2000 AD Online Forum

My wife Edie Nugent and I have been meaning to read through the whole of The Adventures of Nikolai Dante from beginning to end. So we decided not only to do that now, but also record it as a Podcast. Because social isolation for 12 months makes you do ... possibly regrettable things. So if you're interested in me recounting all the nitty-gritty details that I remember poorly from 20 odd years ago, coupled with a progressive American take, then this is the PODCAST FOR YOU!

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If you want to read along but don't have all the issues in question, then these (https://shop.2000ad.com/catalogue/graphic-novels/nikolai-dante) nice people will sell you them for a reasonable price
We're releasing it as a special sneak preview exclusively for this message board, with not one ,but TWO episodes of the Podcast online for your amusement. Please bear in mind that we're new at this , so there are likely to be some issues that we haven't ironed out yet. Feedback is welcome. Here or on Twitter @podTGDR (https://twitter.com/PodTgdr) .

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Episode 1 : The Adventures of Nikolai Dante (https://simon-fraser-asa6.squarespace.com/tgdrpodcast/2021/2/19/tgdr-ep-1-the-adventures-of-nikolai-dante?fbclid=IwAR2A6qwcbWhEUw4eNzlz7wcE0xvFJyA7DuObET1BFIyHQnlBFqd48N9XC0M)
Episode 2 : The Romanov Dynasty (https://simon-fraser-asa6.squarespace.com/tgdrpodcast/2021/2/24/ep2-the-romanov-dynasty)
(https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/517c5a82e4b01510f831c91c/1613838499485-BU24L8CUZBBB5PLWSIIS/BigBanner-Ep1.jpg?format=750w&content-type=image%2Fjpeg)

Wow - that sounds fantastic. Thanks for flagging this - a defo listen...

I want to thank you for creating one of  my all time favourite stories. Will be listening....

Excellent! I've just finished my own Dante reread courtesy of those lovely Hachette hardbacks so it's still fresh in my mind. The creator interviews and recollections in those were always a good read, so I'm looking forward to listening to this queuing up dozens of episodes of this that I really am going to listen to when I get a minute. (I feel shamed when my phone passively-aggressively tells me it's stopped downloading new episodes of my favourite podcasts because I'm clearly not interested in listening to the ones in the queue, so I don't know whyI bother, you ungrateful human.)

Some odd formatting on these forum tables, but here's where you can find the stories in the original progs, and who did the art:

The Adventures of Nikolai Dante	1997	1035-1041	Simon Fraser
The Romanov Dynasty	1997	1042-1049	Simon Fraser
Russia's Greatest Love Machine	1997	1066	Chris Weston
The Gentleman Thief	1997	1067-1070	Simon Fraser
The Full Dante	1997	1071	Charlie Adlard
Moscow Duellists	1997	1072-1075	Simon Fraser
The Gulag Apocalyptic	1998	1079-1082	Henry Flint
The Trouble With Arbatous	1998	1083	Simon Fraser
Cruel Britannia	1998	1084	Simon Fraser
The Great Game	1998	1101-1110	Simon Fraser
The Octobrianna Seduction	1998	1113-1116	Andy Clarke
The Masque Of Dante	1998-1999	1125-1127	Charlie Adlard
The Moveable Feast	1999	1128-1130	Simon Fraser
Tour Of Duty	1999	1131-1133	Charlie Adlard
The Cadre Infernale	1999	1134-1137	Simon Fraser
The Hunting Party	1999	1139-1140	Andy Clarke
Fists Of Fury	1999	1141	Charlie Adlard
Last Dance On The Trans-Siberian Express	1999	1142-1143	Charlie Adlard
Cruel Seas	1999	1148-1149	John Burns
Requiem For Lost Love	1999	1150	John Burns
The Courtship Of Jena Makarov	1999	1161-1172	Simon Fraser
Love And War	1999	p2000	Simon Fraser
The Rudinshtein Irregulars	2000	1183-1190	John Burns
Love And War	2000	1200-1207	John Burns
Battleship Potemkin	2000	1213-1220	Simon Fraser
One Last Night In The House Of Sin	2000	p2001	John Burns
The Beguiling	2001	1234-1235	Steve Yeowell
Fiends	2001	1236-1239	Steve Yeowell
The Romanov Empire	2001	1250-1262	John Burns
The Return Of The Gentleman Thief	2001-2002	p2002, 1273-1274	Simon Fraser
The Romanov Job	2002	1280-1287	Simon Fraser
Hell And High Water	2002-2003	p2003, 1322-1328	John Burns
The Sea Falcon	2003	p2004	John Burns
Agent Of Destruction	2004-2005	p2005,1420-1427	John Burns
How Could You Believe Me When I Said I Loved You...	2005	1428-1431	John Burns
Primal Screams	2005	1433-1436	John Burns
Devil's Deal	2005	p2006	John Burns
Usurper	2006	1487-1489	John Burns
The Depths	2006	1500-1501	John Burns
Dragon's Island	2006	1502-1507	John Burns
Sword of the Tsar	2006	1511-1516	Simon Fraser
The Road Of Bones	2006	p2007	John Burns
Deadlier Than The Male	2007	1518-1520	John Burns
Hellfire	2007	1526-1531	Simon Fraser
The Beast of Rudinshtein	2007	1532-1535	John Burns
The Dissenter	2007	1537	John Burns
Thieves' World	2007	1538-1544	Simon Fraser
The Chaperone	2007	1560-1564	John Burns
Destiny's Child	2007	p2008	John Burns
The Tsar's Daughter	2008	1578-1580	John Burns
Amerika	2008	1589-1599	Simon Fraser
Prisoner of the Tsar	2008	1612-1616	John Burns
Bring Me The Head of Nikolai Dante	2008	p2009	John Burns
An Army of Thieves and Whores	2009	1629-1634	Simon Fraser
Lulu's War	2009	1651-1654	Paul Marshall
Hero of the Revolution	2009-2010	p2010, 1666-1675	John Burns
Heroes Be Damned	2010	1679-1684	Simon Fraser
A Farewell to Arms	2010	1685	Simon Fraser
City of the Damned	2010	1700-1704	Simon Fraser
The Master of Kronstadt	2010	1705-1708	John Burns
The Memoirs of Nikolai Dante	2011	1731	Simon Fraser
Bad Blood	2011	1732-1736	Simon Fraser
The Wedding of Jena Makarov	2011-2012	p2012, 1764-1773	Simon Fraser
The Dante Gambit	2012	1774-1779	John Burns
Sympathy for the Devil	2012	1786-1791	Simon Fraser
Devil May Care	2017	2K40	Simon Fraser

Thanks Funt. That's useful info.

I'll definitely be having a listen to this.  Thanks for doing it!

What a splendid idea. I've recently enjoyed the whole thing for the first time thanks to the Hachette collection, so looking forward to these.

this is gonna be so much fun :)

is it just my computer or is ep 1 not loading? ep 2 is fine and all but ep 1 isn't

Quote from: The Monarch on 27 February, 2021, 03:12:47 PM
is it just my computer or is ep 1 not loading? ep 2 is fine and all but ep 1 isn't

No... I've got the same thing. :(

Quote from: The Monarch on 27 February, 2021, 03:12:47 PM
is it just my computer or is ep 1 not loading? ep 2 is fine and all but ep 1 isn't

Yep just about to dig in and Episode 1 isn't there. Episode 2 seems to be there okay though so I'll try that for starters...

I've re-uploaded Ep1 again and it's working now.

Quote from: Simon Fraser on 27 February, 2021, 05:26:06 PM
I've re-uploaded Ep1 again and it's working now.

Good to hear 'cos I just listened to Episode 2 while doing some stuff around the house this afternoon and its a fascinating listen. It great to hear the insights from inside one of my favourite, if niot my absolute favourite 2000ad strip - and therefore one of my all time favourite comics full stop. Wonderfully detailed, Edie is fantastically insightful and obviously the conversation is relaxed and there's chemistry between the 'presenters'.

I'll defo be going back to listen to episode 1 but I'm actually looking forward to episode 3 more. For some reason I'm really REALLY intrigued to hear what one of the creators thinks when someone else takes over their part. So looking forward to how you feel about other artists work on a creation that's clearly very important to you.

Brilliant stuff and thanks for resurrecting episode 1.

Listened to episode #1 and really enjoyed the easy banter. Love: space egg, chess horses. Also fascinating to hear how little feedback the creators were getting from editorial - sounds a little "The Man From Del Monte ... He Commission Another Series".

Random synchronicity: I'm Scottish and am married to an American who's younger than me. And your accent is sounding a little bit Ross & Cromarty, Simon - am I close?

The long tongues of the Imperial Seductri (sic) ... reminds me of a Kevin Bloody Wilson song called "Breathe Through My Ears (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxSeVuzWrGg)". Deffo NSFW lyrics!

Pansexual? (As a label for a reinvented Dante.) There is that thing with the bearded lady in a future episode.

Ross & Cromarty is not a bad guess at all, though I've never lived there, all the rest of my immediate family do. Glad you enjoyed the Podcast. We're excited to do more. We might even do Interviews .

Si.

I really enjoyed this - thanks for doing it Simon and Edie. Will you be posting  here when new ones come out?

Caught up with Episode 1 while chopping down bushes this morning. Yep as good as the second and really looking forward to the episodes to come.

Quote from: Funt Solo on 27 February, 2021, 09:42:16 PM
Listened to episode #1 and really enjoyed the easy banter. Love: space egg, chess horses. Also fascinating to hear how little feedback the creators were getting from editorial - sounds a little "The Man From Del Monte ... He Commission Another Series".

When creators are doing great work, the best thing an editor can do is shut up and get them paid on time. #YMMV

Quote from: davidbishop on 28 February, 2021, 05:09:59 PM

Quote from: Funt Solo on 27 February, 2021, 09:42:16 PM
Listened to episode #1 and really enjoyed the easy banter. Love: space egg, chess horses. Also fascinating to hear how little feedback the creators were getting from editorial - sounds a little "The Man From Del Monte ... He Commission Another Series".

When creators are doing great work, the best thing an editor can do is shut up and get them paid on time. #YMMV

Sorry to derail the thread but: Did you commission Dante, or was it just pitched to you?
Inquiring minds, etc... ;)

Quote from: davidbishop on 28 February, 2021, 05:09:59 PM

Quote from: Funt Solo on 27 February, 2021, 09:42:16 PM
Listened to episode #1 and really enjoyed the easy banter. Love: space egg, chess horses. Also fascinating to hear how little feedback the creators were getting from editorial - sounds a little "The Man From Del Monte ... He Commission Another Series".

When creators are doing great work, the best thing an editor can do is shut up and get them paid on time. #YMMV

Seems reasonable. (It's not as if I can argue from either the perspective of a comic creator or a comic editor.)

There's a sense, partly from Tharg stories in the prog (where all the droids work together in a fictional Nerve Centre) and even a bit from The Mighty One (MacManus, 2016) of something of a collaborative office and pub culture, of the creative teams being literally close to each other in their working relationship. (I know that, even then, many artists mailed their work in - so that the pub part would only come to pass if people ... came to pass.)

Some commentary from Pat Mills suggests that editor-creator relations have become more professional - perhaps more transactional - over time. Probably it depends on the personalities involved to some extent, but it was interesting to hear from Simon that feedback was mostly via the Input page of the comic.

Anyway - Dante was brilliant! Definitely one of the cornerstones that hauled the comic back up onto its feet after it spent too long in Vegas and ended up destitute in a low-rent back alley.

Quote from: Woolly on 28 February, 2021, 05:12:54 PM

Quote from: davidbishop on 28 February, 2021, 05:09:59 PM

Quote from: Funt Solo on 27 February, 2021, 09:42:16 PM
Listened to episode #1 and really enjoyed the easy banter. Love: space egg, chess horses. Also fascinating to hear how little feedback the creators were getting from editorial - sounds a little "The Man From Del Monte ... He Commission Another Series".

When creators are doing great work, the best thing an editor can do is shut up and get them paid on time. #YMMV

Sorry to derail the thread but: Did you commission Dante, or was it just pitched to you?
Inquiring minds, etc... ;)

John Tomlnson got Robbie & Simon started on Dante, but it was still being developed when I became Tharg [18 Dec 1995]. IIRC I was the one who suggested the story start before the Tsar Wars, to give the creators time to flesh out the supporting cast and make readers care...

But all credit for the greatness of Dante goes to Robbie, Simon and later John Burns.

Got inspired to update one of my charts a bit...

(https://i.imgur.com/CwDb2zp.png)

Late to the party on these but I listened to episode 1 this morning. Fantastic stuff. Really insightful on some of the background and art influences and like Colin says the chemistry between Edie and Simon makes it a relaxed and fun listen - I sometimes find stuff like this so be a bit 'bantz-y' and it's like listening to someone elses annoying mates, not this!
A re-read of Dante is something I like to do every year or two so I'm definitely going to read along. Will do part 2 when I've read part 2.

Thanks for doing these!

More thanks from me, now that I've listened to them.  Great fun; and it sounds like you have the perfect marriage!  I always love to have these insights into the workings of the story; and finding out all the bits I missed.  (I was never sure if that seductress's tongue was supposed to be longer than normal or whether it was a bit of artistic licence.)  Always thought it was interesting how Dante suddenly upped the prog's sex factor so dramatically and suddenly - it was unashamedly filthy, even, as Edie points out, before any proper swearing was allowed.

Looking forward to more of these.

Quote from: davidbishop on 28 February, 2021, 10:19:38 PM
But all credit for the greatness of Dante goes to Robbie, Simon and later John Burns.

David is being modest.  Dante got the support it needed from Editorial which is not something you can ever take for granted.

Si.

Ok folks we're now live on Spotify (https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fopen.spotify.com%2Fshow%2F1O9L89S3shQOw1F82xIWCk%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR0yzhCNnejXBFzxdPSGEOipypZth9A-fKaHFYvZqX1BrtFhYU_kOBUjPZA&h=AT0YDXP0NIbLvQtsAjX3_vqwgkAuT-oOP54tTF62vFnUGH0hxGAO3dOlK2Jp7V-eJ-xZr1NnuBMJyj4Gqtvnr1IJgaJaKMkewDjCRAUeiYgNJZclvpHwv4PAHLC2pce-Jdo)
And Stitcher (https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stitcher.com%2Fshow%2Fthe-great-dante-readthrough%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR0dCyaYZBvJQLuGmEnSKNWkJFIQ5NP-AiVruTMAUUEJRmlRVW1y-58Eaj0&h=AT0YDXP0NIbLvQtsAjX3_vqwgkAuT-oOP54tTF62vFnUGH0hxGAO3dOlK2Jp7V-eJ-xZr1NnuBMJyj4Gqtvnr1IJgaJaKMkewDjCRAUeiYgNJZclvpHwv4PAHLC2pce-Jdo)
Apple Podcasts is coming

Thanks for your interest.

