Friday 31 October 2014

Star Pin-Up: Judge Anderson

NAME
Star Pin-Up: Judge Anderson

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD Featuring Judge Dredd Prog 213

DATELINE
23 May 81

PAGE COUNT
1

REPRINTS
Unknown.

SYNOPSIS
None.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
None.

JUDGE ANDERSON
Depicted here both struggling with Judge Death and sealed in Boing.


OTHER CHARACTERS
JUDGE DEATH

ARRESTS
None.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
None.

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
Judge Death and Judge Anderson last appeared in Judge Dredd: Judge Death.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
This serves to remind the reader of two important characters that they haven't seen for eighteen months.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Artist: Brian Bolland

REVIEW
Bolland's art is wonderful as always.

Thursday 30 October 2014

The A.B.C. Warriors: 'The Bougainville Massacre', Part 2

NAME
The A.B.C. Warriors: 'The Bougainville Massacre', Part 2

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD & Starlord Prog 126

DATELINE
18 Aug 79

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
A.B.C. Warriors Book 1, ABC Warriors 01, A.B.C. Warriors Mek-nificent Seven, Sam Slade Robo-Hunter (Volume 2) 07 and A.B.C. Warriors The Meknificent Seven

SYNOPSIS
Blackblood takes a hostage and Joe Pineapples shoots him.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
The A.B.C. Warriors are programmed to enjoy combat. Their motto is "Strike first...strike hard!"

HAMMER-STEIN
He captures a Volgan Daddy Long-Legs and attacks the Straw Dogs. He gets underneath Blackblood's position and catches his hostage when Joe Pineapples shoots the general.

JOE PINEAPPLES
Hammer-Stein regards him as the best sniper in the world. Joe shoots Blackblood dead, missing his heart by 1mm and misses the boy he was holding hostage.

HAPPY SHRAPNEL
He captures a Volgan Daddy Long-Legs and attacks the Straw Dogs.

MONGROL
He like to 'smush' Volgans.

DEADLOCK
He captures a Volgan Daddy Long-Legs and attacks the Straw Dogs.

OTHER CHARACTERS
GENERAL BLACKBLOOD
He has taken Stevie Proctor hostage and when his Daddy Long-Legs is crippled. Joe Pineapples shoots his dead. Hammer-Stein has him taken away and reprogrammed.

MISS SWEET
Her whole class was murdered by Blackblood's Straw Dogs. Hammer-Stein carries her up a tree to keep her out of danger.

STEVIE PROCTOR
After the attack on his school by the Straw Dogs, he is taken hostage by Blackblood. He is due to be in Miss Sweet's class next year.

HAMMER-STEIN'S SUPERIOR
He wants Hammer-Stein to get one more A.B.C. Warrior.

DEATHS
Unknown. It's not clear how many Straw Dogs are killed. Blackblood is shot dead.

BEST LINES
Joe Pineapples: "TGT - A - OK!"

WORST LINES
Hammer-Stein: "Miss Sweet, robots eat bullets for breakfast, spit 'em out at tea - but humans can't even che 'em for elevenses..!"

CATCHPHRASES
Blackblood "Ssss!" six times, Mngrol mentions smushing, Joe Pineapples says "N & V!" again and a Straw Dog yells an "Aieeee!".

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script Robot: P. Mills
Art Robot: M. McMahon
Lettering Robot: Pete Knight

REVIEW
It's great to see Joe Pineapples very nearly take centre stage. He's been increasingly marginalised by the newer members of the team. Miss Sweet and the hostage taking are nicely handled. Hammer-Stein's feelings of guilt are interesting, but this feels like it needed more Blackblood.

We've Kept The Best ABC Warrior Till Last! Meet Steelhorn Next Prog!

Wednesday 29 October 2014

The A.B.C. Warriors: 'The Bougainville Massacre', Part 1

NAME
The A.B.C. Warriors: 'The Bougainville Massacre', Part 1

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD & Starlord Prog 125

DATELINE
11 Aug 79

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
A.B.C. Warriors Book 1, ABC Warriors 01, A.B.C. Warriors Mek-nificent Seven, Sam Slade Robo-Hunter (Volume 2) 07 and A.B.C. Warriors The Meknificent Seven

SYNOPSIS
Blackblood attacks Bougainville.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First time Blackblood says "Ssss!"

INFORMATION
Bougainville is a remote Pacific Island with a jungle, mangrove swamps, inland rubber plantations and a beach with a mission school on it.

A.B.C. Warriors can regulate the power to their eye-scanners. The Magnum Macho 3000 is a Sniper Rifle.

Volgan Daddy Long-Legs are an amphibious walking vehicle, Men O' War are flying vehicles and Straw Dogs are robots equipped for jungle terrain and lead by General Blackblood.

HAMMER-STEIN
He came around to the idea of working with Blackblood when he heard that it would require killing him first and them reprogramming him. He carries Miss Sweet away from the remains of her school.

JOE PINEAPPLES
He is armed with a Magnum Macho 3000 Sniper Rifle.

HAPPY SHRAPNEL
He is in need of a new suit of armour.

MONGROL
He refuses to work with Blackblood. Miss Sweet reminds him of Lara.

DEADLOCK
His sword, X-caliber feeds on death and can home in on its target when thrown.

OTHER CHARACTERS
MISS SWEET
School teacher at a mission school on the Bougainville coast. She is trapped in the rubble of her school during the Bougainville massacre. Hammer-Stein rescues her and carries her out.



GENERAL BLACKBLOOD
Robot leader of the Volgan Straw Dogs. He is programmed to be extra cruel and as an expert in camouflage and guerrilla warfare. Blackblood got his name from the rumour that he drinks the oil of dead allied A.B.C. Warriors. He arrives on Bougainville aboard a Daddy Long-Legs.

DEATHS
Dozens. Islanders killed by the Straw Dogs and at least three Straw Dogs killed by the A.B.C. Warriors.

BEST LINES
Deadlock: "Remember my sword, 'X-caliber', feeds on death!"

WORST LINES
Deadlock: "Death is its nourishment!"

CATCHPHRASES
Joe Pineapples says "N & V" again, Happy Shrapnel says "Bzzz" twice, Mongrol refers to "Laaraa!" and Blackblood says "Ssss!" four times

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
The Volgan Daddy Long-Legs look very The War Of The Worlds (1897) or The Tripods, a series of novels by John Christopher that began in 1967.
A Straw Dog is an ancient Chinese ceremonial figure of a dog made from straw often thrown away after use, but also the title of a controversial 1971 film by Sam Peckinpah. The name Blackblood recalls noted pirate Blackbeard, real name Edward Teach (circa 1680–1718), better known as Blackbeard. The General says "No one expects...", which was the opening line of the Monty Python's Flying Circus Spanish Inquisition sketch (1970).

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script Robot: Pat Mills
Art Robot: Mc Mahon
Lettering Robot: Peter Knight

REVIEW
The attack on the school is shocking, the Volgan hardware is impressive and it's a great twist that Hammer-Stein has to recruit a member of the enemy, but as the team gets larger most members are reduced to a single characteristic (see CATCHPHRASES above).

Next Prog: The Best Sniper In The World!

Tuesday 28 October 2014

Judge Dredd: The Mega-Rackets, Crime File: 3 - The Umpty Baggers, Part 2

NAME
Judge Dredd: The Mega-Rackets, Crime File: 3 - The Umpty Baggers, Part 2

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD Featuring Judge Dredd Prog 214

DATELINE
30 May 81

This prog also featured Tharg's Future Shocks, Meltdown Man, Return to Armageddon and Strontium Dog, a Pin-Up of Robo-Hunter, a Tharg's Future Shocks cover by Brendon McCarthy.

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
The Best of 2000AD 32, The Complete Judge Dredd 20, Judge Dredd's Crime Files 4, Judge Dredd Mega City Vice Book 2 and Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 05.

