Retro Comic Recap: The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones #16

Good afternoon all,

I'm kicking off this week with a recap of the sixteenth issue of The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones. The cover, drawn by the issue's penciler Herb Trimpe, showed Indy swinging from his bullwhip above a ship, as passengers on that vessel and a neighboring submarine looked on, including one who fired at our hero. The story was called "Death on Dark Waters Chapter 2: The Sea Butchers." The issue had a cover date of April 1984.

When we last saw him, Indy had been buried up to his neck in sand on the edge of an Aleutian island, with hungry rock crabs clattering toward him. The archaeologist was scared, but not quite defenseless. Jones swallowed a mouthful of sand, which he spat at some of the animals.

Just as one crab was about to pinch Indiana's left ear, it was struck by a baseball bat that had been swung by Indy's old friend, Simon Katanga. The captain of the Bantu Wind had escaped the pirates who had commandeered his ship (in the previous issue) by jumping overboard. One of his arms had been cut by a barnacle protruding from the ship's hull, and the resulting blood flow was enough to convince the mercenaries that their foe was out of action.

Katanga stayed underwater until the pirates moved their attention elsewhere, then he swam to shore. He freed Indiana, who was very thankful for his timely intervention. The comrades raced down to the landing, in time to observe that Esmeralda's crew must have finished loading everything valuable into the Bantu Wind, which was about to depart. 

The duo stayed hidden in the bushes until they learned the whereabouts of Katanga's crew. They then returned to the Chinese temple to find the sailors tied up, and sticks of dynamite wired to blow up in minutes. Indy wanted to save the remaining relics, but Katanga informed him that there simply wouldn't be enough time to do that and free their colleagues. Jones realized that and helped the captain ensure that everyone could leave safely, moments before the explosives detonated. 

A few miles from the coast, the explosion was witnessed by a Japanese naval ship. Even though the island was in American waters, the captain still felt that it was important to preserve their nation's possible threats. The ship then lay in a course for the islands.

A short while later, a cigar-smoking member of Esmeralda's crew aboard her purloined submarine was overtaken by Katanga and Jones. At the same time, on the Bantu Wind, the pirate leader was about to provide a demonstration to her subordinates to show them what could happen if they failed her. She had a lackey who'd stolen a few valuables for himself and offered him a revolver for a game of what appeared to be a sort of Russian roulette. What she didn't tell the crewman was that all six slots of the revolver's barrel had been loaded. The man took himself out, showing his mates what happened to people who stole from their leader.

Esmeralda then noticed her sub floating near the stolen ship she was now on. She was surprised to hear Indiana demanding surrender. Something on the horizon caught her eye, and she instructed Gunther to send a signal to the Japanese boat that was about to enter the fray.

The S.O.S. signal had been received, and the Japanese cruiser started its attack on Esmeralda's sub. The submarine quickly dove, but not without suffering some damage. Its crew eventually realized, with some convincing by their guests, that they may have been fighting on the wrong side. 

While still submerged, the new allies came up with a plan. They sent out some debris to make the Japanese crew think that their attack had been successful. It looked good at first, but the commander wasn't about to take chances. He ordered a course around the island and that he was to be informed immediately if any variation in underwater movement was noticed by sonar.

Now Indy, Katanga, and their new friends had to think about how to handle Esmeralda's pirates. Jones asked his associates to gather up all available life jackets and some of the jewels from the hold. As they neared the Bantu Wind, some of the mercenaries spotted the gold and other items that had been affixed to the floating life jackets.

The crewmen dove into the water to claim their shares of the treasure. Esmeralda thought that was a bit too convenient, and soon saw her submarine surface. Its crew tossed grappling hooks, and a struggle began after Esmeralda promised a bonus for each invader that was brought down. 

Indy and Esmaralda faced off once again, but this time it was Indiana who was victorious. Katanga and his men held the crooks at gunpoint, while they noticed the Japanese ship move away from them, until Jones had another brainstorm. 

The Bantu Wind now had the sub chained to its rear, and it being dragged behind made the Japanese officers assume that they were under attack. This gave Esmeralda some time to slip away and return to the sub. She wasn't anticipating the Japanese vessel to fire, and a powerful salvo soon sank the sub. The remaining ships then sailed off on their separate ways. 

Indy arrived home a few days later. As he was recounting his latest exploits with Marcus Brody, Brody informed the professor that Marion Ravenwood had taken a leave of absence. She'd gone to Greece to find her father.

If you didn't quite understand the plot of this issue at first, rest assured that you're not the only one. I re-read it a few times just to make sure that I was following along. I thought that it would have made more sense to move the treasure to one ship, especially in the submarine that could move faster and dive underwater to avoid detection, but Esmeralda must have had her own reasons for wanting two ships at her disposal, I guess. 

