Iโve returned to London from my parents who live in the Sussex countryside. Opened my travel bag and a giant wasp just flew out of it, through the window into the bustling capital.
Now, if that isnโt the beginning of new Pixar movie, I donโt know what is.
Any title ideas?
More of me old tat found in my parent's attic.
A trunk full of every 2000ad comic from issue 1 to about issue 250 with various other related zarjaz gubbins. Dad asked me to remove it saying, "The loft is like a tinderbox up there as it is."
I will now post an issue cover daily.
Proustian rush hour! Yesterday, I spotted this old shop bag in a chazza shop record box.
Oh, WHSmith, why did you forsake your old cuboid orangey branding?
Helen Worth is leaving Coronation Street. My favourite Gail storyline was when she dated Jilted John in 1979, six months after his girlfriend Julie left him for Gordon.
Wow! People seem to be digging my recently interred old 2000 AD comic collection, so let's kick things off with Issue One! Where it all began. 26/2/77.
Came with a free gift. A Space Spinner. Long gone. It flew over into the garden next door and the old bag wouldn't return it. ๐คฌ
This was a great elaborate pre-credits opener for a comedy show. So many ideas, jokes and attention to detail. A BBC comedy show budget would never stretch to this today.
Yesterday, for the first time ever, I ran with a pair of scissors. I came to no harm. Once again, they lied to us. Today, I am going to swallow an entire packet of Juicy Fruit chewing gum to see if I get appendicitis.
I'm on a roll, any more life-threatening 'facts' to debunk?
@MrAlanSpencer
A friend went to the opening night of a stage prod of 'Theater Of Blood'. In the stalls, he whispered to his mate, "Is this all based on some crappy old Hammer horror film?"
Diana Rigg sat behind them leant over, and hissed, "No darling, some crappy United Artists horror film."
@SoozUK
My residing memory of Two Fat Ladies was one of them having a health check and the doctor revealing the results that she had an excessive amount of quinine in the blood stream not seen since the 19th century.
Another G & T, luv?
@IrkthePurists
I was once served in a West Country branch of Tesco by a pretty girl half my age with the phrase, "Alright, my lover?" I had a spring in my step that day, let me tell you.
Got this text from my dentist yesterday. Finally!
I've waited over fifty years to legitimately make 'that' joke. You'll be pleased to know I delivered it with รฉlan.
Been reading about this 'raw dogging' trend where passengers on long haul flights challenge themselves not to read, use phone, watch TV, eat, drink or even go to the toilet for the entire journey.
Cuh! We regularly endured all that on interminably long car journeys in the 1970s
This naff scene from The Wild Geese (1978) was a running joke with my student mates at the time.
On my first acting job in โ88, I did an impression of the kid during a lunch break in front of this new cast member.
He smiled, โI always hated that brat tooโ.
It was Jared Harris
Prog 2
I wonder if they had to call the stickers 'biotronic' rather than 'bionic' because of Six Million Dollar Man copyright reasons. They could only be used once, if I recall. Also maybe their female readers wanted to be a 'biotronic woman'.
Tharg didn't think it through.
If I'm honest I couldn't have cared less about this particular free gift. It seemed rather dry compared to plastic frisbees and bio-mechanic sticky back plastic tattoos.
All I wanted was merciless dinosaurs devouring rangers crying out their final words to to mid management.
As representative of The Curious Orange, it has been asked for a comment on the recent Stewart Lee trending on X (formally known as MySpace)
"With regards to my former colleague, I find his opinion on Richard Gervais irrelevant. Their human flesh must be devoured immediately".
Yesterday in the supermarket, I overheard this young mum angrily complain to her friend, โI hate it when people I donโt know smile at me for no reason. You donโt know me, you donโt know anything about me so donโt smile at me.โ
What a way to go through life .
Prog 10
I'm sure I remember watching an edition of BBC TV's Nationwide when they once discussed the violent nature of this new comic, 2000 AD, and was it appropriate for our children. This was the prog used as evidence. Probably, the best advert old Tharg could've asked for. ๐ฝ๐
Prog 5 (apology for the blurring)
Dredd's strip has only been running three issues and they've already got him scrapping with a 50ft high robot gorilla. Where can he go from here? They've blown the big guns too early.
