Title: The Matt Smith years
Post by: AlexF on 23 March, 2021, 10:49:21 AM
Post by: AlexF on 23 March, 2021, 10:49:21 AM
Quick everyone - what's your favourite Prog from the Matt Smith era of 2000AD (That's listed, officially, as Progs 1274 - today)? He's getting dangerously close to having 1,000 Progs under his belt!
I'm hoping that some of the regular posters here only begun reading the Prog in that time, so their memories of the last 18 years of 2000AD may be that much stronger than my own.
Just to kick things off, some of my top contenders:
1322, 1357, 1502, 1513, 1556, 1631, 1644, 1675, 1760, 1807/1808 (aka the Prog where Trifecta kicked in...), 1845, 1874, 1941, 1969, 2027, 2098, 2137, 2157...
I'll be honest, with the clockwork use of 'jumping on Progs' in this time, there are typically stretches of 5-10 Progs where the contents is basically the same - in those cases I've plumped for my favourite cover. But it's an embarrassment of riches overall - I've only managed to narrow it down to three!
I'm hoping that some of the regular posters here only begun reading the Prog in that time, so their memories of the last 18 years of 2000AD may be that much stronger than my own.
Just to kick things off, some of my top contenders:
1322, 1357, 1502, 1513, 1556, 1631, 1644, 1675, 1760, 1807/1808 (aka the Prog where Trifecta kicked in...), 1845, 1874, 1941, 1969, 2027, 2098, 2137, 2157...
I'll be honest, with the clockwork use of 'jumping on Progs' in this time, there are typically stretches of 5-10 Progs where the contents is basically the same - in those cases I've plumped for my favourite cover. But it's an embarrassment of riches overall - I've only managed to narrow it down to three!
Title: Re: The Matt Smith years
Post by: Tomwe on 23 March, 2021, 11:06:32 AM
Post by: Tomwe on 23 March, 2021, 11:06:32 AM
Jeez talk about your tough question. Just spend some time clicking through covers & content on Barney since I came onboard at 1900 but its hard to find a stretch when there's no duff strip (Skip Tracer I'm looking at you).
My early suggestion would be Prog 2000 chock full of classic droids and some new strips too. More to come...
My early suggestion would be Prog 2000 chock full of classic droids and some new strips too. More to come...
Title: Re: The Matt Smith years
Post by: broodblik on 23 March, 2021, 11:27:57 AM
Post by: broodblik on 23 March, 2021, 11:27:57 AM
All the jump-on progs and most of the xmas progs. So excellent choices but I am still waiting for the "prefect" prog and what that would be is unknown. The day I read it I will know.
Matt Smith has certainly been one of the reasons the prog has been strong, solid and just plain great the last 7300 days
Matt Smith has certainly been one of the reasons the prog has been strong, solid and just plain great the last 7300 days
Title: Re: The Matt Smith years
Post by: Colin YNWA on 23 March, 2021, 11:38:49 AM
Post by: Colin YNWA on 23 March, 2021, 11:38:49 AM
Two easy answers for me:
1634 - Cradlegrave had just started, Zombo began and backed up by regular delights of Nikolai Dante, great Dredd and Savage we had the perfect Prog and the start of the new golden age which I honestly think is probably still going.
The fawning creepy answer is - the next Prog 'cos week in week during his reign as Tharg's little helper there's aways something thrilling to look forward to and the constant innovation and development of the Galaxy's Greatest has never been stronger than under his leadership.
1634 - Cradlegrave had just started, Zombo began and backed up by regular delights of Nikolai Dante, great Dredd and Savage we had the perfect Prog and the start of the new golden age which I honestly think is probably still going.
The fawning creepy answer is - the next Prog 'cos week in week during his reign as Tharg's little helper there's aways something thrilling to look forward to and the constant innovation and development of the Galaxy's Greatest has never been stronger than under his leadership.
