From Horror Movie To Horror Comic: Captain Kronos Vampire Hunter (1974)

Posted on July 25, 2026 by bloodlinematt

Welcome back to Rotten Ink, and our “From Horror Movie To Horror Comic” updates continue for 2026 with this one being based on a true cult classic from Hammer Films called Captain Kronos Vampire Hunter that is considered by many to be their final great film before they would first go out of business in 1979. That is the thing about Hammer, they really loved making films about vampires as moviegoers at the time really did enjoy films about these blood drinkers. And when wanting to cover Captain Kronos I decided to choose the Titan Comics four issue mini series instead of making a custom comic of the adaptation by Top Sellers LTD. that that they did for an issue of their Hammer House Of Horror Magazine. So if you are ready, let’s grab some silver and stay away from the Durward estate and see what spooky adventures Captain Kronos has planed for us!

Let’s start by taking a look at Lady Durward and Hagen Durward, a vampire couple who enjoys dealing death to the living and striking fear into the hearts of the innocent. Lady Durward is a female vampire who is very old in appearance and the sight of her startles those who end up seeing her as she has long grey hair and a wrinkled pale face and wears a black hooded cloak when hunting her human prey. She is also very powerful as she is able to walk during the day and in the sun, she also is not scared of or hurt by crosses. She has sharp vampire teeth, and she mostly preys on young women as she drains them of their youth to make her young again and allow her to be more powerful in her vampire ways. Lady Durward when youthful is very charming and can trick those people she is hunting to trust her and fall under her charming spell. She also has two children Paul and Sara Durward that keep her safe and watch after her when she is in her old state. They are unaware that she is a vampire. Lady Durward also seems to get joy in her attacks on the youthful girls and even attacks one family killing every daughter a man has. She also has a stare that hypnotizes her victims and wears a mask to cover up her youthful look around her children and others. Her husband Hagan Durward passed away from the plague and was brought back to life by his wife. He suffers the scars of the disease that killed him but is still very skilled with a sword and has sharp teeth to kill his victims with. While the Durwards are vampire who can walk in the sunlight as well as avoid being hurt by the cross, they can still be killed with a sword blade that is made from holy metal and has been blessed, and once stabbed with the sword they shrivel up, turn into skeletons and die. While Lady Durward and Hagen Durward are not the deadliest or most powerful vampires we have covered here on a From Horror Movie To Horror Comic update, they still are dangerous and know how to deal death to the living.

Now that we have taken a look at The Durwards and their ways of drinking blood and stealing youth, I think we should now take a look at the film they are from Captain Kronos Vampire Hunter! And like always, I will be taking the film’s plot from our friends at IMDB and then after that I will write about the film’s production and then my thoughts on the film. So if you are ready, let’s hunt some vampires with one of the worlds best vampire hunters.

Captain Kronos Vampire Hunter (1974)

“Vampire hunter and expert swordsman Kronos finds himself in a small village where several of the local young women have been found in an advanced state of age, their youth drained from them by a vampire’s kiss. Kronos’ search leads him to the Durward estate where he is met by the effete children of the apparently aged and sick Lady Durward.”

In the 1970’s Hammer Films was having issues as many of their films were not doing as well in the theaters and some bad money decisions left them in a bad way. They needed a big hit, something that could spark sequels like Horror Of Dracula and Curse Of Frankenstein had for them many years before. Enter Captain Kronos Vampire Hunter, a character and film idea from Brian Clemens who had the idea to make this into the company’s next major franchise as he has a series of films in mind. Brian would not only write the script but would also produce and direct it with this being his first and only feature film. Hammer Films was behind this project as they were hoping that this adventure horror film would be the big hit they needed and it was given a budget of around £160,000. Horst Janson was hired to play Captain Kronos, and John Cater and Caroline Munro would be casted as the sidekick characters Grost and Carla. Other names joining the cast include Wanda Ventham, John Carson, Shane Briant, Lois Daine, Ian Hendry, William Hobbs and Lisa Collings among many others. The film would be shot in England and would try to not only cash in on the horror film craze but also that of the swashbuckling action genre. The film when released was met with mostly positive reviews and would be released by Paramount Pictures in America. The film’s soundtrack score was done by Laurie Johnson, and the film would be released in UK theaters on April 7, 1974. Over the years the film has gained a cult following, and to this day I have many friends who rank this high on their favorite Hammer Horror film lists. The film in 1974 was released alongside such other horror films as The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Black Christmas, Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla, Phantom Of The Paradise, Horror High, The Ghost Galleon, Young Frankenstein, Let Sleeping Corpses Lie, Frankenstein And The Monster From Hell, It’s Alive, Killdozer, Beyond The Door, Sugar Hill, Scream Of The Wolf, The Bat People, The Night Of The Witches and many more, as 1974 was a great year for horror.

I first saw Captain Kronos Vampire Hunter on an episode of Commander USA’s Groovie Movies when I was a kid and found it to be a very fun action horror film and what is not to like about a skilled swordsman vampire hunter who is all business and will also defend his friends from not only bloodsuckers but also from rude people who want to do them harm. And the part is perfectly played by actor Horst Janson who had the look but had to be dubbed by Julian Holloway due to his thick German accent. And let’s be honest, every male my age who was a horror fan was taken by the beauty of actress Caroline Munro who played Carla and she was a true Hammer starlet and a great actress. One part that always creeped me out about this film is the look of Lady Durward when she was wearing her old woman mask as well as when she turned old as it was very weird looking. I also liked how the film had a twist as they make you think the vampire attacking young ladies is one character when it turns out to be another that for the most part you think is too old to even move out of bed. And I am happy to say that I even seen the film on the big screen thanks to a Horrorama event at a local cinema, and seeing it on the big screen was a really cool experience. And of course I had the film on VHS when I was building my horror movie collection and would later get the DVD for free from Paramount Pictures back in the day when they sent me films for review on a website I wrote for. In my opinion, the reason the film is such a cult classic and respected by fans is that it does a fantastic job of blending both swashbuckling action with horror and even has a dash of mystery to it that makes it very fun for viewers. And I feel if you want to see a vampire hunter sword fight a plagued infected vampire in a mansion castle, make sure to give this film a watch.

Now that we have taken a look at both the film and character Captain Kronos Vampire Hunter, we should now take a look at the comic series based around it that was released by Titan Comics starting in 2017. And no joke when Titan Comics announced that they were teaming with Hammer Films, I was really excited as the possibilities was endless on great series that could have been made that they acted like would be a Halloween yearly thing that readers would get into their hands. The first two released where comics based on Captain Kronos and The Mummy, and after those two series ended no more ever were released and this was a total bummer. But while Titan Comics might have let me down on not releasing any more comics based on Hammer Films, the fine folks at Mavericks Cards And Comics did not as they pulled these comics for me when released and made this update possible. I would also like to remind you all that I grade these comics on a star scale of 1 to 4 and am looking for how well the comics stay to the source material, its entertainment value and its art and story. So with that, let’s go vamp hunting with Captain Kronos and his friends!

Captain Kronos Vampire Hunter # 1 ***
Released in 2017 Cover Price $3.99 Titan Comics # 1 of 4

Captain Kronos has hunted down the vampire named Porphyr and the two are in a battle to the death as the vampire calls in his goons that he has hypnotized to attack the hunter who in turn calls on his friends Professor Grost, an older man with a wooden leg and female hunter Carla, who is new to killing vampires, but is skilled in this trade. The three end up killing all the vampire using all the tools of the trade, and they even take down Porphyer with a well placed sword. After the carnage is over, the local law shows up and are about to arrest the three for murder, but once they figure out that Captain Kronos is a vampire hunter they take them to the small town of Sepechurch to meet Ermine who tells them of Slake, a vampire that has been tormenting them and that they need destroyed, and over breakfast they all speak on the details. Kronos learns that Slake appeared during a dark time when the plague broke out in the town and over the years as created his own clan of bloodsuckers that have over powered all attempts by the town to stop them. The town has gated off the part of the city that the vampires are in and Captain Kronos heads to the gate and with his sword carves a cross in the wood and this angers Slake who swears to his vampire clan that a war is coming.

