Dredd Alert

NAME
Star Pin-Up: The Gronk

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD & Starlord Prog 91

DATELINE
18 Nov 78

PAGE COUNT
1

REPRINTS
None.

SYNOPSIS
The Gronk

FIRSTS & LASTS
First Strontium Dog Star Pin-Up to feature in 2000 A.D.

INFORMATION
None.

THE GRONK

OTHER CHARACTERS
None.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
None.

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
None.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Artist: Ezquerra

REVIEW
I like this image a lot. Someone should put this on a T-shirt.

NAME
Judge Dredd: Synthi-Caff Vindilu

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD Featuring Judge Dredd Prog 191

DATELINE
20 Dec 80

This prog also contained Dash Decent, The Mean Arena, Meltdown Man, Return To Armageddon and Strontium Dog with a Judge Dredd cover by Ian Gibson.

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
The Complete Judge Dredd 18 and Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 04.

SYNOPSIS
Walter goes undercover to catch some robothieves.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
Bleakwalk Road is in Sector 40. Mega Trans has premises at 44A Krakov Road

Tablets which make synthetic Indian curries are available.

Robot personalities can be backed up on tape.

Named Judges: Judge Dory.

JUDGE DREDD
He dislikes Walter's synthetic Indian curry tablets. He uses Walter as bait to catch a group of robothieves.

OTHER CHARACTERS
WALTER THE WOBOT
Dredd has him bugged and uses him as bait to trap a group of robot thieves. He and Cranky are stolen and hidden in a shielded area preventing the bug's signal from escaping. Walter offers his captors cups of synthi-caf and doses one with his electronic bug and a synthetic Indian curry tablet. The tablet causes one of his captors to need to leave the leave the shielded area to vomit thus allowing the Judges to track the signal and catch the thieves.

CRANKY
Robot. He accompanied Walter to Sector 40. They are both stolen. Cranky is reprogrammed and believes his name is Reginald.

ARRESTS
At least four. Dredd and the other Judges arrest the robothieves, we only see four of them.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
Walter: "This is the distwict the wobothieves have been opewating Judge Dwedd say to just keep walking and look stupid..."
Cranky: "Reckon you can handle that all right!"

WORST LINES
Walter: "Cwipes! We're being dwoidnapped, Cwanky!"

CATCHPHRASES
Walter says concentwated, cuwwy, Cwanky, cwipes, cweeps, cwooks, disappeawing, distwict, Dwedd, dwoidnapped, eastewn, fwesh, gwabbed, gweat, gweatest, hooway, laundwette, opewating, pwetty, pwomise, vewy, weady, weal, Wex, wobothieves and wobots.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: T.B. Grover
Artist: Emberton
Letters: Tom Frame

REVIEW
Ian Gibson's art is great here as Walter saves the day and without unnecessarily wacky hi-jinx.

Next Prog: Loonie's Moon!

NAME
Ro-Busters: Ro-Jaws' Memoirs, Part One - Happy Days

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD & Starlord Prog 93

DATELINE
30 Dec 78

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
The Best Of 2000AD 83 and The Complete Ro-Busters

SYNOPSIS
It's Ro-Jaws turn to tell his life story.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First Ro-Busters without Hammer-Stein.

INFORMATION
The organic matter 'eaten' by a Federal Recycling And Environmental Droid (FRED2L) is recycled into gas to drive its engine and is expelled from his exhaust. They are equipped with brushes, air freshener and one arm contains a disinfectant that kills 99% of all known germs. Their vision is quite basic.

The Robot Interrogation Police (RIP) deal with errant droids. They run Robot Re-Training Camps.

Slide-Walks are a sign of upwardly mobile modernity. Pleasure pills and smiley-vision are intended to make individuals happy.

RO-JAWS
He worked at a depot with at least five other sewer robots. He stood out and his human co-workers introduced him to Sir Neville, Minister for the Environment during a visit. Ro-Jaws met Old Scratchey when the robot got its arm stuck whilst unblocking a drain. , Scratchey freed him and they became friends. On a particularly wet and rainy night, Ro-Jaws takes Stratchey to Sir Neville's empty home and lets him in. When Sir Neville discovers them, Ro-Jaws is sent to a Robot Re-Training Camp against his will.

OTHER CHARACTERS
SIR NEVILLE
Minister for the Environment. He meets Ro-Jaws and approves of him. When Sir Neville discovers Ro-Jaws and Scratchey in his home he has them both taken away in wagons against his will.

OLD SCRATCHEY
Homeless man. He hasn't taken his trousers off in ten years. He met Ro-Jaws when the robot got its arm stuck down a drain, he freed him and they became friends. On a particularly wet and rainy night, Ro-Jaws takes Stratchey to Sir Neville's empty home and lets him in. When Sir Neville discovers them, Scratchey is sent to a home against his will.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
Sir Neville's wife: "Opera is so tiring. I think I'll go straight to bed."

WORST LINES
Sir Neville (regarding an apparently awful smell): "I'm sure I don't know what it can be."

CATCHPHRASES
Ro-Jaws calls Scratchey a "daft old nerk" twice.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Ro-Jaws paraphrases the words of 'Messing About On The River' a 1962 song by Josh MacRae (1933–1977), quotes Oliver Twist (1838) by Charles Dickens (1812–1870).

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Pat Mills
Artist: Mike Dorey
Letters: Steve Potter

REVIEW
After Hammer-Stein's memoirs told the story of his exploits in the Volgan War, it shouldn't come as a surprise that Ro-Jaws gets the same treatment and yet it does. The artwork is great throughout and it's reassuring to see Ro-Jaws elevating the gutter to a similar status and the sewer at his happiest.

Next Prog: In Bad Company!

NAME
Ro-Busters: Ro-Jaws' Memoirs, Part Two - In Bad Company!

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD & Starlord Prog 94

DATELINE
6 Jan 79

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
The Best Of 2000AD 83 and The Complete Ro-Busters.

SYNOPSIS
Ro-Jaws helps his cellmate escape.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First appearance of Ginger.

INFORMATION
Robots are used as butchers and mini-cabs.

RO-JAWS
He shares a cell in D Wing with Ginger and Mad Jock. Jock uses him as a fuel still, distilling potato peelings in alcohol to use as fuel and aid his escape.

OTHER CHARACTERS
GINGER
Mini-Cab Robot. He was jailed after one of his fares drowned when he fell into a river. Shares a cell in D Wing with Ro-Jaws and Mad Jock.

