Ken Aldred

No, they just put me on a mailing list. Usually it’s just emails with promotions such as a three month ‘free’ trial of Apple Music, that kind of thing. First time it’s ever been anything as impressive as this offer, and completely unexpected.

Don’t need psychosis to explain email spamming, which, in this rare case, had a positive outcome.

Thanks. That’s what I was after. Whether it was worth investing in watching it again to get more fully what was going on, as it’s switching back and forth all over the place between plots, characters and time periods. Complex, or just confused.

I didn’t know anything at all about the system until I received the email yesterday afternoon. Completely unexpected.

I miss contributing to this. It was a nice way to end the year, in more affordable times.

I haven’t even tried to get a PS5 this year, reading about the ubiquitous scalping and the limited supply issues. Yesterday I received an email from Curry’s, the UK’s biggest electrical goods retailer, from their VIP Perks system, something I don’t even recall signing up for. I was surprised to discover that I’d been allocated a buy code from their PS5 VIP draw, as it’s called, with an invitation to buy a PS5 bundle at retail price; a disc console with either an extra controller, or headphones, or a game. I chose the extra controller. So, paid for and should be available for me to collect in person just before Xmas. It’s a check system which is designed to prevent black marketing as much as possible. Nice to see something go from feeling like an uphill struggle to being completely effortless for a change, though through pure luck. Looks like it’ll be Guardians of the Galaxy time very soon.

Once again, nice to see the items that other boardies are proudest of from the year, especially in these extremely expensive times. Great stuff, as per usual.

Nothing lazy about an array of 3 classic Frazetta covers.

Maybe tired is wrong for me, but after Endgame nothing much that Marvel Studios has produced has seemed quite as exciting or essential and instantly must-see. I did rate the Snyder Cut of Justice League highly, however. The social complications of the last couple of years have also broken the habit of drawing me out to watch them every time on the big screen, or buying them on disc or digitally, and I can wait for most to appear on free TV.

The freedom was no longer there, excesses monitored and reined in or completely expunged.

Thanks.

Don’t trust my grading and assessment skills, as I was second from last in one of Andy / thirdgreenham’s contests.

I think so. Easily combined back together and restored with the join barely noticeable. It’s minor.

A civilised perspective.

All I’m bothered about is whether a comic’s good, at the end of the day, whether it’s digital or aged newsprint. (Despite being a nerd myself.)

It’s a classic nerd debate, that’s all. Minutiae, forever tweaking the fine details.

I was surprised by the Golden Age range, as that has been extended quite a bit by merging previous definitions of late 30s-to-end 40s Golden Age + early-to-mid 50s Atom Age + early, post Showcase 4 Silver Age.

Apart from Eternals, no real interest whatsoever this year. Definitely waning.

During J Michael Straczynski's run in the 2000s. There's the mint condition raw comic posted above, as well.

I thought that about Avengers 4, which is one of my all-time favourite covers. It’s an incredibly dynamic way to reintroduce one of the most significant Marvel characters of all time. Totally in your face, approaching like an unstoppable juggernaut, simple-but-powerful, energetic composition, and no messing about with hiding the greatness inside. Always liked it that much.

Yup. Who’d have thought, reading a Fourth World comic as a kid in the 70s, that one day we’d have our own handheld Mother Boxes. Excuse me, I need to reply to a text ping.

I agree. It’s subjective. I’ve found maybe 5 to 10 comics at most, any month, any Age, that I’d consider still appeal to me, and few really outstanding classics which have stood the test of time and have retained some degree of lifelong magic, once they’re been sifted out from among the common mediocrity and outright garbage. That said, everyone has their own criteria and tastes to apply here and could have a bit of nostalgic fun playing around on the Newsstand website. The results naturally, understandably, will vary.

Yup. Was it really necessary to stick a big chunk of plastic onto this?

He's read Planetary, Warren Ellis's work, so he should be fine with Morrison's.

The underground comix scene is a shadow of its former self.