Many of the stories in the JEFF HAWKE series use a storytelling technique which might be described as a “Tipping point”. It is used to great effect in the strip and might be explained as follows: The stories start off in our familiar world , its familiarity enhanced by the depiction of accurate and realistic technology and familiar landmarks, such as London scenes or English high streets . The narrative proceeds and develops as we would expect until suddenly this familiar matrix is violently intersected by another stranger one and our perspective is suddenly shifted from the quotidian to the cosmic . A good  example is OVERLAND which starts with a fairly straightforward story of an attempt to recover an ancient   plesiosaur preserved in the Antarctic ice. From discussions in the British museum to working out the mission logistics, all proceeds as one would expect. As the mission develops and the tractors locate the creature and attempt its extraction, our belief that this is a realistic story set in our own real world is cleverly re-inforced . Then suddenly the “Tipping point “ occurs . Our reality is shattered as an enormous spacecraft hovers above the expedition, and the story is seen from a new and vast perspective. It is revealed that the plesiosaur is     merely bait in a vast cosmic power play, a struggle for hegemony of the Galactic federation , for which Hawke and co are to be used as negotiators.

Probably the most visually dramatic example of the “Tipping point” is in the classic ANTI-GRAVITY MAN. Again – a seemingly routine story of an attempt to launch a cylinder of nuclear waste into orbit and the problems which occur when the rocket motors fail to achieve sufficient thrust for orbital velocity. Again the technology is realistic and the attempts to safely retrieve the cylinder involving docking procedures etc re-inforce our belief that this is happening in a familiar world. Then suddenly the “Tipping point” occurs , summed up visually in what is probably the most famous image in the whole JH series. A 60’s mini cooper with a few modifications   suddenly appears in orbit alongside the stricken space capsule and our perspective is suddenly changed. In contrast to the first part of the story, where even putting a spacecraft into orbit has been achieved with huge difficulty, we now have an incredible alien technology with capabilities of reaching all the planets of our Solar system and beyond   with baffling ease.

The “Tipping point” can be discerned in many of the Hawke stories especially those where Willie Patterson was at the helm and usually divides the stories into two distinct halves. It is by no means unique to Jeff Hawke of course ( Rupert the bear stories use it frequently!) but it is used to great effect by Messrs Patterson and Jordan. Building up this everyday, familiar world in such a careful fashion emphasizes the strangeness and shock of the aliens or their technology when they do finally appear, and serves as a foil against which the strange and alien worlds appear in sharp and shocking focus.  Skipper Prossitt