Nemesis The Warlock: Eps 13 & 14
I was surprised to find at least two 2000AD fans recently took considerable exception on X to changes in Joe Pineapples. One objected to him speaking English in this episode.
I’m blown away by Nemesis the Warlock: the Definitive Edition. My compliments to the publishers, Rebellion, and especially their designer Gemma Sheldrake for the truly inspired front and back covers.
Such a Definitive Edition requires a Definitive Commentary, a companion piece for when you’re looking at the beautiful art by art-creator Kevin O’Neill and the other talented artists that followed him. So it’s time for The Secret History of Nemesis the Warlock, an episode by episode revelation of what really went on behind the scenes.
Episode Thirteen - The return of Mongrol and Blackblood
The Mongrol plot was inspired by the film Nightmare Alley, starring Tyrone Power, who ends up as ‘the Geek’ which had a different meaning in 1947 when the film was made. Power ends up in a degrading role in a circus sideshow as ‘the Geek’, eating live chickens. Similarly, Mongrol is ‘the Gawk’.
For anyone interested in circus stories from that era I’d recommend books by Daniel P. Mannix. He also wrote the really excellent ‘Those About To Die’ about the Roman arena, which inspired Ridley Scott’s Gladiator. I recall Mannix seemed to be hated by historians for his supposed historical errors and his books were seen as trashy. What greater recommendation could there be? I loved them. And Mannix had real-life experience for his theories about life in the arena, which the academics had not.
Mongrol also has a gladiatorial role here as ‘The Gawk’, deliberately being beaten up by other robots for the amusement of the crowd.
Meanwhile, Blackblood is selling addictive games to other robots and has a girlfriend who rejoices in the name Ruby Yum Yum Gluck.
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