The Trigan Empire

Fate had indeed smiled upon Janno, one of Elekton’s outstanding sportsmen and athletes.

He was crack pilot of the Trigan Air Fleet . . .

. . . and favourite nephew of the Emperor.

Your Highness, may I present Lieutenant Janno?

The occasion was the state visit to Trigan City of the Rann of Loth, famed for his boundless wealth and his fabulous collection of jewellery.

Keren, just look at that collar he’s wearing. It would feed a whole province for a year, or buy a battleship.

And the strange thing is, Janno, that his people are starving and they don’t have a battleship either.

The Rann was staying at the Loth embassy. That night, a masked figure hurled a rope from the roof of the next building to that of the embassy and began . . . 

. . . a death-defying crossing!























Followed by a nerve-searing descent to a lower window.

The next morning, the Rann’s servants found the embassy safe open and empty.

His Highness’s jewelled collar!

Gone!

The theft of the priceless collar has created a top-level crisis in Trigan City. It is reported that Loth has broken off diplomatic relations with the Trigan Empire.

Before nightfall, there was an anonymous call to police headquarters.

Listen carefully. If you search the quarters of Lieutenant Janno, you will recover the jewelled collar of the Rann and apprehend the thief—that is all.

A knock at the door of Janno’s apartment announced members of the anti-crime squad.

Lieutenant Janno, we’re from the police. We have permission to search your quarters.

Do come in, Inspector.

A brief search revealed . . .

By all the stars!

You’re under arrest!

As you say.

Janno was taken to the city gaol to await trial. There he was visited by his distraught father, Brag.

You’ve nothing to worry about, my boy. The whole thing was obviously arranged. The real criminal will be found . . .

The real criminal is found.

I did it, Father! I am guilty!

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 709 on 16 August 1975.

The bomb landed close by the barbarian horde and sent up a small shower of sand and dirt.

The message was flashed back from the craft that had delivered the projectile . . . 

It hasn’t gone off.

News soon reached Peric’s laboratory in Trigan city. He turned to Vallu and his assistant Forri . . . 

Let all Elekton thank the stars that you two were not competent enough to get the detonating mechanism right. If you had, it would have been the end of the planet!

It was the Emperor Trigo who voiced the question that was on everyone’s lips . . . 

Elekton has been spared the bomb, but what about the barbarians? What about Yossa?

The captive Zorza answered him . . . 

Just set me free, Majesty. I’ll handle that young firebrand.

The barbarians were devastating the outskirts of the Trigan Empire when they espied a familiar figure.

Behold, Yossa! The mighty Zorza has returned to us!

Zorza!























Yossa was silent and contrite before his rightful chief.

You have had your brief hour of glory, and now it’s over, my children, go back to the wilderness, where it’s safe.

Yackrass was back on his weekly audivision programme, but much changed . . . 

The events of the last few days have taught us all a lesson, my friends. The people of this planet must learn to live together amicably.

The months passed. Lukaz Rann lived quietly in his Trigan City villa, waiting for the end.

I shall not live to see the blossoms fall.

But, the blossoms fell, and winter came.

I’m still here.

An intensive examination revealed the truth.

Your injuries have cleared up of their own accord. You will live!

All Trigan City watched the peerless rocketeer make his next recordbreaking ascent.

Good old Lukaz!

He streaked triumphantly skywards—on his way to another record-breaking feat which was to make him a legend in his lifetime.

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 708 on 9 August 1975.

All civilised Elekton saw the audivision relay of the departure of the fateful bombing-craft.

Tharv technology and Tharv air-power are about to save civilisation!

You have just witnessed the take-off of the Tharv air-fleet craft containing the magnetic energy bomb, which will be dropped upon the barbarian horde of Yossa.

Lukaz Rann saw the transmission.

By all the stars! What have I done?

Leaving his fortress home, he flew direct to Trigan City.

I will confess all to Peric. He’ll know what to do.

The great scientist was in his laboratory when the rocketeer made an unceremonious entry.

Peric! That bomb!

Lukaz Rann! Will you be silent?

I’m trying to convince the rulers of Tharv that, if they explode that bomb, the magnetic chain-reaction cannot fail to destroy the entire planet! Unfortunately, they do not believe me. I might be able to convince that fool Vallu, but he’s missing.

I have got Vallu! He’s my prisoner!























He confessed . . . everything!

Before I met my end, I was determined to leave Elekton a better place . . . 

So I captured Zorza, the barbarian!

Vallu, the evil scientist!

Yackrass, the spreader of hatred!

You decide to act as if you were some kind of god, and what happens? Zorza’s successor threatens civilisation, Yackrass’s replacement proposes dropping the bomb, and Vallu’s assistant tells everyone that it’s perfectly safe!

After that, matters moved swiftly. Trigan guards burst open the door of the prisoners’ dungeon.

On your feet! You, Vallu, are coming to Trigan City!

A short discussion with Peric convinced the Tharv scientist of one thing.

You’ve studied my calculations. Do you not now see that your confounded bomb is going to detonate the entire planet?

You’re right, Peric! I must contact Tharv at once! That bombing-craft must be brought back!

But even at that moment, the huge Tharv craft was passing over the massed horde of barbarians on their trail of conquest and destruction.

AND THE BOMB WAS DROPPED!

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 707 on 2 August 1975.