Stormbreaker, The Graphic Novel

IF THIS IS HOW YOU …AND MI6 SENT YOU OH! IT’S… TREAT THE WINNER, TO TAKE HIS PLACE. IT’S NOT A I’D HATE TO SEE WHAT SENDING A FOURTEEN- COMPUTER VIRUS, HAPPENED TO THE YEAR-OLD TO DO THEIR IS IT? RUNNER-UP. DIRTY WORK. NOT VERY BRITISH, I’D HAVE YOU’RE NOT SAID. NOT CRICKET. KEVIN BLAKE. YOU’RE WHAT ARE YOU DOING IT’S THE ALEX RIDER. HERE? WE KNOW YOU’RE REAL THING! YOUR UNCLE WAS PRETENDING TO BE A PUTTING SOME KIND SECURITY GUARD, BUT YASSEN GREGOROVICH OF VIRUS INTO THE DEALT WITH HIM… STORMBREAKER… VERY CLEVER, ALEX. IT’S CALLED R5… A GENETICALLY MODIFIED VIRUS. IT’S VERY NASTY.

WHY ARE YOU DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT’S DOING THIS? LIKE TO BE A FOREIGNER IN THIS COUNTRY? AN AMERICAN I WAS MOCKED FROM THE DAY I ARRIVED. IN PARIS, THAT’S A MUSICAL. EVEN… NO, ESPECIALLY BUT AN AMERICAN IN LONDON? AT SCHOOL. THAT’S A SLOW DEATH. YOU WANT TO THE OTHER KIDS STOLE MY KNOW WHY? WELL, BOOKS. THEY PUT PINS ON I’LL TELL YOU! I’LL MY CHAIR, CALLED ME TRAILER BE DELIGHTED! BOY AND DARRIUS SMELL… BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHY? YOU DIDN’T AND THAT’S … WASH? WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT? IN JUST A FEW BECAUSE THEY HOURS’ TIME, AT THE WERE SNOBS! REVENGE? SCIENCE MUSEUM IN LONDON, MY OLD FRIEND THE PRIME MINISTER WILL PRESS THE BUTTON TO CONNECT ALL THE STORMBREAKERS ON MY WIRELESS NETWORK… OH, I HATED MANY …AND RELEASE CHILDREN AT THAT SCHOOL. THE VIRUS STRAIGHT BUT THERE WAS ONE WHO WAS THE WORST. AND YOU INTO CLASSES PACKED KNOW WHO HE WAS? WHO WITH BRITISH SCHOOL HE GREW UP TO BE? CHILDREN. THE PRIME MINISTER! ALL MY LIFE I’VE BEEN TREATED THE SAME WAY. NO MATTER HOW RICH I AM, OR HOW SUCCESSFUL I’VE BECOME, I’M STILL DARRIUS SMELL THE TRAILER BOY!

BUT YOU’LL KILL THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE! WHAT? NO, NO, DON’T BE SILLY. I’LL KILL MILLIONS OF THEM. ALL BECAUSE TIME TO SAY YOU WERE BULLIED GOODBYE, ALEX. AT SCHOOL? AS YOU MAY HAVE SEEN, I’M PACKING UP LOTS OF PEOPLE AND LEAVING. I’D LOVE ARE BULLIED AT SCHOOL, TO STAY, BUT I HAVE BUT IT DOESN’T TURN A RATHER IMPORTANT THEM INTO RAVING APPOINTMENT PSYCHOPATHS! IN LONDON. THAT WAS… EURGH. A GOOD SHOT. SO I’LL LEAVE YOU TO NADIA. ACTUALLY, IT WAS A NEAR MISS. YOU SHOULD WATCH YOUR MOUTH.

THEY WON’T YOU KNOW THE LISTEN TO US. GOVERNMENT VIEW OF INTELLIGENCE AT THE WHAT? MOMENT. THEY’D SOONER TRUST A OUIJA BOARD. THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THEY’RE IGNORING MY ADVICE AND GOING AHEAD WITH THE CEREMONY. WHAT ABOUT SECURITY? LIVERPOOL STREET I’M THROWING A NET AROUND THE SCIENCE “AND ALEX? MUSEUM, BUT IT MAY BE HE WASN’T ON THE BESIDE THE POINT. TWELVE O’CLOCK PLANE.” CORNWALL “THEN LET’S HOPE HE CAN LOOK AFTER HIMSELF.”

