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UFO: Countdown & TV Action - 1972
 For the start of the second year of strips in Countdown for TV Action, it was pretty much business as usual. Stories continued to be one-off six pagers, with the exception of Shockwave which was effectively the same format but cut across two issues. If there was any change it was a more stringent adhering to the series format, or extrapolations from it, and less of the pulp SF direction the strip had previously veered towards. Exceptions to this were A Near Thing, Shock-Wave, and Small World. Even though the thoughts of the Aliens were increasingly apparent, these can be forgiven as a necessary plot device for the medium, and for the most part they did not communicate on verbal terms with humans, only themselves.
As with the stories at the end of the first year, there is a variability in writing and artwork, and it has to be said the fixed 'King Size' format did not really work to the advantage of the strip, with few of the stories being outstanding or memorable. The Movies, by accident or design, breaks the mold by having some funny scenes, and The Kidnappers probably marks the highpoint of concise action adventure. Artists rotated between Martin Asbury, Jon Davis and Brian Lewis, with occasional contributions by Keith Watson and Malcolm Stokes. Lewis and Davis would handle a story each when the strip reverted to two pages a week, allowing a greater flexibility of storyline. While the first of these, Let The Aliens Land, clearly signposted that the UFO strip worked best (as it had done originally) with longer multi-part stories, only one further 'epic' would be tried.
As the title strip Countdown came to an end in issue 70, the artistic reins for UFO were permanently handed over to John M. Burns. Having handled this premier SF strip in colour throughout all of its 69 parts, Burns was obviously considered enough of a highlight for editor Dennis Hooper to even promote this fact at the end of the last Countdown instalment. Burns brought a much needed stability to the strip, and the return to colour did herald an upturn in quality for the script-writing too. However, the demand on Burns' dynamic style led him to undertake the new two page black and white Mission:Impossible strip from issue 88 as well, and the increased workload meant both seemed less detailed than his earlier work for the comic.
Ironically, it was the return to colour and the start of John Burns tenure that also saw the strip's second great departure from the television format and back into the realm of the Aliens. But while the earlier The Snatch was generally thought the lowest point for the strip, Small World is considered something of a minor classic. It is fantasy through and through, with Straker miniaturised to a mere half-inch in size, captured by Aliens, and rescued by a SHADO-controlled robot Alien, but it stands out among the era. The increase in instalments to three pages as well undoubtedly gave the story more room to explore, and this would probably be Burns' best artwork for UFO. Unfortunately, it would also be the last of the longer adventures, with consequent stories being no more than five parts.
That said, the new stories returned to some semblance of the strip's original glory. Maybe they were not as adventurous as the first stories in logical extrapolations of the original format, but there was a considered rethink back to basics. Eyes Of Terror, The Destructive Decoy and Scanner Shut-Down would not have been that out of place as early Countdown stories, while Voyage Of Disaster pushed the envelope of how far the format could successfully be shifted without sliding into fantasy. Even Brotherhood of Evil has its origins in the episodes 'E.S.P.', 'Timelash' and 'The Cat With Ten Lives', with the monks of Hexheim not far removed from the Alien-enhanced psychic powers seen in these.
UFO strip guide - part two
Countdown for TV Action
The Movies
Issue 47, week ending 07 January 1972
Writer: Unknown. Artist: Martin Asbury. 6 pages, b/w.
Against the background of space - a crippled Earth ship.
Astronauts Skipper and Alvin work to repair their ship as an alien ship appears, and a helmeted creature tells them their time has expired! And... cut! Director Sol X. Zimenes congratulates his actors on a 'classic scene' but Buzz Peters, playing the alien 'Terror of the Spaceways', is less than enthusiastic and storms off. Meanwhile, forty miles away outside Los Angeles, a SHADO Mobile closes in on a landing UFO. Both craft are destroyed in an exchange of fire - Operative Hanson is killed, and the Alien pilot is thrown clear, to find a car approaching. The driver thinks this strange figure a publicity stunt, but the Alien steals the car to find a place to hide, and a means to contact base. While Paul Foster heads for the last known position of the Mobile, the Alien passes film studios - and sees a massive spaceship! Crashing through the barrier, the Alien silently bluffs his way to the set, as studio police and crew think him part of a science-fiction film. Foster finds the brutally beaten driver, who dies after telling him about the Alien, and starts to search. The Alien has been found by Buzz Peters, and is killed for his troubles. Before the Alien can get away, he is found by Zimenes, who thinks he is the actor in costume, and is led to the 'spaceship'. Foster arrives as the Alien triumphantly boards it, only to find it is a giant prop! As Zimenes' cameras roll, the angry Alien opens fire, and dies when the 'ship' burns to the ground. With no answers to offer, Foster leaves a baffled Zimenes to put out the blaze.
Notes:
• "Hey! That's not in the script!" The closest UFO gets to a comedy story, for despite being a grim story with a couple of deaths, this has some quite funny moments - from the false space opera start, to the Alien thinking the movie space ship is real. Obviously inspired by SHADO's own base being under a film studio, and a nice twist to the usual fare.
The Alien Ally
Issue 48, week ending 14 January 1972
Writer: Unknown. Artist: Jon Davis. 6 pages, b/w.
In the Balkan Mountains - the tiny republic of Moldavia... one of the few states still shunning membership of the World Government... its tyrannical ruler, General Karasko, a law unto himself, who for forty years has held the people in a grip of military steel...
Alec Freeman reports to Straker that recent events have seen UFOs evade SHADO over the Moldavian Alps. Unable to persuade border guards of their mission, Freeman and co-driver Matthews crash through a barrier and enter Moldavia in pursuit of a landing UFO. The delay cause them to lose the UFO, and they are captured by Moldavian military and brought before Karasko. The leader states the Aliens have commited no crimes against his country, unlike Freeman, and the two are released - without their Mobile - back over the border. Straker decides to use his position as 'film producer' to take a holiday in Moldavia scouting for locations. At Dvarksberg, last known position of the UFO, Straker meets a local who tells him the legend of 'evil dwarves who carried off children', and of a new meaning to this. Straker recognises the pattern of abduction and heads off, but he has attracted the attention of the military. In the mountains, Straker watches a helicopter bring Karasko himself to a cave, where an Alien greets him. Straker steals the helicopter, and uses it to stir up the Moldvian military nearby. They follow when he heads into the cave and hides, leading to a confrontation between army and Aliens. Straker shows the men frozen Moldavians, awaiting transport to the Alien planet, and the military turn on Karasko. The base is destroyed, and the Moldavian major decides perhaps it is time for his country to take its place with the other nations of Earth.
Notes:
• Moldavia is a real country in the Balkans, but it is unclear whether the writer intended the country in the strip to be real or fictitious. However, the leader of the Communist controlled country at the time was Nicolae Ceausescu - not far off the transliteration Karasko - and it seems a curiously bold move to make an almost blatant contemporary political parallel.
• There is reference to a World Government, which harkens back to the 21st century ideals of TV21, rather than the 1980s setting of UFO.
 Clouds Of Madness
Issue 49, week ending 21 January 1972
Writer: Unknown. Artist: Brian Lewis. 6 pages, b/w.
A UFO is destroyed near the Moon by Interceptor One, but jettisons small metal canisters which Interceptors Two and Three cannot hit, even with computer-guided missiles. Moonbase warns Earth, but even Sky One cannot destroy them all. Straker decides to deal with them on the ground, so Alec Freeman and new recruit Hoyle are despatched as the nearest operatives. The canisters seem harmless but when Hoyle impulsively approaches one, he is struck down by gas. Masking his face, Freeman pulls him clear, but Hoyle then turns violent. Knocking him out, Freeman realises if any canisters landed in a town, there would be terrible riots. With no time to waste, Straker parachutes from a SHADO jet to join Freeman, and investigate another nearby landing. This is in the private grounds of the Duke of Brandon but inside, Straker and Freeman have to contend with game animals driven wild by the gas. Climbing a tree to avoid angry cattle, they are saved by a recovered Hoyle, who drives the car under the tree. The mention of shotguns by Freeman gives Straker an idea to counter other landings by canisters. Modified missiles which break up into smaller individual shells are used - just like pellets from a shotgun - and for now, SHADO has won again.
