Dredd Alert

NAME
The Cursed Earth Game, Part 2

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D.Prog 76

DATELINE
5 Aug 78

PAGE COUNT
1

REPRINTS
None.

SYNOPSIS
You can relive the trek across the Cursed Earth as Dredd, Spikes, Tweak or an unnamed Judge.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First re-use of artwork for a game.

INFORMATION
There is an alternative Judge's uniform with a yellow helmet.

JUDGE DREDD
None.

OTHER CHARACTERS
SPIKES
None.

TWEAK
None.

ARRESTS
None.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
None.

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
None.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
The picture of Mega-City 2 is an adapted panel from Chapter Two.

CREDITS
Script: Unknown
Artist: Unknown

REVIEW
This looks more interesting, although I'm not sure I approve of a yellow Judge's helmet.

Cut This Page Out And Keep Safe! We Will Print Full Rules And Instructions With Part Six Of The Game

NAME
The Cursed Earth Game, Part 3

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D.Prog 77

DATELINE
12 Aug 78

PAGE COUNT
1

REPRINTS
None.

SYNOPSIS
You can encounter Snap, Crackle or Pop, Brother Morgar, Novar, the plantation owner, the Aliencatcher General, Elmer or Abner, the King Rat and Ronald MacDonald among others on your trek across the Cursed Earth.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
None.

JUDGE DREDD
None.

OTHER CHARACTERS
None.

ARRESTS
None.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
None.

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
None.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Unknown
Artist: Unknown

REVIEW
There are some strange choices with the Death Zone Passes, but it's nice to see the game being populated.

Cut This Page Out And Keep Safe! We Will Print Full Rules And Instructions With Part Six Of The Game

NAME
The Cursed Earth Game, Part 4

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D.Prog 78

DATELINE
19 Aug 78

PAGE COUNT
1

REPRINTS
None.

SYNOPSIS
You can encounter Slayriders or bounty hunters on your trek across the Cursed Earth.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
None.

JUDGE DREDD
None.

OTHER CHARACTERS
None.

ARRESTS
None.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
None.

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
None.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Unknown
Artist: Unknown

REVIEW
There is less story detail on some of these cards than would be ideal.

Cut This Page Out And Keep Safe! We Will Print Full Rules And Instructions With Part Six Of The Game

NAME
The Cursed Earth Game, Part 5

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 79

DATELINE
26 Aug 78

PAGE COUNT
1

REPRINTS
None.

SYNOPSIS
You too can trade in Vaccine Credits and War Robot Credits.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
None.

JUDGE DREDD
None.

OTHER CHARACTERS
None.

ARRESTS
None.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
None.

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
None.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Unknown
Artist: Unknown

REVIEW
Vaccine Credits? War Robot Credits? What?

Cut This Page Out And Keep Safe! We Will Print Full Rules And Instructions With Part Six Of The Game

NAME
The Cursed Earth Game, Part 6

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 80

DATELINE
2 Sep 78

PAGE COUNT
1

REPRINTS
None.

SYNOPSIS
On your trek across the Cursed Earth, you too can encounter the Devil's Lapdogs, Dinosaurs and the last Mutie President.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION

JUDGE DREDD

OTHER CHARACTERS
None.

ARRESTS
None.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
None.

WORST LINES
None.

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
None.

MISTAKES
The image of Mega-City 1 is actually a reused panel of Mega-City 2 from The Cursed Earth, Chapter 1. Also "Must save Last Mutie President"?

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Unknown
Artist: Unknown

REVIEW
The image of Spikes at the bottom of the board is fantastic, but the game doesn't look much like fun.

Cut This Page Out And Keep Safe!

As a result of the appearances of Satanus and Old One Eye in The Cursed Earth, it's time to take a look at Flesh...

NAME
Flesh: Book One, Part 1

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000A.D. Programme 1

DATELINE
26 Feb 77

PAGE COUNT
6

REPRINTS
2000AD Annual 1982, Judge Dredd Megazine 4.04, Spellbinders 13 and Flesh: The Dino Files

SYNOPSIS
Craving the taste of flesh, the people of the 23rd century send rangers back 65 million years to herd dinosaurs for their meat.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First Flesh, first appearance of Earl Reagan, Joe Brontowski and the Trans-Time Corporation.

INFORMATION
By the 23rd Century most animals have been destroyed and people survived on synthetic foods, but the discovery of time travel changed that.

The Trans-Time Corporation uses time travel to go back 65 million years and hunt dinosaurs, like Styracosaur, for their flesh. The company operates a base in the past to slaughter and process the meat and then beam it to the 23rd century.

Herder vehicles have two very large tyres and are designed to absorb shock.

