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Well, by a curious co-incidence the current issue of previews has word of a story in the weekly written by Alan Grant and painted by John Burns which sounds very much like it picks up that very plot thread.

So, stay tuned I guess.

I'd not be surprised to see those at some point.

As for Judgement Day, I really enjoyed it. It might be best to think of it as an action movie spin off of a T.V. series though. Good fun, and there's a Big Finish audio in the offing that takes place just after the final page. That last page is one of the most iconic images of that period by the way, lovely stuff.

Mr Tharg, headmaster of the galaxies greatest primary school has this to say -

Harumph! Getting the Dredd boy to keep order was my idea first! Whilst I'm glad to see the thrill-powered influence of my mighty mind spreading across the educational system it should be pointed out that Joe Dredd Junior has been a prefect for many years at my school.

In fact, people are beginning to speculate as to whether he will one day get too old for primary school and be replaced by his younger brother. Nonsense say I. Stubble is no reason to stop wearing short trousers.

Of course, this isn't the first time my ideas have been used in other schools. Otto Sump has been providing school dinners for years!"

Mr XBrunt says - that's pretty cool.

Pete's is my favourite this year, nice idea well executed.

Cristmas isn't Christmas without one of your plum puddings.

Just bought the D.V.D. of White Christmas to replace my Dad's battered V.H.S. He plays it nearly every day of December up to the 25th, and he's had it 10 years at least, so it must have been played a couple of hundred times by now...

Guards! Guards! would be a fun movie.

Ah, the voice of predictability...

The Hobbit.

Get the four relevant cast members back in the same roles, and get Blessed in as Thorin.

Indeed, Jock has done a Tharg and it's in the sketch section of the site. And it is great.

For me it's a coin-toss between Jocks' Tharg and Wils' Shed-con Tharg because of what they mean to me.

Monkey is currently on the comeback trail, with the original cast (bar the late narrator) preparing to give voice to the episodes that weren't screened in this country. Burt Kwouk, Miriam Margoyles and all.

And, yes, he still does magic.

Whatever happened to Mike Batt?

(P.S. If anyone wants a free V.C.D. of Monkey - Episode 1 let me know.)

Noticed a shiney hardback in Waterstones the other day, with a name something along the lines of 'Shadows over Baker Street' which combines Lovecraft with Conan Doyle - probably the two most pastiched writers. I forget the editor but the usual suspects are involved in the writing side, Poppy Z. Brite, Neil Gaiman and so on.

If the 'Banzai Battalion' book is out then that would be perfect, I think.

Slaine retains his own stylee credit boxes. Would other strips benefit from their own boxes?

Mr. Tharg would like a quick word, if that's alright with you...

Borag Thungg Earthlets! I'm glad that the childrens hard work has been so well recieved. They put a lot of time and energy in. I'd like to apologise to Mr. Tully for being unable to use all of his script. It was in many ways entertaining but after several hundred pages Mary and Joseph still hadn't reached Bethlehem...

Mr. XBrunt would also like a word.
Cheers for all the kind words. I wish I'd bothered to do another draft insrtead of just writing it and posting it. There are obvious improvements to be made, to the Shephard bit and others. If I'd had time I'd have written properly inexplicable dialogue for Ace and Halo.

Dredd should have been a prefect, and Lil G.B.H. should have been called G.B.H. (Kid) as well. But you're reaction is greatly appreciated and cheered me right up.

Looking forwards to reading C.'s panto as well.

Tharg - Borag Thungg everyone.

Everyone - Borag Thungg Mr. Tharg.

Tharg - Greetings earthlets and others. I am Tharg,
 educational emerald head master of this...The Galaxies Greatest Primary School! Welcome to this, the annual super sized mega panto. A quick change to your programme before we begin. Young Master Mac Roth will no longer be playing the part of the Inn Keeper due to moral objections from his daddy. In his place is Gideon Junior. And now, if Mr. J-Bo1 will play the overture we'll begin...

(The sound of 'Away in a manger' fades out and a little boy with a big ginger beard staggers out staring into the audience. He's wearing a cardboard star-mask and has another star dangling from his squeeky hammer.)

Wulf - I am de star ov David. I saw vot happened in that yonder stable yonder last christmas. It vas de year dat Ceaser announced de census. Here is Ceaser yonder.

(Little Miss Tyranny Rex enters dressed as a roman soldier. She has an overly large roman helmet on her head, and another on her tail.)

Tyranny - Shatterlight! I don't know how many people I have. Everyone must return to the place they were born and sign a piece of paper! Poppycock!