Notes:
• Interestingly, the solution in this story seems to harken back to the description of how the Interceptor missiles were originally conceived to work: they would break up into smaller missiles and spread out to detonate in the path of a UFO.
• The cover of issue 49 promotes the UFO strip with a photo of the Interceptor pilots. This would be the last major appearance of UFO on the cover for over a year.
• Page 8, straight after the conclusion of this issue's UFO strip, features Straker's Linkword - a puzzle where the last letter of an answer to a question, most of which were UFO-related, would be the first of the next answer, and so on. A full page b/w photo of Ed Bishop as Straker formed the background to the puzzle.
A Near Thing
Issue 50, week ending 28 January 1972
Writer: Unknown. Artist: Jon Davis. 6 pages, b/w.
From Moonbase, a new dimension of SHADO's defence system is about to begin. The first SHADO 'Space Scout' ship blasts off - its mission, to patrol the vast stretches of space beyond Moonbase and SID...
Paul Foster is apprehensive about the idea, forced on SHADO by the Pentagon, and sure enough, two days later Space Scout encounters a UFO. Pursuing it into space outside its operational area, the ship is surrounded by UFOs, and the crew quickly overcome. Two Aliens pilot Space Scout back to Moonbase, and are able to gain control by overpowering Paul Foster. When contact with SHADO Headquarters is restored, Foster uses names of operatives as a code to warn Straker Aliens are in control. As a UFO armada orbits Earth, the Alien commander on Moonbase takes Foster to his UFO, but he makes a break for Space Scout. With a UFO in pursuit, Foster pilots the ship back to Earth. Sky One destroys the UFO, and Foster reports to Straker. The UFOs start their attack, but Pentagon forces are waiting and drive off the offensive. The Alien commander tries to destroy Moonbase in retaliation, but is also killed by SHADO operatives..
Notes:
• The idea of Moonbase having larger craft seems a nice idea, and expands on the 'Watchdog' manned craft occasionally seen and referred to in the series itself.
• Unfortunately while the 'Trojan Horse' idea as also a good one, the story degenerates into a confused and rushed ending.
Shock-Wave
Writer: Unknown. Artist: Martin Asbury. 3 pages, b/w.
Part 1, Issue 51, week ending 04 February 1972
On the planet of the Aliens, an experiment is about to begin which could give the Earth's arch-enemies the power to destroy SHADO...
An Alien in a space-suit is bombarded with weapons - and survives unscathed. Some days later, three UFOs approach but one avoids the Interceptor attack. It lands close to SHADO Headquarters, and Mobiles are despatched to capture the Alien. The operatives are somewhat astonished as the armed Alien stands by the UFO, almost taunting them in. One opens fire, and the Alien proves indestructible! A pitched battle starts, ending in the destruction of the Mobiles, and the Alien advancing on the Studios. But is he after the base, or just Straker? The Commander decides there is only one way to find out, and confronts the enemy...
Part 2, Issue 52, week ending 11 February 1972
As the Alien opens fire with its weapon, Straker activates the jet-pack he has on and lifts into the sky. Evading the continual fire, Straker jets to his car and drives off - only for the Alien to steal another car and give chase. A perilous drive through London, and Straker heads south. All the way, Straker is in touch with Alec Freeman, and Skydiver is diverted to a rendezvous point off the Sussex coast. Straker drives his car off a cliff, and the Alien, following at high speed, is forced to do the same. But Straker has an ejector seat and lands safely in the sea. Floundering as his car hits the sea, the Alien is destroyed with an electron charge missile from Skydiver.
Notes:
• "Are you looking for me?" An odd, seeming homage to Captain Scarlet (even the story title harkens back to the original Mysteron threat) featuring: indestructible aliens, jet packs, using electricity to defeat the enemy.
• It is also mentioned Straker's car can reach a speed of 200 miles an hour - never mentioned on screen, but although referred to in the 1971 annual, it is curiously also the maximum speed of an SPV.
• Straker's car also has an ejector seat - another capability of an SPV seemingly transferred to his car.
• The design of the alien city is based on Gerry Haylock's artwork for the earlier story The Snatch.
• The mobiles use the rapid-fire weapons seen in the episode 'The Sound Of Silence'.
• Straker drives south on the M23 motorway, suggesting that the Harlington-Straker studios are close to central London. This ties in with the exterior scenes for the series being filmed at Elstree.
Ghost Ship
 Issue 53, week ending 18 February 1972
Writer: Unknown.
Artist: Brian Lewis. 6 pages, b/w.
In the Pacific Ocean, Skydiver is alerted to a UFO estimated to arrive in their area. Captain Carlin launches Sky One but as he approaches the UFO, his missile launching system fails and he has to use cannon fire. The UFO also fires, and Carlin is forced to ditch in the sea. With communications also out, Carlin is amazed to see an old warship nearby, and swims over in the hope of finding a working radio. As a SHADAir rescue plane is ordered to search for Carlin, the captain finds the warship deserted except for dummies - and the Alien of the crashed UFO in the radio room. Carlin is now a prisoner, and the Alien has undoubtedly called for help. Carlin tries to fight the Alien, but the spacesuit is like armour and the captain comes off worse. Forty miles away, the World Navy are launching their new 'Barracuda' tactical nuclear torpedo - at the target warship! As the SHADAir plane, carrying Paul Foster, enters the strike area, it is warned off. Foster takes his chances, and spots the unconscious Carlin on the deck of the warship. But as he tries to get a stunned Carlin clear, the Alien re-appears and shoots down their ladder. With time against them, Carlin and Foster dive over the side, back to Sky One, and take it underwater as the missile destroys the warship, Alien, and arriving UFOs.
Notes:
• A taut story, and Brian Lewis' artwork is a gritty as ever.
Waters Of Fear
Issue 54, week ending 25 February 1972
Writer: Unknown. Artist: Keith Watson (uncredited). 6 pages, b/w.
Somewhere in northern England, two men out fishing in a boat are pulled underwater by a hand capsizing their boat. Paul Foster is briefed to investigate other disappearances in the area, where four UFOs have landed but no Aliens have been found. Taking a Mobile, he and operative Maine are in the area when another UFO arrives. A snow-covered moorland ditch tips their Mobile and cripples a track, and by the time Foster and Maine find the UFO it has burned out. But the snow shows tracks by Aliens, leading to a river. Splitting up to search, Maine is pulled underwater by Aliens, and taken to an underwater base in a cave. Recognising Maine is from SHADO, the Aliens take their captives in air cocoons down river under the surface. By now a second Mobile has found Foster, and he dives into the river to investigate. With the Aliens gone, Foster guesses they are making for the estuary, and warns Skydiver to head them off. But on the river bed, the Aliens open fire as the Mobile approaches, and only Foster gets out alive. Using a reed to breath, Foster plays dead in the water until the Aliens move on, and warns Skydiver. At the estuary, Carlin detects a craft approaching, and ambushes it as it tries to pick up the Aliens. The human captives, protected in their cocoons, are fished out of the water, to hopefully be revived by SHADO scientists.
Notes:
• The Mobiles can do thirty knots in water, as also indicated in the 1971 annual.
• UFOs deteriorate and burn up after prolonged exposure to Earth's atmosphere.
