Harlem Heroes: 'The Apache Demons'

NAME
Harlem Heroes: 'The Apache Demons'
(I have called this post 'The Apache Demons', to give it a name in the vein of those listed on the Wikipedia article and to differentiate between this strip and another equally Untitled one from the 2000 A.D. Summer Special 1977)

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Annual 1979

DATELINE
1 Sept 1978

PAGE COUNT
8

REPRINTS
None.

SYNOPSIS
The Harlem Heroes play the Apache Demons.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First full colour Harlem Heroes strip, first 8 page Harlem Heroes strip.

INFORMATION
The Apache Demons are from Arizona. They are famous for performing a mid-air victory dance when they score.

The No No squad is deployed at some Aeroball matches. They spray hooligans with a smelly, pungent, green dye which takes either three or six months to wear off and boasts a stronger odour depending on the severity of the crime. Those still dyed are not permitted to attend Aeroball matches.

Harlem Heroes player's wear visors which feature a head up display which keeps them informed of their speed, time and direction.

Apache Demons 1, Harlem Heroes 0, 300,000 spectators attend. The stadium is full.

GIANT
He fights off an Apache Demons player to pass the ball to Zeke.

SLIM
He and Chief Crazy Dog almost have a head on collision at 200kph, but the Apache Demon swerves away at the last moment. Slim scores an air strike.

HAIRY
He beats Chief Crazy Dog to the blast off, but is lassoed by the Apache Demons' fans. Later, he deflects a ball off an Apache Demons player's face.

OTHER CHARACTERS
ZEKE
Harlem Heroes player. He receives a headbutt to his jet pack controls from Chief Crazy Dog, crashes to the ground and is injured.

CHIEF CRAZY DOG
Leader of the Apaches. He wears a distinctive headdress. He headbutts Zeke's jet pack controls causing him to crash and lose possession of the ball. He scores an air strike. He and Slim almost have a head on collision at 200kph, but he swerves away at the last moment and out through the roof. His jet pack is punctured and explodes killing him.

DEATHS
One. Chief Crazy Dog is killed when his jet pack explodes.

BEST LINES
Commentator: "Oh, wow! Crazy Dog's on full power! There's no way he can avoid...Raising the roof!"

WORST LINES
Giant: "Aeroball's a game where you take your life in your hands every day - like motor-racing in the last century!"

CATCHPHRASES
"Aieee".

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
This strip takes place before the Harlem Heroes, Part 1. Presumably Zeke recovers from his injuries only to be killed in the road-crash that killed most of the team. Aeroball is also described as "the game that gave birth to Inferno!"

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
The scale seems off as Hairy takes the blast off and the ball looks like it would be colossal. How do the Harlem Heroes win? Slim's score should equalise.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

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

Script: Untitled
Artist: Untitled
Letters: Untitled

REVIEW
The strip essentially retells and streamlines the story beats of 'Berlin Stadium', redirects the racism elsewhere and does so in full colour. This is a step up from our visit to Berlin though, the Aeroball action plays better and full colour doesn't do this strip justice, it's more like vivid technicolour and it uses its colour intelligently to indicates who's who. The panel featuring the commentator lounging is fantastic, although the shower scene is a very odd addition.

Harlem Heroes: 'Berlin Stadium'

I've managed to track down one of the Harlem Heroes strips that previously eluded me, so here it is...

NAME
Harlem Heroes: 'Berlin Stadium'
(according to Wikipedia, this strip is also known as 'The Berlin Blitzkriegs')

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Annual 1978

DATELINE
1st September, 1977 (this date is from Barney)

PAGE COUNT
10

REPRINTS
None.

SYNOPSIS
The Harlem Heroes play a friendly against the Berlin Blitzkriegs.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First and last 10 page strip.

INFORMATION
The score-tank is three hundred feet up. The rules state that spectators are allowed to participate. A power charge involves a player flying through their opponent's ranks at speeds of up to 200 mph.

The Berlin Blitzkriegs play their home games at Berlin Stadium.

The Harlem Heroes play the Berlin Blitzkriegs away in a friendly math. Final score Harlem Heroes 3 air strikes to the Berlin Blitzkriegs 2.

GIANT
He receives a gauntlet punch from Boldt to the chest. Later, he power charges the Blitzkriegs and broke their attack, but was unable to decelerate in time and smashed his leg on the wall of girders. Despite this he subsequently accepts Boldt's death duel challenge and receives a spiked-helmeted head butt to the gut, which smashed his jet pack's speed control and causes him to zoom about uncontrollably. He sheds the jet pack and falls onto Boldt, they fight, Giant scores another air strike and climbs onto the score tank.

SLIM
He receives a gauntlet punch from Boldt to the fist. After Rusty is beaten by a member of the crowd, he flies over, scoops up the aggressor and hangs him by his belt on the score-tank three hundred feet off the ground. The commentator dubs Slim a comedian, before his cargo falls to the ground. Slim later scores an air strike.

LOUIS
He has been concentrating on the Berlin Blitzkriegs tactics and formulates a plan.

OTHER CHARACTERS
RUDI BOLDT
Captain of the Berlin Blitzkriegs. He is nicknamed the Berlin Butcher. He punches Giant in the chest, scores two air strikes and challenges Giant to a Death Duel. He impales himself on the spikes around the score tank as Giant scores.

RUSTY
Harlem Heroes player. Whilst taking the ball down the wing he is hit by a bottle thrown from the crowd and falls to the ground. The crowd move in and beat him up. He is very badly injured.

EARL
Harlem Heroes player.

DEATHS
Three. Rusty crash lands and is beaten by the crowd. Rusty's opponent falls from the score tank when the Blitzkriegs score and is presumably killed. Rudy Boldt is impaled on the score tank spikes.

BEST LINES
Ringleader: "Let-let me go! The rules say that spectators are allowed to participate!"
Slim: "And that's just what you're gonna do, sweetheart! 'Cos you an' me's gonna take a ride-up to those ol' spikes!"

WORST LINES
So many contenders...

Fans: "Booooooo! Hate! Hate!"

Rudi Boldt: "Here they come! Tight disciplined formation to protect me, men. No passing the ball or clever tactics, like the Harlem Heroes, we use only brute force!"
Berlin Blitzkrieg: "Ja, Butcher! It is the secret of we Blitzkrieg's success!"

Rudi Boldt: "Well, black boy, have you got the courage to accept my challenge?"

