Nature Boy!

Nature Boy by Jerry Siegel and John Buscema debuted in 1956. It took over the series numbering of firefighting Danny Blaze and ran for three issues before surrendering the series to the Li'l Rascal Twins. Nature Boy is Dave Crandall, a young boy who was lost at sea and found by a multitude of gods who granted the youngster a raft of powers just by invoking their names. He was returned to his comfortable home with his parents and grew to young manhood where he used his abilities to master nature to fight crime and injustice. In the first issue he battles a dictator of a supposed "Utopia" and helps combat the devastation of a flood. We get a brief glimpse of Nature Man when an adult Dave Crandall wanders the land helping out folks who need it. Blue Beetle also appears in the debut issue in story drawn by Rocke Mastroserio. 

To read this issue follow this link. 

In the second issue in stories written by Joe Gill and drawn by Rocke Mastroserio Nature Boy fights to bring peace to the world by attempting to contain worldwide aggression and confronts corporate powers who are bringing starvation to regions of the United States which should be generating lush harvests. Later he stops an air invasion and rids natives on a remote island of their oppressive leader. Nature Boy seems to have an endless array of powers but mostly he uses weather effects and lightning to get his way. There is also a story about Pecos Bill by Bob Powell. 

To read this issue follow this link. 

Siegel and Buscema return for the third and final installment of the short series. In this one, adorned by one of comicdom's most outlandish yet memorable covers, we get our hero saving the town of Centerville from an invader from Jupiter and he goes on a journey across the globe and confronts evil in the Sahara. Later he battles for justice in the Khyber Pass and finally helps a youngster when kidnappers invade. We get a one-page glimpse of Nature Girl who fights to save an elephant from a hunter. Siegel seemed to want to evoke the Marvel Family with this series, and if it had been given time, we might've seen an origin for Nature Girl. But it was not to be as this wraps up the run of Nature Boy. 

To read this issue follow this link. 

 

Nature Boy was brought to the attention of modern readers as he's given an entry in The League of Regrettable Superheroes by Jon Morris. 

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Baffling Adventures Of Sherlock Holmes!

Few names in popular fiction are more famous than Sherlock Holmes. The character originally created and delivered to the world by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in fifty-six short stories and four novels became a fabulous hit and was soon adapted to the stage and to film beginning with many silents and right on through to the modern day when new Holmes projects show up every year. Charlton Comics tried to capture a little of that Holmes magic in two issues of a comic series. The first issue you can read at this link. 

The second of the two Sherlock Holmes comics can be read at this link. 

I bring up Sherlock Holmes because I've just completed re-reading the stories, this time not in the order of their publication which has been my norm, but rather in the chronological order as they fall in the life and career of the great detective. This biographical approach is developed by William S. Baring-Gould who assembled The Annotated Sherlock Holmes. I've had these two volumes in my collection for nearly sixty years and have only used them as reference from time to time. This reading though, I marched through the two hefty tomes.

I was assisted as well by Baring-Gould's "biography" of Sherlock Holmes titled Sherlock Holmes of Baker Street. The author uses the copious details contained in the stories along with a healthy dose of imagination to organize the great detective's "life" into a proper story from his childhood until his death in 1957. In addition to his many conflicts with notable villains such as Professor Moriarty, Sebastian Moran, and others we discover that Holmes also helped to solve the Jack the Ripper murders and searched for the Yeti in the distant Himalayas. It's all great fun, and it's always nice to revisit Baker Street from time to time. 

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Son Of Vulcan - Fury Of The War God!

Mysteries of Unexplored Worlds Volume 1, Number 48 is dated September, 1965. The editor-in-chief and creator of Son of Vulcan is Pat Masulli. The cover is by regular artists Bill Fraccio and Tony Tallarico, who also provide the artwork on the main story inside. The writer is again Joe Gill. Here is what else was on the newsstands when this issue arrived.

"Fury of the War God" begins with a symbolic splash page showing a chained Son of Vulcan threatened by a disguised Mars, God of War and despairing of getting aid from Olympus.

The story proper begins in the jungles of Vietnam where Mars is checking out the ongoing struggle between the forces of North and South Vietnam. A furious lightning bolt erupts and he is summoned to the throne of Jupiter who voices his displeasure with his son and his warlike ways, and wishes he could be more like the Son of Vulcan.

