Invasion!: 'The Prince', Part 8

NAME
Invasion!: 'The Prince', Part 8

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 44

DATELINE
24 Dec 77

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
Invasion!

SYNOPSIS
Savage, Silk, Nessie and Prince John attempt to run away from the circus.

FIRSTS & LASTS
The first Invasion! story to reach eight parts.

INFORMATION
None.

BILL SAVAGE
As he attempts to escape with Silk, Nessie and Prince John, the circus owner raises the alarm and Volgan troops swarm into the circus. Savage tries to lead them away while the others hide. When he is caught in the big top. Nessie, Silk and the prince come to the rescue. They escape in Nessie's truck.

OTHER CHARACTERS
SILK
He hides with Nessie and Prince John as Savage draws the Volgans off, then comes to his rescue and shoots the circus owner dead before he can kill Savage. They escape in Nessie's truck.

BIG NESSIE McNAIRN
She hides with Silk and Prince John as Savage draws the Volgans off, then comes to his rescue and drives a trailer truck through the big top. They escape in her truck.

PRINCE JOHN
He hides with Nessie and Prince John as Savage draws the Volgans off. They escape in Nessie's truck.

DEATHS
Five. Savage kills one Volgan soldier. Silk kills a Volgan and the circus owner. Nessie runs over at least two Volgans.

BEST LINES
None.

WORST LINES
Savage: "That's what you Volgs get for loitering' with-in tent! Okay, Nessie drive!"

CATCHPHRASES
"Aiee" is presumably a time saver.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Savage sings 'The Daring Young Man On The Flying Trapeze' a song first published in 1867, with music by Gaston Lyle and lyrics by George Leybourne (1842-1884), lyrics based on the success of trapeze artist Jules Léotard (1838-1870)

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Gerry Finley-Day
Artist: Mike Dorey
Letters: Unknown

REVIEW
Another nice instalment and once again it's Nessie that saves the day. Silk gets to save Savage's life and the prince does absolutely nothing. The circus puns don't do anyone any favours. This isn't the end of an eight part story at all, it's the end of a three part story begun in Part 6 and the confirmation of the new dynamic for the strip.

Next Prog: Nessie 'N' Bill - Bonnie 'N' Clyde Of 1999!

Invasion!: 'The Prince', Part 7

NAME
Invasion!: 'The Prince', Part 7

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 43

DATELINE
17 Dec 77

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
Invasion!

SYNOPSIS
Nessie hides Prince John.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First time an Invasion! story has reached seven parts.

INFORMATION
None.

BILL SAVAGE
He and Silk hide from the Volgans inside the barrel of Howitzer Harry the Human Cannonball's cannon. When the prince is discovered, Savage enters Nessie's tent and kills a couple of Volgans.

OTHER CHARACTERS
SILK
He and Savage hide from the Volgans inside the barrel of Howitzer Harry the Human Cannonball's cannon. Later, when the Volgans discover the prince, Silk fires the cannon to cover up the noise of Savage's shotgun. He then rounds up the Volgan survivors and puts them in with the circus gorillas.

PRINCE JOHN
He remains unconcious. Big Nessie McNairn hides him under her table, the Volgans discover him.

BIG NESSIE McNAIRN
She is also working as Madame Midnight, fortune teller. She hides Prince John under her table and reads the fortunes of the Volgan captain that comes looking for him.

DEATHS
Two. Savage kills the Volgan captain and another soldier.

BEST LINES
Nessie: "I see a tall dark stranger come into your life! He means ill for you and your men!"

WORST LINES
Volgan: "No, no - not the shotgun - it - it is Savage!"

CATCHPHRASES
"Drobnak!" is another great Volgan word. "Aieeeeeeee!" is not.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Gerry Finley-Day
Artist: Carlos Pino
Letters: Bill Nuttall

REVIEW
This is a nice runaround, but once again it's Nessie that is the real star of the show. The final pun outstays its welcome.

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

Invasion!: 'The Prince', Part 6

NAME
Invasion!: 'The Prince', Part 6

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 42

DATELINE
10 Dec 77

PAGE COUNT
4 and a 1/2

REPRINTS
Invasion!

SYNOPSIS
Savage and co seek refuge in London.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First use of Mike Dorey's J. Clough pseudonym. First time an Invasion! story has reached six parts.

INFORMATION
(This strip takes place six days after Part 5)

The Volgans appear to have broken the Resistance network in London. The Volgan Republic Circus are reputed to be a the best in the world.

