Premiere issue of sword and sorcery adventures with Arak, an Indian exploring Europe during the dark ages. The issue features "The Sword and the Serpent!" in which Arak is introduced and begins his adventures.
Story also introduces Angelica, a sorceress who would battle Arak throughout the series.
Script by Roy Thomas and art by Ernie Colon and Tony DeZuniga.
Cover price $0.50.
Written by Roy Thomas. Art and cover by Alfredo Alcala.
Lost in deep caverns, Arak finds himself in the cave of the Greek Fates. There, he defies the three spirits and must defend himself from a still-vengeful Ker. Victorious, Arak claims ownership over his own destiny, and, impressed, the Fates bring him one step closer to his heritage as both a Quontauka brave and the son of He-No, God of thunder. Written by Roy Thomas. Art by Dannette Thomas and Ernie Colón. As the campaign against the Avar Huns begins, Valda uses a lull in the action to bathe in a nearby river. But, she is soon attacked by the Avars' fearsome carnivorous horses.
36 pages, full color. $0.60. Cover price $0.60.
Written by Roy Thomas. Art by Adrian Gonzales and Alfredo Alcala. Cover by Alfredo Alcala. Something is stalking the streets of Thessalonika, killing anyone caught outside at night. In this panicky environment, someone as different as Arak is bound to attract unwanted attention. During a brawl with Byzantine soldiers, Arak is rendered unconscious and left outside for the invisible Stalker.
Written by Roy Thomas and Danette Thomas. Art by Trevor von Eeden and Alfredo Alcala. During the war campaign against the Avars, Valda is captured and held prisoner by the Avars' head magician, Chelchak.
16-page preview of Masters of the Universe, written by Paul Kupperberg, art by Curt Swan and Dave Hunt.
52 pages, full color. $0.60. Cover price $0.60.
Written by Roy Thomas. Art and cover by Adrian Gonzales and Alfredo Alcala.
Arak and Satyricus arrive in Byzantium, continuing their search for Valda, and General Cometas helps Arak gain an audience with Emperor Constantine. But, before Arak can present his petition, an escaping Valda bursts into the room and Constantine, impressed by her fire, announces she will be his bride! Written by Roy Thomas and Dannette Thomas. Art by Adrian Gonzales and Alfredo Alcala. While visiting a country fair in Paris with Malagigi, Valda catches a dwarf trying to pick her pocket. To make "amends", he sells her a baby white elephant, which turns out to have been stolen from a Caliph who had sent it as a gift to Carolus Magnus.
36 pages, full color. $0.60. Cover price $0.60.
Written by Roy Thomas and Dann Thomas. Art and cover by Adrian Gonzales and Alfredo Alcala. Arak manages to foil Haakon's attempt to steal a Greek Fire-thrower, but the Northman manages to make off with the inventor of the weapon. When Satyricus' true nature is revealed, Irene spares his life in return for Arak's pledge to rescue (or kill) the stolen inventor before White Cathay gains Greek Fire.
Written by Roy Thomas and Dann Thomas. Art and cover by Adrian Gonzales and Alfredo Alcala. With the help of a repentant Brunello, Valda and Malagigi are able to put an end to Greeramada's plans to gain dominion over the spirit and power of a resurrected St. Denys. In the melee, however, Greeramada is killed.
36 pages, full color. $0.60. Cover price $0.60.
Written by Roy Thomas and Dann Thomas. Art by Adrian Gonzales and Alfredo Alcala. Cover by Alfredo Alcala.
Now within sight of White Cathay, Arak and his band of followers are warned by Johannes not to look directly upon the glow of the city in the distance. But, Valda can't help but look up when a rare roc flies by overhead, and she's blinded by the glare of Cathay's magic mirror. However, a cure for the blindness can be found in the roc's nest, and Satyricus rapidly climbs a cliffside to retrieve it.
Written by Roy Thomas and Dannette Thomas. Art by Adrian Gonzales and Alfredo Alcala.
It's Christmas-time and the yule fire is burning in the court of Carolus Magnus. But, when the king's misshapen eldest son, Pip, gives him a gift of a tree bearing several kinds of fruit, Carolus Magnus angrily declares it blasphemous and demands that the tree be destroyed.
36 pages, full color. $0.60. Cover price $0.60.
Written by Roy Thomas. Art by Ernie Colón and Tony DeZuniga. Cover by Ernie Colón and Dick Giordano.
Arak is captured by the guards of a young girl, Corinna, he meets on a beach. She has him brought to her "father", Lord Hessa, who condemns Arak to his dungeon. While searching for a way to escape, Arak meets Malagigi, who claims to be great sorcerer for Carolus Magnus, King of the Franks. Arak escapes and flees the castle with Corinna, who claims to be a prisoner, as well.
A map of the world of Arak, circa late eighth century AD, art by Ernie Colón. Arak, Son of Thunder pinup by Ernie Colón. How Arak, Son of Thunder Came to Be article by Roy Thomas.
36 pages, full color. $0.60. Cover price $0.60.
Written by Roy Thomas and Dann Thomas. Art and cover by Adrian Gonzales and Alfredo Alcala.
