Hi there - I'm a long-time lurker to these boards (and I mean loooong-time), but very infrequent poster. I've come out of hiding for a good cause...
Basically, I need the help of the good people of the 2000AD forums. Me and a friend are co-authoring a book called 'Scarred For Life'. It'll probably be self-published, although we have a few small publishers interested, and all proceeds will go to charity. As a further selling point, we'll be contacting lots of relevant celebrities from the worlds of TV, film, comics, music and the like to ask: what scared them as kids?
The idea sprang from a conversation in work a few years ago - one of those 'Remember that TV series / film / sweets / song / comic from when we were kids?' conversations. We realised that pretty much everything we'd been waxing nostalgic about was actually absolutely terrifying and / or shocking, and would never be allowed now. The conversation then moved onto the seemingly ever-present threat of nuclear war which seemed to loom over our young heads in the 80s, until my mate said, 'This'd make a great book!'. And it's only taken us three years to start writing... *ahem*
And, yes, we know Charlie Brooker made a TV series along these lines. It actually very nearly derailed our plans completely until we realised his focus was narrowed entirely towards scary TV programs. Our book will talk about a huge range of pop culture subjects that shaped a generation or two:
TV: Public information films, scary kids TV, creepy title sequences, the gritty dramas of the 70s and 80s such as Boys From The Blackstuff and the like, as well as those squalid 70s sitcoms like On The Buses and Love Thy Neighbour.
FILM: The video nasty scare and the rise of VHS, Red Triangle Films on Channel 4, the iconic BBC2 late-night horror double bills, etc.
FOOD AND DRINK: Yep, food and drink! Remember Horror Bags crisps? Heinz Haunted House spaghetti shapes? Dracula ice lollies? There seemed to be an awful lot of horror-themed stuff aimed at kids back then...
SOCIAL AND POLITICAL: Rabies. AIDS. Heroin. Glue-sniffing. And the threat of nuclear armageddon.
...and lots more besides (we're looking at around 500 - 600 pages). Now, we need your help! There'll be a fairly sizeable section on 70s and 80s comics. We'll be talking about Action, 2000AD, Misty, Scream!, Warrior and Tomb Of Dracula amongst others.
We'd like your anecdotes and memories about 2000AD - anything you like. Memories of buying it as a kid, anything that shocked or scared you about the stories, any scenes that stuck in your mind. Anything. The shorter the better, as we'd like to include as many as possible (and we only want to edit your contributions as a last resort!)
Actually, if you have any memories about Action or any other comics, that'd be incredibly helpful too. Don't worry about a deadline, we're still months away from completing the first draft.
Many, many thanks in advance.
Brilliant idea! Best of luck with this, and I will start putting together a little thing immediately.
SBT
Fantastic!
Thanks, SBT!
Excellent idea! I'll do my best to come up with something interesting!
-- Mike
Cheers, Mike, much appreciated!
You're the first 2000AD writer we'll have had a contribution from :)
The theme of the original Tomorrow People freaked me out as a kid. THREADS didn't help my sleep either.
Given time i'll think of a few more.
Gordon & Gotch distributed the UK weeklies to the colonies Down Under. Are our Antipodean terrors eligible for inclusion or, just like those cover-mounted free gifts of Hubba Bubba, will this be "unavailable to overseas readers?"
So Stegron, in what form would you like the reminiscences of a befuddled fool such as I? In a post on this thread, a pm or via the old email?
Quote from: ZippoCreed on 09 February, 2014, 10:08:57 AM
So Stegron, in what form would you like the reminiscences of a befuddled fool such as I? In a post on this thread, a pm or via the old email?
A thread post right here will do me, Zippo! Plus, it might spark some otherwise-buried memories in other forum members!
Quote from: O Lucky Stevie! on 09 February, 2014, 06:43:21 AM
Gordon & Gotch distributed the UK weeklies to the colonies Down Under. Are our Antipodean terrors eligible for inclusion or, just like those cover-mounted free gifts of Hubba Bubba, will this be "unavailable to overseas readers?"