Simon.

excited!

pocket casts as well, please!

....and now

PocketCast (https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fpca.st%2Ftck7m0kn%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3aG7b_mpi5f1Qbxlchm2vxUzM1DeYA00PnpxCFoSogmsPyvx-1_OSxfLA&h=AT0YDXP0NIbLvQtsAjX3_vqwgkAuT-oOP54tTF62vFnUGH0hxGAO3dOlK2Jp7V-eJ-xZr1NnuBMJyj4Gqtvnr1IJgaJaKMkewDjCRAUeiYgNJZclvpHwv4PAHLC2pce-Jdo)

Great stuff. Looking forward to both of your thoughts on the next one - the first Fraserless Dante, I think, and a story that's basically an extended and graphic sex scene.

Hmm I am now curious why Chris used the psudonym for his Dante story now I hope its a better story than "I am not putting my name to the sex issue"

I thought that was weird too - we knew his real name already, for starters.  Also the name 'Spaceboy' would suggest someone with a slick and cool style like Rian Hughes, rather than the richly-detailed traditional penmanship of Chris Weston.

Hey All,

So Episode 3 of the Great Dante Readthrough is now up.

https://simonfraser.net/tgdrpodcast/2021/3/2/ep-3-the-gentleman-thief

It's also now available on iTunes, it will show up in the search in the next couple of days. So if you are an iTunes user would you be so kind as to drop a review on there?  Those things matter to a fledgling little Podcast like ours.

We're going to try and hit a Wednesday drop day every week.
Thanks for following along. We're appreciating all the nice feedback we've been getting.

Cheers

Simon & Edie

That link dies for me, but this one is good (https://simon-fraser-asa6.squarespace.com/tgdrpodcast/2021/3/2/ep-3-the-gentleman-thief).

Thanks.

Quote from: Funt Solo on 02 March, 2021, 10:05:46 PM
That link dies for me, but this one is good (https://simon-fraser-asa6.squarespace.com/tgdrpodcast/2021/3/2/ep-3-the-gentleman-thief).

Thanks.

Oops! Much obliged.

so it was because he didn't want his name in the sex prog  :lol:

some parts of it did look off at the time....I don't get it why have a sex prog then censor it that feels a wee bit silly isn't it?

Nice! can't wait to check this out as part of my own podcast prog slog!

Enjoying this so much. Doing a re-read and it's great picking up little details that I'd missed and where some of the influences have come from. More than anything else, it's a really fun and interesting listen.

Dante rules. A friend of mine picked up the first Hachette collection and was so disgusted with Dante as a hero he sent the book back to Hachette with a stern note. I still, to this day, cannot account for this act of absolute madness.

Quote from: Barrington Boots on 04 March, 2021, 12:31:28 PM
Enjoying this so much. Doing a re-read and it's great picking up little details that I'd missed and where some of the influences have come from. More than anything else, it's a really fun and interesting listen.

Dante rules. A friend of mine picked up the first Hachette collection and was so disgusted with Dante as a hero he sent the book back to Hachette with a stern note. I still, to this day, cannot account for this act of absolute madness.

Loving the podcast too.  All the bits I missed.

Now, I must say I do understand where your mate was coming from - Whereas the return and note was a bit much, I thought Dante was a bit of a dick in the early days too.  While the story was excellent from the start, I found the character a narcissistic smart-arse whose witticisms I didn't find funny, charming or loveable at all; even Edie is a bit saddened by some of the dick moves he made in the early days.

He grew on me as a character as he got older and more mature; in fact I liked him .

Rereading it now I'm kind of impressed just how obnoxious Dante was at the start. It's not until Rhudinstein that he actually behaves in any way decently.

Very true, Dante is a bellend in the early stuff.
It was more the overreaction, but perhaps I should ask him just how far he read, he may not have even got to Rhudinstein.

I only ever got halfway through the original run because of life, but I've been saving my Hachette collection to do a full run through.

This is the perfect reason!

Also have some Dante artwork from The Romanov Dynasty Part 2 on my wall.

Dante in any way based on Lord Flasheart (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKfbSHW9uGA)?

Aw, man, I miss Rik Mayall. Subtle as a chainsaw, but he made it work.

Isn't Dante meant to be a bit of a bellend early on? I think Robbie M had always planned quite the emotional journey for him.

The other Simon got in on the action with a brace of Rasputin-U-Like covers supporting the launch in progs 1035 and 1039:

(http://www.2000ad.org/covers/2000ad/hires/1035.jpg)
(http://www.2000ad.org/covers/2000ad/hires/1039.jpg)


And Trevor Hairsine supports The Romanov Dynasty in prog 1044:

(http://www.2000ad.org/covers/2000ad/hires/1044.jpg)

Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 04 March, 2021, 05:03:29 PM
Isn't Dante meant to be a bit of a bellend early on? I think Robbie M had always planned quite the emotional journey for him.

I get the impression he was meant to be a bit of a bellend, but in a loveable rogue kind of way - I didn't see the loveable bit at all despite the Tharg of the time telling us he was.  (No offence, BishOP!)

I've always loved that cover for Prog 1039. Great depiction of the Bio-blades, plus the slightly Zappa-esque appearance seems to be the right level of lovable yet arrogant dickhead.

Quote from: Mister Pops on 04 March, 2021, 08:37:44 PM
I've always loved that cover for Prog 1039. Great depiction of the Bio-blades, plus the slightly Zappa-esque appearance seems to be the right level of lovable yet arrogant dickhead.

I've only just been turned on to Zappa (as a political voice) - and his interviews are something else. File under "does not suffer fools gladly".

---------

As for Dante, I always thought he was supposed to be incorrigible, where his joie de vivre carried him through. A little along the lines of David Tennant in Casanova (2005). He wasn't heroic, but he was better than the utter bastards above him. (And, as has been pointed out, he develops heroic traits.)

Dante wouldn't really work if he wasn't a bellend.

Back to the podcasts, now I know about it I can't stop seeing those champagne bottles.

I can finally reply! Hi all, this is Edie, Simon's wife and co-host.

I just wanted to say I've been loving reading all your comments and seeing the scans of the old covers too!

I'm working on adding scans of the pages we talk about in detail to the blog for those who want just a bit of a refresher on what we're talking about rather than reading along.

If you have the time, please rate us at 5 stars on Apple Podcasts and leave a review. It'll help other people find our podcasts as Apple appears to be the Tsar of podcasting. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-great-dante-readthrough/id1556077417

Here is also a great interview with both Simon and Edie related to the podcast:

https://www.comicon.com/2021/03/05/interview-simon-fraser-and-edie-nugent-on-the-great-dante-readthrough-podcast/ (https://www.comicon.com/2021/03/05/interview-simon-fraser-and-edie-nugent-on-the-great-dante-readthrough-podcast/)

Quote from: Illyana on 05 March, 2021, 07:50:41 PM
I can finally reply! Hi all, this is Edie, Simon's wife and co-host.

I just wanted to say I've been loving reading all your comments and seeing the scans of the old covers too!

I'm working on adding scans of the pages we talk about in detail to the blog for those who want just a bit of a refresher on what we're talking about rather than reading along.

If you have the time, please rate us at 5 stars on Apple Podcasts and leave a review. It'll help other people find our podcasts as Apple appears to be the Tsar of podcasting. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-great-dante-readthrough/id1556077417

Hi Edie! Welcome on board, and thanks for the podcast.  The dynamic between you and Simon is just great; and it's been amazing to go back over Dante with you and see things I missed.

Thanks for putting this podcast together!  I've been meaning to re-read Dante for some time, so this is the perfect excuse to get started.  Looking at one or two stories per podcast seems about right, allowing time to really absorb events as well as the art and layout choices.

It's reminded me what a great introduction to the character and his world the first two stories were, and how it started a pattern of impatient waits until his return to the prog.  I remember this really did feel like the start of a special and very different series.

Looking forward to following your podcast.

whats the RSS Feed for this?

Quote from: judgeurko on 09 March, 2021, 10:49:00 PM
whats the RSS Feed for this?

Hi there! It's: https://simon-fraser-asa6.squarespace.com/tgdrpodcast?format=rss

Quote from: Illyana on 10 March, 2021, 12:07:33 AM

Quote from: judgeurko on 09 March, 2021, 10:49:00 PM
whats the RSS Feed for this?

Hi there! It's: https://simon-fraser-asa6.squarespace.com/tgdrpodcast?format=rss

Thank you.

This is a lot more forensic than I thought it would be, which is great, but I'm not sure I can slow down my readthrough to the pace of the podcast :D

Thanks for doing this - it's great.

Episode 4 is up!

https://simon-fraser-asa6.squarespace.com/tgdrpodcast

I've added some art to each of the blog posts on Simon's website so you can follow along some as we talk.

That's great, thanks Edie! That'll be my work-listen for today.

Quote from: Illyana on 10 March, 2021, 04:34:55 PM
Episode 4 is up!

https://simon-fraser-asa6.squarespace.com/tgdrpodcast

I've added some art to each of the blog posts on Simon's website so you can follow along some as we talk.

I always thought it was a bit odd that he was boozing with Arkady, but he is young so just shrugged it off.

Maybe Andreas was already barred from that region and used his Crest to take over Arkady's body (as we know it's compatible but vulnerable without his own Crest).

In fact perhaps Andreas offered to 'lend' his crest to Arkady to cheer him up, only to use it to double cross him and joyride his body on a three day bender. 

In these lockdown times, this is becoming a highlight of my week.

Hello Friends! Happy St. Patrick's Day. Is that a thing in Britain? It sure is here in America. We're weird about day drinking here so St. Patrick's Day is when we let ourselves go. It's also Wednesday so that means a new episode of The Great Dante Readthrough.

http://simonfraser.net/tgdrpodcast/2021/3/17/ep-5-the-gulag-apocalyptic

if that doesn't work for some reason (we had trouble with it last week) try this:

https://simon-fraser-asa6.squarespace.com/tgdrpodcast

if you like what we're doing, make sure to subscribe and tell a friend who might be interested in 2000AD content.

Thanks, Edie!  Happy Paddy's Day* - it's definitely a thing here in Ireland  ;).  Not so much this year, of course, but I have a day off. 

Looking forward to the newest podcast - I'll save it for work tomorrow, I think. 

*Nobody this side of the Atlantic calls it 'Patty's'  :P

Quote from: JayzusB.Christ on 17 March, 2021, 02:20:54 PM
Thanks, Edie!  Happy Paddy's Day* - it's definitely a thing here in Ireland  ;).  Not so much this year, of course, but I have a day off. 

Looking forward to the newest podcast - I'll save it for work tomorrow, I think. 

*Nobody this side of the Atlantic calls it 'Patty's'  :P

This Irish American would NEVER call it "Patty's" day. For SHAME! My people hail from County Cork, near Skibbereen  :D Thanks for listening, I hope you enjoy.

Aha! My apologies  :)  Will definitely keep listening; thanks for doing them!

Quote from: JayzusB.Christ on 17 March, 2021, 04:15:15 PM
Aha! My apologies  :)  Will definitely keep listening; thanks for doing them!

No need for apologies at all! Just making sure you knew that this Nugent isn't making her ancestors roll in their graves :)

Quote from: Illyana on 17 March, 2021, 04:21:07 PM

Quote from: JayzusB.Christ on 17 March, 2021, 04:15:15 PM
Aha! My apologies  :)  Will definitely keep listening; thanks for doing them!

No need for apologies at all! Just making sure you knew that this Nugent isn't making her ancestors roll in their graves :)

😀 Fair play, should have guessed from the surname you were one of our own

New episode is up!

http://simonfraser.net/tgdrpodcast/2021/3/23/ryqh9cffpuv1fwo9ugjp1rlgefp68s

(https://static1.squarespace.com/static/517c5a82e4b01510f831c91c/t/605aa3dd79b1553ea8026228/1616553104916/BigBanner-Ep6+%281%29.jpg?format=750w)

Simon and Edie readthrough "The Trouble with Arbatovs" and "Cruel Britannia" and discuss: natural Arbatov selection, Shooty McGunwagons, regal rings, attack hot tubs, and the new British national anthem.

Hold on, HHHOOOOLLLLLDDDDD ON - when did Episode 5 come out... when did this become another Podcast I'm behind on.

Damnit... still lots of ironing to do this weekend. Ironing is good podcast time...

Quote from: Colin YNWA on 24 March, 2021, 01:27:38 PM
Hold on, HHHOOOOLLLLLDDDDD ON - when did Episode 5 come out... when did this become another Podcast I'm behind on.

Damnit... still lots of ironing to do this weekend. Ironing is good podcast time...

You missed my post above from last week, we come out on Wednesdays. And don't worry about being behind. We're here for you when you have time.

Well, that was today's work listen. Great stuff as usual. Aiso, glad I'm not alone in thinking that Cruel Britannia was a dark story that showed a very nasty side to Dante's character! Rogue he may be, but there was nothing lovable about sexually harassing a woman by way of framing her and getting her locked up.

Quote from: JayzusB.Christ on 25 March, 2021, 10:43:01 PM
Rogue he may be, but there was nothing lovable about sexually harassing a woman by way of framing her and getting her locked up.

Hey, the 2670s were a different time.

Quote from: Dark Jimbo on 26 March, 2021, 01:41:00 PM

Quote from: JayzusB.Christ on 25 March, 2021, 10:43:01 PM
Rogue he may be, but there was nothing lovable about sexually harassing a woman by way of framing her and getting her locked up.

Hey, the 2670s were a different time.

Headline: Dante cancelled.

Ah, I'd never cancel Dante. The early days of it were a bit like Preacher for me - the main character is a bellend but the story is great fun. (The difference being that Garth Ennis seemed to think Jesse was an absolute paragon of virtue rather than a mouthy, smartarsed twat.)

Caught up with 5 and its great. I've always been interested with the idea of something so 'owned' by Simon (if that's the right phrase?) but with so many artists contributing to its formative years. So hearing that Simon was asked to design The Huntsman is cool.

I do wonder how he feels going back and using designs by others in a strip that's his, so his insights into Henry's work are great to hear.

This podcast remains a delight.

Thanks so much for listening so far. It's Wednesday so it's time for the next episode! We love reading your comments and discussions, it's our own little comic book club.

Episode 7: The Great Game Part 1

http://simonfraser.net/tgdrpodcast/2021/3/31/m6djsvvmcunxtakharji46tg9al4ln

We've made it to the great game folks!

