Stormbreaker, The Graphic Novel

ANYTHING HAPPENING? WHY’D THEY HAVE NAH. A KID WITH THEM? BUNCH OF I DON’T KNOW… LOSERS. mmmph! …ARE WE MOVING? BIT YOUNG FOR THE SPECIAL FORCES. BOSS… YEAH? WHAT IS IT?

HEY…! WHERE IS EVERYONE? OH, THEY SLOPED OFF.

LIVERPOOL STREET CUTS, BRUISES, FRACTURED LIMBS… IT’S A MIRACLE NO ONE WAS KILLED! HE’S NOT A CHILD, HE’S A LETHAL WEAPON. I’M VERY SORRY, MAJOR. WE WILL BE TALKING TO OUR MAN. SORRY, BOY. HE’S READY.

AND FINALLY, THE MOST THE STORMBREAKER GENEROUS GIFT HAS BEEN CALLED THE EVER MADE TO THE MOST SOPHISTICATED BRITISH NATION. PERSONAL COMPUTER OF …AND LAST MONTH, THE 21ST CENTURY… ITS MULTIBILLIONAIRE INVENTOR, DARRIUS SAYLE, AND WHILE MADE HIS ASTONISHING I’M AT IT, I WOULDN’T MIND ANNOUNCEMENT. GIVING YOU ONE TOO. THAT’S RIGHT, REALLY, VIVIEN. I WANT MR SAYLE! TO GIVE A FREE STORMBREAKER TO …JUST AS IT HAS EVERY SCHOOL IN RECENTLY COME TO LIGHT THAT HE AND THE COUNTRY. MR SAYLE WERE AT SCHOOL TOGETHER. THE PRIME MINISTER HAS GIVEN HIS FULL SUPPORT… THIS IS A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR BRITISH SCHOOLS, AND I’M HONOURED THAT MR SAYLE HAS ASKED ME TO PRESS THE BUTTON THAT WILL BRING ALL THE COMPUTERS ON-LINE.

WHY NOT? WELL, WE DON’T TRUST ANYONE. IT’S SORT OF WHAT WE’RE FOR. WE DON’T TRUST HIM. YOU MEAN MY UNCLE. WE ALWAYS YES. THOUGHT DARRIUS SAYLE WAS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE. SO, SIX MONTHS AGO, WE SENT AN AGENT TO KEEP AN EYE ON HIM. SAYLE HAS A MANUFACTURING PLANT IN CORNWALL, BUILT ON TOP OF WHAT USED TO BE A TIN MINE. IAN RIDER WENT THERE AS A SECURITY GUARD… …AND HE FOUND SOMETHING. WE DON’T KNOW. SOMETHING’S GOING ON. IN HIS LAST MESSAGE TO US, WE NEED TO GET SOMEONE HE WAS ON HIS HE MENTIONED A VIRUS. IN THERE TO TAKE A WAY TO TELL US, LOOK AROUND, A COMPUTER BUT HE NEVER VIRUS…? ARRIVED. AND THIS MAY BE OUR LAST CHANCE.

WHY ME? THIS IS I’LL SHOW YOU. KEVIN BLAKE, A COMPUTER NERD. SIX WEEKS AGO HE WON A COMPETITION IN THIS MAGAZINE. EVER READ IT? … THE FIRST PRIZE WAS A VISIT TO CORNWALL AND A CHANCE TO TRY OUT THE STORMBREAKER. HE’S DUE TO ARRIVE TOMORROW. IT’S A PR STUNT. I IMAGINE MR SAYLE IS TRYING TO SHOW THE WORLD WHAT A NICE MAN HE IS. GET A KIDDY IN TO SEE THE WORKS. YOU’LL TAKE KEVIN’S PLACE. BUT I’M NOTHING LIKE HIM. WE’VE SPOKEN TO THE EDITOR.

THERE’S JUST BUT YOU SOON WILL BE. ONE PROBLEM… WE ONLY HAVE I DON’T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THREE DAYS LEFT. COMPUTERS. I’M THERE’S A LAUNCH AT NOT A NERD. THE SCIENCE MUSEUM NEXT FRIDAY. 70,000 STORMBREAKER COMPUTERS GOING LIVE… … WE DON’T WANT YOU TO GET INTO ANY TROUBLE, ALEX. JUST TAKE A LOOK AROUND. AND BE CAREFUL OF SAYLE. HE MAY SEEM CHARMING… …BUT HE’S ABOUT AS CHARMING AS A SNAKE. JUST KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN AND REPORT BACK. BUT HOW WILL WE’LL SUPPLY YOU WITH I DO THAT? A tELECOMMUNICATIONS DEVICE. THAT AND… OTHER GADGETS. I GET GADGETS?