• It is implied, as in some episodes of the series, that UFOs can travel underwater.
The Kidnappers
Issue 55, week ending 03 March 1972
Writer: Unknown. Artist: Jon Davis. 6 pages, b/w.
Evading a missile attack by the SHADO interceptors, a UFO heads for a predetermined landing area - in the heart of the Surrey countryside...
 Hiding their UFO under bush, the Aliens tap an overhead phone wire and send an emergency signal and location to a nearby hospital. An ambulance is despatched in response, but the two men are ambushed by the Aliens. Minutes later, the ambulance returns to the hospital, and the two men show the Aliens where to find Doctor Issacs. The doctor is stunned, and the two controlled men carry him back to the ambulance. Straker has led a Mobile force to find the UFO, and SHADO Headquarters determine the nearest target is Issacs - a specialist in mechanical hearts - at the nearby clinic. The Aliens are already using the two men to raid the clinic stores, but shoot them when they have what they want. One man lives long enough to give a warning, and Straker is waiting. But the UFO self-destructs, and the Alien-driven ambulance is forced to veer off. With Issacs a hostage, Straker has to give chase but a shot from an Alien gun forces the Mobile off the road. London Spaceport is warned, and the Aliens given access to one of the Moon Ferry rockets. Straker is forced to bluff, and tells the Aliens only enough fuel to get two men into orbit has been given. The Aliens appear to argue - one forcing the other off the rocket at gunpoint - but Straker launches the ferry capsule automatically with Issacs aboard. Their hostage lost, SHADO Mobiles close in, but the Aliens destroy themselves and the launchpad rather than be captured. With Issacs safe, the crew of the spaceport are given the amnesia drug to make them forget.
Notes:
• As with The Alien-Heart Attack the previous year, why the Aliens need a human doctor when their own transplant technology is obviously superior is not explained. But this is a taut, suspenseful story with an action chase sequence and clever ending.
• London apparently has a spaceport in the 1980s, and its appearance seems based on the launchpad seen in the episode 'Close Up'. (see also Scanner Shut-Down, issues 96-100)
• While the rockets at the spaceport are referred to as 'Moon Ferrys', these are obviously not the same as those SHADO use. It also seems to imply travel to the Moon is a quite regular occurence, something slightly at odds with the series.
Terror In The Tank
Issue 56, week ending 10 March 1972
Writer: Unknown. Artist: Brian Lewis. 6 pages, b/w.
A UFO penetrates SHADO defences, and lands under the cover of a heavy storm in London. As Paul Foster is despatched in a Mobile to search for it, the Alien takes cover in a seemingly deserted rain-drenched building, and mutual terror strikes as it faces a caged tiger. Alerted by the noise, a zoo-keeper investigates and, in a short fight, is killed. The Alien's face-plate is smashed, and it seeks liquid to survive. In the morning, the other zoo wardens find their colleague's body - and the landed UFO. Foster is diverted to London Zoo, and is shown the Alien's smashed helmet. Realising the Alien requires liquid, Foster heads for the aquarium, and find the Alien unconscious in one of the tanks. The whole tank is transported across London to a nearby hospital, where the Alien is fitted with a rigged up helmet filled with a special solution. As SHADO operatives guard the exits, the Alien recovers and kills an orderly. Stealing clothes and a van from the hospital laundry, the Alien escapes back to the zoo. Releasing the big cats as a diversion for the SHADO guards, the Alien heads for the UFO. But a leopard leaps at the Alien, and sets off the UFO's self-destruct mechanism, killing him.
Notes:
• As with the earlier Arctic Affair strip, this story seems to imply the Aliens actually need liquid to breathe.
Title becomes TV Action in Countdown
The Alien Revolution
Issue 57, week ending 17 March 1972
Writer: Unknown. Artist: Malcolm Stokes. 6 pages, b/w.
Galveston, Texas - a new oil-drilling rig on the Gulf of Mexico has just been completed. To the outside world this is just another search for 'black gold'... But to SHADO, it's a cover for a construction of a new base...
Straker and Foster watch from a helicopter as the base nears completion. The Aliens have learned of its existence, and the construction is on full alert until operational. In the Mexican foothills near Veracruz, revolutionaries plan the overthrow of their dictator government. They have learned of a shipment of arms which they plan to steal. Meanwhile, a UFO has evaded the Interceptors and lands near the revolutionaries camp. The Alien is taken to the leader but the UFO self-destructs. The leader realises the Alien may be able to help steal the entire ship, rather than just the arms, and soon a convoy heads for the quay. Straker has been alerted, and Foster despatched to investigate. But the guerrillas have already found their target, and the Alien pilots the ship away with leader Guevanda. When Paul investigates the stolen ship in a helicopter, he is shot down and left adrift in a dinghy. By now Guevanda has realised the Alien has its own agenda, heading for the new SHADO base. In a fight, Guevanda is killed and the Alien mortally wounded. But it sets the ship on an flaming and explosive collision course before dying. With seconds to spare, Sky One flies in and destroys the ship, saving the base.
Notes:
• None
Alien Brainwave
Issue 58, week ending 24 March 1972
Writer: Unknown. Artist: Jon Davis. 6 pages, b/w.
At London's King's Cross station, a V.I.P. arrives to open Britain's new Hovertrain link between London and Edinburgh...
 Among the guests are Straker and Freeman, and they are also on the 300mph maiden journey. But unknown to them, the television news helijet has been hi-jacked by Aliens, and they are monitoring the passengers. Using remote control, the Aliens seal the World President's quarters and one gets aboard, stunning him with a gun. By the time the President recovers and the door is released, the Alien has gone. But unknown to anyone, the President is now receiving mental commands from them. UFO activity has been non-existent for the last two months, and Straker suspects they are building up to something big. He is right, for the World President - a guest of the British Prime Minister - now deems SHADO to be an expensive waste in the light of no recent sightings. Straker is told the organisation has to go, and since only days ago the President was congratulating them, concludes the Aliens are involved. A photo of an Alien seen in the helijet confirms this, and Straker decides to give the Aliens what they want - be revealing SHADO and their conflict to the world. This is to draw the President to SHADO Headquarters, and the monitoring Alien helijet. The President is captured, and medical examination reveals a small implant in the neck. Engineer Barker wires the device so it can transceive and later, the President - Ed Straker in disguise - leaves SHADO. The Aliens demand an explanation. The response is a request to meet, and the Aliens direct him to a rendezvous in the Surrey countryside. When the Aliens land their helijet, Straker opens fire with a pistol but is wounded in return. The escaping Alien is killed when Straker hits the helijet fuel tanks.
Notes:
• Interestingly, real hovertrains were being mooted at the time the strip was written, and featured in a TV Action in Countdown article the previous week. Jon Davis' visualisation is a more futuristic variation on this design.
• This is the last issue to feature the pages in reverse 'countdown' order.
Title becomes TV Action + Countdown
Let The Aliens Land
Writer: Unknown. Artist: Brian Lewis. 2 pages, b/w.
Part 1, Issue 59, week ending 31 March 1972
A UFO lands in southern England near Downmarket, but Paul Foster and SHADO forces are already waiting in the area. An Alien makes off through the woods, leaving the UFO to self-destruct, but is unwittingly run down by Foster. Intrigued as there are no priority targets in the area, Foster finds a flyer on the Alien proclaiming 'Free! Free! Free! Amazing Gifts for All at Burdon's Store, Downmarket NOW!' This warrants investigation, but as Foster drives to the store, he is caught in traffic. Burdon's is apparently giving its stock away, much to the delight of the public...
