2000AD Year Two - 1978 in review

Roughly a year ago I composed what was intended to be the first of maaaaaany posts discussing long running sci-fi anthology comic 2000ad, one of my lifelong abiding passions. For reasons that elude even me, it has taken until now for me to pick up the threads for the second post. If you would like to see the story so far, you can find it here... Let's hope it doesn't take me the next 30 years to get up to the current prog, eh?

So then - 1978. Still a little way off peak Toothy, but this is where things start to get much more interesting after the patchy and juvenile fare of the first year. Although some of the launch line up of strips endured into the second calendar year, they were, on the whole, starting to wind down and be replaced by superior, ultimately longer lasting stories. In 1978 we have the first proper Dredd mega-epic (and the start of the second one), and the introduction of some of the signature 2000ad characters who are still seeing publication in the comic to this day. Some of those characters were, admittedly, imports from the first 2000ad spin off, Starlord, a glossier and consequently more expensive comic which, despite outselling 2000ad during its brief existence, ended up being subsumed by its older sibling - an ultimately canny move, which gave the still young comic a bolstered, higher quality line-up and an improved sense of direction. A massive step in the right direction all round! These, then, were the issues and stories published in the earth year 1978:

Progs 46-93, Annual 1979, Sci Fi Special, Dan Dare Annual 1979 (plus Starlord 1-22, Starlord Summer Special)
                                         
Ant Wars
Bonjo from beyond the stars
Colony Earth
Dan Dare
Death Planet
Flesh
Harlem Heroes
Invasion
Judge Dredd
MACH 1/MACH 0
Robo Hunter
Strontium Dog
Tharg's Future Shocks
The Visible Man
Walter the Wobot

And these are the five stories that would make my representative dream prog:

JUDGE DREDD: The Cursed Earth
Progs 61-85, 25 episodes, 164 pages
w Pat Mills, John Wagner, Chris Lowder
a Mike McMahon, Brian Bolland

The first of the perpetually reprinted Judge Dredd mega epics, the Cursed Earth is one of the key stories in the entire canon, and adds a great deal of back story and additional depth and colour to Dredd's world. Unusually for such an important Dredd story, the majority of the writing is done by a writer other than John Wagner, the bulk of the credit traditionally being given to the original Tharg and creator of many of 2000ad's most popular series, Pat Mills, although it is widely acknowledged that the story owes a certain amount to Roger Zelazny's novel Damnation Alley. The Cursed Earth is notable for its episodic quest format (repeated in such later stories as The Judge Child), and consequently the sidelining of the strip's standard fascist cop trappings. It was also notoriously the subject of legal action from McDonalds, Burger King and the Jolly Green Giant which led to 4 episodes of the story never having been reprinted to this day. With its range of anarchic characters, epic scope, dramatic finale and impact on subsequent events, The Cursed Earth is the first of 2000ad's absolute must reads.

STRONTIUM DOG: The Galaxy Killers
Progs 86-94, 9 episodes, 45 pages
w John Wagner
a Carlos Ezquerra

Dredd parents Wagner and Ezquerra's other major joint creation, Strontium Dog originated in Starlord, although Galaxy Killers was the strip's first appearance in 2000ad. Although Dredd and Dog share certain similarities (merciless killing machine with bulky helmet and knee/shoulder/elbow pads dispensing violent justice to frequently bizarre criminals), Dog central character Johnny Alpha is very much an outsider in his world (universe?), and is on the other side of the norm/mutant divide to Dredd (although of course in recent years Dredd himself has developed his own pro-mutant tendencies) and is consequently frequently subject to discrimination and abuse from the people he meets. His stories frequently take place in Firefly style sci-fi/western outpost worlds, and have elements of space travel and intergalactic adventure that are extremely rare in Dredd. Galaxy Killers is by no means the best early example of Alpha, as there had already been superior stories printed that year in Starlord, but it was a solid and suitably epic re-introduction for the character in his new home, and was easily one of the best stories printed in 2000ad in 1978. For Johnny, though, many even better stories would emerge over the coming years.

RO-BUSTERS: Death on the Orient Express
Progs 86-87, 2 episodes, 12 pages
w Pat Mills
a Dave Gibbons

The other set of enduring characters from Starlord, Ro Jaws and Hammerstein of Ro Busters are still featuring in 2000ad to the present day. At the time of the transfer, the original basis for the strip was already reaching its natural end, and it started to morph into what would eventually become the ABC Warriors. A witty, subversive comic, Ro Busters didn't last very long at all, but it remains a fondly remembered strip from 2000ad's early years.

