This series originate from a
Ro-Busters strip (
2000 AD #112) displaying a futuristic tube system that 2000 AD's management (Bob Bartholomew) had truly despised. In reaction to that, both creators of the series, Pat Mills and Kevin O'Neill, proposed a one-off story based on the same idea called 'Terror Tube' (a 'Comic Rock' presents strip). This first story (and the second) is set on Termight, capital of a cruel galactic human empire (Terra), and Torquemada is introduced as chief of the tube police, Grand Master of the Terminators (his look will be redrawn for some US reprints).
Nemesis is simply introduces as the leader of Credo, the underground resistance organisation sworn to destroy the tyranny of Termight (no references yet to his demonic alien nature). Only his spaceship, the Blitz spear, is depicted in the first two stories. His face and body will be revealed (and design!) much later.
According to Pat Mills' introduction of Titan Book Nemesis book three (where the 'Gothic Empire' arc was first reprint), the concept of 'Comic Rock' was supposed to enable the authors to get away from the demanding weekly schedules. But they ended up so involved with the two main characters that Nemesis begun a weekly strip and 'Comic Rock' was put onto the back burner.
After the two first 'one-off' stories, we will proceed story arc by story arc. Most of the first story arc have been named retrospectively.
First strip and first cover of 2000 AD for
Comic Rock: Terror Tube:
- Terror Tube (a Comic Rock strip) (2000 AD #167, July 5 1980)
- Killer Watt part 1 (a Comic Rock strip) (2000 AD #178, September 20 1980)
- Killer Watt part 2 (a Comic Rock strip) (2000 AD #179, September 27 1980)
These two firsts stories have always been reprinted along Book 1, The World of Termight (see the GN reprint of book one below). They have also been reprinted, along with book one, two and three, in a colored modified version in 1984 in the United States by eagle Comics. This 7 issue "Necro" series has been collected in hardcover edition in 2013 by Rebellion (use the caption to reach the related file):
Before his first real saga, Nemesis has returned in a one-off story in 2000 AD Sci Fi Special 1981.
This strip has always been reprinted with book one material, including the 2 coloured GN above. In February 2017, it was chosen by Dave Kendall to be included in the 2000 AD's anthology celebrating its 40th Birthday.
Nemesis The Warlock Book One: 'The World of Termight'
See the note of book four for insights about the genesis of this arc.
- The World of Termight part 1 (2000 AD #222, July 25 1981)
- The World of Termight part 2 (2000 AD #223, August 1st 1981)
- The World of Termight part 3 (2000 AD #224, August 8 1981)
- The World of Termight part 4 (2000 AD #225, August 15 1981)
- The World of Termight part 5 (2000 AD #226, August 22 1981)
- The World of Termight part 6 (2000 AD #227, August 29 1981)
- The World of Termight part 7 (2000 AD #228, September 5 1981)
- The World of Termight part 8 (2000 AD #229, September 12 1981)
- The World of Termight part 9 (2000 AD #230, September 19 1981)
- The World of Termight part 10 (2000 AD #231, September 26 1981)
- The World of Termight part 11 (2000 AD #232, October 3rd 1981)
- The World of Termight part 12 (2000 AD #233, October 10 1981)
- The World of Termight part 13 (2000 AD #238, November 14 1981)
- The World of Termight part 14 (2000 AD #239, November 21 1981)
- The World of Termight part 15 (2000 AD #240, November 28 1981)
- The World of Termight part 16 (2000 AD #243, December 19 1981)
- The World of Termight part 17 (2000 AD #244, December 26 1981)
The World of Termight has been reprinted in GN novel form in these following books:
Nemesis The Warlock Book Two: 'The Alien Alliance'
See the note of book four for insights about the genesis of this arc.
- The Alien Alliance part 1 (2000 AD #246, January 9 1982)
- The Alien Alliance part 2 (2000 AD #247, January 16 1982)
- The Alien Alliance part 3 (2000 AD #248, January 23 1982)
- The Alien Alliance part 4 (2000 AD #249, January 30 1982)
- The Alien Alliance part 5 (2000 AD #250, February 6 1982)
- The Alien Alliance part 6 (2000 AD #251, February 13 1982)
- The Alien Alliance part 7 (2000 AD #252, February 20 1982)
- The Alien Alliance part 8 (2000 AD #253, February 27 1982)
- The Alien Alliance part 9 (2000 AD #254, March 6 1982)
- The Alien Alliance part 10 (2000 AD #255, March 13 1982)
- The Alien Alliance part 11 (2000 AD #256, March 20 1982)
- The Alien Alliance part 12 (2000 AD #257, March 27 1982)
The Alien Alliance has been reprinted in GN novel form in these following books:
Between this arc and the following, Nemesis returns in the 2000 AD Annual 1983:
This one-off strip has been reprinted in these 3 GN:
Nemesis The Warlock Book Three: 'The World of Nemesis' (previously known as book two in the first Titan reprints).
