Invasion!: 'Dartmoor', Part 2

NAME
Invasion!: 'Dartmoor', Part 2

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 11

DATELINE
7 May 77

PAGE COUNT
4

REPRINTS
Extreme Edition 5 and Invasion!

SYNOPSIS
Savage evades a mauling from the dogs and capture by the Volgans.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First Invasion! two parter.

INFORMATION
The prisoner's uniforms contain a seam of dried blood to attract the dogs if they ever escaped.

The Volgans have been experimenting on dogs.

BILL SAVAGE
They escape the pack of dogs, with Savage freewheeling their car down the hill and into a swamp. Savage realises that Frost's uniform is attracting the dogs and throws it aboard a Volgan hovercraft causing the dogs to attack the Volgans.

OTHER CHARACTERS
PETER SILK
He helps Savage rescue Frost.

SAMUEL FROST
He strips out of his prison uniform to confuse the dogs.

DEATHS
Maybe a dozen. Savage manages to set the wild dogs on a Hovercraft crew, some of them probably drown.

BEST LINES
Silk: "We've outstripped those hounds - but this hill's almost vertical!"

WORST LINES
Volgan: "No! The prison uniform with the blood trail!"

CATCHPHRASES
Drowning Volgans let out an "Aaieee!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Gerry Finley-Day
Artist: Eric Bradbury
Letters: John Aldrich

REVIEW
The dried blood is another great example of the methodical cruelty of the Volgans and Savage setting one enemy on the other is neat. Frost's significance will presumably never be referred to again and what is the point of Silk?

Next - The Death Line!

Invasion!: 'Dartmoor', Part 1

NAME
Invasion!: 'Dartmoor', Part 1

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 10

DATELINE
30 Apr 79

PAGE COUNT
3

REPRINTS
Extreme Edition 5 and Invasion!

SYNOPSIS
Savage must get a prisoner out of the Dartmoor Maximum Security Complex.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First work on 2000 A.D. by Eric Bradbury.

INFORMATION
Dartmoor Prison has been renamed Dartmoor Maximum Security Complex and is essentially an internment camp for those who speak out against the Volgan regime. Work parties are assigned to a nearby quarry. There are tales of killer monsters roaming Dartmoor.

BILL SAVAGE
He is charged with getting Samuel Frost out of the Dartmoor Maximum Security Complex. They successfully get him to their car only to find it destroyed and their contact dead. They come face-to-face with a pack of wild dogs.

OTHER CHARACTERS
PETER SILK
He and Savage help get Samuel Frost out of the Dartmoor Maximum Security Complex. They successfully get him to their car only to find it destroyed and their contact dead. They come face-to-face with a pack of wild dogs.

SAMUEL FROST
Nobel prize winning Aero-Engineer. He is being held by the Volgans in the Dartmoor Maximum Security Complex. Savage and Silk aid his escape. They come face-to-face with a pack of wild dogs.

DEATHS
Presumably three. The two escaping prisoners are apparently reduced to a pile of dogs. Savage kills a Volgan prison guard, while the farmer is ripped to pieces.

BEST LINES
Volgan: "Men hiding inside the stone tarns. Open fire!"
Savage: "Anything to oblige, Volg!"

WORST LINES
"It's...wild dogs versus Mad Dogs!"

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
Using Code 2 of the Red Alert Survival Wallet: "PQHYH WEH CFPWMP RJIY, YSHGTWOOX DEHR DX PQH NJOIWCY-TZ XJF CHHP WMX, EHPEHWP UTPQ GWDPTJM WMR EHSJEP PJ ZGHOR GJCCWMRHE" translates as "THESE ARE MUTANT DOGS SPECIALLY BRED BY THE VOLGAMS-IF YOU MEET ANY RETREAT WITH CABTION AND REPORT TO FCELD COMMANDER." (see MISTAKES)

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
The Hound Of The Baskervilles (1901 to 1902) by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) is set largely on Dartmoor and features a legend of a supernatural killer hound.

MISTAKES
Volgan, Field and Caution are encoded as Volgam, Fceld and Cabtion.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Gerry Finley-Day
Artist: Eric Bradbury
Letters: John Aldrich

In addition to Invasion!, Eric Bradbury provided art for The Mean Arena, Rogue Trooper, Tharg's Future Shocks, Tharg's Terror Tales, Tharg The Mighty, Time Twisters, a Judge Dredd text story and a one-off called What A Load Of Rubbish.

REVIEW
The Holocaust imagery of the opening page is uncomfortable, but the art is impressive as are the slavering wild dogs in the cliffhanger. The middle page seems cluttered by comparison.

More Next Prog!

Judge Dredd: Cityblock 2

NAME
Judge Dredd: Cityblock 2

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 118

DATELINE
23 July 79

This prog also featured Dan Dare, Rick Random and Strontium Dog strips, a Judge Dredd Star Pin-Up by Brian Bolland and Strontium Dog cover by Carlos Ezquerra.

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
The Complete Judge Dredd 11, The Best Of 2000AD 47, Judge Dredd 26, Judge Dredd Chronicles Book 5 and Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 03.

SYNOPSIS
Dredd tackles crimes in two Cityblocks

FIRSTS & LASTS
First thematic two-parter. Cityblock 2 has no direct link to Cityblock 1, except the thematic link exploring the idea of Cityblock life. The strip will return to this style of storytelling with The Mega-Rackets and ...

INFORMATION
Mega-City One's Harriet Beecher Stowe Block has at least 244 levels and an internal televid broadcasting company. Nearby Benjamin Spock Block has at least 111 floors.

Only 13% of Mega-City One's population is in employment. Humans could not adjust to the huge increase in leisure time. Leisure councillors are available in every Cityblock to help the unemployed readjust. They can organise educational courses on subjects like old-time dancing, arti-flower arranging, origami, alien spotting and party-giving.

According to the Mega-City Crime Survey of April 2095, over 750 crimes are committed every day in every Cityblock and 87 of those are crimes of major significance. Named Judges: Judge Le... (badge partially obscured), Judge Low

Working holidays to the mines of Mutieland are available. Super-Mace is an incapacitant spray.

JUDGE DREDD
He arrests three men who turned to robbery out of boredom and Arnold Short who went Futsie after losing his job.

OTHER CHARACTERS
ARNOLD SHORT
He's been the caretaker at Benjamin Spock Block for thirty years, but now he's been replaced by a robot. He goes Futsie and begins shooting people with a laz-rifle from his 111th floor home. Dredd forces his way in and Arnold attempts to jump. Dredd stops him, arrests him and sentences him to hard labour for the rest of his life.

MRS SHORT
She knits.

BENJI
The new robot caretaker at Benjamin Spock Block.

MRS FENNEMOE
Unemployed citizen. She has done courses in old-time dancing, arti-flower arranging, origami and alien spotting. She incapacitates her block Leisure Councillor and replaces him.

ARRESTS
Seven. Two Judges arrests three men for destroying a robot and sentence them to six months. Dredd apprehends three amateur burglars. Dredd arrests Arnold Short and sentences him to hard labour for the rest of his life.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
Mrs Short (as her husband turns indiscriminate sniper): "Really, Arnold, I do think you're making an awful fuss. What will the neighbours think?"

WORST LINES
Human determined to work: "Lucky we saved these antique tools! Let's get busy!"

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
There is a statue of Fergee outside Benjamin Spock block as seen in The Day The Law Died: Aftermath.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
The Cityblocks here are named after Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811-1896), writer of Uncle Tom's Cabin (1852) and best-selling paediatrician Benjamin Spock (1903-1998).

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: John Howard
Artist: Ron Smith
Letters: Tom Frame

REVIEW
This is more of a series of vignettes that shows the cause and effect that sees citizens driven to crime.

Judge Dredd: Cityblock 1

NAME
Judge Dredd: Cityblock 1

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 117

DATELINE
16 June 79

This prog also featured Dan Dare, Tharg's Future Shocks, Rick Random and Strontium Dog strips and a Judge Dredd cover by Ron Smith.