CATCHPHRASES
The Blitzkrieg fans shout "Sieg Heil!" no less than eight times and "Berlin! Berlin! Uber alles!" once and have started bizarrely spelling out words like "S-C-O-O-P!" and "H-A-T-E!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
As with 'The Seattle Sluggers', it's not immediately obvious when this strip is set. Possibly between Parts 8 and 9 on the return trip from Moscow, between Parts 11 and 12 or between Parts 15 and 16.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
The line "Keep going, men - the fool's nerve will crack!" is presumably meant to be said by Rudi Boldt, but the speech bubble appears to be pointing at an unidentified Harlem Hero.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

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

Script: Unknown
Artist: Unknown

REVIEW
This is awful and at ten pages long that's a lot of awful to go around. Aeroball was always dangerous and there were deaths, but it was never so callous before. Despite his new murderous nature, Slim is easily the man of the match here, because he's the only player to show any personality at all. The use of the phrase "black boy" is unfortunate. Harlem Heroes could have been used to deal with racism, but it wasn't really and a one-off extended strip in an annual isn't going to achieve that so this throwaway reference takes on a significance it doesn't deserve. The context of the strip being in an annual is important, because it's standalone nature robs the Harlem Heroes of the context of the main strip. Harlem Heroes without the conspiracy subplot is just aeroball, and aeroball isn't what it used to be.

Star Pin Up: Artie Gruber

And now the brief return of a character from both Harlem Heroes and Inferno...

NAME
Star Pin Up: Artie Gruber

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 74

DATELINE
22 July 78

PAGE COUNT
1

REPRINTS
The Complete Harlem Heroes.

SYNOPSIS
Artie Gruber back from the dead.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First 2000 A.D. Star Pin Up.

INFORMATION
None.

ARTIE GRUBER
Somebody buried Artie Gruber, but he rises from the grave.

OTHER CHARACTERS
None.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
None.

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
Artie Gruber would indeed return to the nineties version of Harlem Heroes.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
There are no credits printed in the strip itself and so the following is taken from The Complete Harlem Heroes.

Artist: Massimo Belardinelli

REVIEW
I debated whether this was worth posting and casting an eye over the repeated Nones, but I've been posting daily for 114 days, I really like this image and this is as close to a day off as I'm going to allow myself.

Harlem Heroes: 'The Seattle Sluggers'

NAME
Harlem Heroes: Untitled
(I have called this post 'The Seattle Sluggers', to give it a name in the vein of those listed on the Wikipedia article and differentiate between this strip and another equally Untitled one from the 2000 A.D. Annual 1979)

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Summer Special 1977 (between Progs 14 and 15)

DATELINE
01 June 77

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
The Complete Harlem Heroes.

SYNOPSIS
The Harlem Heroes take on the Seattle Sluggers.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First six page Harlem Heroes strip.

INFORMATION
The Seattle Sluggers are not in the League, but have been doing well in local matches. They are sponsored by International Robotic Inc. and never give interviews to the press or newsfax. The Slugger's smash tackle has been compared to flying into a brick wall. During the game with the Harlem Heroes they are revealed to be robots and their sponsors set up the Seattle Sluggers as a publicity stunt. They pull out of aeroball after the game.

Final score Harlem Heroes 6, Seattle Sluggers 2.

GIANT
He is not in favour of robots playing aeroball.

SLIM
He scores an air-strike.

OTHER CHARACTERS
None.

DEATHS
None. Although several of the robots will be in dire need of repair.

BEST LINES
Commentator: "And the Heroes are in the air now, folks jokey and rhyming as usual..."

(See CATCHPHRASES)

WORST LINES
Zack: "What gives, man? We just wanna say hello to our opponents..."
Seattle Slugger Security: "You'll meet them in the game, boy..."

The racist connotations here are presumably unintended, but definitely unfortunate.

CATCHPHRASES
Another strip, another rhyming chant: "Look out Sluggers, here come the Heroes! You just watch which way the score goes!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
This strip was published between Parts 14 and 15 of Harlem Heroes, but cannot be set then because the team were in the middle of playing the Flying Scotsmen. This story features Zack, King, Sammy and Chico meaning it must be set somewhere between Harlem Heroes Parts 2 and 11, but the only times it could take place are between Parts 5 and 6 before the trip to Moscow, or during Part 9 between their return and the Montezuma Mashers game.

INFLUENCES
None.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

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

Script: Unknown
Artist: Unknown
Letters: Unknown

REVIEW
This is pretty bad. The story is an obvious one and the Harlem Heroes are portrayed with as much character as their robotic opponents. The artwork never lives up to the regular strip and the geography of the aeroball sequences isn't as clear as you'd like.

The End

Futuregraph: Harlem Heroes Super Liner

NAME
Futuregraph: Harlem Heroes Super Liner

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 6

DATELINE
02 Apr 77

PAGE COUNT
1

REPRINTS
The Complete Harlem Heroes.

SYNOPSIS
Giant talks us through the features of the team's super liner.

FIRSTS & LASTS
The Futuregraph relating to Harlem Heroes.

INFORMATION
Super Liners are a new breed of road vehicles. They use special roads marked 'Super Liner Only' and park outside cities in huge Liner Parks.

This particular model of Super Liner is 60 metres long, 22 metres tall and has an unladen weight of 200 tonnes. It accelerated from 0 to 100 mph in 4 seconds and has a cruising speed of 300 mph. The engine is powered by a nuclear generator which drives a bank of hover engines in the 'skirt' and a forward thrust engine in the tail. A computer guidance system assists the pilot in driving the liner. The Liner's engine was built by the Power Division of Global Dynamics Corporation, while the bodywork is by Forde Transportation Incorporated.

It has four levels. Starting at the top, the first level hosts the swimming pool and observation deck in front of the thrust engine. On the second floor you will find the command bridge, tactics room, medic room, liquid coolant room and baggage store. There is a lounge on the third floor, while the fourth features the gym and sauna, dormitory, while a transport hanger crosses both of the lower floors. The transport hanger contains the team helicopter, a hover car and seven hover mopeds.

GIANT
He promotes speeding.

OTHER CHARACTERS
None.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
See WORST LINES.

WORST LINES
Giant: "When we pass a speed cop, you should see him curse, our bus moves so fast, man, he thinks he's in reverse!"

CATCHPHRASES
See WORST LINES.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
None.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
There are no credits printed in the strip itself and so the following are taken from The Complete Harlem Heroes.

Artist: Kevin O'Neill

REVIEW
The colour of the super liner in the cutaway drawing is oddly muted and we don't really learn much more than we did reading Parts Five and Six of Harlem Heroes strip itself.

This Is Another 2000 A.D. Futuregraph For You To Cut Out And Collect!

Futuregraph: Harlem Heroes Powergear

I'm alternating between Judge Dredd and Harlem Heroes as I focus on some bits and pieces published during the latter's twenty-seven week run:

NAME
Futuregraph: Harlem Heroes Powergear

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 2

DATELINE
05 Mar 77

PAGE COUNT
1

REPRINTS
2000AD Extreme Edition 13 and The Complete Harlem Heroes.

