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[(Spoiler)]

And, of course, the classic with the poor guy on a bus who can't stop farting. The sublime Peter Doherty providing the art.

I think that's Blow Out! in prog 1213.

Two of my favourites are Letter From a Democrat, for reasons which I trust are obvious to everyone who has read it, and Death of a Judge, which is a brilliant "all ages" story which sums up Dredd's moral compass in a nutshell and serves as an excellent introduction to new readers (which I was). (It also has a great title, because (Spoiler) it actually has two judges who die, and you assume the title refers to the first one, and then the second one is totally, completely unexpected.)

I'm going to have to think really hard about my third choice!

"Letter" is a classic for sure. And I remember the "John Cassavetes Is Dead" episode mentioned by Indigo Prime. They have stuck with me for sure.

What prog was Death of a Judge?

Either Firepower, prog 736 or [Snowstorm], prog 819?

It was indeed Firepower, prog 736. 6 pages of all-action and ultra-macho Dredd, painted by Colin MacNeil. "This is the story of those 3 minutes". It's mainly shooty-shooty-death-kill-'splosions, but there is some sophistication. Well, a little bit. With nice use of infra-red, armour-piercing rounds, and mutie-piercing bike. Also loving the bike backchat - Dredd jets his Lawmaster from a diving board(!?) at the last (impervious) mutie and dives off: "Over to you, bike". "Wilco. Thanks a bunch."

Slightly (in)famous for being one of the few episodes where Dredd smiles.

I also really liked another Dredd that Peter Doherty painted about a slow crime day.

Slow Crime Day, prog 1191

And one Garth Ennis did about a mutie incursion that he deals with in 10 minutes - Colin MacNeil on art.

Either Firepower, prog 736 or [Snowstorm], prog 819?

Thanks Funt - think it was Firepower. I'll check when I get in.

The I Beast story was also on my mind - recently republished in a Cam Kennedy special, along with another great one-shot, possibly called The Suspect? About a guy waiting to be interrogated.

Couple mentioned there I've not read, have to search them out!

Something broodblik said got me wondering:

...Risk Assessment will for me be one of the top 3 all once-off Dredds...

Praise indeed - there must be hundreds of single episode Dredds? But what are the other two? And what are other people's favourites?

Apologies if this is already done, I'm fairly new here but haven't seen the topic in the last year.

Happy to accept any single episode Dredd from prog, Meg, special or annual.

For me, bury my knee at wounded heart is up there. I also really liked another Dredd that Peter Doherty painted about a slow crime day. And one Garth Ennis did about a mutie incursion that he deals with in 10 minutes - Colin MacNeil on art. Names and progs escape me. I'm sure others will mention some classics I've forgotten that will change my mind.

Have at it!

That Bermuda Triangle picture is amazing! Gives Chris Foss a run for his money.  Thanks for posting, I'd not seen any of them before.

With Henry Flint's gallery of rogues, the only one I'm struggling with is the Rutger Hauer looking chap underneath Ratty. Unless it's Whitey?

Despite the lower price I'm not massively tempted - just prefer the more stylised artists. And it is much smaller (still not small though).

The second McMahon is excellent IP - if only for the full-size Slaine pics. I prefer it to the Kevin O'Neill book myself. If there had been some early Nemesis in that one it would've been a closer run thing.

[Dredd]

Seconding Colin on Dredd, Astronaut and Boogie (rather than "Bogie" Colin *childish snigger*). Enemy Earth I'm a fan of its relentless action and the art has grown on me.

It feels like a huge lurch moving from the YA stylings of the middle three stories to Thistlebone, which is very much adult fare and spoiler, I found the realistic depiction of a terrified naked woman being strangled a bit much, myself.

La Fink will be in Bristol too but won't be attending the Con.

Same for me: I can convince the Mrs to come to Bristol but it might be a stretch to ask her to forego shopping and lunch with her mates to come and watch Glenn Fabry doodling. Ho hum, her loss.

If you have any tips on where to stay, do share.

I have a compted hotel night so will be staying at the Marriott Royal, same as last year. It's a 15 minute walk away across the canal and Queen Square which, if the weather is as nice as '23, is a lovely way to see the city and not far to go if you need to pop back and drop off books or sketches. Doubletree Hilton is of course the ultimate location. Su and team are usually able to get a decent deal on rooms.

OK thanks Giles, I'll look into those

At my first Lawless I bottled talking to Jim!

It'll be awesome to meet you Fink.

