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Now I Know My ABCs...

Started by Funt Solo, 31 March, 2021, 05:43:21 AM

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I, Cosh

The available date (and thus publication year) of any given Prog or Meg is the cover date of the previous issue + 1. However, for the purposes of "best of year X" polls, the year end Prog should always be considered as part of the following (cover date) year as usually a bunch of new stories start in that issue.
We never really die.

Lorenzo

Can't say I agree with that. Cataloguing should be based on what is consistently measurable: the cover date. Whether or not a new story starts in it doesn't alter the year of publication. Plenty of stories start and end throughout the year. I think I'll stick with how they are listed on here: https://shop.2000ad.com/catalogue/2000-ad

sheridan

Quote from: Lorenzo on 29 June, 2021, 11:04:43 AM
I don't know who dreamt up the alternate Prog numbers, but it was a bad idea. Progs 2000, 2001, 2002 etc all the way up to 2015 should be in the previous year. Prog 2000 is Christmas 1999. Sure, they are end of year double issues, but if somebody asks me where I was for Christmas 2000 I don't think they mean 1999! Otherwise, that way madness lies!  ;)

Nah - Prog 2000 had a cover date of 28 September 2016...



On the general topic - the cover date on British comics traditionally isn't a publication date, or even a guide for people making databases when home computing became practical decades later - it's a guide to the newsagent on when to take the comic off the shelves and replace it with the next one.

Funt Solo

Quote from: Lorenzo on 29 June, 2021, 12:23:11 PM
Cataloguing should be based on what is consistently measurable: the cover date.

When I read that this morning I metaphorically spat my tea all over the screen. If only such a beast existed as the fabled consistently measurable cover date, I might use it. You pointed out yourself in your previous posts some of the things that don't stand up to that measure. Others have pointed out the truth that the date on the cover is not the publication date - like all good scientists, once we have that new information, it would behoove us to act on it, rather than doggedly stick to our original position.

Ultimately, my data is trying to provide some measure of reality to my hobby of trying to collate the correct order in which the stories were published. As to why that's important to me: it ties especially into crossover events like Every Empire Falls.

And we most certainly are through the looking glass. Take prog 2000. Or do I mean Prog 2000? There's the Prog 2000 published in 1999 (that is actually the one thousand, one hundred and seventy-fourth issue of 2000 AD), and then there's the prog 2000 published in 2016 (that's actually the 2016th issue of 2000 AD). Which means that the lowly prog 1984 is the real prog 2000!

Don't forget the Annuals - each one named for the upcoming year, and published, as far as I can tell, around August.

My data, for certain is not perfect, but it's attempting to get the publication order correct. Cover dates do not always help in this endeavor.

---

One final point - have you read Megazine 433 yet? You cannot answer "yes" using your preferred cataloging system, because look at the cover date - it says July 20th, 2021, which has not yet come to pass.

++ A-Z ++  coma ++

Funt Solo

Sorry to bang on (not really), but I was scratching my head about a particularly brutal example and finally remembered it.

Check out Barney (caveat: I'm entirely not worthy when it comes to the wonder that is Barney) for Megazine 1.20 and Megazine 2.01.

Barney says:

Meg 1.20, COVER DATE: 1st May, 1992
Meg 2.01, COVER DATE: 2nd May, 1992

This is the switch over from the monthly volume #1 into the fortnightly volume #2 - and no, they weren't published a day apart. In all likelihood, the 2.01 cover date given in Barney is probably the real publication date, because the cover provides a range "May 2-15", which would have given the shop a clue for a system they were not used to dealing with.

Then the 1.20 cover date is one month out of the actual publication date, as is standard, so that was probably published on the 1st of April. So, they were in all probability published one month apart, not one day apart.

++ A-Z ++  coma ++

Funt Solo

This has reminded me of one of my favorite YouTube videos: The Problem with Time & Timezones - Computerphile

The presenter does a great job of descending into partial madness as he explains the issue in great depth.
++ A-Z ++  coma ++

Definitely Not Mister Pops

Quote from: Funt Solo on 29 June, 2021, 07:53:37 PM
This has reminded me of one of my favorite YouTube videos: The Problem with Time & Timezones - Computerphile

The presenter does a great job of descending into partial madness as he explains the issue in great depth.

The presenter is Tom Scott and his youtube channel is fantastic.
You may quote me on that.

Funt Solo

A-Z updates

++NEW SECTIONS++
- Dice Man
- Harlem Heroes (both of 'em)
- Hondo City Justice
- Hope...
- Hunted

++TIDY-UP DROID++
Added a Rogueverse icon.
++ A-Z ++  coma ++

Lorenzo

Quote from: Funt Solo on 29 June, 2021, 05:12:00 PM
Quote from: Lorenzo on 29 June, 2021, 12:23:11 PM
Cataloguing should be based on what is consistently measurable: the cover date.

When I read that this morning I metaphorically spat my tea all over the screen. If only such a beast existed as the fabled consistently measurable cover date, I might use it....