MAD JOCK
A butcher robot from Glasgow. He was jailed for putting his human master into pies and sausages. Shares a cell in D Wing with Ro-Jaws and Ginger. Jock uses Ro-Jaws as a fuel still, distilling potato peelings in alcohol to use as fuel and aid his escape. Mad Jock escapes, but is recaptured a month later, put in Cell 101 and reprogrammed to be more obedient.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
Mad Jock: "Well, you see Ro-Jaws, it was part of my job as a butcher to make meat pies and sausages...an' I got awffy fond of the lambs an' the little wee pigs. I didna like having to kill them...I mean...what harm have animals ever doe us robots? But I had to put somethin' in the pies......so when my master went missing, the Police got very suspicious!"

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
Mad Jock bears a resemblance to Call-Me-Kenneth from Judge Dredd's Robot Wars.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Cell 101 is obviously a reference to Room 101 from Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949) by George Orwell (1903-1950).

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Pat Mills
Artist: Mike Dorey
Letters: Steve Potter

REVIEW
Surprisingly this doesn't show us how Ro-Jaws adapts to life on the inside, but rather uses Mad Jock as the catalyst for his presumed escape.

Next Prog: Ro-Jaws And Ginger Are...Out!

NAME
Ro-Busters: Ro-Jaws' Memoirs, Part Three - Out!

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD & Starlord Prog 95

DATELINE
13 Jan 79

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
The Best Of 2000AD 83 and The Complete Ro-Busters.

SYNOPSIS
Ro-Jaws and Ginger adjust to life on the outside.

FIRSTS & LASTS
Earliest mention of Ro-Busters.

INFORMATION
Robots are forbidden from certain premises, must comply with a curfew between 10pm and 6am and travel at a speed limit. Unemployed robots are required to report to Robo-Exchanges where those that have been unemployed for more than twelve weeks are incinerated in blast furnaces.

Robots work as editors and translators.

A 7000/L Series Androids with plasti-skin and synthi-hair are potentially indistinguishable from humans.

RO-JAWS
He and Ginger are released from robo-prison. When Ginger accidentally trips someone over and is accused of attacking him. A mob attempts electrocute them both, but they are saved by a George Washington robot purporting to be human. The council refused him re-employment and he was sent to work for a removals firm, but rejected by the owner. He got a job as a grave digger. He witnesses George robbing a bank and helps him to escape into the sewers.

OTHER CHARACTERS
GINGER
He and Ro-Jaws are released from robo-prison. He accidentally trips someone over and is accused of attacking him. A mob attempts electrocute he and Ro-Jaws, but he was saved by a George Washington robot purporting to be human. The taxi company he previously worked for refused to re-employ him and he was sent to work for a removals firm.

GEORGE WASHINGTON
A 7000/L Series Android. He is a member of the Resistance and saves Ro-Jaws and Ginger from a mob about to electrocute them. He later helps rob a bank to fund the Resistance..

ROBOT ZJ3
Robot sent to Ro-Busters by a robo-exchange.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
Ro-Jaws: "Eventually we got sent to a removal firm run by a Mr. Dratanblast...I think that's what he called himself..."
Skinner: "Dratanblast! Is this the best the robo-exchange could send me?"

WORST LINES
Noone.

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
Ro-Jaws hopes he never ends up at Ro-Busters.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
George Washington (1731 or 1732-1799) was the first President of the United States (1789–1797).

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Pat Mills
Artist: Mike Dorey
Letters: Pete Knight

REVIEW
This is excellent. The artwork is great and Ro-Jaws character is given an excellent chance to shine.

Next Prog: With The Robot Resistance!

NAME
Ro-Busters: Ro-Jaws Memoirs, Part Four - Upstairs And Down Sewers

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD & Starlord Prog 96

DATELINE
20 Jan 79

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
The Best Of 2000AD 83 and The Complete Ro-Busters.

SYNOPSIS
Ro-Jaws is rejected by the robot resistance, but welcomed into the arms of Annabel.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First real indication of when the initial Harlem Heroes story is set.

INFORMATION
(This strip begins in 2065 AD and features a sequence two years later in 2067.

Robots have been replacing humans since the nineteen seventies.

In 2067, Match Of The Day is a TV show that broadcasts Aeroball games.

RO-JAWS
In 2065, he leads George Washington and the other members of the robot resistance to freedom and decides to join them. They reject him. Two years later, he meets Annabel, who convinces her step-father to buy him and welcomes him into her home. They become great friends.

OTHER CHARACTERS
GEORGE WASHINGTON
He was first activated in 2030. In 2065, he is shot with a high explosive shell and later dies.

ANNABEL B
Young girl. Her father died and her mother remarried. In 2067, she meets Ro-Jaws and convinces her step-father to buy him. They become great friends.

MR π
Robot butler. He doesn't approve of Ro-Jaws.

DEATHS
One. George Washington dies of wounds caused by a high explosive shell fired by the secret police.

BEST LINES
George: "Leave me...save yourselves!"
Ro-Jaws: "Daft nerk! No need for John Wayne stuff! Into the really deep sewers! No-one will follow us there!"

WORST LINES
Resistance member: "...May he rust in peace!"

CATCHPHRASES
Ro-Jaws calls George a "nerk" and Annabel apparently picks up habit and uses the word herself.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
In 2067, Ro-Jaws and Annabel watch a Harlem Heroes Aeroball match featuring Giant, Slim and Artie Gruber, but it's clear whether this is the game in which Gruber was injured or one of the altercations depicted in Harlem Heroes.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
The subtitle obviously references the TV series Upstairs, Downstairs (1971-2012). Ro-Jaws mentions John Wayne (1907-1979), American actor and star of The Quiet Man (1952), The Searchers (1956), Rio Bravo (1959), The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) and True Grit (1969). The other members of the Robot Resistance borrow their names from Winston Churchill (1874-1965), Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945 and again from 1951 to 1955), Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658), Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland from 1653 until his death and Napoleon (1769-1821), Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1814. Match Of The Day is a BBC TV show which has been broadcasting highlights of the day's football matches since 1964.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Pat Mills
Artist: Mike Dorey
Letters: Steve Potter

REVIEW
Ro-Jaws' Memoirs gets better and better. The rejection of Ro-Jaws by the Robot Resistance is an excellent moment. Annabel is easily enamoured with Ro-Jaws, but after Old Scratchey, Mad Jock, Ginger and George Washington presents him with his best Hammer-Stein replacement yet.

