M.A.C.H. 1 is secret agent John Probe who has gained hyperpowers by compu-puncture (he is indeed the 1st
Man
Activated by
Compu-puncture
Hyperpower). Compu-puncture is a computerised form of acupuncture. By inserting special electro-needles into Probe's body, his energy flow has been increase, and now he has the strength of fifty men. In addition, brain surgery has been performed to print computer circuits directly into his skull, a computer that assists Probe in his decisions during mission.
M.A.C.H.1 is a typical product of its time period standing as a derivative from US TV series, 'The Six Million Dollar Man' (the character's look is also very similar to Lee Major's). But right from the start, the degree of explicit violence gives the series its very own personality (Probe is able to kill bare handed with his super-strength, and never failed to deliver). Even if Pat Mills aimed to have equally good strips, M.A.C.H. 1 were considered has one of the potential lead stories of the magazine when it was launched (he shares the cover of the first prog with Dan Dare). Indeed, at that early period, it is the strip that Pat Mills has written the most for, and more recently, he has plunged again in the world of super-powered secret agents with his '
Greysuit' series.
- Vulcan part 1 (2000 AD #1, February 26 1977)
- Vulcan part 2 (2000 AD #2, March 5 1977, written or co-written by Robert Flynn?)
- To Kill a President (2000 AD #4, March 19 1977)
- Himmler's Gold (2000 AD #6, April 2nd 1977)
- Bolivia (2000 AD #7, April 9 1977)
- On The Roof of The World (2000 AD #10, April 30 1977)
- Airship (2000 AD #13, May 21 1977)
- Planet Killers part 1 (2000 AD #27, August 27 1977)
- Planet Killers part 2 (2000 AD #28, September 3rd 1977)
- Planet Killers part 3 (2000 AD #29, September 10 1977)
- UFO part 1 (2000 AD #30, September 17 1977)
- UFO part 2 (2000 AD #31, September 24 1977)
- UFO part 3 (2000 AD #32, October 1st 1977)
- UFO part 4 (2000 AD #33, October 8 1977)
- The Final Encounter part 1 (2000 AD #61, April 22 1978)
- The Final Encounter part 2 (2000 AD #62, April 29 1978)
- The Final Encounter part 3 (2000 AD #63, May 6 1978)
- The Final Encounter part 4 (2000 AD #64, May 13 1978)
Some of these strips have been reprinted in Prion Books hardback anthology, but never in their own GN up to now. For newsstand reprints, check the individual prog.
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