++ Action - The Complete Sevenpenny Nightmare ++

Issue 33
Cover Date
25th September 1976
Click the cover to read

Back from another holiday, Money Man is in Torquay for what will be his final spending spree. Whilst he's there his only writing credit for the comic, the ill fated Probationer begins. It runs for only four fully published episodes before being axed.

Dredger
In the Sarkhov Mental Hospital near Riga, doctors experiment on a patient by cutting into his brain with a laser. Meanwhile, at Holloway Prison, Dredger and Breed take custody of Rosa Masny, a Hungarian spy at the centre of a high profile case two years before. Rosa has always maintained her silence about the affair. Her husband Jorge escaped to Russia, and now D.I.6. plan to reunite them. Three days later, off the Riga coast, Dredger beats Rosa unconscious. Dredger and Bree take a boat to the shore, where they leave Rosa lying face down on the road to the hospital. Soon an ambulance stops, which Dredger and Breed hijack to get them inside Sarkhov. Once there, Dredger takes Rosa to a side room, where he kills a doctor who is operating on a patient. It is Jorge. The Russians have been experimenting on him since he began to speak out against their regime. Having seen what remains of Jorge, Rosa finally agrees to betray her Russian masters. Jorge begs Rosa to kill him, and she obliges. As they leave, Dredger destroys the hospital.
Probationer
Walking home one night, Dave Brockman is mistakenly arrested at the scene of a robbery. He is later convicted and sentenced to six months on probation, with a proviso that if he offends again he will go straight to Borstal. Dave lives with his wheelchair bound mother, who is in poor health. She has an accident at home and, unable to call for an ambulance, Dave hot-wires a van to transport his mum. He returns it moments after it is reported stolen. Unfortunately, local villain Clem Slater has witnessed the whole thing, and blackmails Dave into helping him commit a few felonies. The first job is to rob the chip shop where Dave works, but the noise wakes the owner. Slater hits him with the back end of an axe, but does it too hard, making Dave believe his boss is dead.
Hellman on the Russian Front
As Hellman awaits the approaching Russians, his legion assess their weapons, a bunch of defective rifles and little else. A shell-shocked soldier runs from the town, alerting the approaching Reds. Hellman springs his trap, and the convicts capture a pair of T-34s. With added firepower, the new Hammer Force defeat the Russians. Hellman is shocked to see his men looting the dead, and turns his King Tiger on them. As the Major awaits the Russians' next move, he is fired upon by his own men. Meanwhile the Russians are preparing a retaliatory night assault.
Kids Rule O.K.
As Ray's gang hold Roker's mob captive, Buck Finney and his bikers make a move for the guns. Meanwhile, Roker is still being led on a wild goose chase by Lou. Buck and his gang storm the house, and seize the guns, turning them on Ray and Co. Just then Roker returns, creating an accidental diversion. Roker and his gang are jumped by the bikers, allowing Ray and the Malvern Road Gang to take the guns and flee to nearby Malvern Road School, where Ray bases himself. Soon after, Roker's gang arrive, looking beaten, but they have been followed by Buck's gang, who have the remainder of the guns and have surrounded the school.
Hook Jaw
As Hook Jaw attacks, Gelder blasts him with a rifle. Wounded, the Great White is set upon by the other sharks, but uses his harpoon to fillet a tiger shark, then slips away as the others gorge themselves. Gelder is rescued by the freighter and claims to be the only survivor, but the ship's Captain spots Sharkie and some of the natives on a makeshift raft. Sharkie accuses Gelder of murder, and Captain Van Cleef intends to see Gelder stand trial. Sharkie calls to the voodoo shark god for vengeance, and spears Gelder in the stomach. As if in answer to Sharkie's prayer, the island blows apart, causing a huge tidal wave. The wave sweeps Hook Jaw onto the freighter deck. The shark devours Gelder, and slashes Sharkie with his hook. Soon the only survivors drift towards the mainland on a raft. Hook Jaw moves on, in search of a new killing ground.
Look Out For Lefty!
Lefty makes up for lost time and bangs in a few goals. With the crowd behind him, the Wigford bosses cannot ignore his success. Bilston's players cannot ignore him either, and begin fouling him. Lefty shines through, and as the match finishes, Jim Bowker tells Lefty he might be a useful player one day. Mike Roberts then tells Lefty he will be starting as substitute for the first team at the weekend. This is not good news for Ray Jarvis, who still has a score to settle, but Lefty drops a heavy bag of junk on his foot and legs it. He collapses on the bus home from exhaustion, all his worries having caught up with him.
Death Game 1999
The Killers leave Edgeville, to the roar of the crowd. They have one game standing between them and freedom. Schroeder threatens to take away Smailes' job if Taggart succeeds, and so the Governor and Kruger arrange a little 'accident'. Whilst the team let off steam with a little old fashioned football practice, Kruger steps in the path of the ball, giving him an excuse to send Joe on a punishment detail. Taggart is sent to clean out 'The Madhouse', where all the crazy inmates are kept. No sooner is he inside, than Kruger locks the outer door, and then opens the cells. Charlie Cyclops is the first out, and clasps his one eye onto Joe.
Hell's Highway
Steve survives his run in with the maniacs in the truck with a little help from Danny. Up ahead a bike gang await, planning to steal the $100,000 cargo. They get more than they bargained for as a gang of crazed townspeople pour from the back of the truck in an orgy of violence. The truckers escape, but Steve wants to know how the townspeople came to be maniacs, and intends to find out.

++ ACTION is the paper of the 70s ++ ++ ACTION is the paper of the 70s ++ ++ ACTION is the paper of the 70s ++