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
The Complete Judge Dredd 11, Judge Dredd Chronicles Book 5, Judge Dredd 26, The Best Of 2000AD 47 and Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 03.

SYNOPSIS
Dredd chases a citizen through a Cityblock.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First reference to City Blocks.

INFORMATION
Mega-City One's population is over 800 Million. Most live in huge cityblocks, each housing over 60,000 citizens. Each cityblock contains a hospital, crematorium, cinema, shopping centre, recreation park and a holographic beach. Cityblocks include Charlton Heston Block.

JUDGE DREDD
He is on patrol in Charlton Heston Block.

OTHER CHARACTERS
None.

ARRESTS
One. Dredd arrests a citizen for vehicle theft, kidnap, assault, possible manslaughter, littering and seventeen other penal code violations as well as reckless driving and six other traffic offences.

DEATHS
None. Although Mr Armitage might not make it.

BEST LINES
Dredd: "Crowd him in close under the flyways. I'm going to put n end to this."
Ambulance Robot: "Yes, sir. And may I say, sir, what a thrill it is to be working with you, sir. I've followed your career ever since I was built."

WORST LINES
Ambulance Robot: "Hey, baby, you can't do that!"

CATCHPHRASES
Dredd says "Stop in the name of the law, citizen!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
Fergee: The True Story is being advertised at the Cityblock's cinema, a biopic of some of the events of The Day The Law Died.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Charlton Heston Block is named after Charlton Heston (1923–2008), the actor famous for starring in The Ten Commandments (1956), Ben-Hur (1959), El Cid (1961) and Planet Of The Apes (1968).

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
The Cityblock will become a central concept in the depiction of Mega-City One.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: John Howard
Artist: Ron Smith
Letters: Tom Frame

REVIEW
The innovation of the Cityblock is brilliantly explored via the chase through it. The story is slight, but ultimately rewarding.

Next Prog: Cityblock 2

Invasion!: 'Ships'

NAME
Invasion!: 'Ships'

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 9

DATELINE
23 Apr 77

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
Extreme Edition 8 and Invasion!.

SYNOPSIS
Savage and Silk take on the Volgan flagship.

FIRSTS & LASTS
Carlos Pino's first work on Invasion! (and in 2000 A.D. itself)

INFORMATION
(This strip begins with a flashback to January 3rd 1999, and then three month later)

On January 3rd 1999, the British Navy formally surrendered to the Volgans at Scapa Flow. The Volgans sank the British fleet.

The Volga is the Volgan flagship. It can detect approaching frogmen and is equipped with sonic weapons.

BILL SAVAGE
He leads an attack on the Volga. He pours North Sea Oil into her and sets it alight. The resulting fire destroys the ship.

OTHER CHARACTERS
PETER SILK
Ex-Army officer. He has been trained in scuba diving and underwater demolition. He attempts to sink the Volga and is the sole survivor of the vessel's sonic weaponry. He is dragged about for interrogation.

COMMANDER GEOFF CRAIG
Friend of Silk's. He leads the Royal Navy underwater team. He is killed by the Volga's sonic weapons.

DEATHS
Presumably thousands. An unknown number must have died during the sinking of the British Navy. Five members of the Royal Navy underwater team are killed by the Volga's sonic weapons. Savage and his men kill dozens of Volgan sailors on the Volga's deck and then setting fire to her.

BEST LINES
Savage (whilst pouring oil into air vent): "The Volgs came to steal our North Sea oil and this lot are sure gonna get their share!"

WORST LINES
Savage (whilst igniting aforementioned oil): "Frying tonight!"

CATCHPHRASES
A dying Volgan sailor misspells his "Aaiiee!", but to be fair he is probably a little distracted.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
After the end of the First World War, Scapa Flow saw the scuttling of the German fleet. The Volgan Admiral alludes to the lyrics of the British patriotic song, 'Rule, Britannia!' written as a poem by James Thomson (1700-1748) and set to music by Thomas Arne (1710-1778) in 1740.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Gerry Finley-Day
Artist: Carlos Pino
Letters: Jack Potter

REVIEW
Poor old Silk. His implied arrogance is his undoing. The action here would normally have been a set piece within another story, but instead in this strip it is the be all and the end all.

End Of Incident Nine + + + See Continuance Next Prog.

Judge Dredd: Vienna

NAME
Judge Dredd: Vienna

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. and Starlord Prog 116

DATELINE
9 Jun 79

This prog also featured Dan Dare, Tharg's Future Shocks, Rick Random and Strontium Dog strips, Ro-Busters Star Pin-Up and a Strontium Dog cover by Carlos Ezquerra

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
Judge Dredd's Crime Files 6, The Complete Judge Dredd 11, The Best Of Judge Dredd and Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 03.

SYNOPSIS
Dredd's niece is kidnapped by a perp seeking revenge.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First appearance of Vienna.

INFORMATION
Mega-City One has at least 892 Districts. Sigma Street is in District 892 and contains at least 19230 addresses.

JUDGE DREDD
He has a niece called Vienna.

OTHER CHARACTERS
VIENNA
Rico Dredd's daughter and Joe Dredd's niece, although she thinks of Joe as her father. She is kidnapped by Harry Carmen. Dredd successfully rescues her, but is forced to admit to her that he killed Rico.

HARRY CARMEN
Dredd arrested him for computer theft and sentenced him to six years. He was recently released and decided to take his revenge of Dredd. He kidnaps Vienna, holds her hostage and attaches her to a guillotine which moves as fast as her heartbeat. Dredd stuns and arrests him.

MRS PASTERNAK
She looks after Vienna.

ARRESTS
One. Dredd arrests Harry Carmen and sentences him to life.

DEATHS
One. We see Rico's death again in flashback

BEST LINES
Mrs Pasternak: "Well this has been a fine howdedo! I hope it's shown you your duty, sir. Vienna will be seeing more of you now, eh?"
Dredd: "No, Mrs Pasternak. I intend to see even less of my niece. You must help her to stop loving me!"

WORST LINES
Harry: "I knew the laser wouldn't get you, Dreddy. Now we can proceed with the entertainment!"

CATCHPHRASES
Dredd thanks Dokk that Vienna is unharmed.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
Flashbacks to The Return Of Rico.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Mrs Pasternak shares her surname with Russian language poet and novelist Boris Pasternak (1890–1960) who wrote Doctor Zhivago (1957). Vienna sings 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star' is a lullaby with lyrics from a poem called The Star (1806) by Jane Taylor (1783–1824), sung to the French melody 'Ah! vous dirai-je, Maman' (1761) and later arranged by Mozart (1756-1791).

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: John Howard
Artist: Ian Gibson
Letters: Tom Frame

REVIEW
The art is great and the ending s wonderful (see BEST LINES above), but all in all this falls a little flat.

Next Prog: Cityblock*1

Invasion!: 'Concorde'

NAME
Invasion!: 'Concorde'

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 8

DATELINE
16 Apr 77

PAGE COUNT
4

REPRINTS
Extreme Edition 8 and Invasion!

SYNOPSIS
Savage sends British refuges to Canada.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
(This strip takes place during the Summer of 1999)

The Concorde Mark III uses cold hydrogen motors.

Volgan jets are equipped with heatseeking missiles.

The Resistance flies the families of its members out to Canada.

BILL SAVAGE
His son's name was Kelvin. He leads a convoy of buses filled with resistance member's families to Heathrow Airport and commandeers a Concorde Mark III. The refugees depart for Canada, the Volgans attack with heatseeking missile which are drawn back to the planes that fired them due to Concorde Mark III's use of cold hydrogen motors. A fact Bill learned from Kelvin.

OTHER CHARACTERS
MAJOR VASHKOV
He has a Concorde Mark III as a personal plane, but Savage steals it and fill it with refugees.