SYNOPSIS
Dredd ends the Jongs themselves, but not their Umpty empire.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
Evidence taken from addicts in withdrawal is not admissible. Umpty Squad wear a different uniform to street Judges. Named Judges: Brent

JUDGE DREDD
He leads a raid on a suspected Umpty factory and finds it recently abandoned. Dredd suspects a tip-off and blames Judge Cheyney. He lures Cheyney to the factory and knocks him out. When the Jongs arrive, there is a gunfight and Dredd kills them all.

OTHER CHARACTERS
JUDGE BRENT
Umpty squad.

JUDGE CHEYNEY
Dredd lures him to the Umpty factory at Malcolm Allison Block and knocks him out. When the Jongs arrive Dredd suspicions are proved correct and Cheyney is due to be sent to the penal colony on Titan.

ARRESTS
Three. Two elderly Umpty addicts are lead away and Judge Cheyney is due to be sent to the penal colony on Titan.

DEATHS
Four. Dredd shoots the entire Jong gang dead.

BEST LINES
Dredd (to Cheyney): "C'mon, Creep! You've got an appointment with the penal colony on Titan."

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
None.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: T.B. Grover
Art: Emberton
Letters: T. Frame

REVIEW
This is a slight ending which deals with the threads left dangling by the first part in quite a perfunctory way. Dredd has no evidence about Cheyney's complicity, but rather than investigating he knocks him unconscious and hopes the evidence will be forthcoming. Ron Smith's characters designs for the Jongs are dispensed with and it's not clear who is meant to be who. The ending, however, is great and shows that although Dredd may win the battle, the war is another matter altogether.

The End

Monday 27 October 2014

Judge Dredd: The Mega-Rackets, Crime File: 3 - The Umpty Baggers, Part 1

NAME
Judge Dredd: The Mega-Rackets, Crime File: 3 - The Umpty Baggers, Part 1

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD Featuring Judge Dredd Prog 213

DATELINE
23 May 81

This prog also featured Tharg's Future Shocks, Meltdown Man, Return to Armageddon and Strontium Dog, a Pin-Up of Judge Anderson, a cover by Brian Bolland as well as two packets of Buck Rogers stickers.

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
The Best of 2000AD 32, The Complete Judge Dredd 20, Judge Dredd's Crime Files 4, Judge Dredd Mega City Vice Book 2 and Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 05.

SYNOPSIS
Umpty is back. Dredd investigates the supply chain.

FIRSTS & LASTS
Last appearance of Uncle Ump.

INFORMATION
In Mega-City One, there is a Malcolm Allison Block.

Umpty Bagging is the illegal manufacture and sale of addictive Umpty candy. 22nd Century medicology has permanently eliminated all known addictions, with the exception of Umpty. Mellowmel is an ingredient of Umpty.

The Justice Department has a dedicated Umpty Squad and operates Umpty Clinics where addicts can dry out. Named Judges: Judge Cheyney, Judge Jones.


JUDGE DREDD
He arrests Candy Man Fitchit for Umpty Bagging and investigates his supplier.

OTHER CHARACTERS
CANDY MAN FITCHIT
Umpty bagger working for Oggie Jong. Dredd arrests him and discovers he is addicted to Umpty. He uses this to get information out of him.

JUDGE CHEYNEY
Head of the Umpty Squad. Dredd is not impressed with his results.

OGGIE JONG
Member of the Jong crime family. They are tipped off that Uncle Ump is, contrary to popular belief, alive in space. The find him and acquire his Umpty recipe and kill him. Their Umpty factory is situated on the top floor of Malcolm Allison Block, but he is warned to get any evidence out by his informer.

UNCLE UMP
He is discovered two light years from Earth by the Jong brothers. Uncle Ump's recipe is so precise that it requires twelve drops of mellowmel and to be whisked clockwise for exactly thirty-seven beats. The torture him to reveal his Umpty recipe and when he does they throw him out of an airlock.

ARRESTS
Four. Dredd arrests Candy Man Fitchit for Umpty Bagging and three juves for taking it.

DEATHS
One. The Jong brothers leave Uncle Ump suffocating in space.

BEST LINES
Candy Man Fitchit: "Let me outa here! Umpty! I need Umpty!
Dredd: "Talk first - Umpty later

WORST LINES
Candy Man Fitchit: "Smashed the fire escape!"

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
There is a flashback to the events "over a year ago" of Uncle Ump's Umpty Candy. The Ump dumping is the second chump dumping in as many weeks.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Malcolm Allison Block is named after controversial footballer turned manager Malcolm Allison (1927-2010) who had just lost his job at Manchester City Football Club.

MISTAKES
Medicology isn't a word. Yet. The leader of the Jong gang is identified as both Oogie and Oggie.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

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

REVIEW
This sequel to Uncle Ump's Umpty Candy takes the drugs metaphor of the first and turns it up to eleven. This time around Ump himself is the first victim of his recipe and his death makes for a darker tale altogether.

Next Prog: Bagging The Baggers!

Sunday 26 October 2014

Star Pin-Up: Max Normal - Mega-City One's Pinstripe Freak!

NAME
Star Pin-Up: Max Normal - Mega-City One's Pinstripe Freak!

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD Featuring Judge Dredd Prog 212

DATELINE
16 May 81

PAGE COUNT
1

REPRINTS
None.

SYNOPSIS
None.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
None.

MAX NORMAL


OTHER CHARACTERS
None.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
None.

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
None.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Artist: Brett Ewins

REVIEW
It's good to see Max surrounded by the chaotic nature of the Big Meg and the appalled expressions on the faces of the other citizens are wonderful.

Saturday 25 October 2014

The A.B.C. Warriors: 'The Order Of Knights Martial', Part 2 - The Tournament Of The Damned

NAME
The A.B.C. Warriors: The Order Of Knights Martial, Part 2

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD & Starlord Prog 124

DATELINE
04 Aug 79

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
ABC Warriors 01, Sam Slade Robo-Hunter (Volume 2) 06, A.B.C. Warriors Book 1, A.B.C. Warriors: Meknificent Seven & A.B.C. Warriors: The Mek-nificent Seven.

SYNOPSIS
Hammer-Stein and Deadlock fight.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First mention of General Blackblood.

INFORMATION
The Order of the Knights Martial claim to be nourished through death and they keep trophies of those that they kill.

HAMMER-STEIN
He is almost defeated by Deadlock, but he successfully disarms him and uses Deadlock's own strength sapping sword against him. He reports Deadlock joining the A.B.C. Warriors to his human superior. He is informed that General Blackblood is their next member, but Hammer-Stein refuses to serve with him.

JOE PINEAPPLES
His oil is drugged to prevent him interfering with Deadlock's fight with Hammer-Stein.

HAPPY SHRAPNEL
His oil is drugged to prevent him interfering with Deadlock's fight with Hammer-Stein, but Mongrol wakes him.

MONGROL
His oil is drugged to prevent him interfering with Deadlock's fight with Hammer-Stein, but a vision of Lara wakes him.

OTHER CHARACTERS
DEADLOCK
He worships Khaos, he can vanish at will and he can draw on the strength of other members of the Order of the Knights Martial. He almost defeats Hammer-Stein but fails when he is disarmed. He joins the A.B.C. Warriors.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
Hammer-Stein: "Uuuuh? He - He's vanishing! Must be using light refraction! But..."
Deadlock: "Still trying to rationalise with science, Sergeant? Don't you understand yet, simpleton...everything in life is an illusion..."

WORST LINES
The Order of the Knights Martial: "Hhooooowwll!"

CATCHPHRASES
Happy Shrapnel 'Bzzzes' four times and Mongrol says 'Smush' once.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
In Tarot, the Ace of Swords is a card that indicates decisive ability and the ability to see through and expose deception. While the Ten of Swords is a Minor Arcana tarot card which represents destruction. Knights Templar, also known as the Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon, are a Catholic military order founded in 1139 and active until about 1312.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script Robot: Pat Mills
Art Robot: Brett Ewins
Lettering Robot: Peter Knight

REVIEW
So much occurs in Part 1 that it's surprising how little does in Part 2. The fight itself is largely uninteresting and ultimately, Deadlock cheats, but loses and not a lot more happens. The artwork is great, but jars somewhat with Part 1.

