Messages

1

Books & Comics / Re: Monster Fun Issue 1 (Easter Special)

« on: 06 April, 2022, 07:45:32 PM »

I can honestly say that if I knew this was going to be the case I wouldn't have bothered subbing and would have bought the webshop copy to get the Sweeny story (and the nice cover).

I know there are other things to be getting upset about in this Krazy world (see what I did there), but I cannot get the image of my son's fallen face out of my mind.

Instead of what I imagine would have been an elated feeling from both of us had we got our sub copy through and it had turned out to be this webshop "exclusive" - though subbing in itself seems pretty exclusive if you ask me.

2

Books & Comics / Monster Fun Issue 1 (Easter Special)

« on: 06 April, 2022, 06:51:26 PM »

It does seem that I just delurk to come on here and moan, but hey-ho...

Anyway, subbed immediately to Monster Fun when it was announced that it would be an ongoing thing last year - for me natch, but my middle son is a BIG old IPC/Fleetway fan, having devoured all my old comics and annuals in rapid fashion.

Big Tom Paterson fans as well, who wouldn't be, so surprised to see in the Issue 1 (or Easter Special as it appears to be) there was no sign of his work.

So getting the Thrill Mail this week I can say we are slightly put out to see there is a "webshop exclusive edition" with a lovely Tom Paterson cover and a Sweeny Toddler story!

https://shop.treasuryofbritishcomics.com/catalogue/MFU0013

Surely as subscribers we should have received this issue instead of the standard newsstand copy?

I've subbed to a lot of comics and mags in my time and subscribers always used to get special covers etc.

It's the same price as well so I don't feel I'd be asking for anything out of the ordinary.

Hopefully this is just an oversight and in the future loyal subscribers who've taken a chance paying upfront months ago aren't overlooked for these "exclusives".

Leaves a little sour taste in the mouth, esp seeing my sons face drop when his fave story is only available if we pay again for another copy!

Rant over, maybe I'll delurk to post something happy next time



"This limited Webshop edition of Monster Fun Issue 1 has an exclusive cover and a never before seen Sweeny Toddler comic strip written and drawn by Tom Paterson."

3

Books & Comics / Re: The 2022 Humble Bundle - same problem again

« on: 18 March, 2022, 08:55:57 PM »

Excellent stuff.

Just quickly downloaded a couple and the CBZ's are now as expected (as an example, The Vigilant - previous size 29.8 MB, an unreadable fuzzy mess, new file 127 MB and nice and clear).

There are a number of titles missing their CBZ's though, maybe they will upload them later but just thought I'd mention it in case they need another push.

2000AD Regened 1+2
Charleys War books 1-3
Battle of Britain Special 2020
Battle of Britain - War Picture Library (both)
Black Beth and the Devils of Al-Kadesh
Action 2020 Special
Monster

I've just checked and there are all there now.

I did some stats on image resolution etc and it looks like the current batch have fairly consistent page sizes (the b&w ones are larger than colour, to show off the detail?) and fairly consistent filesizes per image (so consistent compression/quality level)

Brilliant, all fixed up then, got there in the end!

4

Books & Comics / Re: The 2022 Humble Bundle - same problem again

« on: 09 March, 2022, 07:59:21 AM »

Excellent stuff.

Just quickly downloaded a couple and the CBZ's are now as expected (as an example, The Vigilant - previous size 29.8 MB, an unreadable fuzzy mess, new file 127 MB and nice and clear).

There are a number of titles missing their CBZ's though, maybe they will upload them later but just thought I'd mention it in case they need another push.

2000AD Regened 1+2
Charleys War books 1-3
Battle of Britain Special 2020
Battle of Britain - War Picture Library (both)
Black Beth and the Devils of Al-Kadesh
Action 2020 Special
Monster

5

Books & Comics / Re: The 2022 Humble Bundle - same problem again

« on: 06 March, 2022, 08:01:13 AM »

My latest reply from HB says the CBZ's were taken diwn as poor quality and impies (to me at least) they won't be replacing them and have just given up instead.....

Wow, that is disappointing.

PDF's load too slowly on my sons tablet for some reason and I'm not going to be buying a new tablet for this purpose.

Surely it's not beyond someone on Tharg's side to fix this?

6

Books & Comics / Re: The 2022 Humble Bundle - same problem again

« on: 28 February, 2022, 07:17:13 PM »

Sorry to say, it's pretty much ALL of the CBR files, just as happened with the last bundle (which were then replaced and they are fine now).

If I get the time later I'll open every one up, but on a cursory look at a dozen or so, I found only one that was properly readable and that was THE THIRTEENTH FLOOR vol 3.  It's obvious looking at vol 1 and vol 2 that there is something wrong, even though the actual file size of vol 1 and vol 2 are twice the size of vol 3.  Even then the vol 3 is not quite crisp looking, but certainly better than the other two (I have the original TPB's of these and the reproduction is excellent on the printed page).

