Moon Madness

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''' MOON MADNESS '''

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'''                           By Alan Smith and Irmantas Povilaika. '''

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'''In the history of British comics there have been many very bizarre adventure strips. Some really way out contenders are `The Mind Stealers` from `Lion` circa 1968-69. There was the 1970 `Hotspur` story `The Jungle from Nowhere` about a tropical jungle that sprouted up across the Welsh border! Then there was the very strange (initially) `Watch Out for the White Eyes` in 1972 `Lion and Thunder` in which any person or creature which inhaled the fumes from broken glass phials became super strong and with eyes turning white! '''

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'''I vaguely recall a girl’s comic story about a school and its inhabitants suddenly finding themselves on Mars! Then there was a really spooky `Zero X` strip in 1969 `TV 21` concerning jet black sentient, and very malevolent leaves, each having a large eye which could control people if it covered their face! Uugh! Spooky! '''

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'However, the story that haunted me for years after I first read it, and is possibly more `way out` than any of those strips I just mentioned was called “Moon Madness''”. Of all the quirky, oddball strips ever to appear in UK comics over the years, it must surely rank as the most `off the wall` of all of them! '''

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'In one sense “Moon Madness''” would have been better suited to the 1950s as by 1966 with great strides in astronomical science quite a lot about what kind of life might (or most likely `not`) exist on the Moon was known. I do recall on the six-O’-clock news, a terse Patrick Moore dismissing a naïve reporters question when the first pictures of the Moons surface were relayed back from Luna-9, regarding the possibility of catching sight of a `Moon creature`! Mr Moore stated, partially sarcastically, that only if virus or bacterial life might have grown very large there might such a sighting is possible. '''

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'However, though science fact made the premise of “Moon Madness''” quite untenable, it did not stop it being an utter delight to read and enjoy. '''

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'''It appeared in the Odhams group comic `Smash` as a two page offering for seven weeks dated 2nd April to 14th May 1966. It was actually conceived by group editor Alf Wallace and drawn brilliantly in black and white by artist Brian Lewis. '''

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'''Issue eight of `Smash` actually gave a preview of the coming story by displaying part of a real life newspaper story concerning the recent Luna-9 Soviet probe Moon landing. Luna-9 was the first ever successful attempt at a soft landing by an Earth probe which back in early 1966 looked to have given the Soviets a clear lead in the race to get a man on the Moon. '''

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'''Next to the editorial was a roughly drawn sketch of the Soviet craft about to land on the lunar surface. Next to this was a not too convincing drawing of a large monstrous claw! Thankfully, the strip itself when it commenced the following week would be drawn to far, far higher degree by accomplished artist Brian Lewis. '''

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'''Alf Wallace had cleverly used the real life Moon landing by the Soviets of unmanned probe Luna-9. The craft had safely touched down on 3rd February 1966 in the area of the Moon known as Oceanus Procellarum (Ocean of Storms) it then started transmitting data by radio signals back to Earth. '''

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'''The probe terminated its transmissions as was duly expected. Back in 1966 there were no means of re-booting a probe as in the fashion the recent `Voyager` deep space probe had been updated from Earth recently. The Russians had the technology for a few solar panels to recharge batteries when Luna-9 had finished, all expected that to be that! '''

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'''Inexplicably though! After a few hours it moved its position and restarted transmitting on a different wavelength! Sir Bernard Lovall at Jodrell Bank observatory was totally perplexed by the turn of events. To this day it is unknown as to why Luna-9 s moved position before recommencing transmitting again for a time and on a different frequency! It finally ceased altogether on 6th February 1966. '''

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'With this mystery fresh in mind, the story of `Moon Madness''` was unveiled to readers of `Smash` in issue No 9 dated April 2nd 1966. '''

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'The strip actually sported two differing titles (though nearly identical) the initial issue, issues two and six are titled “Moon Madness”, the others of the run of seven are affixed “The Moon Madness''”. So, it’s a matter of choice, I have used the former for this article. . . . Oh! And the title is nothing to do with a certain wild-man drummer of the `Who` rock group! '''

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                             ''' EPISODE ONE  2nd APRIL 1966. '''

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'''The opening panel in the strip is an introductory sample for the tone of the story. This truly haunting picture, drawn to perfection by Brian Lewis, shows the by then opened (like a flower) petal arrangement of Luna-9 allowing the spring loaded aerials to function. This and the whole strip were drawn in black and white, which worked far better with this type of tale. '''

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'''In the distance of the bleak lunar landscape lies stage four, the `payload` section of the craft that had separated just before touchdown. The full globe of planet Earth is displayed at about 30 degrees above lunar horizon. Far more intriguing though is the sight of a diaphanous form, barely humanoid and that is partly transparent, as part of the Earth can be seen shining through it! '''

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'''What could this mean? As a ten year old reader, I was instantly hooked by the premise. '''

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'''This story proper begins with an atypical family discussing the newspaper headlines concerning the probe’s lunar landing, of which the Father of the household does not have much confidence in meddling with things in outer space. '''

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'''A caption informs readers that after relaying data and photographs, the transmissions ceased, (which in reality they did for some hours) we are then told that after some days the probe `awoke` and began relaying information to Earth once more. This is where reality ends and fiction begins. '''