EARL REAGAN
He works for Trans-Time Corporation as the boss of the rangers who drove herds of herbivorous dinosaurs. He uses an electric whip to turn the stampede away from danger.

OTHER CHARACTERS
JOE BRONTOWSKI
He works for Trans-Time Corporation and has just joined Reagan's crew. He shoots a tyrannosaur in the face and its head explodes.

MAVERICK
He works for Trans-Time Corporation. He is eaten alive by a Phobosuchus during his last tour of duty.

DEATHS
At least five. Maverick is eaten by a Phobosuchus, while Joe shoots a Tyrannosaur's head off. At least three Styracosaurs fall off the edge of the cliff during the stampede. Joe says that twenty rangers (not including Maverick) and six Styracosaurs were killed.

BEST LINES
Reagan: "You ain't seen nothin' yet, Joe. We're taking the flesh eating dinosaurs' natural food - and it's driving them crazy with hunger."

WORST LINES
Maverick: "Man's always needed meat, Joe. Forget your feelings. In this hell world you gotta be tough to survive. I'm glad it's my last tour of duty and I'm going home."

It's not necessarily bad dialogue, but it screams "I will die on the next page!".

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
An electric whip was used in Judge Dredd: 'The Troggies'. Styracosaurs also roam The Cursed Earth.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
The Beast Of Hollow Mountain (1956) and The Valley Of Gwangi (1969) are both SF Westerns featuring dinosaurs.

The genus name Phobosuchus was coined in 1924, has since been discarded because it was applied to several different crocodilian species that turned out to not be closely related to each other. It has since been largely replaced by Deinosuchus. It was an alligator that lived 80 to 73 million years ago during the late Cretaceous period in what is now North America.

Tyrannosaurs had large olfactory bulbs and nerves relative to size of their brain size, which suggests that they did indeed have a highly developed sense of smell.

MISTAKES
It's not fair to label referring to a Deinosuchus as a Phobosuchus in 1977 as a mistake, so I won't.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
There are no credits printed in the strip itself and so the following are taken from Barney.

Script: Pat Mills
Artist: Boix
Letters: Bill Nuttall

Boix is Joan Boix, who also was part of Team Fantomen providing art for The Phantom. He has a blog here.

REVIEW
Cowboys versus dinosaurs is quite simply one of the best ideas anybody has ever had. Ever. The idea of the future preying on the past and the attitudes to humans as carnivores are intriguing. This manages to be intelligent yet full of gory action.

NAME
Flesh: Book 1, Part 2

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D.Prog 2

DATELINE
05 Mar 77

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
2000AD Annual 1982, Judge Dredd Megazine 4.04, Spellbinders 13 and Flesh: The Dino Files.

SYNOPSIS
After a visit to the Flesh processing facility, Joe is attacked by a Pterandon.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First appearance of the Fleshdozer.

INFORMATION
Dinosaurs are humanely stunned before they are dropped into the fleshdozer and turned into pre-packaged Flesh. Trans-Time rangers use spotter planes and air buggies, and are armed with power-assisted lassoes, blaster guns and electric goads. Alamosaurus are referred to by the nickname 'pinheads'.

EARL REAGAN
He is still impressed by the time travel device which sends the Flesh to the 23rd Century.

OTHER CHARACTERS
JOE BRONTOWSKI
He is attacked by a Pteranodon.

HUCK
Trans-Time Corporation employee. He is killed by a falling Styracosaur corpse.

DEATHS
Three. Huck is killed by a falling Styracosaur. The Styracosaur and Huck's friend are dropped into the Fleshdozer alive.

BEST LINES
Joe: "Carved up by the Fleshdozer! What away to go, boss!"
Reagan: "Yeah! He'll be turned into pre-packaged Flesh just like the Styracosaur."

WORST LINES
Joe: "It's gone!"
Reagan: "To the twenty-third century, where we comes from. Seen it happen a thousand time before - but it's still a miracle to a simple ranger like me."

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
The use of the words beamed and energise to describe teleportation recalls the transporter from Star Trek (1966-1969), although it wasn't used for time travel.

Alamosaurus was a quadruped herbivore and the largest known dinosaur from North America. Pteranodon is a genus of pterosaurs found across North America which included some of the largest known flying reptiles (wingspans over 6 metres). Both lived in the late Cretaceous Period.

MISTAKES
Pteranodon had no teeth and the plural form of lasso is lassos.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Ken Armstrong
Artist: Boix
Letters: Bill Nuttall

In addition to Flesh, Ken Armstrong also wrote for Dan Dare and The Mind Of Wolfie Smith.

REVIEW
The Fleshdozer and the dinosaur attack are fantastic set pieces. Any comic strip that ends with a man attempting to strangle a Pteranodon is on to a winner. Flesh is shaping up to be very interesting.