Next Prog: The Final Part Of Ro-Jaws' Memoirs!

NAME
Ro-Busters: Ro-Jaws' Memoirs, Part Five - Happy Ever After (Sort Of)

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD & Starlord Prog 97

DATELINE
27 Jan 79

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
The Best Of 2000AD 83 and The Complete Ro-Busters.

SYNOPSIS
Ro-Jaws and Annabel are parted and reunited.

FIRSTS & LASTS
Last appearance of Ginger and Annabel.

INFORMATION
(The flashback section of this strip presumably begins in September 2067 and culminates on Christmas Day of the same year, while the last sequence takes place in the Ro-Busters present day circa 2078)

The Book of Robots is written by humans for the improvement of robots. Verse Six reads: "Humans are the masters now and for ever..."

RO-JAWS
When Annabel goes away to boarding school, Ro-Jaws is sent to work for a Mr Murphy as a builder's labourer. After three years apart, he and Ginger meet again. Ro-Jaws later sees Ginger's foot on the back of a Robo-knackers' lorry and collapses. When Annabel returns she seeks him out and buys him back. Ro-Jaws spends Christmas with Annabel and her family.

OTHER CHARACTERS
ANNABEL
She goes away to boarding school. When she returns home at Christmas, she is told Ro-Jaws has run away.

MR MURPHY
Ro-Jaws is sold to him as a builder's labourer.

GINGER
He and Ro-Jaws are reunited for the first time in three years. Ro-Jaws later sees his foot on the Robo-knackers' lorry.

DEATHS
Maybe Ginger, although it's possible he merely lost a foot.

BEST LINES
Ro-Jaws: "What-haay! These left-overs is really tasty! Merry Crimble everyone!"

WORST LINES
Ro-Jaws (singing): "Even sewer rats like me have fun on Christmas day. I sing my song (no Humes around?) Us robots rule OK? Brill, eh?"

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Ro-Jaws references Hard Times (1854) by Charles Dickens (1812-1870). 'Love Came Down At Christmas' is a Christmas carol with lyrics by Christina Georgina Rossetti (1830-1894) written at some point before 1886.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Pat Mills
Artist: Mike Dorey
Letters: Pete Knight

REVIEW
The snowy artwork is nice, but this is largely disappointing after a tumultuous set-up. Overall, this feels rushed.

Next Prog: The Terra-Meks!

NAME
Judge Dredd: Loonies' Moon!

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD Featuring Judge Dredd Prog 192

DATELINE
27 Dec 80

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

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
The Best Of 2000AD 46, Judge Dredd Classics 64, The Complete Judge Dredd 18, Judge Dredd Chronicles Book 26, Judge Dredd 27 and Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 04.

SYNOPSIS
Advertisers and Loonies fight over the moon.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First kneepad gag.

INFORMATION
The Temple Of Lunar Light devoted to the Loonie religion is on Mega-City One's W1101 Street in Sector 71. Lover's Park is an outdoor park that is open at night. Moonray Tower is the site of the lunar lasers that project advertising images onto the moon. Starting at 9pm, for six hours per night at a cost of one million credits a second. Products advertised include Special S synthi-flakes, Blat Roach spray, synthi-guy 24 hour girdle for men and Cybo-comp robots.

The Loonies are a religious group based on the ancient Djimite moon worshippers. Each novice carries a sacred blade and they are lead by an individual called the Great Loon. They attack Moonray Tower.

Psi-Division is on the second floor of the Hall of Justice. Named Judges: Judge Logan; Judge Holme (Psi-Division).

JUDGE DREDD
He investigates the disappearance of Erwin Blagg and discovers he is connected to the Loonies. Dredd kills him during their attack on Moonray Tower and only discovers his identity later. Dredd orders the arrest and interrogation of the assembled Loonie novices, crime blitzes of all Loonie temples and uses the lunar lasers to assure Mega-City One that normal service would be resumed.

OTHER CHARACTERS
ERWIN BLAGG
Seventeen year old. His parents report him missing. He has become a novice Loonie. Dredd kills him during their attack on Moonray Tower and discovers his identity later. Dredd orders his next of kin be informed.

ARRESTS
Hundreds. The Loonies are all arrested and interrogated.

DEATHS
Dozens. A Loonie kills a lunar projectionist, Dredd kills Erwin Blagg and Judges kill several Loonies.

BEST LINES
In a word servility.

Cybo-comp robots advertising slogan written on the moon

WORST LINES
Judge: "A slaughterhouse!"

CATCHPHRASES
Dredd says "Drokk!" and "Stop in the name of the law!", while the running gag about kneepads starts here.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
The Loonies are based on the Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity, more commonly known as the Moonies after its founder Sun Myung Moon (1920–2012).

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: T.B. Grover
Artist: Ron Smith
Letters: Tom Frame

REVIEW
This strip has it all: great visuals, a tawdry use of spectacular technology and a satirical glance at a real world phenomenon. Highlights include the Blaggs attempt to report their son missing to a series of Judges, the Cybo-comp robots advertising slogan and Dredd's final lunar message.

Next Prog: The Fink's In Town!

NAME
Ro-Busters: The Terra-Meks!, Part One - The Eve Of Destruction!

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD & Starlord Prog 98

DATELINE
3 Feb 79

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
2000AD Annual 1987, Judge Dredd Megazine 4.02, Cyber Crush 04, Sam Slade Robo-Hunter (Volume 2) 03, Ro-Busters Book 1 and The Complete Ro-Busters.

SYNOPSIS
Can Charlie prevent the destruction of Northpool?

FIRSTS & LASTS
First Ro-Busters to feature neither Ro-Jaws nor Hammer-Stein

INFORMATION
Northpool is a port on the western side of Britain. A bullet train tunnel and a slip road for the Trans-Atlantic Tunnel runs under the town. The Twentieth century sky-blocks have been condemned and are to be demolished and are to be replaced by a huge aero-space port with the residents relocated to underground flats.

Trees are kept in tree museums. Terra-Meks are demolition robots. The popularity of 'Mammoth' Jets has lead to fewer huge ships crossing the ocean.

CHARLIE
Enormous robot and ship's pilot, he tows ships in distress off the coast of Northpool into the harbour. He has been in operation for fifteen years, has become Northpool's most famous landmark and has a chair on the dockside, but he is needed less due to the prevalence of 'Mammoth' Jets.

