Messages

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General / Re: Forthcoming Thrills - 2020

« on: 24 February, 2020, 10:02:15 pm »

Speaking of good covers the cover for Smash Special out in May (somehow missed this one was amongst the slew of specials this year)  is over at Comic Scene and its a SMASHER... excuse me, I'm sorry.

https://comicscene.org/2020/02/24/smash-cover-revealed/?fbclid=IwAR3jR16ZdxOLjxdIVK4Ly3F-GNVFmGjX82fPwF5rzE2EK8wySutRCsKO8SE

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Prog / Re: Prog 2170 - Regened (2020)

« on: 24 February, 2020, 09:47:33 pm »

Yeah only got mine today and alas I'm in the less than impressed camp. Now to be clear I've been a fan of all the Regened issues to date and am happy with the plan for four this year. Timing of this issue mid-flow aside its great that Tharg is doing something different and experimenting with reaching different folks and experimenting with different types of story - this is all good and I approve wholeheartedly.

The trouble is all this only works if the content is good and while the content here isn't bad its so solidly okay the excerise lacks the inspiration that it requires.

Cadet Dredd - Solid action fun.

Finder & Keeper - The best thing about it is it reads like an extended version of Folklore Thursday. Its harmless but lacked thrill.

Future Shock - Kind lack much of a Shock - its okay though.

The Gronk - This is fun but nothing new, but well executed.

Rogue Trooper - is fun action nonsense but again just solid at best.

So yeah its not a failure as such on its own terms its okay. Its just to win over the crowd it needed to be more and so as such its a real missed opportunity.

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General / Re: The Mind the Oranges Marlon podcast (or the momcast)

« on: 24 February, 2020, 07:10:39 am »

Will (is?) This available via iTunes or is it YouTube only? Had a nosey this morning but couldn't immediately find it?

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Film & TV / Re: Doctor Who (13th Doctor)

« on: 23 February, 2020, 08:08:23 pm »

Well that was pretty fine and then... then... the bloody Master shows up all over egging it and nonsense. The last episode has a LOT of ground to cover!

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Books & Comics / Re: Rok the God Kickstarter

« on: 23 February, 2020, 03:50:07 pm »

With apologies if ayone has seen this on Facebook already but I got my new Radford Reds kit today and so dug out photos of my very first kit a classic cotton number from those heady days of the 80s, all poodle rock and Pat Sharpe. Man I must get around to doing the kitchen some day, hasn't changes a bit since the 80s, like a day hasn't past...

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General / Re: Forthcoming Thrills - 2020

« on: 23 February, 2020, 09:14:23 am »

Oh thjat is strong, very good indeed.

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Books & Comics / Re: New Comic Book Day Megathread

« on: 22 February, 2020, 09:59:48 pm »

Well for whatever reason this haul has a bunch of first issues and I have to say all of them really hit the spot and serve their purpose as firsts. Embroiling me into their world's, intriguing me with their characters and effectively setting up situations I want to learn more about. Its interesting but my recent flirtation with trying a few random Marvel times from the newly relaunched X-range just failed to do this - though fair to say a couple of Marvel comics have been fine and specifically Al Ewing's Guardians of the Galaxy which I'll return to later.

So a massive well done to:

Michael Avon Oeming's The After Realm 1 - who knew I needed another Ragnarok story in my life.

Spurrioso's Alienated 1 a teen aged Resident Alien? Lovely art by Chris Wildgoose  too.

The Man who F#&%ed up time 1 John  Layman's play on that old Future Shock staple of screwing the time stream with lovely art by Karl Mostert.

Plunge 1 Joe Hill blasting out the block and then steady drawing us into a really creepy ending. With lovely art by Stuart Immonen.

Backtrack 1 deal with the Devil meets Mad Max via ... some genra classic about being lost in time that I can't pull out my ass right now. With some lovely art (if at times a little inconsistent) by Jake Elphick. Man the lettering is good though by someone called Jim Campwell or some such.

We get anoteher 1 but this one doesn't count as its a one shot the slightly needless The Immortal Hulk - Great Power 1. I learnt nothing really about Immortal Hulk, nothing about Spidey and while this was fun it felt like an exercise in milking the cash cow.

