Reptil by John Catchpole and Angus Peter Allen. Episode Seven. The Slave Army.

Reptile.

Show more

John Catchpole, and Angus Peter Allan.

Episode Seven.

The Slave Army.

Thanks to Mark Bowen, the police now know the sinister secret of the famous professor Andros Androphis, whom has the power to transform into a reptile and whose goal is to dominate the world by terror.
After many adventures, Mark and some policemen find themselves locked in the basement of the professor's house with speckled snakes.

Keep whistling, to charm the snakes!
You, give me that gun!
I have to remove the seals from the cartridges.
Here is my penknife, mister!

Fast! Fast! Provided that the snakes do not get excited.
The pellets would ricochet everywhere and risk injuring us.
I think the powder charge will suffice.

That's it! You, the whistler, get out of the way!
Huh!

Page Two.

Le Blam! Deja vu Ka-bang! Soufflé Ka-bang!

They are all dead!
Now you have to reach that lever to open the gate.

There!
Now we can take care of the professor!
The whole country needs to be alerted!

Yes, I don't know, we are not at the end of our troubles, I can swear that to you!

At the same time.
The time has come, come to make a spark the whole world will speak off!
An ampoule of my wonderful preparation.

Huh!
My blood freezes in my veins!
My strength is growing!
Growing! Growing!
I metamorphose!

Page Three.

Yes! Yes!
The time has come to strike, yes!

And it is not those ridiculous bars that will stop me!

Yes, yes! Hiss!
My body is, hiss, like rubber!

My hands are lined with adhesive scales, like those of the gecko!

Yes! Hiss!
There are more explosives, hiss, than I need!

Page Four.

And then Suddenly.
Hey! What is this!?
Hiss!

You can do nothing against me, you little fool!
Huh! Who are you!

Sleep! Sleep!
Huh!

Only two hours later the news was known at the police headquarters.
What you predicted is happening!
Androphis has just knocked out a guard from the Corman Company to seize a package of explosives!

I don't understand!
If he wanted to rob a bank or accomplish any coup de main, his faculties as a "Reptile" as he says would be enough.
Maybe he wants to explode onto the public stage?

Page Five.

I believe you are right, Inspector Manning.

An instant later.
Alert to all patrols, to all police stations!
A dangerous criminal is about to blow up a building or a work of art!

What building? What work of art?
They don't say where this madman will strike.
They do not know!
This is what is most dangerous!

A little later.
You tell me that all targets that could be destroyed are being watched, Manning.
Yes, Yes! I'm not the good god, Bowen!
I can only do what I can!

At this same moment.
Yes! Yes!
I am also a real crocodile, when I please.
Yes! Yes! Here it is! My objective! The famous London Bridge!

Page Six.

The day will soon dawn and "Reptile" has not appeared, Bowen.
Maybe he's waiting for the day to.

Inspector! Westminster Bridge Guards!
They say they just saw something!
We are not far from it! Charge!

London Bridge!
The dream goal, for a nut!
There are already agents there!

Sorry Sir!
It was just this piece of wood.
You’ve got wood officer?
Wait! We believe we have thought of everything.

But there are also reptiles in the water!
You also have to view it from that side, Manning!

However.
Yes, yes! We will laugh! Yes! Yes! Hiss!
Page Seven.

And I will be able to do even more, when the most famous monument of the Thames sinks into the waters.

Manning! I see him!

I can shoot just to wound him sir!
No! The explosives might go off!

Young fool Mark Bowen!
But it's too late! Yes! Yes!
Nothing can stop me now!

Page Eight.

Thrak! Crackle!

A grappling hook! Fast!
What do you want to do?

It is madness!
And it is up to me to go!
There is no other solution! I know him well and you do not!

Poor fool!
If you want to prevent this charge from exploding, you arrive too late!
Yes! Yes!

And you jump with it, poor little fool!

Page Nine.

I could shoot that monster right now!
No! The bullet is likely to ricochet and injure Bowen.

I am too far! How to do it?

As I sway.