OTHER CHARACTERS
HOWARD QUARTZ
His Terra-Meks are due to demolish Northpool's sky-blocks.

RON MURDOCH
Leader of Northpool Council. He is in favour of demolishing Northpool's sky-blocks and building an aero-space port in their place, while relocating the residents to underground d flats.

GRANNY FRASER
She is relocated from a sky-block to an underground flat at 999 Cosy-Down Burrows.

FATHER FLANNIGAN
Priest. He tries to convince Charlie to stop the Terra-Meks from destroying Northpool.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
Quartz: "How do the people of Northpool feel about my Terra-Meks destroying their homes?"
Murdoch: "Well, some of them are being rather difficult! They don't understand...this is the only way Northpool can survive! All these slum sky-blocks -- built in the Twentieth Century -- will be pulled down by your robots, Quartz! And the council will re-house everybody in nice new homes......underground!"

WORST LINES
Granny Fraser: "B-But there's no windows...I won't be able to see the trees!"

Of course there are no windows, of course you can't see the trees. Where did you think underground was?

CATCHPHRASES
This part ends on a cry of "Big Jobs!" from an anonymous Terra-Mek.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
The ship Charlie saves has come from Mega-City One.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Pat Mills
Artist: Dave Gibbons
Letters: Dave Gibbons

REVIEW
This is fantastic! Gibbons' art automatically lifts the story, but the social satire of the piece is excellent too. It's surprising not to see Ro-Jaws or Hammer-Stein, but to be honest you don't miss them.

Next Prog: Mek-Mania!

NAME
Ro-Busters: The Terra-Meks!, Part Two - Mek-Mania!

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD & Starlord Prog 99

DATELINE
10 Feb 79

PAGE COUNT
8

REPRINTS
2000AD Annual 1987, Judge Dredd Megazine 4.02, Cyber Crush 05, Sam Slade Robo-Hunter (Volume 2) 03, Ro-Busters Book 1 and The Complete Ro-Busters.

SYNOPSIS
The Terra-Meks get started.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First eight page Ro-Busters.

INFORMATION
There are caves beneath Northpool from the town's smuggling history, they connect with the Presbytery.

The Terra-Meks are owned by Ro-Busters (Demolition) Ltd.

CHARLIE
The destruction of Northpool forces Charlie into action and he challenges the Terra-Meks.

OTHER CHARACTERS
TYRANNO-MEK
Terra-Mek. Works closely with Dumper. They begin demolishing Northpool, starting by ripping the roofs off buildings.

FANTAS-TEK
Terra-Mek. They begin demolishing Northpool, he grinds buildings into rubble.

KING KONKA
Terra-Mek. He has ten forward and five reverse gears. He is required fulfil a work quota. They begin demolishing Northpool, starting by ripping the roofs off buildings.

MEK-QUAKE
Terra-Mek. They begin demolishing Northpool.

EXCAVATOR
Terra-Mek. They begin demolishing Northpool.

DUMPER
Terra-Mek. They begin demolishing Northpool.

ROAD-ROLLER
Terra-Mek. They begin demolishing Northpool, he flattens rubble into hardcore.

TAR-MEK
Terra-Mek. They begin demolishing Northpool, he oozes tar over the hardcore.

FATHER FLANNIGAN
Catholic Priest. He lives in a Presbytery in Northpool and has a housekeeper. He is the leader of the Save Our City action group in Northpool. He attempts to reason with the Terra-Meks, but to no avail.

STEVENSON
The Chief Robot Engineer who built Charlie.

DEATHS
At least two. A couple in a car drive into Fantas-Tek's crushing jaws.

BEST LINES
Road-Roller: "Let the good times roll!"

WORST LINES
Fantas-Tek: "Nogeee!"

What?

CATCHPHRASES
The Terra-Meks say "Big Jobs" five times, "Illogical!" twice, and both "Destroy!" and "Die!" three times each.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
King Konka obviously a homage to King Kong. Road-Roller either references "Let The Good Times Roll" a song recorded by Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five in 1946 or "Let The Good Times Roll!", a song recorded by Shirley and Lee in 1956.

MISTAKES
Why no name captions for Excavator, Dumper, Robo-Roller or Tar-Mek?

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Pat Mills
Artist: Dave Gibbons
Letters: Dave Gibbons

REVIEW
Again the art is beautiful, although poorer for having less Charlie in it.

Next Prog: To The Death!

NAME
Ro-Busters: The Terra-Meks!, Part 3 - To The Death!

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD & Starlord Prog 100

DATELINE
17 Feb 79

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
2000AD Annual 1987, Judge Dredd Megazine 4.02, Sam Slade Robo-Hunter (Volume 2) 04, Ro-Busters Book 1 and The Complete Ro-Busters.

SYNOPSIS
Charlie fights back and wins. Quartz and Murdoch have other ideas.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
None.

CHARLIE
He is equipped with lasers. He fights Tyranno-Mek and wins. He takes on Fantas-Tek and pulls off its head causing it to explode.

OTHER CHARACTERS
TYRANNO-MEK
He is equipped with lasers, a grabber, power cable and hydraulic tubes containing red hydraulic fluid. He fights Charlie and loses. When he falls to the ground, Road-Roller begins crushing and cutting him up, while Dumper buried them in rubble.

ROAD-ROLLER
When Tyranno-Mek is beaten by Charlie, Road-Roller begins crushing and cutting up his prone body.

DUMPER
When Tyranno-Mek is beaten by Charlie, Dumper buries his body in rubble.

HOWARD QUARTZ
He refuses to take responsibility for the action of his Terra-Meks. He and Murdoch plot to pin the destruction on Charlie. They call in the Navy and accuse Charlie of attacking Northpool.

RON MURDOCH
He refuses to take responsibility for not evacuating Northpool. He and Quartz plot to pin the destruction on Charlie. They call in the Navy and accuse Charlie of attacking Northpool.

FANTAS-TEK
He fights Charlie and loses.

MEK-QUAKE
He hides from Charlie among the rubble.

KING KONKA
He fights Charlie and loses.

DEATHS
Three. Charlie smashes up Tyranno-Mek, Fantas-Tek and King Konka.

BEST LINES
Quartz (in response to WORST LINES see below) "Yes, but experience has taught me -- the bigger the lie, the more likely we are to get way with it! We'll deny everything and put the blame on Charlie!"

