Strontium Dog: 'Demon Maker', Part 3

NAME
Strontium Dog: 'Demon Maker', Part 3

FIRST PUBLISHED
Starlord No 19

DATELINE
16 Sept 78

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
Strontium Dog: Search/Destroy Agency Files 01.

SYNOPSIS
Johnny, Wulf and the Gronk save Marci from Sadan.

FIRSTS & LASTS
Last Ian Gibson art for Strontium Dog.

INFORMATION
Millions died in the Great Atom War. A bomb hit the countryside around Charity Valley making it radioactive. Atomic shelters are equipped with chambers to isolate contaminated individuals from the rest of the population. Shelter C73 had a faulty sealing mechanism and three hundred people were killed.

JOHNNY ALPHA
He, Wulf and the Gronk track Sadan to Shelter C73. Johnny and Wulf fight the reanimated corpses that litter the shelter until they can trap Sadan in the shelter's contamination chamber.

WULF STERNHAMMER
He, Johnny and the Gronk track Sadan to Shelter C73. He and Johnny fight the corpses reanimated by Sadan. Wulf rescues Marci from the contamination chamber and traps Sadan inside.

THE GRONK
He, Johnny and Wulf track Sadan to Shelter C73. He looks after Marci after she has been rescued.

OTHER CHARACTERS
SADAN
He uses a vision of Johnny to fool Marci into leaving the protection of the Telekin shield and one of his demons kidnaps her. He takes her to Shelter C73 and holds her in the Contamination Chamber. When they are discovered he reanimates the corpses of those that died in the Great Atom War. Wulf traps him inside the lead lined contamination chamber.

MARCI WEBSTER
Sadan uses a vision of Johnny to fool Marci into leaving the protection of the Telekin shield and one of his demons kidnaps her. Sadan takes her to Shelter C73 and holds her in the Contamination Chamber.

RUTH WEBSTER
Scared by her daughter's kidnapping, she asks Johnny to leave her family alone.

MR SOFTEE
He has been repaired.

DEATHS
None. Although a number of the reanimated corpses die again.

BEST LINES
Wulf: "Der boney men - they collapse!"

WORST LINES
Johnny: "Dead men take a lot of killing, Wulf!"

CATCHPHRASES
Marci screams an "Aieeeee!" and brilliantly Wulf says "votefer" instead of "whatever"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: T.B. Grover
Artist: Ian Gibson
Letters: David Gould

David Gould also provided letters for Mind Wars and a one-off called Skirmish!

REVIEW
The story here is better than anything on offer in Part 2, but it suffers from feeling rushed. Ruth's ultimatum is dramatic, but unfortunately somewhat curtailed.

Johnny Alpha Takes A Break! Next Week: 'Skirmish!'

Strontium Dog: 'Demon Maker', Part 2

NAME
Strontium Dog: 'Demon Maker', Part 2

FIRST PUBLISHED
Starlord No 18

DATELINE
9 Sept 78

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
Strontium Dog: Search/Destroy Agency Files 01.

SYNOPSIS
Johnny and Wulf track Sadan, but the Telekine visits the Websters instead.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First Ian Gibson art for Strontium Dog and first Strontium Dog story drawn by more than one artist.

INFORMATION
(This strip begins with a flashback to 2176)
Earth's Atlantic Zone contains an underwater hyper-security prison within the planet's northern hemisphere. Charity Valley has a business sector.

The Telekines from the Troges System possess telekinetic powers, they can move objects and warp matter with their minds.

A Psi-Tector is a device for homing in on brain waves. A wave reflector can be used to redirect brain waves and fool Psi-Tectors.

JOHNNY ALPHA
In 2176, he and Wulf delivered Sadan to an underwater hyper-security prison in the Earth's Atlantic Zone. In 2176, he and Wulf track Sadan.

WULF STERNHAMMER
In 2176, he and Johnny delivered Sadan to an underwater hyper-security prison in the Earth's Atlantic Zone. In 2176, he begins repairs on Mr Softee, before he and Johnny track Sadan.

OTHER CHARACTERS
NIGEL
He lends Johnny his car.

MARCI
She is kidnapped by Sadan.

MR SOFTEE
Wulf begins repairing him.