The unavailable gifts
were our terrors, Stevie! I still have nightmares about issue 1 of Nutty and the missing packet of Space Dust. <sobs uncontrollably>
It's strange looking back at the things that, as a child, had us cowering behind the sofa. With time and maturity, they lose their power to terrify us in that unique way where we are as excited as we are frightened. And yet there's something about a puppet that still makes me feel...
Well, on the tv side I can remember being totally freaked out by The Singing Ringing Tree. It was an East German production and as creepy as hell. It was as if Cocteau had made The Never-Ending Story while high on crack and LSD!
There's was Doctor Who of course. (I can recall freezing in terror watching Planet Of The Spiders).
Captain Black from Captain Scarlet - cool and creepy.
My Mother once said that I could watch any amount of monsters and aliens as a child but there was one show that had me running from the room;
Ken Dodd' s Diddy Men.
Pure Evil.
TV: I remember visiting family & having to miss an episode of Dr Who because my cousin (3 months older than me) was scared of it. That scarred me, missing an episode due to someone else's terrors!!!
2000ADFlesh (book 1) really engaged with me, I loved feeling a bit scared for Earl Reagan & young Joe. Old One-Eye didn't scare me but the huge spiders under the machines did!
Film There is a film that left a huge mark but I haven't seen it as an adult & can't recall the title... (anyone giving me the title will be popular) an alien being is on a train and takes the appearance of people, killing them. I was reminded of the plot by Doomlord when I read Eagle... So it was well before the Eagle reboot that I saw it... Creepy! I was convinced that if I slept with the cover over my head no such beastie could ever harm me.
I run a blog and I'm happy to publicise this project for you if you have a website, FB Page, etc. let me know.
Quote from: Bat King on 11 February, 2014, 09:15:45 PM
Film There is a film that left a huge mark but I haven't seen it as an adult & can't recall the title... (anyone giving me the title will be popular) an alien being is on a train and takes the appearance of people, killing them.
Sounds like Horror Express.
That is it!!! Woop!
That film really scared me... no idea how old I was. Trying to remember which house I lived in but can't. My Dad was in RAF if I remember 'I lived THERE when THIS happened I can hone in on an age a bit better.
I think 1977 is a possibility, left alone in the house with 12 year old brother when I was 10... very possible... No way my Mum woulda let me watch it, Dad maybe... Dunno. But it was SCARY!
Back in the 70's the BBC used to run late night horror films and once my Dad let me stay up to watch The Beast With Five Fingers (hokey B&W film about a disembodied hand). I was lying on the floor, totally engrossed in the film when he ran his fingers up my calf. My mother was not too impressed by being woken up by my scream!
Hi guys, I meant to post earlier but (thanks to bloody Virgin) we've had no internet or telly for two days!
I was originally going to say that it's just 2000AD / UK comic related memories I was after from everyone... but to be honest, everything posted so far is great! Keep them coming!
Quote from: Bat King on 12 February, 2014, 12:46:11 AM
That is it!!! Woop!
That film really scared me... no idea how old I was. Trying to remember which house I lived in but can't. My Dad was in RAF if I remember 'I lived THERE when THIS happened I can hone in on an age a bit better.
I think 1977 is a possibility, left alone in the house with 12 year old brother when I was 10... very possible... No way my Mum woulda let me watch it, Dad maybe... Dunno. But it was SCARY!
I remember Horror Express! Christopher Lee! Peter Cushing! Telly Savalas! And it was pretty gory, if I remember correctly...
Quote from: Bat King on 11 February, 2014, 09:15:45 PM
TV: I remember visiting family & having to miss an episode of Dr Who because my cousin (3 months older than me) was scared of it. That scarred me, missing an episode due to someone else's terrors!!!
2000ADFlesh (book 1) really engaged with me, I loved feeling a bit scared for Earl Reagan & young Joe. Old One-Eye didn't scare me but the huge spiders under the machines did!
Film There is a film that left a huge mark but I haven't seen it as an adult & can't recall the title... (anyone giving me the title will be popular) an alien being is on a train and takes the appearance of people, killing them. I was reminded of the plot by Doomlord when I read Eagle... So it was well before the Eagle reboot that I saw it... Creepy! I was convinced that if I slept with the cover over my head no such beastie could ever harm me.
