Judge-Tutor Semple – Now on Facebook

I’ve created a Facebook page to publicise the Blog, I’m not sure how helpful it will be but it may increase traffic to the Blog and that may increase readership, viewers and visitors of the things I write about. It might not.

http://www.facebook.com/JudgeTutorSemple

If people who read the blog want to like the Facebook page that’s great but I’m not necessarily asking people to do so. If you already read the blog your ‘Like’ onFacebook might help me get more views and in turn promote the things I write about. I understand however if you don’t want yet another place notifying you I’ve published something.

I’ve linked the Facebook page to Twitter for the moment. I might edit the settings to prevent flooding Twitter when I update things. But this may be trial and error.

I started this Blog for my own entertainment, that is why I only review things I like. I’m not entertained by me telling people what I don’t like. Of course that doesn’t mean I don’t tell exactly what I think. I will criticise things I like. I’ve been quite critical of Doctor Who for example. I’ve also said if I don’t like or ‘get’ a strip in 2000AD.

So as I started the Blog to entertain myself I am obviously interested in the things I am interested getting support through the Blog. What I am trying to say is the Facebook page isn’t intended to be self aggrandizement. Just help to highlight the things I’m already trying to highlight.

2000AD, Judge Dredd, Books by the Scarrow Brothers, History, Nature, all sorts of things…

I’m rambling…

The Psychedelic Journal of Time Travel – an anthology Edited by Owen Watts – spoiler free

Edited by Owen Watts
Assistant Editor Geoffrey Crescent

Contributors:

Mike Lynch, Neil Ford, Nikki Foxrobot, Ryan Tandy, Jake Rowlinson, Alan Holloway, George Coleman, Rob Phillips, Owen Watts, Blas Biggati, Andrew Scaife, Tim West, Dave Thomson, Mike Harding, Lee Smart, Dan Bell, Jamie Lambert,  Chris Askham, Stephen Prestwood, Richard McCauliffe, Matt Herbert, Daniel Bell, Oscar Maltby, David Broughton, Adam Paige, Stephen Denton, Chris Mole, Neil McClements, Geoffery Crescent & Darren Stephens

Available as a Download for £2.00 or Paper for £5.00

This is an anthology of Time Travel stories and what a great anthology. Each story is free standing and has a twist in the tale. Given that time travel has been at the centre of many story in book, comic, TV and film finding an original twist isn’t easy.

Some of the stories rely on shock or surprise with the twist while others are quite simply so well crafted that they rework something you may have encountered elsewhere so well that they delight.

It is a very good read and I think a well balanced anthology.

You may have seen art by Owen Watts already and not known. Earlier this year one of his pictures went viral. There are many more in the collection and you can see them here.

Below is a few brief words on each story. I do my best to avoid any spoilers but I guess you may have a preset idea of what you will read by tiny clues. So if you prefer complete raw reading read the comic first & come back to see if I summed the story up ok.

3000 Dollar Second
by Mike Lynch & Neil Ford
Letters: Nikki Foxrobot

Set during a mining trip, six months away from loved ones. Great art, in colour, and outstanding lettering gives good storytelling and leads the eye across the page in perfect order.

The Journal of Doctor Brandon Morrow
Writer: Ryan Tandy
Artist: Jake Rowlinson

Monotone art with minimal dialogue, narated by the Doctor’s journal entry, as the title suggests. The Doctor considers how disastrous time travel could be in the wrong hands. Hilarious twist.

History Lesson
by Alan Holloway George Coleman
Letters: Nikki Foxrobot

One man studies al his life and puts all his being in to saving an innocent. Black and white art, puts me in mind of Battle Picture Weekly. Again skilfully lettered and a very well paced plot. This twist in particular surprised me, good work!

Kaleidoscope Eyes
by Rob Phillips & Owen Watts

About a man, his love and his friend the vegetable. Read it twice, try to keep it in order… I just wonder what happened to the pizza…

Karma Traveller
Writer: Blas Biggati
Art: Andrew Scaife

A young Scientist has proven the existence of a soul, his colleague offers words of caution. Excellent name for a story that provokes thought about the pattern of life.

Not Everyone Deserves a Second Chance
Writer: Tim West
Artist: Dave Thomson

Atmospheric art with colour choice s to highlight one man’s attempts to atone for past misdeeds… A prisoner makes a bid for freedom from his crimes.

The Simple Rules of Time Travel
by Mike Harding & Lee Smart
Letters: Dan Bell

One time traveler passing on his wisdom. Simple colour art with more than one snigger per page.

Source of Infection
by Jamie Lambert & Chris Askham
Letters: Owen Watts

Black and white art, a well paced tale set during a zombie apocalypse following a military team. What could go wrong?

The Journey
by Stephen Prestwood
Letters: Owen Watts

Cautionary tale of a bold knight on a noble quest. Excellently paced and had me wondering where the journey was leading. Black and white art with a simplistic style that suits the story perfectly.

Thinking Outside The Box
by Richard McCauliffe & Matt Herbert
Letters: Daniel Bell

A scientist perfects forward travel through time but should have told someone. What a delightful tale full of emotion. Great timing and the artwork is charmingly ‘smudged’, I am sure there must be a better name for it and I likely should know it (O’level in art after all…).

The Time Templars vs the Demonic Dinos
Writer: Oscar Maltby
Artist: David Broughton

Dimension hopping police from the 23rd keep things in order. Boldly coloured art with bold gestures and bold intentions from bold heroes. Quite bold, good pacing. Dinosaurs and time travel, perfect partners.

