Geoffrey vs. 2000AD

2000AD and Me.

I think if most people who knew me now took a moment to look at my interests and passions, they would probably lay the blame for the lot of it on the shoulders of Mr. George Lucas.

I can't deny that Star Wars was huge for me as a kid. HUGE. My parents took my sister and I to see Star Wars at the Drive-In. It was expected that I, a toddler at the time, would fall asleep.

Nope.

It is undeniable that seeing that movie began to shape me into the person I am now. Years of nerdly introspection, however, place much more of the blame/credit not on George Lucas, but rather in the newsprint-ink stained hands of an English girl named Jenny.

 I had of course had many comics and a deep love of superheroes already. But they were incidental. Comics came and went. They were not things to follow, or to collect. I got one as a treat for being good at the doctor, or I got to buy some from the thrift store now and again. A Bugs Bunny comic was as good as Superman. G.I.Joe or Swamp Thing. It was all good, all fun.

In 1985, I moved from Canada to England. It was a bit of a culture shock and things were a bit weird. American comics didn't exist at the newsagent. Just these bizarre newspaper things with weird and scary guys on the cover. And they were all in black and white! What was fun about that?

Well my older sister had a friend named Jenny and she knew exactly what was fun about that. It was through her that I directly read my first issue (prog) of 2000AD. I don't know which prog it was, but before 466. Because 466 is the first one I bought myself.

Reading this comic was the first time I can recall wondering about what happened prior to the events I just read. The Ballad of Halo Jones, a classic tale serialised over many years in 2000AD, came to an end in this prog. So all impressionable young Geoffrey experienced of Halo was her final moments before she abandoned the war she was fighting to choose her own destiny. I haven't read that story in decades and I can still see it perfect in my mind. 

And Judge Dredd! Wow. Two orgasmic colour pages in the middle (I think the story was illustrated by Cam Kennedy...) and the fascist future lawman was instantly one of my favourites. 

So I bought the next week's issue. And then the following week, 468. I meet Judge Anderson. Occult horror science fiction, pleased to make your acquaintance.

All while I am discovering this stuff on my own, Jenny is regaling me with tales of other characters I have not yet heard of. Nemesis and Torquemada. Harlem Heroes. Robo-Hunter. Strontium Dog.

Mind. Blown. 

And because Jenny could not have been more awesome or more dedicated to turning me into some kind of comic collecting nerdball she lent me to read almost the entire run of 2000AD.

So now instead of hearing about the stories from her I am rolling through hundreds of back issues. I am reading the whole Ballad of Halo Jones. I am experiencing the evolution of Judge Dredd directly, from Prog 2 through the Cursed Earth and Judge Caligula and Block Wars and Apocalypse Wars. 

And here's Slaine. And Johnny Alpha with his viking best friend Wulf and weird alien sidekick Gronk. And Rogue Trooper with his talking helmet, gun and backpack. Oh and they talk because they are programmed with the personalities of his dead friends. Ace Trucking Co. The ABC Warriors (I love those guys).

Future Shocks. Thrills. High concept sci-fi that defied any expectations I may have had in my youth and blew my mid out of the water.

Even more than that, reading such a vast collection, I saw continuity. The value and excitement of following some story over time. The collector of comics within me was born and would never again be sated.

And then, as if I needed anything else, to seal the deal on my wanting to read this kind of thing forever, MY PARENTS FORBID ME TO READ IT!

Prog 471. 5 weeks into my days as a collector.

I was told the cover was too grotesque. It was too scary and gross for me to read. No more 2000AD for you young man!

Well once a parent bans it, it becomes the only thing that matters. Yeah, it's dumb. I am sure they thought they had my best interests. So of course I defied them and walked to the newsagent and bought more issues without telling them.

Eventually they relented. I don't remember why. My folks were never the kind of parents who did that kind of thing so it really stands out. I mean, my mom bought me Saga of Swamp Thing and House of Mystery and such. So there must have been some parenty reason why. Maybe the teacher at my school complained to them or something, because I sure was 2000AD crazy for the rest of my time in England. I even expanded out from 2000AD to the odd issue of Eagle (like 2000AD, but mostly kinda boring) and to the Marvel UK Spider-Man/Zoids comic.