I run a blog and I'm happy to publicise this project for you if you have a website, FB Page, etc. let me know.
Some great memories there, Bat King (I didn't like those spiders in Flesh, either).
We have a FB page (search for 'scarred for life book') - if you could give us a mention on your blog, it'd be much appreciated!
Quote from: ZippoCreed on 10 February, 2014, 07:16:46 PM
It's strange looking back at the things that, as a child, had us cowering behind the sofa. With time and maturity, they lose their power to terrify us in that unique way where we are as excited as we are frightened. And yet there's something about a puppet that still makes me feel...
Well, on the tv side I can remember being totally freaked out by The Singing Ringing Tree. It was an East German production and as creepy as hell. It was as if Cocteau had made The Never-Ending Story while high on crack and LSD!
Bizarrely that was my first experience of the painful longing of unrequited love - I was only about 3 but I remember being totally besotted with the vision of that blonde princess *sigh*
However the one thing that did scare me was Hector's House - I was okay with Kiki the frog and Zsazsa the Cat, but apparently whenever Hector spoke in his deep booming voice, I'd burst into tears.
And the opening music to Tomorrow People still gives me the willies today.
Whenever I have that common dream of trying to run away or hide from something that you just KNOW is going to catch you, it's Daleks every time, always has been.
Quote from: Dandontdare on 12 February, 2014, 07:45:53 PM
Quote from: ZippoCreed on 10 February, 2014, 07:16:46 PM
It's strange looking back at the things that, as a child, had us cowering behind the sofa. With time and maturity, they lose their power to terrify us in that unique way where we are as excited as we are frightened. And yet there's something about a puppet that still makes me feel...
Well, on the tv side I can remember being totally freaked out by The Singing Ringing Tree. It was an East German production and as creepy as hell. It was as if Cocteau had made The Never-Ending Story while high on crack and LSD!
Bizarrely that was my first experience of the painful longing of unrequited love - I was only about 3 but I remember being totally besotted with the vision of that blonde princess *sigh*
However the one thing that did scare me was Hector's House - I was okay with Kiki the frog and Zsazsa the Cat, but apparently whenever Hector spoke in his deep booming voice, I'd burst into tears.
And the opening music to Tomorrow People still gives me the willies today.
Whenever I have that common dream of trying to run away or hide from something that you just KNOW is going to catch you, it's Daleks every time, always has been.
We've already written a little box-out on the Tomorrow People title sequence and music, funnily enough...
Bursting into tears at Hector's voice - that's going straight in the book. If it makes you feel any better, my co-author used to cry at the whistling at the beginning of the Skippy The Bush Kangaroo theme music... :lol:
Comics-wise, I remember being mildly freaked out by the main human character in Hookjaw getting his head washed up on a beach.
There was a PIF with cars having angry cartoon faces that snarled at pedestrians.
This from the Charlie X episode of Star Trek
(http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/tip77.jpg)
I wasn't too fond of Balok either. (Not helped that he popped up on the end credits)
2000AD had a huge effect on my early life, but as far as genuine horrifying moments go, I can't bring any to mind.
There was a short lived sister publication called Scream that contained a one-off that shook my young soul to the core: 'The Punch & Judy Horror Show' (from Scream number 7).
It can be read here on fellow forum member Ghastly McNasty's website:
http://www.backfromthedepths.co.uk/thetheatreofterror/2011/comic-scans/the-punch-just-horror-show-from-scream-7/
The sheer terror in the eyes of the tales protagonist, brilliantly illustrated by Brendan McCarthy, haunted my nightmares for weeks. It's a superb one-off tale in its own right too, with a terrifying yet simple denouement.
One other comic tale struck a black chord; Marvel's 1st issue of 'A Nightmare on Elm Street' (1989).
I was known in my primary school class as being a comic & horror fan, and a classmate who'd been on holidays in the states brought me back an illicit copy of this.
I think I was genuinely unprepared for the content within, the most shocking moment portrayed a man being coldly murdered by a young couple who had invaded his home, with the female carrying out the act ("Burying the knife in his chest").