The scene shifts to the offices of the news syndicate which employs Johnny Mann and who is getting his latest assignment. It is to go to the waters of the Arctic and explore the disappearance of three meteorologists. The waters are the domain of a whaler named Captain Tusk. Johnny thinks a better story is to be found in the Near East where mobs have been attacking embassies, but he is overruled.

The scene shifts again to the Near East where it is revealed that Mars is manipulating the crowds to create the attacks on the embassies, to foment aggression against the Americans. Jupiter though has had enough and punishes Mars for his meddling by casting him down to Earth, and stripped of much of his godly might and power. Ironically he is cast down right into the area of the Arctic into which Johnny Man is headed.

There Mars finds Captain Tusk and his lovely daughter Sally at dinner. Mars then captures the pair of them and makes himself the twin of Captain Tusk, thus taking control of his whaling fleet. He puts his captives in an ice cave where the missing scientists also happen to be.

"Imbalance" is a one-page text piece about a city that suddenly finds that half of it is sinking and other half is rising. It turns out that one side has too many tall skyscrapers and it has created an imbalance. A professor puts forth a dramatic plan to demolish enough buildings on one side to balance the city again. Desperate this plan is used and hence forth any large building on one side will be matched with another on the other.

Part 2 "The New Captain Tusk" begins as Mars disguised as Tusk is leading his whaling fleet on a rampage through the Northern waters attacking vessels and planes alike to establish his claim. News of this violent behavior reaches Johnny Mann who becomes Son of Vulcan and flies to investigate. Following an odd electronic signal he finds the Tusks and the scientists within the ice cave and calls upon Vulcan for aid to help them. Vulcan sends a ball of fire which melts the ice posthaste.

Mars witnesses the release via a remote camera and races to the scene in a rocket-powered snow sled. He finds and attacks Son of Vulcan who soon enough discovers that his enemy is an imposter and has enormous strength. He knocks SoV out and escapes. Son of Vulcan divines that it must be Mars he is battling with and flies after his nemesis, confronting him aboard his ship where once again Son of Vulcan is struck down, this time by a thunder strike. Chained, Son of Vulcan is the fake Tusk's prisoner.

Part 3 "The Villain" has the ship controlled by Mars/Tusk rampaging through the Northern waters with Son of Vulcan chained and held prisoner in the bow. This is seen from Olympus and Jupiter incorrectly surmises that SoV is the culprit behind this latest wave of violence. Vulcan protests, but to no avail. Mars/Tusk continues his attacks until he is confronted by a U.S.Naval vessel armed with nuclear shells.

These shells are fired and the conflagration is ferocious but only succeeds in freeing Son of Vulcan who once again takes after the fleeing Mars/Tusk who tries to use a harpoon gun against our hero. Sally Tusk intercedes and causes him to fire into the ship itself which blows up. Son of Vulcan saves Sally from attacking Killer Whales, but it is left to Mars to save the real Captain Tusk, which he in fact does, proving he is not all bad.

Mars disappears and is presumed dead, but Johnny Mann now safe aboard a naval ship along with both Captain and Sally Tusk is not so sure, and feels he will need to be guarded against the eventual return of the war god.

"Volcano" is a three-page comic story about various real world volcanos throughout the world and history. Mentioned are volcanoes Vesuvius, Krakatoa, Pelee, and Mauna Loa among others. The art is supplied by Rocke Mastroserio.


This is the last issue of Mysteries of Unexplored Worlds by that title. And it was the one issue of the adventures of Son of Vulcan I most wanted since seeing the cover as a boy in early Charlton comics house ads. I mistakenly thought Jim Aparo did the cover for years until I was able to see a copy of the comic firsthand at long last. It's easily the best Son of Vulcan cover aside from the debut issue.

The adventure establishes firmly Mars as the primary opponent of SoV, a similar situation to what Charlton's Hercules will find a few years later under the capable hands of Joe Gill and Sam Glanzman when Ares, the Greek equivalent proves to be his primary menace. We also get a peek at the feud between Jupiter and Vulcan as their sons are compared.

The anti-war theme reappears in this issue, with the conflict in Vietnam described by Mars as not even a proper conflict given its low-tech manner.

It's hard really to understand the nature of Captain Tusk's situation in the Arctic as he seems to claim vast stretches of ocean as his domain. Under what legal right he claims this territory is uncertain and unstated.

Another solid entertainment by rock-solid professionals. With the next issue the amateur fan creators will be making their presence felt on the Son of Vulcan.


