs to mind. I can't remember much about it or who wrote it but it didn't work, it probably looked worse than it was due to the great stuff that was done during the original run.
Mark Millar,if we are thinking about the same period.
Actually,conventional wisdom is that you are better off avoiding any 2000AD material written by Mark Millar.Well,maybe Tales from Beyond Science are not that bad.
No.
There isn't.
Shut up.
I said there isn't.
.
Quote from: Smith on 18 March, 2017, 05:25:40 PM
Mark Millar,if we are thinking about the same period.
Actually,conventional wisdom is that you are better off avoiding any 2000AD material written by Mark Millar.Well,maybe Tales from Beyond Science are not that bad.
See there's a great example of what I mean. Now I'll not defend vast chunks of what he spued into the Prog but Silo was dead good (if derivative), Big Dave fun comics, if not a good fit for 2000ad, the first Manic 5 brill and over in the Meg the first Red Razors wasn't too bad at all. I think Canon Fodder has fans too, though I'm not one.
I reckon if we dig hard enough we'll even find fans of some of Michael Fleisher's stuff?
I read Junker (http://2000ad.org/?zone=thrill&page=profiles&choice=junker) out of curiosity, and while it wasn't as dire as I'd been led to believe, it really tried my patience. Especially when a character introduced herself as "Varex't J!q, one of the few survivors of the royal lineage of Nyallspfx."
Red Razors has some fun ideas but feels kind of flippant to me. The talking horse in particular was really too much (to be fair to Millar, Judge Ed wasn't the first talking horse in Dredd's world). Millar's Robo-Hunter is pretty terrible too.
Like you, I have enjoyed everything I have read. There is the odd Dredd tale I groan at when reading the case files but overall they are exceptional.
Like Colin suggests, its all so subjective and up to personal tastes. For example, Rogue Trooper is one of my favorite strips! However, Leviathan, although the favorite of so many people, wasn't my cup of tea. I recently purchased and read ABC Warriors and loved the Meknificent Seven but didn't really like black hole.
It all comes down to preference, so read it all and then decide! :D
@RJ I dont know how far you got;but JFF Im guessing you didnt like Khronicles of Khaos and Hellbringer,but you liked Third Element and Shadow Warriors?:)
QuoteI reckon if we dig hard enough we'll even find fans of some of Michael Fleisher's stuff?
Steady on! Let's not go crazy.
I just finished reading Leviathan yesterday Rogue judge, I'm a big horror buff so it was right up my alley. Though a little short. Some interesting input everyone, I guess it is all subjective then, there doesn't eem to be one particular strip that has fans eyes rolling. Good to know.
Quote from: Richard on 18 March, 2017, 07:09:32 PM
QuoteI reckon if we dig hard enough we'll even find fans of some of Michael Fleisher's stuff?
Steady on! Let's not go crazy.
Yeah okay fair enough I might have got carried away there!
Junker
Trash
Dry Run
Wireheads
Kola Kommandos
Basically a load of 90s stuff that should never again see the light of day.
I don't think I've read any 2000AD material from Mark Millar or Garth Ennis that I would want to read again.
Its all down to the "British invasion" that happened in the late mid to late 1980's when so many good creators got tempted over to DC Comics. By the 90's the comic had changed fairly drastically, in my opinion, and had lost a lot of big names which it struggled for years to replace.
Quote from: Tony Angelino on 18 March, 2017, 10:37:28 PM
I don't think I've read any 2000AD material from Mark Millar or Garth Ennis that I would want to read again.
I loathe Millar's Dredd and RoboHunter as much as the next guy, but... Big Dave is pretty funny, his 'Long Distance Calls' is a favourite Future Shock of mine and I still have a soft spot for the nonsense of Purgatory. Ennis isntbreally comparable, he has plenty of decent Prog work including some solid Dredds... Plenty of weak stuff too, mind.
Fleisher on the other hand never wrote a single script I enjoyed. But even there, some of the art that was wasted on his strips stands on its own... Junker, for example, was gorgeous.
Junker had at least some John Ridgeway art.
I'd find it hard to defend Mother Earth and Survivor the Mean Team spin off with the talking panther whose vocaliser managed to circumvent the Earthwide electronics dampening field. I did like how they blew up all of the Mean Team in a panel after weeks of them surviving various perilous situations.
Captain Klep.
I don't think anyone liked Bison.
There have been a few absolute stinkers over the years.
The stuff I enjoyed the least (including some Megazine stories) is:
Angel
Death Planet
Colony Earth
Valkyries
Space Girls
Wire heads
Time house
Revere
Time Flies
Soul Gun Warrior
Soul Sisters
Babe Race 2000
Non Wagner or Grant Robo Hunter
Bob Byrne's Twisted Tales
Wireheads
Calhab Justice
Leatherjack
Indigo Prime
Now I'm not saying they are bad, just that I don't really enjoy them.
And for anyone who has been following the review thread, I haven't put The Order in the list - it's not that I don't like it, just I find it hard to follow, but still think there is a good story underneath it which I have yet to uncover.
Quote from: Magnetica on 19 March, 2017, 08:41:54 AM
The stuff I enjoyed the least (including some Megazine stories) is:
See this is another wonderful example. My thoughts on each of those stories:
Angel -
Yep a stinkerDeath Planet -
Another massive miss (the planet just ain't that deadly)Colony Earth -
Looked good but yike was it poorValkyries -
Ouch that was terribleSpace Girls -
This one was shockin' absolutely shockin'So do we have agreement, it seems so, but...
Wire heads -
Mmmmmrrrrhhh but terrible, certainly not greatTime house -
An interesting attempt at something different and worth effort even if it ultimately failedRevere -
John Smith genius with glorious art - great stuffTime Flies -
The first one was kinda fun in a sub Hewligans' Haircut kinda waySoul Gun Warrior -
Brilliant, superb Shaky Kane art and fantastic storySoul Sisters -
Yep pretty poorBabe Race 2000 -
Shite Race 2000 more likeNon Wagner or Grant Robo Hunter -
Millar stuff yes, Hogan and Rian stuff no, that stuff was GREATBob Byrne's Twisted Tales -
Generally fantasticCalhab Justice -
Not the best, not the worst Leatherjack -
One of the best things to have appeared in the Prog, more glorious John Smith with some wonderful Paul 'Under-rated' Marshal artIndigo Prime -
See above but the art wasn't by Paul Marshal but a host of other brilliant talentsSee 2000ad's greatest strenght is its diversity and therefore generates a fantastic diversity of opinion.
