Black Hawk, Part 17

NAME
Black Hawk, Part 17

FIRST PUBLISHED
Tornado Issue 20

DATELINE
4 Aug 79

This issue of Tornado also featured The Angry Planet, The Mind Of Wolfie Smith, The Lawless Touch, Storm, Captain Klep, Tornado's True Tales, Victor Drago, Big E In Action and Victor Drago's Black Museum Of Villains, with a cover by Unknown.

PAGE COUNT
4

REPRINTS
Black Hawk: The Intergalactic Gladiator.

SYNOPSIS
Black Hawk meets some new recruits.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
None.

BLACK HAWK
He and his men arrive back in Rome. He is greeted as a hero by the slaves outside the city, but prevented from entering the city by Crassus. They are joined by several new recruits, including a couple of fellow Nubians and a blind man who saves him from an assassin within the quarry. Black Hawk suspects the assassin is one of his new recruits.

OTHER CHARACTERS
CRASSUS
Now a Tribune, he prevents Black Hawk or his men from entering Rome and instead sends them to the quarry where they first trained.

BARABBA
The blind man could tell he was concealing some wine.

THE BLIND MAN
He hears so well that he fights as well as a sighted man. He volunteers to join Black Hawk's auxiliaries and fights Black Hawk and two of his men. He prevent an assassination attempt on Black Hawk's life. He can smell poison and claims to be able to smell treachery and deceit.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
Blind Man: "The feathers I hear are not of that bird..."
Black Hawk: "An arrow! And it was heading straight for me!"
Blind Man: "Aye. Those were the feathers I heard!"

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
The blind man who sees better is an archetype that goes back as far as Greek mythology and Tiresias.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

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

REVIEW
This is great stuff and the blind seer would have been a welcome addition to the last sixteen parts. It's a shame we don't meet more potential assassins.

Next Week: Can Black Hawk Escape The Assassin?

Black Hawk, Part 16

NAME
Black Hawk, Part 16

FIRST PUBLISHED
Tornado Issue 19

DATELINE
28 July 79

This issue of Tornado also featured The Angry Planet, The Mind Of Wolfie Smith, Wagner's Walk, Storm, The Lawless Touch, Big E In Action, Victor Drago's Black Museum Of Villains and Victor Drago, with a cover by Massimo Belardinelli.

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
Black Hawk: The Intergalactic Gladiator.

SYNOPSIS
Black Hawk reluctantly searches for Boadicea, but finds Barabba.

FIRSTS & LASTS
Last Black Hawk set in Britain.

INFORMATION
None.

BLACK HAWK
He and his auxiliaries are ordered to join the search for Boadicea. He orders Barabba be dressed up as Boadicea and ride her chariot past the Roman victory celebrations. Weeks alter he receives new orders to return to Rome.

OTHER CHARACTERS
BARABBA
He attempts to find Boadicea's body in the forest to sell to the Roman generals, but Black Hawk discovers him and knocks him out of a tree. Wearing a fallen bird's nest as a wig, he is forced to ride Boadicea's chariot past the Roman victory celebrations.

DEATHS
One. A Briton dies of an arrow wound. We do not see definitive evidence of Boadicea's death.

BEST LINES
Black Hawk: "Look, a Roman victory in full swing! I knew it wouldn't be long before they were gorging themselves!"

WORST LINES
Briton #1: "Boadicea! But she is dead! It's a trick!
Briton: "But not a trick on us. Look at those Romans scatter! Ha, Ha!"

CATCHPHRASES
A falling Barabba screams an "Aieeee!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Nobody knows how Boadicea died, Tacitus (Circa AD 56–after 117) wrote that she poisoned herself, while Dio (Circa AD 155–235) says she fell sick and died.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

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

REVIEW
This is a nice note to end Black Hawk's British visit on, but I'm not sure how creating the illusion that Boadicea is still alive means the Romans will stop looking for her.

Next Week: All Roads Lead To Rome!

Black Hawk, Part 15

NAME
Black Hawk, Part 15

FIRST PUBLISHED
Tornado Issue 18

DATELINE
21 July 79

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

PAGE COUNT
4

REPRINTS
Black Hawk: The Intergalactic Gladiator.

SYNOPSIS
Black Hawk spares Boadicea's life.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
None.

BLACK HAWK
He and his men fight the rebels until they are routed and then as the Roman Legions take their revenge. Black Hawk misses Boadiciea, apparently on purpose.

OTHER CHARACTERS
BOADICEA
Black Hawk misses her with his javelin.

DEATHS
At least eight, but presumably hundreds. We see two Brits killed in battle and Black Hawk spears at least eight buzzards with a single throw.

BEST LINES
None.

WORST LINES
Barabba: "Wait! The Centurion's picked up another Javelin!"

CATCHPHRASES
A Roman soldier mentions "Zeus!" and a British Rebel screams an "Aieeee!".

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
The collective noun for "a pack of buzzards" is apparently a wake of buzzards.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

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

REVIEW
Black Hawk is shamed by his actions and appalled by those of the Legions. This should be a great character moment, but it's lost. It's a shame that we don't really get to see their atrocities as Black Hawk's turnabout comes seemingly from nowhere and results in some unnecessary avicide.

Next Week: Pride Goes Before A Fall!

Black Hawk, Part 14

NAME
Black Hawk, Part 14

FIRST PUBLISHED
Tornado Issue 17

DATELINE
14 July 79

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

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
Black Hawk: The Intergalactic Gladiator.

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

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
Britons call their scythed chariots, Reapers.

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

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

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

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

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

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

BEST LINES
None.

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

Uh, thanks.

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

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

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

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

Next Week: Massacre!

Black Hawk, Part 13

NAME
Black Hawk, Part 13

FIRST PUBLISHED
Tornado Issue 16

DATELINE
7 July 79

This issue of Tornado also features The Angry Planet, The Mind Of Wolfie Smith, Wagner's Walk, The Lawless Touch, Victor Drago, Captain Klep, Victor Drago's Black Museum Of Villains and The Billy Preston Report, with a cover by Ian Kennedy.

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
Black Hawk: The Intergalactic Gladiator.

SYNOPSIS
Black Hawk and his men escape Londinium.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First appearance of Boadicea, although not explicitly named as such.

INFORMATION
Human beings can hold their breath for at least three minutes.

BLACK HAWK
He, Stronus and Batus demonstrate to the men that they can hold their breath for three minutes. He orders the men to hold their breath and swim underwater, and under the cover of the waterfowl on the surface, to avoid being caught by the rebels. They successfully traverse the river.

OTHER CHARACTERS
MISTRESS
She flies over he waterfowl on the river preventing them from flying off.

STRONUS
He, Black Hawk and Batus demonstrate to the men that they can hold their breath for three minutes. He stops a breathless Barabba from breaking the surface of the water. They successfully traverse the river.

BATUS
He, Black Hawk and Stronus demonstrate to the men that they can hold their breath for three minutes. They successfully traverse the river.

BARABBA
He runs out of whilst swimming underwater and Black Hawk forces him to breathe air from a discarded wineskin. They successfully traverse the river.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
None.

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
A Roman mile is equivalent to 1620 yards or 1481 metres (see MISTAKES below).

MISTAKES
Black Hawk estimates the distance to swim as half a Roman mile, so about 740 metres. The current freestyle world record for the 400 metres is 3 minutes 40.07 seconds, so well over the three minute mark. The closest distance measured for which a world record is collated that I could find was the 800 metres freestyle and 7 minutes 32.12 seconds, so it's no wonder Barabba was running out of air. That said the current record for holding one's breath underwater (without resorting to breathing pure oxygen) is 11 minutes 35 seconds.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

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

REVIEW
This is dull. Black Hawk's demonstration of holding his breath and his yelling to Stronus and Batus whilst hiding from the rebels are both pretty daft.

