2000 AD Annual #1984
In "Hoagy's First Case," the young and eager Hoagy steps in when Sam is away on a job, only to find himself tangled in a mess he didn’t see coming. When a botched attempt to disable a house’s robotic guard dog leads to a blaze that burns the place down, Hoagy’s rookie misstep leaves Sam to face the owner—and the bill. Written by Staccato and brought to life with bold, detailed artwork by Ian Gibson, this story showcases the early days of a character whose instincts often outpace his judgment. The cover by Dave Gibbons captures the moment’s tension with sharp, dynamic lines.
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Sam is out on a job so Hoagy takes on a case. He unwittingly helps a burglar gain access to a house by tackling its robot guard dog. An attempt to free himself from the robot dog's clutches results in a fire which burns the house down, leaving the newly arrived Sam to explain to the returning owner just what has been going on, as well as pay for the damages.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).