Messages

I heard all the delays were because they were prioritising the 'Rob Schneider Fergee on a stretcher with Dredd and Hershey kissing' scene from the end of Dredd diorama.
Roll on I say, and I know many on the board have been waing 20 years for it.

He was a mainstay of golden era 2000AD clearly benefitting everyone by his ability to knock out a strip in double quick time while still maintaining a very high standard. Even rushed Dillon was a treat in the weekly.
When he had the time such as Beyond the Wall or his Chopper with the Dolphin and the results were spectacular.
Never met the guy but his skill as an artist and storyteller was peerless.
Very sad day, my deepest condolences to his friends and family. Another dark day for the house of Tharg.

Gotta say it just reaffirms my belief that cover graphics and phrases have declined since Pye Parr departed.
Lots of poor straplines, murky graphics and poorly laid out text the last year or so. I used to really enjoy 2000AD covers but these days there's usually something somewhere thar jars.

I know what I've just said but, wow! That man almost makes mecwant to put down my pens in despair.

Hate to say it, but I kind of see where you are coming from. His art over the last 20 years or so is highly eclectic but I appreciate the skill having seen his earlier work.
Purely from a personal perspective I enjoyed McMahon circa Judge Child best as well along with his followers Flint and Hairsine. On those two Hairsine's style for Wilderlands was pure McMahon and better for it while Flint has improved as he has become more and more his own man.
I think the way I look at McMahon is rather like Picasso (no idle comparison) in that he clearly is a master artist who drew conventionally and learnt his craft before developing into more abstract styles. His Dredd figure these days is clearly an anatomical distortion but the underlying basis is perfectly correct. It makes for a deceptively simple style that lesser artists might think they could do but is actually a product of decades of knowledge and innate talent.

Cheers Cosh, rings a bell now.

Interesting as the letters page in 377 makes it clear Anderson finishes in 378. Guess we must be running straight into another story.
Oh, and the Death hints were pretty heavy handed so we'll have to see if it is a precursor to the Dark Judges or a deliberate misdirection.

Wow, I would love those stories collected together. Terrific choice.
Hope for something like this if we get that extension. Time will tell as given where we are in the collection it is unlikely anything official will be announced for a year or so. Never know, it could be sooner based on the hints they are already dropping.

Not too much really and often more dubious volumes. The Heavy Mob has Holocaust which, understandedly, has not been reprinted before.
Cursed Earth Koburn includes Going After Billy Zane and El Maldito
Beyond Mega City One includes a couple of more recent Dredds not reprinted elsewhere
Missionary Man has the 2000AD episodes not previously reprinted
Calhab Justice has the complete series.
There are other stories scattered throughout not available elsewhere (usually Dredd stories not yet covered by the Casefiles) but I think those are the most significant.
I'm sure others will pipe up if I have forgotten any rare gems not otherwise reprinted.
Truth is, it depends what you normally buy as many stories were in previous trades (The Return of the Taxidermist) or in Megazine floppies (Lawcon and Breathing Space) so the volumes with them in might appeal.
I suggest you scan the Wikipedia page which lists the contents of each volume.

To quote Junior Angel (or near enough) "I ain't obsessed, I just wanna do it".

Dammit, now I'm tempted. Was a relatively easy pass with having the hardback but the signature and print are giving me second thoughts.
Bloody Tharg.

Based on what you've read, start with vol 31, Oz, which although out of sequence chronologically ties into Necropolis which you've presumably already read.
Then stick to volume order, it gives a nice view of how Dredd has changed as a strip over the years with more sophistication in the storytelling but generally less fun and inventiveness. I liked the art better in the old days too being brought up on the holy trinity of Bolland, McMahon and Smith. Only Flint, Walker and MacNeil really come close to hitting those notes these days to my mind.
Carlos endures in his brilliance but I have always preferred his Strontium Dog to Dredd.

Other than storytelling necessities one of the beauties of 2000AD and the Meg is the absence of a house style.
Geniuses like Mike McMahon, D'Israeli and O'Neill sit alongside Bolland, Ranson and everything in between. Many have not really fitted in with Marvel or DC due to their idiosyncracy.
I would love to see a compendium tutorial from 2000AD artists but I maintain that 'The IPC way' is a misnomer.
A partwork from 2000AD artists a la Draw the Marvel Way would be a complete dream.
For anyone unaware of them the Wizard tutorial books are a bit superhero heavy but have tutorials from Bolland and others which are excellent.

Intriguing comment on the official friendface page in response to a question re Serial Serial and Ladykiller with the response "You'll need to wait and see 😉". Another hint that we might be getting an extension as surely these were not scheduled for the first 80 volumes?
Hopeful.

Nothing, the story occupied the inside cover where next month's floppy is usually trailed. Guess we will all have to wait and see. Not too bad a spot to give SinDex a rest so maybe Medivac.