Harlem Heroes, Part 6

NAME
Harlem Heroes, Part 6 (according to Wikipedia, this is the first part of a strip also known as The Siberian Wolves)

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 6

DATELINE
02 Apr 77

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
2000AD Annual 1983, Robo-Hunter 1, Sam Slade Robo-Hunter (Volume 2, Issue 12), 2000AD Extreme Edition 13, The Best Of 2000AD and The Complete Harlem Heroes.

SYNOPSIS
The Harlem Heroes get to Russia and begin playing the very determined Siberian Wolves.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First mention of Mega-City One and first visit to another country.

INFORMATION
(It's been a "coupla weeks" since the road crash)

The Trans-Atlantic Tunnel runs under the atlantic ocean connecting the United States to Europe and Africa. It was started in 2010 A.D. and completed in 2050 A.D. At least six levels of traffic are layered one on top of the other. Oceanic Industries maintains an facility on the sea floor outside the Trans-Atlantic Tunnel. Aquatugs are underwater vehicles to aid divers. There is an Atlantic Hilton, part way along the route. Companies using the Trans-Atlantic Tunnel at the same time as Harlem Heroes include: Mills Moving, Juggernaught Trucking Corp, Acme, Stones II, Transatlantic Trucks and Barnum Circus.

The Soviet Union still exists in some capacity. Russia only applied for membership of the World Aeroball Association five years ago. there are rumours of secret aeroball training camps in the wilds of Siberia. The Palace Of Aeroball is reportedly bigger than the Kremlin. The Siberian Wolves field at least thirty substitutes and wear armour with CCCP written on it.

Aeroball pitches have recoil surfaces.

The Harlem Heroes have recruited some new trainees. Being hit by an aeroball travelling at 80mph is part of the training regimen. The Harlem Heroes new liner converts into a water-tight air-conditioned super-sub at the flick of a switch. Its tactics room has a tacto-mat three dimensional display and its medic-room has an autodoctor. They are the first foreign team to enter the Soviet Union. The Russian Aeroball fans form the Harlem Heroes symbol as a welcome gesture.

The London Synthesiser Orchestra (LSO) are also visiting Russia and the Bolshoi Ballet are heading in the opposite direction as the team head towards Moscow.

GIANT
He holds a tactics session in the liner's tactics room.

SLIM
He worries about Louis during the journey.

HAIRY
(Is he flying the satellite chopper?)

CONRAD KING
He supervises the training of the new recruits.

ZACK HARPER
He has a low-level support push tactic that Giant wants to alter by making Zack a decoy.

LOUIS MAYER
He is travelling in the liner's medic-room. Louis' nurse is along for the ride.

OTHER CHARACTERS
ARTIE NEILSON
One of at least three of the drivers of the Harlem Heroes' liner.

BORIS WOROSLOV
The Minister of Sport and Chief Director of Aeroball Activities.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
Unidentified Harlem Hero: "Either they love us to Betsy already, or they're just tryin' to keep their hands warm!"

WORST LINES
American Commentator: "Heck, the Russians all look the same to me, folks, so I'll have to go by numbers...I'll call them all Boris!"

Racism is still alive and well.

CATCHPHRASES
Boris Two or Three: "Za Rodinu"

It means "For the Motherland"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
Judge Dredd's beat gets a mention with Mega-City One 3000 km written on a sign for trans-atlantic vehicles. Making this the first link between the two strips.

INFLUENCES
The Bolshoi Ballet was founded in 1776 and so would recently have celebrated its bicentennial as this strip was being drawn.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
It may not be on the scale of the Trans-Atlantic Tunnel, the Channel Tunnel opened in 1994 connecting the UK and France. Also, the Soviet Union broke up in 1991, so presumably it reforms at some point by 2050.

NOTES
On the first page, there is a vehicle labelled Mills Moving, clearly in honout of Pat Mills, and another entering the panel on the top right hand side with what looks like part of the 2000 A.D. logo on it.

