Comments for FreakyTrigger

Comment on The Early Funny Stuff by pokebonk

pokebonk — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 02:35:21 +0000

I’ve felt that too, especially when I try to turn an acquaintance into a close friend right away. The relationship ends up staying polite but thin. Slowing down and letting trust build through small, repeated interactions seems more reliable than pushing for instant depth.

Comment on Crisis On Infinite Polls by pokebonk

pokebonk — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 02:33:13 +0000

The pushback on urgency feels right. I’ve noticed that when I force a connection too quickly, it usually stays superficial, whereas the ones that grew slowly ended up being the ones I actually relied on. Maybe the pressure itself is what undermines the depth people are chasing.

Comment on The Early Funny Stuff by army commander tycoon

army commander tycoon — Wed, 21 Oct 2026 09:13:32 +0000

The point about urgency in connections resonates with me, though I’d push back slightly: sometimes the pressure to connect quickly produces exactly the shallow exchanges the piece seems to criticize. I’ve found slower, repeated contact builds more trust than any single intense moment.

Comment on Crisis On Infinite Polls by army commander tycoon

army commander tycoon — Wed, 21 Oct 2026 09:09:44 +0000

The point about urgency in connections resonates with me, though I’d push back slightly: sometimes the pressure to connect quickly is what makes relationships feel disposable. I’ve found the opposite holds true in my own life—the connections that mattered most formed slowly, almost accidentally, without any sense of crisis driving them.

Comment on Quick, Let’s Make Love, Before You Die: DEATH PLANET by run 3

run 3 — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 09:38:45 +0000

Wow, this post really makes me think about the urgency of connections in our lives! Have you ever felt a moment so intense that it made you forget everything else? It’s like playing “Run 3” where every choice counts – how do we prioritize what matters most before time runs out? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Comment on The Scandal Of Skinny Water by Patricia Lewis

Patricia Lewis — Wed, 14 Oct 2026 13:34:14 +0000

Reading this took me straight back to the flavoured water aisle and that weird fluorescent bottle glow. The pomegranate being 'rather nice' is the perfect backhanded compliment, and the packaging hiding the copy is a great detail. It's funny how much effort goes into making something look futuristic when the actual taste is just fine. I get the same feeling when I try a new AI image generator for a quick text to image test — the interface looks sleek, but you only find out if it's any good once you hit generate. text to image

Comment on 1. No Bird Can Fly, No Fish Can Swim Until The King Is Born by Thundr Alternative

Thundr Alternative — Tue, 13 Oct 2026 05:05:09 +0000

This is a fascinating reflection on how music charts can be shaped by grief, nostalgia, marketing, and public memory. The discussion of Elvis’s 1000th Number One is especially interesting, showing how a historic milestone can feel meaningful and disappointing at the same time.https://vidcam.io

Comment on Aard Labour 6: Melmoth by xiaosen lin

xiaosen lin — Tue, 13 Oct 2026 04:02:59 +0000

I liked how the piece approached aard labour melmoth without making it feel heavier than it needed to be. The practical details make it easier to connect the main idea with something a reader could actually use or think through later. ProfileLoom

Comment on Comics: A Beginner’s Guide: Humour Comics by Aleksandr Su

Aleksandr Su — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 20:38:23 +0000

Great piece — it’s refreshing to see early Mad and Kurtzman given their due rather than dismissed alongside the later formulaic stuff. The Jungle Book recommendation is spot-on; it really is a masterpiece that deserves more attention. Glad to see Don Martin and Aragones get their props too — Martin’s sound effects alone are worth the price of admission, and the “lost in the post” detail about the Marginals is a great bit of trivia. The Gregory shout-out is an unexpected delight as well — proof that “funny” doesn’t have to mean “light.” Solid guide for anyone looking to dig past the obvious.

Comment on Jess’s Preliminary Top 10 for 2003 by Luna Star

Luna Star — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 06:30:49 +0000

A fantastic collection of music highlights from 2003! The detailed commentary and diverse selection make this a fun and engaging read for music lovers. Similarly, choosing reliable Manhole Covers Suppliers in Dubai is essential for finding quality products that meet different project requirements. Both thoughtful recommendations and informed choices help readers discover the best options for their needs.

Comment on Which Decade Is Tops For Pops? Round 1: the Number 10s. by xiaosen lin

xiaosen lin — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 03:53:40 +0000

Comparing songs at the same chart position across decades is an interesting way to avoid judging an era by only its biggest hits. The reminder to rank on musical merit rather than nostalgia is especially useful for a listening exercise like this. ProfileLoom

Comment on HAUNTOGRAPHY: The Tractate Middoth by rgbatohex

rgbatohex — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 04:09:28 +0000

Interesting title! It sounds mysterious, and the hauntography series seems to have a consistent vibe. The aged antiquary finding something hints at classic horror tropes. Great to see these stories still being revived.