REGENT STREET, LONDON HIS TAIL WAGS. IF YOU PAT HE ALSO OBEYS HIS HEAD, CERTAIN VOICE COMMANDS… DELIGHTFUL, DON’T YOU THINK? WE ROLL OVER! ALSO HAVE ROBOT CATS AND RODENTS- EXCUSE ME. I’M LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO TAKE TO CORNWALL. AH. COME WITH ME… CORNWALL, YES.

I KEEP MY SPECIAL HERE WE ARE. TOYS DOWN HERE. SOMEWHERE CHILDREN AREN’T ALLOWED, I’M RATHER PLEASED TO SAY… LET’S START A YO-YO? WITH THIS. THAT’S A LITTLE OLD-FASHIONED… ON THE CONTRARY, IT’S… STATE-OF- A MINIATURIZED AND HERE’S THE-ART. ENGINE WITH TRACTION SOMETHING TO POWER UP TO NINETY PUT IT IN. POUNDS. OH, RIGHT… THE MAIN BODY IS MAGNETIC, AND THE CORD IS A SPECIALLY DEVELOPED FORM OF SUPERNYLON. IT COMES WITH BATTERIES INCLUDED, AND A YEAR’S GUARANTEE.

NO, THAT ZIP DEPLOYS NOT THAT ZIP! THE PARACHUTE… wow NOW, THIS SMEAR A LITTLE IS SOMETHING ON YOUR FINGER, I’M SURE WILL AND IT’S HARMLESS. BE PERFECT FOR YOU. ZIT CREAM? BUT APPLY IT TO ANYTHING METALLIC… SWEET. IT’LL WORK ITS WAY THROUGH UP TO EIGHT INCHES OF STEEL.

FOUNTAIN PEN. A MODIFIED NINTENDO DS. WHAT IT NOT USED BY MANY YOUNG PEOPLE THESE DOES DEPENDS ON THE DAYS, ALAS… CARTRIDGE THAT YOU PLACE IN IT. THE NIB CAN BE SLIP IN THIS GAME, FIRED FROM A RANGE OF CALLUP, AND IT’S A SIX METRES, AND THE INK IS PDA SCANNER AND SODIUM PENTATHOL. WHOEVER TRANSMITTER. THAT’S YOU HIT WILL DO EXACTLY WHAT YOU TELL THEM FOR HOW YOU KEEP IN THE NEXT SIX HOURS. TOUCH WITH US. BUT I’VE PANIC STATION IS A SAVED THE BEST BUG-FINDER AND SONIC ’TIL LAST… INTENSIFIER. YOU CAN HEAR A CONVERSATION TWO ROOMS AWAY. THIS ONE IS CALLED OH, THAT’S JUST A GAME. GREEN SCREEN. I THOUGHT YOU IT TURNS THE WHOLE MIGHT LIKE IT FOR THING INTO A SMOKE BOMB, WITH A FIVE THE FLIGHT. SECOND FUSE. WHAT ABOUT MARIO KART?

IT’S OUTRAGEOUS! WHAT AM I SAYING? I MEAN, EVEN THE CIA OF COURSE THEY WOULDN’T COME UP WITH WOULD… SOMETHING LIKE THIS! BUT IT’S OUT OF HE LIED TO ME, JACK. THE QUESTION, ALEX. YOU’RE NOT GOING. ALL MY LIFE HE WAS PREPARING ME FOR I KNOW WHAT IAN THIS. EVERYTHING HE WOULD SAY… EVER DID… HE WAS JUST MANIPULATING ME. IT WAS HIS IDEA. YOU DON’T KNOW THAT, ALEX. HE NEVER SAID ANYTHING… MAYBE HE WAS TRYING TO PROTECT YOU. NO. HE KNEW. CHELSEA IT’S FROM IAN. HE MUST I DIDN’T KNOW WHETHER TO SHOW HAVE POSTED IT YOU THIS OR NOT. BEFORE… IT CAME “WISH YOU WHILE YOU WERE HERE WITH WERE AWAY. ME. THERE’S SO MUCH TO SEE.”

IT’S FROM CORNWALL! BUT HE DIDN’T IT’S ONLY YOU REALLY A FEW DAYS, PROMISE ME? MEAN YOU TO GO JACK. THERE NOW, ALEX. THAT’S NOT WHAT HE MEANT… I’LL BE CAREFUL. I PROMISE. AND ALEX… ANOTHER GADGET? WHAT? WHAT IS IT, A LOCKPICK? DOES IT EXPLODE? NO, ALEX. IT CLEANS YOUR TEETH.

