Tuesday 30 September 2014

Disaster 1990!, Part 20

NAME
Disaster 1990!, Part 20

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD & Starlord Prog 138

DATELINE
10 Nov 79

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
Judge Dredd Megazine 332

SYNOPSIS
Savage is due to be executed, unless someone saves him.

FIRSTS & LASTS
Last appearance of the DUKW.

INFORMATION
None.

BILL SAVAGE
He has been beaten. Savage is doused with water to bring him around. He is bound to a chair and sat in his DUKW while it is filled with concrete. The Greater London Legion plan to watch him drown. He is saved by the arrival of Squire Archer and his hill farmers.

OTHER CHARACTERS
SQUIRE ARCHER
He and his hill farmers arrive to save Savage.

DEATHS
Seven. Five rebels are executed by firing squad. Two members of the Legion are shot dead by hill farmers.

BEST LINES
None.

WORST LINES
Everything Savage says is dreadful.

CATCHPHRASES
A dying rebel screams "Aieeeee!" during his execution, while member of the Legion only manages a "Aiee!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
Skin contact with wet concrete causes skin chemical burns. Savage and his saviours are unaffected. Also, why would they waste the DUKW like that? It's the most useful thing in London.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: G. Finlay-Day
Artist: M. White
Letters: Steve Potter

REVIEW
This is ridiculous. Savage is saved in the nick of time by someone that had a convenient change of heart between panels and the only non-animal Savage saw as his life flashed before his eyes. No mention of Bamber either.

Next Prog: Palace Under Attack!

Monday 29 September 2014

Disaster 1990!, Part 19

NAME
Disaster 1990!, Part 19

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD & Starlord Prog 137

DATELINE
3 Nov 79

PAGE COUNT
4

REPRINTS
Judge Dredd Megazine 332

SYNOPSIS
Savage and Bamber attack the Greater London Legion.

FIRSTS & LASTS
Last four page instalment. First art by Mike White. Last appearance of Bamber.

INFORMATION
None.

BILL SAVAGE
He uses a floating tree for a camouflage attack to liberate several of the Greater London Legion's slaves. After Bamber is killed Razor throws Savage's shotgun out of the window.

OTHER CHARACTERS
BAMBER
He drives the DUKW for Savage's floating tree camouflage attack. Bamber believes he is freeing Sinclair, but the doctor turns on him and kills him.

RAZOR
A leader of the Greater London Legion. He throws Savage's shotgun out of the window.

MARTIN
A leader of the Greater London Legion.

DR. SINCLAIR
A leader of the Greater London Legion. He shoots Bamber dead.

DEATHS
Six. Savage shoots two slavedrivers dead and one of Martin and Razor's guards. Two sentries are stabbed underwater. Dr. Sinclair shoots Bamber dead.

BEST LINES
None.

WORST LINES
Dying Slavedriver: "Camouflage attack - Ahh!"

CATCHPHRASES
A dying guard screams an "Aieeeeee!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
G. Finlay-Day again.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: G. Finlay-Day
Artist: Mike White
Letters: Steve Potter

REVIEW
This is great. The highest death of the strip so far, Sinclair's betrayal, Bamber's death and Savage delivered into the belly of the beast all in just four pages.

Next Prog: Concrete Overcoat!

Sunday 28 September 2014

Disaster 1990!, Part 18

NAME
Disaster 1990!, Part 18

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD & Starlord Prog 136

DATELINE
27 Oct 79

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
Judge Dredd Megazine 332

SYNOPSIS
Savage and Bamber discover what happened to Oxford and return to London.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
The floodwaters have dropped considerably.

The Greater London Legion is hundreds strong. They have taken over Buckingham Palace. They attack Oxford and take survivors back to London as a slave.

BILL SAVAGE
He kills Ted and takes Bamber to London.

OTHER CHARACTERS
BAMBER
Doctor Sims dies in his arms.

DOCTOR SIMS
He survives the attack on Oxford by the Greater London Legion. Sims tells Savage and Bamber about the attack by the Greater London Legion and then dies of his wounds.

DOCTOR SMITH
He survives the attack on Oxford and is held as a special category prisoner.

DOCTOR SINCLAIR
He survives the attack on Oxford and is held as a special category prisoner.

TED
Member of the Greater London Legion left behind in Oxford as a rearguard. He shoots at Savage, who kills him in return.

RAZOR
He and Martin lead the Greater London Legion.

MARTIN
He and Razor lead the Greater London Legion.

DEATHS
Two. Ted is shot dead by Savage, and Doctor Sims dies of his wounds.

BEST LINES
None.

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
How does Savage know that the dons are special category prisoners just by looking through his binoculars.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: G. Finlay-Day
Artist: Carlos Pino
Letters: Tom Frame

REVIEW
Disaster 1990! finally seems to be onto something here as the cast of characters comes together.

Next Prog: Freedom Fighters!

Saturday 27 September 2014

Disaster 1990!, Part 17

NAME
Disaster 1990!, Part 17

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD & Starlord Prog 135

DATELINE
20 Oct 79

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
Judge Dredd Megazine 332

SYNOPSIS
Savage and Bamber cause a stampede.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
The northern community is in the Pennines.

BILL SAVAGE
He returns to the Pennine community and startles their cattle and sheep, causing them to stampede. They return to Oxford to find it on fire.

OTHER CHARACTERS
BAMBER
He returns to the Pennine community and watches as Savage causes a stampede. They return to Oxford to find it on fire.

ARCHER
He flees from the stampede on horseback and jumps into the floodwater.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
None.

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: G. Finlay-Day
Artist: Carlos Pino
Letters: Steve Potter

REVIEW
One of the Squire's men mistakes Savage's legs for those of Orlando the bull, presumably believing Savage to have cloven feet. Again only the cliffhanger ending impresses here.

Next Prog: Flashback!

Friday 26 September 2014

Disaster 1990!, Part 16

NAME
Disaster 1990!, Part 16

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD & Starlord Prog 134

DATELINE
13 Oct 79

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
Judge Dredd Megazine 332

SYNOPSIS
Savage and Bamber make contact with the community.

FIRSTS & LASTS
Bamber gets first name.

INFORMATION
'Wetbacks' is nickname given to those living in flooded areas.

The Northern survivor community has access to cattle and is fortified like a stronghold.

BILL SAVAGE
He and Bamber arrive at another community of survivors. They eat with the Squire. When they disagree with him they are expelled from his community. His DUKW's windscreen is smashed and its tyres are punctured. Savage has no intention of leaving.

