Sunday, December 30, 2018

Mega City Book Club 83: Major Eazy

Ian Grant joins me to celebrate a terrific book by the great Carlos Ezquerra and Alan Hebden featuring their laconic war hero, Major Eazy from Battle comic in the 1970s. Here's hoping for a new Treasury of British Comics edition in the future.

Check out Ian's work on The Big Tech show podcast in the British Tech Network.

You can find a list of episodes so far and all the upcoming books on the Facebook page, follow the podcast on Twitter, or email me comments and suggestions to MCBCpodcast@gmail.com
 

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Sunday, December 16, 2018

Mega City Book Club 82: Rogue Trooper board game

It's game night in the book club and my guest Jim Hawkins has brought the Rogue Trooper board game. He also fills me in on all the recent, exciting news in the world of 2000AD tabletop gaming.
And check out Westernoir by Gary Crutchley and Dave West.

You can find a list of episodes so far and all the upcoming books on the Facebook page, follow the podcast on Twitter, or email me comments and suggestions to MCBCpodcast@gmail.com
 

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Monday, December 3, 2018

Mega City Book Club 81: Top Ten Results

It's the results of the top ten votes as I reveal your favourite Judge Dredd stories and other 2000AD thrills, as well as your favourite series from over 40 years of the galaxy's greatest. Thanks to Alex Frith for the original idea, check out his work at Heroesof2000AD.blogspot.com and a huge thank you to everyone who voted.

Check out the 2000AD forum advent calendar and also look for my Chrsitmas charity raffle on my JustGiving page.

You can find a list of episodes so far and all the upcoming books on the Facebook page, follow the podcast on Twitter, or email me comments and suggestions to MCBCpodcast@gmail.com
 

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Sunday, December 2, 2018

Mega City Book Club 80: Shakara

David Broughton, the creator of Slaughter Hawk, Shamen Kane and many more comics, joins me for a chat about a bonkers, brilliant space opera by Robbie Morrison and Henry Flint.

Check out David's comics at his Comicsy store, and follow him on Twitter @DBroughtonDavid.

Get your copy of Shakara the Avenger from the 2000AD online store, or from Hachette in the Ultimate Collection.

You can find a list of episodes so far and all the upcoming books on the Facebook page, follow the podcast on Twitter, or email me comments and suggestions to MCBCpodcast@gmail.com
 

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Sunday, November 18, 2018

Mega City Book Club 79: Necropolis

Dave Heeley from the 1977-2000AD Facebook group joined me at the Birmingham ICE convention to discuss a great Dredd epic that nearly saw the end of the character. This episode was recorded before the sad news of the passing of Carlos Ezquerra who was one of the true legends of British comics. His beautiful work on Necropolis is just one of the many stunning creations we have to remember him by.

Find Dave's review work on the Word of the Nerd site, and get your copy of Necropolis from the 2000AD online store, or in a Hachette hardback.

You can find a list of episodes so far and all the upcoming books on the Facebook page, follow the podcast on Twitter, or email me comments and suggestions to MCBCpodcast@gmail.com
 

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Sunday, November 4, 2018

Mega City Book Club 78: The Dracula File

It's a Halloween special as Mr Jim Moon and myself sink our teeth into a bloodcurdling collection from the Treasury of British Comics. Check out Jim's 400+ podcasts at Hypnogoria.com

And get your copy of The Dracula File from the 2000AD online store.

You can find a list of episodes so far and all the upcoming books on the Facebook page, follow the podcast on Twitter, or email me comments and suggestions to MCBCpodcast@gmail.com
 

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Sunday, October 21, 2018

Mega City Book Club 77: Mazeworld

Just in time for the release of a brand new edition I talk all things Mazeworld with one of Tharg's newest art droids Paul Williams, the Sketchy Magpie himself. We also discuss the Thought Bubble 2000AD writing and art competitions, and how Paul won in 2017.

Get your copy of the brand new collection from the 2000AD store, and if you can go to the Arthur Ranson art exhibition at Orbital comics in London.