The problem is in the legibility of the speech balloons.  Even looking at something new like Roy of the Rovers and it is "unreadable".

Seems that the images that make up the individual pages are far far too compressed, even the artwork suffers.

It reminds me of watching something on Freeview in standard definition.

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Books & Comics / Re: The 2022 Humble Bundle - same problem again

« on: 26 February, 2022, 08:26:25 AM »

Hmm, might have to put in for a refund if this isn't going to be fixed - the CBR files are mostly unreadable.

I did notice that Devlin Waugh Red Tide went from 50 MB or so to 239 MB - making it exactly like I was expecting it - nice and crisp on all our tablets from iPad 12.9 to Samsung Tab 7 FE.

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Books & Comics / Re: The 2022 Humble Bundle - same problem again

« on: 22 February, 2022, 04:12:21 PM »

I raised a support ticket and they are "looking into it"

I've noticed some, but not all, cbz file sizes have increased since I downloaded.

I just noticed the file size increase too.

But, alas, clicking on the file just downloads the old, smaller size, fuzzy file.

The only only I can see any difference on is "Hondo  City Law" which says it should be 90.8 MB but still downloads as 55.6 MB.  Maybe there's more but the first half dozen or so are exactly the same as before.

9

Books & Comics / Re: Bargains/deals thread (?)

« on: 19 February, 2022, 07:35:13 AM »

NEW REBELLION HUMBLE BUNDLE!!!

And even though I have an astonish proportion of this physically this one will be  worth it for digital copies AND the bits I dion't have yet. As ever with Humble Bundles its an absolute steal.

https://2000ad.com/news/get-comics-support-charity-rebellion-humble-bundle-team-up-for-masters-of-british-comics/

https://forums.2000ad.com/index.php?topic=48329.0

I posted over there, the (initial) quality is really bad on the CBZ, low res, jagged images and speech balloons make for difficult reading.

Happened with the 2020 bundle as well at first although it was sorted out pretty quickly.  Hopefully someone with access to fix this can be alerted?

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Books & Comics / Re: The 2022 Humble Bundle - same problem again

« on: 17 February, 2022, 11:11:01 PM »

(I say last years bundle, but of course it was in 2020, how time flies etc.)

11

Books & Comics / The 2022 Humble Bundle - same problem again

« on: 17 February, 2022, 09:52:56 PM »

Not sure if this is the right place (again) for this but anyway..

https://www.humblebundle.com/books/rebellions-masters-british-comics-featuring-judge-dredd-2000-ad-treasury-british-comics-books

First of all, what an AWESOME bundle for a mind blowing price.  My kids like to read all their stuff on the tablet so even though I have the vast majority of this stuff in print I am sure I can coax them into reading more great stuff this way.

But unfortunately a problem that I highlighted on last years bundle has reared its head here again.

https://forums.2000ad.com/index.php?topic=46829.0

The CBZ files are just too compressed and makes reading them quite unpleasant with jagged edges galore, especially on the speech balloons.  A couple of PDF's seem fine although I did only check a couple.

Hopefully this can be rectified as easily as it was last time.

Cheers all, lurk mode back on.

12

General / Re: Specials 2021?

« on: 10 February, 2021, 07:30:54 PM »

Aha.

https://2000ad.com/news/rebellion-announces-comic-book-specials-for-2021/

“Despite the many obstacles put in our way last year, Rebellion’s 2020 roster of specials were a great success. While the world strives to resolve the terrible crisis that we still find ourselves in, we’ve scaled back the number of specials this year – but we’re keeping the quality high thanks to our roster of brilliant creators.”

Understandable, but glad we are getting something.  Look forward to the Monster Fun one!

13

General / Specials 2021?

« on: 06 January, 2021, 11:19:50 PM »

Not sure if right place, but are there no plans for specials this year to complement the deluge we had in 2019 and 2020?

https://shop.2000ad.com/catalogue/specials

My younglings and I have really enjoyed the specials on offer in recent years and I always coughed up for the pack in advance but i don't see any mention of anything like this for this coming year.

Sure the previous years were announced pre Xmas before so was just wondering?

14

Books & Comics / Re: 'The Angry Planet' collection from Hibernia

« on: 03 December, 2020, 11:53:19 PM »

I've been a big fan of all things Hibernia, in fact I think I have all the books published thus far.

I'm just wondering if the colour centre spreads are reproduced in this book as the description just says it is all B&W apart from the covers?

Be a little be disappointed if this isn't the case seeing as Rebellion have now started to reproduce these in their own reprints.  Not to mention the lush colour inside recent Hibernia books.

15

Books & Comics / Re: Humble Bundle 2000ad

« on: 28 August, 2020, 07:36:31 PM »

Excellent work on getting these files fixed, I will direct my offspring to some tougher and tough action first I think!