Oh! He was just.

Boom!

Page Ten.

Huh!

Gad! You came close, Mister Bowen!
Mad! As you say! Where is he?

The damn fool! He ruined everything!
You will pay for this! All of you!

You!
Huh!
The blood is warming in my veins! I suffer.

I am returning to myself faster than expected.

Page Eleven.

He lost his "Reptile" appearance!
Now he is just an old man and not very strong!
Towards him quickly!

Puff, puff! I have to return.
Puff, puff! A vial of my wonderful potion.
To become the invincible "Reptile" again.

You are no match for me in running professor!
You are cooked!

Unfortunately, at this time.
Sir! A ship is arriving over there!

The bridge employees will be forced to operate the tilting mechanism!
Gosh! And Bowen is right in the middle!

Page Twelve.

At that very moment indeed.
Wow! The pavement moves under my feet, thought Bowen.

The bridge is rising!
Groan, whine, clang, chug, chug.

No more catching up with the professor!

If only I could jump to the other side!
Too bad! I will give it a shot!

Page Thirteen.

Ouch! Just in time!

Now it's the two of us, Professor!

I need a few minutes of respite to take the potion.
And then I will be safe!

Oh! Ha-ha-ha!
Found a way to stop this young fool.

Gurgle! Gurgle!

Page Fourteen.

Bowen! I do not resist! I surrender!

Ha! Ha-ha-ha!
I don't have the slightest confidence in you, Professor Androphis!
Ha-ha-ha!
Lucky the breeze brings the smell of gasoline in my direction.
Approach you fool! Approach!

I am too old! I am exhausted, Bowen.
I surrender, I tell you!
So do not move!

I am not moving!
Just a little bit. A tiny bit.

I tremble, do you understand, at the thought of what will happen to me.

Page Fifteen.

Ha-ha-ha!
Or rather what will happen to you, young fool!
What is this!

A tanker truck! I understand!

Th-wumpf! Woosh!
Now the truck is going to jump!

Boom!

It is impossible to cross this curtain of flames!
This madman has escaped me again!

Page Sixteen.

Ha-ha-ha!
Time to become “Reptile” again!

Huh! The blood freezes in my veins!
My strength is growing, growing!

Then a police car appeared.

Hello? Hello! Inspector Manning!
The monster! It is here!

You dare you attack me, you poor fool?
We will see what we will see!

Ha-ha-ha!
What do you see now?
Thwack!

Page Seventeen.

Ah! I'm losing control of the car!

Ha-ha!
No one can do anything against the invisible "Reptile"!
Vram!

Goodbye to all of you gentlemen. Hiss!

Ha-ha-ha!
I just have a fantastic idea! Hiss!

I am going to strike a blow that will leave those poor fools speechless!

Ha-ha-ha! Police Headquarters.
I will climb up the wall.

Page Eighteen.

And you won't see me, because I also have the power to camouflage myself like the chameleon.

And to slip through the narrowest ways, like the serpent!

A moment later, in the office of the director of police.
Kabang!
Huh?

Oh!

Even before the unfortunate man realized what was happening to him, the serpent's head ring from "Reptile" had struck him in the hand.
Argh!

Page Nineteen.

The drug now circulating in your blood renders you completely harmless.
You must obey me.
I, I, must, obey, you!

Order to all units!
Abandon the search for Professor Andros Androphis.
Abandon it immediately!
Excellent! Hiss!

When the effect of the drug wears off you will remember nothing.
But, when you wake up, you will do what I am going to ask you!
I will do it!

However.
Abandon the search?
This is madness!
It is insane yes!

The more he anchors himself in his madness, the more dangerous the professor becomes!
You are right!
We will immediately speak to the director, to try to get him to reconsider the decision.

Page Twenty.

At full speed, the car arrives at New Scotland Yard, the police headquarters.
Skreech!

Exactly as, hiss, I expected!
Bowen and the police throw themselves head first into my trap!

Come in, gentlemen!
Director, I would like Mister Bowen to say a few words to you, sir.

