Main Menu
Menu

Show posts

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.

Show posts Menu

Messages - Barrington Boots

#481
Games / Re: Gamebooks
13 April, 2023, 12:01:53 PM
Just seen the original picture of Shareella the Snow Witch on a copy of Warlock Magazine and she is super-80s:



Still got the bird hat, but a leggings and 80s ankle boots. She looks like she could be fighting the Ghostbusters.
I think I prefer this to the 80s version or Les Edwards more sultry image on the reissue.
#482
News / Re: The Great Dante Readthrough Podcast
12 April, 2023, 04:01:24 PM
Top man Colin! Raising them right.
Not ashamed to admit that my fascination with lava lamps started with Barbarella.
#483
News / Re: The Great Dante Readthrough Podcast
12 April, 2023, 03:24:08 PM
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.
#484
Prog / Re: Prog 2327 - Blood Ties
12 April, 2023, 09:58:25 AM
Tuesday Prog on a bank holiday week is practically a Monday Prog and that's the new Saturday Prog so.. a nice surprise when I got in from work, anyway.
Cool cover with use of the Carlos silhouette.

Dredd – Neat Dredd tale. The lift scene is superb. I like Gallagher's Dredd, his facial expression is constantly sour and he looks like a pensioner but also like a badass.

Durham Red – I'm into a redemption arc story but I still need more reason to root for the character. Beautifully illustrated episode throughout but that final page is a winner!

The Order – Looks like it's all wrapping up for good. Sad to say John Burns artwork is much better when he's not drawing the robits - the contrast on the last page between that lovely image of Izta and Daniel and then the giant Francis Bacon French attack robot on the rampage... but I'm never unhappy to see a giant robot battle. Just enjoying the craziness now.

Enemy Earth – Started to read it but ended up skipping it.

Rogue Trooper – This looks absolutely amazing, stellar work from Patrick Goddard. It's well written but the story is.. alright, it's just not interesting me. I guess I'm just not interested in reading a Rogue time travel story. Plus surely with his super-duper gear he'll just massacre everyone? Anyway, I really, really want to love this so lets see.

#485
General / Re: The text stories - do you miss them?
11 April, 2023, 12:43:03 PM
As a kid I never read the text stories in any comic. I'd read any book I could get my hands on, but there was something about a text story in a comic that seemed remarkably unappealing. It's very different to reading a full novel or even a short story.

As an adult, I confess I skipped 90% of them back when I was buying the Meg without really thinking about it. It's different with something like Watchmen when the text is an integral part of the tale - but two pages of prose still seems like something eminently skippable, I suppose.
#486
Film & TV / Re: Last movie watched...
11 April, 2023, 10:36:12 AM
Another thumbs up for D&D.

First half of the film was a bit of a mess, but it's charm carried it through. Once the team was assembled and the plot started to focus it was great. Accessible enough to non-nerds but enough nods to the game and setting to keep nerds like me happy.
Loved seeing some of the iconic monsters on-screen. The paladin character was fantastic and the dragon was even better.
It definitely had the feel of an actual D&D adventure.
#487
So creative and cool from McFad, as usual!

Scrotnig, I have a hole in my collection around this period and might be interested in some of those, and I'm sure I wouldn't be the only one. I'm sure you could sell them here.
#488
Prog / Re: Prog 2326 - Rogue's Return
06 April, 2023, 03:05:23 PM
Thanks both. I figured that was likely the case, but didn't want to be 'that guy'.
#489
Prog / Re: Prog 2326 - Rogue's Return
06 April, 2023, 11:30:56 AM
Quote from: Link Prime on 06 April, 2023, 10:03:46 AMI won't be picking this Prog up for a few weeks alas - what's the Rogue Trooper 'twist'?

I'll PM you Link, not sure what the deal is with spoilers on here nowdays.
#490
That 2000 D&D film should not be watched under any circumstances!

