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Wow Charley's War - so rarely see that. Great stuff.

The realistic look of fear on that guy's face really sells it.

I've never read Charley's War. I wasn't really into war comics growing up, and that's kinda stuck*, although I did enjoy some of the Rogue Trooper (and expanded universe) stuff. But I'm wondering if Charley's War might actually be worth it. Not just for that phenomenal art, but from what I've read, the stance they take is rather different from the gung-ho stuff that's in a lot of war comics.

*I do remember reading one of those small COmmando comics once. Nice art, but I just didn't take to it.

Charley's War is a must - there is a reason that it is so highly regarded, and its not just the art. Pat mills crafts an excellent cohesive story and really focuses on characterization. I do have a bias as I love war comics, but I will tell you, this is one of the best and not to be missed.

RaggedMan's recommendation to collect the Titan HC editions is spot on. Its a beautiful collection that collects all 10 volumes (and looks great on the bookshelf). The essays also lend to the realism of the strips and add value to the collection. Recommended!

@Smith, like you suggested, I have also heard from others that CF volumes 19-21 is the low point for Dredd. I completed CF18 and honestly didn't hate it; many of the stories were okay but nothing really happened, Ennis was just plodding along at this point. Mechanismo was highly enjoyable, although I enjoyed Mechanismo Returns even more - the art on both was fantastic.

As far as Inferno goes, I have read mixed reviews and am kind of looking forward to it (with some trepidation) because it is mentioned so often. I always enjoy the Mega Epics and heard there is some great art (but not story) within. My expectations for it are very low, so hopefully its better than I think...

I have heard that the Taxidermist stories are excellent. There is a trade that collects the series that I have in my wish list. I have only read the one story that was in the CFs but have read that it is worth picking up. Your opinion so far?

I like that your reviews also include what was going on in the letters page, its interesting to see how people's preferences have changed (or stayed the same) over time.

@Trent - thanks as well for recommending Missionary Man, I'm looking forward to it! I didn't realize it was going to be three volumes. Has volume two been announced?

Thanks for posting the images of those badges - they are very cool and would make good t-shirt graphics. Who wouldn't want ro be a Tank Commander or Time Warden!? The B&W Photos dosent do them justice as they look much more vibrant in colour.

I wouldn't put too much faith in the page numbers posted on Amazon. They show some pretty drastic differences in the page counts (as much as 30+ pages) between the UK and US volumes of the Complete Case Files, when in fact they have the exact same page count and content. 

I was so jealous when you said that you'd be reading these stories for the first time - they're classics, glad you enjoyed them!

I always thought Bubba's head was wrapped in some kind of transparent bag or mask from the crease-lines on his face.

Yes, I realize how lucky I am to be reading these for the first time  Although these would have been great to grow up with, discovering them now (as well as Dredd, Rogue etc.) has been a real treat. And I like that I can binge read and not have to wait a week between each Prog!

Interesting facts about Middenface McNulty as well. He is definitely a favorite character and I am hoping he sticks around. I often can't understand what he is saying, but I think that is suppose to be the point (or maybe I just cant read his accent well because I don't hear it often). I can read enough to get gist.

Glad to hear you enjoyed it, chum!

Bubba's mask-like face is his mutation, and I've always assumed it was meant to look like bubblegum - 'Hubba Bubba' was a popular brand of same on this side of the water.

Don't think Johnny has a uniform (other than his badge), so what he wears is what he wants to wear. Ezquerra explains the preference for stripey tops as echoing the markings of a dangerous animal, like a tiger or a wasp (which I presume was just meant to be taken at face value, rather than any additional cultural connotation).

Its interesting that is was indeed Max Bubbas face, I was hoping Alpha was going to tear his mask off at some point. But I now get it, he has a bubblegum face like Hubba Bubba gum - I cant believe I missed that!  I'll have to add this to the "Things that went over your head" thread. If colored, I wonder if he would be purple??

Regarding his costume, I like it quite a bit, I prefer the shirt without the stripes personally. Also, Im still not a huge fan of his helmet at this point - it must be a look he goes for. But seeing that he has a camera at the tip to record the killing of his bounties makes sense.

[V2 #31]

A lot of things to go through this time...
-On the CF#18,I found it a bit of chore to read honestly,Ennis was really running out of ideas and was just churning out shallow parodies of things he hated.But Mechanismo is the saving grace.And Mechanismo returns.And there is the only PJ Maybe story written by somebody other then Wagner,so I guess that's important too.
-Kenny Who? stories were collected in the Cam Kennedy collection according to Dredd Reckoning.
-About America,that probably played a part.My theory was that they are waiting to collect the whole trilogy in some future Case File,but Im not so sure in that any more.
V2 #31
-Were Hershey's stories ever collected?They were actually pretty good.
-Army of Darkness was in theaters,Batman TAS was on tv,and John Smith parodied the Madonna craze.Bit late for that in 1993?
-In the letters section there is an interesting discussion about violence in the Meg.A few readers accuse the of following "the Bisley school" of painted hyper-violence.That's not really far from truth,they really went out of their way to imitate Bisley.
Harke & Burr show up for the first time.That is important,right?Anderson,Psi Division Childhood End is here,and I still don't like it,honestly.After Mechanismo Returns,JD's stories are mostly one shots.At least Sleeze 'n' Ryder and Heavy Metal Dredd seem to over.
@Rogue Judge,buy Missionary Man,easiest decision ever. 
Its a great series.It debuts in style,with Cain nuking a whole town.Later on,I think the series decayed a bit during and after Big Sleazy,but that's still years ahead.
Good news is that Calhab Justice is back.Not-so-good news is that we are getting Brit-Cit Brute,another representative of Bisley school.And Anderson,Psi Divison isn't ending any time soon.Yey...

