2000 AD Online Forum

Don't want to say too much and spoil it for anyone.

The quality on display in this Meg is fantastic. A really strong line-up of strips with a nice couple of interviews and text pieces. Skidmarks being the high point with Dredd snapping at it's heels. The Jock Collection was always going to be strong starter for the 'graphic novel' addition, which it is, only let down by the quality of the spine! Not really but it's a clever way to get reprint material into the Meg without it actually being there.

I'm still undecided on the price tag. This month it, I would say very much that it's worth it but more than the EE the reprint side of the Meg has to maintain a high quality to keep it strong because of the higher price.

If you check out my blog.. you'll find pencils for the cover..

http://rufusdayglo.blogspot.com/ (http://rufusdayglo.blogspot.com/)

  Ruf

Yup, it's a belter! I don't want to give much away either so:

Cover - Most of us will have seen this spectacular image on Rufus' blog, it's lovely. Shame there's titles and the likes covering it up!

Dredd - Ratfink continues to be a horrible read, Dredd manages to be a hero and a stickler at the same time. Next months episode sounds scary already...

Skidmarks - A triumph! Joyfully bonkers script, exciting, letratonetastic art from Rufus and more skidmarks than you can shake a stick at. [spoiler]"Oh... Buttocks!"[/spoiler] is a classic!

Anderson - Yup, still enjoying this. Boo's colours are aces and I like the whole Justice Dept. ownership set up. Nice to see [spoiler]George Bush Block[/spoiler] amongst the serial killers!

Black Museum - I loved this! The script - no pun intended -is bursting with ideas and had a really creepy ending. To be honest, I'd never really understood the whole Futsie thing so it was nice to have Al explain it to me properly! The art (other than the Dredds unfortunately) was great with loads of lovely little details.

Articles - This months articles include an interview with Rufus (best parents evah!) and one with Alan Martin which also reads well. There's also the film reviews, the first part of the story of British adult comics and something about Samurai Jack. I'm saving the last three for later.

Jock 'Graphic Novel' - Yeah it's a bit cheapy looking but there's no denying the class of the contents. We get The Shirley Temple of Doom, the wonderful Crossing of Ken Dodd, Rampots, Safe Hands and finally, Ten Years, which is a fascinating read in terms of what's happening over in the prog. As well as all of those gems we get unsullied covers for progs 1258, 1304 and 1318 as well as a great Dredd pin-up which I'd never seen (coloured) before.

Free Trading Cards - There's also a free selection of the new trading cards which is notable for an exclusive promo card.

Without a doubt, this issue of the Meg is an excellent read and fantastic value for money. The future's looking bright!

Cover is ace.

Ratfink is still a nasty little bastard and Doherty's art is superb.

Tank Girl was readable, but I'm a bit concerned at the prospect of this being in the Meg for the next twelve months as I've always thought of it as a one-note story, amusing in small doses. Time will tell I suppose.

Anderson rattles along nicely without a Sister of Death in sight. It's always nice to see Boo Cook doing the business, but I'm not entirely sure Tom Cruise deserves to be in that company...

Not too keen on the art in Tales from the Black Museum, but it was a very neat little story  with an amusing subtext about the difficulty of constantly coming up with neat little story ideas.

Didn't read the text stuff and saving Jock for later. I also have a bag of little pictures, which I don't fully understand.

Only read Tank Girl so far.  It's ace.  I was a little apprehensive about reading a Jamie Hewlett-less Tank Girl, as I feel oddly snobby about the strip despite not having read it since Deadline was going (and TG was the only thing I ever liked about Deadline, certainly the only strip I read in it).  But Skidmarks delivers.  I'm quite happy to see her in the Meg and Rufus has done a great job making her his own - that cover picture is easily as good as anything Hewlett produced.

A great issue for our Ruf - he's all over the frikkin' thing! Luckilly that's no bad thing! Loving Tank Girl, just like old times.