SYNOPSIS
Giant talks us through the equipment used by the Harlem Heroes.

FIRSTS & LASTS
This was the first Futuregraph in 2000 A.D..

INFORMATION
The XJ9 Jet-Pack has a maximum speed of 100 mph, requires a high-octane liquid petroleum fuel and has four turbo jet engines, afterburners and a built-in computer guidance system alters the angle of the thrust nozzles automatically.

XJ9 Jet-Packs are manufactured by Global Dynamics Corporation's Aviation Division in Houston, Texas and used by groups as varied as the army, the police and the Harlem Heroes for traversing minefields, riot or traffic control and playing aeroball respectively.

The jet-pack is controlled with the five buttons on the XJ9 Power Belt: Start, Accelerate, Decelerate, Hover and Afterburner.

The XJ9 helmet incudes a jel-bag to cushion impact, a head-up display detailing speed, altitude and direction, a two-way radio and microphone, ear-phones and a warning vibrator to alert the wearer when fuel is running low.

GIANT
He shows off the XJ9 Jet-Pack, belt and helmet.

OTHER CHARACTERS
None.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
Giant: "Here's the gear we Heroes use! With it, man, we just can't lose!"

WORST LINES
Giant: "Here's the gear we Heroes use! With it, man, we just can't lose!"

CATCHPHRASES
Giant: "Here's the gear we Heroes use! With it, man, we just can't lose!"

So, yeah, it's the only line and it's very like the rhyming chants within the strip itself.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
There are no credits printed in the strip itself and so the following are taken from The Complete Harlem Heroes.

Artist: Kevin O'Neill

REVIEW
Who doesn't love cutaway drawings? I don't know the answer, but in other news: I love cutaway drawings. Apart from the delightfully naive use of the word vibrator, these don't reveal anything particularly groundbreaking about the aeroball equipment or the Harlem Heroes themselves. They do however raise a couple of questions: Have we stumbled in on Giant in a state of undress? What is he wearing on his top half?

This Is A 2000 A.D. Futuregraph - First In A Series For You To Cut Out And Keep - With Exciting Information On The World Of The Future! Look Out For Another Futuregraph Next Week!

Harlem Heroes, Part 27

It's 2000 A.D.'s thirth-sixth birthday and here we are putting the final into finale, it's the last part of Harlem Heroes:

NAME
Harlem Heroes, Part 27
(according to Wikipedia, this is the third and final part of a strip also known as 'The Teutonic Titans')

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 27

DATELINE
27 Aug 77

PAGE COUNT
4

REPRINTS
Sam Slade Robo-Hunter (Volume 2, Issue 20), 2000AD Extreme Edition 13 and The Complete Harlem Heroes.

SYNOPSIS
Ulysses Cord is revealed and the Harlem Heroes win the aeroball world championship, but lose two players.

FIRSTS & LASTS
Last appearance of Hairy, Conrad and Ulysses Cord.

INFORMATION
The umpire is sometimes refered to as a controller.

The Harlem Heroes staged the robbery of their equipment, and then had their mechanics test the replacements sent by Cord and discovered they were all designed to fail.

The final scores is Harlem Heroes 2, Teutonic Titans 1. The Harlem Heroes are the world aeroball champions. Two of the team are killed in the final and the three remaining players are presented with the trophy.

GIANT
He humiliates Ulysses Cord and forces a confession out of him.

HAIRY
He is killed by another aeroball hit to the abdomen.

KING
He is killed by an aeroball hit to the head.

ZACK
He scores the winning air-strike.

OTHER CHARACTERS
ULYSSES CORD
He blames the Harlem Heroes for being too sporting and believes that aeroball fans want to watch violence. His confession is broadcast into the homes of millions of aeroball fans.

DEATHS
Two. Hairy and Conrad are both hit by an aeroball.

BEST LINES
Giant: "And remember that robbery...when all our equipment disappeared. We staged that ourselves, too...so you could supply us with a whole new set of jet-packs...Well our mechanic's checked 'em out...they were all one-way trips to the morgue, designed to fall apart in the middle of the final! We'd have all died!"

WORST LINES
Unidentified Harlem Hero: "Great strike Zack. But there's no need to shout so loud!...Hairy and Conrad can't hear you!"

Crikey, that's callous. It also undermines the relationships we've seen over the last twenty-seven weeks.

CATCHPHRASES
"Nein! Nein!" is German for "No! No!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
Giant reveals that the burglary in Part 25 was faked. It's a nice touch that the injury that leads to Hairy's death is an aeroball strike in the same place he was hit in Part 26. Elsewhere in this Prog was the first part of the Judge Dredd story, The Academy Of Law, which featured Giant's son.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
This is the last part of the first Harlem Heroes story, but Giant returns in Part 2 of Judge Dredd: The Academy Of Law, Inferno and a Whatever Happened To? strip in Meg 216. The Harlem Heroes would reappear in another strip which followed another team beginning in Prog 671 and aeroball was popular as late as the first Judge Dredd strip that appeared in Metro.

NOTES
None.

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

Script: Tom Tully
Artist: Massimo Belardinelli
Letters: Peter Knight

REVIEW
Blimey. The conspiracy comes to an end as Ulysses Cord tells us everything we already knew. It's been a whodunnit with only one suspect. The aeroball action is largely sidelined and so the summary deaths of two of Harlem Heroes come as a real shock. I've really enjoyed Harlem Heroes, but the ending feels curtailed and eschews Louis Mayer, Artie Gruber and the outlandish opposition teams that have been the strengths of the strip previously.

End Of The Heroes - What A Shame! But They'll Be Back Here Soon, Again, In A Thrilling, Chilling New Ball Game!

Harlem Heroes, Part 26

NAME
Harlem Heroes, Part 26 (according to Wikipedia, this is the second part of a strip also known as 'The Teutonic Titans')

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 26

DATELINE
20 Aug 77

PAGE COUNT
4

REPRINTS
Sam Slade Robo-Hunter (Volume 2, Issue 19), 2000AD Extreme Edition 13 and The Complete Harlem Heroes.

SYNOPSIS
The Harlem Heroes play the Teutonic Titans and discover they play rough, while Ulysses Cord waits for Giant's jet-pack to explode.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First letters by Peter Knight.

INFORMATION
The Teutonic Titans carry shields which they use to hit both the ball and the other team alike.

The half time score of the final of the World Championship of Aeroball is Teutonic Titans 1, Harlem Heroes 1.

GIANT
He pretends his jet-pack is faulty, that he is about to crash and then scores an air-strike. When Ulysses Cord runs away from his fearing his jet-pack might explode Giant decides they should both die together.

