Invasion!: 'Hadrian's Wall'

NAME
Invasion!: 'Hadrian's Wall'

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 24

DATELINE
6 Aug 77

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
Invasion!

SYNOPSIS
Savage heads for the border.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
The border between England and Scotland is closed and heavily guarded.

Volgan forces are armed with Manseeker missiles.

BILL SAVAGE
He's at the Scottish border. He declines to join the attack against the Volgan border guards base. He later attacks it with one of their own missiles.

OTHER CHARACTERS
SILK
He knows how to fire a Volgan Manseeker missile and uses one against a Volgan.

DEATHS
Dozens. Two Scotsmen are killed by a Manseeker missile attempting to break into Scotland. At least seven local Resistance men are gunned down attempting to attack a Volgan missile unit. Savage and Silk's later retaliatory attacks kills at least twelve Volgans.

BEST LINES
None.

WORST LINES
Volgan #1: "Missile battery fire - No! look to the sky!"
Volgan #2: "Aaah! Boulders falling on us!"

CATCHPHRASES
A dying Scotsman yells out an "Aieeeeeeee!", while a dying Volgan only manages "Aieeeeee!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Cumberland Wrestling is native to Cumbria. Hadrian's Wall is 73.0 miles long and was indeed, as Silk says, built by the Romans between 122 and 128 AD.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

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

REVIEW
This starts and ends well, but loses its way in between.

Next Episode + + + High-Risk Factor At Optimum

Judge Dredd: 'The Great Muldoon'

NAME
Judge Dredd: 'The Great Muldoon'

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 133

DATELINE
6 Oct 79

This prog also featured ABC Warriors, Disaster 1990, Blackhawk, Captain Klep and The Mind Of Wolfie Smith strips and a cover by Carlos Ezquerra.

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
The Complete Judge Dredd 12, Judge Dredd's Crime Files 5 and Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 03.

SYNOPSIS
Dredd attempts to prevent a suicidal showman.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First appearance of the 'Birdie' lie detector. First Judge Dredd art by Barry Mitchell.

INFORMATION
The Little Bowl is an open-air arena for public entertainments on the north side of Mega-City One. It has ten entrance gates and ticket prices range up to 1000 credits. The Great Muldoon is one of the acts.

Judges are equipped with 'Birdie' lie detectors. Once the Deputy Chief Judge has provided a signed permit for something, they are only one who can rescind it. Named Judges: Judge Sweeney.

JUDGE DREDD
He attempts to prevent The Great Muldoon's performance from taking place. He fails.

OTHER CHARACTERS
THE GREAT MULDOON
He plans to dive through solid steel plate whilst juggling rings, drinking a glass of water and reciting Hamlet before falling into a tiny water barrel using a particle converter which will allow his body's molecules to pass through it. He is killed during the performance.

DEPUTY CHIEF JUDGE PEPPER
He has given The Great Muldoon a signed permit for a his dive.

ARRESTS
One. Dredd arrests a robber threatening to explode a proton bomb at the Little Bowl.

DEATHS
Two. Judges shoot a robber attempting to steal the Little Bowl's box office takings and the Great Muldoon fails to pass through a solid steel plate.

BEST LINES
The Great Muldoon: "Whether tis nobler to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune - or to sleep - perchance to dream!"

Splat!

WORST LINES
Arena Public Address: "Robbery! Robbery! Two men stealing the takings at Gate 2!"
Dredd: "We can't have that!"

CATCHPHRASES
Dredd says "Dok!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
The Great Muldoon resembles WC Fields (1880-1946), star of silent era movies such as Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch (1934), The Bank Dick (1940), Never Give A Sucker An Even Break (1941). He mentions Harry Houdini (1874–1926) a Hungarian illusionist and stunt performer known for his escapology acts. Finally he quotes Hamlet by William Shakespeare (1564-1616).

MISTAKES
The Great Muldoon misses out quite a lot of Hamlet's "To be or not to be" speech.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: John Howard
Artist: Barry Mitchell
Letters: Tom Frame

Barry Mitchell also provided art for M.A.C.H. 1 and The Lawless Touch.

REVIEW
The idea behind this is brilliant although it feel like a call back to an earlier era of the strip. The Birdie sequence and the Great Muldoon's ultimate fate are wonderful, but in places the art is a bit simplistic.

Next Prog: The Invisible Man

Invasion!: 'Tyne Tunnel'

NAME
Invasion!: 'Tyne Tunnel'

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 23

DATELINE
30 July 77

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
Extreme Edition 8 and Invasion!

SYNOPSIS
Savage helps a Volgan prisoner escape, before becoming a Volgan's prisoner and escaping.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
Volgir pistols are discreet firearms that can be silenced. The Volgans have homing devices.

BILL SAVAGE
He and a group of ex-miners trap a prison convoy in the Tyne Tunnel and free Geordie Price. He and Price flee from a Volgan patrol in a coal lorry. Savage realises he is not with Price, but a Volgan agent instead. The Volgan disarms him and orders Savage to dig his own grave. Savage attacks him with the spade and runs. He takes cover in a coal dump bucket, kills the Volgans following him and jumps into the water below as soon as he out of range.

OTHER CHARACTERS
GEORDIE PRICE
A miner. He lost two fingers in a mining accident. He was replaced by a Volgan agent with too many fingers.

'GEORDIE PRICE'
A Volgan agent impersonating Geordie Price. Savage and the miners free the Volgan agent from a prison convoy. Savage discovers he has too many fingers and the agent orders him to dig his own grave. Savage kills him with the spade.

DEATHS
Seven. The miners kill three Volgan guards. One of the miners is shot by the Volgan agent. Savage kills the agent with a spade and then shoots two more Volgans.

BEST LINES
None.

WORST LINES
Savage: "'Ere - Geordie lost two fingers in a mining accident years ago! The only bloke who knew him died back in the tunnel..."

Play it cool, Bill.

CATCHPHRASES
"Aieee!" and "Aieeeee!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
The year of the massive Volgan invasion of Britain is given as 1994.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Gerry Finley-Day
Artist: Mike Dorey
Letters: John Aldrich

REVIEW
Once again this has all the usual elements of an Invasion! strip: Savage assisting another star of the Resistance, escaping the Volgans in a lorry and some pun-friendly graphic violence. Crucially however, one of those elements is not all it appears to be and the Volgan agent purporting to be Geordie Price is the saving grace of this strip.

Alert Status Red + + + Crisis Point Exceeded + + + Alert Status

Judge Dredd: 'Sob Story', Part 2

NAME
Judge Dredd: 'Sob Story', Part 2

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. and Tornado Prog 132

DATELINE
29 Sep 79

This prog also featured ABC Warriors, Disaster 1990, Blackhawk and The Mind Of Wolfie Smith strips and a ABC Warriors cover by Mike McMahon.

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
The Best Of 2000AD 5, Judge Dredd Classics 68, The Complete Judge Dredd 12, Judge Dredd Chronicles Book 3, Judge Dredd 17, Judge Dredd Paperbacks vs Otto Sump and Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 03.

SYNOPSIS
Dredd uses Otto Sump to set a trap for the perps robbing Sob Story contestants.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First appearance of Otto Sump.

INFORMATION
(This strip takes place over the course of the week that follows Part 1)

In Mega-City One, there are mail collection points for Mo-Pads. The sewage department employs rat-scarers.

Forty-One successful Sob Story contestants have been murdered.

Prisons are staffed by droids.

JUDGE DREDD
He uses Otto Sump to set a trap for the perps robbing and murdering the Sob Story contestants. He hides in Sump's mo-pad and reveals himself when the perps attack. He kills all three.

OTHER CHARACTERS
OTTO SUMP
Dredd identifies him as the worst hard-luck case on record and enters him as a contestant for Sob Story. On the show, Sump claims to have been abandoned by his mother on the steps of a face-change clinic, to have had eight face changes and to have worked as a rat-scarer for the sewage department. He lives in a mo-pad which after his appearance of Sob Story, he labels 'As Seen On TV'. He is targeted by someone purporting to be a face-change specialist.

JOHHNY TEARJERKER
He is liable for the pending lawsuits of the 41 Sob Story contestants' families pleads to the viewers for financial assistance.

CHIEF JUDGE GRIFFIN
Otto Sump's story nearly moves him to tears.

ARRESTS
None.

DEATHS
Three. Dredd kills the three perps preying on Sob Story contestants and we discover that they have killed forty-one.