The Jock collection is marvelous (though it's too floppy to be a graphic novel surely - why not just call it a 64 page comic?)

Didn't like the idea of a 'son of fink' story at first, felt too much like flogging a dead angel, but he's such an evil little s.o.b. that this story  has won me over. It' nice to see a Justice dept operation go so spectacularly tits up for a change.

Tales of the Black museum - one of the best so far. (Actually, it's been too long since the big meg has had a really good judge-bothering craze. Mr Wagner...?)

Anderson - only glanced at this so far.  not keen.

As with the prog, Wagner is excelling - wonderful stuff, that almost carries the whole enterprise far enough to justify the entrance fee no matter what else might turn up.

Tank Girl... nice Rufus art, but as with Koburn thing, cant help but wish the artist was elsewhere employed.  Maybe the strip will win me over, but Tank Girl and me have history and I've barely seen a strip with Tank Girl in! I know it's terrible to prejudge a strip by peception, but it's a hard in grained perception.  Back when 2000AD was 2000AD and Deadline was Deadline, everyone was happy.  when 2000AD seemed (to me) to want to be Deadline, it went horribly pear shaped, so my perception of Deadline is coloured by my notion that it put 2000AD into bad ways.  I know that's a terrible preconception, but there it is, on the table.  So far, there's nothing here to dissuade me from that, but it's early days I suppsoe.  Still, nothing in there that's really my cuppa, feels like those 'hip to be cool' kinda things that i was never that keen on wherever they appeared, so not holding out much hope.  Can't win 'em all over.

Anderson, the story is not too bad - better than average for Anderson.  Like the Justic Dept angle, even if it has the potential to go "horrible Dept" in Grant's hands. Boo's art just isnt doing it for me here.  The figures are crazy weird, but not in a McMahon crazy weird, just wrong looking - Anderson in particular looks like an oddly proportioned, anatomically inaccurate sex doll.  Colours are still nice enough, but the figures just seem off generally. There's that comment in the Rufus interview about McManus' saying how after 100 pages, you'll start to get the hang of it, but i personally think theres much better in Boos first 100 pages than this.

Just to seal my reputation as moaoning luddite, I'd say the Black Museum things not bad, but the Disneyish art, while good, isn't really what I'd think best suited the story, or Dredd world in general.  

The Jock collection is a good bunch of stories though.  Nice to revisit those in one place.

Lasting impression - vague depression at the news that Mike McMahon can be tempted back to drawing for Tank Girl, but not for 2000AD.

Not in shops yet... curses!!

McMahon tempted to draw Tank Girl and not 2000ad probably says more about 2000ad than anything else... but I havn't got all the details (does it mention McMahon in the Meg?? Is he doing a TG tale for the Meg or another publisher??)

Quote from: "Uncle Umpty"(does it mention McMahon in the Meg?? Is he doing a TG tale for the Meg or another publisher??)

Doesn't say - hes doing a mini series for unspecified future publication.

Ah right... McMahon Tank Girl sounds fantastic.

Wonder what other artists could be tempted by Tank Girl... I'd like to see an on form Gibson give it a go, he does great women and wierd and funny machinery... never seen him do a Kangaroo though.

It'd be good to see a book with five or six different artists join Team Tank... lets say... Rufus, McMahon, Gibson, McCarthy, Kev Walker & The Mighty Jock.

I'd pay good money to see that.

Hi Umpty,

Mick is doing a six issue TG mini series for Titan Books. It's called 'Carioca'. I've probably spelt that wrong.

Alan and I also have some TG series coming out with Titan next year... we've asked various people on your wish list for covers...

Ruf

As to 2000 ad appropriating Deadline style in the early 1990s, well, 2000ad had lost direction at that point, and tried to come up with a faximile of what it thought was 'cool', it was an appropriation of style, not content.

Hopefully  you'll give it a chance!

"Carioca" What would that be about, something to do with Rio de Janeiro or folk in Rio?