This first issue is really great and does its job of hooking you into wanting to see how this series plays out as the war between Captain Kronos with his crew and Slake plus his vampire clan you know will be a bloody battle that will see lots of death and blood splatter. The plot for this issue has Captain Kronos killing a vampire that he has been tracking only to be hired by a small town to help them get rid of their vampire problem that seems to be more powerful than anyone is thinking. Captain Kronos is a skilled fighter and hunter who is very short with his words but his actions say much as he has sworn to kill all and every vampire that he crosses the path of. He also clearly has no fear as he is willing to go after a vampire and his clan that he knows nothing about, as his hatred for them runs that deep. Poor Carla is always being looked down on by not only the vampires she hunts, but also the people who hire them to rid the world of the vamps, as they misjudge her because she is female and are unaware that she is now a skilled fighter and hunter. While Professor Grost might have a wooden leg and a hunched back, he is a good fighter and his knowledge of vampires is priceless. As for the vampire called Slake, we know very little about him besides he showed up during the plague and that he has grown his vampire clan to army size and is ready for a war with Captain Kronos. The issue’s horror truly comes from the vampires as well as the very gloom feeling of the setting and mood of the story. And the issue has some blood being spilt but nothing major, but I would guess more will be splattered as we get further in this series. I am really liking the set up this far as a strange vampire that has no legend and backstory who seems to have taken over part of a town and who knows and does not fear Kronos is very interesting and makes me as the reader want to see how it all plays out. I would also say that thus far Titan and the creators of this comic have done a pretty good job of keeping true to the film and are doing it justice. The cover is pretty cool and has Kronos being surrounded by female vampires making it eye catching for horror comic readers. The interior art for the issue is done by Tom Mandrake and is solid stuff, but I will say that the characters only slightly look like the actors who played them but it works and his vampires look mean and badass. Over all a great first issue, and I am looking forward to reading the second issue.

Captain Kronos Vampire Hunter # 2 ***
Released in 2017 Cover Price $3.99 Titan Comics # 2 of 4

In the town of Sepechurch in a shelter Captain Kronos, Professor Grost and Carla are getting ready for battle as Grost checks the books, Carla gathers the supplies and Kronos heads out to survey the area as the hunter is getting antsy and is wanting to do battle with the undead. As Carla and Grost chat, she informs him that she is happy that they have trained her to become a vampire hunter as it has given her something more in life, and as Captain Kronos jumps the fence into the land of Slake, his friend Grost is looking into the town’s history as well as telling the townspeople how great Carla has been as a hunter and they still doubt this as she is a female. Meanwhile Kronos comes across a vampire who is walking during the day, silver has no effect on him and only by cutting it’s head off does it die, but his day just got worse as he finds himself surrounded by the vampires. Meanwhile Carla is gathering the supplies and has to put one of his military guards in check who is being perverted with her. Meanwhile Captain Kronos fights for his life as he finds that these vampires also can not be hurt by cross nor fire as they just keep on attacking him as he swings his sword at them cutting off body parts and keeping them at bay, and finds shelter to get out of the heart of battle only to find that he is now in the home of Slake who welcomes the hunter into his home.

The danger for Captain Kronos and his friends is amped up as Slake and his vampire clan has way more powerful than they could imagine as they cannot be hurt by silver, crosses, fire nor sunlight and they can only be stopped by having their heads removed. Slake also seems to be enjoying that Kronos is coming for him and it’s clear that he has lots of stuff planed when it comes to facing this hunter in a showdown in this small rundown town. And while professor Grost is spending his time trying to learn all he can about the town as well as dig up any and all information on the vampire Slake, poor Carla is once more being looked down on as only eye candy and people are doubting her skill when it comes to killing vampires…and she keeps proving them wrong. The vampires also seem to be very bloodthirsty and are hunting Kronos in a pack as they clearly were pushing him towards their master’s home, and he falls for it and the issue ends with that big cliffhanger. This is a very cool issue as it showcases the rash and careless way that Captain Kronos is now hunting vampires as he foolishly rushes in to the unknown and quickly finds that he was not prepared for them, and it’s clear that Carla is going to be the big hero here as she is showing that she is skilled and even Grost is backing her and seeing that she could become the best hunter of vampires in the world. I also don’t trust the townspeople of Sepechurch as I think they are hiding something and know what Slake really is, and they might just be as evil as the vampires…but that’s just a theory that I have right now. The issue also amps up the blood and the scares are coming from the vampires that are very creepy in appearance and are clearly blood thirsty and looking to kill. I am really interested to see how Captain Kronos is going to get away from Slake as he is stuck in a small home with him while outside is a horde of vampires. The cover showcases all three of our heroes standing around the bodies of dead vampires, and it is really cool and great stuff. Tom Mandrake did the interior art again, and it’s really great stuff as it has a true comic book feel to it, and again while the characters don’t look like the actors fully they have a charm to them that you know who they are. I am ready for issue 3 as I really want to see how this very bad situation plays out for Captain Kronos.

Captain Kronos Vampire Hunter # 3 ***
Released in 2017 Cover Price $3.99 Titan Comics # 3 of 4

Slake attacks Kronos as the home also starts to fill with other vampires all looking to end this hunters life, and during the start of the fight Kronos learns that the cross does hurt Slake. Professor Grost and Carla see smoke and hear the fighting and go past the gate in order to help Kronos in this fight and are shocked to see so many vampires walking around in the daylight. But with the numbers stacked against him, Captain Kronos dives out of the window and jumps onto the wagon being driven by Grost and Carla and they escape this part of the town, the hunters were defeated and forces to retreat by Slake and his vampires. Back at their base Grost goes off on Kronos for being sloppy and not only putting his life in danger but also that of his and Carla’s, but after the harsh words break they three head back into the bad part of the town this time via the sewer and they all have the goal to kill Slake and end his curse over this town. And while in the sewer tunnels they are talking about plans, but soon find themselves surrounded by vampires.

In this issue Captain Kronos finds that he has gotten himself into a very bad situation as he is being attacked not only by vampires that have no weakness but also Slake, their master who wants to take the hunters’ lives and is almost joyful in this battle they are having. And because of Kronos’s careless behavior, he has put the lives of his friend in danger when they have to go into the danger zone in order to rescue him. And because Captain Kronos is driven by his hate for vampires, he ends up going back to fight Slake after having harsh words with Grost over his behavior. And its clear at this point that something is truly bothers Kronos as he has become more reckless in his hunting and even seems to be brooding more often, but he still is very confidante in his hunting skills. Carla who is being trained by Kronos is staying loyal to him even though its clear that she knows that he has became a little careless with his safety. And 100% Grost is mad at his friend as he is pissed that his friend is playing with his life as well as the lives of others. And while Kronos and his friends are defeated in this first battle they are able to kill a few of the vampires as well as learn about the weakness that Slake has when it comes to the cross burning his skin and hurting him, plus it gives Kronos a chance to bust out his metal cross sword for the next fight. The issue has lots of vampire body parts being cut off and that is causing the blood to spill, and the fight that has Kronos having to fight for his life is very extricating and really draws you into the story and makes you want to see what the final showdown between Kronos and Slake will be like. Once more it’s clear that the writers of this series is pushing for Carla to be the new vampire hunter hero as she seems to have her act together and is having the backing of Grost who sees it in her to be a big hero hunter. The vampires are clearly just following the orders of Slake as they attack in waves and seem to almost guide you to a location that they want you to be in. The cover for this issue has Captain Kronos and Slake showing your readers what this demonic looking vampire looks like, and yep Tom Mandrake does the art once more for the interior and its good stuff like before. And with that, let’s see what the next issue that is the final issue in the series has in store for us and how this vampire hunting tale comes to an end.