WORST LINES
Murdoch (in response to Quartz first suggestion Charlie be blamed for Northpool's destruction): "But that's not true! It's a lie!"

Said the politician.

CATCHPHRASES
Mek-Quake says "Big Jobs". Howard Quartz CJ's again: "I didn't get where I am today without knowing when to pass the buck!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
This has a very Godzilla (1954) feel to it.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Pat Mills
Artist: D. Gibbons
Letters: D. Gibbons

REVIEW
The artwork is beautiful and the action is wonderful, albeit a little repetitive.

Next Prog: The Big Lie!

NAME
Ro-Busters: The Terra-Meks, Part Four - The Big Lie!

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD & Starlord Prog 101

DATELINE
24 Feb 79

PAGE COUNT
7

REPRINTS
2000AD Annual 1987, Judge Dredd Megazine 4.02, Cyber Crush 07, Sam Slade Robo-Hunter (Volume 2) 05, Ro-Busters Book 1 and The Complete Ro-Busters.

SYNOPSIS
Charlie saves the day, but is rewarded with an attack from the navy and a song from the town.

FIRSTS & LASTS
Last appearance of Charlie.

INFORMATION
HMS Nemesis is a Royal Navy Destroyer.

Northpool Evening Echo and Northpool Sun are newspapers.

Following their involvement in Charlie's destruction, Ro-Busters' share price falls to one credit.

CHARLIE
He is equipped with storm-proof plating. After he has finished with the Terra-Meks, he spots a ship out at sea and goes to help. It is the Royal Navy Destroyer HMS Nemesis, they attack him and he sinks to the seabed. Some weeks later, Charlie rises from the sea and clambers toward Northpool. The people of Northpool offer encouragement.

OTHER CHARACTERS
HOWARD QUARTZ
The price of shares in Ro-Busters falls to one credit each.

EXCAVATOR
He escapes Charlie with Tar-Mek, but they are destroyed two days later by a squadron of jets.

TAR-MEK
He escapes Charlie with Excavator, but they are destroyed two days later by a squadron of jets.

FATHER FLANNIGAN
He knows ships and can diagnose problems (or the lack thereof) by sight.

DEATHS
Two. Excavator and Tar-Mek are bombed by aircraft.

BEST LINES
None.

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
Mek-Quake says "Big Jobs"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
There have been three ships called HMS Nemesis. One launched in 1780, another in 1826 and a third, an Acorn-class destroyer, launched in 1910. Northpool's residents sing 'You'll Never Walk Alone' to encourage Charlie, a song from the 1945 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Carousel, it has become synonymous with Liverpool Football Club since the early 1960s.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Pat Mills
Artist: Dave Gibbons
Letters: Dave Gibbons

REVIEW
This still features some beautiful artwork and it's nice to see Charlie's return, but the stilted dialogue causes the story to suffer somewhat.

The End.

NAME
Judge Dredd: 'The Fink', Part 1

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD Featuring Judge Dredd Prog 193

DATELINE
3 Jan 81

The first prog of 1981 saw the price rise to 15 pence and proudly proclaim itself "Voted Britain's No: 1 Comic!". It also contained Dash Decent, The Mean Arena, Meltdown Man, Return To Armageddon and Strontium Dog all behind a Judge Dredd cover by Mike McMahon.

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
Judge Dredd Epics: Judge Dredd And The Angel Gang, The Best Of 2000AD 13, The Complete Judge Dredd 18, Judge Dredd Chronicles Book 3, Judge Dredd Chronicles Book 20, Judge Dredd 16, The Best Of Judge Dredd and Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 04.

SYNOPSIS
The Fink comes to Mega-City One to take his revenge.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First appearance of Fink and Ratty. Last appearance of Larter.

INFORMATION
Rats in the Cursed Earth are tougher than their Mega-City One counterparts.

Named Judges: Judge Fe... (name partially obscured); Judge Fi... (name partially obscured)

JUDGE DREDD
The Fink plans to kill him.

OTHER CHARACTERS
THE FINK
He paralyses Judge Pilot Larter with poison, kidnaps him and takes him down into Mega-City One's sewers where he allws him to be eaten by rats. He leaves a calling card with the body that looks like an Angel.

RATTY
Cursed Earth rat and the Fink's pet. He can call an army of rats to his location.

JUDGE PILOT LARTER
He is still flying Justice 1. The Fink poisons and kidnaps him.

JUDGE HERSHEY
The Fink plans to kill her.

ARRESTS
None.

DEATHS
One. The Fink poisons Larter and allows him to be eaten by a swarm of rats.

BEST LINES
Fink: "One down, Ratty boy...Two to go!"

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
Larter says "Stomm!" and "Drokk!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
Larter and Hershey were last seen in The Judge Child.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

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

REVIEW
Dark, brooding and excellent despite its Dreddlessness. The Fink is a fantastic character design

Next Prog: Fink In The Drink!

NAME
Judge Dredd: The Fink, Part 2

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD Featuring Judge Dredd Prog 194

DATELINE
10 Jan 81

This prog also featured Dash Decent, The Mean Arena, Meltdown Man, Return To Armageddon and Strontium Dog and a cover by Dave Gibbons.

PAGE COUNT
7

REPRINTS
The Best Of 2000AD 13, The Complete Judge Dredd 18, Judge Dredd Chronicles Book 3, Judge Dredd Chronicles Book 20, Judge Dredd 16, Judge Dredd Epics: Judge Dredd And The Angel Gang, The Best Of Judge Dredd and Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 04.

SYNOPSIS
Fink goes after Hershey, Dredd goes after Fink.

FIRSTS & LASTS
Last appearance of Judge Larter.

INFORMATION
In Mega-City One, the Hotel Oddfellow is near Last Chance Lane. Sleepybye produce Suction Beds.

The bite of a Cursed Earth rat is fatal.

Named Judges: Judge Steer.

JUDGE DREDD
The Fink's calling card leads Dredd to believe he may be a fifth member of the Angel Gang and following Larter's death, that Hershey may be in danger. The Judge heads to Hershey's last known location and pursues the Fink into the Hotel Oddfellow only to discover he has poisoned several guests.

OTHER CHARACTERS
FINK ANGEL
Eldest son of Elmer 'Pa' Angel. He kills a citizen with a sling and a spiked missile to attract Judge Hershey's attention. He paralyses her with his poison and kidnaps her. He poisons a pool filled with guests at the Hotel Oddfellow and makes his escape.

