Posted on October 11, 2025October 14, 2025The Mind Controller (continued . . .) As the smoke of the exploding anti-aircraft battery cleared away, the alien craft came low. Ready for the lift-off ! All three convicts were lifted from the top of the black tower. They were helped aboard the craft, and Raspardi was greeted by none other than. . . the physician Torga. So ! It is to you that I am indebted for this rescue ? It is indeed, my friend — and it will cost you half of the stolen moneys which you have got hidden away ! A fast automobile waited on a lonely road on the mainland. What now, Torga ? Now, Raspardi, we drive to a hide-out where you will remain till you have paid over the money. As for our friends Janno and Roffa . . . Janno and Roffa remained on the craft when the others had left it. At a curt order from Torga, Janno piloted it skywards again. Where are they going ? They, my friend, are going to destruction ! You mean ? . . Their task is finished. I now propose to wipe out the living evidence of our little conspiracy . . . Or, more correctly, order them to wipe out themselves ! Torga spoke into a transmitter which was wavelengthed to the miniaturised receivers in the inner ears of the two in the craft. Listen, Janno . . . do you hear me, Janno ? . . . You will now take the craft to its maximum height . . . and then dive it into the sea at full speed ! . . Is that understood ? But—another voice was also dinning in Janno’s inner ear ! The voice of his friend, the great scientist Peric ! Janno, you will disregard all other orders and obey only me ! Answer me, Janno . . . where are you ? I am . . . I am . . . Why do you not acknowledge my order, Janno ? Moments later, the craft came screaming down in a power-dive. What are you doing, Janno ? . . Janno ! Answer me ! But the voice of Torga no longer had the power to control Janno’s mind and actions . . . as was swiftly proved ! Aaaaaaagh !— What’s happened to him ? Not far distant, in a Trigan Air Fleet craft that was speeding to the scene, Peric was speaking into a transmitter that was also broadcasting on the secret wavelength to Janno’s inner ear. With the great scientist was the Emperor himself. It’s all over, Janno ! The nightmare’s over ! You are free of the evil power that has been direct- ing you and Roffa ! Thank the stars for that ! Trigan security forces speedily apprehended Torga and his accomplices and Raspardi. That same day, the two comrades were formally cleared of all charges against them. Gentlemen, since it is deemed that you did not act of your own free will, but while under the hypnotic direction of a criminal, your sentences are immediately cancelled ! It was found to be impossible to remove the offending miniature receivers from the inner ears of the two Air Fleet pilots. But, as Peric said . . . You have nothing to fear—the chances are several billion to one that anyone would stumble on the wave- length which connects with your minds. Only I know the secret, and I shall never use it again . . . Unless you both voluntarily take to a life of crime ! This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 717 on 11 October 1975.
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.