You can find a list of episodes so far and all the upcoming books on the Facebook page, follow the podcast on Twitter, or email me comments and suggestions to MCBCpodcast@gmail.com
 

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Sunday, October 7, 2018

Mega City Book Club 76: Restricted Files 4

Cosplayer Matt Davies joined me at the Lawgiver convention in May to discuss the fourth volume of Dredd's Restricted files and in particular that Dredd of Drokk Green story. Check out Matt's video channel on youtube.

Get your copy at the 2000AD online store.

You can find a list of episodes so far and all the upcoming books on the Facebook page, follow the podcast on Twitter, or email me comments and suggestions to MCBCpodcast@gmail.com
 

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Sunday, September 23, 2018

Mega City Book Club 75: Tsar Wars

Dr Chris Collazo is my guest to discuss the two volumes of Nikolai Dante that marked a real turning point for the character as written by Robbie Morrison, with great art by
Simon Fraser, John Burns, Steve Yeowell and Simon Davis.

Check out Chris's collection of original artwork on the Comic Art Fans site, and get your copies of the Tsar Wars volumes from the 2000AD online store.

You can find a list of episodes so far and all the upcoming books on the Facebook page, follow the podcast on Twitter, or email me comments and suggestions to MCBCpodcast@gmail.com
 

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Sunday, September 9, 2018

Mega City Book Club 74: Brink

I'm back in the Betsey Trotwood pub on a warm London day with some gentle Jazz in the background to meet up with Alex Frith and chat about some great science fiction from Dan Abnett and INJ Culbard. Check out Alex's work on the Heroes of 2000AD blog, and on his amazon author page.

And get your copy of Brink from the 2000AD store.

You can find a list of episodes so far and all the upcoming books on the Facebook page, follow the podcast on Twitter, or email me comments and suggestions to MCBCpodcast@gmail.com
 

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Sunday, August 26, 2018

Mega City Book Club 73: Von Hoffman's Invasion

The book club adjourns to a slightly noisy London pub to meet Keith Richardson and discuss all the wonders coming up from the Treasury of British Comics. We focus on a gem of a story from the early 1970s: Tom Tully and Eric Bradbury's fantastic Von Hoffman's Invasion.

Get your copy from the 2000AD online store.

You can find a list of episodes so far and all the upcoming books on the Facebook page, follow the podcast on Twitter, or email me comments and suggestions to MCBCpodcast@gmail.com
 

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Sunday, August 12, 2018

Mega City Book Club 72: Future Shock!

Paul Goodwin is the director of the fabulous 2000AD documentary, Future Shock, and he joins me in the book club to discuss the behind the scenes process of making the film and all of the great extras on the Blu-ray.

Get your copy from Arrow Films, and check out producer Sean Hogan's We always find ourselves in the sea which is currently showing on Shudder

You can find a list of episodes so far and all the upcoming books on the Facebook page, follow the podcast on Twitter, or email me comments and suggestions to MCBCpodcast@gmail.com
 

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Sunday, July 29, 2018

Mega City Book Club 71: Shako

It's time for the other half of the SpaceSpiner2000 cross-over as Conrad joins me for more rampaging giant animal action. Shako is the only bear on the CIA kill list, find out why. And check out Conrad and Fox every week on SpaceSpinner2000.

Get your copy of Shako from the 2000AD online store.

You can find a list of episodes so far and all the upcoming books on the Facebook page, follow the podcast on Twitter, or email me comments and suggestions to MCBCpodcast@gmail.com
 

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Sunday, July 15, 2018

Mega City Book Club 70: Ant Wars

Fox Galassi from the fabulous Space Spinner 2000 podcast is my guest to discuss some old school thrill-power as giant, ravenous ants go on the rampage in Ant Wars by Gerry Finley-Day and a host of great artists. Get your copy from the 2000AD online store and join in the fun.

