Retro Comic Recap: The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones #22

Good afternoon,

Hope you've been having a nice, relaxing holiday. Today's topic is the twenty-second issue of The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones. The cover depicted Indy facing a bear in a castle, as Ben Ali Ayoob and Marion Ravenwood looked on. The tale was titled "End Run." The issue had a publication date of October 1984.

The story began right after the events in the previous issue. A man in a suit pointed a gun at Jones, claiming that the responsibility for his death lay with him, per his orders from the Führer. Indiana tried to reason with his foe, who was undeterred, even after Austin Coleridge's second in command, Tarrant, tried to attack him from behind. The stranger simply moved his arm backward, knocking Tarrant down the hill.

Indy was given 24 hours to stop the matter with Ayoob. If he didn't adhere to that timeline, his opponent would have no choice but to take matters into his own hands. By then, Marion and Marcus Brody had arrived on the scene. Marcus recognized the man as Hans Degen, an agent of Scotland Yard. 

The quartet later departed on a train bound for Switzerland. During the journey, they talked about their mission, which began with Indy's acquisition of the real Arnhem ring (in issue #11 of this title), which began his rivalry with Ayoob. They discussed the fake version of the artifact that had been discovered in the National Museum, and Brody ascertained from Coleridge where Ayoob now was. 

After reaching their destination, Jones and Degen moved on foot toward Ayoob's hideout. It didn't take long for the pair to be met with several of Ayoob's Ismaili assassins. The sword-wielding soldiers put up a brave fight as their leader was informed of Indy's arrival. He was convinced that he must be the victor of their contest.

 Meanwhile, Brody and Ravenwood had breached the compound by jumping from the hot air balloon that they'd acquired. While they were meeting more Ismailis, Degen and Jones were busy creeping into the palace via a sewer grate after having defeated their own foes. The duo argued over their perspectives long enough not to initially notice a trio of Ismailis behind them.

Jones and Degen were soon brought before Ayoob, who showed off the Devil's Heart, along with the real Arnhem ring and other artifacts from his collection. He swore that his opponent would die, and moved to bring that possibility closer to reality. Ayoob had Degen and Brody tied to a tree in a pit where Indy would have to face off against Ben's pet grizzly, while he and Marion ate together. 

Indiana threw a few rocks at the animal, thinking that he was probably doomed. Marion was less than cordial to her host and threw a drink in his face. She then tossed Indy a bottle of champagne. He popped the cork at the bear and broke the bottle to use it as a tool to cut the ropes that bound Brody and Degen.

Marion escaped and descended a set of stairs leading to Ayoob's animal pen. She decided to free the creatures, who ran toward the grizzly and took its attention away from Jones. While Degen was using the rope to keep the bear at bay, Indy and his friends ran back into the compound.

Ayoob was prepared for their arrival and pointed his pistol at his rival. Degen crept behind him and took a bullet meant for the American professor. As Degen fell, he tossed the Devil's Heart into the fireplace. Ayoob leapt after it and was instantly consumed by the flames emitted by the icon. 

Degen admitted to Brody that he'd engaged in a battle of wills with Indiana and lost with his last dying words. The trio left the complex and headed for home. When they reached Marshall College, they celebrated the return of the genuine Arnhem ring, and Indy asked for a bit of a hefty advance on his salary to cover his travel costs. 

The art in this issue was better than the one before it, but the constant change of creative teams on this title is one reason why regular readers may have found it difficult to stay interested. I was a bit surprised to see Ayoob's demise, thinking he was a clever opponent who could have stayed around to cause more trouble in the future. 

That's all for today. Tomorrow, I'll discuss the twenty-third issue of this series. Indy takes part in a Hollywood production as he tries to get closer to a legendary treasure in a foreign land. 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 #21

Good afternoon,

Hope everyone's been having a nice, relaxing holiday weekend. It's time for me to talk about the twenty-first issue of The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones. The cover showed Indy at the edge of a cliff, being attacked by several large birds. The tale was titled "Beyond the Lucifer Chamber!" The issue had a cover date of September 1984.