Next Prog: Jungle Warfare - Robot Style!

Friday 24 October 2014

The A.B.C. Warriors: 'The Order Of Knights Martial', Part 1

NAME
The A.B.C. Warriors: 'The Order Of Knights Martial', Part 1

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD & Starlord Prog 123

DATELINE
28 Jul 79

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
A.B.C. Warriors Book 1, A.B.C. Warriors: Meknificent Seven & A.B.C. Warriors: The Mek-nificent Seven.

SYNOPSIS
The Volgans attack, General Karnage is captured and Deadlock serves as his judge.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First appearance of Deadlock.

INFORMATION
The Watch-Tower is a huge fortress satellite which orbits the Earth. The Order Of Knights Martial use it to maintain constant surveillance of Volgan army movements on the planet for the Allied forces. It is struck by an enormous meteorite targeted by the Volgans and forced to crash-land.

The Order Of Knights Martial are A.B.C. Warriors that have become masters of the martial arts and meditation. There are rumours of strange experiments, terrifying powers and secret ceremonies that are unsubstantiated.

Volgans use storm tanks and are able to steer meteorites toward a target with accuracy.

Mek-food provides sustenance for robots.

HAMMER-STEIN
He regards the Order Of Knights Martial as the ultimate A.B.C. Warriors. He leads his A.B.C. Warriors in the fight against the Volgans attacking the crash-landed Watch-Tower. Following the battle and court martial, he asks Deadlock to join him.

JOE PINEAPPLES
He fights against the Volgans attacking the crash-landed Watch-Tower. After the capture of General Karnage he assumes Hammer-Stein wants him killed.

HAPPY SHRAPNEL
His boots may smell. He fights against the Volgans attacking the crash-landed Watch-Tower.

MONGROL
He refers to Hammer-Stein as "Boss-Warrior" and covets Happy Shrapnel's boots. Mongrol fights against the Volgans attacking the crash-landed Watch-Tower.

OTHER CHARACTERS
BROTHER DEADLOCK
Grand Wizard of the Order Of Knights Martial based on the Watch-Tower. He can read Tarot cards and predicts the attack on the Watch-Tower. Deadlock presides over the court martial of General Karnage. Hammer-Stein asks Deadlock to join him and in return Deadlock challenges him.

GENERAL KARNAGE
Known Volgan war criminal. He is captured by the Allies and tried in a court martial and found guilty.

DEATHS
Potentially thousands die in the battle surrounding the downed Watch-Tower.

BEST LINES
Deadlock: "Purge the filth that dares to attack us! Cleansewith fire and sword, my brothers!"

WORST LINES
Joe: "N and V, Sarge..?"

CATCHPHRASES
Happy Shrapnel gives us seven variations on "Bzzz!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Hammer-Stein mentions "Robbie the Robot", a reference to either a character from the Doc Savage adventure The Fantastic Island (1935), Isaac Asimov's short story Robbie (1940) or Robby the Robot from Forbidden Planet (1956). We see, The Tower, one of Deadlock's Tarot cards. The Tower is the sixteenth trump card in most Italian Tarot decks. It has been used in game playing since the 15th century and in divination since the mid-19th century, commonly interpreted as meaning danger, crisis, sudden change, higher learning and liberation.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script Robot: Pat Mills
Art Robot: Kevin O'Neill
Lettering Robot: Peter Knight

REVIEW
Deadlock makes an instant impression and gives the strip a real shot in the arm, but his Tarot prediction was pretty useless seemingly coming mere seconds before the attack. The court martial illustrates his sense of justice beautifully and the cliffhanger is an intriguing one. So much happens in just six pages and The A.B.C. Warriors will never be the same.

Next Prog: See The Secret Powers Of Deadlock!

Thursday 23 October 2014

Judge Dredd: The Mega-Rackets, Crime File: 2 - The Perp Runners, Part 2

NAME
Judge Dredd: The Mega-Rackets, Crime File: 2 - The Perp Runners, Part 2

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD Featuring Judge Dredd Prog 212

DATELINE
16 May 81

This prog also featured Tharg's Future Shocks, Meltdown Man, Return To Armageddon and Strontium Dog, a pin up of Max Normal, a Strontium Dog cover by Carlos Ezquerra and a came with a free Buck Rogers sticker album.

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
The Best of 2000AD 31, The Complete Judge Dredd 20, Judge Dredd's Crime Files 3, Judge Dredd Mega City Vice Book 2 and Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 05.

SYNOPSIS
Dredd outwits the perp runners.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
'Chumping Up' is the luring to Earth members of alien races with promises of prosperity and luxury, while 'Chump Dumping' is to throw those individuals out of an airlock en route.

Members of alien species cannot enter Mega-City One without entry permits.


JUDGE DREDD
He escapes his shackles, breaking a bone in his hand in the process. Dredd warns the alien 'chumps' and they panic. In the resulting chaos he jettisons the ship's oxygen tanks and the perp runners elect to allow the Justice Department to catch them rather than suffocate. Upon his return to Mega-City One, Dredd has his face returned to normal and confronts Kolorado.

OTHER CHARACTERS
KOLORADO
Justice Department still have no evidence linking him to the perp running, but the last batch of perps are on their way back to Earth with scores to settle.

HULGO
Member of an alien hoping enslave humans in Mega-City One. He is disappointed.

ARRESTS
The perp runners are arrested and presumably so are the perps trafficked to Driadus K.

DEATHS
At least sixteen. At least fourteen members of a dolphin-like alien race are chump dumped and suffocate in the vacuum of space, two human perp runners later go the same way.

BEST LINES
Member of Hulgo's Alien race: "The hume's gone nuddly! Run for your lives!"

WORST LINES
Dredd: "Flake off, Creep!"

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

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

REVIEW
Ron Smith's aliens are a beauty to behold and the lengths Dredd is willing to go to are impressive.

Next Prog: The Umpty Baggers!

Wednesday 22 October 2014

Judge Dredd: The Mega-Rackets, Crime File: 2 - The Perp Runners, Part 1

NAME
Judge Dredd: The Mega-Rackets, Crime File: 2 - The Perp Runners, Part 1

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD Featuring Judge Dredd Prog 211

DATELINE
9 May 81

This prog also featured Tharg's Future Shocks, Meltdown Man, Return To Armageddon and Strontium Dog, a pin up of Meltdown Man and a Judge Dredd cover by Ron Smith.

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
The Best of 2000AD 31, The Complete Judge Dredd 20, Judge Dredd's Crime Files 3, Judge Dredd Mega City Vice Book 2 and Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 05.

SYNOPSIS
Dredd goes undercover in an attempt to find evidence of perp running and finds himself trafficked to another planet.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First time we see Dredd's face. Sort of.

INFORMATION
Mega-City One is home to at least 54 Meg-Pens for the incarceration of criminals. Perp Running is the illegal transportation of wanted criminals to a place of safety off planet.

A Flash '99 Selfcon Roadster is a car. Genuine velvet is very rare and velvet kneepads are quite the fashion statement. Raw Munce is notorious for its odour. Munce Gum is a foodstuff.

Driadus K is a planet some 36 hours away from Earth

JUDGE DREDD
He catches Slick Ike Kolorado littering and lets him off with a caution. Dredd has his face changed to assume the identity of John Julius Brown and claims to have escaped from Mega-Pen 54. He approaches Brown's known associate, Lanny, who puts him in touch with Kolorado's perp runners who smuggle him, alongside a group of perps, out of Mega-City One is a Raw Munce Tanker and aboard a spaceship waiting in the Cursed Earth. Dredd uses the ship communications to contact the Judges, but the perp runners' ship is much faster and the perps are trafficked to Driadus K, where they have been sold to alien slavers.

OTHER CHARACTERS
SLIK IKE KOLORADO
A Perp Runner. He is travels in a chauffeur-driven Flash '99 Selfcon Roadster. Judge Dredd catches him littering, but lets him off with a caution. He sells the perps he runs to alien slavers on Driadus K.