KELVIN SAVAGE
Bill Savage's late son. He was fascinated by aeroplanes and made models of them. Some of his knowledge seems to he rubbed off on his father.

DEATHS
One. Savage kills an unseen Volgan at the entrance to Heathrow.

BEST LINES
Savage: "If you don't cath this bus, Volgs - there's another one behind!"

WORST LINES
Silk: "Weapon men - knock out your windows and commence firing!"

CATCHPHRASES
A dying Volgan pilot obliges us with an "Aaaiiieee!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
There is a reference to the King being in exile in Canada and we see Kelvin Savage in flashback. Both were first referenced or alluded to during the first Invasion! strip.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Gerry Finley-Day
Artist: Mike Dorey
Letters: Jack Potter

REVIEW
Savage's personal connection is well handled, but the plot does hinge on Volgan pilots knowing less about a plane than a child. The bus gags are nice the only real downside is that Savage shoots a man in the face and we don't see it.

End Of Incident Eight + + + Thrill Power Peaks Next Prog.

Judge Dredd: The Billion Credit Caper

NAME
Judge Dredd: The Billion Credit Caper

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Sci-Fi Special 1979

DATELINE
1 June 79

1979's Sci-Fi Special also featured Strontium Dog, M.A.C.H.1, Dan Dare, two Tharg's Future Shocks and a pair of one-offs called A Breath Of Fresh Air and The Kids From Kosma, all behind a Judge Dredd cover by Brian Bolland.

PAGE COUNT
10

REPRINTS
Judge Dredd: The Restricted Files Restricted Files 01.


SYNOPSIS
Dredd investigate attempts on his life.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First Judge Dredd strip by Alan Grant.

INFORMATION
(The year is 2101)

The new Mega-Way Code is essential reading for Mega-City One's drivers. Many buildings in the city have grav-chutes.

Despite most gambling being illegal, Mega-City One has an annual lottery, the first and only prize is a plasteen piggy bank containing one billion credits. This year's winning lottery number is 554387677XX, but the winner was unable to claim without a ticket.

Synthi-Marge and Synthi-Tea are artificial foodstuffs.

Judges can jam elevator doors when required. A wounded perp would go to a prison hospital.

The sub-sonic signals of a bleep cannot be traced.

JUDGE DREDD
There are at least twenty unsuccessful attempts on his life in a single day. Dredd discovers that Don Uggie Apelino has offered one billion credits to whoever can kill Dredd. Knowing the Don cannot have the money, Dredd convinces Walter to pose as his kidnapper to force the ape to steal it. Dredd waits inside the plasteen piggy bank containing the Annual Lottery's prize and pounces as Uggie attempts to steal it. When the ape wins the lottery fair and square, Dredd burns his ticket.

OTHER CHARACTERS
DON UGGIE APELINO
His bleep number is PA984533. He offers to pay one billion credits to whoever can kill Dredd and plans to steal the annual lottery prize to pay the assassin. Dredd arrests him. He also bought a lottery ticket with the number 554387677XX, he wins, but Dredd destroys his ticket.

MAX NORMAL
He has heard about the price of Dredd's head and knows Don Uggie Apelino's bleep number.

WALTER THE WOBOT
He gives Dredd a massage. Dredd convinces him to pretends to have kidnapped him nd posing as Wicked Walt he calls Don Uggie Apelino to force him to steal a billion credits.

ARRESTS
Five. One human with a traffic violation and four apes attempting to steal a billion credits.

DEATHS
Five. Dredd appears to kill one of his would-be assassins. An ape shoots dead a citizen and Judges kill three apes in flashback.

BEST LINES
Dredd: "You haven't read your Mega-Way Code, Citizen. You're driving the right way up a wrong-way street!"

Max: "Hey, man! Don't leave your nark in the dark!"

WORST LINES
Dredd: "Got to roll...and come up shooting!"

CATCHPHRASES
Dredd gives us "Drokk" twice, "I am the law!" once and accidentally "wough", Walter says cwedits, dwink, invigowating, pwoof, sowwy, stwong, vewy, weally, wopes, wough, woughly and wowwy.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
This strips takes take at least two years after Judge Dredd: 'The Ape Gang'.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
The reference to Synthi-Tea commercials recalls a famous series of PG Tips adverts. Max Normal sings 'The Best Dressed Chicken In Town', a song first released by Dr. Alimantado in 1978 on the album of the same name. The lottery entertainment features girls singing 'M.C.A.L.' to the apparent tune of 'Y.M.C.A.', also released in 1978 by the Village People.

MISTAKES
It's odd that regarding the annual lottery's acronym the artwork tends toward AMCL, while the script favours MCAL.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: A. A. Grant
Artist: B. Ewins
Letters: Thom

A. A. Grant is Alan Grant. This is the first of many Judge Dredds and he would go on to write for the character in 2000 A.D. itself, the Judge Dredd Megazine, Rock Power and the Daily Star, as well as crossover stories with Batman and Lobo. He also wrote for spinoffs Judge Anderson, Cadet Anderson, The Helltrekkers, Tales Of Mega-City One, Judge Dredd: The Lost Cases, Tales From The Black Museum, Judge Hershey, Max Normal, Mega-City One and Mean Machine. Away from Dredd he has also written for Ace Trucking Co, Apocalypse Soon, Armageddon, Bad City Blue, Bad Company, Blackhawk, B.L.A.I.R.1, Bob The Galactic Bum, Bogie Man, Durham Red, Gil Hazzard - Codename Scorpio, Mazeworld, Middenface McNulty, Mean Team, Juliet November, One-offs, Robo-Hunter, Strontium Dog, Tharg's Future Shocks, Tharg The Mighty, Time Twisters, Whatever Happened To? and What If...?

REVIEW
This is lot of fun. Walter, Max Normal, Don Uggie and Don Uggie's mother make for an impressive supporting cast. It's a shame that the only actual policework is done by Dredd's lawmaster computer, rather than the Judge himself.

The End.

Invasion!: 'Train Story'

NAME
Invasion!: 'Train Story'

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 7

DATELINE
9 Apr 77

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
Invasion!.

SYNOPSIS
Savage traps and kills the head of the Volgan army and destroys a huge contingent of their troops.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First setback for Savage.

INFORMATION
There is a hovertrain that runs from London to Glasgow. The Channel Tunnel is due to open in 2002.

Volgan gun ships are equipped with Spyder troops.

BILL SAVAGE
He poses as a railway signalman to trap a car load of Volgan troops at a level crossing just as a train full of Volgan troops passes through. The resulting crash derails the train. Volgan gun ships with Spyder troops arrives and Savage shoots one with a missile causing it to fly into another. The gun ships arrived due to a tip off from an insider. Savage promises the traitor a fair trial, but implies that he will receive the death penalty.

OTHER CHARACTERS
FIELD MARSHAL ZINSKI
Head of the Volgan army. He is killed in the train crash that Savage organises.

DEATHS
Hundreds. Zinski, the troops in his car, on the train, on two gun ships and half of Savage's men.

BEST LINES
Zinski: "What is the signalman playing at? The gates have shut again. Go and tell him to open them - Then shoot him!"

WORST LINES
Volgan trooper: "Look out! It's jumped the rails...it's blowing up!"

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Channel Tunnel

MISTAKES
How does Savage know the train will be full of Volgans? It was only commandeered an hour ago. Would Savage have gone ahead with his very neatly timed plan if the train were full of British citizens? Also, the Volgan propaganda is bizarrely and unflinchingly honest.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Pat Mills
Artist: Sarompas
Letters: John Aldrich

REVIEW
Here Invasion! had its most action-packed strip yet. Once again, brilliantly using the splash page to show the impact on British citizens that the Volgan occupation is having, but this time in a way that ties into the rest of the strip. Savage's trap is fantastic, albeit more than a little convenient timing-wise, the escalation of the military forces and the resulting battle are great. The matter of the traitor is handled very quickly, but I'm not certain whether it's dealt with succinctly or summarily.