HAIRY
He is hit in the abdomen by an aeroball travelling at speed.

OTHER CHARACTERS
ULYSSES CORD
He expects the Harlem Heroes jet-packs to fail and in particular Giant's to explode.

SAM MASON
Harlem Heroes player who finds himself in the middle of a Teutonic Titans sandwich tackle. Sam also sustains an injury to his arm.

JOE JAMES
Harlem Heroes player who is hit in the chin with a ball as it bounces off a Teutonic Titans shield.

KARL
Teutonic Titans player.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
Commentator: "A sandwich tackle...and the filling was provided by Sam Mason!"

WORST LINES
Ulysses Cord: "Huuuuh? Th-that...smoke-rising from your jet-pack..!...It's...going to explode..!"

Well, I think your cover is officially blown.

CATCHPHRASES
"Gott in Himmel!" means God in Heaven.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

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

Script: Tom Tully
Artist: Massimo Belardinelli
Letters: Peter Knight

REVIEW
The penultimate part of Harlem Heroes gives no indication that we are nearly at the end. The violence quotient shoots up, but at times ther action is less than clear. The geography of what happens to Hairy isn't as straight-forward as it could be and the new players are introduced as if we already knew who they were, but the cliffhanger is quite a nice one.

End Of Sequence + + + Continuance To Follow

Harlem Heroes, Part 25

NAME
Harlem Heroes, Part 25 (according to Wikipedia, this is the first part of a strip also known as 'The Teutonic Titans')

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 25

DATELINE
13 Aug 77

PAGE COUNT
3

REPRINTS
Sam Slade Robo-Hunter (Volume 2, Issue 19), 2000AD Extreme Edition 13 and The Complete Harlem Heroes.

SYNOPSIS
The Harlem Heroes discover who they will be playing in the final, lose and replace their equipment and decide to keep Ulysses Cord where they can see him.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First art by Massimo Belardinelli, first appearance of the Teutonic Titans.

INFORMATION
The Teutonic Titans from Germany beat a Spanish team in the semi-final of the World Aeroball Championship. The final is due to take place at the new Euro-Stadium.

Someone steals all the jet-pack Harlem Heroes store room. The new replacements have an extra ten per cent more "burn" and perfect mid-air balance.

GIANT
He appeals to Ulysses Cord to replace the stolen jet-packs.

OTHER CHARACTERS
LOUIS MAYER
He is convinced that Ulysses Cord is behind the attempts on the lives of the Harlem Heroes.

ARTIE GRUBER
His identity is not yet known to the general public.

ULYSSES CORD
He replaces the stolen Harlem Heroes jet-packs within an hour of Giant's appeal. The new equipment has been sabotaged. Cord accepts Giant's invitation to join the team to the final as an honoured guest.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
Giant: "If Mr. Cord is watching this broadcast, I'm sure we'll have a whole set of new equipment within the hour!"

WORST LINES
Unidentified Harlem Hero (at the sight of the new Euro-Stadium): "Man, I can't wait to start playin' in that baby!"

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

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

Script: Tom Tully
Artist: Massimo Belardinelli
Letters: John Aldrich

REVIEW
Massimo Belardinelli's artwork is wonderful, but it's a shame that Dave Gibbons didn't get to finish what he started. This part bucks the trend and features no 'live' aeroball and is largely exposition, but it does have a cliffhanger with some jeopardy which we've been missing out on for a while.

Thrill Power Peaks + + + Next Prog
Thrill Power Peaks + + + Next Post

Harlem Heroes, Part 24

NAME
Harlem Heroes, Part 24 (according to Wikipedia, this is the third and final part of a strip also known as 'The Bushido Blades')

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 24

DATELINE
6 Aug 77

PAGE COUNT
4

REPRINTS
Sam Slade Robo-Hunter (Volume 2, Issue 19), 2000AD Extreme Edition 13 and The Complete Harlem Heroes.

SYNOPSIS
Cord's fear is revealed and the Harlem Heroes change their tactics to beat the Bushido Blades.

FIRSTS & LASTS
Last appearance of the Bushido Blades, last art and letters by Dave Gibbons.

INFORMATION
A cloud-burst is a manoeuvre that involves all the players of a particular team breaking formation in a different direction.

The Bushido Blades use five forwards armed with wooden kendo swords for their fiery wheel formation.

The collision following the Harlem Heroes cloud-burst results in four Bushido Blades players being too injured to play. The remaining three players carried on, but Harlem Heroes were too much for them. The final score is Harlem Heroes 7 air-strikes to the Bushido Blades 2. The Harlem Heroes are through to the final of the World Aeroball Championships. The other semi-final was played simultaneously in Berlin.

GIANT
He scores at least one air-strike.

SLIM
He scores at least one air-strike.

HAIRY
He doesn't like Louis' idea and thinks it's immoral.

ZACK
He is the first to end the ruse that the Harlem Heroes were too scared to play and gains possession of the ball.

OTHER CHARACTERS
LOUIS MAYER
His brain has become so powerful that he can reproduce recent incidents by thinking about them. It was his idea that the Harlem Heroes feign cowardice to beat the Bushido Blades.

ULYSSES CORD
He faints at the thought of Artie Gruber projected into his mind.

DEATHS
None. Although the Bushido Blades injuries are probably severe.

BEST LINES
Bushido Blade: "It is beneath us to do battle with such craven, spineless cowards!"
Zack: "In that case, Sunshine, you won't be needin' this ball!"

WORST LINES
Zack: "Hey, man...no wonder Cord flipped! You zapped him with an image of Gruber!"
Louis: "Quite so, Zack! I wanted to test a little suspicion of mine!"
Giant: "What are you gettin' at, Louis?"

Isn't it obvious? Really, really obvious.

Also the word Jap is unfortunately used three times here.

CATCHPHRASES
The Bushido Blades treat us to another "Banzai!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
Shogun means "a commander of a force" and is the name given to the hereditary military dictators of Japan from 1192 to 1867. While the word Shinto means "Way of the Gods", so "By Shinto!" isn't as stupid as it first appears.

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

Script: Tom Tully
Artist: Dave Gibbons
Letters: Dave Gibbons

REVIEW
That this is the last part featuring the work of Dave Gibbons is sad, but it is beautiful artwork throughout and he gets to draw Artie Gruber one last time, albeit an ethereal one. I like that Louis' successful tactic is the polar opposite of that suggested by Cord in the last part, but sadly this is another strip that builds nicely via some great set piece action to a cliffhanger with no jeopardy whatsoever.