(https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/517c5a82e4b01510f831c91c/1617209687577-3XMO5SC9TV4X3OG0J6RA/ke17ZwdGBToddI8pDm48kL1-xe0xo3KX0zArA5iCWRRZw-zPPgdn4jUwVcJE1ZvWQUxwkmyExglNqGp0IvTJZamWLI2zvYWH8K3-s_4yszcp2ryTI0HqTOaaUohrI8PIAYnBRw7tBBQsSCIlJkRFiGfg0cScZgGwx3G2SsX64aEKMshLAGzx4R3EDFOm1kBS/BigBanner-Ep7.jpg?format=750w)

Quote from: Barrington Boots on 04 March, 2021, 12:31:28 PM
Enjoying this so much. Doing a re-read and it's great picking up little details that I'd missed and where some of the influences have come from. More than anything else, it's a really fun and interesting listen.

Dante rules. A friend of mine picked up the first Hachette collection and was so disgusted with Dante as a hero he sent the book back to Hachette with a stern note. I still, to this day, cannot account for this act of absolute madness.

There's some quote that I can't find at the moment, but it's something along the lines of any creation that hasn't caused somebody to be upset at it probably didn't have much point in the first place...

Ah the great game the first Dante story where I was like "yup i'm in this for the long haul"

Quote from: Illyana on 17 March, 2021, 03:05:56 PM
This Irish American would NEVER call it "Patty's" day. For SHAME! My people hail from County Cork, near Skibbereen  Thanks for listening, I hope you enjoy.

Cool - different bits of my family come from different regions, but one of those within living memory is from Cork (the other major one is from Tipperary). 

p.s. after having it in a tab for a few weeks I finally got around to listening to it while having the comics in front of me - fantastic stuff and wonderful to hear such a supportive marriage!

The talk about omnisexuality made me think Captain Jack Harkness...

Quote from: sheridan on 31 March, 2021, 06:21:07 PM
There's some quote that I can't find at the moment, but it's something along the lines of any creation that hasn't caused somebody to be upset at it probably didn't have much point in the first place...

Interestingly, "T.B. Grover" makes this exact point in the JD Annual (1983), to a perpetually nervous Burt:

QuoteReaders criticise because they care. It gives me a sort of warm glow in my Function Box to know that someone cares enough about my work to take exception to it.

Quote from: The Monarch on 31 March, 2021, 06:22:31 PM
Ah the great game the first Dante story where I was like "yup i'm in this for the long haul"

Yeah much as I love the early stuff, this however is the point when everything just clicks. You get that Dante is a dick, but he's a dick whose going to learn and it becomes clear you are going to see what he goes through to learn and grow and it ain't going to be easy.

This story is one of my all time favourites. I recently bought a page from this story from the fantastic Wake Carter which shows Simon at his best. His design of Valentin when he goes all bioware is just wonderful. A glorious demonic carnival barker, a twisted ringmaster - just wonderful stuff. I'm chuffed you are taking the time to go through it with the attention it deserves and the thoughts and insights from both perspectives are fantastic to hear.

Hey y'all. Looking for some feedback on a sound issue I'm hearing but Simon isn't. If you listen to this podcast on your phone, using headphones, do you (like me) turn down the volume on the opening so it's not too loud? Then, when Simon comes on shortly after to read you the prog numbers & we start chatting, you find you have to turn the volume all the way back up to hear us comfortably?

Let me know. Thanks!

Quote from: Illyana on 06 April, 2021, 10:27:36 PM
Hey y'all. Looking for some feedback on a sound issue I'm hearing but Simon isn't. If you listen to this podcast on your phone, using headphones, do you (like me) turn down the volume on the opening so it's not too loud? Then, when Simon comes on shortly after to read you the prog numbers & we start chatting, you find you have to turn the volume all the way back up to hear us comfortably?

Let me know. Thanks!

I'm listening on computer speakers and find the intro with music much too loud (so have to turn the volume down), the spoken intro just right and then the actual content itself too quiet (though is audible when I turn up the volume - but then I have to remember to turn the volume down again when I watch or listen to anything else afterwards).

Really appreciate the work you're both putting in!

I second that: the volume on the opening music is cat-terrifyingly loud so I normally turn it down for that (as my cat flees in terror) and then up again when the discussion begins as it's a little quiet.

It's not really detrimental to the Podcast though imo.

Thirded: opening sound intro is teeth-gratingly LOUD AS F*CK then everything's okay after that. I just assumed the podcast wanted to slap us around a bit aurally because it was totally METAL, before letting us relax with your collectively dulcet tones.

I will say that the music, loud as it is, would be perfect for a Dante movie.  Thanks for doing these, Edie and Simon, they're really enjoyable and I'm noticing things I never did before - the willy-shaped stage being one example, and the character based on Stephen Fry.  Great stuff!

Quote from: sheridan on 06 April, 2021, 11:03:59 PM
I... find the intro with music much too loud (so have to turn the volume down), the spoken intro just right and then the actual content itself too quiet (though is audible when I turn up the volume)

Me too.

Thank you all for your feedback! And for helping me win a debate with my husband! I'll love you forever for that...

It's Wednesday, so that means NEW EPISODE!

http://simonfraser.net/tgdrpodcast/2021/4/6/ep-8-the-great-game-part-2

(https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/517c5a82e4b01510f831c91c/1617749665399-ZYB10LW9R3AUNXHWUPGI/ke17ZwdGBToddI8pDm48kL1-xe0xo3KX0zArA5iCWRRZw-zPPgdn4jUwVcJE1ZvWQUxwkmyExglNqGp0IvTJZamWLI2zvYWH8K3-s_4yszcp2ryTI0HqTOaaUohrI8PIAYnBRw7tBBQsSCIlJkRFiGfg0cScZgGwx3G2SsX64aEKMshLAGzx4R3EDFOm1kBS/BigBanner-Ep8+%281%29.jpg?format=750w)

Grab a glass of your special beverage of choice, and help us toast the end of this series-defining story arc.

It's Wednesday and that means a new episode of The Great Dante Readthrough! The next two episodes were taped while Simon and I were recovering from our second vaccine shot (I had it particularly bad) so we're a little spicier here  ::)

We also award some no-prizes in this episode, so be sure to tune in!

http://simonfraser.net/tgdrpodcast/2021/4/14/ep-9-the-octobriana-seduction

[imghttps://static1.squarespace.com/static/517c5a82e4b01510f831c91c/t/6076f448e0779635ef7b08a5/1618408538366/BigBanner-Ep9.jpg[/img]

And if I'd posted the image properly, it would look like this:

(https://static1.squarespace.com/static/517c5a82e4b01510f831c91c/t/6076f448e0779635ef7b08a5/1618408538366/BigBanner-Ep9.jpg?format=750w)

Quote from: Illyana on 14 April, 2021, 03:07:53 PM
It's Wednesday and that means a new episode of The Great Dante Readthrough! The next two episodes were taped while Simon and I were recovering from our second vaccine shot (I had it particularly bad) so we're a little spicier here  ::)

We also award some no-prizes in this episode, so be sure to tune in!

http://simonfraser.net/tgdrpodcast/2021/4/14/ep-9-the-octobriana-seduction

[imghttps://static1.squarespace.com/static/517c5a82e4b01510f831c91c/t/6076f448e0779635ef7b08a5/1618408538366/BigBanner-Ep9.jpg[/img]

Quote from: Illyana on 06 April, 2021, 10:27:36 PM
Hey y'all. Looking for some feedback on a sound issue I'm hearing but Simon isn't. If you listen to this podcast on your phone, using headphones, do you (like me) turn down the volume on the opening so it's not too loud? Then, when Simon comes on shortly after to read you the prog numbers & we start chatting, you find you have to turn the volume all the way back up to hear us comfortably?

Let me know. Thanks!

Only listened to one and a half eps so far, but my issue is more with the difference in volume between the two of you. I can either understand Simon and have my earballs blasted by Edie, or I can comfortably listen to Edie and most of Simon's comments are lost to the traffic noise.

Thoroughly enjoying what I've heard so far though!

Hey there! We've hopefully fixed some of the sounds issues in this most recent episode. Let us know.

Quote from: Dandontdare on 14 April, 2021, 03:43:25 PM

Quote from: Illyana on 06 April, 2021, 10:27:36 PM
Hey y'all. Looking for some feedback on a sound issue I'm hearing but Simon isn't. If you listen to this podcast on your phone, using headphones, do you (like me) turn down the volume on the opening so it's not too loud? Then, when Simon comes on shortly after to read you the prog numbers & we start chatting, you find you have to turn the volume all the way back up to hear us comfortably?

Let me know. Thanks!

Only listened to one and a half eps so far, but my issue is more with the difference in volume between the two of you. I can either understand Simon and have my earballs blasted by Edie, or I can comfortably listen to Edie and most of Simon's comments are lost to the traffic noise.

Thoroughly enjoying what I've heard so far though!

Quote from: Illyana on 14 April, 2021, 03:53:44 PM
Hey there! We've hopefully fixed some of the sounds issues in this most recent episode. Let us know.

In the grand tradition of podcasts the first few episodes will usually by beset by technical difficulties while the people producing learn to use the equipment and figure out what works and what doesn't.  I don't think there's a long-running podcast (or youtube channel) which doesn't fit this pattern.

Talking of production difficulties: WELCOME TO YOUR DOOM!! (https://old.homestarrunner.com/sbsite/)

...said a villain to Dante once, probably*.


*pathetic attempt to remain remotely on topic.

Can somebody please insert the missing "d" into this topic title? It's chaffing against my pedantry circuit...



+++Bolt note -- Done. I was wondering what was wrong with that title for weeks+++

"chafing"

I'll set 'em up, you knock 'em down...

Just catching up on a couple of weeks worth of these. Such a good listen and always a joy to reread Dante, and to get Edie and Simon's thoughts to highlight things I'd not paid special attention to before. I've often thought Eloise dying was a terrible shame: she is a established as very cool character in a very short time, she's visually striking, and she's a complete badass. One thing that never sat quite right with me about the series overall was how he has a couple of lady loves (as opposed to all his flings) who tragically but conviently die, get a bit of mourning but essentially leave Dante a free run at Jena at the end. I'd totally have read a comic about Eloise and Lauren, having dropped Dante going off having adventures together, being swashbuckling and occasionally making disparaging comments about 'Dikolai'

But yeah, the Great Game is just immense - Dante and Jena really are their best selves to date in this. I'm struck by just how much sheer story happens in ten episodes: it's an absolute blast from start to finish, and it looks brilliant. Like a couple of guys here I own a page of the story and I'm dead proud that I do. The Octobriana character stuff I had literally no idea about previously, so i've learned something too. Plus always good to hear references to Dune and Batroc the Leaper. And there are shoutouts to a couple of members of this board, plus a legit noprize!

My favourite newly noticed thing, even more so than all the phallic bits, is spotting Valentine mugging off in the background whilst Kvass is making his speech in the final part. What a derpy git.

Thanks, Bolt - my pedantry circuit is now operating property.

(Go for it, F.S.!)

"circus"

Really late the party - only discovered this thread today, but it's great and great timing as I have been meaning to pick up the Dante re-read I started a couple of years back and have just bought the complete set of trades in the half price digital sale. Given that, I have decided to go all the way back to the beginning again.

Ha. Just catching up with episode 9 to find out I've won a no-prize! Go me.

Given I haven't read the whole epic yet (think I got to the start of the pirate arc) I hope I haven't spoilered myself!

Message us your email address and what name you'd like on the no prize!

Quote from: Bad Andy on 18 April, 2021, 11:57:00 PM
Ha. Just catching up with episode 9 to find out I've won a no-prize! Go me.

Given I haven't read the whole epic yet (think I got to the start of the pirate arc) I hope I haven't spoilered myself!

Caught up while away - arh the joy of going away for a week! And the podcast continues to be a delight. I'd seen Simon's Facebook post mentioning the Kickstarter for Octobriana but knew nothing about the character so this gave a fantastic insight into what all that's going on about. I'm also interested in how Simon engaged with the strip and feed ideas in even when not doing the art. I'll be fascinated to hear of occasions when Simon specifically had ideas he wanted to draw them and whether the relationships and logistics in producing the series meant this was possible?

The other bit about the Octobriana story is Andy Clarke's art - he's one of the artists we got to see develop in front of our eyes in the Prog. Here it is raw and fiddly and as I recall we only get one more with 'The Hunting Party' (is it - the one with 'Slaine' and 'Sinister Dexter' in) it would have been fantastic to see the artist he became, even a year or so later when he worked on Sinister Dexter and had become and astonishing artist.

Oh and that final scene with Viktor sitting on the bed - for me its a shame that he burped - I mean its a funny moment, but did rather defuse the moment which was pretty terrifying otherwise. Viktor was always a favourite of mine. His silence gave him a real presense perversely.

My No Prize cheered me up no end today!

Am I allowed to share it? Not sure I've secured my NFT rights.

Quote from: Bad Andy on 19 April, 2021, 09:53:41 PM
My No Prize cheered me up no end today!

Am I allowed to share it? Not sure I've secured my NFT rights.

Of course you should share it! You won it!

It's Wednesday and we're more shambolic than usual (one of my favorite words Simon uses often) so the podcast just went up!

http://simonfraser.net/tgdrpodcast/2021/4/21/ep-10-the-movable-masque-feast

(https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/517c5a82e4b01510f831c91c/1619028138759-OZUUPWKU7YMHWAPMITXH/ke17ZwdGBToddI8pDm48kL1-xe0xo3KX0zArA5iCWRRZw-zPPgdn4jUwVcJE1ZvWQUxwkmyExglNqGp0IvTJZamWLI2zvYWH8K3-s_4yszcp2ryTI0HqTOaaUohrI8PIAYnBRw7tBBQsSCIlJkRFiGfg0cScZgGwx3G2SsX64aEKMshLAGzx4R3EDFOm1kBS/BigBanner-Ep10.jpg?format=750w)

My apologies that I'm so damn chatty in this one. I was still delirious from my second vaccine shot. I have some ideas on how to organize my summaries better going forward so...enjoy the chaos here (I hope) and we'll rein me in better next ep.

I really liked the chatty and relaxed tone on this one!

Also what do we have to do to get Romanov boxer shorts? I'm pretty sure everyone on the board would buy a pair.

Just listening to episode 4 - the airship has "титаник" in Russian - that translates to "Titanic" :)

Here's a link to The Sheldrick Trust (https://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/), also mentioned in Episode 4.

This made me unexpectedly happy

(https://i.imgur.com/4vzroMN.jpg)

Bojemoi!

That's a glorious prize for a No Prize!

Superb!

