Harlem Heroes
Encyclopedia
Harlem Heroes is a British
comic
strip that formed part of the original line-up ('Thrill 5') of 2000 AD
. Inspired by the popularity during the 1970s of kung fu films
and the Harlem Globetrotters
, Harlem Heroes was devised by Pat Mills
, employing elements from his Hellball comic strip, and scripted by Tom Tully
. Initially, the series was to have been drawn by Carlos Trigo but the Spanish artist was replaced by Dave Gibbons
prior to the first issue's publication. From Prog 25, Massimo Belardinelli
drew the concluding episodes of the first series and would be retained as its regular artist for the strip's reinvention as Inferno.
Progs 1 — 27, 2000 AD Annual 1978, 2000 AD Annual 1979 (29 episodes)
Timeline: 21st Century
Script: Pat Mills
, Tom Tully
(Prog 1)
Art: Dave Gibbons
(Prog 1, Harlem Heroes pages 1 – 4), Carlos Trigo (Prog 1, Harlem Heroes page 5)
Progs 36 — 75 (40 episodes)
Timeline: 2078
Script: Tom Tully
Art: Massimo Belardinelli
graduates from Mega-City One's Academy of Law, much to the delight of his proud father, John 'Giant' Clay.
Progs 27 — 28 (2 episodes)
Timeline: 2099
Script: John Wagner
Art: Ian Gibson
(part 1), Mike McMahon
(part 2)
Progs 671 — 676, 683 — 699, 701 — 705/745 — 749/776 — 779/928 — 939 (49 episodes)
Timeline: 2109
Progs 671 — 676, 683 — 699, 701 — 705 (28 episodes)
Script: Michael Fleisher
Art: Steve Dillon
and Kev Walker
(parts 1 — 16, 18 — 21, 23 — 26)
Progs 745 — 749 (5 episodes)
Script: Michael Fleisher
Art: Geoff Senior
Progs 776 — 779 (4 episodes)
Script: Michael Fleisher
Art: Ron Smith
Progs 928 — 939 (12 episodes)
Script: Michael Fleisher
Art: Kev Hopgood and Siku
#216 (1 episode)
Timeline: 2126
Script: Gordon Rennie
Art: Rufus Dayglo
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
comic
Comics
Comics denotes a hybrid medium having verbal side of its vocabulary tightly tied to its visual side in order to convey narrative or information only, the latter in case of non-fiction comics, seeking synergy by using both visual and verbal side in...
strip that formed part of the original line-up ('Thrill 5') of 2000 AD
2000 AD (comic)
2000 AD is a weekly British science fiction-oriented comic. As a comics anthology it serialises a number of separate stories each issue and was first published by IPC Magazines in 1977, the first issue dated 26 February. IPC then shifted the title to its Fleetway comics subsidiary which was sold...
. Inspired by the popularity during the 1970s of kung fu films
Hong Kong action cinema
Hong Kong action cinema is the principal source of the Hong Kong film industry's global fame. It combines elements from the action film, as codified by Hollywood, with Chinese storytelling and aesthetic traditions, to create a culturally distinctive form that nevertheless has a wide transcultural...
and the Harlem Globetrotters
Harlem Globetrotters
The Harlem Globetrotters are an exhibition basketball team that combines athleticism, theater and comedy. The executive offices for the team are currently in downtown Phoenix, Arizona; the team is owned by Shamrock Holdings, which oversees the various investments of the Roy E. Disney family.Over...
, Harlem Heroes was devised by Pat Mills
Pat Mills
Pat Mills, nicknamed 'the godfather of British comics', is a comics writer and editor who, along with John Wagner, revitalised British boys comics in the 1970s, and has remained a leading light in British comics ever since....
, employing elements from his Hellball comic strip, and scripted by Tom Tully
Tom Tully (comic writer)
Tom Tully is a noted British comic writer mostly of sports and action stories. He is probably most famous as the longest-running writer of the popular football-themed strip Roy of the Rovers, which he wrote for much of Roy Race's playing career until the weekly comic closed in 1993.-Biography:From...
. Initially, the series was to have been drawn by Carlos Trigo but the Spanish artist was replaced by Dave Gibbons
Dave Gibbons
Dave Gibbons is an English comic book artist, writer and sometime letterer. He is best known for his collaborations with writer Alan Moore, which include the miniseries Watchmen and the Superman story "For the Man Who Has Everything"...
prior to the first issue's publication. From Prog 25, Massimo Belardinelli
Massimo Belardinelli
Massimo Belardinelli was an Italian comics artist best known for his work in the British science fiction comic 2000 AD.-Biography:...
drew the concluding episodes of the first series and would be retained as its regular artist for the strip's reinvention as Inferno.
