Turok, Dagar And Brothers

The comic book industry has changed dramatically over the past few decades. Comic books are bought almost exclusively in comic book specialty shops and the bulk of comic book sales are dominated by the ‘big two’ – Marvel and DC. To be sure other comic book companies exist and are successful-such as Dark Horse, IDW and Image, but ask the average man on the street about comic books and the answer will most likely involve the ‘big two.’


That was not always the case. During the Golden and Silver Ages literally dozens of comic book companies existed and the shelves were filled with titles. One of those publishers: Gold Key, published the most diverse selection of comic books of any publisher. Westerns, science fiction, horror, TV and movie tie-ins, funny animals-nothing was out of bounds with Gold Key.


Unfortunately Gold Key is no longer around but thanks to Dark Horse Books much of Gold Key’s library of titles are being reprinted in handsome hardbound collections dubbed the Dark Horse Archives. The series of books have become a big hit with collectors-especially those who remember when the comic books were originally published-such as myself.


Gold Key artists and writers tended to tell stories that were paced much like novels. Action and adventure were present but they were not served up in twisted and contorted fashion with over exaggerated foreshortening and populated by figures with little or no body fat.


Gold Key artists tended to illustrate people more realistically and while some of the storylines took place in strange lands or far away planets-most were grounded in reality. In other words, people looked like people, locations made senss and aliens and monsters looked as if they could be real.


Dark Horse Books has just released a trio of hardbound collections from its Archives. Turok, Dagar and The Brothers Of The Spear.


This is the 9th Volume in the Turok: Son Of Stone collection and features the incredible art by the legendary Alberto Giolitti. With the advent of Alberto’s art on the book, Turok took on a more dynamic flavor. Turok and his young companion Andar encountered aliens, dinosaurs, cavemen along with all sorts of strange and bizarre life-forms as they make their way through a lost land in a desperate attempt to return home.


Alberto’s art provided a sense of urgency and danger throughout the series. Turok and his young companion Andar were made to look like the Indian warriors they were. While not superheroes, the duo did possess impressive hunting and tracking skills along with cautionary senses honed by years of living with their tribe in the wild. These were real Indians placed in an unreal setting.


Creatures, settings and situations made sense and Turok writers perfected the stranger-in-a-strange land storyline.


One of the most unusual series to arrive at Gold Key involved a blond hair barbarian by the name of Dagar. Released about the same time that Marvel Comics published Conan, Dagar offered a different kind of sword and sorcery hero- one who was upon a specific quest.


Dagar started out as a single story in a comic book anthology title. Writer Donald F. Glut saw potential in the character and after a series of short tales where Dagar was known by several other names, Gold Key decided to give the barbarian his own title aptly called: Dagar The Invincible.


Jesse Santos provided the art and the series ran several years before it was cancelled. What makes Dagar so interesting were the stories which consisted of tales that involved mystery and intrigue as much as they did swordplay, exotic locations and beautiful women. Volume 1 compiles the first nine issues of the series faithfully reproduced as they originally appeared.


Another unusual Gold Key series was Brothers Of the Spear. A Silver Age series, the Brothers Of The Spear centered around two brothers: one the son (Natongo) of a Zulu chief and his adopted white brother Dan-El. Both earn the title of subchieftain and their story begins when they are given a map by their father showing the way to Dan-El’s lost people and a golden key to a fabulous treasure left to him by his biological father.


Here the story gets interesting as the two brothers bond together to brave a shipwreck, savages, warfare and a diabolical despot who has usurped Dan-El’s throne as king of his people. It’s adventure as seen through the eyes of two young men who care deeply for each other.


Published during the time when there was heightened racial tension in the United States, Brothers Of The Spear was a quiet statement about racial equality and family-despite the color of one’s skin.


All three of the new Dark Horse Book Archive series make fine additions to anyone’s collection who is serious about comic books and appreciates the history of the medium.