Retro Comic Recap: The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones #26

Good afternoon,

Hope all's well. I'm rounding out the week with a summary of the twenty-sixth issue of The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones. The cover, illustrated by Bob Budiansky and Bill Sienkiewicz, showed a man wielding a whip between two horses, with Indy tied to them in the foreground. The story was called  "Chapter 1: Trail of the Golden Guns." The issue had a publication date of February 1985.

The tale began somewhere underwater in the Caribbean. Doctor Jones was trying to obtain what appeared to be a valuable artifact from a crevasse that was guarded by a moray. He finally distracted the animal with a shoe long enough to grab the item and resurface. However, when he rose, he found himself staring up a boat full of military personnel.

Captain Belgrade and his men were patrolling the area. Indiana stated that he'd filed all the proper permits for his search in Bimini. That wasn't satisfactory for the captain, who was obviously looking for a bribe. Jones then tossed his bag at them. Instead of a priceless treasure, the greedy soldiers had to deal with the same moray that Indy did. 

Indiana was still floating near his raft and pulled out a flare gun that he aimed at the larger vessel. His shot struck its munitions, causing an explosion. He then yelled for Short Round, who came by, driving a speedboat. They successfully evaded the soldiers' gunfire, and would live to see another day. Indy told Short Round that he'd have to go back to boarding school when they returned, which the youth didn't like, because he felt like he had a lesser chance of being shot at while adventuring with the professor.

When Jones returned to Marshall College in Connecticut, he learned that his artifact was nothing more than a plain, ordinary ballast weight that had no historical significance whatsoever. As he walked the halls, Indy was approached by a pair of guests named Efrem Decker and Elizabeth Cody. They'd been told by Marcus Brody that Jones would be there. 

Indiana had a few minutes to spare and guided the newcomers to his office. Elizabeth started by saying she was looking for assistance in recovering something that had once belonged to her grandfather, William Frederick Cody, better known as Buffalo Bill. The legendary marksman had passed away when Elizabeth was young, but she still remembered his tall tales, including one involving his victory over a czar in a shooting competition.

The prize for that contest was a pair of twin pearl-gripped, gold-plated revolvers. The weapons had since been placed on permanent display at the Buffalo Bill Museum in Cody, Wyoming. A Russian named Salkoski was most interested in obtaining them and was very persistent in his efforts. A few days earlier, someone broke into the museum and stole the pistols.

Emily was convinced that Salkovich was behind the theft and wanted to travel to Russia to reacquire her grandfather's prize possessions. Jones was recommended for just such a task. Indiana was flattered, but suggested she check with the State Department first. It was then that Efrem announced that he was from that very office. He suggested that Elizabeth seek Indy out. His department wanted Indiana to embark on the mission to flesh out the political climate because of the possible connection between Nazi Germany and the Russian Bolsheviks. 

Indy agreed to join the cause, especially since the government would be paying for the expedition. Several days later, Elizabeth and Indiana were traveling together by train through southern Ukraine. The duo was talking about Indy's previous visits to the country and the changing political climate when the train was stopped by several Cossacks.

Moments later, a few of the intruders entered the train's passenger cars. Jones went to protect Elizabeth, not knowing that she was just as skilled with a rifle as her famous grandfather. One of the strangers introduced himself as Peter Rostoff. He was familiar with both Jones and Cody. They were lured to their side after being led to believe that they might know more about Buffalo Bill's golden guns.

Indy and Elizabeth mounted up and joined their hosts just as the Red cavalry arrived on the scene. They rode off as the newcomers fired at them. Elizabeth took her rifle and shot back at their attackers until Rostoff advised her that there were better ways to elude their pursuers.

The group rode on, continuing into the Dnieper River. They had an easier time crossing because the Cossacks knew where the drop-offs and shelves under the river's surface were, and their foes did not. Elizabeth, Indy, and their hosts soon reached camp. A man named Ilya Pugachev reached for the female, offering to entertain her. He soon engaged in a brief scuffle with Indiana that was broken up by Rostoff.

Rostoff brought his guests to a tent where their leader sat. The older gentleman informed the trio that the guns in question were not a gift, but rather a prize in a shooting match between him and Elizabeth's grandfather. Buffalo Bill won on the final shot, and the Czar was still hungry for a rematch. He said that the golden pistols were being kept by Count Salkovich in an estate that was guarded by a private army. The old man was willing to lend the heroes resources to help obtain them, on the condition that once that happened, he would have a rematch between himself and Elizabeth. 

Elizabeth accepted the terms, and the parties headed off separately to retire for the evening. Jones had just left Elizabeth's company when he was hit on the head from behind. When he woke, he found himself tied by his hands and feet to a quartet of horses. Pugachev stood in the middle of the pen, stating that he had set up their initial fight, and admitted that he was one of Salkovich's spies. He then cracked the whip in his hand, which set the horses off and made Indiana start to scream, anticipating the danger that would come next. 