Comment on Which Decade Is Tops For Pops? Round 5: the Number 6s. by xiaosen lin

xiaosen lin — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 02:10:42 +0000

I liked how the piece approached decade tops for pops round the without making it feel heavier than it needed to be. The practical details make it easier to connect the main idea with something a reader could actually use or think through later. ProfileLoom

Comment on King William’s College Kwizz 2019. FT Round 6 by Jamie Parker

Jamie Parker — Sun, 04 Oct 2026 05:29:13 +0000

I really enjoy how the 2000AD anthology model jumps between genres; it keeps each issue unpredictable, similar to flipping through a bird guide organized by U.S. state and season to spot unexpected local species. I often check <a href="https://birdlyyard.com/ ">Birdly Yard state and season field guides</a> when I want a quick, structured way to explore what might show up next.

Comment on Let’s All Meet Up In The Year 2000: INTRO by Andy

Andy — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 23:37:09 +0000

This is a strong start. The 2000AD anthology model means every Prog can swing from Dredd to something totally unexpected, and that variety is exactly why it’s fun to analyse. I like the idea of looking for patterns rather than just ranking stories. That same pleasure in mapping different arcs and outcomes is why I also enjoy guides like andyandleyley.com/walkthrough for The Coffin of Andy and Leyley’s Burial, Decay and secret endings. Looking forward to more Discourse 2000.

Comment on Let’s All Meet Up In The Year 2000: INTRO by Klickmove

Klickmove — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 12:31:22 +0000

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Comment on Space Travel’s In My Blood: DAN DARE ’78 by size it up

size it up — Sat, 26 Sep 2026 14:10:40 +0000

The point about polls measuring name recognition rather than preference really resonates. I remember following a local election where the early frontrunner had huge name recognition but lost once people actually tuned in. That gap between being known and being chosen is where the real campaign happens.

Comment on What Was I Thinking? (Part 3) by size it up

size it up — Sat, 26 Sep 2026 14:03:38 +0000

Polls months out mostly measure name recognition, not preference, so I get the skepticism. My own habit is to ignore them until after Labor Day, since that’s when undecideds actually start paying attention. The 2016 misses weren’t really about the numbers being wrong so much as the models trusting one assumption too heavily.

Comment on Crisis On Infinite Polls by size it up

size it up — Sat, 26 Sep 2026 13:53:03 +0000

Given how many polls missed the mark in 2016 and 2020, I don’t put much faith in horse-race numbers months out. The real story is usually turnout and late deciders, which polling struggles to capture. I’d rather watch local special elections than national surveys.

Comment on TASKFORCE – “Fugs R Us” by Yo .

Yo . — Tue, 22 Sep 2026 20:03:14 +0000

Comment on Crisis On Infinite Polls by BESTWATERMARK

BESTWATERMARK — Mon, 21 Sep 2026 15:29:39 +0000

Option 6 (the hybrid approach) sounds like the best way forward! Reducing the daily workload should be the priority, and using Twitter for quick matches while keeping the site for deeper music chats balances both well. Thanks for all the effort, Tom! Best Watermark

Comment on Thanks to all the people who replied to the ‘stats help wanted’ post by GB WhatsApp APK

GB WhatsApp APK — Mon, 21 Sep 2026 12:17:46 +0000

Este conteúdo oferece uma visão prática sobre versões alternativas de aplicativos de mensagens. Informações sobre GB WhatsApp APK, compatibilidade e instalação são apresentadas de forma clara para facilitar a consulta de usuários Android.

Comment on Minds Immeasurably Superior To Ours: ANT WARS by Ben Saunders

Ben Saunders — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 20:13:55 +0000

In reply to Andrew F. Ah - thanks for clarifying! It’s been such a pleasure to read this series …

Comment on #EventsDearBoy – THE BIG LIST by comicbookguy

comicbookguy — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 13:58:30 +0000

In reply to comicbookguy. Countdown to Final Crisis absolutely earns its last place though

Comment on #EventsDearBoy – THE BIG LIST by comicbookguy

comicbookguy — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 13:57:59 +0000

Man, history has not been kind to Identity Crisis.

Comment on Minds Immeasurably Superior To Ours: ANT WARS by Andrew F

Andrew F — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 17:08:44 +0000

In reply to DensityDuck.

