Wulf the Barbarian

Title: Wulf the Barbarian #1 
Written by: Larry Hama
Art and cover by: Larry Hama and Klaus Janson 
Letters: Cathi Ann Thomas; Colors: uncredited 
Edited by: Jeff Rovin
Publication date: Feb 1975
Publisher: Atlas Comics 

Wulf the Barbrian
(20 story pages, color)

Story: 8/10
Art: 7/10 
Overall Impression: 7/10

Synopsis: A young man lives in the city of Azerbajia and trains with a crippled, one-eyed juggler. He prepares to fulfill a blood oath he took, but is sent to fetch drink for his mentor before their session begins. At the tavern, he is ridiculed as an outlander and reminisces of his youth as a prince, the death of his father and mother at the hands of trolls, and his escape with the fencing master (the crippled one-eyed man who trains him). His reverie is broken by news something has happened at his residence, and he races to find his mentor slain, and thugs led by the troll who killed his father responsible. He defeats the troll, reclaims his father’s sword and sets of to gain vengeance against the sorcerer who attacked his father’s kingdom. 

Commentary: It’s a typical fantasy plot and could be the set up of a D&D adventure as well, but it is well executed, and the characters are well done. The title Barbarian seems a misnomer given Wulf’s background, but I suppose as an outlander in the city he lived in while in exile, it could be appropriate. Hama’s art is a bit uneven. Wulf as we first see him in the marketplace on the splash page seems scrawny, but later in the book when he dons a chain shirt (the image we see on the cover) he seems to fill out and gain 20 pounds and a musculature. Maybe its magic armor? Or just inconsistent art. When its good, the Hama/Janson art is beautiful, but its not always good, and the layouts are pretty typical. I will say this, the people in the crowds are very diverse, with lots of different shapes, sizes, and seeming character, that kind of variety in crowds is unusual in a lot of artist’s work, as you seem to get the same stock figures all the time. 

The world is not earth in past or present, but another planet, and it seems to be one that contains a hodge podge of different fantasy tropes thrown together, in other words, the typical D&D campaign world for those familiar with the role-playing game. Things seem to be there so they can be used later in plots or scenes, not because they make sense of are consistent. 

There's enough here however, to hold my interest and get me to come back for more. 

- 


Wulf the Barbarian #1
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go to Wulf the Barbarian #2

Wulf the Barbarian #1
February 1975

Cover - Larry Hama/Klaus Janson

Wulf the Barbarian

Story - Larry Hama
Art - Larry Hama/Klaus Janson

Editor - Jeff Rovin

As Wulf awaits his flagon of ale at Bashir's Wine Shop, he notices a golden falcon. The falcon triggers a memory of some ten years ago, as a young Prince Wulf accompanied his parents and the Royal Hunting Party.

Without warning, out of the tall grass, the Trolls of Drakenroost attack. A feathered shaft finds it's mark, striking and killing the King, Lord Wulfgar, Thane of Baernholm. With the King dead, Stavro Dar Kovin seizes command.

Hopelessly outnumbered, Queen Lenore orders Stavro to take young Wulf to safety.

As Stavro escapes the carnage, Wulf looks behind him to see his mother being slain by a grinning monstrosity. It is a scene that he will never forget. It is a face that Wulf will come to know as the Grinner.

Many days later, Stavro and Wulf arrive at the city of Azerebaja. With little money, they struggle to survive, with Stavro juggling knives on a street corner and Wulf holding a begging bowl.

Every evening however, Stavro would train Wulf in the ways of combat. Stavro is determined to groom Wulf into a fighting machine.

His thoughts of the past come to an abrupt end when Wulf is informed that three strangers have attacked Stavro. Wulf races back to his home, only to find Stavro dead, along with two of the attackers. The remaining assassin has been wounded, leaving a trail of blood.

Sword in hand, Wulf follows the trail and discovers his worst nightmare. He is face to face with the Grinner, the monstrous troll that killed his mother.

As Wulf attacks, his sword is shattered by the Grinner, who wields the sword of Lord Wulgar, Wulf's father.

The overconfident Grinner, sensing an easy kill, casually begins flipping his sword between his two hands. A lightning fast Wulf grabs the sword and plunges it deep into the heart of the Grinner. He has avenged both his mother and father while facing his greatest nightmare. His greatest task, however, lies ahead, as he sets out to kill the sorcerer Mordek, who was behind the troll attack that killed his parents.
The origin was ok,but had a few problems.The Grinner was a bullshit,cliche ending to complete Wulf's origin story.This knuckle  dragging moron finds and kill Starvo,so Wulf kills him.Duh.Nova did a simular bit his own origin.Stavro needed to stay around and train Wulf,like Obi Wan did Luke Skywalker.Well,kind of.Maybe after a couple of years,did this ending,but not now.
Second,other than three panels,we see little of World of Wulf,stated to be as big as Jupiter.I've created  character Prince Toreus Rhann,who lives on a the dyson sphere of Terra-Prime than was partially inspired by this.The other being Edgar Rice Burroughs Pellucidar and the Ringworld.