Next Week: Chariots Of Death!

Black Hawk, Part 12

NAME
Black Hawk, Part 12

FIRST PUBLISHED
Tornado Issue 15

DATELINE
30 June 79

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

PAGE COUNT
4

REPRINTS
Black Hawk: The Intergalactic Gladiator.

SYNOPSIS
Black Hawk and his men attempt to escape rebel occupied Londinium.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
Following the Roman departure from Londinium, the rebel troops turned on the Romanised Britons.

BLACK HAWK
He and his men are trapped in Londinium and surrounded by British rebel forces. Black Hawk orders his men to wrap heavy chains around a Roman archway, he confronts the rebels alone and leads them back to the archway where his men pull it down on them. They move their position, but are trapped again by a rebel barricade. Black Hawk considers an escape by water.

OTHER CHARACTERS
THE HAWK
She hovers over a hiding Barabba and Pocus.

BARABBA & POCUS
He and Pocus hide in an outdoor Roman bath rather than fight. He is revealed by the hawk. This inspires Black Hawk to escape via water.

DEATHS
At least a couple of dozen. We see five British rebels buried in falling masonry from the archway and an unknown number of Romanised Britons drown when their boat sinks.

BEST LINES
None.

WORST LINES
Black Hawk: "You wanted to see Roman London fall, Britons - now you have it!"

CATCHPHRASES
The crushed Britons scream an "Aieeeeeeeeee!", Black Hawk uses Zeus' name in vain.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

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

REVIEW
This strip achieves very little in story terms, but it adjusts the character of Barabba from conniving coward to comedy coward.

Next Week: The Way Out!

Black Hawk, Part 11

NAME
Black Hawk, Part 11

FIRST PUBLISHED
Tornado Issue 14

DATELINE
23 June 79

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

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
Black Hawk: The Intergalactic Gladiator.

SYNOPSIS
Black Hawk heads into Londinium, out of Londinium and back in again.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
The British used scythed chariots.

BLACK HAWK
He arrives in Londinium and is ordered by the governor to hold the city. He refuses, helps escort the governor from the city. Upon realising his hawk is not with him, he returns to Londinium and is caught in the governor's palace. He struggles with the rebels until his men come to his aid. They are trapped within the city by the rebel army and its scythed chariots

OTHER CHARACTERS
THE BIRD
The governor order that she be tied to a table in his palace and abandoned. She is freed by a rebel.

THE GOVERNOR OF LONDINIUM
He orders Black Hawk to hold the city, when he refuses the governor orders that his bird be tied down and left behind.

BARABBA
He and Pocus go looting in the chaos of Londinium.

POCUS
He and Barabba go looting in the chaos of Londinium.

DEATHS
At least one. We see a rebel shot with an arrow.

BEST LINES
Black Hawk: "Hold Londinium? With less than a hundred exhausted men against thousands of rebels? No, Governor!"
Governor: "That is an order! I-"
Black Hawk: "I take my orders from the military, not the civil powers! I was told to escort the citizens safely, not make a mad suicide stand to buy time for you to load more valuables!...I don't intend to remain in the city when the rebels come!"

WORST LINES
Roman soldier: "Pah!"

Yep.

CATCHPHRASES
British rebel scream "Aiee!", "Aieee!" and "Aeieeeeeeee!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
The British did apparently use scythed chariots and recalls scenes in films like Ben-Hur (1959).

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

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

REVIEW
Black Hawk's toing and froing in and out of London is a little odd. How does Black Hawk know the governor is responsible for his hawk's disappearance? Once again, Black Hawk is saved by his men. He is arguably becoming something of a liability.

Next Week: The Battle!

Black Hawk, Part 10

NAME
Black Hawk, Part 10

FIRST PUBLISHED
Tornado Issue 13

DATELINE
16 June 79

PAGE COUNT
4

REPRINTS
Black Hawk: The Intergalactic Gladiator.

SYNOPSIS
Black Hawk almost becomes a human sacrifice.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First appearance by a named genuine historical character, in this case Gaius Suetonius Paulinus.

INFORMATION
(according to established history this part ought to take place in either 60 or 61 AD)

While General Paulinius leads an attack on the druids of Mona, in the south, Boadicea stages an uprising.

BLACK HAWK
A druid tries to sacrifice him, but Lonus gives his life to spare Black Hawk. When freed from his bonds, he lifts the sacrificial stone slab above his head. He fights druids using their own sacred sickle. After the battle, the dying druid priest prophesies that Black Hawk will be trapped and surrounded by water. A despatch rider brings news from London of an uprising there.

OTHER CHARACTERS
THE BIRD
She grabs the druid's sacred sickle in her talons and flies at him aiming for his neck. The bird drops the sickle into Black Hawk's reach and he frees himself from his bonds.

BARABBA
Stronus and Batus force him to cross the water to Mona on foot.

LONUS
When Black is threatened with becoming a human sacrifice, Lonus leaps into the path of the sickle and dies saving Black Hawk.

STRONUS
He and Batus steal the Roman cavalry's horses and lead a crossing to Mona to save Black Hawk.

BATUS
He and Stronus steal the Roman cavalry's horses and lead a crossing to Mona to save Black Hawk.

GENERAL PAULINIUS
He leads the second wave attack. He gets word of an uprising lead by Boadicea calling all troops back to London.

DEATHS
At least two, possibly hundreds. Lonus jumps in front of the Druid priest's sickle and the priest dies of injuries possibly caused by the bird.

BEST LINES
Roman soldier: "Nobody can beat the Druids' power! I'm not setting a sandal on that hell-hole of an island!"

WORST LINES
Priest (as the bird seizes the sacred sickle in its talons): "What the-? The bird seizes the sacred sickle in its talons!"

CATCHPHRASES
Barabba screams an "Aiee!", Lonus an "Aieee!", while the Druid priest plumps for "Aieeeeeeeee!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Gaius Suetonius Paulinus (dates unknown) was genuine Roman general who lead an assault on the island of Mona in either 60 or 61 AD, a Druidic stronghold. The tribes of the south-east took advantage of his absence and staged a revolt, led by Boadicea or Boudica of the Iceni (dates unknown).

MISTAKES
Lona has now been renamed Lonus.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

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

REVIEW
The tying into genuine historical events is nice as is the camaraderie among Black Hawk's men. It's a shame we only learn that it is Lonus that literally sacrifices himself because we later discover that Lepus is still alive. It's odd that Black Hawk lifts the sacrificial altar above his head saying "I've another use for your vile stone slab!" and then whatever he does with it occurs between panels and is then never referred to.

Next Week: London...A City Under Siege!

Black Hawk, Part 9

NAME
Black Hawk, Part 9

FIRST PUBLISHED
Tornado Issue 12

DATELINE
9 June 79

This issue features The Angry Planet, The Mind Of Wolfie Smith, Wagner's Walk, Storm, The Lawless Touch, Captain Klep, Victor Drago and The Billy Preston Report, with The Mind Of Wolfie Smith on a cover by Vanyo.

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
Black Hawk: The Intergalactic Gladiator.

SYNOPSIS
Black Hawk arrives at Mona and is given a reconnaissance mission.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
None.

BLACK HAWK
En route to Mona, he discovers a crude effigy of himself hanging from a tree which he destroys. Upon arrival he is ordered to find a suitable beach for a landing. He elects to use a small British craft and just two men. They are washed overboard by the waves. Black Hawk saves Lepus and Lona from drowning and follows his hawk to dry land, not realising it is Mona. The three of them are captured by the druids and threatened with sacrifice. The druids claim his arrival was ordained.

OTHER CHARACTERS
THE HAWK
She has been restless since arriving in Britain. When Black Hawk, Lepus and Lona are at sea, she guides them ashore on Mona.

BARABBA
He draws a long straw and is spared Black Hawk's mission to Mona.