Thrill Value Increases + + + Next Programme

NAME
Flesh: Book One, Part 3

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D.Prog 3

DATELINE
12 Mar 77

PAGE COUNT
4

REPRINTS
2000AD Annual 1982, Judge Dredd Megazine 4.04, Spellbinders 13 and Flesh: The Dino Files.

SYNOPSIS
Joe survives a Pteranodon attack only to suffer a Tyrannosaur attack, and Earl kills the former and renders the latter blind in one eye.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First appearance of Old One Eye.

INFORMATION
The Carver City Trading Post is a settlement with a doctor.

EARL REAGAN
He stabs a female Tyrannosaur in the eye to get it to release Joe.

OLD ONE EYE
A 120 year old female Tyrannosaur who attacks Joe Brontowski, but is fought off by Earl Reagan. He stabs her in the eye with an electric goad. Believed dead, she was actually only stunned. When she awoke Reagan's scent was in her nostrils and she wanted revenge.

JOE BRONTOWSKI
He survives attacks by a Pteranodon and a Tyrannosaur, but his legs are bleeding and Reagan has him taken to a doctor.

OTHER CHARACTERS
None.

DEATHS
One. A ranger is killed by Old One Eye (before she lost an eye).

BEST LINES
Joe: "No! I've not survived to die like this!"

WORST LINES
Reagan: "It's gotta be...the goad!!"

CATCHPHRASES
A terrified Carver City citizen screams an "Aiee" and a ranger says "We'll have a kronj time in Carver City!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Ken Armstrong
Artist: Ramon Sola
Letters: Bill Nuttall

Ramon Sola also provided artwork for Blackhawk, Tharg's Future Shocks, M.A.C.H.1, M.A.C.H.0 and Shako, as well as Hook Jaw for Action. He also drew covers for both 2000 AD and Starlord.

REVIEW
If a Pteranodon attack with a man in their claws is an amber alert, I look forward to see what a red alert would be. Meanwhile, Old One Eye is an instant hit.

NAME
Flesh, Book 1, Part 4

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D.Prog 4

DATELINE
19 Mar 77

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
2000AD Annual 1984, Judge Dredd Megazine 4.05, Scavengers 14 and Flesh: The Dino Files.

SYNOPSIS
Earl gets a sick Joe to Carver City, but Old One Eye tracks them.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First appearance of 'Claw' Carver.

INFORMATION
Carver City is like a western town, but with a plastic dome to keep dinosaurs out. It was founded by 'Claw' Carver. It has a saloon and a Robot Marshal. Guns are not permitted and must be surrendered at the entrance to the town, the sole exception is the Robot Marshall's laser gun.

The only cure for an infection resulting from a dinosaur bite is to inject fluid from a special gland in a Tyrannosaur's throat into the patient.

EARL REAGAN
He takes Joe Brontowski to Carver City for treatment. He knows 'Claw' Carver.

OLD ONE EYE
She tracks Earl Reagan by his scent to Carver City. Old One Eye breaks through the Carver City dome.

JOE BRONTOWSKI
His skin is breaking out in black boils and he has a fever after his dinosaur attack.

OTHER CHARACTERS
'CLAW' CARVER
He used to be a trail boss, but he retired and built the Carver City Trading Post. His right hand was bitten off and he had it replaced it with Dinosaur claw. He knows Earl Reagan.

CARVER CITY'S ROBOT MARSHALL
His laser gun perforates the town's plastic dome.

DEATHS
None.

BEST LINES
'Claw': "You was always too big for your boots, Reagan! I'm gonna rip you to shreds with my claw for what you've done!"

WORST LINES
Reagan: "Gotta act fast!"

Well, go on then.

CATCHPHRASES
A terrified Carver City citizen screams an "Aiee" and a ranger says "We'll have a kronj time in Carver City!"

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
The appearance of the Robot Marshal of Carver City bears a resemblance to the faceless version of Yul Brenner's character from Westworld (1973).

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: Ken Armstrong
Artist: Sola
Letters: Bill Nuttall

Reprints of this strip credit the script to R.E. Wright.

REVIEW
Another strong part, which cements the Western aspects of the strip and maintains the quality of the gory action, but also provides the first signs of where the narrative is heading.

NAME
Flesh, Book One, Part 5

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D.Prog 5

DATELINE
26 Mar 77

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
2000AD Annual 1984, Judge Dredd Megazine 4.05, Scavengers 14 and Flesh: The Dino Files

SYNOPSIS
Earl Reagan fights Old Man Eye for her gland.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First Flesh script by Studio Giolitti.

INFORMATION
A substance from the gland in a Tyrannosaur's throat can cure the infection from a bite like a vaccine.

EARL REAGAN
He fights Old One Eye and cuts the required gland out of her neck. He suggests burning down Carver City to rid it of dinosaurs.