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
There are some great visuals in this strip, but it's more travelogue than sports action. The Siberian Wolves are suitably formidable and I love that the Harlem Heroes even stand in their trademark 'H' formation. Louis reasserts his certainty that the crash was no accident, although it's a shame that he doesn't remember anything new.

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

Harlem Heroes, Part 5

NAME
Harlem Heroes, Part 5 (according to Wikipedia, this is the fourth and final part of a strip also known as The Baltimore Bulls)

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 5

DATELINE
26 Mar 77

PAGE COUNT
4

REPRINTS
2000AD Annual 1983, Robo-Hunter 3, Sam Slade Robo-Hunter (Volume 2, Issue 13), 2000AD Extreme Edition 13 and The Complete Harlem Heroes.

SYNOPSIS
The revelation that someone tried to kill the Harlem Heroes invigorates the team in the second half of their game with the Baltimore Bulls.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First strip to open with a double page spread, first four page strip and the first victory for the new team.

INFORMATION
The ball can bounce off the rebound pads and remain in play, there is one on the starboard side (and presumably one on the port side as well, why they are using naval terms is unclear). An air-switch is a sneak pass.

Trans-World Networks recently paid a hundred million dollars for the world Tri-Vision rights to broadcast Aeroball. GTV broadcast interviews about Aeroball.

The Harlem Heroes play their home games at the Harlem Aero-drome. They win the game with six air-strikes, to the Baltimore Bulls one. The team are due to play the Siberian Wolves in Moscow in the next/first round of the world championships. Ulyssess Cord gives the Harlem Heroes' new superliner has a swim pool, gymnasium, canteen, sauna, tactics, first aid, dormitory, hangar, reactor room and a helicopter.

GIANT
He scores at least one air-strike, with King's assistance. Giant is suspicious of Ulysses Cord's generosity.

SLIM
He scores at least one air-strike, with Zack's assistance.

HAIRY
He blocks three Baltimore Bulls at once.

CONRAD KING
He presumes his life is threatened as much as those in the crash (he's right, but there hasn't been an attempt on his life).

ZACK HARPER
He gets karate chopped to the back of the neck by a Baltimore Bull.

OTHER CHARACTERS
LOUIS MAYER
He is well enough to go on tour with Harlem Heroes.

CHICO
He scores at least one air-strike.

ULYSSES CORD
He is the head of Trans-World Networks. He buys the Harlem Heroes a new superliner on the proviso that they win the world championships for America.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
King: "What kind of heel would want to rub out us Heroes? And why?"
Giant: "We'll know more when we talk to Louis. He's well enough to come on tour with us!"

Is he going to be the ball?

WORST LINES
Unidentified Harlem Hero: "...And lookit this chopper! It's got our emblem on it! Nifty!"

Giant, Slim and Zack's collective "?" is very odd as well.

CATCHPHRASES
Fans: "Upwards Harlem Heroes, zooming on to score, Fly that big 'H' symbol, slaughter Baltimore"

Another rhyme, presumably sung to the tune of 'Onward Christian Soldiers'

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
One of the Harlem Heroes talks about the Trans-Atlantic Tunnel also mentioned in Judge Dredd's 'Robots' and implied in 'Dream Palace'.

INFLUENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
Maybe I missed something but I thought the Baltimore Bulls was the first round of the world championships, but Ulysses says the Siberian Wolves would be.

It seems odd that you can't kick your opponent's neck, but you can karate chop it.

RETROSPECT
Unknown.

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 a fool I was. I completely misunderstood Louis' thinking. Breaking bad news midway through a game seemed like madness, but look at the results. It's inspired them to beat the Baltimore Bulls. Not just beat them, but batter them as well. The opening two page spread is great with the action unfolding and the crowd's reactions underneath. The scenes after the game show Giant's unease very nicely.

The Heroes Bus'll Speed Through Rain Or Fog,
Their Exciting Tale Goes On Next Prog!
Their Exciting Tale Goes On Next Post!