The story was reprinted by Alan Class in Secrets of the Unknown #169.

To read the complete comic book follow this link.   

More to come.

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Son Of Vulcan - The Golden Curse!

Mysteries of Unexplored Worlds Volume 1, Number 47 starring Son of Vulcan is dated July, 1965. The editor in chief is Pat Masulli, who is credited with creating Son of Vulcan. The cover is by Bill Fraccio and Tony Tallarico who are also the artists of record for most of the interiors of the comic. The writer for this issue is Joe Gill, the iron man of Charlton scribes. Here is what was on the newsstands when this issue hit.

"The Golden Curse" begins with a discourse on marriage, wealth, and greed, and introduces our main players. We first meet Leonard Lambie, a professor of mythology at a small university. He lives a life of relative poverty and is put upon by his unhappy wife. He reads of the exploits of Son of Vulcan and wishes that he too could access the powers of the gods. He especially dreams of having the power of King Midas as he does the evening dishes with his disapproving wife glaring at him.

The scene shifts to the apartment of Johnny Mann, reporter and mortal identity of the Son of Vulcan. He is awakened by a heavenly announcement that Mars, the God of War will soon arrive to bring him to Olympus to face judgement. Mars, who is not happy that Son of Vulcan has been successful with his godly gifts, brings him to Olympus where he is reunited with his adopted father Vulcan and the beautiful Venus. Jupiter sits upon his throne and pronounces that in the case of Cyprete (from the debut issue) Son of Vulcan has performed well. This does not go over well with Mars who plots to undermine SoV's success.

To that end he visits the disgruntled Leonard Lambie and gifts him with the gauntlets of King Midas, which can turn objects to gold. But Mars fails intentionally to tell Lambie that the effect wears off after forty-eight hours.


"Planet Urth" is a one-page text piece which is actually a letter from the Martian leader Mishi Ucha, and puts forth his strong opinions about how the Maritians should best pursue their military goals. He urges war with the Venusians, to show the upstarts their proper place in the galaxy and he then suggests war with the Saturnians should be next. He is dismissive of the idea of "Project Urth" put forth by Professor Slumpshi because Ucha finds the idea that intelligent life could be on the humble planet too remote a possibility to consider.

The story of Leonard Lambie continues as he demonstrates his new godly gifts to his wife by changing the trash can to gold. She remains unimpressed so he changes her to gold too in a fit of anger. He enjoys the new quiet it brings.

Meanwhile Johnny Mann is given a new assignment to investigate Zoloto, the world's biggest gold dealer and a man who has been suspiciously hoarding gold and hiding it. Johnny goes to Zoloto's offices, replete with golden themes, and is violently ejected at gunpoint. He passes Leonard Lambie who meets with Zoloto to turn his new gold into hard cash. Zoloto, after seeing the gauntlets work, strikes a bargain with Lambie and sends him on his way, but then sends his henchmen to follow him.


At his home Lambie adopts a costume befitting his Midas role as Mars looks down upon him satisfied that Son of Vulcan will falter in the face of this new threat. Johnny Mann though has followed Zoloto's thugs to Lambie's house and seeing their violent intentions transforms into the mighty Son of Vulcan and faces off against them. But Lambie turns SoV into a gold statue too and the whole lot then are taken to Zoloto's grotto where the statues of SoV and Lambie's wife are about to be melted down to make ingots.

Lambie though wants them to be saved and Zoloto relents momentarily only to show Lambie how little authority he has. Son of Vulcan is still able to think, if not move, and he uses telepathy to tell Lambie that Zoloto only wants to remove him and his gauntlets as they will only make his gold cheaper by increasing the relative supply. Then SoV and Lambie's wife are put back on the conveyor belt to be melted down.


Son of Vulcan though does not melt, his godly powers making him invulnerable and he turns back to his true nature. He calls upon Vulcan to send him a mace which he does and SoV then demolishes the furnace. Zoloto attempts to escape and use poison gas to kill everyone in the grotto but Lambie turns him to gold before can act. Mars is unhappy that SoV has succeeded.

The police arrive and Son of Vulcan explains things and Lambie submits himself to the authorities for his two "murders". But then the forty-eight hours pass and Lambie's wife reverts to normal. Since the effect is not permanent, the police are sure Lambie's punishment will be less severe.