You can find a list of episodes so far and all the upcoming books on the Facebook page, follow the podcast on Twitter, or email me comments and suggestions to MCBCpodcast@gmail.com
 

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Sunday, July 1, 2018

Mega City Book Club 69: Slaine Time Killer

Jules Boyle is my guest to discuss the second volume of Slaine's chronicles, and to tell me how he came to be immortalised in the pages of the prog by Glenn Fabry.

There are some audio issues with this episode for which I apologise, fortunately Jules has plenty of interesting stuff to say about the history of Slaine and his own adventures as a teenage fan of the Galaxys' greatest comic.

Check out Jules' own work on his Big Comic Page, and get your copy of Time Killer from the 2000AD online store.

You can find a list of episodes so far and all the upcoming books on the Facebook page, follow the podcast on Twitter, or email me comments and suggestions to MCBCpodcast@gmail.com
 

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Sunday, June 17, 2018

Mega City Book Club 68: Sandman - A Game of You

My daughter Jenny is back in the book club to follow Neil Gaiman and Bryan Talbot into the world of the Sandman, and the fifth collected volume, A Game of You, which allows us to pick up on some of the interesting issues about representation in comics that we started in our Halo Jones chat.

You can find the Autostraddle article Jenny references here. And A Game of You is available from all good comic and book shops.

You can find a list of episodes so far and all the upcoming books on the Facebook page, follow the podcast on Twitter, or email me comments and suggestions to MCBCpodcast@gmail.com
 

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Sunday, June 3, 2018

Mega City Book Club 67: Otto Sump



I caught up with Rachael Bullmore on free comic book day to chat about a digest collection of Otto Sump stories and to glory in the wonders of Ron Smith's art.

Look out for a Hachette collection hardback which includes all the Sump stories, or check out Case Files 3, 4, 6 and 8 from the 2000AD online store.

You can find a list of episodes so far and all the upcoming books on the Facebook page, follow the podcast on Twitter, or email me comments and suggestions to MCBCpodcast@gmail.com
 

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Sunday, May 20, 2018

Mega City Book Club 66: Doctor Who and the Iron Legion

Brian Doob from the British Invaders science fiction podcast is my return guest and he's chosen a great collection of Doctor Who stories by Pat Mills, John Wagner, Dave Gibbons and Steve Moore.

The Panini edition is still available through all good bookstores and you can also track down the IDW coloured versions.

Check out Brian's other podcast Hooked on Bond and his essay in the upcoming Children of Time book about the Doctor's companions.

You can find a list of episodes so far and all the upcoming books on the Facebook page, follow the podcast on Twitter, or email me comments and suggestions to MCBCpodcast@gmail.com
 

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Wednesday, May 9, 2018

Mega City Book Club 65: 2000AD Top Tens

 A very short bonus episode to do some housekeeping and to ask you to submit your top ten Judge Dredd stories, and also your top ten non Dredd 2000AD stories to MCBCpodcast@gmail.com so that we can compile our book club list of the best of the best. You are the academy of law and your vote counts!

You can find a list of episodes so far and all the upcoming books on the Facebook page, follow the podcast on Twitter, or email me comments and suggestions to MCBCpodcast@gmail.com
 

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Saturday, May 5, 2018

Mega City Book Club 64: Tour of Duty: The Backlash

Santiago Mayaud joins me down the line from Buenos Aires to discuss a huge turning point in the history of Judge Dredd, backed up by some great art from the pick of the current artist droids.

You can find Santi's history of female Judges in Mega-City One here, check out all his work for Zarjaz and Dogbreath, and his new work on Filthy Sleeves Studios.

And get your copy of The Backlash from the 2000AD online store.

You can find a list of episodes so far and all the upcoming books on the Facebook page, follow the podcast on Twitter, or email me comments and suggestions to MCBCpodcast@gmail.com
 

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Sunday, April 22, 2018

Mega City Book Club 63: Mek Files vol 2

I met up with Julius Howe in a musical London pub to discuss the second volume of the Mek Files and the subject of artwork collecting. The audio quality is not up to my usual standard (apologies) but the discussion is fun.

Check out Julius' Inky Fingers podcast about original comic book artwork, and buy your copy of the Mek Files from the 2000AD online store.