The story began just above the small town of Merthyr Tydfil in South Wales, England. Indiana, Marion Ravenwood, and Marcus Brody were there to find Brody's old college classmate Austin Coleridge, a man who might know the location of Indy's old rival Ben Ali Ayoob and possibly assist their friend in clearing his good name.

Their car arrived in town a few minutes later, and its presence was noticed by a stranger who spoke to someone via a microphone. The trio entered the Cat and Fiddle pub and soon learned how not all of its patrons were friendly with Coleridge. At Brody's mere mention of his name, a dart was thrown at his cigar by a one-eyed man behind them.

The patron said that Coleridge's livelihood cost him his lost eye, as well as the coal mine that shut down, which had employed many of the village's residents. A bar broke out soon thereafter. Indy and his friends left the establishment and were surprised to see dozens of hawks, who scared away the townspeople.

After the skirmish, the Americans were introduced to Coleridge's second in command, Tarrant. The birds were his pets, and the visitors were now his prisoners. Marion watched Tarrant's Jeep speed away, but before she could seek out help, she was approached by several participants of the bar fight. They apologized for their actions, now that they knew that they were not involved in Coleridge's activities. One noted that the vehicle was bound for the coal mine and the Lucifer chamber.

Meanwhile, at Cardiff Airport, a stranger was asking a woman at the front counter if she'd seen a visitor and produced a photo of Jones. She remembered the face, adding that she'd rented a car to him and his companions. When asked if her customer was a friend, the man replied that they had some business together. 

It didn't take very long for Tarrant's Jeep to reach the mine entrance. He ordered Jones and Brody inside, leading them along the lighted passageway. Coleridge eventually stood before them. He greeted his old classmate, and Marcus brought up Coleridge's prior transgressions, including extortion, theft, and manipulating people for political purposes. Austin remarked that he was in control now and that his guests would only live as long as they entertained him.

He then gestured to a doorway that was rumored to lead to the gateway to Hell. Coleridge had been hired by Ben Ali Ayoob years ago to find the legendary Devil's Heart amulet, a trinket that was rumored to contain the heart of Satan. It was buried inside Lucifer's chamber, an area where they now stood. He then showed a photograph to his visitors of a box that had been discovered there. 

Coleridge went on to say that coal had been found in the mine years later, and the chamber was closed off once the mining operation began. Indy tried to finagle Ayoob's current location from Coleridge, but got nowhere in that effort. He then created a diversion that allowed him to escape. 

Tarrant whistled to his hawks, who pursued the American, but a rock tossed at the villain's arm prevented Coleridge's assistant from firing at the fleeing Jones. He continued to run until Marion caught up with him. She had several of the villagers with her. They were willing to help.

At the Cat and Fiddle pub, the man from the airport was asking questions about Doctor Jones. The barkeep was told by the one-eyed patron to disclose nothing, but a blade from the stranger's ring might have changed his mind. As Jones and his new companions were descending the stairs to where Marcus was being held, Brody and Coleridge were engaged in a private conversation.

Coleridge was trying to convince his old college classmate about the virtues of his campaign. He then removed the glove from his left hand, which had been turned to solid gold. Coleridge explained that he'd held the philosopher's stone, which was supposed to turn items into gold.

By that time, Tarrant and his subordinates were battling Jones and the townspeople. An alarm alerted Coleridge, and that distraction was enough for Brody to knock his former ally's gun aside. Another shrill note from Tarrant's whistle brought more hawks into the mine. Indiana used an old accordion to draw the birds away, but he still had their master to deal with.

Their fight resumed outdoors. It wasn't until Jones was able to bat Tarrant's whistle around that the professor finally had the upper hand. At the same time, Brody was holding his own against Coleridge. Austin was about to make a swipe at Marcus when the glint of his golden eye attracted one of the hawks, who moved to swoop in on his prey.