Captain Kronos Vampire Hunter # 4 ***
Released in 2018 Cover Price $3.99 Titan Comics # 4 of 4

While in the sewer surrounded by vampires Captain Kronos, Carla and Grost fight hard and remove the heads of the vampires as they try and attack and are able to get to the trap door leading to Slake’s den and block it keeping the vampire horde at bay. And after looking around his den and calling him out Slake appears and attack Kronos who uses his cross sword to stab at the vampire leader and this kills him, but to their shock the vampires are still around and killing their master did nothing to slow them down. But back in the town of Sepechurch the town’s elders during dinner get the message that Slake has been killed and then enter Captain Kronos, Carla and Grost who front out the elders as they themselves are vampires and wanted them to kill one of their own that had gone mad with power and blood drinking. The elders deny the allegations for as long as they can until their dinner is shown to be blood and then they turn into their vampire appearance and know that they must kill these hunters before they are killed themselves. Kronos and the others make short work of the elders as some are killed with swords and later they all die when Grost blows up the town hall and the elders are all caught on fire ending them as well as the vampire curse of Sepechurch. But as Kronos, Carla and Grost are leaving the town they learn that the townspeople are not happy about the death of the elders as they felt these vampires had kept them safe, and in the end our heroes ride off leaving this town behind and the world with less vampires in it.

In this final issue of Captain Kronos Vampire Hunter by Titan Comics, we get the final battle between Kronos and Slake that ends with the vampire being taken out pretty easily, as our hero learns that he has been played all along as the elders of the town he is protecting are vampires and just sent him in to kill one of their own that has went rogue. And even after he kills all the vampires in the town of Sepechurch, he gets no thanks from the town people who are mad that they no longer live under the protection of the undead. Captain Kronos while always rushing into battle still proves that he is very skilled at vampire hunting and is prepared almost for every situation as he is able to slay as well survive a massive vampire attack. And it appears that his sword skills are sharp as is his detective skills and he figures out and kills the elders who have been the real terrors of the town. And by the end of the issue both Professor Grost and Carla put more trust and stand behind Kronos even if they are frustrated with his sometimes reckless behavior. They both also prove that they are very helpful and are skilled vampire hunters as they do their share of slaying vamps as well as putting together a plan for to bring down the Elders. Poor Slake as well as the elders while strong are no match for our vampire hunters and all of them end up meeting their maker and their terror being stopped once and for all. The great thing about this comic series is that if truly feels like a new adventure of Captain Kronos like a sequel that we never got. The action is high in the series as the hunters clash with the vampires many times and the horror comes of course with the vampires as well as just the over all dark mood of the story. This issues as well has blood being spilt, and I really do think that fans of the film will really enjoy reading this comic. The cover for this issue is cool as it showcases our three heroes looking ready for battle, and I do like the art style of interior artist Tom Mandrake as his style captures the feel of the film as well really has a horror comic art look. If you are a fan of this film, make sure to track down this series and give it a read as I am sure you will enjoy it. Check out the artwork below to see the style used by Tom Mandrake for this comic series.

Captain Kronos Vampire Hunter is one of those Hammer Horror characters that is perfect to make the leap into comic books as you can do lots with him and have him battle many different types of vampires all over England, and it’s a shame that Titan Comics pulled the plug of working with Hammer after only releasing two series in the line…I truly feel they have dropped the ball with us horror comic readers. But who knows what the future holds for Hammer Horror when it comes to comic books as I would like to see American Mythology or even Eibon Press take a crack at making Hammer Film comics as imagine a series based on Dracula that looks like Christopher Lee or a Frankenstein one were the mad doctor looks like Peter Cushing! But our time with Captain Kronos has come to an end, but do not fear our time with horror comics based on films has not as our next update will take us to the scary open waters as we try and avoid The Humanoids From The Deep! So until next time, read a horror comic or three, watch a horror film or two and as always support your local horror host. See you next update for a rampage of humanoids roaming the waterways and terrorizing the beaches.

The Comic Honor Among Indie Thieves

Posted on March 3, 2025 by bloodlinematt

In October 2020 ,on one of the limited trips outside of the house during the pandemic, I went to my favorite local comic shop Bell, Book And Comic as Juliet was getting some supplies (bags, boards, short boxes) and I was looking through the horror comics as well as the 70’s Marvel Comic issues. And then I check their magical 3 For $1.00 boxes and found a few comics with two of them being the whole run of a comic series called “Honor Among Thieves” that was released by a very small company called Gateway Graphics. And of course I had to get them as not only do I enjoy reading micro indie comics, but I also knew that it would be fun to cover them here on Rotten Ink! So step on up and grab a box of cheap box comics, and let’s chat about this one that I found in the bargain bins. This will be a super fast and fun update so I hope you enjoy!! Oh and the picture below is from Mavericks Cards And Comics in Kettering, Ohio and it was taken by Darrick Patrick.

Gateway Graphics is one of those micro indie comic companies that came and went so fast that most readers have no idea they even existed! I dug deep all over the World Wide Web to find any and all info I could on this company, and this is what I dug up. By all accounts it looks like Gateway started in 1987 with the release of Honor Among Thieves # 1 that was the company’s first release and got them all types of buzz via local media as they were based out of Irwin, Pennsylvania. The company was owned by a group of friends Tom Howell, Julia Ecklar, Sherri Gilbert and Richard Tucholka, all of whom leant their skills to the comic and its release. It appears that Julia and Tom were the two main creators for this publisher. We also know that they got advice from the folks at Arrow Comics and the local press they got helped them sell the first issue to local comic shops well as many ordered more copies when the article was released. After riding high from the release of their first issue, they worked quickly on the second and got it out the same year in 1987…and then from there it seems Gateway Graphics disappeared with a poof of smoke and their series Honor Among Thieves was left unfinished for readers. I am not sure what happened or why they closed up shop as I could not find anything on that, but if I had to guess I would say it was one of the following reasons: poor sales, it became too hard to produce the comics, the friends had a falling out or something happened to one of the creative team that caused them all to disband. With only one series and two issues under their belt, Gateway Graphics is a comic company that made a pebble splash in the world of comic books, and left a legacy of true indie comics in their closure. On a side note, I want to say I really like their company logo; I think for the 80’s it was super eye catching.

As I have stated many times here, it’s a shame how many indie comic publishers ended their run in the game in the 70’s-90’s as many of them had so much more to offer readers! Many times I think about what companies like Atlas Comics, Topps Comics, Fangoria Comics, Malibu Comics and so many more would be doing if they were still around today…I am guessing they all would have made some amazing comics and would have created some great characters that by this time already would have had their own movie or TV show. But is Gateway Graphics one of those companies that was taken away from us readers too soon or is it one that vanished due to poor quality comics? Well we will soon find out. I want to remind you all that I grade these comics on a star scale of 1 to 4 and am looking for how well the comics stay to the source material, their entertainment value and their art and story. So if you are ready, let’s travel the back in time to a place of magic and see if there really is Honor Among Thieves!

Honor Among Thieves # 1 *1/2
Released in 1987 Cover Price $1.50 Gateway Graphics # 1 of 2

Galan, Draven and Dar are sitting around a campfire just outside of the city of Mir and are playing games to pass time as they are in town for a horse trade fair. While hanging out by the fire, they catch and stop a thief that was trying to steal one of their horses. Korin was stealing the horse in order to flee Mir and find help as the ruler of the city Jarfys is stealing money and killing good men! Galan and his crew decide to help and will travel to Mir. They see that the city is rundown and dirty and follow Korin to a hidden base to meet Tink, the leader of the resistance who informs them that Jarfys is ruling the town and killing people over silk that is so rare and so pricy that he will do whatever he can to keep the worms that make it safe and well fed with human meat! They also learn that Jarfys has hired killers that help him keep the city and that they kill would-be heroes on site. So they come up with an idea to walk around town and plot an attack by acting like assassins called Knots, and this is where the heroes and their new allies end their meeting.

