- M.A.C.H. 1
:"M.A.C.H. 1 directs here, for the Thunderbolts member formerly known as M.A.C.H. 1, see
Abner Jenkins "Superherobox|
caption=M.A.C.H. 1; art byEric Bradbury
comic_color=background:#c0c0c0
character_name=M.A.C.H.1
real_name=John Probe
publisher=IPC Media
debut="2000 AD #1 (26 February 1977 )"
creators=Pat Mills & Enio
alliance_color=background:#ffc0c0
status=Deceased
alliances=British Secret Service
previous_alliances=
aliases=
relatives=
powers=Super-strength
Speed
On-board tactical computer|M.A.C.H. 1 was a comic strip that ran in the British
science fiction comic "2000 AD". The strip was created by writerPat Mills and illustrator Enio. It debuted in the first issue of "2000 AD", which was published in February 1977, and ran nearly continuously until issue 64, dated13 May 1978 .Plot
John Probe was a
British Secret Service agent who volunteered for a special procedure whereby his physical strength, speed and agility would be enhanced using 'compu-puncture' (M.A.C.H. stands for "Man Activated by Compu-puncture Hyperpower"), a computerised form ofacupuncture . Hismetabolism was controlled by acomputer implanted in hisskull , which also fed him tactical information such as the amount of strength or the exact throwing angle required for a given task.Initially, M.A.C.H. 1 thematically resembled "
the Six Million Dollar Man ", but with more, and more graphic, violence. As the strip continued the tone became increasingly dark.At first engaging in missions against Communists, terrorists and
organised crime , Probe eventually discovered that his superior, Sharpe, had engineered the compu-puncture treatment which had given him his abilities so as to erase Probe's pre-augmented memory and to cause his death if he did not receive frequent treatment. As a result Probe was forced to work for Sharpe.M.A.C.H. Zero
M.A.C.H. 1 later came across M.A.C.H. Zero, a prototype who had not been equipped with a computer implant and had consequently become insane, and Tanya Maski, an East European M.A.C.H. agent created after Sharpe had sold the compu-puncture techniques to the Soviets. Sharpe also created a robotic M.A.C.H. 2 with which to kill Probe. Eventually, M.A.C.H. 1 killed Sharpe and then sacrificed himself to enable aliens, provoked into attacking Earth by Sharpe, to return home. M.A.C.H. Zero later appeared in his own strip.
B.L.A.I.R. 1
A spoof, entitled "B.L.A.I.R. 1", a satire on
Tony Blair , appeared in "2000 AD" in the late 1990s, and gained considerable media attention at the time. The story was not popular with readers, however, and was soon killed off.Publication
All three characters have appeared in their own eponymous series. M.A.C.H. 1 was later reprinted in "Eagle" and also in
anthology format (the beginning and end in "2000AD Extreme Edition" #6 and #9). Appearances include:*"M.A.C.H.1":
** "Vulcan" (withPat Mills (1)/Robert Flynn (2) and Enio (1)/Ian Kennedy (2), in "2000 AD" #1-2, 1977)
** "Chinese Formula" (withSteve MacManus and Kato, in "2000 AD" #14, 1977)
** "Tokyo" (withSteve MacManus and Lopez, in "2000 AD" #20, 1977)
** "The Death Trumpet" (withSteve MacManus and Marzal Canos, in "2000 AD" #26, 1977)
** "M.A.C.H. Zero" (withSteve MacManus and Ramon Sola, in "2000 AD" #43-46, 1977-1978)
** "The Dolphin Tapes" (withSteve MacManus and Jesus Redondo (1-2), Montero (3-4), in "2000 AD" #54-57, 1978)
** "The Final Encounter " (withPat Mills and Montero , in "2000 AD" #61-64, 1978)*"M.A.C.H.0":
** "Cousin George " (withSteve MacManus and Mike Donaldson (1-2, 4, 6-8), Ramon Sola (3, 5), in "2000 AD" #65-72, 1978)
** "Cyborg Express (with Henry Miller and Kevin O'Neill, in "2000AD Sci-Fi Special 1978")
** "The Suit" (withSteve MacManus and Montero, in "2000 AD" #73-75, 1978)
** "M.A.C.H. 0 Book 2" (withSteve MacManus and Mike Dorey, in "2000 AD" #162-165, 1980)*"B.L.A.I.R. 1" (with art from Simon Davis):
** "B.L.A.I.R. 1" (withDavid Bishop /Steve MacManus and artist , in "2000 AD" #1034, 1997)
** "Blair Force One" (with Alan Grant, in "2000 AD" #1071-1074, 1997)
** "Criminal Record" (with Alan Grant, in "2000 AD" #1084, 1998)
** "He Died with his Boots on" (with Alan Grant, in "2000 AD" #1097-1098, 1998)External links
* [http://www.2000adonline.com/?zone=thrill&page=profiles&Comic=2000AD&choice=MACH1 2000 AD M.A.C.H. 1 profile]
* [http://www.2000adonline.com/?zone=thrill&page=profiles&choice=MACH0 2000 AD M.A.C.H. 0 profile]
* [http://www.2000adonline.com/?zone=thrill&page=profiles&choice=BLAIR1 2000 AD B.L.A.I.R. 1 profile]
* [http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/m/mach1.htm International Hero entry]
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