The bird pushed Colerige back against a wall. He accidentally pushed aside part of the door that had been weakened earlier, and created an opening. A strange purple mist emanated from the interior chamber and overtook the villain. Soon, the mist was all that was left of Coleridge. 

Marcus was fascinated briefly by the apparition, but as soon as it started igniting blasting caps, Brody knew he had to leave immediately. He got out in time and ran to find Marion and the villagers holding Tarrant and his men at gunpoint. Neither of them knew where Indy was at the time.

Jones was kneeling over Tarrant's unconscious form, relieved that their struggle was finally over. As he turned around, he saw a shadow behind him. It was the man from the airport, who now pointed a Luger at the American, saying that his direct leader, the Führer, had ordered him to kill the archaeologist. 

This issue was penciled by Steve Ditko, and his artwork was very easy to distinguish. The scenes with the apparition were reminiscent of some of his Doctor Strange stories from the 1960s. Ditko was the primary penciler for Strange Stories and the Amazing Spider-Man until he abruptly left Marvel and worked for companies like DC and Charlton before returning to Marvel in the 1980s as a freelancer. He worked on titles like this one, ROM: Spaceknight, a few Incredible Hulk tales, the Micronauts annuals, Machine Man, and other series. I wasn't a big fan of his work at the time, because it felt kind of dated when compared with other contemporaries, but I grew to appreciate his legacy over time. 

That's all I have for you today. Tomorrow, I'll tackle the twenty-second issue of this title. The final part of this storyline will tell us where Ayoob was, who the mystery man from this issue was, and what happened to the real Arnhem ring. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom #3

Good morning,

I hope everyone's been enjoying the holiday weekend. I'm kicking off the day with a discussion of the final issue of Marvel's adaptation of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. This adaptation was also released in a single-volume Marvel Super Special. The cover of this issue showed Mola Ram forcing Indy to taste the blood of Kali as Short Round watched on, as he was restrained by a Thuggee guard. The issue had a cover date of November 1984. 

Indiana had just been captured by the Thuggees and taken to Mola Ram (in the previous issue). With Pankot Palace's maharajah and Short Round observed, Ram forced Jones to drink from a cup that supposedly contained the blood of the Thuggee god Kali. Meanwhile, Willie Scott had returned to her room and reported what she'd seen to the maharajah's aide, Chattar Lal. She soon learned that the assistant had already been converted.

A short while later, Willie was placed in the cage, about to be the cult's next sacrifice. Jones and Lal stood on the stage and watched. In the slave pit under the temple, Short Round was put to work. He noticed an injured guard and ran to his aid. There was a change in the man's eyes that Short Round recognized immediately. As the guard was taken back to Mola Ram, Indy's young friend knew that if pain made the guard wake up, the same could happen to Doctor Jones.

He eventually broke free from his chains and ran toward the temple. Short Round neared his friend and grabbed a torch to protect himself. He waved it at the brainwashed professor, who soon insisted that he be left alone to deal with the child. Indy gave a wink, and Short Round knew that everything was okay. Together, they fought off the guards and worked to free Scott.

Indiana grabbed the Sankara stones before the trio went to rescue the children in the mine. He came across one of the larger guards, and their struggle was made more difficult for Indy because of the voodoo doll that the maharajah had been using. Short Round climbed up to face him, and the young leader soon realized the error of his ways.

The maharajah promised to alert the British military (whom we saw last issue) while Short Round, Jones, and Scott escaped in a mine car. Their journey was perilous, but finally ended moments before they were faced with a tidal wave from the water container that had been knocked over during their trek. The trio finally left the cavern right before the waters burst through the stone walls.

Indy led his friends up to a bridge, only to find their foes waiting on the other side. He gave Short Round a signal, and he and Willie started wrapping their arms around the ropes so that they would be tethered when Indiana brought the structure down. A swift slice of Jones' machete brought everyone who stayed on, clinging on for dear life.