JUDGE HERSHEY
She investigates the sling related death in Last Chance Lane. The Fink paralyses her with his poison.

ARRESTS
None.

DEATHS
At least eight. The Fink kills a man with his sling and poisons a pool full of people at the Hotel Oddfellow. Ratty fatally bites Frank who then crashes his truck.

BEST LINES
Fink: "She's a-comin', Ratty!"

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
Dredd and Hershey both say "Drokk!". Dredd also chalks up another "Drokk it!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
Judge Steer's badge is spelt Sterr on the last page.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

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

REVIEW
And then there was one. McMahon's art is excellent and the script is extraordinarily efficient.

Next Prog: The Making Of A Fink!

NAME
Judge Dredd: The Fink, Part Three

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD Featuring Judge Dredd Prog 195

DATELINE
17 Jan 81

This prog also featured Dash Decent, Meltdown Man, Return To Armageddon, Strontium Dog and, for the first time, more than one Judge Dredd. It had a Return To Armageddon cover by Ian Gibson and a Torquemada Star Pin-Up by Kevin O'Neill.

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
The Best Of 2000AD 13, Judge Dredd Epics: Judge Dredd And The Angel Gang, The Complete Judge Dredd 18
Judge Dredd Chronicles Book 3, Judge Dredd Chronicles Book 20, Judge Dredd 16, The Best Of Judge Dredd and Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 04.

SYNOPSIS
The Fink reflects on his past.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First time Dredd has missed out on part of a multi-part story in the middle.

INFORMATION
Biometric surgery augments the body with technological devices.

JUDGE DREDD
None.

OTHER CHARACTERS
THE FINK
At the age of seven he went to live in a hole. Following Mean Machine's surgery, he left home unannounced. He moved around poisoning as he went and the radiation physically warped him. Whilst digging a hole, he encountered the rat that would become his only friend. He became aware of the death of his family, when he discovered a newspaper cutting concerning the controversial end to Judge Dredd's search for the Judge Child. He heads to Mega-City One for revenge. He takes a paralysed Judge Hershey back to his base under a demolition site and then after darkness falls he relocates her.

JUDGE HERSHEY
Still paralysed, the Fink takes a her back to his base under a demolition site until night when he moves her.

PA ANGEL
He raises his sons to cultivate an individual style of killing. He takes his boys to Texas City on a raid.

MA ANGEL
She died in childbirth during Junior's delivery. Her epitaph reads "Ma Angel Gone To Hell".

MEAN ANGEL
Pa Angel worried he wasn't mean enough and has biometric surgery to fit the his mechanical arm and the dial that controls his behaviour. Doctor Fassbinder is his first victim.

LINK ANGEL
He spent much of his childhood chained to a post by his nose.

DR. C. FASSBINDER
Doctor kidnapped by the Angel Gang and forced to perform surgery on Mean Angel.

ARRESTS
None.

DEATHS
At least eight Ma Angel dies in childbirth, but then we only have Pa's word for that. At least four die in the Texas City raid. Mean Machine headbutts Doctor Fassbinder. Fink poisons at least two passersby at the Water Hoal.

BEST LINES
Junior: "Pa! Pa! Fink's gone!...He's taken his hole with him!"

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Fassbinder shares his name with Rainer Werner Fassbinder (1945–1982), German film director responsible for the films Why Does Herr R. Run Amok? (1970), Beware Of A Holy Whore (1971) and TV series Eight Hours Are Not a Day (1972–1973).

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

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

REVIEW
This is excellent. By the end of this surprisingly Dreddless part, Fink has well and truly earned his place in Judge Dredd and his deterioration is brilliantly depicted.

Next Prog: The Body Factory!

NAME
Judge Dredd: The Fink, Part Four

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD Featuring Judge Dredd Prog 196

DATELINE
24 Jan 81

This prog also featured Dash Decent, Meltdown Man, Return To Armageddon, Ro-Jaws' Robo-Tales and Strontium Dog strips, an Angel Gang Star Pin-Up and a cover by Dave Gibbons.

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
Judge Dredd Epics Judge Dredd And The Angel Gang, The Best Of 2000AD 13, Judge Dredd Chronicles Book 3, Judge Dredd Chronicles Book 20, Judge Dredd 16, The Complete Judge Dredd 18, The Best Of Judge Dredd and Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 04.

SYNOPSIS
Fink attempts to recycle Hershey.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First appearance of Resyk.

INFORMATION
The Mega-City One Body Recycling Plant or Resyk is one of several such terminals that recycle human remains into 107 useful constituent chemicals. Resyk workers have a saying "we use everything but the soul."

Eleven million citizens die in Mega-City One each year.

Synthi-Velv is synthetic velvet.

Named Judges: Judge Fodder (deceased).

JUDGE DREDD
Upon hearing of Fink's break in, Dredd heads to Resyk and stops the conveyer belt just before Hershey is recycled. He struggles with Fink and his rat, before forcing the latter to bite the former. Fink stabs Dredd in the back and the Judge is hospitalised, but recovering.

OTHER CHARACTERS
FINK
He breaks into Resyk carrying Hershey and places her on the conveyer belt. Dredd intervenes and forces Ratty to bite Fink. Fink survives and is sentenced to life in an isolation cube.

RATTY
He was never captured and lived on at Resyk.

JUDGE HERSHEY
Fink carries her to Resyk and places her on the conveyer belt. Dredd stops the belt before she is recycled. By the next day she has recovered.

ARRESTS
One. Fink is arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment.

DEATHS
One. Fink kills Fodder.

BEST LINES
Resyk slogan: "We use everything but the soul."

WORST LINES
Dredd: "Those pellets are poisoned! Got to dodge them and reach the controls!"

CATCHPHRASES
Dredd says "Drokk!" twice and "Stop in the name of the law!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

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

REVIEW
Another great slice of Fink action, Hershey's thought bubbles are all wonderful and Resyk is an excellent addition of Mega-City One.

The End.

NAME
Ro-Busters: The Fall And Rise Of Ro-Jaws And Hammerstein!, Part 1

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD & Starlord Prog 103

DATELINE
10 Mar 79

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
The Best Of 2000AD 71, Cyber Crush 08, Ro-Busters Book 2, 2000AD Extreme Edition 24 and The Complete Ro-Busters.

