Space: 1999 "A Lonely Emperor" Comic book story Space: 1999 #4 B&W comic magazine published by Charlton Publications Writer: Joe Gill Art: Carlos Pino May 1976

An Alphan madman takes hypnotic control of aliens during a survey mission of a planet on the path of the errant Moon.

 

Read the brief story summary of "A Lonely Emperor" at Dark Worlds Quarterly

 

DIDJA KNOW?

 

"A Lonely Emperor" is a 15-page comic book story in issue #4 of Charlton Publications black-and-white Space: 1999 magazine.

 

Some of the art for this story, particularly the aliens, was later borrowed for the "Space Traitor" illustrated short story in the Space: 1999 Charlton Press mini-book. The story there is also similar, but with different characters and motivations and swapping this story's original hypnosis plot for telepathic mind control.

 

The story title on the contents page of the magazine mistakenly refers to it as "The Lonely Emperor".

 

CHARACTERS APPEARING OR MENTIONED IN THIS STORY

 

Commander Koenig

Professor Bergman

Dr. Mastambi

Dr. Edwards

Alan Carter

Omira Tal

Dr. Russell

Dr. Mastambi's lab assistant (mentioned only)

 

DIDJA NOTICE?

The opening paragraph of this story relates the nuclear explosion that blew the Moon out of Earth orbit in "Breakaway", segueing into the second paragraph which reads, "Moonbase Alpha had the capability of supporting life indefinitely...but from Cmdr. Koenig to the youngest neophyte in the moonbase, their deepest need was for another world...on which they could live..." Possibly, the "youngest neophyte" may be interpreted as as Shermeen Williams, a junior scientist who is seen to be a sort of adopted daughter of Professor Bergman in "A Matter of Balance" and whose early story is told in the "Awe" comic book adaptation of "Breakaway" from BLAM! Ventures.

    In this story, the Alphans visit a planet while passing through the Epsilon Rudea system. Epsilon Rudea appears to be a fictitious star. The star is identified as a K dwarf star, which are medium-sized, long-duration stars that make their systems of interest to science in possibly harboring extraterrestrial life.

    In comparing the Epsilon Rudea star, Dr. Mastambi refers to Earth's sun as a G-O dwarf star. This is not accurate. Earth's sun is a G-type star (sometimes called yellow dwarf). There is no G-O designation in the scientifically accepted spectral classification system. O-type stars are massive blue-white stars hundreds of times larger than our sun.

The character of Dr. Edwards is introduced on page 2 of the story. Though not stated in the story itself, the story description on the contents page of the magazine says he was an unpopular man, disliked by most of the Moonbase crew because of his intolerance and dominating ways.

On page 2 of the story, as the Eagle crew prepares to board the ship to investigate the fourth world of Epsilon Rudea, pilot Carter tells Commander Koenig that Omira Tal will co-pilot "if that's agreeable." Koenig's response is that he's delighted as Omira is "an excellent pilot...and a very attractive one!" Borderline sexual harassment at Moonbase Alpha...by it's commander, no less!

On page 5 of the story, Dr. Edwards seems to indicate that Dr. Mastambi is able to speak Swahili.

On page 6 of the story, Koenig actually acknowledges that the aliens would not be able to understand the English language. In most of the Space: 1999 stories, aliens always speak English for no logical reason! Here, the aliens of Epsilon Rudea IV are telepathic and are able to easily communicate with the Alphans in that manner.

On page 7 of the story, Dr. Mastambi tells Dr. Russell that Dr. Edwards' resentment towards him began "shortly before the Moon was destroyed by the nuclear explosion." Of course, the Moon was not destroyed (his own current existence on the Moon is testament to that!), just blown out of Earth orbit in "Breakaway".

On pages 7 and 8 of the story, Dr. Mastambi reports there is no O₃ umbrella in the upper atmosphere of Epsilon Rudea IV to filter out ultraviolet rays from the sun which are dangerous to humans with prolonged exposure. O₃ is also known as ozone and, in Earth's atmosphere, it does absorb most of the ultraviolet rays from the sun. Excessive exposure to ultraviolet can damage human skin and eyesight.

Dr. Edwards loses his mind and uses his hypnosis skills to lead the natives of the planet to attack the Alphan survey team. At the end of the story, Omira remarks that Dr. Edwards was the victim of "space madness"...whatever that is.