Slash continues to struggle.
Brains & Brawls is an Eternal Champions complete story appearing in the Eternal Champions Special.
Staff[]
- Michael Cook - script
- Brian Williamson - pencils
- Bambos Georgiou - inks
- Una Fricka - colours
- Tom Frame - letters
Story[]
Thousands of years into his own future, Slash has found himself battling the baffling technology of The Battle Room. Unfortunately, a stray shot grazes his head and the subsequent yell of pain attracts the attention of Jetta Maxx. Running to help, she finds Xavier Pendragon who reveals Slash doesn't know how to get out of the room on his own. Jetta leaps in to the rescue, shutting down the systems before discovering Slash has been fighting for almost five hours, surely too much for him. Xavier has little sympathy, wondering that if he can't master the computers, how can he expect to destroy The Overlord.
Later, in the med wards, Jetta wonders why Xavier would let Slash struggle so much. The Eternal Champion deduces that their mutual emnity is due to their manners of deaths; Xavier was burnt on the stake, but it was Slash who discovered fire and is fascinated by it. Xavier soon arrives, his presence having been demanded by their master. The leader is furious, stating he has rescued them all so that they can work together - so why leave Slash alone to fight? The warlock is unrelenting, answering that he wanted to reveal how pitiful the beast's brain power is. Now awake, Slash leaps off his hospital bed and attacks Xavier. However, Xavier fights back and states that a warrior needs to combine wit and combat with science and magick. Slash retaliates, showing he can smash the wizard any day. The skirmish is interrupted by the Eternal Champion, hoping to find a solution.
This solution is presented by Jonathan Blade and Midknight being forced to simplify the computers for Slash to use. The Eternal Champion insists that what Slash lacks in computer knowledge, he more than makes up for in natural hunting and being an instinctive warrior. With the overide now located inside the Battle Room, nobody can ever be stuck in there. Despite this, Slash still doesn't seem to understand the systems and Xavier mocks him, before grudgingly offering to shake his hand. Sensing his lack of sincerity, Slash picks up Xavier and throws him into the Battle Room, setting the door to only open at sunset. Furious, Xavier leaps into battle, cursing that he'll have revenge when the sun sets.
Trivia[]
- This strip is Bambos Georgiou's first and Una Fricka's only strip.
- Despite Jetta "dislking" Slash, she still came to his rescue.
- Despite the Battle Room's modifications, the next strip would see them take part in their first proper mission.
- The Eternal Champion makes his last full appearance, before moving into "flashback" territory.
- The lettering reverts on the last page from Frame's distinctive style to a hand-written font by an unknown letterer (possibly one of the artists).
Timeline[]
The previous Eternal Champions strip was Reality Check. The next chronological entry is Eternal Champions, although the next to see publication was Larson's Revenge.