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Hopelessly behind on some things but have to mention The Maxx. 6 months behind on this, and 26 was tremendous. One of the best things I've ever read. Hilarious, moving, with some of the funkiest art you'll ever see (which I like). You find Culbard sparse and uninspiring ? Pick up The Maxx!

It was a nice antidote to the preceding comic: Vertigo Quarterly SFX 3. I'd have dropped this at the time, it's the equivalent of comics medicine and I can see now it's not *really* good for me... just dull and pretentious (mostly). Bundling several dull tales together doesn't disguise that. See also: Dark Horse Presents.

The Shakespeare family are a favourite feature of Dredd's (first, if you insist) Golden Era. While we're talking themes, a collection on the Meg's crazy citizenry sounds like a nice package. Unamerican Graffiti, Citizen Snork, a Ron Smith-heavy vilume or two would work perfectly.

PS. Gareth Bale's chin would do nicely for any Dredd telly series.

Edit: or, what Trent said, I suppose.

Fantastic cover, and typically interesting breakdown by the great D'Israeli. Ta.

Yep, a welcome return. Nice to guess the next one, too.

I'm partial to a bit of puerile Bradley, it gave me something to cling onto on a recent 90's (re?)read.

The Abelard and Halo Jones, surely?

Lovely.

I did express surprise that Mr Deever took this challenge in good spirit. I dunno, punks today! 

Here he is having joined my other 2000AD clay models on one of my geek shelves:
http://scowlingmonkey.deviantart.com/art/2000AD-Sculpey-model-collection-617792221

As a group, SM, that's wonderful. Keep going  I don't even have a favourite, they're all fantastic.

And the art comp got me doodling again after many years so I'm in its and CFM's debt. The quality last month was just silly, so a testament to the job he's done.

Missed Filippo but I guessed my shunning of the Wagner talk was the reason. In my defence, Frank Quitely and Dave Gibbons were holding court at the same time and I was suitably entertained elsewhere. Isn't DG a slick bastard ? 



Highlight was catching up with some boarders, of course, and not just because there was a bit of a dearth of panels, being honest. They moved it to a grander venue and it took the shine off it. So GCC17 is in doubt ? 

I did enjoy the point where one boarder picked up a mic to hurl abuse at the cosplayers. It's always the quiet ones.

[omnious]

Dash, you're not going to let omnious go for a second time, surely?

[interlude pages]

this issue will feature the first sequential comics work by Bolland for 2000 AD since 1987

Any ideas what this may be?  A second Dredd tale, after the Ezquerra one?  I'm struggling to think of anything other than an early Future-Shock and Walter the Wobot, non-Dredd wise, in the pages of 2000AD...

There's always talk of that Fatties story that he asked John Wagner to write for him (or some such) but my guess it will be a page in some sort of Tharg B'day celebration story. If it was anything more I'd think (I'm so often wrong about these things!) that we'd have more detail here.

Plus, interlude pages from Brian Bolland, Mick McMahon, Dave Gibbons, Robin Smith, and more.

1st  James Newell                  -- clear winner, the visor, the dynamism, the stippling...
2nd  Stephen Baskerville         --- very Cammy
3rd  Andy Lambert2               --- great detail, mad, makes me want to re-read Oz (as someone said before)

[like]

Cosh pretty much spoke for me there; I don't like anyone in East of West much but the scheming stylish nastiness is glorious fun.

Curiously, I also gave Manhattan Projects vol. 1 a try recently - it was in the library, a no-brainer - and it didn't click for me. I admire Hickman's ambition, even if it sometime misses the mark.

a gift wrapped turd.

Guess that's a birthday you'll never forget.

[Descender 12]

Descender 12 is a nice kick-off to volume 3, a series that rarely lets me down. For some reason being locked in a cupboard for months appealed to me. That's storytelling.

East of West 26 continues in its mad politicking gross-out way, it reads so quickly too. Really made for trade reading though, month-on-month the set of characters on display can be a handful to place.

The Discipline 4 is descending into fighty-fighty - compared to its earlier episodes - but the art is the star. A Risso knock-off, Fernandez has designed some lovely panels. On my pile of shame I have their earlier Names, yet to be read. The art didn't appeal greatly but I'm over that now - it's grand.

Pencil Head 5 finishes up, and it's pretty self-indulgent stuff. For McKeever fans only Fine...

Providence 9 is sublime, I love Moore's latest more with every issue. Even the art has won me over, I can see now it's perfect for this.

In other news, also loving Sheriff of Babylon, Tokyo Ghost and The Vision at the moment. Rich pickings...