INFERNO
Progs 36-75, 40 episodes, 183 pages
w Tom Tully
a Massimo Belardinelli

The follow up to Harlem Heroes, Inferno is even more violent and extreme, and features some customarily imaginative artwork from Massimo Belardinelli. It is also an incredible 40 episodes long, making it one of the longest single stories in the 37 year history of 2000ad.

MACH 1: The Final Encounter
Progs 61-64, 25 pages
w Pat Mills
a Montero

OMG! They killed Probe!

One of the great things about 2000ad is that, unlike traditional American comics, they are unafraid to kill off popular characters and let them stay dead (apart from Johnny Alpha, grumble, moan). And so, having uncovered the gradually unfolding conspiracy and unpalatable truths about himself and his organisation, 2000ad's most popular character to this point, John Probe, bites the dust, and is never seen again. It's not big, it's not clever, but it's all decent enough fun.


And of the rest? One of the highlights of the year, and my personal favourite debut story, is Robo Hunter's Verdus, but the majority (and the superior sections) of that story was printed in 1979, so I will cover that in the next post. Visible Man is an ok but rather limited strip with a small cult following that I am not part of. Dan Dare is still trying to evolve into a format that works in the post punk era, and is still failing. Ant Wars is a cyclical and repetitive waste of time. Flesh is still going into 1978, and in fact in 2014 is still going, and if nobody knew why in 1978 it's a real mystery why we're still enduring it now. Colony Earth is another example of 2000ad's early material being aimed at a much younger and less demanding audience and is full of deus ex machinas and plot exposition. Invasion is drawing to a close for the time being and isn't making a big splash. Death Planet is a promising if cliched concept (mis-matched survivors crash on inhospitable planet) but does feature 2000ad's first female lead. MACH Zero is MACH One's rather weak and short lived replacement and doesn't live long in the memory.

Covers of the year:
5. Prog 60 by Brian Bolland

4. Prog 76 by Ian Gibson

3. Prog 59 by Mike McMahon

2. Prog 85 by Mike McMahon

1. Prog 61 by Mike McMahon

And that's it for 1978... see you soon when we discuss... 1979!

The Sledgehammer of Eternal Justice

To mark 100 tests of Ian Bell, from the Guardian last summer:

There was a boy. And the boy was doubted.

Over time, the boy became a man. Many runs did He score and many times voices were raised to proclaim His centuries, bringing great joy to His people. And yet still He was doubted.

Some called Him king. The doubters did not call Him king. The doubters saw flaws, His followers saw a man of their ilk, human in His fallibility. The doubters saw weakness, His followers saw a different kind of strength, one that echoed their own path. The doubters spat bile, His followers lifted their shields to deflect those words of hate, and the hate was turned upon them. Though they were few, His followers were bold and had great courage. They bowed their heads and braved the taunts and the endless torture of the beast Magraa in 2005, replayed not on televisions but upon the very plasma screens of their souls.

Springs followed winters. Summers followed springs. Leaves lived and fell. Years passed.

And lo, the Ashes of 2013 began. And lo, He did put the Australian bowlers to the sword with many runs. And the voices were raised in proclaimation to bring the good news of His centuries to the people of the land. Many did flock to the colosseums to see His blade flash and dab down to third man for a couple. The oversized Oompa Loompas, the Bananamen, the Flintstones, the Priests, the Borats, the Super Marios, the Scooby-Doos and Smurf after Smurf after Smurf did lift many a plastic glass in His honour.

And with each run carved into the rock of history did His doubters begin to turn their doubt upon themselves. Their eyes grew afeared as they saw what He had become. But so deep was their doubt that in the dark crevasses and cracks of their hearts they doubted still.

At last He came to the river side. And He did fail. And even those who had never given up hope shook their heads with grief and knew in their hearts that this indeed was a bloody shocking shot quite frankly. They bowed their heads. When they lifted them they saw through the tears the smiles of the doubters, their jagged teeth shining through oily jaws. And this filled their hearts with pity. And with anger. And with that they knew. They knew they still believed. They knew they still had faith.

And lo, they did come to the second dig. His comrades did fall. The sky grew black. But He did not fall. One by one they abandoned in the face of furious attack. But he did not wilt, nor did he fall to his knees and beg for the mercy of the good lord DRS. He stood. And He stood. And He stood. Until at last, with a ropey front foot prod forged from the fires deep within His soul, He made the voices of His people rise once more. For again He was a centurion.

