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Jeff Hawke: Overlord by Sydney Jordan and Willie Patterson
01/04/2008 . Source: Geoff Willmetts 
pub: Titan Books. 128 page graphic novel. Price: £16.99 (UK), $19.95 (US), $22.95 (CAN). ISBN: 978-1-84576-597-2. Buy Jeff Hawke: Overlord in the USA - or Buy Jeff Hawke: Overlord in the UK  check out website: www.titanbooks.com
If you're only going to buy one newspapr strip album this year, make sure this one is it. Although the first fourteen stories have been missed out, the four here from 1960-1961 are an impressive foray into the world of Robert Jeffrey Hawke.
A scientific advisor and astronaut, Jeff Hawke is a mix of Dan Dare and Quattermass rolled into one and yet he's neither of these two characters. Sydney Jordan created and drew Hawke back in 1954 but it wasn't until 1960 that writer Willie Patterson assisted him regularly for several years with the writing and ideas. It's a shame really these books didn't start from the beginning as it would have given a better idea what Jordan was like on his own.
As it is, its hard to believe that these stories were written nearly fifty years ago. What we see of Great Britain at the time might look a little antiquated, even if its set in a 1994 that never happened quite like this, everything else is not only great intelligent Science Fiction but also great characterisation with a heavy dose of side humour that slaps you on the face to see if you're paying attention. It's only when you keep reminding yourself how old this material is that makes this Daily Express newspaper strip such a valued classic.
The first story, 'Overlord', introduces two warring species that inadvertently bring their battle to Earth and Jeff Hawke, on behalf on the United Nations, gets in the way to stop them going hammer and tongs over our planet. It is also an introduction to the self-serving villanous Chalcedon and a galactic police force. There's also what appears to be Lucifer watching the proceedings but purely as a commenting bystander. The interplay of characterisation is superb given its big cast.
The second story 'Survival' has Hawke and his crew crashed on an asteroid after being accidentally hit by an alien craft. Although they can't help with repairs, they do resurrect a badly injured Mac, endowing him with extraordinary powers but now totally uninterested in helping them. Another crew member pisses off the aliens who leave and Hawke has to work out a way to convince Mac to help him. This story would have worked well as a TV 'Twilight Zone'.
The third story, ' Wonderous Lamp', starts off with an alien communication device falling to Earth in ancient times and giving rise to the Aladdin myth although not in quite the way the pantomine depicts it. We follow the lamp as it gets passed through the generations to modern day and the aliens return. They aren't here to see the humans, though, but to deposit an warring alien race in Saturn's orbit. Much of this story doesn't even feature Hawke and although the twist isn't made obvious at the beginning makes for some interesting moments. If a story can continually surprise you then it becomes a delight to read.
The fourth story here, 'Counsel For The Defence', has Mac and Hawke taken off planet where the latter has been asked to be defence council for Chalcedon for causing a star to go nova. The judge's philosophy is 'maximum sentence, minimum time spent in passing them' which should make anyone facing conviction jumpy. One would have thought that this would have been the whole plot. It's not. Chalcedon is playing his own game and Hawke and Mac are unwittingly drawn in and are often by-standers to what is going on. With so many strong characters again, you are carried along with the wave of the adventure.
As you should be able to tell by my enthusiasm here that I find this book not only a great read but very entertaining. Please do not miss out on it. A real hidden treasure and can't wait for the next volume.
GF Willmetts
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