BATUS
He volunteers himself and Stronus for the mission to Mona, but Black Hawk declines and decides that the men should draw straws.

LEPUS
He draws a short straw and accompanies Black Hawk on his mission to Mona. He can't swim. When the boat capsizes, Black Hawk saves him and they follow his hawk to Mona, where the druids threaten to sacrifice them.

LONA
He draws a short straw and goes with Black Hawk on his assault on Mona. He can't swim. When the boat capsizes, Black Hawk saves him and they follow his hawk to Mona, where the druids threaten to sacrifice them.

DEATHS
At least one. The druids make a sacrifice.

BEST LINES
Soldier: "What I'd give to be anywhere else than here, Gaius - I'd take garrison duties in Gaul, or even Germany!"
Gaius: "And we're supposed to cross to that thrice-cursed island - just thinking about it makes me shudder!"

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
A druidic sacrifice screams "Aieeee!" and "Aieee!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Ironically for depressed soldier, Gaius, means "to rejoice" in the Latin, while Lepus means Rabbit.

MISTAKES
A Roman legion was expected to march between 20 and 35 miles per day depending on terrain. Hear we see Black Hawk's men cover somewhere in the region of 48 miles over the most mountainous terrain Wales has to offer in the same time.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

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

REVIEW
Another interesting part that deals with the fear of "the black man" well, but the more certain Black Hawk is that he is back on the mainland, the more obvious that he isn't.

Next Prog: Sacrifice!

Black Hawk, Part 8

NAME
Black Hawk, Part 8

FIRST PUBLISHED
Tornado Issue 11

DATELINE
2 June 79

This issue featured The Angry Planet, The Mind Of Wolfie Smith, Wagner's Walk, Storm, The Lawless Touch and Victor Drago, with a cover featuring The Lawless Touch by Barry Mitchell.

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
Black Hawk: The Intergalactic Gladiator.

SYNOPSIS
Black Hawk arrives in Britain, prevents an assassination and witness a suicidal sacrifice.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First part set in Britain. First example of a supernatural phenomena in Black Hawk.

INFORMATION
(This part takes place in the first century AD and less than a hundred years after Julius Caesar's invasion of Britain in 55BC, so presumably between 1AD and 54AD).

In Britain, the followers of the Druids practice self sacrifice.

BLACK HAWK
He and his are sent to Britain to aid the local garrison in an assault on the Druid cult. He arrives in Londinium and heads to the Governor's villa, but is treated without respect and disarmed. When a group of Druid-followers attack, Black Hawk defends the Governor and follows his hawk to the location of only Druid-follower that escapes. Black Hawk witnesses this survivor sacrifice himself to the Druids causing the altar fire the flare strangely taking the appearance of a face.

OTHER CHARACTERS
CRASSUS
He watches Black Hawk leave the senate.

BARABBA
He does not enjoy the crossing to Britain.

MISTRESS
The hawk swoops into the governor of Britain's villa and picks up his food to reveal some hidden arrows. Later it finds the sole escapee beneath a bridge.

DEATHS
At least three. The Druid-followers kill the Roman guards and then the one that got away kills himself.

BEST LINES
None.

WORST LINES
Governor (as a bird flies through his dining hall and ostensibly steals his dinner): "Wait, something is wrong! A hawk never touches cold meat!"

CATCHPHRASES
A Druid-follower screams "Aiee!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Londinium and Mona are the Roman names for London and Anglesey respectively. Julius Caesar (100-44 BC) and his invasion of Britain are both mentioned.

MISTAKES
It seems very unlikely that Black Hawk would refer to Londinium as London.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

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

REVIEW
This is great, it's interesting to see Black Hawk on somewhat familiar territory and with something of a mystery beginning to unfold.

Next Week: The Power Of The Druids!

Black Hawk, Part 7

NAME
Black Hawk, Part 7

FIRST PUBLISHED
Tornado Issue 10

DATELINE
26 May 79

This issue contains The Angry Planet, The Mind Of Wolfie Smith, Wagner's Walk, Storm, Tornado's True Tales and Victor Drago strips, and a Wagner's Walk cover by Ian Kennedy.

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
Black Hawk: The Intergalactic Gladiator.

SYNOPSIS
Black Hawk breaks the siege of Hazda.

FIRSTS & LASTS
Last Black Hawk set in Judea.

INFORMATION
The siege of Hazda comes to an end.

BLACK HAWK
He orders one of his company to steal a Roman ballista, which he uses to catapult himself onto the plateau of Hazda only to find the Judean rebels were close to defeat. He convinces the Roman general that the rebels all killed themselves rather than fight and smuggles the remaining Judean survivors off the plateau among his own men and allows them to disappear. Under the orders of the general he leads his men back to Rome.

OTHER CHARACTERS
BARABBA
He breaks rank in an attempt to inform the Roman general of Black Hawk's deceit, but Black Hawk's bird knocks him off the mountainside. He faints, but Black Hawk catches him and he lives.

DEATHS
It's not clear, but presumably none.

BEST LINES
General: "So, the scum chose death rather than face the vengeance of Rome, eh?"

WORST LINES
Black Hawk: "I'm unhurt and intend to stay that way a little longer!"

CATCHPHRASES
Barabba screams "Aieeee!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
A ballista is a missile weapon that launched a large projectile at a distant target.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

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

REVIEW
Despite his assertions, it's pretty obvious what Black Hawk is going to use the ballista for and it's a shame the thief didn't get a moment in the spotlight after the set up in last week's cliffhanger. It's good to see the strip define Black Hawk's morality as he risk life and limb to allow women, children and surrendered combatant alike to go free.

Next Week: Britain!

Black Hawk, Part 6

NAME
Black Hawk, Part 6

FIRST PUBLISHED
Tornado Issue 9

DATELINE
19 May 79

This strip featured alongside The Angry Planet, The Mind Of Wolfie Smith, Moon Ghost, Storm, Tornado's True Tales, Victor Drago, Captain Klep, Big E In Action and Tornado's Gallery of Heroes, with a Tornado's True Tales Cover.

PAGE COUNT
4

REPRINTS
Black Hawk: The Intergalactic Gladiator.

SYNOPSIS
Black Hawk and his men are sent to Judea, but they are not made to feel welcome.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First part set in Judea.

INFORMATION
The Heights of Hazda are in the desert of Judea. A group of Judean rebels has held out for half a year against a Roman siege.

BLACK HAWK
As a child, he tamed elephants. He has been described as the Hero of Rome. Black Hawk watches as his men undergo combat practice. When an elephant is let loose, he leaps onto its back and tames it. He and his men are ordered to Judea. The journey takes some weeks. The General in Judea orders Black Hawk and his men to make camp out of sight and denies them any food, water or weapons. He follows the bird over the mountain, discovers something useful and sends the worst of the thieves in his ranks on a mission.

OTHER CHARACTERS
THE BIRD
The people of Rome have begun saying there is something special about her. She accompanies Black Hawk to Judea and flies over the mountain. He follows her and discovers something useful.

CRASSUS
He and his men watch Black Hawk's men train. Crassus lets an elephant loose on them. He convinces his friends in the senate to send Black Hawk's unit to Judea.

STRONUS
Black Hawk orders him to use his shield as a ramp, which he then uses to jump onto the loose elephant.

BATUS
Black Hawk orders him to use his shield as a ramp, which he then uses to jump onto the loose elephant.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
None.

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
Someone screams "Aieee!" when they see a charging elephant. Black Hawk utters "Haarrr!" and Haaar!

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
There are references that Black Hawk and his have just returned from the German forests and that they have been "taming German barbarians".

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

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

REVIEW
This part impressively squeezes in an elephant attack, a trip to Judea and an intriguing cliffhanger.

Next Week: The Awful Truth!