Okay, I first want to stress that I love indie comics and enjoy a good medieval tale of adventure and fantasy…I also really dig that Gateway Graphics was a comic company based out of Irwin, Pennsylvania. But why this first issue has gotten such a low star rating from me is because for the most part it was really slow moving and boring. Now I get it they are trying to build up the story of Galan and his crew trying to free the city of Mir from an evil ruler they just choose to do so in the most wordy and bland fashion. The plot of this first issue has a group of three heroes and friends on their way to buy and trade horses when they stumble on a man who tells them that his city needs help as people are being killed and ruled by an evil man, and when they decide to help him they travel to town and meet the remaining people of the city who want to overthrow their evil ruler and all come up with a plan to do so. One thing the comic does well is it made me as the reader really sit back and think that Galan, Draven and Dar are close friends who watch out for each other and want to do what’s best for mankind. Galan is a man who is part of a guild who is around to uphold the law, Dar is a wizard who can do magic and tricks while Draven is a youngster with a good heart and is brave like any knight. Korin is a tailor from the city of Mir who wants to find help for his city and even tries to steal our heroes horses in order to get to a city to find help, but something about this guy I don’t trust as I think he and Tink are really just as bad as the man they want to overthrow. The main crime of this comic is that no battles, no conflict and no real action ever takes place as we are treated to panel after panel of long dialogue boxes, and while somewhat interesting, the pace should have been kicked up by the end as I am not sure if a word salad is the right way to get readers hooked. I think that creator Julia Ecklar has put her heart and soul into this tale and characters and that is why I also have to show some respect to this issue. The cover is ok and has that typical fantasy 80s indie comic look and the interior art done by Tom Howell reminds me a little of Elf Quest art. Over all this comic was a little bland, and I am hoping issue two picks up the action.

Honor Among Thieves # 2 *
Released in 1987 Cover Price $1.50 Gateway Graphics # 2 of 2

Galan, Dar and Draven are waiting in the horse stable for their supplies to sneak around town and that’s when Galan springs on his friends that he wants them to leave Mir and head to the horse fair as he thinks this mission of good will be to dangerous for them! Draven is not having it, and the young man stands his ground and airs his opinion as he thinks that he and Dar should stay and act as back up. After some time and words, Galan agrees. Korin arrives at the stable with their outfits and gives Galan and Draven a quick lesson on how Knots act when looking for information and dealing with people, as Tink spreads word around town that Knots are among them. Meanwhile Jarfys is out target shooting with his crossbow as his young friend reads from a book about a ring that they want holds. Jarfys is getting old and talks about walking away from it all just so he can retire and die in peace, when two of his lackeys show up with message of The Knots in town. Jarfys is now worried that the assassins are after him comes up with an idea to make some quick money on the silk, leave town and kill the Knots on his way out.

Whelp issue two is just as wordy and boring as issue one and delivers even a more blah reading experience as once more zero happens and characters have long drawn out talks with each other with much of it just consisting of plans…in other words I can see why these comics were in the 3 for $1.00 boxes! The simple and drawn out plot of this issue has our heroes gearing up to cosplay as deadly assassins to get the information they seek. The evil ruler of the city is getting old and tired, and when he gets the news he might be the target of the assassins he comes up with a plan to make money and kill them and skip town. What I would have given to at least see any kind of fight or battle as the closest thing we get to a battle is Galan sword practicing and Jarfys using his crossbow on a target…yep, action packed stuff! And once more I have to stress, I am all for indie comics and I don’t even mind non-action comics, it’s just both these issues offer nothing but word salad on a plate of nothing. And the worst part is that the series ended after only two issues and the plot that we got in these issues went nowhere making this a disappointing read. The cover for this issue is downright terrible and adds nothing to what the story or comic is about. On the plus side, the artwork by Tom Howell is solid and good and once more writer Julia Ecklar put her all into the script. I am sure over issues and time the tale of Honor Among Thieves would have built itself up to being a fun adventure comic mini series, but I think the slow build for the series is what spelled its doom on retail shelves. Indie Comics as a whole are lots of fun and should be checked out as sometimes you find amazing creative stuff and sometimes you find failed attempts and dreams…sadly Honor Among Thieves was a fail for me. Check out the art below to see what the characters look like and the style of Howell.

It’s a shame that Gateway Graphics and their one and only comic series Honor Among Thieves just didn’t catch on with comic readers or they themselves could not keep up making the comics as who knows over years what comics they could have delivered and how good (or worse) their flagship series could have gotten. Is Gateway Graphics a company that should have closed up shop and locked the doors…I am going to say NO. While I myself was not a fan of the two issues they released, they as a company had pride and many dreams set for their series and for that I would have really liked to have seen them finish their story for Honor Among Thieves as well as possibly create new characters and series. But just add Gateway Graphics as a comic company that went to the Comic Long Box In The Sky and could not survive the comic boom and fall of the 80’s and 90’s. But I think it’s time to leave the world of Honor Among Thieves behind and next head to the world of sci-fi horror as we take a look at Predator 2 and the Dark Horse Comic adaptation! So until next time, read a comic or three, watch a film or two and as always support your local horror host! See you next update as we will be in L.A. during a heat wave, and I heard a real hunter is on the prowl.

A True Hero Of The People: Robin Hood

Posted on November 9, 2024 by bloodlinematt

Welcome back to Rotten Ink and the first update in our countdown to Thanksgiving 2024. One classic hero that I have been a fan of since I was a kid is Robin Hood, the man who stole from the rich and gave to the poor. Robin Hood is a folk legend that has been talked about since the 13^th Century and is a symbol of hope for the less fortunate as he is a hero for them, a man who cares about them having food for their bellies, wine to drink to quench their thirst and a roof over their heads. Robin Hood is a world wide icon as his story and legend are known worldwide, and the fact that he stands up against the greedy and those who abuse their power makes him a true hero for many. I think the most awesome thing about Robin Hood is that no one really knows who created his story or if he was truly based on a real person, and all we truly know is that it looks as if his legend started in England. But with that, let’s head to Sherwood Forest and go on a blog update adventure with Robin Hood and his Merry Men!

Before we dive to deep into this blog update, let’s first take a brief look at the characters that make up the lore of this timeless tale. Robin Hood is an outlaw who is skilled with his bow and arrows and who is loyal to Richard The Lionheart, who was the King Of England. Robin Hood would steal money, food and other goods from the rich and greedy in order to give to the poor who were suffering near Nottingham, and this made him the enemy of the kingdom. Robin Hood did his “crimes” with the help of his Merry Men that included Little John a mountain of a man, Friar Tuck who works for the church, Will Scarlet a young skilled sword man with other members being Alan-A-Dale, Much The Miller’s Son, Will Stutely, Arthur-A-Bland and David Of Doncaster. Robin Hood’s lover interest is the lovely Maid Marion who was the daughter of a nobel man and who falls for Robin Hood after he robs some of her father’s knights and she falls for him (other tales have them knowing each other since childhood). The baddies of these tales are the corrupt and evil Sheriff Of Nottingham, the knight Guy Of Gisborne, Bishop Of Hereford and Prince John to name a few. This is just a crash course for the bios for Robin Hood and the characters that make up his legends and tales, and if you are interested in learning more about them there are plenty of great books, websites, films and shows that can help you learn more.

