For comic lovers in the UK

[RMA]

I was a fervent Marvel fan in the '80s and early '90s, kinda started spending my money on beer and women after that and lost interest in what gladly (in hindsight) seems to be the right time (*cough* Clone Saga *cough*). Now, my comics are all bagged, boarded and boxed but I've started to pick up some of the more highly regarded recent stuff in TPB as well as some of the nicely presented classic stuff.

Thought y'all might be interested in hearing that Waterstones have a 3 for 2 offer on at the moment. Picked up Marvel Zombies, Death of the Stacys and Justice HB's and have just put down the Death of the Stacys. Tremendous stuff...if only half of the more recent stuff could keep a story paced to 22 pages this well! Each issue in the Doc Ock / Capt Stacey storyline was a treat and I'd recommend this as a great buy for anyone needing to get a little bit of history on Spider-Man. I originally came across all of these in the Marvel Tales reprints but can recommend the HB as it's just a beautiful book with some great supplementary artwork, including reprints of the MacFarlane Marvel Tales covers!

[wychwood_drinker]

now come on RMA as an English comic fan you have to put down those over rated offering from across the water and pick up some home grown talent in the galaxy's greatest comic. 2000ad (released weekly on a Wednesday) is currently kicking ass at a level not seen for decades. pick up a copy. and some of its best stuff is available in completions from water stones right now. Halo jones, strontium dog and invasion. not to mention the man himself Judge dredd.

[RMA]

I'm happy to read comics from both sides of the pond...but as an unabashed Marvel fan-boy going back to the Transformers comic c. 1984/5, there's a soft spot for the spandex clad Manhattan inhabitants!

As far as 2000AD goes...love it. It's something I pick up now and again but have found over the last ten / fifteen years that quality has been a bit hit and miss.

Strontium Dog...the original Dog the Bounty Hunter was (and remains) a favourite, as are the ABC Warriors, Rogue Warrior, Zenith and Dredd.

Guess all I'm trying to say is...there's more than one way to skin a cat and sure as hell there's more than one place to buy a comic!

[neuzd]

Originally Posted by wychwood_drinker

to put down those over rated offering from across the water

I remember someone called Alan Moore I think.....
And Gaiman...Neil Gaiman...if I'm correct....

Zamn! How can you even think about American comics with geniuses like these?
Alan Moore alone kicks away everyone and everything. He's something more like a phylosopher than a storyteller. Same for Gaiman of course, but while Gaiman readings are absolutely introspective, Moore lets you confront your flaws with those of society.
My first contact with Moore was "The Anatomy Lesson". Anyone knows what I'm talking about?

[RMA]

It's raining in Washington tonight...

Of course I know The Anatomy Lesson!

The talent tends to get drawn from a small pool of talent in the UK to the US - just look at the list of Marvel / DC success stories that have come from the UK:

Alan Moore
Alan Davis
Neil Gaiman
Garth Ennis
Chris Claremont
John Byrne
Warren Ellis
Mark Millar
Peter Milligan
Grant Morrison
...I could go on.

All wrote (arguably, admittedly) better work (with the exception of Moore) for one of the two giants.

[neuzd]

Originally Posted by RMA

It's raining in Washington tonight...

Of course I know The Anatomy Lesson!

The talent tends to get drawn from a small pool of talent in the UK to the US - just look at the list of Marvel / DC success stories that have come from the UK:

Alan Moore
Alan Davis
Neil Gaiman
Garth Ennis
Chris Claremont
John Byrne
Warren Ellis
Mark Millar
Peter Milligan
Grant Morrison
...I could go on.

All wrote (arguably, admittedly) better work (with the exception of Moore) for one of the two giants.

Milligan!!!!! Is that the SHADE guy? Yeeeeeeeeeehhh!!!!!!!!
And Morrison is the one of Kid Eternity!!!!

I can't tell how history went wrong here in Italy, there was some brave and courageous who published DC-Vertigo English authors, but the only series that ever ended has been the Sandman.

Everything else has been interrupted because we were in 5 people to buy the releases..I think the last frame of SHADE I read was him, with his face on the street saying something like "it's moving...".
And the first mini-series of KID ETERNITY? It's 6 numbers, they gave us only 4.....it's more than 10 years that I do not sleep for this.

I forgot how much I owe to English comics authors.....

[RMA]

Milligan is indeed the dude who brought back Shade The Changing Man.

[wychwood_drinker]

just to clear up here. i was not hating on the American comics. (hmm, that sounds a bit "i did not have sexual relations with that woman". try again).

i love spider man as much as the next guy. (though the third film dropped the ball big time). and the recent death of captain America says more about the state of the world than any fancy pants news journalist could hope to convey.

i just get a bit tired of the spandex hero's who have hijacked the whole comic book seen. curse you superman!

[RMA]

Originally Posted by wychwood_drinker

i just get a bit tired of the spandex hero's who have hijacked the whole comic book seen. curse you superman!

And in that respect, sir, you make a good point.