Also somebody has been using my comic as a notepad. MUM!?! ๐
Prog 23
As a little kid, I was also a fan of the Alan Class Comics reprints of 1950s U.S mystery titles: Uncanny Tales, Creepy Worlds, Tales Of Suspense, etc. They were usually found in newsagents on coastal holidays in the UK. This cover feels like a homage to them and EC comix
Prog 12
The Return Of The Mack...I mean, The Mekon!!
His migraines must've been epic, and the constant upper back pain can't have been pleasant. No wonder he permanently had a cob on. I SAID 'cob on'.
A big influence on The Curious Orange.
@scriptwren
The jays brought you together. It was a sublimnal prophecy. Jonathan Stephens. Initials? JS. This could be interpreted as the plural of the letter J.
Js. As in 'jays'.
It was kismet.
A friend sent me a poor Instamatic camera snap taken exactly forty years ago. It captures the day the movie makers came to West Sussex to shoot a blockbuster finale on their doorstep. Can you guess what the film is?
Obvs, this will be answered correctly within seconds, won't it?
For some reason, all afternoon I've been singing, "It's Cummings' homes, It's Cummings' homes, it's Cummings, Dominic Cummings' homes." to the tune of Three Lions.
All afternoon.
Thanks for that
@Baddiel
Prog 6
I'm amused that M.A.C.H. 1 in his thoughts refers to himself in the first person but gets his own designated code name wrong. Mind you, his real name 'John Probe' sounds like equipment Dyno Rod would use for a particularly blocked public lavatory.
Prog 21
Bit of a dog's breakfast this one. Too busy, plus the comic has gone up a penny in price. You can also easily identify the artist's source material for the alien. It's just a poshed up Zygon from Dr Who. The other one looks like Frances De la Tour with an iron deficiency
Prog 19.
Futuristic conflict? A dog in peril? A weeping robot? If ever there was the subject matter for a Gary Numan hit single in the making, this is it!
Currently on a bus going through Belsize Park. Looked out the window & noticed a bustling pub. I suddenly had a flashback to around 30 years ago when me and a mate had several drinks in that pub with this funny old geezer. That man was Ronald Fraser. God, he could put them away.
To the handsome guy in the red sports jacket who helped carry my heavy suitcase down the 113 steps at Archway tube on Friday? I was the cute chubster in glasses? What are you doing this weekend?
Me and the missus need an old fridge taken down the dump and a sofa needs shifting.
Prog 17
Brrrrrr! This terrifying cover sticks in my mind. I'd probably just seen The Fly (1958) and the ending of that horror movie completely freaked me out. It's the anguish and confusion on their faces that's upsetting.
Help me. Please help me!!!
One for
@ScarredForLife2
?
Prog 7
"Who can tear a building to shreds with his bare hands?"
My brother!
Superb art by Massimo Belardinelli. The Biogs were terrifying, I reckon they must've been an influence on Starship Troopers.
Prog 8
Merely including the word 'MONSTER' on the cover of a publication or some scary toy packaging or emblazoned on the packet of a new processed snack would guarantee a sale to a prepubescent me.
If they'd labelled broccoli, 'monster broccoli', I'd have maybe eaten the stuff?
Prog 44
2000 AD's first Yuletide cover! This issue ushers out the 'supercover' era and brings Judge Dredd to the forefront again (+ Walter the Wobot)
Have a great Christmas everybody and if you get a chance, go and see this new Star Wars film that opens the day after Boxing Day!
Prog 34.
Striking, and all too resonant cover today for us Earthlets. Possibly inspired by the 1961 British sci-film, The Day The Earth Caught Fire. Trailer linked below. Recommended.
Prog 28
D.D. returns!?!
Donald Duck? Diana Dors? Desmond Dekker? No, you foolish Earthlets, itโs Dan Dare, of course!
Youโd think his homecoming would merit a front cover but that honour went to a giant trout/ lobster hybrid in red lippy.
Prog 9
Poor Artie Gruber could never catch a break. A pro Aeroball player killed while competing against 'Giant' of the Harlem Heroes. IRC, resurrected as a cyborg (several times), attempted to assassinate Giant (several times) but apparently finally checked out 930 issues later.