Oh yeah one more I forgot
The Zaucer of Zilk.
I am sure loads of people really liked that one as well. It's by all time legend Brendan McCarthy, so what could there possibly be to not like?
Quote from: Magnetica on 19 March, 2017, 08:41:54 AM
The stuff I enjoyed the least (including some Megazine stories) is:
Angel
Death Planet
Colony Earth
Valkyries
Space Girls
Wire heads
Time house
Revere
Time Flies
Soul Gun Warrior
Soul Sisters
Babe Race 2000
Non Wagner or Grant Robo Hunter
Bob Byrne's Twisted Tales
Wireheads
Calhab Justice
Leatherjack
Indigo Prime
Now I'm not saying they are bad, just that I don't really enjoy them.
And for anyone who has been following the review thread, I haven't put The Order in the list - it's not that I don't like it, just I find it hard to follow, but still think there is a good story underneath it which I have yet to uncover.
I would add Trash and Dead Meat to that list.
Quote from: Colin YNWA on 19 March, 2017, 09:15:29 AM
Quote from: Magnetica on 19 March, 2017, 08:41:54 AM
The stuff I enjoyed the least (including some Megazine stories) is:
Bob Byrne's Twisted Tales - Generally fantastic
Love Bob's work but i've never read his 2000AD strips.
His Clamnuts website, and comics about growing up in Dublin in the 80s are absolutely fantastic.
I liked Dead Meat, nice story and artwork. I also liked Trash - shame it wasn't allowed to develop!
When I first saw Zaucer of Zilk advertised in the Prog I admit to thinking 'what the hell is THIS!' But I gave it a chance and found it to be a very good series.
Another shout out for Big Dave! Hilarious series - see also: Ulysses Sweet.
Finn was another favourite. I much prefer it to Slaine which, despite the outstanding artwork on the modern series, just seems to go on and on with no resolution in sight.
Indigo Prime is stunning. I can't recall a single story that I didn't enjoy.
Bring back Armoured Gideon!
Cheers
How have we got to the second page of this without a Colin-baiting mention of SinDex?😜
Quote from: NapalmKev on 19 March, 2017, 10:24:40 AM
Finn was another favourite. I much prefer it to Slaine which, despite the outstanding artwork on the modern series, just seems to go on and on with no resolution in sight.
I always liked Finn as well. I know it gets a bit of a kicking by some, but I always enjoyed it.
I used to consider it as a modern day Slaine and would go as far as actually considering Finn and Slaine to be the same character ( in my mind at least even if the script never said that).
As I understand it editorial canned it as it was "too similar to Slaine".
Just to prove how subjective this is;Im not a fan of Big Dave.
But I do like SinDex.
Quote from: Rately on 19 March, 2017, 10:04:34 AM
Quote from: Colin YNWA on 19 March, 2017, 09:15:29 AM
Quote from: Magnetica on 19 March, 2017, 08:41:54 AM
The stuff I enjoyed the least (including some Megazine stories) is:
Bob Byrne's Twisted Tales - Generally fantastic
Love Bob's work but i've never read his 2000AD strips.
His Clamnuts website, and comics about growing up in Dublin in the 80s are absolutely fantastic.
Everything Bob does is fantastic, he's a major talent. The only problem is that he just doesn't do enough comics. A third outing for his fleg-loving monkey character would be very welcome.
Oh, and I liked Valkyries! Very pleased to see it get the floppy treatment (ooo-er) recently.
Quote from: TordelBack on 19 March, 2017, 10:58:25 AM
Quote from: Rately on 19 March, 2017, 10:04:34 AM
Quote from: Colin YNWA on 19 March, 2017, 09:15:29 AM
Quote from: Magnetica on 19 March, 2017, 08:41:54 AM
The stuff I enjoyed the least (including some Megazine stories) is:
Bob Byrne's Twisted Tales - Generally fantastic
Love Bob's work but i've never read his 2000AD strips.
His Clamnuts website, and comics about growing up in Dublin in the 80s are absolutely fantastic.
Everything Bob does is fantastic, he's a major talent. The only problem is that he just doesn't do enough comics. A third outing for his fleg-loving monkey character would be very welcome.
Agreed.
Had a wee spy at his website this morning, and looks like we might have some new stuff in 2000AD soon.
You have to remember that Garth Ennis was in his early to mid 20s when he wrote for 2000 AD, so he can be forgiven for some substandard strips now and then. But I think the majority of his work was pretty good, and there were some outstanding g stories like Raider and Death Aid. Most importantly, he understood Dredd's character and voice, which all the other writers in the '90s didn't (except Wagner obvs).
I agree with most of Magnetica's list of shame, and I'd also add Trash and Dead Meat. But I would defend Indigo Prime and Leatherjack, which are brilliant, but I understand that Smith is not everyone's cup of tea. As has been said already, the first series of Time Flies was alright, and I'd rate it higher than Hewligan's Haircut.
As for Slaine and Finn, while I can see the similarities I think they are also different enough that there was room for both in the comic. That may have just been an excuse the editor used to get rid of a strip he didn't like. Personally I enjoyed Finn more than Slaine. The first two books of Finn are outstanding (and I really liked that artist too; whatever happened to him?) so it was nice too see them reprinted for the first time in the floppy recently. The later ones weren't as good but they were alright.
Kola Kommandos wasn't so bad, it was just aimed at younger readers. I don't want to see it come back, but not every strip should be intelligent and dark, you've got to have something to keep young readers wanting to read it.
The Zaucer of Zilk was fantastic.
Bec And Kawl left me pretty cold, I must admit.
I liked Bec and Kawl.
I forgot to mention The Straitjacket Fits over in the Megazine. Dire. Sorry Bish-Op, but stick to novels.
Yes really liked Death Aid. It was a great concept, well executed and great art to boot.