Everyone made a mad dash for the top. Mola Ram tried to surpass Indy and grabbed for his bag. He found some of the Sankara stones, but fell to his death leaping after them. By then, the British military had arrived and was busy picking off the remaining Thuggee cultists. Jones made it to the top, with one of the stones still in his possession.

A few days later, the adventurers returned to the small village (shown in the first issue). Indiana returned the stone to the shaman and embraced Willie as Short Round pondered the motives of grown-ups. That marked the end of this excursion.

I felt like this final issue was a bit rushed at times, but it wasn't bad for a three-issue limited series. Once again, some more violent and gory parts of the film understandably weren't included. There were also a few short scenes in the adaptation that didn't make the movie's final cut. We would see Short Round in an issue of the regular title, but as far as I know, we never saw Willie Scott again, unless she appeared in some of the Indiana Jones comics published by Dark Horse. I don't have any of those titles in my collection, so I don't know about that as of this writing. 

That's all for this article and adaptation. Later today, I'll resume my coverage of the ongoing Marvel Indiana Jones series with a recap of the twenty-first issue of The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones. Indy, Marion Ravenwood, and Marcus Brody continue their quest to clear Marcus' name. They travel to another location where they run into one of Brody's old colleagues, and we learn that another party is most interested in their exploits. Until then, have a great day and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom #2

Good afternoon,

Hope everyone's been enjoying the holiday weekend thus far. The focus of this article will be on the middle part of Marvel's adaptation of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. The cover, illustrated by the limited series' penciler, Butch Guice, showed Indy nearly being strangled by a miscolored Thuggee. The issue had a publication date of October 1984.

This issue began with Jones, Short Round, and Willie Scott walking to Pankot Palace in India. After entering the grounds, they were greeted by Chattar Lal, the new maharajah's prime minister. The trio was offered lodging for the night after being led inside. They were also introduced to another guest, British Captain Phillip Blumburtt.

The British military man and his troops were there on an inspection tour. He chatted with Indiana for a while before dinner began. Willie then learned why the maharajah had not taken a wife, as the leader, Zalim Singh, appeared to be around the same age as Short Round. 

During the unusual dinner, conversation began, revolving around Indiana's observation that some of the pieces in Singh's collection looked like images once used by the legendary Thuggee cult to worship their goddess Kali. Lal replied that the group had been extinct for almost 100 years. Blumburtt added that the Thuggees had been eliminated by his nation's forces during the mutiny of 1857. 

Indy talked about the parchment he'd been given by a boy in a small village (in the previous issue), noting that he saw what he thought was a Thuggee shrine underneath the palace. Singh said that he had heard those stories and was ashamed of the ancient evil. He swore that such atrocities would never happen again. 

Later that evening, Jones checked in on Scott and provided her with a bowl of fruit. She was relieved to finally see food that she recognized, and the pair planned for some amorous activities later on. However, those plans were put on hold due to Indiana being attacked by a Thuggee guard. The villain met his untimely end after he was snagged by Indy's whip and drawn upward to the overhead fan in the room.

Short Round woke up just in time to see the end of that act, and he followed Jones to Willie's room. Indiana wondered where their attacker came from, and soon found the entrance to a hidden passageway. The friends wandered into the passageway and soon entered a trap. Willie waited for a while before running after them. She was forced to find a lever to free them, and the trio continued on.

They stopped before the light continued to illuminate the passageway. Indiana was stunned to see a Thuggee ceremony honoring Kali, in what we now know as the Temple of Doom. A man was locked in a cage about to be lowered into a pit, offered as a sacrifice to the deity. 

Jones saw three of the Sankara stones placed in the eye and nose spaces of a large skull, and knew he had to determine if they were real. He climbed down, not knowing that Willie and Short Round were attacked moments later. As Indiana investigated, he peered into a hole in the chamber floor that revealed a mine that used children as slave labor. 