I think it was the first time I realised that 'real life' horror was far scarier than any fantasy story, and worse, a similar grisly fate could feasibly befall my Dad any night of the week.
As far as 2000 AD goes, I don't remember ever being scared by anything in the comic but the death of Johnny Alpha's partner, Wulf Sternhammer, in the Strontium Dog strip, brutally murdered by the sadistic Max Bubba and his gang, really shocked me.
He was a carefree, friendly giant of a man. He loved a beer, he loved a fight (and cucumbers). He was seemingly indestructable. He was Johnny's only true friend and would always pull him out of the brooding silent moods he was prone to.
And then he was killed. Just like that. Bang! Bang! Bang! Dead.
I read and re-read that sequence over and over again, not really believing what I was seeing. Wulf died.
I'd stopped reading 2000 AD in the nineties by the time Johnny Alpha was killed off so that never really had the same impact for me as Wulf's almost casual murder. Bye big guy.
Not sure I've ever been scared by a comic but I remember a children's book about the paranormal (the title escapes me but the cover had a montage of Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster a UFO and strangely Lon Chaney as the Phantom Of The Opera iIrc) that scared the crap out of five year old me. Reading a piece about a haunted house the line that tipped me over the edge was
'He looked up and saw a severed hand covered in blood, floating above his head'.
That shat me up to the point of hallucinating a decapitated head in a whicker basket in our bathroom. Needless to say the book was confiscated from me by my mum. I don't think the threat of Nuclear war or A.I.D.S had as profound effect on me as that book, whatever it was called.
The storyline from Sapphire & Steel set in a train station about the WWI soldier. So creepy and atmospheric in fact that when bought them on dvd fairly recently it still made me uncomfortable. Thinking about it, every episode of Sapphire & Steel made me feel that way...
Quote from: judda fett on 13 February, 2014, 06:47:54 PM
Not sure I've ever been scared by a comic but I remember a children's book about the paranormal (the title escapes me but the cover had a montage of Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster a UFO and strangely Lon Chaney as the Phantom Of The Opera iIrc) that scared the crap out of five year old me. Reading a piece about a haunted house the line that tipped me over the edge was
'He looked up and saw a severed hand covered in blood, floating above his head'.
That shat me up to the point of hallucinating a decapitated head in a whicker basket in our bathroom. Needless to say the book was confiscated from me by my mum. I don't think the threat of Nuclear war or A.I.D.S had as profound effect on me as that book, whatever it was called.
If anyone out there knows what that book is, please post the title here! I'd love to look into that a bit more. And hallucinating a decapitated head? Blimey...
'The Unexplained' magazine used to have much the same effect on me - I'll never forget their article on Spontaneous Human Combustion, or the accompanying photos *shudder*
Quote from: Link Prime on 12 February, 2014, 08:42:01 PM
2000AD had a huge effect on my early life, but as far as genuine horrifying moments go, I can't bring any to mind.
There was a short lived sister publication called Scream that contained a one-off that shook my young soul to the core: 'The Punch & Judy Horror Show' (from Scream number 7).
It can be read here on fellow forum member Ghastly McNasty's website:
http://www.backfromthedepths.co.uk/thetheatreofterror/2011/comic-scans/the-punch-just-horror-show-from-scream-7/
The sheer terror in the eyes of the tales protagonist, brilliantly illustrated by Brendan McCarthy, haunted my nightmares for weeks. It's a superb one-off tale in its own right too, with a terrifying yet simple denouement.
One other comic tale struck a black chord; Marvel's 1st issue of 'A Nightmare on Elm Street' (1989).
I was known in my primary school class as being a comic & horror fan, and a classmate who'd been on holidays in the states brought me back an illicit copy of this.
I think I was genuinely unprepared for the content within, the most shocking moment portrayed a man being coldly murdered by a young couple who had invaded his home, with the female carrying out the act ("Burying the knife in his chest").
I think it was the first time I realised that 'real life' horror was far scarier than any fantasy story, and worse, a similar grisly fate could feasibly befall my Dad any night of the week.
There'll be an article about Scream in the book - I'm lucky enough to still own my full run from when I was a teenager. Brilliant, brilliant comic, and I vividly remember that story. Great stuff.