Prog 20
Another gloriously surreal cover and tagline.
Imagine my disappointment discovering 'The Man Who Stole The Stars!' was a story about some bloke kidnapping Des O'Connor, Cliff Michelmore and the cast of The Good Life and then holding them hostage until ยฃ1000 was paid up.
Prog 22
It's the summer of '77. This is the moment the Electric Light Orchestra saved mankind as they were on their way to play Hammersmith Odeon. Sadly, the gig was cancelled that night because laser gunner and drummer, Bev Bevan dislocated his thumb.
We had a Christmassy prog today so to make amends, here's the 2000 AD Summer Special of 1977.
It only feels right to post this car sick comic fodder just before I have to start secondary school in a week's time. Boo readers!
Especially for
@Ian_Sutherland
Prog 39
There can't be a single comic cartoonist who hasn't sketched their creation talking back to them. It's probably drawn in the twilight hour as they try to meet a deadline, their back is as stiff as a tombstone, their eyes feel like dried figs and now they're hallucinating
Prog 30
EEEEUUGH! I love this cover. Kind of camp. Look at its impish psychopathic grin.
Anyway, I thought Titan was a barren prison planet in the Judge Dredd universe. I don't remember these fellas hanging about C wing.
Prog 42
Ok, let's make no bones about it, it's nearly 1978, and the last twenty something issues' front pages only seem to evoke late 1950s/60s U.S. schlocky horror comic/ sci-fi pulp novel covers.
2000 AD needs to find its identity!
Prog 26.
Whaddyareckon? An attempt to hook onto the popularity of the Japanese adventure TV series, The Water Margin on BBC2? Starring Miriam Margoyles
Actually, while we're here, was the theme tune to The Water Margin, a great lost 007 movie title song?
Prog 36
Another โitโs behind you!โ cover gag. See also issues 24 & 33. New jokes please, Tharg.
Is this an early appearance of Kang & Kodos from The Simpsons?
Prog 15
That's weird, no word of a lie, I already posted this cover today, but it mysteriously disappeared. Is this some sort of X Bermuda Triangle?
Maybe because I alluded to 2000 A.D. predicting certain future catastrophic/political events, but getting them all mixed up?
๐ซค
Prog 33.
Never get smug about scruffy killer androids is the lesson learnt today. State of that.
Also it's quite depressing that tabloid newspapers still exist in the distant future.
I love this old photo from 20 years ago. We're on location for Lee & Herring's This Morning With Richard Not Judy filming a Thelma & Louise parody. Good lord, how in God's name did we get away with this at Sunday lunchtime? The sketch is at the 18:13 mark.
Prog 38
This is the first 2000AD front page that could've made an excellent 1970s K-Tel heavy rock compilation LP sleeve.
Yet another "It's behind you" cover gag though. How would the astronaut not spot that this tiny meteorite was half rock, half Medieval dragon?
Prog 40
Another cover that looks directly inspired by a sci-fi film, this time 'Fantastic Voyage' (1966).
Now, there's a good old fashioned Bank Holiday Monday afternoon movie. I could do with watching that right now with a cup of tea and a packet of milk chocolate digestives.
More of me old magazines that I found in my parents attic.
This is thirty three years old today! Look how young Vic & Bob look. Whither Les today?
It's a
@brucedes
& Elaine Paterson's interesting family tree of the comedy movers & shakers of the early 90s. I wouldn't let it lie.
I still can't get to grips with Sundays, especially dreary ones like today. That dormant micro-level of anxiety hanging over me because it's school tomorrow. Pull yourself together, man, you havent been to school since 1983.
Prog 29.
Nobody ever talks about Ted Hughes' ill fated sequel to the 1968 classic children's novel. His publisher thought it was a misstep, so it never went to print. However, the denouement was lovingly recreated for this September 2000 A.D. cover.
Sad about John Challis passing away. Years ago, I sat with him in an advert casting for bathrooms. He took one look at the script and walked out saying, "I'm not getting my kit off for this, I do have some standards, not many I'll give you that, but some. God, I need a new agent"