So the trick is for all of these ongoing 1s is taking those characters and sustaining them into their second and subsequent issues. And I got two 2s in this haul as well.

Guardians of the Galaxy 2 remains pretty good. Doesn't quite hold up the excellence of the first issue as it throws so much at us - still entirely entertaining. Daphne Byrne 2 is all the more successful, building delightfully in what we got the first time, developing character wonderfully and in the issue itself building to a truly creepy ending. Fantastic stuff.

Only one 3 in Skulldigger 3 another truly magnificent entry into Jeff Lemire's Black Hammer world as this series really catches fire. One #5 in Copra 5 as Michel Fiffe is setting up his next big story and man if this is set up I can't want until he really gets going!

For whatever reason I also have a bunch of #8s, I wish I could drag out some significent we can learn from #8 but I can't so I'll just mention that Lois Lane 8 continues to be okay, JImmy Olsen 8 is a magnificent blend of the zany from the old comic with a nice dark undertone. The Goon 8 end the current storyline with typical brutal nonsense, nonsense fun.

In the world of modern comics we also a vertiable veteran in Immortal Hulk 31 - what comic gets to #31 these days - well one this good I guess and long may it continue.

So comic of the haul why all those #1s deserve it as a job lot. It was a delight to have so many great new and diverse stories to engage me. It was like a 2000ad launch Prog it was so good!

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Suggestions / Re: T Shirt Wishlist

« on: 22 February, 2020, 09:05:17 pm »

There was a Flesh one from back in the day, like from the first run of T-Shirts, Earl Regan starring up at an approaching Old One Eye - The image was used as the cover of a previous Dino-Files as I recall. I'd love that one to be 'reprinted'.

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Books & Comics / Re: Battle Stations, Starblazer

« on: 22 February, 2020, 06:58:37 am »

To be fair though there's little need to pick up the old editions not as the Eurocomics (IDW) reprints of Corto Maltese are just superb editions. I've also got a couple of other Pratt classics and the new volumes are just devine. We've only got a couple of volumes to go and we'll have a complete library of Maltese which is something I never thought we'd get and certainly not at this quality.

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Megazine / Re: Meg 417 - Smash and Crab

« on: 21 February, 2020, 09:45:32 pm »

Dredd baddie is like a Lobster Random / Captain Skank mash up.

Ha! too true, mind I'm guessing that Michael 'Remember when he was just Mike' Carroll likes them as they seemed to be saved one presumes for a later date. Which I'm fine with as its a solid Dredd. Not M Carroll's best by far but entertaining and thrilling enough.

Devlin Waugh - A very large splash is turning into a fascinating beast. Episodes start steadily but then ramp up into truly chilling conclusions. Another blinding ending here.

Brunt III is turning into a fascinating beast. After the high concept, madcap first two tales - the second of which I struggeld to keep up with - this one feels very grounded and rooted. I was looking forward to reading the previous volumes again at some point and this apparent switch in tone makes that all the more the case.

Zombie Army is an effective is uninspired zombie story.

Where as Lawless continues to be utterly inspired. What a winderful episode, another wonderful episode. It reads so perfectly differently to others, as this series has done in the past and yet is utterly grounded in the world and tales that has gone before. Dabnett is touched by some special magic at the moment with this and Blink he is producing some of the very, very best comics and here aided by the supendious Phil Winslade you do have to think about how high in Tharg's top five thrills ever this would come. Its simply that good.

The other material is really strong to. A touching tribute to Ellie De Ville is real standout. But the feature on Hugo Pratt is also very strong.

Add to that some glorious material from the Treasury making the floppie an essential read this month having only read the curiously off balance Nightcomers thus far. Terror of the Cats I'll get to tomorrow and looks simply bonkers.

Good Meg with moments of greatness.

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Creative Common / Re: Folklore Thursday: Island

« on: 20 February, 2020, 04:59:22 pm »

Well after loving last week's this one is possibly even better. Hat appropriately off to you both.

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Film & TV / Re: Last movie watched...

