Retro Comic Recap: The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones #24

Good afternoon,

It's time for me to talk about the twenty-fourth issue of The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones. The cover depicted Indy and an unidentified female up against a wall with light emitting from its cracks. The story was called "Revenge of the Ancients." The issue had a cover date of December 1984.

The tale began with Indiana in San Francisco, having taken some extended time from his teaching duties after having returned to the U.S. last issue. He'd been contacted by an epigrapher named Reeko, claiming to have some information that Jones would be interested in. Indy knew from past experience to be wary of him, but was still intrigued nonetheless. 

As he walked down the rainy streets, Jones thought about the information on this lead that he'd received from Marcus Brody, and the unfortunate news that the crown of Rurick (which Jones retrieved from South America last issue) was fake. A whisper from a nearby alley alerted Indy to Reeko's presence. The man begged for help before keeling over, with a knife sticking out of his back.

Just then, a telephone from a booth on the corner started ringing. Indiana went to answer it, but didn't receive an answer on the other end. Indy tried to exit the booth but found that he was trapped inside, just as a semi truck headed right for him. He had no choice but to push the booth over, and it broke apart as the heavy vehicle sped by. 

Jones emerged from the booth and followed the truck on foot. He finally caught up and jumped on board. Indiana crawled to the top of the tanker and saw a portly man wielding a wrench. He had Jones until the larger man was knocked down by a low bridge. 

The vehicle arrived at its destination a few blocks away. Jones jumped off and decided to investigate the warehouse. He came across a young woman who was being held hostage in one room. Indy worked to free her before he was hit on the head from behind. 

When Indiana awoke, he saw a pistol pointed at his head. He gave his opponent a quick shove in the stomach and disarmed him. Jones then grabbed the gun and coerced his foe into telling him what happened to the girl. A short taxi ride later, and Indiana reached the pier. He made a short dive and swam toward the Capricorn Queen, which was already floating away from shore. 

As he climbed the side of the boat, Jones heard a pair of men talking. He identified one of them as Sigfriend Klexx, a man who was known for paying off authorities to break international rules and laws regarding antiquities and was wanted for crimes in more than a dozen nations. Klexx clearly played by his own rules and talked to his companion about Reeko's demise. He was on his way to obtain another historical treasure.

Right before dawn, Indy found the room where the girl was being held. He promised to help her once they landed, and left from sight before a guard arrived. Three days later, Jones returned and helped the woman escaped before the boat neared the shoreline.

She introduced herself as Julia Valdez right before the two of them were apprehended by Klexx and his men. Their leader pointed out how Indy had left the porthole open during his first sojourn, something that the woman who'd had her arms tied behind her back couldn't accomplish by herself. The group was then transported via chartered plane the following morning to a temple where a tablet had been found earlier. Reeko had been in charge of deciphering it, until his untimely end. Klekk's associate Flaggart now had that responsibility. 

The tablet had been written in a language that predated any known human civilizations. It supposedly said that the tomb before them held a trove of valuable items. Indiana listened to all of this while being bound to a pillar and watched helplessly as Julia was strung to the top of a structure connecting two walkways. The rays of the sun would shine through the eye atop the temple and strike the rope holding the human sacrifice, dropping her down onto the pedestal below and subsequently open the vault.

Klexx explained that he'd chosen his victim because it had to be a female full-blooded Indian native to the area. He'd tracked Julia down after months of research. As the rope continued to burn, Indiana fumbled reaching for his pocket knife. He finally found it and started slicing his binds, freeing himself before the beam cut through Julia's rope.

Indy jumped to save the woman, knocking Flaggart onto the slab in the process. His body weight moved the slab which slid down the ramp and knocked into the vault, opening it. A powerful stench arose from it. Jones moved to protect Valdez from Klexx's men right before a blinding light emerged from the temple. 

Those who weren't able to evade the light were instantly set afire. Indy took Valdez to safety, and protected them both from the explosion that followed. When the dust settled, the two looked at the carnage around them. They wondered why ancient people would have such a devastating weapon. Jones promised to return another time and search for the sites. For now, he was focused on getting Julia back home and return to normalcy for a while. They were leaving when we saw what appeared to be one of Klexx's hands breaking free from a pile of rubble. 

This was another serviceable single-issue story that could have used a bit more background material. Danny Bulanadi's inks kept the art together, and had me interested in seeing the tale through to its end. It would have been nice to have learned more about Valdez, Klexx, and the temple legends. It appears that Klexx survived the destruction, but I don't believe that he or Julia return to this magazine again. More wasted potential, which I suppose is one reason why some readers lost interest over time. 