Sequence Ends + + + Continuance Follows + + + Sequence Ends + + +

Harlem Heroes, Part 23

NAME
Harlem Heroes, Part 23 (according to Wikipedia, this is the second part of a strip also known as 'The Bushido Blades')

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 23

DATELINE
30 July 77

PAGE COUNT
4

REPRINTS
Sam Slade Robo-Hunter (Volume 2, Issue 18), 2000AD Extreme Edition 13 and The Complete Harlem Heroes.

SYNOPSIS
The tactics of the Bushido Blades shock the Harlem Heroes, while Ulysses Cord wants them to play dirtier.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First use of Louis' telepathy.

INFORMATION
Aeroball Rule 37: a team cannot bring on substitutes until its number is reduced to four. The fourth round of the World Aeroball Championship are the semi-finals.

Two of the Bushido Blades were injured and a third commits suicide so as to allow the team to bring their substitutes on. The half-time score is two air-strikes to the Bushido Blades, one to the Harlem Heroes.

GIANT
Nearly scores an air-strikes, but a Bushido Blades' player blocks it with his face and is injured.

ZACK
He scores an airstrike.

OTHER CHARACTERS
LOUIS MAYER
He is now also known as 'Brain' and has developed his mental abilities to an astonishing degree. Louis can enter another person's mind.

ULYSSES CORD
He wants the Harlem Heroes to take on the kamikaze spirit of the Bushido Blades, but when Louis objects, Cord dismisses him as a "hunk of tissue". Louis tries to read his mind, which terrifies him and makes him try to reassure Louis of his friendship.

HOJO
He scores an air-strike.

TANAKA
Bushido Blades player who when he failed to prevent Zack from scoring flew at full speed into the runway and sacrificed himself in the ensuing explosion so that his team could bring on substitutes.

DEATHS
One. Tanaka. Suicide.

BEST LINES
Hairy: "I'll take him, Giant!"
Hojo: "Never! Not whilst the spirit of our warlords seethes in Hojo's veins!"

WORST LINES
Ulyssess Cord: "Meet 'em half-way with the Kamikaze stuff! Take a few risks, boys! It'll add a little spice to the game!"

Half kill yourself? Also, the word Japs gets used twice in this part.

CATCHPHRASES
None, but we get a "Haieeee!" from Bushido Blade and an "Aiieee" from Ulysses Cord.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Kamikaze, usually translated as "Divine Wind", were Japanese pilots who flew suicide runs during World War II. It was probably more successful against enemy morale than as an actual weapon of war, but it's easy to see how it caught the imagination.

MISTAKES
I would have thought that Rule 37 contradicts games we have seen earlier.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

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

Script: Tom Tully
Artist: Dave Gibbons
Letters: Dave Gibbons

REVIEW
The aeroball stuff is impressive, the Ulysses Cord stuff less so and there is literally nothing at stake in the cliffhanger, which is both innovative and dull.

2000 A.D. - It's Thrilling And New
Big-Picture Power - Programmed For You.

Harlem Heroes, Part 22

NAME
Harlem Heroes, Part 22
(according to Wikipedia, this is the first part of a strip also known as 'The Bushido Blades')

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 22

DATELINE
23 July 77

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
Sam Slade Robo-Hunter (Volume 2, Issue 18), 2000AD Extreme Edition 13 and The Complete Harlem Heroes.

SYNOPSIS
The Harlem Heroes play the Bushido Blades.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First and last strip to feature work by Unknown.

INFORMATION
Tokyo has at least five airports.

Aeroballs are filled with helium and are launched at a hundred miles per hour during the blast off. Rule change 30 allows the use of wooden implements to hit the ball. The Japanese version of aeroball only has one score-hole.

The Bushido Blades play their home games at The Palace of Sport in Tokyo. They dress like Samurai warriors and carry wooden Kendo swords during the Aeroball matches.

GIANT
He is appalled when Ulysses Cord attempts to bribe the Harlem Heroes.

SLIM
He is apparently mrried and has an ugly mother-in-law. He takes the blast off for the Harlem Heroes.

OTHER CHARACTERS
ULYSSES CORD
He attempts to bribe the Harlem Heroes into using spike punch gloves and helmets. Giant refuses.

HOJO
He is the captain of the Bushido Blades.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
Bushido Blades Fan: "Death to the upstarts of Harlem!"

I don't know why I love that line.

WORST LINES
Unidentified Harlem Hero: "Uhuh, I sure hope we've seen the last of that crazy killer."

Well, obviously you do.

CATCHPHRASES
Hojo gives us a "Banzai!" Also the word Japs is used five times, while not out of place in a comic set in World War II (or possibly sadly 1977), it's an unfortunate part of the vocabulary for circa 2050.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Samurai cinema, such as Rashomon (1950), Seven Samurai (1954) and Yojimbo (1961).

MISTAKES
Why would there be multiple versions of aeroball played within a single World Championship? It seems unlikely that house rules would be permitted.

The first line is "Tokyo's fifth airport, 2,000 A.D.", the year cannot be "2,000 A.D." since the Trans-Atlantic Tunnel was finished in 2050. Presumably "Tokyo's fifth airport, 2,000 A.D." means that Tokyo's fifth airport is called 2,000 A.D., and maybe named after the year it was built or maybe even a certain comic.

RETROSPECT
In 1981, there was a film called The Bushido Blade. I don't think it features jet-packs.

NOTES
Bushido means "the way of the warrior" in Japanese.

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

Script: Tom Tully
Artist: Dave Gibbons & Unknown
Letters: Dave Gibbons & Unknown

REVIEW
This part ticks along nicely and the last page is beautiful, but the cliffhanger isn't particularly thrilling. The conspiracy subplot is parked somewhat and as long as Ulysses Cord isn't the shadowy figure behind Artie Gruber this is going to build to something great.

Here Comes The Heroes + + + Fighters To The Last
Don't Miss Our Next Prog + + + The Flyin's Hard 'N' Fast.
Don't Miss Our Next Post + + + The Flyin's Hard 'N' Fast.

Harlem Heroes, Part 21

NAME
Harlem Heroes, Part 21
(according to Wikipedia, this is the sixth and final part of a strip also known as 'Gorgon's Gargoyles', although it also states that it is a 5 part story)

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 21

DATELINE
16 July 77

PAGE COUNT
4

REPRINTS
Sam Slade Robo-Hunter (Volume 2, Issue 18), 2000AD Extreme Edition 13 and The Complete Harlem Heroes.

SYNOPSIS
With Artie Gruber unmasked, the rest of Gorgon's Gargoyles turn on him.

FIRSTS & LASTS
Last appearance of Gorgon's Gargoyles aeroball team, first appearance of the Bushido Blades

INFORMATION
A magnum grenade creates a huge explosion.

