First Issue Plus One: Warlord

It's a simple enough story...man finds incredible land...a jungle paradise with an eternal sun...a beautiful woman...and more dinosaurs and other menaces to shake a sword at for a score of lifetimes....that is the saga of the Warlord!

But, that's the overall story....time to take a look back at the first couple of issues that featured Travis Morgan, and his time in Skartaris!

Land Of Fear

The saga of the Warlord begins in 1st Issue Special #8 (November, 1975; by Mike Grell), starting where most barbarian sagas start...., on June 16th, 1969, with Air Force pilot Lt. Colonel Travis Morgan, piloting his SR-71 over Russia, to take pictures of a secret installation, then being followed by the Russian Air Force, damaging his plane over the tundra, forcing him to make a desperate attempt escape over the North Pole as his fuel was leaking out...wait....what?

Yes, this starts a sword and sorcery book.  As Morgan goes over the North Pole, his compass becomes useless, and he follows the horizon....until he spots a cloudy land in the water, and figures that's where he can safely eject, but he had no idea that he'd end up in a tropical jungle. 

Even bigger surprise as he checked his supplies in his survival vest....that of a beautiful young barbarian woman fighting a dinosaur!  Morgan joined the fight, distracting the dinosaur enough for the woman to finish it.  Times didn't get any easier, as the pair were set upon by armed soldiers, whom Morgan used most of his ammunition against, but the two eventually were took to King Baldur of Thera and his high priest, Deimos, where Morgan used his last bullet against a sphere of Deimos' that was probing Morgan's mind. 

The two were kept together as prisoners, and Tara (the young barbarian woman) taught Morgan their language, and of Skartaris, the world of the eternal sun, while Morgan tried to explain to her his plane, and that this world likely was inside his, where he came through an opening over slowly sloping ground (crazy, right?).  After assassins tried to kill the pair, Tara and Morgan escaped, planning to go to Tara's land of Shamballah....and into the next issue!

This Savage World

Warlord #1 (January-February, 1976 by Mike Grell) continued the saga of the Warlord, as he and Tara continued the trek to Shamballah, with Tara teaching Morgan swordplay along the way as the pair grew closer (Tara was quickly becoming the love of Morgan's life).

Along the way, they had to avoid dinosaurs and slave traders, seeking refuge in a cave.  There, Tara showed Morgan a crude compass she had. 

As they rested for the night, Tara was hypnotically taken by a satyr.  Thankfully, Morgan was awoken by the music, followed her trail, and ended the menace.  But, when they returned to their cave, the slave traders had found it, and, after a fierce battle, captured the duo to take them to the slave markets.  Using his titanium dog tag chain, Morgan started to work on breaking Tara's bond, eventually being discovered, but still being able to free her.  Putting her on a horse, Morgan sent her off as he faced the slave traders.  Eventually, Morgan succumbed to the superior force.  In revenge for the lives he cost them (as well as Tara and what her sale would have made them)....they left Morgan to die.....and readers waiting for the next issue!

Yes, the next issue did resolve that cliffhanger, and started a trend of Morgan fighting for freedom, and his making friends, starting with the warrior king, Machiste, who helped him train in the slave pits, and the two found freedom.  More friends came, including Russian archeologist and spy Mariah (who was a saber champion), and even Shakira, a woman who could turn into a cat (or is that a cat who could turn into a woman?) with knowledge of ancient Atlantis (the source of the advanced technology found all around Skartaris).  Morgan even found his plane wreckage, and a gun with an incredible amount of ammunition!

Morgan reunited with Tara, and fought Deimos (many times), and even had his daughter from the surface, Jennifer Morgan, come look for him....and, after Morgan's last encounter with Deimos, Jennifer learned real magic from Ashiya (who used real magic for Deimos, as he mostly used Atlantean technology before his encounter with Morgan).