Hey folks! Putting the call out for listener questions! Anything you've wanted to ask Simon Fraser​​ or, heck, even me! ASAP would be great ❤️

We recently got a collection of Dante in hardcover via the Hachette collection and while its clearly part of a wider collection as a fan its a wonderful thing to have BUT what would be your ideal way for Dante to be presented? Or aren't you fussed, happy its all easily accessible via digital and don't worry about such things?

When you are asked to draw Dante by fans is it a sigh, as its like playing your greatest hits* again and again, or do you love the fact that its still so loved and enjoy returning to him and his world?

*This is based on the assumption that you consider Dante your greatest hit - which is me projecting, due to my own biase. Do you consider it your greatest work?

Finally (for now) you clearly travelled a lot while working on Dante, how do you think that influenced what we saw and which places you've lived do you think have had the greatest impact on your work generally?

Finally one for Edie. Is it odd being married to someone who has such a specific aspect to their fame? When you get middle aged, balding men past their prime (I speak for myself!) gushing and getting all star struck over Simon is that weird? You've also mentioned your a writer, where might we read your work?

Why the long break (2003-2005) from art duties? Up until that point it was multi-artist and became mostly a two-hander with you and John Burns, but there's a long non-Fraser bit there where it looked like (from an ignorant reader's perspective) you were off the project.

Some thrills do spin-offs - especially popular ones. Given that Dante became one of the main cornerstones of the comic (part of the triumvirate of Dredd, Sin Dex & Dante that turned the quality of the weekly around from the mid-90s doldrums) and has such a large collection of compelling support acts, I'm surprised we haven't seen any side-thrills. Have spin-offs been mooted? Would you enjoy revisiting that world?

Art process question for Simon - for Dante you're always (I think) listed alongside a colourist. For your covers, there's no colourist listed. Do you colour the covers?

I have only one question would Simon like to do another series in the world of Dante (and I am no talking about bringing Nikolai back)? If the case whom would Simon like to write it or will he take on the pen as well?

One for Edie / both of you - you're perfectly welcome to keep your private lives to yourselves of course, but how did you meet?

sheridan, broodbilk and Funt Solo: your questions have been logged for a future episode! I like listener questions, and we'll ask those the next time we have extra minutes at the end.

Thank you all so much!

Quote from: sheridan on 25 April, 2021, 08:26:37 PM
One for Edie / both of you - you're perfectly welcome to keep your private lives to yourselves of course, but how did you meet?

Obviously in a ballroom with at least one of them swinging from a chandelier. Also: champagne.

Quote from: Funt Solo on 25 April, 2021, 10:17:20 PM

Quote from: sheridan on 25 April, 2021, 08:26:37 PM
One for Edie / both of you - you're perfectly welcome to keep your private lives to yourselves of course, but how did you meet?

Obviously in a ballroom with at least one of them swinging from a chandelier. Also: champagne.

And which of you was wearing the longest beard? ;-)

Some good questions there. I'd ask - How do you guys feel about the way Dante ended? I've always felt it's reasonably open ending was a bit of a shame. Although perhaps that's one for much later in the podcast.
Alternately: who is your favourite character in the series, and why is it not Dante himself?

Quote from: sheridan on 25 April, 2021, 08:26:37 PM
One for Edie / both of you - you're perfectly welcome to keep your private lives to yourselves of course, but how did you meet?

This is a very sweet question we do not mind answering, and likely will when we get to the 40th anniversary issue for reasons that may not be obvious to all. In our next episode, I mention why.

Also that will likely be one of our final podcast episodes so anyone who listens that far will likely be kind about us yammering on about ourselves.

It's new podcast Wednesday! Now, with listener questions!

http://simonfraser.net/tgdrpodcast/2021/4/27/ep-11-tour-of-duty

(https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/517c5a82e4b01510f831c91c/1619563680171-ZKMBY82JM8B4QQ5BSVFU/ke17ZwdGBToddI8pDm48kHaDcJC7v3tA0GxSL5TkZ_B7gQa3H78H3Y0txjaiv_0fDoOvxcdMmMKkDsyUqMSsMWxHk725yiiHCCLfrh8O1z5QPOohDIaIeljMHgDF5CVlOqpeNLcJ80NK65_fV7S1UUbuLpVVARftOs13leZwTpUuf7vG7nCDDx9bGrvTTpPoNeSmKb0l_enT_dNQ8WjXgg/BigBanner-Ep11+%281%29.jpg?format=750w)

Thanks for answering my Q about the break in art duties, Simon - I understand life happened. Well, not to be too gushy, but you were missed by this reader and it was great to see you back.

I always felt that you and John Burns complemented each other well and both provided great, epic art for the series - so it wasn't that I was sad to see Burns doing the work - just that I always wanted you both to be taking turns.

Fun listen as ever. This is Dante's lowest point at the start of Tour of Duty, I think. Not only is he an ass but he's an idiot to not think things would go badly.
Really enjoyed the question segment too, some real insight there - especially the stuff about how Simon draws women as realistic characters. It's nice to know Simon's so proud of his achievements on Dante.

So, why is the Imperial Palace gold? I reckon it's been temporarily gilded with the entire wealth of a noble house, or other hapless bunch of goons, who just got crushed by the Tsar. The gold is to be later scraped off and chucked into space or something, because the Tsar is a bellend and likes to make a point.

Finished listening to the latest and thanks you for answering my questions, lovely get insight into the things I ponder as I listen so its really appreciate... got new one at the end of this - you got me started don't blame me! Oh and I'm past my prime, I remember my prime and I couldn't survive it now so while I am past it I'm relieved I am and happy I had it, it was a fun prime!

I've read the Carrie Fisher article and have to assume it was very dusty in the room when I did...ahem... wonderful piece.

Episode as fun as normal and very much looking forward to the next one as Lulu is a favourite of mine.

As for the No Prize I was going for a similar tack as Barrington Boots suggesting it Sci-Fi Future Easter and it is indeed meant to be a Faberge Egg. The Tsar did it temporarily to celebrate but since war was closing also as sign of the endless resources he had at his disposal.

But since Barrington get there first I'll go with my alternative its actually Bubo (the mechanical owl from Clash of the Titans) overlooking a scale model of St Petersburg.

Oh and finally one question I forgot. I seem to recall Robbie Morrison said that he wished he'd done Dante without the sci-fi trappings (apologise if I'm miss remembering there see previous comment about being past my prime) - how does Simon feel that would change the story and would it have worked as well?

Quote from: Colin YNWA on 29 April, 2021, 01:17:17 PM
As for the No Prize I was going for a similar tack as Barrington Boots suggesting it Sci-Fi Future Easter and it is indeed meant to be a Faberge Egg. The Tsar did it temporarily to celebrate but since war was closing also as sign of the endless resources he had at his disposal.

I think your idea is a lot more cheerful than mine Colin!
Plus Bubo reference  :thumbsup:

Really enjoying the podcast, and re-reading a Dante story every week.  With all the talk of wine merchants in this week's Tour of Duty, I'm thinking I'm going to have to upgrade my official podcast drink from a cup of tea to something a little more appropriate...

(https://i.imgur.com/5WsFC53.png)

http://www.hardyswines.com/ukir/wines/range/crest/crest-chardonnay/ (http://www.hardyswines.com/ukir/wines/range/crest/crest-chardonnay/)

:D

I've just finished The Romanov Empire and a quick question to the Pod - do we think John Burns misunderstood Andreas' crest powers? When he draws him, it's like a sub-par Dante bio-blades. Or was there a conscious decision by Robbie to de-power him a little?

Feck, I'd forgotten it was that time of week. Perfect timing - have to tidy my living room (or saloon, if you want to use the technical boat term) and this podcast always makes boring tasks fun.

I've read two Italian Job jokes in pretty quick succession. First with Spatchcock and Flintlock and then not long afterwards with Dante and the Countess.

I take it Robbie was a fan :D

New Podcast Wednesday! We've made it to The Cadre Infernale!

http://simonfraser.net/tgdrpodcast/2021/5/4/ep-12-the-cadre-infernale

(https://static1.squarespace.com/static/517c5a82e4b01510f831c91c/t/6091d5de9cd4f05230b51ffb/1620170210409/BigBanner-Ep12.jpg?format=750w)

12?  But I'm only on episode...  Well, never mind which episode I'm on.  Unlike some other podcasts, I just can't just put it on in the background - I have to have Dante open and in front of me while I listen to you two talk about it, which means actually making sure I have time set aside to concentrate.  Nobody should be expected to concentrate on one thing for more than ten minutes.  What is this, the twentieth century?

p.s. I'll catch up eventually!

New Podcast Wednesday! This one is FRESH. We just recorded it last night.

http://simonfraser.net/tgdrpodcast/2021/5/11/ep-13-the-hunting-party

(https://static1.squarespace.com/static/517c5a82e4b01510f831c91c/t/609b3792091bd203bed833d6/1620785354598/BigBanner-Hunting+Party.jpg?format=750w)

Listened to this already because my job allows that sort of thing. This is imo the weakest Dante story but the podcast is as great as ever, with a lovely shout out to Bolt from Simon and Evie.


No Romanov boxers - boo
No-prize - yay!

Only recently read it but can barely remember it.  Unless its the one about Jocasta and Nikolai's dad being siblings? Ugh

Oh wow - I got a No Prize - I'm excited to an extent that just isn't respectable... I don't get out as much as I used to.

The pressure is on with my name BUT I do have another question for Simon. Any more Lilly MacKenzie planned? That was good comics!

It's WEDNESDAY, the child is full of woe, and it's new podcast day!

http://simonfraser.net/tgdrpodcast/2021/5/18/ep-14-fists-of-the-dance

(https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/517c5a82e4b01510f831c91c/1621389140726-UR8C735OC2TDF3AVORZA/ke17ZwdGBToddI8pDm48kHaDcJC7v3tA0GxSL5TkZ_B7gQa3H78H3Y0txjaiv_0fDoOvxcdMmMKkDsyUqMSsMWxHk725yiiHCCLfrh8O1z5QPOohDIaIeljMHgDF5CVlOqpeNLcJ80NK65_fV7S1UUbuLpVVARftOs13leZwTpUuf7vG7nCDDx9bGrvTTpPoNeSmKb0l_enT_dNQ8WjXgg/BigBanner-Fists+of+Dance.jpg?format=750w)

Quote from: Illyana on 19 May, 2021, 03:44:16 PM
It's WEDNESDAY, the child is full of woe, and it's new podcast day!

http://simonfraser.net/tgdrpodcast/2021/5/18/ep-14-fists-of-the-dance

How dare that image not post when it looked fine in the preview! Yer makin' me look like an amateur, board!

(https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/517c5a82e4b01510f831c91c/1621389140726-UR8C735OC2TDF3AVORZA/ke17ZwdGBToddI8pDm48kHaDcJC7v3tA0GxSL5TkZ_B7gQa3H78H3Y0txjaiv_0fDoOvxcdMmMKkDsyUqMSsMWxHk725yiiHCCLfrh8O1z5QPOohDIaIeljMHgDF5CVlOqpeNLcJ80NK65_fV7S1UUbuLpVVARftOs13leZwTpUuf7vG7nCDDx9bGrvTTpPoNeSmKb0l_enT_dNQ8WjXgg/BigBanner-Fists+of+Dance.jpg)

I listened to this whilst doing a tedious job and it made my morning a lot less tedious.
I read these two Dante stories out of sequence (I missed it in the Prog, caught up via the collected softbacks and book 3 which started with these was long out of print) and as such they always felt a bit prelude-y to me: not in a bad way but, knowing that the story is about to escalate dramatically I tend to zip through them to get the main Marriage plot so it was good to just read them alone. The train sequence is great. I always feel a bit sorry for the Arbatov here.

I could listen to Edie and Simon talk about Dante / sushi / Eddie Vedder / racist content in Temple of Doom etc. all day. They never feel like they're trying too hard to be funny or interesting, they just are those things. And I am down for an Arbatov spinoff and Arbatov singing. More Arbatov content please!

Idea for names for the listeners to the Podcasts

Fantes

Readthrough Irregulars

(well you can tack Irregulars onto the end of any better suggstions!)

Fante Irregulars

Will listen to this over the weekend. Always like a Dante drop.

Question: With Penguin adapting some Tooth properties for audio dramas, what about Dante?

And who would play him? What does Nikolai sound like in your head?

Dante has a Glasgow accent , in my mind.

See those Arbatovs? Fanny baws, the whole crowd. Haud on, though - whit the f*ck is this:

Nikolai Diavolo (https://jamesbond.fandom.com/wiki/Nikolai_Diavolo)

Audiobook Dante should be played by Arnie doing his Red Heat Russian accent.
<monotone> "I'm too coool to kiiiill"

I posted this elsewhere but thought I should link to it here too - without being spoilery, it shows what would have happened if Dante had been made a dictator in Vladimir's place, instead of [spoiler]the thing that really happened to him which I won't be giving away here.[/spoiler]

https://forums.2000ad.com/index.php?topic=36237.msg1061629#msg1061629 (https://forums.2000ad.com/index.php?topic=36237.msg1061629#msg1061629)

It's Wednesday and that means podcast day!

http://simonfraser.net/tgdrpodcast/2021/5/26/ep-15-cruel-requiem

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Well that was great fun, as always.  Makes the boring parts of my job (today: painting fake bricks on a plaster wall) much easier.

I asked this on another thread, but I may as well repeat it here: Does everyone in Dante's world speak Russian, translated into English for the reader?  Or is English the global language in 2666 onwards?  I realise it's completely unimportant but thought I may as well put it to one of Dante's creators.

Anyway keep up the good work; it's one of the highlights of my week these days!

Hold on long bank holidays are meant to be about catching up with stuff you like - so how come I'm falling behind. Anyway finally finished Episode 14 on my run this morning (with another epsiode started and Space Spinner what is a boy to do) and the introduction of the magnificent John M Burns leads to a load more questions.

Its rare to have two artist so associated with a series. Often its one, often many over time, but to have two is interesting. What impact, if any do you think John had on the strip? Its interesting that John asked to draw Dante himself, I've often wondered whether it was an editorial choice, as looking back he seems such a natural fit, but I'm thinking at the time might have been quite departure in the art style?

Anyway questions:

1. Once he was onboard how did his ongoing involvement develop? Was that editorial, was it Robbie and Simon asking for him to continue, or was it never a consious decision one way or the other?

2. His arrival came alongside a significent tonal shift in the series, as the first phase of the story came to an end - which largely was world and character building and establishing Dante in his more gung-ho phase. That shift was heavily foreshadwoed though and  John's arrival a happy coincidence (?) rather than planned. From that point on though what influence, if any,  did John's work have on the way the story developed?