Black Hawk, Part 5

NAME
Black Hawk, Part 5

FIRST PUBLISHED
Tornado Issue 8

DATELINE
12 May 79

This issue of Tornado, also contained The Angry Planet, The Mind Of Wolfie Smith, The Search, Storm, Tornado's True Tales, Victor Drago and Tornado's Gallery of Heroes, all behind a Big E Cover.

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
Black Hawk: The Intergalactic Gladiator.

SYNOPSIS
Black Hawk's men survive the fire and return to Rome.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First five page Black Hawk strip, first time Barabba is named and the end of Black Hawk's first mission.

INFORMATION
None.

BLACK HAWK
Inspired by the bird's capture of a mole, he orders his men to dig down and wait for the fire to subside. They escape with only minor burns. They depart for Rome carrying the deceased Legion's standard. The Germanic tribe's chief attacks him and Black Hawk impales him on the standard. Weeks later, they arrive in Rome.

OTHER CHARACTERS
THE BIRD
She extinguishes her wings and catches a mole. This inspires Black Hawk to order his men to dig themselves in to escape the fire.

BARABBA
One of Black Hawk's auxiliaries. He plans to arrange Black Hawk's death.

CRASSUS
He presumes Black Hawk and his men are dead. When Black Hawk returns to Rome, he takes the standard to Crassus and encourages his men to eat and drink the centurion's supplies.

DEATHS
Two. The bird kills a mole and Black Hawk stabs the German Chief with the deceased Roman Legion's standard.

BEST LINES
Black Hawk: "What the..? Sands of the desert! The hawk has recovered! She has attacked some prey...A mole!"
Barabba: "It desires some food. That is all!"

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
Barabba screams an "Aiee!" as the Bird knocks him into a bath of water.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Valhalla is the location of the afterlife in Norse mythology.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

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

REVIEW
After a something and nothing cliffhanger resolution and a brief fight with a German Chief, Black Hawk's first mission comes to an end. Barabba procrastinates about killing Black Hawk and adds no drama to the story at all.

Next Week: The Heights Of Hazda!

Black Hawk, Part 4

NAME
Black Hawk, Part 4

FIRST PUBLISHED
Tornado Issue 7

DATELINE
5 May 79

PAGE COUNT
4

REPRINTS
Black Hawk: The Intergalactic Gladiator.

SYNOPSIS
Black Hawk's men clash with German tribesmen, find a Roman legion slain in their camp and are surrounded by flames.

FIRSTS & LASTS
The Bird is now nameless for the first time.

INFORMATION
The Black Forest is home to Germanic tribes.

BLACK HAWK
He leads his men from Rome to the Black Forest. With his men under attack by Germanic tribesmen, he breaks formation and uses a discarded battle-axe to fell a tree containing a pair of archers. This act inspires his men to fight and defeat the Germans. They encounter a Roman camp in a clearing and discover the soldiers have all been killed. As they explore the camp they are surrounded by flames.

OTHER CHARACTERS
THE BIRD
It spots a lookout for a Germanic tribe and alerts Black Hawk to his presence. When the Roman camp in encircled by flames, the Bird's wings catch fire.

DEATHS
At least two. The Roman auxiliaries stab German

BEST LINES
Roman auxiliary (upon seeing a German warrior): "By the pit of Hades...look at the size of them!"

WORST LINES
Black Hawk: "We can also attack!"

Well, yeah.

CATCHPHRASES
German tribesmen shout an "Aieeeeeeeee!", a "Graaaieee!" and an "Aiee!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
The Tortoise (or Testudo) Formation sees Roman align their shields to surround themselves with shields on the front, back, sides and top.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
The Black Forest is 634 miles from Rome and would take approximately eleven days.

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

REVIEW
Disappointingly, Black Hawk has very quickly gone from Nubian slave to Roman through and through. It would have been nice to see him struggle with the parallels of putting down the Germanic tribes, but there is nothing of the sort here. Instead, this is a big scrap and a fire.

Next Week: Fires Of The Forest!

Black Hawk, Part 3

NAME
Black Hawk, Part 3

FIRST PUBLISHED
Tornado Issue 6

DATELINE
28 Apr 79

This issue of Tornado featured The Angry Planet, The Mind Of Wolfie Smith, Wagner's Walk, Victor Drago, Storm, Captain Klep and Tornado's Gallery of Heroes with a Storm cover by Ian Kennedy.

PAGE COUNT
4

REPRINTS
Black Hawk: The Intergalactic Gladiator.

SYNOPSIS
Black Hawk recruits the rest of his men, trains them and leads them out a mission.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First (and probably last) time that the bird is referred to as Scythe-Wing.

INFORMATION
(This strip takes place over the course of three months)

The Valley of the Untouchables is a quarry near Rome where many of the city's outcasts live.

The lands around the Rhine are forests filled with Germanic tribes.

BLACK HAWK
He has successfully recruit fifty men. He recruits more from the Valley of the Untouchables. He returns to Rome to requisition uniforms and weapons for his troops. He spends three months training his men. When word reaches Crassus that two legions have disappeared near the Rhine, he recommends to his general sending Black Hawk's auxiliaries. The general agrees and Black Hawk leads his men toward the Rhine..

OTHER CHARACTERS
SCYTHE-WING
Another name that Black Hawk uses for the Huntress.

CRASSUS
He witnesses Black Hawk requisitioning uniforms and weapons for his men. Three months later he rides out to inspect the troops. When word reaches Crassus that two legions have disappeared near the Rhine, he recommends to his general sending Black Hawk's auxiliaries.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
Black Hawk: "Lesson one - a fighting man who loses his temper pretty soon loses his life - and you didn't hold the sword right, soldier."

WORST LINES
Black Hawk: "I said try to kill me, you scum-eared spawn of dust! Are you deaf?"

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Mars was the Roman god of war.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

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

REVIEW
This part sees Black Hawk recruit another fifty men with ease, train them over the course of three months between panels and get an assignment just at the end of that training period. It all flies by pretty quickly and feels a little too straight-forward.

Next Week: Forest Of Death!

Black Hawk, Part 2

NAME
Black Hawk, Part 2

FIRST PUBLISHED
Tornado Issue 5

DATELINE
21 Apr 79

This issue of Tornado also featured The Angry Planet, The Mind Of Wolfie Smith, Wagner's Walk, Victor Drago, Storm, Captain Klep, Tornado's Gallery of Heroes and a The Angry Planet cover by Ian Kennedy.

PAGE COUNT
4

REPRINTS
Black Hawk: The Intergalactic Gladiator.

SYNOPSIS
Black Hawk begins his recruitment.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First appearance of Stronus, Batus and a new Black Hawk logo.

INFORMATION
Gladiators can be bought out of their responsibilities. Condemned men can have their convictions revoked by a tribune.

The Emperor decides who lives and dies at the coliseum.

BLACK HAWK
He seeks men to serve under him at the coliseum. He recruits Batus and Stronus from the coliseum, and a group of condemned men from a hill of execution.

OTHER CHARACTERS
'THE HUNTRESS'
She accompanies Black Hawk in his search for 100 men willing to serve under him. She forces the Emperor into a thumbs up that spares Stronus' life. She leads Black Hawk to a group of condemned men on a hill of execution.

CRASSUS
He follows Black Hawk. He acts as tribune to revoke the punishments of the group of condemned men that Black Hawk seeks to recruit.

BATUS
Ex-Sergeant in the Legions. A forkfighter. He is forced to fight Stronus in the coliseum. He wins and looks to the Emperor, who is forced into a thumbs up by the Huntress that spares Stronus. Black Hawk convinces Batus to join him and buys his release.

STRONUS
Ex-Sergeant in the Legions. A swordsman. He is forced to fight Batus in the coliseum. He loses, but is spared by the Emperor after the intervention of the Huntress. Black Hawk convinces Stronus to join him and buys his release.