The Warlord saga would unfold over 133 issues and 6 annuals in its original run, the first 50 written and drawn by Mike Grell, (and well after Grell left, touching the Crisis on Infinite Earths and more of the DC Universe, though not meeting other 1st Issue Special alumni like Atlas, Lady Cop, Manhunter or the Dingbats; though Dr. Fate , Power Girl and even Orion and the New Gods might fit in). 

With plenty of swords, sorcery and science all mixed together, and starting with the second issue, a two-page spread to start the issues, then later, along with a motto that should serve you well anywhere, anytime..."In the savage world of Skartaris, life is a constant struggle for survival.  Here, beneath an unblinking orb of eternal sunlight, one simple law prevails:  if you let your guard down for an instant you will soon be very dead.".

First Issue Plus One: Doctor Fate

Digging into the history of Doctor Fate, one sees that he had one era where he had shown as a particularly bright light....

...that of the 1970s.

Being a major player in JLA/JSA team-ups was not his only function at this time, as he had two solo ventures worth taking a look at!

Here they are, appearing as if by magic!

The Mummy That Time Forgot

First up is the first Dr. Fate solo tale since the 1940s, 1st Issue Special #9 (December, 1975) by Martin Pasko and Walt Simonson, all under a cover by Joe Kubert.


This issue was a great showcase for the golden gladiator, introducing readers of this issue to Kent Nelson, archeologist, who lives in a mystic tower in Salem, MA, with his wife, Inza...

...all the while harboring the mystic entity of ancient Lord of Order Nabu, which when Kent dons his helmet..

...turns Nelson into the protector of the universe, Doctor Fate!

This issue starts in the Boston Museum of Egyptology, where a great evil breaks loose, one that Dr. Fate has feared...that of Khalis!  This animated mummy attacks the doctor, taking away his mystic amulet, with Fate heading back to his sanctuary, and removing the helmet of Nabu, allowing Inza to care for the injured Kent Nelson.   Inza tries to care for her husband, but curses the fates that make her share him with Nabu, and leaves their tower.

Kent awakens, to go to study about Khalis....who was a follower of Anubis in 2030 B.C., and causing chaos in the Egypt of that time, until Nabu came and stopped the mad sorcerer, who was punished by being mummified alive, with Anubis insuring Khalis would stay alive, to come back at some future point to retrieve the amulet of his power...and that day was today!

Kent also reflects on his own origins (more on this later), and Inza feels she stormed out too quickly, yet goes to investigate the museum Khalis came from.  Nelson becomes Dr. Fate again, chasing after Khalis, and using what power he has available, but still unable to defeat his foe, at least until Inza arrives with a piece of Khalis' sarcophagus with Nabu's seal....giving Dr. Fate the ability to stop Khalis' plan to turn modern Boston into ancient Egypt by invoking the power of the Egyptian sun god, Amon-Ra.

Once the battle is completed, Inza and Kent reunite, getting back the amulet, and figuring out a way the three of them can live together.

A stunning story by Marty Pasko that added a little of the Egyptian look to Dr. Fate's bag of tricks, especially the use of the Ankh, all thanks to Walt Simonson's vibrant art, and one of many special issues of First Issue Special, which included characters like the Warlord , Metamorpho, Creeper and Atlas.

This Immortal Destiny

All that, but only a hint of the origin behind Dr. Fate.  DC Special Series #10 (1978) by Paul Levitz, Joe Staton and Michael Netzer explores his origins more fully, expanding upon the original tale told back in More Fun Comics, all under a cover by Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez.

This issue starts with Inza brooding in Dr. Fate's Salem Tower, poring over the tomes that give life to Dr. Fate's history.


Young 12 year old Kent Nelson was accompanying his archeologist father, Sven Nelson, onto a dig in Sumeria, when the boy stumbled upon the sleeping form of Nabu, releasing him from his suspended animation (with the gas keeping him under killing Kent's dad).

