Стронций Дог: Охотник за головами из будущего Земли

Strontium Dog is a long running British comics series starring Johnny Alpha, a mutant bounty hunter who lives in Earth's future. The series was created in 1978 by writer John Wagner (under the pseudonym T. B. Grover) and artist Carlos Ezquerra for Starlord, a short lived weekly science fiction comic. When Starlord was cancelled, the series transferred to the British science fiction weekly 2000 AD. In 1980, Wagner was joined by co writer Alan Grant, although scripts were normally credited to Grant alone. Grant wrote the series by himself from 1988 to 1990. Wagner revived the series after a ten year hiatus in 2000. After Ezquerra's death in October 2018, the series was put in indefinite hiatus with no current plans for its continuation (other than some single episode stories in special issues aimed at younger readers). The series takes place in an imagined future after the Great Nuclear War of 2150. Due to nuclear fallout of strontium 90, humanity has an increased number of mutant births, most of whom have physical abnormalities but some of whom possess superhuman abilities. John Kreelman is born with white blank eyes and a mutant "alpha radiation" power that grants him greater perception, allowing telepathy and the ability to see through many surfaces. Facing discrimination, John Kreelman adopts the name "Johnny Alpha" and becomes a bounty hunter for the Search/Destroy Agency. Due to the origin of their mutation and their S/D badges, mutant bounty hunters are nicknamed "strontium dogs." A formidable bounty hunter, Johnny Alpha uses not only his mutant abilities in combat but also an array of high tech gadgets and weapons. Strontium Dog stories are often known for a bleak, minimalistic edge at times reminiscent of spaghetti westerns. Several stories veer into satire and overtly bizarre science fantasy. Johnny Alpha's adventures sometimes involve time travel (such as a mission to 1945 where he attempts to apprehend Adolf Hitler) or alternate dimension (including one that seems to be Hell). On several occasions, Johnny Alpha's time travel adventures to periods before the Great Nuclear War have featured him crossing paths with popular 2000 AD character Judge Dredd.

In the world of Strontium Dog, the Great Nuclear War of 2150 wipes out 70% of Britain's population, leading to a huge increase of mutant births due to exposure to nuclear fallout (strontium 90). The mutants of Strontium Dog differ from the usual depiction of mutants in American comics, such as those published by Marvel, in that they are generally afflicted with obvious physical abnormalities. Only a rare few are born with superhuman powers. These strontium influenced mutants face a high degree of prejudice from average humans ("norms"). Born in 2150 to Diana Kreelman and her husband Nelson Bunker Kreelman, the boy Johnny Kreelman has mutant eyes that can increase his perception by channeling "alpha radiation", allowing telepathy and telekinesis, as well as the ability to see through most surfaces. A bigoted politician, Nelson gains popularity by drafting anti mutant laws and creating the anti mutant police force known as the Kreelers. Despised, abused, and hidden away by his father, Johnny Kreelman escapes his parents at a young age and adopts the name Johnny Alpha. He then joins the rising resistance group known as the Mutant Army and quickly becomes a valued leader, despite still being a teenager. The Mutant Uprising of 2167 fails to overthrow the government. Despite this, Johnny Alpha blackmails his own father Nelson Kreelman, leading to the man's resignation and the disbanding of the Kreelers (though many members simply transfer into the local police force). Members of the Mutant Army are pardoned for their actions only on condition that they leave Earth forever. An orbital space station is built and becomes the headquarters of the new Search/Destroy Agency, an organization that accepts contracts to hunt down criminals and threats deemed too dangerous for conventional law enforcement and "norms." The former Mutant Army members become galactic bounty hunters for the S/D Agency. Due to their "S/D" badges and the origins of their mutations, these bounty hunters are nicknamed "strontium dogs" by Earth people. This also leads the S/D orbital base to be nicknamed the Doghouse. On Earth, new laws protect mutants from being hunted and targeted for extermination. However, they still face great prejudice from society and are segregating into ghettos, such as a large mutant settlement at Milton Keynes. In the cities of Earth, mutants have limited working opportunities and cannot own their own businesses. Several mutants succumb to societal pressures and poverty, while others join the S/D Agency as new bounty hunters. By 2180, Johnny Alpha is one of the most famous strontium dog bounty hunters.

