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• The Dalek Chronicles
  • Introduction
  • Genesis of Evil
  • Power Play
  • Duel of the Daleks
  • The Amaryll Challenge
  • The Pentaray Factor
  • Plague of Death
  • The Menace of the Monstrons
  • Eve of the War
  • The Archives of Phryne
  • Rogue Planet
  • Impasse
  • The Terrorkon Harvest
  • Legacy of Yesteryear
  • Shadow of Humanity
  • The Emissaries of Jevo
  • Road to Conflict
  • Return of the Elders
  • Deadline to Doomsday
• Other Dalek Chronicles Web sites
  • Altered Vistas
  • The Dalek Chronicles

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A rust cloud threatens the Daleks on Skaro. However, the Black Dalek’s plan to stop it results in the cloud mutating into a deadly rust virus that begins to infect and destroy the whole Dalek race...

Art by Richard Jennings

Part One

An accident on Skaro during Dalatomic beam missile tests, results in a cloud of radioactive rust that can eat into Dalek casings.

Part Two

The Black Dalek demonstrates the devastating effect the rust cloud could have on the Daleks. But it is too late for Desert Station GX. YUR which becomes the cloud’s first victim.

Part Three

The Black Dalek sends out hoverbouts to stop the cloud, but the rust attacks them and all plunge their doom.

The first appearance of the hoverbouts in the strips, one of the Dalek Chronicles greatest legacies to the mythos of the Daleks. CGI render from the Altered Vistas production of The Plague of Death.

Part Four

The Black Dalek realises that the rust cloud is heading towards the Dalek city. He consults the Brain Machine, which tells him to use magnets to defeat the cloud.

Part Five

The Black Dalek traps the rust cloud using magnets, then Daleks spray it with oil vapour. It looks like a triumph for the Daleks, until the rust becomes germinated like a disease.

Part Six

As the plague spreads through the Dalek city, the Daleks turn to in fighting. The Emperor returns and soon deduces that the plague is being spread by one particular Dalek… the Black Dalek, who is even now approaching.

Illustration from the original Dalek Chronicles

Part Seven

The Black Dalek is driven away by the Emperor’s guards. The Emperor enters the city to consult the Brain Machine, which confirms his deduction. But the Black Dalek is also here, his casing rusting away. The Emperor tells him his casing must be reconstructed and the diseased Daleks cured. However, whilst the Daleks are in turmoil, an alien ship arrives on Skaro.

• This story was originally published in issues 33-39 of TV Century 21.
• The Dalek Brain Machine puts in its second and final appearance.
• The Daleks’ hoverbouts make their first appearance in the strip.
• Altered Vistas CGI adaptation of Plague of Death was released in March 2005 and is available from their site: www.alteredvistas.co.uk.