Yeah, I think I was being a little optimistic when I mentioned cover dates! However, it has only really become a problem since 2010 and I did mention the oddball Xmas progs with their own numbering. So I didn't really need to have that explained again.

Anyway, I did some digging and starting with the reboot in 2003, went through all of the issues to match cover date with the release date. 2003 to 2008 have 13 issues per year but things start to go out of synch with the cover date in 2009 when there were 14 issues. From that point onwards the "January" release is dated February. However, everything before that was released really close to the cover date so January really was January. So, I stand by my assertion that:
QuoteMeg 201 is January 2003, Meg 214 is Jan 2004, M227 is Jan 2005 etc.
at least up to 2009. I'm sure there are some bonkers exceptions from previous years but I didn't go any further back. Anyhoo, maybe you find this useful; some obvious errors in Rebellion's release dates I have marked red:

2003 - 13 issues every 4 weeks reboot resize for new year
201 Cover Date 14 jan Release Date 29 jan
202 Cover Date 11 feb Release Date 11 feb
203 Cover Date 11 mar Release Date 19 mar
204 Cover Date 08 apr Release Date 23 apr
205 Cover Date 06 may Release Date 06 may
206 Cover Date 03 jun Release Date 03 jun
207 Cover Date 01 jul Release Date 01 jul
208 Cover Date 29 jul Release Date [color=red]27 aug[/color]
209 Cover Date 26 aug Release Date 26 aug
210 Cover Date 23 sep Release Date 23 sep
211 Cover Date 21 oct Release Date 21 oct
212 Cover Date 18 nov Release Date 18 nov
213 Cover Date 16 dec Release Date 16 dec

2004 - 13 issues
214 Cover Date 13 jan Release Date 28 jan
215 Cover Date 10 feb Release Date 25 feb
216 Cover Date 8 mar Release Date 24 mar
217 Cover Date 6 apr Release Date 6 apr
218 Cover Date 4 may Release Date 18 may
219 Cover Date 1 jun Release Date 1 jun
220 Cover Date 29 jun Release Date 21 jul
221 Cover Date 27 jul Release Date 18 aug
222 Cover Date 24 aug Release Date 24 aug
223 Cover Date 21 sep Release Date 21 sep
224 Cover Date 19 oct Release Date 19 oct
225 Cover Date 16 nov Release Date 16 nov
226 Cover Date 14 dec Release Date 29 dec

2005 - 13 issues
227 Cover Date 11 jan Release Date 11 jan
228 Cover Date 8 feb Release Date 8 feb
229 Cover Date 8 mar Release Date 8 mar
230 Cover Date 5 apr Release Date 5 apr
231 Cover Date 3 may Release Date 3 may
232 Cover Date 31 may Release Date 31 may
233 Cover Date 28 jun Release Date 28 jun
234 Cover Date 26 jul Release Date 26 jul
235 Cover Date 23 aug Release Date 24 aug
236 Cover Date 20 sep Release Date 19 oct
237 Cover Date 23 oct Release Date 23 nov
238 Cover Date 15 nov Release Date 7 dec
239 Cover Date 13 dec Release Date 13 dec

2006 - 13 issues
240 Cover Date 10 jan Release Date 10 jan
241 Cover Date 7 feb Release Date 7 feb
242 Cover Date 7 mar Release Date 7 mar
243 Cover Date 4 apr Release Date 4 apr
244 Cover Date 2 may Release Date 2 may
245 Cover Date 30 may Release Date 30 may
246 Cover Date 27 jun Release Date [color=red]19 jul[/color]
247 Cover Date 25 jul Release Date [color=red]23 aug[/color]
248 Cover Date 22 aug Release Date 22 aug
249 Cover Date 19 sep Release Date 19 sep
250 Cover Date 17 oct Release Date 17 oct
251 Cover Date 14 nov Release Date 6 dec
252 Cover Date 12 dec Release Date 27 dec

2007 - 13 issues
253 Cover Date 9 jan Release Date 9 jan
254 Cover Date 6 feb Release Date 6 feb
255 Cover Date 6 mar Release Date 6 mar
256 Cover Date 3 apr Release Date 3 apr
257 Cover Date 1 may Release Date 1 may
258 Cover Date 29 may Release Date 29 may
259 Cover Date 26 jun Release Date 26 jun
260 Cover Date 24 jul Release Date [color=red]22 aug[/color]
261 Cover Date 21 aug Release Date 21 aug
262 Cover Date 18 sep Release Date 24 oct
263 Cover Date 16 oct Release Date 7 nov
264 Cover Date 13 nov Release Date 28 nov
265 Cover Date 11 dec Release Date 26 dec