I really like Synanom
I don't understand the liking for Garth Ennis Dredd. Admittedly I have read more of it in the Mega Collection than I ever read in the prog (having stopped collecting 2000AD in 1990 or thereabouts before he became the regular Dredd writer) but what I have read hasn't made me want to read any more.
I don't think his age is a factor either as if he was too young and inexperienced then they shouldn't have had him writing their main character.
I had a look through some of my old progs from 1988-1990 there recently and it wasn't a nostalgic experience in the main.
1988-1990 is pre-Ennis. It's all Wagner stories.
Yeah I know. I wasn't specifically referring to Dredd in that respect. I found the prog in general in 1988-1990 wasn't good.
Quote from: Richard on 19 March, 2017, 01:48:32 PM
It's all Wagner stories.
Interspersed with a few Alan Grant stories.
Part of my own retrospective fondness for Ennis's run is about context . As Richard says earlier, Ennis at least understood Dredd: if anything, his problem was that he was too much of a fan, and his Dredd is therefore an untouchable super-tough man of steel who even the Democrats secretly want to be dominated by. Compare to Millar (genuinely doesn't have a clue about the character) or Morrison (has obvious contempt for the character.) But it's also fun watching Ennis's progress, as he steadily learns how to do a good Dredd story. It takes a while, and is interspersed with some right old rubbish, but when he gets it right, by Grud, he gets it right. He's never flawless, but he steadily manages to fuse his own 'hard man' yarns with that Wagnerian strain of tough-minded lunacy that defines Dredd at its best.
Quote from: Timothy on 19 March, 2017, 10:33:08 AM
How have we got to the second page of this without a Colin-baiting mention of SinDex?😜
Yeah have been kinda waiting for that one to come. My defense is already! All 20,000 words of it.
Quote from: Magnetica on 19 March, 2017, 09:30:02 AM
Oh yeah one more I forgot
The Zaucer of Zilk.
I am sure loads of people really liked that one as well. It's by all time legend Brendan McCarthy, so what could there possibly be to not like?
GET OUT!
On Indigo Prime-its not bad,but it has probably the most bizarre and offensive moment in 2000ad,ever.So I can see that bothering people.
What was that then?
So far I've only read the most recent Indigo Prime story - the one with [spoiler]Christhulhu[/spoiler]. Is that the offensive bit? Personally I loved it and can't wait for more.
Quote from: Richard on 19 March, 2017, 12:01:11 PM
I forgot to mention The Straitjacket Fits over in the Megazine. Dire. Sorry Bish-Op, but stick to novels.
Yeah, despite a long tradition of mixing dark humour with the SF and action, 2000 AD and the Meg don't have a great track record when it comes to out-and-out comedy stories.
^Yes,thats the one.
All hail our savior Christhulu!
I completely forgot about that! :lol:
Quote from: Echidna on 19 March, 2017, 05:06:28 PM
Yeah, despite a long tradition of mixing dark humour with the SF and action, 2000 AD and the Meg don't have a great track record when it comes to out-and-out comedy stories.
At the risk of putting myself at odds with the board, I liked Dash Decent and Captain Klepp.
Thinking about it further, what about DR an Quinch! Got to be the ultimate comedy strip, surely?
Quote from: Richard on 19 March, 2017, 11:56:27 AM
You have to remember that Garth Ennis was in his early to mid 20s when he wrote for 2000 AD, so he can be forgiven for some substandard strips now and then.
It's not like he's grown up since then.
Actually,he might be younger now.In spirit.
I wouldn't be a fan of Sam Slade, Ace Trucking and I simply cannot get into Sinister Dexter.
However I would read any of them over Dead Meat which was truly appalling.
Come on,who doesnt like Ace Trucking? :)
I can't say i'm the biggest Ace Trucking fan, if i'm honest.
<raises hand nervously> Me?
What is it about? Some guy with a pointy head to drives a space ship and makes terrible jokes?
Obviously I haven't read much lately .. there was that one story in the Xmas prog (I think) but I don't remember liking it before.
Tony Lee wrote some pretty dire stuff - Stalag 666 is probably the worst, but Necrophim became one of only two strips in 2000AD (since I started reading in 2000) that I just stopped reading* because I couldn't physically keep putting msyelf through the rigours for such small reward. Citi-Def I thought was garbage, quite frankly - but at least it was fun, fast-paced and breezy. A sort of guilty pleasure, if you were so inclined. Stalag and Necrophim by contrast, were just irredeemably dull week-in, week-out.
*The other was Blood of Satanus III, and I'm a little surprised that hasn't already warranted a mention in this thread!
Classic Ace Trucking was fantastic. As was classic Wagner Grant Robo Hunter.
If all you have read is the recent stories in the specials... Well don't judge them on those....they aren't a patch on what they were.
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 19 March, 2017, 06:01:26 PM
... Blood of Satanus III, and I'm a little surprised that hasn't already warranted a mention in this thread!
Likewise
American Reaper actually, given the vitriol it prompted here on the board each time it ran! I haven't read it though, so I can't comment personally.
Grudge-Father?Babe Race 2000?Sleeze n Ryder?
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 19 March, 2017, 06:05:05 PM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 19 March, 2017, 06:01:26 PM
... Blood of Satanus III, and I'm a little surprised that hasn't already warranted a mention in this thread!
Likewise American Reaper actually, given the vitriol it prompted here on the board each time it ran! I haven't read it though, so I can't comment personally.
There have been far, far worse strips than
American Reaper in 2000AD and The Meg's history.
And
Blood Of Satans III come to that.
I'll have to take your word for it but it's just not one of the strips I'd be really keen to follow up on or delve back into.
Quote from: Magnetica on 19 March, 2017, 06:03:06 PM
Classic Ace Trucking was fantastic. As was classic Wagner Grant Robo Hunter.
If all you have read is the recent stories in the specials... Well don't judge them on those....they aren't a patch on what they were.
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 19 March, 2017, 06:01:26 PM
Citi-Def I thought was garbage, quite frankly - but at least it was fun, fast-paced and breezy. A sort of guilty pleasure, if you were so inclined.
Apart from the rape jokes, if memory serves.
Quote from: dweezil2 on 19 March, 2017, 06:07:48 PM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 19 March, 2017, 06:05:05 PM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 19 March, 2017, 06:01:26 PM
... Blood of Satanus III, and I'm a little surprised that hasn't already warranted a mention in this thread!