THE EMPEROR
He attends a gladiatorial fight at the coliseum. He attempts to give a thumbs down, but the Huntress forces him into a thumbs up.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
None.

WORST LINES
Emperor: "By Zeus!"

It's a bit odd that the Roman Emperor invokes a Greek god.

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Batus means either blackberry bush, raspberry bush or bramble in the Latin. Contrary to popular belief, the emperor did not give a thumbs down (or up for that matter) to a gladiator as a signal to kill his opponent. The emperor would reportedly show an open palm to spare the loser, while a fist meant kill him. If the victor killed his opponent before the emperor gave permission, the gladiator would be put on trial for murder, as only the emperor had the right to condemn a man to death. If this strip is set in 50 A.D., then the emperor is Claudius.

MISTAKES
The first caption states that this strip takes place in 50 AD, which would be a hundred years after Part 1.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Gerry Finley-Day
Artist: Alfonso Azpiri
Letters: Unknown

REVIEW
Another packed part that sees Black Hawk adjust to life in Rome exceptionally well, gives the Huntress plenty to do and makes Crassus a far more complicated villain than he might have originally appeared.

Next Week: Unclean

Black Hawk, Part 1

For convoluted reasons, here's the first part of Black Hawk...

NAME
Black Hawk, Part 1

FIRST PUBLISHED
Tornado Issue 4

DATELINE
14 Apr 79

This issue of Tornado bore a Black Hawk cover by Alfonso Azpiri and also featured The Angry Planet, The Mind Of Wolfie Smith, Wagner's Walk, Victor Drago, Storm, Captain Klep and Tornado's Gallery of Heroes.

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
Black Hawk: The Intergalactic Gladiator.

SYNOPSIS
A dispirited slave has his fortunes turned around by an act of kindness to a desert hawk and mutiny aboard a slave ship.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First Black Hawk strip, first appearances of Black Hawk, the Huntress and Crassus.

INFORMATION
(This strip is set in 50 BC, over the course of more than ten days)

The Roman Empire extends across Europe, Asia Minor and into Africa.

BLACK HAWK
A Nubian. He has been captured by the Romans and feels shame at the dishonour. He saves the desert hawk from being killed by Crassus. A week later he is put about a Roman galley to be taken to Rome. When the Roman's colonial auxiliaries mutiny, he fights back and throws his lot in with the Romans. Governor Marcus appoints him an officer of the Roman auxiliary troops, writing out a scroll just before he dies. As Crassus steals it from the slave, the Huntress steals it from Crassus. Crassus' superior officer chooses to honour Marcus' wishes. The Huntress accompanies him wherever he goes. Three days later, he arrives in Rome and is fed, clothed and put in charge of 100 men, but told he must find the men himself. Many refuse to fight under a Nubian. He is nicknamed Black Hawk by the Romans and decides to take the name and make it his own.

OTHER CHARACTERS
ZEUS
An eagle. The mascot of a Roman legion. The centurion orders that Zeus be let loose on a desert hawk and they fight, but the hawk wins.

'THE HUNTRESS'
Centurion Crassus orders that Zeus be set upon the black desert hawk. They fight and the desert hawk wins. Black Hawk prevents Crassus from killing the hawk and it escapes. A week later, Black Hawk sees the bird again believing it to be what his people call The Huntress, a friend to great warriors.

CRASSUS
Roman centurion. He sets Zeus against the Huntress and is embarrassed when it loses. He is offended when a slave prevents him from killing the victor and embarrassed further when Governor Marcus agrees with the slave. Following the mutiny, he attempts to steal the scroll that governor gave the slave, but the Huntress

GOVERNER MARCUS
Roman governor. He is mortally wounded during the mutiny aboard his galley, but he is so impressed by Black Hawk that he appoints him an officer of the Roman auxiliary troops, writing out a scroll just before he dies.

DEATHS
Many. Zeus the eagle is killed by the Huntress. Several Romans, their auxiliaries and the governor are killed in the mutiny.

BEST LINES
Black Hawk: "Back yo mutinous crocodile dung! Taste the wrath of a free Nubian warrior!"

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
Roman auxiliaries scream "Aieee!" and "Aieeeeeee!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
The Nubians are an ethnic group that are originally from what is now northern Sudan and southern Egypt. Zeus is named after the father of the Greek gods. Crassus means Thick in the Latin.

MISTAKES
Technically, the Roman Empire didn't exist in 50BC and in its place would have been the Roman Republic with Julius Caesar as Dictator. Crassus is initially spelt Crasus.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Gerry Finley-Day
Artist: Alfonso Azpiri
Letters: Unknown

REVIEW
Black Hawk has a fascinating beginning and squeezes a lot into those first five pages: slavery, dishonour, mutiny, freedom and all without shying away from the racism inherent in the concept.

Next Week: Legion Of The Damned!

Judge Dredd: 'Any Confessions?'

NAME
Judge Dredd: 'Any Confessions?'

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD Featuring Judge Dredd Prog 201

DATELINE
28 Feb 81

This prog also featured The Mean Arena, Meltdown Man, Return To Armageddon and Strontium Dog strips, part two of Tharg's Futureworlds Poster and a Judge Dredd cover by Ian Gibson.

PAGE COUNT
7

REPRINTS
The Complete Judge Dredd 19, Judge Dredd's Crime Files 4, Judge Dredd Chronicles Book 25 and Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 04.

SYNOPSIS
Dredd attempts to have a controversial game show cancelled.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First use of the term "Spont"

INFORMATION
Mega-City One's citiblocks include Jay Silverheels Block, Frankie Joe Haydn Block and Gus Holst Block.

Any Confessions? is a vid-prog game show presented by Corn O'Connor. Contestants competitively confess to crimes to win prizes up to 200,000 credits. Sections include What's My Crime? and Mime That Crime. It reaches number 2 in Mega-City One's TV ratings. Surveillance reveals that the crime rate among future contestants is six times higher than the Mega-City average, however spontaneous confessions are up 4000 per cent and prison admittances have doubled since the show went on air. Following the assassination of Deputy Chief Judge Pepper by a pair of future contestants, the show is cancelled by order of the Supreme Council.

Kneecap testers test kneecaps. A Tando-Chop is a helicopter-style flying vehicle that carries two people.

The Justice Department's spy-in-the-sky surveillance system has at least 774 cameras. Spont is a nickname given to spontaneous confessors. Named Judges: Judge Klugman.

JUDGE DREDD
He dislikes the motive of Any Confessions?, believing it to encourage crime. Dredd arranges for round-the-clock spy-in-the-sky surveillance of all future contestants. It pays off and he interrupts Bern and Mikki Walter in an attempted robbery. He defends the Chief Judge from an assassination attempt by future Any Confessions? contestants. When the Supreme Council bans Any Confessions?, Dredd delivers the relevant documentation personally.

OTHER CHARACTERS
CORN O'CONNOR
Presenter of Any Confessions?

CHARLES & BLENDA DAVENPORT
Contestants on Any Confessions? They confess to multiple vehicle theft. They win the first prize of 200,000 Credits and are arrested for gross vehicle theft, sentenced to eight years in an iso-cube.

IKE & TINA SCHMIDT
Contestants on Any Confessions? They confess to shoplifting, beating up a mock-dog vendor and setting fire to an elevator in the Jay Silverheels Block in 2099 because they weren't given an apartment there. They win a pair of solid golf effect handcuffs as a consolation prize and are arrested, sentenced to at least three years.

ROCKY KNUCKLE
Lives in Mega-City One's District 31. He calls in to Ant Confessions? to feature on the What's My Crime? section of the show. He confesses to, among other things, not paying for his vid calls. He wins 500 creds and is due to be arrested at home and serve between five and ten years in an isolation cube.