Gorgon Stadium has stadium police and is near a crematorium.

The umpire abandoned the game between the Harlem Heroes and Gorgon's Gargoyles.

Harlem Heroes have drawn the Tokyo-based Bushido Blades in the next round of the World Aeroball Championship.

GIANT
He has suspicions that Gruber was being manipulated by someone else.

ZACK
He throws a ball at Artie Gruber's face causing him to drop the grenade and damaging his nu-skin disguise.

OTHER CHARACTERS
ARTIE GRUBER
Zack throws an aeroball at his nu-skin disguise and it disintegrates revealing his true identity. Gorgon's Gargoyles turn on him, huddle around him and as a group crash into the audience seating. He is presumed dead and is sent to a nearby crematorium, but he has a weak pulse and major damage to his computronic systems. The surgeons give him a cardiac boost by remote and he is revived again. He breaks out of the crematorium and heads for a control-van outside the stadium.

MR GORGON
Owner of Gorgon's Gargoyles.

DEATHS
Potentially six. Gorgon's Gargoyles deliberately crash at full speed and do not walk away from it, but Mr Gorgon implies that he can rebuild them.

BEST LINES
Mr Gorgon: "Why, those...crazy androids! They're gonna cost me a small fortune in spare parts!"

WORST LINES
Artie Gruber: "Artie Kill!"

Yeah, yeah.

CATCHPHRASES
Gorgon's Gargoyles grunts "Awwrgh!", "Gnaaagh!" and whilst exploding "Eeeegh!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

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

Script: Tom Tully
Artist: Dave Gibbons
Letters: Dave Gibbons

REVIEW
It seems a little odd that a strip that deals with two big revelations dramatically undermines them both. The physically unmasking of Artie Gruber is hampered by his identity becoming common knowledge last week, while his subsequent resurrection could have been something the reader knew that the Heroes didn't. The cliffhanger cannot compete with the Artie story. That said the other Gorgon's Gargoyles players turning on Artie is great.

Keep Calm + + + Thrill Factor Overload + + + Keep Calm + + +

Harlem Heroes, Part 20

NAME
Harlem Heroes, Part 20 (according to Wikipedia, this is the fifth and penultimate part of a strip also known as 'Gorgon's Gargoyles', although to be fair it also states that this is a 5 part story)

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 20

DATELINE
9 July 77

PAGE COUNT
3

REPRINTS
Sam Slade Robo-Hunter (Volume 2, Issue 17), 2000AD Extreme Edition 13 and The Complete Harlem Heroes.

SYNOPSIS
Louis returns to get the Harlem Haroes back on track and Artie Gruber is revealed.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First hint that Louis Mayer's brain has special powers.

INFORMATION
When set to auto drive, computer cars drive themselves and leave the occupants free to concentrate on something else, such as watching television.

GIANT
When told one of the Gorgon's Gargoyles is not an android, Giant suspects that Joe Mugglie is Artie Gruber in disguise and reveals the fact to his teammates.

CONRAD KING
He and Giant play a trick on Artie Gruber to force him to reveal he isn't Joe Mugglie.

LOUIS MAYER
He is no longer confined to his life-support trolley, instead scientists have connected his brain to a power source and jet-pack like apparatus and now he can fly the self-propulsion unit simply by thinking about where he wants it to go. His nurse still accompanies him. He is appalled to see the Harlem Heroes fighting amongst themselves. He can also detect a heartbeat and therefore knows one of Gorgon's Gargoyles is pretending to be an android.

OTHER CHARACTERS
ARTIE GRUBER
Louis can detect his heartbeat. Giant tricks him into revealing he isn't really Joe Mugglie and he pulls out a bomb.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
Umpire: "Now perhaps we can restore some sanity to this game!"

Yes, this game with jet-packs, robots, three fatalities and a flying brain.

WORST LINES
Unknown: "It...it looks like a bomb!"

Yes, it does.

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
We finally get confirmation that Artie Gruber killed Joe Mugglie in Part 16.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
The umpire asks "what in Sam Hill is going on...?" Sam Hill is a slang phrase in American English which is a euphemism for "the devil" or "hell" personified. Etymologists date the expression back to the late 1830s, but with an unknown origin.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
TVs in cars and autonomous cars that drive themselves are both concepts that were pure science-fiction in 1977, but exist today.

NOTES
None.

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

Script: Tom Tully
Artist: Dave Gibbons
Letters: Dave Gibbons

REVIEW
What's the score? Who cares? It's good to Louis back and the reveal of Artie Gruber dealt with. These three page strips are surprisingly satisfying, could it be that they reveal the padding in earlier instalments?

Don't Miss The Heroes' Next Thrilling Bout, Order Your Copy Now, Don't Miss Out!

Harlem Heroes, Part 19

NAME
Harlem Heroes, Part 19 (according to Wikipedia, this is the fourth part of a strip also known as 'Gorgon's Gargoyles')

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 19

DATELINE
2 July 77

PAGE COUNT
3

REPRINTS
Sam Slade Robo-Hunter (Volume 2, Issue 17), 2000AD Extreme Edition 13 and The Complete Harlem Heroes.

SYNOPSIS
Gruber's contact mine explodes and the Harlem Heroes fall out.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First and last appearance of Dale Parker.

INFORMATION
The umpire has discretion as to whether to allow a team to abandon the game.

GIANT
Allowed the aeroball that Gruber meant for him to go to Dale Parker. Giant almost comes to blows with Slim and Hairy.

SLIM
When given the option to abandon the game, he declines. He checks 'Toots' Tomlinson into the recoil surface. Slim almost comes to blows with Giant and Hairy.

HAIRY
When given the option to abandon the game, he declines. He throws the ball at one of the Gorgon's Gargoyles ten metres from the score-tank. Hairy almost comes to blows with Slim and Giant.

ZACK
When given the option to abandon the game, he declines. Zack punches a Gorgon's Gargoyles player in the face whilst passing the ball to Hairy.

OTHER CHARACTERS
DALE PARKER
Harlem Heroes substitute player who catches the aeroball carrying Artie Gruber's contact mine and is killed when it explodes. (It's implied that this his first match)

ARTIE GRUBER
He is frustrated when another attempt on Giant's life fails.

'TOOTS' TOMLINSON
Gorgon's Gargoyles player. Slim checks him into the recoil surface and parts of him break off.

DEATHS
One. Dale Parker, dies when the contact mine explodes.

BEST LINES
Dale Parker (thinks just before exploding): "This is my big break!"

WORST LINES
Slim: "Quit buggin' me, Giant--Or I'll lay one on you!"

