Here’s a 2000AD incongruity that’s bound to confuse future comic historians! When Prog 2498 appeared in shops last week, it had the correct cover date of 2nd September. However, comic creator and archivist Lew Stringer has noted the exact same issue that subscribers have received has the date of 9th September.
“The reason of course is down to printers PCP going into administration,” he notes. “I’m guessing that just before that happened they only had time to print the issues for the shops.
“The new date was added for the ones done by the new printers, taking up the task to complete the print run. The subscriber edition of Prog 2498 has a different texture and smell to the version that was sent to the shops, so it’s obviously by the new printers.”
(Yes, we know the smell of a comic is a bit of a specialist way to spot differences, but if wine tasters can do it…)
“It gets a bit weirder,” Lew continues, fully aware this is, perhaps, his most pedantic comics related posting, ever! “The copies of Prog 2499, which has arrived in shops this week and has also been sent to subscribers, have all been printed by the new printers. However, it carries next Wednesday’s date, 16th September, and the ad for the following issue says it won’t be out until 23rd September.
“Presumably 2000AD thought they might have to skip a week but apparently they won’t have to now.”
Tharg has indeed confirmed that the much anticipated 2000AD 2500 is on course for release next week, behind the scenes efforts to keep on schedule despite the odds, and, clearly, some hiccups, successful. (The digital edition carries the correct on sale date).
As Lew’s previously noted, most British comics are dated a week ahead anyway. “but 2000AD singularly went against the norm over 20 years ago and every copy since has carried the on-sale date instead. So expect things to adjust soon and we’ll see it rectified.”
Yes, Lew does have time on his hands, and, no, he doesn’t expect most people will read any of this.
Can we now, however, expect 2000AD 2498 Subscribers Editions to become something of a collectible…?
• Lew Stringer is online at lewstringercomics.blogspot.com
• How British comic cover dates have (largely) lied to you for decades by Lew Stringer
Talking of That Comic Smell…
As a side note… talking of That Comic Smell, back in the dim and distant past, there was one issue of my fanzine, SCAN, that didn’t just smell funny, it stank! But it did prompt a hilarious Letter Of Comment from Ross Cowin (remember him?) who if I recall correctly, declared he’d found a gas mask in order to read it safely!
- About the Author
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John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: 2000AD, British Comics, Comics, Creating Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News
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