End Of Incident Seven + + + More Thrill Value Next Prog.

Judge Dredd: The DNA Man, Part 3

NAME
Judge Dredd: The DNA Man, Part 3

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. and Starlord Prog 115

DATELINE
2 June 79

This prog also contained Dan Dare, Rick Random, Ro-Busters and Strontium Dog strips and a had a Dan Dare cover by Dave Gibbons.

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
The Complete Judge Dredd 11, Judge Dredd Annual 1988, Judge Dredd 29, Judge Dredd (Volume 2) 43, Judge Dredd: Rough Justice and Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 02.

SYNOPSIS
Dredd closes in on Frankenstein.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First three part Judge Dredd story. Possibly the last appearance of a Frankenstein.

INFORMATION
The centre of Mega-City One's Northways Bridge crosses the Boundary Line.

Fingerprints can be scanned and compared using a handheld device. Mega-City One Judges have no jurisdiction beyond the Boundary Line. The Justice Department has dedicated forensic squads. Named Judges: Smith (Forensics)

JUDGE DREDD
He repels the attack by Frankenstein's horrors on his home and discovers that they all share Frankenstein's fingerprints.

OTHER CHARACTERS
PROFESSOR MILTON D. FRANKENSTEIN
He flees his home taking Dennis with him, attempting to cross the Northways Bridge Boundary Line. Dennis attacks him and the pair fall to their deaths.

DENNIS
He scares a woman and causes her to faint. Dennis picks her up and carries her onto the Northways Bridge. When she comes to she rejects him. Dennis attacks Frankenstein and the pair fall to their deaths.

WALTER THE WOBOT
He pours synthi-caf onto two of Frankenstein's horrors to distract them.

ARRESTS
None.

DEATHS
Four. Dredd kills two of Frankenstein's horrors. Dennis and Frankenstein fall to their deaths.

BEST LINES
Dennis: "Oooo...kayyy...Proffesssorr!"

WORST LINES
Dredd's remembered exposition about Frankenstein's dismissal from Mega Tech.

CATCHPHRASES
Walter says cwiminal, destwoyed, Dwedd, fweaks, fwesh, fwom, lawbweaking and monstwosities. Ugglee and ugly are each said four times.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
The films Frankenstein (1931) and Bride Of Frankenstein (1935).

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: J Howard
Artist: B Ewins
Letters: T Frame

REVIEW
Between Dredd's exposition, meanwhile at the Professor's and the business with the Boundary Line all make for another odd entry.

The End

Judge Dredd: The DNA Man, Part 2

NAME
Judge Dredd: The DNA Man, Part 2

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. and Starlord Prog 114

DATELINE
26 May 79

This prog also featured Dan Dare, Rick Random, Ro-Busters and Strontium Dog strips, a Star Pin-Up of Tharg and a Ro-Busters cover by Mike McMahon.

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
The Complete Judge Dredd 11, Judge Dredd Annual 1988, Judge Dredd 29, Judge Dredd (Volume 2) 43, Judge Dredd: Rough Justice and Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 02.

SYNOPSIS
Frankenstein sends his horrors to kill Dredd.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
An individual under arrest that resorts to violence can have their sentence extended or altered to included penal servitude.

JUDGE DREDD
He lives in a conapt building. He has sentenced an abusive jaywalker to four years penal servitude.

OTHER CHARACTERS
PROFESSOR MILTON D. FRANKENSTEIN
He repeats his cloning experiment a further six times and refers to the resulting creatures as his 'horrors'. He sends them to kill Dredd.

DENNIS
He assists Frankenstein with his experiments.

ARRESTS
None.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
Walter: "A cwowd of howwible monsters! Save yourself, Judge Dredd - Walter will hold them off! Oww!"

WORST LINES
Dredd: "I suspect everyone and no-one! No doubt we'll meet be meeting again, Professor. Good day."

CATCHPHRASES
Walter says cwowd, Dwedd, howwible, Mawia and supweme, while Maria exclaims a "Mama Mia!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
The presence of a cigarette case implies Beaker was a criminal (although he might have only smoked in the Smokatorium, seen in Smoker's Crime), but neither this nor his offer of a cigarette to Frankenstein is noted by Dredd.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: John Howard
Artist: Brett Ewins
Letters: T. Frame

REVIEW
Frankenstein's failed experiments and Dredd delegating to Walter who then in turn tells Maria what to do is nice, but this is bit of a runaround.

Next Prog: Ugglee! Ugglee! Ugglee!

Judge Dredd: The DNA Man, Part 1

NAME
Judge Dredd: The DNA Man, Part 1

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. and Starlord Prog 113

DATELINE
19 May 79

This prog also featured Dan Dare, Rick Random, Ro-Busters and Strontium Dog strips and bore a Judge Dredd cover by Brendan McCarthy.

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
Judge Dredd 29, Judge Dredd Annual 1988, The Complete Judge Dredd 10, Judge Dredd (Volume 2) 43, Judge Dredd: Rough Justice and Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 02.

SYNOPSIS
Professor Frankenstein's clone kills his assistant and Dredd begins investigating.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First example of cloning.

INFORMATION
Mega-City One's Old Mega-City Garbage Dump is equipped with garbage shredders. Mega Tech is a university.

Garbage shredders grind everything down to the size of a grain of sand.

Cloning is possible.

Named Judges: Judge Louis

JUDGE DREDD
He is investigating the possible death of Beaker.

OTHER CHARACTERS
PROFESSOR MILTON D. FRANKENSTEIN
Scientist. Thirty years old. He was a professor at Mega Tech, but was dismissed last year for unorthodox ideas. He uses the deoxyribonucleic acid present in a sample of his blood to clone himself.

CHARLES BEAKER
A student at Mega Tech and Frankenstein's lab assistant. Smoker. He disapproves of cloning his boss. At Frankenstein's instruction Dennis kills Beaker and disposes of his body at the Old Mega-City Garbage Dump.

DENNIS
The first DNA man. An imperfect clone of Frankenstein named by his progenitor. He can sense when the Professor is in danger.

ARRESTS
None.

DEATHS
One. Dennis strangles Beaker.

BEST LINES
None.

WORST LINES
Beaker: "M-my life - there's something...something growing in there! growing fast!"

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
Any relation to Frankenstein 2?

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Beaker shares his name with a Muppet who also worked as a lab assistant in ­The Muppet Show (1976–81), while Frankenstein
shares his with the main character of Frankenstein, Or The Modern Prometheus (1818), by Mary Shelley (1797-1851).

MISTAKES
Why is cloning so taboo. The Judges have been doing it for years.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: J. Howard
Artist: B. Ewins
Letters: T. Frame

REVIEW
This is fun, but Frankenstein again?

Next Prog: The Legion Of Horrors!

Invasion!: 'Wembley'

NAME
Invasion!: 'Wembley'

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 6

DATELINE
2 Apr 77

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
2000AD Annual 1983, Extreme Edition 8 and Invasion!

SYNOPSIS
After a televised execution at Wembley Stadium, Savage goes on the offensive.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First use of Silk's first name, Peter.

INFORMATION
Wembley Stadium has been renamed Victory Stadium.

Some retail establishments are designated for Volgans only.

BILL SAVAGE
He loots a Volgan only shop in London's West End for clothes, disguises himself and his men and is rounded up to be executed. They are taken to Wembley where they attack the Volgans.

OTHER CHARACTERS
CREEPTON
He makes an address to the nation following a televised execution and threatens more deaths if the Resistance strike again.

PETER SILK
His first name is Peter.

DEATHS
Seventeen. Six dissenters are killed by a Volgan firing squad. Savage shoots four window shopping Volgans dead in the West End. Mad Dog kill a four man firing squad and at least three more guards.