Were, Are, Shall Be
by Adam Paige and Stephen Denton
Letters: Nikki Robotfox

A German Panzer Division are closing on a Russian fuel depot in the Eastern Front. Someone has crashlanded in the middle. Excellent story of team work between enemies.

Whiskey & Wormholes
by Chris Mole and Neil McClements
Letters: Nikki Robotfox

A detective, the corpse of a beautiful woman lying on the street floor. Justice or revenge? Unnatural colourings that give a deep otherworldly feel to this detective story.

Cuthbert Wax (abridged title…)
by Geoffery Crescent & Darren Stephens
Letters: Owen Watts

Cuthbert travels back in time to the Pliocene to further the cause of Veganism. Not save the whale but save the Mammoth! Hilarious story from the Editors.

Doctor Who: The Name of The Doctor – spoilers medium to high

First Aired BBC1  19:00 18th May 2013

Director: Saul Metzstein
Writer:  Steven Moffat

The Doctor: Matt Smith
Clara Oswald: Jenna-Louise Coleman

Madame Vastra: Neve McIntosh
Jenny: Catrin Stewart
Strax: Dan Starkey
River Song: Alex Kingston

This review includes spoilers.

At last… a multi-Doctor episode. William Hartnell has a speaking part in the pre-credits. Excellent! Clara falling through time followed by a thrilling mix of half-glimpsed Doctors with Clara calling out to them.

And the episode didn’t disappoint after the credits either. 1893 London and Madame Vastra interviews a convicted murderer who bargains for his life with news of he Doctor. His secret is revealed…

The ‘Conference Call’ scene was entertaining, Interesting way to bring River in, and a River that knows all of the spoilers, all of them…

Matt Smith’s horror at the revealing of the secret that Vastra has warned him about was huge. Matt is good at showing emotion but has turned a little panto at times this season. This episode he gets it right, could this be due to the Direction of Saul Metzstein? This is the same Director as The Crimson Horror and as I stated in my review of that episode, I couldn’t fault the Direction. This episode the Director definitely seems to have done a good job. He brought out a good performance from a good cast.

Trenzalore, where the Doctor is buried.

An Interview with Michael Carroll – Writer of Judge Dredd (and other things…)

This might look like another interview connected with the Judge Minty fan film, well OK it is… but as with the interview with Daniel Carey-George this interview goes beyond Judge Minty. This one goes quite a bit further.

Today I bring you an interview with Michael Carroll, co-writer of Judge Minty and one of the current writers on Judge Dredd in 2000AD.

I’ve previously reviewed Judge Dredd: Wolves and the Badger! tool that I used t create the title graphic for this blog both created by Mike. My avatar on the 2000AD Forum was also created using Badger!

Doctor Who: Nightmare in Silver

First Aired BBC1  19:00 11th May 2013

Director: Stephen Woolfenden
Writer:  Neil Gaiman

The Doctor: Matt Smith
Clara Oswald: Jenna-Louise Coleman

Webley: Jason Watkins
Porridge: Warwick Davis
Captain: Tamzin Outhwaite

This review includes spoilers.

Neil Gaiman’s second episode for Doctor Who, the first being The Doctor’s Wife (first aired BBC1 14 May 2011). That story was very well received by many people and had more of a feel of the original series than any other episode since the new run started. Idris, portrayed by Suranne Jones, was marvelous.

Sadly I don’t think this story succeeds as much as The Doctor’s Wife. The general premise was fine and the main plot was also good. I’m not sure where this episode lost its way. I do understand however that there are several scenes that were not included. This could be what went wrong.

I am not saying I didn’t like the episode. It just wasn’t as good as I expected.

Previews from 2000AD – Prog 1833, Nemesis The Warlock and the Dark Judges – spoiler free

Prog 1833 will be dropping on to subscribers’ door mats on Saturday 18th May 2013 and on general release on Wednesday 22nd May 2013 in shops and for digital download for iOS devices.

And look at the cover! Glen Fabry, classic artist for Sláine in the 1980s and 90s. Anderson returns in a story entitled ‘One in Ten‘ brought to us by Alan Grant and Carlos Ezquerra.

Also in this prog:

Judge Dredd The Forsaken: Part Four Sorvino
Sinister Dexter Witless Protection: Malone Again pert 2
Stickleback: Number of the Beast part 10
Zombo in Planet Zombo part 9

A great line-up in!

Nemesis The Warlock – Termight Edition
by Pat Mills, Kev O’Neill and Jesus Redondo

This is a hard back collectors edition of the coloured version previously printed in USA by Eagle; including the Nemesis Poster Prog strip, The Tomb of Torquemada. Colours were done by Kev O’Neill and if you haven’t read the Eagle version there are pages you’ve never seen.

The Termight Edition is only available from the 2000AD shop, pre order available for £40.00.

Free with this exclusive version will be two signed prints from the creators.

 

The Dark Judges are due to return in Spring 2014.

DARK JUSTICE by John Wagner and Greg Staples no more known than that at the moment but… look at that mouth on Anderson. Looks very much like Greg has been drawing on experience as Dredd in Judge Minty as that is almost certainly Integra Fairbrook who played Aquila’s daughter and appeared in cameo as Anderson in the fan film. Integra is the official Anderson for Planet Replicas

ECBT2000AD Podcast 121 – Judge Minty Q&A

Brought to the world by our friends over at Everything Comes back to 2000AD. Most of you surely already go there… if not, please do.

An outstanding Q&A  that was recorded at the Cardiff Comic Expo back in March following a screening of Judge Minty. Quiz master is Richmond Clements, writer of Ketsueki. Full of spoilers, though not too heavy.

Good job guys!

ECBT2000AD Podcast 121 – Judge Minty Q&A.