Tank Girl does Rio?

Beauty artwork BTW always a pleasure Rufus!

Thank you Sir,

Carioca, no not Rio!, something closer to Worthing... Best not to say too much.. Like most things Tankie, there are connections/ references, but often abstract, or at best very obscure...

Mick's doing some beautiful work, unsurprisingly..

For Hewlett fans, Cream of Tank Girl will be out at the end of this year, from Titan Books,... A big art book, with lots of rare, and previously unseen stuff..



r

To be fair doing Tank Girl is something that McMahon hadn't done before so that my have been tempting in itself rather than have any baring on 2000ad.

Here's a McMahon Tank Girl cover as owned by some strange artist chap, however lord knows what style McMahon will adopt for his forthcoming strip...

Quote from: "JamesC"To be fair doing Tank Girl is something that McMahon hadn't done before so that my have been tempting in itself rather than have any baring on 2000ad.

True enough, but I suppose that's my reason for vague depression about it.  2000AD should be able to offer something new (if that's preferable) and exciting for an artist of Mick's calibre.  That it takes a character that I have no interest in following to get Mick back drawing comics is going to be a further disappointment for me personally.  That 2000AD hasn't lured back some of the the old names still active in comicdom seems to speak to me of a problem the comic has (despite its undoubted resurgence under Rebellion) that I cant quite put my finger on.  

Of course, this is only one creator (albeit one I'd desperately love to see working on something new, preferably in the progs), and we have seen the likes of McCarthy putting in covers over recent times,  It's also likely that a lot of the old names have no interest in working for the comic as they have better/more rewarding things to do with their time within and without the world of comics, no matter what enducement Tharg could offer. There's a case for fostering new talent as well, but even so, it's a cause of vague depression for me nonetheless that Micks otherwise engaged on a project I have little interest in.  But, hey, I'm not their keeper! At least it's more comics I suppose and maybe Mick will follow it up with something more to my tastes.

Quote from: "+rufus+"As to 2000 ad appropriating Deadline style in the early 1990s, well, 2000ad had lost direction at that point, and tried to come up with a faximile of what it thought was 'cool', it was an appropriation of style, not content.

Hopefully  you'll give it a chance!

That's a decent point there, Rufus. Still, as I say, whether the style or content is one I'm much enthused about is another matter, done well or badly, but I'll certainly give it a shot and try not to prejudge.

Leigh,

Mick doing TG is my fault...

Alan had a series,(This is before I was working on TG, doing Metal Gear Whatsit) and wanted an artist...

Needless to say, you can guess who I enthusiastically suggested..

Also,Alan and Jamie are both huge fans of Mick's work, and Mick liked the idea of a new challenge.

R

Quote from: "+rufus+"Leigh,

Mick doing TG is my fault...

Alan had a series,(This is before I was working on TG, doing Metal Gear Whatsit) and wanted an artist...

Needless to say, you can guess who I enthusiastically suggested..

Also,Alan and Jamie are both huge fans of Mick's work, and Mick liked the idea of a new challenge.

R

Heh, I  should have guessed!

Good on you for getting Mick involved - just for me, it's a shame that Tharg didn't get there first (or did but failed to come up with something to catch his interest)!  If I was editor of 2000Ad, I'd have be knocking on his door as often as was polite! As I say, hopefully this might lead to more from the mighty pen of McM.

Quote from: "dandontdare"nice to see a Justice dept operation go so spectacularly tits up for a change.

heheh, yeah I think there should be more of that.

What Pete Wells said for the rest of this magnificent mega mag!!

Quote from: "Leigh Shepherd"but Tank Girl and me have history

now THERE speaks someone who survived the 80s!

QuoteCarioca, no not Rio!, something closer to Worthing...

(They're both by the sea?) Intrigued before. Pure stumped now.

I didn't realize this was out yet!