I was a collector. And it was all on Jenny. I bought 2000AD through prog 502, purchased the week we moved back to Canada.

Moving back form England I tried to keep up with 2000AD but it was really expensive. 26p an issue (52ish cents at the time) in England to 5 bucks an issue for imports at the comic store in Kingston, Ontario. Way out of the price range of 12 year old me for a weekly purchase.

Being printed on newsprint also meant bad things for my collection. Already kind of beat up from being shipped home by sea, they got pretty crumbly by the time I moved from Kingston to Ottawa and after a flood they were largely destroyed. I had a few issues that lasted a while longer but not long enough. Now all I have left are my 1986 and 1987 2000AD and Judge Dredd annuals (sturdy hardcovers!), as well as the Titan books reprints of part 1 of the Cursed Earth saga and part 1 of the Judge Caligula saga.

2000AD has coloured my tastes in fiction and comics since that time. Most of my all time favourite comic writers are British and once worked on 2000AD stories. The highest praise I can unleash on a sci-fi story is that it feels like it could have been published in 2000AD. In fact this is what I so loved about Rick Remender's Black Science and Jonathan Hickman's East of West. Both feel Thrill Powered and I am sure Tharg would have been proud to present either one.

Quick rundown of some of my favourite stories:

Judge Dredd and Judge Anderson meet the full cadre of Dark Judges. That was AWESOME. Anyone familiar with the story knows the best panel sequence. Maybe the best Judge Dredd panel sequence of all time. It ends with this. Yeah you know the one:

Possibly the greatest entertainment related crime is that we may never see Karl Urban recreate that on the big screen. I will pay 100 earth dollars to see just that moment!

The Robo-Hunter series which was a play on Sweeny Todd. 

The Ballad of Halo Jones.

Anything with Ro-Jaws. I loved that little garbage can.

Also anything with Nemesis. 

Johnny Alpha's hunt for the men who killed his friend Wulf.

The Apocalypse War.

Chopper.

Metalzoic.

Slaine in the Spoils of Annwn. Had to google the title of that one but yeah. Loved it. The scene with Nest and the unicorn is stuck right there in my brain forever.

It's been almost 30 years since I left England. 30 years of Thrill Powered goodness I would love to experience. You Brits with your ease of access to 2000AD don't know how lucky you are.

It's funny. I got into writing movies in order to maybe make it in Hollywood so that someday I could maybe write American comics so that someday after that I could maybe write for 2000AD. That dream still lives.

And it is all Jenny's fault.

Afterword:

I remember walking to the Mac's milk in Kingston, sometime shortly after I returned to Canada. I knew 2000AD was gone but as I turned that spinner rack full of American comics I clearly recall thinking "I wonder what I should collect here?"

2/3rds of that answer are used as the background on my blog. West Coast Avengers #24 and Uncanny X-Men #221.

More on those LATER.

Postscript:

I always wanted my own Judge's Shield. I recently googled that this is a thing one can get. Add to Life Cart.

Addendum:

Thank you, Jenny!

Geoffrey vs. Uncanny Avengers #18

I forgot to include this in my just posted post. Bah. Fie on me.

UNCANNY AVENGERS #18

A lot of people don't like this book. That is my impression. Maybe sale figures show differently but all I ever read is people trashing it.

Well you people are wrong. Sorry. Shhh. I know it hurts to be wrong. I hate it too. Everyone does.

But you're all wrong about this one.

IN THIS ISSUE!

Havok and Wasp united in a mutant dystopian future built on the ashes of billions of non-mutants!

Rick Remender's long term plotting keeps it all ticking and gives a sense of continuity that is story driven, not just character driven!

Daniel Acuna's art has really developed from several years back. It's always been lush and a delight to look at but nowadays it is all that and a bag of detail-filled backgrounds. I love his retro-sci-fi mutant future. Havok looks great. So does Wasp.