OTHER CHARACTERS
PROFESSOR STEVE BAMBER
His instruments are destroyed by Mike.

ARCHER
The Squire of the northern community. He was the biggest local landowner. Archer has no interest in rebuilding Britain. When they disagree, he has Savage and Bamber expelled.

MIKE
Son of the Squire. He destroys Bamber's instruments. Savage fights back. Mike and his brother smash the windscreen of Savage's DUKW.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
None.

WORST LINES
Archer: "It's every man or community for themselves!"

CATCHPHRASES
Savage's stab victim screams an "Aiee!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: G. Finlay-Day
Artist: Carlos Pino
Letters: Steve Potter

REVIEW
The sinister nature of the other community is intriguing. The artwork is great and the reveal of the roast beef dinner in particular is brilliant.

Next Prog: Stampede!

Thursday 25 September 2014

Disaster 1990!, Part 15

NAME
Disaster 1990!, Part 15

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD & Starlord Prog 133

DATELINE
6 Oct 79

PAGE COUNT
5 (or 4 and a 1/2)

REPRINTS
Judge Dredd Megazine 332

SYNOPSIS
Savage and Bamber go in search of civilisation and sheep.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First Disaster 1990! that is less than five pages.

INFORMATION
Since the flood water snakes have grown.

BILL SAVAGE
He is attacked by a group of students on a punt, he shoots a hole in their punt. He has found freshly shorn wool floating in the floodwater and presumes that someone else has organised themselves on some dry land. Savage heads off to find them.

OTHER CHARACTERS
BAMBER
He speaks to Savage on behalf of the Dons. Bamber suggests that Savage go in search of the other community. Dr. Sinclair will not allow him to go. He stows away aboard Savage's DUKW and saves him form a water snake.

DR SINCLAIR
Oxford don. He puts a group of his student up to attacking Savage. Sinclair is resistant to Savage representing Oxford to the other community.

SIMS
Oxford don. He is in favour of Savage representing Oxford to the other community.

SMITH
Oxford don. He is in favour of Savage representing Oxford to the other community.

DEATHS
One. Bamber shoots a water snake dead.

BEST LINES
Shepherd: "Better tell the squire. See if he wants them killed now, or when they get here!"

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
The cliffhanger has a distinct Survivors (1975-1977) feel to it.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: G. Finlay-Day
Artist: Carlos Pino
Letters: Steve Potter

REVIEW
The artwork is great and the story gets moving again, but it's the cliffhanger that raises this above recent efforts.

Next Prog: The Stronghold!

Wednesday 24 September 2014

Disaster 1990!, Part 14

NAME
Disaster 1990!, Part 14

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD & Starlord Prog 132

DATELINE
29 Sept 79

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
Judge Dredd Megazine 332

SYNOPSIS
Pike's birds chase Savage and Bamber, who turn the tables on him.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First part not to open with a caption about the nuclear explosion that caused the flood.

INFORMATION
None.

BILL SAVAGE
He and Bamber run from Pike's birds. They take refuge in a swan's nest. Savage empties some shotguns cartridges and lays a trail of gunpowder. When Pike crosses the path, Savage lights it and Pike is startled. When Pike drops his bird call, his birds attack.

OTHER CHARACTERS
BAMBER
He and Savage run from Pike's birds. They take refuge in a swan's nest.

DOCTOR PIKE BSc
He is a Bachelor sets his birds on Savage and Bamber. Pike crosses a gunpowder path laid by Savage. When Savage lights it, Pike is startled and drops his duckcall. His birds attack and kill him.

DEATHS
One. Pike is pecked to death by his birds.

BEST LINES
Pike: "Drop the gun, Savage - unless you want my beauties to rip the flesh from your bones!"

WORST LINES
Pike: "No Gunpowder all around me!"

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
Pyke has become Pike.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: G. Finlay-Day
Artist: Carlos Pino
Letters: Steve Potter

REVIEW
This is a nice conclusion to Pyke/Pike's story and the frenzied bird attack is well-realised.

Next Prog: Travelling Man!

Tuesday 23 September 2014

Disaster 1990!, Part 13

NAME
Disaster 1990!, Part 13

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD & Starlord Prog 131

DATELINE
22 Sept 79

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
Judge Dredd Megazine 332

SYNOPSIS
Savage tracks the birds back to the nest and confronts Pyke.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First appearance of Pyke.

INFORMATION
There are flooded swamps ten miles to the west of Oxford, which were the site a bird sanctuary.

BILL SAVAGE
He scares off the birds with his shotgun. Savage takes a group of higher chemistry undergraduate to the flooded swamps to poison the attacking birds. When the undergraduates fail to return, he goes in search of them and discovers Doctor Pyke.

OTHER CHARACTERS
BAMBER
He accompanies Savage to the former bird sanctuary.

DOCTOR PYKE
He worked for Oxford University. Pyke had controversial ideas about bird communication and led a team that set up a bird sanctuary. He survived the floods and remained in the bird sanctuary, eating insects. Pyke commanded the birds to attack Oxford.

DEATHS
Four. The undergraduates are pecked to death by the birds.

BEST LINES
Savage: "Sometimes bullets are more useful than brains!"

WORST LINES
Oxford Don under attack by bird: "Birds! Hundreds of birds attacking us!"

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: G. Finley-Day
Artist: Carlos Pino
Letters: Steve Potter

REVIEW
With this part, Disaster 1990! takes a bizarre turn, but one that could well be the making of it. The rigid stuffiness of the Oxford dons is overplayed and Pyke could well be the shot-in-the-arm required to get the strip back on track.

Next Prog: The Chase!

Monday 22 September 2014

Disaster 1990!, Part 12

NAME
Disaster 1990!, Part 12

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD & Starlord Prog 130

DATELINE
15 Sept 79

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
Judge Dredd Megazine 331

SYNOPSIS
Savage and Bamber explore the community at Oxford, but Savage must prove his worth and then the birds attack.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
Oxford University has used its chemistry labs to make a nerve gas, which they release at the approaches to the city. They grow food using wet rice farming. They also have a radar workshop. The university is attacked by a flock of birds.

BILL SAVAGE
He didn't get much of an education. Savage holds a Class 1 Heavy Goods Vehicle licence. The Oxford University community hold an enquiry into whether Savage has a special skill or qualification that will contribute. When the birds attack, he takes back his shotgun.

OTHER CHARACTERS
BAMBER
He recognises waterfowl.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
Savage (on shotguns): "It'll kill people before they kill you!"

