ALthough i've not really been reading Savage (not my cup of tea, TBH) i've still been scanning through the unbelievably good artwork. The gritty realism and sheer detail in every single one of those panels is staggering, and in my mind can only be compared to one thing - Charley's War.
And that got me thinking...
Would it be a good thing to let Pat Mills revisit Charley's War and complete it in the way he originally wanted to, before all the editorial problems?
Patrick Goddard has now proved that he can step into Joe Colquhouns shoes, and the Mills Droid is on fire these days. Would it work? Has it been too long since original publication?
Any thoughts?
I'd buy that for a dollar.
M.
Me too. Coincidentally, I have been reminded of old school Battle art whilst reading Savage. It's one of the reasons I like it so much (puns about 1970s petrol adverts notwithstanding.) :)
For my money, Joe Colquhoun is 'Charley's War'. If Joe was still alive, I could see it might be enjoyable to have a little 'flashback' series or one-off, but without him... no, let it rest.
Terrific idea, Woolly. The consistent density of Goddard's art on Savage really has to be marvelled at, and your comparison with a Colquhounish level of detail is well made. It's been said many times, but I'd love to know how Pat gets such incredible results from his artists - no-one else seems to manage such a perfect combo, over and over (poor David Bircham excepted). Even when his stories are annoying, you have to be impressed by the sheer effort his collaborators put in.
Quote from: Greg M. on 27 August, 2010, 04:09:29 PM
For my money, Joe Colquhoun is 'Charley's War'. If Joe was still alive, I could see it might be enjoyable to have a little 'flashback' series or one-off, but without him... no, let it rest.
I'm with Greg on this one. Other artists did episodes in the annuals or Summer Specials, and it just wasn't right. Joe's dead - let Charlie lie with him
Quote from: Woolly on 29 July, 2010, 12:34:21 PM
ALthough i've not really been reading Savage (not my cup of tea, TBH) i've still been scanning through the unbelievably good artwork. The gritty realism and sheer detail in every single one of those panels is staggering, and in my mind can only be compared to one thing - Charley's War.
And that got me thinking...
Would it be a good thing to let Pat Mills revisit Charley's War and complete it in the way he originally wanted to, before all the editorial problems?
Patrick Goddard has now proved that he can step into Joe Colquhouns shoes, and the Mills Droid is on fire these days. Would it work? Has it been too long since original publication?
Any thoughts?
Ohhhh man, Woolley, I dunno. I'm really torn by your suggestion. I REALLY like the idea of Mills returning to that world and continuing the characters. But Colquhoun's Colquhoun and pretty much nobody is going to match him. Not even Goddard. Not even David Lloyd who I think of as the one man who had the brilliant sense to ape Colquhoun's style.
He should tie it into his Savage/ABC... continuity, for the sake of Robin Low.
To this end, while it's not Millsverse the prospect of Fiends of the Western Front does appeal...
No one can do Charley except Joe, but that's not to say that Mills couldn't explore the other characters again, for example Blue (I would like to see his escapades in the Foreign Legion -I always liked Blue kind of a proto Slaine/Flint seems a good vehicle for Mills views)Also one thing about Charleys War was that it began in 1916 I've always been curious about Ol Bill and his early days having served since the war broke out (I suspect he would also been present in The Boer War). I enjoyed Scott Godalls WW2 Charley ,my heart sank when I saw Pat's name disappear from the credits but he didn't do such a bad job , still one of the better stories within the comic .
I meant Finn not Flint , doh too much Warlord
Quote from: TordelBack on 29 August, 2010, 11:57:49 AM
To this end, while it's not Millsverse the prospect of Fiends of the Western Front does appeal...
sounds like this....
(http://www.comicbookresources.com/assets/thumbnail.php?file=/assets/images/articles/1291965298.jpg&h=200)
Mills on a new Charlie's war. Just came across this old thread and after recently reading through my lovely hardbacks I am so sorely tempted by this thought.
As good as Patrick is, he isn't a Joe.......
I would have no problem with Pat looking to do the World War II stuff he wanted to do with Charley's War, albeit with a different character and unconnected to Charley's War which, I'll admit, isn't really Charley's War without Joe.
I do know that research wise, its a bloody huge undertaking though.
I read once that Pat considered a Charlies War set in Northern Ireland. As someone involved in peace and reconciliation work in Northern Ireland over the past 25 years including north Belfast at the height of the troubles may I say that I think such an idea could be utterly brilliant.
Pat's been there and done that with WW3 in Crisis, but I'd still read this.
Quote from: Professah Byah on 31 August, 2012, 08:21:57 PM
Pat's been there and done that with WW3 in Crisis, but I'd still read this.
Prof apologies but my comic reading was dreadfully transatlantic for a prolonged period of time-are you saying that a Charlies War like strip was set in Northern Ireland at some stage?
Sections of Pat's World War 3 strip were set in Northern Ireland, and local writer Mal Coney was credited as a co-writer on the story for his input so pat could keep it real. Then the main character went on to fight dragons and stuff.
Quote from: Professah Byah on 31 August, 2012, 08:32:23 PM
Sections of Pat's World War 3 strip were set in Northern Ireland, and local writer Mal Coney was credited as a co-writer on the story for his input so pat could keep it real. Then the main character went on to fight dragons and stuff.
I know Mal and had no idea he was involved in this.
Thanks Prof.