Likewise American Reaper actually, given the vitriol it prompted here on the board each time it ran! I haven't read it though, so I can't comment personally.
There have been far, far worse strips than American Reaper in 2000AD and The Meg's history.
I thoroughly disagree. The worst of the worst, not a single scrap of originality, or passion, or worth in the entire venture.
Im not really a fan of American Reaper either,but it was more bland then bad.Thou,Langley's artwork works a lot better for robots then for humans.
I've been gradually picking up batches of all the Megs that I missed over the last decade or so, and I've been pleaantly surprised by American Reaper, a strip I'd been dreading. Maybe it's because I'm reading a decent chunk at a time but I've actually enjoyed it quite a bit. I can see that the sheer number of pages it takes up in any given issue could be really irritating, given the hugely decompressed storytelling, and the reappearance of the same half dozen familiar faces of Clint & Co from Slaine, ABC Warriors and now Flesh is as distracting as ever... But in the proper format I think it could be pretty interesting.
Moreso that Greysuit at any rate, a strip whose rare moments of entertainment are just a bigger tease that enhances the awful disappointment. Definitely my current nomination for the List.
Quote from: Hawkmumbler on 19 March, 2017, 06:41:21 PM
Quote from: dweezil2 on 19 March, 2017, 06:07:48 PM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 19 March, 2017, 06:05:05 PM
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 19 March, 2017, 06:01:26 PM
... Blood of Satanus III, and I'm a little surprised that hasn't already warranted a mention in this thread!
Likewise American Reaper actually, given the vitriol it prompted here on the board each time it ran! I haven't read it though, so I can't comment personally.
There have been far, far worse strips than American Reaper in 2000AD and The Meg's history.
I thoroughly disagree. The worst of the worst, not a single scrap of originality, or passion, or worth in the entire venture.
GET OUT!
The American Reaper page count complaint is a tad Donald Trump - when it appeaered the page count of the meg went up without affecting the price or the ammount of other material.
Personally I liked it in a 'all in one read' way.
There is one Dredd author whose efforts I think stink the house out but I don't really think the forum is the place for such conversations.
I'm a fan of American Reaper. I thought the idea was quite good (identity theft to the next level) and the artwork suited the story - which I said to Clint at the 40th*, **
Cheers
*I bought an original page of artwork (Deadlock) which he said he changed slightly because he wasn't happy with it. And I got a discount.
**He said he would rather not work in digital format so often but, due to time constraints, it was often necessary.
Quote from: TordelBack on 19 March, 2017, 07:40:42 PM
Moreso that Greysuit at any rate, a strip whose rare moments of entertainment are just a bigger tease that enhances the awful disappointment. Definitely my current nomination for the List.
Got to say, I like
Greysuit too and am looking forward to its return in the Prog.
Quote from: dweezil2 on 19 March, 2017, 08:10:15 PM
Quote from: TordelBack on 19 March, 2017, 07:40:42 PM
Moreso that Greysuit at any rate, a strip whose rare moments of entertainment are just a bigger tease that enhances the awful disappointment. Definitely my current nomination for the List.
Got to say, I like Greysuit too and am looking forward to its return in the Prog.
Greysuit has some fantastic art. The script is typical Millsian dreck mind.
Quote from: Smith on 19 March, 2017, 06:44:56 PM
Im not really a fan of American Reaper either,but it was more bland then bad.Thou,Langley's artwork works a lot better for robots then for humans.
That's my feelings too.
Generic it may of been, but I still enjoyed reading it and I wouldn't classify it as bad.
Quote from: Hawkmumbler on 19 March, 2017, 08:11:51 PM
Quote from: dweezil2 on 19 March, 2017, 08:10:15 PM
Quote from: TordelBack on 19 March, 2017, 07:40:42 PM
Moreso that Greysuit at any rate, a strip whose rare moments of entertainment are just a bigger tease that enhances the awful disappointment. Definitely my current nomination for the List.
Got to say, I like Greysuit too and am looking forward to its return in the Prog.
Greysuit has some fantastic art. The script is typical Millsian dreck mind.
I like uncle Pat's didactic approach to writing and, as you stated, the lovely John Higgins art, so it's a win win for me! :)
As much as it pains me to mention them, I'd also have to say that The Balls Brothers and I Was A Teenage Tax Consultant were two very, very rare misfires from the usually reliable John Wagner.
Greysuit is a tricky one.I liked it the first time around,but when I reread it recently it didnt hold up.Way more sheep jokes then I remembered.
I liked American Reaper.
I'd forgotten all about The Grudgefather, and now it's come back to me like a repressed memory of being abused.
Quote from: Richard on 19 March, 2017, 08:45:14 PM
I'd forgotten all about The Grudgefather, and now it's come back to me like a repressed memory of being abused.
:lol: There's yer quote for the back of the trade collection!
Mother Earth was terrible. Good art as it was Cliff Robinson but the story was poor. Cliff deserved a better strip to work on.
Ive just read Pussyfoot 5 as part of my Prog Slog. Grud that was bad.
Quote from: dweezil2 on 19 March, 2017, 08:21:57 PM
As much as it pains me to mention them, I'd also have to say that The Balls Brothers and I Was A Teenage Tax Consultant were two very, very rare misfires from the usually reliable John Wagner.
Not sure I've actually read more than one episode of
IWaTTC, but I really liked
Balls Brothers. Even more when I read it again in a Meg floppy: just light-hearted silliness and nastiness more in the vein of Three Stooges and Bottom than Blues Brothers. Some of Walker's best ever art too
Quote from: Smith on 18 March, 2017, 06:54:25 PM
@RJ I dont know how far you got;but JFF Im guessing you didnt like Khronicles of Khaos and Hellbringer,but you liked Third Element and Shadow Warriors?:)
Am I that predictable? :D I have not read any of the ABC Warriors you mentioned above, but based on the titles alone you are likely right. What is the main premises of Khronicles of Khaos and Hellbringer?
I do enjoy a little esoteric fun, but the more stories lean on 'sorcery/magic' I tend to enjoy them less.
I haven't decided if I will buy more of the Mek Files or not (but as you know have been enjoying the Volgan war).