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
An attacked Oxfordian screams an "Aieee!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Savage calls Magnus is presumably a reference to Magnus Magnusson (1929-2007), presenter of TV quiz show MasterMind from 1972 to 1997. The attack of the birds recalls the 1952 story The Birds by Daphne du Maurier and the 1963 horror thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock of the same name which is loosely based on upon it.

MISTAKES
Finlay-Day is back.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: G. Finlay-Day
Artist: Pino
Letters: Steve Potter

REVIEW
This is a real change of pace and it's refreshing to see Savage out of his comfort zone, but the cliffhanger bird attack offers him an obvious opportunity to get straight back into it.

Next Prog: All You Need Is Lead!

Sunday 21 September 2014

Disaster 1990!, Part 11

NAME
Disaster 1990!, Part 11

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD & Starlord Prog 129

DATELINE
8 Sept 79

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
Judge Dredd Megazine 331

SYNOPSIS
Savage and Bamber get to Oxford.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First appearance of Oxford.

INFORMATION
Radio Oxford is broadcasting the claim that Oxford is "the town where organised survival goes on".

BILL SAVAGE
They travel through some woods and are attacked by locals with bow and arrows. They aim for a village on higher ground, but Savage narrowly avoids being speared with a pitchfork. He and Bamber near Oxford and are gassed and Savage wakes up in a room in Oxford.

OTHER CHARACTERS
BAMBER
He went to university in Oxford. Bamber recognises the difference between mist and gas. He and Savage are gassed near Oxford and taken to a room in Oxford.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
Falling Yokel: "Me branch!"

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: G. Finley-Day
Artist: Alan Willow
Letters: Steve Potter

REVIEW
Disaster 1990! has seen Savage repeatedly lose either his shotgun or his DUKW and now here he is deprived of both. This part is a series of escalating vignettes in which Savage and Bamber are threatened, culminating in an intriguing cliffhanger that sees them losing everything without a fight.

Next Prog: Nightmare With Wings!

Saturday 20 September 2014

Disaster 1990!, Part 10

NAME
Disaster 1990!, Part 10

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD & Starlord Prog 128

DATELINE
1 Sept 79

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
Judge Dredd Megazine 331

SYNOPSIS
Savage escapes the Wembley whirlpool.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
A whirlpool a hundred yards wide destroys Wembley stadium.

The DUKW's top speed in water is sixty miles per hour.

BILL SAVAGE
When Sam Slick's customers decide to lynch him, Savage shoots the rope and frees him. He plans to jump the whirlpool in his DUKW.

OTHER CHARACTERS
BAMBER
He can calculate the trajectory required for the DUKW to jump the whirlpool.

SLICK SAM
When threatened by a whirlpool, his customers decide to lynch him, but Savage shoots the rope and frees him. He replaced himself on the DUKW with a tailor's dummy, so that it would be lighter and make it's jump easier.

DEATHS
One. Slick Sam is crushed by the collapsing walls of Wembley Stadium.

BEST LINES
Bamber: "Whirlpool! The most terrifying occurrence in water!"

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None, although maybe there ought to be (see MISTAKES).

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Whirlpools have been known to grow to a size of 250 feet.

MISTAKES
Wembley Stadium exists in its original design nine years later in Invasion!

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: G. Finley-Day
Artist: Pino
Letters: Jack Potter

REVIEW
This is great, the lynching, the jump, the dummy and the destruction of Wembley Stadium are all great. THe dialogue has picked as well. It's just a shame that Wembley featured so prominently in Invasion! unharmed.

Next Prog: Ambush!

Friday 19 September 2014

Disaster 1990!, Part 9

NAME
Disaster 1990!, Part 9

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD & Starlord Prog 127

DATELINE
25 Aug 79

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
Judge Dredd Megazine 331

SYNOPSIS
Savage trades with a black marketer and then steals from him to teach him a lesson.

FIRSTS & LASTS
Last Disaster 1990 credited to Finlay-Day.

INFORMATION
The floodwaters in London are experiencing strange undercurrents and whirlpools.

BILL SAVAGE
A strange undercurrent throws the DUKW around and it blows a gasket. He trades his shotgun with Slick Sam for replacement part. He deduces that the turf on the box came from Wembley stadium and heads there with some of Sam's other customers. They divide up Sam's spoils until an whirlpool forms and threatens to destroy the stadium.

OTHER CHARACTERS
BAMBER
He finds turf on the bottom of the box Slick Sam gives him.

SLICK SAM
He was a ticket tout before the flood. Now, he trades tea, coffee, tobacco, bread, meat, vegetables, ham, whisky, chocolate and vehicle components for gold or silver. He uses Wembley Stadium to store him stockpile.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
None.

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
Savage will return to Wembley nine years from now.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
The Scotch House was a famous central London woollen retailer. Wembley Stadium was opened in 1923.

MISTAKES
Finlay-Day again. Why would there be turf on the bottom of the gasket box? Sam couldn't have been storing goods on the pitch before the flood.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: G. Finlay-Day
Artist: Carlos Pino
Letters: Jack Potter

REVIEW
This is a nice slice of post-flood survivor culture, but it's tinged with post-war language like spiv and flat caps in London that don't gel with the futuristic 1990 AD that 2000 AD readers would want to read about.

Next Prog: The Big Leap!

Thursday 18 September 2014

Disaster 1990!, Part 8

NAME
Disaster 1990!, Part 8

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD & Starlord Prog 126

DATELINE
18 Aug 79

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
Judge Dredd Megazine 331

SYNOPSIS
Savage takes on alligator and piranhas.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First time Savage has slept since the flood.

INFORMATION
None.

BILL SAVAGE
He lets Bamber drive the DUKW. When he wakes, he discovers Bamber has landed them on a piece of land that used to be part of West London's zoo.

OTHER CHARACTERS
BAMBER
He drives the DUKW while Savage sleeps. He decides land on .

DEATHS
Dozens or more. Savage shoots an alligator dead. He then sets a shoal of piranha on another and then electrocutes the shoal (and presumably the other alligators).

BEST LINES
None.

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
None. Although "Frying tonight" probably qualifies.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
More from Finlay-Day.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
Piranhas can live in freshwater, but die at around 10-12 degrees Celcius. It's more likely that the shock of the cold floodwaters would kill them before the electricity got a chance.

CREDITS
Script: G. Finlay-Day
Artist: Alan Willow
Letters: Steve Potter

REVIEW
This is a bit of fun, but the script still feels stilted and awkward.