Now alone and grief stricken, Kent's anguish was replaced by Nabu's magic, as the Lord of Order explained that he was a host to an ancient mystic power, that had been hibernating since his battles in ancient Egypt, waiting for this day, when he could teach a new student the mystic arts, to prepare that body to be his new host to fight the forces of chaos across the multiverse.  Nabu gave Kent the amulet of Khalis and helm of Nabu, and, accepting them....became Doctor Fate.

But, Kent didn't know that would also mean handing control of his body over to Nabu, a fate which Inza was still wrestling with....

This issue also contains origins of the New God, Lightray, and Dr. Fate's fellow Earth-2 inhabitant, Black Canary (though her origin is more complex than the one told here, as it is the Earth-1 Black Canary relating the origin of her mother, the Earth-2-Black Canary).


These will be tales explored at a different time.

Looking for an inexpensive way to read these classic tales?  Look no further than The Immortal Doctor Fate #1 (January, 1985), that reprints these two stories, along with a classic Golden Age adventure of Dr. Fate vs. Wotan, all under a wraparound cover by Walt Simonson, the first of three issues reprinting Dr. Fate (the next two focusing on stories from his time as a back up in the Flash), showing off the magic that is Dr. Fate! 


 

Lady Cop First Issue Special

Looking to fill an issue of First Issue Special, DC found a story that had been sitting around for a while.


Originally called Police Woman (which may have factored into this being released, as there as a show by that title on TV at the time), DC filled First Issue Special #4 (July, 1975) with....Lady Cop!


The cover was by Dick Giordano, and the two interior stories were by Robert Kanigher, John Rosenberger and Vince Coletta.

Lady Cop

The story starts with young Liza Warner watching her college roommates being killed by a man wearing stylized boots with a black skull and crossbones, feeling he could kill women like tossing out an Ace of Spades from a deck of cards.  While reporting the crime to the police, a female officer praised Liza for her attention to detail, and convinced her to enroll in the police academy. 

Liza trained well, and graduated top of her class....stopping a student who had scrubbed out from tossing a grenade at the graduating class.

Poisoned Love

Now on the beat, Liza had to deal with all the problems a police officer faces, as well as her own female problems.  First, she had to stop two thugs from roughing up a young girl, but they turned on her (not accounting for her training, where she stopped them and had them arrested).  Liza still searched for the young girl (as she was in trouble), and, after a day off (having problems with her own boyfriend, Hal, who didn't get her desire for her job), kept searching for the young girl (who she overheard on a phone call, finding out she had VD). 

Liza confronted a robber (getting stabbed in the arm in the process), and saved the shop owner's life.  Then, came around to find the girl on the docks, who was waiting for her father.  The girl was worried about her problem, compounded by how her dad would react (having lost his wife a decade ago, and was overprotective of his daughter).  Liza stayed to help the two of them come to terms with the problem, and get the girl some help.

Still, Liza was searching for the "Killer In Boots".


Not the greatest comic story ever told, but likely something destined for a romance comic, that happened to end up here.  Simple by today's standards, a nice look back at the problems that women faced when they joined the police force (and that next issue was one of Jack Kirby's Manhunter!).

Liza wasn't totally forgotten either, having been revived for a few issues as the chief of police in Ivy Town in the All-New Atom, and being totally revamped as a bad cop for a few episodes of the CW's Arrow over the years.  Not bad for someone who premiered with folks like Atlas, the Dingbats and the Warlord.

Jack Kirby's Atlas

Jack Kirby created many characters for DC Comics.

One of those was Atlas, done so for the First Issue Special #1 (April, 1975)...

...but, likely even the "King" wouldn't have been able to predict the strange turns his life took over the years!

First Issue Special

Atlas' story started in First Issue Special #1 (April, 1975), by Jack Kirby and D. Bruce Berry, where readers were introduced to "Atlas The Great!".