That might be an optimistic reading of yesterday’s post (though I’d be delighted if they did) – but to Ben, if you look at the dates in the articles on the sidebar, Tom’s doing them in seasons when he’s got enough to say for each one – the first intro post to Inferno is 26th August to 16th September 2024, then Intro ’78 to this one is 23rd November 2025 to 21st January 2026 – he’ll be back around at some point, I’m sure.

Comment on Minds Immeasurably Superior To Ours: ANT WARS by DensityDuck

DensityDuck — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 14:43:54 +0000

In reply to Ben Saunders. He was doing a series of Bluesky posts about crossover/series-wide Comics Events and it looks like they're going to show up here.

Comment on All one can do is die (CRASH TEST DUMMIES – “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm”) by Solano Condo

Solano Condo — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 05:57:46 +0000

already bookmarked

Comment on All one can do is die (CRASH TEST DUMMIES – “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm”) by Wynwood Grand

Wynwood Grand — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 05:57:17 +0000

very nice content

Comment on Quick, Let’s Make Love, Before You Die: DEATH PLANET by Ben Saunders

Ben Saunders — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 15:34:45 +0000

Tom, are you there?

Comment on Minds Immeasurably Superior To Ours: ANT WARS by Ben Saunders

Ben Saunders — Tue, 26 May 2026 10:54:30 +0000

Tom – hope all is well with you? I’m loving this series – I’m genuinely staggered at how many smart things you have to say about the weaker strips, and you are making me want to re-read all the stronger strips. Looking forward to any and all future installments …?

Comment on How The Darkness Doubled: INFERNO by Ben Saunders

Ben Saunders — Sun, 17 May 2026 21:10:19 +0000

Viva Berlardinelli!
Glad to see you comment directly on the way the deaths of Zack and Slim are thrown away. Even as a very young reader, this struck me as a missed opportunity for a melodramatic exit …

Comment on Every Thought Is A Dream Rushing By In A Stream: THARG’S FUTURE SHOCKS by Ben Saunders

Ben Saunders — Sun, 17 May 2026 17:20:38 +0000

In reply to Rory.

Agreed. I can’t remember what I read last week but I can recall (sometimes dimly, sometimes with startling vividness) every single one of these. Of course, I surely read my Progs more than once, but still – I guess your mind as a child really does take impressions like wet cement.
And yes – that IPC policy explains a LOT!

Comment on Well, I’m Just A Modern Guy: M.A.C.H. 1 by Ben Saunders

Ben Saunders — Sun, 17 May 2026 16:57:44 +0000

Just realized I posted my last comment in the wrong place – it’s meant to be in response to that first Tharg story. Just in case anyone cares ..!

Comment on Well, I’m Just A Modern Guy: M.A.C.H. 1 by Ben Saunders

Ben Saunders — Sun, 17 May 2026 16:55:22 +0000

This is really interesting. I can remember reading this story at the time. I would have been eight or nine years old, and my love of comics (and of reading!) had started with Spider-Man Comics Weekly a couple of years earlier (Romita Sr/Gil Kane era Spidey, Gene Colan Iron Man, Kirby Thor – still the good stuff in other words). I remember Kev’s little dig at Marvel readers but don’t remember taking it personally or anything. I had no problems buying both Marvel UK reprints and 2000AD. It’s harder for me to figure out why I never bought Action – I barely remember even seeing it? – and rarely looked at Battle or Valiant or the Military Picture Library books. Some of this might have been the limits of my pocket move at the time (I bought comics on Saturday mornings after a visit to my grandma’s house – she funded the habit) but I think I was just not interested in war stories (or Sports stories – and aside from a brief flirtation with Cheeky, I saw British humor comics as aimed at younger readers – at the grand old age of nine I thought I was well beyond the Bash Street Kids). I remember seeing episodes of “Kelly’s Eye” or “The Steel Claw” in Valiant and feeling a flicker of interest in the fantastical elements. But the overt militarism of Battle clearly was a turn off. I’m not sure why – I was proud of my grandfather’s military service (he was badly injured in the liberation of Uttrecht) and liked him personally and he read war history books all the time. I can’t remember even formulating these feelings into thoughts at that age. But if a comic (or paperback) had fantastical elements- superhero/SF/Sword and Sorcery/horror- I was in, and if it involved sports or World War Two, I just – never picked it up. I was more likely to spend spare coppers on Misty than Battle or Roy of the Rovers (although it felt like transgressing a gender boundary to do so). As a result, I seem to have missed out on some good stuff (not just slightly later Mills’ work like “Charley’s War” or Ezquerra’s “Major Easy” which I only know by reputation, but the entire contents of those Picture Library books, which I do remember seeing around, but never even flipped open …
This blog (and the comments) provides more than a great critical survey of 2000AD. It really shows how that title shapes the larger narrative of British comics history – both shaping and potentially distorting that larger story because it’s so meteoric in impact. And it makes me want to take a belated look at so many things I passed over …