I've got Pirate Borg and it is great. There can be a whiff of elitism sometimes about the OSR stuff but there's some very cool stuff there and it's good to see the underground (such as it is) thriving.
#491
Another cool read and a very good review, thank you!

I went into this film with rock-bottom expectations so really enjoyed it. I found the first half of the film pretty disjointed but once the plot starts to focus on the actual heist it improves a lot and it's got plenty of charm. Definitely captures some of the TTRPG with its blend of drama and ridiculousness.

I enjoyed your comments on D&D vs WHFRP and other British systems as well. I've always found D&D to be a very bland setting that compared poorly to Warhammer but as time have passed I've come to appreciate it a lot more. The 90s was a decade of edgy, dark rpgs - SLA Industries, Vampire, various Cyberpunk games etc - with a trend towards damaged, sociopathic characters in grim, nihilistic settings - and now I'm older the sheer simplicity of 'an elf, a dwarf and a wizard go on a quest in a reasonably generic setting' is much more of a winner. Everyone knows broadly what's up and as you say there's less bumping into the furniture.

I don't play D&D, I play Pathfinder and WotC can do one but they made a winner with this movie. Hopefully it'll do good things for the hobby: it's great to see it being more acceptable and accessible for all.
#492
Prog / Re: Prog 2326 - Rogue's Return
03 April, 2023, 05:23:52 PM
Always enjoy reading your thoughts IP!

Reading your post I realise my review is actually perhaps a little harsh. I very much agree re. Ennis and I'm quite hopeful on Rogue. I don't want to spoil anything but it looks initially like this won't be the best use of the setting, and I think the setting is much more key to a good RT story than Rogue himself who is Blandy McBlandface.
Ennis and Goddard are a bit of a dream team though and there's obvious love for the strip: I was well impressed with the story calling back to Prog 327, almost 2000 issues ago.

I enjoyed the Durham Red reboot initially and want to like it still, hoping this run gives me a reason.
#493
Prog / Prog 2326 - Rogue's Return
03 April, 2023, 11:29:29 AM
Delighted to get a Monday Prog and whipped through it on my tea break. Based off a first reading, one that promised much but for me, but didn't really deliver.
All kicks off with a glorious cover from Cliff Robinson. I'm a real fan of cover art that incorporates the logo in new ways and this is a great striking image.

We get the cold and cruel authoritarian depection of Dredd from Niemand and Dyer. Great little story, I especially liked the last page which is almost dialogue free. Bleak stuff, in a good way.

Durham Red is a setup episode. I'm afraid the last series soured me hugely on this character. I guess we'll see where it goes. Some terrific art - page 3 and 4 with the static shots of red, and then the savage armbreaking scene - are ace.

The Order is another all action episode. This does feel like it's buidling to a conclusion, and its a shame that it seems to be ending with a giant robot battle - one of the less good aspects of the strip. Usually I'm all in favour of a giant robot battle but the stuff with the worms, and the various historical personages being in secret societies has long vanished and this was the more enjoyable incarnation of the strip for me. It's all still quite pulpy and fun, even though I don't care for Berg and have long forgotten the names of the other two guys with him and Clara.

I didn't realise Enemy Earth was back. I didn't enjoy the last series so unsurprisingly I didn't enjoy this episode either sadly.

Finally Rogue Trooper. I feel Rogue is one of those characters who is pretty much used up in terms of story and has been a case of diminishing returns for a good while now. However Ennis and Goddard seem to be the perfect team to change this. The Rogue / Biochip chatter is handled really well, and it looks fantastic, but this goes in a direction I really did not see coming and am not a fan of. Still got faith in the creative team so we'll see where this goes too.
#494
Off Topic / Re: RIPs
31 March, 2023, 03:47:41 PM
This whole thread is usually depressing reading, but that feels especially bitter to read.
#495
Suggestions / Re: Judge Dredd TV series
31 March, 2023, 09:58:36 AM