Wulf - Und so...Der Carpenter Joseph and his vife Mary set out to Bethlehem...

(Mr. Burt picks a guitar up and strangles out the tune to Little Donkey. Johnny Alpha Junior and Little Cassie Anderson enter. Johnny has a tea towel on his head and Cassie has a pillow stuffed up her jumper. Joe Dredd Junior enters wearing a donkeys head.)

Alpha - It. Is. A. Long. W-w-w-w-way to Bethlehem. Mary. You. Ride. Thelittledonkey all the way.

Mary - Yes, Joseph.

Alpha - Wewill...er...

(Mr. Tharg flicks through the script, strikes a match to see it, set's fire to it, stamps it out, and then reads the line to Alpha.)

Tharg - be there in the morning!

Alpha - Be there in the swarming!

(Alpha and Mary stagger off. Dredd follows after them, muttering to himself.)

Dredd - This isn't right. They've made an ass of the law...

(Johnny, Cassie and the Donkey of the future enter again and knock on the cardboard door that stands at the back of the stage)

Johnny - Have. You. A. Room. Attheinn?

(The innkeeper, a giant robotic fighting machine in short trousers and a school cap enters)

Gideon - An-Hi-hi-late!

Johnny - There.Is.No.Roomattheinn. Mary.

Cassie - Well it's Christmas, everyones busy at Christmas*

*Copyright Johnny Speight 1967

Gideon - Anhihilate!

Alpha - He.Says.WE.can.stayinthe stable. IsthatokayMary.

Mary - Yes.

(Cassie slips into a coma and is carried over to the manger set. The pillow is slipped out of her jumper and a baby doll is put in the crib.)

Wulf - In der East Three Wise Men haf seen der star!

(Enter three Wise men. One of them has a crown made by painting his pointy head and ears Yellow, another has a crown made out of his hair, the third has one has a crown so small that he can fit in the palm of his hand.)

Lil Ace - Roger Roger Good buddies. We'd better haul truck and set out for Bethlehem Double fast. Stick another Frankinsense Goofball in the Goom shoot and we'll high tail it Bethlehem side!

(Lil G.B.H. stares out into the audience, turns red and waves at his dad.)

Lil Ace - Okey dokey lug buddies, we'll set off righty righty. Finish your foo break and we'll make headway!

Lil Feek - My Preciouses! My precious! They won't take my precious, no hee hee!

(Lil G.B.H. wets himself and runs off. The other wise-men look startled and then follow singing 'We Three Kings')

Wulf - Und so, der Angel appeared to der Shepherds unt said dey should visit Mary in the stable and see her baby.

(Three Shepherds enter carrying a sheep. They have tea towels on their heads and carry walking sticks twice as big as they are. An angel also enters, wearing a pair of paper wings and a tinsel halo.)

Halo - You must go to the stable and take presents. A new baby has been born who will save us all. It'll be a chop-party!

Lil Finny - Fun...

(Lil Bili slaps a hand over Lil Finnys mouth)

Lil Billy - Like, Rilly, the saviour has been born, we must take a sheep to him.

(The shepherds walk over to where Johnny and Cassie are. They forget to pick up the sheep.)

Sheep - Mr. Finny, Mr.Rex, yous have forgots me!

(The sheep scurries over to the rest of the cast.)

Lil Billy - It's a rilly cute baby who will save us all.

Lil Finny - Jesus Christ.

Lil Dex - Vayase! Aren't you going to add a humourous middle initial and a slightly sacreligious surname?

Lil Finny - On this occasion it doesn't seem appropriate.

(The Three wise men enter and put their gifts down.)

Lil Ace - Roger Roger! I spies the saviour who has been born to save us all!

(The cast sing 'Marys Boy Child' and then stand around in an embarassed group until the parents realise that it's over and start to clap. Mr. Tharg walks onto the stage.)

Tharg - Well, that was lovely. And an excellent effort from all the kids and teachers. Thank you all.

(The parents begin to leave. One rolls over and talks to Tharg!)

Mr. Ro-Jaws - 'Ere Matey, that was alright but where was the twist?

Tharg - Twist? What starts out as a census becomes the salvation of humanity?

Mr Ro-Jaws - But we know that story. Why didn't you add a clever twist, like it turns out they were in a virtual reality prison? Mind you, a story we've seen before many times...sounds like a perfect Future Shock to me...

Tharg - Splundig Vur Thrigg everyone! And a Merry Christmas to all of you at home!