THE JELLYFISH CANNOT ATTACK YOU, ALEX. IT HAS, AS YOU SAID, NO BRAINS. BUT YOU WILL WHAT ARE YOU TIRE SOON. YOU DOING, DU WILL DRIFT INTO VERDAMMTES ITS EMBRACE. AND THEN… KIND…?! …



EW.

…FINAL DEPARTURE IN TWO MINUTES. EVACUATE ALL PERSONNEL. REPEAT… HE’S ESCAPED! OPEN FIRE! …DEPARTURE IN ONE MINUTE AND THIRTY SECONDS. EVACUATE ALL…

STOP HIM!

…FINAL DEPARTURE IS NOW. ALL PERSONNEL EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY. REPEAT, FINAL DEPARTURE… IMPRESSIVE.

EUUGH! NUUUH… ALL RIGHT, I WANT MR GRIN. YOU TO FLY ME TO LONDON. AS FAST AS YOU CAN. HYDE PARK, LONDON

KEEP THAT PRIME MINISTER! BACK STRAIGHT, SABINA! NOW, WE’RE ALL GOING TO HAVE A LITTLE TROT… BIG SMILE, PLEASE! OVER HERE, PRIME MINISTER! WHERE’S ALEX?

WE DON’T KNOW. WE DON’T HAVE TIME FOR THIS NOW, MISS STARBRIGHT. THE PRIME MINISTER IS… WHAT DO YOU MEAN, YOU DON’T KNOW? YOU PROMISED ME YOU’D LOOK AFTER HIM! LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU. THE MESSAGE TODAY IS QUITE CLEAR. “AND THAT MESSAGE IS EDUCATION. EDUCATION, EDUCATION, AND…”

AND… …AND UM… EDUCATION! AND THAT IS WHY I AM SAYLE! DELIGHTED TO ACCEPT THE DARRIUS SAYLE! GENEROUS OFFER MADE BY ONE OF OUR FOREMOST eNTREPRENEURS, AND MY OLD SCHOOL COLLEAGUE… DARRIUS SMELL. I WANT YOU TO KEEP FLYING NORTH UNTIL YOU RUN OUT OF FUEL. THEN YOU CAN LAND, OK? NORGH.

IT IS THE PRIME MINISTER WHO MUST TAKE CREDIT FOR WHAT’S ABOUT TO HAPPEN HERE. AS I PROMISED, MY STORMBREAKERS ARE ABOUT TO TRANSFORM THE LIVES OF EVERY CHILD IN BRITAIN. THIS IS A DAY MANCHESTER THAT NONE oF AND NOW I ASK MY YOU WILL EVER OLD FRIEND, THE PRIME MINISTER, TO PRESS THE FORGET. BUTTON THAT ACTIVATES THIS RADIO TRANSMITTER. THE TRANSMITTER’S SIGNAL WILL ACTIVATE THE STORMBREAKERS ACROSS tHE ENTIRE COUNTRY. BIRMINGHAM LONDON WHY ME…?

PRIME MINISTER, IF YOU PLEASE. HERE WE GO…

I SAY…! SECURITY ALERT! -CUB? BRING HIM DOWN, NOW! NO, WAIT! FREEZE! OR I’LL-

GO ON! PRESS IT! WOLF! THROW ME YOUR GUN! NOW! ALL RIGHT, THANKS! THEN I WILL! YOU WANT A JOB DONE RIGHT…

DARRIUS…? YOU… TWERP! AAAAH! SIR! ARE YOU ALL RIGHT? THAT’S ALEX! OH, DON’T BE RIDICULOUS, BROOKLAND SCHOOL GARY. ALEX IS IN BED WITH MUMPS.

YOU’VE DONE VERY YOU CAN LEAVE HIM TO WELL, ALEX. BUT YOU US. DON’T WORRY SHOULD GO, NOW. ABOUT HIM. …FINE. WHAT ABOUT IT’S NOT YOUR SAYLE? PROBLEM. I CAN’T BELIEVE I EVER LET YOU HOW COULD THEY GET MIXED UP IN LET HIM SLIP AWAY? ALL THIS. YEAH, BUT WHERE’S BUT IT’S OVER NOW, HE GOING…? AND IT’S TIME YOU CAME HOME. JACK! STOP THE CAR! SOMEWHERE REMOTE OR IOWA. AND FAR AWAY WHERE NOBODY WILL EVER FIND HIM. LIKE… PARAGUAY.