Harlem Heroes, Part 4

NAME
Harlem Heroes, Part 4 (according to Wikipedia, this is the third part of a strip also known as The Baltimore Bulls)

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 4

DATELINE
19 Mar 77

PAGE COUNT
4

REPRINTS
2000AD Annual 1983, Robo-Hunter 1, Sam Slade Robo-Hunter (Volume 2, Issue 12), 2000AD Extreme Edition 13, The Best Of 2000AD and The Complete Harlem Heroes.

SYNOPSIS
Zack nearly loses his life and the game.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First line of dialogue spoken by Chico.

INFORMATION
A holophone is a visual communications device.

Aeroball Rule 16: Either squad can call for a two-minute 'time-out' if two or more of his players have withdrawn from the thrillbowl because of injury. Also, sandwich tackles are illegal, but mid-air half nelsons are fine. The umpire can award a free throw.

The Harlem Heroes wear fire-proof body sheaths.

The Baltimore Bulls score during Zack's fall. Named players: Lannigan is a Baltimore Bull.

The half-time score in the Harlem Heroes versus Baltimore Bulls game is 1:1.

GIANT
He is the Harlem Heroes Squad-leader. Giant scores an airstrike, with the assistance of a Baltimore Bull.

SLIM
He is sarcastic about Louis' assertion that someone is trying to kill the Harlem Heroes.

HAIRY
He is the centre-Blocker for the Harlem Heroes.

CONRAD KING
He is presumably released from the penalty pen after Zack's fall, but before his return to the game (we don't see him at all in this strip, but he was only in for three minutes and the umpire says the team is one player short rather than two)

ZACK HARPER
Giant and Hairy save him from his fall.

OTHER CHARACTERS
CHICO TRAVIS
He is sandwich tackled by the Baltimore Bulls.

LOUIS MAYER
He has remembered that someone sabotaged the road liner's controls.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
Giant: "You're er...lookin' better, Louis!"
Louis: "Listen, Giant...Stuck here in hospital, I've been doing a lot of thinking..."

Well, a disembodied brain couldn't really have been doing much else.

WORST LINES
Giant: "A little gutter hound like you will never make a hero--Not in a thousand years! So why don't you clean up and bug off--Before I'm sick to my stomach!"

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
"They didn't allow tackles like that in soccer...and the same applies to aeroball!" says the umpire of the sandwich tackle. It's true mid-air collisions involving three people fifty feet off the ground are expressly forbidden in football.

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
Dave Gibbons' art continues to impress as we see the first half of a game of aeroball played out and the highlight for me has to be Giant scoring with a rebound from a Baltimore Bulls player's face. Does that count as an own goal? Louis has realised that the crash was an attempt on their lives and decides the best time to tell them is at half time during an aeroball game. It seems an odd thing to do. Maybe that brain isn't as big as it looks?

HERE COME THE HEROES + + + FIGHTERS TO THE LAST
DON'T MISS OUR NEXT PROG + + + THE FLYIN'S HARD 'N' FAST
DON'T MISS OUR NEXT PROG + + + THE FLYIN'S HARD 'N' FAST

Harlem Heroes, Part 3

NAME
Harlem Heroes, Part 3 (according to Wikipedia, this is the second part of a strip also known as The Baltimore Bulls)

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 3

DATELINE
12 Mar 77

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
2000AD Annual 1983, Robo-Hunter 2, Sam Slade Robo-Hunter (Volume 2, Issue 13), 2000AD Extreme Edition 13, The Best Of 2000AD and The Complete Harlem Heroes.

SYNOPSIS
The Harlem Heroes play their first game since the crash.

FIRSTS & LASTS
The first strip to end mid-game and with a perilous cliffhanger.

INFORMATION
A game of Aeroball begins with a blast off. Rule 28: The score-holes of the 'tank' are surrounded by by electrified prods. If a player hits the prods, they must go to the penalty pen for a period of three minutes. After a penalty, the game continues after a 'free' for the opposite team. A kick in the back of the neck is a foul. A reverse shoulder pass involves a player throwing the ball from the shoulder behind them.