BEST LINES
Savage (to camera): "This is just a little advert for the Resistance. You've seen us play one of the qualifying matches, the big match is gonna come soon...so you know what we're gonna sing, don't you folks?" (a chorus of 'You'll Never Walk Alone')

WORST LINES
Savage: "You're the dummies, Volgs!"

CATCHPHRASES
Another dying Volgan gives us another "Aieee!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Wembley Stadium was opened in 1923 as the British Empire Exhibition Stadium and is well known as the venue of 77 FA Cup finals, five European Cup finals, the 1948 Summer Olympics, the 1966 World Cup Final, the final of Euro 96, Queen's Magic Tour and the 1985 Live Aid concert. 'You'll Never Walk Alone' is a show tune from the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Carousel (1945) and is traditionally sung at Liverpool Football Club matches among others.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Gerry Finley-Day
Artist: Ian Kennedy
Letters: Bill Nuttall

REVIEW
Savage ensures that the Volgan invasion doesn't get in the way of an English institution: football violence. This strip is pretty bizarre and that's before it ends on a song. It's pretty convenient that the Mad Dogs can get themselves taken hostage at will and that no unsuspecting civilians are drawn in as well.

Alert Status Red + + + Crisis Point Averted + + + Alert Status

Star Pin-Up: Walter & Rowena

NAME
Star Pin-Up: Walter & Rowena

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 109

DATELINE
21 Apr 79

This Dreddless Prog contained Dan Dare, Tharg's Future Shocks, Ro-Busters, Robo-Hunter and Strontium Dog strips and bore a Strontium Dog cover by Carlos Ezquerra.

PAGE COUNT
1

REPRINTS
Unknown.

SYNOPSIS
Walter and Rowena.

FIRSTS & LASTS
Last appearance of Rowena.

INFORMATION
None.

WALTER THE WOBOT
He has drawn 'Walter Loves Rowena' graffiti.

OTHER CHARACTERS
ROWENA

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
None.

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
The stars of this Star Pin Up are taken from a panel in Judge Dredd: 'Land Race', but with a new background and in the original panel the pair were sat on a bench, but this has been redrawn to appear as though they are atop a car of some sort.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
None.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Artist: Brian Bolland

REVIEW
A nice reminder that Walter once got the girl.

Red Alert Survival Wallet

NAME
Red Alert Survival Wallet

FIRST PUBLISHED
Free with 2000 A.D. Prog 3

DATELINE
12 Mar 77

PAGE COUNT
1

REPRINTS
None.

SYNOPSIS
A codewheel that enables the user to code and decode ten different codes.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First use of codes in 2000 A.D.

INFORMATION
The Red Alert Survival Wallet contains ten codes, ten emergencies and suggestions for fourteen tactics.

Using Code 3, "ZIGNB NV NBI LSKG ZIPF" decodes as "DEATH TO THE INVA DERS"

OTHER CHARACTERS
None.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
None.

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
The coded message from Invasion!: The Resistance, Part 4 is: "NBLF EGTI LF NPIGNIZ NV ZINIHN G SIPKI TGF GNNGHC. LQ NBI EGTI NUPSF PIZ, EUN VS PIFELPGNVP GSZ PIEVPN NV BY LJJIZLGNIMW".

Using Code 3, this decodes as: THIS PAGE IS TREATED TO DETECT A NERVE GAS ATTACK IF THE PAGE TURNS RED PUT ON RESPIRATOR AND REPORT TO HQ IMMEDIATELY.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
None.

MISTAKES
INVA DERS?

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
None.

REVIEW
So that's that.

Judge Dredd: The Exo-Men, Part 2

NAME
Judge Dredd: The Exo-Men, Part 2

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. and Starlord Prog 112

DATELINE
12 May 79

This Prog also featured Dan Dare, Ro-Busters, Robo-Hunter and Strontium Dog strips and had a Ro-Busters cover by Kevin O'Neill.

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
The Best Of 2000AD 46, Judge Dredd Classics 65, The Complete Judge Dredd 10, Judge Dredd 25, Judge Dredd: Mega City Vice Book 3 and Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 02.

SYNOPSIS
As Marjory's ransom goes unpaid and Dredd attempts to rescue her.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
Mega-City One has a Cyclon Metal Works, Mega-City Stores

The Citizen's Committee for Compassion for Criminals runs a Fellowship of Young Offenders.

Exo-Suits are equipped with a laser-claw.

The penalty for aiding the escape of a convicted criminal is six months penal servitude.

JUDGE DREDD
He rescues Marjory Blackshack and then arrests both her and Petty.

OTHER CHARACTERS
MRS MARJORY BLACKSHACK
She organises jumble sales and whist drives for the Citizen's Committee for Compassion for Criminals and started their Fellowship of Young Offenders last year. She has been kidnapped by the fourth Exo-Man after she freed him from his handcuffs. Her kidnapper asks for a million credits in ransom. The CCCC declines to pay. Dredd rescues her and sentences her to six months penal servitude for aiding the escape of a convicted criminal.

COUNCILLOR FRANK PETTY
Dredd sentences him to six months penal servitude for taking the law into his own hands.

ARRESTS
Two. Dredd arrests Blackshack and Petty sentencing them to six months penal servitude for aiding the escape of a convicted criminal.

DEATHS
One. The fourth Exo-Man falls into a furnace.

BEST LINES
Marjory Blackshack (to Pamela): "You ungrateful hussy, Pamela! How dare you! After all I've done for the C.C.C.C! Who organised the jumble sales and whist drives? Who started the Fellow Of Young Offenders last year? Who?"

WORST LINES
Dredd: "I'll deal with you later, Doughnut."

CATCHPHRASES
The fourth Exo-Man takes Grom's name in vain, instead of the usual Grud.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: J. Howard
Artist: R. Smith
Letters: T. Frame

REVIEW
The fourth Exo-Man gets a raw deal as Mrs Marjory Blackshack is the undisputed star here and her ransom conversation with Pamela is a definite highlight.

Next Prog: The D.N.A. Man!

Judge Dredd: The Exo-Men, Part 1

NAME
Judge Dredd: The Exo-Men, Part 1

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 111

DATELINE
5 May 79

This prog also featured Dan Dare, Ro-Busters, Robo-Hunter and Strontium Dog strips, a Ro-Busters Star Pin-Up and a Judge Dredd cover by Ron Smith.

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
The Best Of 2000 AD 46, Judge Dredd Classics 65, The Complete Judge Dredd 10, Judge Dredd 25, Judge Dredd: Mega City Vice 3 and Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 02.

SYNOPSIS
Dredd is accompanied on duty by some concerned citizens.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
Mega-City One has a Skyrail system, Hell's Junction is the busiest intersection and Megwest is a destination. The city also features a branch of the 1st Savings And Loan Bank with a SRI400 Series Manager robot capable of granting bank loans, but unaffected by threats. It was robbed by the Exo-Men. Four men wearing Exo-Skeletons.

Exo-Skeletons are worn by demolition workers that can smash through walls, but they were not built for speed.

The Citizen's Committee for Compassionate for Criminals (CCCC) is an organisation calling for more compassionate treatment of criminals.

JUDGE DREDD
He has an office. He is followed against his will by Mrs Marjory Blackshack and Councillor Frank Petty as he attends the sight of a bank robbery by the Exo-Men.

OTHER CHARACTERS
MRS MARJORY BLACKSHACK
Civic rights leader. Appointed by the Citizen's Committee for Compassionate for Criminals to observe Dredd and report on his behaviour. She is kidnapped.

COUNCILLOR FRANK PETTY
Civic rights leader. Appointed by the Citizen's Committee for Compassionate for Criminals to observe Dredd and report on his behaviour.

ARRESTS
One. Dredd arrests an Exo-Man and sentences him to twenty years.

DEATHS
At least three. Dredd says three people died during the robbery.

BEST LINES
Petty (to a arrested Exo-Man): "Tell me, young man, was your mother, um...cruel to you"

WORST LINES
Exo-Man #4: "I don't come easy, Buddy boy!"