I really like them as a couple.

I REALLY like Havok as an Avenger.

I REALLY LOVE THIS BIT:

Om nom nom. I am eating this storyline up.

There are so many active, strong super-hero writers these days. Nick Spencer, Rick Remender, Jonathan Hickman, Mark Waid, Dan Slott, Jason Aaron, Brian Bendis, Warren Ellis, Kelly Sue DeConnick, Dennis Hopeless, Charles Soule...I want to add G. Willow Wilson to that list.

I know it is not his first love, but I dearly hope Grant Morrison takes another kick at the Marvel can. I have no idea who he would even write. Let's just say...uh...All New Champions. Yeah. Them. Sure. I'd read every issue seven times.

This joke is so good I am including it again.

Geoffrey vs. Superior Spider-Man, Hawkeye, New Avengers, and the Silver Surfer

Wow. Quite a donnybrook I have let myself in for. I think I stood a chance until I slapped the Silver Surfer on there. I am no match for the Power Cosmic.

Have I ever mentioned there will be spoilers here? Anyone who has been here surely knows this to be the case by now. It can't be that big of a deal seeing as I only write about comics that have already been out fo rmonths...ANYWAY!

SPOILERS! TOTES SPOILERS!


SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #30

Dan Slott, long time Spidey writer, had the sinister scheme to kill Peter Parker and have Doctor Octopus take over, he being the titular Superior Spider-Man. 30 issues in and finally, Peter returns from the depths of Spider-Ock's mind. And not only does he come back, Otto Octavius, so changed by his time as a hero, gives his own self up to allow Peter back.

This is some serious pay-off. Awesome stuff. almost 3 years worth of story (released at an accelerated pace over maybs 18 monthsish) coming to an amazing climax as Parker returns to face off in the final fight with his nemesis, the Green Goblin (assumed to be Norman Osborne at this point but I would not be super surprised if there is a twist at the last moment...and yes, I know this came out months ago and I could Google the answer but I won't!)

He used to be Superior, now he is once more merely Amazing.

I have seriously enjoyed this whole storyline. I think it is a tribute to how well done it is that I really want, somehow, Otto Octavius to remain a hero.

If you didn't give the Superior Spider-Man a chance, you really missed out. I can't wait to read the climax and then to read how Peter deals with the huge changes Otto made to Parker's life while he doppelganged it up.

Dan Slott and Cristos Gage wrote it, Giuseppe Camuncoli drew it. John Dell and Terry Pallot inked it. Antonio Fabella coloured it.

Awesome story.

HAWKEYE #18

Back on the West Coast, with the girl Hawkeye, Kate Spencer. More wacky private eye hijinks. Kate is probably my favourite of the Young Avengers, thanks to Matt Fraction. I love his take on her as a kind of almost female Rockford. That poor girl gets the crap kicked out of her and she just keeps on going. A lot like dude Hawkeye really. Even though they are both non-powered heroes, he sorts seems more "superheroey" for some reason. Probs his time on the Avengers. Kate'll get there.

ANYWAY! As I have mentioned before, this series is sublime. Both art and story. This issue does not disappoint. I strongly wish there were some way for this series to continue but I guess Fraction has had some setback or another (I could probably Google it but will instead decide it was a sharknado incident) and it is coming to an end qith #22. Critical acclaim and all. I wish they would Moon Knight this bad boy and let someone carry on with the same themes and style (I refer to the way Brian Wood has taken over from Warren Ellis on Moon Knight). Marvel, you have my number.

Ok, no you don't but I will give it to you if you ask.

Madame Masque as Kate's nemesis is wonderful.I loves it. I LOVES IT.

Read this comic and all its friends.

NEW AVENGERS #16

Dr. Strange is not in this issue...

Just a quick word. Jonathan Hickman is brilliant. I love this series and I am just dying to read how all his plot threads come together in Time Runs Out. It almost smells of Civil War 2. Almost. Maybs that'll be the next event, after Axis.

