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| Copyright REBELLION |
One of the more bizarre strips ever to appear in UK comics was BLACK MAX, which first saw the light of day in THUNDER in 1970. It featured BARON VON KLORR, a WWI German air ace who had a giant killer bat, with which he waged war against the British forces. Not having read any of the strips (illustrated by ALFONSO FONT) in years, I have the impression that he at first had a battalion of bats, but I mainly recall just a single giant 'pet'. (I really should do some research before I write these posts, eh?) If anyone remembers, please let me know.
(Update: Having since bought Vol. 1 of the REBELLION collected edition, I see that Max had quite a number of giant bats. Also, it was ERIC BRADBURY who illustrated the very first episode.)
I wonder if this was one of the strips that was originally produced for BLACKJACK, a proposed comic for which CURSITOR DOOM and The PILLATER PERIL were intended, before ending up in the revamped SMASH! of 1969 when Blackjack plans were abandoned? If anyone knows, you can let me know about that as well.
In the meantime, let's read about a man who truly does have bats in his belfry. (Hey, I'm writing this at half-three in the morning - it's the best I can do. If you're not happy, write your own bad puns!)
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6 comments:
I liked "Black Max" but thought the art was different to that shown here, although I may be mixing it up with "Von Hoffman’s Invasion" in Jet comic (I think) . I vividly remember a free Black Max Bat gift that was in Thunder (it wasn’t very good )
I seem to recall on a message board that there was something about that comic "Blackjack" but I can't find that at the moment if I do I’ll send a link to it.
The first I knew of Blackjack, McS, was when Gil Page (former editor of Smash!) mentioned it in an interview he did at my request for The Illustrated Comic Journal. However, the ICJ faded into oblivion and I sent it to Crikey!, who published it with spelling mistakes that weren't in the copy I sent them. (Geoff Champion instead of Campion, and Judge Dredd Magazine instead of Megazine, etc. - these things annoy me.) I've mentioned Blackjack before (in my Cursitor Doom posts, I think), so you may have read the name there.
Nick (Leicester)
Massive Black Max fan from waay back in the 70s - someone please publish a book of all the strips from back then?!
I think Rebellion have such a book planned, NM, if memory serves. And Black Max appeared in a new story in the recent Misty & Scream Special.
Only read two complete strip stories in Annuals . Would love to view all the series online .
There's a second volume of Black Max reprints on the way, LK - much better than reading them online.
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