Loved it.

Pat Mills shooting straight from the hip (as per usual). Refreshing. Loved it and damn you later That's!

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Mixed Bag

Great narration as Pat is very entertaining and passionate, however the 2nd half felt repetitive.

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A good insight into the world of comic creation

Like most readers (listeners?) of this book, I was a loyal Squaxx Dek Thargo for many years - until it became rubbish in the nineties (again, probably like most others), and my sister read Misty, so this was a no-brainer when it came to listening.

It really is fascinating, and even though I knew a bit about Mills, I never realised just how involved he was in other comics during the seventies and eighties, nor some of the practices that carry on to this day (apparently).

The book is read by Mills himself. This is a good thing, because normally when a narrator expresses emotion, they're doing it as they interpret the words. Not in this case - you can really tell that Mills still feels passionately about things that happened over 40 years ago.

The most overriding factor to be gleaned from the book is that Mills is resentful and bitter. No matter how he tries to disguise it (and sometimes he doesn't) but bitterness just oozes out of the loudspeakers as he describes his experiences in the UK comics field, and compares them to international markets

Here's a drinking game: Every time Mills says 'the right thing to do', 'royalties', 'the late great', and 'Charley's War' take a shot. You'll be unconscious before you're two thirds of the way through the book.

So, yeah - a really good listen, but only if you're into UK comics, and have a bit of background knowledge already.

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2 people found this helpful

Awesome History of 2000AD That Pulls No Punches!

I loved every minute of this book and listened to it avidly over a couple of days. It’s Pat Mills’ autobiography/history of 2000AD/polemic/political manifesto/guide for aspiring writers and artists. It’s really difficult to reduce this book to being any one thing. It was very much like sitting in the pub listening to him (and I mean that in a most complimentary way). Mills reads the book himself which really adds to the experience of the book.

I can’t recommend this book highly enough. It’s fabulous and certainly one of the best “history of” I’ve read or listened to. I came away with a real sense of how working in the British comics industry is like and how passionately Mills is about comics and their power to impact on society. Often, he wanders into great anecdotes which are really enjoyable. He’s very critical - though never personally abusive - about people he’s worked with and not afraid to call people out about injustices he believes they have carried out or gone along with. I would imagine if you were working at 2000AD you would know exactly who he talks about when he declines to give names.

Most importantly he repeatedly talks about the poor treatment of artists and writers by comics publishers in Britain and, if nothing else, this book makes a great case that the publishers need to rectify their neglect. This is really a matter of paying creators decently.

If you’re a general comics fan or even someone who used to read 2000AD as a kid, you’ll thoroughly enjoy this. Bravo, Mr Mills. Loved it.

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Pat is THE MAN

Yep, I'm a man whose childhood psyche was eternally corrupted and scarred by 2000AD, and I wouldn't change it for the world!
And its all thanks to this man and his peers.
I loved this book though having seen the 2000AD documentary Future Shock before reading this Pat did come across as reigning in his more..... Hmmmm... Let us say, more forthright side... Lol
But the info is a true insight, the anecdotes valuable and the whole thing makes both elated, and thoroughly depressed that I didn't get off my arse after leaving school and go look for a job there.
Opinions are divided about Pat, but to me, he's a driven, bloodyminded visionary....but down to Earth and humble enough to not put himself on a pedestal. I sent him a thanks after reading this, noting that while I was in hospital in Colchester in 1978, he was somewhere in the same town writing stuff that would become the only comic I read as a kid. He actually answered and solidified his place as a cool guy in my books.
This book is well worth the investment. Enjoy.

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Pat Mills Moans

Basically Pat Mills Moans about British comics and the lack of character ownership today on 2000AD. I was hoping for more facts.

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Thrillpower Reading

I'll say from the start, I'm a fan of 2000AD and I'm a fan of Pat Mills, he IS the Godfather of British Comics, that said, I would have enjoyed this book without knowing either

If you've seen Future Shock! The documentary about 2000AD, you'll know some of the things being referenced, but this puts a lot more meat on the bones... and then adds some more bones. It's not just a history of 2000AD, it's a commentary on British Comics and is stuffed with so many things I never knew, (like the US is only the 3rd biggest market for comics). It explains how comics work, how stories are developed, how writers and artists cooperate and then how things can go wrong.

But is does all this with a mixture of Pat Mills' famous tirades, as well as humour and genuinely emotional moments

If you like 2000AD, or comics, or just publishing, writing and the process of story telling in general, I can't recommend it enough

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5 people found this helpful

A literary Temporal Displacement Grenade.

a fascinating insight into what it took to create the legendary 2000AD. Well worth your time if you are a lover of the comic or just want an inside perspective on the trials and tribulations of creating art whilst railing against the conservative standards of the UK print industry.

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2000AD old boy

Excellent - great listen and even better for Pat Mills narration

Bought back great memories of the comic and very interesting history from the creator himself.

Highly recommended

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Thank you, Pat Mills!

Growing up as a kid in the 70s reading 2000 A.D., Pat Mills was an absolute legend… And still is. Really interesting to hear what was going on from his perspective. And really shocking to hear what a raw deal the artists and creators and developers get in British comics. Can’t believe it’s happening even to this day where they’re deprived of reward as their work is reprinted. Thanks Pat for your energy, bloody mindedness, and talent. Charlie’s war was a big eye opener for me and the kids that read it 😀

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