2000 AD Online Forum

The 7 Wonders of the Galaxy
by Kevin O'Neill (progs 162-168)

Click the image to see a larger version.

The Colossus of Rodium	Valley of the Gods	Dorado: The Head of Hate
(http://www.2000ad.org/covers/scans/hires/162.jpg) -------------------------------------	(http://www.2000ad.org/covers/scans/hires/163.jpg) -------------------------------------	(http://www.2000ad.org/covers/scans/hires/164.jpg) -------------------------------------

The Hanging Prisons of Sin-Sin	Petrax	Kil-ray
(http://www.2000ad.org/covers/scans/hires/165.jpg) -------------------------------------	(http://www.2000ad.org/covers/scans/hires/166.jpg) -------------------------------------	(http://www.2000ad.org/covers/scans/hires/167.jpg) -------------------------------------

Tomb of the Host

(http://www.2000ad.org/covers/scans/hires/168.jpg) -------------------------------------

Oh round of applause there. That is fantastic and wonderful to see them together.

Definitely.  Rebellion should be making some kind of art book showcasing all these early masterworks. Tharg's Lovely Big Book Of StarScans, anyone?

SBT

Tharg's Droids
by Robin Smith

Click the image to see a larger version.

I've deliberately skipped the first four, which were more obscure: D.J.1 (prog 279), D-Mil (280), Burt (287) & Spex (288).

The march of time has claimed so many...

Tom Frame (291)	Belardinelli (295)	Alan Moore (322)
(http://www.2000ad.org/covers/scans/hires/291.jpg) ---------------------------------------	(http://www.2000ad.org/covers/scans/hires/295.jpg) ---------------------------------------	(http://www.2000ad.org/covers/scans/hires/322.jpg) ---------------------------------------

Brett Ewins (323)	Carlos Ezquerra (349)	Mike McMahon (359)
(http://www.2000ad.org/covers/scans/hires/323.jpg) ---------------------------------------	(http://www.2000ad.org/covers/scans/hires/349.jpg) ---------------------------------------	(http://www.2000ad.org/covers/scans/hires/359.jpg) ---------------------------------------

The Fine Art Prints
(progs 1015-1017)

Click the image to see a larger version.

These were produced on card stock and stapled over the spine on the outside of the comic. The highest quality star scans you ever did see:

Mulder & Scully (1015)	Halo Jones (1016)	Mazeworld (1017)
(http://www.2000ad.org/images/freegifts/1015.jpg) -------------------------------------	(http://www.2000ad.org/images/freegifts/1016.jpg) -------------------------------------	(http://www.2000ad.org/images/freegifts/1017.jpg) -------------------------------------

Quote from: Funt Solo on 20 June, 2020, 04:35:02 PM
The 7 Wonders of the Galaxy
by Kevin O'Neill (progs 162-168)

Click the image to see a larger version.

The Colossus of Rodium	Valley of the Gods	Dorado: The Head of Hate
(http://www.2000ad.org/covers/scans/hires/162.jpg) -------------------------------------	(http://www.2000ad.org/covers/scans/hires/163.jpg) -------------------------------------	(http://www.2000ad.org/covers/scans/hires/164.jpg) -------------------------------------

The Hanging Prisons of Sin-Sin	Petrax	Kil-ray
(http://www.2000ad.org/covers/scans/hires/165.jpg) -------------------------------------	(http://www.2000ad.org/covers/scans/hires/166.jpg) -------------------------------------	(http://www.2000ad.org/covers/scans/hires/167.jpg) -------------------------------------

Tomb of the Host

(http://www.2000ad.org/covers/scans/hires/168.jpg) -------------------------------------

Sloo, as they say in the Beano. Lovely stuff.

Quote from: Funt Solo on 21 June, 2020, 06:26:14 PM
The Fine Art Prints
(progs 1015-1017)

Click the image to see a larger version.

These were produced on card stock and stapled over the spine on the outside of the comic. The highest quality star scans you ever did see:

Mulder & Scully (1015)	Halo Jones (1016)	Mazeworld (1017)
(http://www.2000ad.org/images/freegifts/1015.jpg) -------------------------------------	(http://www.2000ad.org/images/freegifts/1016.jpg) -------------------------------------	(http://www.2000ad.org/images/freegifts/1017.jpg) -------------------------------------

These three I've always found so fascinatating. The first two so of their time, shiny and effects. Arthur Ransom's fine line work for the Mazeworld image is absolutely timeless and as such looking so different its stood the test of time so much better.

