The Tower King
Encyclopedia
The Tower King was a comic series published in the British
comic book
Eagle
, from issue 1
(dated March 27, 1982) to issue 24 (dated September 4, 1982).
It was written by Alan Hebden and drawn by José Ortiz
.
. Escaping from the cliché
of nuclear war
, the apocalypse was caused by a malfunctioning solar-powered
satellite
, somehow bathing the Earth
in radiation that made the production of electricity
in any form impossible. Without heating, transport, food, or communication, and in the middle of a heavy winter
, London swiftly fell to mass panic
, resulting in pseudo-medieval anarchy; the state of the rest of Britain or other countries was not explored during the strip.
Unlike many of the early Eagle strips, The Tower King was in drawn rather than photographic format; the strip's creators made use of the opportunity by juxtapositioning jarring visual elements, such as historic London landmarks strewn with the rubble of modern buildings, or soldiers in patchwork armor complete with pocket watches and police
helmets, armed with both halberd
s and grenade
s.
The main character was Mick Tempest, a natural-born soldier
and leader
, with a down-to-earth demeanour (and a more than passing resemblance to depictions of Jesus
). He organised his neighbourhood into a group, sharing protection and food in the face of rioters and looters, and then negotiated entry into the Tower of London
for protection, Britain's monarchy
apparently having been killed in the chaos. He was captured in an assault on the Tower by Lord Spencer, a self-styled feudal warlord
, who tried to publicly behead Tempest on Tower Green
when he refused to swear fealty. They were attacked by Tube Rats, a vicious group who had taken over the defunct London Underground
system; in the battle, Tempest proved his worth to Spencer as an equal rather than a lieutenant.
Tempest, Spencer, and their army slowly regained control over parts of central London, encountering a hospital
containing medical staff who had become insane due to events and had started a cult
around worship of human organs; a group called the Wreckers who drove hand-cranked diesel
-powered tanks and trains; and an 'electric temple' inside a power station
, within which another deranged group of people worshipped electricity, pretending it to still exist.
The electricity-interfering satellite had been destroyed by meteor impact shortly before, a fact Tempest discovered when he switched the station's generators on to prove electricity was never coming back. The strip ended with Tempest vowing to re-create the world without the many social problems wrought by modern technology
.
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 book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
Eagle
Eagle (comic)
Eagle was a seminal British children's comic, first published from 1950 to 1969, and then in a relaunched format from 1982 to 1994. It was founded by Marcus Morris, an Anglican vicar from Lancashire. Morris edited a parish magazine called The Anvil, but felt that the church was not communicating...
, from issue 1
Issue 1
Issue 1 is an expression which refers to the first edition of a publication such as a magazine, comic, or e-zine, and is also used to denote the initial direction or output of creativity.Issue 1s are often sought for the following reasons:...
(dated March 27, 1982) to issue 24 (dated September 4, 1982).
It was written by Alan Hebden and drawn by José Ortiz
José Ortiz (comics)
José Ortiz Moya is a Spanish comics artist, best known for several collaborations with Antonio Segura, such as the series Hombre.-Biography:...
.
Plot
The story was set in a post-apocalyptic modern-day LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Escaping from the cliché
Cliché
A cliché or cliche is an expression, idea, or element of an artistic work which has been overused to the point of losing its original meaning or effect, especially when at some earlier time it was considered meaningful or novel. In phraseology, the term has taken on a more technical meaning,...
of nuclear war
Nuclear warfare
Nuclear warfare, or atomic warfare, is a military conflict or political strategy in which nuclear weaponry is detonated on an opponent. Compared to conventional warfare, nuclear warfare can be vastly more destructive in range and extent of damage...
, the apocalypse was caused by a malfunctioning solar-powered
Solar power
Solar energy, radiant light and heat from the sun, has been harnessed by humans since ancient times using a range of ever-evolving technologies. Solar radiation, along with secondary solar-powered resources such as wind and wave power, hydroelectricity and biomass, account for most of the available...
satellite
Satellite
In the context of spaceflight, a satellite is an object which has been placed into orbit by human endeavour. Such objects are sometimes called artificial satellites to distinguish them from natural satellites such as the Moon....