Harlem Heroes
By the year 2050, the game of Aeroball has swept the world! It's Football, Boxing, Kung Fu and Basketball all rolled into one! Players roar through the air wearing jet packs (controlled by buttons on their belts) and score "air strikes" by getting the ball in the "score tank". One of the top teams is the all-black Harlem Heroes!Summary [first series]
Having made it through the preliminary round of the World Aeroball Championship, the Harlem Heroes' team bus crashes, killing all but four players. Louis Mayer, his brain alone surviving the tragedy, convinces his three fellow survivors, 'Slim', 'Hairy', and team captain John 'Giant' Clay, that they can still win the championship title.Episodes
2000 AD2000 AD (comic)
2000 AD is a weekly British science fiction-oriented comic. As a comics anthology it serialises a number of separate stories each issue and was first published by IPC Magazines in 1977, the first issue dated 26 February. IPC then shifted the title to its Fleetway comics subsidiary which was sold...
Progs 1 — 27, 2000 AD Annual 1978, 2000 AD Annual 1979 (29 episodes)
Timeline: 21st Century
- "The Sport of Tomorrow" -- Prog 1 (1 episode)
- "The Berlin Blitzkreigs" -- 2000 AD Annual 1978 (1 episode)
- "[title required]" -- 2000 AD Annual 1979 (1 episode)
- "The Baltimore Bulls" -- Progs 2 — 5 (4 episodes)
- "The Siberian Wolves" -- Progs 6 — 8 (3 episodes)
- "The Montezuma Mashers" -- Progs 9 — 11 (3 episodes)
- "The Flying Scotsmen" -- Progs 12 — 15 (4 episodes)
- "Gorgon's Gargoyles" -- Progs 16 — 21 (5 episodes)
- "The Bushido Blades" -- Progs 22 — 24 (3 episodes)
- "The Teutonic Titans" -- 25 — 27 (3 episodes)
Script: Pat Mills
Pat Mills
Pat Mills, nicknamed 'the godfather of British comics', is a comics writer and editor who, along with John Wagner, revitalised British boys comics in the 1970s, and has remained a leading light in British comics ever since....
, Tom Tully
Tom Tully (comic writer)
Tom Tully is a noted British comic writer mostly of sports and action stories. He is probably most famous as the longest-running writer of the popular football-themed strip Roy of the Rovers, which he wrote for much of Roy Race's playing career until the weekly comic closed in 1993.-Biography:From...
(Prog 1)
- Tom Tully (Progs 2 — 27)
Art: Dave Gibbons
Dave Gibbons
Dave Gibbons is an English comic book artist, writer and sometime letterer. He is best known for his collaborations with writer Alan Moore, which include the miniseries Watchmen and the Superman story "For the Man Who Has Everything"...
(Prog 1, Harlem Heroes pages 1 – 4), Carlos Trigo (Prog 1, Harlem Heroes page 5)
- Dave Gibbons (Prog 2 — 24)
- Massimo BelardinelliMassimo BelardinelliMassimo Belardinelli was an Italian comics artist best known for his work in the British science fiction comic 2000 AD.-Biography:...
(Progs 25 — 27)
Summary
2000 AD2000 AD (comic)
2000 AD is a weekly British science fiction-oriented comic. As a comics anthology it serialises a number of separate stories each issue and was first published by IPC Magazines in 1977, the first issue dated 26 February. IPC then shifted the title to its Fleetway comics subsidiary which was sold...
Progs 36 — 75 (40 episodes)
Timeline: 2078
Script: Tom Tully
Art: Massimo Belardinelli
Judge Dredd
"Never mind, Citizen Giant. Look at it this way -- you've lost a son but Mega-City One has gained a darned fine Judge."The Academy of Law
Judge Giant seniorJudge Giant
Judge Giant can refer to either of two fictional characters appearing in the Judge Dredd comic strip in 2000 AD. They are father and son...
graduates from Mega-City One's Academy of Law, much to the delight of his proud father, John 'Giant' Clay.
Episodes
2000 AD2000 AD (comic)
2000 AD is a weekly British science fiction-oriented comic. As a comics anthology it serialises a number of separate stories each issue and was first published by IPC Magazines in 1977, the first issue dated 26 February. IPC then shifted the title to its Fleetway comics subsidiary which was sold...
Progs 27 — 28 (2 episodes)
Timeline: 2099
Script: John Wagner
John Wagner
John Wagner is a comics writer who was born in Pennsylvania in 1949 and moved to Scotland as a boy. Alongside Pat Mills, Wagner was responsible for revitalising British boys' comics in the 1970s, and has continued to be a leading light in British comics ever since.He is best known for his work on...
Art: Ian Gibson
Ian Gibson (artist)
Ian Gibson is a British comic book artist, best known for his 1980s black-and-white work for 2000 AD, especially as the main artist on Robo-Hunter and The Ballad of Halo Jones, as well as his long run on Judge Dredd.-Biography:...
(part 1), Mike McMahon
Mike McMahon (comics)
Michael McMahon is a British comics artist best known for his work on 2000 AD characters such as Judge Dredd, Sláine and ABC Warriors, and the mini-series The Last American....
(part 2)
Summary [second series]
2000 AD2000 AD (comic)
2000 AD is a weekly British science fiction-oriented comic. As a comics anthology it serialises a number of separate stories each issue and was first published by IPC Magazines in 1977, the first issue dated 26 February. IPC then shifted the title to its Fleetway comics subsidiary which was sold...