CATCHPHRASES
Dredd shouts out a "Stop in the name of the law!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Mrs Marjory Blackshack's surname is obviously an inversion of Mary Whitehouse's (1910-2001). Hell's Junction could be a reference to Hell's Kitchen in New York City's Manhattan between 34th and 59th Streets, it is also known as Clinton and Midtown West by people who presumably aren't trying to sound cool.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: J Howard
Artist: R Smith
Letters: Peter Knight

REVIEW
This is not subtle, but the bleeding heart busybodies are great.

Next Prog: You Can Keep Her!

Invasion!: 'The Resistance', Part 5

NAME
Invasion!: 'The Resistance', Part 5

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 5

DATELINE
26 Mar 77

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
Extreme Edition 3, The Best Of 2000AD and Invasion!

SYNOPSIS
Savage goes on the offensive.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First five page story.

INFORMATION
One of the Volgan checkpoints around London is at Gant's Hill.

Trafalgar Square has been renamed Volgan Square. New Scotland Yard is now the HQ of the Volgan Secret Police.

BILL SAVAGE
He leads the Mad Dogs successful attack on the Gants Hill checkpoint and continues into London. He orders the destruction of Nelson's Column and retreats to a hideout on the Isle Of Dogs.

OTHER CHARACTERS
SILK
Savage convinces him to attach several grenades to his jacket, pull the pins and throw it out of a moving van. The resulting explosion kills five Volgan soldiers pursuing on motorbikes.

MARSHAL VASHKOV
His picture hangs on Nelson's Column.

BLASTER
Member of Savage's Mad Dogs. He worked in demolitions before the Volgan invasion. He rigs some stolen explosive to bring down Nelson's Column onto some approaching Volgan tanks.

DEATHS
The Mad Dogs each kill at least four Volgan soldiers, Savage kills five crew of a Volgan armoured car and Silk's exploding jacket takes out five more.

BEST LINES
Silk: "I reckon Nelson would have been proud of you, Savage - you smashed his column up, but you put it to good use!"

WORST LINES
Savage: "Let me fill you in! This'll really rip your ration book!"

CATCHPHRASES
Dying Volgans scream another "Aieeeeeee!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Nelson's Column is as the name suggests, a monument to Admiral Horatio Nelson (1758-1805), designed by William Railton (1800–77) and built between 1840 and 1843. It cost of £47,000 and as Savage suggests, the Corinthian column is built from Dartmoor granite.

Blaster shares his moniker with another famous demolitions expert, Blaster Bates (1923–2006), who made several audio recordings of colourful stories from his career.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Gerry Finley-Day
Artist: Sarompas
Letters: John Aldrich

In addition to Invasion!, Sarompas worked on James Bond.

REVIEW
This is more like it. Another beautiful splash page opens this part, but here the artwork maintains the level of detail and action throughout.

Story Programmed For Maximum Excitement + + + See Next Prog

Invasion!: 'The Resistance', Part 4

NAME
Invasion!: 'The Resistance', Part 4

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 4

DATELINE
19 Mar 77

PAGE COUNT
4

REPRINTS
Extreme Edition 3, The Best Of 2000AD and Invasion!

SYNOPSIS
Savage tours Resistance HQ and finds a Volgan spy.

FIRSTS & LASTS
Savage's first task for the Resistance.

INFORMATION
London is surrounded by checkpoints manned by Volgan troops.

The British Resistance has an undergrounds base in East Anglia. Accessed from a concealed entrance in a farmhouse, it has at least five floors containing living quarters, a security complex, a canteen, an artillery store, a main control and scanning centre, a vehicle and ammunition centre, lifts for both personnel and equipment as well as bays containing fifty Scorpion tanks, a hundred Saracen armoured cars and twenty Harrier jump jets. It is also equipped with missile silos which fire Revenge missiles.

BILL SAVAGE
He is given a tour of Resistance HQ and inspects other volunteers. He discovers that one is a Volgan spy. The Brigadier puts him in charge of a Resistance group called Mad-Dog and sends them to London. His new weapon of choice is a pump action shotgun.

OTHER CHARACTERS
SILK
He accompanies Savage on his tour.

BRIGADIER BENTLEY PEARSON
He invites Savage to join the Resistance. He is held hostage by a Volgan spy and rescued by Savage. He assigns Save to lead a group called Mad-Dog.

DEATHS
Probably three. Savage kills 'Blossom' the Volgan spy, and presumably at least two Volgans at the London checkpoint.

BEST LINES
Bentley Pearson (after Savage has saved his life): "Good show, Savage. This convinces me...you're the man to lead the Resistance group. Your group's codename will be "Mad-Dog". I think it rather suits you."

WORST LINES
Silk: "He's a Volgan spy...he's grabbed the Brigadier!"

CATCHPHRASES
A dying Volgan soldier lets out an "Aaaieeeeeee!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None, but there is a coded message for use with the Red Alert Security Wallet: "NBLF EGTI LF NPIGNIZ NV ZINIHN G SIPKI TGF GNNGHC. LQ NBI EGTI NUPSF PIZ, EUN VS PIFELPGNVP GSZ PIEVPN NV BY LJJIZLGNIMW."

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Gerry Finley-Day
Artist: Pat Wright
Letters: Tom Frame

Pat Wright also drew for Tharg's Future Shocks and Tornado's True Tales, but is also known for his work on Modesty Blaise.

REVIEW
The opening splash cutaway is wonderful, but Silk is redundant and some of the dialogue is very clunky.

End Of Incident Four. Dogs Of War Snarl Into London - Next Prog!

Invasion!: 'The Resistance', Part 3

NAME
Invasion!: 'The Resistance', Part 3

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 3

DATELINE
12 Mar 77

PAGE COUNT
4

REPRINTS
Extreme Edition 3, The Best Of 2000AD and Invasion!

SYNOPSIS
The British Resistance finds Savage, but so do the Volgans.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First appearance of British Resistance H.Q. and Brigadier Bentley Pearson.

INFORMATION
There is a British Resistance.

BILL SAVAGE
He is staying above a greasy spoon café on the A11. Silk tries to recruit him to the British Resistance. Savage saves his life and escorts him back to Resistance H.Q.

OTHER CHARACTERS
SIMON CREEPTON
The new British Prime Minister. A Volgan collaborator.

LIEUTENANT SILK
British Resistance. He attempts to recruit Savage.

BRIGADIER BENTLEY PEARSON
Head of the British Resistance.

DEATHS
At least five. A Volgan soldier shoots a British citizen dead, while Savage kills four Volgan with his shotgun.

BEST LINES
Savage: "Get yer flippin' nuts down!"

WORST LINES
Savage: "It's extermination time - an' I ain't talking about the bed bugs!"

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Supermarket chain Tesco was founded in 1919 and grew from a collection of market stalls to the second-largest retailer in the world. Woolworths was founded as F. W. Woolworth in the USA in 1878, a British offshoot opened in 1909 and ceased trading in 2009.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
There are no credits printed in the strip itself and so the following are taken from Barney.

Script: Gerry Finley-Day
Artist: Jesus Blasco
Letters: Jack Potter

REVIEW
Again this part opens with a splash page showing Volgan atrocities and then the narrative switches to Savage. The action is well plotted, although the dialogue (and the thought bubbles) are a little odd.

End Of Incident Three. Next Week: Savage Leads The Dogs Of War!

Invasion!: 'The Resistance', Part 2

NAME
Invasion!: 'The Resistance', Part 2

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Programme 2

DATELINE
05 Mar 77

PAGE COUNT
4

REPRINTS
Extreme Edition 3, The Best Of 2000AD and Invasion!

SYNOPSIS
Savage goes on the offensive.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First appearance of Silk. First work on Invasion! by Gerry Finley-Day and Jack Potter.