Son of Vulcan returns the gauntlets of Midas back to Olympus were Mars is forced to confess he was behind the scheme the whole time. As Jupiter lavishes praise on Son of Vulcan Mars plots revenge as does Zoloto in a prison cell far away. With these looming threats and the mention of Dr.Kong also, Son of Vulcan's future looks far from bright.

"Strange Galaxy" is a three-page comic story about a space ship and its lone occupant Major Rauss that heads to the Moon too fast, misses it entirely and instead heads into deep space and a galaxy far away only to land on a distant planet where the pilot is met with relatively hospitality. The art is by Charles Nicholas on pencils and Rocke Mastroserio on inks.


This is a solid issue of Charlton entertainment. The characters so well explained last issue are vivid and the story falls into place quickly. Joe Gill's script is lean and there's a real momentum to the storytelling in this one. The artwork by Fraccio and Tallarico is a wonderful example of what they can do.

The cover is a busy and hectic one indeed, and sadly not very dynamic. The bearded King Midas with his long white beard is not the Leonard Lambie we have inside. The costume and crown are similar but he's a smaller fellow with no whiskers at all.

This issue was something of a grail book for me for many years. Before the convenience of the internet, rounding up back issues was a slow process indeed. I looked for this particular issue for at least five years before finding a moth-eaten copy. It was a great to have it and be able to at long last read the entire Son of Vulcan Charlton saga. It's that kind of satisfaction that makes this hobby so much fun.


This story was reprinted by Alan Class in Uncanny Tales #180.

To read the complete comic book follow this link. 

More to come.

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Son Of Vulcan - A Mighty Champion Is Born!

Son of Vulcan debuted in Mysteries of Unexplored Worlds Volume 1, Number 46 dated May, 1965. The dynamic cover is by Dick Giordano. The editor and writer of the debut issue and also the credited creator of Son of Vulcan was Pat Masulli. Bill Fraccio the penciller and Tony Tallarico the inker supplied the interior artwork for much of the comic. Here is what was on the stands when the Son of Vulcan series debuted.

"A Mighty Champion is Born!" begins with a dynamic splash page showing a fully-armored Son of Vulcan between the Roman god Mars and the Roman god Vulcan and announces that SoV will be a hero on Earth.

The story is told in first person by John ("Johnny") Mann, a reporter who was wounded in Korea and has an artificial leg. On the island of Cyprete, after leaving a tenure as a reporter in Vietnam, Johnny is musing about the folly of war and while walking through some Roman ruins asks why the gods, if gods there be, allow such foolishness. There is burst of lightning and Johnny is struck down, seemingly by the very hand of a god itself.

He awakens surrounded by the full pantheon of the Romans and is immediately threatened by Mars, the god of war who offers to dispose of the fragile human by dropping him out of his chariot. Jupiter then confronts Johnny from his throne and asks why such a weak human would criticize the gods. Johnny stands up for himself and says that as a reporter it is his job to tell the truth. Mars again threatens Johnny, but Vulcan steps in and suggests there might be more to this human that they think. Impressed by his bold honesty, Vulcan is allowed to question Johnny since, as Jupiter points out, it was Vulcan himself who is an creator of mankind. Johnny repeats his criticism of the gods lack of action while wars are waged on Earth and even Jupiter threatens the brazen young man. But Venus steps in and asks a favor that Johnny be spared. Then Vulcan takes Johnny under his wing, pleads his case be considered.


The debate continues, but ultimately because Vulcan sees virtue in Johnny is allowed to help him when Jupiter puts the challenge before Johnny to step up and fight to solve the problems he has identified. To that end, Johnny is granted some aspects of the power of Vulcan himself, over the objections of Mars. First Vulcan fashions armor for Johnny, and then Venus gives him the added strength and vitality needed to wear it and wield the mighty weapons at his disposal. He is not to be limited to one weapon, but may summon any weapon he needs such as a spear, a sword, or a sling. Fully prepared, the newly christened "Son of Vulcan" is dispatched back to Earth to find and battle the threats to world peace.

"The Snake People" is a one-page text piece which tells of a man who dreams of a deadly green snake with red eyes. When he draws the snake and shows it to experts, he is summoned and confronted by the police who are investigating mysterious deaths perhaps caused by just such a snake, as reported by one man who survived long enough to report. He is told of a cult who worship snakes and even believe they can become them. The man is given police protection and sure enough he dreams of the snake again and then finds he is about to be bitten when a shot rings out and the snake is slain. A man's body is found where the snake had been and the whole affair is reported as the attack of a mere intruder.

