Covid predicted in 1987 Bunty comic with eerie sketch of ‘deadly virus’ set to ravage world in 2020
IT appears the coronavirus pandemic was predicted in a 1987 Bunty annual - with an eerie comic strip showing a "deadly virus" ravaging the world in 2020.
In one story called The Lost World, two teens in 2020 are depicted in a bubble, cut off from the outside world by a "sizzling silver curtain".
⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates
The force-field appears to protect the surviving humans from a virus which has destroyed the Earth, keeping them safe if they stay behind it.
A girl named Jane, dressed in a futuristic outfit, asks her pal if she ever wonders what the world is like beyond the curtain, with Jean replying: "I used to.
"But when you know it's certain death outside, it's silly to even think of escaping."
The British comic for girls was popular throughout its run from 1958 to 2001, featuring fictional stories.
This bizarre story is introduced with a familiar description of a deadly virus arriving on the planet and forcing everyone to stay inside - with travel between cities and countries banned.
It starts: "It was the year 2020. Jane Tate and Jean Wilson were on their way to a history lesson.
"Like everyone else in their city they were trapped by the sizzling silver curtain that cut everyone off from the world outside."
A teacher tells them: "We know nothing more about the menace, Jane. The experts say that it could be hundreds of years before the plague has burnt itself out.
"To venture outside is certain suicide, that everyone knows."
She explains the "virus that was deadly to humans", came from a space ship returning to Earth and saw "millions of people" killed.
The comic was aimed at youngsters, published by a Dundee firm DC Thomson & Co.
This eerie story was dug out from the archives by the daughter of Dr Emily Munro, an archivist at the National Library of Scotland.
The law kicks in at 6pm and anyone who flouts the rules will be punishable by minimum £60 fixed penalties.
Another 22,915 Covid infections were confirmed, down from the 33,470 recorded this time last week.
Most read in News
The Government said it was keen to relax lockdown restrictions to allow up to four households to meet over the festive period.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Families could form social "bubbles" with up to four households for five days of "freedom" over the festive period.
But health experts have criticised the five-day reprieve starting on Christmas eve.