With Robin Hood being a legend in lore, this of course lead to him being the subject of many TV shows, movies and cartoons with almost all of them being hits with viewers and fans as something about the character Robin Hood has always found a spot with people who enjoy his adventures. I would like to take a brief moment to talk about a few of the films and shows that I can remember loving growing up! The first version of Robin Hood I remember was “The Adventures Of Robin Hood” from 1938 where actor Errol Flynn played the hero and this version of the tale still to this day remains one of my favorite film versions. The next one of course was the 1973 Disney animated film “Robin Hood” that had Brian Bedford voice Robin Hood who in this version is a talking fox. The big film version of my generation was the 1991 film “Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves” that had Kevin Costner playing Robin. I was a big fan of this film and had the action figures done by Kenner, the NES game, and the breakfast cereal as well as the Topps trading cards. And those are my top three favorite film versions of Robin Hood but many have played the character over the decades in film and television such as Richard Greene, Thor Bishopric, Russell Crowe, Cary Elwes, Patrick Bergin, Taron Egerton, Douglas Fairbanks and Michael Praed to name a very small few. One of the strangest Robin Hoods has to be from the 1966 cartoon series called “Rocket Robin Hood” that has a space version of the character called Rocket Robin Hood who with his Merry Men in space fight off aliens…yep, it’s a weird one. These are just some of the films, cartoons and shows based on Robin Hood, and I am sure you readers have your favorites as well.

While Robin Hood has shown up in many video games, the one that I want to talk about is called “Super Robin Hood” and it was released for the Nintendo Entertainment System as part of a game called “Quattro Adventure” that also features the games “Boomerang Kid”, “Treasure Island Dizzy” and “Linus Spacehead”. The game is super basic as it’s a side scrolling action game that has you play as Robin Hood armed with his bow & arrow as he collects treasure and fights off the guards that are protecting it, and you are on this quest in a massive castle that acts like a maze and you need to find keys in order to unlock doors. Besides the guards, the area is also filled with falling maces, flames, lava, bats and traps making your quest very dangerous. While collecting the treasures to give to the poor is a big part of the adventure, the main goal is to save Maid Marion who is being kept prisoner at the Nottingham Castle. While the game is not groundbreaking it is a fun and simple game that will surely kill some time on a boring weekend and will give fans of Robin Hood some joy as they arrow down baddies and save the day. I should also say that this game was released in 1991 for the NES, and is one I did not have as a kid.

Did you know that Robin Hood has also made his way into the world of food as well? As some restaurants have the name Robin Hood or have that Sherwood Forest theme with one being a cool little diner in Southampton, PA that at some point I plan on eating at whenever I am in the area. But what I want to really talk about is Robin Hood Flour, a product that has been on store shelves since 1909 and is currently released by J.M. Smucker Company who of course makes the Smucker Jellies to the retail market. The flour is very popular in Canada and can be obtained at some grocery stores here in America that deal in imported foods. When I was a kid I do remember seeing Robin Hood Flour on the shelves when my Mom would bring my brother and I grocery shopping and would try and get her to get it as it said Robin Hood on it. One day Juliet and I should get some Robin Hood Flour and make some Robin Hood themed cupcakes!

One other thing I want to briefly talk about is that at Jungle Jims, a massive world market grocery store in Cincinnati and a place that has all types of awesome decorations that many are taking from old amusement parks as well as fairs. One of the coolest things they have is the Sherwood Forest area that is complete with animatronics of Robin Hood and his Merry Men that has come from an old amusement park. The animatronics are on a timer and sometimes move about and talk. Now this is very awesome to see if you are a fan of Robin Hood like myself seeing these old amusement park attractions while grocery shopping is a really cool thing and adds to the Jungle Jim experience. Checkout the picture below as it was taken by my gal Juliet.

Now many of you know that I like the old Marx Toys and some of my favorites that I own are my 60mm figures of Robin Hood that come in green plastic. The knights are in grey and are taller versions of the classic plastic Army Men figures. The ones that I have are Robin Hood, Maid Marion, Little John, Friar Tuck, The Minstrel, Sheriff Of Nottingham and a Knight. These figures are so cool and I would say that my two favorite ones are Robin Hood himself as well as Little John as I like the designs of them, and the best part is these figures are from the 1960’s and they have really good details for that time. Sadly I do not have the whole set as there are more Merry Men as well as Knights for figures and they also had play sets that I do not have that included horses. But just wanted to take a moment to show these Marx Toys some respect as I really do think they are cool basic figures that I am sure brought many of kids happiness in the 60’s and 70’s as Robin Hood was very popular then.

Since I was a very young kid I have been a big fan of the legend of Robin Hood as a hero of the woods who helped the poor and robbed the rich that were very greedy and treated others poorly was something that just always set right with me. When you breakdown Robin Hood to his core, he is a hero who decided to do something about all the injustice he was seeing in his homeland and along with a band of like-minded folks they set out to right all the wrongs and give hope to those who needed it the most. Now we are at the review part of this update, and I have decided that the comic will be from King Comics as they had a cool three issue mini series perfect for this update. Now keep in mind this was a really hard choice as there are many Robin Hood comics to choose from that are really great reads. I would like to thank Game Swap Kettering for having this comic in stock and making this update possible. I would like to remind you all that I grade these comics on a star scale of 1 to 4 and am looking for how well the comics stay to the source material, its entertainment value and its art and story. So if you are ready, let’s head to Sherwood Forest and see what Robin Hood and his band of Merry Men have in store for us.

King Classics: Robin Hood # 1 ***
Released in 1977 Cover Price NA King # 4 of 24

King Richard is fighting the crusade and rumor is he is being held for ransom, and while he is away the likes of Sheriff Of Nottingham and Guy Of Gisborne are taking advantage of the people by taxing them with the guise of using the money to get the King back. Sir Richard, the father of Marion, asks the Sheriff for a loan as well as to watch over his daughter while he goes on a quest to rescue the King, and a terrible deal is made. Later Robin Hood is gathering locals to join his group that is protesting the corruption and even scares away Guy Of Gisborne causing him to play a bounty on the head of Robin! While The Sheriff has set up Sir Richard that leaves his boat crew turning on him and he winds up a prisoner in the dungeon of the Nottingham castle. Robin Hood then meets a mountain of a man named Little John who after a quick tussle joins The Merry Men the group that helps Robin and together they defeat The Sheriff and Guy who made the mistake of trying to track down the bandits. And later Robin Hood and his men steal tons of gold to give to the poor from Geoffrey Of Bellamy, a man who is trying to marry Marion by force thanks to The Sheriff and this causes Robin Hood and his men to come up with a plan to stop the wedding and free Sir Richard from his cell. Some time passes and on the wedding day of Geoffrey and Marion, the brave Robin Hood and his men are able to save Marion as well as scare off Geoffrey and his men that come looking for her, and this cause major anger and even gets the attention of acting King Prince John The Landless who holds a arrow contest hoping that it will draw out Robin Hood cause of the high prize money and he is right! As the knights surround Robin Hood from the woods, The Merry Men appear and are able to save their leader and pull off a big escape, but five Merry Men are taken prisoner. And Robin Hood of course comes for them and saves them as well as Sir Richard and finally he is able to see his daughter Marion again, but their joy is cut short when Geoffrey and his men attack and kill many of the Merry Men and even take Marion back prisoner! Now Robin Hood is angry that he along with Little John and other Merry Men head to the castle for a big showdown. Robin and his men are joined in battle by a cloaked man who saves Robin twice during the battle and soon The Sheriff, Geoffrey, Guy and Prince John and their men loose the fight and Robin Hood is the hero of the day, he also learns that the cloak fighter was King Richard and he also is able to win the heart of Marion and the two are to be married.