The Harlem Heroes vs Baltimore Bulls game is shown on a huge screen in Harlem that the Harlem Heroes has had erected for their fans.

The Baltimore Bulls are a team made up of police officers.

GIANT
He has to remind Zack to stay in formation. He tries for an air-strike, but the ball rebounds off the rim of the score-tank.

CONRAD KING
Harlem Heroes' 'tank minder'. He blocks an airstrike, but hits the prods on the tank and spends three minutes in the penalty pen.

ZACK HARPER
He has obviously had run-ins with the police before. He scores an airstrike, but the umpire disallows it because he kicked an opponent in the back of the neck. He overshoots and crashes into a TV camera boom at 80mph and falls.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
Zack: "Move over cops--Ya causin' an obstruction!"

WORST LINES
Fan(s): "Barrel 'em Baltimore!"

What?

CATCHPHRASES
Giant: "Forget it, Bulls from Baltimore, with you we're going to wipe the floor!"

More rhyming.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
Unknown.

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 focusses on the new players from last week's strip almost exclusively. Slim and Hairy don't have anything to do and the opening roll call even omits Chico and Sammy which doesn't bode well for them. The exposition is generally well-handled and the cliffhanger is great.

Zack's Future's Looking Pretty Bleak, Watch His Fate Unfold - Next Week!
Zack's Future's Looking Pretty Bleak, Watch His Fate Unfold - Tomorrow

Harlem Heroes, Part 2

NAME
Harlem Heroes, Part 2 (according to Wikipedia, this is the first part of a strip also known as The Baltimore Bulls)

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 2

DATELINE
05 Mar 77

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
2000AD Annual 1983, Robo-Hunter 1, Sam Slade Robo-Hunter (Volume 2, Issue 12), 2000AD Extreme Edition 13, The Best Of 2000AD and The Complete Harlem Heroes.

SYNOPSIS
Giant, Slim and Hairy try to put the Harlem Heroes back together.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First appearance of Conrad King, Zack Harper, Chico, Sammy and the Baltimore Bulls.

INFORMATION
An aeroball is silver. There is an amateur Aeroball stadium 500 feet up on Street Level Nine in the slum area of Harlem. The players use either low power jet packs or illegal home made ones powered by alcohol. Ten young people have been killed using them in the last year.

A new medical bone-grafting technique has helped patients with hip injuries.

Before the crash, the Harlem Heroes lent two players to the Seattle Swifts. The Harlem Heroes first round match is against the Baltimore Bulls. Sixty million televiewers watch the game. Named players: Conrad King, Zack Harper, Chico and Sammy.

GIANT
He was discovered in the sky-slums of Harlem. Giant saves Zack's life when his jet pack overheats.

SLIM
He distrusts Zack.

HAIRY
He was discovered in the sky-slums of Harlem. He injured his hand in the crash, but it has healed now.

OTHER CHARACTERS
CONRAD KING
He is a forty year old aeroball veteran who played for the Harlem Heroes, but was forced to retire due to injury. Conrad broke his right hip three times, but has now received a bonegraft and can play again. (If he is exactly forty and if the year is 2050, then he was born in 2010).

ZACK HARPER
He is involved with street gangs, has been in trouble with the police and his father is currently in prison for armed robbery. Zack gatecrashes aeroball games at the amateur stadium in the slum area on street level nine in Harlem. Giant saves his life when his jet pack overheats and he loses control.

CHICO & SAMMY
Two Harlem Heroes reserves who were lent to the Seattle Swifts, but requested a return transfer when they heard about the crash that killed their former teammates.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
Hairy (impressed by Conrad's skills): "Amazing he's scored an airstrike...from the ground!"

WORST LINES
Giant: "Hey! Who let you in here, old timer!"

Rude.

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES
Zack mentions Superman (1938), which is an odd reference for him to make since flying people should be fairly commonplace as far as he is concerned.

