Harlem Heroes, Part 8

NAME
Harlem Heroes, Part 8
(according to Wikipedia, this is the third and final part of a strip also known as The Siberian Wolves)

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 8

DATELINE
16 Apr 77

PAGE COUNT
4

REPRINTS
Robo-Hunter 4, Sam Slade Robo-Hunter (Volume 2, Issue 14), 2000AD Extreme Edition 13 and The Complete Harlem Heroes.

SYNOPSIS
Giant survives to play another day and his team beat the Siberian Wolves. Meanwhile something sinister is happening in Mega-City One.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First appearance of Mega-City One itself and Gruber in Harlem Heroes.

INFORMATION
The Russian pack attack is a typical Siberian Wolves manoevre.

Towards the end of the game the Siberian Wolves team is entirely made up of substitutes. The final score is Harlem Heroes 3, Siberian Wolves 1.

The Harlem Heroes are through to the second round of the world aeroball championships. Their next fixture is a league match back in the USA.

In Mega-City One, there is a hospital laboratory where individuals in a vegetative state can be revived.

GIANT
As he is falling he grabs a passing Siberian Wolf, then scoops up the aeroball with his feet, kicks it into the scoretank and scores an airstrike. He falls again, but Slim catches him.

SLIM
He catches Giant the second time he falls. Slim scores an airstrike.

CONRAD KING
He is suspicious of Giant's fuel impurity cover story.

ZACK HARPER
(He looks like he's doing a black power salute as the team walk away at the end of the game.)

OTHER CHARACTERS
TUCKER
He is part of the Harlem Heroes ground crew. One of his duties is the maintenance of their jet packs.

GRUBER
He has been braindead since he dived into the ground during an aeroball match against the Harlem Heroes three years ago. Someone who wants the Harlem Heroes dead has anonymously paid two Mega-City One doctors eight million dollars to connect his cerebral motors to an electro-impulse and turn him into a cyborg.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
Giant: "If I gotta go...I'm gonna go like a hero!"

WORST LINES
Giant: "He shouldn't have said pack--makes me kinda mad!"

Get over it.

Gruber's Doctor: "Back in the nineteen-seventies, they would have called him a Cyborg!"

CATCHPHRASES
Presumably "Stava!" is Russian for something, but I can't find out what.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES
Slim mentions Kewpie Dolls. These are dolls based on comic strip illustrations by Rose O'Neill that first appeared in Ladies' Home Journal in 1909. The small dolls were extremely popular in the early twentieth century. I have absolutely no idea what Slim is getting at though.

MISTAKES
The referee presumes Giant will call for a time-out, but in Part 4 we learned that squad leader's could only call for a time-out if two more players are injured.

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
Everything Giant does in this strip is fantastic and the prospect of a villain is a very exciting one.

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

Harlem Heroes, Part 7

NAME
Harlem Heroes, Part 7
(according to Wikipedia, this is the second part of a strip also known as The Siberian Wolves)

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 7

DATELINE
09 Apr 77

PAGE COUNT
4

REPRINTS
Robo-Hunter 4, Sam Slade Robo-Hunter (Volume 2, Issue 14), 2000AD Extreme Edition 13 and The Complete Harlem Heroes.

SYNOPSIS
The game with Siberian Wolves continues and both teams struggle with technology.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First strip to break the fourth wall: "You are looking at the Siberian Wolves..." etc.

INFORMATION
The Siberian Wolves play hard and need the large amount of substitutes due to a large amount of injuries.

Harlem Heroes vs Siberian Wolves score so far: 1 airstrike each.

GIANT
His jetpack malfuctions and he can't descend or turn.

SLIM
He heads the aeroball like a football and gets an airstrike, after assistance from Zack.

KING
He punches the aeroball like a handball. King is concerned for the welfare of the injured Siberian Wolves players.

ZACK
He is described as "the babe of the Heroes", Zack dribbles the aeroball along the runway like its a basketball and then kicks like a football.

LOUIS MAYER
His words about the crash come back to Giant as he falls.

OTHER CHARACTERS
BORISES
Three are injured: one electrocuted by the scoretank (zzzapped!), while two crash into each other attempting to go after Zack.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
Commentator: "They've taken Borises Two, Four, Six and Seven...but Boris One is nearly through!"

Actually despite the racism it does illustrate how little we need to know the opposing team as individuals.

WORST LINES
Giant: "What a zonk! We've equalised."

CATCHPHRASES
Boris Five gives us another "Za rodinu!", but goes on to explain that it means "For Mother Russia!"

Also another rhyme from the fans: "The wolves are fast, and full of guts,but do their thinkin' with their butts!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
Giant remembers Louis' words incorrectly, but to be fair he does have more important things to think about.

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
More nice visuals showing the lengths the Siberian Wolves will go to, but very little here for the characters. The cliffhanger should be fantastic, but the flashback really undermines it.

The Heroes' Fans, They Scream And Shout,
And You Will Too, When Our Next Prog's Post's Out!

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.