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Messages - Blue Cactus

#31
General / Re: Wrap It Up
29 December, 2023, 10:04:43 PM
Nice thread, most enjoyable so far Funt. That Colin MacNeil Mongrol is just great.
#32
Other Reviews / Re: Nemesis Definitive Edition vol 1
15 December, 2023, 03:36:11 PM
Mine seems to be fine, so I hope you get a good copy soon. Blooming lovely book!
#33
Other Reviews / Re: Nemesis Definitive Edition vol 1
15 December, 2023, 02:18:31 PM
Quote from: Le Fink on 13 December, 2023, 05:37:57 PM
Quote from: Blue Cactus on 07 December, 2023, 09:46:52 PMMine arrived today but I've not had a chance to open it yet. I'm hoping these will include all the covers - it would be great to see the covers from the Titan collections and the Best of 2000ad Monthlies etc.

If it's the hardback webshop 'black' edition you might want to open it sooner rather than later - I now have two copies, both of which have holes punched into some early pages near the binding.

Gah!

Nuts. I'll have a peek, thanks Fink
#34
Other Reviews / Re: Nemesis Definitive Edition vol 1
09 December, 2023, 01:08:04 PM
Quote from: Magnetica on 09 December, 2023, 12:27:56 PMWhat does everyone think of the repro? Is it worth it, especially if you already have the old, smaller paperback versions?





This might sound silly but I'm saving opening mine for a quiet day so I can't answer this yet. I did see someone tweet that the repro was very good though.
#35
Other Reviews / Re: Nemesis Definitive Edition vol 1
07 December, 2023, 09:46:52 PM
Mine arrived today but I've not had a chance to open it yet. I'm hoping these will include all the covers - it would be great to see the covers from the Titan collections and the Best of 2000ad Monthlies etc.
#36
Announcements / Re: 2000 AD - The Ultimate Collection
06 December, 2023, 10:15:41 PM
I've always felt DeMarco's solo series
should have been better, because she was quite a compelling character in The Pit and her other early appearances. I didn't love her being mega-wealthy, or her gorilla manservant. She lost the element of being an essentially good person who is drawn to things that aren't good for her, or who makes bad choices at times, and became a bit bland as a result. Ideally by now she'd have years worth of history and a load of interesting supporting characters and have had some character development. Happy to give the latest series a go in the Meg though.

Agreed that all the solo stuff was better than the way she was treated in the Simping Detective.
#37
Prog / Re: Prog 2360: The weight of the world
05 December, 2023, 09:46:55 AM
For what it's worth I think Horsman's storytelling has become clearer as the series has progressed. I felt the most recent episode was channeling the sheer energy levels of his work into much clearer and more fluid action from panel to panel.
#38
Brubaker and Phillips do make a great team! I think you're right about this series, the way they keep the full story just out of view and Jo remains an elusive figure you can't quite fathom. I think I found that a little perplexing on first read as I felt like it was me missing something or not grasping the full story, but like you say, that's by design isn't it. I'll bear that in mind when I come to reread it. I've read a fair bit from this creator team and with you mentioning The Fade Out, I will say I that was possibly my favourite series of theirs alongside Kill or Be Killed. Interesting to see which of their other series makes your list.
#39
Quote from: Colin YNWA on 02 December, 2023, 07:30:27 AMWow cool Kiwijohn.

Of those I've now got Preacher and fromm the comments here I do wonder how it hold up???

I've picked up Ghost World in a Complete Eightball I treated myself to after some recent sales (along with Ducks and Street Angel) as I loved the issues I had back in the day and having been wanting to catch up with Daniel Clowes.

I'm really weary of Fables as I'm aware of the political undertones and think they will really jarr with me.

Scott Pilgram I almost picked up in a recent Humble Bundle but decided against so... actually why did I do that????

I think Grandville and Blackhole will be the next purchases from my list of obvious omissions and hear such good things about both and both should be right up my alley.

That list was amazing kiwijohn - chuffed you decided to join in the chat.

If we're talking anthropomorphic detective comics, Grandville towers above Blacksad for me. I found it wittier, warmer, the characters more engaging and the plots more satisfying. It's outstanding.

I like Daniel Clowes's stuff a lot - Icehaven, The Death Ray and Patience are among my favourites - and Velvet Glove if you like the films of David Lynch.
#40
I had a similar reaction to Saga as you Colin. In theory I should love it but I became disengaged after a few of trades because I realised I was waiting to feel really invested and it wasn't happening. I read everything up to the hiatus but am not bothered about picking it up again. The whole thing has a kind of glossy sheen to it in terms of characters, plotting and art that feels conspicuously designed. I mean I know it was all designed, of course. But I feel like it was designed with a specific type of reader response in mind and I just didn't respond like that. Even though the characters can be irritating or engaging, which should mean they feel more flawed or fully formed, to me it seems somehow contrived or inauthentic. And their journey just... wasn't that interesting? The designs are great but again the art has this polished quality to it that doesn't engage me. Actually the series feels like when everyone loves a glossy US tv show I don't get.

 A lot of people love it though so that's grand.

Same with Bruce Springsteen. I once read someone saying they found his stuff a bit like a big broadway musical version of working class anthems, which they found a bit inauthentic, but other folk hear it as the genuine article. I realise I am saying nothing deep here, just that some people react differently to others!

#41
Books & Comics / Re: Whats everyone reading?
29 November, 2023, 12:05:40 PM
Quote from: BadlyDrawnKano on 28 November, 2023, 08:43:25 PM
Quote from: Colin YNWA on 27 November, 2023, 11:50:23 AM
Quote from: BadlyDrawnKano on 27 November, 2023, 11:30:38 AM... And I was considering rereading Alan Moore's Future Shocks again the other day but then spotted Ed Brubaker's Kill Or Be Killed in a charity shop, so picked that up and started reading it instead.

Oh good choice. 'Kill or be Killed' is great.

I really enjoyed the first volume and will definitely get the rest of it, December's an expensive month due to Christmas and because of the nature of the work I do I'll have an unpaid week off next month, but I'm looking forward to reading the rest of it early next year. I wish I could get it via my library, but I did an online search of the entire county's catalogue and the only Ed Brubaker graphic novel they have is Fatale Volume 4!

On the plus side, up until recently their very small graphic novel section only consisted of about twenty slim volumes but that's now doubled, and today they had Barry Windsor-Smith's Monsters available to borrow, so I'm looking forward to reading that later this evening.

Monsters is quite a thing. Enjoy!
#42
Good series, Lazarus. I didn't realise they were ending it earlier than planned although I'm ok with that if they end it well. I've got the three big hardback collections and feel like I've been waiting ages for the next one.

Enjoying your write-ups Col! Quite tempted to try Orbital next year.
#43
Books & Comics / Re: TimeQuake from Hibernia out now!
15 November, 2023, 09:48:30 PM
Thanks both. Needless to say Hibernia's collections are always beautifully put together and it's great they're able to put this stuff out. Some releases are a bit before my time so I don't quite have the nostalgia factor or the storytelling is a little old school. I say this as someone who has been reading the prog since about 1986! Interesting to hear your thoughts, ta.
#44
Books & Comics / Re: TimeQuake from Hibernia out now!
15 November, 2023, 10:51:46 AM
Curious about this one. Can anyone suggest any 2000ad series that are similar in a kind of 'if you liked X you'll like Timequake' kind of way?
#45
Prog / Re: Prog 2357: Chem Trails
11 November, 2023, 11:44:24 AM
I reckon it's actually pizen and all part of a decades-long scheme by that criminal mastermind Fink Angel.