JOHN JULIUS BROWN
He is also known as Icepick Brown. He is currently serving thirty years in Mega-Pen 54 for multiple homicide. Known associate of Lanny. Dredd assumes his identity.

LANNY
A known associate of John Julius Brown.

ARRESTS
Dredd gives Kolorado a caution for littering.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
Dredd: "You! Littering the streets is an offence - Pick it up!...Not your driver - you!"

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
None.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

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

REVIEW
It's good to see Dredd taking Kolorado to task over his littering, but the ensuing undercover-as-escaped-prisoner story comes a little out of nowhere. Kolorado was as guilty before the littering as after, but Dredd only takes an interest after it.

CHUMP DUMPING

Tuesday 21 October 2014

Ro-Jaws And Hammerstein Book Of Robots: Ulti-Mek - The Ultimate Robot

NAME
Ro-Jaws And Hammerstein Book Of Robots: Ulti-Mek - The Ultimate Robot

FIRST PUBLISHED
Free with 2000 AD Featuring Judge Dredd Prog 199, 120, 121

DATELINE
30 June 79

PAGE COUNT
1

REPRINTS
None.

SYNOPSIS
Meet Ulti-mek

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
The Ulti-Mek is a recently completed robot that fits in the palm of your hand. It is self-regenerating and self-reproducing. The Ulti-Mek is smaller than a human eyeball. It has a Quasar reactor motor, with unlimited power output.


OTHER CHARACTERS
None.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
++ Human beings now obsolete ++

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Unknown
Artist: Unknown
Letters: Unknown

REVIEW
This is more like it. A great science fiction concept illustrated in a brilliant way with a sarcastic air to it. Move over real robots, this 'micro-prog' should have been all Ulti-Mek in my opinion.

Monday 20 October 2014

Ro-Jaws And Hammerstein Book Of Robots: Arok Home Loving Robot!

NAME
Ro-Jaws And Hammerstein Book Of Robots: Arok Home Loving Robot!

FIRST PUBLISHED
Free with 2000 AD Featuring Judge Dredd Prog 199, 120, 121

DATELINE
30 June 79

PAGE COUNT
2

REPRINTS
None.

SYNOPSIS
A real life robo-servant invented by Ben Skora.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
Ben Skora has invented Arok, a robot that can performs various household tasks, and SNEB, a robot that can learn.

OTHER CHARACTERS
None.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
None.

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Unknown
Artist: Unknown
Letters: Unknown

REVIEW
Another real life automaton. Ro-Jaws seems too impressed.

Sunday 19 October 2014

Ro-Jaws And Hammerstein Book Of Robots: Robotics 2000

NAME
Ro-Jaws And Hammerstein Book Of Robots: Robotics 2000

FIRST PUBLISHED
Free with 2000 AD Featuring Judge Dredd Prog 199, 120, 121

DATELINE
30 June 79

PAGE COUNT
2

REPRINTS
None.

SYNOPSIS
A look at robotic characters featured in 2000AD & Starlord.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION


DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
None.

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
Artie Gruber of Harlem Heroes and Inferno, Charlie from Ro-Busters: The Terra-Meks,
Boots from Robo-Hunter's Verdus, Call-Me-Kenneth and the Heavy Metal Kids from Judge Dredd: Robot Wars! and Walter The Wobot of Judge Dredd and his own strip.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Unknown
Artist: Several
Letters: Unknown

REVIEW
It's nice to see some familiar faces.

Saturday 18 October 2014

Ro-Jaws And Hammerstein Book Of Robots: Robots For Real!

NAME
Ro-Jaws And Hammerstein Book Of Robots: Robots For Real!

FIRST PUBLISHED
Free with 2000 AD Featuring Judge Dredd Prog 199, 120, 121

DATELINE
30 June 79

PAGE COUNT
1

REPRINTS
None.

SYNOPSIS
Some real robots from the past.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION



OTHER CHARACTERS
None.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
None.

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Unknown
Artist: Unknown
Letters: Unknown

REVIEW
This compliments the timeline nicely, but none of these are photos.

Friday 17 October 2014

Ro-Jaws And Hammerstein Book Of Robots: Bomb-Buster!

NAME
Ro-Jaws And Hammerstein Book Of Robots: Bomb-Buster!

FIRST PUBLISHED
Free with 2000 AD Featuring Judge Dredd Prog 199, 120, 121

DATELINE
30 June 79

PAGE COUNT
1

REPRINTS
None.

SYNOPSIS
An examination of a bomb disposal robot.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
The Remote Handling Equipment (Tracked) Explosive Ordnance Disposal bomb disposal robot is used by the army. It has been nicknamed the Wheelbarrow.

It is a mobile trolley with an electric cable connecting it to a remote control and it has a TV camera for relaying footage to its operator.

OTHER CHARACTERS
None.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
None.

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Unknown
Artist: Unknown
Letters: Unknown

REVIEW
This is better.

Thursday 16 October 2014

Ro-Jaws And Hammerstein Book Of Robots: Ro-Jaws' Robo-Race Game

NAME
Ro-Jaws And Hammerstein Book Of Robots: Ro-Jaws' Robo-Race Game

FIRST PUBLISHED
Free with 2000 AD Featuring Judge Dredd Prog 199, 120, 121

DATELINE
30 June 79

PAGE COUNT
2

REPRINTS
None.

SYNOPSIS
It's a game.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION


DEATHS
Hammer-Stein can wipe out a Volg patrol, Mek-Quake can destroy three robots and any of the robots can "fall foul of Asimov's Laws", which implies the death of a human.

BEST LINES
None.

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
The game sees the return of Dr. Feeley-Good and Greasy Gracie's from the Ro-Busters story The Fall And Rise Of Ro-Jaws And Hammer-Stein.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
The game works essentially like Ludo. A game patented under that name 1896, but based on the 6th century Indian game of Pachisi. In North America, the game is still known as Parcheesi.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Unknown
Artist: Unknown
Letters: Unknown

REVIEW
This is more enjoyable than the rest of the mini-prog so far, and it's nice to see the return of characters like Greasy Gracie and Dr. Feeleygood.

Wednesday 15 October 2014

Ro-Jaws And Hammerstein Book Of Robots: Tin Stars!

NAME
Ro-Jaws And Hammerstein Book Of Robots: Tin Stars!

FIRST PUBLISHED
Free with 2000 AD Featuring Judge Dredd Prog 199, 120, 121

DATELINE
30 June 79

PAGE COUNT
2

REPRINTS
None.

SYNOPSIS
A look at the robot in popular culture.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
None.

OTHER CHARACTERS
None.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
Ro-Jaws (after listing how Asimov's laws keep Humans safe): "But they don't always work, Humes!"

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Metropolis (1926), Tobor The Great (1954), Forbidden Planet (1956), The Invisible Boy (1957), War With The Robots (1962) by Harry Harrison, Doctor Who (1963), Top Of The Pops (1964), Lost In Space (1966) and The Metallic Muse (1972) by Lloyd Biggle Jr. The Three Laws of Robotics are also listed, from 1942 story called Runaround by Isaac Asimov (1920-1992).

MISTAKES
Neither the Daleks nor the Cybermen are robots as described here.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Unknown
Artist: Unknown
Letters: Unknown

REVIEW
The art is lovely, but the information is slight.

Tuesday 14 October 2014

Ro-Jaws And Hammerstein Book Of Robots: They Were The Stars Of Star Wars!

NAME
Ro-Jaws And Hammerstein Book Of Robots: They Were The Stars Of Star Wars!

FIRST PUBLISHED
Free with 2000 AD Featuring Judge Dredd Prog 199, 120, 121

DATELINE
30 June 79

PAGE COUNT
2

REPRINTS
None.

SYNOPSIS
Ro-Jaws reviews the Star Wars robots.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
Ro-Jaws has seen Star Wars and awards Tony Daniels and Kenny Baker the Ro-Jaws Sewer Droid Trophy For Good Robot Acting.




OTHER CHARACTERS
None.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
None.

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Star Wars (1977)

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Unknown
Artist: Unknown
Letters: Unknown

REVIEW
Ro-Jaws reviews the robots of Star Wars and is impressed.