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
Stories that involve "getting the band back together" usually require you to care about the band in the first place or at least more than the individuals involved. The additions of a veteran or a punk kid are well worn tropes, but both work well here albeit at the expense of learning anything new about Slim or Hairy. Tom Tully is evidentally at his best describing and depicting game action and this strip suffers slightly, but the effort going into the worldbuilding and the art is absolutely fantastic throughout.

Harlem Heroes, Part 1

Following Giant's appearance in the second part of Judge Dredd: The Academy Of Law, we go back to the beginning with the first prog and...

NAME
Harlem Heroes, Part 1
(according to Wikipedia, this first part is also known as The Sport of Tomorrow)

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Programme 1

DATELINE
26 Feb 77

The first ever prog also featured the debut strips of Invasion, Dan Dare, Flesh and M.A.C.H.1, as well as a Tharg The Mighty cover by Kevin O'Neill, a Space Spinner free gift (below) and a preview of Prog 2.

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
Robo-Hunter 1, Sam Slade Robo-Hunter (Volume 2, Issue 12), 2000AD Annual 1983, 2000AD Extreme Edition 13, The Best Of 2000AD
and The Complete Harlem Heroes.

SYNOPSIS
Harlem Heroes qualify for the World Aeroball Championship, but a crash kills three of them and leaves another wounded.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First appearance of aeroball, the Harlem Heroes, Giant, Slim, Hairy, Louis, the sports commentator and the nurse.

INFORMATION
(The year is not explicity stated except to say that aeroball has swept the world "By the year 2050")

Aeroball is a sport that combines football, boxing, kung fu and basketball. Players fly through the air using jet packs and score "air strikes" by getting the ball in the opposite team's "score tank". The jet packs are controlled by buttons on the player's belts, can reach speeds of least 80 mph and the jet exhaust can burn whatever it comes into contact with. The gas-filled steel ball enters play from a launcher which raises up from under the stadium. There are recoil surfaces near the ceiling and the umpire floats about the area of play in a pod. Flank attacks, ground-rushes and kung-fu drop kicks are all permitted tactics. There is a World Aeroball Championship. The Harlem Heroes and the Greek City Gladiators are among the competing teams. There are also teams in countries like Germany, Japan and Britain.

The Harlem Heroes are one of the top teams. The seven players fly in a famous 'H' formation. They don't wear body armour, which although it makes them more vulnerable, allows them to be more agile. Named players: 'Giant', Slim, Hairy and Louis Mayer.

In the preliminary round of the World Aeroball Championship, the Harlem Heroes beat the Greek City Gladiators with a final score of eight air strikes to two. They are through to the first round of the World Aeroball Championship. After the game, the Harlem Heroes leave in their hover-powered 'road-liner'. The hover unit cuts out, they skid off the road and crash. Three of the players are killed.

GIANT
The Captain of the Harlem Heroes. He scores at least one air strike in the game against the Greek City Gladiators. 'Giant' survives the crash.

SLIM
He scores at least one air strike just before time run out. He survives the crash.

HAIRY
The centre-blocker of the Harlem Heroes. Despite his name he is bald. He survives the crash.

LOUIS MAYER
He is driving the team's hover-powered 'road-liner' when it crashes. He survives the crash, but his body is beyond repair and his brain is stored in a tank. He can still communicate. His case number is 555. He insists that the Harlem Heroes can still win the World Aeroball Championship.






OTHER CHARACTERS
AEROBALL COMMENTATOR
He provides commentary for Aeroball games, describing the action for listeners.

LOUIS' NURSE
She works on a special ward dedicated to treating disembodied brains.

DEATHS
Three unnamed Harlem Heroes.

BEST LINES
Fan: "Strike Eight...with a beautiful drop in! The old Harlem Globetrotters couldn't have topped that!"

True, but then they also didn't have jet packs.

WORST LINES
Nurse: "We were unable to save Case Number 555's body. However his brain is quite healthy and he can communicate with you thanks to the mircles of modern medicine."