JOE BRONTOWSKI
Reagan provides the Tyrannosaur gland and Doc performs the procedure to cure his condition.

OLD ONE EYE
Earl Reagan cuts a gland out of her neck, but she survives.

OTHER CHARACTERS
'CLAW' CARVER
He blames Reagan for the destruction of Carver City and threatens to kill him, but agrees to a truce until the dinosaur crisis is over.

DEATHS
Seven. The Tyrannosaurs eat four Carver City citizens, while the terrible claws eat another and a T Rex eats a Pteranodon. The Robot Sheriff appears beyond repair after T Rex bite.

BEST LINES
Robot Marshal's Severed Head: "I am not programmed to deal with this situation."

WORST LINES
Drunk: "A tyrannosaur! But they ain't allowed in Carver City...I must be dreaming!"

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
'Terrible claw is the English translation of Deinonychus, a carnivorous dinosaur which lived in the early Cretaceous Period (about 115–108 million years ago) in North America

MISTAKES
A vaccine is a biological preparation that improves immunity to a particular disease, typically containing an agent that resembles a disease-causing microorganism. A vaccine would not cure Brontowski's infection, it would only be able to prevent it.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Studio Giolitti
Artist: Ramon Sola
Letters: Bill Nuttall

Studio Giolitti was founded in Italy by Alberto Giolitti (1923-1993). In addition to scripts for Flesh, it provided art for Ace Trucking Co for the galaxy's greatest comic. Elsewhere he drew Star Trek, a King Kong adaptation and a biography of Abraham Lincoln among others. The official website is here.

REVIEW
Just when you think Flesh can't get any cooler we have a man taking on a Tyrannosaurus Rex armed only with a knife. Sola's art continues to impress and the Robot Marshal's demise is fantastic.

NAME
Flesh, Book One, Part 6

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D.Prog 6

DATELINE
2 Apr 77

PAGE COUNT
4

REPRINTS
2000AD Annual 1984, Judge Dredd Megazine 4.05, Scavengers 14 and Flesh: The Dino Files

SYNOPSIS
Reagan and Carver start the fire whilst the dinosaurs fight.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First Flesh script from Kelvin Gosnell.

INFORMATION
The heads of Robot Marshals can function without being attached to their bodies.

Tyrannosaurs do not recognise their own adult offspring.

EARL REAGAN
He and Claw Carver collect start a fire in Carver City. Claw Carver uses his claw to inflict a wound in Reagan's shoulder and throws him to Old One Eye.

JOE BRONTOWSKI
He is recovering and has the distinction of being the first patient to survive the treatment of Carver City's doctor.

OLD ONE EYE
She had had many offspring. She is attacked in Carver City by her own son. They fight and she kills him.

OTHER CHARACTERS
'CLAW' CARVER
He kills a 'Terrible Claw', and helps Earl Reagan collect fuel to burn Carver City down. He throw Reagan to the mercy of the Tyrannosaur that has been tracking him.

DEATHS
Two. 'Claw' Carver rips a 'Terrible Claw' to pieces with his own terrible claw. Whilst a man taunting Old One Eye is knocked down from a roof by a Pteranodon into the Tyrannosaur's gaping mouth.

BEST LINES
Carver City's Robot Marshall: "Dinosaurs are not allowed in Carver City! Repeat - Dinosaurs are not allowed! -- Bzzzz!"

WORST LINES
Carver City Citizen: "Ha, Ha! You can try all ya like - But you ain't haven' me fer lunch!"

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
Old One Eye will kill another of her offspring in a flashback from Judge Dredd: The Cursed Earth, Chapter 14.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
There are no credits on the original strip itself, these are from Barney.

Script: Kelvin Gosnell
Artist: Ramon Sola
Letters: Jack Potter

REVIEW

Another great offering with some very nice action sequences, neatly resolving the issues at hand and a cliffhanger that reassuringly pits Reagan and Old One Eye against each other again.

NAME
Flesh, Book One, Part 7

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D.Prog 7

DATELINE
09 Apr 77

PAGE COUNT
4

REPRINTS
2000AD Annual 1984, Judge Dredd Megazine 4.05, Scavengers 14 and Flesh: The Dino Files.

SYNOPSIS
Reagan fights Old One Eye again, but the Flesh Controller leaves him for dead.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First appearances of the Flesh Controller.

INFORMATION
Zeldo 6 is an ice planet.

Wrist TVs can be used for telecommunications.

Trans-Time employees report to a Flesh Controller.

EARL REAGAN
The Flesh Controller writes him off against profits. He props Old One Eye's mouth open with a wooden beam.

JOE BRONTOWSKI
He has recovered.

