2000AD & The Meg

[JPickford]

[Darren]

Heh, I thought this was a new thread! Hey Darren still reading?

Yep, I'm still reading and mostly loving it! But for some reason I've overlooked this thread for months...

I got the complete Ro-Busters book for Christmas which brought back so many childhood memories. I can remember which chair I was sitting on in my grandad's kitchen when I read the last Terra-Meks episode (the one with all the people singing you'll never walk alone to Charlie). I think I might have cried a bit at the time.

[Pioscene]

Shamballa's brilliant. One of my fave Anderson tales.

The first of the full-colour Dredd collections is out beginning of January.

Volume 12 of the Complete Dredd Files turned up today from Amazon, after a month-long wait for them to get more stock in. This is classic era Dredd, 88-89. It's not as good value as the B&W volumes though, being about half the size of the largest, and only half of it is in colour (it's also £18.99 RRP).

[Ste Pickford]

I thought this week's Judge Dredd story was a cracker. A one off, and not by John Wagner, but still good.

It captured some of that old-school ridiculous menace that I haven't seen in his character much recently. I love the idea that he's such a jobs-worth that if you stopped a bank robbery by jumping on an escaping robber, he'd thank you then lock you up for assault or jaywalking or something. That even talking to the guy is a big risk as he's bound to spot some law you've broken and lock you up, even if you just asked him the time. That's Judge Dredd to me.

[AK Bell]

I just started getting this again a couple of weeks ago. It's alright. Bit more shallow that I remember. Still a few gems keeping me interested so far though.

In 2000AD, Necrophim stood out for me. A nicely realised world that has drawn me in. But the rest of it seems all gloss and no content. Even Judge Dread is some kind of serial plot that draws too much away from the story they are trying to tell this week.

Megazine has been a better read. This issues Dread comic reminded me of what I enjoyed about it. Insurrection looks like a good story (that I've as good as missed), and the interviews are the best bit.

Tank Girl can go fuck off and die. What a load of shite.

[AK Bell]

Anyone else think that the Nikolai Dante currently running is a bit crap?

We're 3 parts in now and it still seems like they are setting the scene and not started the bloody story yet.

Highlights in this weeks 2000AD are a fun Past Imperfect, with some witty-if-cliche dialogue, and Necrophim is still very entertaining. The Low-Life cover looks fantastic too.

All in all, it's been a good month and I'm sticking with the comic. Glad I started again.

[Ste Pickford]

I'm enjoying all the current stories, particularly the art in Low Life.

I was delighted to stumble across the blog of the strip's artist D'Israeli, where he goes into incredible detail about the techniques he uses when drawing the strip, almost on a panel by panel basis.

Absolutely essential reading for anyone interested in creating comics.

[AK Bell]

That's amazing stuff. No wonder he gets so much detail in. That kind of drawing isn't a mile away from what draftsmen do.

I used to draw comic books when I was but a wee lad and in just a decade or so things are so different thanks to technology.

[Ste Pickford]

I used to draw comic books when I was but a wee lad and in just a decade or so things are so different thanks to technology.

Yeah, me too. When I drew little comics as a kid I was at least using the same materials and techniques as the pros, just with a much lower ability. Looking at how he works, drawing in pencil on a sheet of paper then inking over the top is miles away from the techniques he's using.

Some of the skills I've learnt making video games would actually be really useful doing his job!

[Ste Pickford]

Haha! Just seen this on YouTube -

! I confess I don't remember seeing this on telly at the time.

[AK Bell]

Megazine week. Yey. New Dread story started off well, excellent Black Museum and crappy Tank Girl has finished. With Insurrection ending too so it should be mostly new stuff next month.

As for 2000AD, Cradlegrave is looking really good. I don't know where they are going to go with that. The boring Dread story ended too so hopefully something better next month. Zombo went a bit 'meh' after a strong opener.

[smac]

Haha! Just seen this on YouTube -

! I confess I don't remember seeing this on telly at the time.