Quote from: hippynumber1 on 13 February, 2014, 09:04:04 PM
The storyline from Sapphire & Steel set in a train station about the WWI soldier. So creepy and atmospheric in fact that when bought them on dvd fairly recently it still made me uncomfortable. Thinking about it, every episode of Sapphire & Steel made me feel that way...
@pack Up Your Travels In Your Old Kit Bag' never had the same meaning to me after that story. And as for the story about the entity that could hide in old photos, but had no face... Terrifying.
It looked something like that Star Trek photo Steve Green posted!
Quote from: hippynumber1 on 13 February, 2014, 09:04:04 PM
The storyline from Sapphire & Steel set in a train station about the WWI soldier.
Yes. Me too.
I need a hug now.
Quote from: Stegron on 14 February, 2014, 12:40:27 AM
Quote from: judda fett on 13 February, 2014, 06:47:54 PM
Not sure I've ever been scared by a comic but I remember a children's book about the paranormal (the title escapes me but the cover had a montage of Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster a UFO and strangely Lon Chaney as the Phantom Of The Opera iIrc) that scared the crap out of five year old me. Reading a piece about a haunted house the line that tipped me over the edge was
'He looked up and saw a severed hand covered in blood, floating above his head'.
That shat me up to the point of hallucinating a decapitated head in a whicker basket in our bathroom. Needless to say the book was confiscated from me by my mum. I don't think the threat of Nuclear war or A.I.D.S had as profound effect on me as that book, whatever it was called.
If anyone out there knows what that book is, please post the title here! I'd love to look into that a bit more. And hallucinating a decapitated head? Blimey...
'The Unexplained' magazine used to have much the same effect on me - I'll never forget their article on Spontaneous Human Combustion, or the accompanying photos *shudder*
Wish I could remember the name of it myself. It was on loan to me from a friend who looked like Fergal Sharkey which is of course no help at all.
Quote from: Stegron on 14 February, 2014, 12:40:27 AM
'The Unexplained' magazine used to have much the same effect on me - I'll never forget their article on Spontaneous Human Combustion, or the accompanying photos *shudder*
Was that the first issue with the free flexidisk of 'voices from the dead' - supposed recordings of ghosts randomly picked up on old recordings? That was very disturbing.
2000AD has a lot of memories for me, but perhaps one of the most significant was prog 101 from february 1979. AT ten years old, Pat Mills' writing and Dave Gibbons artwork on Ro-Busters ("The Terra Meks" final part) made me realize that a comic could make you cry. As Charlie, the giant, friendly robot of Northpool (why did these people never use real place names?) saved his city and was subsequently betrayed, only to rise again in triumph to the strains of "You'll Never Walk Alone"... well, that was emotional.
Comics have rarely scared me or freaked me out, but I will always remember some panels by Jose Ortiz. I believe they were in the Thirteenth Floor, but not sure if it was while that strip was in Scream, or after it's move to The Eagle.
Anyway, it was the usual type of story - people get stuck on ther Thirteenth Floor, and Max the computer creates horrible worlds for them to live through or (more often than not) die in. The freaky panels of one particular story saw a group of unfortunates trying to escape goblins, which reached up from under the sand or mud and pulled them under.
The horror of either suffocation under the earth or being torn apart by subterranean humanoids was too much for me - I've treated mud flats and sandy beaches with suspicion ever since.
Quote from: shaolin_monkey on 14 February, 2014, 01:57:24 PM
Comics have rarely scared me or freaked me out, but I will always remember some panels by Jose Ortiz. I believe they were in the Thirteenth Floor, but not sure if it was while that strip was in Scream, or after it's move to The Eagle.
Anyway, it was the usual type of story - people get stuck on ther Thirteenth Floor, and Max the computer creates horrible worlds for them to live through or (more often than not) die in. The freaky panels of one particular story saw a group of unfortunates trying to escape goblins, which reached up from under the sand or mud and pulled them under.
Are you sure you're not mixing up Thirteenth Floor with House of Dæmon (http://serendipity3864.wordpress.com/2012/07/16/re-entering-the-house-of-daemon-a-cult-british-comic-classic/) written by Wagner/Grant and beautifully illustrated by Ortiz...?