Monday 13 October 2014

Ro-Jaws And Hammerstein Book Of Robots: Once Upon A Robot...

NAME
Ro-Jaws And Hammerstein Book Of RobotsOnce Upon A Robot...

FIRST PUBLISHED
Free with 2000 AD Featuring Judge Dredd Prog 199, 120, 121

DATELINE
30 June 79

PAGE COUNT
1

REPRINTS
None.

SYNOPSIS
A history of robotics

FIRSTS & LASTS
Well, I learned a lot.

INFORMATION



OTHER CHARACTERS
None

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
None.

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Unknown
Artist: Unknown
Letters: Unknown

REVIEW
This is very interesting. Electronic tortoises, Progress 1 etc, but it's not Ro-Jaws and Hammer-Stein

Sunday 12 October 2014

Ro-Jaws And Hammerstein Book Of Robots: Humes! You Will Obey Our Command

NAME
Ro-Jaws And Hammerstein Book Of RobotsHumes! You Will Obey Our Command

FIRST PUBLISHED
Free with 2000 AD Featuring Judge Dredd Prog 199, 120, 121

DATELINE
30 June 79

PAGE COUNT
2

REPRINTS
None.

SYNOPSIS
Humans learn that robots are not the blind obedient slaves humans think they are.

FIRSTS & LASTS
˙uʍop ǝpısdn ɔıɯoɔ ɐ uɹnʇ oʇ ǝɯ ʇoƃ ɹǝʌǝ ʇoqoɹ ɐ ǝɯıʇ ʇsɹıℲ

INFORMATION


RO-JAWS
He has apparently written this with input from Hammer-Stein.

HAMMER-STEIN
None.

OTHER CHARACTERS
None

DEATHS
None

BEST LINES
None.

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
Humes!

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
There is mention of Hammer-Stein's time in the Volgan War.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT

NOTES

CREDITS
Script: Unknown
Artist: Kevin'ONeill.
Letters: Unknown.

REVIEW
I like the gimmick of turning the comic upside down, but otherwise there isn't much here. It doesn't even explicitly state that it is from Ro-Jaws.

Saturday 11 October 2014

Judge Dredd: The Mega-Rackets, Crime File: 1 - The Body Sharks, Part 2

NAME
Judge Dredd: The Mega-Rackets, Crime File: 1 - The Body Sharks, Part 2

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD Featuring Judge Dredd Prog 210

DATELINE
2 May 81

This prog also featured Tharg's Future Shocks, Meltdown Man, Return To Armageddon and Strontium Dog, as well as a Mean Arena Pin-Up.

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
The Best of 2000AD 31, The Complete Judge Dredd 20, Judge Dredd's Crime Files 3, Judge Dredd Mega City Vice Book 1 and Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 05.

SYNOPSIS
Dredd catches Heinz who leads him to the body sharks, but not their boss.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
In Mega-City One, there is a Hardy Kruger Block. Mega-Way South meets the District 51 Undercut.

The Judges have access to micro-tracers that are undetectable when inactive and can be activated by a sonic pulse. Judge's H-Wagons can transmit a sonic pulse.

JUDGE DREDD
He is called to the scene of a robbery at Hardy Kruger Block. His appearance is enough to stop the residents beating Citizen Heinz. He allows Heinz to be kidnapped and tracks the body sharks to their bodybank.

OTHER CHARACTERS
CITIZEN HEINZ
He has lost all his money and cannot keep up the payments on Hilda. He attempts a robbery at Hardy Kruger Block, but is caught, beaten and handed over to Dredd. On Wednesday, he is kidnapped by the body sharks and Dredd tracks them to their hideout. He is briefly reunited with Hilda and then arrested and sentenced to twelve months.

HILDA HEINZ
She is awoken by Judge Dredd following his capture of the body sharks. She and all the other individuals in suspended animation are arrested for complicity in a body shark deal.

ARRESTS
Hundreds. Two of Ratner's hoodlums for bodysharking, Heinz for theft and all the defrostees for complicity in a body shark deal.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
Dredd (whilst knocking a perp into suspended animation chemicals): "I said freeze!"

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Hardy Kruger is German film actor that appeared in Barry Lyndon (1975), A Bridge Too Far (1977) and The Wild Geese (1978) among others.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: T B Grover
Artist: Colin Wilson
Letters: Tom Frame

REVIEW
This has none of the fun of Part 1, but it's good to see Dredd arresting those in sus-an for their complicity.

The End

Friday 10 October 2014

Judge Dredd: The Mega-Rackets, Crime File: 1 - The Body Sharks, Part 1

NAME
Judge Dredd: The Mega-Rackets, Crime File: 1 - The Body Sharks, Part 1

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD Featuring Judge Dredd Prog 209

DATELINE
25 Apr 81

This prog also featured Tharg's Future Shocks, Meltdown Man, Return To Armageddon and Tharg The Mighty.

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
The Best of 2000AD 31, The Complete Judge Dredd 20, Judge Dredd's Crime Files 3, Judge Dredd Mega City Vice Book 1 and Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 05.

SYNOPSIS
A examination of the victims and perpetrators of body sharking.

FIRSTS & LASTS
The first of The Mega-Rackets, a collection of two-parters highlighting different facets of organised crime in Mega-City One. The first mention of body sharking, Shampaine (not yet Shampagne) and the first Judge Dredd by Colin Wilson.

INFORMATION
Mega-City One's Pellmell Street has a Ratner body outlet. There is a Xyklobs factory in the Mega-City. Sedgewick, Hedgewick, Fuster & Frome is a Mega-City One law firm.

Homes for the semi-dead place the dying in suspended animation so their last few hours can become years. The patient is injected with cryogenic drugs and quick frozen with liquid nitrogen. Cut-price homes for the semi-dead, such a Ratner's Rest Home, offer this service on a budget and often have a sideline in body sharking.

Body sharking is the illegal dealing in the bodies of living humans. In 2103, it has the highest growth rate among Mega-City One's organised crime rackets. Statistically one in four of Mega-City One's citizens will have dealings with a body shark during their lifetime. Body sharks will lend money take a living person as security and charge astronomical interest rates.

Shampaine is a beverage often drunk in celebration. A flying forklift is a heavy lifting apparatus that flies.


JUDGE DREDD
He catches the Mungo brothers attempting to rob a bullion van.

OTHER CHARACTERS
MR HEINZ
He wants a job at the Xyklobs Factory and is willing to have his wife frozen in exchange for 5000 credits to bribe the foreman into giving him the job. He is later mugged by another unsuccessful job applicant.

REMINGTON RATNER
He controls most of Mega-City One's body outlets. He lends the Mungo brothers 100,000 credits to finance a heist, but wants them to pay back double by the end of the week. He is represented by Sedgewick, Hedgewick, Fuster & Frome.

THE MUNGO BROTHERS
Three brothers. They borrow 100,000 credits from Ratner offering their elderly widow mother as security. They buy a case of Shampaine to celebrate and hire a flying forklift to do the job. The bullion van they intend to steal is heavier than expected and the forks gets jammed. They are unable to escape and are caught by Judge Dredd. He kills one, Vince, and arrests the other two.

ARRESTS
Two. The two surviving Mungo brothers are arrested by Dredd and sentenced to twenty years.

DEATHS
Two. Dredd shoots Vince Mungo dead during the heist. Ma Mumgo's body is later found on the Mega-Way.

BEST LINES
Heinz: "When I get the job I'll work like mad, Hilda! I'll have you back home in a year - three at most. It'll all be for the best, you'll see."
Hilda: "You've explained it all to me before, dear. Don't forget to water the plants."

WORST LINES
Job applicant: "Bash their thieving heads in!"

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: T.B. Grover
Artist: Colin Wilson
Letters: Tom Frame

REVIEW
This is fantastic. The artwork is great and the narrative balances the plight of Citizen Heinz, the greed of Ratner and the stupidity of the Mumbo brothers brilliantly.