BERN & MIKKI WALTER
They have been booked as contestants on Any Confessions? Dredd orders 24 hour surveillance of them and they are apprehended attempting a robbery in the Frankie Joe Haydn Block Plaza. Dredd shoots Bern in the leg and arrests them both.

JEAN & GINO ESCALINO
They have been booked as contestants on Any Confessions? Dredd orders 24 hour surveillance of them and they are apprehended vandalising vehicles in the Gus Holst Block Lower Parking Bays. They are trapped by the attempt at arson. Dredd arrests them both.

BRUTUS & IVY LUPIN
They have been booked as contestants on Any Confessions? They attempt to assassinate the Council of Five from a souped-up Tando-Chop and succeed in killing Judge Pepper. They are trapped by the attempt at arson. Dredd arrests them both.

CHIEF JUDGE GRIFFIN
He is in favour of Any Confessions? remaining on air.

JUDGE McGRUDER
She is in favour of Any Confessions? remaining on air.

JUDGE QUIMBY
He is in favour of Any Confessions? remaining on air.

DEPUTY CHIEF JUDGE PEPPER
He is initially in favour of Any Confessions? remaining on air. After the assassination attempt that leaves him mortally wounded, he changes his mind. He dies.

ARRESTS
Four. The Davenports are arrested for gross vehicle theft and sentenced to eight years in an iso-cube. The Schmidts are arrested and get at least three years. Bern & Mikki Walter are arrested for attempted robbery.

DEATHS
One. Deputy Chief Judge Pepper is shot dead by the Lupins.

BEST LINES
Psi-Judge Ecks (as Judge Pepper lays dying): "I foresaw trouble all along!"

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Game show host O'Connor shares his surname with Des O'Connor, future game show host of Take Your Pick and Countdown.
Judge Klugman is presumably named after the American actor Jack Klugman (1922–2012), best known for playing Quincy in Quincy, M.E. (1976–1983). Jay Silverheels (1912–1980) was a Native American actor who played Tonto in The Lone Ranger from 1949 to 1957. Frankie Joe Haydn refers to the Austrian composer, Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809), while Gus Holst is obviously Gustav Holst (1874–1934) was an English composer who was best known for his orchestral suite The Planets, written between 1914 and 1916. Ike and Tina Schmidt share their first names with Ike (1931-2007) and Tina Turner, who together released the singles 'River Deep - Mountain High', 'Nutbush City Limits' and 'Ooh Poo Pah Doo'.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: T.B. Grover
Artist: Emberton
Letters: Tom Frame

REVIEW
Judge Dredd takes another swipe at exploitative reality TV before such a thing really existed and the result is fantastic. The most surprising thing about this strip is that following a potentially tense atomic thriller is that what seems like a jaunty comic one-off then in a marvellous turnabout kills off Deputy Chief Judge Pepper brilliantly in a manner that serves the story, the comedy and remains shocking.

Next Prog: When A Lawmaster Goes Haywire!

Star Pin-Up: Wulf Sternhammer

NAME
Star Pin-Up: Wulf Sternhammer

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD & Starlord Prog 108

DATELINE
14 Apr 79

PAGE COUNT
1

REPRINTS
Unknown.

SYNOPSIS
Wulf Sternhammer

FIRSTS & LASTS
First appearance of Wulf without Johnny Alpha.

INFORMATION
None.

WULF STERNHAMMER

OTHER CHARACTERS
None.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
None.

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Artist: Ezquerra

REVIEW
Everybody loves Wulf. This serves to remind me that it's been a while since we saw the happy stick.

Judge Dredd: Pirates Of The Black Atlantic, Part Four - The Sov Connection

NAME
Judge Dredd: Pirates Of The Black Atlantic, Part Four - The Sov Connection

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD & Starlord Prog 200

DATELINE
21 Feb 81

The bicentennial prog saw a price rise to 15 pence Earth money and also featured The Mean Arena, Meltdown Man, Return To Armageddon, Strontium Dog and Tharg The Mighty strips, the first section of Tharg's Futureworlds Poster and a Tharg cover by Robin Smith.

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
2000AD Monthly 6, The Best Of 2000AD 14, Judge Dredd Classics 72, The Complete Judge Dredd 19, Judge Dredd Chronicles Book 26 and Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 04.

SYNOPSIS
Dredd shocks Skank and his mother, before uncovering a conspiracy.

FIRSTS & LASTS
An as-yet-unnamed Sov-Judge Bulgarin makes his first appearance.

INFORMATION
A Judge's uniform has insulation against electrocution.

Over four million people were killed in the recent nuclear attack on Mega-City One.

East-Meg One is divided into at least 207 Sektors. Sektor 207-B of the city is destroyed by a Sov ten-megaton nuclear device.

JUDGE DREDD
When Skank's Mother attacks, Dredd slices a high voltage cable and electrocutes them both. When Nikita Kramm is uncovered, Dredd advises a retaliation and that Mega-City One prepare for war.

OTHER CHARACTERS
CAPTAIN SKANK
Dredd electrocutes his mother and Skank attempts to help her, but is killed himself.

NIKITA KRAMM
Sov-Blok Agent. He masqueraded as Tuskarosa with plasti-skin and artificial mutations. He had a device to control Captain Skank. His body is delivered to the Sov-Blok with a note threatening to retaliate.

JENNO MATRYX
She is arrested for building the warheads used against Mega-City One.

ARRESTS
One. Jenno Matryx is arrested for her part in the attack on Mega-City One.

DEATHS
Two. The captain and his mother are electrocuted by Dredd. The death toll in Mega-City One is revealed to be over four million.

BEST LINES
Dredd's note: "Our missiles are prepared. We await your response. Dredd."

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
Dredd and a Judge both "Drokk!", Skank "Zzzz!" x4 and a "Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz", a Judge says "Stomm!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
This story is a sequel to Battle Of The Black Atlantic.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Fail-Safe, a novel by Eugene Burdick and Harvey Wheeler, initially serialised in October 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis, also features a government destroying its own territory with a nuclear device as penance.

MISTAKES
The opening caption states that this part takes place in 2102 A.D.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: T.B. Grover
Artist: Ron Smith
Letters: Tom Frame

REVIEW
In its final part, Pirates Of The Black Atlantic takes a surprising turn, but one that lifts this story from wacky nutjob attacks Mega-City One to one with massive international ramifications. Ron Smith's art is beautifully precise and the last page in particular feels epic.

Next Prog: Any Confessions?

Judge Dredd: Pirates Of The Black Atlantic, Part Three - Aftermath

NAME
Judge Dredd: Pirates Of The Black Atlantic, Part Three - Aftermath

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD & Starlord Prog 199

DATELINE
14 Feb 81

This strip sat alongside The Mean Arena, Meltdown Man, Return To Armageddon and Tharg The Mighty as well as a Judge Dredd cover by Brian Bolland.

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
2000AD Monthly 6, The Best Of 2000AD 14, Judge Dredd Classics 72, The Complete Judge Dredd 19, Judge Dredd Chronicles Book 26 and Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 04.

SYNOPSIS
Dredd takes on Skank, who calls his mother.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
Aqua-Respirators are a piece of equipment that allows breathing underwater.

JUDGE DREDD
He and Skank fight and Dredd sentences the Captain to death, but Skank's mother attacks.

OTHER CHARACTERS
CAPTAIN SKANK
He and Dredd fight, the Judge sentences him to death, but Skank's mother attacks.

ARRESTS
Skank is sentenced to death for "untold crimes against humanity"

DEATHS
At least 117. Dredd shoots a pirate dead on entry into the sea fortress, and it's implied that 29 life pods are destroyed by Carib and if each of them contained four pirates, then that means 116 more are killed.

BEST LINES
Caption: Captain Skank believed the mutated sea monster was his mother. What "Mother" believed, no-one knows!