In Khronicles they collect heads for a ritual.In Hellbringer,there is a black hole generator they have to destroy.In short.
Third element and onwards,they return to sorting out Mars,so if you liked the first volume,this should be more your thing.So my advice is to stick with it.
Khronicals of Khaos is my favourite A.B.C Warriors story. I would also say it's one of the best 2000AD stories ever printed!
Cheers
Quote from: TordelBack on 18 March, 2017, 10:48:41 PM
I loathe Millar's Dredd and RoboHunter as much as the next guy, but... Big Dave is pretty funny, his 'Long Distance Calls' is a favourite Future Shock of mine...
That was a Tale From Beyond Science, and it remains my favorite thing that Millar ever wrote.
Mother Earth remains my least favorite 2000 AD series, but the '90s Harlem Heroes, Bison, and Stalag 666 are pretty close behind.
Which proves something I guess.
There are tales that you don't enjoy but which nonetheless leave some sort of lasting impression (e.g. for me the ones I listed earlier).
Then there are tales, which don't even make that sort of impression, and are just forgotten. For instance I have no memory whatsoever of Mother Earth.
Quote from: NapalmKev on 20 March, 2017, 07:17:48 AM
Khronicals of Khaos is my favourite A.B.C Warriors story. I would also say it's one of the best 2000AD stories ever printed!
Cheers
One of the first complete ABC Warriors stories i ever read, and loved it. Kev Walker's art was bloody fantastic.
I'm toying with getting all the ABC Warriors collections, and making that my next big reading project. Be nice to see the early Bisley stuff again.
Quote from: Echidna on 19 March, 2017, 05:06:28 PM
So far I've only read the most recent Indigo Prime story - the one with [spoiler]Christhulhu[/spoiler]. Is that the offensive bit? Personally I loved it and can't wait for more.
Quote from: Richard on 19 March, 2017, 12:01:11 PM
I forgot to mention The Straitjacket Fits over in the Megazine. Dire. Sorry Bish-Op, but stick to novels.
Yeah, despite a long tradition of mixing dark humour with the SF and action, 2000 AD and the Meg don't have a great track record when it comes to out-and-out comedy stories.
I quite liked the Balls Brothers
Quote from: Grant Goggans on 20 March, 2017, 07:57:10 AM
That was a Tale From Beyond Science, and it remains my favorite thing that Millar ever wrote.
You are of course and as always correct - I lazily tend to just call all the short stories Future Shocks, be they Terror, Twister, Beyond, MiB or Ro-Jaws branded. That Millar short is, I believe, the last time I excitedly encouraged friends to read something in my prog, not so long before Millar Dredd led me to drop the whole thing for five years...
Stalag 666 :)
Quote from: Smith on 19 March, 2017, 06:44:56 PM
Im not really a fan of American Reaper either,but it was more bland then bad.Thou,Langley's artwork works a lot better for robots then for humans.
Clint's photostrip work definitely suits robots better, but his hand-drawn stuff works all-round for me.
Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 19 March, 2017, 06:01:26 PM
*The other was Blood of Satanus III, and I'm a little surprised that hasn't already warranted a mention in this thread!
Was it the script or art you didn't like? If the latter, perhaps people don't want to speak ill of the dead?
Quote from: sheridan on 20 March, 2017, 12:53:36 PM
Quote from: Smith on 19 March, 2017, 06:44:56 PM
Im not really a fan of American Reaper either,but it was more bland then bad.Thou,Langley's artwork works a lot better for robots then for humans.
Clint's photostrip work definitely suits robots better, but his hand-drawn stuff works all-round for me.
I found it the other way around. The recent runs of 'A.B.C', while detailed and nice to look at, are a bit
static. All of the characters look as if they are just
there rather than moving or Fighting.
American Reaper on the other hand looked like it was moving at a breathless pace.
Cheers
John Byrne has this experiment where he screencaps Star Trek TOS,photoshops the pictures and arranges them into a comic(Which is a lot harder then one might think).
American Reaper fealt a lot like that,but with more effects.
There are very few 2000AD thrills that have, to me, been real stinkers on both story and art.
Captain Klep
Space Girls
the last half of Mean Arena book 2 was massively uninspired on both fronts (Mike White's art had been fun at first but even he lost interest by the end)
ParaSites (I actually have a soft spot for both the story and art on Wireheads, where it feels like I can see what both were going for even if it didn't come off. ParaSites was just a chore.)
R.A.M. Raiders is not without some merit, as a comic for younger readers, but it's a poor late work from the writer and a not-yet-great early work from the artist.
Detonator X is better than all those, but I have a special dislike for it because both Edginton and Yeowell have been so much better on so many other strips.
Other strips that I get the impression are generally disliked, but haven't been mentioned yet:
Soul Sisters (It is barely readable as a story, but Shaky Kane art is always worth a look to my mind)
MACH O (especially book 2; for whatever reason I found the whole thing charming)
Helltrekkers
MoonRunners
-neither of these last two are that bad, but they both committed the crime of just going on and on and on when they ran in the Prog.
You'd have to work hard to buy any of these strips by mistake, even though some have been reprinted!
Brigand Doom was not awful I suppose but thinking back now I have no idea what was going on in it.
Quote from: malkymac on 20 March, 2017, 07:08:25 PM
Brigand Doom was not awful I suppose but thinking back now I have no idea what was going on in it.
Just read
V for Vendetta - it's pretty much the same thing, but better.
While I thought Mark Millar's
Dredd was awful, I really liked
Silo,
Big Dave and a couple of his one-offs. And I kind of liked
Return to Verdus at the time too - I didn't remember much of the original Robo-Hunter at the time (and hadn't watched
Apocalypse Now either). I've been wished the golf-club-skewering death from the story for saying this on the forum before - it's generally the friendliest place on the internet, but not always.
I really disliked pretty much everything Garth Ennis did for the prog when they brought him on board. Even his better Dredds showed poor characterisation and dialogue. It was only things like
Zenith Phase 4 and most of what John Smith was doing that kept me buying during that period, and when John Wagner came back, it was like a new beginning.