The doubters scattered, bereft and broken. Tears did fill their eyes. Some pleaded for forgiveness. Some donned masks. Some scuttled for the dark and the filth and were welcomed back with open arms that clawed the meat from their bones even as they embraced.

And all was quiet.

The scribes came to Him and they asked him for His words.

"It was," He began, " a good challenge out there."

The scribes wrote his words on their tablets of metal and light, to be saved for the ages. But still they asked for more.

"I was pleased," He boomed, "to score a century."

He paused. Tapes whirred. Ink dripped. Breaths held.

"It was," He said at last, "a good challenge."

And the scribes were happy. For though he had no kingly words he had a kingly bearing and his with his actions he had shown he was indeed kingly.

The doubters were gone. And in their place grew hope. And the land rejoiced and sang His name.

And His name was Ian Ronald Bell.

Fart Soundboard

Farts

13 Inappropriate Moments That Prove Comics Are Made By Total Perverts

Pervs

Fellow Passengers 2

Those indicators are there for a reason
And so are the speed limits
You massive wanker

Fellow Passengers 1

Every day, there you are
Flinty glares for everyone through slitted eyes
Except when you're rolling them
Folded arms, hair scraped back
Rocking the all over black look
Like you need to look any thinner
When what you really need
Is to look about 25 years younger
Like all the skinny bints at work
Titillating your sweaty blob of a boss
Perhaps you were his favourite once
When your face was a little less sour
And your soul was a little less drained
All those years of accumulating power and wealth
In place of love
Have a nice evening
All alone with your wads of cash
That you'll probably never spend
As that'd mean working up some enthusiasm
And why enjoy yourself
When you can have a good scowl instead
With your strangely ill fitting rubber mouth
Like Cruella De Ville spliced with Mr Bean
Perhaps you could have been a panto dame
Instead of a pitiless, dried out husk

All the best jobs

The poultry/innuendo interface

Nothing is more deserving of the title Amazeballs than this

A valuable institution

Can't say fairer than this

Men and cats = wrong

I wish to devour the unborn

Duchess of Malfi at Shakespeare's Globe 16/2/2014

Brilliant day out last Sunday at the final performance of the first play staged in the Globe's brand new indoor (and purely candlelit!) stage, the Sam Wannamaker Playhouse. Always wanted to see this one as I mentioned it during my dissertation without actually knowing an awful lot about it. 14 years too late, but it was a really excellent watch. Highlights: lights going out in the 4th act and Gemma Arterton, being tortured by her psychotic twin brother, finds herself clutching what she believes to be her husband's severed hand; some serious heaving bosoms; unexpected singing and dancing; Jacobean smut and gore.

St Vincent live at O2 Shepherd's Bush 20/2/14

St. Vincent in Shepherd's Bush last night - glorious. Guitar wig-outs, ludicrous dancing, pretty ladies, crazy hair, great tunes - what more could you ask for?

Some photos from the actual night rather than videos from other places over the last week or so:
http://www.thelineofbestfit.com/photos/live-photo-gallery/st-vincent-at-londons-shepherds-bush-empire-146472?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+thelineofbestfit+(The+Line+Of+Best+Fit)

And a spot on review:
http://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/music/st-vincent-o2-shepherds-bush-empire--music-review-9143831.html

Squint and you can possibly see us (top left corner):

Frankie and Romana - end of first week

More photos of our new cats!

Valentine's Day disaster story

From the forums of the Guardian website (article on terrible Valentine's Day experiences):