While Esmeralda's fate is uncertain as of this issue, we will learn more about Marion's whereabouts in the next issue. David Michelinie, Herb Trimpe, and Vince Colletta return to begin a new storyline in issue number seventeen that delves into her search for her father. Indy tags along for the ride, and we see the return of another familiar face along the way. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones #15

Good afternoon, all,

I'm wrapping up this weekend with a discussion of the fifteenth issue of The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones. The cover depicted Indy in the middle of a crowd as a net containing several crates above them had just broken. The tale was titled "The Sea Butchers Chapter 1: Island of Peril!" The issue had a cover date of March 1984.

The story started in the skies above the Aleutian Islands. Indy and his pilot, Jock Lindsey, had arrived to take aerial photographs of the land below. They knew that the Japanese military forces might make that task a bit troublesome, but still pressed on with their mission. It didn't take long for a Japanese plane to roll past their plane, spewing machine gun fire as it passed.

Lindsey flew closer to the ground for Indiana to get a few photos before they neared a Japanese warship. Indy snapped a few pictures of the cruiser before they skimmed above it. Lindsey took a barrel roll as Jones grabbed a rusty sea hook and tossed it at the opposing plane. The hook snagged the wings, yanking them off in a swift motion and causing the damaged plane to sink like a stone. The cruiser's captain observed the affair from his binoculars and ordered his lieutenant to send a longboat for the downed pilot. 

Some time later, Professor Jones shared the photographs with his colleague, Doctor Marcus Brody, at Marshall College in Connecticut. Brody noted that the images showed some promise, despite their blurryness. Indy was certain that one of the buildings he'd photographed was a statue of Chung Hua, the Chinese god of their ancient mariners. 

Brody was inclined to agree, except for the fact that they had no concrete proof. He held up a small statue of the deity in question, stating that they needed physical proof. Jones understood, adding that they'd need a ship that was big enough to move large artifacts. Fortunately, he knew of a captain who might just be willing to help.

After a few inquiries were made, Indiana found himself strolling through the streets of Panama City, Panama. He was headed for the city jail, where his old friend, Captain Katanga, was being held. The captain greeted his comrade across the cell bars, explaining that he'd been apprehended because he'd misplaced the bill of sale and related documents for the shipload of rum.

Indy managed to free his colleague, unaware that his cellmate had been listening to their conversation with great interest. An hour later, the friends convened at the Bay of Pagamo. They narrowly evaded the crash of several large crates that fell from their net, which had been suspended by a crane, and were soon engaged in a fight with several locals.

The allies were separated during the conflict. Indiana ducked into a hotel until more of his pursuers were hot on his trail. Jones jumped toward the next building, landing in a produce cart before seeking safety in the restaurant next door. Indiana eluded a trio of thugs in the kitchen and ran out the back door.

Jones kept running until he encountered more gun-toting goons. Katanga advised Indy to get down, and he did so right before the captain's men took out their foes. Indy thanked his old friend for his timely assistance, and they set sail soon thereafter. 

Some time later, their vessel was boarded by members of the Japanese navy. They claimed to be searching for contraband, and the commander thought he recognized the American professor from an earlier incident involving relics stolen from a museum in Tokyo. Jones feigned innocence, replying that he was deathly afraid of flying. 

Jones and Katanga knew that they had to be careful after their guests left. The rest of the voyage was rather uneventful for their ship, the Bantu Wind. Upon reaching their destination, Indy and the captain disembarked, along with a hand-picked crew. 

Indy breathed a sigh of relief when they finally reached the Chinese temple. Jones marveled at the treasures it contained until his attention was drawn by a female voice from behind. It belonged to the mercenary named Esmeralda Vasquez. Katanga recognized one of her associates as his former cellmate from the Panama jail. 

Vasquez was behind the attack on the dock. They wanted his assistance, but Jones wasn't a prize that could be acquired easily. He swung his lantern at the wall behind him after being slapped by the pirate leader, sending sparks flying and allowing him and his friends to escape. 

As they headed toward shore, Indy and his comrades noticed a submarine sitting in the waters before them. Esmeralda admitted that she'd stolen the U.S. ship. She eventually convinced Katanga to obey her commands after torturing one of his crewmen. While the ship's crew was led toward the docks, a different fate lay in store for Jones.

Indy was herded to the southern part of the island, where he was buried up to his neck in the sand. Katanga made a break for it and jumped into the water as Vasquez's soldiers fired at him. Meanwhile, Indiana stood helpless against the rock crabs that were now starting to surround him. 

