Volgans

Volgans

Gallery

Real name

Volgans

Alignment

Bad

Universe

2000 AD

Origin

Creators

Pat Mills

First appearance

2000 AD prog 1

History[]

The Volgan Republic is the name adopted by the former USSR in the alternate world inhabited by Bill Savage, Peter Silk, Johnny Lawless and the ABC Warriors after Russia fell to a fascist military group led by Marshal Vashkov in 1991. The Volgans invaded Britain in order to seize its newly-discovered North Sea oil reserves in 1999, after making a secret agreement with the United States to effectively share control of the world with them. The Volgans also conquered most of Western Europe in the Eight Hour War, but were opposed on several fronts, notably by the British resistance led by Bill Savage. They occupied their conquered territories well into the 21st century however, using both human and later robot troops (including General Blackblood and his Straw Dogs) before eventually being comprehensively defeated by the ABC Warriors, robot soldiers developed by industrialist Howard Quartz. The last Volgan War was conclusively ended by the indestructible robot Steelhorn, the ultimate ABC Warrior.

Powers and abilities[]

Abilities

Armed combat.

Strength level

The strength of a heavily-armed and aggressive nation with all the resources and territory of what used to be Russia.

Weaknesses

As they are the designated villains in whatever strip they appear in, they always lose in the end.

Paraphernalia[]

Transportation

Tanks; armoured troop carriers; helicopters; planes; ships.

Weapons

Yes.

Notes[]

The Volgans (who were originally intended to be Russians) first appeared in Invasion! in 2000 AD prog 1, created by writer Pat Mills. They have since become a thread linking several of Mills' 2000 AD strips, including ABC Warriors, Savage and Ro-Busters, as well as cropping up in sister title Tornado in The Lawless Touch.
Kelvin Gosnell recalls how, before prog 1 was published, the creative team were told that "We couldn't have the Russians invading Britain, it would upset the Russian embassy — call them something else. But every missile, every tank, every piece of kit in the artwork had the Russian star and the initials CCCP on it. Complete, utter nightmare. I think it was Kev O'Neill who came up with the new name for the invaders, the Volgan Republic of Asia. We spend the night before press going through every one of the panels whiting out CCCP and the Russian star, replacing them with the initials VRA." (Thrill-Power Overload by David Bishop.)
The Volga, a.k.a. 'Mother Volga', is seen by many as Russia's national river. It is the third longest river in Russia.

Trivia[]

The Volgans wasted no time reshaping Britain in their image. During their occupation Wembley Stadium was renamed Victory Stadium, Trafalgar Square became Volga Square, and non-Volgans were banned from entering luxury goods shops in the West End.