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Still an amazingly strong line-up.

I'm reserving judgement on Chiaroscuro - Spurrier's far from being my favourite writer, but occasionally comes up with the goods (as long as the comic's not glutted with his work as it often is in the run-up to a relaunch). I can't help but feel that the story demands rather more stylish artwork than that on offer with bolder use of light and shade.

Dante - always entertaining, pity we have to wait a few progs for the next instalment.

Stone Island - a good, gruesome read. Edginton's always a fave of mine. My only criticism of his work generally is his habit of introducing characters with no explanation as to who they are. The sole (human) survivor is a nameless girl, who's never properly been introduced. It's an old habit of his, it took a couple of series before the crew in The Red Seas were all introduced, and The Establishment was cancelled before all of his central team were all named. Still this is carping - good ideas as always.

Origins - old school Dredd of the first order.

And I'm looking forward to the return of Sin/Dex. Never thought I'd hear myself say that.

Can 2000 AD get much better than this?

A Dredd mega-epic with Ezquerra at the helm, Malone tying back into another 2000 AD favourite, Stone Island offering blood and guts on a scale unheard of since Shako, Banzai Battalion the first comedy story in an age that actually works, and Nikolai Dante doing what it does best. Fab.

Love the cover. If Harrison could tap into his inner pulp artist like this on a regular basis, he'd make a great Dante artist.

Good prog generally. I'm really enjoying Banzai this time round. Can't wait till Origins - no doubt it'll be better than the origins story in the DC Comics version of Dredd.

I'm afraid that the Megazine just isn't exciting me at present. The Regime Change storyline was well executed and, as always with Rennie at the helm, full of foreshadowing of events to come - what is Kazan's grand plan? Apart from that, however, there's precious little to look forward too. Fiends moves at such a snail's pace with each episode being pretty much like the next, Black Siddha is likewise very samey, and humour is not Mr Mills' strong suit (if, indeed, he has one these days). Black Museum is okay, but a version of a Future Shock really, so little to get excited about. I fear for the Megazine basically (although the return of America bodes well) ...

I keep thinking that Malone's secret past will reveal him to be a reworking of a classic 2000 AD character, but that's just wishful thinking, I guess. After the tedium of the post 1500 weeks, where every story seemed to carry the dread name of Spurrier, 2000 AD seems fresh and lively again.

The Changes - the world had been mysteriously reverted to a pre-industrial society. It was billed as 'for older children' and very long. I seem to recall it was something to do with Merlin, who was a kind of glowing rock.

Oh, and The Boy From Space, the dramatic segment of BBC's Look & Read schools programme. Genuinely creepy and taught you about mirror writing.

I somehow ended up sending that three times ... I mean, I like them, but do I like them that much?

A Very Peculiar Practice.
Tutti Frutti.

Also, I still have vague memories of 'Sky' (and finding it very creepy at the time).

I'm currently watching the 1975 'Legend of Robin Hood' - it's very BBC of that era, a lot of it obviously filmed on sets and a bit actory, but with an authenticity and grittiness that I've always found missing from every other Hood thereafter. Great performances from Paul Darrow as the Sheriff (natch) and David Dixon as Prince John.

A Very Peculiar Practice.
Tutti Frutti.

Also, I still have vague memories of 'Sky' (and finding it very creepy at the time).

I'm currently watching the 1975 'Legend of Robin Hood' - it's very BBC of that era, a lot of it obviously filmed on sets and a bit actory, but with an authenticity and grittiness that I've always found missing from every other Hood thereafter. Great performances from Paul Darrow as the Sheriff (natch) and David Dixon as Prince John.

A Very Peculiar Practice.
Tutti Frutti.

Also, I still have vague memories of 'Sky' (and finding it very creepy at the time).

I'm currently watching the 1975 'Legend of Robin Hood' - it's very BBC of that era, a lot of it obviously filmed on sets and a bit actory, but with an authenticity and grittiness that I've always found missing from every other Hood thereafter. Great performances from Paul Darrow as the Sheriff (natch) and David Dixon as Prince John.

Going back through my back progs, I found that Hershey had asked for Shenker's resignation as head of Psi Div following the Nero Narcos affair. But he seems to be still in charge in the current Anderson run. Surely some mistake?

So Rose becomes a literal deus ex machina - a god from a machine - to get rid of the Daleks.

Slightly disappointed that Tennant isn't going to be Scottish, but looking forward to his run. He has a great ability to do both light and shade without trying so hard (as was sometimes Eccleston's problem).

Magenta Chill? Didn't she represent some Baltic state at the Eurovision last week?

Everyone goes on about how well Ian Gibson draws woman (cf Alan Moore's intro to the Halo Jones books) but Jesus Redondo drew the best women ever. At 13 I was completely smitten by his depiction of Ardeni Lakam in 'Mind Wars' (Starlord) - now there's a story that merits reprinting. Completely agree on his MACH One work too.