Oh hands down the worst, though darkly amusing, Valentines Day I ever experienced was about 1998 when I was in my second year at University.
I had quite the unrequited crush on this rather fine young lady, and Valentines day rolls around and I think, well, fuck it, I'll have some flowers sent round, seeing as I was struggling to work up the nerve to declare my intentions and thought at least I could somehow claim the day with a gesture; which with the benefit of hindsight was without doubt the pinnacle of the triumph of hope over experience of my life to date.
So I pick out some flowers, a bunch of lilies (just outre enough to deliver a riposte to the bourgeois rose purchasing classes infesting the campus, but not so avante garde as to seem like I was trying too hard. I got the balance just right and my God, I was the fucking man). It was as this point I should have realised that myself and hubris make a fractious alliance, and that the £20 I was handing over would be far better spent on pints of Bank's Mild.
So I scribble the first thing that comes into my head, a few lines from Blakes "The sick rose". This should have set alarm bells ringing, but it never clicked until later that in my attempt to give my beloved from afar a hint of brooding and dark yearning, what I had actually done was dedicate a verse to her about maggots lurking in the velvety folds of a ripe bud. I may as well have sent a VHS copy of a German shizer porno and have done with it.
But anyway it worked extremely well surprisingly. I got back to my flat, poured myself a bracer, lit a cigarette up and reflected on the various possibilities that could occur, when I could hear my flatmates bed springs hammering as though the fellow was drilling for oil. There were screams, moans, enough to raise an eyebrow and consider putting on Neighbours to drown it out.
And then I saw that fucking bunch of lilies in the kitchen whilst I was hunting for an ashtray.
Oh, she'd loved those lilies. So much so in fact, she'd gone to the flower shop to ask who ordered them, and the owner being caught up in it all had happily given a description of my bastard flatmate who'd been there with me when I bought them. The rest of it is self explanatory, but it gets better. Oh yes, the day wasn't quite through with me yet.
The doorbell goes, and in walks my now getting banged senseless paramours housemate who has just been dumped by her boyfriend (and I use the term loosely), looking for her so she can have a good old cry. Well, clearly her afternoon is fully booked up, so of course she sits down and starts rattling on.
Not only is her boyfriend dumping her, but apparently he is doing it to spare her a life of pain as he has just discovered he has a rare condition that means he is slowly going blind. Quite the advantage I would have thought, because with the best will in the world, and without wishing to be unduly harsh, this girl would have not been out of place guarding the entrance to Mordor.
And so it came to pass on Valentines Day that I sat drinking raw scotch out of the bottle, listening to fucking Gollum going on about how he was the first man she'd met coming off the docks from shore leave who'd stuck around the morning after. Great. The life story of a weeping dock haunting Orc telling me all about how shitty all this trade she's picked up over the months had all developed strange medical conditions, and all set to the soundtrack of the girl I had dreamt of from afar getting smashed in the next room.

Cliff on Morrissey - a truly priceless interview

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-26169718

"Jerks"

Camera falls out of plane, lands in pig pen

Police swoop on man in banana costume seen wielding an assault rifle

http://metro.co.uk/2014/02/10/police-swoop-on-man-in-banana-costume-seen-wielding-an-assault-rifle-4298074/

Giant robot bear in New York

‘Severed heads’ found at restaurant ‘serving human flesh’

http://metro.co.uk/2014/02/12/nigeria-human-flesh-served-at-restaurant-in-anambra-4300735/

Rain, rain, go away....

 Wettest winter in 250 years has unexpected consequences

Christopher Barry 1925-2014

http://www.doctorwhonews.net/2014/02/christopher-barry-1925-2014.html

Traveller turns the commute into a world of cartoon fun

http://metro.co.uk/2014/02/10/im-on-the-train-into-toon-traveller-turns-the-commute-into-a-world-of-cartoon-fun-4298958/

Romana and Frankie - our new cats!

On Saturday (8th Feb) we acquired two lovely two year old rescue cats, who had come from an abusive household. We were expecting a nervous start from both of them. Within an hour they were already sitting on us. These are our first photos:
Frankie
 Romana

 
 
 


And the people they are named after: Lalla Ward as Romana (II) from Doctor Who, and Frank Black (aka Black Francis) of the Pixies

Best Doctor Who Non-Fiction Books

The Making of Doctor Who by Terrance Dicks and Malcolm Hulke (1972)

The Unfolding Text by John Tulloch and Manuel Alvaredo (1983)

Special Effects by Mat Irvine (1986)

Cybermen by David Banks (1988)

The Sixties/ The Seventies/ The Eighties by David J Howe, Stephen James Walker and Mark Stammers (1992/94/96)

A History by Lance Parkin (1996 on)

Ace! by Sophie Aldred and Mike Tucker (1996)

The Television Companion by David J Howe and Stephen James Walker (1998)

From A to Z by Gary Gillatt (1998)

I, Who - the unauthorised guide to Doctor Who novels by Lars Pearson (1999)

Howe's Transcendental Toybox by David J Howe (2000 on)

On Location by Richard Bignelll (2001)

About Time series by Tat Wood and Laurence Miles (2004 on)

The Target Book by David J Howe (2007)

The TARDIS Handbook by Steve Tribe (2010)

Wiped! by Richard Molesworth (2010)

Running Through Corridors by Robert Shearman and Toby Hadoke (2010)

Adventures with the wife in space by Neil Perryman (2013)