SYNOPSIS
Ginger is reunited with Ro-Jaws, while Quartz plots the end of Ro-Busters.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
Robettes are immature robots. Goldilocks And The Three Robots is a retelling of a fairy tale with robots.

Ro-Busters haven't been called to a disaster in months.

RO-JAWS
He hid Hammer-Stein's old head for a week. Ro-Jaws reads to the Robettes. He is reunited with Ginger.

HAMMER-STEIN
Ro-Jaws hid his old head for a week. Hammer-Stein reluctantly pays Mek-Quake twenty credits to leave Ginger alone.

OTHER CHARACTERS
GINGER
He was sent to the robo knacker's yard and reconstructed from pieces of other robots. He has been sent to Ro-Busters and is reunited with Ro-Jaws again.

MEK-QUAKE
He extorts money, comics or life from new arrivals at Ro-Busters. He is saving up for a twenty mega-ton atomic howitzer and collects Sergeant Rock comics.

HOWARD QUARTZ
With Ro-Busters' profits down, he plans to destroy the Preying Mantis whilst it is full of robots and claim on the insurance.

MISS MARILN
She is horrified by Quartz' plan.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
Marilyn: "The mass murder of robots...robocide! That-that's horrible!"
Quartz: "Yes. Now I must make a list of the robots I want destroyed...No prizes for guessing which two robots will be top of my list!"

WORST LINES
Hammer-Stein: "Hmmm! You'll find him over there - telling a story to the robettes!"

Are they a Motown musical combo?

CATCHPHRASES
Ro-Jaws calls Ginger a "daft nerk" whilst complimenting him.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
Quartz hopes for a plague in Mega-City One or a pile-up in the Trans-Atlantic Tunnel. Ro-Busters reputation has suffered since Northpool's near demolition.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Mek-Quake collects Sergeant Rock comics. Sgt. Rock first appeared in G.I. Combat #68 (1959) as The Rock, gaining a his rank a little later and his own comic in 1977. Quartz references the 1974 disaster movie, The Towering Inferno.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Pat Mills
Artist: Kevin O'Neill
Letters: Peter Knight

REVIEW
The return of Ro-Jaws, Hammer-Stein, Ginger and Miss Marilyn does a great job of convincing the reader that this will be business as usual after three stories that bucked the trend, but Quartz' plot upsets the applecart brilliantly.

Next Prog: Robocide!

NAME
Ro-Busters: The Fall & Rise Of Ro-Jaws And Hammerstein, Part 2 - Robocide!

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD Featuring Judge Dredd Prog 104

DATELINE
17 Mar 79

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
The Best Of 2000AD 71, Cyber Crush 08, Ro-Busters Book 2, 2000AD Extreme Edition 24 and Judge Dredd The Complete Case Files 04.

SYNOPSIS
Qurtz puts his plan into action.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
Imitation Humans are robots that are used for attempting medical treatment.

'The Robot's Farewell' is an illegal song popular among robots.

RO-JAWS
He and Hammer-Stein show Ginger around. Marilyn warns Ro-Jaws of Quartz' plan. He is sent on a mission in the Preying Mantis.

HAMMER-STEIN
He and Ro-Jaws show Ginger around. He is sent on a mission in the Preying Mantis.

OTHER CHARACTERS
HOWARD QUARTZ
In addition to Ro-Busters (Disasters) Ltd., Howard Quartz also owns Ro-Busters America Ltd., Ro-Busters U.K. Ltd., Ro-Busters (Espana) S.A., Ro-Busters Italia S.P.A., Ro-Busters Netherlands P.V, Ro-Busters Deutschland A.G, Ro-Busters (Africa) J.B., Ro-Busters Australia PTY Ltd., Ro-Busters (Tokyo) SHA, Ro-Busters International Holding Ltd., Ro-Busters Mercury Ltd., Ro-Busters Venus Ltd., Ro-Busters (Luna) Ltd., Ro-Busters (Mars) Ltd., Ro-Busters Titan Ltd., Ro-Busters Asteroids Ltd., Ro-Busters Saturn Ltd., Ro-Busters Uranus Ltd., Ro-Busters Neptune Ltd., Ro-Busters Pluto Ltd., Ro-Busters Interplanetary Ltd., Ro-Busters Solar Exploration Ltd., Ro-Busters Starships Ltd., Ro-Busters Global Dynamics Ltd., Ro-Busters Ley-Mek Ltd., Ro-Busters Reed Group Ltd., Ro-Busters IPC Ltd., Ro-Busters Terra-Meks Ltd., Ro-Busters Construction Ltd., Ro-Busters Demolition Ltd., Ro-Busters Aviation Co., Ltd., Ro-Busters Publishing Corporation, Ro-Busters Securities Ltd., Ro-Busters Missiles Ltd., Ro-Busters Submarines Ltd., Ro-Busters (Mek-Men) Ltd., Quartz Holidays Ltd., Quartz International Holidays Ltd., Quartz Luna Holidays Ltd., Quartz Martian Holidays Ltd., Quartz Solar System Holidays Ltd., Quartz Supermarkets Ltd., Quartz Pleasure Centres Ltd., Quartz the Tailors Ltd., Quartz Watches Ltd., Quartz Synthi Butchers Ltd., Quartz Catering Ltd., Howard Hairdressers Ltd., Howard Homes Ltd., Howard Underground Homes Ltd., Howard Homes Ltd., Howard Cinemas Ltd., Howard Night Clubs Ltd., Howard Mystery Tours Ltd., Howard Omnibus Company., Howard the Chemists, Howard Tobacconists., Howard Kiosks, Howard Model Agency, Howard Discos-A-Go-Go., Howard Hamburgers and a company making toys.

MISS MARILYN
She warns Ro-Jaws of Quartz' plan.

GINGER
Ro-Jaws and Hammer-Stein show him around. He is sent on a mission in the Preying Mantis.

CASEY
Imitation Human at Ro-Busters and sole patient of Doctor Feeley Good. Last week he was infected with The Dreaded Lurgey. He is sent on a mission in the Preying Mantis.

DOCTOR FEELEY GOOD
Robo-Doctor at Ro-Busters. He was struck off. He operates on Casey as often as possible. Last week he infected him with The Dreaded Lurgey. He is sent on a mission in the Preying Mantis.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
Ro-Jaws: "Mankey Moses!"

WORST LINES
Quartz and Marilyn reiterate the cliffhanger from Part 1, but it's different (and not as good as) the original.

