Posted on October 4, 2025October 4, 2025The Mind Controller (continued . . .) As the day wore on, panic reigned among the guards of the prison isle. I’ve just been down to feed the convict Roffa, sir, and he’s disappeared, too ! Another gone ? It’s an organised conspiracy ! Safe on their lofty perch, Janno, Roffa and Raspardi looked down. We’ve got those fools really worried. Quiet ! my voice has begun speaking to me. The voice that he could not disobey sounded in Janno’s inner ear. You, Janno, will descend from the tower after dark. You will destroy the island’s anti-aircraft capability. Here is how you will do it . . . At about that time, the great scientist Peric had sought an urgent audience with the Emperor. Your Majesty, we have found the scientific notebooks of the missing physician, Torga ! Torga is a master technician, who has devised a way of manufacturing a radio receiver so small that it can actually be injected into the blood stream. This done, the receiver will lodge itself in the cells of the inner ear. Peric continued . . . “Torga recounts how Janno and Roffa were subjected to faked road accidents and taken to hospital. On the way there, both were given blood transfusions by Torga and both transfusions contained miniaturised receivers !” “With the receivers in place, all Torga had to do was to bend his victims’ wills, day and night, by hypnosis, beamed directly to their brains by a secret radio wavelength !” Janno, when you wake up, you will do exactly as I shall order you. Do you understand ? I . . . under- stand . . . At the end of Peric’s account, Trigo put a question. Why did Torga go to all that trouble, in order to turn those two into criminals ? So that they would be sent to the Isle of Despair ! Where they have just freed the arch-criminal Raspardi ! That night, obedient to his inner voice, Janno made the perilous descent of the black tower. Unseen, he tampered with the fuse mechanism of the first projectile in the anti-aircraft battery . . . . . . When that was done, he returned to his eyrie. At dawn, a strange craft approached the prison isle. Craft entering forbidden zone now ! Prepare to fire ! Fire ! This installment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 716 on 4 October 1975.
Posted on September 27, 2025September 29, 2025The Mind Controller (continued . . .) The prisoner of the black tower stared at his two strange visitors. You are Raspardi—former international gang- leader with a price of ten million thullars on his head ? Yes, that’s me, but. . . I just wanted to make sure we’d got the right fellow ! Uuuuuh ! They left the tower with the unconscious Raspardi, locking the massive door behind them. Then they slung the limp figure on to Janno’s back. Tie his wrists tightly. We don’t want him to fall and break his neck. The two men scaled the sheer wall of the black tower with their senseless burden. Take it easy, Janno. You’ve got a good foot- hold there. Have a short rest, and I’ll relieve you of some of the weight. When Raspardi’s eyes flickered open, he was lying on a perilous perch at the top of the tower. Where am I ? And why did you strike me ? It was safer to have you unconscious, my friend. As a non-climber, you might have panicked under the strain. As to where you are—you are in a place of freedom, more or less ! It was then that Janno and Roffa both heard the voice in their inner ears. Well done ! You will now remain where you are till the time comes to carry out the next part of the master escape plan. Any aircraft coming within gun range of the Isle of Despair was shot down without warning from the fortress-prison. Just out of range, a lone craft hovered. You will hear from me later, Janno and Roffa. For the present, stay well concealed ! Meanwhile, the Trigan police were continuing their search for the physician who had attended both Janno and Roffa. What do you want at this time of the night ? Does physician Torga lodge here ? If so, we have authority to search his rooms. The search was made. All this stuff had better be taken to Peric. He wants to see anything of a scientific nature. That same night, Peric was roused from his bed. He made a swift examination of Torga’s scientific effects. Sorry to disturb you, your honour, but you did say you Were to be shown anything without delay. You have done the right thing, officer. These notes will be invaluable to my enquiries. Suddenly . . . By all the stars ! This is unbelievable . . . unbelievable ! At dawn, the guards on the Isle of Despair were changed. It was then they discovered the unconscious sentry. He’s been knocked out ! Sound the alarm ! As Elekton’s twin suns rose above the horizon, the hue and cry was raised. Safe on their lofty hiding place, the three fugitives heard it all. Raspardi is missing ! Search everywhere ! That animal must be recovered ! This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 715 on 27 September 1975.
Posted on September 20, 2025September 21, 2025The Mind Controller (continued . . .) Keren continued the account of Janno’s accident. “Janno never had a chance. he smashed straight into the other fellow.” “By a near- miracle, he escaped with his life. An ambulance was quickly on the scene.” “Janno was rushed back to the hospital.” His condition calls for an immediate blood transfusion. Keren finished his story and added a comment which brought a gleam of interest to the wise old eyes of his companion. As we all know, Janno made a good, quick recovery. But here’s the interesting part . . . The physician who attended him at the scene of the accident was the same fellow who attended Roffa. His name—Torga ! An immediate call to the hospital brought a negative reply. The physician Torga has been missing for several days. Get on to the police ! Tell them to find Torga ! A description of the missing physician was flashed to all corners of the sprawling Trigan Empire. . . . Height seventeen thrumms, weight one hundred and three sarnas. Fresh complexion. No special distinguishing features. Meanwhile, back on the dread isle of Despair, in the grim prison-fortress that crowned its craggy heights . . . Janno and Roffa both heard the secret voice in their inner ears. You will now commence the next part of the master plan ! Obedient to the strange power that ruled their lives, the two unlocked the cell and left it—like guard and convict. In this manner, they reached the courtyard without meeting anyone. The black tower ! inside that tower is the object of all our efforts ! And here’s how we get into the tower. Listen . . . Some time later, Janno stepped out of the shadows and was challenged. Halt ! Who approaches ? Then Roffa leapt from above like a bird of prey. Uuuuuuh ! Unlocking the massive door of the black tower, the two comrades entered. And Janno addressed the prisoner who stood within. We have come to rescue you ! This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 714 on 20 September 1975.