Title: Re: The Matt Smith years
Post by: pauljholden on 23 March, 2021, 11:54:29 AM
Post by: pauljholden on 23 March, 2021, 11:54:29 AM
Quote from: Tomwe on 23 March, 2021, 11:06:32 AM
Jeez talk about your tough question. Just spend some time clicking through covers & content on Barney since I came onboard at 1900 but its hard to find a stretch when there's no duff strip (Skip Tracer I'm looking at you).
My early suggestion would be Prog 2000 chock full of classic droids and some new strips too. More to come...
My memory may be hazy, but I'm pretty sure prog 2000 was Andy's big achievement. (Andy wasn't editor for long, but it was around that moment in time)
Title: Re: The Matt Smith years
Post by: broodblik on 23 March, 2021, 12:02:00 PM
Post by: broodblik on 23 March, 2021, 12:02:00 PM
PJ, I think Tomwe is referring to the 2000th prog and not the xmas prog at the end 2000:
vs
vs
Title: Re: The Matt Smith years
Post by: pauljholden on 23 March, 2021, 12:03:52 PM
Post by: pauljholden on 23 March, 2021, 12:03:52 PM
Ah of course, stand down!
Title: Re: The Matt Smith years
Post by: Dandontdare on 23 March, 2021, 12:37:16 PM
Post by: Dandontdare on 23 March, 2021, 12:37:16 PM
I said at the time that numbering system would end in tears!
Title: Re: The Matt Smith years
Post by: Magnetica on 23 March, 2021, 01:20:15 PM
Post by: Magnetica on 23 March, 2021, 01:20:15 PM
It's a bit like asking me to name the songs on an album. When I only had a few I could do it easily. Now I have hundreds I can't.
Same with Progs. The only Progs I can actually give you the number of off the top of my head are, with one or two exceptions, sub Prog 700 and really sub Prog 521.
Same with Progs. The only Progs I can actually give you the number of off the top of my head are, with one or two exceptions, sub Prog 700 and really sub Prog 521.
Title: Re: The Matt Smith years
Post by: BPP on 23 March, 2021, 04:08:38 PM
Post by: BPP on 23 March, 2021, 04:08:38 PM
The 1800-1812 run of Dredd - low life - Simping detective (trifecta) plus Brass Sun and ABC Warriors was so good Jim Campbell compared it to the classic prog 400 era. And so 1807 (the trifecta reveal) has to be the one.
But basically the whole thing, he's some sub-editor.
But basically the whole thing, he's some sub-editor.
Title: Re: The Matt Smith years
Post by: Tomwe on 23 March, 2021, 04:16:05 PM
Post by: Tomwe on 23 March, 2021, 04:16:05 PM
Thank you broodblik, yes that's what I meant. That original Prog 2000 was a scorcher too of course.
Title: Re: The Matt Smith years
Post by: Colin YNWA on 23 March, 2021, 04:32:45 PM
Post by: Colin YNWA on 23 March, 2021, 04:32:45 PM
Quote from: BPP on 23 March, 2021, 04:08:38 PM
The 1800-1812 run of Dredd - low life - Simping detective (trifecta) plus Brass Sun and ABC Warriors was so good Jim Campbell compared it to the classic prog 400 era. And so 1807 (the trifecta reveal) has to be the one.
Actually yeah this is a very, very good point and a really good call!
Title: Re: The Matt Smith years
Post by: scrotnig on 23 March, 2021, 07:12:25 PM
Post by: scrotnig on 23 March, 2021, 07:12:25 PM
Nothing comes close to the Trifecta reveal, that whole run and the way the linked stories developed with no fanfare, I don't think anything can ever beat that. It was genuinely jaw-droppingly good. It wasn't just the fact the stories were linked, it was how good they were as individual stories as well.
It all looked unfeasibly easy. Many people at the very top of their craft were behind that run.
It all looked unfeasibly easy. Many people at the very top of their craft were behind that run.
Title: Re: The Matt Smith years
Post by: Funt Solo on 23 March, 2021, 07:40:55 PM
Post by: Funt Solo on 23 March, 2021, 07:40:55 PM
Xmas Prog 2006 feels pretty golden.