« on: 20 February, 2020, 08:33:52 am »

Terry Gilliam's Jabberwocky... well that wasn't as good as I remember. Though it is interesting to see Mr Gilliam learning his craft.

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Film & TV / Re: Doctor Who (13th Doctor)

« on: 19 February, 2020, 08:21:49 pm »

I get that, but does that mean there is no point in criticism?  that all are equally as successful so long as there is a core of people who still like it?

Though presumably to follow the logic, we should have rah-raheed that era? 

The point is that fans complain during EVERY era!

Nah, just that Whovians are a bunch of bloody whingers! 

Have you seen 2000ad Facebook pages!

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Other Reviews / Re: The completely self absorbed 2000ad re-read thread

« on: 18 February, 2020, 09:50:46 pm »

Long tails, sagging middles and nice shorts - Spring 2005

Arh a nice long travel journey and not caring for a couple of stories mean that I've breezed through spring and of course have a few things to say.

1. Its been said before and I suspect in 10 years when I do my next re-read (don't hold me to that) the fall out from 'Total War' just works. Its feels appropriate and fitting for such a great story. Its long and really pulls out the key elements that needed or justified further exploration.

2. Its been said before that other 'Mega-Epics' would deserve such treatment.

3. Its been said before and no doubt I'll say it again 'Life's a Beach' is one of my favourite short form Sinister Dexter stories. Don't know why, its not especially smart, or brilliant - as they often can be, it just resonates with me. Sometimes its okay to just love something cos you do without having to over analyse.

4. Also see Nikolai Dante - Primal Screams.

5. I can barely bring myself to read Slaine anymore. I'm just no enjoying it on any level. I know this is seen as a return to form, but sometimes just as you can like something you can not get on with it as well.

6. Also see Bec and Kawl

7. In Prog 1437 Keith Richardson joins team.

8. Grennie is really building a strong storyline with Kazan clone and trying to undermine Dredd, but he's in danger of dragging things out too long and to far... and as I recall the story won't pay off, which will be a real shame if my addled memory isn't letting me down.

9. I really like American Gothic, its sharp fun and done. Its the third such self contained tale already so far this year - though I suspect Tiger Sun, Dragon Moon had planned to come back for me and I really think such stories work in the Prog and we don't get too often anymore. I don't think it'll be the last either.

10. In the specific American Gothic is just that. Its takes the greatest America trope the western, adds another american trope the pilgramage across the country and adds another American trope of the immigrants tale and adds some good old European folk monsters into that. Its really blends the elements well, doesn't over stay its welcome (in fact I'd have like it to of had a little longer to explore things) and has suitable baddies and daring do damned goodies. Its just brisk fun.

11. Mike Collins art work on the series fascinates me too. At times its just dark brooding and delightful. At times its slightly awkward and unclear with the blacks being jagged strangely not making things solid. When its great it reminds me of Klaus Janson (which I've said before I believe) but it can do that one panel but on the next it just does work for me. Looking at it I wonder if its been computer drawn and Mike Collins is experimenting with a new toy and that exploration lands on the page with both its sucesses and failures. I have no ideas at all if this is the case just a hunch.

12. I love NuVCs but do think Book 4 'Fight or Flight' is the weakest of the stories. Its good (so my saggy middle in the title is unfair... unless it was self referential as my middle is pretty saggy these days) it just lacks the grit and tone of the others. Still Anthony Williams on art is great and I think it more than recovers next time (again rubbish memory to be tested)

13. SHAKARA

14. SHAKARA

15. We get double Shakara TWICE (at least not read 1443 yet) and that's a joy on the eye and a thrill for the soul.

16. Prog 1443 is a sort of mini relaunch Prog pre 1450 (which I assume will be an actual relaunch Prog) which is annoying* as I don't know whether to go to a mini break now or wait...

*Well if that's what annoys me I've not many problems in my life have I!

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General / Re: Forthcoming Thrills - 2020

« on: 18 February, 2020, 04:04:06 pm »

Yep that is indeed good news. The introduction of Chimpsky was fantastic and give the mysterious Niemand's form (and of course PJ) I've little doubt this one will deliver on that in spades.