This is such a fun read and while some of the pacing is a little odd and I feel like characters such as Little John are downplayed it still is a thrilling adventure ride that showcases the bravery and caring personality of Robin Hood. The issue’s plot is simple The King of England is missing as he went to fight in a Holy War an during his absent many of his fellow rulers and people of power are taking advantage of the people by raising taxes and stealing their land, but Robin Hood and his band of friends and followers have seen enough and are fighting against this corruption and evil doings and this is causing a big brooding battle to take place that will leave only one side standing. Robin Hood is a very caring man who wants to help those less fortunate and will protect them when those wishing them harm comes around, he is loyal to his friends and those he swore to protect and is super skilled with a sword but more so with his trusty bow and arrow. He will die for his cause and while looked as an outlaw by some for the many he is deemed a hero. Little John is a mountain of man who once worked on the side of the greedy but who now is using his strength and skills to fight along Robin Hood in his quest to help the poor. Marion and her father Sir Richard are both good people as well who want to see England flourish and serve only the missing King Richard. And of course Marion and Robin fall in love when he saves her and she lives with him at his camp. The issues baddies Sheriff Of Nottingham, Guy Of Gisborne, Geoffrey Of Bellamy and Prince John The Landless are all big talkers but none of them have the means to truly deal with the “outlaws” that are being a pain in their sides and have disrupted the flow of the money and land they are stealing. And in the end all these guys get what they deserve when King Richard returns to England and shows that he is not on their side nor approves on what they have done while he was away. The issue has some action and while it would have been nice if the fights were a little more showcase I feel this is a really good comic that does the legend justice…I will say that I would have like to have seen Friar Tuck even in a cameo. The cover for this issue is pretty cool and shows Robin Hood firing off an arrow, and the interior art is really cool classic comic book stuff but cannot find who did it so Unknown Artist gets the credit. Over all if you like the legend of Robin Hood and find a copy of this comic make sure to give it a read as it really is a enjoyable read, and checkout the artwork bellow to see the style used in this comic. Oh and Robin Hood wears red in this comic and not green the color most people think of when this character comes up.

As you can see, Robin Hood really is one of the most iconic heroes around the world and his story is still being told in books, comics and films as his impact on culture is that deep. And when choosing what comic to cover for this update I have so many to choose from as such companies as A+ Comics, Eclipse Comics, Dell Comics, Eternity Comics and Charlton Comics have all made some amazing comics based on him. So in other words, if you like Robin Hood you have many comic options to choose from to read. Well it looks like it is time for us to leave Sherwood Forest and head to the world of coloring books as we take a look at Captain America and his Whitman adventure fighting robots! So until next time, read a comic of three, watch a Robin Hood film or two and as always support your local horror host. See you next update for some coloring time!

Xena The Thanksgiving Day Princess

Posted on November 24, 2022 by bloodlinematt

Welcome to this Thanksgiving Rotten Ink update something that I hope has become a Turkey Day tradition for you just like the old Mystery Science Theater 3000 Turkey Day Marathons use to be for me! And for this update I choose to cover something very special, as this is not only the Thanksgiving update but also is celebrating 10 Years that Rotten Ink has been up on the worldwide web. And normally Hercules would be the one to join us on Thanksgiving but as of last year we are taking a break from spending Turkey Day with him and this year will be our first without him and will instead be about a badass female warrior that is a Warrior Princess and I am of course talking about Xena and the comic series we will be looking at is the original series done by Topps Comics! So while that Turkey is still cooking in the oven and before your guests arrive or you leave to be a guest lets talk about Xena Warrior Princess on this Thanksgiving Day holiday.

Xena Warrior Princess was a spin-off show of the hugely popular syndicated show “Hercules Legendary Journeys” as Xena first appeared in the 1995 episode called “The Warrior Princess” and she became super popular with viewers as she was a badass female warrior who could handle herself against the likes of Hercules. So because of this on September 4, 1995 she got her own series thanks to Renaissance Pictures. The show in syndication was a major hit and was a ratings draw for all the stations who added it their line up. I for one would watch the show every Sunday Morning and would even set the VCR to tape the episodes I would miss due to family trips and such. The show would have Xena not only face her past of being a raider who killed but would also have her face fellow warriors, amazons as well as even monsters and Gods! And the big thing being is that Xena grew as a character throughout the series run and this added more appeal to the character as she would fall in love, show remorse for his actions and even would doubt herself at time. The show would last for six seasons and a total of 134 episodes and even when the show ended in 2001 it still was one of the most watched syndicated shows on television at the time. During its run it would win and be nominated for many awards including the Emmys and Saturns. It would build up a huge following in the LGBTQ Community, as Xena and her sidekick Gabrielle became role models for young ladies and spawned a lot of merchandise for fans to collect. Xena was a show that was for everyone and the character Xena is still popular even to this day as fans still would love to see her return to their TV screens. And for me it still ranks in my top 10 shows of all time as I was a big fan and still am to this day. The series has been released on home media via VHS and DVD and can be found on some streaming sites from time to time.

Xena was a feared female warrior who along with his army would loot, destroy and murder any villager in her path and she loved what she did. But her life changes when her own brother is killed in a raid by the Warlord Cortese and she sees the sorrow that her own actions has caused over the years and even her own Mother turns her back on her. Now on a mission for revenge and to right all her wrongs that she has done over the years, she also builds new friendships and trusts and becomes a symbol of change and empowerment from women. She is skilled with a sword as well as her chakram that she can throw super accrete. Xena also has a war cry that sends fear down the spines of her enemies and can stand her ground against any warlord as well as god like being. Xena was played by the lovely Lucy Lawless who was the crush for many nerdy kids of the time and in fact many still do have a crush on her, and I am not ashamed to say I still do as Lucy Laweless is an amazing actress who is beautiful on many levels. Lucy Lawless would go on to be is such shows and movies as The X-Files, The L Word, Spartacus, Ash vs. Evil Dead, Spider-Man, Boogeyman and Bitch Slap. She would even voice Wonder Woman in the 2008 animated film Justice League: The New Frontier. For those of use who grew up watching and for those of who discovered the show after its run we truly know how awesome, amazing, beautiful and ass kicking Xena and Lucy Lawless really is.

Gabrielle was a farm girl from the village of Potidaea and after being kidnapped by a warlord and then freed by Xena she decides that she wants to follow her savior and together the two have many great journies and adventures. Gabrielle is wise, sarcastic at times and becomes skilled with a staff as well as a sword later on and she becomes a warrior in her own right. Her sister is Lila who is her only sibling and they two do get along well. The character of Gabrielle was super popular with fans and growing up for me on TV you could not beat the duo of Xena and Gabriella as they just played so well off each other. Gabrielle was played by actress Rene O’Connor who was in such films as “Night Game (1989)”, “Stone Cold (1991)”, “The Adventures Of Huck Finn (1993)” and “Darkman II: The Return Of Durant (1995)” among others as well as was on TV Shows like “Tales From The Crypt”, “NYPD Blue” and “FBI: The Untold Stories”. Rene is a great actress and Gabrielle is an amazing character and for many Gabriella rivaled Xena at being their favorite character of the whole series, and lets be honest I think it was Rene who’s acting really made the character be so iconic.

The show had many amazing side character over the years that made up the Xena universe like the goofball wannabe hero Joxer played by Ted Raimi, Autolycus The King Of Thieves played by Bruce Campbell, Cyrene is the mother of Xena and she was played by Darien Takle, Hercules and Iolaus would show up from time to time and they were played of course by Kevin Sorbo and Michael Hurst. And on the villain side two of the biggest baddies in the series (and man she had many) was Aries The God Of War played by Kevin Smith and female warrior Callisto played by Hudson Leick. And this is just a small amount of the recurring characters that appeared on the show and made it so awesome. My favorite side character has to be Callisto as she was beautiful, crazy and dangerous and was a great villain for Xena and her episodes were always well done. But to be fair Ares is also a very entertaining villain and Kevin Smith was perfect in the role and it’s a shame he had to pass away at such a young age. Man writing this really does make me look back and see just how awesome all of the characters I have mentioned and more really did make this show special. Oh and I need not forget Caesar played by Karl Urban was also a great baddie who was a pain in Xena’s side. Who was your favorite side character in Xena?