Hello Irregulars. New podcast! This will be the second to last episode of season 1 of The Great Dante Readthrough. We'll talk more about it when we record part 2.

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http://simonfraser.net/tgdrpodcast/2021/6/1/ep-16-the-courtship-of-jena-makarov-part-1

This story is where Dante elevates from a great thrill to worldbeating one IMO. It's the absolute bomb.

The podcast is a super cool listen as ever, Simon sounds really enthusiastic and proud in this episode. He also makes a Baby Got Back reference, so +50 mentioning-stuff-I-get points.

The Adventures of Nikolai Dante (https://2kstages.github.io/AtoZ/NikolaiDante/data.html) have been tabulated over on my A-Z.  :)

Quote from: Funt Solo on 03 June, 2021, 05:43:25 AM
The Adventures of Nikolai Dante (https://2kstages.github.io/AtoZ/NikolaiDante/data.html) have been tabulated over on my A-Z.  :)

You do wonderful things Funt!

Quote from: Funt Solo on 03 June, 2021, 05:43:25 AM
The Adventures of Nikolai Dante (https://2kstages.github.io/AtoZ/NikolaiDante/data.html) have been tabulated over on my A-Z.  :)

Yess! Now I don't have to count pages by hand!

NEW PODCAST WEDNESDAY!

We finish the epic story! It's part 2 of The Courtship of Jena Makarov. Get your drinks read to toast the end of this tale, and find out our plans for season two of the Readthrough.

http://simonfraser.net/tgdrpodcast/2021/6/8/ep-17-the-courtship-of-jena-makarov-part-2

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what a wonderful pod. beautifully opening up what was already exceptionally generous storytelling ...
but what a terrible wait for more it will surely be.

just one question - has the saga appeared at all in russia (and/or in russian)?

Big thank you Edie and Simon for this podcast, I've got loads of enjoyment out of it, especially in some fairly grim times. Really looking forward to this coming back.

Some great insight from Simon on this one, and Wolfie is right about this opening up the story more: the realisation of stuff like the royal Romanov crest and the flicker of tech on Andreas's forehead just makes it all the better.

I adore this particular story: Dante attacking the blimp on a giant flying pornographic picture of himself is one of my absolute favourite parts of the whole tale. I think the (post) sex scene is tremendous and what an incredible final panel. Like Simon says on this one it's a payoff to what's been a slow build and it really works - I know I've probably been a bit gushing in this thread but this is just sooo great. Everyone who likes comics should read it.

I'd read a Simon-drawn romance comic btw.

Quote from: Barrington Boots on 09 June, 2021, 11:31:45 AM
Some great insight from Simon on this one, and Wolfie is right about this opening up the story more: the realisation of stuff like the royal Romanov crest and the flicker of tech on Andreas's forehead just makes it all the better.

Defo this.

Now I want to be careful defending Dante here if indeed he was being a tool at the start of 'Love and War' when he bursts into the cabin all full of rage (can you feel the but coming...) BUT I'm going to but a reason under it.

I've always read this* as Dante feeling abandoned. He clearly directs his rage at the fact that Jena left him for dead (though to be fair he did rather set that up!) and feels that was another example of being abandoned. He references that later (his fear of being abandoned) when Jena is unhappy with his inability to commit and so for me that's where his rage comes from.

Now whether its appropriate is a different conversation and he's certainly had a long journey to allow it to fester and distort in his mind. I just feel in this case I cut him some slack and suggest he's not being Dikolai, or if he is its due to his deep seated insecurity at least - though whether that justifies it as I say is a different conversation.


* I have a long and sordid history of getting these things wrong

Thanks for this once again, Edie and Simon.  I'll miss you both while you're on your (much-deserved) podcast break.  Really interesting discussion of a really important scene (that post-coital scene in the shack, of course). 

I don't think 2000ad has ever had a more sexually explicit scene than that one - Jena talking about 'over and over again' as her hand did something to Dante just off-panel, and then grumbling about how 'some things shrink when commitment is mentioned' when Dante turns away from her with a look of shame.  I seem to remember the internet being up in arms over a far less overt Marvel scene when Thor's mental issues put paid to his bedroom antics.

But more than that, it was when everything changed - Dante and Jena finally realising their love for each other, and then the reality of war dashing their dreams in minutes.  It was also about the time when Nikolai began to really start leaving his Loaded-stye Dikolai antics behind him, and I started warming to the character properly.  As always, the podcast has made me appreciate Dante on a much deeper level and realise the absolute epic scale of what Robbie and Simon crafted over the years.

Forgot to say - I can't believe it took the podcast to make me realise that 'All the Russias' meant the entire world.  Obvious in hindsight!

Finished this one off this morning on my run and look forward to you returning when you are good and ready. Its been a blast so far and I'm (almost) as excited about the idea of interviews with all involved. It will make this an even more of glorious companion piece to Dante. If and when those get done they will be an fantastic addition.

You've certainly picked a good place to pause and returning on Tsar Wars will be quite a thing and something I'm looking forward to a tremendous amount.

Most importantly though have a lovely honeymoon. May all those distilleries serve you well and whatever else you get up to be fun.

See you on the otherside.

Quote from: Colin YNWA on 11 June, 2021, 01:46:57 PM

Most importantly though have a lovely honeymoon. May all those distilleries serve you well and whatever else you get up to be fun.

Ah yes, apologies, should have mentioned that! Have an amazing honeymoon - a tour of distilleries sounds absolutely brilliant.

I've just finished the entire run of Nikolai Dante for the first time. Gosh I think they got the ending just right.

How satisfying.



Going back a couple of weeks, I'm not having Nikolai with a glasweigan accent. My dad's from Glasgow and NO WAY is Nikolai sounding like my dad. No way. I'm not having it.

I don't know - saying "diavolo" in a Glasgow accent is quite fun.

plus minor spoiler ahead [spoiler]one of Dantes disguises later on is scottish so its not far off xd[/spoiler]

HELLO IRREGULARS! How is your summer going?

We miss you and we hope you're doing ok. We're still in Scotland, but the honeymoon is over (cue weeping) but we managed to drive (well, Simon did) about 2500 miles through Alba's islands and Highlands and we're married.

So that means season 2 of the podcast is coming!

Ideas for season two:

-Continuing our readthrough (of course)
-Edie and Simon chatting with people about their involvement in Dante (artists, editors, publisher big wigs etc)

So what would you like to hear in season two? We're open to suggestions.

We'll be overseas through the beginning of September, so look for episodes to resume at the end of that month. When we're back in the Delta-soaked United States! Yay! Oh well, more time to stay quarantined inside our home to be safe and make more episodes.

xo
Edie

]

I do like the idea of guests on the show. Not that you two aren't gold, but might be good to freshen it up  bit for series 2.

Yeah I love the story insights from the two of you but guests will add an extra dimension.

For me though its best if these were done as extras / specials and the podcast as a whole remains the reflections of the core team (you and Simon) on what you read. That way we have a 'travelogue' through a single 'journey' and a personal insight on one level. Then the more resource / compaign piece on another.

Whatever you decide and find time for I'm looking forward to it immensely and

CONGRATULATIONS on ... errr completing the honeymoon... hope you had fun.

Hurray! Honeymoons rule and so does this Podcast returning.

Going forward, more of what we've had before, please! I'd definitely be interested to hear the thoughts of other Dante 'alumni' in the same sort of relaxed format.

This near to the end of the year I'll bet the honeymoon seems like something that happened an age ago - but you have to start off the next series with a brief run-down of how it went - did you visit many distilleries?  Or is that just something that the Irregulars would do while in Scotland?

Hi Simon and Eddie, I'm not sure if you are still checking in here but I just wanted to say how much I've enjoyed the podcast and am now finally up to date. (It's been a bit surreal reading it given what is actually going on in the real world now).

The podcast has really added to my enjoyment and understanding of the strip and you have addressed a few things I was wondering about myself. Like how come Dante knew where Jena's cabin was.

I was wondering when you'll be back? Hopefully it will be soon.

Eadie not Eddie.

Blinking autocorrect😢.

When I saw that this thread had been updated I thought that meant there was a new season of podcasts starting!  Alas, no - just somebody else in the same boat as me, waiting for it to begin again :-)

Looks like its coming back. Edie posted on Facebook they have their first interview planned - sounds like David Bishop which would be fantastic. Soooo hopefully Simon and Edie have found time to get back in the saddle.

Fingers crossed this is great news.

Recorded my interview with them a couple of weekends ago, great fun. Think they're hoping to resume once there are enough episodes in hand to maintain a steady schedule.

Quote from: davidbishop on 23 August, 2022, 10:59:03 AM
Recorded my interview with them a couple of weekends ago, great fun. Think they're hoping to resume once there are enough episodes in hand to maintain a steady schedule.

Really looking forward to getting your take on the creation of the strip. As from some reading you made important suggestions that really helped the strip become what it was - pushing back Tsar Wars springs to mind. Since then I've heard (imagined) you downplaying your input so will be great to hear this chat.

Woo-hoo!  I did have some trepidation when I saw the thread had been updated, but not from Illyana or Simon - good news though!

WE'RE BAAAAAACK!!

SEASON 2 FINALLY BEGINS!

Thank you for hanging in there with us, Irregulars! Brace yourselves, we get...personal!

http://simonfraser.net/tgdrpodcast/2022/10/14/ep-18-devil-may-care

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*Gasps in Russian*

please maintain a semblance of dignity.

WAYHEY!

This was an AMAZING pod. Love the extra page story.

And very interested in the whisky and comics spin off  :lol:

Currently listening to it - we were thinking the comments about the UK gov website were ironic, but then the comparisons with the US equivalent make us think they were genuine, no sarcasm involved!

Hahaha - that secret story!

So good to have this back. I caught a little view into Simon's Adventures in Visaland via Facebook, but I imagine that's only a fraction of the tale and it must have been so hard to deal with. Really happy it all got sorted for you.

To then restart the podcast with such a romantic tale is wonderful and a lovely way to restart.

That said, let's get to war!

Next episode is up!

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http://simonfraser.net/tgdrpodcast/2022/10/21/ep-19-the-rudinshtein-irregulars

Forgive me, Irregulars. That last link was bad. Here you go:

http://simonfraser.net/tgdrpodcast/2022/10/20/ep-19-the-rudinshtein-irregulars

Listening as I type - don't forget that the word-we-don't-use regarding Elena is used by the Imperial Crest, with programmed-in prejudice!

Another fascinating fantastic episode. Really interested to hear Simon and Edie talk about Dante's motivation for fighting for Romanov and leading some of his forces rather than rebelling and leading the life of a fugitive.

I've always been really comfortable with my reading of this. That opening episode presents it all. He not fighting for Dmitri and his ambition, rather fighting to get the best possible outcome for Rudinshtein, its people and troops. Hence when asked to join Dmitri to watch their 'great sacrifice' he refuses and stays to inspire the troops. He's fighting for his people, not their rulers.

Devastated by the events that led to the war Dante has been broken and changed and figures if the war is going to get him one way or another, andhe seems to care little at times, he might as well go protecting as best he can the people he feels responsibility for.

That was always my take, I do regularly get these things wrong!

you pretty much summed up what i thought as well colin

That's my take also. Emotionally broken and fatalistic, Dante is almost looking to commit suicide by war, but nevertheless is still fighting for the people who are his responsibility.

Another good episode and interesting to hear Simon and Evie have a slightly more critical take on some of it. I think the introduction on John Burns art is what I always remember about this story rather than the dark tone and shift to grimness. I'd forgotten that Flint and Spatch were part of the rape and murder gang at Rudinshtein with the Groznys - I guess we're to assume that Dante arrives in time to stop anything happening but it does throw them into a more sinister light.
Something worth saying is how good John Burns draws a uniform.

Our greatest apologies for the lateness of this. We're supposed to release on Fridays! Anyhow, next episode is up!

http://simonfraser.net/tgdrpodcast/2022/10/31/ep-20-interview-special-david-bishop

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Super looking forward to this one. David Bishop is always fascinating to listen to. Should be a blast!

Well worth the listen.
The inside skinny on the prog in the nineties

Yep, really enjoyed that, thanks guys.  Hard to believe you could end up being Tharg by applying for a job in the paper! 

Quote from: Barrington Boots on 28 October, 2022, 09:21:49 AM
I'd forgotten that Flint and Spatch were part of the rape and murder gang at Rudinshtein with the Groznys - I guess we're to assume that Dante arrives in time to stop anything happening but it does throw them into a more sinister light.

The Second World War (Beevor, 2012), as well as being a very good summation of the events, differs from previous coverage by including two key aspects that don't often get covered: the plight of women during wartime, and also the rather delicate question of cannibalism. As one may imagine, it was often seen as the better option to write to the bereaved of someone's mysterious or heroic death, and not, say, that they'd been served up as lunch. The German's trapped in and later captured at Stalingrad even had a euphemism for it - referring to the meat as "camel". Front-line Japanese soldiers stuck in the various jungle-zones, were pitifully short of rations towards the end. (The winners, as ever, would be able to brush such exigencies under available carpets.)

Not that we should necessarily echo the worst excesses of war in a comic, but if you're going for grit ... things do get gritty.

Quote from: Funt Solo on 02 November, 2022, 06:22:30 PM
Not that we should necessarily echo the worst excesses of war in a comic, but if you're going for grit ... things do get gritty.

Garth Ennis is 52. ;-)

Yep that was fantastic. As I said David Bishop is always good value and that was particularly interesting with the insights and questions from Simon and Edie. So glad this podcast is back. Thanks for this.

I noticed that Bishop excitedly stated about some of his new writing that "you can't go wrong with nuns" - perhaps age is getting the better of him as he seems to be forgetting a certain Megazine series of yesteryear. 

Ha, good spot! Suspect I purged the Soul Sisters from my memory banks, at least temporarily. Having been taught by nuns for much of my childhood, the veil is never truly lifted...

I swear we're going to get back to having a reliable podcast release day...here you go! This is another intense story to readthrough, and as we say at the end: please let us know your thoughts! We will include your responses in a future episode. 

http://simonfraser.net/tgdrpodcast/2022/11/5/ep-21-love-and-war

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Was just desperately trying to find a podcast to listen to during a fairly boring painting job - You're a lifesaver!

Bless you

Quote from: JayzusB.Christ on 05 November, 2022, 05:52:22 PM
Was just desperately trying to find a podcast to listen to during a fairly boring painting job - You're a lifesaver!

So glad to be of service! Let us know what you think! We're...apprehensive about this one.

Quote from: Illyana on 05 November, 2022, 06:01:36 PM
Bless you

Quote from: JayzusB.Christ on 05 November, 2022, 05:52:22 PM
Was just desperately trying to find a podcast to listen to during a fairly boring painting job - You're a lifesaver!