Indy threw a large stone at one of the guards who was about to whip a small child. He was soon outnumbered and awoke in a cage, hearing Short Round rousing him. He explained that their cellmate was from the village. The cult brought in children to work the mines because they were small. The youth preferred that Kali's evil take him. He said that they made people drink the blood of Kali. Those who consumed it would still be alive, but it would seem as if they were in a nightmare. 

The new captives were then taken before the cult leader, Mola Ram. He accused Jones of trying to steal the Sankara stones. Indy remarked that one of them had been stolen from a local village. Ram replied that there had originally been five stones, and that he was sure that the remaining two were somewhere in the tunnels. That explained their need for young laborers.

Once the Thuggees had all five stones, they would be all-powerful. Mola Ram was about to make Indy a convert and have the maharajah witness his conversion. Singh had already been converted and used a voodoo doll to prevent Jones from protesting further. He was then held in place and about to partake in the blood of Kali.

This was a rather dark story, and I fully understand why certain parts of the film were omitted from the comic book adaptation. I was surprised they showed the chilled monkey brains segment. There were also additional parts of the story that were not in the final cut of the film, which led me to believe that writer David Michelinie had to be working from the film script. This was still a good bridge between the first and last parts of the adaptation, and it kept the story moving along, covering the key parts of the secrets uncovered in Pankot Palace. 

That's all I have for you today. Tomorrow morning, I'll wrap up my coverage of this film with a recap of the third and final issue of this limited series. We'll find out what happened to Indy and his friends, and learn if the final Sankara stones were recovered and if the shaman and his fellow villagers that we met in the first issue had any retribution. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom #1

Good morning,

Hope everyone's having a relaxing holiday weekend. It's time for me to talk about Marvel's adaptation of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. This was released as both a Marvel Super Special and a three-part limited series. Since I only have the limited series in my collection, I'll discuss that and begin today by covering the first issue. The cover was a montage of images, including Indy in a white tux, an airplane, a mountain range, and a village in India, that Jones, Short Round, and Willie Scott rode past on elephants. The issue had a cover date of September 1984.

After the title/splash page, the story began in Shanghai, 1935. Professor Jones was about to enter the Club Obi Wan for a rendezvous with Lao Che. He was there to deliver the remains of Che's ancestor, Hurachi, in exchange for a diamond. The exchange was a bit more complicated than initially anticipated, and it involved Scott's introduction to the American professor, a few threats, the death of Indiana's associate Wu Han, poison, and an antidote.

After a scuffle, Jones searched for the antidote that had made its way to the dance floor while Willie went after the large diamond. The two Americans eventually used a large gong that had been shot free from its mooring on a wall as cover as they jumped out of a nearby window and into the back of the car that Indy's young ally Short Round was driving.

As the car left the club, Jones fumbled for the antidote and briefly returned fire against their pursuers before the trio reached the airport. A British associate (played by Dan Akroyd in the 1984 movie) guided them to their plane. Indy thought he was one step ahead of his foe, not knowing that the vessel they departed in was owned by Lao Che.

Indiana was weary, and he and Short Round decided to take a nap en route to what they assumed would be their trip to Siam. Willie eventually fell asleep, but was awakened by the sounds of the pilots exiting the plane. She ran to the cockpit and found it empty. Scott hurriedly woke Jones, who did his best to keep the plane level.

They finally realized they couldn't dodge the mountains before them. The pilots took the only parachutes, so Indiana had to grab a raft and inflate it as they fell to earth, moments before the plane they were just on crashed into the mountainside.

The raft served as a makeshift sled when the trio touched ground, and they rode it all the way to a large body of water. After descending a waterfall, they learned that they were in India, which was made apparent by the native shaman who stood before the foreigners. The man led his guests to his village and provided them with food as he explained the need for the travelers to stop at Pankot before heading to Delhi.