CATCHPHRASES
Gorgon's Gargoyles grunt continue with a "Hssss!", an "Aaarnk!", a "Nnnnrrrg!", and a "Gawwwrg!", while Dale Parker provides an understandable "Aieeeee!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
Dale Parker was presumably one of the substitutes that King was training in Part 6.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

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

Script: Tom Tully
Artist: Dave Gibbons
Letters: Dave Gibbons

REVIEW
This part achieves a lot in only three pages. It's a shame that we didn't get a chance to know Dale Parker a bit before he was blown into tiny pieces. Chico's death last time around galvanised the team and made them play better. It's a nice touch that given the option to abandon the game in similar circumstances, the Harlem Heroes play on and that drives them apart.

Shako's Fur's As White As Snow, And All His Victims Die Real Slow!

Harlem Heroes, Part 18

NAME
Harlem Heroes, Part 18 (according to Wikipedia, this is the third part of a story also known as 'Gorgon's Gargoyles')

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 18

DATELINE
25 June 77

PAGE COUNT
4

REPRINTS
Sam Slade Robo-Hunter (Volume 2, Issue 17), 2000AD Extreme Edition 13 and The Complete Harlem Heroes.

SYNOPSIS
Artie Gruber's revenge causes losses on both teams.

FIRSTS & LASTS
Last appearance of Chico.

INFORMATION
Gorgon's Gargoyles refer to their technicians as "Jigsaw Docs".

The score so far Air-strikes Harlem Heroes 2, Gorgon's Gargoyles 0.

GIANT
He loses concentration during the blast-off and the ball hits him in the shoulder, knocking him out of Gruber's reach.

SLIM
He scores an air-strike.

ZACK
He scores an air-strike.

OTHER CHARACTERS
CHICO
The Harlem Heroes' number 6. He is pushed into the path of the ball by Artie Gruber. It hits him squarely in the face and knocks him into the score-tank. He is electrocuted and killed.

ARTIE GRUBER
Artie attempts to slash Giant with his claws, but misses and accidentally gets Pretty Boy Floyd. Then he pushes Chico into the path of the ball which results in his death. He attaches an explosive limpet device to the ball and throws it to Giant.

PRETTY BOY FLOYD
He is slashed acrosssed the chest with Artie's claws, his internal electronics are damaged and he falls to the runway. (the commentator implies that he is beyond repair)

BEAUTY-PACK BENSON
He kicks the long-range shot which ultimately hits Chico in the face.

DEATHS
Two. Pretty Boy Floyd, his "electronic guts" are slashed by Artie Gruber's claws (Slim implies he can be fixed, while the commentator suggests he can't). Chico, electrocuted by Gruber.

BEST LINES
Commentator (as Gruber throws a ball carrying his explosive limpet device): "What a lousy pass! Ugly Mugglies thrown it straight at Giant--It's a gift!"

WORST LINES
Umpire (preventing a fight after Chico's death): "Hold it, you two! Aeroball's no different from other high-risk sports, like motor racing! Accidents happen!"

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
Not necessarily a mistake but as I've pointed out under Deaths (above) that Slim and the commentator provide contradictory information about Pretty Boy Floyd. It would be nice to know one way or the other.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

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

Script: Tom Tully
Artist: Dave Gibbons
Letters: Dave Gibbons

REVIEW
This part finally ups the ante after a few that stalled. We've established that aeroball is a tough old game, but to play on after two deaths is absolutely bloody heartless and a bit brilliant as well.

Can The Heroes Prove Their Fame? Don't Miss Next Week's Thrilling Game?

Harlem Heroes, Part 17

NAME
Harlem Heroes, Part 17 (according to Wikipedia, this is the second part of a strip also known as 'Gorgon's Gargoyles')

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 17

DATELINE
18 June 77

PAGE COUNT
4

REPRINTS
Sam Slade Robo-Hunter (Volume 2, Issue 16), 2000AD Extreme Edition 13 and The Complete Harlem Heroes.

SYNOPSIS
The Harlem Heroes play Gorgon's Gargoyles. while Artie Gruber attempts to take his revenge.

FIRSTS & LASTS
The first strip to feature an aeroball match, but no air-strikes.

INFORMATION
The flying scissors is an aeroball manouevre in which two players cross and one hands off the ball to the other.

The Gorgon's Gargoyles call themselves Da Bogeymen and others refers to them as the Gargs

The score so far is Harlem Heroes nil, Gorgon's Gargoyles nil.

GIANT
He and Slim perform a flying scissors which cuts through the Gorgon's Gargoyles line.

SLIM
He and Giant perform a flying scissors which cuts through the Gorgon's Gargoyles line, and Slim passes to Hairy.

HAIRY
He attempts an air-strike, but it's deflected by the Gorgon's Gargoyles Blocker who smashes his robotic arm in the process.

OTHER CHARACTERS
CHICO
He is rattled by Gorgon's Gargoyles.

ARTIE GRUBER
He has a detachable robotic right hand with retractable claws.

MUGGLIE
Presumably he has a robotic right hand as well.

PRETTY BOY FLOYD
He accurately kicks the ball almost the full length of the aerodrome and scores an air-strike. The umpire disallows it as cheating. His leg wasn't tuned down.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
Slim: "Hit it first time, man. Wipe the smiles off their faces!"
Hairy: "Slim, if those guys are smiling...I'd hate to see them frowning!"

WORST LINES
Pretty Boy Floyd: "I'm aimin' at the Harlem Score-Tank!"

Well, yeah.

CATCHPHRASES
None, but the Gargoyles do have a nice line in roars: "Graww!" and "Awwwgh!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

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

Script: Tom Tully
Artist: Dave Gibbons
Letters: Dave Gibbons

REVIEW
The Gorgons still look great, but it's odd that often they seem to be doing the job of the commentator: "Giant handed off to Slim! They worked a Flying Scissors!", "It's opened up our right flank..." and the worst offender has to be "I'm aimin' at the Harlem Score-Tank!" This strip feels a lot like stalling as Artie's revenge doesn't quite happen.

Get 2000 A.D. Every Week, Or Your Reading Scene'll Be Pretty Bleak!

Harlem Heroes, Part 16

NAME
Harlem Heroes, Part 16 (according to Wikipedia, this is the first part of a strip also known as 'Gorgon's Gargoyles')

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 16

DATELINE
16 June 77

PAGE COUNT
4

REPRINTS
Sam Slade Robo-Hunter (Volume 2, Issue 16), 2000AD Extreme Edition 13 and The Complete Harlem Heroes.

SYNOPSIS
The Harlem Heroes prepare to play Gorgon's Gargoyles, while Artie Gruber secretly the team.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First appearance of Gorgon's Gargoyles.

INFORMATION
Aeroball, Rule 59: "Computronic players must reduce their energy output to human levels during the game"

The Harlem Heroes play in the East Coast League, their next league match is against Gorgon's Gargoyles.

