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[Cover]

Can't find the spoiler thread which seems to have dropped off the world. I'll keep this brief as there will no doubt be a spate of lunchtime prog threads.

Cover Nice! Real energy and great colours.

Dredd OK but I'm really getting pissed off with these 'file this one for later' stories especially by Rennie. He should clear his plate before getting any more, just like at the China Sea buffet.

Stone Island Trapped in different dimension and weird stuff afoot. Yawn, been there 100 times before.

ABC Warriors Again OK but thet General Public gag has been driven into the ground. Also defies belief that Lara will chuck him into the swamp knowing he might not be dead. Jump on his head a few times and save yourself some bother later!

Cabs. Inc Good stuff. A bit Judge Andersony with the mind melding stuff but pick of the litter.

Buttonman 4 A read it in a minute episode. Looks like Harry's cover is blown with hopefully gunstastic results. Not Ranson but the art is good although Harry's not looking himself.

Good workmanlike prog, with no standouts but no real stinkers either. A passable Droid life and no letters complete the outing. 6.5/10.

[pictures]

Sorry if anyone else is working on this but I thought I'd have a go before August is just a distant memory. The art this month was the best yet and clearly deserves to be recognized as such. Please vote for your first, second and third favourite pictures. If an artist has more than one entry please specify which you are voting for. If you don't specify the points will go to the first entry they posted. If the artist wants to choose a different 'default' entry they should specify before too many votes are cast.

I'll pony up some modest prizes as follows. These are more a token of esteem rather than anything worthwhile, so don't moan! Thank you Tharg for supplying the goodies via the letters page. So the usual faces don't clear up I'll also offer a bonus 'MOST IMPROVED PRIZE'book so you can vote for that too using any criteria you see fit. Please don't vote for mine because A - It's shit and B - I want rid of the Red razors!

Prizes:

1st : ROBO-HUNTER - DAY OF THE DROIDS & PLAY IT AGAIN SAM
2nd : DURHAM RED-THE SCARLET CANTOS & ABC WARRIORS-THE MEKNIFICENT SEVEN (BACK A BIT CRUMPLED)
3rd : SINISTER DEXTER - SLAY PER VIEW
MOST IMPROVED PRIZE : RED RAZORS

If the winners want to divvy up the prizes in different ways they are welcome to do so.

OK, on with the voting: 5pts for 1st, 3 for 2nd and 1 for 3rd. 'Most Improved' on a votes tallied basis with rock,paper scissors deciding any tie.

In order of first posting...

BUTTONMAN






54JONES




JOHNNYSTRESS


DOUNREAY


CREAM TRUMPET


If that's worked I'll be frankly amazed!

[FLASH GORDON]

I've watched a few new American pilot shows and have generally been impressed. When you look back at how ropey first seasons are for great shows like the Simpsons and Seinfeld it's amazing how the new ones  manage to hit the ground running. Most of these are available on Mininova and the like and given they've been up for a while I think the producers are happy for a bit of advanced word of mouth publicity.

FLASH GORDON : I didn't really like this one which sees Flash as a student looking for his Dad who fell into a dimentional rift that opens into Mongo. The pilot was too long at 90 minutes and to have Ming as a blonde white guy seemed a bit too PC. Some decent FX but I doubt I'll be back.

CALIFORNICATION : This show follows a burned out writer played by David Duchovny who shags loads of burds and er that's it. Five naked women in 30 minutes shows you its target audience but I enjoyed the laughs too. Didn't seem a lot to drive the show forward but I'm happy with the nakedness!

TERMINATOR : THE SARAH CONNORS CHRONICLES Discussed in more detail in another thread but I really enjoyed this. No known faces but when a big guy appears with sunglasses on you know who's who. Good SFX and a plot that bypasses T3 altogether.

THE BIONIC WOMAN Didn't take to this one at all. The pilot sees her mangled and getting fitted out with all the gadgets. There is aggro from an old mark 1 and shady government types. Some decent action but I was pretty bored throughout.

REAPER This one was good fun. A teenager finds his soul was sold to the devil by his parents and he shows up to collect. Luckily the devil is that nice Ray Wise out of Twin Peaks and he sets him to work collecting the souls of those who have escaped Hell. The first episode had a good baddie in the form of an arsonist fireman. The plot device of the devil giving out a custom soul catcher each week seems a touch, well weak.