BILL SAVAGE
He, Silk and Prince John travel to London and head to a safe house. The safe house turns out to be a Volgan trap and they flee. They hide in a circus and encounter Big Nessie McNairn who gives them refuge in her circus stall.

OTHER CHARACTERS
SILK
Big Nessie McNairn calls him Skinny Silk, and gives him, Savage and Prince John refuge in her circus stall.

PRINCE JOHN
Big Nessie McNairn gives him, Savage and Silk refuge in her circus stall.

BIG NESSIE McNAIRN
She is working for Bertie Hills Circus as a bearded lady. She gives Savage, Silk and the Prince refuge in her circus stall.

DEATHS
Savage apparently kills four Volgans at the safe house.

BEST LINES
Volgan: "-Something over my eyes! Euugh! It's revolting!"
Big Nessie McNairn "It's me beard, Volg!"

WORST LINES
Prince John: "A Volgan sniper! He's got the drop on us!"
Savage: "Correction! It's him who's been dropped!"

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
Big Nessie McNairn was previously seen in Invasion!: 'Volgess', part 2.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
None.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Gerry Finley-Day
Artist: J. Clough
Letters: Peter Knight

J. Clough is a pseudonym for Mike Dorey.

REVIEW
Savage takes a bit of a back seat, but it's great to see the return of Big Nessie. London seems a much bleaker place than when we last saw it and it seems very fitting.

+ Alert Status Red +

Invasion!: 'The Prince', Part 5

NAME
Invasion!: 'The Prince', Part 5

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 41

DATELINE
3 Dec 77

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
Invasion!

SYNOPSIS
Prince John takes Savage and Silk to Balmoral.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
The Volgans have seized Balmoral.

BILL SAVAGE
He loads his gun with a black shell and puts a pair of stag's antler into the end of his gun. When he fires the antlers shoot out like a spear and kills the huntsmen collaborator who lead the Volgans to them.

OTHER CHARACTERS
SILK
When Savage killed the huntsmen collaborator, Silk grabbed his gun and shot his Volgan acquaintance.

PRINCE JOHN
He knows his way around the Balmoral estate and leads Savage and Silk to a cave behind a waterfall that he had visited as a child. He was last at Balmoral a year ago with his father and family on their annual holiday.

DEATHS
Savage kills three Volgans.

BEST LINES
Savage: ""We'll take you lot as trophies too!"

WORST LINES
Volgan: "A good day's killing - but our collaborator friend has found something"

CATCHPHRASES
Another dying Volgan, another "Aieeeeeeee!". "Nie" is presumably Volgan for no.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
Savage has already been to one of the Royal residences in Invasion!: 'Sandringham'.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
The Volgan Worst Line (see above) has no full stop.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

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

REVIEW
'The Prince' proves so far not to be a story per se, but a new format that sees Savage and Silk as bodyguards and it's good to see Prince John getting a bit more character. Even with this new format, this strip still relies on luck, with the fortunate discovery of the shotgun shells and the stag skull between panels are odd.

Next Prog: - Savage And A Circus And An Old Friend!

Invasion!: 'The Prince', Part 4

NAME
Invasion!: 'The Prince', Part 4

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 40

DATELINE
26 Nov 77

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
Extreme Edition 3 and Invasion!

SYNOPSIS
Savage gets Prince John to a failed rendezvous.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
(This part takes place weeks after Part 2)

Storm Bay is on the west coast of Scotland. The Royal Navy uses Seawolf class destroyers.

The Volgan airforce uses Vulture high altitude spy planes. It has a crew of eleven and is armed with Cyclops missiles, which are equipped with televisual control.

BILL SAVAGE
He gets Prince John to the rendezvous with the Royal Navy, but when the Seawolf Destroyer is attacked by a Volgan Vulture spy plane. He kills all eleven of the plane's ejecting crew.

OTHER CHARACTERS
PRINCE JOHN
Before the Volgan invasion he did a course in the RAF.

DEATHS
More than eleven. Savage kills all eleven of the ejecting Vulture crew, but it's not clear if any of the Seawolf Destroyer's crew lose their lives.

BEST LINES
None.

WORST LINES
Savage: "Blow me - another Volg! An' me pump gun's outta ammo - still - this Volg pistol is good enough for killing Volgs!"

CATCHPHRASES
"Dasga" is presumably a bit of Volgan lingo, while a dying Volgan chalks up another "Aieeeeeee!".

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Gerry Finley-Day
Artist: Mike Dorey
Letters: Bill Nuttall

REVIEW
This is nothing special and Savage's sudden dislike of initials is overwrought. Savage shooting the last Volgan airmn through the forehead is great, but loses it's impact after the first ten.