Gorgon's Gargoyles are android robots built by computronic surgeons. They have refused to wear plastic nu-faces. This is their first season in the league.

Flying jet-boards are available.

Mr Universe was an important figure in aeroball born in 2012.

ZACK
He can fly a jet-board.

OTHER CHARACTERS
ARTIE GRUBER
He has surgery to change his appearance to that of Joe 'Ugly' Mugglie. Two days later, Artie smuggles himself into Mugglie's dressing room, fights him and take his place.

JOE MUGGLIE
His nickname is 'Ugly'. He's the squad-leader for Gorgon's Gargoyles. He's always the last to appear before a game so he gets screams from the crowd all to himself.

DEATHS
It's not explicit here whether Artie kills Mugglie in their fight.

BEST LINES
Mugglie (thinks): "Someone's poundin' on the door! If it's one of them darned sports writers, hoping to catch me half-zipped..!"

WORST LINES
Buck (as Zack flies by on a jet-board): "Why ya sassy little..."

CATCHPHRASES
Artie Gruber: "Snap!"

Does that count? It's not really his catchphrase, but it is a catchy phrase that we all understand.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Artie Gruber compares Joe Mugglie to Humpty Dumpty, a character in a nursery rhyme, first recorded in James William Elliott's National Nursery Rhymes and Nursery Songs in 1870.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

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

Script: Tom Tully
Artist: Dave Gibbons
Letters: Dave Gibbons

REVIEW
This strip sets up Gorgon's Gargoyles very well and Dave Gibbons gives us great gruesomeness. It's good to have Artie Gruber back and the Gorgon's Gargoyles player pointing at him with an unattached arm that he's holding is a very nice touch.

+ + + Sequence Ends + + + Continuance Follows

Harlem Heroes, Part 15

NAME
Harlem Heroes, Part 15 (according to Wikipedia, this is the fourth and final part of a strip also known as 'The Flying Scotsmen')

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 15

DATELINE
4 June 77

PAGE COUNT
4 (or 3 1/2)

REPRINTS
Sam Slade Robo-Hunter (Volume 2, Issue 16), 2000AD Extreme Edition 13 and The Complete Harlem Heroes.

SYNOPSIS
Zack and Red go head-to-head in the sudden-death fly-off.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First strip since the Harlem Heroes appearance in the 2000 AD Summer Special 1977. Last appearance of the Flying Scotsmen.

INFORMATION
The losing team in the highest scoring game qualifies for the next round of the World Aeroball Chamiponships.

The Harlem Heroes draw lots for the sudden-death fly-off with little dolls and whoever gets the skull-faced death's head doll takes part.

The final score is Flying Scotsmen 6, Harlem Heroes 7.

GIANT
He and Slim catch a falling Zack.

SLIM
He and Giant catch a falling Zack.

ZACK
He draws the death's head doll and takes part in the sudden death fly off with Red Macardle, after initially struggling he scores an air-strike and the Harlem Heroes win the game.

OTHER CHARACTERS
RED MACARDLE
He loses the sudden-death fly-off to Zack, despite trying to electrocute him on the score-tank's studs and throwing his hard hat at him and finds himself respecting the Harlem Heroes.

ARTIE GRUBER
His boss flies a helicopter and finds the Harlem Heroes's fans cheering the Flying Scotsmen disgusting. Artie is given another chance.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
Red: "I want tae shake the hand o' the wee hoolie who beat me at ma own game! If he's the 'babe' o' the team, the rest of ye must be made of Edinburgh granite!"

WORST LINES
Hairy: "Giant, Zack ain't got a chance!"

Crikey, that's the spirit.

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

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

Script: Tom Tully
Artist: Dave Gibbons
Letters: Dave Gibbons

REVIEW
This is much better. It is refreshing to see that it's Zack, not Slim or Giant going up against Red. The action is easy to follow and the conflict between the two of them have a believable weight to it.

More Thrill Value Next Prog.
More Thrill Value Next Post.

Harlem Heroes, Part 14

NAME
Harlem Heroes, Part 14
(according to Wikipedia, this is the third part of a strip also known as 'The Flying Scotsmen')

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 14

DATELINE
28 May 77

PAGE COUNT
4

REPRINTS
Sam Slade Robo-Hunter (Volume 2, Issue 15), 2000AD Extreme Edition 13 and The Complete Harlem Heroes.

SYNOPSIS
Louis inspires the Harlem Heroes to come back from a six nil defeat and play to their strengths.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First appearance of Buck and the last strip before the Harlem Heroes appearance in the 2000 AD Summer Special 1977.

INFORMATION
In aeroball, double air-smashes are not permitted. Players may hit one another, but not hold on.

The half-time score is six air-strikes to the Flying Scotsmen to the Harlem Heroes nil. The final score is six all. No aeroball team has recovered from such a score deficit before.

The World Aeroball Championship is a knock-out competition which does not permit a draw. Games ending in a draw will be decided by a sudden-death fly off contested by one player from each team, first to score wins.

GIANT
He accuses Slim of turning the first half into a brawl.

SLIM
He scores at least one air-strike.

CONRAD KING
He scores at least one air-strike.

ZACK HARPER
He scores at least one air-strike.

OTHER CHARACTERS
LOUIS MAYER
He has been watching the game and has a plan for victory. He tells the team to play with the skill and improvisation of the Harlem Globetrotters.

BUCK
He is Sammy's replacement, Buck scores at least one air-strike, the Harlem Heroes' sixth which is the equaliser and just before the time-out buzzer ends the game.

ANDY
He is the Flying Scotsmen Number 5.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
Red: "Let's get on wi'it, Giant! Ye've been hittin' me so hard, mon, ah'll swear ye were born in the back-streets of Glasgow!"
Giant (avoiding contact): "Thanks, Red...but I would want you to get the wrong impression!"

WORST LINES
Slim: "Okay, okay! Cut the jive and spell it out!"

CATCHPHRASES
The Flying Scotsmen fans still love to shout "Scotlaaand!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Slim (and presumably Louis) mention the Harlem Globetrotters.

MISTAKES
Louis' plan is a bit thin: play differently to the way that currently isn't working.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

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

Script: Tom Tully
Artist: Dave Gibbons
Letters: Dave Gibbons

REVIEW
The Harlem Heroes coming back from six-nil is impressive. I like that newcomer Buck gets to score the equaliser and it's nice to see Slim getting a bit more to do, but still the strip now feels as though it is missing something when it concentrates on aeroball and the conspiracy subplot recedes.

Don't Miss The Next Prog Of 2000 A.D.
There's Plenty More Aeroball Action To See!