OLD ONE EYE
She manages to break the timber beam Reagan propped her mouth open with, but is blinded by fumes from Carver City's burning plastic dome. She flees for a mile until she encounters a ranger and an Alamosaur. Old One Eye kills them both.

OTHER CHARACTERS
'CLAW' CARVER
He and Reagan almost fight, but Doc convinces them not to.

DEATHS
Two. Old One kills a ranger and an Alamosaur.

BEST LINES
Flesh Controller: "No! Every man in needed here manning the Fleshdozers. I'll write Earl Reagan off against profits!"

WORST LINES
Doc: "Shut up, dumb-heads! Okay, you fouled each other up-but you still need each other!"

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
Earl Reagan's shoulder wound has evidently healed very quickly.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Kelvin Gosnell
Artist: Ramon Sola
Letters: Jack Potter

REVIEW
The opening splash page, the cold business mind of the Flesh Controller and the new dynamic presented at the end are great. Sola's artwork is wonderful, but some of the dialogue is very unwieldy.

NAME
Flesh, Book One, Part 8

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 8

DATELINE
16 Apr 77

PAGE COUNT
5 (4 and a half)

REPRINTS
Judge Dredd Megazine 4.06, Scavengers 15 and Flesh: The Dino Files.

SYNOPSIS
Reagan tries to trap and confront Old One Eye.

FIRSTS & LASTS
Last appearance of Doc, last Ken Armstrong script.

INFORMATION
Stars are a unit of currency.

Spike Plants are spiked plants.

EARL REAGAN
JOE BRONTOWSKI
He saves Claw Carver's life.

OLD ONE EYE
She tracks Reagan across water and into a trap set for her with spike plants in a pit.

OTHER CHARACTERS
'CLAW' CARVER
He can't swim. Carver pushes a ranger off the raft and into the water to aid his own escape. Joe Brontowski saves Carver's life and he pledges to return the favour.

DEATHS
Six. Doc is crushed by a prehistoric snake, Reagan kills the snake. Claw Carver pushes a ranger off the raft to lighten the load and Old One Eye eats the poor fella up, whilst the other two unnamed rangers perish when a Phobosuchus upturns the raft, eating one and drowning the other. Old One Eye and the Phobosuchus fight and the former kills the latter.

BEST LINES
Claw Carver (whilst pushing him off the raft): "Heck! Sorry feller - I slipped!"
Claw Carver (as Old One Eye devours him): "What a terrible thing to happen - One Eye's got that brave man!"

WORST LINES
Reagan: "Try chompin' on that, you slimy critter!"

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
The Phobosuchus has tasted humans before, probably the same individual from the first Flesh strip.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Unknown.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Ken Armstrong
Artist: Boix
Letters: Jack Potter

REVIEW
Some great dinosaur action and excellent character moments featuring Claw Carver make for another good instalment.

More Next Week! And Now You Can Play Flesh, Too! Great Dinosaur Game Starts On The Back Page Of This Prog!

NAME
Flesh, Book One, Part 9

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D.Prog 9

DATELINE
23 Apr 77

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
Judge Dredd Megazine 4.06, Scavengers 15 and Flesh: The Dino Files.

SYNOPSIS
Time travelling holidaymakers enter the fray.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First appearance of the Dino-Express.

INFORMATION
Fun-City is an establishment on the Moon. Children are not chastised in the 23rd century.

In addition to other time travel operations, Trans-Time Holiday operates the Dino-Express, a train equipped with a Dinopuncher to deflect dinosaurs and a horn that sounds like a bellowing Tyrannosaur.

EARL REAGAN
He can recognise the difference between the sound of Tyrannosaur and the horn on the Dino-Express. He knows how to drive a train and manages to drive the Dino-Express until Old One Eye traps it with an avalanche.

JOE BRONTOWSKI
He mans the guns on the Dino-Express.

OLD ONE EYE
Upon hearing the Dino-Express horn she assumes another Tyrannosaur is on her territory, climbs out and heads after the sound. She attacks the Dino-Express and causes an avalanche with her tail, trapping it. Old One Eye eats Orville Wainwright.

OTHER CHARACTERS
CLAW CARVER
He mans the guns on the Dino-Express and kills a Tyrannosaur.

SLICK PARSONS
A Trans-Time Holidays Tour Courier, he does not take kindly to Earl Reagan telling him what to do.

ORVILLE WAINWRIGHT
A holidaymaker from the Twenty-Third Century, his father saved for two years to afford to take his family on a Trans-Time Holiday. He isn't enjoying it. Old One Eye bites him.

DEATHS
Three. At least two Dino-Express passengers are eaten by Tyrannosaurs and Claw Carver manages to shoot and kill a Tyrannosaur.

BEST LINES
Orville Wainwright: "You smell, Mister."