Bedside manner is apparently a thing of the past and refering to patient by their case number must be a dehumanising experience, disembodied brain or not.

CATCHPHRASES
"Hard in Harlem! Hit the heat! We heroes know we can't be beat!"

Rhyming chants will be a big part of this strip.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
The Harlem Globetrotters, Roy Of The Rovers (1954), Rollerball (1975) and the 1958 munich air disaster, which left nine of Manchester United's 'Busby Babes' killed or sufficiently injured to prevent them from playing football again. The most famous use of jet packs is probably in the James Bond film, Thunderball (1965).

Brains are kept alive in jars throughout science fiction, such as H. P. Lovecraft's Mi-go aliens, first appearing in The Whisperer In Darkness (1931), can transplant human brains into a "brain cylinder". The novel Donovan's Brain by Curt Siodmak (1942), Roald Dahl's short story William And Mary (1960), The Brain That Wouldn't Die (1962), Star Trek's Spock's Brain (1968) and Doctor Who's The Brain Of Morbius (1976).

MISTAKES
Surely an 80mph Kung-Fu drop kick to the chin would detach the recipient's head? Also Dave Gibbons and Carlos Trigo both draw the characters very differently.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
Carlos Trigo drew this first strip, but apparently it wasn't what Pat Mills (or maybe Tharg) was after so Dave Gibbons came in and redrew the black and white pages, but the colour page remained (presumably for cost reasons).

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

Script: Tom Tully and Pat Mills
Artist: Dave Gibbons and Carlos Trigo (Page 5 only)
Letters: Dave Gibbons and Bill Nuttall

Tom Tully wrote for Harlem Heroes, Inferno, Dan Dare, The Mean Arena, The Mind Of Wolfie Smith and Thunderbolt and Smokey!. Away from 2000 AD he was the longest-running writer of Roy Of The Rovers

Pat Mills was 2000 AD's first editor (alongside Tharg obviously) for its first 16 progs and as such co-wrote the first parts of each of the strips that made up the first progs opening line up: Invasion, Dan Dare, Flesh, Harlem Heroes and M.A.C.H.1. He went on to create and write write for countless strips including: A.B.C. Warriors, Accident Man, American Reaper, Black Siddha, Brats Bizarre, Charley's War, Coffin, Deadlock, Defoe, Diceman, Dinosty, Judge Dredd, Finn, Greysuit, Marshal Law, Metalzoic, Muto Maniac, Nemesis The Warlock, Planet Of The Damned, Psycho Killer, Ronald Reagan, Ro-Busters, Rogue Trooper, Ro-Jaws' Robo-Tales, Savage, Sex Warrior, Shako, Slaine, Torquemada, Third World War, Vector 13, The Visible Man, Wagner's Walk and a couple of One-offs. He was also one of severals writers on Tharg The Mighty's A Night 2 Remember and served as editor of Diceman. His blog is here.

Dave Gibbons' art for Harlem Heroes is by far the most beautiful stuff in 2000 A.D.'s opening line up. He also worked on A.B.C. Warriors, Dan Dare, Judge Dredd, Ro-Busters, Rogue Trooper, Ro-Jaws' Robo-Tales, Time Twisters and Tharg's Future Shocks and often lettered his own work. He also drew 38 2000 A.D. covers, illustrated two Mega-City One text stories and was one of several artists to contribute to Tharg The Mighty strips, Tharg's Head Revisited and A Night 2 Remember. He has also written scripts for a three part story for Rogue Trooper called The War Machine. Away from 2000 AD, he did some wonderful work on Doctor Who and Watchmen.

Carlos Trigo provided artwork for this first part of Harlem Heroes, but apart from the last page it went unused. It eventually surfaced on the BBC website and in The Complete Harlem Heroes. He return to draw the first two parts of The Visible Man and Whatever happened to? Conrad Conn.