CATCHPHRASES
Doctor Feeley Good seems make a "Humm-de-hum!" noise four times.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
Quartz plans to buy more Terra-Meks with his insurance money.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Ro-Jaws says "Here's looking at you, kid!"

MISTAKES
Quartz and Marilyn's opening conversation reiterates Part 1's cliffhanger, but they get it wrong.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Pat Mills
Artist: Kevin O'Neill
Letters: Peter Knight

REVIEW
This is nice, but it essentially stretches the plot of Part 1 a little too far.

Next Prog: Blow Up!

NAME
Ro-Busters: The Fall And Rise Of Ro-Jaws And Hammer-Stein, Part Three - "Robots Don't Live Here Anymore..."

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD & Starlord Prog 105

DATELINE
24 Mar 79

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
The Best Of 2000AD 71, Cyber Crush 09, 2000AD Extreme Edition 24, Ro-Busters Book 2 and The Complete Ro-Busters.

SYNOPSIS
The robots escape Quartz' plan, but find themselves

FIRSTS & LASTS
Last appearance of Miss Marilyn and Quartz.

INFORMATION
Most robots have screw fittings made to international standards and can swap body parts with each other.

The motto of Punishment and Discipline Troopers is "shoot first, ask questions later".

RO-JAWS
He suggests the robots play Swopsey and exchange body parts to annoy the overseer enough to open the pod door. He swaps his head with Hammer-Stein. It works and he and Hammer-Stein force their way into the cockpit and separate the pod containing the other robots from the Preying Mantis. The Preying Mantis explodes and the robots bail out of the pod over Britain. He returns Hammer-Stein's body to him. He declares himself a free robot.

HAMMER-STEIN
In Swopsey, he swaps his head with Ro-Jaws. He and Ro-Jaws force their way into the cockpit and separate the pod containing the other robots from the Preying Mantis. The Preying Mantis explodes and the robots bail out of the pod over Britain. He returns Hammer-Stein's body to him. He declares himself a free robot.

OTHER CHARACTERS
MEK-QUAKE
He remains behind at Ro-Busters.

X-27?
He memory seems to be returning since he became a free robot. He may have been to Saturn.

DEATHS

BEST LINES
Quartz: "Miss Marilyn, I shall have to deduct the time you've been crying from your pay packet. You can't make a profit out of sobbing your heart out!"

WORST LINES
Ginger: "What a gay day!"

CATCHPHRASES
Mek-Quake is hurt Quartz didn't come to him for Big Jobs, Doctor Feeley Good Humm-de-humms again.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: P. Mills
Artist: McMahon
Letters: Peter Knight

REVIEW
This is liberating. Ro-Busters gone rogue. It's a shame that we don't get to see more of Ro-Jaws and Hammer-Stein wearing each other's heads.

Next Prog: Bits And Pieces!

NAME
Ro-Busters: The Fall And Rise Of Ro-Jaws And Hammer-Stein, Part Four - Hunted!

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 AD & Starlord Prog 106

DATELINE
31 Mar 79

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
The Best Of 2000AD 71, Cyber Crush 09, 2000AD Extreme Edition 24, Ro-Busters Book 2 and The Complete Ro-Busters.

SYNOPSIS
The robots split into two groups, one are destroyed and the other smear themselves with excrement.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
A Molek Grenade can destroy a Mark III War Droid. A Mek-Detector can track a robot from a sample of its oil.

RO-JAWS
He refuses to surrender to the PD Troopers. Realising that they are being tracked by the scent of their oil, he suggests that the robots smear themselves with pig manure.

HAMMER-STEIN
He refuses to surrender to the PD Troopers. He smears himself with pig manure to obscure the scent of his oil.

OTHER CHARACTERS
GINGER
He loses his blanket and the PD Troopers use the oil stains on it to track the robots. He smears himself with pig manure to obscure the scent of his oil.

X27?
He is attacked by the PD Troopers. He smears himself with pig manure to obscure the scent of his oil. The robots find themselves on the road where he had his accident and his memories return. He believes he is dying.

DEATHS
At least ten. The robots that surrender to the PD Troopers are destroyed. Hammer-Stein takes revenge on two troopers and Doctor Feeley Good operates on a third.

BEST LINES
Hammer-Stein: "We've given them the slip. But now we have to survive in a world where Humans hate us...with no identity papers...no hide out...no oil..."
Ginger: "And no blanket."

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
Doctor Feeley Good chalks up another four "Humm-de-humms!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: P. Mills
Artist: M. McMahon
Letters: Pete Knight

REVIEW
Robots on the run. This would have been a great dynamic for the strip to follow. Its nice to see the actions of Ro-Jaws and Hammer-Stein reflect what we saw in each of their memoirs. Ginger's blanket, the pig manure and deathbed return of X27?'s memories are all excellent.

Next Prog: Genesis Of The Robots!

Star Pin-Up: The Gronk

Judge Dredd: Synthi-Caff Vindilu

Ro-Busters: Ro-Jaws' Memoirs, Part One - Happy Days

Ro-Busters: Ro-Jaws' Memoirs, Part Two - In Bad Company!

Ro-Busters: Ro-Jaws' Memoirs, Part Three - Out!

Ro-Busters: Ro-Jaws' Memoirs, Part Four - Upstairs And Down Sewers

Ro-Busters: Ro-Jaws' Memoirs, Part Five - Happy Ever After (Sort Of)

Judge Dredd: Loonies' Moon!

Ro-Busters: The Terra-Meks!, Part One - The Eve Of Destruction!

Ro-Busters: The Terra-Meks!, Part Two - Mek-Mania!

Ro-Busters: The Terra-Meks!, Part 3 - To The Death!

Ro-Busters: The Terra-Meks, Part Four - The Big Lie!

Judge Dredd: 'The Fink', Part 1

Judge Dredd: The Fink, Part 2

Judge Dredd: The Fink, Part Three

Judge Dredd: The Fink, Part Four

Ro-Busters: The Fall And Rise Of Ro-Jaws And Hammerstein!, Part 1

Ro-Busters: The Fall & Rise Of Ro-Jaws And Hammerstein, Part 2 - Robocide!

Ro-Busters: The Fall And Rise Of Ro-Jaws And Hammer-Stein, Part Three - "Robots Don't Live Here Anymore..."

Ro-Busters: The Fall And Rise Of Ro-Jaws And Hammer-Stein, Part Four - Hunted!