I do - s'why I went out and bought it. I remember the first three progs having cover-mounts - wasn't one of them a cardboard X-Wing, to tie into the Star Wars movie released in the UK that year? Or am I getting confused with another comic?

I also remember my parents buying into the media-led panic about the 'horrific' Dan Dare strip and having a talk to me about the content . . .

[Ste Pickford]

Zombo went a bit 'meh' after a strong opener.

That Zombo first episode totally reminded me of a strip from the start of Star Lord comic - Planet of the Damned? The bit where the foolish person bites into an alien fruit and dies horribly. That image really affected me as a kid. Wonder if it was a deliberate nod to that strip?

[womblingfree]

I stumbled into a small basement shop in London years ago which was selling original 2000AD artwork petty cheaply. IPC must have been having a clear-out.

I picked up a Berlandinelli page from Ace Trucking Co. for about a fiver, the one where Ace first meets the pirate fella and has his point cut off. Wish I'd bought a few more.

Wonder what I did with it?

[Pioscene]

I stumbled into a small basement shop in London years ago which was selling original 2000AD artwork petty cheaply. IPC must have been having a clear-out.

I picked up a Berlandinelli page from Ace Trucking Co. for about a fiver, the one where Ace first meets the pirate fella and has his point cut off. Wish I'd bought a few more.

Wonder what I did with it?

It wasn't the Beehive was it? I bought a load of Ron Smith panels from them after they moved from their basement shop.

[Ste Pickford]

I stumbled into a small basement shop in London years ago which was selling original 2000AD artwork petty cheaply. IPC must have been having a clear-out.

I picked up a Berlandinelli page from Ace Trucking Co. for about a fiver, the one where Ace first meets the pirate fella and has his point cut off. Wish I'd bought a few more.

Wonder what I did with it?

/cry.

I'd absolutely love a Belardinelli page!

[theredstar]

Is there anywhere you can get original artwork from today?

[womblingfree]

It wasn't the Beehive was it? I bought a load of Ron Smith panels from them after they moved from their basement shop.

No idea. I used to frequent a few comic shops around London; the old Forbidden planet, Gosh and the one near the umbrella shop. I don't think I ever found this one again. It must have been in the late 80's that I bought the page.

I actually have no idea where it is now, possibly in my parents garage. It's quite intersting to see original artwork. All the speech bubbles stuck on by hand. Berlandinelli was always my favourite artist, followed by Ezquerra, although his early Dredd was a bit weird.

I gave up on 2000AD in the early 90's when they changed the format to some kind of weird new paper and turned Tharg into someone that would have looked at home in Brother Beyond. That and the fact that my Dad cancelled my subscription.

[Ste Pickford]

Is there anywhere you can get original artwork from today?

There's quite often art for sale on ebay, but it's always at insane prices (several hundred pounds for a dull page of a forgotten strip by an obscure artist, and just ridiculous if it's anything you recognise).

[scissorkicks]

I've got a page of Steve Dillon Judge Dredd artwork. Bought it in the late 80s, and criminally only recently got it framed. It's yellowed a bit - entirely my fault.

It's not the most exciting page - penultimate page from a Christmas story involving Mean Machine Angel - hence its cheapness meaning the teenage me could afford to buy it. I love looking at all the strokes (looks like Dillon used brushes for much of the texturing then - no idea if he still does) and the lettering. It's a lovely look "under the bonnet", if you will.

[Ste Pickford]

I've got a page of Steve Dillon Judge Dredd artwork. Bought it in the late 80s, and criminally only recently got it framed. It's yellowed a bit - entirely my fault.

It's not the most exciting page - penultimate page from a Christmas story involving Mean Machine Angel - hence its cheapness meaning the teenage me could afford to buy it. I love looking at all the strokes (looks like Dillon used brushes for much of the texturing then - no idea if he still does) and the lettering. It's a lovely look "under the bonnet", if you will.