As a kid, I had kind of lost interest in this title after the previous issue. I wasn't satisfied with the constantly changing art teams and had found intermittent issues before its ultimate cancellation afterward. I just picked up this issue a few years ago. I wasn't too surprised with another change of artists, but I found the story compelling enough to keep me reading. 

The only thing that irked me was that this issue did nothing to move along Marion's story. We will learn a bit more about that in the next issue. Tomorrow, I'll cover the sixteenth issue of this title. We'll find out what happened to Indy and Katanga, and gain more insight into Esemeralda's plans. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones #14

Good morning,

Hope everyone's been having a great weekend!

This article is dedicated to the fourteenth issue of the first ongoing Indiana Jones comic book title. The cover showed Indy and Marion Ravenwood in a wrecked building, with the face of an unknown character in the background. The story was called "Demons." The issue had a cover date of February 1984. 

Indiana was back at Marshall College, but several of his students were distracted by the unexpected rain they were watching from the classroom windows. Professor Jones took a look and learned that several flyers advertising the National Museum's exhibit of the Arnhem Ring were being tossed from a passing hot air balloon. Indy dismissed his class before seeking out the source of his pupils' amusement.

He found Marion in Marcus Brody's office, and Indiana let her know just what he thought of her public relations stunt. While the two of them argued, a clerk named Pondexter tried to ask Brody a question about the inventory he was taking in the basement. Marcus brushed Pondexter aside, focusing his attention on the quarrel.

Pondexter was peeved but left silently. He thought angrily about how his hard work over the years had been mostly overlooked. When he reached the bottom of the staircase, he kicked a file cabinet in frustration. The cabinet moved and revealed a hole in the wall. Pondexter aimed his flashlight at the opening and discovered something interesting. 

By then, Indiana, Marcus, and Marion were leaving the university. The conversation was still going on until Indy exclaimed that he had to catch a plane to Alaska in an hour. Marcus asked Marion why the two of them fought so often. Marion explained that Jones had been her first love, and that he'd hurt her deeply. Brody asked if her dedication to her late father, Abner's, memory had created a rift between the two. Marion didn't know how to respond to that question. 

Later that evening, Pondexter pored over the diary he'd found, which had once belonged to the museum's former curator, Milos Fortier. It said that the relics and bones in the trunk that the book had rested upon had been found during a dig in Mexico. They were allegedly the property of a kind of god. Fortier had noted that the bones weren't exactly human.

Fortier assumed that the trunk's content belonged to some form of evil deity, because he'd started to feel their unwelcome influence. He put the trunk in the hole where Pondexter found it and destroyed all records of its existence. The last entry in Fortier's journal was made just a few days before he committed suicide. Pondexter was stunned by what he'd read, but wasn't about to stop his efforts of learning more about his discovery.

Indy returned to the college at dusk to give Marcus his itinerary. As he walked to the campus, he saw Marion. The two former lovers started to apologize to each other before hearing a groan from the security guard. Pondexter had taken out the guard and fired at his colleagues with the guard's pistol before driving off.

Indiana and Marion drove off after him in Marcus' car. The rain continued to intensify, making visibility difficult at times. A rockslide started by Pondexter made the path even more perilous. However, Indy was able to drive around the falling obstacles. 

They then reached a covered wooden bridge. The duo realized that Pondexter had set the structure on fire when they were inside. It was too late to escape through either side, and the pair were forced to create an opening in the bottom of the burning bridge to survive. 

Jones and Ravenwood emerged in the waters below, cold but alive. Indy used his whip to latch onto rocks near the shore and guided Marion to safety. In the meantime, Pondexter gained entrance to a resort that was closed for the season. Indy and Marion had reached a roadside diner and borrowed a police car to continue their pursuit.

Indiana stopped the vehicle when they saw the caretaker for the Sea Vista hotel. He mentioned the break-in and Indy gave him the car to locate the officers at the diner. He and Marion would continue on foot. 

By the time Ravenwood and Jones entered the previously deserted hotel, Pondexter was ready for them. He was wearing a crown and brandishing a crude sword from the trunk. He swung the weapon at Indy, who felt the effects of the decades-old poison almost immediately. Marion was able to avert Pondexter's attention momentarily, allowing her to take Indy upstairs. 

The couple found a quiet room and had some peace until Pondexter's sword burst through the wall behind them. Indiana tied one end of his whip to the bedpost and prepared for them to rappel down the side of the building. Pondexter cut the whip, sending our heroes reeling.

Marion landed on a balcony, and Indy was able to tie the broken end of the whip to a lamppost and swing toward her. Pondexter was soon upon them, but was now focused on the trunk that Marion balanced precariously on the balcony's ledge. He reached for it, but his weight and momentum carried him over the edge to come crashing to his death on the rocks below.