WORST LINES
Pirate: "Soak my sea socks! Judges!"

CATCHPHRASES
Skank says "Zzzz!" four times and "Zzzzzz!" once, whilst upon seeing Skank's mother Dredd says "Drokk!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Mothercare is a British shop specialising in products for pregnant mothers and children up to 8 years old.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: T.B. Grover
Artist: Ron Smith
Letters: Tom Frame

REVIEW
This is essentially one long fight sequence, but it's a very engaging fight sequence with some beautiful artwork.

Next Prog: Mothercare!

Judge Dredd: Pirates Of The Black Atlantic, Part 2 - Nuclear Skank!

NAME
Judge Dredd: Pirates Of The Black Atlantic, Part 2 - Nuclear Skank!

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD Featuring Judge Dredd Prog 198

DATELINE
7 Feb 81

This prog also featured Dash Decent, The Mean Arena, Meltdown Man, Return To Armageddon, Tharg The Mighty, and a Tharg cover by Ian Gibson.

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
2000AD Monthly 5, The Best Of 2000AD 14, Judge Dredd Classics 72, The Complete Judge Dredd 19, Judge Dredd Chronicles Book 26 and Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 04.

SYNOPSIS
Skank attacks Mega-City One, Dredd goes after him.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First citiblock destroyed by a nuclear device.

INFORMATION
(This strip takes place on the 7th of February, 2103)

Class K Nuclear Projectiles can splinter into fifty independently-functioning warheads.
Laser defence teams man Mega-City One's Atlantic Wall to repel an external attack. Each citiblock has its own City-Def Defence Group.

Bob Oppenheimer Block was in Mega-City One's District 403 to the south of the city. Everything within a ten miles radius of it is destroyed by the only Class K Nuclear Projectile to get through the defence screen. The city's Weather Control Department is equipped to deal with nuclear fallout.

A Double Red Priority Alert is of vital importance. The Justice Department's Atlantic Division has access to patrol ships that can fly over the sea and convert to sub-sea status and travel under it as well. Named Judges: Judge Carter (Atlantic Division)

The area that once was Cuba is now known as the Cuban Wastes.

JUDGE DREDD
He is aboard a patrol ship that tracks the launch of nuclear missiles to a particular location.

OTHER CHARACTERS
CAPTAIN SKANK
He fires thirty nuclear warheads at Mega-City One.

JENNO MATRYX
She installs warheads on thirty of Skank's missiles.

ARRESTS
None.

DEATHS
Millions. Everyone in Bob Oppenheimer Block and for ten miles around it dies instantly, further out their would be many more deaths as well.

BEST LINES
Winnie (offering advice to protect against nuclear fallout): "Hide under a wet mattress, Morrie!"

WORST LINES
Matryx: "My Lord, it's happened! B-but why? Wh-what will it gain you?"

CATCHPHRASES
Skank says "Zzzz!" five times and "Zzzzz!" once.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Bob Oppenheimer Block is named after Julius Robert Oppenheimer (1904–1967), an American theoretical physicist and among those who worked on the Manhattan Project called the "father of the atomic bomb". The first atomic bomb was detonated on the 16th of July, 1945 and Oppenheimer commented later that it brought to mind words from the Bhagavad Gita: "Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds". The Cuban Wastes illicit a connection with the Cuban missile crisis, a 13-day confrontation in October 1962 between the USSR and Cuba on one side and the USA on the other. It is generally regarded as the moment when the Cold War came closest to turning into a nuclear conflict and the first documented example of the discussion of mutual assured destruction (MAD) as a determining factor in a major international incident.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: T.B. Grover
Artist: Ron Smith
Letters: Tom Frame

REVIEW
This is fantastic. Again Dredd is sidelined, but seeing the effects of the missile strike on the people of Bob Oppenheimer Block is excellent.

Next Prog: Terminal Skank?

Judge Dredd: Pirates Of The Black Atlantic, Part One

NAME
Judge Dredd: Pirates Of The Black Atlantic, Part One

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD Featuring Judge Dredd Prog 197

DATELINE
31 Jan 81

This prog also featured Dash Decent, The Mean Arena, Meltdown Man, Return To Armageddon, Strontium Dog, a Judge Dredd cover by Brian Bolland and a T.H.A.R.G. pin-up and a feature on the Dan Dare TV Series.

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
2000AD Monthly 5, The Best Of 2000AD 14, Judge Dredd Classics 72, The Complete Judge Dredd 19, Judge Dredd Chronicles Book 26 and Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 04.

SYNOPSIS
Captain Skank kidnaps a nuclear scientist.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First appearance of Captain Skank.

INFORMATION
The Black Atlantic is poisonous and unprotected exposure is always fatal.

The underwater sea fortress, Carib, is in the Black Atlantic, 12 units north of the Cuban Wastes. It was equipped with 500 nuclear missiles, but abandoned after the war and is now used as a base of operations by Captain Skank's pirates.

The Hans Hass is a research vessel powered by solar sails.

The Justice Department has an Atlantic Division. Named Judges: Judge Lowely.

JUDGE DREDD
The Chief Judge transfers him to the Atlantic Division to find Captain Skank and/or Jenno Matryx.

OTHER CHARACTERS
CAPTAIN SKANK
Mutie pirate captain. His ship attacks the Hans Hass, he orders that the scientists are kept alive, but the sailors are thrown overboard. The scientists are taken to Carib. He believes that his mother is a sea monster. He kills two scientists to convince Matryx to build new warheads for him.

TUSKAROSA THE VICIOUS
Captain Skank's second in command. He has large tusk-like incisors.

JENNO MATRYX
A nuclear scientist. She is abducted by Captain Skank. He wants her to builds new nuclear warheads for him. She refuses until he feeds two scientists to his mother.

ARRESTS
None.

DEATHS
Maybe hundreds. Skank's men kill the crew of the Hans Hass in hand-to-hand combat and by throwing them into the poisonous waters of the Black Atlantic. Skank feeds Professor Dunston and Phil Einstein, the biologist, to this mother.

BEST LINES
Pirate (whilst throwing a crewman overboard): "Yo ho ho! Over they go!"

WORST LINES
Pirate: "Die, Lubbo!"

Although the Chief Judge's description of Matryx as a "Nuke Boffin" could be worse.

CATCHPHRASES
Skank says "Zzzz!" eleven times and both "Zzzzz!" and "Zzzzzzz!" once each. A Hans Hass seaman appeals to Grud. Deputy Chief Judge Pepper exclaims a "Drokk!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Hans Hass (1919–2013) is an Austrian biologist, diver, environmentalist, filmmaker of underwater documentaries and developer of the aqualung and a rebreather. "sixteen muties on a dead norm's chest..." obviously recalls 'Fifteen Men On The Dead Man's Chest', a sea shanty originally from Robert Louis Stevenson's 1883 novel Treasure Island.

MISTAKES
Skank is named as Skrank in one caption.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: T.B. Grover
Artist: Ron Smith
Letters: Tom Frame

REVIEW
Dredd takes a backseat to the villain of the piece and Captain Skank is a fantastic character design.

Next Prog: Nuclear Skankin'!

Star Pin-Up: Ro-Jaws

NAME
Star Pin-Up: Ro-Jaws

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD & Starlord Prog 106

DATELINE
31 Mar 79

PAGE COUNT
1

REPRINTS
Unknown.

SYNOPSIS
Ro-Jaws

FIRSTS & LASTS
First Ro-Busters Star Pin-Up to feature in 2000 A.D.

INFORMATION
None.

RO-JAWS

OTHER CHARACTERS
None.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
None.

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Artist: Kevin O'Neill

REVIEW
It's Ro-Jaws.

Futuregraph: The Angel Gang - A Family Portrait

NAME
Futuregraph: The Angel Gang - A Family Portrait

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD Featuring Judge Dredd Prog 196

DATELINE
24 Jan 81

PAGE COUNT
1

REPRINTS
Unknown.

