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!