Posted on December 13, 2025December 13, 2025The Ultimate Collection (continued . . .) News of the snatching of the Emperor’s popular nephew was flashed round the planet. For the first time, there was a mention of a sinister connection between Janno’s disappearance and other sensational events. In this manner, Lord Janno was snatched up into the sky. It will be recalled that the Ultimate Aircraft and the Monster of Vorg were taken in the same way. Beyond the borders of the Trigan Empire, in the domains of Cato, the sacred city of Zemf was dominated by the mystical Temple of the Jewel, where thousands of worshippers a day filed past the great green glittering diadem. The diadem was guarded by the most sophisticated electronic devices. It was reckoned that the sheer complexity of the defences were sufficient to defeat any intruder. And then one day, they came. The invaders landed on the temple’s roof, and immediately ran into electronically discharged projectiles that turned the roof into a death-trap. By the time they had broken through into the temple, it had been emptied of panic-stricken worshippers. But their troubles had scarcely begun. When they attempted to mount the stairs to the diadem the stairs straightened out to become a slippery slide ! Aaaaaghhh ! Eeeeeghhh ! By then, the wail of police sirens outside the building told the intruders that a hue and cry had been raised. Their leader came to a swift decision. We have been beaten by time ! Back the way we came ! Thwarted by the very complexity of the defences, the raiders broke off the attempt and flew away. Guardian and keeper of the Great Green Diadem was the Abbot of Zemf, who dwelt in a palace on the mountain crest and was seldom seen. Soon after the departure of the raiders, the Abbot arrived at the Temple of the Jewel. The Great Green Diadem is untouched, Most Splendid One. This I must see with my own eyes, and with my own hands. I must ensure myself that it has suffered no harm. Only the Abbot himself was allowed to lay hands on the sacred gem. This he did, in full view of all. All is well. The sacred diadem has not been defiled ! Later that day, the resident high priest of the temple received a call on vidi-phone. This is the Abbot’s secretary. His Excellency, the Most Splendid One, wishes to come to the temple and assure himself that the diadem has not been defiled. Please make arrangements to receive . . . But the Most Splendid One has already been ! What ? Do nothing and touch nothing until I am with you ! One hour later, the Abbot’s secretary was inspecting the huge gem. Fools ! Dolts ! Bunglers ! This is not the Diadem of Zemf. He who came here was an impostor. He took the true diadem and left behind this copy. This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 726 on 13 December 1975.
Posted on December 6, 2025December 9, 2025The Ultimate Collection (continued . . .) All Trigan City turned out to see the fossilised monster being carried off. They’ve got the Monster of Vorg ! The Air Fleet defences of the city were hastily sent up. Head for area three-five-one. Intercept, but do not open fire. Understood ? Order received and understood. Later . . . Leader of the interceptors reports they’ve lost contact sir. With a thing that size ? Impossible ! When it was all over, the experts went through the operation in detail and came up with a surprising conclusion. The thieves, whoever they are, made their escape in this direction. Shortly before passing the boundary of greater Trigan City, they disappeared from sight. So we estimate that “the Monster of Vorg” is still somewhere near at hand ! Speculation about the missing giant fossil was on everyone’s lips for a few days. The incident was then completely overshadowed by—the Trigan Empire Games ! People of the planet Elekton. We proudly present the twentieth Trigan Empire Games ! A star athlete and strong contender for the victor’s grand crown was Janno, the Emperor’s nephew. Competitors for the pole-climbing take your places. Good luck, Janno. Pole-climbing—the most physically-demanding and dangerous of all Elekton athletic events and Janno was the first to plant his flag. Then followed the ancient and traditional five-zarra foot race, the competitors bearing armour and weapons with Janno again the winner. Throwing the spear from a galloping kreed meant another win for Janno. With three firsts in main events and sundry other placings, the Emperor’s nephew was an outright winner of the victor’s grand crown. Well done, lad ! Thanks, Uncle ! It was while he was making a triumphal circuit of the stadium that . . . . . . It happened ! Uuuuuhhh ! Before a finger could be lifted to help him, the victor of the games was snatched into the sky. Janno ! This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 725 on 6 December 1975.
Posted on November 29, 2025November 30, 2025The Ultimate Collection All Elekton was tuned-in to one of the outstanding events of the age. We see Keren of the Air Fleet about to climb into the cockpit of what may prove to be the fastest craft that will ever fly in the atmosphere. Janno, the Emperor’s nephew, shook hands with his comrade. Janno was training for the forthcoming Trigan Empire Games, otherwise he would have been piloting “the Ultimate Aircraft”. I still feel as if I’ve stolen your place, Janno. Nonsense, Keren. You deserve to be the fastest pilot ever. Good luck to you. Keren made a circuit of the entire planet in one-sixteenth of the time it had ever been done before. In passing, the plane’s ultra-sonic boom caused extensive damage. The old tower’s going to fall ! Peric, Elekton’s top scientist, who had designed “the Ultimate Aircraft”, was furious—with himself. All right, say what you’re thinking. It’s too fast to be of any military use and too small to carry passengers. It’s an amusing toy, fit only for a museum ! The craft, destined to be stripped down to its component parts for close examination in Peric’s laboratory, was loaded on to a transporter and taken away from the air base. Some distance down the highway . . . Halt ! The unarmed crew of the transporter looked on while “the Ultimate Aircraft” was attached to the heli-jet and carried skywards. The snatching of the wonder plane was a sensation throughout Elekton at first, but as the lunar months went by, another sensation claimed the attention of the masses. Here, on this site in the wilderness of Vorg, has been uncovered the fossilised remains of the earliest four-legged creature to inhabit our planet . . . the Monster of Vorg ! “The Monster of Vorg” was exhibited in a specially constructed building in Trigan City. It became one of the sights of the planet. Several weeks later, from out of a peaceful sky, a force of armed warriors descended. Acting swiftly and ruthlessly dealing with the slightest opposition, they cleared visitors from the vast building that housed the monster. Aaaagh ! Explosive charges brought the transparent roof crashing down. Then, from out of the wreckage rose “the Monster of Vorg” ! This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 724 on 29 November 1975.
