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Same on my side. Those are the last two I saw.

Thank you for the compliment. (Although I don't know what Euro-spaghetti means!)

All I see, however, is the thin neck, head too far forward, unfinished far side of the helmet, shoulder pad too low, chain and chest too loosely defined. Also the circle should be moved more to the left, and I don't like the nose or the nasolabial folds. I've had a few more stabs since, and it's still pretty tough to get it all done in 15 mins, even with brushes and colours on "speed-dial", but of the ones I've done I think this one still has the most energy and "potential".

I'd be a LOT happier with a 30 minute time limit, but then that rather stetches the point of the exercise.

Careful you don't fall into the Brian Bolland trap and start saying, 'I'd be a LOT happier with a two week time limit.'

Euro-spaghetti is kind of apt.

How long can you claim to be immigrants, 3/4 generations or more, when does it stop? The whole world can claim it if that's the case. I think you're only a certain nationality if you've grown up there.

Sorry, didn't make myself clear. I'm not saying we are those nationalities, it's just a shorthand way of saying, "My family origins are in Whateverland." And I'm sure it grates. For instance I'm positive you yourself are done with Irish Americans saying "I'm Irish." Not surprised, 'cause I know I am come St Paddy's Day.

That said, the cultural stamp of country of origin is always present in people you meet despite its dilution. The Irish-American is distinct from the Italian-American or the Mexican-American, even if they're mostly all Catholics. And maybe it's an identity crisis thing, maybe in a melting pot people are more desperate to hang onto something that separates them. No clue. If you ever come over it might begin to make more sense. I offer my couch to you.

As far as when does it stop. It probably shouldn't. By reminding yourself your Granddad wasn't from here you maybe will be less hostile toward others coming in. There are always new immigrants and there is always a latent or overt resentment to new people and new cultures. I knew a guy called Jose Padilla who told me, "Those dirty wet-backs need to quit taking our jobs."

Excuse the tangent folks!

Hey Funt-solo how are you taking to my screwball countrymen? If you're ready to go back I don't blame ya.

 Well, apart from pretty much everyone claiming to be several different nationalities all at once ... although that's become quite endearing.

I've heard this before from British people and I always find it eye opening. First, because I take it for granted as a kind of background noise. Secondly because it never occured to me that it might rub somebody the wrong way. For example an American will casually say something about being "Scottish" which would no doubt royally tick off a citizen of Scotland. Who the fuck are you, they would say, to make claims about a country you've never set foot in and your ancestors left in a hurry.

I would argue its a good thing. We are a nation of immigrants and we are better off reminding ourselves of that fact. That and I assure you, if you ever come across an American that says, "I'm an American. I come from America." that dude is going to be a first class hard-on.

The trade has been around for the last twenty years or so, and given the occasional publicity bumps (the movie, the fairly regular magazine articles about it) I'll wager at least twenty reprints.

God is punishing you for buying mansions with fake mortgages.

I thought that's why I was living in a cardboard box... Well, fair's fair but if I miss D'Israeli on Lowlife God's taken it a bit too fuckin' far.

I would recommend it but only if you're feeling up to it!

Its dark, unrelenting and at times difficult to follow:
You have to work out who is speaking for the font or there could be no puncuation/ or paragraphs or indeed just a list of names, dates items, his latest Tokoyo Zero is much like this but with the added layer of one man's madness, nobody is who they say they are and the tock, tock, tock ( or whatever) of the hammering in the background everytime 'your' on the street. yes there are Ellroy touches, stacatto sentences etc

I've never read the football one( hate football) and the miners one was just to close to home/unrelenting that I promised I go back to it some day.

I'd suggest get one out the library or read a couple o pages in a bookshop and if you get into it follow through.

Thanks Proud-and-generous-huff. I've read enough wonky prose stylists and abstract poets that my endurance for that stuff is good sized. I take the book aside jab my finger in its face and say, "Right, you can pull whatever japes and antics you like, but the second you start to bore me you get tossed across the room." They usually tow the line after that.

The only one available at the local library is Tokyo Zero. I'll check the bookstores to see what they have.

It's 18 rated in the UK, in the US an R-rating means under 18s can go in if accompanied by an adult.

A retarded adult specifically. I kept hearing hisses of disapproval during the sex scene and Dr Manhattan pipe-swingings and just chalked it up to crazy Christians (we have a lot of those). Then after the movie I saw how many under ten year olds were in the theater: couple dozen of the tykes. Full on head choppings was just fine for the parents, but nudity is just WRONG.

Hey Funt-solo how are you taking to my screwball countrymen? If you're ready to go back I don't blame ya.

Nope, no luck at my shop either. Starting to get worried as well. I have no idea who to call. Still have seen my copy of Shakara come to mention it.

Just heard about Peace's work this week with this show and the Damned Utd film coming out. He sounds like a cross between Ellroy and Sillitoe. Can anybody give a recommendation?

I'm just going with what I reread constantly.

1)Dredd
2)Dante
3)Strontium Dog(Just as good now as it ever was)
4)Nemesis
5)Megacity Undercover (under which umbrella I count Lowlife, Simping Detective, and Lenny Zero)

It's comics; they're nearly all obsure. Maybe not Alan Moore and Frank Miller(though he should be)

C'mon, nobody can hate Frank Miller fully, I mean who doesn't like Batman: Year One? Plus his run on Daredevil was legendary. Oh, and of course The Dark Knight Returns. And Sin City. And the original Wolverine mini-series.

But at the very least, no human being on the planet dislikes Batman: Year One.

TOTAL overstatement on my part, psychogoatee. I like all of the above and more. Heck, even liked DK2. You will have to forgive me I'm a big Spirit fan and I'm a little bitter about his making it this generation's Judge Dredd (Great comic that no one will read because reputation sullied by bad film).

D'Israeli is a big heavyweight for me. He constantly tweaks his style to fit the story he's on but never at the cost of the story. Stickleback, The Vort, and the upcoming Lowlife are obviously by the same artist but each is immediately distinguishable. Said it too many times but I'll say it again: our generations McMahon.

Like all of the ones you mentioned above. Especially McNeill who has won me over in the last three years.  Would also add Simon Fraser, Henry Flint, and Charlie Adlard. Adlard is busy on a great comic so I don't resent his absence, but I think Flint needs to return to tooth.

In the future I would probably be amenable to adding Elson, Coleby, Burns, and Langley.

TOMAS DE TORQUEMADA !!!

Ro-jaws

Torquemada