Johnny Alpha and his partner Wulf Sternhammer are licensed Search/ Destroy agents – 22nd-century bounty hunters, tasked with tracking down the galaxy’s most feared criminals. But when the pair are framed for murder, it’s their fellow Strontium Dogs that are on their tail...
John Wagner is a comics writer who was born in Pennsylvania in 1949 and moved to Scotland as a boy. Alongside Pat Mills, Wagner was responsible for revitalising British boys' comics in the 1970s, and has continued to be a leading light in British comics ever since. He is best known for his work on 2000 AD, for which he created Judge Dredd. He is noted for his taut, violent thrillers and his black humour. Among his pseudonyms are The best known are John Howard, T.B. Grover, Mike Stott, Keef Ripley, Rick Clark and Brian Skuter. (Wikipedia)
This third collection of Johnny Alpha stories mostly consist of okay stories. By now, most readers would know that Johnny gets his man and does it in some violent ways.
But the main cracking storyline (which is actually two stories in one) would involve the mutant Max Bubba. First told as a flashback is the story of Johnny Alpha going to the past to capture Max Bubba, which is how he meets his partner, Wulf Sternhammer.
The second part of the tale also concerns Max Bubba, who has escaped and wants revenge against Johnny. This he gets, nearly killing Johnny in the process. And now Johnny goes on a raging vendetta against Bubba.
Compared to that main tale, the others are mainly sideshow stories that don't reveal must more about Johnny or how he copes with life after getting his revenge against Bubba.
So good Stronty fun this was. Also, so sad Stronty fun this was Wolf died. But then again, the incredibly follow up-revenge story to that.... such fun. Also, as always.... Esquerra. He is the master artist. Not even those stories from Annuals did not dim the brilliance of this collection.
This is really a 4.5 - it was SD at its best with "Max Bubba" and "Rage", but is also shows a stark drop off with Wulf's departure. Also the Gronk has dissappeared, it would have been good to write him out formally (yes - I know he comes back later).
I didn't read this in a day, it is just that three of the long story arcs were so memborable that I skipped through them for my favourite parts rather than read them in depth. The filler stories in between were okay, but not great.
Consistent stuff here. Probably the best I've read of Strontium Dog. My progress on the Dredd Case Files has led me to a point where the quality had dropped off enormously. This is still in its prime era. Jolly good.