Some hit and some misses but cracking production values throughout. How people watch soaps and Big Brother is beyond me - you could piss your life away in a far more varied fashion!

Having too much time on my hands I must confess that I often enjoy reading my junk e-mail. Look at this beauty below:

"Dearest friend,
I have been waiting for you since to contact me for your Confirmation Bank Draft of $950.000.00 United States Dollars that my boss left on your name before he left, but I did not hear from you since that time.Then i went  to deposited the bank draft with registered bank here in Benin Rep being that courier company can not longer afford to deliver the check to you, with the help of the my boss lawyer, he advice the apex bank plc cotonou benin republic to make the payment to you with their new ATM MASTER CARD
 
And the needed arrangement has made already with apex bank regards the transaction and i have deposited your fund with Apex Bank Plc here in Benin Republic, because I travelled to Argentina for some project i have at hand and will not come back till next 2month end. I have arranged with them to make your payment to you with their new ATM MASTER CARD which you can use to withdraw your money in any ATM MACHINE around the world.
 
However, Kindly contact the below person who is in position to release your ATM CARD.
REV DR.MATHEW ODRICK DIRECTOR,
ATM PAYMENT DEPARTMENT APEX BANK
FAX:+229-9389-5638
EMAIL:( info_apebank_plc1@yahoo.fr )
 
I have paid for the processing charges,delivery charges and Clearance Certificate charges showing that it is not a Drug Money nor to sponsor Terrorist attack in your Country, The only Money that your are going to pay to them is only $95USD which they will use to obtain the Affidevit Of Onwership from the Federal High Court Of Cotonou Benin Republic.
 
Then,I gave them your delivering address but you have to reconfirm it to them again to avoid any mistake on the delivering and also try to contact them as soon as possible today to quicken the processing of your card.
 
Let me know as soon as you receive your card.
Thanks and May God Bless You With Your Family,
DIRECTOR TOBY JOHNSON."

Good old Toby prays on the assumption that I'll jump on this case of mistaken identity and take what isn't mine. I also like the guarantees offered by the Benin Republic and the modestly pitched scam fee of $95.

I know people do get suckered by these but clearly they must be mental or greedy. Recently I've noticed a few good angles such as a conspirital bank clerk and a grieveing widow trying to get her inheritence away from the grasping government. They really are a creative industry all of their own and I wonder if anyone has any favourite scam-ware that they are willing to share.

Please also post if you have paid your $95 and been rewarded with millions, making a fool if cynics such as I.

Whilst scoping out my next book shelf threatening order I had a look at what passes for a 'review' on Amazon. Take the following informative offering on the Strontium Dog Case Files 2 :

"As any loyal Strontium Dog reader knows, Strontium Dog was first written for the 2000AD spin-off comic Starlord. Is this collection only 2000AD Strontium Dog or does it include the Starlord episodes?

[edit] Not sure why that should get an unhelpful rating, but it takes all sorts I guess. "

I especially like the outraged edit on that one.

Next up :

Im giving this a five about time too,
2000ad (and starlords) best ever character compilled
to those not in the know (like the previous reviewer) T.B. Grover was one of John Wagners many pseudonames. These came about in the days when he was writing full issues of the comic. I think he wrote ace trucking under this name Or was it robo hunter (its been a while)

Buy this magazine you wont be disappointed.

I'm not out to slag these guys off, at least their hearts are in the right place. My point is that Amazon is the biggest bookseller in the world and although Rebellion would prefer that things were bought out of their own shop the fact is Amazon can make or break a book.

My suggestion is that we all take a stab at promoting our favourite titles and help along any floating customers into making the correct buying decision.

It could even be a writers' version of the artists' competition - the one with the most 'helpful' ratings wins the day.

Just a Thought, Tharg likes royalties!

In the current 'best of' spirit I think it'd be fun for boarder to suggest their favourite artists for a 'iPod best of'. I hit the gym twice a week and an hour of greatest hits of a new artist is a great thing.

To kick off I'd nominate Warren Zevon who sadly died of cancer some time ago. He did the greatest  and wittiest rock you'll ever hear, and if you've only ever heard 'Werewolves of London' I'd heartily recommend that you give the following top ten a look. Any other under appreciated talents out there?

