Star Scans - why?

[Bad Andy]

Reading through the Prog 1550 thread, I am clearly alone in thinking that Star Scans are a waste of a page. I don't see the point in a different artist re-interpreting key moments from Tooth's history - usually much worse than the original.

I'd rather see anything else on these pages. Even Roxilla. Well maybe not, but something original like the Future shorts or the Futuregraphs (below).

Please convince me that I'm wrong so I can get full enjoyment out of my prog.http://www.2000adonline.com/covers/scans/hires/713.jpg">

[Richmond Clements]

Why? Because they're a good way to fill an odd page!

[robbycox]

Graphic proof they should stay!http://www.2000adonline.com/functions/cover.php?Comic=scans&choice=658">

[robbycox]

try again

[Peter Wolf]

   I had the same thoughts about some of the covers and artists on the covers of some of the EEs that were recreating scenes from the strips inside . I would rather have seen an original piece of art from the strip on the cover rather than an interpritation or a cover form the comic that was featuring the strip in question that week .

[robbycox]

I give up!

[Funt Solo]

What Robby was trying to show us:

http://www.2000adonline.com/covers/scans/hires/173.jpg" />

I love star scans - and because it's a single page of (sometimes) excellent art, I just can't see it as a waste of space.

There are so many great examples - and many of them not even recorded on the database here.  I love 'em, and I want more of 'em.  If one of the strips was taken down to four pages, there'd be room in the prog, as well.

[ming]

I always loved Starscans, and still think they add a special something to the Prog.  We don't have to have them all the time, but now and again, they're good as a special treat, and for me at at least, provide a sense of occasion in the same way that wraparound covers used to (and still do).

The fact that these came back at all is great, and some recent thrills should certainly get a look-in as well as the current crop from the Thrill-vaults.  In the end, they add to the diversity of the Prog, which can be no bad thing, eh?

Can we have a Stickleback scan please, Greenbonce?

Link: http://www.2000adonline.com/?zone=fan&page=messagethread&choice=18647&Replies=29" target="_blank">Starscans thread

http://www.2000adonline.com/functions/cover.php?Comic=scans&choice=658">

[ming]

Bah - tried to fix Robby's first link and just pasted in his original one by mistake.http://www.2000adonline.com/covers/scans/hires/658.jpg">

[Pete Wells]

I can't be bothered to write it all out again so I've cutted and pasted my original soppy plea from the Starscans thread.

I'm with Ming on this one. If you go to the Starscans section of this site there's some absolutely AMAZING, quality stuff there which really did serve a valid, very positive purpose.

Some examples of this are the Bisley Joe Pinapples one which proudly states "He's heading your way in Prog 573." Cool! This generated much more excitement for upcoming stories than the squashed little 'coming soon' frame on the input page these days.

I liked how starscans gave some artists a chance to be a bit more experimental, abstract or humourous (602, 632, 868, 1070), a real oportunity to produce a quality image that perhaps wouldn't work as a cover but enhanced a stip or character no end. They're also a nice way to see artists working on characters they may not usually get a chance to paint - I'd like to see a Rufus Nikolai Dante starscan for example.

When I was younger I actively looked forward to starscans that were like a mini-series (things like Garry Leach's amazing Dark Judges series - I remember actually being excited for the Mortis one!), Cliff Robinson's Justice Dept series, Robin Smith's Creator Droids, Mick Austin's Quirky 'future' series and even Dillon's Harlem Heroes set.) To me, all of these add something to a story and/or the prog in gerneral.

I certainly wouldn't mind seeing the yawnsville letters page sacrifced every now and again for one some of the wonderful images in the starscans section (Ian Gibson's Anderson one (prog 596) is stunning.)

With the current slew of graphic novels, starscans can only serve as quality extras and would also give plenty of material for shop items like the 2000ad Postcards or cool posters.

I realise that money is tight for 2000ad but I'd love to see a Dredd Villains starscan series, an ABC warriors set, ads for Mega City Fads, an updated classic album covers series or strips from yesteryear set.

What (if anything) would you lot like?

I'd also like to add what I said in the Complete Dredd thread - As comic readers we like stories and art and I'm going to get as excited about some new Jock or McMahon artwork as I would be for a new Wagner or Moore script. Star scans are the dogs!

[Funt Solo]

http://www.2000adonline.com/covers/scans/hires/184.jpg" />

http://www.2000adonline.com/?zone=covers&page=scans">See more.

[Dudley]

Andy -

I'm with you, but have always assumed until now I was alone.  

The old Star Scans were sometimes great, but nothing since about prog 700 has really floated my boat.

[Matt Timson]

I think Star Scans are OK if they're any good- but three seemed a bit much, especially as one of them was shit.

[Tweak72]

I like it in trade paperbacks (TP) when you se the development sketches and the roughs for things like covers or page lay ours or doodles that the artist has done (the best one for this at the moment is Invincible by Robert Kirkman, which has bucked the trend by continuing to show this kind of work in all 8 collected books rather then dropping them after the first couple of books. and Robert Kirkman always writes a cool bit about the work that Cory Walker and Ryan Ottley have done and how they work togeather which gives you a cool idea of how a writer and artest should work together. THARG, I HOPE YOUR PAYING ATTENTION! WE NEED MORE OF THAT KINDA THING IN THE 2000ad TP)
Probably why I love it when I get to see this kind of thing is you really get to see the artist doing his thing whilst having fun. And the earliest thing like this I remember is the star scans in 2000ad. whilst I have grown to have awe and appreciation for the writers, it was  the artists craft that I loved as a kid and so would spend hours just looking at the pictures as a kid.
Letting it tell its story with out to many words
Star scans are cool.

[Tweak72]

http://www.2000adonline.com/functions/cover.php?Comic=scans&choice=535">