Part 2, Issue 60, week ending 07 April 1972
Trying to question the people walking out with free goods, Foster is accused of queue-jumping. But then he sees the sign 'Friendship Between Planets! Gifts From Space For The People Of The Earth!', and demands to see the manager. This simply stirs up more trouble, and accusations of being a troublemaker. Despite his efforts, Foster is forced to withdraw, and is ordered back to SHADO Headquarters. The problem is more widespread than he realised, as Straker shows him a television report that the Burdon's nationwide chain of stores are all giving away luxury goods. If the Aliens landed now, the public would welcome them with open arms...
 Part 3, Issue 61, week ending 14 April 1972
One man is apparently behind the stores - Dimitri Krassos, a Greek shipping and property tycoon, and billionaire recluse. Straker and Foster fly a SHADAir jet out over the Adriatic in search of Krassos, but as they appraoch the area, they are menaced by three jets. It seems Krassos has found them, and the plane is forced to land at an airstrip on a remote island. Disembarking, Straker and Foster find the other planes are controlled remotely, but as a voice welcomes them to 'Talus Island', the planes open fire and destroy their transport...
Part 4, Issue 62, week ending 21 April 1972
Ordered to walk by the voice, Straker recalls 'Talus' is an ancient Greek word for 'mechanical man', and it seems everything is being observed remotely. Their journey ends at a large saucer-like structure in a forest clearing, and the voices bids them to enter. An electrical shield forces Straker and Foster to drop their weapons, and inside they are priviliged to meet Krassos himself. Protected by force-fields and weapons, Krassos is convinced of his own supremecy, especially since he has made contact with the Aliens. Straker tries to persuade him he is softening up the people of Earth for an Alien invasion, but Krassos is his own master. The Aliens who have landed on his island are prisoners as well...
Part 5, Issue 63, week ending 28 April 1972
Krassos imprisons Straker and Foster in force bubbles, and leads them in his mobile control desk to where the Aliens are held in cylinders. The Aliens have been coerced by pain, but have refused to cooperate. While Alec Freeman swings a Europe-wide search for his missing colleagues, Krassos uses a null-opticon shield to make the island invisible to the SHADO forces. With Krassos otherwise occupied, Straker ponders that their force bubbles never touch the tubes holding the Aliens. Theorising the power around them may be enough to burst the bubble, Straker forces his towards one, and these is a blinding flash...
Part 6, Issue 64, week ending 05 May 1972
Foster thinks the power was too great but Straker is still alive. The experience is not pleasant but Foster tries as well, and he is freed too - as are the two Aliens whose tubes they collided with. Curiously, the Alien holds its hands in a gesture of peace, as all of them are prisoners. While Straker can see the sense of working together to escape, he ponders to himself what they will do after Krassos is dealt with. Working their way to the power room at the centre of the building, they encounter a mind-bending force-field before getting to Krassos. But he is waiting for them, and threatens to kill Foster as an example to them all...
Part 7, Issue 65, week ending 12 May 1972
Straker realises that in order to fire his power wand, Krassos must also lower his force screen. As he does so, and Foster ducks the energy bolt, Straker leaps at the tycoon. Despite his bulk, Krassos is fast and strong, and Straker, Foster and the Aliens make off before he can recover his wits. More booby traps await them and one Alien dies opening an electrified door. An anti-gravity screen protects the power room, but the surviving Alien has a gravity equalising device and gets in while Straker and Foster float helplessly...
Part 8, Issue 66, week ending 19 May 1972
The Alien plans to destroy them all, as Krassos encounters the helpless Straker and Foster. The anti-gravity cyts out, and the two SHADO men jump onto the control vehicle to stop Krassos. But the Alien takes control of it, and the three men are catapulted outside on the speeding platform. Straker and Foster jump clear, but Krassos is killed when the vehicle heads into another of his booby-traps - blade-sharp leaves on the guardian trees. Using a radio in one of the remote-controlled planes, Straker gets SHADO forces to pinpoint the invisible island and launch an attack. As they run into the sea, pursued by the other freed Aliens, the power complex is destroyed. The resulting inferno destroys the Aliens, and reveals the island, leaving Straker and Foster free to be rescued.
Notes:
• The first story to revert to weekly instalments starts well but slides into a somewhat fanciful escapade. While the story is still gripping and thoughtful, it does not address what would happen if the Aliens did reveal themselves to the peoples of Earth in the wake of the free gifts. With Krassos dead, they could still have used this to their advantage.
• One has to wonder if the force-bubbles are inspired by the Rovers from the television series The Prisoner.
• The depiction of Krassos' mind-bending force-field in part 6 bears some similarities to a hallucinatory effect on an alien beacon in the Jeff Hawke story 'Here Be Tygers', which ran in the Daily Express newspaper from October 1971 to February 1972. One has to wonder if either the writer or Brian Lewis were a fan of this strip, and paid homage to it here.
• While part 5 seems to imply there is only one Skydiver, the final part shows three Sky craft making the attack on Talus Island, in line with the later episodes of the series.
The Final Climb
Writer: Unknown. Artist: Jon Davis. 2 pages, b/w.
Part 1, Issue 67, week ending 26 May 1972
SID warns Moonbase of three approaching UFOs, and the Moonbase Interceptors are launched. But one UFO sacrifices itself and self-destructs, screening the other two and allowing them to reach Earth. Sky One is alerted, and lifts off from the Indian Ocean to track the UFOs as they fly over the mountainous Chinese border. But as Carlin moves to intercept, the Chinese military detect the violation of their airspace, and launch missiles. Sky One defends itself but loses the UFOs, leaving Straker, Freeman and Foster to ponder what the Aliens would want in a near uninhabited area of the world...
Part 2, Issue 68, week ending 03 June 1972
The Chinese government are quick to protest about the violation of airspace, and Straker is ordered to avoid Chinese airspace in the future. An International Mountaineering expedition has been allowed permission to climb two peaks in Chinese territory - a big peace breakthrough - and SHADO have nearly jeopardised it. Making the area off-limits to SHADO could give the Aliens the ability to gain a foothold in the area, but the expedition also gives Straker the chance he needs. Contacting Sir William Truscott at the International Mountaineering Club, Straker offers the use of an aircraft and equipment in return for film coverage of the attempt. And a week later, a SHADAir transporter flies Straker and Foster out to Katmandu. Three more UFOs attempt to get to Earth but only one survives, crippled, to land on Earth. With its landing position pinpointed to west of Mount Djhoubli, Straker prepares to find out if the Aliens have a colony there...
 Part 3, Issue 69, week ending 10 June 1972
Straker gets permission from Major Fong, the Chinese representative with the expedition, to fly over Mount Djhoubli in a helicopter to 'get some location footage'. This gives him the excuse he and Foster need to scout the area, but weather conditions are starting to worsen. On the summit, four of the expedition decide to make for a ledge and camp down to ride the storm out. But expedition leader Carl suddenly sees a strange red-suited figure with a green face briefly through the driving snow. The others put it down to the high altitude playing tricks. Straker and Foster are likewise forced to find shelter, and unable to return to base camp they land near the ruins of an old monastery. But unknown to them, there are UFOs in the courtyard, and the expedition camp is no longer responding to calls from base...
Part 4, Issue 70, week ending 17 June 1972
A small saucer-like vehicle lands in the courtyard, and Aliens carry the expedition members out to the UFOs. By morning, the storm has cleared but it will take time for the helicopter heaters to clear the ice, so Straker decides to investigate the ruin. In the valley below is one of the Chinese missile bases, but it is the UFOs in the monastery courtyard that gets Straker's attention. Weapons fire tells Straker he has been spotted by the Aliens, but Foster cannot help as the Chinese military have found the helicopter. Straker demands to speak to the Chinese captain, and tells him they have a common enemy. As Alien open fire from the ruin, Foster takes some of the troops up in the helicopter to gain an advantage. A UFO tries to escape but is shot down by the missile base. The Aliens are defeated, and the Chinese vow to be more vigilant against these enemies of Earth in future.