Next Prog: Whirlpool!

Wednesday 17 September 2014

Disaster 1990!, Part 7

NAME
Disaster 1990!, Part 7

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD & Starlord Prog 125

DATELINE
11 Aug 79

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
Judge Dredd Megazine 331

SYNOPSIS
Savage saves the Harrods crowd and the convicts all die.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
Radio Oxford is still broadcasting.

BILL SAVAGE
Fleeing from convicts, Bill Savage orders his passengers to throw their supplies overboard to escape. It works. He instructs two of the Harrods crowd to still down to an underwater garage and open up the petrol pumps. When the convicts return, he shoots the petrol with his shotgun. The convicts are trapped and killed in the ensuing inferno. Razor survives and Savage convinces the others to be magnanimous and allow him aboard the DUKW, but Razor attacks. Savage knocks him out and leaves him to drown.

OTHER CHARACTERS
BAMBER
He discovers a car radio and tunes it into Radio Oxford.

RAZOR
He survives the petrol fire.

DEATHS
At least eleven. Ten or so convicts are killed in the inferno.

BEST LINES
Savage: "You'll do nothin' mate - except burn in hell!"

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
A burning convict screams an "Aieeeeee!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
Another appearance by Finlay-Day.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
One of the boxes thrown overboard is labelled Champagne Vintage '79. The underwater garage has a sign reading: '£3 per gallon special offer', which would have seemed extortionate to a 1979 audience used to paying on average 98p per gallon. In 1990, the average price of petrol per gallon was 213.5p.

CREDITS
Script: G. Finlay-Day
Artist: Pino
Letters: Steve Potter

REVIEW
It's a shame that the Harrods crowd, which splits neatly into toffs and cockneys, aren't better represented. The fact that they need to work together is well illustrated, but we are given next to no reason to care about them. The petrol trap is great, Razor's death scene is a nice exit, the waterproof radio is convenient, but welcome as a means of moving away from Harrods.

Next Prog: Frying Tonight!

Tuesday 16 September 2014

Disaster 1990!, Part 6

NAME
Disaster 1990!, Part 6

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD & Starlord Prog 124

DATELINE
4 Aug 79

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
Judge Dredd Megazine 331

SYNOPSIS
Savage helps liberate Harrods.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
None.

BILL SAVAGE
He barges the convicts' dinghy in his DUKW and shouts to the Harrods crowd for his shotgun. He kills a convict planning to throw a grenade at him, who then drops it and it explodes. Savage drives the DUKW through Harrods' window and takes refuge inside. After dark he leads an escape attempt with the Harrods customers and Bamber rowing. An underwater flare rigged by the convicts announces them and Savage fires up the engine and flees as the convicts give chase in their power boats.

OTHER CHARACTERS
BAMBER
He rows during Savage's Harrods escape attempt.

RAZOR
Leader of the convicts masquerading as Royal marines.

DEATHS
Two. A pair of convicts killed by an exploding grenade they planned to throw at Savage, but dropped when he shot one of them.

BEST LINES
None.

WORST LINES
Almost every line is awful.

CATCHPHRASES
A dying convict screams "Aieeeee!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
Finley-Day is misspelled Finlay-Day.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: G. Finlay-Day
Artist: Pino
Letters: Steve Potter

REVIEW
The script is turgid and the action sequence are stilted.

Next Prog: Some Like It Hot!

Monday 15 September 2014

Disaster 1990!, Part 5

NAME
Disaster 1990!, Part 5

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD & Starlord Prog 123

DATELINE
28 July 79

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
Judge Dredd Megazine 331

SYNOPSIS
Savage visits Harrod's and finds himself in the middle of a jailbreak.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
North London has a Security Prison.

BILL SAVAGE
He visits Harrods and intercedes during an altercation. He has his shotgun seized by a group of Royal Marine Commandos. He later discovers their bodies floating in the water. Savage realises that the prisoners they were due to check on had killed, stripped and replaced them.

OTHER CHARACTERS
BAMBER
He plans to stay with Savage, because the DUKW is useful to his studies. He disagrees with Savage about intervening at Harrods. He shoplifts a hamper.

DEATHS
At least four. The Royal Marine commandos are killed are stripped by the prisoners they were checking on.

BEST LINES
Harrods thief: "Muvver!"

WORST LINES
Savage (concerning a man he just hit with his shotgun): "He'll be on soft baby food for a while now, won't you matie?"

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
New Scotland Yard is the name of the various headquarters of the Metropolitan Police Service since 1890. Harrods is an upmarket department store in Knightsbridge, which has been in its present location since 1849

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: G. Finley-Day
Artist: Alan Willow
Letters: Steve Potter

REVIEW
This is all set up, but really the only thing of interest that happens here is Bamber's shoplifting.

Next Prog: Bloodbath!

Sunday 14 September 2014

Disaster 1990!, Part 4

NAME
Disaster 1990!, Part 4

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD & Starlord Prog 122

DATELINE
21 July 79

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
Judge Dredd Megazine 331

SYNOPSIS
Savage rescues Bamber from armed men.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
The Bank of England is flooded.

BILL SAVAGE
He pulls out the spear and searches for his Duck. Savage finds it outside the Bank of England. He enters and discovers Bamber breaking into a bank vault. He confronts him, but is threatened by two armed men, one of whom shot him with the harpoon. Savage is forced to help open the vault, which was full of rats who attack the armed men. Savage and Bamber take refuge underwater. Savage gives Bamber a lift in his Duck.

OTHER CHARACTERS
BAMBER
He is forced to burn his way into a vault at the Bank of England at gunpoint, which turns out to be full of rats who attack the armed men. Bamber and Savage take refuge underwater. Savage gives him a lift in his Duck.

DEATHS
Three. A swarm of rats kills the two men holding Savage and Bamber at gunpoint. Savage then kills the King Rat.

BEST LINES
None.

WORST LINES
Savage: "Huh? Two hoods behinds me!"

CATCHPHRASES
Man being killed by rats: "Aaaiiiieeeee!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
The Bank of England was established in 1694. It is the second oldest central bank in the world. It has been located in the City of London, on Threadneedle Street, since 1734.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: G. Finley-Day
Artist: Pino
Letters: Steve Potter

REVIEW
So Bamber wasn't a villain and those that were have been foiled by rats. Disaster 1990!'s problem is that neither squabbling Brits nor giant rats are as interesting or endearing as the jackboot of the Volgans of Invasion!

Next Prog: The Battle Of Harrods!