Arak and his followers continue their journey towards White Cathay. Now, they have to cross a desert of wildly shifting sands. Progress is slow and dangerous until Johannes uses his magic to conjure up a sailing ship that was claimed by the sand ages ago. Angelica, watching through sorcerous means, is not pleased; she reanimates the sailors from that self-same ship to reclaim their property and kill the travelers.
Written by Roy Thomas and Dann Thomas. Art and cover by Adrian Gonzales and Alfredo Alcala.
Valda is searching the snow-covered palace grounds for the grief-stricken Pip when she is attacked by wolves. After dispatching the threat, she overhears a ghostly voice urging Pip to overthrow his father, the king, and claim his birthright.
36 pages, full color. $0.60. Cover price $0.60.
Arak and Valda face many obstacles and the sorceress Angelica in a mysterious land in "At Last -- Albracca." Script by Roy and Danette Thomas and art by Ernie Colon and Alfredo Alcala.
Issue also has a "Tale of Valda the Iron Maiden" in "Revenge of the Last Merovingian." Script by Roy and Danette Thomas and art by Adrian Gonzales and Alfredo Alcala.
Cover price $0.60.
Arak battles Angelica the sorceress and Haakon the warrior in "Siege of a Time-Lost City." Valda the Iron Maiden appearance.
Script by Roy Thomas and art by Adrian Gonzales and Alfredo Alcala.
Cover price $0.60.
Arak journeys into evil's lair to match wits with the Baphomet monster in "In the Belly of Baphomet." Valda the Iron Maiden appearance.
Script by Roy Thomas and art by Adrian Gonzales and Alfredo Alcala.
Cover price $0.60.
Double-sized Second Anniversary issue as Arak faces the monsters unleashed on earth in "'Twixt Gob and Magog!" and "Armageddon in Albracca!" Issue also has a map of "The World of Arak." Valda the Iron Maiden appearance.
Script by Roy Thomas and art by Adrian Gonzales and Alfredo Alcala.
Cover price $1.00.
Arak battles an ancient lizard-like monster lurking in some caves in "Sign of the Salamander!" Valda the Iron Maiden appearance.
Script by Roy Thomas and art by Adrian Gonzales and Tony DeZuniga.
Cover price $0.60.
Arak enters a deadly competition in the Hippodrome at Byzantium in "The Lady or the Lioness."
Script by Roy Thomas and art by Ron Randall.
Cover price $0.60.
When Arak's friend Satyricus disappears, Arak searches for him in a deadly wooded area in "Guardian of the Golden Bough!" Script by Roy Thomas and art by Ron Randall. Issue also has Valda the Iron Maiden backup feature "Reapers of the Dunes" with script by Roy & Dann Thomas and art by Ron Randall and Tom Yeates.
Cover price increases to 75 cents. Cover price $0.75.
Arak is proclaimed a guardian by an amazon tribe in "Arak Furioso!" Script by Roy Thomas and art by Ron Randall & Gerald Forton. Issue also has Valda the Iron Maiden backup feature "Siege of Castle Baledor" with script by Roy & Dann Thomas and art by Ron Randall and Tom Yeates.
Cover price $0.75.
As he possibly faces death from last issue's battle, Arak undergoes a spiritual journey in "To Your Sky-Born Father Go!"
Script by Roy and Dann Thomas and art by Ron Randall and Rick Magyar.
Cover price $0.75.
Arak helps some people on a dangerous journey in "The Ghul in Abel's Tomb!" Script by Roy and Dann Thomas and art by Ron Randall and Rick Magyar.
Issue also has a backup feature of Arak as a Boy in "In the Lair of the North-Wind Bear" with script by Roy and Dann Thomas and art by Gerald Forton and Rick Magyar.
Cover price $0.75.
Arak finds a mystical sword only to face more dangers in "The Sword of Nether-Eden." Script by Roy and Dann Thomas and art by Ron Randall and Rick Magyar.
Issue also has a backup feature of Arak as a Boy in "The Turtle and the Serpent" with script by Roy and Dann Thomas and art by Gerald Forton.
Cover price $0.75.
Arak sees a vision of Valda the Iron Maiden and the story switches to an adventure with Valda in "Once Upon a Unicorn."
Script by Roy and Dann Thomas and art by Ernie Colon. Issue also has an Arak pinup by Ernie Colon.
Cover price $0.75.
Valda rescues Arak who is a prisoner in a castle and he relates how he got there in "Of Beasts and Baghdad."
Script by Roy and Dann Thomas and art by Tony DeZuniga.
Cover price $0.75.
Arak engages in a deadly game of chess in "'Shah Mat!' The King is Dead!" Valda the Iron Maiden appearance.
Script by Roy and Dann Thomas and art by Tony DeZuniga.
Cover price $0.75.
Arak and his friends face a perilous journey in "Sailing to Delmun." Valda the Iron Maiden appearance.
Script by Roy and Dann Thomas and art by Tony DeZuniga.
Cover price $0.75.
Angelica the sorceress, a foe from Arak's past, returns in "Byond the Scorpion Gate!"
Script by Roy and Dann Thomas and art by Tony DeZuniga.
Cover price $0.75.