YOU ARE BRILLIANT, HICKMAN!

And finally, I Slott it up once more with

SILVER SURFER #1

I am going to do this whole series at some point, I can tell, because it is that brilliant. Silver Surfer as the Marvel Universe Doctor Who is such a genius and logical take on the character. And all that Allred art! Hot damn! Loverly loverly stuff. I would marry it but I am taken, alas.

I have enjoyed the Surfer for a long time. This may be the best take on him yet.

Geoffrey vs. Recent Comics and Two Marvel Pitches

I guess the problem with only writing about comics I love and think are awesome is: if I don't read those, I don't have anything to write about. This is not to say I have not been reading any comics. No no no.

Stuff I am going to write about: Morning Glories Vol. 1 and East of West Vol. 1. I ordered both of these and will write about them once i give them a second read through. I really liked both of them, but I loved East of West.

Wolverine and the X-Men: I want to write about this but I want to re-read Grant Morrison's run on New-X-Men first. Here's a thought to chew though: I read issue 2 of the second volume, Jason Latour's current run. I think it continues the spirit of Jason Aaron's run but is actually superior. I especially love his Quire.

Pitch to Marvel: Kid Omega/Marvel Boy: Burning Down The World - Quentin Quire and Noh-Varr become outcast bros who must team up to save the planet from extra-dimensional tyrant Ar-Nomon-Ra, the Palindromic Man and his plans the begin the world where it ends. Guest-starring Miss America, the Ultimate Nullifier, All new Jean Grey, Daisy Johnson, Hope Summers. Also: Introducing iZola!

Further thought: Quire, Idie, Eye-Boy, all feel more realised than they were in Volume 1. Genesis continues to be one of the more interesting characters in the ENTIRE MARVEL UNIVERSE. I smell tragedy, terrible, terrible tragedy. I am not one of the AvX detractors. I found that crossover to be fun squared. Seriously though, Cap and friends were worried about Hope and wanted to train her? WHAT ABOUT EVAN?? That guy needs some time in K'un-L'un with Spidey.

Pitch to Marvel: Hope Summers: Fist of Chaos - Trained by Cable, Spider-Man, and Iron Fist, Hope Summers must set out on her own to master her new Chaos Fist fighting style if she has any hope of winning the Cosmic Kumate being put on by the Champion and the Grandmaster. The prize? THE ENTIRE GALAXY! Also starring Skaar - Son of Hulk and Reptil.

I am super-tired as I write this.

Geoffrey vs. The Punisher #2, New Warriors #1, Avengers World #3

Just a short thing here. As I have mentioned, I do my comics reading thanks to the Marvel unlimited service. I kiss the internets in gratitude every day for the four-coloured bounty that I reap from the digital soil of Marvel.com.

Never moreso than on a day in which I find not one or two but THREE comics that I seriously love. (4 technically, as Daredevil #36 was there too, but I covered Big Red in a dedicated series post just minutes ago).

The Punisher #2.

I have read and ejoyed a number of Punisher comics in my past. In two issues, though, Nathan Edmondson and Mitch Gerads have delivered EXACTLY the kind of Punisher story I want to read. It cruises the exact line between silly bloodthirsty vigilante and low-level superheroics that I want Punny to cruise. This is a Marvel Universe Punisher story that is true to the Marvel Universe and the Punisher. Just. Freaking. Awesome.

This panel:

This caption:

That's the Punisher I want. I hope your run is long and glorious, Mr. Edmondson. (He's not too shabby on Black Widow, either!)

Moving on to New Warriors #1!

I know it's a little late to trumpet this. The series is cancelled with issue #12 even as I start out with #1 today. Alas and alack because this was really good. Marvel teen teams seem to have a rough time. I have barely begun and already I know I want to read about these guys and their adventures for as long as the original New Warriors ran. I hope they are kept together and brought out now and again. This was good stuff.

Also I love Speedball. Also Sungirl is awesome.

