A Tragic Turok Story

cover art by George Wilson

Over the course of Turok Son of Stone, the protagonists stumbled across deserts on several different occasions. Since they could never pass up a chance to find a way out, they inevitably choose to cross these deserts. 

That's what happens in Turok #83 (March 1973). The art is by Angelo R. Todaro, with inking by the brilliant Alberto Giolitti. The script is uncredited. It doesn't feel like a Paul S. Newman script to me--I'm going to be mostly praising a fun story, but the pacing of the script is a little off, depending a little too much on random dinosaur encounters that feel more like filler than an inherant part of the tale.

(Have I just complained about there being too many dinosaurs? Something may be wrong with me.)

Anyway, Andar believes he spots an opening in the caves on the other side of the desert. Turok correctly deduces this is a mirage, but also realizes that mirages are often reflections of something real. This is a nice touch, effectively setting up the story's denouement.

They start across the desert. Soon, though, their water is running low. They encounter a tribe of pygmies armed with slings who apparently have a water supply, but refuse to share this secret with strangers.

I love the above panel. It's a wonderful composition that effectively highlights Turok and Andar's danger and the vastness of the desert they are trying to cross.

Eventually, they trade some meat to the pygmies for water and directions to the opening in the cliff. But it's a trick. The directions are actually taking them to a place called "The Sands of Death," which can't be a good thing. The plan is to let Turok and Andar get killed, then grab their bows and arrows.

But they have at least one friend among the pygmies, having saved a guy named Sarn twice within a few minutes. They discover the Sands of Death is some sort of perpetual or reoccuring tornado. It was a reflection of the tornado that caused the mirage of a cave opening.

Sarn shows them a place where they can did through the sand to safety, but a combined battle with a giant crab and Sarn's ill-tempered tribesmen leaves the poor guy mortally wounded. He continues to help Turok and Andar escape even as he is dying.

The hole they are digging leads Turok and Andar into an underground river--the source of water for the pygmies. They kill a big croc and use it as a raft, which carries them back across the desert.

I mentioned earlier that this story has some pacing issues and this is true. But the scenes with Sarn are very nicely done. We grow to like him quickly and his death has real emotional impact. "The Sands of Death" is a memorable tale, despite its flaws.

Next week, we'll visit with Superman in a story also has its flaws, but has some nostalgic value for me.