Thursday 9 October 2014

The ABC Warriors: 'Mongrol', Part 2

NAME
The ABC Warriors: 'Mongrol', Part 2

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD Featuring Judge Dredd Prog 122

DATELINE
21 Jul 79

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
A.B.C. Warriors Book 1, A.B.C. Warriors Mek-nificent Seven and A.B.C. Warriors The Meknificent Seven

SYNOPSIS
Hammer-Stein attempts to recruit Mongrol, fights with Mongrol, fights Volgs with Mongrol, then recruits Mongrol.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First appearance of 'Monkey' Bombs and Lara from beyond the grave, as well as the first mention of Deadlock.

INFORMATION
Volg Kommandos are sometimes armed with Atom-Mek 'Monkey' Bombs, so named because once they land on individuals and "you never get them off" before they explode. Volg Deathdozers are large vehicles

Allied forces use Battle Cannons, Cry Baby Mortars and Moleks.

HAMMER-STEIN
He has heard of Deadlock. Hammer-Stein finds Mongrol breaking out of an allied supply dump. When Hammer-Stein mentions Lara, Mongrol attacks him, but when a group of Volg Kommandos attack they fight them together. He saves Mongrol from a pair of Volgan deathdozers. The Volgan forces flee and the weapons dump is saved. Mongrol is not grateful, but Hammer-Stein convinces him that he must join the ABC Warriors to pay off his debt.

HAPPY SHRAPNEL
He and Joe Pineapples initially don't fight as Hammer-Stein takes on Mongrol, but they join in when the Volgs attack.

JOE PINEAPPLES
He and Happy Shrapnel initially don't fight as Hammer-Stein takes on Mongrol, but they join in when the Volgs attack.

OTHER CHARACTERS
MONGROL
He feels no pain and can smash through walls. He breaks into an allied supply dump to steal weapons for his one-man war against the Volgans. He mounts the guns upon his body. When Hammer-Stein mentions Lara, Mongrol attacks him, but when a group of Volg Kommandos attack they fight them together. Hammer-Stein saves him from a pair of Volgan deathdozers. He is not grateful, but Hammer-Stein convinces him that he must join the ABC Warriors to pay off his debt.

HAMMER-STEIN'S SUPERIOR
The mysterious human officer contacts Hammer-Stein after he has successfully recruited Mongrol. He orders that the fifth member of the team is to be Deadlock

DEADLOCK
The Grand Wizard of the Order of Knights Martial.

DEATHS
At least six. An MP is killed by a 'Monkey' bomb. Mongrol smushes a Volgan and the two deathdozer drivers are killed when their vehicles crash. There are at east two more bodies on the ground.

BEST LINES
Happy Shrapnel (indicating his gun): "C'mon Volgs, this'll bring tears to your eyes!"

WORST LINES
Volg Deathdozer driver: "Ha! We have some sport with this animal!"

CATCHPHRASES
"Mongrol smush" twice, "Bzzzz!" once.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
Here we see that that Lara has made an even larger impact on Mongrol than Part 1 implied.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: P. Mills
Artist: M. McMahon
Letters: Pete Knight

REVIEW
Part 2 achieves a huge amount in just six pages and the battle sequences are great.

Next Prog:- Meet Deadlock!

Wednesday 8 October 2014

The ABC Warriors: 'Mongrol', Part 1

NAME
The ABC Warriors: 'Mongrol', Part 1

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD & Starlord Prog 121

DATELINE
14 July 79

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
A.B.C. Warriors Book 1, A.B.C. Warriors Mek-nificent Seven and A.B.C. Warriors The Meknificent Seven.

SYNOPSIS
Hammer-Stein reads up on Mongrol.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First appearance of Mongrol and Lara.

INFORMATION
Zarnhem is a Volgan settlement. During the war it was subject to an airborne assault by robo-paratroopers.

Military Police, abbreviated to MP, have been nicknamed 'bogies by robots, and drive flying vehicles accordingly dubbed 'Bogey Buggies'.

Robo-Paratroopers' heads have special armour plating to protect them.

The Volg Secret Police use electro-raks to torture robots.

SERGEANT HAMMER-STEIN
He has been provided with a file on Mongrol and ordered to recruit him. He is determined to recruit Mongrol alone.

HAPPY SHRAPNEL
He listens to Hammer-Stein reading Mongrol's file.

JOE PINEAPPLES
He drives Hammer-stein and Happy Shrapnel toward Mongrol's location.

OTHER CHARACTERS
MONGROL
A Robo-Paratrooper. He participated in the airborne assault on Zarnhem. His plane was destroyed and he fell to Earth. His parachutes failed to open and his body was destroyed by the fall. His head remained functional and he lay in agony for a week. Lara rebuilds him using robot remains, but his electric motor won't start. Unable to move he is discovered by the Volg Secret Police and tortured on the electro-rak. The rak starts his motor and he kills the Volg police. When he discovers that they killed Lara, he buries her and set on a course of action: to kil Volgs and avenge her. The allies were afraid of Mongrol and tried to kill him.

He escapes, but is captured by Military Police. Mongrol destroys the police vehicle and allows the MPs to flee.

LARA
Her mother and father were shot by the Volgans for resisting. During the Volgan War she was a Battle-Comber. She and her aunt discover Mongrol's head following the airborne assault on Zarnhem and her aunt hopes to sell it to the Volgans. She rebuilds him from robot remains.



DEATHS
Six. The Volg Secret Police are all presumably killed by Mongrol, after they themselves killed Lara and her aunt.

BEST LINES
Happy Shrapnel: "Now lt's get this- Bzzz! - right, Sarge... Our new human officer wants you to form a special squad of ABC Warriors for a highly dangerous mission..."
Hammer-Stein: "That's right..."

WORST LINES
Ally (off): "Kill the metal freak! It's too dangerous to live!

CATCHPHRASES
Happy Shrapnel says "Bzzz!" and "Bzzzz!", while Mongrol says "Mongrol smush!" twice.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
A drogue parachute is designed to be deployed from a rapidly moving object in order to slow its descent, to provide control and stability, or as a pilot parachute to deploy a larger parachute. It was invented by Gleb Kotelnikov in Russia (1872-1944) in 1912.

CREDITS
Script: Pat Mills
Artist: Mike McMahon
Letters: Peter Knight

REVIEW
The art is mostly stunning, particularly Lara in death, but the story feels somewhat rushed.

See The Taming Of The Beast Next Prog!

Tuesday 7 October 2014

Judge Dredd: The Problem With Sonny Bono

NAME
Judge Dredd: The Problem With Sonny Bono

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD Featuring Judge Dredd Prog 208

DATELINE
18 Apr 81

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
The Complete Judge Dredd 20, Judge Dredd's Crime Files 3, Judge Dredd Paperbacks Monkey Business & Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 05.

SYNOPSIS
Sonno Bono Block declares independence and Dredd puts down their rebellion.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
Mega-City One designates certain citiblocks as Problem Blocks and moves in problem families, ex-criminals, rent dodgers and known troublemakers.

Sonny Bono Block and Patsy Ann Noble Block are neighbours. Mega-Vit Synthi Foods have a store nearby.

Two weeks after it was designated a problem block, Sonny Bono Block was vandalised and covered in wallscrawl. Two months after it was designated a problem block, Sonny Bono Block was designated a slum. Three months after it was designated a problem block, Sonny Bono Block declares independence from Mega-City One. It transpire that the Citi-Def from neighbouring Patsy Ann Noble Block turned a sonic wave gun on Sonny Bono Block in the hope it would crumble and be condemned. The sonic frequencies at work are blamed for affecting the behaviour of the residents of Sonny Bono Block.

Synthi-Pie is synthetic pie.

A scanalysis is a combined scan and analysis.

JUDGE DREDD
He attempts to rescue Mayor Grubb from Sonny Bono and put down the rebellion. He discovers that they didn't have the Mayor hostage. He oversees the arrests of the entire block and their release when it transpires that the neighbouring Patsy Ann Noble Block's Citi-Def are responsible. Dredd sees that the relevant housing officer is fired.

