Turok The Empty Souls (1997)
Regular art cover. The mantle has been passed down among the Saquin Nation for countless generations. It is a burden of responsibility -- of trust -- to protect mankind from a hidden threat. A race of evolved dinosaurs lives among us. Hundreds of years ago, they escaped an interdimensional nexus called the Lost Land and have been plotting, waiting, for the day when they can lead their people through the barrier to rightfully reclaim Earth as their own. The man accidentally responsible for allowing this to happen decreed that his family line would bear the weight of the world on their shoulders. The first born male in every generation would be Turok -- the Son of Stone -- the defender of Earth from the dinosaur menace -- and from supernatural threats and incursions from the Lost Land. The mantle has been passed on from generation to generation.
For hundreds of years. The threat still exists. Now the current Turok is dying...and the next in line is more worried about hitting a breaking ball than saving the planet. Joshua Fireseed is a sophomore baseball star at Oklahoma College at Oklahoma City. He's turned his back on his culture, his traditions and his dysfunctional family because a .356 batting average, a possible pro contract and a rockin' social life matter more to him. Until he's called back home. And he's told he must begin his training to become the next Turok. To hunt dinosoids. To protect Earth. Because it's the family business. Nepotism sucks, don't it?
Written by Fabian Nicieza, with art and cover by Rafael Kayanan.
FC, 48 pgs. Cover price $3.95.