If you missed the last one….
Creatures on the Loose #25 (September 1973) saw the introduction of the actual wizard of the book’s title, Sharajsha of Zaar. (I can’t say personally I ever cared for that name. Too hard to pronounce when you’re ten. It doesn’t have the same Northern feel as Gandalf or Merlin. Lin was going for a more Arabian Nights feel, I think.) Sharajsha reminds me so much of Obi-Wan Kenobi now. Of course, in 1965 or 1973, Old Ben was years away. George Lucas based his story on Joseph Campbell and both Sharajsha and Obi-Wan are archetypes of the learned old man who helps or trains the hero. In this sense, he is exactly like Gandalf and Merlin.
Sharajsha is not important in the other novels. Thongor will become king at some point and his future queenly bride will become his focus. (Despite her appearance on that Gil Kane cover, she isn’t in this issue at all.) Last issue I talked about the roller-coaster of events that were pretty exciting. This issue will finish that ride. Then it moves into a contemplative mode as the plot begins to set Thongor up for his big challenge of the novel. The only hint of that is the final panel which is also the episode that the cover illustrates. Thongor so far has just been surviving. He will soon actively attempt to change the fate of his world.
This is the last of the Effinger/Mayerik/Colletta issues. The look has been very consistent with four issues with the same writer and artists. Despite that fact, Thongor became a redhead with this issue. (Probably to make him look less like Conan?)
Issue #25 begins where the cliffhanger left off. Thongor wakes up from his rope hanging and deals with the Grakk using his sword.
This gets rid of the pterodon but sends him plunging into the jungle below. The jungles of Lemuria are a very dangerous place.
Blood-sucking vines (in the Robert E. Howard tradition) try to kill him. He escapes…
…and ends up in quicksand. Like the best serial film cowboy, Thongor manages to save himself.
But have you forgotten that Dwark (T. rex) from last time? He is still waiting to eat the Valkarthan.
Fortunately Sharajsha shows up and deals with the beast. Not with magic, but Science! He throws a narcotic powder into its face. Thongor goes with the wizard but is wary. Like all barbarians, he doesn’t like wizards. (After his adventure in Issue #22 and #23, he has every right to feel that way.)
Sharajsha takes him to his manse in the Mountains of Mommur, away from the noisy city and terrible jungle. They ride on the wizard’s rhino or Zamph. The old man keeps telling Thongor he needs a warrior for some mysterious mission.
Opening a secret door in the side of the mountain, they enter the wizard’s domain. He cautions Thongor to be careful. Sharajsha keeps mentioning he has seen the future in his glass. Thongor knows that Sharjsha is from Zaar, the City of the Black Druids, evil sorcerers. And yet he trusts the old man…
His inner sanctum is wondrous…
…with invisible servants.
Sharajsha shows Thongor a map of Lemuria. (Every paperback-owner teenager recognizes that map from the paperback. It was drawn by Lin Carter.) The wizard points out Kathool of the Purple Towers. Thongor is to go there in his flying boat. The reason….
… is to stop the end of the world. Sharajsha shows this to Thongor in his magic glass. He shows the warrior his own death!
And so the die is cast for next time, when the wizard will explain who is trying to destroy the world… the Dragon Kings!
The introduction of Sharajsha and the mission to save the world turns what has been a very Edgar Rice Burroughs novel in a different direction. Not really a Robert E. Howard direction either. Over the course of Conan’s career, he will win a kingdom but he never really set off to save the world. King Kull is closer to what we have here but Howard never fleshed out that series. The plot has now turned to those Indian texts I mentioned last time. The bad guys are very REH (more on that next time) but the shape of the story has left Pulp for more epic material.
Next time...new inkers.
