{"id":30820,"date":"2024-10-30T09:00:55","date_gmt":"2024-10-30T09:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/?p=30820"},"modified":"2024-10-29T19:39:35","modified_gmt":"2024-10-29T19:39:35","slug":"black-max-volume-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/2024\/10\/30\/black-max-volume-3\/","title":{"rendered":"Black Max volume 3"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\nBy Frank S. Pepper<\/strong>, Ken Mennell<\/strong>, Alfonso Font<\/strong> & various (Rebellion Studios)
\nISBN: 978-1-83786-102-6 (TPB\/Digital edition)<\/p>\n

This book includes Discriminatory Content<\/strong> produced in less enlightened times.<\/em><\/p>\n

Win\u2019s Christmas Gift Recommendation: Astoundingly Eerie Air Ace Action… 8\/10<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s time for another sortie down memory lane for us oldsters and, hopefully a frolic down a new, untrodden path for fans of the fantastic in search of a traditionally quirky British comics experience. This compelling compilation is another stunning nostalgia-punch from Rebellion\u2019s superb, ever-expanding Treasury of British Comics<\/strong>, concluding the exotic, esoteric episodic exploits of seminal shocker Black Max<\/strong>: another darkly sparkling gem from our crown jewels of weird kids’ comics… and yes, there\u2019s a strong argument that the readers were as wild and whacko as the strips we loved…<\/p>\n

This sinister selection delivers the last gasps of the unsavoury war criminal of the skies, and includes rare-for-the-era crossover with another strip star. Black Max<\/strong> debuted in the first issue of Thunder<\/strong> and more than ran the distance: surviving cancelation and merger, soaring on into Lion & Thunder<\/strong> which finally gave up the ghost mid-decade. This third volume carries the last wave of those stories, covering 15th<\/sup> January to October 21st<\/sup> 1972 with the aviation excitement augmented by a brace of longer yarns taken from Thunder Annual<\/strong> 1974<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The series was typical of the manner in which weekly comics functioned back then: devised by screenwriter, veteran editor and prolific scripter Ken Mennell (Cursitor Doom<\/strong>, Steel Claw<\/strong>, The Spider<\/strong> and many more), with the first episode limned by the company\u2019s star turn for mood and mystery, Eric Bradbury (Invasion<\/strong>, The Black Crow<\/strong>, Cursitor Doom<\/strong>, House of Dolman<\/strong>, Hookjaw<\/strong> and dozens more). The whole kit and kaboodle was then handed off to another team to sink or swim with, which they did until 1973: a pretty respectable run for any British comic feature\u2026<\/p>\n

In many ways, the attrition rate of British strips bore remarkable similarities to WWI casualty figures, but this serial was well-starred. The assigned follow-up writer was Frank S. Pepper. who began his legendary comics career in 1926. By 1970, he had clocked up many major successes including Dan Dare<\/strong>, Rockfist Rogan<\/strong>, Captain Condor<\/strong>, Jet-Ace Logan<\/strong> and Roy of the Rovers<\/strong> to name but a very, very few. Series illustrator Alfonso Font was a 10-year veteran – mostly for overseas publications – when he succeeded Bradbury. Based in Spain, Font had worked not just for Odhams\/Fleetway but on strips for US outfits Warren and Skywald and continental classics such as Historias Negras<\/em> (Dark Stories<\/strong>), Jon Rohner<\/strong>, Carmen Bond<\/strong>, Bri D\u2019Alban<\/em>, Tex Willer<\/strong>, Dylan Dog<\/strong>, Clark & Kubrick: Spiritualists Inc.<\/strong>, Taxi, <\/strong>H\u00e9loise de Montfort<\/strong> and more\u2026<\/p>\n

Episodic by nature and generally delivered in sharp, spartan 3-page bursts, by the time of these trench warfare and skyborne tales, the premise and key characters were firmly established and Pepper & Font were growing bolder and more experimental\u2026<\/p>\n

In 1917, Germany and her allies were slowly losing the Great War. In the Bavarian schloss of Baron Maximilien von Klorr<\/em>, the grotesque but brilliant scientist\/fighter ace devised a horrific way to tip the scales back in favour of his homeland. His extremely ancient family had, for millennia, enjoyed an almost affinity with bats, and the current scion had bred giant predatory versions he controlled by various means – including magic amulets and telepathy. These flew beside him to terrify and slaughter the hated English. Initially, they had been a secret weapon used sparingly, but by this juncture allied soldiers and aviators knew well this other form of death from the skies\u2026
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\nHis schemes were imperilled and countered on a weekly basis by young British pilot Tim Wilson<\/em>. Originally a performer in a peacetime flying circus, the doughty lad was possibly the best acrobatic aviator on the Western Front and his constant clashes with von Klorr and the colossal chiropterans constantly frustrated the manic monster master\u2026<\/p>\n

Now, with Wilson\u2019s superiors fully aware of the fearsome bioweapons, and thanks to the peasant\u2019s constant interference, the Baron devotes an astonishing amount of time and effort to killing the English fighter ace\u2026 when not butchering Allied fliers and ground troops in vast numbers.<\/p>\n

The odds seemed to shift once von Klorr began mass-producing his monsters, but Wilson eventually gained the upper hand: driving \u201cBlack Max\u201d out of his castle HQ and into a hidden facility where the vile villain retrenched and made bigger, better terrors\u2026<\/p>\n

As lengthy, multi-part serials became the standard, the human fliers\u2019 private duel expanded to include many veteran English Aces, infiltrating traitors into the Royal Flying Corps, brainwashing and torturing prisoners, steering zeppelins on civilian raids, and kidnapping British animal scientist Professor Dutton<\/em> to improve the strength of his killer beasts…<\/p>\n