First, readers see Atlas fell Kargin, the champion of Hyssa the lizard king in a land out of time, then a flashback to Atlas as a boy, as his father was killed by the forces of King Hyssa, and only due to his unnatural strength and ability did Atlas escape.  Being found by Chagra the seeker, who learned the lad got his powers from a shard of the Crystal Mountain (a land Atlas was from).  The two traveled together, as the boy grew into a man, and with his great strength, Atlas also had great heart, saving many villages from various evils, with Chagra there encouraging him on, so Atlas could have a final confrontation with the lizard king, and then take Chagra to the Crystal Mountain.

That's where the only 20th Century produced comic of Atlas ended....

 

Superman

Atlas' first return was in Superman #677 (August, 2008) starting a four issue run of "The Coming Of Atlas" by James Robinson, Renato Guedes and Jose Wilson Magalhaes (and covers by Alex Ross), where Atlas was torn from his quest and Chagra, and found himself in a land not his own...

....that of modern day Metropolis.

Atlas stops a creature from invading Metropolis, but finds himself at odds with Superman.  For some reason, being near Atlas makes Superman weak, giving Atlas an advantage.  Atlas was brought forward through time and works for General Sam Lane against Superman.  Supergirl comes to Metropolis to help Superman, but fairs no better, and it takes the help of Krypto, Superman's superdog, to finally defeat Atlas in Superman #680 (November, 2008) due to the dog's magical nature (as revealed by Zachary Zatara).

Atlas remained in the 21st century (and Superman titles) for a time after his, having a battle with Steel, meeting fellow Kirby creation of the Guardian (as well as fellow First Issue Special headliner, Codename: Assassin), even meeting Batman in an issue of Justice League of America (#42), as well as dealing with the temporary new protector of Metropolis, Mon-El.

 

Forager

Atlas' next return was as a part of 2017's Bug! The Adventures of Forager by Michael, Lee and Laura Allred, which follows the adventures of the Forager (a Kirby creation that met an untimely end in Cosmic Odyssey).  This six issue mini-series follows his adventures through time, meeting many of Jack Kirby's characters, including two different Sandman, one Manhunter, OMAC, the New Gods including Mr. Miracle, even the Deadman robot Kirby used in the Forever People....and Atlas and his helper, Chagra (Chagra was even more important to the book than Atlas).

Trying to tell you the plot of this odd story is pointless, so instead, using a phrase Kirby once used...."Don't ask -- Just Buy It"....if you are a fan of Jack Kirby, and an odd continuity between all his characters, seek out this book and wonder of Atlas' adventures could begin anew!

Jack Kirby's Manhunter

Jack Kirby had a few last surprises for DC Comics fans in the 1970s, as First Issue Special #5 (August, 1975) hit the racks.  This issue introduced readers to lawyer Mark Shaw, whose uncle, archeologist Bradford Shaw, introduced the public defender to the organization of the Shah, an ancient order dedicated to justice....whose current member was soon to face retirement after barely defeating the Chopper (as he related to his leader, the Grand Master).  

The Grand Master heard Mark's pleas for justice, and sent him a uniform and power baton of the Manhunter, which he used to defend his uncle and himself from the thugs of Al Beefer, the Hog.

But, alas, Kirby was leaving DC, and readers never saw the follow up battle of Shaw's Manhunter and the Hog...or other characters of the time, like the Dingbats and Kobra.

Justice League of America

Manhunter did finally return in Justice League of America #140 and #141 (March and April, 1977), in two stories ("No Man Escapes The Manhunters" and "No World Escapes The Manhunters") by Steve Englehart, Dick Dillin and Frank McLaughlin, with Mark Shaw returning to bring Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) to justice, because it appeared he destroyed a planet full of people.  The political leader of that planet, Governor Tozad,  survived, and was leading forces of a neighboring planet against the Guardians of the Universe (one of whom was on that planet of Orinda), and that Guardian helped Green Lantern break free from the Manhunters, revealing the Manhunters to be organized on many planets, with many agents working for them (and against the Green Lanterns, including faking the destruction of Tozad's planet, which he arranged as he was also a secret agent of the Manhunters).