Indy was feeling fine a few days later when he convened with Marion and Marcus. The relics were now back in the possession of the museum, and it appeared that everything had been resolved. Marcus presented Marion with a telegram that arrived while she'd been visiting Indiana in the hospital. She opened it, and her face went white after reading it. When asked if she'd seen a ghost, Ravenwood replied that she thought that she had. 

I felt that the story was okay, but the issue's art was a bit inconsistent. The inking was great in some pages and spotty in others. It would have been nice to have learned more about the history of the artifacts that had been kept in the trunk, but that's a backstory that still has yet to be told.

If you're like me and wonder what was in the telegram addressed to Marion, you'll have to wait for just a bit. Next time, I'll recap the fifteenth issue of this series. Herb Trimpe and Vince Colletta join writer David Michelinie on a new storyline that has Indy set out on the search for another treasure, and another supporting character from Raiders of the Lost Ark makes their debut in this title. Until then, have a great weekend and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones #13

Hello again,

I hope everyone's enjoying this nice weekend.

The focus of this article will be the thirteenth issue of Marvel's series The Further Adventures of Indiana  Jones. The cover, illustrated by Bret Blevins, showed Indy being dragged through a desert while holding onto a metal chain that was attached to an airplane. The tale was titled "Deadly Rock!" The issue had a publication date of January 1984. 

The story began in Arizona. Professor Jones took several of his students from Marshall College in Connecticut to the Indian lands on a field trip. One of his pupils was reaching for an arrowhead, not knowing that a scorpion was inches from her fingertips. Jones was admiring one of his students' finds when his pupil, Warren, asked about the relics inside the cave that were supposed to have been the site of a Hopi city.

Indiana agreed with Warren, adding that local officials had blocked off the entrance after deeming the rock strata to be unsafe. Moments later, everyone was alerted to a shrill scream. Professor Jones ran to the source and saw Lucy Giles paralyzed with fear as a scorpion started crawling slowly up her arm.

Indy took out his bullwhip and carefully knocked the scorpion away. Lucy rushed to thank her professor, earning her some consternation and talk of favoritism among her fellow students. She had only transferred to the university two weeks before and already gotten closer to the professor tham most of her classmates had all semester. 

Indiana was about to have Lucy brought back to camp when he was alerted to the fact that Warren had gone off on his own and was now in the direct path of a rockslide. Jones put Joel in charge as he drove to rescue Warren. He noticed that his student was stuck with a twisted ankle before realizing that he was driving at an angle that was too steep. Indy was forced to jump for safety, and eventually managed to get Warren and himself beneath the truck moments before the landslide hit.

Indy and Warren freed themselves a short while later. The professor was curious about the slide, but before he could ponder further, the sounds of strangers drew his attention. A pair of men calling themselves Dominic and Oinkster claimed that they were from the Bureau of Indian Affairs and made veiled threats to the professor.

When asked for identification, the lackeys pointed their guns. Instead of risking the lives of himself and his students, Jones opted to head back to camp. Later that night, while his students were enjoying treats at an ice cream parlor, Indiana phoned Marcus Brody. He filled his friend in on what he'd observed. Brody took everything into consideration, including Jones' speculation that the gunmen might be going after ancient Hopi artifacts inside the cave. Marcus told Indy about Marion Ravenwood's ambitious efforts in her position as public relations officer for the National Museum, which got Indiana thinking before the call ended.

Lucy offered her professor a sundae, but Indy politely declined, stating that he had plans that evening before heading out. Once his pupils were sleeping at their desert camp, Indy ventured out, heading toward the same cave they'd explored the exterior of earlier that day. He remembered seeing a circle-shaped stone with a hole in the middle that would be convenient for setting dynamite.

After knocking out another armed guard, Indiana got a closer look at the inner workings. He was surprised to see bulldozers and other equipment for installing electrical lines and plumbing. Before he could question what he saw further, a trio of muscular guards approached Indy. He managed to take them out one by one, but the sight of Lucy being apprehended distracted Jones long enough to be knocked unconscious by a blackjack.

When he awoke, Indiana found Lucy next to him. She explained that she saw him sneaking out and thought that he was going to meet with another one of her female classmates. Indy was then introduced to a man named Busby, who was behind the entire operation. He told the professor about his intentions to create his own hole in the wall safe haven, which was perfect since he'd greased a few palms to ensure that the location would be listed as unsafe and therefore less likely to be investigated by outsiders.

Indiana threatened to expose the criminal hideout until Busby countered by showing the professor a signed confession claiming that Lucy had eloped with a gas station attendant. Giles would remain with them. If Jones ever wanted to see Lucy alive again, he would comply. 

