1ST ISSUE SPECIAL #8
(Cover by Mike Grell)
Published and © by DC, Nov. 1975
[Buy from Mile High]
“Land of Fear!”
Synopsis: Air Force pilot Travis Morgan ejects from a crashing SR-71 — to discover the hidden, savage world of Skartaris!
Writer: Mike Grell
Penciler: Grell
Inker: Grell
Review: As the story goes, Warlord began life as a newspaper strip called Savage Empire, which creator Mike Grell tweaked on the fly when pitching it to DC as a comic book. Whatever its origins, Grell was on to something here. Though not shockingly original — think swords, sandals and sorcery, all set in an Edgar-Rice-Burroughs-esque hollow Earth — Grell’s Warlord manages to surpass the sum of it’s parts. The writer/artist’s passion for this material is contagious; there’s little question he’s having a blast with this origin issue, and readers almost certainly will, too.
Grade: B+
Cool factor: The debut of Mike Grell as auteur, a development that would lead to many good comic books over the years.
Not-so-cool factor: Why is Skartaris called “Tartarus” on first reference?
Notable: First appearance of Travis “The Warlord” Morgan, as well as Tara, Deimos and Skartaris. … Includes a one-page text feature titled “The Story Behind the Story,” which introduces creator Mike Grell. … This story is reprinted in Warlord #11 (see Comics Bronze Age’s review).
Character quotable: “Maggie’s drawers, comrade! You missed me!” — Lt. Col. Travis Morgan, back when American comics still had the Soviets to kick around.
Collected in:
Showcase Presents: Warlord Volume One [Buy from Mile High]
Warlord: The Savage Empire TPB [Buy from Mile High]
I first read this particular issue when DC did a TPB of it years ago. Grell was pitching it to Carmine Infantino and made quick changes to the concept, it lasted a couple issues and was then cancelled, when Jeanette Khan took over as President, she cancelled Carmine and reinstated Warlord.
My absolute favourite non-DC/Marvel series is Jon Sable-Freelance !
Dale:
Jon Sable is still on my list of books to check out, but I’m probably going make my way through his Warlords first.
Andrew
All I can say is “Lucky You”
I bought the entire run on ebay back in 99 or 2000 and spent a week going ape shi** over the thing. Back then I had never read anything remotely like this, well maybe his Green Arrow run was similar as I had read those first.
Grell personalizes his stories and that emotional connection is what pulls me in, wait until you see his sketches while on a safari in Africa.