Re: Why Dredd?
I'm with Dollstix and the other guys on this. It's a massive hit for me, and like some others, it's what brought me to the forum, as a whole.
As an apprehensive 9 year old, I risked being belted (and the wrath of my folks) to sneak out of our school playground, at break time, to run to the corner shop, pocket money in my sweaty, grubby hand and left with the coolest new comic ever. Fast forward 36 years and I'm still reading the coolest comic ever, every week, and the Megazine every month. I have never missed a prog (issue) of either and have an entire collection up in my roof space (hell, that's the reason I floored and lined the loft, just don't tell my wife!). My son has just turned 9, and for his birthday, amongst many other things, he got the first ten progs to read and take care of. When he's done there will be more, many many more!
But I digress. The sole reason I stuck with the comics - through some pretty dry spells (Pat Mills, your preachy prose sucks these days and just pads out rambling messy artwork that goes nowhere fast!!) - was and is Dredd. He is the best comic character since Batman, and in many ways, for me at least, is on a par.
After leaving uni, many years ago, as a single reasonably paid young man, with an artistic "bent" and a passion for the character, I was persuaded to do an entire costume build by an American friend. It worked very well, but it cost a bundle to make it all, and took me months. I don't know what became if it after he took it home, and he has since tragically died, so I have no way of knowing if its still around or went to the landfill. :/
Now, half my life later, I'm back needing a purpose, with a lot of spare time on my hands and that spark is back. So, while I may not have the funds as yet to set up my workshop, I've already started some aspects of not one, but two Dredd builds - the classic comic and the 2012 movie version - and will be working to complete these before they nail me down & drop me 6 feet under!!
I honestly don't think I could do that without this place, and the help, inspiration and advice that is so selflessly given here, out of so many combined years of experience.
So I'm drokking glad this sub-forum exists, believe me, and my thanks to those who started and maintain it!