Then there was a click in the brain of the head official.
Kill! Kill Mark Bowen!

But Mark had good eyes.
Those marks on the hand!
The marks of the professor's ring!

Page Twenty-One.

In the name of "Reptile" die!
Ou-la-la!

Manning!
Master it, by Jove!
Krack!

Thud!
Few! Just in time!

Quickly! A doctor!
Find out what drug the professor gave him!

Meanwhile, firmly convinced that his diabolical trick had obtained its expected ends, the "Reptile" was already far away.

Page Twenty-Two.

Ha-ha-ha!
I will quickly and conveniently get away, before my wonderful potion wears off!

When the day came, the professor had resumed his normal appearance.
I need to find another "Base" and I think I know where it will be.

Two hours later.
Let's see! I haven't been here for years.
Erh.
If I'm not mistaken it is two miles from here in this direction

And a little later.
The immense greenhouse!
It is there.

Page Twenty-Three.

What a pleasure to see you again, cousin Ebenezer!
Oh Andros! What a nice surprise!

What brings you to this lost place my good Andros?
I read your last communication to the academy.
Admirable!

On the giant carnivorous plant, my good Andros?
This is precisely my star, capable of devouring a calf in no time!

A calf. That is almost about the size of a man of your build, isn't it, dear cousin?
Ah! I hate that kind of joke!

Let us see Ebenezer.
Do I have a head for joking?
Feed me Seymour! Ah! Ah!

Page Twenty-Four.

It's even more efficient and faster than a python.
Ha-ha-ha! They are amusing, these botanicals!

Gorgeous greenhouses!
Heat and humidity!
Just what the dear little cuties I am going to bring back soon need!

Because I have to think about renewing my supply of potion.
Ha! My dear cousin had a truck, to transport the bulky plants.
Let us see!

A little later.
In this town I'm not known like in London.

Page Twenty-Five.

Meanwhile, in one of Scotland Yard's laboratories.
At first glance, the drug used by the professor is a derivative of cobra venom.

The Professor paralyzed him, and then took the opportunity to hypnotize him and suggest actions to him.
It is scary what you say, Bowen!

Imagine if he does the same thing with a member of the government, or the army?
What else do I know? The craziest things could happen!

However, at the Dunwich Zoo.
I must not take any missteps if I want to carry out my brilliant plan.

To start, let us create a little diversion.

Page Twenty-Six.

Not a person in sight.

An instant later.
Oh! A Fire!

Move along! Move along!
I will call the fire department, Fred.

Ha-ha-ha!
Just the expected result!
A little potion.

Page Twenty-Seven.

And yet again. My blood freezes in my veins! I am growing stronger and stronger, and stronger!
I am metamorphosing with the aid of Reptile Viagra!

Becoming "Reptile" again, the Professor emits a long whistle.

And immediately, in the building reserved for snakes.
Crash! Hiss!

Crash! Hiss!

Come, my darlings, come!

Page Twenty-Eight.

This way.

We profit from everyone being occupied over there to get away, and.

Run and close the doors of the other buildings, Morton!
The smoke could poison the animals!

Damnation! Something must be done quickly!

You take care of him!

Page Twenty-Nine.

A few seconds later.
Argh! What is this?!

Gulp!
Ha-ha! It is evil! Bravo!
You can leave him!

Hiss! Everyone in the wagon!

A few hours later.
Director Sir, the fire is out!
We evacuated the public, without saying a word about the snakes.
I see Morton. What happened exactly?

Page Thirty.

My opinion.
I think these animals have freed themselves.
To escape the fire!

I alerted the police.
But I was advised not to spread the news.
In any case, these animals cannot survive for long in our climate!
Of course, sir!
What is the use of triggering unnecessary panic!

Unfortunately the reptiles had found in the greenhouses of the cousin of Professor Androphis an infinitely more pleasant stay for them than the small cages of the zoo.

Ha-ha-ha-hiss!
Your Professor is here, hiss!

And I will soon carry out my projects!
For the moment, let me resume my human appearance.