Strangely, though, I liked his two later returns to Dredd. I think I'm the only person who enjoyed
Helter Skelter, but I found that in it and
Monkey on my Back his Dredd as a character was no longer the monosyllabic, sweary thug that he gave us in
Judgement Day. Though being Garth Ennis stories, they of course had
Unforgiven endings.
I read 2000ad as a kid, it was a short affair, December 94 to November 95. I did watch a 2000ad documentary that described 1995 as one of 2D's worst years, and that it nearly ended up getting the comic cancelled the next year. I recently reread nearly all of 95' progs and thoroughly enjoyed myself. I loved Finn, Amoured Gideon, the Brigand doom story was quite entertaining (great art work). I even enjoyed "Timehouse" which everybody appears to hate lol.
Quote from: marko10174 on 20 March, 2017, 08:05:42 PM
I even enjoyed "Timehouse" which everybody appears to hate lol.
I don't!
Quote from: AlexF on 20 March, 2017, 05:00:19 PM
Other strips that I get the impression are generally disliked, but haven't been mentioned yet:
Soul Sisters (It is barely readable as a story, but Shaky Kane art is always worth a look to my mind)
MACH O (especially book 2; for whatever reason I found the whole thing charming)
Helltrekkers
MoonRunners
-neither of these last two are that bad, but they both committed the crime of just going on and on and on when they ran in the Prog.
I liked M.A.C.H.0 - reminds me of Ro-Jaws Memoirs (not just because they had the same artist). I also thought Helltrekkers was great - can't beat a rapidly diminishing cast list!
Moonrunners wasn't the best use of Bellardinelli's artwork, though maybe I'll enjoy it more next time I read it.
I'm not a fan of Shaky Kane or Jack Kirby, so Soul Sisters is irredeemable in my eyes ;)
I actually enjoy Ennis' Dredd run, especially the first half (including Emerald Isle, Death Aid, and Judgement Day). Yes, his love for Dredd sometimes reads like fanficiton, but I mostly found his strips entertaining and humorous. However, I really did not like Muzak Killer...
Muzak Killer was Garth at his lowest ebb, and I can't understand why it's in the Mega-Collection. But I liked Helter Skelter, Raider, Justice One, The Marshall, to name but four.
Quote from: Rogue Judge on 20 March, 2017, 09:09:44 PMHowever, I really did not like Muzak Killer...
I was about to say that you'd probably have enjoyed it if you'd been an NME-reading teenager at the time. But then I remembered that I was, and I didn't.
Ersatz Jason Donovan's overexcited confession to Dredd about his ersatz cocaine use was just ridiculous. And not in an intentional, fatties-and-simps way either.
Diverting the thread somewhat to kindly slip in the fact I very much don't hate Purgatory. It's utter guff but I can enjoy it as a piece of exploitation escapism.
Quote from: Hawkmumbler on 20 March, 2017, 10:26:29 PM
Diverting the thread somewhat to kindly slip in the fact I very much don't hate Purgatory. It's utter guff but I can enjoy it as a piece of exploitation escapism.
seconded.
Did Moonrunners go on for ages? I recall very little about it other than it being a bit of a waste of Belardinelli art and nothing seemed to happen- in fact all I recall is some pointless milling about on a ship and that awful, contrived towel-slip scene (which was later beaten into second place for Worst Awful, Contrived Towel-slip Scene by Grey Area).
I too enjoyed Death Aid very much.
I really liked the (not very original) concept of Mach Zero, which I thought was a bit of a 2000AD version of Hulk. Haven't read it since it was first published though. The younger version of me was never going to appreciate art by Ramon Sola and Mike Dorey. Quite the opposite now. And Mike Dorey's style no longer creeps me out (much).
(http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m251/alexfrith/dirtyheroes.jpg)
I have fond memories of the 2000AD version of Captain Klep, perhaps because the Kevin O'Neill version sticks in my mind and because I produced comics as a teenager that 'borrowed' some of the gags.
Zombie Communism?
Quote from: malkymac on 20 March, 2017, 07:08:25 PM
Brigand Doom was not awful I suppose but thinking back now I have no idea what was going on in it.
Quote from: Rara Avis on 21 March, 2017, 02:17:20 PM
Zombie Communism?
Walkers of the world unite! You have nothing to lose but your BRAINS!
Quote from: Lobo Baggins on 21 March, 2017, 02:48:09 PM
Quote from: Rara Avis on 21 March, 2017, 02:17:20 PM
Zombie Communism?
Walkers of the world unite! You have nothing to lose but your BRAINS!
Imagine there's a 'Like' button and i'm pushing it hard.
Quote from: Richard on 20 March, 2017, 09:21:33 PM
Muzak Killer was Garth at his lowest ebb, and I can't understand why it's in the Mega-Collection. But I liked Helter Skelter, Raider, Justice One, The Marshall, to name but four.
Yeah,Helter Skelter was pretty fun.
But compare Emerald Isle to its sequel and you can see that Ennis really burned out by the end of his run.
Btw,nobody mentioned the Corps so far?Thank Grud,Garths take on Kleggs didnt stick.
I read part of a Garth Ennis strip that was reprinted in the Mega Collection. The one set in Ireland with the potato guns/spud guns. Awful. Words cannot describe the awfulness.
Despite regular reprints of his work in the Mega Collection I stuck with it until Sleaze and Ryder which there was no reason to reprint.
I think he's very interesting to listen to in interview but in terms of Dredd he was the wrong choice.
Quote from: Tony Angelino on 21 March, 2017, 06:42:27 PM
... in terms of Dredd (Garth Ennis) was the wrong choice
Tharg's Talent Pool, 1990:
Grant Morrison
Mark Millar
Pete Milligan
Alan Grant
John Smith
Pat Mills
Alan McKenzie
Hillary Robinson
Mike Fleischer
John Brosnan
Dave Gibbons
Tise Vahimagi
Steve MacManus
Tom Tully
Gerry Finley-Day
Kelvin Gosnell
Steve White
Paul Neary
Peter Hogan
Ian Edginton
Warren Ellis
Tony Skinner
James Robinson
Steve Parkhouse
Alan Martin
D'Israeli
Julie Hollings
Charles Shaar Murray
Igor Goldkind
Alan Hebden
Jamie Delano
Neil Gaiman
Alan MooreI suppose Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning were knocking about Marvel UK, and Simon Furman too - Si Spencer and Jon Beeston at Deadline would have been bigger punts than Ennis. After that, you're looking at US or European creators who have never shown any sign of wanting to work for Tharg (or take the pay cut that entails).