So glad to be of service! Let us know what you think! We're...apprehensive about this one.

Will do! Just about to crank up my old podcast app and get stuck in.

Quote from: Illyana on 05 November, 2022, 06:01:36 PM
We're...apprehensive about this one.

I have to say, that acted as an enticement.
Also, although it sounds perverse to say so, it's fascinating to hear creators being critical of their own work (or in this case, work with which they're closely connected).

Well, I enjoyed the podcast a lot! Simon's undisguised hostility towards the story just made for a more interesting listen. 

Personally I warmed to Dante a bit during the war storyline - I'd always found him to be a smug little smart-alec who still managed to get more chicks than I did beforehand, and the war knocked a lot of the ego out of him and made him more human.

Although, as Simon points out, a lot of the plot makes no sense at all.

I haven't read Dante in a long time (the stories in question here - 22 years ago), so it's difficult to know whether it would stand up to a sort of "a little bit of sugar" argument. Like, on one side, glorifying war is bad. On the other hand, maybe getting people in on the entertainment ticket allows one to speak to other issues.

But, like I say, it's a long time since I've read those episodes.

Irregulars! Keep your wonderful thoughts and reactions coming. Let us know if you want us to credit you as something other than your Board handle. Also let us know if you'd prefer we not use your comments on the podcast when you post them, a simple "not for broadcast" will suffice. Not that our little show is oh so famous that your opinions will be front page news or anything, but want to be respectful.

Wow, what a brilliantly intense episode. Its fascinating - and a little heartbreaking to hear Simon so disappointed and detached from his creation, so can't imagine how that feels for Simon. He is so passionate about his creation, and so close to the vision of what he wants it to be, that its almost painful to hear him so disappointed. Makes for wonderful, if uncomfortable listening. Thanks so much for being so open and honest, I hope things get better as you read on.

The fact that he says (and I paraphrase here, so hope this comes across okay) 'Really its Robbie's creation and story to tell,' says so much about the challenge of the artist as co-creator. The fact that practically, schedule and desire for momentum needs to be maintained behind a story means the artist, whose work takes so much longer, has to relinquish control and say things like (and again apologise for the misquote) 'Its really Robbie's more than mine', is a real problem when something becomes work for hire. I wonder if, in some utopian world, where Dante could have been creator owned does Simon think he'd have fought harder to take the story, and more importantly characters, down routes he was more comfortable with?

Finally (sorry I am wittering on) one specific I'm intrigued by is the distaste Simon has for the heroic pose Dante has after his brutal and horrible fght with Jenna. For me it really works as clearly he's being horrific, we've just seen it in so many way, but Dante has always been about contradictions. The juxtaposition of his actions and the words we read that go with the image really works. He has been terrible, but within all that there is a hero in Dante, somewhere, we're not seeing it now, but its there underlining him, trying to get out. In the brutal circumstances and with the horrible decisions he's made he doesn't know how to find it, he's not even really looking for it, but its there somewhere and the contrast makes the whole thing much more powerful to me as a reader.

This may well speak to how we as readers (me as a reader) build our view and interruption of character based on what we see, what is presented and where we are at and what we impose. The creator has a much clear, closer personal view of what they wanted them to be and when they (the characters) deviate from that, its much harder to take?

I went back and re-read one of the war bits - and they have the infantry charging in a massive Romanov Crest formation - which is wonderfully silly, really.

"Okay, lads - we're going to charge the enemy - but before we do, I need you all to form up in an intricate shape large enough to be seen from space! Yes, tactically, it's fucking insane - but the boys up on the Potemkin said it would look awesome."

its a show of power i doubt the romanovs give a fuck for how many of those soldiers get shot at by the enemy

This was a very engrossing episode - I felt a bit of trepidation going in reading some of the other comments, but a fascinating listen. Simon does sound very raw about the direction the story has taken but as Colin said above, very open and honest and really interesting to hear these views from one of the creators.

It's hard to disagree with most of what he says about comics that try to be both gritty and grim and also superheroic: they generally do suck and this is tonally all over the place. On the final couple of pages of this episode I always felt that this was the most 'evil' representation we ever see: he's slicing Jena up (he boots her in her wounded leg, a very typical 'baddie' move) and just standing there with this horrible sneer - I don't he looks heroic at all: he looks a lot like his Father.
What Simon says about the horror of this scene is true though: it's a horrific scene and this is Dante at his absolute worst and it could definitely have emphasised that this is evil Dante more. Although, the very next story it's back to japes in England...
This isn't my favourite bit of Dante because Dante himself is indeed awful here. For him to Romanov up, and to do so in such a wholehearted way at this point in the story doesn't really make any sense. I always kind of assumed he as trying to commit suicide by war, but by killing hundreds of people..? Not very cool. Elena aside I've also never been a fan of the irregulars either: they're an absolutely horrible bunch, especially the Groznys, so basically we've got evil Dante leading a bunch of murderous scumbags and I definitely feel Jena is more of the hero here.
The other bit I don't like is when it all goes a bit George and Lynne with Jena's top. I love Burns but that is well off. I definitely have a new appreciation for his Starfleet style robot now though, not sure if I ever really saw that before!
It's definitely made me read the story with a fresh pair of eyes, really enjoyed it.

Also great to hear someone described as a complete waz.

What is the recommended intense smokey whisky for the Podcast? Inquiring minds are interested.

Quote from: Barrington Boots on 10 November, 2022, 09:03:44 PM
Also great to hear someone described as a complete waz.

No, I scream NO! We can not endorse this, and I'm sorry to be brutal, lazy use of the word 'waz', it denied us the full beauty of the all the more glorious, complete 'Wazzock'.

Irregulars! Thank you so much for your thoughts, keep them coming, we like including your opinions in our broadcast. Next ep is up!

http://simonfraser.net/tgdrpodcast/2022/11/10/ep-22-battleship-potemkin

(https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/517c5a82e4b01510f831c91c/a0727d81-27ed-4266-8011-505adc1ec24d/TheBattleshipPotemkin.jpg?format=750w)

Hello Irregulars! Happy Friday Podcast day. We have a Dante Xmas Special story and a Dante hangs with a Vampire Slayer tale!

http://simonfraser.net/tgdrpodcast/2022/11/10/ep-23-one-last-beguiling

(https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/517c5a82e4b01510f831c91c/c8347ba7-8855-4484-bc86-23d96ac6078b/OneLastBeguiling.jpg?format=1000w)

Or, you know a Dante Xmas Special story and a Dante beds some enemy daughters tale! ::Face palm::

Looking forward to these - once again it's a long work day but your podcasts always brighten them up.

Just finished Episode 22 and its another belter. Nice to have Simon feeling a lot more positive and yeah there's a lot going on. Really do need to get back up to speed and up to date. I reckon weekend house work will catch me up!

I've also just caught up on episode 22. Definitely good to have Simon feeling positive! It's a dense stroy and also a dense episode as there's not much room for chat outside the story itself.
There's some really great art in this episode - aside from the excellent chess page, I've always really liked the panel of the Potemkin plunging towards the Tsar's head palace followed by the panel of the man himself with his mouth open in horror as though the battleship were about to hit him.

The story here is top notch and I still dislike the irregulars (Elena aside) on the re-read. They're all horrible.

Not so much a question to Edie as anyone on here - when Dante toasts 'what might have been' with Jocasta, who is it he is thinking of? Is that a young Jocasta?

Happy New Episode Friday! It's all vamps all the time this week!

http://simonfraser.net/tgdrpodcast/2022/11/10/ep-24-fiends

(https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/517c5a82e4b01510f831c91c/150797ec-26e0-4f47-aa62-dd0222829233/Fiends.jpg?format=1000w)

Did I really spend the best part of an hour last Friday night listening to two grown-ups discussing a handful of episodes of a comic more than twenty years old? And having done so, did I then spend a similar amount of time listening to the previous podcast, before then reassessing said comics for myself?
I know what my problem is, but what's wrong with the pair of you? Shouldn't you be sitting in front of the television, bickering like normal couples?

Quote from: Barrington Boots on 18 November, 2022, 02:43:35 PM
Not so much a question to Edie as anyone on here - when Dante toasts 'what might have been' with Jocasta, who is it he is thinking of? Is that a young Jocasta?

Surely it's Jena?

That would make sense from Dante's point of view.

Such a tiring week over here at House Fraser. We published yesterday but I didn't tell you about it here. For shame! Part one of The Romanov Empire!

http://simonfraser.net/tgdrpodcast/2022/12/1/ep-25-the-romanov-empire-part-1

(https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/517c5a82e4b01510f831c91c/d1f88b47-e8f9-47f2-bb2b-b5320c810d48/TheRomanovEmpire-pt1.jpg?format=800w)

Really enjoying these. Thanks for all the work you guys put into them.

Quote from: JWare on 01 December, 2022, 09:24:23 AM
I know what my problem is, but what's wrong with the pair of you? Shouldn't you be sitting in front of the television, bickering like normal couples?

Oh don't you worry. We do plenty of that.

Great episode, very cool to hear Simon & Edie's thoughts on this extremely dramatic phase of the Dante story!

Sometimes it's just as interesting hearing critiques of the episodes as it is points of praise and interest. I think some of John Burns work on this story is stellar, but I'd never really noticed how much stronger he is on some characters than he is others. I rather like his Warlord design but I always thought the whole idea was that it looked somewhat reminiscent of something out of Flash Gordon etc. It looks rather at home within the context of John's work - but yes, it's not really very imposing.
It might sound odd but I think his clothing designs are amazing. The military uniforms, the greatcoats and the like - later on his pirates too..
I agree about the palace though. And the shark.

The Tsar is awesomely bastard-y in this episode. I'm in agreement with Edie about Viktor being not worthy of a hug: I remember my wife reading that Octobriana episode and being utterly appalled by it, and moreso when I said Viktor was one of the 'good' members of the family: he doesn't really come good until later. Andreas is someone I've never quite understood why he gets so much love either. His good points seem to be 'he is a bit like Dante' (ie. a bellend) and a lot of the scenes we've seen him in, he's just being a hedonist and a mass-murderer. Is staying behind the first decent thing he does, and is it to help defend the people, or is he just trying to impress Elena?

Great comics, great podcast, and finally thank you for the whisky info, and RIP Kevin O'Neill.

We did it folks! We Readthrough the end of the War.

http://simonfraser.net/tgdrpodcast/2022/12/9/ep-26-the-romanov-empire-part-2-amp-return-of-the-gentleman-thief

(https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/517c5a82e4b01510f831c91c/8847e9a2-028f-4561-9220-34da1c010e33/TheRomanovEmpire-pt2-GentThief+%281%29.jpg?format=800w)

Yayy! That's today's housework-listening sorted :)

Really enjoying these, guys, thanks for all the work you put into them.  (Though of course Simon has put quite a bit of work into Dante already..)

Great stuff as always - thanks, guys!  Very interesting to see Simon's reaction to the various colourists on his work. 

By the way, Edvard Krilly (I'm sure I've spelled that wrong) is a reference to Ireland's own Father Ted, which I'm sure Simon remembers was a surreal sitcom about priests which was massively popular this side of the Atlantic at the time.  The main character was Father Ted Crilly.  I seem to remember it was referenced in Sinister Dexter, or maybe some obscure Future Shock, around the same time, where some neon signs on buildings advertised 'Girls' and 'Drink Fek!' - you'll only get it if you watch the show.

Just catch up with the first few podcasts of the new batch. Blimey that first one was intense. I mean, it totally knocked me off my stride. Have we ever seen Robbie's take on the war stories? Other than what's in the strip.

Blimey.



Incidentally I only got into Blake's 7 post lockdown and its great stuff. You should try out the Big Finish audio dramas on them. Warship is only a fiver but it spans the gap between Series B and C. https://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/blake-s-7-warship-815

Technical difficulties two weeks in a row? I'm going to be honest, we're in the midst of trying to buy a house and get Simon a green card, and my Mom's having surgery Monday. We have an episode recorded, just taking a bit to get it all ready for primetime.

Take your time, Edie. Your audience isn't going anywhere.
Best of luck to your mother.

Absolutely - there aren't any deadlines here; we're just lucky to have such an in-depth analysis of a great strip whenever it arrives in the pod-post.  So yeah, hope you manage to sort everything out, and that your mother gets well soon.

What they said. It's worth waiting for from our point of view. Hope your Mum is ok.

Y'all are the best. Truly. My mum will be so chuffed to know that she's receiving well wishes from across the pond.

Episode 27 is here!

http://simonfraser.net/tgdrpodcast/2022/12/16/ep-27-the-romanov-job

(https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/517c5a82e4b01510f831c91c/c3111c42-7595-4e09-82c3-8fe833ce1b95/BigBanner-Season2-romanovjob.jpg?format=750w)

We had an upload issue that is now fixed 👍👍

Not finished this latest one yet but while I think on [nerd]Crusher Creel is the Absorbing Man - originally a villian from Thor but since has got up to all sorts of mischief and indeed last time I saw him, in Al Ewings great Immortal Hulk, seemed to be kinda a on the side of the goodies... who knows now...[/nerd]

I haven't heard this one yet, but agree that Grushko Kreel definitely must be a reference to Crusher Kreel / Absorbing Man.

Quote from: Colin YNWA on 19 December, 2022, 08:34:52 AM
and indeed last time I saw him, in Al Ewings great Immortal Hulk, seemed to be kinda a on the side of the goodies

WTF

Joined Gamma Flight to do... gamma related things!

In fairness I'm not sure I've read an Absorbing Man story since Secret Wars
<derails thread>

Loads of respect for getting this episode done when you and Simon have so much going on in your lives right now.  Thanks, Edie, looking forward to listening to it.

I had no idea about Abel Ganz / Abel Gance - but always thought Tarantula was based off The Spider as everyone else is taking off a comic book character. I'm pretty sure we haven't seen Luther before in the story.

This isn't my favourite Dante tale - I've never been keen on Papa Yeltsin, whose portrayal often seems rather on the homophobic side especially here when contrasted with how when Solaris and the Countessa having sex shown: one is titillating and the other is a threat, so was glad to see Evie mention this. I had forgotten how introspective and depressed Dante is though in places here when he's not fighting assorted maniacs and that's really well done.

As ever the podcast is awesome. Always a highlight of my week!

Also, the vodka bit always reminds me of a wedding I went to in Poland where when someone drank vodka (and that was pretty much the only drink) everyone had to. The wedding was amazing, but I was very, very sick.

The podcast remains awesome. One of my favourite ear based treats.

