Messages

Don't worry OBG, I wasn't serious about killing him again.

It was just a fanboy fantasy of zinging bullets and tragic final words.

Just think about it - what we got was a crippled, pathetic hero - who, IMO, kept the tears at bay only because his eyes had been poked out - dying a worthy but ultimately dis-satisfying death.

Big flying demons? Arse.

What we should have got - run with me here - was Johnny, Wulf and the Gronk going down together in a hail of lead.

Maybe some Stix boys (now that was an active pair of parents) or a group of bad guys of the calibre of the Weerd Bros, Max Bubba and pals (maybe resurrected a la Moses/ Malak Brood) teaming up to hunt them down.

Up against insurmountable odds, the trio of old pals opt to blast their way out, with Westinghouse variable catridge blasters and happy sticks waving all over the place.

And they all die. Oh, my poor heartsies!

(Come on, admit it, everyone complained about Blakes 7 but it was a cool ending, wasn't it? I always suspected that Avon.)

By the way, has Tharg ever explained where that obsession with cucumbers came from? Oo-er

MikeD

The problem with the Final Solution, Strontium Dogs and lots of the later crap (not the new Wagner, Ezq stuff, though) is it was too dramatic a departure from what made Johnny great, IMO.

Like Dredd, he was always a comic book Clint Eastwood (I believe the influences have been admitted many times), the consummate hero with a heart.

It was simply the wrong sort of death, as PVS says.

He should have had a proper exit, like old Wulf - real Butch and Sundance, but maybe with a touch of Captain Oates. "I'm just going outside now. I may be some time."

I suspect the "historical study" plot device Wagner is using in the news strips, allowing him to change continuity, could be setting up a revelation that previous reports of Johnny's death were inaccurate.

Let's kill him again, but properly this time!

- see you in Valhalla, old cucumber -

MikeD

Agree on Satanus.
Interested in the mention of Chopper, who I forgot about.

I agree the character was run into the ground a bit, but he's also an example of how revisiting a character can be beneficial.

Remember he started off as King Scrawler, then was reinvented in the Supersurf stuff, with (IMHO) his best moments in Oz.

Now we remember him with a tinge of regret, because the "franchise" - without original creators' involvement? - was allowed to go a bit too far.

As with many things in life, the trick seems to be knowing when to stop.

MikeD

On Zenith, I have dearly loved practically everything baldy Grant has done, but you're right - it's certainly possible he couldn't do anything new with the strip.

This is exactly what I'm getting at. If there's nowhere new to go with it (with the original creators) then Tharg should pass a law forbidding any molestation, ever.

If, however, Moore and Gibson did revisit Halo...
It clearly doesn't take much to change my mind. One reply to my post and I'm immediately salivating about ten Halo Jones books.

No - no - leave it alone. I'm determined. Back off Brussels!

MikeD

Actually, couple of things occur to me:
1. If this was a previous thread, refer me there.
2. Can't answer posts in the next few hours; have stuff to do. Will look in later to see if anyone was interested.
Thanks
MikeD

Trying out starting a discussion for the first time:

Which 2000AD stories are already perfect and, in the interests of their precious memory, should NEVER be resurrected?

Consider the evidence: Rogue, Sam Slade, Harlem Heroes, Mean Team and I'm sure a few others were soiled by attempts to "update" them.

As I've blurted out below, I would start the list with Halo Jones and Zenith. They're already perfect and ought to be left alone.

Mind you, if Alan Moore were to turn up, I might change my mind.

Any thoughts?

MikeD

I remember a time when (as a callow youth) I thought Brett Ewins could do no wrong.
His stuff was terrific, especially Sector House 9, but eventually a feeling of unease grew over me.
Was anybody else bothered by the way he would reproduce his own art over and over in one strip?
As an artistic device, it might work in small doses, but he did it so much that eventually (during all that Anderson stuff he did) I was put off.
Mind you, his Cass was sexy. And her hair was brilliant!

PS Boy-girl-bloke I wasn't ignoring you; had to go to do a bit of work off-computer.
Ron Smith was great but not on my list of favourites.
I did, however, love his heavily-influenced earliest stuff - The Day The Law Died episode with Walter, the Kleggs and the early helmet design.
Of course, his own vision of Dredd, as it developed, defined 80s Dredd helmet design as much less rounded.
Am I being anally retentive now? (That'll start some sweary arguments)
Splundig Vur Controversy, Squaxx Dek Thargo.

Again, in no order.
Ian Gibson, because it pays to be mental.
Brian Bolland, because it pays to be a genius.
Ezquerra, as the original, who only improves with age.
Cliff Robinson, whose covers are top-notch striking stuff.
Mike McMahon, whose command of drawing apes in suits will forever be unrivalled.
Oh dear. I just realised I'm really showing my age here.
Mike D

Ron Smith did not suck.
It's what you call an artistic style with real personality, characteristic of its time and 2000AD's relative freedom to allow styles to develop.
Granted, it may have sometime gotten out of hand (as did others - Mike McMahon, Cam Kennedy, others) but it was far superior to some of the generic cloned styles on the go in more recent years, especially during the fallow 90s 2K period.
Maybe your judgement is clouded by Ron's involvement in Chronos Carnival.

I'm a bit slow, and not a football fan, but have just worked out that you must be a local lad with help from a better informed colleague.
Translation for non-Scots: Red Lichtie is a nickname for a supporter/player of that fabulous team that is Arbroath FC, a plucky lot despite going down two-nil to Airdrie at the weekend.
By the way RL, I'm not as local as you. I'm from Perth.
Is this the definition of off-message?
- Meet you under the clock at midnight -
MD

Forfar?
You're joking! That's actually near where I live! I had believed - over the last 24 years - I was the only 2K reader within a considerable radius.
By the way, hello all.
I've been watching the message board here in a creepy, voyeuristic way for some time but hadn't yet posted a message.
Although I was desperate to post one when I saw the name Dirty Sanchez turn up. Is anyone else sick and twisted enough to know what it means?
Clue: look it up in Roger's Profanisaurus.
Cheers, Mike D

I'm new here and want to make friends. However:

No new Zenith! Zenith perfect already! Has the latest update (Prog 2001 or 2001, was it?) taught you nothing, Oddboygirl?

It was pants. Lightweight claptrap; effectively B.L.A.I.R 1 with Zenith and St John guest starring.

And while we're on the subject, no new Halo!

Now I'm hated.

- Grexnix MD

Er, done that. Holy sh*t!



My sympathies to the poor bloke.



Hope things go better for him.



- Trout

If that's the case then we deserve answers!



More Planetary! And where's my Ministry of Space


- Obsessive King Troutman

I stand corrected Arthur, for even blue blood does not mean I cannot make mistakes.



You're absolutely right that repeating his madness defeats the purpose of the ban and, frankly, I hesitated before I did it.



The main reason for my post was the alter-ego accusation. I was being nosy.



But you're right, let's ignore it. I have a long record now of ignoring the twit, anyway.



Trout