Maybe pre-fame/drugs/baldness Morrison might have done a passable Wagner/Grant pastiche
(for a wee while) but, of that list, Garth Ennis* is the only person I've ever heard say they'd read the comic, enjoyed the stories, or knew the characters. I'd say he was clearly the best choice - it just didn't work out.
* John Smith is a genuine fan, but his work rate suggests he's not the choice for a 52 episodes per year gig
Fair enough. I don't know who would have been the best choice but I still wouldn't say Garth was an option either. The Marvel UK guys would maybe have been the best option.
UK comics were in a very bad state at that time with the drain to DC Comics. I get the feeling IPC, or Fleetway, just didn't have any back up plan regarding their creators.
Quote from: Tony Angelino on 21 March, 2017, 06:42:27 PM
I read part of a Garth Ennis strip that was reprinted in the Mega Collection. The one set in Ireland with the potato guns/spud guns. Awful. Words cannot describe the awfulness.
That's an Ennis highpoint for me, very funny and not a little true to life.
Quote from: Tony Angelino on 21 March, 2017, 06:42:27 PM
I read part of a Garth Ennis strip that was reprinted in the Mega Collection. The one set in Ireland with the potato guns/spud guns. Awful. Words cannot describe the awfulness.
Whaaaaat? Fair enough if it isn't your cup of tea but that seems overly harsh on one of the best post-Necroplois stories. The spud-guns are silly, yes, but a) they're very funny and b) in the context of the story they're
meant to be a bit stupid and stereotypical.
It's a story that
in no way approaches the nadir of the Dredd strip. It trumps anything Millar or Morrison ever wrote, for starters, though that isn't saying much...!
Quote from: TordelBack on 21 March, 2017, 09:08:27 PM
That's an Ennis highpoint for me, very funny and not a little true to life.
FAKE NEWS. Sad.
No, you're right of course. I hated it at the time but have warmed to it since. Still got Dredd's character wrong though. And it kills me to see those giant sea muties singing 'A-Dredd, a-Dredd oh' at the end, when it quite clearly should have been 'Goodbye, goodbye, Joe.'
For what it's worth, I only encountered Ennis/Morrison/Millar stuff when I reached them in the Case Files and the stuff by Ennis is far preferable than the Morrison/Millar stuff. Some of the Ennis stories are very enjoyable such as Raider and Death Aid.
Garth obviously has his fans and I shall not say anything further (other than I don't enjoy his stuff). I like listening to him get interviewed as he has a lot to say.
Grant Morrison. Zenith Phase One was fantastic and was a real boost to 2000AD just when it needed it. It was diminishing returns after that as I don't think the remaining 'phases' lived up to the first one (although I still enjoyed them and bought the hardbacks that Rebellion published in the last few years). In he 1980's (maybe 90's) on the strength of his first Zenith I started to follow his US stuff like Doom Patrol and Animal Man. Best thing about those were the Bolland covers on Animal Man. I've never understood his popularity since or why some people consider him a genius.
Mark Millar didn't do anything of merit for 2000AD as far as I'm aware.
Quote from: Tony Angelino on 21 March, 2017, 08:49:01 PM
Fair enough. I don't know who would have been the best choice but I still wouldn't say Garth was an option either. The Marvel UK guys would maybe have been the best option. UK comics were in a very bad state at that time with the drain to DC Comics. I get the feeling IPC, or Fleetway, just didn't have any back up plan regarding their creators.
True, but you can't just magic good writers out of thin air. Wagner, Grant & Mills were writing 50% of IPC's output - under normal circumstances, Milligan, Morrison and Smith would have been their replacements.
None of them were great Dredd writers, though, so you'd still have that problem. If you fancy seeing how well the Marvel UK gang would have done on Dredd, the 1992 Dredd Yearbook (http://www.2000ad.org/?zone=prog&page=specials&choice=DREDD92) is almost all Marvel alumni. Furman's two Dredds are wonky and Abnett's is awful*.
Ennis's lengthier work (http://www.2000ad.org/?zone=droid&page=thrills&Comic=2000AD&Field=Writer&choice=garthe) -
Death Aid, Justice 1, The Marshal, and Raider - is as good as anything the non-Wagners have created. He did some great one-offs
(A,B or C Warrior, First Of The Many, Return Of The King), but he clearly couldn't generate enough ideas for single issue stories.
If he'd concentrated on longer arcs, I think his time on Dredd would have worked out very differently.
* Abnett's other Dredd strips (Rad Blood, CHAMP, and Parts Exchange (http://www.2000ad.org/?zone=droid&page=thrills&Comic=2000AD&Field=Writer&choice=dana)) are just middling. Insurrection and Lawless demonstrate he's learned to do Dreddworld, so maybe he'll have another shot at the main strip, some day
Warren Ellis was also offered a Dredd gig around at this time – which he promptly refused despite being a long –time reader & a fan (cf young Master Warren's letters to the Nerve Centre) because he felt that he could not do Old Stoney Face (ahem) justice.
Quote from: Tony Angelino on 21 March, 2017, 10:30:34 PM
Mark Millar didn't do anything of merit for 2000AD as far as I'm aware.
To me that's a bit like saying Margaret Thatcher didn't really help the mining industry in the eighties.
Witness for the prosecution: the Sam Slade marrying Cutie storyline.
Quote from: Frank on 21 March, 2017, 10:54:01 PM
Ennis's lengthier work (http://www.2000ad.org/?zone=droid&page=thrills&Comic=2000AD&Field=Writer&choice=garthe) - Death Aid, Justice 1, The Marshal, and Raider - is as good as anything the non-Wagners have created. He did some great one-offs (A,B or C Warrior, First Of The Many, Return Of The King), but he clearly couldn't generate enough ideas for single issue stories.
Now, me, I didn't like any of those -
Death Aid had some fairly ridiculous plot holes, for example, and
Return of the King seemed to completely ignore Dredd's character development during Necropolis ('The Law is
never wrong, Hershey' - don't you remember why you left the city, Joey boy?).