Cheers
Jim
Quote from: shaolin_monkey on 14 February, 2014, 01:57:24 PM
Comics have rarely scared me or freaked me out, but I will always remember some panels by Jose Ortiz. I believe they were in the Thirteenth Floor, but not sure if it was while that strip was in Scream, or after it's move to The Eagle.
Anyway, it was the usual type of story - people get stuck on ther Thirteenth Floor, and Max the computer creates horrible worlds for them to live through or (more often than not) die in. The freaky panels of one particular story saw a group of unfortunates trying to escape goblins, which reached up from under the sand or mud and pulled them under.
The horror of either suffocation under the earth or being torn apart by subterranean humanoids was too much for me - I've treated mud flats and sandy beaches with suspicion ever since.
I REMEMBER THAT!
Suddenly flooded back in vivid detail - though I think I'd convinced myself it was from House of Daemon.
Must've been Eagle then, I never read Scream.
Quote from: Jim_Campbell on 14 February, 2014, 02:03:48 PM
Quote from: shaolin_monkey on 14 February, 2014, 01:57:24 PM
Comics have rarely scared me or freaked me out, but I will always remember some panels by Jose Ortiz. I believe they were in the Thirteenth Floor, but not sure if it was while that strip was in Scream, or after it's move to The Eagle.
Anyway, it was the usual type of story - people get stuck on ther Thirteenth Floor, and Max the computer creates horrible worlds for them to live through or (more often than not) die in. The freaky panels of one particular story saw a group of unfortunates trying to escape goblins, which reached up from under the sand or mud and pulled them under.
Are you sure you're not mixing up Thirteenth Floor with House of Dæmon (http://serendipity3864.wordpress.com/2012/07/16/re-entering-the-house-of-daemon-a-cult-british-comic-classic/) written by Wagner/Grant and beautifully illustrated by Ortiz...?
Cheers
Jim
Ah, maybe I was right after all. Didn't realise that was Wagner and Grant, my favourite thing for ages. Well, that and Doomlord.
Worth mentioning in passing that Hibernia Comics (according to their FB page) are preparing to launch a collected volume of 'Tower King' from Eagle, by Hebden and Ortiz, which suggests it's not beyond the realms of possibility that they could do a 'House of Dæmon' volume, although I'm not sure of the respective page counts...
Cheers
Jim
Even my mum read and enjoyed House of Dæmon
Quote from: Dandontdare on 14 February, 2014, 08:33:50 AM
Quote from: Stegron on 14 February, 2014, 12:40:27 AM
'The Unexplained' magazine used to have much the same effect on me - I'll never forget their article on Spontaneous Human Combustion, or the accompanying photos *shudder*
Was that the first issue with the free flexidisk of 'voices from the dead' - supposed recordings of ghosts randomly picked up on old recordings? That was very disturbing.
Yup, that's the one - I made it about halfway through that flexidisc before switching it off. Never went back...
I remember standing in a newsagents reading through Starlord - the sequence where the woman bites into the fruit and then drowns in its juices horrified and fascinated me in equal parts. I remembered it vividly long after I'd forgotten where I'd read it...
Quote from: Jim_Campbell on 14 February, 2014, 02:03:48 PM
Quote from: shaolin_monkey on 14 February, 2014, 01:57:24 PM
Comics have rarely scared me or freaked me out, but I will always remember some panels by Jose Ortiz. I believe they were in the Thirteenth Floor, but not sure if it was while that strip was in Scream, or after it's move to The Eagle.
Anyway, it was the usual type of story - people get stuck on ther Thirteenth Floor, and Max the computer creates horrible worlds for them to live through or (more often than not) die in. The freaky panels of one particular story saw a group of unfortunates trying to escape goblins, which reached up from under the sand or mud and pulled them under.
Are you sure you're not mixing up Thirteenth Floor with House of Dæmon (http://serendipity3864.wordpress.com/2012/07/16/re-entering-the-house-of-daemon-a-cult-british-comic-classic/) written by Wagner/Grant and beautifully illustrated by Ortiz...?
