Strontium Dog: 'The Brain', Part 2

NAME
Strontium Dog: 'The Brain', Part 2

FIRST PUBLISHED
Starlord No 22

DATELINE
7 Oct 78

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
Strontium Dog: Search/Destroy Agency Files 01.

SYNOPSIS
Johnny sees through the Brain's deception.

FIRSTS & LASTS
Last Strontium Dog to appear in Starlord

INFORMATION
(This strip doesn't take place at Christmas)

A billion Byknls is enough wealth to buy several small planets.

Gas bombs are bomb which employ gas.

JOHNNY ALPHA
He struggles to see through lead, but he manages to see inside the ultimate weapon. Realising it is simply a firework display, he goads the Brain's man into setting it off. He, Wulf and the Gronk go in search of the Brain.

WULF STERNHAMMER
He, Johnny and the Gronk go in search of the Brain.

THE GRONK
He, Johnny and Wulf go in search of the Brain.

OTHER CHARACTERS
THE BRAIN
Johnny sees through the ultimate weapon and sets it off. His ambition is to train his troupe of Waterworts to perform a Oklahoma! in costume. He can kill with a thought. When Cornelius is killed he takes revenge on his human gang, killing all three of them. He does not resist arrest by Johnny, Wulf and the Gronk. He asks Johnny to ensure Cornelius receives a good burial.

CORNELIUS
He is killed by shards of glass sent airborne by the Brain's human gang's gas bomb. The Brain asks Johnny to give Cornelius a good burial.

DEATHS
Four. Cornelius is killed by the gas bomb and the Brain kills the three of them in revenge with his mental powers.

BEST LINES
Brain: "You've killed my best tenor!"

Where else would someone shout that as they commit multiple murder with telekinesis.

WORST LINES
Johnny: "Yeah, like they say - the show must go on."

In The Pages Of '2000 A.D. And Starlord' Next Week?

CATCHPHRASES
Johnny says "Drokkit!" (see CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS below), the Gronk "hears s-singings" and "bugses", while Wulf says der, haf, ve, veapon, verr, vill, vos, vot,

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
"Drokkit!" is almost the expletive of choice in Judge Dredd.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
One of the Dictators of Larg regards the Brain creature as being "s-smarter that a hundred Einsteins"

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

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

REVIEW
Holding a planet to ransom over a joke and the Merry Xmas reveal are fantastic moments. It's the end of an era and yet it's not played as such.

Join Johnny & Co. In The Pages Of '2000 A.D. And Starlord' Next Week!

Strontium Dog: 'The Brain', Part 1

NAME
Strontium Dog: 'The Brain', Part 1

FIRST PUBLISHED
Starlord No 21

DATELINE
30 Sept 78

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
Strontium Dog: Search/Destroy Agency Files 01.

SYNOPSIS
Johnny Alpha is hired to destroy the ultimate weapon designed by a criminal mastermind.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First appearance of a Brain Creature and Waterworts.

INFORMATION
Larg is an inhabited planet with its own government, known as the Dictators of Larg. Niblitz Square is near their briefing room. The Byknl is the Largan unit of currency. Mutants are not usually permitted on Larg, but Dictators can make exeptions.

Fauna from Planet Q17 include: Brain-creatures, humans cannot stand the smell of their slime, and Waterworts, semi-intelligent creatures which can be taught to mimic.

JOHNNY ALPHA
The Dictators of Larg summon him to their planet and offer him 50,000 Byknls to destroy the Brain's ultimate weapon. Johnny demands an extra 25,000 Byknls every time they insult him. According this raises the price to 100,000 Byknls.

WULF STERNHAMMER
He travels with Johnny to Larg. He keeps a running total of the number of times the Dictators of Larg insult Johnny and the Gronk.

THE GRONK
He travels with Johnny to Larg.

OTHER CHARACTERS
THE BRAIN
A brain-creature from Planet Q17. A criminal. He keeps Waterworts as pets and teaches them to sing for him. The Dictators of Larg receive a note asserting that he has created the ultimate weapon and demanding 1 billion Byknls in exchange for not destroying the planet. His men deliver a device to Niblitz Square causing panic.

CORNELIUS
Waterwort. He is the Brain's best tenor.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
Johnny: "The trouble is, gentlemen, I'm kind of a sensitive guy...you gentlemen have been calling me all sorts of names. And when my feelings get hurt, my price goes up...Shall we say an extra 25,000 Byknls for every insult?"

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
The Gronk says "Gronkses" and "heartses".

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
The Waterworts sing "There's a bright golden haze on the meadow" from Oklahoma! (1943), the first musical written by Richard Rodgers (1902–1979) and Oscar Hammerstein II (1895–1960).

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

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

REVIEW
The extended Oklahoma! opening takes up three fifths of the page count here and could easily have outstayed its welcome, but it's wonderful and here particularly the artwork gets to shine. The pettiness of the Dictators of Larg and Johnny sensitivity is a great scene.

Next Week: 'The Fun's Over, You Scum!'