Pankot Palace had a new maharajah, and it was rumored that its power had risen again. The shaman wanted the adventurers to retrieve a sacred stone that had been taken from their village that they trusted to protect them. After the stone disappeared, their village wells dried up, the river stopped, crops and animals died, and their children were taken.

Later that evening, Indiana thought about what the old man had told them. His musing was interrupted by the entrance of a weakened young boy, who was gasping for breath. He placed a piece of parchment in the professor's hand and said one word: sankara.

The next morning, Indy, Short Round, and Willie embarked on their mission. They rode elephants until finding a good spot to set up camp for the evening. Willie bathed in the river until a large snake wrapped around her. Indy stood there, still terrified of snakes, until the animal started dozing off, and slithered away.

As Short Round tended to the elephants, Indy explained to Willie how he'd found the lad trying to pick his pocket. His parents had been killed during the bombings of Shanghai. Scott told him how she'd made her way to Shanghai after the American Depression effectively killed her nightclub career.

Jones told her about the parchment the young boy had given him back in the village. It showed a priest named Sankara who lived many generations ago. He once climbed Mount Kalisa and encountered Shiva, the Hindu god. Stories said that Shiva had given Sankara five stones that had magical powers to use to combat evil. One of those stones might have been the same as the one that had been taken from the small village they were in the day before.

The next day, the group resumed their quest for "fortune and glory," and pressed on. They could see Pankot Palace in the near distance, but had to proceed the rest of the way on foot. Their guide, Sanju, would take the elephants after a statue was uncovered that appeared to have frightened the native away. 

Although there were a few scenes (like Indy's entering Club Obi Wan and the extended snake scenario) in this adaptation that were not in the final cut of the film, I still felt like this was a fine adaptation. I was familiar with writer David Michelinie from his work on the regular Indiana Jones title, penciler Butch Guice from the Micronauts books, and inkers Akin and Garvey from their work on ROM: Spaceknight. This movie was the darkest of the five Indiana Jones flicks, and I know that there were certain depictions that they couldn't completely portray because of the average ages of the comics' target audience. The story still moved along at a decent pace, and it included most of the fun parts from the big screen blockbuster.

Well, that's all I have for the moment. I'm going to go see the new Star Wars film. When I return, I'll cover the second issue of this limited series. We'll find out what happens to the crew once they reach Pankot Palace and the secrets they uncover inside. Until then, have a great day and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones #20

Good afternoon, folks,

Happy Friday! Today's topic is the twentieth issue of The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones. The cover depicted Indy running in a field from an airplane that was firing at him, in a scene that was reminiscent of that from an old Alfred Hitchcock movie. The tale was titled "The Cuban Connection!" The issue had a cover date of August 1984. 

The story started at Marshall College in Connecticut, as Professor Jones was examining the fake Arnhem ring, just before the National Museum's new curator, Osborn Sloams-Hagen, walked in. Indy was certain he'd brought back the genuine article, and didn't take too kindly to Osborn's jabs at his friend, Marcus Brody. Indy was certain that Brody had nothing to do with the swap.

Meanwhile, Marcus was cleaning out his old office when Marion Ravenwood entered. Moments later, Indiana arrived, asserting that the ring must have been switched out before the exhibit began. Marcus remembered that the only people who had been cleared to move large objects at the time were the crew assigned to install the new boiler. Indy and Marion then set off to find those workers.

A short while later, they arrived at the warehouse. Indy brought a folder containing a fingerprint that had been left behind on the fake Arnhem ring. The man Jones accused then lashed out at him before making a run for his truck. Marion followed and managed to climb on for a while in an effort to stop the thief. She was eventually knocked off the vehicle, but only after the suspect ran back into the warehouse.

Jones and Ravenwood followed, until they were pinned into a corner by a forklift. Marcus came to the rescue, knocking out the man named Al with the business end of his umbrella. Al confessed that he'd been hired by a man named Juan Soto. The trio wasn't convinced that the confession would be enough to restore Marcus' good name, and they soon set off to find Al's employer in Cuba. 

