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 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.
Posted on September 6, 2025September 21, 2025The Mind Controller (continued . . .) One of the conspirators fought like a wild animal to evade capture by the Trigan police but his companion surrendered meekly. Our information was correct. This fellow’s a military attache at the Caton Embassy. And this is Roffa, of the Air Fleet ! Roffa was tried by the High Court on a charge of treason. Does the defendant offer any evidence on his behalf ? No, Excellency. He pleads guilty to attempting to sell the plans to an agent of a foreign power and throws himself on the mercy of the court. The mercy of the High Court was non-existent. There is only one fitting sentence to pass upon a traitor to the Empire . . . Solitary confinement for life on the Isle of Despair ! Of all those who sat in court that day, the most puzzled and thoughtful was the great scientist Peric. As he observed to the Emperor Trigo later . . . I am convinced, Imperial Majesty, that there is more to it than meets the eye. Why should two of the brightest young pilots of the Air Fleet, both of them friends, suddenly turn to robbery and treason ? So what is your explanation ? Ah, there I am baffled, Imperial Majesty. Though I can put my finger on the mystery, I cannot explain it . . . But I am working on it ! On a day of threatened storm and lowering sky, the convicted Roffa was transported to the Isle of Despair. High above, a lone craft followed the progress of Roffa’s grim journey. Roffa ! Do you hear me, Roffa ? When you reach the Isle, you will immediately be put into solitary confine- ment. But you will not be alone for long . . . The voice was heard only by Roffa. . . . you will soon be joined by Janno ! Do you understand ? Yes, I understand. The fool’s talking to himself already ! At that moment, within the grim fortress-prison, a harsh-faced guard had just entered Janno’s cell. Here’s your supper, animal ! Hey ! Are you ill, or . . . The guard bent over the prostrate figure which immediately bounded into action. Uuuuugh ! Shortly after, Janno left his cell, disguised. The same mysterious voice he had heard before, spoke in his inner ear. Well done, Janno. Now you will proceed with the second part of the master plan. This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 712 on 6 September 1975.