Like I have said I was an every week watcher of Xena The Warrior Princess and hands down one of my favorite episodes was called “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” and was a Halloween episode that aired in October 1996. In this spooky episode Xena and Gabrielle go after Bacchus The God Of Wine who has a legion of female vampires, and during this adventure Gabriella is bitten and turned into one of his servants and its up to Xena to save her friend and kill Bacchus and allow all of those he has infected to return to being human. The episode also had appearances by Joxer and Orpheus and the episode played like a mix between a Horror Movie and a Rock Video that was airing on MTV at the time…and you can never go wrong with Gabrielle looking all gothed out…you just cant. The episode also had a very lesbian overtone and the demonic look of Bacchus was badass and it’s a shame that he was not used more often as a featured villain of the week for the Xena series. Long before the episodes made their way to home media this was one that I can remember taping off TV and watching a lot as the episode was just really cool and the plot felt like a good B-Movie vampire film. And the episode would also go on to be praised by not only fans but also critics who site this as one of the series best episodes. Those who have seen the episode know how awesome it is, and those of you who have not seen it track down the DVD set for Season 2 and give it a watch…also Toy Biz should have made an action figure of Bacchus and one of his female vampire minions…just saying.

Like all great shows Xena Warrior Princess has had her fair share of action figures and dolls with her first figure being in the Hercules Legendary Journeys line that was released by Toy Biz and she had two figures in the line with the difference being coloring on her armor. And at the time of these figures release I was collecting them all as Hercules was one of my favorite shows and it would be cool to have them set up in my room, and Xena at the time in my area was the hardest one to track down. And I have to also say the Xena from the Hercules toys looks nothing like Lucy Lawless and for the most part is a really cheesy figure. But when Xena got her own TV Show Toy Biz also gave her a toy line that featured not only Xena but also all the characters from the show and these figures and later dolls were way better done and captured likeness better than the Hercules line did. And of course I still have many of my Xena toys and if you are a fan of the show make sure to track some of these figures down as they are pretty cool and a part of the shows history.

When the TV Show was not on one thing fans could do is get the paperback novels based on Xena and her adventures to fill that void and these were good reads for fans. Many of the novels were written by such authors as Ru Emerson and Stella Howard and the novels most popular reads was the Quest Trilogy that was written by Emerson and consisted of “Go Quest Young Man”, “Questward Ho!” and “How The Quest Was Won”. And growing up I had these books and in fact I still have many of these books and while the lack the visional charm of the show Emerson and Howard did a great job of capturing the fun feel of it and really did deliver very entertaining reads. If you love the show make sure to tack down these novels and give them a read in your favorite spot.

Xena The Warrior Princess made her way to the world of video games and was in a total of three home console games and a few for the PC. In 1999 Titus Interactive released the fighting game “Xena Warrior Princess: The Talisman Of Fate” for the N64. It was met with mixed reviews as it was an odd fighter but did allow you to play as such characters as Callisto, Ares, Julius Caesar and Autolycus to name a few. Also in 1999 for the Sony Playstation and released by EA came a adventure game that had you play as Xena who is on a quest to rescue Gabrielle and must fight warriors and monsters along the way, and this was a game I have played and beat so many times as I just really enjoyed the quest hack slash style game play and plus it was cool to be able to play a video game based on one of my favorite TV Shows of all time. And yet Xena would also get a Game Boy Color game as well this time in 2001, as even the handheld market needed some Xena for gamers to play as. So while I am not a mega fan of the Game Boy Color or N64 versions, I am a fan of the PS1 version and say that if you have the old console at your house and want to play a Xena adventure give this one a try.

The score music used for Xena The Warrior Princess was done by Joseph LoDuca and is fantastic stuff as the opening theme always built the excitement for the episode and is something that we all remember to this day as it became one of the most iconic themes for a TV Show at the time. Let’s be honest, you have hummed the theme at least once as you have been reading this update. Many of you might not know that composer Joseph LoDuca is the musical mastermind behind scores for such movies as “The Evil Dead”, “Brotherhood Of The Wolf”, “Boogeyman”, “Curse Of Chucky” and “Bad Samaritan” and shows like “Hercules: The Legendary Journeys”, “Cleopatra 2525” and “Jack Of All Trades” to name a few. And if you like myself enjoy the music of Xena you can get many volumes of the scores on CD thanks to Varese Sarabande; the musical episode even found its way onto CD! So make sure if you are a music collector to track these down as copies can be found on EBay and Amazon.

As you know Xena was one of the biggest syndicated shows of all time and this is what lead to it having so much merchandise to be made about it and besides comics, novels, video games, toys and soundtracks, the show also got Home Media, Posters, Shirts, Costumes, Trading Cards, Cardboard Standees, Stickers, Drinking Glasses, Magazines, Clocks, Key Chains, Bags, Jewelry, Snow Globe and so much more official and unofficial stuff! And because I am a fan I do have much of this stuff as I have several shirts as well as some of the trading cards along with the other stuff I have mentioned I own. So if you like Xena and are a collector, the world is filled with lots of cool stuff for you to get for your collection.

As you can see, Xena was a major force for TV in the 1990’s and sparked a tidal wave of great merchandise as well as gave female viewers a cool character to look up to as she was strong and a badass and at the time this was a little more rare for TV to have such a character in “nerdy” shows like this at the time. She also is an icon in the LGBTQ community as they show was laced with a lesbian overtones and this again was not the norm for this time on broadcast TV. And I want to also note that for fans the novels, comics, video games and even toys helped add new adventures for Xena while they waited for new seasons to start and new episodes to air. I want to thank Half Price Books and Game Swap Kettering for having these issues in stock and making this update possible. I want to also remind you all that I grade these comics on a star scale of 1 to 4 and am looking for how well the comics stay to the source material, its entertainment value and i’s art and story. So with that while the turkey is still in the oven and those potatoes are not yet mashe, let’s go on an adventure with Topps Comics and Xena The Warrior Princess.

Xena Warrior Princess # 0 **1/2
Released in 1997 Cover Price $2.95 Topps Comics # 0 of 2

Xena and Gabrielle are walking along a path and stumble on a tomb at the side of a mountain and just as they notice it the ground shakes and a horde of zombie warriors come from the ground and go on the attack! Xena fights hard but is unable to save Gabrielle who is pulled underground by the zombies. Xena rushes inside the temple hoping that she can find Gabrielle alive inside and meets Psoriasese, the undead caretaker of the temple who warns Xena of the Dragon God who dwells inside and who has already claimed the soul of Xena as he wants her to enter his temple, this does not scare Xena who enters to save her friend as she learns that if she stabs the Dragon’s heart she will not only kill the beast but also free all the souls he has trapped. Xena ends up fighting and killing the three monsters that guard the dragon’s gate and once inside the Dragon taunts Xena with Gabrielle who is now in the zombie trance and this causes the warrior princess to go on the attack! After dodging the dragons attack as well as trying to hit his heart she is lucky to shrug off his attempt to put her into the zombie trance and is able to throw her sword into his heart and kill him and this frees the souls of all those he damned! In the end Xena and Gabrielle come back together as people are back to normal all around them and continue their quest.

This is a pretty fun first comic for Xena The Warrior Princess and does a pretty good job of capturing the mood and feel of the TV Show is based on, but I will say some of the humor in the comic does fall flat at times as the jokes and one liners were cheesy. The plot is very simple and has Xena fighting zombies, monsters and a dragon in order to save her friend Gabrielle who was kidnapped by them, and like always Xena and her warrior skills save the day. Xena in this issue is skilled in her fighting and is confidante in her skills as she has no fear charging into a tomb filled with the dead and monsters in order to protect her friend, she truly is one of the best female warriors in all of fandom. Gabrielle in this issue is very bored and sadly does not get her chance to see much action as she is taken by zombies and turned into one of them before she knew what even happened, and she still is very much around for some comedy relief at the start of the issue. The issue’s bad guy is the Dragon God who is in this tomb to try and collect souls to please Hades and to get his way into being in the underworld. He has the power to use a death stare in order to turn people into his mindless zombie slaves and to send their souls to Hades! He is very mean and evil looking but is also very slow in his attacks and had one big weakness his heart that is the key to free all those he damned. The comics action is well done and I do like the fight she has with the three monsters as she makes quick work of them and makes them pay for the decades of killing of people they have done and sends them all to the underworld. The cover I have is eye catching and showcases Lucy Lawless as Xena and the interior art is really great and done by Aaron Lopresti who can truly draw dragons, zombies and monsters and his work on Xena is good and it looks like Lawless. Over all a good start to this series as its fast paced and has some great art and fun action.

