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After getting the Friday night off confirmed, I've booked both nights at the Mercure. The first pint's on Commando Forces!

[OFFICIAL LIST OF THE MOST RIDICULOUS PARTS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM WHERE MY MOM HAS BEEN SERVICED]

OFFICIAL LIST OF THE MOST RIDICULOUS PARTS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM WHERE MY MOM HAS BEEN SERVICED

1. N. Ireland
2. Wales
3. Scotland
4. North of England
5. South of England

FTFY.

Ukko? Explain yourself, man!

In the introduction to the original Titan collection, Pat revealed that in response to a poll on readers' favourite comedy characters Richard Burton insisited that Sláine's sidekick be based on Jimmy Krankie, equating the abusive relationship with with the classic duo.

(Statement may contain lies, or traces of damn lies).

Nevertheless, Ukko and Slaine (pronounced "Ee-an") are tainted forever by the sleazy, swinging Krankies.

I'm struggling to call to mind any contributions from Sean Connery, Billy Connoly or Jimmy Krankie.

Possibly not to the Prog, but definitely the Meg: in addition to The Bogie Man (ft. Connery-analogue), I think you're forgetting* a little strip called CalHab Justice.   And then there's Ukko.



*And seeing as I can't, I don't see why you should.

Ukko? Explain yourself, man!

"When I think of the hairdressing career I should have had, I get SO FRUSTRATED!"

Personally I think the Spanish contribution has been pretty strong, which I guess makes me a lilly-livered Europhile.

That occurred to me too - 2000AD's creative core was, initially strongly towards Scottish writers and Spanish artists. Perhaps they both like whisky and getting their oats (porridge that is, the fuel of a nation).

It was common for comics companies to use artists from Spain, Italy and, to some extent, South America because they were cheaper.

WOW! You're quick! Big thanks, Emp. I'll take a proper look when the smallest screaming child is in bed.

I've heard many good things about Wagner and Kennedy's work on Boba Fett, although I've never read it.

Can anyone point me in the right direction?

- Trout

In my opinion, there is parochialism in it. I already said so.

It's not nationalist because it's not a political story. It's also a common theme in newspapers here, just as newspapers in, for example, Cornwall will write about people from Cornwall. I already said that, too.

As for whether it's true, that's a matter of opinion. I think it would be more accurate to say that a lot of people who trained at DC Thomson, a company which happens to be in Scotland, went on to work for 2000AD. That's because DC Thomson was good at that kind of training.

That's my last contribution to this discussion.

- Trout

I didn't say the paper didn't have a political agenda. It does, and it's not a nationalist one.

I said the article's focus on Scotland isn't political. A lot of people in this country think that way. It's part and parcel of the shared heritage that gives Scots a national identity.

"Stop laughing at me for paying two grand for my outfit!"

I have to say one of my biggest comic memories is the tartan cover with Kenny Who on it. As a child this had a big impact that here was a Scottish character in the Big Meg. It made me very happy that Scotland was recognised as a place existing in my favourite fictional world.

I dunno, Im not really explaining this well but without the Scottish contingent I wouldn't have that great memory.

Anyhoo cheers to all the creators and long may they continue to give good prog!

By the way, it took me a whole 24 hours after meeting Cam Kennedy's wife Isobel before I realised: "HOOTS! THAT WAS IZZY WHO?"

She even looks like the character in the comic.

It's only a skirt if you have underwear on. 

I don't think we should be encouraging this as a defining quality of skirts.

One of the most difficult things about wearing a kilt is the way it can turn women into sex offenders. They're always trying to lift kilts to see if men really have no underwear on. It's funny the first few times but eventually you have to bellow: "I'm trying to drink beer here! Piss off!"

Splitting the contributions between English, Welsh, Northern Irish and Scots is a totally reductive way of looking at British comics, but then we're going to see more and more of this from Scottish nationalists whose agenda is there's no such thing as British.

Personally I think the Spanish contribution has been pretty strong, which I guess makes me a lilly-livered Europhile.

You'll be English, then?

And wrong.

This newspaper article doesn't display a political agenda. It's a Scottish newspaper writing a story designed to interest its market. Every newspaper here does it. It's perhaps a little parochial but you shouldn't look for an agenda that simply doesn't exist.

Mind you, you should look up the Sunday Herald's ABC figures. Ouch.

As for Scottish nationalists, I believe they do recognise that Britishness exists, but they see it as something that other people have. It's easy to assume that their focus on Scotland and its people involves some negativity towards England but, frankly, England isn't on the radar. That's kind of the point of it all.

I think that Scottish people are stupid and they are all chronic alcoholics. And they wear skirts.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to thrash my servants.

It's only a skirt if you have underwear on. 

- Trout

Jose Dredd? Where does that come from? I thought he was supposed to be black.

As for the floppy: bloody hell. It reads like a couple of rejected Starblazer submissions. Utter tosh.

- Trout