60% sure I've bought this issue three times--not just because of the cover! Well, maybe. From 1989,
Time Twisters #19, featuring more sci-fi shorts from the pages of
2000 AD, including two--no, three!--from that specific issue! Cover by John Workman.
"It's the Thought that Counts!" is a Peter Milligan/Steve Dillon number--the blond spaceman's chin is immediately recognizable as one of Dillon's! Two spacemen are on a secret mission for the ultimate weapon, although one plots to kill the other as soon as he can grab it. Also, I don't know if trial-and-error is the best way to try their grab-bag of weapons out...
"The Contract" is the first from 1984's
2000 AD #374, as a businessman misses his train, but a meek salesman then sells him a watch that can turn back time! A steal at five pounds...and his soul. Can the businessman get out of the deal? Or, judging by his actions cooking the stock market, did he deserve hell? (Written by Chris Lowder (credited as J. Adrian) and art by Massimo Belardinelli.)
"What's Up, Dock? is a bit of fun, with a shout-out for
2000 AD's editorial frontman Tharg the Mighty: the massive new supertanker Juggernaut was speeding to New York City, with only one crewmember. With all the computers, the captain was all that was needed, and even he was checking out for a nap...as a seagull gets in, and hopping on the keyboard, makes a few course adjustments, like full speed ahead! (Written by Alan Hebden, art by Jose Casanovas.) This and "Uncommon Sense" were from 1984's
2000 AD #372, the editor of
this issue must've had an easy time of it! "Uncommon Sense" was by Hebden again, with Mike Collins on art, for a
Twilight Zone-like short where an alien scientist attempts to help earthlings with their meager, paltry senses; by increasing them immensely. Results are mixed, as in, three deaths right off. Back to the drawing board there.
Hebden and Casanovas again, for "Working on a Chain Gang..." as three convicts think their luck has turned, when aliens abduct them...because there's a market for
experienced slaves. (Sad trombone noise.) And another double-cross in "The Ghost Outside the Machine" from Milligan and Casanovas: a space miner shoots, then spaces his partner, but is haunted by his partner seemingly haunting him every time he looks out the window. Or, there might be a (slighty un)reasonable explanation. "The Art of Advertising" finds an ad agent scrambling after blowing his budget on a big sci-fi campaign, only to be told nostalgia was in now. But, when he hears about a mad scientist who claims to have invented a time machine, an idea is formed...that of course goes awry, that's just the style of these stories, sorry. (Written by Kelvin Gosnell, art by Massimo Belardinelli.)
Finally, "You Win Some, You Lose Some..." is Hebden with classic
2000 AD mainstay Ian Gibson: with earth under siege by the alien Grodge, a desperate back-up plan is put into place, to move the entire planet for safety! And for security reasons, only one man should be trusted with where...yeah, that's gonna go well.
For some reason, I seem to find this issue fairly regularly, but I'm not sure I've ever seen
Time Twisters #18.
3 comments:
I mean honestly….who amongst us hasn’t wanted to ggnmornf on the first date with the right person 🤷♂️
Mr. Wanker-bankerman definitely deserved his fate, as do most of those kinds of people.
Those spacemen from the first story HAD to be American or at the very least descended from Americans to be that willfully ignorant with those weapons of mass destruction.
I’m pretty sure I have Time Twisters 18, actually- it’s 21 that’s been a tough hunt for me. These are pretty useful for the most part- not much that’s extraordinary but a lot of this stuff has never been reprinted elsewhere and is unlikely to be. They were doing a chronological reprint of all the Future Shocks for a few years but seemingly gave up after the first 5-6 years worth of material.
I wonder why other then lack of sales.
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