OTHER CHARACTERS
MAYOR GRUBB
Sonny Bono Block claims to have him hostage, but instead he was at his club having a Skwidge bath and they were holding a pizza deliverer.

PRESIDENT DOG-EAR FITCH
Leader of Sonny Bono Block's campaign for independence. He is arrested by Dredd and later released.

ARRESTS
One entire block and another's Citi-Def. Sonny Bono Block are arrested for their attempt coup and kidnapping, the charges are later dropped.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
'Gard': "You here to negotiate, Judge?"
Dredd (as he lands on them): "Negotiate that, creeps!"

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
Dredd says "Drokk" twice.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
Sonny Bono Block was previously mentioned in Unamerican Graffiti, which also saw the most recent appearance of Mayor Grubb. Some graffiti in Sonny Bono reads "Don Uggie Lives", a reference to Don Uggie Apelino who first appeared in 'The Ape Gang'.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Patsy Ann Noble Block is named after Patsy Ann Noble, an Australian singer and actress who appeared in Columbo, Buck Rogers In The 25th Century and Star Wars, Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith. A piece of graffiti in Sonny Bono Block reads "Cher and Cher alike", a reference to Sonny Bono's wife, singer and actress, Cher.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: T B Grover
Artist: Emberton
Letters: Tom Frame

REVIEW
A nice mix of comedy and social commentary, which sees Dredd being surprisingly forgiving.

The Body Sharks Are Looking For You - Next Prog!

Monday 6 October 2014

The A.B.C. Warriors: Retreat From Volgow

NAME
The A.B.C. Warriors: Retreat From Volgow

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. & Starlord Prog 120

DATELINE
7 July 79

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
A.B.C. Warriors Book 1, A.B.C. Warriors: Mek-nificent Seven & A.B.C. Warriors: The Meknificent Seven.

SYNOPSIS
Hammer-Stein must defend Chateau Volgski against the Volgans.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First contact between Hammer-Stein and his new superior. First mention of Mongrol.

INFORMATION
Chateau Volgski is two miles north of Volgow. The Old Guard are Volgan robots that were deemed too brutal and switched off by their own generals. They have since been reactivated. The Volgans use Kossack Hell-Bikes.

HAMMER-STEIN
His Hammer-arm is being serviced. He is forced to defend Chateau Volgski without the benefit of tanks and without his Hammer arm. He fights Old Horney. He is appointed by his new human superior officer to lead a new team. His next task is to tame Mongrol.

JOE PINEAPPLES
He is in the bath when the Old Guard attack Chateau Volgski. He is still armed.

HAPPY SHRAPNEL
He dresses up in drag.

OTHER CHARACTERS
OLD HORNEY
The first Volgan war robot. He is programmed to enjoy killing. It leads the attack of Chateau Volgski. He fights Hammer-Stein, who ultimately kills him.

HAMMER-STEIN'S SUPERIOR
Human officer that cancels the tanks defending Chateau Volgski. He is impressed by Hammer-Stein and appoints him to lead a team and tame Mongrol.

DEATHS
Three. Joe Pineapples kills a Volgan robot that interrupts his bath. Old Horney kills one of Hammer-Stein's robots. Hammer-Stein stabs Old Horney with a sword.

BEST LINES
Old Horney: "I was putting ABC Warriors to the zabre while you were still in wrapping paper, child!"

WORST LINES
Hammer-Stein: "He's knocked the sword out of my hand!"

CATCHPHRASES
Happy Shrapnel Bzzz's three times.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Happy Shrapnel sings 'Happy Feet' by Cab Calloway.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: P. Mills
Artist: Brendan McCarthy
Letters: Pete Knight

REVIEW
This strip ups the ante and the violence. We learn nothing about the motives of Hammer-Stein's new superior officer, but his actions paint a picture. So far the team has three members, but only one of them has any real personality. It doesn't seem that there is any room for further members.

Imagine A Robot Ten Times More Horrifying Than Old Horney And You're Getting Close To Mongrol! Meet him Next Prog!

Sunday 5 October 2014

Judge Dredd: Unamerican Graffiti, Part 2

NAME
Judge Dredd: Unamerican Graffiti, Part 2

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 207

DATELINE
11 Apr 81

This appeared alongside Tharg's Future Shocks, Meltdown Man, Return To Armageddon and Tharg the Mighty with a Tharg cover by Dave Gibbons.

PAGE COUNT
7

REPRINTS
The Best of 2000AD 15, The Complete Judge Dredd 20, Judge Dredd Chronicles Book 5, Judge Dredd 27, Judge Dredd Paperbacks vs The Midnight Surfer, Judge Dredd (Volume 2) 23 and Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 04.

SYNOPSIS
Chopper meets his match.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
The White Cliffs of Dover have been imported to Mega-City One from abroad. It costs 50 creds to view them and 150 creds for a cliff walk.

A victim of graffiti can be charged under the public nuisance act unless they clean up the graffiti. Y.P. is an acronym for Young Perp. Named Judges: Judge Lord.

JUDGE DREDD
He is present at the Statue of Judgement when Marlon Shakespeare is arrested.

OTHER CHARACTERS
MARLON 'CHOPPER' SHAKESPEARE
He scrawls his tag on the White Cliffs of Dover and the underside of a Judges' hover wagon. Chopper accepts the Phantom's challenge to scrawl the Statue of Judgement. They meet on the side of the statue and are caught together. He sprayed the Statue of Judgement's badge with heat-sensitive paint that reveals a smiley face as the sun warms it the next day.

'THE PHANTOM'
A city painting droid who challenges Chopper to scrawling the Statue of Judgement. They meet on the side of the statue and the Judges' searchlights reflect off its metallic casing and they are both caught. It commits suicide leaping off the statue rather than be reprogrammed.

ARRESTS
One. Chopper is arrested.

DEATHS
One. The Phantom commits suicide when caught.

BEST LINES
Churchill: "You've got to admire their cheek in a way. They're kids with a lot of determination and guts-"
Dredd: "They're lawbreakers, Churchill - don't forget it! They're issuing a direct challenge to us. They must be stamped on hard!"

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
A Judge says "Drokk!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
Not necessarily a mistake, but the importer of the White Cliffs of Dover says he got them from England, not Brit-Cit or the Brit-Territories.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: T.B. Grover
Artist: Ron Smith
Letters: Chopper Mk II

REVIEW
Even if Part 2 were awful, Part 1 would still be an absolute classic. Thankfully, the second part builds beautifully on the first. The White Cliffs of Dover make for a brilliantly barmy blank canvas, the revelation that the Phantom is a robot is very nicely handled and the parallel that Chopper sees with his own life are great, but the heat-sensitive paint gives us a fantastic image that means Unamerican Graffiti can have its cake and eat it. One thing is for certain, the reader is invited to root for Chopper and the strip would never be the same again.

The End

Saturday 4 October 2014

Judge Dredd: Unamerican Graffiti, Part 1

NAME
Judge Dredd: Unamerican Graffiti, Part 1

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 206

DATELINE
4 Apr 81

This appeared alongside Tharg's Future Shocks, Meltdown Man, Return To Armageddon and Strontium Dog with a Judge Dredd cover by Mike McMahon.

PAGE COUNT
7

REPRINTS
The Best of 2000AD 15, The Complete Judge Dredd 20, Judge Dredd Chronicles Book 5, Judge Dredd 27, Judge Dredd Paperbacks vs The Midnight Surfer, Judge Dredd (Volume 2) 23 and Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 04.

SYNOPSIS
Mega-City One is plagued by a wallscrawl craze and Chopper is determined to be King Scrawler.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First appearance of Marlon 'Chopper' Shakespeare.

INFORMATION
Mega-City One Cityblocks include Sonny Bono Block, Huck Widney Block. 87% of the population is unemployed, in preparation unemployment is a compulsory subject in Mega-City One schools. Wallscrawl has become a competitive endeavour in Mega-City One as Scrawlers attempt to get their name most prominently featured. The Atlantic Wall is popular with Scrawlers.