BEST LINES
'Dr. Benson': "I've done over forty of these little operations, Otto . When I'm finished with you you'll be just like Rudolph Valentino..."
Otto Sump: "Just like Rudolph Valentino! You mean - tall, dark and handsome?"
'Dr. Benson': "No - I mean dead!"

Otto Sump: "Heck, Judge, wish you'd waited till they'd changed my face before you conked 'em!"

WORST LINES
Dredd: "You call tell your sob stories to the prison droids!"
Perp: "That's what you think!"
Dredd: "That's what I know, Creep!"

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Rudolph Valentino (1895-1926), was an Italian actor who starred in silent films including The Four Horsemen Of The Apocalypse (1921), The Sheik (1921), Blood And Sand (1922), The Eagle (1925) & The Son Of The Sheik (1926).

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

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

REVIEW
Fantastic. Reality TV and the rocky road of fleeting fame are dealt with masterfully and Otto Sump is a magnificent character design. Although, it does beg the question: how long does Dredd hide in Sump's closet for?

Judge Dredd: 'Sob Story', Part 1

NAME
Judge Dredd: 'Sob Story', Part 1

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. and Tornado Prog 131

DATELINE
22 Sept 79

This prog also featured ABC Warriors, Disaster 1990, Blackhawk and The Mind Of Wolfie Smith strips and a Judge Dredd cover by Brian Bolland.

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
The Best Of 2000AD 5, Judge Dredd Classics 69, The Complete Judge Dredd 12, Judge Dredd Chronicles Book 3, Judge Dredd 17, Judge Dredd Paperbacks vs Otto Sump and Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 03.

SYNOPSIS
Dredd investigates a murder on a mo-pad.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First appearance of mo-pads.

INFORMATION
Mega-City One has a housing shortage and eighteen million people live in mo-pads constantly driving along the city's thirteen and a quarter billion miles of roadway.

Mo-pads can be set to drive on automatic. Some mo-pads are luxurious with huge vid systems, waste disposals, pools and onboard computers.

Sob Story is vid show on Channel 99 where unfortunate contestants appeal for money with hard luck stories. The programme has at least 200,000 viewers. Each contestant's address is given at the end of the programme.

JUDGE DREDD
He sees an out of control mo-pad and rides alongside on his Lawmaster. He climbs aboard and stops the vehicle, before exploring. He discovers a corpse in the pool and a note linking him to Sob Story. Dredd investigates Sob Story

OTHER CHARACTERS
MR RANDALL HODGIS
A wounded ex-soldier. He was a contestant on Sob Story. His royale mo-pad has been on automatic for 2 years, 11 months and 18 days. Dredd discovers his body when the mo-pad begins driving erratically and he climbs aboard. He finds Hodgis' skeleton floating in the pool with a bullet hole in the skull.

JOHNNY TEARJEARKER
Presenter of Sob Story.

ARRESTS
None.

DEATHS
None. Although the body of Randall Hodgis is discovered apparently 2 years, 11 months and 18 days after his murder.

BEST LINES
Johnny Tearjerker: "Time's up! Didn't she sob well?"

WORST LINES
Dredd (to mo-pad): "Stop, baby, stop!"

CATCHPHRASES
Dredd says "Dok!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
The Sob Sisters sing a slightly altered version of 'Hey Big Spender', a song written by Cy Coleman (1929-2004) and Dorothy Fields (1905-1974) for the musical Sweet Charity (1966), it was made a hit by Shirley Bassey (born 1937). "Didn't she sob well?" echoes "Didn't they do well?" one of the many, many catchphrases of Bruce Forsyth (1928).

MISTAKES
Shrangri La is an odd spelling on the side of a mo-pad.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

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

REVIEW
Between the rampant housing shortage and the salacious reality TV, this strip shows that the cracks in Mega-City One run deep. Ron Smith's art is great and Dredd's investigation unfolds brilliantly.

Find Out Next Prog!

Invasion!: 'Cheddar Gorge'

NAME
Invasion!: 'Cheddar Gorge'

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 22

DATELINE
23 July 77

PAGE COUNT
3

REPRINTS
Invasion!

SYNOPSIS
Savage helps improve supplies in Somerset.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First Nick Allen Invasion! script. Last Nick Allen Invasion! script.

INFORMATION
Mobile protein synthesisers can turn grass into protein.

BILL SAVAGE
He meets Roger Bacon. When a Volgan patrol kills Bacon's cattle, Savage destroys one of their vehicles with a grenade. He interrogates a surviving Volgan, who divulges that an important train from Birmingham is due to pass by. Savage convinces Bacon to attack it. They successfully steal a mobile protein synthesiser.

OTHER CHARACTERS
ROGER BACON
Resistance organiser for Somerset. He has a herd of cattle that he hides in the Cheddar caves. A Volgan patrol kills the herd. Savage convinces him to attack the train.

DEATHS
The Volgan patrol shoot a whole herd of cattle and Savage kills a Volgan armoured vehicle crew and later the solder he interrogates dies as well.

BEST LINES
Savage: "From what chummy said before he died, we gotta ambush a train from Birmingham!"

This line moves the plot on, tells us what we need to now and subtly relates what happened after the interrogation without the need to provide graphic detail.

WORST LINES
Bacon: "That line carries machinery built by slave - labour, not blasted beef - cattle!"

Why is this guy in charge?

CATCHPHRASES
A dying Volgan patrol scream "Aaieee!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Nick Allen
Artist: Carlos Pino
Letters: Jack Potter

In addition to this Invasion! strip, Nick Allen also wrote for M.A.C.H.1.

REVIEW
And now the Volgans are taking food out of British mouths. A nice little strip and the reduction in the page count doesn't make much of a difference. Also a nice pun on Gorge.

Alert Status Red + + + Don't Miss Next Prog

Judge Dredd: 'Dredd And The Mob Blitzers'

NAME
Judge Dredd: 'Dredd And The Mob Blitzers'
(according to Barney, this strip is also known as 'The Testimonial Of Lips Lazarus')

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. and Tornado Prog 130

DATELINE
15 Sept 79

PAGE COUNT
7

REPRINTS
The Best Of 2000AD 7, The Complete Judge Dredd 12, Judge Dredd's Crime Files 5, Judge Dredd: Mega City Vice Book 1 and Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 03.

SYNOPSIS
Dredd must protect a former ganger turned witness for the prosecution.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
Mega-City One has a spaceport and operates a safehouse on the Moon.

Conrad Conn was in The Beasts Who Ate Mars, while The Beasts Who Ate The Beasts Who Ate Mars featured Dino Valdi.

Mob Blitzers have automatic self-destruct machines implanted in them.

It is possible to survive a full body amputation if the head can be implanted into a life support bubble. A Series 4 Robotic Body can think, move and speak without the attachment of a head.

Judges use nose filters to protect them against poisonous gases. Named Judges: Judge Cage, Judge Hutch.

JUDGE DREDD
He is protecting Joe 'Lips' Lazarus from the mob. He instructs Lazarus to pretend to be Elmo Hammer and instruct the Mob Blitzers to surrender. They comply and their suicide boxes explode killing them all.

OTHER CHARACTERS
JOSEPH JOE 'LIPS' LAZARUS
Former gangster. He agreed to testify against his former boss, Elmo Hammer. He does impressions, Conrad Conn, Dino Valdi and Elmo Hammer are among them. A week ago, the mob attacked his secret hiding place on the Moon and his body had to be amputated, leaving him a head in a life support bubble and awaiting a Series 4 Robotic Body. Dredd protects him from an attack at the spaceport. The mob steal the Surgical Droids vehicle carrying his Series 4 Robotic Body and move to attack him at the hospital. Dredd instructs him to impersonate Elmo Hammer and to tell the Mob Blitzers to surrender. His impression is convincing enough that they comply and their suicide boxes explode killing them all.

ELMO HAMMER
Gangland boss, known as 'Da Hamma'. He wants Joe Lazarus dead.

ARRESTS
None.

DEATHS
At least ten. Two Mob Blitzers die in the crash at the spaceport, eight more when their suicide boxes go off.

BEST LINES
Series 4 Robotic Body: "Excuse me, I'm trying to find my head..."