Earth is rarely seen in the strip. When it is, the focus is often New Britain – Great Britain after a devastating nuclear war. It is much closer to modern day Britain than Judge Dredd's Brit Cit by the same writers, but contains areas of nuclear devastation such as the Greater London Crater and Birmingham Gap; areas known to survive include Salisbury (now a major area and political centre), Glasgow, Newcastle, Dover, Christchurch & Bournemouth (now a combined conurbation), Cardiff, Isles of Scilly, and Winchester. The flying building of Upminster contains both the parliament and the monarchy. In the sequel series Strontium Dogs, it was stated that Britain had a large empire of outer space colonies. The mutants of New Britain live in ghettos, isolated from the human population and living in poverty. Stories like Traitor To His Kind reveal some figures in the government, such as the First Lord of the Military (himself having a mutant daughter), make attempts to slowly improve the mutants' situation, but much of this goes unnoticed by the public. Many other figures in the government prefer to regress toward greater oppression or even attempted extermination of the mutant population. Ireland is known to still exist, though little has been shown; the United States of America and Canada were both visited in The Mork Whisperer (2009); and the leader of a West African Mutant Republic was shown in The Final Solution. Antarctica was the setting of part of Outlaw, shown to have been turned into a tropical area with marshes and rainforests by the Rad Wars. The centre was Antarctic City (also the name of a megacity in Judge Dredd), with military and police matters handled by the Antarctic Militia. In The Final Solution, the government is usurped by the New Church and the incumbent monarch killed; the first Strontium Dogs story had it that after the destruction of the New Church by the Strontium Dogs, a hastily assembled junta government exiled all mutants from Britain. Crossroads, in 2000 AD prog 898, revealed that Earth was in a severe political mess, with twenty six "minor wars", and the rest of the galaxy was cutting ties. The later strip The Life and Death of Johnny Alpha ignored all of this, instead having post Church New Britain ruled by a more liberal government.

The first Strontium Dog stories in Starlord and 2000 AD were said to be set in the year 2180. During the Strontium Dog series published in 2000 AD, in story events progressed were indicated as occurring in real time to publication. The story "Max Bubba" was published five years after the first Strontium Dog story and gave the date 2185 for its events. Similarly, the main Judge Dredd stories progress in parallel to the real time publication dates. Exceptions to this are some stories appearing in annual issues and summer specials that indicate they are revisiting earlier points of Johnny Alpha's life. Despite this, there have been some dating discrepancies in the Strontium Dog series. The stories "The No Go Job" and "The Final Solution" present a date of 2180 but are said to take place two years after the events in "Max Bubba." Likewise, the story "Judgement Day" gives the date 2178 even though it is set after the events in "Max Bubba.

Strontium Dog stories focus on John Alpha, whose mutated eyes allow him to see through walls and read minds. Born in 2150, he is the son of Diana Kreelman and her husband Nelson Bunker Kreelman. Nelson is a bigoted politician who drafts the anti mutant laws and gains power on the back of bigotry, creating the anti mutant police force known as the Kreelers. Despised, abused and hidden away by his father, Johnny escapes at a young age and joins the Mutant Army, changing his name from Kreelman to Alpha and deciding to keep his father's identity secret. Johnny becomes one of the Mutant Army's key leaders, playing a major part in the mutant uprising of 2167 when he is only 17. By the time he joins the Search/Destroy agency, Johnny Alpha is a highly skilled and dangerous fighter, adept at combining his mutant powers with hand to hand combat and weaponry. A sarcastic, cynical man, he none the less believes that innocent life must be protected or avenged, even if the odds are against you. Deeply loyal to friends, he can also be short on patience and quick to anger if plans go wrong or situations continue to worsen, but often this motivates him to improvise new solutions rather than simply stew in anger. A dogged bounty hunter determined to earn reward for his work, Johnny is also guided by a moral conscience. He won't give up pursuing a target if the job becomes difficult, but he might if he learns the target is a victim of greater evil. If he believes the cause is great enough, he may forego payment or decide not to accept it. In "The Doc Quince Case", learning new information convinces him to no longer pursue a man he's been hunting but instead to rescue and help the person. In "The Slavers of Drule," Johnny tracks down a group of slavers simply because he believes it is the right thing to do. Despite his morality, Johnny is not above vengeance for himself or those he considers family. A device he used on his own father caused Nelson Kreelman to be locked in a time loop where he continuously relived his final moments, begging for his life. Johnny has a "norm" sister called Ruth, who has a husband named Nigel and a daughter named Marci. Ruth and her family remain friendly to Johnny, even helping him blackmail Nelson Kreelman during the Mutant Army uprising of 2167. But during an early comic book adventure, Marci is abducted and almost killed by a criminal looking for revenge on Johnny. After this, Ruth forbids him from coming near her family again, only making contact with him afterward when she deems it absolutely necessary. Nelson Kreelman had an affair, resulting in a half brother to Johnny named Nelson Culliver. After the war, Culliver becomes head of the Anti Mutant Squad at Scotland Yard. In "Traitor to His Kind", Culliver tries to have Alpha murdered, but is exposed and fired. Alpha decides to assassinate him, but relents on meeting his children. During the course of his career as a Strontium Dog, Johnny Alpha becomes a formidable legend and even a hero to some. He is responsible for such legendary achievements as destroying the Wolrog homeworld, leading the mutant uprising on Earth, and bringing Adolf Hitler to the future to face trial. He becomes known for generously assisting mutants in trouble, such as when he donates a large sum of money to the Milton Keynes ghetto in "Mutie's Luck." At times, Alpha has encountered the other popular 2000 AD character Judge Dredd by journeying into the past via time travel, but it is ambiguous whether Johnny Alpha's future world is the fate of Dredd's timeline or one of several possibilities.