I've got a couple of pages of Hunt Emerson's Phenomenomix comic strip (from Fortean Times), bought direct from the artist through his website years ago. They're one of my most prized possessions, and hang framed on my wall where my drawing desk is. Amazingly fine brushwork that inspires and terrifies my in equal measure. Seeing all his tippex marks, and not-quite-rubbed-our pencil lines is brilliant too.

[Stilly]

There's quite often art for sale on ebay, but it's always at insane prices (several hundred pounds for a dull page of a forgotten strip by an obscure artist, and just ridiculous if it's anything you recognise).

I'd love an original Ezquerra but maybe when I've won the lottery!

[momomo]

Forbidden Planet (old shop) and Comic showcase (on Neal street). Used to have hundreds of original pages at about £70 a pop.

i remember when they had all the pages for the Watchmen in. Those go ludicrous amounts now

[Pioscene]

£350 for a Dark Judges page is just mental talk, though.

It's gorgeous though. I'd be all over it if I had the cash.

[Stilly]

I've not read 2000AD in 6 months. Any Dredd highlights that I've missed?

[cassidy]

I've not read 2000AD in 6 months. Any Dredd highlights that I've missed?

I ended my sub this yr myself. So havent kept up. However I believe 1650 is due this week and its the new jumping on point issue.

I'm tempted as a new Dredd Mega epic is starting. Involving Dredd who is currently exiled to the cursed earth, a new Council of Judges and the fallout of the new mutie laws. Oh and a certain Mayor of MC1 who also happens to be one of the most prolific serial killers is majorly involved.

It sounds awesome to be honest.

[michael]

OK, so after spotting Prog 1650 in the newsies, I caved and bought it. My first 2000AD in what... about 10 years? Probably more, to be honest. A bit surprised that there's only three stories in there, but I imagine there'll be a few more next week if the trails within are to be believed

The Dredd story looks interesting - this is the start of a new huge storyline, yeah? I remember the halcyon days of Necropolis, the invasion by the Sovs... though randomly my favourite tale was probably when Dredd went to Ireland. Is there anywhere on the interwebs that can give me a brief rundown on what's happened in recent(ish) Mega City One History? Do they still have Supersurfs (fuck me, Chopper's Odyssey, what artwork! And what a story!)? Is Texas City still there? And what's the deal with mutants in the Big Meg?

[cassidy]

OK, so after spotting Prog 1650 in the newsies, I caved and bought it. My first 2000AD in what... about 10 years? Probably more, to be honest. A bit surprised that there's only three stories in there, but I imagine there'll be a few more next week if the trails within are to be believed

The Dredd story looks interesting - this is the start of a new huge storyline, yeah? I remember the halcyon days of Necropolis, the invasion by the Sovs... though randomly my favourite tale was probably when Dredd went to Ireland. Is there anywhere on the interwebs that can give me a brief rundown on what's happened in recent(ish) Mega City One History? Do they still have Supersurfs (fuck me, Chopper's Odyssey, what artwork! And what a story!)? Is Texas City still there? And what's the deal with mutants in the Big Meg?

In answer to your last question the mutie's come from the last big epic which found Dredd in the Cursed Earth again, and IIRC ended up saving a fair few mutants from camps where they were being abused, realised the policy was wrong and managed to persuade Hershey to implement the new Law allowing Muties into MC1. Thats upto where I stopped subscribing. So this next bit is 2nd hand. Some really popular Judge got attacked by humans disguised as muties, resulting in MC1 losing faith in Hershey, resulting in her being sent to a Moon colony and a new council of Judges.

Is there nothing in wikipedia? Or on the 2000ad forums?

[michael]

Wikipedia's got infomation, but it's really dry - I'd sooner hear it from the slavering fans, you know? I'll head to the 2000AD forums and see if there's any historians there.

Quick question though - why did Dredd get chucked out into the Cursed Earth again?

[cassidy]

Wikipedia's got infomation, but it's really dry - I'd sooner hear it from the slavering fans, you know? I'll head to the 2000AD forums and see if there's any historians there.

Quick question though - why did Dredd get chucked out into the Cursed Earth again?

I dont know sorry.