Ro-Busters: Hammer-Stein's War Memoirs, Part 1 - Yesterday's Hero!

NAME
Ro-Busters: Hammer-Stein's War Memoirs, Part 1 - Yesterday's Hero!

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 88

DATELINE
28 Oct 78

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
2000AD Annual 1988, Ro-Busters Book 1, Cyber Crush 02, Extreme Edition 24 and The Complete Ro-Busters.

SYNOPSIS
Hammer-Stein reminisces about the war.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First mention of Volgans and Bill Savage in Ro-Busters, first appearance of Hammer-Stein other head.

INFORMATION
In the twenty-first century, the United States went to war the Volgan Republic, a nation that invaded much of Europe. The US Army developed war robots. The first two models were considered failures. The Mark One attacked anything that moved or had body heat, while the Mark Two was susceptible to surrendering to the enemy. To rectify this, the Mark Three was given intelligence and feelings. The prototype was named Hammer-Stein.

The forces of the Volgan Republic, nicknamed Volgs by the Americans, use Kill-Copters armed with Poltergeist rockets.

Among the robots working for Ro-Busters are ex-Police Robots.

RO-JAWS
He doesn't want to hear Hammerstein's war memoirs.

PRIVATE HAMMER-STEIN 653872
He was the prototype for the Mark Three War Robot, constructed (at least in part) by Rover. He was enlisted in the US Army with the rank of Private. He briefly served in an infantry unit under the command of Sergeant Kowalski. Haammer-Stein was discriminated against and his unit abandoned him. It was attacked while he was catching up with them and everyone was killed except Kowalski who was blinded and required Hammer-Stein to look after him. Hammer-Stein carried the sergeant and fought alongside him without divulging his identity.

Hammer-Stein's top speed is sixty miles per hour, armour piercing ammunition would damage him and his favourite colour is chrome. He wears a different head now than he did during the war. Electronic feedback and memory tape overlord causes him to relive his time in the war against the Volgan Republic.

OTHER CHARACTERS
MEK-QUAKE
He wants to hear Hammerstein's war memoirs.

SERGEANT KOWALSKI
Private Hammer-Stein's commanding officer during the war. He had robo-phobia. His unit was attacked and he was the only survivor, but he was rendered blind. Hammer-Stein saved him.

DEATHS
At least twelve. Kowalski's unit are all killed, with himself and Hammer-Stein the only exceptions. Hammer-Stein destroys a Volg Kill-Copter pilot and all.

BEST LINES
Kowalski: "Sure could use some chow...can see it now juicy flapjacks with lashings of syrup! Ya like syrup, Hammer-Stein?"
Hammer-Stein: "No...But I like grease, Sarge!"
Kowalski: "Italian food, huh!"

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
Mek-Quake threatens "Big Jobs", a dying soldier lets out an "Aieeee!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
The Volgan Republic's march across Europe reached Great Britain in 1999 in Invasion and there is a reference to that strip's main character in some graffiti that reads 'Bill Savage Lives' .

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
Kowalski's Flapjack obsession might seem odd to British readers, but is apparently what some Americans would call pancakes. There is plenty of room for confusion when they refer to their scones as biscuits and their biscuits as cookies.

CREDITS
Script: P. Mills
Artist: K. O'Neill
Letters: J. Aldrich

REVIEW
This is fantastic. The set-up is a little awkward, but during the flashback the story, artwork and dialogue are all phenomenal.

Next Prog: Baptism Of Fire!