MRS VOLE, IS THAT’S ME. THAT RIGHT? I’M THE GUT. EDITOR OF DISC YOU SHOULD SAY DRIVE WORLD… GOODBYE NOW. THEN THIS MUST BE KEVIN, JA? KEVIN BLAKE! GOODBYE, KEVIN! I HOPE YOU FIND YOUR STAY VERY INFORMATIVE! I’M SURE IT WILL BE… I AM NADIA VOLE. NOT IF YOU I WORK FOR ARE A FISH. MR SAYLE IN PR. PUBLIC RELATIONS? JA. THIS IS PORT TALLON. A FISHING VILLAGE. NICE PLACE.

MR SAYLE IS ALREADY HERE. HE WILL SEE YOU IMMEDIATELY FOR LUNCH.

MR SAYLE’S HOUSE. WOW. IT’S PRETTY COOL, PHYSALIA WOULDN’T YOU SAY? PHYSALIs. THE PORTUGUESE MAN OF WAR. I CAME UPON THIS ONE IN THE south CHINA SEA. KILLING RARE ANIMALS IS ONE OF MY HOBBIES… HEY, KEVIN! HOW ARE YOU? NOT SURE BUT NOT THIS I’D WANT ONE ONE. THIS ONE I AS A PET… HAD TO KEEP. YOU SEE, IT REMINDS ME OF MYSELF.

IT’S NINETY- THE MAN OF WAR NINE PER CENT IS AN OUTSIDER. WATER. IT HAS IT’S SILENT, YET IT DEMANDS NO BRAINS, RESPECT. THOSE TENTACLES ARE AND NO ANUS. COVERED IN NEMATOCYSTS… STINGING CELLS. IF YOU CAME INTO CONTACT WITH THEM, YOU’D DIE A VERY MEMORABLE DEATH. … I THINK I’M GOING TO LIKE YOU. NO, NO, NO. I’M TOO YOUNG I WOULDN’T TO DIE. BELIEVE THAT. WHAT THE…? YOU’RE NEVER TOO YOUNG TO DIE. HIYA, CUDDLES. MR SAYLE, THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR IS ON LINE ONE. IT SEEMS I’M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO JOIN YOU FOR LUNCH AFTER ALL, BUT I HOPE YOU’LL HAVE DINNER WITH ME TONIGHT.

IT’S BEEN QUITE THIS IS MY HE SEEMS TO A WHILE SINCE I PERSONAL ASSISTANT, FOUND MYSELF FACE TO HAVE CUT HIMSELF FACE WITH A BRITISH MR GRIN. SHAVING. SCHOOL KID… I CAN’T WAIT TO HEAR WHAT YOU THINK OF THE STORMBREAKER. …UNTIL ONE NIGHT, MR GRIN USED TO HIS MOTHER WAVED TO HIM WORK IN A CIRCUS. IT WAS A NOVELTY FROM THE FRONT ROW AND KNIFE-THROWING ACT. HE MADE A MISTAKE FOR A CLIMAX, HE CAUGHT WITH HIS TIMING. A SPINNING KNIFE BETWEEN HIS TEETH… HE CAN’T TALK, BUT HE’LL SHOW YOU TO YOUR ROOM MURGH. AND WE’LL MEET AGAIN HAVE FUN. TONIGHT. OKAY?

HMMM. YAAAAAA!

IT IS TIME FOR YOU TO SEE THE STORMBREAKER. YOU ARE THE FIRST CHILD TO EXPERIENCE THE POWER, THE WORLD DOMINATION OF THE STORMBREAKER. THIS MODEL HAS BEEN ALREADY LOADED WITH HIGHLY DEVELOPED PROGRAMS FOR ALL ASPECTS OF THE SCHOOL CURRICULUM. YOU ARE STANDING DOES IT HAVE SO, UM… IN IT. IT IS THE PINBALL? WHERE IS IT? STORMBREAKER BE STILL, PROTOTYPE. PLEASE, WHILE WE SCAN YOU. STEP ONTO THE PLATFORM.

JA! WHO TAUGHT YOU ABOUT COMPUTERS, KEVIN? MY UNCLE. HE IS A COMPUTER WHIZ-KING? YOU’RE USING NO, HE WAS A SLICE-MATRIX SECURITY GUARD. VIRTUAL REALITY BUT HE DIED. SOFTWARE, AREN’T YOU? I DON’T KNOW. BUT ONE DAY HOW DID THAT HAPPEN? I’LL FIND OUT. MAYBE. YOU WILL START SCIENCE, EH? GREAT… BUT NOT WITH SCIENCE. TODAY. PRESS ENTER TO BEGIN. …NOT.

