Turok Son of Stone entered its mature period when artists Giovanni Ticci and Alberto Giolitti took over the series in the early 60's. The Turok they drew was a mature man and the Andar was clearly a youngster. In point of fact one story sets their ages at twenty-five for Turok (seems young for the way he's drawn) and fifteen for Andar. Paul S. Newman is the writer for all the Turok comics below as well as the "Young Earth" features which are drawn by Rex Maxon. All the covers are by George Wilson.
Issue thirty-eight offers up two Turok tales. "Frozen Fear" is the story featured on the cover and it explores what happens when a sudden and startling snowfall drops into the Lost Valley. The "Honkers" are very confused by these events and with the demise of some regular foods become very aggressive. Not any less aggressive are cavemen who harass Turok and Andar out of a safe cave and force them to try and survive outside for a time. "The Lake Dwellers" is the "Young Earth" feature and tells how early man might have taken to living on lakes where there was both resources and security. "The Origin of Man - The Search for the Missing Link" is the text item this issue and talks about Eugene DuBois an acolyte of Darwin's who discovered Pithecanthropus who lived nearly a million years before modern man. "The Stain of the Savage Killers" is a strange tale in which Turok and Andar find themselves attacked by unusually aggressive "Honkers" and find that some weird berries are the problem, but not before Andar eats a sample.
"Mortal Combat" is the issue long adventure for Turok and Andar this time. It has our two Indian braves captured by opposing tribes and forced to battle one another in a gladiatorial contest of sorts to decide territorial conflicts between them. One tribe live underground and are called the "Spider-Men" and the other live in the trees and are dubbed the "Monkey-Men". Turok and Andar are able to finally escape their clutches. "The Origin of Man - The Fire-Bringers" talks Professor David Black and his discovery of the Peking Man who it seems was able to control fire. "Young Earth" features "The Warrior" and shows how a rock-throwing tribe and a spear-throwing tribe are able to work together to take down a Mammoth. The issue closes with a "Wild Animals of North America" one-pager about the Wild Boar.
"The Arrow of Fear" is a different kind of Turok tale which has our duo pondering the appearance of a strange arrow of the kind they are familiar with. They hope it and the tribe that worship it will lead them to a way out of the valley but alas they are disappointed as you likely already suspect. "Young Earth" showcases "The Daring Cave Painter" and tells how the primitive artists were spiritual guides for the hunters in a tribe. "Peril of the Boiling Mists" has Turok and Andar hanging out in an area full of geysers. Andar goes missing and Turok searches for him and finds him captive of a strange tribe who think the two are working for their enemies. It's all Turok and Andar can do to survive and escape from this land of boiling waters that strike without warning.
The forty-first issue of the comic kicks off with the oddball "The Phantom Honker". Turok and Andar chance upon a tribe of primitives who offer up meat to a strange and smallish glowing Honker. I won't spoil this one much but suffice it to say the solution to this mystery is found in a strange cave and that Scooby-Doo and his compatriots would have been proud of the work that Turok and Andar do here. "Man's Early Habitations: The Lake Dwelling" discuses just that and how such homes impacted the development of culture. "Young Earth" features "The Adventurer" about an atypical caveman who uses his imagination and wits to search for food where other fear to tread and in doing so finds new lands for his people. "The River Raiders" has Turok and Andar once again tied up with warring tribes who seek to use the two Native Americans to win the longstanding feud.
Things get pretty desperate when Turok and Andar throw themselves into the clutches of flying Honkers rather than face "The Destroyers". The duo are puzzled when they find a swath of absolute desolation but discover the cause are large ants on the march. This one is a wee bit different in that some of Turok's choices seem questionable and not as prudent as he usually is. "Man's Early Habitations: The Tent" describes how ancient peoples moved away from the caves thanks to primitive tents made from hides. "Young Earth" presents "The Weapon Maker" which features another precocious cave man who discovers how to make an edged weapon to confront both bears and sabre-tooth tigers. "A Vision of Home" finds Turok and Andar suffering under mirages when they try to cross a pretty desolate desert. The find what they think are pueblos but as always their chance to find a way out of the valley is frustrated. The comic closes with a one-piece feature on "The Shrew".
The forty-third issue of Turok Son of Stone is dated January 1965. It features one longer tale of Turok and Andar titled "The Hidden Enemy". The story begins when their weapons disappear when they asleep and in searching for them find a gang of primitives digging away in deep tunnels with the goal of defeating a tribe of river dwellers. The duo find their weapons but are shocked to see one Caveman come back from one of the tunnels holding a rabbit. "The Mud Hut" a text piece describes the theoretical devlopment of just that. A new feature pops up titled "Turok Son of Stone - A Tree-Climbing Dinosaur" and showcases the Hypsilophodon which can do just that or so scientists believed at the time. "Young Earth" shows us how dogs became "Man's Best Friend" helping primitive people to hunt more effectively. "Wild Animals of Asia" is all about the Tiger. "The Hidden Enemy" continues with a second chapter dubbed "The Battle Below". Seeing the possibility for a way out of Hidden Valley Turok and Andar barter with the cavemen for the return of one of their bows. But their plans to escape are nullified with the cavemen flood the caves as it turns out their plan worked a bit too well. Turok and Andar are frustrated in their quest yet again. "The Elasmosaurus" is a one-pager on that aquatic dinosaur. "Bridges and Man" show how such engineering feats such as the suspension bridge have helped humans down through many long years.
And that's a wrap for this tome. You can feel Newman stretching his muscles a bit and reaching for more and more unusual threats for our duo. But things will get stranger still.
Rip Off
No comments:
Post a Comment