Couldn't really fault the other two either. The middle one is clearly Brashill, more than doing justice to Halo, but I can't work out who the X Files artist is.

I had to check the progs:

Mulder & Scully (1015), by Kevin Walker   
Halo Jones (1016), by Robert McCallum & Jim Murray
Mazeworld (1017), by Arthur Ranson

Quote from: Funt Solo on 21 June, 2020, 10:59:18 PM



Mulder & Scully (1015), by Kevin Walker   

I see it now, but I never would have guessed.  It's not often i prefer when an artist simplifies their style, but I genuinely prefer Kev's later, Mignola-inspired stuff by a long shot.  I have the fully-painted GN version of Anderson: Childhood's End, and for all its meticulous airbrushing it doesn't hold a candle to the kinetic, atmospheric light-and-shadow work of (Dredd) Sin City and Mandroid.

Quote from: Funt Solo on 21 June, 2020, 06:26:14 PM

Mulder & Scully (1015)

(http://www.2000ad.org/images/freegifts/1015.jpg)

Which for some reason had the Fields of the Nephilim 'logo' in the corner (I'd have to double-check with my Tshirt, but it looks the same at first glance).

Quote from: Funt Solo on 20 June, 2020, 08:13:53 PM
Tharg's Droids
by Robin Smith

Click the image to see a larger version.

I've deliberately skipped the first four, which were more obscure: D.J.1 (prog 279), D-Mil (280), Burt (287) & Spex (288).

I'd agree with you on the 'media droids' but Burt ain't obscure!

Quote from: SmallBlueThing(Reborn) on 20 June, 2020, 06:27:00 PM
Definitely.  Rebellion should be making some kind of art book showcasing all these early masterworks. Tharg's Lovely Big Book Of StarScans, anyone?

We've had Ken Reid's wonderful Creepy Creations and World-Wide Weirdies, so I'd say, yes please.

Regards,

Robin

Quote from: sheridan on 22 June, 2020, 10:24:17 AM

Quote from: Funt Solo on 21 June, 2020, 06:26:14 PM

Mulder & Scully (1015)

(http://www.2000ad.org/images/freegifts/1015.jpg)

Which for some reason had the Fields of the Nephilim 'logo' in the corner (I'd have to double-check with my Tshirt, but it looks the same at first glance).

For those who don't know what I'm talking about - this (https://nephilimmerch.noisemerchants.com/product/fields-of-the-nephilim-classic-logo-long-sleeve-t-shirt/) (and it most definitely is the Nephs logo - I zoomed in on the Sculder and Mully image and song titles can be made out).

I cannot express how much I love that Halo rendering. Might have to get myself a print of that somehow.

Oz Gallery

Click the image to see a larger version.

It'd be good if there was some kind of rotation feature for images, but you'll have to just tip your screen (or your heid) for that one. (I'm cheating a little with the Glenn Fabry one, which was circa Song of the Surfer, but it fits with the theme).

Liam Sharp (559)	Barry Kitson (566)	Will Simpson (567)
(http://www.2000ad.org/covers/scans/hires/559.jpg) -------------------------------------	(http://www.2000ad.org/covers/scans/hires/566.jpg) -------------------------------------	(http://www.2000ad.org/covers/scans/hires/567.jpg) -------------------------------------

Barry Kitson (568)	Liam Sharp (569)	Glenn Fabry (662)
(http://www.2000ad.org/covers/scans/hires/568.jpg) -------------------------------------	(http://www.2000ad.org/covers/scans/hires/569.jpg) -------------------------------------	(http://www.2000ad.org/covers/scans/hires/662.jpg) -------------------------------------

Bonus (Chris Weston, real prog 2011):

Some absolute gems there.  While even the 12-year-old me thought that Liam (just 'L' back then) Sharp's Schwarzenegger Dredd was a bit much, he was a bloody good artist. Still is, of course.
I don't think he got a chance to do an Oz episode, or am I remembering it wrong?
I do remember, though, my crestfallen brother going through the prog with a scissors, sellotape and a marker 'fixing' the last episode of Oz so that [spoiler] Chopper won instead of Jug[/spoiler].