SADAN
A Telekine from the Troges System. In 2176, Johnny Alpha and Wulf Sternhammer delivered him to an underwater hyper-security prison in the Earth's Atlantic Zone. A lead mask prevented him from using his powers. Four years later, he convinces a new warder to remove it briefly and escaped. He left the prison in chaos and sent every detection device in the northern hemisphere haywire. In 2180, he uses a wave reflector to fool Johnny and Wulf that he is in Charity Valley's business sector while he kidnaps Marci Webster.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
Ruth: "Another mask! Won't it be dangerous putting it on this Demon Maker?"
Johnny: "Like capping a volcano. But it's got to be done!"

WORST LINES
Johnny: "The Banister rails - turning into serpents!"

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
The first caption labels Johnny as a "Mutant/Search/Destroy Agent", Johnny says "when Sadan stikes again"

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: T.B. Grover
Artist: Ian Gibson
Letters: Peter Knight

REVIEW
Ian Gibson's art jars with that of McCarthy (and Ezquerra for that matter) and despite its flashback and kidnap this part adds very little to the story.

Next Week: 'Bring My Baby Back, Johnny...Do You Hear?'

Strontium Dog: 'Demon Maker', Part 1

NAME
Strontium Dog: 'Demon Maker', Part 1

FIRST PUBLISHED
Starlord No 17

DATELINE
2 Sept 78

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
Strontium Dog: Search/Destroy Agency Files 01.

SYNOPSIS
Johnny visits his sister as an old enemy gets some demons on her.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First visit to Earth, first appearance of Ruth and Nigel.

INFORMATION
Earth has an Atlantic Space-Port. Charity Valley is a small town 2,000 miles from the Atlantic Space-Port. It has a long distance teleport station and a newspaper called Charity News.

Telekin Shields can prevent telekinetic activity within a specified area.

JOHNNY ALPHA
After hearing that Sadan is on the loose, he, Wulf and the Gronk head to Charity Valley on Earth.

WULF STERNHAMMER
He, Johnny and the Gronk head to Charity Valley on Earth. He has met Ruth, Nigel and Marci Webster before.

THE GRONK
He, Johnny and Wulf head to Charity Valley on Earth. When Johnny's sister's neighbours harass her husband, Johnny pretends to unleash the Killer Gronk on them, the Gronk plays along and scares them off. He like games without too much excitement.

OTHER CHARACTERS
RUTH WEBSTER
Johnny's sister. Her home is targeted by Sadan's demons.

NIGEL WEBSTER
Ruth's husband.

MARCI
Ruth's daughter.

MR. SOFTEE
Robot owned by the Webster family. He is damaged by Sadan's demons.

SADAN
He has been referred to as the Master of Chaos and the Demon Maker. He hates Johnny Alpha and targets his sister and her family with telekinetic phenomena.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
Everything Nigel says.

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
Ruth screams an "Aaaieeee!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: T.B. Grover
Artist: B. McCarthy
Letters: Steve Potter

REVIEW
This is an interesting departure from the bounty hunters hunting their bounty format. The domestic nature proves to be a great setting for the demonic chaos and the Websters provide some welcome background to Johnny's character. Brendan McCarthy's art is wonderfully vibrant.

Next Week: 'You Are On A Fool's Errand, Johnny Alpha!'

Judge Dredd: 'The Aggro Dome'

NAME
Judge Dredd: 'The Aggro Dome'

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD Featuring Judge Dredd Prog 183

DATELINE
25 Oct 80

This prog also featured Dash Decent, The Mean Arena, Meltdown Man, Ro-Jaws' Robo-Tales and Strontium Dog strips and a Meltdown Man cover by Massimo Belardinelli.

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
Judge Dredd Classics 64, The Complete Judge Dredd 17, Judge Dredd Definitive Ed. Bad Science, Judge Dredd Chronicles Book 2, Judge Dredd 13, The Best Of 2000AD 46 and Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 04.

SYNOPSIS
Dredd visits the Aggro Dome.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First appearance of an Aggro Dome.

INFORMATION
(This strip takes place in August 2102 A.D.)
Mega-City One's Aggro Dome is designed to allow citizens to work off their aggressive instincts. It features the Big Leap, Chop Wood, Vape A Teacher, Torture and an ultra-violent room in which an individual can pay to beat up a robot.

Home computers have an aggro unit which monitors aggression levels within the home. A level of 14% is considered high.

Soya Porridge is a foodstuff.

JUDGE DREDD
He is sent to the Aggro Dome to inspect it on the first day of opening. Dredd arrests an individual who escapes and causes chaos as the Aggro Dome customers turn on him and then each other. Dredd shoots out the roof to contain the fighting mob.