That's all I have for now. Tomorrow, I'll cover the twenty-fifth issue of this series. Indiana travels to help an old friend while another supporting character bids adieu. 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 #23

Good afternoon all,

I hope everyone had an enjoyable holiday weekend. Today's article will recap the twenty-third issue of Marvel's The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones. The cover showed Indy jumping over a waterfall with a golden crown in one hand, as a trio of strangers opened fire on him. The tale was titled "The Secret of the Deep." The issue had a cover date of November 1984.

The story started at a movie theater, where Indiana was leading Marion Ravenwood out of a showing of the film "Jungle Drums." He could take the poison arrows, headhunters, and lions, but Jones was still deathly afraid of snakes. The couple continued to argue on the cab ride home.

At Marshall College, the next morning, Marcus Brody asked Indy for a few moments before his next class. Brody brought Jones to his office and talked about Professor Hildebrand, who had left his letters and papers to the National Museum when he passed away. The late professor once led an expedition to a small jungle island named Kaloo in the South Pacific, where the crown of Rurick was supposed to be at the bottom of a large waterfall. The island was now the property of a drifter and his associates. 

Indiana asked for a ticket to the West Coast. He then informed Marion of his upcoming excursion and stressed that it was something he had to do by himself. He thought about his mission on the train ride the following day.

Jones reached Hollywood, California, a week later. He met with film director Samuel Greeley and offered to be the stunt diver for his movie for free, on the condition that Indy could choose the location of his dive. The director gladly accepted and introduced him to his costars, Alphonse Dumarr and Stephanie Windslow.

The group flew to the South American film location a couple of days later. During the trip, we saw how jealous Dumarr got when Windslow cozied up to their stuntman. 18 hours later, the plane reached its destination. The crew was welcomed to the island by its leader, Lord Harry. He provided accommodations, but wasn't above trying any way he could to profit from their arrival.

Greeley and his crew drove to the waterfall the next morning. They began rehearsals once things were set up. Dumarr took the opportunity to let out his frustrations on Jones. Indy had no interest in the leading lady and was more concerned about his overall objective and staying alive in general. 

The director broke up  Jones' and Dumarr's scuffle, and he led his star away for a bit to set him straight. Later that evening, Dumarr had a few drinks at the local tavern, and his loose lips disclosed information to a fellow patron who listened to every word intently. The crew started filming at the top of the waterfall the next day. Indy played his part, although a blow on the head from a floating log had him fighting to stay conscious. He still performed the dive, located the crown that he hid inside his shirt, and resurfaced.

He didn't expect Lord Harry to hold him at gunpoint. The island's "lord" knew Indy's background and had Jones hand over the crown before he herded the rest of the crew into a truck. Indiana soon joined them, knowing he would have to wait a bit for the right moment to strike.

The truck had been driving for a while when Jones jumped out of the back, heading toward the tank that followed it. He eventually commandeered the military vehicle, but wasn't able to free his colleagues just yet. They were brought to the old Dutch military prison and placed in a cell. Dumarr then realized how foolish he'd been to share what he'd disclosed at the bar the night before.

After Lord Harry left, Jones burst through the compound with the truck. He ordered his comrades to climb on, and they fought their way to the dock after Jones stopped briefly to retrieve the crown. The crew escaped via plane as Harry's men continued to shoot at their vessel. 

On the journey home, Windslow got closer to Dumarr as Indy thought about what was waiting for him. When they landed on the West Coast the next day, Windslow showed Indiana her appreciation to Jones, not knowing that Marion was standing right behind them. Indy tried to run after her to explain, but they were eventually separated by the crowd. Jones walked away alone, knowing their next encounter wouldn't be easy.

I felt that this was a satisfactory single-issue story written and illustrated by Herb Trimpe, who's probably best known for his art on titles like G.I. Joe and the Incredible Hulk. It didn't delve too much into the history of the crown or its location, but Lord Harry was a fine foe for a one-shot, I guess. I would have liked a bit more background on him, but that's a problem that usually happens in a title that changes its creative staff on a regular basis. 

Well, that's all from me for now. Tomorrow, I'll cover the twenty-fourth issue of this series. Trimpe returns to craft a tale that has Indy staying on the West Coast for a bit, but soon finds himself on a boat bound for South America to save a damsel in distress and discover another archaeological treasure. 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 #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.