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
Dying Mob Blitzers let out an "Aieee!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
Conrad Conn was seen in The Day The Law Died, Part 13, although see MISTAKES. The nose filters have either replaced the respirator seen in 'Battle For The Black Atlantic', or are being phased out themselves. The technology used to keep Lazarus alive is presumably a step on from that which kept Louis Mayer's brain alive in Harlem Heroes, Part 1 and then provided him with a robotic body from Inferno, Part 7.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Lazarus was the name of the man Jesus Christ is supposed to have brought back from the dead in chapter 11 of the Gospel of John. "You Doity Space Rats", is presumably a reference to "You dirty rat" a line attributed to James Cagney for decades despite his never actually saying it, the closest he got was in Taxi! (1932) with "Come out and take it, you dirty, yellow-bellied rat, or I'll give it to you through the door!"

MISTAKES
Conrad Conn's first name was spelt Conred in his previous appearance.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
Judge Cage and Judge Hutch must be somebody's little joke.

CREDITS
Script: John Howard
Artist: Dave Gibbons
Letters: Tom Frame

REVIEW
This is great. A satisfying story which initially misdirects the reader and then provides them with with graphic deaths from suicide boxes, a funny headless robot and a character trait which turns out to save the day without having been the obvious reason for its inclusion from the start.

Next Prog: Don't Miss Sob Story - You'll Cry Yourself To Death!

Invasion!: 'Sandringham'

NAME
Invasion!: 'Sandringham'

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 21

DATELINE
16 July 79

PAGE COUNT
4

REPRINTS
Extreme Edition 8 and Invasion!

SYNOPSIS
Savage reclaims Sandringham from a Volgan General.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
Volgan officers have moved into Britain's country houses.

BILL SAVAGE
He witnesses Rostov's murder. He and his group break into the grounds of Sandringham, cover themselves with mud, pose as statues and attack the Volgans when they pass. He knocks General Rostov off the roof, killing him.

OTHER CHARACTERS
GENERAL ROSTOV
He has taken over Sandringham. He enjoys shooting condemned British prisoners for sport. Savage knocks him off the roof of Sandringham.

DEATHS
Nine. Rostov shoots at least four prisoners dead. Savage and his men kill at least four Volgans. Savage knocks Rostov off the roof and he falls to his death.

BEST LINES
None.

WORST LINES
Savage: "Wrong head, Volg - That was a steel one. But I'm a hard nut too!"

CATCHPHRASES
Dying Volgans shout out "Aieeeeee!", while one Savage's group yells a "Aieeee!" as he dies at Rostov's hand.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
The Sandringham Estate is in Norfolk, privately owned by the British Royal Family and the house was built in 1870.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Gerry Finley-Day
Artist: Mike Dorey
Letters: Peter Knight

REVIEW
Savage's stupidest plan yet sees him take on the Volgans in his underpants, daubed with mud as he liberates a country house for no particular reason. Invasion! feels very much like it is treading water at the moment.

Savage Takes His War To The South-West, Next Prog

Judge Dredd: 'Christmas Party'

NAME
Judge Dredd: 'Christmas Party'

FIRST PUBLISHED
Dan Dare Annual 1980

DATELINE
1st September 1979

This strips appeared with plenty of Dan Dare strips and a cover by Kevin O'Neill.

PAGE COUNT
8

REPRINTS
Judge Dredd: The Restricted Files 01.

SYNOPSIS
Dredd is surprised by a Christmas Party and a brawl.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First crossover with Strontium Dog. Last story in a Dan Dare Annual.

INFORMATION
(This strip takes place during Christmas Day of 2099)

Luna City is sometimes referred to as Luna City One. The city has at least four Shuttle Pads and a City Jail. The Luna Hilton, Manhattan Towers and Shuttle Pad 4 are all close together. Luna-City P.D. operate as back up to the Judge-Marshall. There is an ordinance about making any kind of disturbance on any public holiday in Luna City. Christmas Day is a public holiday in Luna City.

A Lawmaster can travel upstairs.

JUDGE-MARSHAL DREDD
He lives in Manhattan Towers. Dredd has won some awards. On Christmas Day he drives past his home and sees lights on. He heads in on his Lawmaster to discover that he is receiving a surprise Christmas party. A multitude of IPC robots go on strike and Dredd and his guests fight them.

OTHER CHARACTERS
WALTER THE WOBOT
He attends Dredd's surprise Christmas party.

THARG & STARLORD
They attend Dredd's surprise Christmas party and Tharg offers Dredd a drink from an old Thargian recipe. They fight against the striking robots and are arrested by Dredd.

DAN DARE & THE MEKON
They attend Dredd's surprise Christmas party and Dare attempts to teach Mek-Quake Karate. His adventures are available to read. They fight against the striking robots and are arrested by Dredd.

RO-JAWS, HAMMER-STEIN, HOWARD QUARTZ & MEK-QUAKE
They attend Dredd's surprise Christmas party. Ro-Jaws drinks best quality ten year old lubrication oil. Mek-Quake reads Dan Dare's adventures asks Dare to teach him Karate. They fight against the striking robots and are arrested by Dredd.

JOHNNY ALPHA, WULF STERNHAMMER & THE GRONK
They attend Dredd's surprise Christmas party. They fight against the striking robots and are arrested by Dredd.

BILL SAVAGE
He attends Dredd's surprise Christmas party and fights against the striking robots. He is arrested by Dredd.

M.A.C.H. 0
He attends Dredd's surprise Christmas party and fights against the striking robots. He is arrested by Dredd.

O'GOSNELL
Luna-City P.D., he helps Dredd arrest himself and all his guests.

ARRESTS
Hundreds. Dredd sends everyone involved in the fight, including himself, to jail for one week.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
Dredd: "What's that?"
Script Robot: "E-9MZ[5/8+6Q]1/3%=8"
Ro-Jaws: "He says he's very sorry, that it won't happen again and could you give him his arm back, and put him down, please."

WORST LINES
Dredd: "Give 'em Hell!"

Why?

CATCHPHRASES
Walter says cwistmas, supwise,
Tharg says Borag Thung!
Dredd says "By Stomm!" and "What the Kronj is this?"
Wulf says he is "ready as a cucumber!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
Guests at the party include Tharg, Starlord, Johnny Alpha, Wulf Sternhammer and the Gronk from Strontium Dog, Ro-Jaws, Hammer-Stein, Howard Quartz and Mek-Quake from Ro-Busters, Dan Dare and the Mekon from Dan Dare, Bill Savage from Invasion!, Mach Zero from Mach Zero and what might be Sam Slade from Robo-Hunter.

For Dredd and Walter, this strip takes place during Dredd's tenure as Marshall of "Luna City One", specifically between Red Christmas and 22nd Century Futsie. but see MISTAKES below. Presumably Bill Savage, M.A.C.H. 0, Dan Dare and Johnny Alpha et al must use some form of time travel to get to the party, while Ro-Busters are probably still in operation 2099.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Johnny Alpha, Wulf Sternhammer and the Gronk sing a song called 'Home On The Moon' to the tune of 'Home On The Range'.

MISTAKES
22nd Century Futsie saw Dredd free on New Year's Eve 2099 and this strip suggest he won't get out until January the First.

RETROSPECT
Most of the strips featured here will crossover into Judge Dredd again one way or another.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Unknown
Artist: Keith Page
Letters: Unknown

Keith Page also provided art fro a Tharg's Future Shock, Strontium Dog and Heavy Metal Dredd.

REVIEW
This is pretty awful. The characters that crossover into Dredd's world do so without much explanation and barely interact. Why was this set during Dredd's time on the Moon? What was the point?

Judge Dredd: 'Mega-Miami'

NAME
Judge Dredd: 'Mega-Miami'

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Annual 1980

DATELINE
1st September 1979

2000AD's Annual for 1980 bore a cover by Gerry Woods and also featured three Tharg's Future Shocks, Ro-Busters, Invasion!, Dan Dare, Guinea Pig, The Phantom Patrol, a Walter The Wobot text story, an interview with Tharg, profiles, articles and a quiz.

PAGE COUNT
8

REPRINTS
Judge Dredd: The Restricted Files 01.

SYNOPSIS
Dredd investigates a series of robot malfunctions and in an unrelated matter Walter almost kills him.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First mentions of Mexico and the Caribbean Zone.