As any editorial droid worth his salt would have done.  :lol: That always rankled me as well. I mean, for feck's sake, the lad has crossed thousands of miles of hostile territory, survived all sorts of danger: the least that he deserved was to win the bloody thing!

Yikes! Sorry, forgot to spoiler my post. Could the mods please remove it asap? Have no idea how to do it myself. Thanks!

Quote from: Funt Solo on 21 June, 2020, 06:26:14 PM
The Fine Art Prints
(progs 1015-1017)

Click the image to see a larger version.

These were produced on card stock and stapled over the spine on the outside of the comic. The highest quality star scans you ever did see:

Mulder & Scully (1015)	Halo Jones (1016)	Mazeworld (1017)
(http://www.2000ad.org/images/freegifts/1015.jpg) -------------------------------------	(http://www.2000ad.org/images/freegifts/1016.jpg) -------------------------------------	(http://www.2000ad.org/images/freegifts/1017.jpg) -------------------------------------

Well I never, it turns out that I still have these, along with some pretty nice Scan Cards that would look good in a frame. Thanks for the memory!

In mature

Quote from: paddykafka on 23 June, 2020, 08:57:29 PM
As any editorial droid worth his salt would have done.  :lol: That always rankled me as well. [spoiler]I mean, for feck's sake, the lad has crossed thousands of miles of hostile territory, survived all sorts of danger: the least that he deserved was to win the bloody thing![/spoiler]

Y'know, these days, I'm not so sure. [spoiler]Having Chopper lose the big one after all his amazing strokes of luck and acts of courage[/spoiler] was a perfect Wagnerian dose of [spoiler]dark irony - sometimes, no matter how hard you strive, it's the spoiled, boorish braggart that wins the day - I refer you to real-world political events of 2016. [/spoiler]

It was a stunning twist  that's for sure - especially with all those posters up there,  acting almost like a reader's supporter's kit.  I'm pretty sure I wrote Chopper for Oz! on my schoolbag. However,  it would have been kind of crazy [spoiler]to have a guy who spent the last few years in the Cubes and the last few weeks starving and freezing his way half way around the world to beat a  champion professional athlete who'd been training non-stop: losing emphasised that Chop was extraordinary, but still just a regular human on a flying plank,  that his victory was in getting there and regaining his freedom[/spoiler]: it was his acts of defiance as both scrawler and surfer that defined him, not some superhuman skill.

The History of Justice
(1985-1986: series by Brian Bolland & Mick McMahon)

Click the image to see a larger version.

An interesting series that hides part of itself away inside the progs in a rare display of off-centre additional colour pages. Note that the second is an homage to prog 74's cover (which I've included here for comparison).

This is one of my favorite poster series, as it harked back to tales I hadn't been able to read and so gave Dredd a rich backdrop. Plus, it's Bolland and McMahon.

The Cursed Earth: Progs 61-85 (436)	The Cursed Earth: Progs 61-85 (437)	Judge Dredd / Flesh (cover of 74)
(https://i.imgur.com/XUURtIp.jpg) -------------------------------------	(https://i.imgur.com/J9MrJMV.jpg) -------------------------------------	(http://www.2000ad.org/covers/2000ad/hires/74.jpg) -------------------------------------

The Luna War: Prog 51 (440)	Judge Death Lives: Progs 224-228 (441)	Bring Me the Head of JD: Prog 88 (444)
(https://i.imgur.com/npnsDWS.jpg) -------------------------------------	(https://i.imgur.com/ztQp7CV.jpg) -------------------------------------	(https://i.imgur.com/oSUGkbG.jpg) -------------------------------------

Monkey Business: Progs184-185 (445)	Punks Rule: Prog 110 (447)	Judge Fish: Prog 90 (448)
(https://i.imgur.com/vGpz0Nh.jpg) -------------------------------------	(https://i.imgur.com/Dc1qYYM.jpg) -------------------------------------	(https://i.imgur.com/nRVfSKL.jpg) -------------------------------------

Dredd's Guerilla War: Prog 98 (449)	Dredd vs. Fergee: Prog 101 (451)	Return to Mega-City 1: Prog 59 (452)
(https://i.imgur.com/BZ4xZjL.jpg) -------------------------------------	(https://i.imgur.com/FaLFTqL.jpg) -------------------------------------	(https://i.imgur.com/YsWPd40.jpg) -------------------------------------

[Tech note: Barney didn't have these, so I scanned them myself. As my scanner delivers a fairly washed-out result, I dragged them through paint.net's "auto-level" adjustment. Not perfect, but okay as a rush job.]