Order 2000 A.D. Now + For Big-Picture Power

Invasion!: 'The Prince', Part 3

NAME
Invasion!: 'The Prince', Part 3

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 39

DATELINE
19 Nov 77

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
Invasion!

SYNOPSIS
Savage, Silk and Prince John take refuge at a B & B in Dundee.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
(This part takes place days after Part 2)

Dundee is surrounded by checkpoints manned by Volgan guards.

BILL SAVAGE
His name is William A. Savage. He, Silk and Prince John take refuge at Jean and Janet McDonald's Bed & Breakfast in Dundee. When a patrol of Volgans arrive, Savage kills their N.C.O. and escapes with his two friends and a pile of the McDonald sisters' clothes. When the McDonald sisters are arrested, the trio dress up in drag and attack a Volgan checkpoint in an effort to shift the blame.

OTHER CHARACTERS
JANET & JEAN McDONALD
Sisters that run a bed and breakfast in Dundee. The McDonalds are unmarried monarchists who recognise Prince John immediately. They feed and shelter the prince, Savage and Silk. When a Volgan patrol arrives they accidentally give way the prince's identity, but redeem themselves when they knock out two of the Volgans.

DEATHS
About six. Savage kills the Volgan N.C.O., and at least five other Volgans.

BEST LINES
Prince John: "And I've just realised - when the Volgans hear we were dressed as women they won't have reason to suspect those old ladies!"

You hope.

WORST LINES
Jean McDonald: "Oh your highness!"
Volgan N.C.O.: "The old crone has told us - it's the prince - and Savage!"

CATCHPHRASES
Two dying Volgans give us an "Aieeeee!" and an "Aieeee!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Gerry Finley-Day
Artist: Carlos Pino
Letters: Bill Nuttall

REVIEW
This is nice. It returns Invasion! to one of its strengths, dealing with the huge political ramifications and imperial ambition on a domestic level. The reader is invited to be pleasantly surprised when the McDonald don't turn out to be Volgan informants (at least not on purpose) and the twist at the end is great, but the naïveté with which it is employed is also very revealing. Yes, the attack in drag could provide the Volgans with an alternative to executing the McDonald sisters, but given everything else we've seen should expect them to survive? No. It's far more likely that with two old ladies in custody they could make an example of them and publically blame them for Savage's attack.

Big-Picture Power - Programmed For You

Invasion!: 'The Prince', Part 2

NAME
Invasion!: 'The Prince', Part 2

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 38

DATELINE
12 Nov 77

PAGE COUNT
4 and a 1/2

REPRINTS
Extreme Edition 3 and Invasion!

SYNOPSIS
A traitor reveals the location of the prince.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
The spider-troops are Volgan commandos who operate suspended from helicopters.

BILL SAVAGE
He introduces Prince John as the son of a friend of his. He kills Gypsy Jake to prevent him harming the prince.

OTHER CHARACTERS
PRINCE JOHN
When Gypsy Jake asks for a royal pardon, he complies.

GYPSY JAKE
He wants the gold ring that Prince John wears and recognises the royal crest upon it. He gives the information to the Volgans and accompanies the Spider-troops to the Resistance HQ. He is injured in the subsequent crash and asks Prince John for a royal pardon and Savage kills Jake before he can stab the prince with his hidden knife.

DEATHS
Eight. At least one Resistance fighter is shot by the Volgan spider-squad, five spider-squad members killed by flying axes and their pilot and another Volgan are killed in the crash. Savage shoots Gypsy Jake dead.

BEST LINES
Savage: "Braw bricht night, eh Jake? Can 'ol Bill help yer with summat?"

WORST LINES
Ex-Oilworker: "No green stamps, Volgs! Just red death!"

CATCHPHRASES
An "Aieee!" is heard from the helicopter and a dying Gypsy Jake says "Aieeee!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Braw bricht night is a Scottish phrase meaning beautiful, bright that is probably from 'Hoots Mon' a song written by Harry Robinson and performed by Lord Rockingham's XI, it was a number-one hit single for three weeks in 1958. Green stamps are a reference to Green Shield Stamps, a UK sales promotion using trading stamps, between 1958 and 1991.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Gerry Finley-Day
Artist: Mike Dorey
Letters: Tony Jacob

REVIEW
The aerial altercation is impressive and it's good to see a bit of Prince John's character here, but Gypsy Jake's knowledge of royal symbols seems a bit lucky. An improvement on Part 1.

Sequence Ends Continuance Follows