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'''That evening of the recommenced transmissions, all across the U.K dogs begin to howl and cats to screech as if in torment. Perhaps it is an omen of things to come? '''

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'''The following morning up in the Perthshire farm of farmer Fairlie, he and his labourer are about their mornings work when they are distracted by a loud bellowing noise. Fairlie deduces it is coming from the old bull that is in the ten-acre field. He drives over by land rover to investigate. '''

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'''To his amazement, in the adjoining field to where the bull is penned there is a raised mound. It is about six feet in height and stretching out for a long distance. He knows that he only planted turnips in that field, so what can it be? '''

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'''He phones the local constable who then contacts a nearby R.A.F base at Kinross. '''

'''With not too much work at present, there is time to send up a helicopter manned by a sergeant and a corporal. Both men gasp in utter astonishment as they reach the designated field. “Sarge! Do you realise what that thing down there is?” cries the amazed Corporal as they hover above the shape. '''

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'''From their high perspective they can clearly see that the `mound` has the shape and form of a huge hairy arm and hand that stretch at least 100 feet, or about 33 metres in length. The hand has only three fingers. The bull in the adjoining field can be seen furiously charging the fencing separating the field in ever desperate attempts to break through to the shape. '''

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'''The men report back to their superior officer what they had seen. Though he believes them, their chief cannot report exactly what they believe it is as it is so bizarre; instead he will pass it along as an unidentified object to be investigated. '''

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'''Meanwhile back at the farm the enraged bull has finally broken through to the field where the object lies; it rushes towards it furiously. Suddenly! The hair covered arm moves and three huge clawed fingers and a clawed thumb, which had been buried fully below ground, have the bull in a vice like grip! Exit one bull! '''

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'“YOU DARE NOT MISS NEXT WEEK’S FANTASTIC INSTALMENT OF `MOON MADNESS''!” declared the excited caption below the final panels of the second page of the strip. I certainly dared not and made certain I bought next weeks `Smash` as soon as it came out. '''

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'''Episode one was a superbly intriguing start to this story, with Brian Lewis outstanding artwork complementing it wonderfully. The story was rather oblique in that it did not clearly tell readers what was happening, but rather hinted at events. This style of storytelling really kept the story enthralling in my view. '''

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'''This was summed up by the panel portraying both cats and dogs reacting during the night of the recommenced transmissions relaying to readers that something bad was happening, but not exactly what it was. The sight of the giant arm in the farmers field set the mind speculating on how it got there, which ensured that readers such as me were desperate for next weeks issue. '''

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                         ''' EPISODE TWO  9th APRIL 1966. '''

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'''The second episode opens with a huge panel that fully complements the image of the giant hairy arm and hand rearing up in the manner of a snake. We now see a 1930s open top `roadster` speeding along a north Scottish road. Its driver is government scientist, Professor John Silverlight who has been asked to look into the mystery. '''

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'''His thoughts reveal he feels it is a waste of time. “A strange object appears in a field. A bull dies – and I’m asked to make an inspection. Ah, well it’s a nice day for a drive” he muses. '''

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'''The next moment he gasps in astonishment as a great shape blocks the road. His car is grasped by great clawed fingers and lifted high. The car now falls to ground leaving Silverlight struggling in the grasp of the great hand. He manages to squirm free and falls to ground, luckily landing in a large patch of muddy soil which cushions his fall. '''

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'''Struggling to his feet, Silverlight makes for a small village which he had only just passed through prior to his horrifying encounter. He blurts out his story to the first villagers he meets, but quite naturally, they think he is delirious, and he does seem to be coming on to a fever. '''

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'''As Silverlight is helped to rest in one of the cottages, two of the villagers decide to take a walk to the end of the village for a look, just in case there is something that terrified the poor fellow. Their scepticism is shattered as to their horror the raving mans tale is true! A great clawed hand demolishes a cottage as it pulls itself slowly across the village outskirts. '''

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'''The scene now changes to Wiltshire where a group of army officers have alighted from their land rover close to Stonehenge in Salisbury plain. The reason for their hurried arrival is another great mound right next to the ancient stones. As two of the officers confer one of their subordinates cries out and points at the mound, it is beginning to move! '''

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'''To their utter astonishment the shape struggles upright to reveal to their amazed eyes that it is a huge pair of densely matted hairy legs and a lower torso, rising to some 150 feet, or 45 metres in height! “Run! Run for your lives!” the senior officer cries out in horror as the figure looms above the men and stones. '''

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'''The caption at the bottom of the page read “NEXT WEEK: THE SHADOW OF FEAR” '''

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'''Thankfully, for young readers sensitivities, the legs and lower torso are not designated with any discernible gender, so that was one less thing to worry about! The legs do not seem to have any apparent feet either; they end at the bottom rather like an elephants. I did wonder if any feet might turn up later, but that never happened as the legs were obviously meant to be like that. '''

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'''Initially, it seemed that the character of John Silverlight was just an incidental figure in the story as he disappeared after reaching the village. He would actually be very vital to the core of the story, but in episode two that was not yet apparent. '''

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'''A superb episode! The mystery deepened by yet another body part appearing. I was totally hooked and the next `Smash` day could not arrive too soon! '''

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