Page Thirty-One.

The moment after.
The first Objective is going to be crazy fun!
What panic in perspective!

During that time.
He literally vanished!
But this zoo story bothers me.
Come on! Don’t imagine him everywhere Bowen!

But anyway, Manning!
You do not find it surprising that of all the animals that were there, only the snakes fled!

Meanwhile at that time in the training camp of the moorland heavy tank regiment.

The machines are ready for maneuvers, sir!
Perfect! We are going to develop the theme of the operation!
Tell the crews to be ready to leave at eight o'clock sharp tomorrow morning!

Page Thirty-two.

Everything must be impeccably planned because, don’t you forget, the shots you are going to perform are with live ammunition!
We have made all our arrangements sir!

Just below the room where the officers confer.
Ha-ha-hiss!
The general is there, I feel it.
Let, hiss, us, hiss, go silently.

Snack!

What is?
Gurgle!
General! You, you!

And the sequel unfolds at a fantastic speed.
Thak, thak, thak!

Page Thirty-three.

Hiss!
Allow me to introduce myself!
Luke, I am your father!

And you owe me absolute obedience!

A few minutes later.
General Challis here!
I want to see all the tank crews in the conference room!
One after the other! Officers first.

And, every time a man walks into the room.
Come in, Captain.
Sir.

This is how, one after another, all the men of the regiment became the slaves of "Reptile".
What are you orders master?

Page Thirty-four.

The next morning.
Curious information, Inspector!
Highway Brigade sixty-seven reports a column of heavy tanks heading towards London on the A one motorway!
Say What? It is perfectly impossible, unless they are driving in reverse!

It is “Reptile”, Manning!
I would swear! We have to see it up close!

This time again, Mark Bowen was speaking the truth.
Hiss! Ha-ha-hiss!
Before long the whole country will be in my power!

A few minutes later the police helicopter flew over the impressive Column.
It is an impressive column! Blue Steel, said Manning.
What did I tell you, Manning!
The professor is on the first tank!
How the devil did he manage to get a column like that?

Page Thirty-five.

Hypnosis Manning! And more Hypnosis!

But.
Gunner! Just above us!
A helicopter! Shoot it down.

Thwam!

Ka-bang!
Garh! Let’s break camp!

General alert!
A column of heavy tanks is heading for London.
A column that behaves as an enemy!
Let me talk with that fool, Manning!

Page Thirty-six.

Allo! Allo! Professor Andophis!
Listen very carefully! I shall say this only once!
This is Mark Bowen! If these tanks do not stop immediately, we will crush them!
If necessary by aerial bombardment!

Hiss-ha-ha-hiss! Amusing, Mister Bowen!
Nobody in this country gives orders to kill soldiers who do not know what they are doing!
I have all the cards in my hands, Bowen!

However, not far from there an artillery unit had moved into position.

The tank traps are in place, sir!
Understood. Capital sport what?
We only have to disable the tanks, not destroy them.

But what if they open fire?
I do not believe this hypnosis story!
Never will a British soldier shoot other British soldiers!

They are here! Aim for the tracks!

Page Thirty-seven.

But.
Ka-boom!

They shoot and we can't do anything against them, sir!
They have a much larger range than ours!
They broke our obstacles! They will not shoot us!

Argh! Boom! Argh! Ka-boom!

Nothing can be done!
We are at their mercy!

Page Thirty-eight.

Order them to retreat Manning!
They will be massacred to the last!
The monster! The despicable monster!

Phew!
An order to withdraw sir!
Let us get out of here, quickly!
Don’t stop here! Head for the hills! Run for your life!

Ha-ha-hiss! Hiss!
They run away like rabbits! And this is just the beginning!

The microphone, slave! I will issue my ultimatum!
Here it is master!

British people! Listen to the word of “Reptile”!
Hiss! The government will immediately come to me and submit, or I will destroy London!

This time, "Reptile" had all the cards in his hands.
Would Great Britain fall under its power?
More click-bait in the next episode!

Show less