Saturday 13 September 2014

Disaster 1990!, Part 3

NAME
Disaster 1990!, Part 3

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD & Starlord Prog 121

DATELINE
14 July 79

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
Judge Dredd Megazine 331

SYNOPSIS
Savage fights rats, gets harpooned and loses his DUKW.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First appearance of Savage's shotgun.

INFORMATION
The flood has apparently caused an immediate evolutionary change in rats, making them larger and fiercer.

BILL SAVAGE
When he sees rats threatening Bamber, he scares them off with his DUKW. He takes Bamber to a diving shop and leaves. Savage encounters looters who try to steal his DUKW. He returns to where he left Bamber and someone harpoons him and steals the DUKW. He awakes and finds a shotgun and goes after the DUKW.

OTHER CHARACTERS
PROFESSOR BAMBER
He is a student of hydrology. He is being menaced by giant rats when Savage scares them off in his DUKW

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
None.

WORST LINES
Savage (whilst speared with a harpoon): "Aargh! Harpoon un! It's speared me!"

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
Professor Bamber's bag is labelled Proffessor Bamber. Also, immediate evolutionary change? That's not even close to how evolution works. Savage sees the harpoons gun in someone's hands but not the harpoonist.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Gerry Finley-Day
Artist: Alan Willow
Letters: Steve Potter

REVIEW
Savage loses his DUKW, but gains a shotgun. If Bamber didn't shoot the harpoon gun, this is a great set up for something. If he did, then it's alarming that Disaster 1990! is treading water so early in its run.

There's More Than Money In The Vaults Of The Bank Of England! Don't Miss Savage's Revenge, Next Prog!

Friday 12 September 2014

Disaster 1990!, Part 2

NAME
Disaster 1990!, Part 2

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD & Starlord Prog 120

DATELINE
7 July 79

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
Judge Dredd Megazine 331

SYNOPSIS
Savage hinders a robbery at the Imperial War Museum and steals an amphibious vehicle.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First appearance of Martin and the D.U.K.W.

INFORMATION
Most of the exhibits in the Imperial War Museum survived the flood.

BILL SAVAGE
Martin drafts him to help steal weapons from the Imperial War Museum. His grandfather used an amphibious D.U.K.W. in the war. Savage finds one at the museum and uses it to knock Martin's guns into the water and then make his escape.

OTHER CHARACTERS
MARTIN
Self-appointed leader following the flood. He decides to steal weapons from the Imperial War Museum to bolster his authority. The Catford Mob have the same idea and they fight. Savage knocks his guns into the water.

EARL WYATT
Leader of the Catford Mob. He also plans to steal weapons from the Imperial War Museum. Martin's gang have the same idea and they fight.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
None.

WORST LINES
Martin's friend: "Savage! He's found a D.U.K.W., an old amphibious vehicle!"

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
The Imperial War Museum was found in 1917 and has been at its present location since 1936. The D.U.K.W., known as Ducks, is a six-wheel-drive amphibious modification of the trucks used by the U.S. military in World War II.

MISTAKES
The flooding is two-thirds of the way up Big Ben, but not so bad at the Imperial War Museum.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: G. Finley-Day
Artist: Pino
Letters: Pete Knight

REVIEW
It's nice to see Savage see through Martin, but otherwise this is merely an excuse to get our hero into a new vehicle.

Next Prog: Shot In The Back!

Thursday 11 September 2014

Disaster 1990!, Part 1

NAME
Disaster 1990!, Part 1

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD & Starlord Prog 119

DATELINE
30 Jun 79

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
Judge Dredd Megazine 331

SYNOPSIS
Britain floods.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First spinoff from Invasion!

INFORMATION
In 1990, a new major trade route via the North Pole was the shortest route for massive nuclear powered ice breaking supertankers. A supertanker crashes into a nuclear submarine and the resulting explosion melts thousands of square miles of ice. The sudden rise in sea levels causes huge flooding. In Britain, London is completely flooded.

BILL SAVAGE
He is in a café in the Midlands when he hears about the coming flood. With about an hour until it hits he drives to London to find his mother. He loses his truck swerving to avoid a small child, the engine is smashed. He takes refuge more than fifteen floors up.

OTHER CHARACTERS
FRANCO
He runs a café in the Midlands.

DEATHS
Presumably millions worldwide.

BEST LINES
Savage: "This isn't the end, Lady - it's the beginning...the beginning of the fight for survival!"

WORST LINES
Savage: "Gimme another cod an' chips, Franco! And turn the TV up - nothing I like better than watching the news now all the newscasters are women!"

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
Bill Savage previously appeared in Invasion!, although this story is set nine years earlier.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Floods wiping the slate (or in this case, the state) clean are a common feature in religion and mythology, from Noah's ark to Gilgamesh.

MISTAKES
"And the first in line is...Britain."

No, it's not. A tsunami-like wave moving from the North Pole would hit dozens of countries before Britain.

RETROSPECT
It turns out we didn't need a nuclear explosion at the pole to cause rising sea levels, we just needed a whole in the ozone layer, voter apathy and corporate greed.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: G.F. Day
Artist: Pino
Letters: S. Potter

REVIEW
The fight in the café is nice and it's great to see Savage back. It's not clear quite why this needed to be a prequel though.

Next Prog: Battle At The Imperial War Museum!

Wednesday 10 September 2014

Judge Dredd: The Alien Way!

NAME
Judge Dredd: The Alien Way!

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD Featuring Judge Dredd Prog 204

DATELINE
21 Mar 81

This Prog also featured Tharg's Future Shocks, Meltdown Man, Return To Armageddon and Strontium Dog strips, some more of Tharg's Futureworlds and a Judge Dredd cover by Mike McMahon.

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
The Best of 2000AD 6, The Complete Judge Dredd 19, Judge Dredd's Crime Files 6, Judge Dredd Chronicles Book 25 and Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 04.

SYNOPSIS

FIRSTS & LASTS

INFORMATION
Native of the planet Uq are dwarfs with feathered pelts. A Ququroo is an animal that bucks. On Uq, it is illegal to expose your feet in a public place, victims are punished to encourage them never to be victims again and dangerous criminals are executed on the spot. Uq has relations with Mega-City One and there is a Uqqan ambassador. They are currently negotiating a trade deal with Mega-City One.

Mega-City One's roads have at least 1204 intersections. Easy Street and Fourth are roads in Mega-City One that intersect.

In Mega-City One, Wounding With Intent To Kill carries a sentence of five years. The Justice Department has an alien pound used for incarcerating aliens.