See the note of book four for insights about the genesis of this arc.
- The World of Nemesis part 1 (2000 AD #335, September 24 1983)
- The World of Nemesis part 2 (2000 AD #336, October 1st 1983)
- The World of Nemesis part 3 (2000 AD #337, October 8 1983)
- The World of Nemesis part 4 (2000 AD #338, October 15 1983)
- The World of Nemesis part 5 (2000 AD #339, October 22 1983)
- The World of Nemesis part 6 (2000 AD #340, October 29 1983)
- The World of Nemesis part 7 (2000 AD #341, November 5 1983)
- The World of Nemesis part 8 (2000 AD #342, November 12 1983)
- The World of Nemesis part 9 (2000 AD #343, November 19 1983)
- The World of Nemesis part 10 (2000 AD #344, November 26 1983)
- The World of Nemesis part 11 (2000 AD #345, December 3rd 1983)
- The World of Nemesis part 12 (2000 AD #346, December 10 1983)
- The World of Nemesis part 13 (2000 AD #347, December 17 1983)
- The World of Nemesis part 14 (2000 AD #348, December 24 1983)
- The World of Nemesis part 15 (2000 AD #349, December 31 1983)
Nemesis The Warlock Book Four: 'The Gothic Empire' (previously known as book three in the first Titan reprints).
Note that the first two strips of this arc has been drawn by Kevin O'Neill just after 'Terror Tube' and 'Killer Watts', but this arc was eventually postponed to let Pat Mills introduce the world of Torquemada and the world of Nemesis before developing the 'Gothic Empire' plot (and Kevin O'Neill was occupied elsewhere at the time this arc was eventually published). Book two, 'The Alien Alliance' drawn by Jesus Redondo, was partly a mean to let Kevin time to finish 'The World of Nemesis'.
This arc was also a mean for Pat Mills to reintroduce his two Ro-Busters, Hammerstein and Ro-Jaw, after their last adventure. It was Bryan Talbot (the artist choose to finish the saga) who suggested adding the full complement of A.B.C. Warriors, and it was a big risk for him because that would mean he was involving himself with unsuccessful characters at that time. Be he praised!
Click the issue # to access the associated file.
- The Gothic Empire part 1 (2000 AD #387, October 13 1984)
- The Gothic Empire part 2 (2000 AD #388, October 20 1984)
- The Gothic Empire part 3 (2000 AD #389, October 27 1984)
- The Gothic Empire part 4 (2000 AD #390, November 3rd 1984)
- The Gothic Empire part 5 (2000 AD #391, November 10 1984)
- The Gothic Empire part 6 (2000 AD #392, November 17 1984)
- The Gothic Empire part 7 (2000 AD #393, November 24 1984)
- The Gothic Empire part 8 (2000 AD #394, December 1st 1984)
- The Gothic Empire part 9 (2000 AD #395, December 8th 1984)
- The Gothic Empire part 10 (2000 AD #396, December 15 1984)
- The Gothic Empire part 11 (2000 AD #397, December 22 1984)
- The Gothic Empire part 12 (2000 AD #398, December 29 1984)
- The Gothic Empire part 13 (2000 AD #399, January 5th 1985)
- The Gothic Empire part 14 (2000 AD #400, January 12 1985)
- The Gothic Empire part 15 (2000 AD #401, January 19 1985)
- The Gothic Empire part 16 (2000 AD #402, January 26 1985)
- The Gothic Empire part 17 (2000 AD #403, February 2nd 1985)
- The Gothic Empire part 18 (2000 AD #404, February 9 1985)
- The Gothic Empire part 19 (2000 AD #405, February 16 1985)
- The Gothic Empire part 20 (2000 AD #406, February 23 1985)
For this arc and to this day (January 2013), there are 2 UK library reprints (click on the caption to access the associated file):
Nemesis The Warlock Book Five: 'The Vengeance of Toth' (previously known as book four in the first Titan reprints).
Nemesis The Warlock Book Six: 'Torquemurder' (previously known as book five in the first Titan reprints).
For the US GN reprints see here.
For newsstand reprints, see the individual prog files.
ARTICLE UNDER CONSTRUCTION
The Tomb of Torquemada story has been published the first time in 1994 in poster form:
The story has been reprinted in 2013 in GN form in Nemesis The Warlock Termight/Deviant edition (see above, book one section), and in May 2015 in
2000 AD Free Comic Book Day 2015.
To celebrate prog #2000 in September 2016, the dream team (Pat Mills and Kevin O'Neill) was reunited for a one-off story (6 pages B&W):
A monograph of the series written by Matthew Smith was published in 2018 with Judge Dredd Megazzine #395:
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