INFORMATION
Despite the surrender, the Fourth British Battle Group fight Volgan troops on Salisbury Plain. They are wiped out. Volgan Radiation Troops kill the survivors of the nuclear bomb in a city in the Midlands.

In London, Members of Parliament are hanged from lamp-posts.

BILL SAVAGE
He attacks and kills a Volgan tank crew and destroys their vehicle.

OTHER CHARACTERS
MARSHALL VASKKOV
He oversees the public executions of British Members of Parliament.

DEATHS
the Fourth British Battle Group and at least two survivors of the Volgan nuclear bomb that hit the Midlands.
Members of Parliament are hanged from lamp-posts in London.
Savage shoots at least two Volgan soldiers dead.

BEST LINES
Savage: "I can read your mind, Sunshine...You reckon I've fired both barrels of me cannon...So you've got the edge on me!...But supposing I've only fired one barrel? Draw your gun and let's see how lucky you are..."

WORST LINES
Savage: "Laugh the off, Twinkletoes!"

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Savage's claim to be psychic is straight out of Dirty Harry (1971): "I know what you're thinking. "Did he fire six shots or only five?" Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement I kind of lost track myself. But being as this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world, and would blow your head clean off, you've got to ask yourself one question, 'Do I feel lucky?' Well, do ya, punk?"

MISTAKES
How does Savage know that the tank crew are responsible for murdering his wife and kids?

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
There are no credits printed in the strip itself and so the following are taken from Barney.

Script: Gerry Finley-Day
Artist: Jesus Blasco
Letters: Jack Potter

REVIEW
Another fantastic instalment. Again the exposition is unobtrusive, although it's odd that for the second part in a row, the nuclear target city in the Midlands is unnamed. Savage's revenge is great.

End Of Incident Two + + Next Week...Savage Joins The British Resistance!

Invasion!: 'The Resistance', Part 1

As a result of recent Volgan presence in Ro-Busters: Hammer-Stein's War Memoirs, here's Invasion!:

NAME
Invasion!: 'The Resistance', Part 1

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Programme 1

DATELINE
26 Feb 77

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
Extreme Edition 3, The Best Of 2000AD and Invasion!

SYNOPSIS
Britain is invaded by Volgan forces in a war that last just eight hours, but Savage's war is just beginning.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First Invasion!, first appearance of Bill Savage and Volgans.

INFORMATION
(The strip begins on January the 1st, 1999)

B.B.C. Three is a television channel broadcasting in Britain.

N.A.T.O. had established a 'Ring of Steel' around the thousand mile long Volgan frontier, but their forces broke through and invaded Europe. At 6:00AM on the 1st of January 1999, the Volgan Republic of Asia attacks Britain. Missiles carrying thermonuclear warheads were launched from underground silos in Asia. A fifty megaton bomb explodes in the Midlands and causing the destruction an entire city. Volgan forces capture Heathrow Airport and begin using it to bring in transport planes carrying armoured vehicles and men. There was fighting in London's streets, but by 10:00 AM the Volgans held Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Belfast, Leeds, the Rhondda, London and the North Sea oil rigs. King Charles III and the Royal Family were evacuated to Canada and the British Government surrendered to the Volgan Army. The country is renamed The New People's Republic of Britain. The United States agrees to the Volgan Occupation of Britain. The war last eight hours. It was nicknamed Black Friday.

The Volgan's yellow skull emblem is raised over Buckingham Palace, St. Paul's Cathedral was turned into a military court and a curfew of 6pm is established.

BILL SAVAGE
Lorry driver. The Volgans seized his lorry in the North and he is forced to hitch-hike back to London. His wife and children were killed when a stray shell destroyed his home. The only thing he is able to retrieve from the rubble of his home is his shotgun. He shoots at a Volgan patrol vehicle causing it to crash and then kills a soldier that is thrown clear.

OTHER CHARACTERS
ANGELA RIPPON
Newreader on B.B.C. Three. She reports on the Volgan invasion and subsequent surrender of the British government.

MARSHALL VASHKOV
Leader of the Volgan forces. He presides over a military court at St. Paul's Cathedral that executes members of the previous government.

DEATHS
Probably millions. We see Lady Shirley Brown executed by a firing squad, then Savage kills at least one Volgan soldier and maybe the rest of the patrol vehicle as well.

BEST LINES
Volgan Soldier: "You are under arrest, British scum! Come out from hiding!"
Savage (before he shoots the Volgan dead): "With pleasure, Sunshine - but I ain't hiding...I'm reloading!"

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Bill Savage is reputedly based on Stanley Baker's character from Hell Drivers (1957).

Daily Mirror is a British national daily tabloid newspaper founded in 1903, in 1963 the Mirror became part of the International Publishing Corporation which owned 2000 A.D.. Angela Rippon, born in 1944, is a British television journalist and newsreader. In 1975, she became the first woman to present the BBC national television news on a permanent basis. Rippon appeared on a Morecambe and Wise Christmas Show in 1976.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
There are no credits printed in the strip itself and so the following are taken from Barney.

Script: Pat Mills
Artist: Jesus Blasco
Letters: Bill Nuttall

Jesus Blasco was born in 1919. He created Cuto and Capitán Trueno in his native Spain. In the UK, he worked on The Steel Claw and Buffalo Bill, Invasion was his only work for 2000 A.D.. He died in 1995.

REVIEW
The opening splash is astonishingly good and the art maintains the same standard throughout. The script is brilliant and the exposition of The Eight Hour War that sees Britain overrun by the Volgans is never unwieldy. We don't meet Bill Savage until the fifth page, but he makes an immediate impact. Invasion! gets off to a fantastic start.

experience future shock again + next week

Ro-Busters: Hammer-Stein's War Memoirs, Part 5 - Only Robots Left Alive!

NAME
Ro-Busters: Hammer-Stein's War Memoirs, Part 5 - Only Robots Left Alive!

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 92

DATELINE
25 Nov 78

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
2000AD Annual 1988, Cyber Crush 04, Extreme Edition 24, Ro-Busters Book 1 and The Complete Ro-Busters.

SYNOPSIS
Hammer-Stein talks about the Battle of Hell Fire Hill.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First Ro-Jaws drawn by Mike White.

INFORMATION
The US Army dug in along the front with some soldiers spending five years there. They gave areas names like Hellfire Hill, 5th Avenue and Miami Beach. The Battle of Hell Fire Hill saw US forces win despite suffering 85% casualties. Following the battle, human soldiers were pulled out and replaced with robot troops.

The Volgans began producing robot soldiers called Terror Machines.

RO-JAWS
He uses Hammer-Stein old head as a ventriloquist's dummy.

HAMMER-STEIN
He spent five years on the front and survives the Battle of Hell Fire Hill. He can shoot from his head and shoulder. He is decorated and promoted to Sergeant. 'Twenty Four Hours From Tulsa' is his favourite song.

OTHER CHARACTERS
SERGEANT JOE FARMER
He drowns in the mud during the Battle of Hell Fire Hill.

'BABY-FACE' BRANNIGAN
He is the first to die in the Battle of Hell Fire Hill.

'BOMBER' HARRISON
He survives the Battle of Hell Fire Hill and remains to fight alongside Hammer-Stein even after Human soldiers were being pulled out.

DEATHS
Eighty-five per cent of US forces became casualties, including Baby-Face who died on the wire around the trench, Joe Farmer who drowned in the mud,

BEST LINES
Officer: "Where are you going? Aren't you proud you've got medals?"
Pork Chop: "Thanks...But- We're tryin' to give 'em up!"

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
Ro-Jaws says "Gottle o'gear! Gottle o'gear! Whose a pretty boy then?" and "Who loves yer, baby?" (see INFLUENCES & REFERENCES below).