REVIEW
This strip is a lot of fun and the game sequences give a great impression of speed, which makes action sequences in other strips look slow. Dave Gibbons' art is fantastic and there is a very obvious drop in quality for the last page. The sports commentator is a great device and gets the exposition across with ease. This is a compelling start.

Take another PIC-TRIP into the Future with the Harlem Heroes in 2000 A.D. next week!
Take another PIC-TRIP into the Future with the Harlem Heroes here tomorrow!

Judge Dredd: 'The Academy Of Law', Part 2

NAME
Judge Dredd: 'The Academy Of Law', Part 2 (according to Barney this story is also known as 'Rookie')

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 28

DATELINE
3 Sep 77

This prog also featured Invasion, Dan Dare, Tharg's Future Shocks, M.A.C.H.1 and Shako strips, as well as a supercover by Lopez.

PAGE COUNT
4

REPRINTS
Judge Dredd Annual 1985, Sam Slade Robo-Hunter (Volume 2) Issue 20, Judge Dredd: The Early Cases 4, The Complete Judge Dredd 2 and Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 01.

SYNOPSIS
Rookie Judge Giant has to emulate his father and defy Dredd to save the day.

FIRSTS & LASTS
The first time a character from the another comic strip has crossed over into Judge Dredd and the first two part story.

INFORMATION
Heroes Bowl is where the Harlem Heroes used to play Aeroball, it is now part of Mega-City One. There is a Louis Mayer stand and statues of Mayer (and his brain) and John 'Giant' Clay.

The final test for a Rookie Judge is to be willing to sacrifice their future to defend the law. Rookies that become full Judges are awarded the black helmet and full Eagle badge in a ceremony that takes place in The Grand Hall of Justice and is presided over by the Chief Judge.

Kidnapping is not a crime that requires the death penalty.

JUDGE DREDD
He pretends he is going to execute Giant's prisoners to see if the Rookie will stop him.

OTHER CHARACTERS
JUDGE GIANT
He could have played pro-Aeroball, but his father wanted something better for him. He can handle a jetpack and uses one to rescue the kidnapped Anderson boy. He disposes of the bomb attached to the child and throws it into the score tank. He has always admired Dredd. He passes Dredd's final test and becomes a Judge.

THE CHIEF JUDGE
He awards Giant the black helmet and full eagle badge and invests him as a Mega-City Judge.

JOHN 'GIANT' CLAY
Judge Giant's father. He has retired from Aeroball and requires a stick to walk. His statue is in the Heroes Bowl. He attends his son's investment as a Judge, but his subsequent celebration party plans are cancelled as his son has other duties.

ARRESTS
Rookie Judge Giant arrests two of the kidnappers.

DEATHS
The third kidnapper presumably falls to his death.

BEST LINES
Rookie Judge Giant: "Air-strike! My first and last!"

WORST LINES
John 'Giant' Clay: "That's muh boy! Son, your old pappy is sure enough proud of you come on home now - We're gonna have a real big party to celebrate."

Giant never spoke like this in Harlem Heroes.

CATCHPHRASES
Dredd says "Drokk you" to his Rookie, which is perhaps the first time it's been so insulting.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
John 'Giant' Clay attends his son's investment as a Judge and Louis Mayer (and his brain) are immortalised in a statue in the Heroes Bowl. They previously appeared in Harlem Heroes, more of that tomorrow...

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Harlem Heroes (1977).

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
Judge Giant will go on to become an important character in future Judge Dredd strips.

NOTES
None.

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

Script: John Wagner
Artist: Mike McMahon
Letters: Tony Jacob

REVIEW
When I first read this strip I had no knowledge of Harlem Heroes and so the references were largely lost on me. I have since read about the senior Giant's exploits and now Aeroball, Louis Mayer's brain and airstrikes all have a far greater significance to me. It's a nice touch to incorporate a beloved character from another strip and them treat them so badly. It reinforces the implacability of the Judges. I like this strip, but I'm aware that much of the affection I have for it comes from the Harlem Heroes references.

The End.