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And then again there are instances when I don't buy a prog from the thrill merchants as the newsagent has creased it, having folded it to get it onto on a narrow shelf and then adds insult to prog injury by hiding it out of view under the toys bagged with free comic. That was the case yesterday so I will hopefully buy mine tonight from elsewhere.

Cracked me up that "big f**cking eagle" had to be censored in the Dan McDaid interview and yet it was deemed ok to show a demon's todger (and clockweights) peeing blood onto some guy's face.

Because it's easier to control and influence a vast number of people by instilling in them a sense of nationality, based on arbitrary lines on a map, than recognising the truth - we're all Earthlings.

A noble ideal. Yet we are all a product of the environment and culture we grew up in, whether we like it or not. And that shapes our personality. Borders and nation states are only a part of the equation, as is ethnicity/religion/culture/heritage – call it whatever you want.

I think some people tend to see this in more simplistic terms than in other parts of the world where borders change and people can go to bed of one nationality and then wake up the next day of a different nationality – yet still belong to a distinct group.

But yes, arbitrary lines on maps to control people –used to devasting effect in particular in the Africa and Middle East colonial carve-ups.

As a kid, I always felt 2000AD was a less mainstream publication than other IPC, DC and Marvel UK comics and that not many newsagents would stock it.

I don't subscribe as I like buying it from thrill merchants and it pains me to see unsold issues in shops. And I don't wish to have battered progs. I can't see how a prog will get through my letterbox undamaged as it will need to be folded.

Perhaps in future, as comics disappear from the high street and more people subscribe, the next 2000AD resize will not be to match the graphic novel format but be narrow in order to match the fans' front door letterbox format.

Or maybe I should just get a larger letterbox and subscribe.

So my native American roots are of no interest round here?

Speaking personally I'd say it's interesting if you were you brought up in a native american culture.  For myself, I have bits of paper saying that my ancestors came from all over the place, but I never met them so it doesn't actually make any difference where they were born.

Actually, the closest I've been to a native American is in my imagination when as kids we would unwittingly play genocide (Cowboys and Indians) and I was usually on the wrong side (Cowboys).

I only made that comment about roots as it seemed that years ago almost every other American star (well, some) would in interviews claim to have native American ancestry. I would assume that was to increase their perceived cool factor. But now I think about it, attempts to eradicate the native Americans weren't that long ago so no doubt some people can trace their roots back to them.

If an ethnic/cultural group has been virtually eradicated and someone is aware of being a descendant of that group and sees that as part of their make-up and pays tribute to it, whether they grew up in that culture or not – is that a bad thing?

Different of course to a white supremacist-type harking back to imagined Viking or whatever roots and using that to justify their racism. Not even sure if that is the kind of thing they get up to, mind you.

I was curious about the term 'African-American'. Looking online I see comments of the civil rights movement in the US. Jesse Jackson in calling for use of 'African-American': "Every ethic group in this country has a reference to some land base, some historical cultural base."

A complicated subject that I know nothing of, but am mildly curious of, having grown up in the inner cities surrounded by people from all sorts of different backgrounds, which most defined themselves according to.

People who bang on and on about their Viking / Celtic / Saxon or whatever the fuck ancestors, as if you can define who you are by just vaguely tracing back your family tree and stopping when you get to something that sounds cool.

To these people I say: I don't care about these long-dead tribes- who are YOU?  The answer, generally speaking, is a nasty little racist.

Just do what I do, when they brag about their 'scotch' roots, tell em: if you go back far enough we're all African.

I don't see what the problem is if people are proud of their roots.

Go back and we're all amoeba.

I'm not sure about the panels at LSCC. I went to one on Sunday and the sound quality was terrible and I left half way through when it was clear they weren't going to be able to sort it out.

I think that the Kirby panel we went to last year was probably one of the best they've done in the five years. Although obviously the Stan Lee interview in the first year was quite an event.

The excel centre is just too noisy to have sectioned off panel rooms in the main hall. It's the only downside to an otherwise splendid event, apart from the other minor niggle that Commando forces is referring to which I think I was the second victim of. 

I was slightly curious about one of the panels. I stuck my head in one and I thought: there isn't going to be much chance of following the discussion amongst all the noise and that influenced my decision not to bother.

Yes, previous talks were excellent – the Jonathon Ross Kirby panel and the Stan Lee one. Incidentally, it is with sadness I read today about Stan Lee's deteriorating eye sight. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/stan-lee-spider-man-creator-says-failing-eyesight-means-he-can-no-longer-read-comics-a6806761.html

So my native American roots are of no interest round here?

More direct link C4: http://bcove.me/ma8aim4q

["where's my commission?!"]

I was at LSCC on Saturday. I usually feel drawn to these conventions, even though there aren't many non-2000AD comics at all that interest me these days (I need some recommendations). Always good to catch up with the Southers of course which turns out to be a good laugh. 

