Category: Large Explosions

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The Man from the Future

















	














The new Air-Fleet carrier “TRIGAN HERO” was launched by the Emperor, with great ceremony, on the seventeenth day of the year of Zenf.

I name this vessel “Trigan Hero”. May she sail the seas of our planet and bring glory to the empire.

The Emperor’s nephew, Janno, himself a pilot in the Air-Fleet, was flying over the scene of the launching.

There she goes! Be ready to land in formation as soon as she’s in mid-harbour.

Janno and his companions were the first to land on the broad deck of the new carrier.

The “Trigan Hero” was leaving immediately for the Great Central Ocean, where a war with the state of Cato was threatening.

As soon as Cato gets news that we’re at sea, they’ll have second thoughts about making trouble.

Yes, Janno. With what we carry on this ship, we could take on Cato single-handed!

Among the massed crowds watching the departure of the great vessel was an individual with red hair.

A fine ship!

Aye! Makes you feel proud to be a Trigan!

Those about him would have been shocked to have known his thoughts at that moment.

A pity that “Trigan Hero” is going to sink on her first voyage!
























	














The red-headed one had an assignation that day. He met a stranger, by prior arrangement, in the great square of the city.

I recognise you from your description. You’re the fellow who advertised for the Lottery ticket with the special number, aren’t you?

I am. And you have that ticket?

The Trigan Imperial Lottery, in addition to providing useful revenue for the state, paid out one massive prize every quarter-year.

I am satisfied.

This is ticket number seven, three, six, two, zero, zero, nine, four. Are you willing to buy it for five thousand zersts—a ticket that only cost me fifty?

The bargain was made.

I will pay you in cash!

I don’t understand it. You’ve made me an enormous profit, but your chances of winning with that ticket are millions to one!

You can’t go wrong, especially when you know what’s going to happen in the future!

“Trigan Hero” reached the Great Central Ocean the following day. Towards sunset, alarm bells rang throughout the huge vessel. Janno was just about to climb into his air craft.

What’s happened?

Fire!

Fire in the engine room!

The next instant, the newest unit of the Trigan fleet was riven asunder!

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 690 on 5 April 1975.

 
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The Elixir of Youth (continued . . .)

















	














The competition track near Trigan City.

One more lap at that speed and he’s broken the record!

Do you hear that, Narrod? You’re nearly there! Watch out on that next corner!

The screaming racer briefly touched the barrler wall and . . .

He’s going to crash!

Eject, Narrod!

The driver ejected from his cockpit—an instant before the race-auto turned into a fireball!
























	














Narrod, are you all right?

You’re lucky to be alive, I can tell you!

My sight failed me, and my reactions were too slow at that corner! I’m finished! I shall never get into a race-auto again!

Once he held every speed record on Elekton!

Well, old age gets us all in the end!

A lifetime of record-breaking had made Narrod a planet-wide celebrity and a millionaire. But he went back to his luxurious villa in black despair.

My life is finished. I may still live on for years . . .

. . . If you can call it living! Why not end it all now?

A visitor requesting to see you, Master. His name is Mallo.

Not the Mallo, who won the Vorg wrestling crown at the Imperial Games? Show him in, Zapp.

My, how I envy you, my boy. Do you know I won the Vorg wrestling crown three times when I was your age! What wouldn’t I give to be young again!

You can be young again, Narrod! Youth lies within this phial and it can be yours! . . .

. . . For a million thullars!—Cash!

This installment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 647 on 8 June 1974.

 
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The Elixir of Youth

















	














They came from all over the sprawling Trigan Empire, to witness the Imperial Games in the capital’s mammoth amphitheatre.

We bring you a report on the ten thousand tellar foot race! Coming up for the last lap, Zampha of Tharv is in the lead . . .

The high spot of the games was the classic Vorg wrestling. Finalists were a Trigan named Mallo and a Daveli named Heller.

You have him, Heller!

Do something, Mallo!

Mallo turned the tables on his bigger opponent, with a throw that thrilled the crowd and won him the crown!

The Emperor crowned the young victor, and spoke kindly to him.

I hear that you are a promising scientist, Mallo. You must come and be Peric’s assistant.

I would count that a great honour, Imperial Majesty!

I shall be delighted.

That doddering old fool can’t last for long, then I shall be head of the Imperial research laboratory—with plenty of chances to line my purse!

And so, the scheming youth went to work with Peric, Elekton’s top scientist.

What is this experiment?

Merely a forlorn attempt to rejuvenate this poor rorn, who has given so many years’ good service as a laboratory animal . . .
























	














Poor old fellow. He’s like me . . .too many grey hairs and not enough teeth. Nature must take its course.

May nature swiftly take its course with you, mumbling old has-been!

That night, while Peric was working on his experiment, there was a shattering explosion!

Aaaaaaaaaghhh!

No one heard the crash and the old scientist lay unconscious until dawn.

What happened? I remember! There was a flash . . .

He crossed over to inspect the damage.

What a mess!

What happened to that poor old rorn? . . .

By all the stars!

The creature’s taken on a new lease of life! It hasn’t exercised on its treadmill for years!

It was then that Peric saw his own reflection.

Can that be . . . me?

I look twenty years younger! My hair’s regained its colour and . . . and that isn’t all!

This installment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 645 on 25 May 1974.