The Red Light Gang rob people at traffic signals.

JUDGE DREDD
He is paired with Qu, who rides along with him while Dredd investigates the Red Light Gang.

OTHER CHARACTERS
CHIEF JUDGE GRIFFIN
He pairs Ququuu with Dredd and later regrets it.

QUQUQU QUQ QUQUUU
A writer from the planet Uq. His name means 'hatched in the Qutuq by the oily waters of the street of a thousands quqs', Dredd calls him Shorty. He is paired with Dredd for a piece he wants to write about Mega-City law.

ARRESTS
Dredd arrests Qu for wounding with intent to kill and sentences him to five years in the alien pound.

DEATHS
One. A member of the Red Light Gang is killed whilst trying to escape.

BEST LINES
Ququuu (written): "Grimly I clung to the Judge's speeding machine as we roared in pursuit of the vicious Red Light Gang. Blood from the thug's crushed face spattered my pelt like crimson raindrops, suddenly I knew there was law in Mega-City One...of a kind."

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
A motorist screams an "Aieeeee!" as he is pushed out of his car. Dredd says "Stomm!" and "I am the law!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES

CREDITS
Script: T.B. Grover
Artist: Emberton
Letters: Thomas

REVIEW
The story is slight, but satisfying, with excerpts from Ququuu's article a welcome highlight and a surprising ending.

Next Prog: Alone In A Crowd!

Tuesday 9 September 2014

Star Pin Up: Tyranno-Mek!

NAME
Star Pin Up: Tyranno-Mek!

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD & Starlord Prog 116

DATELINE
9 June 79

PAGE COUNT
1

REPRINTS
None.

SYNOPSIS
None.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
None.

OTHER CHARACTERS
DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
None.

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
None.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Artist: Dave Gibbons

REVIEW
Meet the Tyranno-Mek. It's a fantastic piece of artwork.

Monday 8 September 2014

Judge Dredd: Who Killed Pug Ugly?

NAME
Judge Dredd: Who Killed Pug Ugly?

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD Featuring Judge Dredd Prog 203

DATELINE
14 Mar 81

This prog also featured Tharg's Future Shocks, Meltdown Man, Return To Armageddon and Strontium Dog, Tharg's Future Worlds Poster and a Return To Armageddon cover by Jesus Redondo.

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
Judge Dredd Classics 69, The Complete Judge Dredd 19, Judge Dredd Chronicles Book 5, Judge Dredd 27, Judge Dredd Paperbacks vs Otto Sump and Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 04.

SYNOPSIS
Dredd investigates the murder and the murderer of Pug Ugly.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First mention of Sound Slugs.

INFORMATION
Mega-City One's Vibe Hall and Vide Bowl are music venues. Every Mega-City insurance policy features Clause 29: "This policy is invalidated in event of violent death caused by the lawful action of a Mega-City Judge." Named Judges: Judge Brown

Pug Ugly And The Bugglys are Pug Ugly, Pretty Boy, Retch and Ringo. Their latest sound slug is 'Hey Pig'. Following the death of their lead voker, they launch a competition to find a replacement who will have Pug Ugly's vocal chords transplanted into their body. They release 'Tribute To Pug'. When the replacement Pug Ugly begins singing about the death of his predecessor, the Buggleys kill him on stage.

A transplant clinic can preserve vocal chords after death. Cellulo-psychic regenesis (or C.P.R.) is a very rare side-effect of transplant surgery. It allows the transplanted organ or tissue to retain the intelligence of the donor after death.

JUDGE DREDD
He investigates the death of Pug Ugly and looks into the background of his killed, Vito O'Reilly.

OTHER CHARACTERS
PUG UGLY
Lead Voker of Pug Ugly And The Bugglys. He is killed by Vito O'Reilly during a gig at the Vibe Hall. It's in his contract that his vocal chords belong to the band.

VITO O'REILLY
His mother is Sophie O'Reilly. He was paid by the Bugglys to kill Pug Ugly. He took out a hundred or so of life insurance policies and then shot Pug Ugly dead. He was killed himself by a Judge and none of the insurance policies will pay out.

OTTO SUMP
Now known in some circles as Otto Le Sump. He treats the winner of the Search For A Pug competition to look just like the original.

ARRESTS
Three. The Bugglys are presumably arrested for their parts in two murders.

DEATHS
Three. Pug Ugly is shot dead by Vito O'Reilly who is then killed by a Judge. The new Pug Ugly is killed by his fellow band members, bludgeoned to death with their instruments.

BEST LINES
Pug Ugly (sung): "You set my lips on fire, babe, you make my spots feel good, but you leave my stomach cryin', babe, cos you pig all my food!"

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
Otto Sump puts in a cameo appearance. He first appeared in Sob Story and later in Otto Sumps Ugly Clinic.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
The Buggleys are obviously very Sex Pistol-esque and the title echoes 'Who Killed Bambi?' from The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle (1979). The vocal chords recall The Hands of Orlac the 1920 novel by the French writer Maurice Renard (1875-1939), which concerns a pianist who receives a pair of murderous hands in a transplant.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: T.B. Grover
Artist: Ron Smith
Letters: Tom Frame

REVIEW
The artwork is great, the lyrics are brilliantly bizarre. The vocal chord confession is hugely contrived, but then let's be honest, so is everything else.

Next Prog: The Alien Way!

Sunday 7 September 2014

Strontium Dog: Assault on Trigol 3!

NAME
Strontium Dog: Assault on Trigol 3!

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 1979

DATELINE
1 June 79

PAGE COUNT
4

REPRINTS
Strontium Dog Search/Destroy Agency Files 04.

SYNOPSIS
Johnny, Wulf and the Gronk attempt to arrest Harry the Horse on Trigol 3.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First Strontium Dog strip in a 2000 AD special.

INFORMATION
Trigol 3 is a mining planet in the Darma system. It is famous for its orbiting statue of a prospector.

Nickel City is a settlement on Trigol 3. Deke Wilson is the marshal. It has a bank, hotel and stores. There has been an ore strike nearby. A Galaxy Judge visits Nickel City from time to time. It has recently been renamed Lawless and then re-renamed Alphaville.

A reacto-flyer is a mode of transport.

Electronux carry twenty thousand volts.

JOHNNY ALPHA
He has been to Trigol 3 and Nickel City before, and he knows Deke Wilson. He vaporises Jem's hover horse. He agrees to help Deke. When Harry the Horse takes Billy Wilson prisoner and attempts to exchange him for his own son, Johnny agrees, sets his blaster to low power and fires harmlessly through Billy and into Harry killing him.