Like all Search/Destroy agents, Alpha is armed with highly advanced technology. His usual equipment includes a variable cartridge blaster, electrified brass knuckles, a short range teleporter, a "time drogue" that can briefly "rewind" the last few minutes of time in the immediate area, and "time bombs" which can transport somebody minutes or hours forwards or backwards in time (by which time the planet has moved in its orbit, causing the victim to reappear in empty space). Johnny Alpha has white, incandescent eyes and multiple mutant abilities. Most frequently, high level alpha radiation emitted from his eyes allows Johnny to see through walls and other solid objects, or to read people's minds. He has also used his piercing stare to inflict severe headaches on his opponents, or to "suggest" illusions into their perceptions. Alpha has used this to save his life several times in the stories "Judgement Day" and "Rage", Alpha made Sabbat the Necromagus and Max Bubba respectively believe that there were people behind them, distracting each long enough for Alpha to strike them.

Johnny's original partner is Wulf Sternhammer, who is not a mutant but a normal human from Scandinavia; he became a Strontium Dog out of a sense of camaraderie with Johnny, and, despite the indignities, he viewed it as good work as it kept the galaxy "safe for decent people". A blunt and straightforward brawler, Wulf was far less prone to doubt and introspection and tried to bring his friend back in line when he had doubts. Ever since Starlord #5, Wulf wore the fur pelt of a Gronk that he'd befriended the alien's custom was for people dear to them to wear their skin, so part of them would live on. Wulf acted a lot like a stereotypical Viking and it was eventually retconned that he was a Viking, accidentally brought into the 22nd century when Johnny was pursuing a criminal gang through time. Early strips included the Gronk, the brother of the Gronk that Wulf had met earlier. It was a timid, metal eating alien from the planet Blas, in the Gallego system (a tribute to the fantasy artist Blas Gallego). The Gronk provided medical back up and constantly worried about its "poor heartses", and in "Outlaw" showed it could survive multiple heart attacks. A gag showed that "the Gronk" was the name for most of its species, causing problems when mail arrives for "the Gronk". In the Strontium Dogs spinoff, the Gronk transformed into a gun toting highly aggressive soldier. King Clarkie the Second, a thinly veiled parody of Prince Charles was the monarch for much of the strip, being deposed late in the series for his pro mutant views. While presented as a buffoon in several strips, he was also essentially harmless and well meaning. Two allies who gained their own solo spin off series were Middenface McNulty, a Scottish mutant raised in a ghetto/concentration camp called 'Shytehill' presumably a reference to the Sighthill area of Glasgow and whose head is covered with lumps; and Durham Red, a female agent whose mutation resembles vampirism and who is thus feared and despised by other mutants. Feral, introduced in "The Final Solution", was a young, savage mutant. He initially despised the Strontium Dogs, who he saw as abandoning the mutants on Earth, but was inspired by the actions of Johnny Alpha. Feral witnessed Alpha's sacrifice in "The Final Solution", and in the original "Strontium Dogs" strips of the 1990s, he became first a rebel outlaw in the colony worlds and then a renowned SD Agent. In "The Life and Death of Johnny Alpha", this was ignored and he became a SD Agent soon after "The Final Solution" – due to his abrasive personality, he soon left and became an outlaw who tried to resurrect Alpha, only to give up. In this second timeline, he was executed for murder on an alien world. In both the original series and the revival Alpha frequently encountered or worked alongside members of a mutant family known as the Stix Clan. All members male and female are identical in appearance, personality and dress sense. They all hail from a single town called Stixville on the planet Freedonia and are highly hostile to any outsiders. They often appear as antagonist to Alpha but at times have worked alongside him, however they usually double cross and betray him at some point showing only the slightest loyalty to other Stix. There is said to be only one good Stix, Father Phineas who is a Catholic priest, a genuinely good and kind person and thus unmentionable around the rest of the Clan. The revival would introduce Negus, the First Lord of the Military, a stern faced and middle aged politician who would both hire Johnny and act as his Upminster contact. Negus was pushing for increased mutant rights, having a mutant daughter that he kept at home (something Johnny remarked as being a brave act for a man in Negus' position), though he still wanted to keep mutant and norm bloodlines separate. Flashbacks to the pre Wulf days of Johnny's life would introduce Precious Matson, a reporter from the mutant colony of Freedonia. A competent and dogged reporter, she became friends with Johnny and helped him against the terrorist leader Blood Moon. In "Life and Death", she began investigating the true events of Johnny's death and, with McNulty's aid, was able to resurrect him. In 2018 "The Son" revealed that Wulf had had a son, Kenton Sternhammer, who joined the Search/Destroy Agency.