Xena Warrior Princess # 1 ***
Released in 1997 Cover Price $2.95 Topps Comics # 1 of 2

Salmoneus is in charge of the Spring Fair and a threat has been made toward the hero turned king Perseus’s life and that is why he has called in many of his friends to help protect the king’s life as well as keep the fair safe. On hand is Xena, Gabrielle and Joxer The Brave and for a brief time Hercules and Iolaus are around to stop a drunken giant. As the heroes all come together a strange old man in a cloak offers money to a charity if Xena and Hercules would fight each other to see who the better hero is, they refuse and Hercules leaves to visit his mother. Meanwhile Xena, Gabrielle, Iolaus and Joxer stick around to protect the King during the fair but things go wrong when the Gorgon Sisters show up as they are the sisters of Medusa and want revenge on Perseus for killing their loved one. The Gorgon Sisters can turn people to stone via their eyes as well as firing laser beams from them and they are able to turn Perseus, Iolaus, Salmoneus and Gabrielle into stone and worse a spear has went through Gabrielle right as she turned! Xena tricks the Gorgon Sisters into hitting each other with their stone eye beams, and this kills them both. As Xena and Joxer go to check on their friends cloaked man appears and shows that he is classic hero Gilgamesh and that Xena should join him on a quest to get a plant that gives eternal life as in 30 Days all those turned to stone will turn normal and this would be the death of Gabrielle!

What a fun comic as this brings in so many familiar faces from the classic Xena and Hercules TV Shows and brings them all together in order to protect Perseus who many know not only by the myth of his story but also the film Clash Of The Titans from the 1980’s. The story is that Perseus is now a King and his throwing a big fair for his people that the conman Salmoneus is in charge of, but a threat is looming so he calls on his hero friends to come act as guards and security only for them to have to face the evil sisters of Medusa who turn many into stone and during this fight Gabrielle is hit with a spear right as she is turned, after killing the sisters Xena now must find a way to save her friend in 30 Days as once she turns flesh again she will surely die. Xena in this issue shows that she has no fear as she rushes head on to fight The Gorgon Sisters and out smarts them in order to end their lives, as they are immortal but they could not survive their own attacks. Xena by he quick actions is able to save many lives! Poor Gabrielle tries to help during the mayhem but finds herself being hit in the gut with a spear and then turned to stone at the same time, she has thirty days to live as stone before returning back to flesh and bleeding to death. Joxer is a goofball and during the fight has his helmet fall and saves no lives nor does not battle the Sisters. The one odd thing is that Hercules is around for a few moments, but leaves before the attack to visit his mom…its like could he not wait one day to visit her and help his friends stay safe? Poor Iolaus and Salmoneus find themselves stone, but do try to help during this attack. I for one don’t trust Gilgamesh who uses Iolaus as a human shield, tries to hire Hercules and Xena to fight and then tries to say he has a way to save Gabrielle’s life as well as give him more life as he should have been dead long ago…don’t trust him as he comes off shady. The cover is very cool and eye catching and the interior art by Joyce Chin and is great stuff, I really like her style lots and she captures the looks of the actors who play the characters and adds he own touch and style to them. Over all this is a great start for this mini series and shows that Xena is not only great on TV but also in comics!

Xena Warrior Princess # 2 ***
Released in 1997 Cover Price $2.95 Topps Comics # 2 of 2

Xena and Gilgamesh are on their quest to get the plant that grows every 500 years and gives a person immortality, but they are attacked by some Lion Men and they have to kill the flesh eating beasts and soon find that Joxer has been following them as he wants to help! Gilgamesh opens up to Xena and says that he once touched the flower and that is how he is still alive after all these centuries and that he does not want to die as he feels the effects fading and that watching his friend die before him is what has driven him to this quest as he thinks heroes should not have such fates. The three head to the river and meet the ferryman who uses a sea monster to get them across, once at the location Gilgamesh uses his club and knocks out both Xena and Joxer and then ties Xena up into the air and tells her that he must slit her throat in order for the planet to fully bloom, and she reminds him that he was one of the greatest heroes and that this is murder…he knows she is right and stops his attack. But before they can talk, more monsters appear and Xena and he team up to bring them down. Gilgamesh then says while his life will end he thinks the roots of the flower will heel the wounds of Gabrielle if they can make it back in time. Thirty days pass and those turned to stone turn back to flesh and at the last second Gilgamesh makes it to Gabrielle in time and saves her life! As Gilgamesh leaves to return to his homeland to die, Hercules makes it back from his mom’s home and asks Xena what he missed.

The final issue in this mini series has Xena on a quest for a plant that should be able to save the life of her best friend Gabrielle, but soon finds that she was tricked and a sacrificial lamb so that her blood can help the planet bloom, but her attacker and quest buddy Gilgamesh could not commit murder and they end up using the plants roots in order to at least save the life of Gabrielle as the root heals her wounds. I told you readers not to trust Gilgamesh and while in the end he turns into the hero is was, he had his own self in mind and was willing to kill a brave warrior in order for himself to live forever. Xena as always is brave and kills some monsters as well as goes into the unknown in order to save her friends life as well as help a legendary hero live forever. Gilgamesh is aging and dying and while he was a great warrior at one time its clear his fear of death as well as aging is breaking him down. Joxer is around but is pretty much just used as comedy for the issue. Hercules, Iolaus, Salmoneus and Perseus show up at then end of the issue and add their own charm, but are pretty much just background characters. Gabrielle turns flesh and is saved and still has her sense of humor as she talks about having a tummy ache. This comic mini series has lots going for it as I feel the story is fun and fitting for an episode of Xena, the art is really great and all artists do a great job of making the characters look like the actors and yet also add their own touches, it has lots of action, humor and monsters…plus you can not go wrong with having Hercules in a cameo role. Topps Comics really was a great indie comic company in the 90’s that delivered very entertaining reads and I think their Xena series is proof that they put care behind their releases. The cover is pretty great and showcases Xena being a badass and the interior art in this issue is done by Joyce Chin again and is great stuff, as she even adds a little sexy cheesecake feel to Xena throughout. To sum it up these comics lived up to what I remember and if you are a Xena Warrior Princess fan make sure to give this mini series a read. Checkout the artwork bellow to see the style used by Chin in the series.

Xena Warrior Princess was a fantastic TV Show that was a big part of my TV watching growing up and made for a great comic book series thanks to Topps Comics who I feel was gone way to soon as I think the amount of amazing comics they could have released over the years they have been gone could have been very epic. You can tell that the creative minds behind this mini series at least cared about delivering a entertaining comic and great read to the fans of the show and that’s what makes it standout from many of the others that have failed their readers and fans. And I think truly that the show should return for one more season and it’s a must that Lucy Lawless and Rene O’Connor step back into the roles of Xena and Gabrielle, but enough of that talk as I could chat about Xena for days! Thank you so much for spending a small part of your Thanksgiving with Rotten Ink and I hope looking back at Xena Warrior Princess made your Turkey Day a little better. Before we part ways let me tell you that our next update is our kickoff to Christmas Eve and will be about the first Superman movie in cinemas that had him meeting Mole Men, that’s right it’s a photo comic graphic novel based on the George Reeves as Superman film “Superman And The Mole Men” so that should be a fun flashback. So I hope you are enjoying your meal with your family, friends and pets and as always until next time read an indie comic or three, watch a Xena episode or two and as always support your local Horror Host. See you soon as Superman has some Mole Men to save!