The Warlord #8

I was a huge fan of The Warlord when Mike Grell first created the comic back in the mid-'70s, and I followed it faithfully until that initial run wrapped up about a decade later.

The original concept was a clever mix of Edgar Rice Burroughs-style adventure and sword-and-sorcery. It took pilot Travis Morgan and dropped him into the Pellucidar-like world at the center of the Earth.

It was a savage world where he was forced to fight with his wits, his sword, and his pistol. He faced all kinds of challenges, including dinosaurs, prehistoric men, aliens, advanced technology, and an evil opponent who just wouldn't stay dead.

He also found friends to fight at his side, a mate in Queen Tara, an extended family and his destiny.

Combine the concept with some strong writing and great art (both by Grell) and you had a comic that was always entertaining and built a dedicated following.

The character has been revived a few times since that original run, sometimes successfully, and sometimes not. But the most recent revival has been written by and featured covers by Grell, and the last two issues have included interior art by that artist, too - yet the book doesn't seem to be getting much attention.

It's a shame, because the book really has recaptured that original feel (although I do think the first story arc tried too hard to pile in all the main characters from the original run).

This two-issue stint by Grell seems to be an effort to introduce the character to a new audience, as it focuses directly on Travis Morgan, who finds himself in the ruins of a lost city, defending a beautiful and mysterious woman against marauders and monsters. The story's a bit heavy on the recap, and the present-day story isn't as strong as I'd like, but it's entertaining just the same.

Grell hasn't lost a step, and his art is as strong as ever. I have to admit, I wish he was supplying the art on all the issues of this title, but I suppose we can be thankful for this blast from the past.

If you're not reading The Warlord or have never read the comic, this two-issue story would be a good place to start - and DC has issued a Showcase collection reprinting a pile of those earlier stories. All highly recommended!

Grade: B+