2000 AD - The Ultimate Collection

[Shakira? Shakara!]

Hi Alec.

Born Bad (Progs 2082-2089)
Three Gifts (Prog 2111)
Mistletoe Kiss (Prog 2162)
Served Cold (Prog 2212-2219 & 2221-2223)

[Shakira? Shakara!]

#171 - Armoured Gideon is no longer for sale directly via Hachette. Ordered a copy last week along with #172 & #173, so fingers crossed it doesn't get lost or damaged en route, or looks like I shall be going without that one!

[IndigoPrime]

Some of these really aren't hanging around long. I nearly learned that the hard way with Born Bad. Snapped up Scarlet Traces 2 the second it arrived on Forbidden Planet for this reason.

[Le Fink]

Thanks for the reminder - Ordered Scarlet Traces 2, Anderson NWO and Hope on Forbidden Planet. Swingeing postage again, it has definitely gone up. Deffo want that Pat Mills Savage/Defoe book but not available as a preorder yet.

[IndigoPrime]

Yep. Postage has gone up from Forbidden Planet. (I mean, it's gone up from Royal Mail...) Still, I ordered Scarlet Traces 2, the latest Wild's End, and a single hardcover recently. Postage was about a fiver. However, the UC volume came in its own tough card mailer, and the other two were in another. These were then surrounded by a load of paper and placed in another card box. So every book arrived in immaculate condition. Compare that to my recent Hachette experience and it's hard to complain too much.

[Le Fink]

Until recently it used to be around a fiver for pretty much anything, even if split across multiple deliveries. I think they've decided that's not possible anymore and have to charge more for multiple deliveries which is perfectly understandable. As you say, no problem with the packaging, which is always excellent.

[Alec Worley]

Great! Thanks, all!!

[levers]

I snapped up the second Lawless book for that reason. Surprised it's still in stock.


Hmmm. Now, do I gamble on waiting for Hope to order the Anderson volume with Scarlet Traces 2 and get free delivery?!?

[levers]

Anyone received the new Anderson volume yet? Any good?

[IndigoPrime]

It's interesting to see what has and hasn't gone out of stock pretty quickly. Some of these books suggest some pent-up demand. Born Bad vanished absurdly rapidly. Armoured Gideon was gone quickly too. Leviathan didn't stick around for long. And War Machine didn't either.

I was surprised that the first Button Man had gone when I went to order it as well. I was considering buying that pair to replace my trades. Oh well. You snooze, you lose, etc.

[karlos]

Thanks for the reminder, guys - just ordered the Anderson volume.

Am I right in thinking this will have Alan Grant's last ever Anderson work in it?

[Shakira? Shakara!]

Happy to say, my Hachette delivery turned up intact and undamaged, so the elusive Armoured Gideon volume is ready to be homed. Once I find some more shelf space!

A quick flick through, it looks ace. Prog 676 was my very first 2000ad, so the big guy is someone I have a lot of nostalgia for, as he was one of the strips in my debut Prog. However, I wasn't sure I necessarily wanted to re-read it knowing how badly some of the strips around that time period have aged (I was genuinely upset how little I cared for Time Flies when I re-read it. I knew volume 2 wasn't great, but I remembered the first book being a lot of fun when it was first published. It has not aged well at all). The positive comments on here, plus seeing Simon Jacobs (and a splash of late era Mike White and early era Sean Phillips) terrific art again, has more than convinced me I made the right choice grabbing this one before it was too late.

I know it's unlikely to happen, and there's not enough material to fill a volume on it's own, but I'd really like to see Brigand Doom get a reprint. Otherwise I might have to dig out the Progs for a re-read. Another one I enjoyed at the time, but wonder if it's aged well, or like a fine milk.

[castle4]

Contacted Hatchette on a subscription issue today as my monthly delivery has been delayed (175/176), and took the opportunity to ask when the spine art for the final 20 volumes would be released and was told the Collection was ending with 180. I replied that was surprising as 2000ad had announced the Final extension back in December 2023, and enclosed a link. This is the reply I then received:

We are now planning on 180 issues for this collection, but again we would like to confirm that the publishers are able to continue a collection at any time, this means that in months time they might decide to extend it, or they might finish it at 180. If there is any extension, all our customers will be informed.

So, standard smoke and mirrors, or unexpected development?!


Looking back at the Dec announcement, all of the promotional art and titles have already been released in the past few months, with the exception of the Order, but still two volumes to be revealed.

[Funt Solo]

So, standard smoke and mirrors, or unexpected development?!

It might be someone that doesn't know. I was watching someone give a presentation on UX the other day, that didn't know what UX stood for. Fun presentation.

[Jade Falcon]

To be honest, if they did end it at 180 I don't think by now I would be that bothered.  This extension is good, but shelf space and fatigue is becoming a problem