They learned that Soto had a sugar plantation outside of the city of Havana, and arrived at its outskirts not long after their plane landed. Indiana entered the plantation, inadvertently setting off a silent alarm in the process. A plane swooped down on the newcomers, guns blazing. Jones shooed his friends away as he crept toward a nearby tractor. He lit the fuel and waited for the plane to collide with it.

Soto witnessed the crash from the safety of his office and assumed that Indy had to have been involved somehow. The explosion was enough of a distraction to allow Jones, Ravenwood, and Brody to reach the compound's outer wall. However, when they scaled it, they saw a trio of hungry wolves waiting for them on the grounds.

The heroes were prepared for battle until a shrill whistle called the beasts off. Soto then approached his guests. After they were disarmed, the Americans were given a tour of the facility. Soto supplied weapons to local rebels and assisted the white slave trade in the area. He admitted that his men had taken the real Arnhem ring, but he was not about to disclose the name of the client who had hired him to accomplish that goal.

During the conversation, Soto realized that Brody no longer had his cigar in his mouth. Moments later, some of the ammunition in the hallway went up in flames. Marion and Indy took guns from some of their captors, and the trio followed Soto by boat. Indy was finally able to toss a rope onto Soto's craft and pull himself back into harm's way.

While Marcus and Marion were driving alongside the larger boat, Soto and Indiana were engaged in a fist fight. Marion moved to save her friend, but she would not interfere with the scuffle. Jones was the victor and got Soto to whisper the name of the mystery client to him before Juan jumped into the water, not realizing that he was heading straight for several very hungry sharks.

It was too late to save the villain, but Indy had a much greater concern at the moment. He'd learned that the client was none other than his old rival, Ben Ali Ayoob. In Guatemala, Ayoob was being informed of his lackeys' failures and knew they meant that Jones was on his way. He was pleased with the news, knowing that their game would resume until reaching its inevitable end. 

It was good to see Ayoob again, although Marvel's colorists have been very inconsistent with his skin tone coloring in most of his appearances in this series. It seemed like the villain had hideouts in multiple corners of the globe. Despite another change of penciler (Luke McDonnell this time), inker Danny Bulanadi kept David Michelinie's script moving right along at a steady pace.

I'm going to take a brief break from the regular series to cover Marvel's adaptation of the movie Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, starting tomorrow morning. I'll discuss the first of that three-part limited series before resuming with issue #21 of this title. We'll see Indy embark on an unexpected quest with an ally and an unwanted guest as they delve deeper into a centuries-old legend. 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 #19

Good afternoon, everyone,

Hope all's well. Today's topic is the nineteenth issue of Marvel's series The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones. The cover, illustrated by Bret Blevins, showed Indy holding onto what I assume is his bullwhip with the shadow of a winged creature underneath him. The story was called "Dragon by the Tail!"  The issue had a cover date of July 1984.

The tale began in an airplane flying above the mountains of Nepal. Jones was preparing to parachute down into the icy conditions. He found a cave that would serve as shelter from the snow and wind a short while later and began reading a letter from a Japanese colleague that piqued his interest.

His friend thanked Indiana for saving him two years before, noting that his missive served as payment for that debt. He explained how his party had found the descendants of prehistoric cave dwellers in the northwestern portion of Mount Dhubri. Their modern weapons scared off the attackers, and when the group pressed on, they were astonished to find stone carvings that formed a sort of temple or barrier around what appeared to be a dragon encased in ice. The archaeologists agreed not to disturb their discovery and chose to leave.

News of their discovery eventually reached military leaders in their home country. There was some discussion about whether or not what had been found was real. If the creature could be revived, it might be used as a weapon against the country's enemies. The professor would not bring the militia to the site, but now informed Indy that the general's men were en route to the Himalayas, guided by others from the professor's group.