SCIENCE. EVIDENCE INDICATES THE EARTH FORMED 4.57 BILLION YEARS AGO. IT IS 12,756 KILOMETRES WIDE AT THE EQUATOR, AND HAS A SURFACE AREA OF 510,065,284 SQUARE KILOMETRES. MORE THAN TWO-THIRDS OF THAT AREA IS COVERED BY WATER. THE NAME “EARTH” COMES FROM THE OLD ENGLISH AND GERMANIC LANGUAGES… …AND MEANS, SIMPLY, “LAND”.

NATURAL HISTORY. WOW. EXIT PROGRAM. WOAH.

UH-OH. GOOD MORNING, YES, SIR. MR SAYLE. THIS WAY, PLEASE… IS IT READY FOR ME?

…THE BACK-UP SYSTEM. NO. IT WILL SEND OUT A -GOOD. SIGNAL THAT WILL INSTANTLY ACTIVATE ALL SEVENTY THOUSAND COMPUTERS. OF COURSE, IT SHOULDN’T BE NEEDED. IT’S EXCELLENT. VERY- HMMM. DIESER VERDAMMTE JUNGE… KEVIN?

HMMM. NICE WEATHER FOR THE TIME OF YEAR.

HOW WOULD YOU KNOW? WELL, DON’T. KEVIN? WE HAVEN’T BEEN ALL BE OVER TOPSIDE IN FORTY- SOON, ANYWAY. EIGHT HOURS. I’M JUST TRYING TO MAKE CONVERSATION. THIRTY-NINE THIRTY-NINE HOURS TO FINAL HOURS AND COUNTING… DELIVERY. WHAT ARE YOU DOING MISS VOLE! I… DOWN HERE? I JUST WONDERED WHERE THIS WENT. WHAT IS THIS PLACE? “THIS PLACE” IS RESTRICTED. BITTE, THIS WAY! …

I WAS BROUGHT UP ON PEOPLE WOULDN’T EVEN WHAT YOU’D CALL THE WRONG TALK TO YOU UNLESS IT WAS SIDE OF THE TRACKS, TO MAKE DEATH THREATS. IN SOUTH LA…. A REAL TOUGH NEIGHBOURHOOD. MY MOM WON A MILLION SO WHAT HAPPENED? DOLLARS ON THE CALIFORNIA HERE IN THE UK. STATE LOTTERY. THAT’S WHEN SHE DECIDED TO GET ME AWAY FROM ALL THAT AND HAVE ME EDUCATED IN THE BEST SCHOOLING SYSTEM IN THE WORLD.

YOU WERE AT THAT’S RIGHT. SCHOOL WITH THE AND HE TREATED ME PRIME MINISTER. WITH THE SAME KINDNESS AS ALL THE OTHER KIDS IN MY CLASS. THIS IS THE NUMBER, MISS VOLE… …AND IT’S REGISTERED TO AN ADDRESS IN CHELSEA. PREPARE THE HELICOPTER.

…BUT ANYWAY. TELL ME, HOW DID YOU LIKE THE STORMBREAKER? IT’S COOL. “COOL.” IS THAT ALL YOU CAN SAY? YOU KNOW, KEVIN, IT STRIKES ME THAT YOU DON’T TALK VERY MUCH LIKE A COMPUTER ENTHUSIAST. NOR DO YOU LOOK LIKE ONE.

I’D HAVE SAID GOOD POINT. I’VE VERY MUCH ENJOYED THE SAME ABOUT YOU, MEETING YOU, KEVIN. I’M MR SAYLE. SURE YOU’LL HAVE A LOT TO TALK ABOUT WHEN YOU GET BACK TO SCHOOL. SURE. AND WHEN WE LAUNCH THE STORMBREAKERS TOMORROW… I’LL BE THINKING PARTICULARLY OF YOU. CHELSEA

EFXRCa.U.USLEEIMN.E, YES… YOU ARE A YES, IT IS. FRIEND OF ALEX? I AM LOOKING FOR A PERSON CALLED JACK. I LOOK AFTER HIM. THEN YOU’D THIS IS ALEX, YES? BETTER COME AND THIS MAN WITH HIM… HIS FATHER? IN. HIS UNCLE! LOOK, WHAT’S THIS ABOUT? IS THIS ABOUT ALEX? TELL ME… WHO IS THIS BOY ALEX RIDER? WHAT IS HE DOING?

WHO ARE YOU? WHO IS ALEX WORKING FOR? I’M NOT GOING TO TELL YOU… …ANYTHING! I SHOULD WARN YOU, I AM SURE HE DID… I HAVE A BLACK BELT IN KARATE. WELL, I WENT OUT WITH A GUY WHO HAD A BLACK BELT IN KARATE. …BUT NOT FROM ME! BUT HE TAUGHT ME HOW TO PROTECT MYSELF!