Now that Im over half done reading CF 18 I have to agree - while I have enjoyed much of Ennis' Dredd so far, you can see he was definitely burning out at this point. Honestly, The Magic Mellow Out is probably the worst Dredd story I have read (not sure if that was in the progs or Meg).

I didn't realize Hershey had her own solo stories. I would really like to read these, especially since you say they are good! A quick google search revealed that she had her own series periodically from 1992-97 and, as far as I can find, her stories have not been collected.

And thanks for the recommendation for Missionary Man - it sounds great. I found it online for $16 CAD so I think Ill snap it up soon!

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Psi Division was established in 2057. Bob Booth launched his nukes in 2070.

That evidence suggests Psi Judges are not mutants (at least, not mutants due to the Booth nuclear war). If aliens are possible I suppose so are psi powers. Good enough for me!

CF17-18-19 roughly cover this time.But for some reason,a few things like America and Kenny Who story were not collected in the Case Files.
Things to look forward in the near future: Calhab justice returning and Missionary Man starting.
Shimura is also pretty close,I think.So is Judge Andersons galactic tour story,which Im not looking forward to at all TBH.

I'm reading case files #18 right now (1/4 way through) and mostly like it - there are a lot of one off stories that are good (mostly) and I'm looking forward to Mechanismo, your description as "one big action scene" sounds good to me!

I'm thinking that America was not reprinted in the CF so that they could sell it on its own (more money!).

I look forward to your thoughts on Missionary Man, this is a book I have on my personal want list, but know nothing of it other than the concept of a Preacher traveling the cursed earth...

Thanks for the info Steve.

Interesting that it has never been established where Psi powers come from, but I suppose mutation makes the most sense.

I just finished S/D vol. 3 this weekend and have a few thoughts:

**Strontium Dog spoilers ahead**

First, wow - I cant believe [spoiler]Wulf died! I know he (and Johnny) died at some point (Alpha mentions it to Dredd in Judgement Day) but I assumed that it would come in the final volume of SD or in the Final Solution. Like I said, I have avoided nearly all spoilers and am really enjoying reading this for the first time. I really enjoyed seeing Wulf's origin and how he got to be Johnny's SD parter, I hadn't realized he was from the past.

Max Bubba was a great villain too - shooting Wulf in the stomach then tattooing his name on Johnny was badass. Is Bubba wearing a face mask (like a stocking) or does his face naturally look like a potato? I don't think this was addressed. The way Alpha dealt with him (basically killing him twice) was just desserts.

Rage was great, and Johnny relentless. He's merciless when hunting down Bubba's crew and it was highly enjoyable - this volume cemented Strontium Dog as one of my all time favorites[/spoiler].

Regarding his costume, I noticed some differences. Sometimes he has a striped shirt on, and other times its solid. Is one his official uniform, and the other a personal shirt? Possibly, he owns more than one shirt and switches it up...

I am going to take a break from SD (for a week or two) and read Case Files 18, then back to SD for volume 4! Looking forward to it...chums!


Many events in SD are fairly common knowledge, but I've added spoiler tags in case newcomers are in this thread – IP

I just finished S/D vol. 3 this weekend and have a few thoughts

First, wow! I cant believe [spoiler]Wulf died! [/spoiler]

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No mention of Wagner and Shimony's Texas City Sting (v2.01-2.03)? It's pretty topical, given that both it and Mike Carroll's current story are about Dredd going to Texas City on the trail of perps and receiving varying degrees of cooperation/resistance from local law enforcement.

It's really more of a Strontium Dog story, with Dredd collecting bounties; if it had been drawn by Ezquerra or MacNeil, it would be considered a classic. The shameless exploitation of Hershey's bare arse predates Ezquerra's blackmail pics by 2 years and MacNeil's taps aff by 18 months.

I just read Texas city sting a few weeks ago and really enjoyed it. Dredd's approach to use money collection was a unique wayto solve the problem. The art was okay,  and the story quite fun and Hershey's bottom a supprise.

I haven't come across your other examples yet but should be there soon as I am reading CF #18 currently. Also, that McNeil piece is quite humorous, the placement of her badge is class.

So I watched Dredd in 3D last night!

It was great, much more enjoyable than the first time around (at home on reg DVD). I sat in the middle and was able to enjoy the 3D - it made the evening feel more like an experience than just watching a movie. It was better than I remember and there was a lot of energy in the room as myself and others are really starting to get into all things Dredd. Not going to lie...I want a 3D tv. Can someone tell my wife?

As for the Easter eggs, I was watching like a hawk. I didn't see the Owen Krysler wanted poster or the belliwheel, but I did see: the Drokk jacket and the Kenny Who? and CHOPPER graffiti (smiley face and all)!

One thing, the movie mentions Anderson is a mutant, but this is not the case in the progs, correct? Or is anyone with Psi powers a mutant? I was slightly confused by this.

Finally, It would have been nice to see more of the big Meg, (the oddly shaped buildings and flying cars, maybe an Otto Sump commercial, etc.) but I assume budget limitations played a part in this.

I would love to come and purchase a piece of art from Ian, however, there is the small matter of the Atlantic ocean between us that prevents me from doing so  Good luck to others who get to go, I look forward to seeing your purchases posted here after the festival!