Notes:
• For the second time this year, a story picks up on a modern political parallel, and SHADO uses the cover of the film studio to gain access to a country otherwise off-limits to them. In many ways this is just a reworking of the plot of The Alien Ally from earlier in the year, and offers little new.
• Jon Davis depicts the Interceptors without their front landing skids.
• Curiously, Straker wears sunglasses in SHADO Headquarters during part 1.
• The large SHADAir tranporter is seen to land by VTOL jets at Katmandu in part 2.
Small World
Writer: Unknown. Artist: John M. Burns. 3 pages (2 col, 1 b/w)
Part 1, Issue 71, week ending 24 June 1972
Straker arrives at Moonbase to meet Doctor Joseph Brant, who has made a discovery so great he will not communicate it even on a top security channel. In his laboratory he shows Straker a microscope and, on a slide, a living animal no bigger than a speck of dust. A newly discovered lunar mineral-based drug is the breakthrough, and Brant would like to try it on a human volunteer, which only Straker can authorise. Straker decides to take the drug himself, and after a miniaturised space-suit is readied, the nightmare process begins. The miniaturised Straker dons the suit, and turns to face a giant Brant. Impressed, Straker decides to return to Earth secretly in miniaturised state with Brant, but en route a flight of UFOs attack. The moon ferry is badly damaged, and the container holding Straker smashes to the floor...
 Part 2, Issue 72, week ending 01 July 1972
As Interceptors deal with the UFOs, the crippled ferry drifts out into space. Brant panics, and abandons the ferry leaving the miniaturised commander aboard. Brant is picked up by another ferry shortly after, and Straker's plight revealed. But the commander has another shock, as two UFOs appear and take the ferry in tow. Brant's story is initially not believed, but when Foster arrives on Moonbase and is shown the miniaturised animal, it seems SHADO has lost the commander for good. Far out beyond the Moon, Straker is amazed to see the Aliens have a vast space station from which to strike at Earth - and he has no way to warn anyone...
Part 3, Issue 73, week ending 08 July 1972
The ferry is taken aboard a vast air-lock, and as Aliens come to investigate the crippled ship, Straker realises his air is running low. Hiding on the boot of one of the Aliens who leaves, Straker manages to locate a communications complex. As the Aliens are too preoccupied with the Earth ship, they do not see the miniaturised commander. Trying to locate the right wavelength, Straker's luck is in as the Aiens are already monitoring SHADO channels. Finding a way to transmit, Straker contacts Moonbase and orders the Alien space station must be destroyed. But then an Alien takes the microphone and discovers Straker. As Foster ponders if there is a way to rescue him before doing so, the Aliens examine the miniaturised and seemingly dead commander...
Part 4, Issue 74, week ending 15 July 1972
Straker revives in a small incubator, and the Alien scientists use a translation device to communicate. They want the secret of miniaturisation, and Straker bluffs his way to buy time when they use ultrasonics to torture him. Brant has a daring plan, which was the second phase of his miniaturisation project, and that is a remote-controlled robot Alien. A miniaturised SHADO agent could pilot the robot, from a control room behind an eye, and be returned to the Aliens to find out more about them. Foster has to concede it is their only hope, and is miniaturised. Aboard the robot Alien, he launches a moon ferry in a daring rescue bid...
welPart 5, Issue 75, week ending 22 July 1972
As the moon ferry homes in on the space station, Straker continues to be tortured by ultrasonics, and a new threat - a giant alien insect! An alarm halts the examination, as the ferry is detected and UFOs launched to investigate. Foster hurls his robot out of the airlock as the UFOs blast the ferry, and he is taken to the space station. Playing 'dead' to avoid questions, the robot Alien is taken to the medical laboratory, where the scientist gloats over the fact one of his men has escaped SHADO. Straker despairs, thinking SHADO now in chaos since his loss, but the robot Alien attacks the scientist. In the struggle, Straker's incubator smashes to the floor, where he is at the mercy of the alien insect...
 Part 6, Issue 76, week ending 29 July 1972
To Straker's astonishment, the 'Alien' picks him up - and he sees a space-suited Paul Foster inside the eye! All in, Straker passes out in the giant hand, and Foster retrieves him. When Straker recovers, they plan to destroy the space station, and use the Alien scientist's white jacket in the hope it will provide their robot with a 'disguise'. But a telepathic instinct alerts another Alien, and their robot is forced to flee. Realising the robot will now be recognised, they abandon it for the conduits inside the station itself. After many miles of searching, they find an Alien adjusting what appears to be nuclear pile rods. They jump onto his neck during the delicate operation, and drive their knives into his skin. Reacting to the pain, the Alien drops one of the remotely armed rods, starting a chain reaction...
Part 7, Issue 77, week ending 05 August 1972
Straker and Foster must now try and escape or be destroyed, and jump to another conduit. Inside, they are swept along by fluid into a vast tank where unconscious Aliens float. Pausing only briefly to ponder if it may be part of the process used to prepare the Aliens for deep space flight, they find a circuit lock which opens the tanks, and a tide of green liquid swamps the station. Using an Alien body as a life-raft, Straker and Foster are lucky enough to be swept back to their Alien robot. Climbing back aboard, they use the ensuing chaos to get back to the crippled moon ferry. With just enough power to get them back to Moon orbit, the ferry escapes just as the station is destroyed.
Notes:
• 'The finest chance SHADO has had to learn more about the Aliens... but I haven't one chance in a thousand of getting back to Earth alive!' Against equal odds, for a story which goes far beyond the boundaries of the television series again, this is probably the one most readers remember from the second year of the UFO strip.
• According to Brant in part 1, the ability to miniaturise inert material has been known for some time.
• It is never made clear if the air in the Alien space station is breathable to humans or not. It is implied it is not by Straker clutching his throat (part 5), or passing out (part 3 and 6), on the few times he is exposed to it.
• Another seemingly inspiration from the Jeff Hawke story 'Here Be Tygers' appears in part 6. In the original, Hawke is picked up by an alien robot but when he looks at the 'eye', he realises it is actually a viewport, and the 'iris' is the head of its small female 'pilot'. Here, Straker sees Foster in a similarly depicted scene.
Eyes Of Terror
Writer: Unknown. Artist: John M. Burns. 3 pages (2 col, 1 b/w)
Part 1, Issue 78, week ending 12 August 1972
A UFO has penetrated SHADO defences, and Mobile units are alerted. Colonel Alec Freeman is also in the area, and heads for the projected landing area. But the UFO is found by two drivers from a haulage truck, who are badly injured when it self-destructs. Having seemingly planned this, the Alien steals the truck. Freeman is told of this by one of the men, and leaves the Mobile patrol to care for them while pursuing the Alien. On the open motorway, Freeman tries to force the truck off the road but only succeeds in crashing himself. Thrown clear of the car to lie unconscious, the Alien leaves him - its own mission lies in the back of the truck... a mission which will destroy all of SHADO...
Part 2, Issue 79, week ending 19 August 1972
The Alien rips open a large package, and goes through the cargo - uniforms - spraying the collars with a spherical device. Meanwhile, Freeman has recovered consciousness, and leaps into action, only to find the Alien dead beside the open containers. Later, Straker and Freeman ponder on the Alien's mission. The fact the uniforms were bound for SHADO cannot be a coincidence but they do not appear to have been interfered with. Wearing his new jacket, Freeman distributes the others but Straker is still suspicious. A UFO is intercepted by Moonbase but sends out three small balls of light which head for Earth at speed. SHADO Headquarters is warned, and Straker suspects a connection. He recalls all the jackets for laboratory inspection but Freeman has already left. Driving along, his windscreen is suddenly shattered by a small object. Freeman pulls to a stop safely and inspects the damage, but as he gets back in the car to hear the recall message, a small eye-like sphere on the dashboard commands him to obey...
