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!