WORST LINES
Slick Parsons: "Don't you find the idea of being back in prehistoric times exciting, Orville? After all, many children from the Twentieth Century would be only too glad to be in your shoes."

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Ouranosaurus is a herbivorous dinosaur that lived during the early Cretaceous Period about 110 million years ago in what is now Africa. Every other species of dinosaur seen in Flesh so far has been from North America and Ouranosaurus fossils have been exclusively found in Afica, but that's not to say that time travelling rangers didn't transplant them from one continent to the other.

MISTAKES
How does Old One Eye cause an avalanche ahead of a train moving away from her at speed? Also, the first page (see above) features the little Dan Dare icon in the corner instead of Flesh's own little symbol.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
There are no credits on the original strip itself, these are from Barney.

Script: Studio Giolitti
Artist: Boix
Letters: Jack Potter

REVIEW
The juxtaposition of the Holidaymakers and the Rangers works well here and the artwork of the train in the opening splash, the Ouranosaurus and the panel of Claw Carver shooting Tyrannosaurs are magnificent. Orville Wainwright has it coming from the moment you see him and it's a shame that a 100G nervous system was deemed necessary to view his demise.

Orville Was The First...Just The First...

NAME
Flesh, Book One, Part 10

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D.Prog 10

DATELINE
30 Apr 77

PAGE COUNT
4

REPRINTS
Judge Dredd Megazine 4.06, Scavengers 15 and Flesh: The Dino Files.

SYNOPSIS
Earl Reagan has to choose between rampaging dinosaurs and a runaway train.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First letters by John Aldrich.

INFORMATION
The monorail line runs to the Trans-Time base.

EARL REAGAN
He drives the train through Old One Eye's rock obstacles and, when it cannot stop, beyond the end of the line.

JOE BRONTOWSKI
He mans the train's guns.

OLD ONE EYE
She eats two humans before the train escapes. She suffers a non-fatal heart attack and then leads the surviving Tyrannosaurs along the monorail track.

OTHER CHARACTERS
CLAW CARVER
He mans the train's guns. After the train comes to a halt, he collects money from the passengers.

ORVILLE WAINWRIGHT
Old One Eye eats him up.

SLICK PARSONS
Old One Eye eats him up.

DEATHS
At least four. Old One Eye eats Slick Parsons and a not-explicitly identified Orville Wainwright, while either Carver or Brontowski shoots another Tyrannosaur in the neck. Many of the Tyrannosaur pack are killed as they are thrown from the train.

BEST LINES
Mrs Wainwright: "Where's my Orville? My baby?"

Slick Parsons: "It...it's got my arm!"

WORST LINES
Ranger: "The Dino-Express - It's smashed through the buffers! Flying through the air-"

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
The Taking Of Pelham One Two Three (1974) and Silver Streak (1976) are both films featuring runaway trains.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Studio Giolitti
Artist: Boix
Letters: John Aldrich

REVIEW
Fantastic. The opening page is beautiful. Orville finally gets what's coming to him and in a surprisingly uncensored way. Old One Eye's heart attack and subsequent biting at her own chest are great.

Next Prog: Siege Of The Trans-Time Base

NAME
Flesh, Book One, Part 11

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D.Prog 11

DATELINE
07 May 77

PAGE COUNT
4

REPRINTS
2000AD Annual 1989, Judge Dredd Megazine 4.06, Scavengers 15 and Flesh: The Dino Files.

SYNOPSIS
The Trans-Time Base is surrounded by Pteranodons from above, Hairy Tyrannosaurs from the North, Spinosaurs from the South, Terrible Hands and Terrible Claws from the East, Old One Eye's Tyrannosaurs from the West and huge spiders from below.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First letters on Flesh by Peter Knight.

INFORMATION
(This strip takes place over the course of two days)

The Trans-Time Base has watchtowers from which to blast Pteranodons and is a drive away from at least seven ranches. All of which is surrounded by an invisible laser fence. Styracosaur Rodeo is a popular pastime.

Beneath the base there are spiders, grown huge on blood from the Flesh.

EARL REAGAN
He tries to convince the Flesh Controller that the Trans-Time Base isn't ready for the approaching dinosaurs.

JOE BRONTOWSKI
He believes that Flesh Controller is correct.

OLD ONE EYE
She leads her Tyrannosaurs to the Trans-Time Base from the West.

OTHER CHARACTERS
CLAW CARVER
He agrees with the Flesh Controller and accuses Reagan of being scared.

FLESH CONTROLLER
He believes the Trans-Time Base is impregnable.

DEATHS
One. We see a Pteranodon shot down by a ranger who claims to have hit nine more today.

BEST LINES
Flesh Controller (of dinosaurs): "Let them starve. They don't frighten me...Look how they leap forward-eager to tear me to shreds!"