Have to say the event seemed to be lacking a buzz this year and didn't seem that rammed. Might be my imagination but that's how it felt. I probably spent more time outside the hall catching up with an old work colleague over coffee than in the convention. Maybe I should've headed to some of the talks.

I didn't buy that much stuff. Cinema Purgatorio which was pricey at £25. A well-known comics journo advised me to buy two and put one on eBay. I just went for one which I had signed by Kevin O'Neill. Was good to have a chat with him. Also bought a Dredd Case Files and the latest Meg to contribute to the 2000AD cause.

I'm not usually one for getting convention sketches or buying original art. But I did get two gems. Apologies for my convention manners: "where's my commission?!" and "Draw Bananaman!".

A rather fine piece by Mr Campbell. As he pointed out, due to the absence of beer and beermats it had to be on an A4 piece of paper. Would make a great T-shirt print. 



A brilliant Bananaman, drawn on the back of a torn up scrap of receipt by Souther Beano droid Andy. As you will see below, that receipt doubles up as a Dredd helmet.



Neither gave me a certificate of guarantee but I can live with that.

Who needs a £5 Mick Zeck signature?

I met the Southers in the Fox on the set of the (admittedly low budget) Dredd sequel.

Souther Simon.



Judge Dunk.



Judge Castle.



We could barely hear a word of our ramblings at the ear-burstingly loud Fox so thankfully we retreated to a hotel bar which was definitely a good move and made the evening a good laugh. Was good to meet the clone twins and have a natter with them. Too much alcohol. Left at 1.15am and a cab ride and three buses later I got home 3.30am, shattered. Eggs thrown at the night bus stop thankfully missed me. Not quite a Hell Trek,but a trek nonetheless. Was wiped out on Sunday. Hope to make next gathering at Free Comic Book Day though that might clash with a rare holiday.

Oh, someone was punching air when he was texted evidence of this Channel 4 news item:
"What do the generation who have never voted on Europe think?"
http://www.channel4.com/news/catch-up/display/playlistref/200216
30 secs and 01.15.

Homage rather than swipe. Always loved this 2000AD advert that appeared in Star Lord in July 1978.



Clearly Kevin O'Neill art. Based on this classic Pepsi advert https://youtu.be/jB8rnZ-0dKw.

My older brother had a T-shirt at the time with the Pepsi advert text.

From the admittedly very little I know about OCD – hardly anything, I saw a documentary on it recently: BBC Horizon OCD: A Monster in my Mind – not liking a design, or being particular about a sense of order (ie book spines not matching) is not OCD. Someone has uploaded a video of the BBC programme online but I won't link to it as it's dodgy. Made for interesting viewing as the term is bandied about a lot nowadays. If anyone reading this has been diagnosed with OCD and I am talking nonsense – I apologise. I've come into contact with someone who I believe has the condition. It causes upset not just for the person concerned but for family, so I'm not trying to make light of it. And that's too much detail on that for a prog review thread.

Onto the design. I'm not saying I like the cover or if that's the best typographical treatment. Some of the secondary text is lacking in boldness on recent prog covers for my eye. I do like the way the reins cover up the main text. The designer(s) seem to be tackling integrating text into the cover illustrations using a different style to that of the previous design droid. I'm not saying they are always pulling it off but it's an interesting approach. Perhaps it's easier and safer to plaster the text over the illustrations and no one would say a word.

I don't know why the two sets of text aren't parallel. Perhaps the designer(s) tried that and it didn't sit right. Perhaps it was an oversight. But I don't think that's a deal breaker for the layout. And I just don't think its on to say the design is unprofessional or GCSE standard because it isn't. If that was the case, Rebellion might as well take on school leavers. Would be much cheaper and they could invest their saving into more colour comic strips and less crappy black and white (that last bit is a joke). 

Mr Parr btw was exceptionally good.

And I've figured out why I don't like the illustration: I can't ride a horse.

[never]

This cover would you believe it. Well, I never really paid it much attention, having not read the entire prog and I just this second noticed the logo.

No doubt some self-proclaimed expert has by now commented that you never mess with your logo and never cover it up and that their three-year-old daughter knows that and would do it better in Photoshop.

Impressive.

Amazing how the print lines up on both sides of the shirt.

Detail seems to have held up well. They could scan that for the next Case Files.

When do the matching shorts and socks arrive?

I'm trying to arrange a soap-making course myself...

Soap-making? Can't that kind of present get you into trouble? Almost as dangerous as buying one's wife weighing scales.

I usually make her a card, buy flowers/chocs and that's it. My cynicism about Valentines Day allows me to go no further. No going for a meal. No nothing.

Plus I am hit with her birthday which is a couple of days away. I strain my brain for an Xmas present let alone a present in February. Was hoping to book a weekend break, but being an old romantic... I didn't.

In fact, I just turned on the computer hoping to order a birthday present online. You lot distracted me again.