Arh some of these got hacked off the back of Progs to be put on walls (or where a stry strip was on the other side photocopied). They are absolutely superb.

Awesome. Don't remember those at all from the Prog but they're the covers from  the Eagle comics Judge Dredd reprints.

I remember those History of Justice very well - the actual events I couldn't remember at the time but have since caught up on.

McMahon's skinny Dredd works surprisingly well.  The uniform is chunky enough to give him presence.  I always liked the idea that Dredd was wiry in those days and added a few pounds in later life (mentioned in a Wagner Dredd, iirc) and never liked the idea of a bodybuilder style Dredd.

It was a weird kind of re-purpusing at the time though - some of those covers had appeared up to 2 years earlier, some were still sitting on newsagents shelves. I wonder what the arrangement was with Eagle,  and who got paid for what.

Not that any of that stopped me putting them on my wall.

Quote from: I, Cosh on 24 June, 2020, 07:30:46 AM
Awesome. Don't remember those at all from the Prog but they're the covers from  the Eagle comics Judge Dredd reprints.

Oh I missed the fact that those McMahon ones were from Eagle covers as well. I think simply 'cos I so associate the Eagle covers with Bolland - arguably his most iconic work - if the number of them that have been made into t-shirts is any measure anyway!

Quote from: Colin YNWA on 24 June, 2020, 08:42:09 AM

Quote from: I, Cosh on 24 June, 2020, 07:30:46 AM
Awesome. Don't remember those at all from the Prog but they're the covers from  the Eagle comics Judge Dredd reprints.

Oh I missed the fact that those McMahon ones were from Eagle covers as well. I think simply 'cos I so associate the Eagle covers with Bolland - arguably his most iconic work - if the number of them that have been made into t-shirts is any measure anyway!

Didn't cop that either: i hadn't even heard of the Eagle books till I found some in a second-hand shop in my late twenties.  (I bought the lot and the late, great Stewart Perkins sent me the missing ones for free.)

Quote from: TordelBack on 24 June, 2020, 08:35:26 AM
It was a weird kind of re-purpusing at the time though - some of those covers had appeared up to 2 years earlier, some were still sitting on newsagents shelves.

Oh, I never knew that. I'd known they got used for reprint covers but I had the timing backwards - I had assumed it was poster series first, covers second. It makes much more sense that those were covers (they're well above the Star Pin-Up quality of the time) first and posters second.

Does anyone have any idea how I can get a legit print of that Jim Murray Halo fine print, other than spending the next 30 years on ebay? I'd love a framed copy of that on the wall.

Maybe Tharg could create a poster-sized version of it and flog it in the shop. Tharg?

Quote from: SmallBlueThing(Reborn) on 20 June, 2020, 06:27:00 PM
Definitely.  Rebellion should be making some kind of art book showcasing all these early masterworks. Tharg's Lovely Big Book Of StarScans, anyone?

SBT

I'd buy that.

I destroyed all my early progs by playing the games, assembling the cut-outs and putting the star scans on my wall (the one of Artie Gruber rising from the grave moved between many flats, and is still on my wall!), and they were often the most stunning pieces of art in the prog, so if good quality repros were possible, I'd love a glossy book of these - O'Neil's Termight, the multi-part posters - loads of stuff there.

Thanks for assembling those droid pics, I always loved those (The cosplayer who did robo-Carlos at Lawgiver was superb - sadly I didn't get a photo)

A corking Chris "Spaceboy!" Weston pin-up of Cal, Grampus & Fish - hidden away inside Meg 3.40 from 1998:

Spinning off one of the voting threads and borrowing the knowledge of ... boarders with more knowledge than me, here's how we get from Eisner to McCarthy:





*Eisner Block was in the Judge Dredd Annual 1981 & reprinted in prog 611.


Which spun out from a question as to whether these are follow-ons (in whatever capacity) or their own thing:

You genius Funt that is the one I was thinking of. Christ that's a GREAT Spirit story as well! Eisner was an absolute genius, I mean just above and beyond.

I'd love to be a genius, but it was AlexF's link I followed to find that Eisner image. I'm a bit snobby about US hero comics in general, but that art is wonderfully inventive. Maybe I should just dip my toe in...