The Guardian of the Universe reveals that the Manhunters were originally robots they used to protect the universe, but the Manhunters proved too single-minded to work (and they rebelled against the Guardians), so the Guardians retired the robots (and started to use humanoid agents, which eventually became the Green Lantern Corps).  Both Superman and Flash related their encounters with Guardians of the Universe in passing, as Batman also mentioned how he met a Manhunter (Paul Kirk), who died fighting the Council.  The Manhunter Mark Shaw was to replace also resurfaced, and Mark Shaw lost faith in the Manhunters (who also were prepared, having a "Supermanhunter", a Manhunter with Kryptonite armor, to face Superman).  The Manhunters were a thread to the whole galaxy, but disappeared again after this encounter (though Mark Shaw stuck around, taking on the identity of the Privateer until Justice League of America #150, where he eventually was brought to justice).

Millennium and More

The Manhunters revealed in the Justice League story waited for a while, but came back with a vengeance, menacing the whole DC Universe in the Millennium 8-issue mini-series of January and February, 1988 by Steve Englehart, Joe Staton and Ian Gibson, which also crossed over into most of the titles of the time, as members of heroes supporting casts were revealed to be Manhunter agents....and, in the Suicide Squad (#9), they recruited Privateer Mark Shaw for help against the Manhunters, with him surviving the mission, thus allowing him to go free when it was over.

Manhunter Mark Shaw ended up with his own title, which lasted 24 issues, where he acted as a super-villain bounty hunter, capturing villains that would be used for the Suicide Squad (like Count Vertigo), invading aliens, the Janus Directive, along with dealing with his own issues (enhanced by shape-changing hitman, Dumas), in issues by writers John Ostrander and Kim Yale, and artists Doug Rice, Sam Keith, Kelley Jones, Mary Mitchell, Romeo Tanghal, Pablo Marcos, Frank Springer, John Koch, John Statema and Grant Miehm.

Mark Shaw survived that series, working with the Suicide Squad for a bit, then having a complex connection to other Manhunters (partially thanks to Eclipso, and Chase Lawler, Kirk DePaul and Kate Spencer)...

.....but, all of which was pretty impressive for a character created by Jack Kirby!

Jack Kirby's Dingbats Of Danger Street

One of the last things that Jack Kirby created for DC Comics was the Dingbats of Danger Street, a variation of a kid gang (like his Boy Commandos and Newsboy Legion), this concept sat around for a bit, with the team's introduction making it into First Issue Special #6 (September, 1975)...

...with their leader, Good Looks; strongman Krunch; eager and hungry Non-Fat and oddball Bananas, these boys lived in a rundown neighborhood depending on each other to survive as adults had done them wrong.

In this appearance, the boys fought against Jumpin' Jack and the Gasser (two near super-villains), unintentionally helping Lt. Terry Mullins capture the crooks (who had kidnapped an executive), and like all First Issue Specials, promising at the end that if enough readers buy this and write in, more adventures will follow....

Unlikely that more adventures would follow, as at the time this was published, Jack Kirby was getting ready to move back to Marvel, Twomorrows' Jack Kirby Collector does confirm that there were two more issues of the Dingbats created by the King...likely only to see the light of day there, with a sample here.

Still, nothing is totally forgotten, and the boys do have cameos in Hero Hotline #6 (September, 1989) and Adventures Of Superman #521 (March, 1995), before a return in Adventures Of Superman #549 (August, 1997, by Karl Kesel, Stuart Immonen and Jose Marzan Jr.), facing off against the electric blue Superman, as well as the Newsboy Legion (and finally finding a place to live, with a little help from another First Issue Special one-shot alumni, the Green Team,  yet another group of youths, who buy their mates a home!).

Best of all, the Dingbats first appearance can be found, reprinted in the Jack Kirby Omnibus #2 of May, 2013, along with the first appearance of Atlas and Manhunter from their First Issue Specials, the Sandman revival of the '70s Kobra and more!