Cheers
Jim
You are absolutely correct!!! Thanks for pointing that out. That's my fairground-mirror memory at it again! ;)
Stegram, here is my amended recollection:
Comics have rarely scared me or freaked me out, but I will always remember some panels by Jose Ortiz. I am reliably informed these were from 'The House of Daemon', which ran in The Eagle in 1982.
The owners of a newly built house get stuck in a nightmarish maze created by 'Daemon', a supernatural entity, who creates horrible worlds for them to live through or (more often than not) die in. The freaky panels of one particular story saw a group of unfortunates trying to escape goblins, which reached up from under the sand or mud and pulled them under.
The horror of either suffocation under the earth or being torn apart by subterranean humanoids was too much for me - I've treated mud flats and sandy beaches with suspicion ever since.
:D
Much like SpaceGhost, the death of Wulf was a bit of a shock to me, but the death of Sam Slade was a terrible thing!
Never had the same appeal when it was the female version...and by that time it had been mishandled by certain individuals who shall remain nameless (though not for long i bet).
Quote from: shaolin_monkey on 14 February, 2014, 04:10:37 PM
Quote from: Jim_Campbell on 14 February, 2014, 02:03:48 PM
Quote from: shaolin_monkey on 14 February, 2014, 01:57:24 PM
Comics have rarely scared me or freaked me out, but I will always remember some panels by Jose Ortiz. I believe they were in the Thirteenth Floor, but not sure if it was while that strip was in Scream, or after it's move to The Eagle.
Anyway, it was the usual type of story - people get stuck on ther Thirteenth Floor, and Max the computer creates horrible worlds for them to live through or (more often than not) die in. The freaky panels of one particular story saw a group of unfortunates trying to escape goblins, which reached up from under the sand or mud and pulled them under.
Are you sure you're not mixing up Thirteenth Floor with House of Dæmon (http://serendipity3864.wordpress.com/2012/07/16/re-entering-the-house-of-daemon-a-cult-british-comic-classic/) written by Wagner/Grant and beautifully illustrated by Ortiz...?
Cheers
Jim
You are absolutely correct!!! Thanks for pointing that out. That's my fairground-mirror memory at it again! ;)
Stegram, here is my amended recollection:
Comics have rarely scared me or freaked me out, but I will always remember some panels by Jose Ortiz. I am reliably informed these were from 'The House of Daemon', which ran in The Eagle in 1982.
The owners of a newly built house get stuck in a nightmarish maze created by 'Daemon', a supernatural entity, who creates horrible worlds for them to live through or (more often than not) die in. The freaky panels of one particular story saw a group of unfortunates trying to escape goblins, which reached up from under the sand or mud and pulled them under.
The horror of either suffocation under the earth or being torn apart by subterranean humanoids was too much for me - I've treated mud flats and sandy beaches with suspicion ever since.
:D
(http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff387/gypsum23/Eagle031_0020_zps712e1267.jpg)
The Tower King and House of Daemon have stayed with me all my life.
Anyone remember a tv show on BBC called The Enchanted Castle? Some children put on a play and made an audience of stuffed dummies who all came to life and chased them. That absolutely scared the bejeebus out of me.
Quote from: Gypsum on 14 February, 2014, 10:30:34 PM
(http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff387/gypsum23/Eagle031_0020_zps712e1267.jpg)
:o
Oh my god. That's it. That's the page!! It's exactly as I remember, and it's still so freaky !!!
Thanks for that! I really appreciate... I think!! :o
Quote from: Alski on 14 February, 2014, 01:12:15 PM
2000AD has a lot of memories for me, but perhaps one of the most significant was prog 101 from february 1979. AT ten years old, Pat Mills' writing and Dave Gibbons artwork on Ro-Busters ("The Terra Meks" final part) made me realize that a comic could make you cry. As Charlie, the giant, friendly robot of Northpool (why did these people never use real place names?) saved his city and was subsequently betrayed, only to rise again in triumph to the strains of "You'll Never Walk Alone"... well, that was emotional.