Quote from: Funt Solo on 26 March, 2021, 05:27:19 PM
I'd love to be a genius, but it was AlexF's link I followed to find that Eisner image. I'm a bit snobby about US hero comics in general, but that art is wonderfully inventive. Maybe I should just dip my toe in...

Oh I meant finding the Walter the Wobot image - as its saved me a trip to the nerd cave to dig it out.

And so, so SO try Eisner's Spirit it really is quite wonderful stuff. Of its time - I much prefer the post war stuff - and so that needs to be held in mind the invention in both story and art have rarely been surpassed - just brilliant stuff.

I've not read Eisner's Spirit before either, is there a specific collection you'd recommend?

I'm not the man to ask as I have a set of the old Kitchen Sink comics and have never even really considered replacing them. DC's The Spirit Archieve are meant to be very nice, but they are expensive now.

I guess as good a place as any would be the recent The Spirit 80th Anniversary Celebration  from Clover Press (who have recentlyish got the license) and from a quick look through in my nerd shop had a nice mix of strips.

Quote from: Colin YNWA on 26 March, 2021, 07:04:50 PM
I'm not the man to ask as I have a set of the old Kitchen Sink comics and have never even really considered replacing them. DC's The Spirit Archieve are meant to be very nice, but they are expensive now.

I guess as good a place as any would be the recent The Spirit 80th Anniversary Celebration  from Clover Press (who have recentlyish got the license) and from a quick look through in my nerd shop had a nice mix of strips.

Thanks Colin! The Spirit 80th has been added to my want list. I'll work my way to it, just a few Rebellion purchases to make before then. Cheers

I don't think Wagner's ever said as much, but The Spirit is a big influence on one-and-done Dredds. Or at least as much of an influence as Damon Runyan.

FWIW I'm pretty sure the script for Dan Francisco calls for "big Eisner style city block letters".

Quote from: The Corinthian on 29 March, 2021, 11:10:29 PM
I don't think Wagner's ever said as much, but The Spirit is a big influence on one-and-done Dredds. Or at least as much of an influence as Damon Runyan.

Can't say I've ever heard of Damon Runyan (recent actor) or even Damon Runyon (early twentieth century journalist / writer) - has Wagner mentioned the latter previously?

Quote from: sheridan on 30 March, 2021, 08:23:46 AM

Quote from: The Corinthian on 29 March, 2021, 11:10:29 PM
I don't think Wagner's ever said as much, but The Spirit is a big influence on one-and-done Dredds. Or at least as much of an influence as Damon Runyan.

Can't say I've ever heard of Damon Runyan (recent actor) or even Damon Runyon (early twentieth century journalist / writer) - has Wagner mentioned the latter previously?

No idea if he's mentioned him in interviews (and it's never occured to me before) but Runyon's specialty was short stories about hapless petty criminals and other losers wrapped in a type of screwball humour. Significantly less brutal executions than the average Wagner Dredd but I'm sure you can see the parallel.

According to wikipedia, there's even a story called Tight Shoes!

Not listened to it yet, but that radio play is available on t'net:
damon runyon theater (https://www.oldtimeradiodownloads.com/variety/damon-runyon-theater/tight-shoes-1949-10-30)
youtube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kcBYmdSYZc)

I believe "T.B. Grover" mentioned this in his interview in the 1983 Annual. And Dredd stories like 'Little Spuggy's Christmas' are obviously done in a pastiche of Runyon's voice - as is pretty much the whole of 'Al's Baby'.

Quote from: Art on 30 March, 2021, 12:09:58 AM
FWIW I'm pretty sure the script for Dan Francisco calls for "big Eisner style city block letters".

That clears that up - thanks, Art.

Quote from: The Corinthian on 30 March, 2021, 06:33:10 PM
I believe "T.B. Grover" mentioned this in his interview in the 1983 Annual. And Dredd stories like 'Little Spuggy's Christmas' are obviously done in a pastiche of Runyon's voice - as is pretty much the whole of 'Al's Baby'.

From that interview:

QuoteBURT: Do you have any favorite authors?
T.B.: Yes. On principle, I like any book over 3.7 centimetres thick. Damon Runyon's 'From First to Last' is one of my very favorites - it's great. You wouldn't believe that so many thin stories could be packed together to make such a thick book!