ALL RIGHT, THAT’S- -ENOUGH. WHAT THE HELL?



MR GREGOROVICH! LET US START. I’M GLAD YOU WERE ABLE TO JOIN US TONIGHT. I DIDN’T REALIZE YOU WERE GOING TO COME PERSONALLY.

THIS IS THE LAST MY PLAN. BATCH. MY PEOPLE MY OPERATION. WANTED TO BE ASSURED THAT THE OPERATION HAD ALL GONE ACCORDING TO PLAN. -WRONG? WHY SHOULD YOUR PEOPLE THINK THAT ANYTHING MIGHT GO- IT IS ALL RIGHT. THE CONTAINER IS NOT COMPROMISED. CARRY ON!

NO. I’M SO SORRY. I WON’T DO THAT AGAIN. YOU WILL NOT. MY PEOPLE DO NOT GET BACK TO WORK! LIKE MISTAKES.

I TOLD YOU WE JUST GOT THIS I DIDN’T WANT TO BE FROM ALEX RIDER. INTERRUPTED… “GREGOROVICH”? YASSEN GREGOROVICH? …UNLESS IT WAS IMPORTANT. AND IS IT? LONDON IT HAS TO BE. I THOUGHT IT SEEMS NOT. HE WAS STILL IN NORTH KOREA. THIS IS THE PROOF YOU NEED, ALAN. THE STORMBREAKER LAUNCH IS LESS THAN 24 HOURS AWAY. CANCEL IT. YES. YOU’RE RIGHT. HE’LL BE FLYING OUT AT TWELVE O’CLOCK I’LL PUT A CALL INTO DOWNING STREET. TOMORROW ANYWAY. NO POINT MAKING SAYLE - OR GREGOROVICH, COME TO THAT - SUSPICIOUS. AND GET ALEX OUT. YOU CAN MEET HIM WHAT? IF YOU LIKE. TAKE HE’S DONE HIM OUT FOR AN VERY WELL. HE DESERVES ICE CREAM. A TREAT.

ALEX RIDER… I SUSPECTED HIM FROM THE MOMENT HE ARRIVED. cORNWALL THESE AND HIS UNCLE WAS PEOPLE! I MEAN, IAN RIDER… THE REALLY…! SECURITY GUARD WHO WAS ACTUALLY A SPY! WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO? GO TO HIS ROOM. AND GET THAT HAND WAKE HIM UP GENTLY… SEEN TO. I NEED YOU ON TRY NOT TO ALARM HIM. TOP FORM TODAY. THEN KILL HIM. YES, MR SAYLE.

SNAP.

HMMM.



YOU’VE GOT TO BE KIDDING… MMMPH! *KOF!* *KOF!*

WHAT THE…? FINAL ORDER READY FOR DISPATCH. TWO HOURS AND TWELVE MINUTES TO DEPARTURE. RED TEAM REPORT TO DECONTAMINATION. RED TEAM FOR DECONTAMINATION.

REPEAT, RED TEAM THAT’S THE TROUBLE REPORT TO WITH THIS PLACE. DECONTAMINATION. EVERYONE WANTS YOU TO TAKE SHORTCUTS. ALL RIGHT, GIVE US A CHANCE… STOP RIGHT THERE.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE? WHO ARE YOU? WHAT’S GOING IT IS A GOOD WE CAN TALK ON? MY NAME’S ACT. YOU DO IT ABOUT THIS… VERY WELL. BUT KEVIN YOU SHOULDN’T I DO NOT BLAKE… THINK SO. HAVE COME I WAS INVITED HERE. HERE. YES, WE CAN! BE CAREFUL! DO NOT DROP THAT… “R5”. PUT IT WHAT IS IT? BACK, “KEVIN”. ALL RIGHT, THEN… WHAT’S THE WAY OUT OF HERE?

THANKS. CATCH! UP THERE. YOU IDIOT! OH! YOU MUST NOT STOP! STOP! FIRE BULLETS IN HERE! OF COURSE, I’M SORRY. I WON’T DO THAT… …AGAIN? NO. YOU WILL NOT.

THERE HE IS! LOOK OUT! HE’S GOT A- -NINTENDO?

GOING YEAH. SOMEWHERE, I HAVE MEIN JUNGE? A PLANE TO CATCH. NOT ANY MORE. YOU KNOW WHO I AM. I WON THE COMPETITION. *SIGH* WHAT’S YOUR NAME? MR GRIN?