If you missed the last one…
Vikings on a Rampage! Last time we looked at these frightening, valiant sea rovers in the Pulps. This time we find them in the comics. These are largely random tales that appeared in the backs of other kinds of comics. There were Viking characters that had their own series, like Joe Kubert’s “The Viking Prince” as well as Jack Kirby’s Thor, which used the mythology of the Scandinavians. Even Robert E. Howard’s Cormac Mac Art was a Viking of sorts.
There is a second Viking thread that I have already chased elsewhere. That is the “Frozen Viking” theme. This has someone today finding a Viking warrior (or whole tribe of them) in ice. They get thawed and go on a rampage as well. These include “Eric the Red”, “The Northern Horror” and “Sword of the Vikings”. Vikings weren’t alone. Mammoths, cavemen and dinosaurs also got the chill treatment.
The idea of meeting Vikings was irresistible. Many characters you would not expect did. Prince Valiant, in the newspaper comic strips was probably the first. Others include Mickey Mouse, Bugs Bunny, Jerry Lewis, Batman (two times), Tarzan (three times!), Jimmy Olsen (two times), Camilla of the Jungle and the Marvel Family. Again, these aren’t the comics I want to present today. Most of these tales involve time travel or similar Science Fictional ideas.
The Golden Age
The Golden Age Vikings took their lead from Prince Valiant and stuck to historical themes. These are adventure stories. Pirates Comics from Hillman, which ran for four issues, included a Viking adventure in each issue. Most of the Golden Age tales were written by unknown authors, though they are indicated where available.
“The Last of the Vikings” (Namora #3, December 1948) was written and drawn by Bill Everett. The Viking king is getting old. He plans to go to sea one last time to die. His son, Vors, won’t let him go alone. He follows his ship on a raft. The raft is attacked by sperm whales. (Yah, sperm whales!) The two men battle them, attacking when surrounded. The whales flee. The world has not seen the last of the Vikings.
“The Viking Terror” (Pirates Comics #1, February-March 1950) is the tale Rholf, a Viking pirate leader. He defies the Saxons over and over again, declaring he will one day rule England. He attacks and wins a castle in France. He marries. His descendant is William the Conqueror, who, in 1066 A.D., takes over England.
“Pirates on Wheels” (Pirates Comics #2, May-June 1950) has a pirate king plan an attack on Europe and the Black Sea. His son stows away on the vessel. The Vikings meet a fierce fleet and the boy is swept overboard. The Vikings take the local stronghold to learn that the boy was sent to Constantinople as a slave. The Vikings are blocked from the Golden Horn. To get around their enemies they put their ships on wheels. They take Constantinople and rescue the boy. He gets a spanking for being disobedient.
“Glaf of Battle” (Pirates Comics #3, July-August 1950) has the young Glaf, a mighty fighter, see his father killed by the rival, Jom of the Scar. Glaf takes up the Viking life but always searches for the scarred man who slew his father. He arrives in Jomsburg and discovers the ruler is Jom. They duel and Glaf kills the man in his father’s name. (My name Glaf! You killed my father. Prepare to die!)
“Regin and the Pirate Rovers” (Pirates Comics #4, September-October 1950) has Regin, known as the Oak, and his sidekick, Woodpecker, attack a coastal town where he kidnaps a beautiful blond woman. Ships follow but are repelled by the Vikings. A storm comes up and the Vikings are stranded on the shores of England. There, strange men take the woman to be sacrificed in the woods. They are druids. (The dude with the knife looks like Gandalf!) Regin rescues the woman, who now has fallen in love with him.
“Vikings Out West” (Straight Arrow #6, October 1950) explores the arrival of Vikings in the New World.
“The Vikings” (Black Knight #2, July 1955) has Sir Percy pretending to be a coward when Vikings arrive. This is actually a ruse (shades of Zorro! Or is it Clark Kent?) for he returns as the Black Knight. He shatters the Viking host, who flee. The Black Knight rides out to their ship and retrieves the captive lady. The Viking leader salutes his bravery even as they flee back into the sea. The Joe Maneely art in this one makes the whole thing breath-taking.
“The Sea Rovers” (The Brave and the Bold #1, August-September 1955) was written by Robert Kanigher. This short piece looks at the Viking belief in the afterlife in Valhalla.
“King of the Woodchoppers” (Robin Hood #3, March 1956) has Sir Galant trying to light a beacon for King Arthur and the knights at Camelot. He ends up in a woodchopper’s camp. The old man there explains how his people are used to invasion: Celts, Romans, Saxons, Normans and now Vikings. The woodcutters cut down trees for a raft. Galant gets back to Camelot. Arthur takes his knights , leaving Galant behind. The Vikings try to defeat the English by setting a ring of fire to burn down Camelot. Galant and the wood cutters defeat them by cutting down trees and burning them first. With prescribed burning, the fire goes out without fuel to consume. The Vikings are defeated by Arthur and the knights of the Round Table thanks to Galant and the woodcutters.
“The First Commandos” (The Brave and the Bold #9, December 1956-January 1957) is another short one-pager that makes a strange transition of murder and mayhem to a quiet museum exhibit. Hey kids! Do you want to be a Viking when you grow up?
Most of these comics are available free at DCM.
The Silver Age
The Silver Age saw a return to ghost stories and other fantastical tales. Not surprising, these all appeared in “Mystery comics” ( code for “Horror comics”.) The Golden Age comics tried to be somewhat historically accurate but as with all storytelling, why let the facts get in the way of a good story? The Silver Age had even less qualms with history…
“The Thing in the Locked Room” (Tales of Suspense #29, May 1962) is a Viking version of The Picture of Dorian Gray written by Stan Lee and Larry Lieber. Prince Zemu attacks a caravan, taking all their wealth. From the plunder is a painting of an old man. This is hung up in a special room. Slowly the Prince finds himself growing old faster than what is natural. He tries to enter the room but the door is locked. He has the door smashed in. When he gets inside he has become very old. The image on the wall is now of him, but younger. He withers and dies of old age.
“Gundar!” (Tales of Suspense #39, March 1963) was written by Stan Lee. A modern man is stranded on a desert island. There he finds a crew of Vikings. They have been cursed by their captain, Gundar, who they betrayed long ago. They put Gundar in a small boat and never saw him again. For centuries they have been waiting for his return. Suddenly the pirates all begin to fade away. The man who was stranded is a descendant of Gundar, now long dead. Kinda like Waiting For Godot, if Godot’s kid showed up.
“What Ship Sails There?” (Ghost Manor #5, March 1969) was written by Joe Gill. A boy sees a Viking ship appear. Olaf the Viking gives him a golden dagger then disappears. Was it a dream? The cop says “Hogwash!” But the dagger is authentic, so….
Comics Covers
