Sam Slade Robo-Hunter #15

Sam Slade Robo-Hunter debuted in the pages of the British science fiction anthology 2000 AD in 1978, created by writer John Wagner and artist Ian Gibson. The series served as a satirical take on the hard-boiled detective genre, transplanting a gritty, cigar-chomping private investigator into a futuristic setting populated by malfunctioning robots. Issue 15 emerged during the comic's classic period, reflecting the blend of slapstick humor and detailed, mechanical-heavy artwork that defined Gibson’s visual style.

The character of Sam Slade was conceived as a cynical foil to the high-tech environment of the 25th century, with Gibson’s illustrations celebrated for their intricate line work and the distinctively expressive, spindly design of the robots he rendered. As part of the wider 2000 AD mythos, this issue contributed to the enduring popularity of the strip, which became a cornerstone of British comics due to its subversive tone and creative world-building.