INFORMATION
The Mega-Rail is Mega-City One's mass transit system. Mega-Miami is a luxury spot and vacation centre at the extreme south of Mega-City One. The beach is made of sand of a silica formation unique to Mega-Miami. Beachfront technology includes the Instant techno towel booth that dries without friction, the Sand King Auto Model that makes sandcastles and a solar lamp that provides a tan in 10 seconds for 500 credits.

The Mega-Rail uses robo-guards, the sanitation department uses robot dustmen. 'Rustbacks' is a nickname given to illegally imported second rate robots. Illegally imported robot can be repaired, reprogrammed and apply to enter MC1 legally. Some robots are equipped with mini-nuke auto-destructs.

There are rowdiness and noise penal codes, but they don't apply to vacation centres. Judges have an alternate tropical uniform for warmer climes.

Sleep-Eezy squash is a sedative. Soyacoffee is beverage. Some individuals have built in poison probes.

Mexico and the Caribbean zone are nation states.

JUDGE DREDD
Following a spate of robot malfunctions and the discovery of a grain of sand from Mega-Miami, he heads there to investigate and takes Walter. Walter almost poisons his soyacoffee with cyanide believing it to be a sedative, but he doesn't drink due to his built in poison probe. He follows Walter to beach and arrests an illegal robot smuggler.

OTHER CHARACTERS
WALTER THE WOBOT
Dredd takes his to the beach in Mega-Miami and he falls for Lola. She convinces Walter to sedate Dredd with Sleep-Eezy squash.

LOLA
Robot. She convinces Walter to sedate Dredd with Sleep-Eezy squash, which in reality a bottle of cyanide.

ARRESTS
Two. Lola and her mistress are arrested for illegally importing robots.

DEATHS
Two. Dredd appears to kill two of the robot smugglers with one bullet.

BEST LINES
Robo-Guard: "Minda doors! Minda gap! Minda lil' pink ferrets!"

WORST LINES
Walter: "Judge Dwedd - You're alive!"
Perp: "Not for long - Zonk him!"

CATCHPHRASES
Dredd says "Oh Drokk" and "Stomm!", Walter says cweeps, dwawing, dweams, Dwedd, dwops, dwunk, fwend, gweetings, gwief, howwid, pwoperly, sowwy, surpwise, wavishing, wed, west, widiculous, wight, wobot, woses, wustbacks,

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
One of the beach-bums calls Walter a "Robot Romeo", obviously alluding Romeo And Juliet, the play by William Shakespeare (1564-1616). A rustback robots says "I come from Barthelona..." in the manner of Manuel from TV show Fawlty Towers (1975-1979)

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Unknown
Artist: David Jackson
Letters: Unknown

REVIEW
If you want to see Dredd pleased to see people enjoying themselves, Walter sedating Dredd and wacky racist accents this strip has got it all. Where is Dredd's built in poison probe built into? Why is there no penalty for Walter for attempting to medicate Dredd without his knowledge? Who thought this was a suitable analogy for illegal immigration? This is disappointing.

The End

Invasion!: 'Hell's Angels'

NAME
Invasion!: 'Hell's Angels'

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 20

DATELINE
9 July 79

PAGE COUNT
4 and a 1/2

REPRINTS
Extreme Edition 8 and Invasion!

SYNOPSIS
Savage takes on the Volgans highway patrols.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
The Volgans are using motorbike patrols on country highways, including armed sidecars.

BILL SAVAGE
His van has engine trouble and he heads to the Black Knight garage to see Greaser. A Volgan patrol arrive and Savage kills them all. He takes the van before Greaser can fix it. The van breaks down as another Volgan patrol catches up to them, but they are saved by a British biker gang. A third Volgan patrol arrive and Savage shoots the fuel tank of the central bike causing it to explode.

OTHER CHARACTERS
GREASER
Friend of Savage's. He runs the Black Knight Garage. The Volgans shoot him and leave him for dead. He telephones Mick and sends him to help Savage.

MICK
Biker. Friend of Greaser's. When Greaser calls him and tells him to send help for Savage, he gathers some other bikers and attacks a Volgan patrol, picks up Savage and attacks another Volgan patrol.

DEATHS
Five. Savage kills four Volgans. Another patrol kills Greaser.

BEST LINES
Savage: "You forgot somethin', mate - Bill Savage is riding shotgun!"

WORST LINES
Mick: "We're British riding British bikes, and we got somethin' to show you!"

CATCHPHRASES
Two dying Volgans each scream an "Aieeee!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Gerry Finley-Day
Artist: Mike Dorey
Letters: Peter Knight

REVIEW
Another friend of Savage's makes the supreme sacrifice, but it's good to see Savage have to deal with the consequences of his actions. Three Volgan patrols on the same road seems a little unlikely though, doesn't it?

Next Week + + + The Future Shocks Continue

Judge Dredd: 'Battle Of The Black Atlantic', Part 2

NAME
Judge Dredd: 'Battle Of The Black Atlantic', Part 2

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. and Tornado Prog 129

DATELINE
8 Sept 79

This prog also featured ABC Warriors, Disaster 1990, Tharg The Mighty and The Mind Of Wolfie Smith strip, an ABC Warriors map by Unknown and a Tharg The Mighty cover by Carlos Ezquerra.

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
2000AD Monthly 3, The Best Of 2000AD 4, Judge Dredd Classics 69, The Complete Judge Dredd 12, Judge Dredd Chronicles Book 26 and Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 03.

SYNOPSIS
Dredd arrests Sovs at sea.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
The Black Atlantic is so polluted that ingestion of its waters can kill.

Named Sov-Judges: Judge Molotov

JUDGE DREDD
He climbs out of the Black Atlantic and boards the Sov ship. He succumbs to poison in the water he swallowed. Doctor Rodnina saves his life. He comes on to her to steal a medical implement to cut himself free. He throws neat medicinal alcohol it in Molotov's face.

OTHER CHARACTERS
JUDGE MOLOTOV
Sov-Judge. He elects to kill Dredd, but he throws alcohol in Molotov's face and subdues Georgi, his henchman.

NICOLAI
Sov spy who acquired the plans for Mega-City One's laser defence system.

DOCTOR RODNINA
Sov ship's doctor. She saves Dredd's life.

ARRESTS
Dredd arrests the entire Sov vessel, possibly 1200 prisoners.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
Rodnina (after Dredd's advances): "Getting romantic? Such a recovery! Down, Tiger..."

WORST LINES
Georgi: "Huh? The Yank-side Judge!"

CATCHPHRASES
Dredd says both "Drokk you!" and "Dok", while Molotov says "I am the law aboard this ship"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

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

REVIEW
A couple of great character moments lift this from being a simple 'our Judge is tougher than your Judge' story.

The End.

Judge Dredd: 'Battle Of The Black Atlantic', Part 1

NAME
Judge Dredd: 'Battle Of The Black Atlantic', Part 1

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 128

DATELINE
1 Sep 78

This prog also featured ABC Warriors, Disaster 1990, Blackhawk, Captain Klep and The Mind Of Wolfie Smith strips and a Judge Dredd cover by Ron Smith.

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
2000AD Monthly 3, The Best Of 2000AD 4, Judge Dredd Classics 69, The Complete Judge Dredd 12, Judge Dredd Chronicles Book 26 and Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 03.

SYNOPSIS
After an uneventful crime blitz, Dredd investigates an East-Meg 1 spy at sea.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First crime blitz and first mentions of the Black Atlantic and 'spy-in-the-sky' hover cameras.

INFORMATION
Mega-City One's coastline borders the highly polluted Black Atlantic. The city is shielded from the Black Atlantic by a plasti-barrier, however there are cracks and repair gangs are expected to be fixing them. The city's jurisdiction of the ocean reaches forty miles from the shore. The docks have a customs area and a harbour gate. The city has a new laser defence system, a Science Institute and The Smiling Burger is on 433rd Street.

Section 59(D) of the Mega-City One Criminal Code is: "A Judge may enter a citizen's home to carry out routine intensive investigation. The citizen has no rights in this matter." This has become known as a crime blitz. Robots repair any damage and compensation is available for any inconvenience caused. Citizens found not to have committed a crime can receive a certificate of merit signed by the Chief Judge.

Judges have recently been equipped with new respirators and have access to 'spy-in-the-sky' hover cameras for surveillance. Named Judges: Judge Gibson, Judge Waldo

Citizens are required to keep credit statements for the last fifteen years. New Mutation is a prohibited magazine, unless you have a permit.

The Sov-Blok is surrounded by atomic desert. The Sovs have a fleet of Anti-Pollution ships.