I really like this story. I like the playful way it uses old UK comic characters... even if they do some pretty uncomfortable things at times, reminds me of Zenith Phase 3.

We about to enter a period of Dante that as I recall (though my memory - yike - its never to be trusted!) wasn't to popular at the time. I love it cos PIRATES. I mean everything is better with pirates... and penguins... and apes... and dinos... anyway yeah PIRATES. I mean it was always going to be hard to follow The Tsar Wars, but still its fun stuff as I recall and uses different emotional levers.

Its a shame, on one hand, that Simon didn't get to play with this much BUT by this stage John M Burns was on fire and I'm looking forward to seeing how its recieved here.

Quote from: Barrington Boots on 20 December, 2022, 10:57:01 AM
I had no idea about Abel Ganz / Abel Gance - but always thought Tarantula was based off The Spider as everyone else is taking off a comic book character. I'm pretty sure we haven't seen Luther before in the story.

This isn't my favourite Dante tale - I've never been keen on Papa Yeltsin, whose portrayal often seems rather on the homophobic side especially here when contrasted with how when Solaris and the Countessa having sex shown: one is titillating and the other is a threat, so was glad to see Evie mention this.

With you all the way there - I thought Tarantula was The Spider too, and I also wasn't mad about how Papa Yeltsin was portrayed.  I recognised him immediately as an analogue of Uncle Monty from Withnail and I, though Monty with his melodramatic nostalgia is a touching and hilarious character; whereas Papa is a bit of a one-note stereotyped sexually aggressive homosexual - and have people really not gotten over sniggering homophobia in the year 266whatever?  You'd think Dante himself would be a wee bit more open-minded, having lived the life he's lived.

Anyway, great podcast as always, thanks, guys!

I forgot to say, I remember that line 'You're too old to be cool' having a bit of an impact on me at the time - firstly, I never liked Dante's 'too cool to kill' catchphrase and it was nice to see someone skewering it viciously, but mainly, I was just about reaching the stage of life where I'd never be cool again too* and it was a grim little memento mori for me.

*Not that I ever was, you understand, but I really tried to be.

Quote from: Barrington Boots on 20 December, 2022, 10:57:01 AM
I'm pretty sure we haven't seen Luther before in the story.

He was briefly in The Cadre Infernale with Lulu.

Quote from: Barrington Boots on 20 December, 2022, 11:01:03 AM
Also, the vodka bit always reminds me of a wedding I went to in Poland where when someone drank vodka (and that was pretty much the only drink) everyone had to. The wedding was amazing, but I was very, very sick.

I had the same experience too. Apparently. I have no memory. And couldn't drink again for NINE MONTHS.

What a treat to readthrough all the discussion here! Can't wait to chat about it on the pod. Hope you're all keeping well: a little update on our production schedule: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cm1ZhXrLfGh/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= (https://www.instagram.com/p/Cm1ZhXrLfGh/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=)

Happy Holidays, Irregulars!

Thanks, Edie - we're lucky to have you on board!  Happy New Year to you and Simon; hopefully life runs a bit smoother for you both in 2023.

Happu New Year Irregulars! So good to be back.

Episode 28 is here!

http://simonfraser.net/tgdrpodcast/2023/0303/ep-28-hell-and-high-water


(https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/517c5a82e4b01510f831c91c/8f009078-cc86-4e2a-9810-605daee76c79/ep28_hell%26highwater.jpg?format=1000w)

RESULT!

Okay okay lets try this again

http://simonfraser.net/tgdrpodcast/2023/03/03/ep-28-hell-and-high-water

Waheyy!  Thanks, Edie!  Been looking forward to this for ages.  It'll take a lot of the sting out of having to work tomorrow!

Quote from: JayzusB.Christ on 03 March, 2023, 07:47:56 PMWaheyy!  Thanks, Edie!  Been looking forward to this for ages.  It'll take a lot of the sting out of having to work tomorrow!

Glad we can keep you company. We're both working from home tomorrow, solidarity! Then more podcast stuff on Sunday 😁

Well, that was loads of fun!  Your Cartman impression didn't go unnoticed, Edie, and it tickled me immensely to hear the word 'bairn' in an American accent.  Also I hadn't realised that Katarina Dante was meant to look like Sophia Loren, but yeah, it's obvious now.

Quote from: JayzusB.Christ on 04 March, 2023, 06:33:27 PMWell, that was loads of fun!  Your Cartman impression didn't go unnoticed, Edie, and it tickled me immensely to hear the word 'bairn' in an American accent.  Also I hadn't realised that Katarina Dante was meant to look like Sophia Loren, but yeah, it's obvious now.

I think that one slipped by my husband! Glad it landed. I have absorbed all kinds of British/Scottish words at this point and can't be arsed to pronounce them properly. Even when I try the kid and Hubbs tell me I sound American so what's the point 😂

Well for me it covered the hoovering yesterday and half my run today... half my run... and there hangs an important point. During the end of the podcast Simon was almost apologetic about the podcast getting too long

No

No

Noooooooo

Get distracted, have those asides and drifting opinions filled with insights form Simon's involvement and Edie's engaging freah take. Fill the time, chat to us for as long as you like.

We're aging men with little hair, and the comedowns rule out too many of life's other pleasures (okay, okay I'm projecting here aren't I!). Podcasts like these connect us with the things we love and bind us as a tribe of grumpy old folks - and hopefully shiny excited younger things - hanging onto the joys in our lives.

The hoovering and the run take about 2 hours in total, until you go past that you're not taking up too much of my time, far from it. It fills the times the things that DO take up my life with fun, insight and connection to life's pleasures.

Talk unabandoned and I'll be listening.

Oh and interested by the idea that John M Burns might have tributed the classic Spidey 33 in a panel. This leaves a few questions.

What is Simon's relationship with John? Seems like there has been little contact??? If that's right was Simon  tempted to chat to him given the vital rule he played in Simon's creation? Not to guide, or advise nbut just to connect and share?

Has Simon tributed panels in the way he suggested John M might have in Dante or other strips?

Fantastic episode this. Great commentary, great insights, and the more Simon and Edie drift off script the better it is. Listening to this is 100% entertaining and not time wasted.

I love pirates and really dig this pirate bit of Dante. There's definitely a touch of ancient Ladybird book watercolour art about J M Burns: it's one of the things I really love about his art (and also, beautiful old Ladybird books).

Happy Friday Irregulars! New episode is up!

http://simonfraser.net/tgdrpodcast/2023/03/16/ep-29-sea-falcon-of-destruction

(https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/517c5a82e4b01510f831c91c/440ed7e8-cd08-49fd-ba7b-8c01d2f7884d/ep29seafalcon+of.jpeg?format=1000w)

Nice one, Edie! I'll be listening to it at work tomorrow.  As always TGDR makes the more boring parts of my job go much quicker.

Y'know, most podcasts I line up and listen to while doing other things - travelling to work, being at work, etc.  Dante I can't do that with - I have to have the story in front of me so I can follow along (all of which is a long-winded way of saying I'm really behind on listening and shall be catching up about seven episodes). 

Quote from: Illyana on 06 November, 2022, 04:40:51 PMIrregulars! Keep your wonderful thoughts and reactions coming. Let us know if you want us to credit you as something other than your Board handle. Also let us know if you'd prefer we not use your comments on the podcast when you post them, a simple "not for broadcast" will suffice. Not that our little show is oh so famous that your opinions will be front page news or anything, but want to be respectful.

Only too pleased to be namechecked and for any comments I make to be aired!

Yep another winner and made the house work all the more enjoyable this weekend.

Figure you guys would enjoy this: Dante Figurine (https://forums.2000ad.com/index.php?topic=47496.msg1099540#msg1099540)

Quote from: Colin YNWA on 20 March, 2023, 08:04:34 AMYep another winner and made the house work all the more enjoyable this weekend.

It ended up being my bathroom-redecoration listen.  Brilliant stuff as always.

I'm finally up to date on the podcast and am ready for the next episode having completely Hell and High Water yesterday. So looking forward to that coming out.

A big thanks to Simon and Eddie for doing these; it's the only podcast I listen to regularly, and gives me a real incentive to do the complete Dante read through I've been meaning to do for years.

Hello Irregulars! We've had some medical challenges crop up in the past few weeks, so our next episode will be coming at you on Friday.

Quote from: Credo! on 20 March, 2023, 05:34:54 PMFigure you guys would enjoy this: Dante Figurine (https://forums.2000ad.com/index.php?topic=47496.msg1099540#msg1099540)

Thank you so much for sharing this by the way!!

Quote from: Illyana on 02 April, 2023, 10:23:10 PM

Quote from: Credo! on 20 March, 2023, 05:34:54 PMFigure you guys would enjoy this: Dante Figurine (https://forums.2000ad.com/index.php?topic=47496.msg1099540#msg1099540)

Thank you so much for sharing this by the way!!

Glad you enjoyed my attempt at bringing Dante to 3D - he definitely deserves a more professional figure of a decent size.
I'm sure fellow boarders would fork out for a reasonably priced figure or even a Hiya toys range 😁

Quote from: Illyana on 02 April, 2023, 10:22:08 PMHello Irregulars! We've had some medical challenges crop up in the past few weeks, so our next episode will be coming at you on Friday.

Hope things aren't too bad and you remain chipper through the medical challenges and bounce back as quickly as possible.

Look forward to hearing the show when you are both back on form.

Hello Irregulars! We made it in before the US buzzer on a Friday release, sadly it's already tomorrow for our friends in the UK and beyond.

http://simonfraser.net/tgdrpodcast/2023/04/07/ep-30-agent-of-how-could-you

(https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/517c5a82e4b01510f831c91c/42e04adf-e6b6-421a-b64a-fbda06f9be5c/BigBanner-Season2-30.jpg?format=700w)

A real pleasure to catch up with this episode today! As ever the podcast is a joy. I hope things are going a bit smoother for you guys.

Some really wonderful work by John Burns in this episode. The retro feel is very strong: I love the 70s spacesuit-style diving suits and the Foss design on the Raven base (I didn't know Chris Foss by name until Simon brought it up, but I knew who he was and it reminded me of his work, if that makes sense). And the T-Rex of course which is straight out of a Ladybird book. I really like the outside shots of the ocean and stuff but the absolute tour de force is the dialogue free page where Marguerite falls to her death.
This tale has a really sinister ending I think, where Dante is all like 'I'm here now' with us as the reader knowing his intentions are bad. Hearing Edie expound on his dickish actions on the previous page towards Marguerite also really made me take this ending in a new light.
Not sure why the ooze becomes a T-rex or a giant scorpion, when being a giant ooze was working out fine for it absorbing all the pirate dudes, but I love dinosaurs and giant insects so no complaints!

I'm less keen on the British episode but again it looks amazing. It's a bit throwaway and daft but one of Dantes strengths imo is the way it veers between the serious and the silly.

Also: Lava lamps rule. I have one on my desk right now. Simons depth of dino-knowledge is great. Wicked Wanda was a bit of an eye-opener on Google.

Finally, Hammer films! I had a huge collection of these in the past: my wife doesn't really like them so I haven't seen any for ages, but my favourite ones would be:
Horror of Dracula is amazing.
Brides of Dracula is awesome but has no Christopher Lee. another good Dracula one is Dracula Prince of Darkness. Or Vampire Lovers with Ingrid Pitt.
The Devil Rides Out rules and does have Christopher Lee.
I have a huge fondness for Twins of Evil and Count Karnstein's hilarious panicked face when he closes the door near the end was a running joke between my brother and I for years. As with a lot of the witch hunter ones though it's unfortunately pretty misogynistic and a more difficult watch nowdays (this is true of a lot of Hammer in general sadly)
Plague of Zombies is a good non-vampire one.
Lastly a special mention for Vampire Circus. My parents saw this film at the cinema whilst courting and my Mum was so shocked / disgusted they left halfway through. I heard this story so many times Vampire Circus took on this sort of mythical status as a super-horrific film for me which of course meant I watched it as soon as I could. It's not as good as any of the other films on this list.

Kids are still into lava lamps... or at least mine do. They have one each, the girl child is 13 and the boy child 11. I mean sure they are not necessarily representative of the population as a whole - they were brought up by prime comic nerd and boy child proudly has a full collection of The Pheonix Weekly Story Comic (I'm so proud). The girl child taught herself the Star Wars theme on piano (I'm so proud) but all their friends seem normal and well adjusted and they think they (the lava lamps) are cool enough.

Top man Colin! Raising them right.
Not ashamed to admit that my fascination with lava lamps started with Barbarella.

Hello Irregulars! We had a very busy podcast weekend (recorded 2 interviews and recorded this EP) so it's a Monday release for Ep 31: Primal Usurper.

We'll have an interview coming at you on Friday, we announce that guest at the end of the show.

http://simonfraser.net/tgdrpodcast/2023/04/17/primalusurper

(https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/517c5a82e4b01510f831c91c/34ec9f74-2803-443c-98be-7917bdecbdc9/Ep31-PrimalUsurper.jpg)

Serious mockery for Sharko this episode. It's hilarious and absolutely deserved.

Quote from: Barrington Boots on 12 April, 2023, 04:01:24 PMfascination with lava lamps

Randomness 101: LavaRand in Production (https://blog.cloudflare.com/randomness-101-lavarand-in-production/) - a wall of lava lamps are used to seed an encryption process.

Sharko is the gift that just keeps on giving. I know if I just say the word "Sharko" right now,  my wife will start to giggle uncontrollably. Thank you Robbie for this joyous gift. :|

Well blasting through another great episode and at the start Edie mentions that there appears to be inaconsistancies in the dates from the books that introduce the setup for a few stories. Now I'm far to old and lazy to double check if this is actually the case BUT assuming it is there reason is ... well ... historians.

The books used to flesh out the historical context will be written with all sorts of agenda, bias and simply different sources of information that present different 'facts'. To that end will often find apparently confliciting dates. When exactly did the Boucdican? AD 60, 61, even 62 there are different versions of the history that point out different dates for all sorts of reasons. So the apparent inaccuracies could well simply be the fact that different historians reflecting on event and reporting them differently?

 

Hello Irregulars! It's here, our interview with Charlie Adlard!

http://simonfraser.net/tgdrpodcast/2023/04/22/charlieadlard

(https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/517c5a82e4b01510f831c91c/5ca2ca08-f86e-4754-a117-a4ba335a341c/BigBanner-CharlieAdlard.jpg?format=1000w)

Still enjoying the bejaysus out of these and looking forward to this new one.

Quote from: Simon Fraser on 17 April, 2023, 11:24:07 PMSharko is the gift that just keeps on giving. I know if I just say the word "Sharko" right now,  my wife will start to giggle uncontrollably. Thank you Robbie for this joyous gift. :|

Excuse me but it's pronounced SHARKO!