"Watchdogs of the Deep" is a one-page comics tale about how sharks make effective guardians for deep sea activities in the Cold War, making things difficult for Communist spies, but also being quite dangerous to the forces of the free world. The artwork is by Bill Molno.


"He Stands Alone" is the second Son of Vulcan story in this issue. It is written by Pat Masulli, and the art is again by the team of Bill Fraccio and Tony Tallarico. The time is 1965 and the Son of Vulcan returns to the island of Cyprete where live to distinct populations, the Preterons and the Cyclates, both who believe in the myth of the Giant Gladiator, who will one day appear and lead one of those groups to domination of the other and the whole island.

Son of Vulcan transforms back to Johnny Mann and drops out of the sky onto the island, where he heads immediately to speak to General Ator of the Cyclates, hoping to bring reason to the situation. He finds though that Ator is a firm believer in the myth of the Gladiator. Johnny then tracks down a rumor that the Giant Gladiator has already appeared and indeed finds the giant in a local village of the Preteons, urging them on to war. Transforming into Son of Vulcan, he follows the giant as he heads to a giant colosseum known as the "Tomb of the Gladiators". Behind a great stone door, he hears a voice not belonging to the Gladiator and finds the Asian villain Dr.Kong reveal he is behind this charade and that he is plotting to take over the island himself. But SoV is careless and Kong drops him through a trapdoor into a well where he must fight a deadly octopus. The epic struggle with the octopus lasts all night, but in the morning Son of Vulcan is at last able to overcome the beast and escape the trap.

He then finds the Cyclates led by Ator and the Preteons on a battlefield ready to wage war as the Giant Gladiator pledges control to the victorious army. Son of Vulcan intervenes and agrees to battle the Gladiator. A furious battle ensues during which SoV uses many weapons including a fiery sling and his enormous shield. Ultimately he deciphers the secret of the Gladiator and calls for the sword of Ulysses and with a single stroke stabs the Gladiator through his helmet, whereupon the giant falls to the ground. It is revealed that the Gladiator is actually a giant robot and the both the deceived groups, the Cyclates and the Preteons seek the mastermind Dr.Kong who is seemingly crushed beneath the falling ruins of the colosseum. As Johnny Mann drives out of Cyprete though, we see the evil Dr.Kong in disguise already scheming for his revenge.

"The Minatures" is a one-page science fiction story about Earth men who must meet a race of ten-foot tall giants as they descend in their rockets. The aliens discover that the Earth men are much larger than they and immediately decide to leave. It is revealed that the Earth men have used robotic duplicates to deceive the aliens. The artwork is by Rocke Mastroserio.

"The Roman Gods on Mount Olympus" is a three-page overview of the Roman pantheon and associated myths. Jupiter, Neptuen, Juno, Pluto, Minerva, Vulcan, Mars, Apollo, Venus, Cupid, Mercury, Saturn, Janus, Pan, Midas, and Atlas all get a single panel of description. The artwork is by Charles Nicholas.


There's little denying the similarity of the premise of Son of Vulcan to Marvel's Thor who had debuted three years earlier. A lame human who is given the power of the gods does seem all too familiar. But that is also the premise of Captain Marvel Jr., and Freddy Freeman and not Dr.Don Blake nor Johnny Mann is the one who gets the powers. So this is a long-standing premise with a great deal of history. It is a bit of an irony that Thor debuted in a long-running mystery tale comic with no previous history of superheroes and so did Son of Vulcan, but there it is.

The anti-war sentiment in this story really is remarkable, given that we are talking about a 1965 comic book. Vietnam is name-checked, though Johnny's experience is mostly with Korea. The futility of war seems almost to be the underlying theme of the whole comic. Of course, the dilemma is what to do with an armored hero who hates war, but who is all too willing to fight. The pacifism is muddled, as it would be later when Charlton's other Peacemaker would debut a few years later. I imagine "Cyprete" is a reference to Cyprus, which suffered from similar ethnic divisions.

The strongest aspect of this comic is the characterization which is surprisingly rich for a Charlton comic of this era. The gods are distinctive and Johnny himself has a specific voice, a consistent tone especially in the very talky origin story.

Most folks will criticize the artwork, but personally I've always been a fan of the Fraccio-Tallarico team. I find their work while it might lack the polish of some has an incredible kinetic energy that really moves the reader along. The action can be uninspiring in places, but awesome in others. There's a lot of story to be told in this first pair of tales and so I cut them some slack if panels seem a bit static as information is delivered.

