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Topics - Tjm86

#102
Prog / Prog 2042 - Beware the Hollow Men.
29 July, 2017, 12:42:42 PM
Posties early today and he brought the prog to boot - tidy!

Nice cover by Trevallian.

Expo heavy Dredd.  Filling in details with an info dump.  Marshall does it his usual justice. 

Return of the Alienist.  Jumping straight in with the mystery and a new antagonist?

Greysuit goes bananas (literally).  Higgins' art as ever is a pleasure.  In fact it is easy to be bowled over by it.  (apologies for that one).

Grey Area is a one off.  Bit light hearted.  Okay but nowt special.

Rounded out with Hunted.  Sorry, not got into this at all.  Traitor General is just too one dimensional.

Overall, an okay week.  Oh, and Lawless is returning to the meg  (yay!)
#103
Off Topic / Am I missing something?
15 July, 2017, 09:21:11 PM
It occurs to me that so much of what is out there is so negative, vitriolic and downright nasty that this site really does seem like some sort of oasis.  I mean I know that we have our differences, that some threads (I"m thinking the recent Dr Who thread or the political thread) can get a bit heated, but that tends to be the exception rather than the rule.  Even there views and ideas are respected.

We have a number of members of this board with serious needs that get all the support they need, that are welcomed with open arms.  There are only a handful of members that have ever been barred and even then it has been after a prolonged exploration of alternatives.  Disagreements are met with respect and an appreciation of different views first of all.  We try to find solutions to problems rather than focusing on the problems.  We have a broad but respectful church here.  It just feels like it is unusual on the internet. 

Answers on a postcard ...
#104
News / New Dan Dare Series from Titan
07 July, 2017, 03:47:57 PM
Looks like Titan are having another shot with Dare.  Milligan on writing duties.  Weston on variant cover duties.  not familiar with the interior artist but it doesn't look too bad.
#105
Film & TV / Now This Looks Interesting
02 May, 2017, 07:15:09 PM
Well, any TV series that has got Tory MP's frothing at the mouth has at least got to be worth a gander.  https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/may/02/bbc-king-charles-iii-anger-drama

Don't know much about this and certainly not heard about the play.  Certainly it seems a realistic premise although I'm sure the original writing dates back to when the monarchy was slightly less respected a few years back.
#106
Books & Comics / Kim Stanley Robinson's Latest ....
11 April, 2017, 01:41:08 PM
New York 2140 -

QuoteThe waters rose, submerging New York City.

But the residents adapted and it remained the bustling, vibrant metropolis it had always been. Though changed forever.

Every street became a canal. Every skyscraper an island.

Through the eyes of the varied inhabitants of one building Kim Stanley Robinson shows us how one of our great cities will change with the rising tides.

And how we too will change.

(From Amazon)

Hmmm.  All it needs is art by Colin Wilson.
#107
General / Dredd at Number 2?
07 April, 2017, 05:48:03 PM
Another CBR top 15 including both Dredd and Anderson.  Dredd is pipped by Jim Gordon?  Anderson all the way down at 10?  There is no justice ....
#108
Off Topic / Bl**dy Typical!
02 April, 2017, 11:45:10 AM
It's been gorgeous all morning with nary a cloud in the sky.  Just put the washing out and where has the damn sun gone!  Razzlefrazzledagnabbit!   >:(
#109
Help! / Ebay advice
17 February, 2017, 09:32:06 AM
Well, I purchased a copy of the Tornado Summer Special from a seller based in New Zealand before Christmas.  It's been about two months now and there is still no sign of it.  I've been in contact with the seller who said that he posted it after Christmas when the postal service reopened.  That still places transit time at a month.  When I've sent stuff that way in the past it has taken about a fortnight and that was a larger book.

Anyway, aforementioned seller asked if I could give it another week or so when I initially contacted him.  Also said that he would have a look and see if he had another copy.  I accepted the suggestion of giving more time, by this point having given it the best part of a month anyway.  It still hasn't turned up so I suggested that perhaps we had to accept that it was lost and look at refund options.  At this point the seller noted that I hadn't opted for insurance on the purchase and is offering a partial refund.

So my questions are:


  • Am I being unreasonable wanting a refund?
  • Do I have to accept that because I didn't take insurance out with the seller that the best I can hope with is his offer of a partial refund?
  • Wouldn't this transaction be covered under ebay buyer / seller protection? 

Any replies will not be taken as legal / binding and any choices I make based on suggestions will in now ways hold the suggester liable.  Thanks guys / girls / insert your gender preference here.
#110
General / "You know, I really admire your balls!"
17 January, 2017, 07:18:08 PM
Certainly true in this case.  Granted up and down the country to visit the various signings but the price tag on this offering for this Prog 2000 collection?  the Prog 2000 collection? :o
#111
News / My Little Pony
20 December, 2016, 06:38:37 AM
Just seen this on CBR.  Deviations.  A nice riff on the Prog 2000 cover there.  Maybe this will be enough to get my daughter to make the jump to the tooth?
#112
News / 40th Anniversary Prog
25 November, 2016, 08:26:19 PM
CBR has posted this article about the 40th anniversary prog.  Great to see Señor Ezquerra given the honours for such an important event.  Up to his usual standard as well.

Being a little nitpicky but the article credits Starlord as a 'spinoff' which is not really 100% accurate.  More of a 'failed competitor' really.
#113
Classifieds / Space 1999 / UFO DVD's
19 November, 2016, 03:02:09 PM
Having recently upgraded to the Blu Ray's these are now taking up shelf space so if anyone feels the desire to binge on some quality (and occasionally dodgy) Anderson here you are.  These are quite bulky but not too heavy so posting shouldn't be a major problem. 