Indy had no choice but to agree. However, he wasn't about to go along with everything completely. The next morning, he put Eva and Joel in charge of driving their classmates away from camp. Indiana stayed behind to do a little recon and hopefully rescue Emily. 

Jones tossed a bag full of spiders at the next guards he saw, leaving the hole they were guarding exposed and open. Jones climbed down and soon found Lucy. He wasn't expecting her to cry for help, which soon brought her father, Busby, and his soldiers to the scene in seconds. 

Busby explained that he had transferred his daughter from Vassar to Marshall College so that Emily could keep an eye on Indiana. He claimed that Jones was the loser who would suffer from another rockslide, when Indy stated that he'd already been to the compound's radio room and made a distress call. Busby didn't believe him until the sounds of sirens reverberated around the cavern walls.

Indy took advantage of the distraction to escape. As he ran, gunmen fired at him. Several bullets hit the drums of gasoline that had been stored inside. It didn't take very long for them to ignite and create a wall of fire that separated Jones from his foes. 

Busby was already running toward his plane, with his daughter not far behind. Lucy tried to clumsily fight off her professor, only to fail once more. Indy wasn't able to stop Busby from taking off, but he did manage to toss a hook tied to a chain, which connected with the rear wheel strut. 

Indiana held onto the chain for a while until he couldn't bear the pain much longer. He then ran to a nearby bulldozer and drove the heavy machine into the chain, grounding the plane instantly. Some time later, police arrived to arrest the Busbys. Lucy asked her professor if they could reconnect once she was on parole. Indy declined, remarking that he'd prefer tarantulas, because at least you expect them to bite.

Instead of the traditional letters page, a full-page comedic story ran in its place, chronicling assistant editor Eliot R. Brown's attempt to get the issue to traffic manager Virginia Romita. Brown had to pass through the traps in the assistant editors' gauntlet. He was late, of course, and Virginia ordered Mike Carlin to hit him with a pie. This issue was published during the infamous Marvel assistant editors' month, and some issues published during that month are sought after by collectors because of exclusives like this or the offbeat stories that ran instead of the usual storylines. 

I liked penciler Ricardo Villamonte's work on this particular issue. He would return to collaborate on other issues throughout the series' run. Busby Giles reminds me a bit of the old school Marvel villain Turner D. Century. Unfortunately, we would not see either Busby or Lucy return to this title before it was cancelled. I always thought it would have been interesting to see what other troubles the father and daughter duo could get into. 

That's all I have for you for today. Tomorrow, I'll kick off the day by discussing the fourteenth issue of this series. Indiana returns to school and life as usual, until he catches wind of Marion's promotional efforts, and the couple learns of a new danger that was brought up by someone that they least expected. Until then, have a great weekend and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones #12

Good afternoon, all, 

Hope everyone's having a great weekend!

It's time for me to talk about the twelfth issue of The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones. The cover, drawn by New Mutants co-creator Bob McLeod, showed Indy hanging onto a post that had been impaled by a charging bull. The story was called "The Fourth Nail Chapter 2: Swords and Spikes!" The issue had a cover date of December 1983.

The tale began right where the last issue left off. Indiana had just come up through a Barcelona city sewer into the stock pen of a bullring when he found a bull charging at him. Five darts lodged in the beast's torso indicated what set the animal off. Someone must have opened its stall, and it found Jones as the closest thing to him.

Thinking quickly, Indy tossed his whip to the rafters above him, only to have the weakened post break from his weight. Jones used one of the splintered boards and put it between himself and the bull's horns. That was a temporary distraction, but then Indy grabbed hold of the animal's tail. 

The bull waved his tail wildly, knocking the American archaeologist around the room until he came crashing through a door. Jones pulled a set of wooden shelves down onto his foe. The blankets that fell blinded the creature, allowing Indy enough time to escape.

Indiana peered around a corner and saw the same angry mob that had been chasing him and his friend Torino (in issue #11). He turned when he heard a familiar voice from behind him. It belonged to his former lover Marion Ravenwood, who was beginning her new role as public relations officer for the National Museum. 

Marion informed Indy that she'd be tagging along on many of his excursions for the time being. Indiana explained who he was looking for, and Marion told him that she'd seen someone who matched that description being carted off by four men in black robes. They sounded to Indy like the Ismailis who were under the employ of Ben Ali Ayoob (Jones met the Ismailis and Ayoob in the previous issue). 

Indy and Marion went to the warehouse where Torino was being held. On the way, Indiana explained his captors to Marion. When they arrived, Jones peered inside the slits of a boarded-up window and saw his old ally tied to a statue, as the Ismailis demanded information from him. 