Title: Re: The Matt Smith years
Post by: davidbishop on 24 March, 2021, 08:28:55 AM
Post by: davidbishop on 24 March, 2021, 08:28:55 AM
Quote from: pauljholden on 23 March, 2021, 11:54:29 AMQuote from: Tomwe on 23 March, 2021, 11:06:32 AM
Jeez talk about your tough question. Just spend some time clicking through covers & content on Barney since I came onboard at 1900 but its hard to find a stretch when there's no duff strip (Skip Tracer I'm looking at you).
My early suggestion would be Prog 2000 chock full of classic droids and some new strips too. More to come...
My memory may be hazy, but I'm pretty sure prog 2000 was Andy's big achievement. (Andy wasn't editor for long, but it was around that moment in time)
The end of 1999 issue - the first Prog 2000 - was my big achievement, thank you very much PJ, ably assisted by Andy! More than two years of work convincing Egmont management to let us do it, including 48-page fortnightly issues like Prog 1111 to demonstrate sales wouldn't suffer. [They didn't. In fact Prog 2000 was the best selling issue for several years, iirc.]
Title: Re: The Matt Smith years
Post by: davidbishop on 24 March, 2021, 08:29:36 AM
Post by: davidbishop on 24 March, 2021, 08:29:36 AM
Quote from: Dandontdare on 23 March, 2021, 12:37:16 PM
I said at the time that numbering system would end in tears!
True, but we gave Matt 16 years to figure out a solution!
Title: Re: The Matt Smith years
Post by: broodblik on 24 March, 2021, 08:36:09 AM
Post by: broodblik on 24 March, 2021, 08:36:09 AM
Quote from: davidbishop on 24 March, 2021, 08:29:36 AMQuote from: Dandontdare on 23 March, 2021, 12:37:16 PM
I said at the time that numbering system would end in tears!
True, but we gave Matt 16 years to figure out a solution!
At least now the xmas prog follows the normal numbering convention
Title: Re: The Matt Smith years
Post by: Colin YNWA on 24 March, 2021, 08:49:29 AM
Post by: Colin YNWA on 24 March, 2021, 08:49:29 AM
Yeah these do feel like lovely big bumper Progs so I'm happy that the numbering is now continuous.
I like the way The Phoenix (I know I know I'm always harping on about that bloomin' comic!) does it. It has a double issue over X-Mas with a flip comic - one issue (say) 416 then you flip it over and you get 417. Tharg could do something similar.
Have one half wrapping up the end of year line-up - or special one off stories etc, the last Prog of the year. Flip it over and you get the next Prog which is essentially the first Prog of the new year with double lenght openers as appropriate.
I like the way The Phoenix (I know I know I'm always harping on about that bloomin' comic!) does it. It has a double issue over X-Mas with a flip comic - one issue (say) 416 then you flip it over and you get 417. Tharg could do something similar.
Have one half wrapping up the end of year line-up - or special one off stories etc, the last Prog of the year. Flip it over and you get the next Prog which is essentially the first Prog of the new year with double lenght openers as appropriate.
Title: Re: The Matt Smith years
Post by: Matty_e on 24 March, 2021, 09:09:09 AM
Post by: Matty_e on 24 March, 2021, 09:09:09 AM
I'm probably most in agreement with Colin
I jumped back on around 1630 with Zombo, Cradlegrave and Dante all great strips
And I really really enjoyed it up to the end of 1798/91 when Day of Chaos ended virtually simultaneously with Dante ending. In these three years I'd tracked down every Dante book so it was a great time to be reading backwards and forwards. I'd also catch-up with Dredd.
I still love the Prog but that was the great modern run for me
I jumped back on around 1630 with Zombo, Cradlegrave and Dante all great strips
And I really really enjoyed it up to the end of 1798/91 when Day of Chaos ended virtually simultaneously with Dante ending. In these three years I'd tracked down every Dante book so it was a great time to be reading backwards and forwards. I'd also catch-up with Dredd.
I still love the Prog but that was the great modern run for me