Call it £30 including p&p for a bargain of £7.50 per set.  Will throw in a free hand written address with every order.
#114
Once again Titan have done us proud and this has been well worth the wait.  A cracking showcase of Kennedy's work (with support from Mike Western).  On the production front, Titan have ditched the dust cover in favour of the European style printed hardback.  Since I don't have volume 1 (although I am now seriously tempted) this is not kicking in the shelving OCD.  Ennis gives an intro to the volume in general and each story in particular.  I have to agree with his contention that there is a lot of filler in Battle that hasn't aged particularly well.  The policy of cherry picking the best is by far the more sensible strategy. 

Titan have also done a pretty good job on the repro front.  One or two pages look a little 'muddy' but for the most part the images are crisp and clear, benefiting from the superior paper quality to the original.  Artwork is clear and detailed and shows off Kennedy's obsessive technical detail.

The story itself stands up well considering the age.  Ennis notes some of the flaw in the introduction but by and large it reads well.  It is clear why it has been considered for inclusion and justly so.  If Titan are going to be both selective in their choice and attentive to detail in their production then there is a lot to be said for long gaps between volumes (volume 1, 2014).
#115
Classifieds / Space Saving Sale
05 August, 2016, 12:50:38 PM
Well, now that I've got thirty seconds to spare I'm looking at consolidating, particularly with the mega collection growing nicely.  With that in mind I've got some bits going up on eBay over the next few weeks but thought that some forumites might be interested.

Scarlet Traces The Great Game 1 - 4 £4

Batman vs Dredd (DC editions) Vendetta, Judgement, Die Laughing. £10

Hamlyn Books

Scorpion Dance £2
Childhoods End £2
Democracy Now £2
Blind Justice £2
The Pit £3

All prices include P&P.  Postage combined on multiple purchases.

#116
Books & Comics / Battle Picture Weekly
31 May, 2016, 07:29:27 PM
I'm going to start with a  confession.  I've had to resort to a rather dubious digital download collection simply for space sake.  Having said that I remain constantly amazed at the quality of writing and art in this comic.

I'm still only up to 1978 and other then Spinball Wars ( which is constantly redeemed by Ron Turner on art duties) it is difficult to find a duff strip.  Mike Western on The Sarge has some first rate writing.  Hellman the early years alternates between Mike Dorey (with some exemplary draftsmanship) and another artist whose name is not credited, I recognise the work of and to my eternal shame I cannot name.  Johnny Red is back in Murmansk and Joe Two Beans is fighting against a sniper.  Titan should be ashamed of themselves of quitting both this and Major Eazy so quickly.  The Crete storyline is astounding.

I am perpetually amazed by the quality of the writing and artwork.  The challenge when it comes to identifying protagonists at times, the complexity of the characterisation.  The overt racism at times can e quite uncomfortable but having said that it is a historical artefact that needs to be recognised.  Personally I believe that it is healthy to expose these sensibilities lest we forget why it is such a problem.

I know that it lost its way towards the end (Battle and Storm Force?) but the early seventies were clearly the hey days.  And this is before classics such as Charley's War!
#117
General / Political Dredd
02 May, 2016, 08:31:30 AM
Thinking about the Apocalypse War and some of the precursor stories got me thinking about the tendency Dredd writers have had over the years to reflect on current political and social events through the strip.  This in turn got me thinking about the current state of MC1.  Now I'm more than happy to be shot down in flames on this one but I was thinking, how much of what is going on is a commentary on the current Austerity politics?

I'm thinking about the struggles, the overwhelming cutbacks, the need to outsource and seek foreign aid (Texas City judges), the diminution of power on the world stage .... Not sure whether this is being done consciously or subconsciously.  It just seems an interesting parallel.
#118
Well, yet another week where the prog has failed to turn up on Saturday.  Being as it was a Bank Holiday weekend I was expecting a Tuesday show.  No joy.

Anyone got any ideas what is going on?
#119
Classifieds / eBay pimping
17 January, 2016, 01:29:32 PM
Couple of early progs as part of an ongoing clearout.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/congenialanimal/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=

As always I have a stack of magazine floppies free to a good home, just cover postage.  Will try and sort out a proper list but otherwise please PM with any wants and I'll have a dig.

Thanks for looking.
#120
Prog / Prog 1964 - Big Jobbed (Like Turds in the rain)
16 January, 2016, 12:25:52 PM
This has got to be far and away the most action packed prog in a while.  A cracking cover from Langley to start off.  Shortly followed by chaos and mayhem in Dredd as one of the ghosts makes a move.  Sexton's art is cracking again and Carrol shifts the pace albeit with a fairly predictable ending.

Kingdom is probably the slowest after last week with a bit of exploring and more questions than answers.  Nice little nod to Damnation Alley at the end.

The Order on the other hand cranks the gears up again.  Loads going on. Enough to make me reconsider my view of this strip.

ABC Warriors has to be the laugh out loud one though.  Ro Jaws doing a Roy Batty.  Clearly Mills has recalled the incept date and decided to pay homage.  Another helping of chaos and mayhem follows.  Langley's art is working really well now.  Starting to look forward to seeing where this is going.

Strontium Dog is another slower paced episode with a guest star from Stretch Armstrong.  Lot's of sneaking and hiding as it moves cautiously towards its conclusion.

Overall a cracking prog.