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Egmont Classics Battle special
I liked this a lot - mind you, I'm so pleased to see a new Battle publication on the shelves after 20 odd years, I'm hardly going to be critical! Loved the cover (it's strange seeing how pale the old artwork looks compared to all the computerised stuff we get now). Great fun seeing all the old adverts for stamp collectors - can you imagine readers of Toxic collecting stamps now?!! Good selection of strips on the whole but why did they have to end Day of the Eagle and The Sarge at such nail-biting cliffhangers?!! Couldn't they have used more complete stories from holiday specials and the like? All the artwork was great but it really is clear just how brilliant Mike Western and Jo Colquhoun were.
Interesting how much attitudes have changed. Back then, readers had a dad or uncle who had been in the war and the Bootneck Boy story in particular really does make war seem like to something to be glorified. Mind you, Battle counterbalanced such things with the warts and all Charley's War, which reminds me - why nothing from that story? - in conflict with the Titan reprints perhaps? Had to laugh at the way time seemed to stand still when the Sarge threw himself in the path of the bullets! And amazed to be reminded Johnny Red was just 19! Would love to see a Scream special next (after Buster and Misty) but I suspect the more mainstream Tiger or Whizzer and Chips is more likely. Can't see an Eagle one happening as the DD Corporation have the copyright.
Interesting how much attitudes have changed. Back then, readers had a dad or uncle who had been in the war and the Bootneck Boy story in particular really does make war seem like to something to be glorified. Mind you, Battle counterbalanced such things with the warts and all Charley's War, which reminds me - why nothing from that story? - in conflict with the Titan reprints perhaps? Had to laugh at the way time seemed to stand still when the Sarge threw himself in the path of the bullets! And amazed to be reminded Johnny Red was just 19! Would love to see a Scream special next (after Buster and Misty) but I suspect the more mainstream Tiger or Whizzer and Chips is more likely. Can't see an Eagle one happening as the DD Corporation have the copyright.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by John Freeman on -
The choice of strips for both of the special editions does seem odd - I agree, they'd have been better off selecting material from holiday specials. Wonder what editor Steve Mcmanus (yes the man who once edited 2000AD) is thinking?
To be honest, I suspect that given the long standing success of humour comics, Buster may outsell these first two titles - but again, it really does depend on what's picked for it. Humour does "date" so quickly...
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Permalink Reply by Ian Wheeler on -
I wonder whether Steve hasn't had time to properly review all the available material? There are certainly plenty of fan experts he could turn to - the EFA/downthetubes team, Steve Holland, the Battle fan website - no shortage of people...
Incidentally, I loved the glossy cover for the mag but I for one would love the nostalgia-burst of seeing one done on the old cheapnewsprint paper - they could knock a quid off the price as well!
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Permalink Reply by John Freeman on
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Well, because of it's "official" status, the Misty web site is involved in polling its visitors for strip ideas for that one. Given that the comic is suppose to be appealing to the fan base, they should be asking what they want to see
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Permalink Reply by Ian Wheeler on
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Of course, what we would really like to see is a monthly Fleetway Classics title reprintings loads of this stuff - a guy can dream!
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