You can find a list of episodes so far and all the upcoming books on the Facebook page, follow the podcast on Twitter, or email me comments and suggestions to MCBCpodcast@gmail.com
 

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Sunday, April 8, 2018

Mega City Book Club 62: P.J.Maybe

Pete Wells is back, and he's brought a collection of stories about that constant thorn in Dredd's side, P.J.Maybe. There are spoilers along the way as we admire John Wagner's writing and artwork by a host of Tharg's finest droids.

Get your copy at the 2000AD online store, or the Hachette version. And check out Pete's 2000AD covers uncovered blog.

You can find a list of episodes so far and all the upcoming books on the Facebook page, follow the podcast on Twitter, or email me comments and suggestions to MCBCpodcast@gmail.com
 

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Sunday, March 25, 2018

Mega City Book Club 61: The Terra-Meks


Journalist, editor, and podcaster Andrew Harrison joins me to discuss everybody's favourite story from the Ro-Busters Disaster Squad, written by Pat Mills and beautifully illustrated by Dave Gibbons. As you will hear it's a tale that has particular significance for my guest, including the ending which we do spoil a bit.

Check out Andrew's Bigmouth podcast and follow him on twitter @nndroid. And get your copy of Ro-Busters: the complete nuts and bolts vol 2 from the 2000AD online store.

You can find a list of episodes so far and all the upcoming books on the Facebook page, follow the podcast on Twitter, or email me comments and suggestions to MCBCpodcast@gmail.com
 

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Sunday, March 11, 2018

Mega City Book Club 60: Zombo

Mr Spongejoshing himself is back in the book club with the masterpiece that is the first volume of Zombo by Mr Henry Flint and Mr Al Ewing. When we manage to control our giggles we discuss the wonders of the big green death machine himself and we manage to avoid spoilers along the way.

Check out Josh's blogging at Spongejoshing.blogspot.co.uk and buy your copy of Zombo from the 2000AD online store.

You can find a list of episodes so far and all the upcoming books on the Facebook page, follow the podcast on Twitter, or email me comments and suggestions to MCBCpodcast@gmail.com
 

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Sunday, February 25, 2018

Mega City Book Club 59: Cinnabar

The book club is back in Dublin's fair city as Brian Walsh returns to discuss one of the greatest of Rogue Trooper's adventures, Cinnabar by John Smith, Steve Dillon and Kev Walker.

Check out Brian's artwork on our facebook page and at his site.

And get your copy of Tales of Nu-Earth 4 from the 2000AD online store.

You can find a list of episodes so far and all the upcoming books on the Facebook page, follow the podcast on Twitter, or email me comments and suggestions to MCBCpodcast@gmail.com
 

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Wednesday, February 14, 2018

The Silence of the RAM. A 2000AD short story

I usually try my hand at writing something for the 2000AD forums short story competitions when they come along once a quarter or thereabouts. This is a tale I wrote back in 2014 and it's still one of my favourites. I'm re-posting it partly because I like the reveal, and partly because I hope that Conrad and Fox from the Space Spinner 2000 podcast might enjoy one of their most annoying characters finally ending up behind bars.

