Ro-Busters: Ro-Jaws' Memoirs, Part One - Happy Days

NAME
Ro-Busters: Ro-Jaws' Memoirs, Part One - Happy Days

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD & Starlord Prog 93

DATELINE
30 Dec 78

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
The Best Of 2000AD 83 and The Complete Ro-Busters

SYNOPSIS
It's Ro-Jaws turn to tell his life story.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First Ro-Busters without Hammer-Stein.

INFORMATION
The organic matter 'eaten' by a Federal Recycling And Environmental Droid (FRED2L) is recycled into gas to drive its engine and is expelled from his exhaust. They are equipped with brushes, air freshener and one arm contains a disinfectant that kills 99% of all known germs. Their vision is quite basic.

The Robot Interrogation Police (RIP) deal with errant droids. They run Robot Re-Training Camps.

Slide-Walks are a sign of upwardly mobile modernity. Pleasure pills and smiley-vision are intended to make individuals happy.

RO-JAWS
He worked at a depot with at least five other sewer robots. He stood out and his human co-workers introduced him to Sir Neville, Minister for the Environment during a visit. Ro-Jaws met Old Scratchey when the robot got its arm stuck whilst unblocking a drain. , Scratchey freed him and they became friends. On a particularly wet and rainy night, Ro-Jaws takes Stratchey to Sir Neville's empty home and lets him in. When Sir Neville discovers them, Ro-Jaws is sent to a Robot Re-Training Camp against his will.

OTHER CHARACTERS
SIR NEVILLE
Minister for the Environment. He meets Ro-Jaws and approves of him. When Sir Neville discovers Ro-Jaws and Scratchey in his home he has them both taken away in wagons against his will.

OLD SCRATCHEY
Homeless man. He hasn't taken his trousers off in ten years. He met Ro-Jaws when the robot got its arm stuck down a drain, he freed him and they became friends. On a particularly wet and rainy night, Ro-Jaws takes Stratchey to Sir Neville's empty home and lets him in. When Sir Neville discovers them, Scratchey is sent to a home against his will.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
Sir Neville's wife: "Opera is so tiring. I think I'll go straight to bed."

WORST LINES
Sir Neville (regarding an apparently awful smell): "I'm sure I don't know what it can be."

CATCHPHRASES
Ro-Jaws calls Scratchey a "daft old nerk" twice.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Ro-Jaws paraphrases the words of 'Messing About On The River' a 1962 song by Josh MacRae (1933–1977), quotes Oliver Twist (1838) by Charles Dickens (1812–1870).

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Pat Mills
Artist: Mike Dorey
Letters: Steve Potter

REVIEW
After Hammer-Stein's memoirs told the story of his exploits in the Volgan War, it shouldn't come as a surprise that Ro-Jaws gets the same treatment and yet it does. The artwork is great throughout and it's reassuring to see Ro-Jaws elevating the gutter to a similar status and the sewer at his happiest.

Next Prog: In Bad Company!