So they're not starting all new stories with this issue then? (Apart from Tank Girl of course) I'd have thought with the changes they would have turned it into a jumping on issue.

I might grab this though, just the same. Seems like good value overall...

All sorts of fun in the Meg, with the best bit the Wagner Dredd.

Wagner Dredd makes a good Meg.

Nice to see Tank Girl back, too. I didn't realise how much I'd missed her.

- Trout

not seen it yet but looking forward to it all ...

....ireally thought rufus was an incarnation of mick mcmahon once upon a time and i mean that in a good way and not depreciating rufs work at all...he genius,so's he the other!
 do the "graphic novels" in the meg mean the real ones are no more?

Quote from: "mogzilla"do the "graphic novels" in the meg mean the real ones are no more?

The trade line is continuing with two books per month for the foreseeable.

QuoteHere's a McMahon Tank Girl cover as owned by some strange artist chap, however lord knows what style McMahon will adopt for his forthcoming strip...

Aaargh! My eyes! If it's gonna look like that I suggest Rufus locks him in a cupboard.  

More positive matters then. Any plans for Skidmarks to be released as a GN?  I personally can't wait to read it, but I don't have the sort of bank balance that can drop a fiver a month on regular installments right now.
Keep up the good work Mr Rufus - everything Tanky related I've seen from you is bloody brilliant!x
...maybe I'll save up and buy some art instead...

1st post, although a 31 yr reader (I'm OOOLLDDD!!!!)

Well done of Tank Girl, Rufus. You did me a Dredd a while back at a convention, and seemed like a top bloke. I'm glad you have got the eucecss you deserve, as Tanky looks sweet. Hopefully it will continue to impress.

Thanks MCH, I hope you enjoy it!

Tanky - Skidmarks will be published in the meg for the next 12 months, then collected as a 4 issue mini series by Titan (US comics size and in full colour), then a TPB.

I hope that makes some sort of sense..

Also... We'll have a couple of other Tank Girl series out.. one through IDW in the States, 'The Royal Escape', and one through Titan Books, 'Bad Wind Rising'.

Visions of Booga will be out soon as TPB from IDW (and Titan in the UK), with an all new 6 page Booga back up story

We'll also soon (Hopefully!!) have a fully operational Death Star..err.. website..

www.tank-girl.com (http://www.tank-girl.com)

ruf

Check my blog too, there'll be more news there, and pics.

 http://rufusdayglo.blogspot.com/ (http://rufusdayglo.blogspot.com/)

Thanks Rufus. Lots of goodies to look forward to. That's a nice lookin' death star! Give me a shout if theres anything I can do to help with it - I have a crapload of vintage Tank Girl, an unhealthy obsession with the lady and could possibly be persuaded to stomp about with a rocket launcher at conventions!   x

Rufus, I've written Meg-Tharg a letter saying you're great.

Hope that's okay.

- Trout

Picked up the Meg today and was just about to do the same thing Trout!!

Only had a flick through it here in work and it's looking great and am looking forward to treating myself to a few (lots of) tins of Strongbow and a hot bath this evening while I read it through.

The Jock collection is also great, but it's stretching it calling it a graphic novel.

As for the cards, maybe I got a duff lot but they seem pretty crappy to me.

Quote from: "dandontdare"now THERE speaks someone who survived the 80s!

pah, if you can remember them then you wern't there...

read it . dredd boils along nicely as usual.
i never read tank girl the first time round so was curious to see what the fuss was about. colour me impressed. humour and a talking kangaroo.class. i'll have to track the old stuff down. un-necassary to gush to rufus he knows he's good but a couple of panels of tank girl i could have sworn it was hewletts work. was that a deliberate homage or just spooky coincidence proving they got the right man fer the job?
andersons not doing it for me despite boo's excellent work.
   loved the jock "book"
s'all.

What's that font used for the title of SKIDMAKRKS?

Deftone Stylus, sir!

Cheers, young man!