Judge Dredd: Monkey Business At The Charles Darwin Block, Part 2

NAME
Judge Dredd: Monkey Business At The Charles Darwin Block, Part 2

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD Featuring Judge Dredd Prog 185

DATELINE
8 Nov 80

This prog featured Dash Decent, The Mean Arena, Meltdown Man, Return To Armageddon and Strontium Dog strips with a Strontium Dog cover by Carlos Ezquerra.

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
The Best Of 2000AD 9, Judge Dredd Classics 66, The Complete Judge Dredd 17, Judge Dredd Definitive Ed. Bad Science, Judge Dredd Chronicles Book 2, Judge Dredd 13, Judge Dredd Paperbacks Monkey Business and Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 04.

SYNOPSIS
Dredd gets back to the beginning of the problem.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First destruction of a city block.

INFORMATION
Mega-City One's Charles Darwin Block has at least 66 floors and a Block Park.

The stronger the contamination of Fribb enzyme, the further the evolutionary regression of the subject.

Named Judges: Judge Carsonovitz, Judge Martin, Judge Nestor, Judge Smith

JUDGE DREDD
He survives the explosion, but his lawmaster is destroyed. He climbs through the block on foot to Floor 66 and Fribb's apartment. He order the evacuation of the block, the abandonment of the effort to put out the fire and let the block burn and arrests the amoeba that was Professor E. Northcote Fribb.

OTHER CHARACTERS
PROFESSOR E. NORTHCOTE FRIBB
He de-evolves back to a giant amoeba. Dredd arrests him nonetheless.

ARRESTS
One. Dredd arrests Professor E. Northcote Fribb in his de-evolved amoebic form.

DEATHS
At least three. Dredd kills the three members of the de-evolved unemployed acrobatic troupe, The Flying Hendersons, when they try to eat him.

BEST LINES
Caption: Paid with thanks (below)

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
A Judge says "Stomm!", Dredd says "Drokk!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unemployed "olive oil importer" Cosmo Corleone shares his surname with the family from The Godfather (1972) and The Godfather, Part II (1974).

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: T.B. Grover
Artist: Mike McMahon
Letters: Tom Frame

REVIEW
A nice exploration of a simple idea as the citizens each deal with their de-evolution differently and Dredd's destructive actions are a great example of his attitudes "Better safe than sorry" indeed. More fantastic artwork as McMahon's exploits the opportunity provided here for all it is worth and both the three wise de-evolved Judges and Cosmo Corleone's paid toll re great moments.

The End

Judge Dredd: Monkey Business At The Charles Darwin Block, Part 1

NAME
Judge Dredd: Monkey Business At The Charles Darwin Block, Part 1

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD Featuring Judge Dredd Prog 184

DATELINE
1 Nov 80

This prog also bore a Judge Dredd cover by Mike McMahon and contained Dash Decent, The Mean Arena, Meltdown Man, Ro-Jaws' Robo-Tales and Strontium Dog strips and a Torquemada Star Pin-Up by Kevin O'Neill.

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
The Best Of 2000AD 9, Judge Dredd Classics 66, The Complete Judge Dredd 17, Judge Dredd Definitive Ed. Bad Science, Judge Dredd Chronicles Book 2, Judge Dredd 13, Judge Dredd Paperbacks Monkey Business and Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 04.

SYNOPSIS
Dredd is forced to deal with a block full of de-evolved citizens.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First time T.B. Grover is used for both John Wagner and Alan Grant.

INFORMATION
Mega-City One's Charles Darwin Block has a school and a garage. Sweetair Ventilation Co. carry out maintenance on the block's ventilation ducts.

Throwing Caretaker Droids out of windows is a reportable offence.

Fribb enzyme reverses the process of evolution and smells like spaghetti sauce. It was discovered by Professor E. Northcote Fribb and has been described as the greatest breakthrough since inflatable kneecaps.

Named Judges: Judge Rioch

JUDGE DREDD
He attends the scene at Charles Darwin Block and armed with respirator and lawmaster he enters the block. He is caught in an explosion caused by the combination of a de-evolved Bob Kempinski, a flaming torch and a petrol tank.

OTHER CHARACTERS
PROFESSOR E. NORTHCOTE FRIBB
He lives in Apartment 66c of Charles Darwin Block. He discovers an enzyme which reverses the process of evolution. It will later become known as the Fribb enzyme. The smell of it de-evolves him. The smell of the Fribb enzyme spreads through the entire block de-evolving everyone inside.

ARRESTS
None.

DEATHS
Two. A de-evolved Theodore Wainwright shoots himself in the face with an antique hunting gun, while a de-evolved Bob Kempinski blows himself up with a flaming torch and a petrol tank.

BEST LINES
Caption at a de-evolved waves a flaming torch around his home: "Always quick on the uptake, Bob lost no time experimenting with his dangerous discovery"

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Charles Darwin (1809-1882) was a naturalist and the author of On The Origin Of Species (1859) and The Descent Of Man, And Selection In Relation To Sex (1871).

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: T.B. Grover
Artist: Mike McMahon
Letters: Tom Frame

REVIEW
This is great fun. A Brilliant set-up as science runs amok, then its victims run amokker and with Dredd in the middle of it all. The artwork is wonderful, particularly Fribb's transformation.

Next Prog: The Origin Of Species!

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!'