Love the way the conversation so quickly desecends* into artist 'tech' talk and the evident pleasure Simon and Charlie get in just talking art and technique. Edie you did as good a job as possible trying to keep it on track but then seemed to just accept that was what the conversation was and let it run wonderfully.

Oh and love the Steve Holland story. What a small world that two such influencial folks in very different spheres of the comic industry went to schoo together. There must have been something in those art classes!

Great stuff and can't wait to hear the interview with Annie Parkhouse.

*Well that should be ascends as it makes fro fascinating insights to the outsider looking in!

Quote from: Colin YNWA on 25 April, 2023, 07:53:03 AMLove the way the conversation so quickly desecends* into artist 'tech' talk and the evident pleasure Simon and Charlie get in just talking art and technique. Edie you did as good a job as possible trying to keep it on track but then seemed to just accept that was what the conversation was and let it run wonderfully.

I make a stab at redirecting and clarifying things occasionally, but I also love hearing artists talk shop together.

Hello Irregulars! It's your next episode. The Dante has Mommy Issues showdown we've all been waiting for.


http://simonfraser.net/tgdrpodcast/2023/04/30/ep-33-dragon-island-depths

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So there was a call for questions this week and feeling I should remain true to form here we go.

1. We're heading to Simon's return to the strip (well as I type anyway!) and I was wondering how that felt and what lead to it. This may well get covered in the chat anyway, but just in case what lead to Simon's return and how did that feel after such a time away and with other creators having added such a mark on the strip?

2. Sword of the Tsar feels like the point were the end is in sight - we have a ways to go, but the pieces for the end start to be dropped into place. At what point did you start to think about the ending and build towards it? Was it always there?

3. Coming on from that I guess at Dante is well established by this point and I'm guessing (who knows!?!) that you realise the strip will now run and run until you and Robbie decided to call it? When did that happen? When did you know that the strip would have as much time as you wanted to give it?

4. Finally, well for now at least I'll spare you the rest of my questions for now! Edie what other comics do you love and how has reading Dante so closely compared to those and changed how you think about comics?

Thanks for doing this such fun - when do we get Annie!

COLINNNNNN. CONTENT!!!

I'm not allowed to have favorites but I'm very fond of you.

GREAT questions.

I will scroll back through this thread as there are a few questions scattered about, but please do chime in. You have time: deadline would be Monday the 8th.

We're recording Sword of the Tsar ⚔️tomorrow

With all these episodes you are spoiling us, ambassadors.

Hello Irregulars! Who is up late? Next episode is LIVE it's Sword of the Tsar!

http://simonfraser.net/tgdrpodcast/2023/05/08/ep-34-sword-of-the-tsar

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I'm three episodes behind on the podcast and need some serious catching up. Loving all the insights into it, and how it's making me read the story in a different light - sometimes to the detriment of elements of it, but always the better overall for it, if that makes sense.

I've missed the question deadline, but I've been struck by how much love and feelings of ownership Simon has for the characters he co-created. If he and another artist were to work on Dante again, who would he pick to draw his creation if not John Burns?

You're not too late, Boots! We gotcha. Glad you're still getting a lot out of it.

Catching up on episodes today. Really enjoyed Episode 33. I love this story arc and it's got such a good ending... glad Simon and Edie also dug it. The best bit for me the little summing of Dante at the end and him being the anti-Dredd.

Interesting to hear Simon's comments on Lauren. I also find her a bit of a flat character. She's pretty kick-ass and loyal to Katarina but that's about it. I also think her design is a bit flat - love Burns but if the design is 'badass sexy pirate lady' I am sure he could up with something a bit cooler.

The start and end music still terrifies my cat!

Also done episode 34 so that's three in one day. Really enjoyed this episode too, Simon sounds so enthused about his artwork and its great to hear his insight. The way he conveys the more subtle parts of characters emotions via facial expressions are fantastic. So good. Really getting a lot out of these.

The Tsar is ice cold in this episode. On the flip, the panel with the door laser slicing the guy up is my least favourite panel in the whole of Dante. I think its the woman crying out that really does it. So needlessly cruel.

Nothing to do with Dante, but the Evil Dead chat reminded me that I've just seen The Elvis Dead by Rob Kemp and if anyone likes Evil Dead and / or Elvis they should go see it.

If I'M not too late to ask a question, I was wondering if Simon and Robbie were ever censored by Tharg? Some of the Dante content was very racy for the prog of the time.  Thanks, Edie and Simon, it's been a blast so far!

Quote from: JayzusB.Christ on 12 May, 2023, 06:09:56 PMif Simon and Robbie were ever censored by Tharg?

I'm not sure that Tharg actually reads the content prior to publication. I'm not being snide - it just seems like the editorial back-and-forth that existed in the early days of the comic just isn't part of the modern business model.

*ready to be corrected* [said the actress to the bishop]

Quote from: JayzusB.Christ on 12 May, 2023, 06:09:56 PMIf I'M not too late to ask a question,

Nope! I can bend the deadline to tomorrow afternoon at least.

Quote from: Illyana on 12 May, 2023, 10:22:44 PM

Quote from: JayzusB.Christ on 12 May, 2023, 06:09:56 PMIf I'M not too late to ask a question,

Nope! I can bend the deadline to tomorrow afternoon at least.

Thanks, Edie!

Hello Irregulars! You might have noticed we went quiet for a bit here. Your Annie Parkhouse interview is coming in the next day or so. I would say it's been a challenging time over here at Castle Frugent, but I'd feel like a broken record. Hope you're all keeping well ❤️

Looking forward to it!

Hope things are as okay as possible and things get less challenging soon.

Look forward to hearing the interview with Annie whenever it lands.

Hope things aren't *too* challenging. All the best.

Hello Irregulars! It's finally here, Episode 35 is ANNIE PARKHOUSE!

https://simonfraser.net/tgdrpodcast/2023/05/23/ep-35-annie-parkhouse

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I'm re-reading Usurper because I love pirates. The designs of two of the four captains are brilliant from Jack D'arcy's magnificent costume to the voodoo guy in his battle shorts... but the actual fight is a bit of a mess. What would Scarlett have done if, say, Sharko had busted in whilst she was lounging about in her sexy robe instead of Dante? We probably don't want to think about this too much although it's a moot point as Sharko immediately just jumps into the water in just his underpants instead of actually joining the fight properly.

Anyway, this was a lovely episode to keep me company at work on a warm afternoon. Having heard about Annie's favourite character, Edie, who is your favourite character? How about Simon?

Very much hope you guys can make a con over here at some point.

Hello Irregulars! It's so good to say that! SEASON 3 has finally begun!

You can visit SimonFraser.net download the episode directly to your device, links to Apple and Spotify below:

Spotify Podcasts  (https://open.spotify.com/episode/1O50lW2NAIpFF12F2I5IR9?si=lTTmKcgES3mSatjLYeBQxw)
Apple Podcasts  (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-36-titania-uber-allies/id1556077417?i=1000651549523)
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Way and indeed hey.

That is fantastic news. Hope you've all been keepin' shiny and wonderful!

Well as luck would have it I had an evening of chorin' so had time to listen to the return tonight and wow its great to have you back and on such fine form.

Thanks for answering the questions from last time. As it happens I'm currently pestering this board with my 'Completely self absorbed Top 100 comic runs you need to read' a list that has at this point 137 runs, series, comics in it - ahem. Now its a countdown and after having completed my latest re-read - yep I did a complete Dante re-read since while you were on a break! - I can confirm that you'll likely be done before I get to Dante in the list BUT atno.99 is Elektra Assassin (https://forums.2000ad.com/index.php?topic=49476.msg1111789#msg1111789)(assuming you are including that when you say Elektra Saga?).

But just so you know I'm not just 'blowin' smoke up your ass' I also write posts about stuff I'm not as big a fan as many and in a week or three (soonish anyway) I'll be talking about Uncanny X-Men in that context - yike!

https://forums.2000ad.com/index.php?topic=49476.msg1111789#msg1111789

A complete reread since we were in break? Ooof. We've been gone too long! I bet it was fun tho 😁

I don't include Assassin in The Elektra Saga. Saga was a trade paperback collection of all the miller Daredevil issues with Elektra prior to her death (& rebirth?)

But whoo boy do I love Assassin. And Bill Sienkiewicz. In fact, I have a vintage poster of the cover to issue one that I got signed by Bill in 2005 framed on my wall.

And I look forward to arguing with you about the x-men 😁

Well, that was feckin awesome- not one but two of your podcasts to listen to!  I've missed you guys a lot - been looking forward to the return for a very long time.

And thanks for answering my question! Weird how full bondage gear with a baby's dummy is fine, but full bondage gear with a ballgag isn't. Crazy how the prog progressed from Rico Dredd saying 'darn it', presumably to avoid the d-word, to printing an image of the crucified Jesus with an ersatz stiffy.

Also, I always wondered if Annie and Steve Parkhouse were a couple, so thanks for clearing that up too! I was just last night reading the Luke Kirby story he illustrated with watercolour and ink - I'm probably alone in saying it's an overlooked classic and Steve's best work ever. And Annie's insights into the comic industry were genuinely fascinating.

Anyway I'm delighted to have you both back - looking forward to more!

Trying to get to SimonFraser.net leaves me in spinny wheel of death land. Page just won't load. I can access through Spotty-fi. Don't know if that's an issue for anyone else.

Lettering - Ellie de Ville did The Romanov Dynasty and One Last Night in the House of Sin. Steve Potter did The Octobrianna Seduction. Annie Parkhouse did the rest of the saga.

Quote from: Funt Solo on 07 April, 2024, 04:49:33 AMTrying to get to SimonFraser.net leaves me in spinny wheel of death land. Page just won't load. I can access through Spotty-fi. Don't know if that's an issue for anyone else.

Have been having some odf troubles with it. Using the www helps. Try this: http://simonfraser.net/tgdrpodcast (http://simonfraser.net/tgdrpodcast)

Ah - got it, thanks!

It's that this forum, if you type in something that looks like a link, assumes it's https, but simonfraser-dot-net is http. Then, when one tries to click through, it spins around like one of those confused machine-minds in old Star Trek episode (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ixabejG0O0).

What an awesome thing to find on a Monday morning - TGDR! Such a great listen, as ever.
2007 being almost twenty years ago sucks. 20 years ago should still be the early 80s.

Thanks so much for answering my questions and for the shout out to my cat (he took off like a rocket when the opening theme came in again, the big coward that he is). Looking forward to seeing you both at Lawless! I have a page of old Dante artwork that I hope Simon will sign if I bring it along.

Quote from: Barrington Boots on 08 April, 2024, 10:18:05 AMWhat an awesome thing to find on a Monday morning - TGDR! Such a great listen, as ever.
2007 being almost twenty years ago sucks. 20 years ago should still be the early 80s.

Thanks so much for answering my questions and for the shout out to my cat (he took off like a rocket when the opening theme came in again, the big coward that he is). Looking forward to seeing you both at Lawless! I have a page of old Dante artwork that I hope Simon will sign if I bring it along.

It should be the 90s at the very least!! Nice to hear from you Boots!

Simon will sign anything and everything you bring him at Lawless.

Ep 37 is up: join us for HELLFIRE! We've got Lulu luluing all over the place, the Lord Protector being gross as only he can, and a death...maybe...

The Great Dante Readthrough website  (https://tr.ee/v226ADG-Em)

Spotify  (https://open.spotify.com/episode/4MyhSsQNjuDc1hLY69CxhX?si=iKGCci8QSQa03nQHP-SOAg)

Apple Podcasts  (https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/ep-37-hellfire/id1556077417?i=1000652212857)

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Quote from: Illyana on 08 April, 2024, 04:24:47 PMSimon will sign anything and everything you bring him at Lawless

I got Gunnar Hansen to sign a severed arm once so I could take this as a challenge.

Anyway, another superb episode of the podcast, thank you!
This is a really grim story tbh with some serious horror in it. That panel where Constantin has burned up the sex worker is horrific - something about the pose, her open mouth that makes my skin crawl... combine that with the state of Emmanuel after his chat with Constantin and we've got some of the nastiest images in the series imo. The scene with Dante and Lulu in the rain though is very very cool.

Pretty sure I've said this before on here or FB but Lulu is super-evil and in this story she reaches her peak imo, but she generally gets a bit of a free pass in Dante, basically because she's all sexy: she's an absolute monster but I'm pretty sure if she looked like Ursa she'd be regarded a lot differently.

Possibility of original Dante art at Lawless? Very interested in that! Or alternately, Sharko sketch.

Ep 38 is up! We went live at the same time as Taylor Swift's New album but I suspect we'll get less engagement.

Website download  (https://tr.ee/v226ADG-Em)

Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/episode/5I70CKc3q9UnwmAHNA2Gqq?si=3Vsh6F2iQfaOQWWZZPDPAQ)

Apple Podcasts  (https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/ep-38-beast-of-rudinshtein-dissenter/id1556077417?i=1000652931327)

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Oh no so the podcast was leaked before release as well as Taylor's album I'm betting. Only reason I can think of meaning it wouldn't get the same downloads on release.

Curse you hackers!

...what that you say... only so many overweight, balding middle-aged nerds out there... and we what... we're the core audience for the podcast... get outta here...

Quote from: Colin YNWA on 19 April, 2024, 12:04:23 PMOh no so the podcast was leaked before release as well as Taylor's album I'm betting. Only reason I can think of meaning it wouldn't get the same downloads on release.

Curse you hackers!

...what that you say... only so many overweight, balding middle-aged nerds out there... and we what... we're the core audience for the podcast... get outta here...

You're the best of listeners, friend. And I'm actually listening to the new Swift album at the mo' so... now I'm thinking about Taylor as a modern chick singer Dante. She does get through a number of brief relationships 😂

Another class episode. It's Octobriana that Viktor ate: he's a dick and totally getting a free pass here! Andreas does too, doesn't he talk about decapitating 20 guys at once or something at some point? The Romanovs suck. Love the last page of The Dissenter, I'm a sucker for a romantic kiss in the rain scene even if its contrived.

When Dante's nipped back to St. Petersburg, I wondered if he'd actually called up Arkady on the holo-phone from Galya's shack or whatever, because Dante's speech bubble has one of those little lightning bolt tails you get when someone is talking on a phone. It's not drawn that way, but that's my guess.

Also I think if you were going to dig up and eat someone you would have to do it straight away whilst they were still fresh.

Just catching up on my Dante readthroughs - loads of fun as always, thanks guys.  And yeah, I remember rooting for Viktor around this time in the progs, as I'd forgotten what a nasty, vicious little fecker he really was.