WORST LINES
Reagan: "There's a dinosaur war a-coming, Controller! And you've only got a skeleton staff to deal with it...! Unless you get more men, soon that's all we'll be...Skeletons!"
Flesh Controller: "Nonsense, Reagan. How can the dinosaurs break into my base? I'm too clever for them. My brain is huge...But a dinosaur's brain is the size of a kitten's."

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Spinosaurus, named for its distinctive spiny vertebrae, might be the largest of all known carnivorous dinosaurs. It lived in what is now North Africa in the Cretaceous period between 112 and 97 million years ago.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Kelvin Gosnell
Artist: Ramon Sola
Letters: Peter Knight

REVIEW
A change of pace as the dinosaur siege begins slowly and the base is comprehensively surrounded. Sola's artwork accompanying the dinosaur troop movements is wonderful. The Flesh Controller's dialogue swings from the ridiculous to the sublime.

It Was Nearly Midnight On The Second Day Of The Siege And Nothing Had Happened...Yet!

NAME
Flesh, Book One, Part 12

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D.Prog 12

DATELINE
14 May 77

PAGE COUNT
4

REPRINTS
2000AD Annual 1989, Judge Dredd Megazine 4.06, Scavengers 16 and Flesh: The Dino Files.

SYNOPSIS
The dinosaurs and spiders breach the base.

FIRSTS & LASTS
None.

INFORMATION
Laser fences are unable to withstand multiple simultaneous attacks.

Feelivision and Mindvision are methods of consuming media entertainment.

EARL REAGAN
He helps fight the dinosaur attack.

JOE BRONTOWSKI
He helps fight the dinosaur attack.

OLD ONE EYE
She inspires her troops to fight on despite huge losses.

OTHER CHARACTERS
CLAW CARVER
He agrees with everything the Flesh Controller says.

FLESH CONTROLLER
He has been feeding carnivorous dinosaurs with rotten and rejected Flesh.

DEATHS
Hundreds. Wave upon wave of dinosaurs die on the laser fence and at least one human is eaten by a Tyrannosaur.

BEST LINES
Reagan: "I warned you, Controller! We're holding them now-but only just. I need more men!"
Flesh Controller: "V-very well. You shall have them. I'll take he men off the Fleshdozers for twenty four hours- until the emergency is over!"

WORST LINES
Tyrannosaur victim: "Scream!"

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
The night watchman's twentieth century disaster movie of choice about a great white shark is Jaws (1975) and 'Bruce' was the nickname given by the crew to the three full-size pneumatically powered prop sharks used during filming.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Kelvin Gosnell
Artist: Ramon Sola
Letters: Jack Potter

REVIEW
This part serves to contextualise the events of its predecessor and the night watchman sequence is worth the price of entry all by itself.

NAME
Flesh, Book One, Part 13

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D. Prog 13

DATELINE
21 May 77

PAGE COUNT
5 (4 and a 1/2)

REPRINTS
2000AD Annual 1989, Judge Dredd Megazine 4.06, Scavengers 16 and Flesh: The Dino Files.

SYNOPSIS
The spiders attack in earnest.

FIRSTS & LASTS
First work on Flesh by Felix Carrion and both the first and last work by J. Swain.

INFORMATION
Anti-Matter Launchers are used for ballistic explosions. Plasticrete is a building material.

The huge spiders are blind and attracted by sound.

EARL REAGAN
Claw locks him in with the spiders. He uses a sound recorder to fool them and escape.

JOE BRONTOWSKI
He uses anti-matter launchers to kill spiders.

OLD ONE EYE
She and thousands of other carnivorous dinosaurs break through the third defence line around the base.

OTHER CHARACTERS
CLAW CARVER
He locks Reagan in a room with the spiders and uses anti-matter launchers to kill them.

DEATHS
Dozens. A spider kills a dreaming ranger, while Claw and Joe kill both spiders and Styracosaurs as the former swarm over the latter.

BEST LINES
Claw Carver: "Believe me, Joe...it wasn't an easy decision...but we couldn't risk the spiders coming through..Listen...it's all gone quiet in the bunk room...the spiders got Reagan!...Reagan's courage will be remembered!"

WORST LINES
Dreamer: "Boy! What a wonderful dream I'm having!"

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
'The Yellow Rose Of Texas' is a traditional American folk song first published in 1858 and apparently written by a J.K.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Studio Giolitti
Artist: Felix Carrion
Letters: J. Swain

The brilliantly named Felix Carrion wrote three episodes of Flesh.

As far as I can tell J. Swain only lettered this strip.

REVIEW
As the spiders take over this begins to feel like a completely different strip, but they quite literally make Flesh crawl.

