2000 AD Online Forum

So, the new ABC Warriors book plopped through my letterbox this morning, and although I've not read it, I did read Pat's intro, where he stated (and I'm paraphrasing) that Metalzoic is apparently consigned to DC's 'never going to be seen again' pile. I wonder if he meant exactly what I think he meant (i.e. DC owns it and will never release it again), because if so it's a massive shame. I'm lucky enough to own a reasonable (if far from mint) copy of the graphic novel issued in the 1980s, and I have the Progs it was in, but if there's ever some classic Mills way overdue for reissue, it's Metalzoic.

Seconded. This book is top stuff and is almost fitted to Nemesis.

Bolt-01

That's a shame - was there ever any attempt to get it reprinted in the Meg?

- Steve

No idea. Personally, this is one of the very few stories I'd be quite happy to buy as an XTNCT-style hardback (as long as Pat would be happy to do a new intro, and Kev had some sketches or something to provide).

Glad I still have the trade paperback so. If it remains out of print for such a long period I think the rights should revert back to the creators.

I never cared for Metalzoic as a story, but it is lovely to look at and gave us some great covers (including that one).  Mills does write some fascinating intros though - I just picked up the (unbelievably beautiful every-home-should-have-one deserves-to-outsell-the-bible) new edition of Sláine: Warrior's Dawn, and his intro is a fascinating rant about the different tastes of 'mainstream readers' and 'fandom'.  I have virtually no idea where he gets his information (apparently I'm in both camps), but it certainly is alarmingly frank, and suitably appreciative of the incomparable Massimo.

***I have virtually no idea where he gets his information***

He's writer so he makes it up.

I think Metalzoic wa one of the best things Pat Mills did. Mostly because it didnt end up being over done Like Marshal Law (I love Marshal Law but think it should have stopped sooner) but the story it self was amazing. pure Mill genius. quirky. deep. and one of Mills' better examples of every thing is connected, hippy stuff he does from time to time. and i will always regret not buying it when i had the chance.

I always considered it a post Nemesis story (for Millsverse fans only).

Metalzoic is one of Pat's finest hours. How many good ideas are packed into that one strip?

The art's bloody fantastic, too. It deserves a reprint.

- Trout

I just brought this on EBAy for five dollars. Of course with shipping and handling this price could go up to thirty dollars.

It does sound interesting and I am fan of Pat MIlls interesting approach to science fiction / fantacy.

Though I have only ever read one or two progs with this story in it and didn't really know what I was reading. Though it was interesting all the same.

I just brought this on EBAy for five dollars.

Depress us all further. Was this US or Oz dollars?

Here's a cheap one...

Link: Metalzoic  @ eBay

Here's a cheap one...

Link: Metalzoic  @ eBay

Double post and I see it finished yesterday. Top work, back to Superbowl.

That was the one I chose.

GreyPilgrim was the seller.

It could be anything up till sixty dollars.

Seeing as UPS are charging me, fifty six dollars for the 'Tunnels & Trolls Rule Book'.

I operated on my own Brian!

a fascinating rant about the different tastes of 'mainstream readers' and 'fandom'

Most of the people that I've met who really, really like Slaine have been people who don't know about or give a shit about comics. That must be Pat Mills's mainstream audience.

As in:

Them: "So, what sort of thing do you read? what are you into?"

Me: "Well, because I'm always so busy with work and that, I don't get a lot of time to read. But I do read a lot of comics."

Them: "Oh right. I've never much been into comics. But I do really like Slaine."

The fantasy version of this conversations ends one of two ways:

Either:

Me: looks around the room for someone more interesting to talk to and walks away

Or:

Me: "Fuck off!"

The Cosh asks....

'Was this US or Oz dollars?'

That would be American dollars Cosh. The conversion is merely less than a dollar more.

"I wonder if he meant exactly what I think he meant (i.e. DC owns it and will never release it again), because if so it's a massive shame."

Unfortunately it is - the deal that Mills and O'Neil signed with DC was better than the ones offered by the likes of 2000AD in the UK at the time, but looking at it today it's fairly punative. Basically, DC hold the reprint rights - you'll notice that when Metalzoic appeared in 2000AD, there was a little '© DC Comics' included somewhere on the page (if memory serves) - and aren't going to reprint it themselves because they didn't make any money from it the first time around (it came out about the same time all the Watchmen fuss kicked off). Of course, DC did agree to allow others to reprint it once before, so they might agree to it again, but it depends on how much it'd cost and whether it'd be financially worthwhile to do so.

Metalzoic was always more of a European type of affair than anything really suited for the US, though O'Neil did say he prefered the 2000AD reprint because it was in b&w (he wasn't happy with the colouring), and we had all those lovely new covers as well.

Link: "I Operated On My Own BRIAN!"

ButtonMan,

I just check the item number of the Metalzoic I had biided for and the one you have linked which are being sold by the same seller.

Both have different item numbers, though I got weird feeling it's the same book. It's out of print and how many of these books could this seller really have?

He's even using the same photo.

 

I wouldn't worry Thryll, the guy has 99%+ feedback on over 16,000 deals. He's likely a dealer with a few copies and one 'stock' photo.

I just got this today in the mail.

It looks good.

Will comtinue to read this, naturally.

Bit confused by the Graphic Novel number six written in the top right hand corner.

Is this part of a series?

*Is this part of a series?*

Not in the sense we mean today. It was six in a series of comics of that format: oversized with glossy paper when that was a rarity.