Comment on Stay Glued To Your TV Set: HARLEM HEROES by Ben Saunders

Ben Saunders — Sat, 16 May 2026 17:30:21 +0000

Once again, I’m learning a lot. I hated “sports” as a child (a nerd who hated sports – shocking I know) and this hatred extended to sports comics. So I didn’t recognize all the cliches you point out as cliches; they were new to me. I see now how thin the characters were (the young rebel, the wizened veteran, the solid leader, the … the one with a mustache, etc.) But at the time they seemed more rounded, to the point that I was really shocked when Zack was killed in Inferno – sorry, spoilers – not by the fact of his death but the fact that he was one of the few team members with a personality trait and a bit of a backstory who had been around from the start, but was nevertheless killed OFF PANEL in an aside by Tharg, WTF …?!
Totally agree about Gibbons and Artie – last time I saw Dave at a con I got him to sign the cover of Prog 9.
Also agree that while the international stereotypes are often laughable and sometimes troubling, the Heroes made pretty good heroes, and their commitment to sportsmanship in a world defined by greed and violence definitely marked them out from the rest of the 2000AD cast.
Another excellent entry.

Comment on Whatever Happened To Leon Trotsky?: INVASION! by Ben Saunders

Ben Saunders — Sat, 16 May 2026 05:37:32 +0000

I would not have imagined that Invasion – perhaps my least favorite of the early “thrills” – could ever have inspired such an excellent discussion. But the class analysis is spot on – I particularly appreciate the observation about the varieties of working class occupations that we encounter among the supporting characters as Bill starts roaming the nation. I am also left with a new appreciation of Finley-Day’s inventiveness.
Having said that, the strip was always too close to being a Battle-style war story for me – Coagulopath’s comment about Savage being an unthinking killing machine seems exactly right (the body count in other strips is high, of course, but Dredd is obligated to articulate his reasoning when he executes (or spared) a criminal, and even in Flesh there’s that guy who has a conscience about all the dinosaurs they are killing – the buddy of the main protagonist, can’t remember his name). Even as a kid, I think this lack of moral reflection left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth.
Nevertheless, you have left me with a new appreciation of how well this strip worked, episode for episode.
I tried to ask this earlier after reading the Dan Dare blog but I guess the system glitched so may as well ask here: am I right in thinking that there is an enormous qualitative leap from Action to 2000AD – from right out of the gate? And if so, what is that about?
I ask because Action is clearly such an important part of the larger 2000AD origin story – as the place where Mills first develops his “comics that can compete with TV and movies (that kids maybe shouldn’t be watching),” and as a vehicle for anti-authoritarian heroes. But I picked up several issues when I was last in the UK and the thing that really struck me was how comparatively terrible Action is. Often poorly drawn, but also frequently crudely laid out, and even the thinnest characters in early 2000AD have more depth than the protagonists of most Action strips. I confess, I have not read more than a handful and maybe just got unlucky in my selection – but given how large Action looms in the history of British comics – not merely for the controversy it stirred up but also because it is always cited as a key precursor to 2000AD, and shared key personnel- how come 2000AD just seems so much better out of the gate? Does it really come down to the key innovation of “fewer stories, more pages for artists to cut loose” – or are there other factors involved? Or am I just being unfair in my assessment of Action? Is my nostalgia for 2000AD coloring my perception of its superiority? (I started with prog 4 but don’t think I read Action at all as a kid …)

Comment on A New Career In A New Town: DAN DARE by Ben Saunders

Ben Saunders — Fri, 15 May 2026 21:08:07 +0000

Dang just tried to post something and it says “approval needed spam” – hope it shows up?

Comment on I Will Not Be Treated As Property: M.A.C.H. 1 ’78 / M.A.C.H. ZERO by Ben Saunders