Part 3, Issue 80, week ending 26 August 1972
The 'eye' is one of the Alien devices, allowing them to communicate telepathically with Freeman, and compel him to obey. he is ordered to find a powerful weapon of destruction, and heads for a SHADO airfield. Meanwhile, SHADO scientists have examined another jacket and found small particles not of Earth origin. Straker is told Freeman is receiving the recall but not responding. The colonel has stolen a SHADAir amphibious plane, and Straker gives a full alert to find him. In desperate need of answers, Straker decides to wear one of the jackets in the hope the same thing may happen to him. Outside, another of the Alien eyes appears, and starts to compel the commander to obey. But the two SHADO scientists take the jacket from him, and one is killed when the Aliens self-destruct it with the eye. The danger is now clear, and Straker puts out a SHADO-wide emergency call. But Freeman has landed in the Atlantic Ocena, and is calling Skydiver for a mission...
Part 4, Issue 81, week ending 02 September 1972
Captain Carlin aboard Skydiver receives the emergency call just as Freeman contacts him as well. Straker orders Carlin to try and bluff his way to Freeman and capture him. But when Freeman jumps aboard and Carlin tries to battle him, the colonel is too quick, imbued with superhuman strength. He brings Carlin and some of his crew under the control of the eye, while others thrown overboard take refuge in the abandoned SHADAir plane. Straker is warned Skydiver is now under Alien control, and the commander's mind races as he realises Headquarters is probably the target. The Aliens can see through the eye, so Straker begins a desperate race against time to get the film studio crews to start building something to deceive them...
 Part 5, Issue 82, week ending 09 September 1972
Sky One is launched and homes in SHADO headquarters. Meanwhile, Straker's plan nears completion - a vast jury-rigged projection screen on the exterior of the building. As Sky One begins its attack run, Straker orders the projectors to roll... and Freeman suddenly finds himself flying at a waterfall! Veering off, Freeman turns and aims at... a factory. SHADO orders Freeman to land, and the Alien eye vies to keep control. His mind tearing under the strain, Freeman forces a landing and struggles clear of Sky One, followed by the eye. Straker and Foster grab the jacket from him and throw it at the hovering device, just as it is self-destructed by the defeated Aliens.
Notes:
• A superb story, echoing many of the best elements of the Aliens ability to control humans in episodes such as 'E.S.P.', and 'The Cat with Ten Lives', and in other ways to SHADO seemingly working against itself, as in 'Kill Straker' and 'Reflections in the Water'.
• Although unnamed in the story, it is clearly Foster who is with Straker in the final two parts.
Voyage Of Disaster
Writer: Unknown. Artist: John M. Burns. 3 pages (2 col, 1 b/w)
Part 1, Issue 83, week ending 16 September 1972
Somewhere in the South Pacific, Robin Jackman is in the lead in the 'Round-The-World' yacht race in his trimaran Ariel but 206 days out he loses radio contact with Melbourne. Jackman suddenly spots a crippled UFO crashing into the sea, and thinking it an aircraft stands by to rescue the pilot. High above him, Captain Carlin in Sky One radios SHADO headquarters to report the UFO was winged but then the plane's weapons system went out of synchronisation. Straker is concerned that several UFOs have disappeared in the area, and the Aliens may be surviving under the sea. Jackman pulls the Alien out of the sea and, seeing the green skin, thinks him dead. Far from it, and the Alien revives and holds Jackman at gunpoint as the sailor tries to radio a distress signal. The Alien indicates where he wants to go on the boats charts, and Jackman has little choice but to obey. But by now, Carlin has rejoined Skydiver, and the sub heads out in a search pattern to locate the UFO, with the first vessel they encounter being Jackman's yacht, The sailor tries to bluff his way out saying he has not seen anything else, knowing the Alien has a weapon trained on them, but then Carlin jumps aboard...
Part 2, Issue 84, week ending 23 September 1972
Jackman tries to keep calm, and in an attempt to get Carlin off the yacht says he saw something come down in the east. As Carlin returns to Skydiver, and the sub heads off, Jackson tries a last chance to signal a warning, and tells the Alien it is a custom to fly flags as a farewell - to not do so would raise suspicious. But the flags actually mean 'Danger... keep away... plague on board'. As Jackman was fit, Carlin jumps to the correct conclusion the 'plague' is an Alien. Reporting this, Straker orders Skydiver to submerge and shadow the yacht underwater. The voyage ends at the Great Barrier Reef of Australia, and the Alien seems to try signalling into the water with a device. seeing his chance, Jackman jumps the Alien, and the two fall into the sea. But the spacesuit protects the Alien and Jackman comes off worse. Not far away, Skydiver surfaces, and Carlin sees the abandoned yacht. Jackman comes to in a cave, where Aliens have a base and are observing the sub. He tries to tackle them but... too late. The Aliens have killed Skydiver's controls, and the sub runs aground on the reef...
Part 3, Issue 85, week ending 30 September 1972
With its power systems dead, the Skydiver crew are forced to close the water-tight doors manually as the reef tears a hole in her hull. Jackman is taken to a barred cave by the Aliens, and finds he shares it with other humans in sealed containers. Carlin and his crew have sealed the doors and find themselves dead in the water. The loss of systems is not confined to Skydiver, as SHADO headquarters receive reports every radio on the Queensland coast has cut out too. A SHADAir patrol also runs into trouble as its engines cut out, and the plane crashes. Straker and Freeman determine all power in the area has ceased, and the commander flies out to Melbourne to investigate further. but the Aliens are already making a first move, and a group of them move out under the sea. Carlin makes for Jackman's yacht to see if it holds any answers but then the Aliens strike at Skydiver and its remaining crew...
Part 4, Issue 86, week ending 07 October 1972
Carlin realises he cannot help, and continues for Jackson's trimaran. Before long, the Skydiver crew are overcome by the Aliens, and sealed in containers for transportation under the sea, back to their base. The power of the Aliens' 'negative field' is rising and spreading, and Straker arrives at Adelaide to find the effect only five miles away and closing. He has to get to Melbourne but all contact with the north-east has been lost. The only unaffected means of transport are camels, so Straker heads out with three SHADO operatives. Carlin has had no joy with Jackson's yacht and is becalmed. He strikes out for the shore but after two hours exhausting swim he barely has the strength to struggle ashore. Back in his barred cave, Jackson decides to free some of the prisoners from their capsules, and encourages them to chip away at the coral walls in an escape bid. On the shore, Carlin regains conscious to find himself surrounded by aborigines. Fortunately, they are friendly and speak English - but they tell him he is two hundred miles from the nearest white town...
Part 5, Issue 87, week ending 14 October 1972
With no power, there are riots in the Australian towns affected. As Straker's camel treks nears the affected area, Carlin explains to 'Albert' - the aborigine leader - about the Aliens. Albert rallies his group to attack with canoes, spears and boomerangs, despite Carlin's pleas about the danger. The Aliens observe the approaching canoes and counter-attack from underwater, but the tough brave natives fight back ferociously. Carlin and Albert take a chance to enter the Alien base, and the aborigines break through as Jackson and the prisoners break free. Albert uses a boomerang to smash the Alien power source, and the force-field runs wild. The humans retreat and escape as the Alien base is destroyed, and the force-field dies, leaving power restored.
Notes:
• Despite the radical change of scenery to Australia, this maintains the feel of the series very well, and could have made an interesting episode.
• The idea of the Aliens neutralising power sources, and non-technological combat, seems to harken back to the finale of the original Dan Dare story.
