Topics

1

General / Going Digital - iPad versus Macbook

« on: 19 November, 2022, 03:28:41 PM »

Just looking for some advice. I am going to go to an all digital subscription from January.

What is the best comic reader to use on MacBook?

I don’t have enough storage on my iPad, so am assuming I am going to have to manage where files are stored between a MacBook and iPad. How easy is it to do this?

Any advice would be gratefully received.

2

Prog / Prog 2301: Primate Scream

« on: 25 September, 2022, 05:41:08 PM »

With three strips starting new runs, one of which is it’s first book after a initial episode in a Regened Prog last Nov, plus a complete Dredd and a Future Shock, I guess this is technically a jumping on Prog. But it really doesn’t feel like it, especially after last week’s zombie special.

Dredd has nice art by Dave Taylor, but completely telegraphs the twist pretty much from the third panel on page 1.

Best thing in the Prog, by many a mile is Chimpsky, which introduces a couple of extremely creepy characters.

Enemy Earth picks up the story from Prog 2256. I’d recommend re-reading that first. It’s early days, but so far I’m not gripped.

I can’t remember the last time I read a Future Shock that I liked. Yes I get why they exist, but they do nothing for me anymore.

Then we get the first part of the final book of Hershey which I guess picks up from the last one, but I’m not sure how much I actual care. As always Simon Fraser’s art is top quality, but the  colour palette is very subdued. Ok I get it’s in the Antarctic, but even so.

Something that never seems to get commented on is the review of the last 45 years of thrills. Three things stood out for me (or urge same thing 3 times?). I can’t believe it’s 11 years since Tharg’s 3rillers started. If you had asked me I would have said 5 years tops. Plus it’s also 11 years since Day of Chaos and when Grey Area started.

3

Prog / Prog 2286 City Heat!

« on: 12 June, 2022, 10:51:40 AM »

An Honest Man wraps up well. I won’t say anymore to avoid spoilers.

Hope has become something I read but don’t take in.

Skip Tracer is back. And I’m actually ok with that. Nolan is looking older but it has a similar feel to before. For those that aren’t keen on it, the good news is, it’s the last series.

There is another Terror Tale, and as with last week’s and the Future Shock the week before, it does nothing for me.

Brink is the best thing in the Prog. And the moment I have been waiting for, for a few weeks has arrived: we get a glimpse of Kurtis. Hopefully she will be properly in next week’s episode.

4

Prog / Prog 2279 - Past Crimes

« on: 23 April, 2022, 12:40:03 PM »

The Citadel wraps up. It’s a good conclusion, but I can’t say “it changed everything” as was billed. Or indeed anything much as far as ongoing continuity is concerned.

Hope and Fiends carry on, and I think I will need to just do a little refresher on who is who from the last few weeks. Not a major issue though.

There is a Future Shock from the Thought Bubble winners; the art is nice, but I didn’t really find the story that engaging.

Brink is just brilliant, as always.

5

Games / Where to buy PS5

« on: 06 March, 2022, 05:48:17 PM »

Much to my surprise we have decided to buy a PS5 for the family.

Only problem is it seems to be out of stock everywhere.

Apart from some on Amazon for circa £300 to £400 above list price.

Does anyone have any advice on how to actual buy one? (I’m after the Standard Edition, not the Digital Edition).

6

Prog / Prog 2256 - Total Excitement Overload.

« on: 30 October, 2021, 04:01:46 PM »

This the first time I’ve done a Prog review in a few months and it’s another Regened this week.

Queue the usual moaning elsewhere on ‘tinters.

Personally I think they work and if results in a few collected edition sales, what’s not to like.

Cadet Dredd isn’t the best we’ve seen but there is some nice art by one of my personal favourites, Ben Willsher.

There are two news stories Scooter and Jinx and Enemy Earth. Neither is that exciting, both suffering from being too heavily focused on setting up there worlds. Scooter and Jinx is another James Peaty story set on a space station….hmmm.

The Time Twister is kinda fun, if a little light.

Strontium Dug was fun.

Anyway, having read it I’m now going to hand it over to my son. Which is actually the point.

7

Prog / Prog 2225 - Justice Served

« on: 27 March, 2021, 06:00:16 PM »

First time in a long time I’ve read the Prog on a Saturday.

A new Dredd thriller “ A Penitent Man” starts. And it’s absolutely cracking. Great art by Tom Foster - we really need to see him in the Prog much more often. The story is intriguing and a nice introduction, plus there is a mini twist at the end. Really looking forward to this.

I really like Thistlebone and think it will be worth re-reading the first series just to make sure I have got all the plot points. It seems to be building nicely.

A Deadworld spin off called Visions of Deadworld starts. It’s kinda ok, but I long ago lost track of what I’d going on in this series. But this can be read as a stand alone terror tale set in that world.

