The third volume from Titan Books collecting Jack Katz's epic story is titled The First Kingdom Volume Three - Vengeance. In these issues produced between 1980 and 1983 we continue to follow the long saga of Tundran as he having learned he was the son of Darkenmoor, first Kenmoor of Moorengan is beginning to take steps to take back his throne from the despot Vargran. He is joined by his mate Fara and a man named Nator.
But as we amble toward the climax of this saga, Katz is all too ready for many diversions. One of his techniques is to have characters reveal themselves and tell long stories of their origins and doings. We have been trained by Katz that the thread of the main storyline is of interest only in that we are fully cognizant of the complex interrelationships of the many characters who tumble in and out of the narrative. When we think we know what's going on, we are given a tale which changes the game. In this issue we are treated to the story of Adack a Transgod. We learn that he was the lone survivor of the attack of a gang of space pirates and too deadly steps to stop them. Tundran and Fara for their part find civilization but are taken into slavery.
In this issue we learn more about the sprawling history of the Transgods who are in actuality modified androids brought to Earth aboard the Galactic Hunter. We follow the story of one who encountered cruel pirates and was deposited on a supposedly uninhabited planet but who found life and even some degree of love. Tundran and Fara must fight in the arena as slaves to hope to regain their freedom. They do and find allies.
Tundran has gained a ship and some allies and heads again to Moorengan. We are treated to another story of the Transgods, this one of a deadly war in the past in the depths of space. Vargran, the usurper comes under attack from those loyal to the true Kenmoor of Moorengan but thanks to the coniving ways of his Transgod counseler Nadan and his partner Tedra the plot is undone. Tundran and Fara find a chance to some small peace and romance before Tundran is charged by his followers to go and retake his throne.
Tundran and Fara prepare forces to retake Moorengan and we are treated to yet another memory of a Transgod who tells of a subtrafuge on a far distant planet. We do then finally get some direct information about how the Earth was changed by the Transgods (then still androids) after the atomic conflagration that ended what we think of modern civilization. We see how some of the stranger aspects of the planet are the result of their tampering.
The focus of this issue is yet another alien race called the "Ultranoids", one which like many described by Katz before it, thought it was the apogee of what was possible. This race could teleport across the cosmos but were ultimately trapped. It's suggested this race has a connection to mankind. Tundran finds more allies and begins the shape the force which will be used to retake Moorenagan. Tundran is given a choice to seek happiness or like his father seek vengeance. He chooses to lead the invasion forces to Moorengan, but how that will end remains unclear.
At long last Tundran returns to Moorengan and scales the massive walls built by his father to protect the territory. He and Fara lead a small group into the kingdom to find allies in the mines where slaves are used. The do in fact find allies and the plot thickens. Tundran pretends to be blind and enters the city for the first time, fulfilling several prophecies of his eventual return. We leave him in this humble state as the third Titan volume closes. We are also told yet another story of the distant past from a Transgod attempting to reveal the real origins of mankind.
This volume has more momentum than the previous one despite the many pages devoted to seemingly unrelated tales of outer space. Katz seems less interested in plot than theme, but he loses me often as the story rambles. Characters with strange names come and go with amazing speed, some crucial some trivial, or at least seeming to be. Part of me thinks he just likes drawing expansive space scenes. That's cool. This volume also contains a forward by Jim Steranko written for the original series run.
Next time the first part of the saga finds a resolution. I hope.
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