Finally we have little ol' unassuming Avengers World #3.

Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu versus one of Marvel's legit super-scary villains, The Gorgon. Jonathan Hickman and Nick Spencer, you wily sonuvaguns. You have written what was for my money the single best martial arts fight in comics. Ever. That was Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon on a digital page. Amazingly fun, brilliantly choreographed by artist Stefano Caselli. The Gorgon has been amazeballs since I first read him in Secret Warriors. Definitely an Avengers level threat, even moreso when he is riding on a dragon that wears an island for a hat.

MORE COMICS LIKE THIS PLEASE AND THANK YOU.

Read all these comics. I command it. And if we see these New Warriors again, give them some love. They deserve it.

Geoffrey vs. Mark Waid's Daredevil #1-36

I have to say, I have always kinda liked Daredevil but had never been able to love him.

I don't really remember my first exposure to Daredevil. It was one of two ways; either the X-Men crossover Inferno or in a large box of vintage back issues that a friend's dad had in the attic. Both were around the same time. I think it was probably Inferno cause those back issues had him in the ol' yellow and black in some issues, and I sort of recall that being after I had already established a knowledge of the character.

"And you're sure this costume looks ok, Foggy?"
Snicker.

The Inferno crossover was pretty good on the Daredevil end. A demon-infested New York City comes alive and tries to eat everyone. Spider-Man also had some good isues during that crossover. In fact, I think the Spidey and DD issues were better than the X-Men ones. NEITHER HERE NOR THERE!

That is DD versus a vacuum cleaner.
Nope, not kidding.

Those issues, by Ann Nocenti with art by John Romita Jr kind of coloured how I felt about the guy. A bit down on his luck and definitely involved in the world of the supernatural and superhuman. So I was kind of disappointed when, aside from those issues, it seemed like Daredevil mostly fought gangsters and ninjas on a wash rinse repeat cycle right through the Ought Zeroes and into the Tens. I hear Frank Miller's run was seminal. Maybes I will read it someday. I am sure it's worth reading. At the time I just liked my superheroes a bit more super. I still do.

Enter Mark Waid's Daredevil. After years of what I perceived as misery-porn, Daredevil decides to love life and his comic is one of pure joy married with intense, high end, superhero action. Gone are the Hand and the Kingpin's goons. Instead we have Mole Man, the Spot, Klaw, Dr. freakin' Doom, Silver Surfer:

The over-arching plot of the first 2/3 of the series was Daredevil trying to figure out who was messing with his business. Waid really stacked the deck story-wise, leading to a cool revelation that I will not spoil because of reasons. The last 3rd was DD vs. The Sons of the Serpent, a vaguely occult white power group that had infiltrated the entire legal system of New York. This story saw the end of the Daredevil/Matt Murdoch dichotomy, with the final public revelation that Murdoch was indeed Daredevil. This set of stories saw Daredevil fighting the Jester, stealing the Darkhold from Satana and other such crazy hijinx. Wonderful stuff

I'd heard about that ending and was kinda meh over the idea of it, as I liked the sort of "is-he ain't-he" set up he had in-universe, but Waid sold it so hard I bought the extended warranty and the rust-proofing. I loved how the run wrapped up and I more loved how it is going to lead into the next phase of Daredevil's adventures as he moves to San Francisco.

In the Marvel universe, San Fran is home to Utopia, the recent mutant island home of the X-Men. There's also part of the city that was turned Victorian by Mr. Sinister and last I recall there is also a Celestial standing in a park. Waid is up on his continuity and comic history so I am sure those and other elements may come into play and I hope the next 36 issues are as absolutely fun as the ones I just finished reading.

The art throughout the series has been really great. It's mostly been by Chris Samnee with some heavy lifting by Paolo Rivera and others. The covers are usually to die for. My favourite is probably issue 7:

 This cover sums up the whole series. I loved it. It was awesome. You should read it.

