DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT – @dynamitecomics
[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]
WRITER: Chuck Wendig
ARTIST: Alvaro Sarraseca
COLORS: Triona Farrell
LETTERS: Taylor Esposito
COVER A: Aaron Lopresti with Pete Pantazis
COVER B: Aaron Conley with Jean-Francois Beaulieu
COVER C: Alvaro Sarraseca
COVER D: Andy Belanger
COVER E: Aaron Lopresti (B&W)
COVER F: Alvaro Sarraseca (B&W)
COVER G: Aaron Lopresti with Pete Pantazis (Virgin Art Incentive)
COVER H: Dan Parent with Anwar Hanano (Limited Edition)
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (2016)
Rated “Teen+”
“Blood Hunt”
Turok is an American comic book character that belonged to Western Publishing. Turok first appeared in Four Color Comics #596 (cover dated: October/November 1954), which was published by Dell Comics, and eventually got his own title, Turok, Son of Stone. Turok (also named “Mandan”) is a pre-Columbian Native American who, along with his brother, Andar, becomes trapped in an isolated canyon valley populated by dinosaurs.
In 1992, Valiant Comics introduced a revamped and re-imagined version of Turok. Turok and and his brother Andar were now 18th century Native Americans and were trapped in “The Lost Lands.” This was a land that existed in a self-contained loop where aliens, demons, and dinosaurs flourished. Millions of years might pass outside the loop, but time barely moved inside the loop.
Dynamite Entertainment is the current license holder of Western Publishing, now Random House's comic book characters. There is a new Turok comic book series. It is set in the “Lost Valley,” a prehistoric jungle which exists in all points in time simultaneously. The saurian Varanid Empire of dinosaur people rule the Lost Valley. Here, Turok is trying to find a missing girl who may hold the clue as to how things changed so much in the valley. Turok is written by Chuck Wendig; drawn by Alvaro Sarraseca; colored Triona Farrell; and lettered by Taylor Esposito.
Turok #1 opens on the “Thornbush Road,” on the way to Terminal Market, a prison belonging to the Varanid Empire. Marak, a “pigblood” (half-human/half Varanid), and Nettle, a human, are being transported to the prison to become residents. There is, however, a legendary hero aboard the transport. He is Turok, and he actually wants to get inside Terminal Market.
My only previous experience reading Turok comic books is a Dark Horse Archives collection of the Dell Comics Turok from several years ago. I was curious about Valiant Comics' Turok: Dinosaur Hunter, but got around to reading it. It seems as if Dynamite's new Turok (part of a brand called “The Sovereigns”) is probably closer to Valiant's Turok than the original Dell Comics' Turok.
This new Turok is competently written and drawn, and these 21 pages are good enough to make me want to try the second issue. There is not really enough here to make a solid judgment about the quality of the series, but I will give it a grade. I really like the striking cover drawn by Aaron Lopresti and colored by Pete Pantazis. Speaking of striking images, that last page will probably encourage readers to come back for at least a second issue.
[This comic book contains the Doctor Spektor back-up story, “Part 2,” by writer Aubrey Sitterson; artist Dylan Burnett; colored by Triona Farrell; and letterer Taylor Esposito.]
6.5 out of 10
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
The text is copyright © 2017 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.
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