Quote from: Frank on 21 March, 2017, 08:18:52 PMMaybe pre-fame/drugs/baldness Morrison might have done a passable Wagner/Grant pastiche (for a wee while)
But it's clear both from interviews and the Dredd work that he did turn in that he didn't really understand or like Dredd. 'Inferno' is the closest he gets to a Wagner/Grant pastiche and it's desperately insipid.
Quote from: JayzusB.Christ on 22 March, 2017, 08:02:09 AM
Quote from: Frank on 21 March, 2017, 10:54:01 PM
Ennis's lengthier work (http://www.2000ad.org/?zone=droid&page=thrills&Comic=2000AD&Field=Writer&choice=garthe) - Death Aid, Justice 1, The Marshal, and Raider - is as good as anything the non-Wagners have created. He did some great one-offs (A,B or C Warrior, First Of The Many, Return Of The King), but he clearly couldn't generate enough ideas for single issue stories.
Now, me, I didn't like any of those - Death Aid had some fairly ridiculous plot holes, for example, and Return of the King seemed to completely ignore Dredd's character development during Necropolis ('The Law is never wrong, Hershey' - don't you remember why you left the city, Joey boy?).
Really disliked
Death Aid, some wonderfully atmospheric art was by far the best thing about
Justice One, but I do rather like
Return of the King. Still reckon
Monkey on My Back was Ennis' best work on the character, but overall his tenure was very far from the worst.
I'm the guy who quite liked Bison, as it goes. No... really.
I thought Last night Out was one of Garths better stories.
Quote from: Smith on 22 March, 2017, 05:20:34 PM
I thought Last night Out was one of Garths better stories.
What happened in that one again?
Another Judge has a few more hours to live,so he and Dredd go on a last patrol together.Its touching really.
Quote from: The Corinthian on 22 March, 2017, 02:24:41 PM
Quote from: Frank on 21 March, 2017, 08:18:52 PMMaybe pre-fame/drugs/baldness Morrison might have done a passable Wagner/Grant pastiche (for a wee while)
But it's clear both from interviews and the Dredd work that he did turn in that he didn't really understand or like Dredd. 'Inferno' is the closest he gets to a Wagner/Grant pastiche and it's desperately insipid.
What you say is true. I was addressing why the three most talented candidates amongst Tharg's employees -
Morrison, Milligan*, and Smith - would have been as problematic as Ennis.
1990 Grant's Dredd wouldn't have been any more inspired than his
Zoids or
Action Force, but I don't think it would have been the sneering parody of the Morrison who'd suffered a mental breakdown and watched his original and innovative creations bomb.
And in 1990, writing Dredd was still ostensibly a prestigious gig; the most high profile strip in a title featuring the work of rising stars and legends**. The
2000ad of 1993-1995 was a wretched thing, which deserved the burlesquing it received from Morrison & Millar.
* I didn't mention Milligan before. He wrote a decent Batman, apparently, but - like Morrison and Smith - his aesthetic and interests are so far removed from the Cowboy/Dirty Harry narrative pulse of Dredd I couldn't see him keeping up an act of John Wagner imposture for any longer than Ennis managed.
** Not that Morrison needed the gig or the prestige - he'd just had a New York Times bestseller with Arkham Asylum, and Doom Patrol and Animal Man were receiving more generous critical plaudits than he's received in the rest of his career
Possible Heresy Alert:
I never really enjoyed black and white comic strips back in the day. However when I re read Brigand Doom Dave D'Antiquis artwork changed my mind. This strip has some amazing city scapes that have real depth and scope. It really made me appreciate the art form in a way I never have before.
Quote from: TordelBack on 21 March, 2017, 03:49:52 PM
Imagine there's a 'Like' button and i'm pushing it hard.
The artwork on Brigand Doom saved it. It'd be a good candidate for a floppy, assuming Tharg isn't going to bring out a collection which would have limited interest.
I may have missed the start and end of it, I would definitely read again but I'm not sure I'd actually go out and buy a collected edition.
It's funny, any time I think about BG I immediately think of a bad smell.
Quote from: Smith on 22 March, 2017, 05:46:32 PM
Another Judge has a few more hours to live,so he and Dredd go on a last patrol together.Its touching really.
Yeah, I kind of remember it now. A few more like that and a few less like the mutant Teddy Bear one and Garth could have shone on Dredd.
When I got back on the prog horse a few years back I tackled my largely-unread pile of progs from the first half of the 90's. 'Wretched' was a fair description, as someone said. We can't have American Reaper, so I'd plump for Timehouse. An unbearably twee light comedy that I couldn't believe was in the prog - like pages from another mag had mistakenly been stapled in at the printers, somehow.
Glad the thread's stayed upbeat/understanding :-) (And that Timehouse has its fans, all the same). From the same period, Junker looked great, Silo was interesting & atmospheric, Dead Meat was nicely silly/lushly painted. Mind you, Brigand Doom felt a bit lame and tiresome. And Dredd was painful to read, especially that Egyptian nonsense.
That was the period when I gave up but I don't think it was any one single strip that pushed me over the edge. 'Timehouse', looked at in isolation, isn't offensive or even particularly bad. It was the relentless drip of middling-to-poor-to-awful that drove me away. The last Prog I bought was 869, and it was the combination of Millar 'Dredd', 'Soul Gun', 'Mother Earth' and the return of 'Big Dave' that made me think "why am I paying for this any more?"
But if it hadn't been that, it would have been 'Dinosty' or 'The Grudge-Father' or 'Babe Race 2000' or a dozen other awful strips waiting in the wings in 1994.
Quote from: The Corinthian on 24 March, 2017, 11:44:29 AM
it would have been 'Dinosty' or 'Babe Race 2000' or a dozen other awful strips waiting in the wings in 1994.
Noooo! I had successfully deleted those from my mind... now they are back :o
My last bought was 866, but last read was several issues before that. Came back at 1270- I thought I'd only been away around 4 years, but it was actually double that. I did get a lot of back issues I missed free off someone nearer to the 1270 end of my missing progs, so I still have a huge gap after 866 that I'm not in any danger of attempting to fill it. Unless they're nearby and free, I am Scottish after all...