• It is interesting to speculate the inspirations of this story. The film Walkabout was released in 1971, and the Australian television series Boney, made in 1972, may have had some influence.
• Jackman is not named throughout the whole of the first part.
Brotherhood Of Evil
Writer: Unknown. Artist: John M. Burns. 3 pages (2 col, 1 b/w)
Part 1, Issue 88, week ending 21 October 1972
In a remote valley, high in the Austrian Alps... a single bell tolls a solemn song of grief...
Herr Ahnsen visits the Father Abbot of the monastery, as his son has been taken by 'the evil spirits' of the Hexberg mountain. The Abbot assures him that the monks are the only inhabitants of the mountain, and that his son has probably been swept away by an avalanche. Returning to the monastery, the abbott reports young Ahnsen has been missed - and that his broken body will have to be returned to the village by the grieving monks. But evil has corrupted the monks, and they intend to first sacrifice Ahnsen to their master - the prince of darkness! At that moment, high above them, Sky One intercepts a UFO and the crippled Alien craft spirals groundwards. As the sacrifice reaches its climax, the UFO crashes into the top of the monastery, and tumbles down the mountain. The Alien is thrown clear, and finds himself on the sacrifical altar. Believing the Alien to be their master, the monks start to worship him. Unable to communicate directly, the Alien reaches for the Abbot's face and - unseen - places a crystal to his temple. The Abbot's mind is now the Alien's, and he tells of another brotherhood called SHADO...
Part 2, Issue 89, week ending 28 October 1972
As the Abbot rejects young Ahnsen for sacrifice and has him placed in a cell, German SHADO operative Richter arrives at Hexberg and makes enquiries. A villager tells him that a 'fireball' fell close to the monastery, and Richter investigates. But as he speaks to the Abbot, the other monks plunge his Mobile over the cliff. Drugged by wine, Richter is also taken prisoner and his mind probed by the psychic power of the monks and their 'skrying' glass ball. In it, the Abbot is able to see into SHADO Headquarters, and Straker, Foster and Freeman. As Straker plans to investigate the disappearance of their Mobile, the monks use a form of psychic voodoo to conjure up a whirlwind in his office. Trapped, they try and sound the alarm as all hell breaks loose...
Part 3, Issue 90, week ending 04 November 1972
SHADO operatives respond to the alarm, and find Straker, Foster and Freeman among the shattered remains of the office. Their psychic powers exhausted for now, the monks are forced to stop the attack, angering the Alien. As Foster and Freeman recover in the SHADO medical unit, Straker orders them to be guarded as he follows his own suspicions about what happened. The monks use their powers again to control Foster, and he strikes the guard down, taking his weapon. The Abbot send him on a mission to kill Straker but the commander has been warned. As Foster bursts into his office and fires the gun, Straker raises a piece of paper...
 Part 4, Issue 91, week ending 11 November 1972
Straker's quick reflexes save him, as Foster grabs the paper and returns to his senses. On it is a hexagram with symbols copied from a book - as 'Hexberg' means 'witches', Straker is certain the Aliens have somehow drawn on black magic. The Alien is angered the monks' second attempt has also failed and prepares to leave. But the Abbot becomes suspicious their 'master' is using their powers, and the Alien is imprisoned with Ahnsen and Richter to become another sacrifice for the Walpurgisnacht ceremony. Straker decides to take Freeman and Foster on a operation against the monastery, and they fly by helicopter to Hexberg. Richter and Ahnsen have managed to free a large stone from their cell wall to escape through, and the Alien seemingly joins forces with them. As the SHADO helicopter hovers overhead, and Straker and Freeman jump to the ruined monastery roof, the Abbot welcomes Walpurgisnacht, and the peak of evil forces at their disposal. Outside, smoke from the roof wrecked in the UFO crash coalesces into a giant ethereal figure, and Freeman backs away from it towards a dangerous drop...
 Part 5, Issue 92, week ending 16 November 1972
Foster manoevres the helicopter rope ladder close by, and as Freeman falls, he grabs it to swing in through one of the monastery stained glass windows. On his own terms now, Freeman nows battles the monks in a physical fight. But sheer numbers overcome him, and with Foster putting the helicopter on automatic, both he and Straker come to his aid. Locking the monks in at gunpoint, the three man race back to the helicopter as Richter, Ahnsen and the Alien also reach the roof. The Alien turns on them and climbs the ladder, planning to steal the 'copter, but Richter jumps aboard too. As the craft climbs, Richter battles the Alien, and it crashes out of control on the mountainside. As Richter lies injured, the Alien advances to try and kill him but is swept away by an avalanche, which also destroys the monastery and monks.
Notes:
• Foster under Alien control on a mission to assassinate the commander (left) is almost straight out of the episode 'Kill Straker'.
• Against the usual odds, Richter actually survives the end of the story when you suspect he is going to die wrestling control of the helicopter from the Alien.
• Walpurgisnacht is the German equivilant of Halloween, on the night of April 30 (preceding May Day) and heralding the victory of spring over winter.
The Destructive Decoy
Writer: Unknown. Artist: John M. Burns. 3 pages (2 col, 1 b/w)
Part 1, Issue 93, week ending 23 November 1972
The fight against the invaders from outer space is a constant battle. All SHADO can do is defend... and the organisation's technicians are faced with a never-ending chore to improve Earth's defensive armoury...
Straker and Foster journey to Moonbase to view a new breakthrough - new improved space fighter craft called Vanguards. Pilot John Franks is due to test fly one, and is launched to intercept a drone UFO target launched from a Moon Ferry. But as Vanguard One closes in, Franks reports a second UFO which Moonbase cannot detect. Thinking the UFO is about to destroy the craft, Franks ejects and sets off the Vanguard self-destruct. As Foster wonders what went wrong, Straker orders Franks to be rescued and put in sickbay for a full medical report, pending his court-martial...
Part 2, Issue 94, week ending 02 December 1972
Franks is adamant about the second UFO but the Vanguard telemetry and Moonbase sensors have revealed nothing to support this. Franks is suspended pending a court-martial but Foster tries to persuade Straker to let him test fly Vanguard Two. A red alert heralds the approach of a real UFO, and Foster forces his hand this will be the best test. Swayed, Straker agrees, and Foster launches Vanguard Two on an intercept course. But as he closes in, he also detects a second UFO which Moonbase cannot read. Straker orders Foster to stay on the original flight plan but Foster disobeys and goes after the second contact. His missile strikes nothing, and it is already too late to launch the Interceptors as the UFO gets through...
 Part 3, Issue 95, week ending 09 December 1972
Straker tries to persuade Foster that the second contact is not real, as Vanguard Two continues to pursue the phantom signal - even after a missile strike which should have destroyed the UFO. Straker uses this to sway Foster, who turns and chases the real UFO, which is nearly in Earth's atmosphere. The faster, more manoevreable Vanguard has the advantage, and destroys the UFO as it turns to fight. Returning to Moonbase, Foster hears Straker's speculation that the Aliens have used an electrical impulse to create hallucinations. In time, SHADO will find a way to get around it, but for now the organisation has beaten it.
Notes:
• Despite its brevity, a nice concise story that goes back to the basics of the format - and about time someone addressed the issue of the Interceptors only having one missile!
• The Vanguard is a very nice upgraded design, coming over as part Interceptor, and partly resembling a Colonial Viper from Battlestar Galactica - which would not be seen for several more years. It is a pity the format and continuity of the strip did not see fit to use them again.
• Interestingly, the Japanese sequel strip UFO:1988 would also address the issue of a new Interceptor craft in one of its stories.
