Warlord (comics)

Infobox superhero
character_name=Warlord


caption=Cover of Warlord #67, Art by Mike Grell
publisher=DC Comics
debut="1st Issue Special" #8,
(November 1975)
creators=Mike Grell (writer & artist)
alter_ego = Travis Morgan
full_name =
species =
homeworld = Skartaris
alliances =
partners =
supports =
aliases =
powers=fencer and expert marksman.|

"The Warlord" is a sword and sorcery comic book published by DC Comics. The series and titular character debuted in "1st Issue Special" #8 (November 1975), and was created by Mike Grell.

Publication history

The title "The Warlord" comes from the comic's main character, Travis Morgan, who obtains the name of The Warlord in the first few issues as he fights for the freedom of the people of "Skartaris". DC attempted an unsuccessful update of Warlord in 2006 with Bruce Jones writing and Bart Sears providing the art. This series was canceled due to low sales after only ten issues.

In March 2008, Grell stated that he was working on a proposal to DC for a new "Warlord" series [cite web |url=http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=148802 |title=World Balloon: Mike Grell |accessdate=2008-06-06 |last=Brady |first=Matt |date=2008-03-03 |publisher=Newsarama] and it was announced in July that Warlord would be returning as an ongoing series in time for the 35th anniversary. [cite web |url=http://www.newsarama.com/comics/080727-SDCCWarlordGRell.html |title=SDCC '08 - Mike Grell: The Return of Warlord |accessdate=2008-08-16 |last=Arrant |first=Chris |date=2008-07-27 |publisher=Newsarama]

Fictional character biography

Original Series

Vietnam veteran SR-71 pilot Travis Morgan passed through a hole in the earth's crust while flying over the north pole and landed in the underground world of Skartaris, a place strongly reminiscent of Edgar Rice Burroughs's Pellucidar. There Travis, wielding his .44 AutoMag pistol and joined by scantily-dressed female barbarian Tara, became the Warlord and fought villains such as the evil sorcerer Deimos as well as various kings. He gained various sidekicks such as Machiste, Shakira [Cite comic | Writer = Fleisher, Michael | Story = The Citadel of Fear | Title = Warlord | Volume = 1 | Issue = 115 | Date = March, 1987 | Publisher = DC Comics | Page = 5 | Panel = 2] , a Russian scientist named Mariah [Cite comic | Writer = Fleisher, Michael | Story = The Citadel of Fear | Title = Warlord | Volume = 1 | Issue = 115 | Date = March, 1987 | Publisher = DC Comics | Page = 6 | Panel = 2] and his magic-wielding daughter Jennifer Morgan. In one story arc Morgan even becomes the U.S. President in the far future (Issue 84).

Although The Warlord has a superficial resemblance to Oliver Queen (Green Arrow) (as pointed out in issue 28 of Green Arrow), he is in reality based more upon his creator, Mike Grell, a former member of the Air Force. Grell is caricatured in Warlord's first appearance, "1st Issue Special" #8 (see also "Warlord" #35), and is clearly sporting the signature shaggy goatee.

"Arion", another DC Comics sword & sorcery title, began as a six-page backup feature in "Warlord". "The Barren Earth" was another backup feature, and after a lengthy run was concluded in a four-issue limited series.

Other versions

A new Warlord series was launched in 2006, it was produced by writer Bruce Jones and artist Bart Sears. This series did not take up where the old one left off but instead restarted the concept and started with Travis Morgan arriving in Skartaris. This reboot was canceled after 10 issues. The series left a number of story points unanswered as issue nine finished on a cliff-hanger, while issue #10 had a standalone story set sometime in the future. This relaunch has been largely ignored throughout the DC continuity.

Other media

* Warlord has appeared in an episode of "Justice League Unlimited" (titled "Chaos at the Earth's Core") where Green Lantern, Supergirl, Stargirl, and S.T.R.I.P.E. stumbled onto Skartaris and teamed up with him to stop Deimos and his unlikely allies: Metallo and Silver Banshee of the Secret Society from stealing a huge piece of kryptonite rock. Machiste, Shakira, and Jennifer Morgan also appeared in this episode. Warlord was voiced by Paul Guilfoyle.
* In 1982, several of the characters from the "Warlord" series received action figures in a line called "Lost World of the Warlord" from Remco. Travis Morgan was one of the figures (along with Deimos, Machiste, Mikola Rostov, and Hercules).
* In April 2007, Warlord received an action figure (based on the modern update) in Series 4 of DC Direct's "First Appearance" figures.
* "Warlord" issue #89 appears on a magazine rack in a convenience store in a deleted scene from the Goonies DVD. [http://jeffrywith1e.googlepages.com/GOONIESouttakeWarlordimage.jpg/GOONIESouttakeWarlordimage-full;init:.jpg]

Bibliography

The Warlord

First published in 1976 and ran until 1989 for a total of 133 issues and six annuals.Notable issues include:

* Issue 1: First appearance of Tara, Travis Morgan's mate in Skartaris and Queen of Shamballah (Travis was married and widower before coming to Skartaris). Also the appearance of Deimos, Travis Morgan's arch enemy for the first 50 issues.
* Issue 2: First appearance of Machiste, becomes lifelong friend of Travis and is also ruler of Kiro, a kingdom of Skartaris. Title was actually canceled for a period of 6 months.
* Issue 6: First appearance of Mariah, Russian Archaeologist who joins Travis in Skartaris and later becomes Machiste's mate.
* Issue 15: First appearance of Joshua Morgan (Tinder), Travis and Tara's son.
* Issue 32: First appearance of Shakira, a cat-woman who is Travis' traveling companion on many adventures.
* Issue 34: Travis acquires the sword, Hellfire, that must draw blood every time it is drawn even if it is Travis' own blood.
* Issue 38: First appearance of Jennifer Morgan, Travis' daughter
* Issue 51: Reprint of Issue 1
* Issue 93: Origin Retold
* Issue 114: Legends Cross-over Chapter 12
* Issue 115: Legends Cross-over Chapter 16

upplemental Stories

Several stories found their way into the backs of Warlord comic books. The following is a brief list of supplement stories and which issues they appeared in.
* Issues 29-33, 40-41: Wizard World
* Issues 37-39, 42-47: OMAC
* Issues 48 - 49: Arak, Son of Thunder (special inset in #48), Claw the Unconquered
* Issues 51 - 53: The Saga of Dragonsword
* Issues 56 - 62: Arion, Lord of Atlantis
* Issues 63 - 88: Conqueror of the Barren Earth

Mini-Series

* In 1992, DC published a six-part mini-series, entitled "Ballad".

References

External links

* [http://www.toonopedia.com/warlord.htm Don Markstein's Toonopedia: Warlord]
* [http://www.fanzing.com/mag/fanzingzero/feature1.shtml Fanzing #0: Welcome to the Lost World] , a summary of the series.
* [http://www.fanzing.com/mag/fanzingzero/feature2.shtml Fanzing #0: Warlord Reading Guide]
* [http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2006/06/08/comic-book-urban-legends-revealed-54/ Comic Book Urban Legends #54: "Was Warlord cancelled after issue #2?"]
* [http://www.dcuguide.com/who.php?name=warlord DCU Guide: Warlord]
* [http://www.dcuguide.com/who.php?name=tara DCU Guide: Tara]
* [http://www.dcuguide.com/who.php?name=jennifermorgan DCU Guide: Jennifer Morgan]
* [http://www.dcuguide.com/who.php?name=tinder DCU Guide: Joshua Morgan (Tinder)]