OTHER CHARACTERS
HOUSTON
He runs the Aggro Dome. He is punched in the face by a customer whose time ran out before his anger had abated.

THE THATCHIT FAMILY
The Home Computer Aggro Unit recommends a visit to the Aggro Dome.

ARRESTS
Hundreds. Dredd arrests the citizen that punches Houston, but he escapes. Eventually Dredd arrests everybody in the Aggro Dome.

DEATHS
At least one, Dredd kills his escaped arrestee with a heatseeker bullet. It looks like a bloodbath though, there are probably plenty of other corpses in the Aggro Dome when leads the living out.

BEST LINES
Arrestee: "J-Judge Dredd! But I didn't mean to hit him! I was just so angry..."
Dredd: "I'm sure Houston didn't mean to bleed, but he's making a real mess on that floor! Move it!"

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
A big leaper says "By Dok!", the victim of a shooting shouts an "Aieeeeee!" and Dredd says "No-one can escape the law!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
At the Aggro Dome citizens can take the big leap onto a huge representation of Judge Cal's face from The Day The Law Died.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Thatchit could be intended to be a combination of Thatcher and Cratchit.

MISTAKES
The opening caption in the original prog apparently gives the year as 2120 A.D.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Alvin Gaunt
Artist: Mike McMahon
Letters: Tom Frame

Alvin Gaunt is a gestalt entity made up of Alan Grant and Kelvin Gosnell.

REVIEW
A nice little tale with plenty of action, social commentary and humour. This is an improvement upon recent crazes to hit Mega-City One because it is localised and makes a virtue of this.

Strontium Dog: Two-Faced Terror!, Part 4

NAME
Strontium Dog: Two-Faced Terror!, Part 4

FIRST PUBLISHED
Starlord No 15

DATELINE
19 Aug 78

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
Strontium Dog Book 1 and Strontium Dog Search/Destroy Agency Files 01

SYNOPSIS
Johnny and Billy Joe fight to the death.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First time that a Strontium Dog story has reached four parts (and therefore the first four part story).

INFORMATION
The straight lash pole vault is a laser whip manoeuvre, which as the name suggests involves straightening a laser whip and using it to jump.

JOHNNY ALPHA
He is injured by Billy Joe during their fight to the death. Johnny follows Billy Joe as he flees the fight and watches as he is killed and eaten by Jubal's Smiling Chukwalla.

WULF STERNHAMMER
He prevents Billy Joe's men from attacking Johnny.

OTHER CHARACTERS
BILLY JOE
He is injured by Johnny during their fight to the death. When his men intervene he sneaks away. When he realises Johnny is following him, he releases Jubal's alien livestock. He is eaten by Jubal's Smiling Chukwalla.

JUBAL
He joins in when a fight breaks with Billy Joe's men, until he realises his alien animals are loose and he rounds them up.

THE GRONK
He decides to leave Jubal's Alien Extravaganza and join Johnny and Wulf. He believes he is braver than his brother was.

DEATHS
One. The Smiling Chukwalla kills Billy Joe.

BEST LINES
Billy Joe (as he is caught by the Smiling Chukwalla): "I'm helplss! D-Don't do it, Stronty!"
Johnny: "When did you show any mercy, Billy Joe? You terrorised a whole territory with your laser lash-" (Continues in WORST LINES)

WORST LINES
Johnny: "Well, the last lash is on you!"

CATCHPHRASES
The Gronk pluralises bets, doctorings and wants.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: T.B. Grover
Artist: Ezquerra
Letters: Peter Knight

REVIEW
Billy Joe gets his comeuppance and Johnny Alpha stands by and watches him die. This moment possibly more than anything that preceded it gives us an idea of Johnny's sense of justice. The final scene gives us the new dynamic for the strip as the Gronk joins the team.

Johnny And Wulf Will Be Back In Two Weeks Timee, Troopers!

Strontium Dog: Two-Faced Terror!, Part 3

NAME
Strontium Dog: Two-Faced Terror!, Part 3

FIRST PUBLISHED
Starlord No 14

DATELINE
12 Aug 78

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
Strontium Dog Book 1 and Strontium Dog Search/Destroy Agency Files 01

SYNOPSIS
Johnny recuperates and learns some circus skills.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First appearance of the Gronk that we will come to know and love. First appearance of a Smiling Chukwalla.

INFORMATION
(The part begins the morning after Part 2, and takes place over the course of sixteen days)

Jubal's Alien Extravaganza is a travelling circus on Paprika.