Ben Saunders — Fri, 15 May 2026 18:51:26 +0000

I can’t believe I am just discovering your work, Tom. The price I pay for not being more online I guess. I have just started my own Cerebus re-reading project (my arc similar to yours – I read it monthly from 1982 to 1993, quitting with #183 when I realized he wasn’t joking about the anti-feminist stuff – and now I’m thinking I’ll try to finish it, for reasons that are not obvious even to myself).
Enjoyed that so much I then saw you have all these great pieces on 2000 AD. I particularly appreciate the insights into the deep cut of Mach Zero, a story that I remember finding quite emotionally upsetting when I was a ten year old.
I think the “cynical Six Million Dollar man” formula of Mach 1 is well captured by your analysis- and the Blakes 7 connection you gesture towards at the start seems spot on, to the extent that it’s a similarly Britishly cynical take on a more optimistic American formula, a kind of mean spirited and surly Star Trek. But B7 could also be so much more (and sometimes less) than that, whereas Mach 1 never gets much beyond the elevator pitch because Probe has no personality.
What I had not really taken in before was the dark SF tinged Victoriana of Mach Zero. I remember Dorey’s art really … bothering me, at the time … all that murky, sooty darkness and shadow. But now I see that the emotional affect of the story owed a lot to his stylistic choices.
Man, what a fantastic thing 2000 AD was in these early years. I probably thought I was there for sleek SF and action and adventure, but there’s just so much more nihilism and sheer turmoil… it’s probably a good thing that neither of my parents cared enough to actually check what I was reading …

anyway thanks for this series, I’ll be working my way through them all.

Comment on KNIVES OUT by NJ.

NJ. — Mon, 04 May 2026 19:06:58 +0000

Made me laugh
Aw the best
Cheers Tanya (I’m not Tanya I’m saying thanks to hur)

Comment on REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL (Part 4) by NJ.

NJ. — Mon, 04 May 2026 19:01:31 +0000

In reply to john.

She’s funny and doesn’t fall for obvious shit on the Internet in the Tory mists of 2008 ya fuckin tube misfit
Cmed ahll hurl ye fae the scaffolding. Choosin a fake name like “John” ur ye short-eyed ya nonce prick? Git the fuck back here pal and eat yir past shite instead ay spreadin it

Ye fuckin clart nobody

Comment on MOTT THE HOOPLE – “Saturday Gigs” by NJ.

NJ. — Mon, 04 May 2026 18:55:41 +0000

In reply to Ian McKenna. You have absolutely atrocious taste even for someone from the past. Wind your neck in or ill dae it for ya

Comment on TANYA’S FEMINIST CRUSADE (against Shed Seven) by NJ.

NJ. — Mon, 04 May 2026 18:48:40 +0000

New Jack
Hey Mister Smith. You are a thick hairy arse hole, you big past-o. I hope you grew into less of a fucking failure you coward fraud.
I accuse you of being a nonce and I’m offering ya out

Comment on Minds Immeasurably Superior To Ours: ANT WARS by Sloe

Sloe — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 13:22:34 +0000

The idea of facing all those Future Shocks just straight up made you quit, huh?

Comment on Shooting Fish In A Barrel Department: Biffy Clyro Division by verity

verity — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 03:35:06 +0000

The album title is also truly unique.

Comment on All Crimes Are Paid: JUDGE DREDD by DensityDuck

DensityDuck — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 16:44:42 +0000

proposed: people suggest that Judge Dredd is a satire of modern police/surveillance-states. But I think that's the commentary, not the satire; the thing it's most directly satirizing is DC's Green Lantern Corps...

Comment on I HATE DJs by Tangy Michael

Tangy Michael — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 10:06:38 +0000

They are all DJ Fuckheads. No brain, no style, not a single clue of what good music is. It’s about MAKING (not earning) a lot of money, pussy groupies and cocaine. They steal, they copy, they put together – that’s it.
The downfall has started now, since came out that many of them are pussy grabbers. Who’s surprised… I’m not.

Comment on Come Dine With Me – Awesome by Adam

Adam — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 07:35:01 +0000

In reply to Sarah. Yes, he’d been “…making this since FOUR—TEEN YEARS OF AGE”. As if this culmination of exquisite ingredients could ever let this contestant down! But I WILL slap the man.

Comment on Minds Immeasurably Superior To Ours: ANT WARS by Coagulopath

Coagulopath — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 04:56:30 +0000

Captain Villa learns a valuable lesson about minorities: they can serve as useful cannon fodder in war.
I gotta say, those ants don’t do it for me. They lack what’s visually exciting about the ant: the segmented, chitinous body. Ants have a bolted-together militaristic aesthetic, like weapons mass-produced on an assembly line. (Odd coincidence that we call unmanned military aircraft “drones”).
These look shaggy and hairy and floppy. Like hippie peacenik ants whose hearts aren’t truly in it. Not what one looks for, ant-wise.

Comment on Aard Labour Epilogue: Dance Of The Aardvark Catchers by DensityDuck

DensityDuck — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 16:32:19 +0000

In reply to Curt Holman. Ellison came up in a time when you could get away with being a piece of shit, so long as you were a talented piece of shit. (The 80s-90s version of that, "you can get away with being a sleaze so long as you're a talented sleaze," is how we got sex-pest creators like Whedon and Gaiman and Ellis.)