A Turbo-Mist is a vehicle that was available for sale in 2099.

JUDGE DREDD
He can pilot a ship. He helped in a crime blitz on the home of Mr Sweet that found nothing, which piqued his interest and lead to surveillance of Mr Sweet and then reveals his involvement with an East-Meg 1 Spy. Dredd arrests him and follows Sweet's East-Meg 1 contact to the edge of the Black Atlantic and then into international waters where the Judge attempts to arrest an entire Sov Anti-Pol ship. He crashes into the other vessel and falls into the Black Atlantic.

OTHER CHARACTERS
MR SWEET
A spy passing information to East-Meg 1 posing as a researcher at the Science Institute. He is subject to a crime blitz that finds nothing, which in itself intrigues Dredd.

ARRESTS
One. Mr Sweet is arrested for passing secrets to East-Meg 1. Plus a shipful.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
Dredd: "How many 59Ds you done, Waldo?"
Waldo: "Gee, I dunno - hundreds."
Dredd: "And what's your arrest rate?"
Waldo: "Hundred per cent. Everyone gets a caution at least..."
Dredd: "Exactly!"

WORST LINES
Dredd: "Don't run away, Citizen!"

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
This story represents an escalation in hostilities since the Sov-Blok were last seen in the Judge Dredd stories The First Luna Olympics and 'Luna 1 War'.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

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

REVIEW
The Fascistic presumption of guilt in the crime blitz opening would clearly have been enough material for an entire strip, but here it is merely the springboard for a story that takes on an international dimension with surprising ease.

Crazy Enough To Tangler With You, J. D.! Don't Miss Next Prog!

Invasion!: 'The Road To Hell'

NAME
Invasion!: 'The Road To Hell'

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 19

DATELINE
2 July 78

PAGE COUNT
4 and a 1/2

REPRINTS
Extreme Edition 3 and Invasion!

SYNOPSIS
Savage doesn't fit in at a Resistance base and takes on a Volgan firing squad.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
The V-1 is a road under construction that will run from north to south linking Leeds, Sheffield, Nottingham and Leicester en route.

BILL SAVAGE
After losing their hideout, he and his men take refuge at another Resistance base. The Brigadier in charge takes exception to Savage and is determined that he go through military training. Savage submits to drill and a ten mile run, but ultimately kicks his superior officer in the face and leaves. He discovers a Volgan firing squad about to kill four British workers and he uses a roadlayer to flatten the Volgans into the road. He rescues the British workers.

OTHER CHARACTERS
SILK
He takes refuge at another Resistance base.

DEATHS
Seven. A Volgans shoots an exhausted construction worker building the V-1 road dead. Savage runs over six Volgans with a roadlayer.

BEST LINES
None.

WORST LINES
Savage: "Went for a burn-up you might say!"

CATCHPHRASES
Two Volgans cry "Aieeee" and "Aieeeeee"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
The exhausted British workers wear the same uniforms as the prisoners in Invasion!: 'Dartmoor'.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Gerry Finley-Day
Artist: Mike Dorey
Letters: Tom Frame

REVIEW
All the ingredients are here: Savage has an authority figure to kick against. Quite literally. He has an opportunity to inflict graphic violence on Volgan troops, and flattening them into the road both provides them with a gruesome death and makes great use of Savage's need to drive large vehicles. To do so in the service of exhausted British workers, who aren't explicitly stated as being slave workers, but its certainly implied.

And Look Out For A New Serial - Shako!

Judge Dredd: 'Night Of The Fog'

NAME
Judge Dredd: 'Night Of The Fog'

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. and Tornado Prog 127

DATELINE
25 Aug 79

2000 A.D. and Starlord is dead! Long live 2000 A.D. and Tornado! The first ever prog of 2000 A.D. and Tornado contained ABC Warriors, Disaster 1990, Blackhawk, Captain Klep and The Mind Of Wolfie Smith strips and a cover featuring Tharg and the characters crossing over from Tornado by Dave Gibbons.

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
The Best Of 2000AD 50, The Complete Judge Dredd 12, Judge Death: Dredd vs. Death, Judge Dredd Definitive Ed. Metal Fatigue, Judge Death: Classic Judge Dredd, Judge Dredd Chronicles Book 1, Judge Death: Judge Dredd featuring Judge Death, Judge Dredd (Volume 2) 14 and Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 03.

SYNOPSIS
Fog descends on part of Mega-City One and Dredd investigates a series of disappearances.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First female Judge.

INFORMATION
The Mega-City Chamber Of Horrors and Luigi's Diner are in Mega-City One's Weather District 6.

A Lawmaster's infra-red beam can detect footprints. Named Judges: Judge Kelly

JUDGE DREDD
He investigates the disappearances and confronts the replica of Sweeney Todd, exposing him to be

OTHER CHARACTERS
THE MANAGER OF THE MEGA-CITY CHAMBER OF HORRORS
He manages the Mega-City Chamber Of Horrors. It was losing money, so when the fog descended on Weather District 6 he reprogrammed his robot replicas of Sweeney Todd, Burke And Hare and the Hunchback of Notre Dame to rob and bring back the money, but their original programming was too strong and they killed instead.

ARRESTS
One. The manager of the Mega-City Chamber Of Horrors.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
Dredd: "The fun's over, Citizen! I'm taking you in!"
Victim: "Oh good! Can I come down now?"

WORST LINES
Dredd (having nothing about robots whatsoever): "I was right- a robot!"

CATCHPHRASES
Dredd "Crime never pays, Citizen! You're under arrest!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Sweeney Todd first appeared in The String Of Pearls: A Romance, a penny dreadful published from 1846 to 1847, author unknown. Dredd believes Todd to be a genuine historical character and although there is no proof, rumours persist. Burke (1792–1829) and Hare (1792 or 1804-1829), were very real and killed sixteen people in 1828 and sold the corpses to Doctor Robert Knox as dissection material for his well-attended anatomy lectures. The Hunchback of Notre-Dame is the protagonist of the 1831 novel The Hunchback Of Notre Dame Victor Hugo (1802-1885), and he bears a resemblance here to the character as he appeared in the 1923 film version, played by Lon Chaney (1883-1930). In the last panel, the manager the Mega-City Chamber Of Horrors looks a bit like actor Boris Karloff (1887-1969).

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: John Howard
Artist: Brian Bolland
Letters: Tom Frame

REVIEW
A brilliantly moody piece with a very simple story.

Invasion!: 'Breakout'

NAME
Invasion!: 'Breakout'

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 18

DATELINE
25 June 77

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
Extreme Edition 8 and Invasion!

SYNOPSIS
Savage's hideout is discovered.

FIRSTS & LASTS
Last appearance of Savage's hideout.

INFORMATION
When New Scotland Yard became Volgan Security HQ, the Flying Squad were given the option the remain. Most declined.

BILL SAVAGE
He leads a raid on a Volgan supply lorry and sends the food inside to feed British civilians. He survives Sload's attack on the Mad Dogs' hideout and escapes with Silk.

OTHER CHARACTERS
SLOAD
Ex-Detective in the British Flying Squad. He now works for the Volgans. He finds Savage's hideout.

ROGAN
Ex-Mechanic for the British Flying Squad. He left rather than work for the Volgans. He warns Savage about Sload and successfully tunes up an engine in less than four minutes to aid the Mad Dogs' escape.

SILK
He survives Sload's attack on the Mad Dogs' hideout and escapes with Savage.

DEATHS
Dozens. At least three Volgan soldiers are killed in Savage's initial supply raid. Some of two Volgan tank crews are killed by bazooka fire, a falling lorry or being run over by a stolen Volgan car. Rogan crashes into Sload's cannon and the resulting explosion kills them both. Half of the Mad Dogs are killed.

BEST LINES
Sload: "Okay, Uncle - you gonna tell me where Savage's factory is...or do my boys here give you limp in the other leg?"

WORST LINES
Silk: "Another slick job done, Savage -right under the Volgan's noses!"
Savage: "Yeah - but we gotta play it careful, Silk - the Volgs'll be using their hooters to sniff us out!"

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Gerry Finley-Day
Artist: Carlos Pino
Letters: Tom Frame

REVIEW
This is enjoyable and ups the ante somewhat. Savage on the run is a far more realistic concept for this strip. Rogan's sacrifice is essentially exactly the same as Fingers Frampton's sacrifice last week, which robs it of the significance it might have had.