Indy considered the debt paid in full, and the next morning, he set out to investigate. Jones was amazed to see the monster had already been dug out and was being carted off via sled, still encased in ice. Indiana took out a guard and grabbed his grenades, hoping to set off an explosion that would send the mountain above them toppling down to interfere with their activities.

However, Jones was spotted by another soldier and fired upon. He suffered a flesh wound and had to use his whip to latch onto a peak to prevent a violent collision with the ground. By the time the soldiers arrived, Indy lay down and made it look like he'd been grievously injured. The men were convinced that their secret was safe and moved on.

Indy watched the Japanese military fly away with their prize in a zeppelin, and soon came across several of the prehistoric locals that his friend had mentioned in his letter. They had observed Jones' actions and determined that he was an ally. His shoulder wound was tended to, and Indiana was given an incantation that would, when spoken, make the dragon return to his worshippers. It was written in a pre-Indic language that Indiana was confident that he could translate. 

Several weeks later, Indy arrived at the home of Professor Kobayashi in Japan. He was greeted by a woman who knew his name and moved to attack. Jones disarmed the female, who explained that she'd failed, adding that her father refused to help his nation's military. Feeling like he betrayed his country, Kobayashi decided to take his own life. 

The professor didn't blame Indiana, but his daughter did. Jones talked about her father's devotion to peace and that he was trying to warn his friend. His debt to the American professor made it easier for Indy to do the right thing. He wanted to know as much about the dragon as possible. Indy knew that Kobayashi would have helped him, and his daughter eventually realized that. She led Indiana to a local temple that was large enough to be used as a military base. It could also contain the information that Jones sought.

He thanked the woman, who opted to wait outside for Jones. The first two men that Indy encountered told him that foreigners were forbidden to enter the facility. Indy apologized for his lack of knowledge, claiming to be a tourist. Neither man believed him, and a fight soon broke out.

Indiana took out each opponent individually. His pouch fell down an incline, and Jones went after it, figuring that the incantation it contained might be the only way to stop the beast. More soldiers arrived before Indy could accomplish that task. He used his whip once more to climb up to a safe hiding place as the guards rushed past.

After the soldiers departed, Jones jumped back down and found a door that led him to what he sought. The creature was still encased in a glass cylinder, as scientists were operating equipment around it. Indy learned that the military men had moved from ice to sleep gas to keep the dragon dormant. He was spotted by a soldier right before Indiana ran to one of the valves. Jones tugged on it to try to reduce the gas's flow.

Moments later, the creature awoke. It broke out of its prison and engaged in a battle between itself and its captors. Jones used his whip to draw the monster's attention as he ran toward his pouch that had the ancient inscription inside. The dragon's fiery breath caused some damage, and Indy was forced to grab the parchment and leave the pouch behind.

The dragon soon spread its wings and burst through the temple, with Indy attached via bullwhip. It reached the village before Indiana could climb onto its back, but Jones finally managed to get a secure spot and read the chant. When he finished, the dragon changed direction and started to fade from sight.

Indiana leaped before the creature vanished. Those who had seen it guessed that it might have been a part of the city's festival. None of them knew that the dragon had actually returned to its resting place in the Himalayas. It resumed its lengthy slumber as worshippers gave thanks and Indy returned to Kobayashi's daughter. She thanked him for his efforts and hoped that they'd meet again someday. As the American professor sailed away, he thought that war between their countries seemed likely, but at least without the dragon, it wouldn't happen as quickly.

Longtime Marvel readers may have thought that the dragon in this issue was the same or similar to Fin Fang Foom. There were definitely similarities, but unless those rumors are ever confirmed, this tale will probably be seen as non-canon. As filler issues go, this was an interesting yarn, one that would probably fit in with stories like the plot of the Crystal Skull movie.

Well, that's all that I have for you today. Tomorrow, I'll discuss the twentieth issue of this title. The regular storyline will resume, as Indiana and Marion Ravenwood dig a little deeper into the fake Arnhem calendar ring and meet the National Museum's new curator. We'll also see the return of another popular villain. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another.