Black Hawk, Part 14

NAME
Black Hawk, Part 14

FIRST PUBLISHED
Tornado Issue 17

DATELINE
14 July 79

This issue of Tornado also features The Angry Planet, The Mind Of Wolfie Smith, Wagner's Walk, The Lawless Touch, Storm, Captain Klep, Victor Drago's Black Museum of Villains and Victor Drago itself, with a cover by Eric Bradbury.

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
Black Hawk: The Intergalactic Gladiator.

SYNOPSIS
The Britons attack the Roman base and Crutus turns the tide.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
Britons call their scythed chariots, Reapers.

BLACK HAWK
He requests the use of a chariots and some horses for some special training. He demonstrates to his men that they must jump over the scythes.

OTHER CHARACTERS
THE HAWK
She lands on Crutus' shoulder and when he need to jump the Reaper's scythes, he does. Whether she helps lift him just that little bit higher or whether he believed she did is not clear.

STRONUS
He drives the chariot for Black Hawk's special training.

BATUS
He affixes wooden stakes to the chariot for Black Hawk's special training, to represent scythes.

CRUTUS
Supply soldier and one of Black Hawk's men. He is infirm and walks with the aid of a crutch. He volunteers to attempt Black Hawk's special training, but is knocked to ground and mocked. Black Hawk puts him in charge of the field mess. When the rebels attack with their Reapers, Crutus stands firm, the hawk lands on his shoulder and he attempts to jump the scythes again. He succeeds and then jumps into the chariot itself. Crutus attacks the charioteer and takes control of the vehicle. He is killed by another charioteer armed with a spear, but not before the overturns the chariot in the path of the oncoming rebels. Black Hawk describes as the bravest man he has ever known.

DEATHS
Probably dozens. We see at least three Romans killed by the scythes of the Reapers, Crutus is speared by a British charioteer and the crash Crutus caused must have lead to a loss of life.

BEST LINES
None.

WORST LINES
Charioteer: "Curse you Roman dog! You did not look capable of such a feat!"

Uh, thanks.

CATCHPHRASES
A British charioteer screams an "Aiee!" and his victim joins in with a "Aieeeeeee!", when Crutus hits a charioteer with his crutch his victim lets out an "Aiieerrghhh!" and the crash Crutus caused elicits an "Aieee!".

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: G.F. Day
Artist: Azpiri
Letters: Unknown

REVIEW
Hooray for Crutus. The most interesting character to appear in Black Hawk since it began. I hope he's around for a long time to come. Oh.

Next Week: Massacre!