THAT’S IT! SAYLE TOWER! ­WHAT? HE HAD A MODEL OF IT IN COME ON, PUT CORNWALL. HE WAS TALKING YOUR FOOT DOWN! ABOUT A BACK-UP, SOMETHING I CAN’T! ABOUT A MANUAL OVERRIDE… THAT’S WHERE IT IS, AND THAT’S WHERE HE IS! HE’S GOING WHY NOT? JACK, TO SET OFF THE HE’LL KILL EVERYONE! VIRUS HIMSELF! BECAUSE, ALEX, yOU’RE NOT IN CORNWALL ANY MORE. WELCOME TO NO… LONDON TRAFFIC.

ALEX? I HAVE TO STOP HIM, JACK! I’LL RUN THERE IF- ALEX? ALEX, WHAT ARE yOU DOING? I GOT BETTER. LOOK, SABINA, I WHAT ARE YOU NEED YOUR HELP. I HAVE DOING HERE? TO BE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF LONDON, RIGHT NOW! SABINA…? WHY? I… OH, OK. I THOUGHT … YoU HAD MUMPS. HAVE TO SAVE THE WORLD?

THAT’S RIGHT, I DON’T KNOW WHAT MRS JONES! HER FIRST NAME IS! I’M NOT SENDING HER A BIRTHDAY CARD, THIS IS URGENT! STOP MAKING ME- -JUMP OVER HURDLES… ALEX… KEEP GOING!

WHAT THE-? AFTER THEM! DAMNED LUNATICS! OH, NO… TRUST ME! DON’T LOOK ROUND! WHY NOT? WHOOPS! SORRY!

IF ANYONE ELSE COMES IN, KILL THEM. RIGHT YOU ARE, SIR.

THANKS, SABINA! STOP RIGHT THERE! NOT AGAIN… WAIT…! SCHOOLBOY TRICK.

ALEX, UHHH… OH, SHUSH. WAIT FOR ME! STOP… men. COME ON… COME ON…

DON’T SAY IT. JUST DON’T. AT LAST.

WHAT…? NO! RIDER. PUT IT BACK. I SAID PUT IT BACK. NOW. TAKE UP DON’T YOU POSITIONS! DARE HURT THEM!

IT’S ALL OVER, SAYLE. YOU’VE GOT NOWHERE ELSE TO GO. PUT IT BACK! NO. THEN I WILL.

UNH! WELL, WELL. TARGETS ACQUIRED! SIR, THEY’RE ON THE ROOF! THE KID’S THIS ISN’T …WHAT? HANGING OFF BY JUST ABOUT A CABLE… ALEX! SAYLE’S GOT A NO, ALAN, TRANSMITTER SHE’S RIGHT. UP THERE! GIVE ME THE RADIO. FIRE ON MY COMMAND. NO! YOU’LL HIT ALEX!

CHANGE OF ORDERS, NO MORE HANGING LADS! STAND BY, AROUND, ALEX. REPEAT, STAND BY! AAAH! WHO IS THAT? WHO ELSE IS UP THERE?! …APPEARS TO BE A YOUNG GIRL, MA’AM! MA’AM? YOU THERE?

YOU KNOW WHAT REALLY GETS ME? THEM SENDING A KID. A MAN, I COULD HAVE DEALT WITH, BUT A FOURTEEN- YEAR-OLD KID… I’VE GOT YOU, SABINA…! GOODBYE, ALEX.

HEY, YASSEN! WASTE THESE ABOUT TIME! KIDS FOR ME, WOULD YOU?

HEH. HEH HEH HEH. I’LL SWING YOU ONTO THE BALCONY! NO, DON’T! ALEX, THE CABLE I’M WILL SLIPPING…! BREAK! ALL RIGHT… I CAN DO IT!

NO! DO YOU TRUST ME? TYPICAL. HOLD ON…

TAKE MY HAND. IF YOU DO NOT, YOU WILL DIE.