The minimum penalty for juvenile offenders caught wallscrawling is six-months in a juve-cube. Judges perform gatesearches at the entrance and exit to schools. Named Judges: Judge Churchill

JUDGE DREDD
He has been put in charge of the wallscrawl clean-up campaign by the Chief Judge.

OTHER CHARACTERS
MAYOR GRUBB
He appeals to the Chief Judge to sort out the city's wallscrawl problem.

MARLON 'CHOPPER' SHAKESPEARE
The son of Bert and Ruby Shakespeare. He got an F in Unemployment. He is a prolific wallscrawler, his tag is Chopper with a smiley face in the 'O'. He sprays it along the full height of Huck Widney Block.

BERT SHAKESPEARE
Ruby's husband and Marlon's father. He claims to be the only man in Mega-City One to head egg into a bucket.

RUBY SHAKESPEARE
Bert's wife and Marlon's mother. She washes up, she dirties the dishes and washes up again, continuously.

SATCHMO
Nickname for a wallscrawler.

'THE PHANTOM'
Wallscrawler. Sprays "Chopper is a ninco signed The Phantom" above Chopper's name on Huck Widney Block.

ARRESTS
At least eight. We see at least eight Juve

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
Ruby Shakespeare: "Washing-up is so worthwhile, Marlon. I have a box of dirt here, and when the dishes are clean - why I just dirty them all over again!...Then I was them, and dirty them. Wash them and dirty them. Life can be so boring if you don't have an interest, Marlon..."

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
The graffiti in a opening splash references Judge Cal first seen in Crime And Punishment, The Fear That Made Milwaukee Famous, Ratty in The Fink , Judge Death, Who Killed Pug Ugly?. Mayor Grubb returns, first seen in The Day The Law Died.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
The title is obviously a play on American Graffiti (1973). Sonny Bono Block is named for Salvatore Phillip 'Sonny' Bono (1935–1998) the American recording artist and producer, who came to fame in partnership with his second wife Cher. Satchmo's nickname was shared by jazz musician Louis Armstrong (1901-1971). Shakespeare was a writer.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
At this point, it's impossible to anticipate the impact that Chopper will have on Judge Dredd and the wider Dreddverse via his own strip.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: John Wagner
Artist: Ron Smith
Letters:

REVIEW
This is fantastic. Almost Dreddless, but expertly invites readers to want to Chopper to succeed and question their previous loyalty to the Judges. The artwork and the script are wonderful. A classic in the making.

Next Prog: Scrawl War!

Friday 3 October 2014

The A.B.C. Warriors: 'The A.B.C. Warriors'

NAME
The A.B.C. Warriors: 'The A.B.C. Warriors'

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD & Starlord Prog 119

DATELINE
30 June 79

PAGE COUNT
7

REPRINTS
A.B.C. Warriors Book 1, The Best of 2000AD, A.B.C. Warriors Mek-nificent Seven and A.B.C. Warriors The Meknificent Seven.

SYNOPSIS
Hammer-Stein, Joe Pineapples and Happy Shrapnel capture a Volg HQ.

FIRSTS & LASTS
The first The A.B.C. Warriors features the first appearances of Joe Pineapples, Happy Shrapnel and an as-yet-unnamed Colonel Lash.

INFORMATION
Volgow is a Volg city.

In the 21st Century, the ABC War is fought by robots able to withstand Atomic, Bacterial and Chemical weapons with their human officers some fifty miles behind the front line in underground bunkers.

A 'Sin' gun is a standard robot weapon. A 'Scrambled egg' grenade (S.E.G.s) scrambles a robot's brains and then they can attack their own side. Torc tube is a ground to air unit. A Lazer dagger can cut through armour. 'Cry baby' mortar fires cryogenic shells which create freezing flames. 'Balls' bazooka fires implosion shells, which suck their targets into balls of debris. Koroda gas is fatal to robots.

Synthi-Champagne is synthetic champagne.

HAMMER-STEIN
He has a sensor organ that provides him with a sense of smell. Sergeant of the A.B.C. Warriors. He is known to the Volg robots as Old Red Eyes. The rest of his squad are rookie robots. Hammer-Stein leads a mission to capture a Volg HQ. He puts a disabled robot out of his misery and in doing so transfers his pain to Rodney.

JOE PINEAPPLES
He doesn't talk much. He is armed with a 'Balls' Bazooka.

HAPPY SHRAPNEL
He has a sense of smell. He is armed with a pair of Kolt 45's he 'borrowed' from a Volg general.

OTHER CHARACTERS
RODNEY
Lieutenant. Hammer-Stein's superior officer. When Hammer-Stein puts a rookie robot out of his misery, the pain kills Rodney. He will be decorated with a medal posthumously.


DEATHS
At least twenty-four. Joe Pineapples kills two Volg robots with his 'Balls' bazooka. Fifteen rookies are killed by the gas and five more in mid-air. Hammer-Stein finishes off a robot in pain and in doing kills Rodney as well.

BEST LINES
Officer: "I say, Rodney...steady on with the old champers!"

WORST LINES
Volg Robot: "Smashing through the roof - Aaaah!"

CATCHPHRASES
Happy Shrapnel says "Bzzz!" (or variations thereupon) four times.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
Hammer-Stein first appeared in Ro-Busters and was seen to fight the Volgans in Hammer-Stein's War Memoirs, while Invasion! saw the Volgans invade Britain.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script Robot: Pat Mills
Art Robot: Kevin O'Neill
Lettering Robot: Pete Knight

REVIEW
This intends to introduce three of The A.B.C. Warriors, but it's really only about Hammer-Stein. As a vehicle for him it works quite well. The art is wonderful and Rodney's death is well-earned, but the eclectic charm of Ro-Busters is sadly lacking here.

Next Prog: Retreat From Volgow!

Thursday 2 October 2014

Judge Dredd: Alone In A Crowd!

NAME
Judge Dredd: Alone In A Crowd!

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD Featuring Judge Dredd Prog 205

DATELINE
28 Mar 81

PAGE COUNT
6

This Prog also featured Tharg's Future Shocks, Meltdown Man, Return To Armageddon and Strontium Dog, some more of Tharg's Futureworlds Poster and a Meltdown Man cover by Dave Gibbons.

REPRINTS
The Best of 2000AD 6, The Complete Judge Dredd 19, Judge Dredd 19, Judge Dredd (Volume 2) 23, Judge Dredd Mega City Vice Book 2 and Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 04.

SYNOPSIS
Dredd investigates a tap gang.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First Judge Dredd art by Steve Dillon. First Judge Dredd to portray law-abiding citizens as fearing the Judges.

INFORMATION
In Mega-City One, walkways get very busy and rush hour. The Vernon Cleaver Walkway is near Cleaver Street and the Rathole Eatery.

JUDGE DREDD
He attends the crime scene at Vernon Cleaver Walkway. He arrests Earl, who informs him of the rest of the gang. Dredd rides to the site of, and into, the Rathole.

OTHER CHARACTERS
EARL
Lookout for the Wessel Brothers' tap gang. Dredd shoots him in the shoulder and sentences him to seven years.

SLOPEY CHARLIE
Member of the Wessel Brothers' tap gang. Dredd arrests him after a chase.


ARRESTS
Presumably four. Dredd sentences Earl, a member of the tap gang to seven years. He gives the Rathole's chef five years for aiding and abetting. He arrests Slopey Charlie and presumably the surviving Wessel Brother.

DEATHS
At least one. Dredd shoots one of the Wessel Brothers dead.

BEST LINES
Unknown: "Don't get involved, nothing you can do!"

The repetition of this line is really effective.

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
A Wessel Brother screams "Aaeeeeee!", Slopey says "Drok"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: T.B. Grover
Artist: Steve Dillon
Letters: Tom Frame

REVIEW
The SYNOPSIS above doesn't do this story justice. This is masterpiece which invites us to despise a member of the Mega-City One public who doesn't help a victim of crime for fear that he will be next, on the first page. Then following Dredd's efforts to arrest the tap gang, the same anonymous member of the public attempt to avoid catching the Judge's attention, equally fearful of our hero.

Next Prog: Graffiti!