2008 - 13 issues
266 Cover Date 8 jan Release Date 8 jan
267 Cover Date 5 feb Release Date 5 feb
268 Cover Date 4 mar Release Date 4 mar
269 Cover Date 1 apr Release Date 1 apr
270 Cover Date 29 apr Release Date 29 apr
271 Cover Date 27 may Release Date 27 may
272 Cover Date 24 jun Release Date 24 jun
273 Cover Date 22 jul Release Date 23 jul
274 Cover Date 19 aug Release Date 27 aug
275 Cover Date 17 sep Release Date 24 sep
276 Cover Date 14 oct Release Date 22 oct
277 Cover Date 11 Nov Release Date 26 nov
278 Cover Date 9 Dec Release Date 24 dec

2009  - 14 Issues
279 Cover Date 6 Jan Release Date 7 jan
280 Cover Date 3 feb Release Date 3 feb
281 Cover Date 3 mar Release Date 3 mar
282 Cover Date 31 mar Release Date 31 mar
283 Cover Date 28 apr Release Date 28 apr
284 Cover Date 26 may Release Date 26 may
285 Cover Date 23 jun Release Date 23 jun
286 Cover Date 21 jul Release Date [color=red]20 may[/color]
287 Cover Date 18 aug Release Date 18 aug
288 Cover Date 15 sep Release Date 15 sep
289 Cover Date 13 oct Release Date [color=red]16 sep[/color]
290 Cover Date 10 nov Release Date [color=red]28 oct[/color]
291 Cover Date 8 dec Release Date 25 nov
292 Cover Date 5 jan Release Date 23 dec

2010 - 13 issues
293 Cover Date 2 Feb Release Date 6 jan
294 Cover Date 2 mar Release Date 3 feb
295 Cover Date 30 mar Release Date 3 mar
296 Cover Date 27 apr Release Date 31 mar
297 Cover Date 25 may Release Date 28 apr
298 Cover Date 22 jun Release Date 26 may
299 Cover Date 28 jul Release Date 21 jul
300 Cover Date 17 aug Release Date 21 jul
301 Cover Date 14 sep Release Date 18 aug
302 Cover Date 12 oct Release Date 29 sep
303 Cover Date 9 nov Release Date 24 nov
304 Cover Date 7 dec Release Date 10 nov
305 Cover Date 4 jan Release Date 29 dec





Funt Solo

Quote from: Funt Solo on 28 June, 2021, 04:58:27 PM
Just to follow up, you can see Meg 214 on Barney - it has a cover date of 13th January, 2004, but the cover says "MONSTER Christmas ISSUE", and it comes with a 2004 calendar (which you'd want to supply just prior to 2004, one would hope).



Given that information - "MONSTER Christmas ISSUE", and the contents of the comic including the Christmas-themed Dredd tale "Turkey Shoot", and the fact that the cover date of a monthly publication is not the publication date, why do you remain convinced that it was published in January?

What am I missing? Is it just that Rebellion's web site has written "released 13th Jan 2004"? Because it looks like they just wrote that in because it's the cover date. Which is not the publication date, as has been mentioned a few times.
++ A-Z ++  coma ++

Lorenzo

I don't think you're missing anything. The editor's letter also mentions having "had a lot of fun with the Meg in 2003. But trust me you ain't seen nothing yet." Kinda implying this is the start of a new year. I'm just going on the available data - of course it's bleedin' obvious there are Xmas episodes in these progs/megs - but there aren't any other available dates and Reb's own site lists 214 as the first issue for the year. If Rebellion think it's issue one of 2004, who am I to argue?

I, Cosh

Which I wasn't on holiday right now so I could properly join in with this one!
We never really die.

Funt Solo

#87
Quote from: Lorenzo on 30 June, 2021, 06:23:42 PM
I'm just going on the available data

You're using one source, and I don't understand why you're ignoring the thing about the cover date being the "remove from the shelf" date for monthly publications. Why ignore that?

---

We could segue slightly here - the encyclopedia that they're currently serializing in the Meg floppies is (of course) a great resource. But it has mistakes in it. It's also published by Rebellion - which is just a collection of people who are just as fallible as anyone else.

---

Edit: not that any of this really matters. You're perfectly welcome to use your system for your data collation. The problems of us two squaxx don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world.
++ A-Z ++  coma ++

Lorenzo

Quote from: Funt Solo on 29 June, 2021, 05:55:32 PM
...Barney says:

Meg 1.20, COVER DATE: 1st May, 1992
Meg 2.01, COVER DATE: 2nd May, 1992

This is the switch over from the monthly volume #1 into the fortnightly volume #2 - and no, they weren't published a day apart...

It's actually worse than that ;)
Meg 1.20 has a cover date of 20th May and inside says the first fortnightly Meg [2.01] goes on sale May 2nd "in just two weeks".  :lol:

Lorenzo

Quote from: Funt Solo on 30 June, 2021, 06:41:15 PM
Quote from: Lorenzo on 30 June, 2021, 06:23:42 PM
I'm just going on the available data

You're using one source, and I don't understand why you're ignoring the thing about the cover date being the "remove from the shelf" date for monthly publications. Why ignore that?
I'm not ignoring it and neither is it gospel, but it is just as variable as all the other data.