I had the opportunity to tell Mr Mills that the final pages of the Charlie story always make me blub, and he was genuinely thrilled. He actually slapped me on the back. :)
Quote from: shaolin_monkey on 14 February, 2014, 04:10:37 PM
Quote from: Jim_Campbell on 14 February, 2014, 02:03:48 PM
Quote from: shaolin_monkey on 14 February, 2014, 01:57:24 PM
Stegram, here is my amended recollection:
Comics have rarely scared me or freaked me out, but I will always remember some panels by Jose Ortiz. I am reliably informed these were from 'The House of Daemon', which ran in The Eagle in 1982.
The owners of a newly built house get stuck in a nightmarish maze created by 'Daemon', a supernatural entity, who creates horrible worlds for them to live through or (more often than not) die in. The freaky panels of one particular story saw a group of unfortunates trying to escape goblins, which reached up from under the sand or mud and pulled them under.
The horror of either suffocation under the earth or being torn apart by subterranean humanoids was too much for me - I've treated mud flats and sandy beaches with suspicion ever since.
:D
Lovely stuff, Shaolin, thank you! I'd forgotten about House Of Daemon completely - Doomlord, Sgt Streetwise and (of course) Nu Dan Dare are seared into my memory, but Daemon managed to slip through the cracks.
I can feel an addition or two to the comics section coming on... :D
Quote from: hippynumber1 on 14 February, 2014, 03:24:55 PM
I remember standing in a newsagents reading through Starlord - the sequence where the woman bites into the fruit and then drowns in its juices horrified and fascinated me in equal parts. I remembered it vividly long after I'd forgotten where I'd read it...
Oh God, that SERIOUSLY freaked me out as a kid. I can still see her, the juices running out of her mouth like a river as she drowned. *shudder*
Quote from: Gypsum on 14 February, 2014, 10:30:34 PM
Quote from: shaolin_monkey on 14 February, 2014, 04:10:37 PM
Quote from: Jim_Campbell on 14 February, 2014, 02:03:48 PM
Quote from: shaolin_monkey on 14 February, 2014, 01:57:24 PM
Anyone remember a tv show on BBC called The Enchanted Castle? Some children put on a play and made an audience of stuffed dummies who all came to life and chased them. That absolutely scared the bejeebus out of me.
Woah. Thanks for that scan, Gypsum - chilling indeed. One of the things we'll discuss in the book is the carefree way that creators actively encouraged scaring and shocking the bejeezus out of little kids back in the 70s and 80s. Take 'Action', for instance. I was only 5 when it came out, and never read it at the time. Reading the scans now, at the ripe old age of 43, genuinely shocked me. My jaw was dropping open, it seemed, at every other page. But it was EXACTLY what kids wanted!
I'll have to try and find out about the Enchanted Castle, it sounds great. And the book will feature a mix of the obvious (Doctor Who, Tomorrow People, Sapphire and Steel) and the more obscure (Sky, King Of The Castle, Beasts, The Changes, etc).
Fiends Of The Eastern Front springs to mind when considering strips that creeped me out as a kid. Ezquerra' s b&w artwork gave the story a gritty and yet haunting atmosphere.
Who could forget Death? The Superfiend is a figure of pure horror; gothic, macabre, part-spirit part-cadaver and all bastard.
I remember those Future Shocks that gnawed at the nerve like teeth on bone, 'Food' for instance. There were some stories that were not blood and guts scary but still haunting all the same. I particularly recall 'The Symbiote' from the 1978 annual. It was a tale of loss, love and sorrow. The Ro-Busters story 'Bax The Burner' by Moore and Dillion had a similar effect on me.
(On the subject of horror and 2000ad, I can't help but mention the look of absolute fear on my parent's faces as they took a peek at the new comic their sons were raving about. From Whizzer and Chips to dinosaurs feasting on cowboys and polar bears chomping down on CIA agents in one fell swoop!)
I've just thought of a 2000AD story that scared the shit out of me - 'SHOK!' from the 1981 Dredd annual.
The story that *ahem* 'inspired' the film Hardware. with some of Kev O'Neill's most unsettling artwork, it was the final panel that did me in as a 10 year-old: the war robot, wearing the main character's wife's hair, with that jutting spike sticking out of it's throat. Dunno why, but that image stayed with me for ages!