OTHER CHARACTERS
WULF STERNHAMMER
He helps Johnny and Deke. Wulf uses a time bomb to send three of Harry the Horse's men two days into the future, leaving them to die in the freezing cold of space.

THE GRONK
It heals Deke Wilson's wound.

DEKE WILSON
Marshall of Nickel City. His son Billy disappeared six weeks ago. He is injured in an altercation with Jem, the Gronk heals his wound.

BILLY WILSON
Deke Wilson's son. He joined Harry the Horse's gang, but soon realised his mistake. He was forced to stay and six weeks later was used in a prisoner exchange for Harry's son.

HARRY THE HORSE
He is wanted for planetcide. He currently lives on Trigol 3. He has a son that Deke Wilson arrested. Harry sends his men to free his son, but Johnny and Wulf force them to retreat. Harry has Deke's son Billy captive and attempts a prisoner exchange. Johnny kills Harry.

DEATHS
Four. Johnny kills Harry the Horse with his blaster. Wulf kills three of his men with a time bomb.

BEST LINES
None.

WORST LINES
Johnny Alpha: "Statues everybody! Unless you want the same!"

What?

CATCHPHRASES
Wulf says Der, Got, gut, ja, mitt, vanted, vild, vos, vot, vould, Vulf, vun and zey. The Gronk pluralises "my poor heartses" and "rightses".

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Ian Rogan
Artist: Rob Moran
Letters: Aldrich

REVIEW
This is disappointing throughout. The artwork doesn't always sell the ideas, the beginning is muddled, the ending is rushed.

The End

Saturday 6 September 2014

Judge Dredd: 'Lawmaster On The Loose'

NAME
Judge Dredd: 'Lawmaster On The Loose'

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD Featuring Judge Dredd Prog 202

DATELINE
7 Mar 81

Prog 202 also featured The Mean Arena, Meltdown Man, Return To Armageddon, Strontium Dog, a one-off called Last Thought, part three of Tharg's Futureworlds Poster and a Strontium Dog cover by Carlos Ezquerra.

PAGE COUNT
7

REPRINTS
The Best Of 2000 AD 46, Judge Dredd Classics 64, The Complete Judge Dredd 19, Judge Dredd 27 and Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 04.

SYNOPSIS
A rogue Lawmaster takes the law into its own hands.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First mention of munce.

INFORMATION
Mega-City One's Julian Bream Boulevard has a munce shop. Julian Bream Square is nearby. The Fred Quimby Block station is a stop of the Trans-Meg Monorail.

A Mega-City Judge's Lawmaster has a Synitron GK13 Audio Computer, Notron 4000cc Engine, Cyclops Phylon TX laser cannon, 12mm armour plating, bulletproof Firelock all-weather tyres. A rogue lawmaster carries an automatic priority one rating.

Named Judges: Judge Gorman (deceased); Judge Jones.

JUDGE DREDD
When Lawmaster LK114/7 is out of control, he attends the scene. Dredd follows the rogue Lawmaster onto the Trans-Meg Monorail and destroys a train and track, and causes the loss of dozens of lives in order the stop the Lawmaster.

OTHER CHARACTERS
JUGE GORMAN
He is shot by Munce raiders on Julian Bream Boulevard, His Lawmaster begins malfunctioning and kills at least four people, including Gorman.

ARRESTS
None. Although the Lawmaster attempts to dispnce its own warped sense of justice.

DEATHS
Hundreds. Between them Lawmaster LK114/7 and Dredd manage to kill hundreds of people.

BEST LINES
Citizen (haging form Dredd's ankle after surviving the monorail explosion caused by the Judge): "What would we do without you Judges to protect us?"

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
We hear a "Stomm!" and an "Aieeeeeee!", while Dredd chalks up another "Stop in the name of the law!", "Drokk!" and "I am the law!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Julian Bream is a British classical guitarist and lute player.
Fred Quimby (1886–1965) was an American cartoon producer, best known for his work on Tom And Jerry cartoons and winner of eight Academy Awards.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: T.B. Grover
Artist: Ron Smith
Letters: Tom Frame

REVIEW
This is fantastic. Ron Smith's artwork is solid and somehow lends a stark realism to a bizarre series of events. The ending has a brilliant irony and a refreshing sense of humour to it.

Be Here Next Prog...That's An Order, Citizen!

Friday 5 September 2014

Black Hawk, Part 53

NAME
Black Hawk, Part 53

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD & Tornado Prog 161

DATELINE
19 Apr 80

PAGE COUNT
4

REPRINTS
Black Hawk: The Intergalactic Gladiator.

SYNOPSIS
Black Hawk, Ursa, Zog, Battak and Kwark escape Silversun and then are potentially squashed down to a single point of infinite density.

FIRSTS & LASTS
Last appearance in Black Hawk in 2000 AD of Black Hawk, Ursa, Zog, Battak, Kwark and Silversun.

INFORMATION
Silversun is destroyed.

Thargian Star Ships are resilient vessels.

"Barra Dek Schuppen" is a Thargian phrase that approximates to "kettle of fish" in English.

BLACK HAWK
He survives the destruction of Silversun and drifts into the singularity aboard Kwark's ark.

OTHER CHARACTERS
URSA
He survives the destruction of Silversun and drifts into the singularity aboard Kwark's ark.

ZOG
He survives the destruction of Silversun and drifts into the singularity aboard Kwark's ark.

BATTAK
He survives the destruction of Silversun and drifts into the singularity aboard Kwark's ark.

KWARK
They survive the destruction of Silversun in a craft of Kwark's design. He drifts into the singularity aboard it.

DEATHS
Presumably everyone on Silversun. Maybe four more. Maybe not.

BEST LINES
Battak: "And you say this craft can survive this...this turning to nothing?"
Kwark: "Oh no. I only said it would withstand the strongest of gravity storms!"

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
Zog says his name twice, while Ursa says "Chop-chop" and Black Hawk "Sebek's bones!" both once more.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
Aquila is another 2000 AD strip which features a black slave operating in the Roman empire and a black hawk.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Alvin Gaunt
Artist: Belardinelli
Letters: Pete Knight

REVIEW
And so that was Black Hawk. A somewhat disappointing ending for such an epic strip. To have come so far and overcome so much, simply to potentially cease to exist.

The End?

Thursday 4 September 2014

Black Hawk, Part 52

NAME
Black Hawk, Part 52

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD & Tornado Prog 160

DATELINE
12 Apr 80

PAGE COUNT
4

REPRINTS
Black Hawk: The Intergalactic Gladiator.

