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scans_dailyWho's up for some jungle action?
"Brothers of the Spear" was originally a backup feature in Western Publishing's Tarzan comics from 1951 to 1966. When DC Comics got the Tarzan license in 1972, Western ran the Brothers in their own magazine. This is the final new issue, #17, published in 1976. (#18 was all-reprint.)
What made the Brothers of the Spear a bit different from other jungle comics is that rather than a white hero with a black sidekick, Natongo and Dan-El were equal partners, both eventually kings of their respective tribes. All the stories were written by the author who created the characters, Gaylord DuBois. And the art for this one is by Dan Spiegel. Let's see 6 of 23 pages.
(The title page has been removed for "terms of service" violation--no explanation given....The brothers are roasting dinner over a fire when a man shouts a warning that lions are attacking, which turns out to be true.)
The brothers are badly scratched, but prevail against the lions. In gratitude, they offer the stranger some of their food. He tells them he never eats meat himself, but accepts a little to feed his owlets.
N'Drobo asks to travel at night, as his people see well in the dark, but bright light hurts their eyes. He demonstrates uncanny ability to communicate with animals when he convinces three elands to act as mounts for the travelers. This gets them across the savannah in jig time.
But in forested hills, the elands balk, smelling leopard, and the three are forced back on foot. It's not just leopards, but the cannibalistic leopard-men cult. The brothers slay the murderous ambushers, and consider their debt to N'Drobo paid. The Kavuru man sweetens the pot by offering them a lifetime supply of the secret healing ointment, and the brothers agree to keep with him.
Late the next day, they arrive at the Kavuru's home forest, and N'Drobo calms the rhinoceros guardian. He explains that this is not magic, but a natural ability of all Kavuru...so long as they never eat meat, at which point the ability is permanently lost. It's never stated, but the brothers seem to at this point realize that N'Drobo set up the lion incident at the beginning specifically to recruit them.
In the Valley of Peace, the travelers are met by a party of soldiers who take them into custody. N'Drobo's cousin Amatha now rules, and she dreamed of the exile's return.
At the guest house, N'Drobo explains that it will requite a little time to gather the healing ointment, so the brothers should just hang loose until they hear from him. They now trust their princely companion slightly less far than they could throw him, so wait for him to go sneaking about the village.
N'Drobo heads to the witch doctor's dwelling, and Natongo uses a long hollow reed to listen in.
Their suspicions confirmed, the brothers report their findings to Princess Amatha. She recognizes their honesty and N'drobo's treachery, and agrees to their plan to catch N'drobo and Gabira (the witch doctor) in their own snare. However, it must be done bloodlessly, as the House of Peace must not be defiled.
Sure enough, N'Drobo tells the brothers that they will need to leave the village unannounced as they are foreigners who would not be allowed to keep the ointment, and their weapons will be found inside the back door of the House of Peace at moonrise. The brothers go to the ruler's house after sunset, but well before moonrise and join the princess in waiting for the conspirators.
N'Drobo and Gabira come in just before moonrise with the spears, only to be caught red-handed. Dan-El and Natongo try to grapple the conspirators, but the men are too slippery and run away. Amatha uses a bird call to summon a large flock of owls.
The owls return to Amatha to report their success. Pleased, she gives each of the brothers a canister of the healing ointment. She casually mentions that she's been using it for over eighty years. That's some potent stuff! The Kavurus then give new orders to the jungle beasts to allow Natongo and Dan-El to depart in peace.
Outside the valley, Natongo wonders if it was all a dream, and Dan-El says they'll know for sure if they're still young at eighty.
Your thoughts and comments?
SKJAM!
"Brothers of the Spear" was originally a backup feature in Western Publishing's Tarzan comics from 1951 to 1966. When DC Comics got the Tarzan license in 1972, Western ran the Brothers in their own magazine. This is the final new issue, #17, published in 1976. (#18 was all-reprint.)
What made the Brothers of the Spear a bit different from other jungle comics is that rather than a white hero with a black sidekick, Natongo and Dan-El were equal partners, both eventually kings of their respective tribes. All the stories were written by the author who created the characters, Gaylord DuBois. And the art for this one is by Dan Spiegel. Let's see 6 of 23 pages.
(The title page has been removed for "terms of service" violation--no explanation given....The brothers are roasting dinner over a fire when a man shouts a warning that lions are attacking, which turns out to be true.)
The brothers are badly scratched, but prevail against the lions. In gratitude, they offer the stranger some of their food. He tells them he never eats meat himself, but accepts a little to feed his owlets.
N'Drobo asks to travel at night, as his people see well in the dark, but bright light hurts their eyes. He demonstrates uncanny ability to communicate with animals when he convinces three elands to act as mounts for the travelers. This gets them across the savannah in jig time.
But in forested hills, the elands balk, smelling leopard, and the three are forced back on foot. It's not just leopards, but the cannibalistic leopard-men cult. The brothers slay the murderous ambushers, and consider their debt to N'Drobo paid. The Kavuru man sweetens the pot by offering them a lifetime supply of the secret healing ointment, and the brothers agree to keep with him.
Late the next day, they arrive at the Kavuru's home forest, and N'Drobo calms the rhinoceros guardian. He explains that this is not magic, but a natural ability of all Kavuru...so long as they never eat meat, at which point the ability is permanently lost. It's never stated, but the brothers seem to at this point realize that N'Drobo set up the lion incident at the beginning specifically to recruit them.
In the Valley of Peace, the travelers are met by a party of soldiers who take them into custody. N'Drobo's cousin Amatha now rules, and she dreamed of the exile's return.
At the guest house, N'Drobo explains that it will requite a little time to gather the healing ointment, so the brothers should just hang loose until they hear from him. They now trust their princely companion slightly less far than they could throw him, so wait for him to go sneaking about the village.
N'Drobo heads to the witch doctor's dwelling, and Natongo uses a long hollow reed to listen in.
Their suspicions confirmed, the brothers report their findings to Princess Amatha. She recognizes their honesty and N'drobo's treachery, and agrees to their plan to catch N'drobo and Gabira (the witch doctor) in their own snare. However, it must be done bloodlessly, as the House of Peace must not be defiled.
Sure enough, N'Drobo tells the brothers that they will need to leave the village unannounced as they are foreigners who would not be allowed to keep the ointment, and their weapons will be found inside the back door of the House of Peace at moonrise. The brothers go to the ruler's house after sunset, but well before moonrise and join the princess in waiting for the conspirators.
N'Drobo and Gabira come in just before moonrise with the spears, only to be caught red-handed. Dan-El and Natongo try to grapple the conspirators, but the men are too slippery and run away. Amatha uses a bird call to summon a large flock of owls.
The owls return to Amatha to report their success. Pleased, she gives each of the brothers a canister of the healing ointment. She casually mentions that she's been using it for over eighty years. That's some potent stuff! The Kavurus then give new orders to the jungle beasts to allow Natongo and Dan-El to depart in peace.
Outside the valley, Natongo wonders if it was all a dream, and Dan-El says they'll know for sure if they're still young at eighty.
Your thoughts and comments?
SKJAM!
no subject
Date: 2012-06-04 09:56 am (UTC)(I was waiting for them to remove N'Drobos power by hiding a small piece of meat into his vegetarian option meal....)
no subject
Date: 2012-06-04 10:28 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-06-04 11:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-06-05 10:54 am (UTC)