Read BLIGHT (part 1) in full, now

One question: when Peter sees Esther's snakebite-and-black (page 15 of the PDF), he remarks, "I bet landlords don't forget you in a hurry." What . . . does he mean by that?

I am perhaps slightly daft and am playing catch up on this and the absolutely delightful plethora of stuff you've served up. But where can I find out how Esther goes from "evil bosses entombed" to "running around in history?" I feel I keep missing steps to this dance and soon the gothy ladies are going to notice.

I finally got a chance to read this, and it was very enjoyable! I always appreciate the jaunts into the past that Destroy History offers. I expect that, as with most horror tales, Part 1 has set the table for a great bit of smashing to occur in Part 2, but let's see! The theme of fear of outsiders is timely (as always), and reminds me of the time I got a cab ride somewhere near Bath just after Brexit and the cabbie ranted for the whole ride about immigrants and how "we used to MAKE things in this country". It was a "memorable" trip. I loved having Struck Off as a back-up feature, making this like a Giant Days reunion double-feature. Am I allowed to cross my fingers that we get to see Dusty Relics supporting Blight Pt 2?

Fantastic! Esther may not exactly blend in on these excursions but she's mastered the art of persevering as if she does. It's a shame that Tackleford's own isn't nearly Northern enough for these rural Yorkshire folk. I think she's more out of water due to the location than the time period. Also, Esther's Nemulon(s) is slowly but surely rising the ranks of all time cool robots. I love how recognisable it remains across such varied transformations, and how cute it is when it's in the form of a hat or a handbag. Actually I only just realised today that bag-form Nemulon bears something of a resemblance to the baby digimon Botamon, so its look being cute is effectively a proven science now.

I *did* enjoy it. Thank you, John.

Love it. Great stuff, thank you :)

Ok, this is great- but if you are putting together more great Marvel Bullpen listings I hope you are familiar with the early 80’s comic US1 now that we know what Sonny’s job is.

Thanks for this, John. I’ll read it in the daily pages to savour it. But I did skip ahead to Punch the Clock, and I now suspect that I’m of that certain mindset. I keep wondering which of those titles might yet exist, which I just have to long for, and which I have to pray to the Elder Gods are never permitted instantiation.

Can we ever hope to see Ester back in the 1920s. In the right parts of the USA, she would fit in as a "Vamp" wouldn't even have to try. Does she know about "Black Rasberry" (Lindemann's in Guiness, practically a beer milkshake). Available or explainable at quite a few places in my experience.

"Peter, under no circumstances are you *ever* to knock on that door." :D What can I say? Ya continue to be brilliant.

I loved this first part of Blight, John, and I don't mean to slight it by fixating instead on the mention of Jean Brooks on the Punch the Clock page. I saw "The 7th Victim" a few months ago. That ending! Since then I've been recommending it whenever I can. Your connecting JB/7thV with the Krysten Ritter black comedy is a perfect grace note.

Exceptional stuff as always!

What a wonderful surprise! Thank you.

You're always very good at capturing different British 'vibes', which I think Destroy History really showcases. Do you have fun thinking of background props (Matey! Pub peanut pin-up!) or is it a necessary evil? I love the hype box stuff, it's so dense with gags. I have a soft spot for Robert Cop though, so re-running the seminal but divisive Snorpy arc is certainly an interesting choice.

This is great! The HYPE BOX is back, as an added bonus!!

I'm delighted and intrigued by this one, it feels like a great combination of a few of your strands. And another excellent checklist; my mind is blown by the suggestion of Bobby Problems' parentage. I can certainly see a resemblance!

I love that even as a "proper adult" Esther still drink Snakebite and black.

You tease us with the next Great British Bump-off series?!?

Esther is my favorite so I'm looking forward to reading this as it serializes (and then again later in one gulp).

This was a really fun read. I’m digging the classic folk horror vibe (reminds me of American Werewolf in London), and I’m intrigued by the mystery surrounding this vampire-esque entity. It’s like a more planned-out version of the kind of monster that would appear in Scary Go Round.

Ohhhh, you little tease with the check list. I WANT TO READ ALL OF THEM. Also, I'm very much hoping that Struck Off is some kind of cheese dream.

Thank you! This makes my weekend. I can't wait to dig in!

I flipped to read Punch the Clock first and was delighted. I would honestly read every single title and I wish I lived in the SGR Universe where these are all real books, instead of the endless glut of superhero comics that are published in my reality. First cab off the rank would be the NEMS #113 - but that’s only because I just listened to The Point over breakfast this morning. Otherwise I’m not sure where I would start. Maybe the roller derby one! Or Steeple (gone too soon!) Or Dusty Relics? The prospect of a new Bad Machinery case is also thrilling. I have always loved these little columns (I used to read them first when I was a kid too). When you first started doing them (in Expecting to Fly, I think?), I remember thinking that they were mostly all in-jokes or wilfully obtuse, but this time what struck me was that nearly every title sounds like a viable story that I could imagine and would want to read. You’ve really built out an impressively rich world of characters and premises since that first Bullpen Bulletins pastiche. I know most of these can’t be real stories, but thank you for giving us a glimpse into all the possibilities.

Ah yes. More of this sort of thing, please and thank you.

Fantastically drawn! So many crowd shots drawn with gusto. I love it. Did you do the coloring work too? It's superb. And thanks for collecting Struck Off at the back. That was a welcome surprise.

Ah, the old Massey Ferguson 525, a 70s classic. Quality research as ever. And a snakebite, with blackcurrant no less, I haven't even thought about that combo since I was, er, just old enough to drink. honest guv. Sadly for the Finches, Esther's undercover wardrobe doesn't stretch to period accurate flannelette nightwear, however I for one can forgive this transgression. Ahem. When I saw the name Finch my immediate thought was, any relation? If it transpires young James has ambitions toward becoming a hairdresser, "it's all connected" as they used to say about Marvel, even when it clearly absolutely wasn't.

Thanks John! I'm really loving this, especially Esther's 70s fashion style and your mastery of bovine anatomy!

Thanks John!