Jones took out a pocket knife to slice through the rope of an overhead net. That didn't hold the Ismailis long. The assassins were good, but even they couldn't dodge the bullets fired from Marion's gun. After downing one of their opponents, she tossed her revolver to Indiana before Torino was freed. The trio fled on foot immediately thereafter.

The Ismaili, who had just been shot in the chest, rose, with the assistance of his fellow mercenaries, who had been temporarily incapacitated as they struggled to get out from under dozens of wooden paddles that had fallen down upon them during the fracas. They were still bound and determined to carry out their objective for their master.

Speaking of Ayoob, he was still in his Australian compound when he heard the news that his subordinates had contacted the gypsies in Barcelona, and that they were confident that they would soon obtain the Fourth Nail, the rumored spike that was supposedly intended for the killing blow to Jesus before it was stolen. Ben was satisfied with the report and his presumption that Jones would soon be eliminated as well.

Indy, Marion, and Torino were still skulking in the shadows, making every effort to evade contact with the local authorities. They finally settled in a nearby barn to rest for a bit. Jones and Torino filled Ravenwood in on the Fourth Nail. Torino said that he could not bring his companions to the Phuri Dai, but that he would guide them to their tribal leader, who would decide if they could go on from there. He warned about the threat of the Ismailis, not knowing that one was watching them from above and had just listened in to their conversation.

Back at the cathedral, the townspeople who had gone after Indy and Torino were being told by the police that there was nothing more that they could do. That wasn't about to discourage them from taking matters into their own hands. A few hours later, Jones, Ravenwood, and Torino arrived by truck at one of the local gypsy encampments. Torino introduced his comrades to their king, Maximilian. 

Maximilian listened to Indy's story, stating that he didn't fully believe it, but that he would consider their guest's request. They were encouraged to join in the festivities. As Torino started taking a shine to Marion, Jones noticed the arrival of the angry mob, including the heavyset brawler whom Indiana had tussled with earlier.

Torino held out his small knife and closed his eyes, right before an Ismaili jumped down and took care of Torino's attackers for him. Afterward, Maximilian announced that their guests had earned the right to see the Fourth Nail. Torino then led Jones and Ravenwood to the Phuri Dai.

The gypsy elder examined the foreigners carefully before showing them to a pulley arrangement that was used to bring workers to the lower levels. Further on, in a side room, the Fourth Nail rested on a pedestal. It looked like nothing more than a rusty railroad spike to Indy, but it was something that the Ismailis and their master valued greatly.

Indiana pointed his revolver at the assassin that Marion had shot at the docks, but then saw Torino had been tied to the pulley, and was about to be let go to fall to his death. Marion and then Indy jumped for the rope just in time to save their host. 

As the friends were helping each other, the assassins demanded access to the Fourth Nail, which the Phuri Dai granted. The leader of the group grabbed it before the lights went out momentarily. The chamber was then filled with a strange glow, emanating from the nail itself.

Tortured screams could be heard as the heroes were finally back on solid ground. They ran to the chamber and found that all of the Ismailis were dead. Each of them appeared to have been pierced through the heart. The gypsy woman picked up the nail and offered it to Jones, who politely declined, reasoning that it was probably in better hands with the Phuri Dai. 

Marion and Indy started heading for home the next morning. They'd missed out on a valuable artifact, and Indiana complained about the aches and pains he was bringing back. Ayoob had assumed that his soldiers had failed after not hearing from them for more than 24 hours. He presumed that Jones had won this time, noting that the American had begun a game for which there could only be one victor.  

This was a fast-paced conclusion to this storyline, and I enjoyed it. My only concern was that you could really tell the differences in art between Kerry Gammill and Luke McDonnell's pencil work. I understand that there are times when artists can't complete a full issue, but it would be nice if the artists' styles were at least somewhat similar in those instances. I think that one of the reasons why this title didn't have a very long life was that it changed creative teams more frequently than many other ongoing series at the time. Ayoob was an intriguing villain, and this wouldn't be the last time we'd see him in the pages of this magazine. 

That wraps up this article. Next time, I'll cover the thirteenth issue of this series. We'll find out what happens when the professor takes some of his students out on a field expedition, and they run into something that they weren't expected to see. Until then, have a great weekend and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones #11

Happy Friday, everyone!

Today's topic is the eleventh issue of The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones. The cover, drawn by this issue's penciller, Kerry Gammill, showed Indy clinging to the perch of a bell tower, looking up as a large, muscular figure moves to strike at him. The tale was titled "The Fourth Nail Chapter 1: Blood and Sand!" The issue had a publication date of November 1983. ]

The story started in the Gibson Desert of Australia. Indiana was fleeing from several spear-tossing Aborigines during a dust storm. Jones had arrived looking for artifacts from the Arnhelm Cult that might be good pieces for the National Museum. Little did he know that the natives were defending those items, thinking that they were rewards from their gods.