SYNOPSIS
Black Hawk regains his soul, but Kwark reveals the planet will be destroyed in one hour.

FIRSTS & LASTS
Last use of the 'Warrior In Search Of His Soul' caption. Last appearance of the alien soul-sucker.

INFORMATION
A massive gravity storm is due to destroy Silversun.

BLACK HAWK
Black Hawk kills the Soul-Sucker. Bloodblade returns Black Hawk's soul to him, but his eyes remain changed.

OTHER CHARACTERS
ZOG
He attacks Kwark, breaking his club.

KWARK
He attempts to gather data on Zog, to no avail.

DEATHS
One. Black Hawk kills the Soul-Sucker with Bloodblade.

BEST LINES
Black Hawk: "What can I do, Robot?"
Kwark: "Click Whirr Click. Species: Human. Territory: Nubia. Advice: Pray!"

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
Zog says his name seven times and Black Hawk swears "By Sebek!" once.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Alvin Gaunt
Artist: Belardinelli
Letters: Pete Knight

REVIEW
This is strangely satisfying. It's surprising that a piece that returns Black Hawk's soul to him and ushers in the end of the world could be so languid and even more surprising that it would be so enjoyably so.

Next Prog: Kwark's Ark!

Wednesday 3 September 2014

Black Hawk, Part 51

NAME
Black Hawk, Part 51

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD & Tornado Prog 159

DATELINE
5 Apr 80

PAGE COUNT
4

REPRINTS
Black Hawk: The Intergalactic Gladiator.

SYNOPSIS
Black Hawk finds the Soul-Sucker.

FIRSTS & LASTS
Last appearance in flashback of the Entertainers and the Great Beast

INFORMATION
The Hell at World's End is an area of land subject to the gravitational forces of the event horizon of the black hole.

BLACK HAWK
He follows a mysterious voice to an illusory wall, walks through and discovers the Soul-Sucker. He resists its commands and stabs it with Bloodblade.

OTHER CHARACTERS
KWARK.
It doesn't have any definitive data on the soul.

DEATHS
One. Black Hawk kills a Bozo.

BEST LINES
Black Hawk: "My past is behind me, I create my own destiny. And I say - never again will I be called slave!"
Soulsucker: "You will do as I tell you - or you will die!"
Black Hawk: "If it is death that awaits me - then I run to its embrace as a free man!"

WORST LINES
Great Beast (in flashback): "I am the hunter - you are the doomed!"

CATCHPHRASES
"Where in the name of Sebek?" and "Sebek!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
We see flashback to Black Hawk's enslavement by the Romans, capture by the Entertainers and first encounter with the Great Beast.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Alvin Gaunt
Artist: Belardinelli
Letters: Peter Knight

REVIEW
This is great and the exchanges at the beginning and end are wonderful. It seems strange to introduce Kwark and then immediately sideline him.

Next Prog: Click Whirr Click. No Definitive Data.

Tuesday 2 September 2014

Black Hawk, Part 50

NAME
Black Hawk, Part 50

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD & Tornado Prog 158

DATELINE
29 Mar 80

PAGE COUNT
4

REPRINTS
Black Hawk: The Intergalactic Gladiator.

SYNOPSIS
Black Hawk, Ursa, Zog and Battak encounter Kwark.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First appearance of Kwark. First appearance of a member of Tharg's species within the narrative.

INFORMATION
Bozos are carnivorous creatures that live in clusters on Silversun.

The Thargians are an advanced race from Betelgeuse. The Thargians built many thousands of Kwark robots as explorer droids. They are designed collect information wherever they land to add to the Thargian goal to collect all data in the known universe.

Bizz-Bears are native to the planet Gowon in the Aldebaran system.

The planet Zio is in the Sirius-B system.

BLACK HAWK
He is attacked by a cluster of Bozos, but Ursa and Zog come to the rescue. When he realises Kwark has no data on Zog, he uses this to blackmail the robot into giving him information on the soul-sucker

OTHER CHARACTERS
URSA
He is a Bizz-Bear. He and Zog discover Black Hawk being attacked by Bozos.

ZOG
He and Ursa discover Black Hawk being attacked by Bozos. Kwark has no data on his species.

KWARK
Thargian Robot. It was pulled into the black hole and trapped on Silversun. It was attacked by the Bozos and damaged. It hid in a cave. It cannot contact its creators. He has no data on Zog's species.

DEATHS
Black Hawk, Ursa and Zog kill an indeterminate number of Bozos.

BEST LINES
None.

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
We hear "Borag Thungg!" twice, "Zarjaz!" and "Sebek's bones!" once each, whilst Zog says his name twice.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Alvin Gaunt
Artist: Belardinelli
Letters: Peter Knight

REVIEW
This is a strange departure for the strip. The arrival of Tharg's species rattles the fourth wall somewhat, but Kwark is an interesting addition.

Next Prog: The Soul-Sucker Danger Rating: 5 Skulls

Monday 1 September 2014

Black Hawk, Part 49

NAME
Black Hawk, Part 49

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD & Tornado Prog 157

DATELINE
22 Mar 80

PAGE COUNT
4

REPRINTS
Black Hawk: The Intergalactic Gladiator.

SYNOPSIS
Ursa and Zog go in search of Black Hawk again.

FIRSTS & LASTS
Last part not to feature Black Hawk.

INFORMATION
None.

BLACK HAWK
Kur returns to the Great Beast's castle without him.

OTHER CHARACTERS
URSA
The BBs refer to him as Mr Bear. He and Zog ride Kur to the Garden of the Dream-Weaver and find Captain Psyko's skeleton.

ZOG
He and Ursa ride Kur to the Garden of the Dream-Weaver and find Captain Psyko's skeleton.

KUR
He returns to the Great Beast's castle. Ursa and Zog ride him to the Garden of the Dream-Weaver. Kur stops dead when told to.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
Ursa: "Ho well, everybody get chop-chop sooner or later!"

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
Zog says "Zog" nine times, spits a Ptzog! and a "Z..o..g?" whilst hallucinating. Ursa says "chop-chop" once (see BEST LINES)

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Alvin Gaunt
Artist: Belardinelli
Letters: Pete Knight

REVIEW
This is more fun than Black Hawk has been for a while with Zog's fungi induced hallucination and upside down "Zog?" as the obvious highlights.

Next Prog: Click Whirr Click. Meet Kwark... The Strangest Robot Of All!