If you missed the last one…
Two months later Stalker was back for his first adventure after the origin story. Levitz/Ditko/Wood could stretch their artistic wings and fly. “Darkling Death at World’s End Sea” is a wonderfully William Morris title for an adventure that reminds me of Conan the Barbarian, the 1982 movie, more than anything. What does a guy with no soul do? Well, he gets revenge on a god, of course. The driving quest of the comic becomes Stalker’s hunt for Dgrth. Sadly, we will not get to see him complete that quest with only four issues.
Stalker will appear in later DC comics like Justice Society of America and he still hasn’t finished his fight with Dgrth! What he becomes is not very nice. He becomes more like Dgrth and is no longer a hero. He will also appear in Wonder Woman as his less demonic self and join forces with Beowulf and Claw (the Cancelled Boys!) for a trio adventure with the Warrior Woman of Themyscira.
Stalker arrives at the end of the world, where the sea surrounds an isle with a strange bridge. Stepping on a magic gem, a guardian pops up to turn him back.
Armed with only the bones of the dead, Stalker defeats Dgrth’s guardian demon. He feels no joy and has a quick flashback to remind us of last issue.
Stalker has come to the isle in search of Prior F’lan, the only human who knows where Dgrth’s entrance to his hellish domain resides.
Having found the temple, he hides in the trees. A viper tries to bite him but a dagger ends the snake’s life. He watches as a bevy of beauties is brought to the temple. He jumps the straggler and takes his crimson cloak.
Stalker wanders about the temple, witnesses a ceremony in honor of his hated enemy, Dgrth.
The evil worshipers detect him (not quite sure how!) and F’lan pulls off Stalker’s hood. The Prior congratulates Stalker for bearing Dgrth’s gift. He calls it a curse and they all start fighting. Stalker is knocked unconscious by a mace.
As with our good Thongor he wakes to find himself in a dungeon cell. Unlike the Valkarthan, he doesn’t find an ally to join him. But he does get a visit by the beautiful Merilla, who gives him good advice and a knife. Stalker is to be sacrificed on the altar on the cliff that overlooks the very edge of the world.
Stalker is dragged to the altar, where he has an argument with Prior F’lan (who has changed his ensemble for the occasion). The man without a soul does as Merilla suggested. He fights the guard and escapes into the crevisses below the cliff.
Prior F’lan changes his outfit again (more often than a hostess at the Oscars) and prepares to torture Merilla on the wheel. She tells him she knows where Stalker is. F’lan is about to execute her when Stalker shows up.
The two have a showdown. F’lan summons a guard to do his fighting for him since he is no match for Stalker’s amazing skills.
Stalker defeats the soldier.
He then throws F’lan onto his own torture device to die. Stalker and Merilla flee the temple.
Stalker burns the bridge to the island before preparing a boat. He has learned where the Gates of Hell. Merilla has fallen for the man with the red eyes but he can’t take her with him. He is off to the Burning Isle to find Dgrth and get his soul back.
Paul Levitz uses the second letter column (letters next time!) to discuss Sword & Sorcery comics. The first thing he tackles is why Stalker is set in an alternate universe and not on Earth. “We chose to move Stalker into an alternate cosmos because of the extra freedom it allows.” He notes that the last panel of the first issue featured two moons. This is not Earth. Roy Thomas and DC would try the other option in the 1980s with Arak, Son of Thunder, where every story links to our myths and legends and even real history.
Levitz then explains that Stalker’s world is actually flat, and just beyond the isle he visited is a waterfall that drops off the planet. It is too bad he didn’t exploit this more. It would have been cool to have Stalker falling at the very brink. We do get to see it on that splash panel with the altar but we don’t go any farther.
Even more frustrating is he talks about where he figured to be by issue #7, a swamp with a town called Naim. He even hints there is a dragon in the episode he calls “The Dragon Riders of the Nightwinds”. Ah, stories untold… He finishes with a discussion of the multitude of gods in Stalker’s world and how Dgrth is the god of evil and war. But who is listening? I’m still thinking about those dragon riders. (sigh).
Next time… The Burning Isle!
