Harlem Heroes


Harlem Heroes is a British comic strip that formed part of the original line-up of stories in 2000 AD. Inspired by the popularity during the 1970s of kung fu films and the Harlem Globetrotters, Harlem Heroes was devised by Pat Mills, employing elements from his Hellball comic strip, and scripted by Tom Tully. Initially, the series was to have been drawn by Carlos Trigo but the Spanish artist was replaced by Dave Gibbons prior to the first issue's publication. From issue 25 Massimo Belardinelli drew the concluding episodes of the first series and would be retained as its regular artist for the strip's reinvention as Inferno.

Harlem Heroes

By the year 2050, ''the game of Aeroball has swept the world! It's Football, Boxing, Kung Fu and Basketball all rolled into one! Players roar through the air wearing jet packs and score "air strikes" by getting the ball in the "score tank". One of the top teams is the all-black Harlem Heroes!''

Summary first series

Having made it through the preliminary round of the World Aeroball Championship, the Harlem Heroes' team bus crashes, killing all but four players. Louis Mayer, his brain alone surviving the tragedy, convinces his three fellow survivors, 'Slim', 'Hairy', and team captain John 'Giant' Clay, that they can still win the championship title.

Episodes

2000 AD progs 1–27, 2000 AD Annual 1978, 2000 AD Annual 1979
Timeline: 21st Century, usually placed in 2050
;Script: Pat Mills, Tom Tully
;Art: Dave Gibbons, Carlos Trigo

Inferno

Inferno is the violent sequel to Harlem Heroes. Set in the bloodthirsty arena of Inferno, an even more barbaric updating of Aeroball, with the addition of players on motorbikes, sportsmanship is gradually replaced by sensationalist violence and the desire for bloodshed and death on the field. Declining in-game values are shadowed by terrifying levels of boardroom corruption: their own manager, tiring of the Heroes' clean-cut image, is determined to get rid of their contracts, by taking out a contract on his own players. The scene of the Heroes' violent demise is a baroquely ruinous former casino called The Crystal Maze, rendered in darkly gothic splendour by Massimo Belardinelli.

Summary

2000 AD progs 36–75
Timeline: 2078
;Script: Tom Tully
;Art: Massimo Belardinelli

Judge Dredd

''"Never mind, Citizen Giant. Look at it this way—you've lost a son but Mega-City One has gained a darned fine Judge."''

The Academy of Law

Judge Giant senior graduates from Mega-City One's Academy of Law, much to the delight of his proud father, John 'Giant' Clay.

Episodes

2000 AD progs 27–28
Timeline: 2099
;Script: John Wagner
;Art: Ian Gibson, Mike McMahon

Whatever Happened to John "Giant" Clay?

Judge Dredd Megazine #216
Timeline: 2126
;Script: Gordon Rennie
;Art: Rufus Dayglo

Wear Iron

The rise and fall of Inferno is described in chapter 3, as background for a crime. The post-Atom War society was desperate for decadent sport but the events of Inferno would kill it, with Hellcat fans not returning and the average fan afraid they might get killed next.
Judge Dredd Year One: Wear Iron
Timeline: 2080
;Writer: Al Ewing

Harlem Heroes

A revival of the first series in name only, unrelated to Dredd.

Summary second series

2000 AD progs 671–676, 683–699, 701–705/745–749/776–779/928–939
Timeline: 2109

"Harlem Heroes"

2000 AD progs 671–676, 683–699, 701–705
;Script: Michael Fleisher
;Art: Steve Dillon and Kev Walker

Death Sport

2000 AD progs 745–749
;Script: Michael Fleisher
;Art: Geoff Senior

Grey Ghost Overflight

2000 AD progs 776–779
;Script: Michael Fleisher
;Art: Ron Smith

Cyborg Death Trip

2000 AD progs 928–939
;Script: Michael Fleisher
;Art: Kev Hopgood and Siku

Harlem Heroes

Another revival, this one starring Judge Giant's grandchild Gem Giant as the captain of a new Aeroball team.

Episodes

;Script: Ramzee
;Art: Korinna Veropoulou

Continuity