Jones finally found temporary shelter behind a rock face. He fired a few shots at his attackers, and when he ran out of ammunition, the well-traveled professor relied on his bullwhip. However, Indy was eventually brought down by a well-placed bolo that caught him off guard.

Indy fell to the ground, glancing at the angry savages who stood before him. He feared the worst and shielded his eyes until he looked again and saw a trio of men dressed in black robes wielding swords. Jones' attackers lay dead all around him. One of his saviors made a double-toned whistle, signaling a Jeep to pick them up. 

The masked man returned Indy's belongings to him and asked Jones to join them. Indiana was curious and realized that he probably didn't have any other suitable options. The vehicle journeyed to the southeastern edge of the desert before stopping in front of a cave entrance. 

Indy followed his hosts, wondering just who their master was. Jones was shocked by the opulent interior. He was then greeted by Ben Ali Ayoob. He assured the American that the treasures he saw were definitely genuine. Ayoob mentioned his soldiers, whom he called Ismailis, which were considered to be the Middle Eastern equivalent of Japanese ninjas. 

Ben then led his guest on a tour of the facility before informing him of the next item on his list. Ayoob talked about the rumored fourth nail, the one that was supposed to have administered the killing blow to Jesus' heart. Legend said that the nail had been stolen by a gypsy, and that God had since forgiven petty crimes committed by gypsies as a reward for helping his son. 

Ayoob's sources had reason to believe that nail not only existed, but that it was possessed by a gypsy shaman, or phuri dai, somewhere in southern Spain. Ben knew of Jones' history and wanted to hire him to obtain the item. Indy replied that he wasn't for hire and that he already had an arrangement with the National Museum. He pulled out his revolver and gave his host six good reasons why he couldn't force him to do his bidding.

Ben laughed and let the professor leave with his calendar ring and other belongings. Moments later, Ayoob ordered three of his men to prepare for travel. Some time later, Indy boarded a plane. He was ready to return home until something that Ben said made him change his mind.

Back in New York, Marcus Brody was talking with Marion Ravenwood about a possible job offer. She hadn't had steady work since her nightclub was burned down (chronicled in the sixth issue of this series), and was interested, even though the position wasn't quite what she'd been used to.

The conversation was interrupted by a package delivery from Jones. Marion examined the calendar ring while Brody read Indy's note. He confirmed their theory about the Arnhem Cult and said that he'd explain it all when he returned from Barcelona.

By that time, Indiana was strolling through the busy Barcelona streets. He was wondering if an old acquaintance still lived there when the attention turned to a crowd gathered around a small table playing a game of chance. The gamesman was caught cheating and ran from his gypped clients, only to run into Indy.

Indy instantly recognized his old pal Torino and asked that his chum return his wallet. Torino complied, stating that it was a force of habit. They then made a beeline to the nearest cathedral in an effort to elude Torino's upset clientele. 

Jones tried to fend the attackers off with his pistol until it was loosened from his grip by another bolo. The two friends were separated in the fracas. As Torino ducked under a pair of opponents, Indiana backed into a man who was much larger than him. Indy was thrown backward into a post and ducked his kick before scampering up a set of steps.

The larger man lost his foe temporarily, until Indy swung the bell at him. Jones got out of the tower and used his whip to swing toward another building. Unfortunately, the sculpted buzzard head broke off, and Indy started to fall. The butt of his whip stuck between two bricks, and Indiana pulled himself up.

He made it to the top, only to find his old enemy barreling toward him. The hefty man continued to run until he fell through the weakened portion of the roof. A short while later, Indy regrouped with Torino. They crept out of the cathedral and headed to a local blacksmith, who was a friend of Torino's. 

Their trek took them into the sewer. On the way, Indy told his friend why he was in Barcelona. Torino was scared of the Phuri Dai, but still wanted to help his companion. Before long, Torino ascended a ladder to see if the coast was clear. He didn't return, but Indy still went up to check things out.

Jones walked around before coming across an old dusty poster. He learned that he was in the stock pen for a bullring. Indy also found out rather quickly that the pen wasn't exactly empty, as one bull with several arrows in its back came charging right at him. 

This was a great start to this two-part storyline. It brought up a very interesting fictional historical relic and introduced a couple of brand-new supporting characters as well. I thought that the creative team of writer David Michelinie, penciler Kerry Gammill, and inker Sam Dela Rosa took the source material seriously and crafted a yarn that would keep both new and longtime Indy fans interested. 