, somehow bathing the Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
in radiation that made the production of electricity
Electricity
Electricity is a general term encompassing a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena, such as lightning, static electricity, and the flow of electrical current in an electrical wire...
in any form impossible. Without heating, transport, food, or communication, and in the middle of a heavy winter
Winter
Winter is the coldest season of the year in temperate climates, between autumn and spring. At the winter solstice, the days are shortest and the nights are longest, with days lengthening as the season progresses after the solstice.-Meteorology:...
, London swiftly fell to mass panic
Hysteria
Hysteria, in its colloquial use, describes unmanageable emotional excesses. People who are "hysterical" often lose self-control due to an overwhelming fear that may be caused by multiple events in one's past that involved some sort of severe conflict; the fear can be centered on a body part, or,...
, resulting in pseudo-medieval anarchy; the state of the rest of Britain or other countries was not explored during the strip.
Unlike many of the early Eagle strips, The Tower King was in drawn rather than photographic format; the strip's creators made use of the opportunity by juxtapositioning jarring visual elements, such as historic London landmarks strewn with the rubble of modern buildings, or soldiers in patchwork armor complete with pocket watches and police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
helmets, armed with both halberd
Halberd
A halberd is a two-handed pole weapon that came to prominent use during the 14th and 15th centuries. Possibly the word halberd comes from the German words Halm , and Barte - in modern-day German, the weapon is called Hellebarde. The halberd consists of an axe blade topped with a spike mounted on...
s and grenade
Grenade
A grenade is a small explosive device that is projected a safe distance away by its user. Soldiers called grenadiers specialize in the use of grenades. The term hand grenade refers any grenade designed to be hand thrown. Grenade Launchers are firearms designed to fire explosive projectile grenades...
s.
The main character was Mick Tempest, a natural-born soldier
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
and leader
Leadership
Leadership has been described as the “process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task". Other in-depth definitions of leadership have also emerged.-Theories:...
, with a down-to-earth demeanour (and a more than passing resemblance to depictions of Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
). He organised his neighbourhood into a group, sharing protection and food in the face of rioters and looters, and then negotiated entry into the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
for protection, Britain's monarchy
Monarchy
A monarchy is a form of government in which the office of head of state is usually held until death or abdication and is often hereditary and includes a royal house. In some cases, the monarch is elected...
apparently having been killed in the chaos. He was captured in an assault on the Tower by Lord Spencer, a self-styled feudal warlord
Warlord
A warlord is a person with power who has both military and civil control over a subnational area due to armed forces loyal to the warlord and not to a central authority. The term can also mean one who espouses the ideal that war is necessary, and has the means and authority to engage in war...
, who tried to publicly behead Tempest on Tower Green
Tower Green
Tower Green is a space within the Tower of London where two English Queens consort and five other British nobles were executed by beheading. The Tower Green is located on a space south of the Chapel Royal of St. Peter ad Vincula...
when he refused to swear fealty. They were attacked by Tube Rats, a vicious group who had taken over the defunct London Underground
London Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
system; in the battle, Tempest proved his worth to Spencer as an equal rather than a lieutenant.
Tempest, Spencer, and their army slowly regained control over parts of central London, encountering a hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
containing medical staff who had become insane due to events and had started a cult
Cult
The word cult in current popular usage usually refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are considered abnormal or bizarre. The word originally denoted a system of ritual practices...
around worship of human organs; a group called the Wreckers who drove hand-cranked diesel
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
-powered tanks and trains; and an 'electric temple' inside a power station
Power station
A power station is an industrial facility for the generation of electric energy....
, within which another deranged group of people worshipped electricity, pretending it to still exist.
The electricity-interfering satellite had been destroyed by meteor impact shortly before, a fact Tempest discovered when he switched the station's generators on to prove electricity was never coming back. The strip ended with Tempest vowing to re-create the world without the many social problems wrought by modern technology
Technology
Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
.