1)  Things to do in Denver When You're Dead
2)  Excitable Boy
3)  Johnny Strikes Up The Band
4)  Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner
5)  Boom Boom Mancini
6)  I'll Sleep when I'm Dead
7)  Mr Bad Example
8)  Lawyers Guns and Money
9)  Poor Poor Pitiful Me
10) Werewolves of London

Didn't want to start a thread for a little seen film, but why not one into all those never heard ofs but worth a lookers you might stumble across?

I'll start with 'The Astronaut Farmer' which I quite enjoyed. Mostly because it's ripped off an old Eagle Armstor Computer story about a guy who builds a rocket in his back garden and it blows up. Nice Ian Kennedy art if memory serves.

Anyway Billy Bob Thornton, Bruce Willis, Bruce Dern and Virginia Madsen in a small man against the man stuggle. Well worth a look.

Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0469263/" target="_blank">The Astronaut Farmer

The penultimate episode ever of this cracking series was aired last night and it was all I'd hoped. I won't put up even cloaked spoilers as it's still ages from British TV, but it's no spoiler to say it's all kicked off between the New York and Jersey mobs. If anything the only critisism I'd make is that too much is happening, making it seem almost rushed.

Is anyone on board and does anyone have any suggested endings?

My doubtlessly wrong prediction is that Tony will be isolated and have to get in with the Feds who have been more prevalent recently. That's too much like 'Goodfellas' but I can't see them killing him either. Hopefully Paulie Walnuts will become Da Capo.

Dudley's planned Mongolian odyssey set me wondering how many countries I had visited. I'm not a great traveller having only left Europe 3 times - all to the USA. I have seen a lot of Europe though albeit through stag event glazed eyes.

I found the site linked below and using their criteria I've seen 18 countries or 8% of the World's total. Can any reader beat this? (by less than 20!)

The 'rule' suggest that airport layovers don't count as having visited the place and meanly, the UK counts as one not four.

My World foot print is seen below, let's see who has the best rash!

http://www.world66.com/myworld66/visitedCountries/worldmap?visited=USBEQICZFRDEGIGRHUIEITMTMCNLNOESUKVA">
All Around The World

Three Tintin movies on the way courtesy of Spielberg and Peter Jackson. Hope they do Tibet, Calculus Affair and 714 but I bet they go for Shooting Star, America and Moon. As long as they keep the manic voice over man - Her-ge's adventures...

Should be good though, iMDb say they are using Gollem tech to make live action Herge people. Just hope they keep it period - Picaro's brown jeans looked daft, unlike the plus fours.

Link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6656635.stm" target="_blank">Ah My Beauty, Past Compare...

Until The Sopranos comes back later this week the title of best show on TV must go to 'The Shield'.

The sixth and supposedly last season started in America this week and I was lucky enough to be there to see it, meaning that I didn't have to download it off Mininova or anywhere else. Yes, that's it.

Spoilers for seasons 1-5 and first episode...

First up check out the link below for a special 15 minute episode that bridges the gap between seasons 5 and 6.

The first episode of the season proper is a cracker and is bookended with 'I hung my head' by Johnny Cash - written by Sting incidentally - and follows up Lem's death and Kavanagh's increasing mentalness. Good to see best actor Forrest Whittaker back doing his wonky eye bit.

I hope we see more of Dutch this season - they never followed up his cat killing moment to any extent.

With House, Boston Legal, The Shield and soon the Sopranos it really is a golden age of TV. Oh and Holby City.

Link: http://www.heavy.com/video/9901" target="_blank">The Shield - Promisode

Two nerdy pursuits for the price of one!

Link: http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6506041.stm" target="_blank">Flogged This Dead Horse Is

http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/entertainment_enl_1175161077/img/1.jpg">

Sorry Timmy, some sad act stole the postbox with your birthday present in for his Star Wars shrine!

Link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6457467.stm" target="_blank">Lucas Delivers For Once!

The spat between Branson and Murdoch has seen Sky 1 disappear from NTL/Virgin subscibers' packages. Beardy Branson says he's not cutting prices to compensate viewers as they still get a 'great package'. Murdoch's lot say Branson won't cough up thier reasonable asking price.

Obviously Sky is wanting NTL/Virgin viewers to switch to them but risk losing their advertising revenue as their audiences will halve.

