SPEED IT UP

[TordelBack]

The whole Finn-Slaine reincarnation thing seems to be a minor meme with no basis in either series that I'm aware of - can anyone remember if it was a letter in 2000AD that started it?

The only possible in-story link (apart from uncouth-warrior-works-for-well-endowed-magical-lady-to-battle-ancient-aliens-and-their-twisted-human-lackeys) is the bit in Time Killer when another of Pat's Brother Brotors says of Slaine's candidacy for a temporal assassin "...He lacks the noble brow of a great hero... an Arthur... or a Finn!".  Now obviously we're supposed to think Brotor means Finn McCool/Fionn mac Cumhaill, but why not another 'hero' in another time?  Apart from the fact that's it's total bobbins, I mean.

[Robin Low]

The only possible in-story link (apart from uncouth-warrior-works-for-well-endowed-magical-lady-to-battle-ancient-aliens-and-their-twisted-human-lackeys) is the bit in Time Killer when another of Pat's Brother Brotors says of Slaine's candidacy for a temporal assassin "...He lacks the noble brow of a great hero... an Arthur... or a Finn!".  Now obviously we're supposed to think Brotor means Finn McCool/Fionn mac Cumhaill, but why not another 'hero' in another time?  Apart from the fact that's it's total bobbins, I mean.

This raises the alarmingly possibility that Phil Cool is some kind of Eternal Champion.

Or not.

Regards

Robin

[Paul faplad Finch]

While it's never explicitly said, the fact that the characters and story share so much of the same worldview and preoccupations makes it seem that, for the writer at least, Finn was merely Slaine transplanted into the modern day. Perhaps some sort of Eternal Champion type framing would've made it more enjoyable, but didn't he basically do that with Slaine's travels through history

Yeah, that was my thinking at the time and thinking about it, given Pats propensity for linking all his stuff together the thory still holds water

[Paul faplad Finch]

Almost forgot, made a book run today - always feels good to splurge on a pay weekend - and on the recomendation of Rufus I took a chance on the first Charlies War hardback. Thanks for the push Rufus, it was well worth it and I'll definitely be looking into getting the following volumes. The bonus  material did raise a point in my mind though. Pat was obviously extremely passionate about the subject matter and as a result managed to produce a timeless classic. Without wanting to rehash the argument at the top of the thread, I do think it's worth pointing out that if he slowed his output and concentrated on stuff that he can put his soul into, he may possibly win over some of the naysayers.

Oh, Forbidden Planet had every Preacher collection except no. 6. Guess which one I need next. Not wanting to leave under provisioned on the Garth front I picked up War Stories Vol. 1.  Has anybody else read this yet?  Read Johanns Tiger and D-Day Dodgers on the bus ride home and all I can say is Bloody Hell! They were a bit good.

[+rufus+]

I'm really pleased to hear you enjoyed Charlie's War..It's a cracking story, with absolutely beautiful art.
    I'd also recommend picking up the collected Robusters which just came out too if you haven't read them before (or indeed, recently!).. some fantastic robo-tales by Pat Mills,esq. in there... with art by Dave Gibbons, Kevin O'Neill, and Mick McMahon.

Cheer! Ruf

[Steven Sterlacchini]

Just picked Complete Ro-Busters at Hi-Ex! A great read. It's even got the Mick McMahon pages I own.

Steven.

[Devons Daddy]

pat mills
love or loathe
but isnt that what makes him such and enigma
he is brillant or useless,but always alway able to get debate going.

when he is good he is untouchable, when he is off his game, you wonder what he has on the editor to get the stuff printed.
but i think he is a true genuis.

he is a founding father of 2000ad. no higher level of respect needs to be noted. without him this would not be our world.

[+rufus+]

Well Pat, AND Kelvin Gosnell (It was Kelvin who originally suggested a Sci Fi Comic to IPC... and he's never been given his due.)

[Dandontdare]

true - I noticed on that Johnny Hinckleton doc he was credited as "Pat Mills - creator of 2000ad" - some Stalinist revisionism going on? (he did look a lot younger than I imagined though, and no sign of straitjackets or swivelling eyeballs, which was a surprise  )

[IndigoPrime]

some Stalinist revisionism going on?

Doubtful—more likely TV captioning shorthand.

[Leigh S]

to be fair, I think Kelvin Gosnell has always had the credit for suggesting riding the predicted sci-fi wave of 77.  However, while Kelvin got the ball rolling in terms of the theme of the comic, Pat is undeniably the 'creator' of the comic in terms of its attitude and content.

[Dandontdare]

Pat is undeniably the 'creator' of the comic in terms of its attitude and content.

Wouldn't you say Wagner and Grant deserve a share in that credit? Though Pat was clearly the prime mover, I think it's always been a team effort - Ezquerra, Bolland, Gibson, McMahon - I think they had a lot to do with shaping the 'attitude and content' too.

Ah who am I kidding. Pat WAS Tharg, end of!

[Leigh S]

Sure, Wagner and the various editors, including Kelvin himself are huge influences in the direction the comic took, but the man who wrote each and every story in prog 1 and was basically the man given the remit to launch the comic has to be seen as the 'creator' as shorthand.  My parents are my creators, but of course, I've been influenced by a lot more than them since I was born, including Pat - but I wouldnt call him my creator!

[+rufus+]

Err...Kelvin was the first Editor too, and had a hand in creating stuff.

[W. R. Logan]

Wasn't Pat only the editor for the first 9 issues or something like that, plus he didn't write every story in Prog 1, he rewrote other peoples stories for Prog 1.