Sequence Ends + + + Continuance Ends + + + Sequence Ends + + + C

Judge Dredd: 'The Guinea Pig That Changed The Law'

NAME
Judge Dredd: 'The Guinea Pig That Changed The Law'

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. and Starlord Prog 126

DATELINE
18 Aug 79

The last ever 2000 A.D. and Starlord also contains ABC Warriors, Disaster 1990, Dan Dare and Project Overkill strips and a Disaster 1990 cover by an unknown artist

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
The Complete Judge Dredd 12, Judge Dredd 29 and Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 03.

SYNOPSIS
Dredd makes a stand against experimentation on animals.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
Mega-Labs is a scientific facility in Mega-City One.

The Domestic Cat can be made to talk through stimulation of unused parts of the brain.

The common cold has been wiped out. The population has lost its resistance.

The Dredd Act bans the use of animals for experimentation.

JUDGE DREDD
At the behest of a talking cat he attempts to prevent the murder of Monty, but is powerless when he discovers the potential victim is a guinea pig.

OTHER CHARACTERS
DOCTOR GALT
Works at Mega-Labs. He is an expert in ancient diseases. Galt has written a novel under the pseudonym 'Rex Leaper' about an individual who blackmails Mega-City One by recreating the common cold ands threatening to spread the infection. He has recreated the common cold and plans to blackmail the city in the same way, but instead becomes infected himself.

THE TALKING CAT
A cat used as an experimental subject at Mega-Labs and is able to talk. It brings Dredd to Mega-Labs to prevent Monty's murder.

MONTY
A one-eyed guinea pig used as an experimental subject at Mega-Labs. Dredd gives him to Walter to look after.

WALTER THE WOBOT
Dredd gives Monty to Walter.

ARRESTS
None.

DEATHS
One. Doctor Galt is killed by his own cold culture.

BEST LINES
Cat: "They're gonna kill Monty - but the deed ain't yet been did! Come on - I'll show you!"

WORST LINES
Dredd: "See here, Doctor - a guinea pig is one thing, but you can't destroy an animal this cat out of hand."

CATCHPHRASES
Dredd exclaims a "My Dok", Walter says cwipes.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Galt says "That damned Cat", which references the title of the film That Darn Cat (1965)

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: John Howard
Artist: John Cooper
Letters: Tom Frame

REVIEW
On the face of it, this is ridiculous and Galt's novel which has the same plot as his plan is very convenient, but the unnamed talking cat may just be the most realistically characterised individual to appear in the strip to date and boasting some of its best dialogue.

Next Prog: 2000 AD And Tornado join forces!

Invasion!: 'Slaves'

NAME
Invasion!: 'Slaves'

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 17

DATELINE
18 June 77

PAGE COUNT
4

REPRINTS
Invasion!

SYNOPSIS
Savage frees some slaves.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
The Volgans are selling captured British army servicemen and selling them at auction as slaves. The Volgans use Napalm grenades.

BILL SAVAGE
With the help of Fingers Frampton he frees a group of slaves and closes a slavemarket.

OTHER CHARACTERS
FINGERS FRAMPTON
The biggest pickpocket in the East End. He suffered from radiation poisoning from a Volgan nuclear attack. He steals the slavemaster's key for Savage, but is killed for being caught without papers.

DEATHS
Three. The Volgan slavemaster shoots an ex-sergeant major with radioactive contamination and Fingers Frampton dead, but is later killed by his own grenade.

BEST LINES
None.

WORST LINES
"What - Fingers Frampton, biggest pickpocket in the East End - how can you help?"

CATCHPHRASES
ex-sergeant major screams a "Aieeeeee!" while a Volgan tank crew yell a "Aieeeee!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Gerry Finley-Day
Artist: Mike Dorey
Letters: John Aldrich

REVIEW
Invasion! takes another slice of Volgan cruelty and deals with it in a very perfunctory way.

Judge Dredd: Father Earth, Part 4

NAME
Judge Dredd: Father Earth, Part 4

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. and Starlord Prog 125

DATELINE
11 Aug 79

This prog also featured ABC Warriors, Disaster 1990, Dan Dare and Project Overkill strips and a ABC Warriors cover by Mike McMahon.

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
Judge Death: Judge Death, Judge Death: Classic Judge Dredd, Judge Dredd 4, Judge Dredd Annual 1989, The Complete Judge Dredd 12 and Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 03.

SYNOPSIS
Father Earth's crusade comes to an end.

FIRSTS & LASTS
Last appearance of Gestapo Bob and the Cosmic Punks.

INFORMATION
Mega-City One has a Biotanic Gardens with a collection of alien carnivorous plants. The city also operates more than one penal colony in space.

The Bloodplant is a carnivorous alien plant. It's call is hypnotic and draws its victim in toward its mouth. It should only be kept in a soundproof tank.

Planet K37 Puffballs attach themselves to skin and grow, with deadly consequences.

Music an be played into a Judge's helmet at high volume.

JUDGE DREDD
He heads to the Biotanic Gardens and witnesses the death of Father Earth.

OTHER CHARACTERS
FATHER EARTH
He leads his crusade to Mega-City One's Biotanic Gardens and declares its Bloodplant to be The God Plant. The Bloodplant eats him.

GESTAPO BOB
He and the Cosmic Punks have joined forces with Father Earth's crusade and re-entered the city. Dredd arrests them and sentences them to serve life in a penal colony in space.

ARRESTS
None.

DEATHS
Probably hundreds. A Keeper is shot dead, Dredd shoots out the fuel tank for a flame thrower causing an explosion which must have at least killed the wearer, at least two visitors, Father Earth and one of his attendants are swallowed by the Bloodplant.

BEST LINES
Father Earth (to his attendant): "The God Plant! Only you and I survive my dear! Only we have been considered pure enough to gaze upon his majesty!"
(the Blood plant swallows his attendant.)
Father Earth: "I spoke too soon."

WORST LINES
Cosmic Punk (as Dredd shoot the fuel tank on the flame thrower): "The fuel tank! He - Aahh"

CATCHPHRASES
A Doomsday Dog shouts an "Aieeee!" while Father Earth's attendant screams an "Aieeeeee".

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
Cosmic Punks Punks Rule.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

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

REVIEW
Bizarre. Father Earth's crusade ends in something of a whimper, the Cosmic Punks opportunistic return to Mega-City One is dealt with quite perfunctorily and the Power Tower disaster goes unmentioned.

Judge Dredd: Father Earth, Part 3

NAME
Judge Dredd: Father Earth, Part 3

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. and Starlord Prog 124

DATELINE
4 Aug 79

This prog also featured ABC Warriors, Disaster 1990, Dan Dare and Project Overkill strips and a cover by Carlos Ezquerra.

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
Judge Death: Judge Death, Judge Death: Classic Judge Dredd, Judge Dredd 4, Judge Dredd Annual 1989 and Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 03.

SYNOPSIS
The Holocaust Squad get the Power Tower disaster under control.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
The Holocaust Squad are a disaster control team that attends suicide missions. In the intense heat of a volcano a fire-suit will only last three minutes.

JUDGE DREDD
He races to the scene of the Power Tower disaster and oversees the Holocaust Squad.

OTHER CHARACTERS
MITCH
Last surviving member of the Holocaust Squad that attends the Power Tower disaster. He and his team jump into the lava and he successfully shuts off the main valve.

FATHER EARTH
His army attacks the south wall.

ARRESTS
None.

DEATHS
Maybe thousands. We see Dorothy fall to her death and another woman is crush between two halves of a crevasse. The Holocaust Squad members Charlie, Mitch, Andy, Vance all burn up in the volcano.

BEST LINES
Dredd (as he is saved from a wave of lava): "What took you so long?"
Hover Wagon Judge: "You want we should get a ticket for speeding?"

WORST LINES
Citizen: "The lava - aaagh!"

CATCHPHRASES
Dredd says "By Grud"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

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

REVIEW
The change of artwork jars and Father Earth barely appears, but the Holocaust Squad are great and the deaths of Dorothy and the woman trapped in the closing crevasse are wonderful.

Next Prog: Cry Of The Blood Plant!

Judge Dredd: Father Earth, Part 2

NAME
Judge Dredd: Father Earth, Part 2

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. and Starlord Prog 123

DATELINE
28 July 79

This prog also featured ABC Warriors, Disaster 1990, Dan Dare and Project Overkill and a Dan Dare cover by Dave Gibbons.

