News

There now follows a public service announcement from Gosh!

And don't forget, last week's comics came out yesterday.

THE LAW MUSCLES IN

I've mentioned my love of the Daily Star Judge Dredd strip compilations before, but I'll say it again - THESE THINGS ARE AMAZING! Every time I pull one of the old collections off my shelf, I'm struck by the sheer quality of the comics contained therein. Honestly, there's gold on every single page!

The strip below is, in my opinion, almost perfect. Six panels that tell a complete story, showcase Mega City One AND throw a spotlight on some classic Dredd dickery! Writer John Wagner and artist Ron Smith at the top of their game. Enjoy...

Scans from The Judge Dredd Collection Volume Two, IPC Magazines 1985

Yesterday's comics tomorrow!

Greetings imaginary web chums. It's new comic day tomorrow!

New comics on Tuesday?

Well, newish comics. Last week's to be precise.

As I'm sure you know, the great volcano has finally stopped spouting its ashy spooge all over our airspace, and the comic planes have taken to the sky once more. They drop their payloads on Blighty tomorrow. Joy unconfined!

As yet there is no word on when this week's books will reach our shores. No matter, here's what I'll be picking up from last week's delayed arrivals...

Gravel #18

Some day I will sit down and read this series in its entirety. I've fallen horribly behind on it, which makes no sense given how much I like it. The old problem with all Warren Ellis's Avatar books is still there - namely that the main character is actually Warren Ellis (or at least a version of Warren Ellis) - but that doesn't make the book bad. I like its Brit noir/occult feel and the dark humour that bubbles under the surface. Might sit down and read the lot this week actually.

Green Lantern #53

Blackest Night is done with. T'was alright as events go. The last issue of the mini was actually very good; an exciting, satisfactory resolution to the story. Yeah, we all knew the White Lantern thing was going to happen, but it was still handled well. All the gubbins with Sinestro sets things up nicely for Green Lantern proper too.

I have to say, that I'm less in love with Green Lantern than I was a year ago, but it remains one of my favourite mainstream spandex titles. Now that we've finally put all the zombie shenanigans to bed I'm hopeful that it can start to pick up speed again.

Joe The Barbarian #4

I've heard a few whispers from folk who haven't been enjoying this. Nothing hugely critical. Just the odd moan that it's all been done before. Strange, I think it's top notch. The writing is beautiful, much gentler than Morrison's usual style. The art is really special, and the reveal at the end of issue three has me excited about issue 4.

Guaranteed to be read on the day of purchase.

Rebels #15

Great super-powered space opera with a suitably large cast - this is a series that takes some effort to follow in monthly format. I've fallen slightly behind and could do with a bit of a refresher before I pick it up again. If you haven't checked it out, it's well worth picking up in trade. The revamp of Starro is one of the great villain reboots of recent years.

Custom Magic card genius

Anyone who has ever played Magic will like this...

From HERE

John Byrne does Green Lantern

Here's Gil Kane's cover for Green Lantern #40 (1965)...

And here's John Byrne's version (2010)...

Check out more great homages, (including a couple of humdingers by friend of LLC, Lord Hurk), on the Covered blog.

Byrne's probably the biggest name to pitch up so far, but there are a number of notable indie artists on the site. While some of the covers are a little to close to the originals for my liking, there are plenty of good ones to make up for the occasional trace job.

Puntastic!

Don't worry, he's armless.

Scan from Batman #509, July 1994

The Orb speaks!

This is just such a great piece of villainous dialogue...

Obviously, the inescapable death trap proves to be eminently escapable.

Still, top marks for effort.

I love The Orb

Scan from Ghost Rider #14, reprinted in Essential Ghost Rider Volume One.

Like a superpowered Larry Grayson...

"Ooh, I love what you've done with your hair Spider-Girl"

At last, it can be revealed!

The reason for the blog outage over the last couple of weeks? I've been on holiday. I was going to say something, but the missus said that if I did, one of you might twig that our house was empty and burgle me. I know Mr Salmond covets my Heroclix collection, and that Big Dave F still hankers after that Tomb of Terror issue I borrowed off him in 1985 and never returned, so I decided to go with the woman's instinct and shutdown without explanation.

Anyway, I'm back now, just. We've been in the States and foolishly booked to return home on the day that the Icelandic volcano started spunking its load. The pilot told us that we probably wouldn't be taking off from Chicago but, after a 50 minute wait, he got word that we had a 10-minute window in which to get airborne. As we were approaching Blighty, he came on the intercom to let us know that we'd scraped into British airspace with four minutes to spare before the no-fly zone was enforced. Blimey. Apparently, and I shit you not here, we were the last plane to land at Heathrow. Having used up my luck then, I fully expect my next flight to end in a mid-Atlantic terrorist attack. Happy Days.

While I was away I read No Hero, (Warren Ellis Avatar book with lovely Juan Jose Ryp art), which was pretty good. Powr Mastrs Volume 1, by the mysterious and brilliant C.F., (as recommended by Hayley of Gosh! fame), which was a bad trip of a masterpiece. The Starman Omnibus vol 3. And, (drumroll), a book with no pictures: The City and The City, by China Mieville, (as recommended by Jared of Pornokitsch fame).

More on Powr Mastrs and The City and The City in future blog posts. For now, I'm off to shit out the remainder of the Twinkies, Hersheys and hamburgers I've been stuffing my face with for the last two weeks. Adios, web pals - look out for falling lava.

I am alive

and normal service will be resumed next week. Just thought I'd say, like.

Briefly

Hello chums. No April Fool from me this year. I'm too busy with da kiddie, innit! Have a look at last year's effort if you like. Or check THIS out. Might be for real, might be an April Fool. Not sure, looks pretty cool either way.