Always, however, the Baron is foiled by his inability to ignore or avoid Wilson: a mistake that scuttles his grand schemes and costs him dearly\u2026<\/p>\n

Down but never out, the Baron returns to successful strategies and familiar killing fields, but suffers another reversal when Wilson discovers his current laboratory base. With only one giant bat left and his resources exhausted, Von Klorr relocates to a deserted aerodrome to consider his options and is shocked to receive a message from his grandfather. The terrifying patriarch of the \u201cbat clan\u201d has knowledge spanning millennia and reveals he has unearthed an ancient potion to recreate the \u201cgreat Kingbat!\u201d<\/p>\n

Thanks to more timely interference from Tim, the killer beast attacks both German and British lines, necessitating an unprecedented alliance of the sworn enemies. Wilson is completely ready for von Klorr to betray him, but is still taken unawares when the moment comes as they kill the rampaging terror\u2026<\/p>\n

Here and now, it\u2019s mere weeks after the crisis, and business as usual in the skies over Europe. As brave men shoot at each other, Von Klorr is almost court-martialled by his own leaders, but responds by secretly unleashing his last killer bat in defiance of the generals. It leads to a shocking meeting with another German freak and outcast every bit as nefarious and deranged as the Baron. Doktor Gratz<\/em> is a towering intellect and supergenius in a warped, stunted body as proved by the mighty mole machine he travels under the earth in and the whirlwind weapon he uses to smash ships from the sky. He hates the British too and knows a fellow fiend when he sees one…
\n\"\"
\nSoon they are attacking the allies and making a real dent, but Herr Doktor is keeping secrets from his partner. Sadly for them, Wilson is dogging their trail and prevents Gratz gaining his true objective, whilst exposing his perfidy to the furious Baron. The upshot is a sundered alliance, but Von Klorr does regain the trust of the generals which he uses – with his grandfather\u2019s aid – to unleash more colossal Kingbats. His scheme is incredible in its audacity: employing the monsters to sink a British naval flotilla, capture an entire experimental battleship and imprison its crew…<\/p>\n

Once again, it\u2019s Wilson to the rescue, infiltrating a German internment camp to spring the sailors before leading the cruiser\u2019s recovery in the face of the very worst the Kingbats can do. Von Klorr, meanwhile, has found even more uncanny allies in the form of an ancient race of subterranean bat-men dwelling unsuspected under the French countryside. These he controls with an amulet, but the sentient horrors are more than happy to kill humans…<\/p>\n

Nearby, opportunistic Doktor Gratz reemerges and negotiates a truce with the Baron in anticipation of killing more enemy soldiers. Soon the macabre coalition is pushing back the Allied advance and all looks very bleak, but Wilson has a plan…<\/p>\n

Defeated again and in retreat, Black Max and Gratz launch a new terror weapon – sinister \u201cghost planes\u201d – but once more their subtle trickery is exposed, but not before the human devils unleash an assassination plot against French leaders and attack Paris in force with a legion of flying monsters. The build-up of months climaxes with relentless pursuit as the Germans abandon all schemes in a vengeful effort to kill the British flier, but as chaos mounts they reach too far…
\n\"\"
\nIn a rare event the series came to a fitting conclusion here and although the Baron was declared dead, Gratz did very well out of these walk-on appearances: he won his own spin-off series once Black Max<\/strong> ended. Uncomfortably entitled Secrets of the Demon Dwarf<\/strong>, it ran in Lion<\/strong> from October 28th<\/sup> 1972 to March 17th<\/sup> 1973 (plus annual and specials) as the mad scientist accidentally stranded himself in the 1970s and sought revenge for losing two World Wars and presumably just the one World Cup. Font did some of most expressive and inventive work on the feature, but I suspect Rebellion won\u2019t be archiving this series any time soon…<\/p>\n

As previously stated, this closing collection also includes two complete adventures from Thunder Annual<\/strong> 1974<\/strong>: one in prose and illustrated by an artist unknown and a final furious comics foray. The text tale saw Von Klorr visiting a Serbian castle to bolster failing Austrian forces only to fail due to Tim Wilson, whilst the final flight sees the true Brit following the Baron to Africa in search of ingredients to make a potion that might save his dying Kingbats from a dire disease…<\/p>\n

These strip shockers are amongst the most memorable and enjoyable exploits in British comics: smart, scary and beautifully rendered. This a superb example of war horror that deserves to be revived and revered.
\n\u00a9 1972, 1973 & 2024 Rebellion Publishing IP Ltd. Black Max and all related characters, their distinctive likenesses and related elements are \u2122 Rebellion Publishing Ltd. All Rights Reserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Frank S. Pepper, Ken Mennell, Alfonso Font & various (Rebellion Studios) ISBN: 978-1-83786-102-6 (TPB\/Digital edition) This book includes Discriminatory Content produced in less enlightened times. Win\u2019s Christmas Gift Recommendation: Astoundingly Eerie Air Ace Action… 8\/10 It\u2019s time for another sortie down memory lane for us oldsters and, hopefully a frolic down a new, untrodden … <\/p>\n

Continue reading “Black Max volume 3”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[191,42,102,122,66,127,107,93],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-30820","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-adventure","category-best-of-british","category-fantasy","category-historical","category-horror-stories","category-nostalgia","category-science-fiction","category-war-stories"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4AFj-816","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30820","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30820"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30820\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30826,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30820\/revisions\/30826"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30820"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30820"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30820"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}