This was the one and only time that Short Round appeared in Marvel's ongoing Indiana Jones title. I was a bit surprised by his addition, since the events in the Temple of Doom movie happened a few years before those in the Raiders of the Lost Ark. It was good to see him, but I felt that the plot wasn't something that Jones would usually go after, since Buffalo Bill had only been gone for less than twenty years by that point. His golden guns weren't an ancient treasure, and he'd already been tied by the hands and feet by another foe in South America a year earlier in this magazine. 

Well, that's it for today. Tomorrow, I'll cover the conclusion of this storyline with a synopsis of the twenty-seventh issue of this series. We'll learn what happened to Indy, and if he and Elizabeth were able to journey to the Salkovich compound and obtain her grandfather's prize weapons. We'll also see if the Czar was able to have the rematch he'd waited decades for. 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 #25

Good afternoon,

It's time for me to discuss the twenty-fifth issue of Marvel's ongoing series The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones. The cover depicted Indy holding onto an artifact with one hand while clinging to the rail of a train caboose in the other arm, with an unidentified woman behind him and a trio of men chasing them on horseback behind them. The tale was titled "Good as Gold." The issue had a cover date of January 1985. 

The story started at a cabin in the Peruvian Andes in 1936. Indy arrived to translate an artifact that was written in an obscure Quechan dialect that only twelve men in the world knew. He was one of those experts. Indiana was greeted at gunpoint by his old colleague Jessie. She had asked Indy's employer for help, not knowing that he was the one who would be dispatched.

They caught up for a bit before Jessie brought out a stone that she felt might be the key to uncovering El Dorado. Jones started soon thereafter, and their work was interrupted by a knock on the door. They weren't expecting any company, and Jessie's associates were still at the dig site 

A large man named Ivar Reiss and his three associates barged in moments later. Indy and the strangers were at a stalemate, with each side pointing their guns at the other until Jessie dashed for the rifle in her quarters. She was knocked down by one of Ivar's soldiers, and Indiana gently reminded her that they were outnumbered at the moment.

Reiss and his contacts had been observing Jessie's activity. He also knew of Jones' impending arrival and wanted the treasure for himself. Indy's reputation preceded him, and he replied that he was flattered, wondering where Marion Ravenwood was.

Marion was about to host a speech at Marshall College in Connecticut at the time, and the only thing missing was her guest speaker, Indiana. Marcus Brody informed her that the professor had been called away to Peru. Marion was incensed by the news, noting that she'd cut her trip to Chicago short because Jones had wanted her to be there. She stormed off angrily, leaving it up to Brody to handle matters there.

Back in Peru, Jones was still working on the translation, while under constant watch by Reiss and his men. He learned that Ivar's father was the industrialist Edgard Reiss, and that the son was trying to make up for the fact that his father had deemed him unworthy to inherit the family fortune. It seemed he was looking for a bit of revenge by seeking the rumored treasure of El Dorado. 

Indiana eventually rose from the table, stating that he'd successfully completed the translation. He tossed the papers in front of him at the unwelcome guests, and tossed the fresh pot of coffee at one of them, giving he and Jessie enough of a distraction for them to exit. 

As they ran, Jones confessed that the actual translation had only taken him five minutes. He delayed acting because he was waiting for the next train, which was about to arrive. They jumped on as it passed, evading Reiss and his lackeys on horseback. 

Indy and Jessie got off the train when it stopped at Estarca. It was a slow but scenic journey. Indiana said they should look for the mountains that faced the rising sun, and pointed them in the correct direction. They then searched for the standing stones, which they found just before Ivar and his goons arrived. 

The soldiers opened the passage, and Ivar insisted that Indiana lead the way inside. They examined what appeared to be a sizable bounty, but Indy wasn't certain about its authenticity. A brief skirmish revealed that most of the treasure was fake. The only real artifact was the gold mask that Jones pulled off the wall and handed to Ivar. 

A few moments later, the roof started to shake and crumble. Everyone ran for cover, except Ivar. He was convinced that there was still treasure inside. As the room collapsed, Jones figured that it must have been a trap set for Spanish conquistadors, which had been triggered when he removed the mask. Jessie was a bit peeved when she learned that Indy had set the trap on purpose, but he was already set on heading home. 

Several days later, Jones returned to Marshall College. Brody was waiting for him with the news that Marion had moved on. She'd left a note saying that she had to get away, and asked Indiana not to come after her. She left voluntarily, and Indy wished her well, hoping she'd stay out of trouble. 

This was Marion's last appearance in this series. I figured that something like this might happen, since her appearances became fewer and there was a bit of tension after she caught Jones kissing another woman in issue #23. There were plans for her return, but the title was cancelled before they could be published. It's unknown if those tales will ever see the light of day. 

I felt that this was an okay story. Jessie would return as another fellow archaeologist and potential love interest for Indiana. Personally, I would have preferred Marion or the British scientist from issues 4 and 5, but I guess it's kind of hard to go back that far on a book whose creative teams kept changing rather regularly. It was another script where a new villain was introduced, only to meet their demise before the issue had concluded. If the writers hadn't continued this pattern, they'd probably have had more material to draw from for future stories. 

Well, that's all I have today. Tomorrow, I'll recap the twenty-sixth issue of this series. David Michelinie returns to pen a two-part story that begins with Indiana being recruited to assist in the recovery of a fairly recent American 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 #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.