It feels a bit rude starting the thread, not having contributed to the reviews before... Hope I'm not treading on anyone's toes, but I couldn't sit on my hands any longer - I reckon it's a stunning issue!
On initial flick-through I was a little disappointed at the lack of anniversary features, but, having read the issue, Matt's definitely made the right call: The Meg just full to the brim doing what it does best, and I came away realising such features would not have added much value (so much has been said already). The features we do have are a welcome Dave Hunt interview (including a page of photo-strip era Doomlord!) and a preview of the Battle Special (it sounds great too...).
The 2000AD Encyclopaedia is just sort of there with not much of an explanation. It's clearly well produced, but I don't see that it's the sort of thing I will sit down and read each month. In collected book form it has more appeal as a useful reference perhaps, at least until the following prog appears and makes it out-of-date
. My favourite use of the floppy is for exploring the depths of the Treasury of British Comics archive, an interesting curiosity at the very least and uncovering the odd hidden gem at its best.
I'm not going to comment on individual strips, they all bring so much in their own way and have definitely got me looking forward to seeing where they go over the next few issues. I must just give a mention to Dan Abnett who uses a style of story telling on Lawless that I thought was a brave move to sustain for 20 pages, but of course he steers it along with ease.
In some ways I'm a reluctant Meg reader, only coming on board for the Judgement Day crossover and drifting away until the following Wilderlands crossover, and yet here I am commenting on its 30th anniversary as a now long-time subscriber (you see Mr. Bishop, if you're reading, proof that the crossover strategy worked...). Having seen a few low periods, and many re-launches, it's fantastic to see the Meg still around for its 30th and in such fine form. Thanks to all involved over the years.
(By the way, does anyone else's art print show last issue's cover again? Was quite looking forward to having one of this issue's great Greg Staples cover. Not that I don't appreciate Cliff and Dylan's cover of course!)
On initial flick-through I was a little disappointed at the lack of anniversary features, but, having read the issue, Matt's definitely made the right call: The Meg just full to the brim doing what it does best, and I came away realising such features would not have added much value (so much has been said already). The features we do have are a welcome Dave Hunt interview (including a page of photo-strip era Doomlord!) and a preview of the Battle Special (it sounds great too...).
The 2000AD Encyclopaedia is just sort of there with not much of an explanation. It's clearly well produced, but I don't see that it's the sort of thing I will sit down and read each month. In collected book form it has more appeal as a useful reference perhaps, at least until the following prog appears and makes it out-of-date
. My favourite use of the floppy is for exploring the depths of the Treasury of British Comics archive, an interesting curiosity at the very least and uncovering the odd hidden gem at its best.I'm not going to comment on individual strips, they all bring so much in their own way and have definitely got me looking forward to seeing where they go over the next few issues. I must just give a mention to Dan Abnett who uses a style of story telling on Lawless that I thought was a brave move to sustain for 20 pages, but of course he steers it along with ease.
In some ways I'm a reluctant Meg reader, only coming on board for the Judgement Day crossover and drifting away until the following Wilderlands crossover, and yet here I am commenting on its 30th anniversary as a now long-time subscriber (you see Mr. Bishop, if you're reading, proof that the crossover strategy worked...). Having seen a few low periods, and many re-launches, it's fantastic to see the Meg still around for its 30th and in such fine form. Thanks to all involved over the years.
(By the way, does anyone else's art print show last issue's cover again? Was quite looking forward to having one of this issue's great Greg Staples cover. Not that I don't appreciate Cliff and Dylan's cover of course!)
), except the 1970s Dan Dare one which I think was larger, maybe nearer to Prog 520 format