Progs 671 — 676, 683 — 699, 701 — 705/745 — 749/776 — 779/928 — 939 (49 episodes)
Timeline: 2109
"Harlem Heroes"
2000 AD2000 AD (comic)
2000 AD is a weekly British science fiction-oriented comic. As a comics anthology it serialises a number of separate stories each issue and was first published by IPC Magazines in 1977, the first issue dated 26 February. IPC then shifted the title to its Fleetway comics subsidiary which was sold...
Progs 671 — 676, 683 — 699, 701 — 705 (28 episodes)
Script: Michael Fleisher
Michael Fleisher
Michael L. "Mike" Fleisher is an American writer known for his DC Comics of the 1970s and 1980s, particularly for the characters the Spectre and Jonah Hex.-Early life and career:...
Art: Steve Dillon
Steve Dillon
Steve Dillon is a British comic book artist, from Luton, Bedfordshire, best known for his work with writer Garth Ennis on Hellblazer, Preacher and The Punisher.-Biography:...
and Kev Walker
Kev Walker
Kevin "Kev" Walker is a British comics artist and illustrator, based in Leeds, who worked mainly on 2000 AD and Warhammer comics and the collectible card game Magic: The Gathering...
(parts 1 — 16, 18 — 21, 23 — 26)
- Steve Dillon and Simon Jacob (part 17)
- Steve Dillon (part 22)
- Simon Jacob (part 27)
- Kev HopgoodKev HopgoodKev Hopgood is a British comic artist who has been drawing comic books since 1984. He specializes in artwork for science fiction and fantasy comics.-Biography:...
(part 28)
Death Sport
2000 AD2000 AD (comic)
2000 AD is a weekly British science fiction-oriented comic. As a comics anthology it serialises a number of separate stories each issue and was first published by IPC Magazines in 1977, the first issue dated 26 February. IPC then shifted the title to its Fleetway comics subsidiary which was sold...
Progs 745 — 749 (5 episodes)
Script: Michael Fleisher
Art: Geoff Senior
Geoff Senior
Geoff Senior is a British artist, best known for his work in the comic book field in the 1980s, mainly for Marvel UK. Senior is perhaps best remembered for his art for the Marvel Transformers series.-Biography:...
Grey Ghost Overflight
2000 AD2000 AD (comic)
2000 AD is a weekly British science fiction-oriented comic. As a comics anthology it serialises a number of separate stories each issue and was first published by IPC Magazines in 1977, the first issue dated 26 February. IPC then shifted the title to its Fleetway comics subsidiary which was sold...
Progs 776 — 779 (4 episodes)
Script: Michael Fleisher
Art: Ron Smith
Ron Smith (artist)
Ron Smith, born 1924, is a retired British comic artist whose career spanned almost almost fifty years, during which time he built a solid reputation as one of the most popular and well respected illustrators working in his field....
Cyborg Death Trip
2000 AD2000 AD (comic)
2000 AD is a weekly British science fiction-oriented comic. As a comics anthology it serialises a number of separate stories each issue and was first published by IPC Magazines in 1977, the first issue dated 26 February. IPC then shifted the title to its Fleetway comics subsidiary which was sold...
Progs 928 — 939 (12 episodes)
Script: Michael Fleisher
Art: Kev Hopgood and Siku
Siku (comics)
Siku is the pseudonym of British/Nigerian artist and writer Ajibayo Akinsiku, best known for his work in 2000 AD.-Biography:Siku studied design and printing at the Yaba’s School of Art, and theology at the London School of Theology....
Whatever Happened to John "Giant" Clay?
Judge Dredd MegazineJudge Dredd Megazine
Judge Dredd: The Megazine is a monthly British comic magazine, launched in October 1990. It is a sister publication to 2000 AD. Its name is a play on words, formed from "magazine" and Dredd's locale Mega-City One.-Content:...
#216 (1 episode)
Timeline: 2126
Script: Gordon Rennie
Gordon Rennie
Gordon Rennie is a comics writer, responsible for White Trash: Moronic Inferno, as well as several comic strips for 2000 AD and novels for Warhammer Fantasy....
Art: Rufus Dayglo
Rufus Dayglo
Rufus Dayglo is a London-based comics artist working for 2000 AD and Titan Books in the United Kingdom, and IDW Publishing and Image Comics in the United States...
Continuity
- Harlem Heroes episodes 8 and 9 make reference to Mega-City OneMega-City OneMega-City One is a huge fictional city-state covering much of what is now the Eastern United States in the Judge Dredd comic book series. The exact boundaries of the city depend on which artist has drawn the story...
, the vast megalopolis patrolled by Judge DreddJudge DreddJudge Joseph Dredd is a comics character whose strip in the British science fiction anthology 2000 AD is the magazine's longest running . Dredd is an American law enforcement officer in a violent city of the future where uniformed Judges combine the powers of police, judge, jury and executioner...
.
- Judge Dredd is the graduating officer of Judge Giant senior.