That's all I have for today. Tomorrow, I'll discuss the second part of this story. It's covered in the twelfth issue of this series. We'll learn what happened to Indy after this issue's cliffhanger, and if the fourth nail actually exists. We'll also see what role Marion plays in this affair. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones #10

Hello there,

It's time for me to discuss the tenth issue of The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones. The cover, illustrated once again by Howard Chaykin and Terry Austin, showed Indy clinging onto the wing of an airplane as an enemy hurled the business end of a grappling hook at him. The story was called "The Gold Goddess Chapter II: Amazon Death-Ride!" The issue had a cover date of October 1983.

The tale began on one of the top levels of a New York skyscraper. A Hovito warrior was slamming his foot down upon the hand Jones was using to keep his grip on the building's ledge until the foreigner was shot from behind and fell forward to the pavement many stories below. The killing blow had been fired by Marion Ravenwood using a gun that she'd borrowed from the guard the visitors had knocked out (in the last issue).

Marion helped Indy to his feet and spied the ladder that his opponents had used to traverse between skyscrapers. Jones lunged toward the Hovito he saw before him, only to have the ladder yanked out from under him. As Indiana fell, he reached for anything that would help. As luck would have it, a flagpole was within reach. Indy held onto it for dear life before asking Marion to get a rope and pull him out. 

A short while later, Ravenwood and Jones entered Marcus Brody's office. Brody was on a call with the man who had taken the Chachopoyan idol (as seen in issue #9). He was naming the price and location where it could be found. The caller insisted that Jones make the journey alone. After hanging up, Xomec's associate confirmed that the plan was in motion. They had the idol and were confident that the American archaeologist would also be theirs.

Travel arrangements were made, and Indiana found himself on a boat that would take him across the Amazon River. When Indy reached his stop, he ventured into the jungle on foot. Jones spied an opera house in the distance before coming under attack. Indy's pistol took out a few invaders, but he was soon slowed when a poison-tipped spear was thrust into his side. Xomec then ordered his men to bring their captive inside.

When Indiana awoke, he found himself staring at a woman he'd never met before. She'd introduced herself as Ilsa Toht. She was the sister of the German spy who had perished during the Lost Ark affair. Ilsa explained that she was following in her late brother's footsteps, working to retrieve the idol, so that it could be used to lure the natives into acting against American interests in resource procurement and production in the area. 

Ilsa then demanded that Xomec take their prisoner outside for his final punishment. Jones struggled briefly, and it appeared at first that his efforts were futile. Jones' limbs were tied to posts sticking into the ground before being left to his fate. Indy noticed several hungry alligators not far away as the warriors turned to leave.

Indy's tussle had allowed his body to retain some of the moisture from the wet grass. That allowed him to wriggle just enough to free his wrists. He then untied the bonds from his legs and tied all of the ropes together. Jones turned to face an alligator and made a surprising leap at it. After a struggle, Indiana was finally able to tie the rope around the beast's mouth and convince the rest of his group to retreat quietly.

Indiana kept moving until he could hear the plane's engines. After knocking out the guards, Indy jumped onto the wing just as the plane started to take off. The vessel was in the air before Jones was spotted by Ilsa and Xomec. While Ilsa piloted, Xomec went to face their foe, taking Indy's whip with him. 

Xomec thought he could wield the weapon just as well as its owner. He was proven wrong, as Indiana jerked the whip, which made Xomec lose his footing and fall to his native land. The plane turned, but Indy continued to hold on and gradually made his way to Ilsa. The duo struggled with the wheel until the plane went into a dive.

Jones jumped moments before the plane crashed into the river. He swam to the surface and slowly swam to shore. As he did so, we saw the idol was in his hands, hopefully for the last time.

I remember receiving this issue for my eleventh birthday. I'd been hooked from issue #1, and I liked the idea of Toht having a vengeful sister. It wasn't quite clear whether or not she survived the plane crash, and I thought that it would have been interesting to have her return. After all, if Boba Fett could survive the Sarlaac pit, why couldn't Ilsa survive this scenario? Unfortunately, we never saw Ilsa or Xomec return to this title. I want to clarify that it appeared as if Xomec was the one stomping on Indy's foot at the end of the ninth issue, but the writers must have changed that to one of his lackeys at the beginning of this part of the storyline. All in all, this was a satisfying storyline, one that kept loyal readers and followers wanting more. 

Well, that's it for this article. Next time, I'll talk about the eleventh issue of this series. The creative team of David Michelinie, Kerry Gammill, and Sam Dela Rosa returns to craft a yarn that has Indy embarking on another solo excursion overseas to retrieve another highly sought-after historical treasure. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another.