The Scourge from Space

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Episode 58 of The Trigan Empire

The Scourge from Space
aka Atomic Fallout
The Fall-Out Menace (The Collection)
Het radio-actieve gevaar (Dutch title)
The Radioactive Danger (Dutch title, translated)

Written by Mike Butterworth
Illustrated by Don Lawrence

The Scourge from Space was originally published in 5 instalments in issues 748 (15 May 1976) to 752 (12 June 1976) of Look and Learn magazine.

It is reprinted in Volume 12 of The Trigan Empire—The Collection (the Don Lawrence Collection).

It is reprinted in Volume 5 of The Rise and Fall of the Trigan Empire (Rebellion).

Plot summary

Two containers of radioactive waste orbiting the planet Elekton collide and are in danger of crashing down onto Elekton. In an emergency meeting of all the states on Elekton, it is decided to assemble a secret military force that can be deployed immediately in crisis situations. Janno, Keren, and Roffa volunteer for this mission.

One lunar month later, a certain Sollum buys mushrooms at the market, which have since become radioactively contaminated. When his neighbor Jarros comes to check on him, he murders him by throwing him out the window.

Janno is given the task of capturing Sollum. He arrests him and brings him to Peric. Peric examines him and sees that he has gained the strength of a zargot and the instinct of a nobra. Not long after, a group of elderly people becomes affected, and Janno, Roffa, and Keren must bring the situation under control. They are given pistols with tranquiliser darts to subdue the infected individuals.

During the operation, Roffa also becomes affected, but Janno manages to sedate him. All the affected are tranquilised, and Peric examines Roffa. Roffa turns out to be back to normal, and Peric discovers that the substance in the tranquiliser darts is the antidote. Thus, the plague is defeated.