NAME
Flesh, Book One, Part 14

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D.Prog 14

DATELINE
28 May 77

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
2000AD Annual 1989, Judge Dredd Megazine 4.06, Scavengers 16 and Flesh: The Dino Files.

SYNOPSIS
The dinosaur attack begins in earnest, but not before the humans turn on each other.

FIRSTS & LASTS
Last work on Flesh by Boix.

INFORMATION
(This strip takes place over the sixth and seventh days of the siege)

During an emergency, the Flesh Controller has the right to execute Trans-Time employees.

EARL REAGAN
He is against the executions. The Flesh Controller has him locked up with Brontowski. They escape and Reagan holds the Flesh Controller hostage to get more men and ammunition.

JOE BRONTOWSKI
The Flesh Controller has him locked up with Reagan. They escape.

OLD ONE EYE
She kills and eats a fat Triceratops.

OTHER CHARACTERS
CLAW CARVER
He is in favour of the executions. Carver switches sides depending on who has the upper hand.

FLESH CONTROLLER
He authorises the executions of four men for cowardice. Reagan takes him hostage.

DEATHS
At least eight. Four rangers hung for their cowardice, a fat Triceratops and a ranger eaten by Old One Eye and two more rangers in the mouths of a Tyrannosaur and a spider respectively.

BEST LINES
Reagan (concerning the hanging): "You ain't holding a necktie party with my men!"
Flesh Controller: "In an emergency, I have the right to execute employees and you're always telling me this is an emergency, Reagan."

WORST LINES
Joe: "This hell world has turned us all mad, Reagan. Killing the dinosaurs was all wrong!"

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Triceratops was a herbivorous dinosaur that lived in what is now North America during the in the Cretaceous Period about 65 million years ago.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Kelvin Gosnell
Artist: Boix
Letters: John Aldrich

REVIEW
From its opening with the "necktie party" hanging, via arbitrary imprisonment to the hostage situation this is exceptionally bleak. The dinosaurs, spiders and pteranodons take a back seat while the humans turn on each other.

NAME
Flesh, Book One, Part 15

FIRST PUBLISHED
2000 A.D.Prog 15

DATELINE
4 June 77

PAGE COUNT
5

REPRINTS
2000AD Annual 1989, Judge Dredd Megazine 4.07, Scavengers 16 and Flesh: The Dino Files.

SYNOPSIS
The dinosaurs take their revenge and Joe pays the price.

FIRSTS & LASTS
Last appearance of Joe Brontowski.

INFORMATION
(This strip takes place on the seventh day of the siege)

The heads of the Trans-Time Corporation have enlarged craniums.

EARL REAGAN
He kills some spiders with his electric whip.

JOE BRONTOWSKI
He dies from a spider bite.

OLD ONE EYE
She and a Hairy Tyrannosaur lead the charge.

OTHER CHARACTERS
CLAW CARVER
He uses his Claw to kill a giant spider.

FLESH CONTROLLER
He is the Controller of Base Three.

DEATHS
At least ten. A ranger chokes under the weight of Old One Eye, two more get eaten, another is run over by dinosaur driven car (yes, really), a hadrosaur is eaten by a furry Tyrannosaur, Reagan, Joe and Carver each kill a spider, Joe and a woman are bitten by spiders.

BEST LINES
Ranger: "I don't believe it-they're even driving cars now!"

WORST LINES
Dying Ranger: "I...I...Choke!"

CATCHPHRASES
None.

CONTINUITY & CROSSOVERS
None.

INFLUENCES & REFERENCES
Hadrosaurs, or duck-billed dinosaurs, are a family of herbivorous dinosaurs who lived during the Cretaceous Period in what is now Asia, Europe and North America. Those depicted here resemble Parasaurolophus.

MISTAKES
None.

RETROSPECT
None.

NOTES
None.

CREDITS
Script: Kelvin Gosnell
Artist: Ramon Sola
Letters: Bennsberg

Bennsberg lettered this. I have no further information.

REVIEW
Poor old Joe. The most boring character in Flesh buys the farm and the moment is played as if we should care.

The Cursed Earth Game, Part 2

The Cursed Earth Game, Part 3

The Cursed Earth Game, Part 4

The Cursed Earth Game, Part 5

The Cursed Earth Game, Part 6

Flesh: Book One, Part 1

Flesh: Book One, Part 2

Flesh, Book One, Part 3

Flesh, Book One, Part 4

Flesh, Book One, Part 5

Flesh, Book One, Part 6

Flesh, Book One, Part 7

Flesh, Book One, Part 8

Flesh, Book One, Part 9

Flesh, Book One, Part 10

Flesh, Book One, Part 11

Flesh, Book One, Part 12

Flesh, Book One, Part 13

Flesh, Book One, Part 14

Flesh, Book One, Part 15