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Hammer-Stein sings 'Twenty Four Hours From Tulsa', a song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David which was a hit for Gene Pitney in 1963. Harrison reads Biggles Flies Again (1934) by W. E. Johns (1893–1968). Sergeant Farmer mentions The Avon Lady referencing the business model of Avon that sees door-to-door sales people buy the product and sell it on at a profit. The company was founded in 1896. One panel features troops raising the flag on Hell Fire Hill and is drawn as visual reference to Raising The Flag On Iwo Jima is a historic photograph taken during the battle on the 23rd of February 1945 by Joe Rosenthal (1911–2006). "Gottle o'gear!" is a notorious phrase among ventriloquists struggling to say "Bottle of beer", while "Who's a pretty boy then?" is apparently a popular phrase among parrots. "Who loves yer, baby?" is the catchphrase of Kojak (1973-1978)

MISTAKES
"Whose a pretty boy then?" should be "Who's a pretty boy then?"

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Pat Mills
Artist: Mike White
Letters: Tom Frame

Mike White also drew for Abelard Snazz, Disaster 1990, Tharg's Future Shocks, Armoured Gideon, The Mean Arena, Ro-Jaws' Robo-Tales, Time Twisters, The Mind Of Wolfie Smith, The Lawless Touch, Mind Wars, Tharg The Mighty and Wagner's Walk.

REVIEW
Hammer-Stein's War Memoirs features some great art, believable trench warfare and provides an interesting insight into the character, but it's bizarre that after such a personal story for Hammer-Stein that Ro-Jaws gets the last word.

Ro-Busters: Hammer-Stein's War Memoirs, Part 4 - Just Routine!

NAME
Ro-Busters: Hammer-Stein's War Memoirs, Part 4 - Just Routine!

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 91

DATELINE
18 Nov 78

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
2000AD Annual 1988, Cyber Crush 03, Extreme Edition 24, Ro-Busters Book 1 and The Complete Ro-Busters.

SYNOPSIS
Hammer-Stein's platoon save some civilians from Volgan troops.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First mention of Mega-City One in Ro-Busters.

INFORMATION
The Volgan forces include elite Vulture Sky Troopers with jet-packs, and Golems, lightweight recoilless guns which can fire 'Poltergeist' rockets.

US War Droids are programmed to never surrender.

HAMMER-STEIN
He doesn't want to end up in Ro-Busters after the war. He has two extra attachable arms for heavy duty work.

OTHER CHARACTERS
'BABY FACE' BRANNIGAN
He used to be a bricklayer. After the war he wants to help build Mega-City One.

SERGEANT 'COUNTRY' JOE FARMER
He is from Illinois. He has used a robo-crop-hopper.

'BOMBER' HARRISON
He borrows a Volgan jet-pack and saves Farmer, Brannigan and Hammer-Stein from a Golem.

DEATHS
Presumably more than one, but we only see Harrison's grenade kill the Golem gunner.

BEST LINES
Farmer: "You ever use them extra pair of arms, Hammer-Stein?"
Hammer-Stein: "They're only meant for special occasions -- Heavy duty work, sir!"

WORST LINES
Hammer-Stein: "C-H-A-R-G-E!"

CATCHPHRASES
"Aieee!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
Brannigan wants to help build Mega-City One, the city of Judge Dredd.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Pan Am was an airline, short for Pan American World Airways, that flew from 1927 until 1991. Harrison thinks they still in operation, but then he is potentially barking mad.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Pat Mills
Artist: Dave Gibbons
Letters: Dave Gibbons

REVIEW
This is nice, but this story would seem to be repeating itself now.

Next Prog: Robot V.C.!

Ro-Busters: Hammer-Stein's War Memoirs, Part 3 - Wheels Of Terror!

NAME
Ro-Busters: Hammer-Stein's War Memoirs, Part 3 - Wheels Of Terror!

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 90

DATELINE
11 Nov 78

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
2000AD Annual 1988, Cyber Crush 03, Ro-Busters Book 1, Extreme Edition 24 and The Complete Ro-Busters.

SYNOPSIS
Hammer-Stein describes the attack on the Volganaya.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First Ro-Busters not to feature Ro-Jaws and first to be set entirely in flashback.

INFORMATION
The Volganaya is a Behemoth class tank fortress deployed by Volgan forces. The Volgans use chemical bombs which can causes madness when inhaled.

HAMMER-STEIN
He has three belly-buttons, and if they flash then he has a mechanical fault.

He successfully gets news of the Volgan advance through the US Forces. He is assigned to a squadron and is under the command of Sergeant Joe Farmer. Hammer-Stein, Harrison and Brannigan are sent to attack the Volganaya. Hammer-Stein throws himself in front of Brannigan to protect him and a Volgan bayonet cuts some of his oil lines. They commandeer a Volgan fuel tanker and Hammer-Stein drove it at the Volganaya, jumping out moments before it crashed into the tank. The resulting inferno badly damaged the Volganaya.

OTHER CHARACTERS
SERGEANT 'COUNTRY' JOE FARMER
Hammer-Stein's superior officer.

'BOMBER' HARRISON
The gas from a Volgan chemical warfare bomber attack has sent him mad and he now believes himself to be an aeroplane.

'BABY FACE' BRANNIGAN
The youngest member of the outfit.

DEATHS
Three. We see Hammer-Stein's trio kill three Volgans.

BEST LINES
Volgan Kommander: "Forward! Any Volgan who takes prisoners - feeds them from his own rations!"

WORST LINES
Volgan Soldier: "Amerikaner pig! Good Volgan steel for you!"

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Pat Mills
Artist: Kevin O'Neill
Letters: Peter Knight

REVIEW
This is fantastic. The panels of the Volganaya's debut and the Inferno are great. Who needs Ro-Jaws?

Next Prog: Routine!

Ro-Busters: Hammer-Stein's War Memoirs, Part 2 - Baptism Of Fire!

NAME
Ro-Busters: Hammer-Stein's War Memoirs, Part 2 - Baptism Of Fire!

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 89

DATELINE
4 Nov 78

PAGE COUNT
6

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

SYNOPSIS
Hammer-Stein saves and then shoots his superior officer.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First Ro-Busters art by Mike Dorey

INFORMATION
A snow-demon is a land vehicle designed for travel on snow.

The Volgan infantry use Blitzkrieger tanks. The Chem-Korp (or K.K.W.) deploy poison gas.

Bionic eyes are expensive.

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

HAMMER-STEIN
It takes a special spanner to unscrew his head. Hammer-Stein records a huge Volgan offensive moving under cover of a blizzard. Kowalski orders Hammer-Stein to kill him and then pass the recorded information to US Generals. He complies.

OTHER CHARACTERS
MEK-QUAKE
He still wants to hear Hammerstein's war memoirs. He has read books about Japanese war tortures, he struggled with the words but enjoyed the pictures.

KOWALSKI
He's from the Bronx. He is a fan of the Harlem Heroes. Hammer-Stein saves him, but when he discovers his saviour is a robot he tries to attack him. When Hammer-Stein records the movements of Volgan troops and must get the information back to US forces. Kowalski orders the robot to kill him, he complies.

DEATHS
One. Hammer-Stein kills Kowalski under orders.

BEST LINES
Hammer-Stein: "Must have my brain checked for illogical action...wasted 25 minutes burying the Sarge."

WORST LINES
Kowalski: "Oh yeah? Well I still got me a gun...an' you ain't Superman. An armour-piercer will tear your trannies out!"

I beg your pardon?

CATCHPHRASES
A Volgan soldier gives us another "Aieeee!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
Kowalski alludes to the Harlem Heroes.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
The Snow-Demon becomes a Snow-Devil.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

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

Mike Dorey also provided artwork for Invasion, Tharg's Future Shocks, M.A.C.H.1, M.A.C.H.0, Rogue Trooper, Tharg The Mighty, Time Twisters, The Mind Of Wolfie Smith and a one-off called Psi-Testers, as well as covers for both 2000 A.D. and Tornado.

REVIEW
The story is still great, the change in the artwork jars slightly but it isn't bad in and of itself.

Next Prog: "Wheels Of Terror!"