From the pages of the million sales-per-month Action comic
(UK) comes the first collected edition of the man-eating great white shark,
Hook Jaw! Eventually banned for its graphic violence after a media outcry,
this forerunner of 2000 AD sees blood-n-guts and limbs-a-flying mix with
environmental issues. This collection comprises the two pre- ban
storylines: "The Oil Rig" -- where Hook Jaw unwittingly becomes an
eco-terrorist, as he eats his way through the staff of a greed-obsessed oil
magnet; "Paradise Island" -- at first glance, an idyllic island for the
wealthy but at what cost to the indigenous shark- worshippers?
(UK) comes the first collected edition of the man-eating great white shark,
Hook Jaw! Eventually banned for its graphic violence after a media outcry,
this forerunner of 2000 AD sees blood-n-guts and limbs-a-flying mix with
environmental issues. This collection comprises the two pre- ban
storylines: "The Oil Rig" -- where Hook Jaw unwittingly becomes an
eco-terrorist, as he eats his way through the staff of a greed-obsessed oil
magnet; "Paradise Island" -- at first glance, an idyllic island for the
wealthy but at what cost to the indigenous shark- worshippers?
The stories were written by Pat Mills (2000AD, Charley's War, Slaine,
Marshall Law etc etc) and Ken Armstrong (Flesh, Dan Dare and other
uncredited stories). The art is largely by the wonderful Ramon Sola
(Action, 2000AD, Battle etc) and another unnamed artist. Hook Jaw was an
attempt to cash-in on the success of Jaws, however, the horrific nature and
young audience of Action weekly led to prohibition campaigns by the Evening
Standard, the Sun and the BBC.