Speaking of Terror Tales, there is one of those as well. It’s not really my kind of thing, but is was ok.

Rounding off the Prog is another of my favourites - Feral and Foe. Just the usual excellence from Dan Abnett and Richard Elson.

8

Prog / Prog 2199 - Death Becomes Him!

« on: 14 September, 2020, 11:29:12 AM »

Postie has just been, handing me Prog 2199, the Battle of Britain special, The77 issues 1 and 2, and the Meg 30th anniversary issue.

That should keep me going for a while.

Only read Dredd so far. All I can say is hmmm.

9

Prog / Prog 2194 - Smokin’ Bacon!

« on: 08 August, 2020, 06:36:22 PM »

First time I have read the Prog on a Saturday in a long time, and what a good one it is.

Dredd moves into an interesting new phase in End of Days.

Full Tilt Boogie wraps up leaving me wanting more, which is not something I would have thought ten weeks ago.

SinDex is back and sets ups the next chapter of Bulletopia nicely. And there is an intriguing exchange between Finny and Carrie, which I hope we see continued.

Just as a think I am understanding The Order, a character is mentioned who I have no idea who they are referring to it. Which is par for the course. But I am enjoying it and am even contemplating a complete re-read - especially if Tordels continues with his guide.

All of which pales compared to The Out, which has a major “you what?” moment. Just top stuff. Another Abnett instant classic. He is really spoiling us this year. Let’s hope he gets well soon.

10

General / Judge Dredd Case File 5 Free download

« on: 19 March, 2020, 02:34:59 PM »

The Thrillmail is advising of a free download of Judge Dredd case files 5, to give us all something to read whilst cooped up at home.

I just want to say what a great gesture this is from Rebellion in these difficult times for everyone.

Especially as this is the very definition of premium content: Block Mania, the Apocalypse War, Judge De’ath Lives, The Mega Rackets, the Hotdog Run and a few more.

It’s got me dipping my toes into the digital experience having been a confirmed paper only collector up to now. It will be interesting to see how I get on with it.

I can see the convenience factor but still think you cant beat a physical comic.

11

Film & TV / Star Trek: Picard

« on: 28 December, 2019, 09:55:58 AM »

Not sure if anyone else saw this, but at half time in the Wolves - Man City game last night Amazon Prime we’re plugging the new Picard series which they are going to start showing on 24th January.

Can’t wait....

12

Other Reviews / The Vigilant Legacy.

« on: 18 August, 2019, 10:28:24 AM »

Surprised there is no review thread for this yet(?).

This follows on where it left off last year for more of the same. The art by Simon Coleby is really good and suits it very well.

The additional Dr Sin tale really adds to the intrigue and there are some nice background pieces in the back. Loved the bit about Mary’s watch too.

The main problem for me is this is currently being done at yearly intervals. At that rate I’m guessing it will be cancelled before it completes which will be a real shame. It needs to be at least quarterly IMO.

13

Prog / Prog 2124 - The New Normal

« on: 23 March, 2019, 03:09:54 PM »

A new Dredd thriller starts with Rob Williams and Chris Weston on script duties. Not sure if this is the first time the Weston bot has had a writing credit in 2000AD. The episode starts and ends well, setting up the next part well. I found the middle bit to be a bit odd, and was a bit disappointing but it soon recovered from that.

Now I do like Kingmaker, but it’s going a bit too much Lord of the Rings with a bit of Game of Thrones thrown in.

There is a new Max Normal story by Guy Adams and Dan Cornwell. The opening episode is a mostly set up and I think I will reserve judgement.

Grey Area hurtles towards the series finale. Unfortunately I didn’t think this week’s episode (and last week’s for that matter) quite hit the usual very high standard. Oh and there is a bit of a cliffhanger at the end, but the way it is drawn leaves enough room for Kymm to survive.

I agree with NA Parry’s letter that current thrills are as good as “classic” ones and that it is nostalgia that makes one think otherwise.

14

General / Munce is here

« on: 19 March, 2019, 07:52:00 AM »

Just heard a piece on the radio about growing plant based meat in a lab.

15

Prog / Prog 2108 - Germ Warfare

« on: 17 November, 2018, 01:42:40 PM »

The Small House moves towards the end game. As has been the norm with this particular story, there is another shock towards the end of this episode and fans of Dirty Frank might want to look away.

Skip Tracer wraps up and will return. For me it's an ok thrill, but is over shadowed by what else is in the Prog.

Brink has an even more talky episode than usual, if that is possible. And as with Dredd ,things come to ahead at the end of the episode. As others had speculated Curtis had been trailed and now that is going to come home to roost.

Infestinauts is not my sort of thing. Its ok, but not sure I bother with a re-read.

Never thought I would say it, but I found Kingdom a little disappointing. The nuke from the end of last week's episode seems somehow incidental; surely it should have more of an impact?