Scanner Shut-Down
Writer: Unknown. Artist: John M. Burns. 3 pages (2 col, 1 b/w)
Part 1, Issue 96, week ending 16 December 1972
A SHADO Moonmobile leaves Moonbase, and takes up a monitoring position to observe a launch from the United Earth Space Exploration Centre on the lunar surface. For twenty minutes after the launch, SID's instruments are nullified, and Straker is forced to call a meeting of the International Astrophysical Commission to complain. The IAC are not sympathetic, and a returning manned Venus probe is also due in Moonbase's operational area in three hours. But as the Probe approaches Moonbase and Foster prepares to receive them, the astronauts pick up three fast moving contacts. Moonbase suddenly loses contact with the Probe, as three UFOs close in on it...
Part 2, Issue 97, week ending 23 December 1972
As Moonbase and the astronauts try to contact each other, the three UFOs circle the Probe and force it to decelerate. As the crew suit up, Aliens cross to the Probe and force their way in. The astronauts are then left adrift in space, and abandoned to drift as the Aliens hi-jack the Probe, and the UFOs self-destruct. Moonbase locates the Probe as it nears but it is off course, and comes down some miles away. As Moonmobiles are despatched, the three Aliens disembark and set off on their mission...
Part 3, Issue 98, week ending 30 December 1972
The SHADO teams find the Probe intact but no astronauts. Straker speculates someone else could have been in control of the landing, and that the astronauts may still be in space. As the Moonmobiles find tracks and start to follow them, a lunar module is launched to try and find the crew in space. The Moonmobiles are now closing on the three Aliens, but they are prepared and take cover. As the SHADO craft pass, they open fire and destroy them...
Part 4, Issue 99, week ending 06 January 1973
With contact lost, Foster is concerned. The lunar module finds the astronauts, whose air has now all but run out, and rescue them. Foster decides to take another moonmobile out, and finds the wreckage of the others not far away. The Aliens must be nearby, and Foster decides to strike out on foot to find them. He finds one, and in a brief exchange of fire the Alien and one other are killed. Foster reports success but Straker ponders if there are any more on the surface. The astronauts are still sedated and cannot confirm, but Straker's fears are correct, for the third Alien is still outside...
Part 5, Issue 100, week ending 13 January 1973
The astronaut commander comes round and confirms there was a third Alien - but too late! An explosive charge goes off, destroying the provisions sphere of Moonbase. As the area is sealed off, Foster switches on local scanners and finds the Alien on the surface. Realising the Alien will be waiting for retaliation, Foster rigs a moonmobile for remote control and sends it out. The Alien destroys it, giving Foster a chance to behind the Alien and kill it. Moonbase is safe, but in a way Straker is almost grateful to the Aliens. They have proven his point about the rocket base, and it is to be relocated to the other side of the Moon.
Notes:
• A superb, satisfying final story for the year, coming close to the feel of the original strips, and drawing on several inspirations: the episode 'The Cat With Ten Lives', which also features a returning Venus Probe (curiously superficially similar in design to the one seen here as well); and the episode 'The Dalotek Affair' and the story Countdown To Danger from the 1971 annual, where interference causes scanner blackouts. The UESE rocket and launch site is part 1 even appears to be based on the photo (itself form the episode 'Close Up') on page 68 of the annual.
• The lone armed Aliens on the lunar surface also recall the episode 'Survival', and the earlier excellent Too Old At 32 strip from the previous year.
TV Action & Countdown Holiday Special
The Robot Renegade
Writer: Unknown. Artist: Luis Bermejo. 8 pages, duotone & b/w.
A UFO evades Skydiver and lands. A Mobile closes in, and operative Clifton sees a chance to capture it intact. But shortly after he enters it, the UFO self-destructs. This is the third incident to happen like this, and Straker is called to a meeting with Sir Frederick Markham, SHADO's Whitehall liaison. Scientist Lisman has developed a remote controlled hunter-killer device called 'Tommy' for military use, but it could be used to investigate the UFOs without further loss of life. Straker is reluctant but 'Tommy' is forced on him to use. Two days later, another UFO lands not far from SHADO Headquarters, and Markham and Lisman accompany Straker and Freeman as they investigate. 'Tommy' is sent in, and the UFO self-destructs, leaving the armoured device intact. But it suddenly opens fire, and proves impervious to Straker and Freeman's shots. Lisman panics, inadvertantly setting 'Tommy' to 'seek and destroy', and is killed. It is now up to Straker and Freeman to try and stop it running amok, and killing anyone else who comes near it...
Notes:
• The UFOs are depicted in a quite different way to the series and other regular strips. While this is probably due to lack of reference for the artist, it may also have been a consideration that it is never quite clear how Aliens enter and exit the UFOs, and so a more practical hatchway is now apparent on the raised underside of a much larger version.
• The Holiday Special also features a double page colour photo spread, featuring the three main characters.
• But the highlight of the Special is a colour centrespread of a beautifully detailed cutaway painting of Moonbase, and description of its main features.
Publicity for the series was less than the initial year, with two obvious highpoints. Regular feature page Think Tank for issue 71 showed a homespun UFO comic, with a strip entitled 'Countdown To Destruction!!' (two exclaimation marks - see above) by James Brereton of Alvaston, Derby. While some of the panels are clearly inspired by Gerry Haylock's own artwork for the strip the previous year, Brereton had updated the format to include Colonel Virginia Lake - absent from the Countdown & TV Action stories. The standard was high enough for the feature to praise the considerable time and effort it took to produce this, and James Brereton himself was written to by editor Dennis Hooper inviting him to the Countdown offices - and offer that he regrets taking up. 'Who knows,' the Countdown feature concluded 'he might instigate a whole new craze.' And a full decade before any organised British fandom or related fiction regarding the series started, this was indeed prophetic. And James Brereton himself? Well, despite the desire to go into comic strip illustration, the competition in the field was too great. But he remains a big fan of the Anderson series, and established himself as a professional artist in 1979. He is famous now for specialising in maritime subjects, and exhibits his paintings regularly.
 With Christmas approaching, issue 91 heralded a competition to win the three Dinky toys from UFO - the Interceptor, the SHADOMOBILE (sic), and Ed Straker's car. The eight questions were mainly based on UFO, though modern diehard fans may scratch their heads over a few of them. Is the 'special convertible craft which is as at home in the air as in water' really Skydiver? And how many SHADOMOBILES are there to investigate Alien landings? Well, we normally see no more than answer c) 3, but the organisation could actually have a) 5 or b) 12 in total. I daresay fans today are still arguing the issue...
The return of UFO to glory also heralded a brief era of science fiction becoming more central to the publication again, albeit in reprint. The TV Century 21 archive was once again raided, and colour strips for Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet and Zero X replaced the continuing monochrome Stingray adventures for a few months. With all the colour pages used up between Anderson fare and the ever-omnipotent Doctor Who, Fireball XL5 fleshed out the last, glorious twilight issues of the SF comic what had once been Countdown...
But the tug-of-war between space adventure and detective-orientated dynamics that had been apparent in the comic was even to affect the Anderson television production machine. With no more episodes of UFO being backed, the next series was pretty much forced on him - The Protectors. After one hundred issues straight, UFO was to take a short break, and its last issue - the last to feature the name Countdown too - heralded in its television successor with a double-page photo spread.
In Part Three, the title bcomes just TV Action and enters its final turbulant era.
The Gerry Anderson Complete Comic History would like to thank:
John Ainsworth
James Brereton
Angelo Finamore
and Colin Lane
- for their help with this feature.
Version 1.1 - 01.05.05
Any comments or notes about any of the strips, please contact technodelic@blueyonder.co.uk.
All text © The Gerry Anderson Complete Comic History, and its respective writers, and may not be reproduced without permission.
All images © their respective copyright holders
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