History
Stickleback is the main character of the 2000 AD series Stickleback, a 'Pope of Crime' who takes his name from his exposed spine (which turns out to be artificial), presiding over a Victorian London peopled by gods, ghosts and freaks. He died at one point, but was resurrected five years later. Stickleback has a son in the control of the White Lotus Empress, who permits him to see him for one day per year.
The series exists in the same continuity as The Red Seas, Ampney Crucis Investigates and Leviathan, and the character of Doctor Orlando Doyle has crossed over between the strips. An adult version of Stickleback's son appears in the fourth Ampney Crucis Investigates story.
Powers and Abilities
Strength level
Elderly human male.
Paraphernalia
Equipment
Artificial protruding spine; artificial eyebrows.
Weapons
Grenades.
Notes
- The first series was published in 2000 AD progs 1518 to 1525; the second in progs 1567 to 1577; the third in progs 1666 to 1676; and the fourth in progs 1824 to 1835. The fifth series started in prog 1900, and there was also an episode in prog 2009 (published Christmas 2008).
- Recurring characters include Stickleback's assistants Black Bob (a zombie, not the sheepdog from The Dandy), Little Tonga (a pygmy with a blowpipe), Fiery Jack (a human torch), Mr Peepers and Mr Lug (Siamese twins), Miss Scarlet (a tattooed lady), Gay John (a flamboyant drug baron) and Miss Moody Various. Stickleback's enemies include Detective Valentine Bey, his assistant Sgt. Leonard Chipps, Chief Constable Delius Lime, and government agent Alexander Ashton.
- The series contains numerous pop culture, historical and literary Easter eggs, some of which are explored on D'Israeli's blog here.
Trivia
In the real world, a stickleback is a type of fish. According to Wikipedia, "the males construct a nest from vegetation held together by secretions from their kidneys, then attract females to the nest. The female lays her eggs inside the nest where the male can fertilise them. The male then guards the eggs until they hatch." Isn't Nature wonderful?
Links and References
- Appearances of Stickleback
- Minor Appearances of Stickleback
- Media Stickleback was Mentioned in
- Images featuring Stickleback
- Quotations by or about Stickleback
- Character Gallery: Stickleback
Footnotes
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