Gronks are very good healers. A Gronk can recognise the identity of a skin of another deceased Gronk. A Smiling Chukwalla is a fearsome predator.

Laser Whip duels follow Carlsson Rules and state that the first combatant hit with the Las-lash loses. The straight-lash vault is a manoeuvre with a laser whip.

JOHNNY ALPHA
Wulf carries to Jubal's Alien Extravaganza, where the Gronk tends to his wounds. After a couple of days, he has recovered. He asks Jubal to teach him to use the laser whip. Over the next ten days he learns from Jubal. He begins working for the circus, billed as 'Johnny Alpha, Greatest Las-Whipper Of All Time' and offering 10,000 credits to any man that can beat him.

WULF STERNHAMMER
He carries a wounded Johnny all night and in the morning encounters Jubal's Alien Extravaganza.

OTHER CHARACTERS
THE GRONK
Posing as Madame Desire, Jubal's Alien Extravaganza's fortune teller and medic. He treats Johnny's wounds. His brother, Gloppus, was the Gronk whose skin Wulf now wears.

J.J. JUBAL
He has worked in circuses for thirty years. Owner of Jubal's Alien Extravaganza. He is accomplished with the laser whip. In ten days, he teaches Johnny everything he knows about the laser whip that it took him ten years to learn.

BILLY JOE
He challenges Johnny to a laser whip duel to the death.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
Johnny: "You throw that laser whip real well, Jubal. Reckon you can teach me to handle it - well enough to beat Billy Joe?"
Jubal: "The one who did that to you is one heck of a laser man, son. I can teach you...can't guarantee you'll beat him, though."
Johnny: "If I don't, I won't be comin' back to blame you"

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
This Gronk reveals that he is the brother of the one that Johnny and Wulf met in 'Papa Por-Ka'.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

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

REVIEW
This feels like quite a departure from what goes before it. The Smiling Chukwalla and friends all look great and it's nice to have a Gronk back, but once again it's quite convenient that Johnny happens across someone in a ready, willing and able to teach him the ways of the laser whip, just as he needs to learn the ways of the laser whip.

Next Week: 'Eat, Laser, Stronty!'

Strontium Dog: Two-Faced Terror!, Part 2

NAME
Strontium Dog: Two-Faced Terror!, Part 2

FIRST PUBLISHED
Starlord No 13

DATELINE
5 Aug 78

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
Strontium Dog Book 1 and Strontium Dog Search/Destroy Agency Files 01

SYNOPSIS
Johnny and Wulf find Billy Joe.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First time Johnny and Wulf go up against a mutant in Starlord.

INFORMATION
Human exploration has reached the edge of the galaxy.

Floaters are flying sleds. Laser Whips are an energy weapon with pressure controls on the handle.

JOHNNY ALPHA
He and Wulf travel to The Big Dusty looking for Billy Joe. They encounter his men on floaters and Johnny destroys one, but another crashes into him. He survives the crash unscathed. Billy Joe arrives and attacks him with his laser whip. Johnny's heart stops, Billy Joe takes his badge and leaves. Johnny has learned to control his heart muscle and stop it at will to feign death.

WULF STERNHAMMER
He and Johnny travel to The Big Dusty looking for Billy Joe. When Johnny's heart stops, Wulf brings him round.

OTHER CHARACTERS
BILLY JOE
Two-faced mutant, one named Billy and the other named Joe. He is the champion las-whipper in the Spice system for fifteen years. He collects taxes and hangs people who don't pay enough upside down on the outskirts of town. He attacks Johnny Alpha with his laser whip and leaves believing him dead, taking his badge as a souvenir.

DEATHS
One. Johnny kills one of Billy Joe's henchmen.

BEST LINES
Billy: "Johnny doesn't live there anymore, Ape. We'll take his badge as a souvenir. The rest you can keep!"

WORST LINES
Johnny: "The more I hear of this Billy Joe, the less I like him! I'm looking forward to claiming his reward."

The reward that's already in your pocket, Johnny?

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
Johnny thinks Billy Joe's is a "severe mutation", it will come to seem quite minor given what we will see later on.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: T.B. Grover
Artist: Carlos Ezquerra
Letters: P. Bensberg

REVIEW
The upside down tax evaders and the reveal of Billy Joe's mutation are great, Johnny being able to give the illusion of death seems more than a little convenient.

Next Week: 'Oh! Oh, My Poor Heartsies!'