SAYLE HAD BECOME WHAT ABOUT ME? AN EMBARRASSMENT THIS DOESN’T TO THE PEOPLE CHANGE ANYTHING. I WORK FOR. YOU KILLED MY UNCLE. I HAVE NO YOU’RE STILL MY ENEMY. INSTRUCTIONS CONCERNING YOU. I HAVE MANY ENEMIES. THIS ISN’T OVER, GREGOROVICH! I’LL NEVER FORGET YOU. I THINK IT IS, ALEX. THAT IS GO BACK TO SCHOOL. YOUR CHOICE. YOU DO NOT BELONG TO MY WORLD, AND YOU SHOULD FORGET ABOUT ME.

YOU DON’T HAVE I JUST WANT TO TO WALK WITH ME MAKE SURE YOU GET THERE, YOU KNOW? TO SCHOOL. BROOKLAND SCHOOL HI, ALEX! YOUR MUMPS CLEARED UP, THEN? HI! What does HE teach? AND HOW COME YOU NEVER MENTIONED HIM TO ME BEFORE…?

ALEX! SABINA! DON’T DO THAT! NOT HERE, ANYWAY… THEY MADE ME ME TOO. SIGN THE OFFICIAL SECRETS ACT. I’M NOT ALLOWED TO TELL ANYONE WHAT HAPPENED. NO. THAT’S NOT WHAT ARE YOU REALLY A SPY? THEY TOLD ME… I’M NOT. AND IT WON’T HAPPEN AGAIN. NO, OF COURSE NOT.

IT WON’T. I’M NOT A SPY… I’M JUST ME. TARGET ACQUIRED… …STAND BY. THE END?

Collect all the Alex Rider books: 978-1-84428-092-6 978-1-84428-093-3 978-1-84428-094-0 978-1-84428-095-7 978-0-7445-7051-9 978-0-7445-8324-3 Also available as eBooks and on CD, read by Oliver Chris and Dan Stevens 978-1-4063-1039-9 978-1-4063-1698-8 www.alexrider.com

Anthony horowitz is one of the most popular children’s writers working today. His hugely successful Alex Rider series has sold over ten million copies worldwide and won numerous awards, including the Children’s Book of the Year Award for The artwork in this graphic ARK ANGEL at the 2006 British Book novel is the work of two artists, Awards and the Red House Children’s KANAKO DAMERUM and Book Award for SKELETON KEY. YUZURU TAKASAKI, who He scripted the blockbuster movie collaborate on every illustration. STORMBREAKER from his own Although living on opposite novel, and also writes extensively sides of the globe, these Japanese for TV, with programmes including sisters work seamlessly together MIDSOMER MURDERS, POIROT, via the Internet. FOYLE’S WAR and COLLISION. He is married to television producer Jill Green and lives in London with Living and working in Tokyo, his two sons, Nicholas and Cassian, YUZURU produced all the line and their dog, Lucky. work for these illustrations using www.anthonyhorowitz.com traditional means. The quality of her draughtsmanship comes from ANTONY JOHNSTON, who years of honing her skills in the wrote the script for this book, highly competitive world of manga. KANAKO lives and works out of has written more than fifteen her studio in London. She managed other graphic novels, including and directed the project as well WOLVERINE: PRODIGAL SON, as colouring and rendering the THE LONG HAUL and THREE artwork digitally using her wealth DAYS IN EUROPE. He also writes of knowledge in ­graphic design. a monthly comic series, WASTELAND, and has written more miniseries and www.manga-media.com short stories than he can remember. www.thorogood.net In addition to his comics work he writes novels, such as FRIGHTENING CURVES (which won the 2002 IPPY award for Best Horror) and STEALING LIFE, and has also written videogames, such as 2008’s DEAD SPACE. Antony lives in north-west England with his partner Marcia, his dogs Connor and Rosie, and far too many Macs and iPods. www.antonyjohnston.com

™ First published 2006 by Walker Books Ltd 87 Vauxhall Walk, London SE11 5HJ Text © 2006 Walker Books Ltd Based on the original novel Stormbreaker, © 2000 Anthony Horowitz Screenplay © MMVI Samuelsons / IoM Film Film © MMVI Film and Entertainment VIP Medienfonds 4 GmbH & Co. KG and UK Film Council Style Guide © MMVI ARR Ltd Trademarks 2006 Samuelson Productions Ltd Stormbreaker™, Alex Rider™, Boy with torch Logo™, AR Logo™ All rights reserved British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data: a catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library ISBN 978-1-4063-3661-0 (e-PDF) www.walker.co.uk