The fall out from this billionaires' squabble is no new Simpsons for me!

Anyone else affected and what do you plan on doingabout it? We get broadband and phone through NTL so changing will be a hassle but I can't believe they can reduce the package but not the cost. Well I can but you know...

Link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6405549.stm" target="_blank">Virgin loses cherry

Here's an original idea that I got leafing through the IoS's quiz pages. Basically it's a sequence of pictures that you use to solve the puzzle. In this case it will be name of a 2000ad/Megazine character, series or storyline.

For example :

I always enjoy a good nutter...

She'll lose her no claims discount if she's not paid the undead attack waiver...

"Kidman's publicist, Catherine Olim, said the star was trying to shake zombies off the bonnet of her Jaguar when the car spun off the road."

I bet the insurers are tired of that old chestnut!

Link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6300723.stm" target="_blank">Moulan Rouge All Over The Dashboard

With no letters page in any 2000ad prog this year (except prog 2007) and a plea for letters in the Megazine editorial it seems that Tharg's fan mail is at an all time low. Being a sad bastard with nothing better to so on a wet Saturday afternoon I had a look through all of the progs and megs of 2006.

Letters pages appeared in 29 different progs and in 9 of 13 Megazines. An impressive 105 differnt readers had a monment of glory with 83 of them being one offs. Of the 29 letters of the week (*) 21 were from single entry readers - either they decided to retire on top or shot their bolt with their one outing. If you have been published before and want a star letter prize a pseudonym is suggested.

All readers with two or more entries are listed below and although I won I take no pride in the matter. I have yet to meet a woman impressed by this 'achievement'. I was slightly impressed with Tharg's pet Steve Frame with three star letters out of four printed.

STEPHEN WATSON, PAISLEY (1473, 1477, 1479, 1483, 1502, 240, 242, 245, 249, 251)
FLOYD KERMODE, AUSTRALIA (1475, 1483 *, 1507, 1510, 243)
STEVE FRAME, CAITHNESS (1478*, 1490, 1507 *, 1517 *)
MATT WEBSTER, BRADFORD (1475 *, 243, 249)
GERARD SMITH, IRELAND (1479 *, 1486, 247)
IVO BOCHENSKI, SURREY (1486, 1506 * 1517)
MICHAEL CROUCH, NORWICH (1482, 1496, 245)
GRANT GOGGINS, USA (1484, 1502, 1515)
KEITH THORBURN, GLASGOW (1486, 246, 250)
TOM COTTON, TELFORD (1496, 1499, 1507)
ALEX FIRTH, LONDON (1489, 1508, 251)
ALASDAIR STUART, YORK (1479, 1484 *)
JO WALLACE, LAURENCEKIRK (1497, 1502 *)
TONY BARTLETT, DEWSBURY (2006, 1506)
JAMES FEIST, HANTS (2006, 243)
SCOTT FERGUSON, EAST KILBRIDE (1471, 249)
JACK HARVEY, LIVERPOOL (1470, 1476)
ALAN HOLLOWAY, WESTON SUPER MARE (1479, 246)
JOHN LUKE, FRANCE (1473, 250)
DAVID BROOKES, SHEFFIELD (1493, 1502)
PAUL INGRAM, REDDITCH (1475, 1482)
DAVE EVANS (1501, 251)

As for board regulars with no entries - why not?!

Please don't reply with 'self praise is no praise' and smug/sad/pathetic git, I have a wife who takes care of that sort of thing.

For those of you who are not regulars at 2000adreview.co.uk (and why not?!) a cracking article has been posted about various creators' new projects. Quite fancy Pat Mills' zombie saga - where did he get that idea from?!

Link: http://www.2000adreview.co.uk/features/articles/2007/comingin2007/comingsoon.shtml" target="_blank">Looking Good!

Hurrah must have a new postman on duty, the other lazy bastard never gets here before lunch time!

The Dreddful news is there is no Origins for "a couple of weeks".

The Dredd is filler of the lowest order although it is redeemed by some quality Rufus art.

Dante closes in somewhat predictable fashion, although as a close watcher of such things the Amazonian giant's bra reappears between panels although see may have slung it on 'off camera'.

No letters pages (again) but a decent Droid Life to compensate.

Overall a workman like prog with just enough to keep me happy.http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c118/button71/1520.jpg">