Son of Vulcan is a fun comic from a company which was only known at the time for two superheroes -- Captain Atom and Blue Beetle. Only the Beetle was being published new at the same time as Son of Vulcan debuted while reprints of Captain Atom are just being rolled out.

Follow this link to read the complete comic book.   

There will be more to come.

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Unexplored Worlds!

This month the focus is on two heroes who shared the pages of Mysteries of Unexplored Worlds. This was a long-running series from Charlton which had focused on science fiction and weird tales of all kinds. In the push to create new superheroes its pages became host first to Son of Vulcan and later Thunderbolt. 

Son of Vulcan was similar in theme to Marvel's Thor or the even earlier Captain Marvel from Fawcett. A lame reporter named Johnny Mann could transform into the Son of Vulcan and use a range of weapons and powers from the Greek god pantheon. He didn't prove to be a long-term success. 

He was replaced by Peter Cannon...The Thunderbolt, a series by Pete Morisi which was inspired by Bill Everett's Amazing Man and visually by Lev Gleason's Daredevil. Thunderbolt was more successful than Son of Vulcan, but even he failed to find lasting success when the entire Action Hero line was dropped. 

Speaking of Daredevil, there will be a few posts which feature this Golden Age crime buster.

I'll also reach back and take a glimpse at two superhero attempts from Charlton from the 1950's. Jerry Siegel created to heroes, Mr. Muscles and Nature Boy. The latter is famous because his comic featured some early work by none other than John Buscema. 

And finally, in lieu of the fact there is no direct Steve Ditko content this month, I plan to look at a comic which was inspired by four of Ditko's creations (Captain Atom, The Question, the New Blue Beetle and Nightshade), the wildly famous and successful Watchmen. (Don't fret Ditko fans, the great man's work will show up like gangbusters in October and November will be filled with his efforts.) 

That's a peek at what's coming to the Dojo in September. Lots and lots of fisticuffs and more than a smidge of heavy drama. Expect a few surprises along the way as well. 

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The Living Assault Weapons!

I very much remember anticipating this "return" of the Action-Heroes under the hand of Dick Giordano and Bob Layton. This project apparently was stalled a few times before it finally came out from DC at the very beginning of the current century. Like most of the product of that time, it was hooked into the JLA, a major seller for DC and the source of countless spin-offs and one-shots. L.A.W. was seen by many as just one more of those.

But for Charlton fans it was special. It featured the return of the "original" Action-Heroes. Sarge Steel, Captain Atom, Blue Beetle, The Question, Nightshade and a new Peacemaker all play roles in the story, but the story itself was sculpted around the return of Rip Jagger, The Judomaster. This is a Judomaster story, though I will confess that focus does get muddled a bit as the story unfolds.

A powerful enemy named The Avatar (take that James Cameron) unleashes demons on the Earth and locks up the JLA in a dimensional trap. He seems unstoppable, but then Sarge Steel is put in charge of a group of heroes including Blue Beetle and the Question to battle the threat. He finds himself working out of a sprawling new project which gives birth to a new Peacemaker, a doctor. This force seeks out the Avatar's threat despite the lurking of traitors inside the project. Meanwhile Captain Atom has become a power source for the Avatar and will remain like that through much of story being reborn in a new costume before it's all over. Blue Beetle reveals a hidden guilt and the Question must come to terms with his lack of power in this battle against great evil. Nightshade is the most changed and seems literally to be battling for her very soul in the story. Sarge Steel is seduced and given the chance to be made whole again, but must stand strong. All the heroes seem to have an internal struggle alongside the external threat.

That threat is posed by Avatar who it is revealed relatively early is actually Tiger, formerly the partner of Judomaster who in a fit of teenage pique rejects the tutelage of his master and begins his fall into villainy. Judomaster meanwhile has obtained nirvana in Nanda Parabat but must give that up to rejoin the world and confront his corrupted partner. His struggle is the heart of the story.

This is a very uneven story though I'll have to confess despite my affection for it. It seems it was done in at least two stages looking at the artwork. The story itself is an a bit of a mishmash, offering many interesting angles and solving most of them, but not always convincingly.

I want to adore the L.A.W., but alas I only like it. I do recommend that you seek it out if you can find it. It's never been collected alas. It should be, everything else is available for heaven's sakes.

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