As McFad says staying at the Hilton is great if you can as its so convenient, especially if you plan on buying anything. I think there's a Novotel and  Holiday Inn within easy walking distance too.
Traffic is Bristol is pretty awful, so if you're coming down on the day, make an early start: last year I missed the first couple of hours more or less due to that.

Thanks for the tips Boots, looking forward to meeting you and everyone else. I'm coming from Dorset and will probably be travelling by train. The drive to Bristol is not great. Fingers crossed there's no train strike.

I'd like it to be one-and-done. I'm fed up of so many franchises saying they're mapping out a trilogy. I mean, the news of 28 Years Later just landed and they're already talking about that being two or three films. Why? The first one was a great standalone. The second... wasn't. But it was self-contained. Just tell a story and wrap it up. If the world is interesting enough to continue with, tell a different story.

Rogue has lots of scope. So surely within 90–120 minutes, they can have a start, middle and end. That doesn't mean at the end everyone celebrating the end of the war. Rogue walking off into the hellish mists of Nu-Earth seems a fitting ending (obvs, as someone else inferred, to The Littlest Hobo theme tune). But I'd hate to see "come back in two years for the next episode that might not actually happen because it all depends on whether this one makes money".

Hear hear. I'd like a proper ending to the movie.

Having said that, a TV series of several separate adventures of Rogue wandering Nu Earth would work well too. Standalone film followed by TV series please!

Le Fink - Being your first con you won't have anything to compare it with however for me it's the best I've been at. I've been at a few larger ones that have the TV and film stars but they are not a patch on this (in my view) and what I hear the other smaller ones are just as good.

I have to say my first Lawless I was "star struck" even more so than the 40th bash. I don't know why a man in his late 40s at the time should be like this but the friendly nature of the whole thing puts you at ease very quickly.
Maybe it's all the Cosplayers milling about?

As Jim says it never starts dead on 9:00 - not the times I've been.

The panels are great and varied- one not to miss if they have it is the Artist Draw off.

Remember to post on here any distinguishing features/clothing so you can be spotted in the crowd.

As for accommodation if you have a lot to get signed and your budget allows I'd recommend the Hilton so you can keep returning to the room but there's a few others well within walking distance I've heard are pretty decent price wise.

Thanks for the info Troop. Sounds great, looking forward to it!

I have greeny-brown skin, a wicked smile, and will be accompanied by a rodent - hope that helps.

(Actually I thought I'd wear a Fink T-Shirt)

Oh yes I've got and read the Killing Joke. Art aside, I didn't particularly like it. Not one I'll be reading again soon.

Thanks for posting Colin! I read DKR in the collected format, not sure when - probably in my late teens, or very early 20s. It was my first graphic novel, away from the 2000AD Titan books. It was also my first DC and so Batman comic, and first experience of Frank Miller. I was absolutely blown away by it - I loved it. The little vox-pops panels were novel to me, and the take on various characters being interviewed in them amusingly snarky.

I found the stories really gripping and wasn't bothered by the politics. The art was sometimes a bit loose but all held together well enough, with several really great splashes. Yindel I thought was a good foil, good to see Batman having to battle the cops. Kelley/Robin a good addition, add child endangerment to the list indeed. I thought the take on Superman as a government stooge was inventive, and the Supes v Batman battle well done. The treatment for Harvey was great, the mutant leader suitably grotesque, Joker was ghastly, the final confrontation with Joker in the tunnel, surrounded by cops, all is lost - just really exciting stuff, well told. Bats generally gets through by the skin of his teeth - he's older, and vulnerable. He's rescued by his ward a couple of times.

Now, I haven't read it for over a decade, maybe two, so I need to give it another go. But for now I only have fond memories for it!

I've not read much Bats in general, so I'd be interested in people's choice picks. I am currently working my way through the Grant Morrison omnibuses. I found the first one a drag, I hope things improve. The art is flashy but often I can't make out what's meant to be going on. There is a lot of jumping around and then exposition to cover the jumps. I'm finding it a bit dull to be honest.

Nice to see Luke Kirby in there - surprised it took so long. I'm happy with my big paperback though. Durham Red I'll pick up as I've only read the (very) recent stuff, which I liked, so I'd like to read the rest.

Armoured Gideon though. I actually read this at the time and not much has stuck with me. I recall the art was interesting, quirky. I don't remember being that taken with the story though. Hmmm.

Does it really start at 9am?

Ish. That relies on the comic creators actually getting out of bed, having breakfast, and getting their tables set up by 9:00. If there's an early panel you want to see, check the programme and be there in time for that, but, otherwise, you won't miss anything if you don't get there until mid-morning.

Good to know, thanks Jim!