The Taxidermist

[radiator]

My copy of The Taxidermist just arrived - yay!

For anyone wondering about the contents, the book includes the original The Taxidermist story by Wagner, Grant and Kennedy (with the added bonus of colour centre spreads, unlike the Case Files printing), the classic Megazine series Return of The Taxidermist by Wagner and Ian Gibson, the more recent sequel Revenge of the Taxidermist - by Wagner and Trevor Hairsine (but irritatingly coloured in ghastly fashion by Alan Craddock, something I'd forgotten!) and also a bonus strip - an obscure little Dredd one-off by Wagner and Gibson called Bum Rap.

Seriously, if you're a fan of Dredd or the work of John Wagner in general you need this book in your life! Return of the Taxidermist is probably the finest Dredd spin-off ever published - an unassuming little tale that is funny, original, heartfelt and bittersweet. A true 2000ad classic! It's only ever been reprinted once - in Classic 2000ad - so I'd imagine it's a story that a lot of Dredd fans have never read before...

[JSouth5942]

I have this one on pre-order from Amazon UK and I haven't received notice of it's despatch yet.
It can't arrive soon enough!

[Pete Wells]

Yup, easily in my top ten character list. Strangely moving work by Wagner in these tales.

[TordelBack]

I really want this.

[bluemeanie]

Did a review if anyones interested. Cool book, tho I didnt know the character before this

http://2000ad.wordpress.com/2011/02/26/review-the-taxidermist/

[Dark Jimbo]

I love that Rebellion's collecting these supplemental tales of the Dredd supporting cast. Long may they continue to do so.

[Kerrin]

I shall most definitely be getting myself one of these. Some of my all time favourite Megacity tales.

[James Stacey]

Just finished reading through this. Always loved the first two stories, hadn't read the 3rd before.Just how good was Ian Gibsons art though. The guy was on fire. Comparing it to his work on Samantha Slade you can see how great he really is and how he was posting it in for RoboHunter.

[Colin_YNWA]

Yeah the Taxidermist stories are superb. Wagner at his best. As is Gibson and accepting the danger of derailing this thread far to early I'll just quickly add Gibson's work here is brilliant, but it is also on Samantha's strips, just different styles for different stories.

[Dark Jimbo]

Ahem -

http://www.2000adonline.com/forum/index.php/topic,32201.0.html

[James Stacey]

Ahem -

http://www.2000adonline.com/forum/index.php/topic,32201.0.html

Sorry, I did look, clearly not hard enough. Feel free to merge away

[Emperor]

Ahem -

http://www.2000adonline.com/forum/index.php/topic,32201.0.html

Sorry, I did look, clearly not hard enough. Feel free to merge away

Merged and moved to this forum - might as well keep the reviews on 2000AD trades here.

[Daveycandlish]

I must admit I didn't know the character before I bought this as it's from my wilderness years when I wasn't buying tooth or the meg - I bought mainly 'cos it's Gibson on art duties - and I heartily recommend it

Wagner on top satirical form and the art by Gibson (and for the first story the equally fantastic but different Cam Kennedy) is top notch.

The final story has art by Hairsine isn't in the same league but don't let that put you off, it rounds off the book nicely - go buy it

[Mudcrab]

I think I need to get this, seeing as I've got one of the original [Ian Gibson] pages. Spot on about his artwork, it's a beautiful piece I've got, who else would let me get away with having boobs and a swastika on my wall 

[Jim_Campbell]

I think it might have been Tordelback who pointed out that one of the most amazing things about the Kennedy/Farmer story is the way that the art manages to convey the lack of movement in the stuffed figures compared to the living ones, a subtle distinction that I had taken completely for granted until TB pointed it out…

Cheers

Jim