SYNOPSIS
A family portrait of the Angel Gang.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First appearance of the Angel Gang outside a Judge Dredd strip.

INFORMATION

JUDGE DREDD
None.

OTHER CHARACTERS
PA ANGEL
He was born in 2053. He died in 2102.

LINK ANGEL
He was born in 2076. He died in 2102.

MEAN MACHINE ANGEL
He was born in 2078. He died in 2102.

JUNIOR ANGEL
He was born in 2085. He died in 2105.

FINK ANGEL
He was born in 2074.

DEATHS
Well, four I suppose.

BEST LINES
None.

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Artist: Mike McMahon & Dave Gibbons

REVIEW
This is a beautiful thing.

Strontium Dog: Journey Into Hell!, Part 15

NAME
Strontium Dog: Journey Into Hell!, Part 15

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD & Starlord Prog 118

DATELINE
23 June 79

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
Judge Dredd Megazine 3.67, Strontium Dog: The Early Cases and Strontium Dog Search/Destroy Agency Files 01.

SYNOPSIS
Johnny does a deal with the devil.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First Strontium Dog story to reach fifteen parts and therefore the first fifteen part Strontium Dog story.

INFORMATION
Dimension warp technology was discovered by Ronald Fiveways. K7 was a completely empty dimension that Fiveways shaped into his Hell.

JOHNNY ALPHA
Ronald Fiveways offers him a parting gift and Johnny asks him to destroy Dimension K7 after they leave it. Fiveways sends them back to Earth.

WULF STERNHAMMER
Fiveways cures him as Satan and sends them back to Earth.

THE GRONK
Fiveways sends them back to Earth.

OTHER CHARACTERS
RONALD FIVEWAYS
Masquerading as Satan, he cures Wulf. He assumes the human form of Ronald Fiveways. Fiveways invented Dimension warp technology, but was scarred by an equipment fire. He discovered K7, an empty dimension he could fill with his own desires. He drew people to K7 through dimension traps to watch them suffer. He offer Jonny a parting gift and the Strontium Dog asks him to destroy his Hell dimension after he sends them back.

DEATHS
Ronald Fiveways destroys a dimension full of creature that cannot die, so potentially billions.

BEST LINES


WORST LINES


CATCHPHRASES
The Gronk worries about its poor heartses twice and pluralises batses and homes. Wulf says der, ut, und, ve, vealth, vere, vithout, vot and Vulf.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
'One Step Beyond' was a song released by Prince Buster as a B-side to his single 'Al Capone' in 1964. It would be released as a cover by Madness later in 1979.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: T.B. Grover
Artist: Ezquerra
Letters: Aldrich

REVIEW
After fourteen parts to get here, the resolution of Wulf's sickness, getting home and appealing to Ron's conscience is all a little rushed. It's still epic stuff and well executed, but rushed stuff nonetheless.

The End

Strontium Dog: Journey Into Hell!, Part 14

NAME
Strontium Dog: Journey Into Hell!, Part 14

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD & Starlord Prog 117

DATELINE
16 June 79

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
Judge Dredd Megazine 3.67, Strontium Dog: The Early Cases and Strontium Dog Search/Destroy Agency Files 01.

SYNOPSIS
Johnny, Wulf and the Gronk get to the Black Citadel. Don Dork doesn't.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First Strontium Dog story to reach fourteen parts.

INFORMATION
Blasters can be set to disintegrate flesh.

The Mount of Skulls is at the edge of the Wailing Swamp and near the Black Citadel.

JOHNNY ALPHA
He is dragged into the Wailing Swamp by a tentacled creature, but uses his electronux to escape. He can carry Wulf on his own.

WULF STERNHAMMER
He is still frozen. Johnny and Don take turns carrying him.

THE GRONK
It accompanies Johnny and Wulf to the Black Citadel.

OTHER CHARACTERS
DON DORK
He succumbs to despair that they will never escape, but Johnny brings him out of it. Don can carry Wulf on his own. He falls off the Mount of Skulls.

FLASH HARRY
He is eaten by a sea monster in the wailing swamp.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
Johnny: "My God! Is there no limit to the evil of this world?"
Satan: "Yes, my friends there is a limit! I am the limit!"

WORST LINES
Don: "...Satan never intended anyone to reach his Black Citadel!"

CATCHPHRASES
The Gronk worries about his poor heartses, Johnny says "My Dok!".

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: T.B. Grover
Artist: Ezquerra
Letters: Aldrich

REVIEW
The reveal of Satan isn't quite as surprising as the departure of Don Dork. He doesn't die, because no one in Hell dies, but it's clearly meant to be final and with Wulf and Wagner gone he has been a great foil for Johnny.

Next Prog: One Step Beyond!

Strontium Dog: Journey Into Hell!, Part 13

NAME
Strontium Dog: Journey Into Hell!, Part 13

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD & Starlord Prog 116

DATELINE
9 June 79

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
Judge Dredd Megazine 3.67, Strontium Dog: The Early Cases and Strontium Dog Search/Destroy Agency Files 01.

SYNOPSIS
Johnny sends Wagner home, puts Hate behind him and heads toward the Black Citadel to cure Wulf.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First Strontium Dog story to reach thirteen parts.

INFORMATION
The Curtis scale is used to differentiate between dimensions. The dimension Johnny Alpha, Wulf Sternhammer, the Gronk and Fly's Eyes Wagner are trying to get back to is Dimension Beta 7 on the Curtis scale. The offices of the Galactic Crime Commission are on Earth at co-ordinates GGZ7952/3452-901.

Travellers are not permitted to re-enter the city of Hate once they have left it. The only method of leaving the Hell dimension is in the Black Citadel. The Wailing Swamp is between the City of Hate and the Black Citadel. The swamp has a bridge, sporadic geysers and contains people who have attempted to cross the swamp trapped until someone pulls them out. There is a sea monster. The sting of a gargoyle causes the body to freeze into a block of ice, reportedly the only individual that can cure it is Satan.

JOHNNY ALPHA
He decides to remain with Wulf and cure him of the gargoyle sting and choose to send Wagner back to their dimension. He and Don carry Wulf on a stretcher across the Wailing Swamp. When Don is pulled in, Johnny rescues him.

WULF STERNHAMMER
He is suffering the effects of being stung by a gargoyle and freezes into a block of ice. Johnny and Don carry him on a stretcher across the Wailing Swamp.

THE GRONK
It chooses to stay with Johnny and Wulf.

OTHER CHARACTERS
FLY'S-EYES WAGNER
Johnny uses his only ticket to send Wagner back to their own dimension and into the offices of the Galactic Crime Commission where he is threatened with a termination order.

DON DORK
He chooses to stay with Johnny, Wulf and the Gronk. Whilst crossing the Wailing Swamp he helps someone out, but falls in himself

FLASH HARRY
Trapped in the Wailing Swamp he is freed when Don helps him out but takes his place.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
Wagner: "Kill me - I don't care! I'd rather be dead than where Johnny Alpha is now!"

WORST LINES
Johnny (to Wagner): "No, you killed another Strontium Dog, and you're going back to pay for it!"

At least he won't have a reason to say it again next week.

CATCHPHRASES
The Gronk worries about his poor heartses, while Johnny exclaims a "My Dok!" and everyone in the Wailing Swamp cries "Help me!".

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: T.B. Grover
Artist: Ezquerra
Letters: Aldrich

REVIEW
Mission accomplished. Ordinarily the story would end here, but here again Journey Into Hell! is a departure from what we are used to. Wagner is locked up, the Strontium Dogs got their man and delivered him to justice, but now they have to deal with the consequences of the mission and the personal toll it has taken on them. This is fantastic.

Next Prog: Behemoth Against Blaster!