Geoffrey vs. Grant Morrison's Marvel Boy

The year 2000. Mankind's certain doom at the hands of Y2K was narrowly adverted and we as a species slowly crawled from the wreckage to reclaim the future that was to be ours.

At least that's how I remember the pre-9/11 world. A time of wonders.

One of these wonders from this storied, nigh-forgotten past is the 6 issue mini-series Marvel Boy, written by my absolute favourite comics writer, Grant Morrison with art by the phenomenal J.G.Jones. Colours by Avalon Studios and Matt Milla.

This comic is the story of Noh-Varr, an Ensign on an alternate dimensional Kree diplomatic vessel. After a cosmic accident sets the shift adrift through the superstructure of the mutliverse, it ends up above the 616 Marvel Earth and is promptly shot down by evil corporate mastermind Dr. Midas. Midas is a kind of ur-villain. He wear a modified  prototype Iron Man armour, bathes in gamma rays like the Hulk, and eventually gains cosmic versions of all the Fantastic Four's powers. He is like Dr. Doom squared.

He also had a daughter named Oubliette the Exterminatrix, who self describes as the Lara Croft of evil.

The series is kind of divided into halves. The first three issues are semi-one shots. #1 sets everything up. The origin. And its great. Just as Midas is a delicious melange of villainy, Noh-Varr is the fruit trifle of Marvel heroes. He's a last-of-his-kind, fallen to Earth Kree warrior with altered DNA combined with insects outfitted with fantastic weapons and training. So he's Spider-Man, Iron Man, Captain America, Namor and Thor.

Issue 2 plays up the Namor angle with Noh-Varr ransacking Manhatten, literally carving "FUCK YOU" across its face, all while keeping anyone form losing a life. This is an angry and unstoppable young man.

Issue 3 is probably one of the best Marvel comics produced. Ever. I say this knowing I am biased towards items with a particularly Morrisonian flair.In this issue we are introduced to Hexus, the Living Corporation. A cosmic level predator that destroys worlds through branding. There is a dizzy delight that comes from merely typing those words.

The back half of the miniseries is really a 3 issue fight between Midas and Noh-Varr, with Oubliette performing a face turn to join the side of...I don't want to say angels, because Noh-Varr in this series never really comes round to being on the typical good guy side. She is no longer on Midas' side. You can tell Morrison had an affection for her because she gets all the best lines.

Even though I am pushing 40 there is still a delightful frisson that comes from youth disrespecting age. Now get off my lawn.

The whole series has a real millennial vibe, one that you can forget infected everything back then, before the real end of the world in September 2011. And wow was this series forward thinking. Everything in here, the writing, art, characters, story, they are not necessarily timeless (though that is an element), they are more permanently contemporary. This series could have come out last Wednesday and it would fit right in with any comic being released today. Grant Morrison is really a master.

One of the things I loved most about this series, which leads on the ONLY disappointment associated with it, is the unfulfilled promise of more. Here's how it ended (uh spoiler alert I guess):

Noh-Varr in captivity promising to change the world into a new Kree empire with a post script promising Marvel Boy 2:001. That shit never went down.

I suppose it's not too late. Grant's off DC Comics for a bit now it looks like, doing his own thing. Hey Joe Quesada, back up the dump truck full of that sweet Marvel Movie Money and get Morrison back!

Though if he does come back to Marvel, I kinda would want him to do something new honestly. He already changed the X-Men and introduced Noh-Varr.

Noh-Varr was embraced as time went on, eventually becoming a member of the Avengers. I enjoyed those stories very much as well, but they still were missing what I feel is an essential element of his character: the potent rage at the system and the burning need to change everything. Not just slowly, but to tear it down and feast on the ashes. No writer has embraced the promise of this.

I can see why not associating a main character with a "Cosmic Jihad" would be a prudent turn after 9/11, but surely enough time has past that we can have our Space Namor back, yeah? It's a way better take on the character than a Motown-loving himbo. (Not that the Young Avengers version was entirely unsuccessful either).

Anyway, here's to the Way That Was and to the end of it.

Seriously, get off my lawn.