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
Judge Death: Judge Death, Judge Death: Classic Judge Dredd, Judge Dredd Annual 1989, Judge Dredd 4 and Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 03.

SYNOPSIS
Dredd arrests Doomsday Dogs, confronts Father and attempts to prevent an election.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First appearance of Barney.

INFORMATION
Votes are cast not in voting booths, but by citizens pressing the voting buttons on their video panels. In Election '01 the resulting power surge set off a bomb in the Power Tower causing lava to rain down on and crevasses to open up in Mega-City One.

City Hall's computer is called Barney. It is used to count the votes cast in an election.

Named Judges: Judge Pym, Judge Rix,

JUDGE DREDD
He shoots Doomday Dog at Power Tower, confronts Father Earth outside the city limits, attends the election at City Hall and realises that the associated power surge is going to cause an explosion, but fails to prevent the voting.

OTHER CHARACTERS
FATHER EARTH
His ten thousand strong crusade has reached the south wall of Mega-City One.

BARNEY
City Hall's computer. It is used to count the votes cast in an election.

ARRESTS
At least three. At least three Doomsday Dogs are arrested

DEATHS
Possibly hundreds. Dredd shoots a Doomsday Dog in the back and he might not recover and we see several citizens falling into crevasses opened up by the Power Tower explosion.

BEST LINES
Dredd: "Shoot first, make arrests later!"

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
A deafened Doomsday Dog shouts an "Aieee!", while a falling citizen spells her's "Aieeee!", Dredd says "My Dok"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

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

REVIEW
Bolland's art continues to impress, the script is great and Dredd's involvement in the three supposedly unrelated plot strands is very well haldled as is his moment of realisation regarding the power surge.

Next Prog: Meet The Holocaust Squad!

Judge Dredd: Father Earth, Part 1

NAME
Judge Dredd: Father Earth, Part 1

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. and Starlord Prog 122

DATELINE
21 July 79

This prog saw the price rise to twelve pence and also featured ABC Warriors, Disaster 1990, Dan Dare and Project Overkill strips, the last part of Ro-Jaws And Hammerstein's Book Of Robots and a Dan Dare cover by Kevin O'Neill.

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
Judge Death: Judge Death, Judge Death: Classic Judge Dredd, Judge Dredd Annual 1989, Judge Dredd 4 and Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 03.

SYNOPSIS
Father Earth's crusade marches on Mega-City One, while his undercover operatives attack the Power Tower.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First appearance of the Power Tower.

INFORMATION
(The day of the election)

Power Tower is Mega-City One's southern electricity generating complex. It is built around a di-crystal central bore hole that descends one hundred miles into the Earth's crust tapping power from the planet's molten core. Scanners on the city's Mutieland wall constantly screen the Cursed Earth for signs of danger.

Dunks is a nickname for pickpockets, while taps are muggers and pongos are confidence tricksters.

Robots do not have the vote.

The Doomsday Dogs form part of Father Earth's crusade.

JUDGE DREDD
He arrests several people during election day.

OTHER CHARACTERS
IKE & IRMA COBB
Couple that run a trading post in the Cursed Earth. They are killed by Father Earth, strangled by his creepers. He has them buried with some seeds so that their bodies will nourish the plants.

FATHER EARTH
Mutant with plants growing over him. He leads a ten thousand strong crusade against Mega-City One. He can control the creepers that grow over him, but they must be watered.

JIM GRUBB
He has been Mayor for eight years. He is up for re-election.

MRS MYRA SCHRYLL
She seeks election as Mayor representing Con-Cit.

ARRESTS
A number. Dredd arrests a dunk for having 47 wallets on his person and sentences him to two years, and makes a number of other arrests including sentencing L Phillips to five months and P Kranski for two years.

DEATHS
Two. Ike And Irma Cobb are strangled by Father Earth's creepers

BEST LINES
Dredd: "You normally carry forty-seven wallets, pal?"
Perp: "How much time I got to answer that, Judge?"
Dredd: "Try two years!"

WORST LINES
Ike Cobb: "Creepers! Strangling us - uhhhnn!"

CATCHPHRASES
Dredd says "My Dok!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
Jim Grubb mentions standing up to Cal in The Day The Law Died, part 4 .

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: John Howard
Artist: Brian Bolland
Letters: Tom Frame

REVIEW
This is a great start with three apparently separate plot strands being drawn together. Bolland's art is magnificent and design of Father Earth is fantastic.

Next Prog: Power Tower Erupts!

Invasion!: 'Bounty Hunter'

NAME
Invasion!: 'Bounty Hunter'

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 16

DATELINE
16 June 77

PAGE COUNT
4 and a 1/2

REPRINTS
Extreme Edition 5 and Invasion!.

SYNOPSIS
The Volgans set a Bounty Hunter after Savage and two other Resistance leaders.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First work with other Resistance groups.

INFORMATION
The Pound is still in circulation. The exchange rate is 1 Volgsmark to £3.33

BILL SAVAGE
His full name is William Alfred Savage. The Volgans are offering reward for his death of £500,000. He heads to a meeting with Rocker and Ryan only to find them dead and Quarry after him.

OTHER CHARACTERS
MICHAEL ROCKER
The Volgans are offering reward for his death of £250,000. Quarry kills him.

JAMES RYAN
The Volgans are offering reward for his death of £250,000. Quarry kills him.

QUARRY
Bounty hunter. The Volgans assign him to kill Rocker, Ryan and Savage. He succeeds with the first two, but the latter wrongfoots him into driving into a stone quarry and he is presumed killed in the resulting explosion.

DEATHS
Three, Quarry kills Rocker and Ryan, before driving over a precipice into a stone quarry.

BEST LINES
Savage: "Stinkin' bounty hunter - well you ain't gettin' me, Scum!"
Quarry: "For half a million quid, I'd get anyone!"

WORST LINES
Savage: "Just gotta blind you for a second..."

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
None.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Gerry Finley-Day
Artist: Carlos Pino
Letters: Peter Knight

REVIEW
Another disappointing episode as the most obvious "it's a trap" set up turn out to be a trap. And then Quarry fell in the quarry.

Next - The Slave Market!

Judge Dredd: The Forever Crimes

NAME
Judge Dredd: The Forever Crimes

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. and Starlord Prog 120

DATELINE
7 July 79

This prog also featured ABC Warriors, Disaster 1990, Dan Dare and Project Overkill strips, some more of Ro-Jaws And Hammerstein's Book Of Robots and a cover by Dave Gibbons.

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
The Best Of 2000AD 49, The Complete Judge Dredd 11, Judge Death: Dredd vs. Death, Judge Dredd Definitive Ed. Future Crime, Judge Death: Classic Judge Dredd, Judge Dredd Chronicles Book 1, Judge Death: Judge Dredd Featuring Judge Death, Judge Dredd 1, Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 03 and online at Barney.

SYNOPSIS
Dredd uncovers a blackmail scheme that preys on the relative of those in suspended animation.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First appearance of Shuggy.

INFORMATION
(The year is 2101)

Ryker's Shuggy Hall on Mega-City One's 2005th Street. The Forever Towers Home For The Semi-Dead is an expensive suspended animation facility. The citizens of Mega-City One pay City Tax.

There are still diseases that medical science cannot cure, but estimations of remaining life expectancy are very accurate. The rich can put their bodies into suspended animation to hold off death.

Beneath the Justice building are Vaults containing a suspended animation facility which houses criminals who have been sentenced pending a cure for their medical condition. Should they ever be cured they will then serve their full sentence.

Shuggy is a game with similarities to pool, but with an uneven bumpy table and pockets atop the hills.

JUDGE DREDD
He delivers the news of the death of Mrs Dreyfus' son to her and learns that he was being blackmailed by Jurgen Monks. He investigates Monks and discovers that all his victims are linked to The Forever Towers Home For The Semi-Dead. He confronts Dr Gold and finds out he's been blackmailing the relatives of his charges. Gold attacks him, Dredd shoots him and inters him in the Justice Department's suspended animation facility.

OTHER CHARACTERS
DR JAMES JULIUS GOLD
He works at The Forever Towers Home For The Semi-Dead. Gold wakes the patients from suspended animation to discover their secrets and blackmail their relatives. Dredd discovers his crime, confronts him and shoots him causing a brain injury. Dredd has him put into suspended animation under the Justice Building pending developments in medical science that will cure his condition and sentences him to life.