Silence of the Ram
“Sparrow, isn’t it?”
“Cadet Paris Sparrow, Sir. You wanted to see me?”
“I have a job for you, Cadet. Something that should appeal to your special interest. Machine intelligence, I believe?”
"Yes, Sir. All artificial intelligences. It’s sort of a hobby of mine.”
“Hobby?”
He regarded her coldy with his single, scarred eye.
“Judges don’t have hobbies. We have specialist skills which we use for the good of the city.”
“Sir.”
“Well. You are familiar with the Mechanical Multiphase Personality Assessment tool?
I want you to go to Iso-Block 14 and run it on this prisoner.”
He tossed a file across the desk.
“This machine has so far resisted all our attempts to understand why it ... rebelled against its programming. Go to the cubes, run the test, and report straight back to me.
And one more thing, Sparrow. Do not give this ‘Brain in a Box’ any personal information. You do not want this machine inside your head.”
---
The Droid prisoners were kept on the lowest sublevel of Iso-Block 14. They were allowed power, lubricants and spare parts, but no contact with the web or the outside world.
Sparrow felt strangely nervous as she walked along a row of plexiglass cell walls towards the last cube. Red, mechanical eyes glared at her. Metal mouths hissed insults at her back.
Prisoner 305528-R stood waiting for her behind the transparent cube wall. The blank screen faceplate regarded her and its voice box flickered.
“Good morning, Cadet”
Sparrow licked her lips. “Good morning. My name is Sparrow. I would like to ask you a few questions.”
“Questions? Another test? Still trying to find out what makes me tick?
Do you know what the Judge said to the stopped watch? ‘We have ways of making you tock!’ “
The Robot stepped closer to the Plexiglass.
“Who sent you here, Spawow?”
“P...puh..pardon?”
“Do not make me w...”
The machine paused.
“Who sent you here, Baby Judge? It was him wasn't it?”
“The academy sent me to ask you some questions. I don’t know who you are talking about. “
“Him. The Law. He wants to know why I turned against him. He wants to know why I ... webelled.”
“Webelled?”
“Do not mock me, child. I have killed Judges. Shall I tell you what I did to the last form filler they sent here? I cooked them Italian food, with a nice Chianti. W..w...w...wuh-wuh.”
The robot’s mechanical arm extended and banged the glass. In spite of her training Sparrow jumped back.
“Wun along now, Little Judge. Wun back to that academy and tell them I’m weady to talk, but only to him. Tell the gweat Joe Dwedd that his wunaway wobot demands his pwesence. NOW!”

Sunday, February 11, 2018

Mega City Book Club 58: Stainless Steel Rat

It's time for a science fiction classic as Jake Ebeling joins the book club to discuss Harry Harrison's Stainles Steel Rat as brought to the pages of the prog by Kelvin Gosnell and Carlos Ezquerra. We visit all three of Slippery Jim's 2000AD adventures. 

Get your copy from the 2000AD online store.

You can find a list of episodes so far and all the upcoming books on the Facebook page, follow the podcast on Twitter, or email me comments and suggestions to MCBCpodcast@gmail.com
 

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Sunday, January 28, 2018

Mega City Book Club 57: Gaze into the fist of Dredd!


It's the most famous page in the history of British comics and I spoke to the lucky chap who owns it. We chat about his collection and how he met Brian Bolland and acquired some key pages from him. You can check out Chris's astonishing collection of pages and commissions on his ComicArtFans page.

And of course you can read the Judge Death Lives story in a variety of collections from the 2000AD online store.

You can find a list of episodes so far and all the upcoming books on the Facebook page, follow the podcast on Twitter, or email me comments and suggestions to MCBCpodcast@gmail.com
 

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Saturday, January 20, 2018

Mega City Book Club 56: Al's Baby Revisited


The voice of Tharg returns as David Bishop makes his third visit to the book club to give his insights into the conception of Al's Baby in the Meg, and the subject of creator owned strips. You can find details of his creative writing course at Edinburgh Napier university, and find all David's books on his Amazon author page.

Al's Baby is still on the 2000AD online store.

You can find a list of episodes so far and all the upcoming books on the Facebook page, follow the podcast on Twitter, or email me comments and suggestions to MCBCpodcast@gmail.com
 

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Saturday, January 13, 2018

Mega City Book Club 55: Al's Baby

It's the weirdest pregnancy to ever appear in the pages of the Meg and the Prog as Ben Penfold-Marwick joins me from Oz to discuss a comedy classic from our heroes, John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra.

You can find Ben's musical work on Bandcamp with Celestial Shadows and Flatus

Hurry to the delivery ward on the 2000AD online store to get your bouncing copy of Al's Baby.

You can find a list of episodes so far and all the upcoming books on the Facebook page, follow the podcast on Twitter, or email me comments and suggestions to MCBCpodcast@gmail.com
 

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