MRS DREYFUS
An elderly lady in suspended animation at The Forever Towers Home For The Semi-Dead. She had two hours left to live. Her son committed suicide because he was being blackmailed by a Jurgen Monks. Dredd interviews her about her son and on hearing he is dead she decides to die as well.

JURGEN MONKS
Blackmailer of Mrs Dreyfus' son and many other Mega-City One citizens that have relatives in suspended animation at The Forever Towers Home For The Semi-Dead. Monks flees Dredd and climbs into a garbage disposal chute believing it to be a laundry chute, he is killed.

MR ARMITAGE
He is in suspended animation at The Forever Towers Home For The Semi-Dead. He has a daughter called Mary, that Dr Gold is attempting to blackmail. Gold questions her father whilst he is in suspended animation and in his weakened state he reveals that she has a second bank account under a false name and has been cheating city tax for years.

ARRESTS
Two. Ryker, the Shuggy Hall owner is arrested. Gold will serve life for blackmail as soon as he can be cured of his Dredd-induced brain injury and released from suspended animation.

DEATHS
Three. Mrs Dreyfus, her son and Jurgen Monks all arguably commit suicide.

BEST LINES
Dredd: "Even death is no escape from the law!"

WORST LINES
Monks: "Judge Dredd! Heck-"

CATCHPHRASES
Dredd shouts to Monks to "Stop in the name of the law!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Dredd uses Mack first seen (as M.A.C.) in 'The Wreath Murders'.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: John Howard
Artist: Brian Bolland
Letters: Tom Frame

REVIEW
This is fantastic. Bolland's art is superb, a great example of future crime and the notion of keeping a perp alive through artificial means so that one they may be able to serve life imprisonment is brilliant.

Invasion!: 'The Doomsdale Scenario', Part 3

NAME
Invasion!: 'The Doomsdale Scenario', Part 3

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 15

DATELINE
4 June 77

PAGE COUNT
4

REPRINTS
Extreme Edition 3 and Invasion!

SYNOPSIS
Savage gets into Doomsdale backwards.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First Invasion! three parter.

INFORMATION
Doomsdale Nuclear Research Station is destroyed by the Resistance.

BILL SAVAGE
He hops the fence at Doomsdale Nuclear Research Station and steals a tanker lorry full of acid, which he reverses into the building and in the crash the tanker breaches and the acid pours into the building burning many Volgans and eats through the reactor's cooling pipes starting a fire. He flees the scene and jumps into the sea. Later he heads to a Resistance safe house in a pub cellar.

OTHER CHARACTERS
PETER SILK
He dresses up as a Volgan, but gets arrested. He escapes during the distraction that Savage causes. Later he heads to a Resistance safe house in a pub cellar.

BRIGADIER BENTLEY-PEARSON
He leatned to speak Volg at Sandhurst. He dresses up as a Volgan, but gets arrested. He escapes during the distraction that Savage causes. Later he heads to a Resistance safe house in a pub cellar.

DEATHS
Nine. Savage shoots a Volgan dead, runs over two more and then drowns at least six in acid.

BEST LINES
Savage: "Gonna back up - all the way in!"

WORST LINES
Silk: "No good, Savage, the gates are closed!"

CATCHPHRASES
"Staga!" seems to be the Volgan word of the day.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
The calling out an order in English trick is from The Great Escape (1963).

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Gerry Finley-Day
Artist: Mike Dorey
Letters: John Aldrich

REVIEW
And then there was this deus ex machina full of acid and Savage reversed it into the...who cares?

Thrill Power Peaks + + + Next Prog + + +

Invasion!: 'The Doomsdale Scenario', Part 2

NAME
Invasion!: 'The Doomsdale Scenario', Part 2

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 14

DATELINE
28 May 77

PAGE COUNT
4 and a 1/2

REPRINTS
Extreme Edition 3 and Invasion!

SYNOPSIS
The S.A.S. drop is intercepted by the Volgans.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
Porcupines are Volgan helicopters with rapid fire mini-guns. The Volgans are using Doomsdale Nuclear Research Station in Cumbria to develop a neutron bomb.

The S.A.S. Commandos use Para-Kites. The Superhercules is an aeroplane used by the Canadians.

BILL SAVAGE
Before the invasion, he used to drive nuclear waste to Doomsdale Nuclear Research Station.

OTHER CHARACTERS
BRIGADIER BENTLEY-PEARSON
He comes to witness the S.A.S. drop, but encounters a tramp who claims to have been in the army. Despite Savage's protections he lets him go and the tramp alerts the Volgans.

PETER SILK
He plans to dress up in Volgan uniforms and attack the Doomsdale Nuclear Research Station. Savage dismisses his plan.

DEATHS
At least seven. Four S.A.S. paratroopers killed by Volgan Porcupines, two Volgan Porcupine crew killed by a dying S.A.S. paratrooper and two more Volgans and one tramp shot dead by Savage.

BEST LINES
Silk: "Good work, Savage! You've given us the chance to hit the base after all - give me a hand to get the uniforms of the dead Volgans!"

WORST LINES
Volgan Porcupine Pilot: "British terrorists! We are landing among them and our mini-guns are empty! Get your pistol!"

Savage (continued from BEST LINES above): "I know what you're thinking, Silk, and it ain't gonna work! There's only one way to do that base...Bill Savage style!"

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
On the face of it the events of this strip set the Resistance's plan back to the square one, but that presumes that they are aware of the entire plans of the S.A.S. commandos, which of course they aren't. The original plan is obviously more complicated than aerial bombardment, so there must be more to it than boom and yet "Bill Savage style" doesn't sound subtle.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

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

REVIEW
This is pretty awful. Bill Savage is on the sidelines and the S.A.S. and Porcupine crew have time to make epic speeches as they die and/or crash. The tramp is an obvious device and the plot isn't advanced at all, plus "Bill Savage style" sounds pretty dreadful.

Sequence Ends + + + Continuance Ends + + +

Invasion!: 'The Doomsdale Scenario', Part 1

NAME
Invasion!: 'The Doomsdale Scenario', Part 1

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 13

DATELINE
21 May 77

PAGE COUNT
4

REPRINTS
Extreme Edition 3 and Invasion!

SYNOPSIS
The King's Messenger gets his message across.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
The curfew enforced by the Volgans is 19:00. Volgans use TV detector vans to determine who is watching forbidden broadcasts from Canada, such as those made by King Charles III. Anglo-Canadian forces are working against the Volgans.

There is Nuclear Research Station at Doomsdale.

Tri Vision is a form of television.

A Greyhound Drop is the name given the King's messenger delivering a message in person, because it cannot be entrusted to normal codes.

BILL SAVAGE
He kills five Volgans. Savage is present when the King's messenger dies.

OTHER CHARACTERS
KING CHARLES III
He broadcasts from Canada.

BRIGADIER BENTLEY-PEARSON
He arranges the pick up for the King's messenger and is present when he dies.

THE KING'S MESSENGER
He flies from Canada in a Tornado jet and ejects at pre-arranged co-ordinates. His plane is destroyed by a Volgans missile and he is caught in the explosion. He passes on the King's message before he dies from hi injuries. The message is that there will be an airborne commando raid by Anglo-Canadian forces on the Doomsdale Nuclear Research Station in two days.

DEATHS
Six. Savage kills four Volgans with his shotgun and smashes his TV onto another. The King's messenger dies as a result of injuries sustained when he was caught in the explosion of his plane.

BEST LINES
Savage: "Wotcher, Brig!"

WORST LINES
Savage: "Heck! Behind me-!"

CATCHPHRASES
"This is Canada calling" (see INFLUENCES & REFERENCES below).

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
Presumably Tri Vision is a forerunner of the Tri-D seen in Harlem Heroes, part 12 and Judge Dredd: Robot Wars, part 3 .

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
"This is Canada calling" references propaganda radio programme Germany Calling, broadcast by Nazi Germany to audiences in the UK and the USA during World War II. Savage alludes to TV closedown at the end of the day. Greyhound was a call sign also used by UNIT in Doctor Who during the seventies.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

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

REVIEW
It's obvious that this story takes place on a larger scale than usual because Savage is kept in the dark, but it's already obvious it will all go wrong and Savage will come to the rescue.

Next - Para-Kite Commandos Hit Doomsdale!